Broadcast News

Two million more unique shoppers were active during the long Thanksgiving holiday, according to stats from Proseper Insights and Analytics and the National Retail Federation. And there was a big increase in shoppers on Thanksgiving Day.

Time Warner Cable is one of the fiercest MVPDs when it comes to hardball negotiations to keep the retransmission consent price of local broadcast television in check. But when it’s asking for fees for its own programming, such as its Los Angeles Dodgers regional sports channel, the sky appears to be the limit.

An AM station located across the Mississippi River from Memphis is going to a new owner – and in this case, both the buyer and seller will be putting on their tool belts and the price of the station has been reduced.

CBS says that beginning next month its CBS Sports Network will simulcast WFAN-A/FM New York’s “Boomer & Carton” morning show. The four-hour morning show...

Sadly, Lew Dickey, Sr., passed away over the Thanksgiving holiday at age 86. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Patricia; six children: Pat, Lew (Cumulus CEO), David, John (Cumulus COO), Michael and Caroline; and eight grandchildren. Here is the obituary:

Late last month, the FCC approved the $370 million buy for Sinclair Broadcast Group to close on 18 Barrington Broadcasting Group stations, including WSTM-TV (NBC) and WSTQ-TV (CW) in Syracuse. Sinclair is also operating or providing sales services for six Granite Broadcasting stations, including its WTVH-TV (CBS) Syracuse. However, the shared services agreement (SSA) that brought WTVH under the same facility as WSTM and WSTQ could be ending in 2017.

OK, OK, our headline is way over the top –we just couldn’t resist. But when Katie Couric accepted the job as global anchor of Yahoo News, internet portal The Daily Beast wondered if it signaled “the end of old media dominance.” Count us among the skeptical.

The acquisition of Clear Channel by Bain Capital Partners and Thomas H. Lee Partners took place on the wrong side of the financial crisis, turning the management of the balance sheet into a juggling act. The company is paying now to move some big obligations further into the future.

Wheel of Fortune kept its place on top of the syndie total viewers chart during the week of 11/11/13, and Judge Judy once again...

As always, there are a lot of important issues percolating away at the FCC, and now, there is a new five-member 8th Floor contingent to deal with them, including new Chairman Tom Wheeler. Greg Walden (R-OR) and the rest of the House Communications Subcommittee would like few words.

His long-form mic, anyway. 200 radio stations are going to have three hours to fill in their schedule as former governor and presidential candidate and current Cumulus Talker Mike Huckabee focuses on alternate opportunities.

Three networks had a 7 share, but CBS prevailed in a ratings contest that went 2.5-2.4-2.3, beating ABC and NBC. Fox was ahead of...