TV/Cable News

Viacom and CBS have named an Executive Vice President for Global Public Policy and Government Relations for what will be known formally as ViacomCBS, effective upon closing of the proposed merger between Viacom and CBS.

Despite what prognosticators may tell you, traditional television is still the most popular video medium and the best way for brands to achieve reach. That's the conclusion of NCSolutions SVP of TV and Programmatic Solutions Tom Eaton, a 7 1/2 year Nielsen veteran.

The Miami-based owner of Mega TV and a collection of radio stations under the "LaMúsica" brand enjoyed a 7% consolidated revenue gain during the third quarter. That said, the growth for Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) was driven by its radio stations, and not its television operation.

It offered 24/7 information and reporting for and about Chicago. But, times change — as did the cable channel's owner. With Nexstar Media Group buying Tribune Media, the company led by Perry Sook is pulling the plug on CLTV. It ends 26 years of service, most recently dedicated to reruns of WGN-9 newscasts.

What are the major investment themes for the Internet, Media & Communications sectors investors should be aware of across 2020? Jeffrey Wlodarczak, Principal and Entertainment/Interactive Subscription Services Analyst at Wall Street firm Pivotal Research Group, has highlighted where he sees the best long and short opportunities based on these themes.

Many worries were expressed about a decision by Cox Media Group to cut daily circulation of its three newspapers in the Dayton DMA impacted by the Third Circuit remand, and erasure, of cross-ownership rule changes championed by the Ajit Pai-led FCC. Now, it has a solution: Keeping the newspapers in the family, but under a wholly different ownership group.

It's a good news/bad news announcement for sports fans: An agreement has been reached that will give YouTube TV consumers access to 19 regional sports nets that will soon be rebranded from FOX nomenclature. But, the Internet TV service is dropping two of the RSNs — as well as the Yankees/Nets' YES Network.

How Americans perceive the coronavirus outbreak and view media coverage differ by their main news source, new research from Pew Research Center's Journalism & Media arm finds. That said, the study looks at the nation's three nationally distributed pay TV "news" networks, which until early March were largely focused on Washington politics and opinions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of life for Ohio residents, including the 2020 academic school year for thousands of students and teachers across the Buckeye State. In Northeast Ohio, Gray Television has proved to be a welcome helping hand to both the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) and the local teachers union.

What's the preliminary financial cost of the COVID-19 pandemic to U.S. local TV advertising? According to new data from BIA Advisory Services, it's some $900 million less than what had been initially anticipated for all of 2020.

Digital content distribution company Cinedigm has inked a distribution acceleration agreement with the parent company of a streaming service that already has a home on Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned ad-supported streaming service STIRR.

Even the COVID-19 pandemic and a deflated share price couldn't prevent Nielsen's Board of Directors from declaring a very healthy dividend to its stock holders.

The NAB Leadership Foundation has unveiled the celebrity guests who will be featured in the 2020 Celebration of Service to America Awards. The one-hour program, accessible online and available for radio and TV stations to air starting on August 22, honors local broadcast stations from across the U.S. for "exceptional community service."

One of the nation's leading antenna manufacturers, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, has launched a new engineering service that enables drone operators to fully and accurately characterize Antenna azimuth and elevation performance without special waivers from the FAA.

As RBR+TVBR reported on Thursday, Gray Television commenced what was intended to be an offering of $550 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2030. It turns out that the offering was more popular than anticipated, as an upsizing has occurred, resulting in pricing that's very favorable for the broadcast TV company.