WOW! Shifts MVPD Offering To YouTube TV
The MVPD's customers can purchase WOW!'s internet together with YouTube TV service, rather than a traditional cable TV service, marking a shift to virtual MVPD exclusivity for WOW!
Cord-Cutting Trends Raise Questions For S&P On MVPDs
S&P Global Ratings has updated its U.S. pay-TV video subscriber forecast, and it has expressed concern on how cord-cutting trends could impact its ratings on companies within the U.S. pay-TV ecosystem. What prompted the new report? Earnings reports from two MVPD giants that raised warning flags at S&P.
A Big Financial Institution Grows Its Spot Cable Efforts
The financial sector, and banking, is an ad category that has been a little under-the-radar in recent years. A new push from one national bank is, therefore, something account executives may want to take note of.
Joel Wertman Fires Up A NoCal LPTV Replete With Diginets
Viewers in the Chico, Calif. area can now tune to one of five digital multicast networks housed on this property, a low-power TV station serving this small collegiate city between Sacramento and Redding that is the birthplace of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
‘Linear Video is Failing The Eye Test’
That's the assessment from analysts Craig Moffett and Michael Nathanson, who have analyzed "cord-cutting" by consumers. With fewer households with traditional linear TV subscriptions than without, they say Q1 "was very likely the worst single quarter ever for linear video." But, they warn, "the eye test may ultimately be even more telling."
Pay TV’s ‘$100B Funding Source’ For A No-Ad Streaming World
A common refrain media analyst Brian Wieser comes across with respect to the growth prospects for ad-free streaming services is that consumers only have limited budgets. Thus, if they adopt these services they will necessarily prioritize ad-supported streaming instead. Wieser has a counterpoint to that assumed conclusion.
A ‘FAST Channel’ Deal Puts NBCU Local News On Fire TV, Echo
As of today, a host of new NBC and Telemundo owned stations' local news channels can be found on the Amazon News app on Fire TV. And, NBC owned stations are also now available on Echo Show devices.
NBCU Signs Two Big ‘Enhanced Local Measurement’ Agreements
For the first time, NBCUniversal will be transacting and guaranteeing on Comscore across 31 markets and 42 NBCU and Telemundo-owned stations with plans to move to 18+ guarantees on all buys. There's more: In collaboration with InnovidXP, NBCU has rolled out new impact and incrementality metrics, giving local marketers real-time, outcome based KPIs across platforms.
Fubo Scores Its Second MLB Team Partnership
On May 1, “sports-first” vMVPD Fubo revealed its first partnership with a Major League Baseball franchise, presenting Fubo branding and hospitality opportunities at the Boston Red Sox's fabled stadium, Fenway Park, in addition to fan engagement opportunities at the stadium and in virtual platforms. Fubo now has a similar partnership with an American League rival.
Sinclair Wins Three National Headliner Awards
Sinclair Broadcast Group's television stations and investigative teams have been honored with a total of three National Headliner Awards, including first place in the Environmental Reporting category.
Disney’s Fiscal Q2: Media & Entertainment Distribution Income Dips
The fiscal second quarter 2023 financial results for The Walt Disney Co. were released following Wednesday's Closing Bell on Wall Street. How did the owner of ABC and ESPN perform in the three-month period?
Gearhart To Aide Carlston At ‘FOX 11’ In L.A.
In October 2022, the 11-year President/GM of KNBC-4 in Los Angeles moved from Burbank to Bundy Drive, taking the top leadership role at Fox Television Stations' "FOX 11" and sibling KCOP-TV from the retiring Bill Lamb. Now, SVP/GM Steve Carlston is about to get some help at FOX11, as KTTV-11 is hiring a VP/News Director, focusing on that property.
With Its Acquisition Near Death, TEGNA Powers Through Q1
While Standard General, the hedge fund controlled by Soohyung Kim, continues its public relations campaign seeking a last-minute change of heart by the FCC that would see its four Commissioners vote on its proposed purchase of TEGNA, getting the deal to the finish line is highly unlikely. For TEGNA, it remains business as usual. And, business is good, its Q1 results show.
The InFOCUS Podcast: Dick Kozacko
The first half of 2023 is nearly done, and we’ve seen some interesting deals pop up — including the acquisition on Monday by Nexstar Media Group of KUSI-51 in San Diego. Does this portend the return of some big deals, or are we seeing blips on the radar? That's just one question RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson asked veteran media broker Dick Kozacko in this fresh InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM. LISTEN HERE
A Clear Takeaway Winner At Spot Cable
The quick-service restaurant category has always been an active one at Spot Cable, at least in recent years. For the week ending May 7, a take-away pizza chain soared to the top of the Spot Ten Cable chart. It's making waves on the Spot Ten TV report, too.