A New ‘Direct’ Argument Arises From A Protracted Retrans Impasse
Eleven months after a retransmission consent fee impasse led DirecTV, by law, to drop an affiliate of The CW Network serving Southwest Florida, the station owner's president is questioning if DirecTV parent AT&T's support of a House Resolution is truthful or not.
Full Spectrum Of Channels Secured With Fox/Charter Deal
If you're a Spectrum subscriber in a market where Fox Corporation owns a local broadcast station, there's no worry over whether or not access to that station -- or any of Fox's cable TV networks -- will be blocked in the near future.
NPG Abandons A Missouri Monopoly Move
On April 4, one of the biggest transactions to result from the FCC's November 2017 party-line vote to eliminate its cross-ownership rules for newspaper and broadcast media and for radio and TV, respectively, was struck. On Tuesday, it was effectively killed.
A Respected Wall Street Analyst Slams CBS
CBS Corp. on Thursday filed an eagerly anticipated S-4 registration statement with the SEC. This document provides a bounty of details on the merger, and MoffettNathanson Senior Analyst Michael Nathanson gave it a good look. His assessment is one of incredulity.
Sinclair’s Direct Threat Ends With AT&T Retrans OK
Two weeks after DirecTV, U-Verse and AT&T TV NOW subscribers were faced with a "blackout" of all Sinclair Broadcast Group stations, any fear of further troubles between the TV station owner and DBS and MVPD service provider have now been squelched.
CBS Corp. Confirms NYSE Sunset Plan
“A definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock merger” was signed in mid-August by CBS Corp. and Viacom, with a valuation of about $12 billion. CBS shareholders are poised to own more of the combined company, and CBS has informed the SEC that it is ready to cease trading on the NYSE -- a move putting the merger closer to closing.
A ‘STELAR’ Session Ahead For Wicker & Co.
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 10am. That's when debate and discussion among America's top lawmakers on the highly contentious Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELAR) will commence. Can fireworks be expected?
‘Exceptional Improvements’: NEXTGEN TV’s Phoenix Success
High Frame Rate 120Hz video has been transmitted by a NextGen TV transmitter as part of the Phoenix Model Market project. The High Frame Rate 120Hz video was encoded by the DS Broadcast Model BGE9300 Encoder, received on the company’s Model BGD4100 Integrated Receiver Decoder.
The MRC’s Persons Problem: Nielsen’s New LPM Concern
On Oct. 3, Nielsen changed how it produces local market TV audience estimates in the 25 markets in which it uses LPMs, and in the 31 markets that had used only set-based TV meter panels. These markets to date have been accredited by the Media Rating Council. But, what about now? The MRC has a problem with Persons.
ADHD In Action? Kids Multitasking While Consuming Entertainment
As new video platforms continue to proliferate and entertainment trends evolve, children are consuming increasing amounts of content from a wider variety of sources, and often multi-tasking to fit more in. That’s according to the latest Kids Tech consumer survey results from Futuresource Consulting.
CBS, Viacom Sink To Five-Year Wall Street Lows
While Toronto's TSX was closed Monday in observance of Canadian Thanksgiving Day, New York's financial markets were open on Columbus Day in the U.S. Perhaps they should have closed. Small losses were seen overall, but the declines for CBS and Viacom are disconcerting.
Scripps To Build Phoenix’s Second ‘NEXTGEN TV’ Outlet
By year's end, Scripps will flip the switch on the Phoenix Model Market's second Single Frequency Network (SFN) facility serving the Valley of the Sun. It's a major step forward from those seeking a swift voluntary rollout of NEXTGEN TV, which brings addressable advertising solutions.
Northwest Stations Return To DirecTV Ahead Of Apollo Launch
With Brian Brady's Northwest Broadcasting poised to become part of a new entity that combines the stations with those of Cox Media Group and sees the financial support of Apollo Global Management, a lengthy impasse between Northwest and DirecTV has suddenly ended.
HC2 Gives A ‘Poquito Más’ Oomph For Crosby, Nonberg
Poquito Más — led by the one-time Chairman/CEO and President/COO, respectively, of the former Una Vez Más broadcasting company — are bulking up in the Bay Area with a LPTV station. The seller? It's one of the biggest buyers of LPTVs in recent months, and acquired this property in April 2018.
TEGNA Suitor, Cox Investor … and DirecTV Spinner?
Apollo Global Management has had a busy 2019, gaining majority control of Cox Media Group's radio and TV assets in two separate deals, while at the same time approaching TEGNA about an outright acquisition. Now, it seems Apollo wants AT&T to spin-off DirecTV.