TV/Cable News

The latest Media Monitors Spot Ten TV report shows that, like at Spot Radio, the cold and flu season has led to a sudden influx of commercials for one popular allergy, sinus and cold medicine brand. At the same time, there is a flurry of new activity from a host of brands and a QSR at No. 1.

A group of individuals claiming a portion of the ownership of two LPTV stations in Miami has failed in its attempt to appeal a bankruptcy ruling made earlier year by a Federal District Court. The stations' owner is awaiting FCC approval of its purchase of a Miami Talker -- a station the state's Democratic Party has slammed for its supposedly unfair political commentary.

The "very hot topic" of Measurement was a major part of the discussion at the TVB Forward Conference on Thursday. And, it was a subject addressed first and foremost by Sinclair Broadcast Group President of Broadcast and Chief Advertising Revenue Officer Rob Weisbord during an afternoon Q&A session conducted by Operative CEO Lorne Brown.

TVB Forward Conference 2021 kicked off on Thursday morning with welcome comments from both President/CEO Steve Lanzano and the Chair of its Board of Directors, Debra OConnell. For OConnell, who serves as President of Networks at Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution, a highly positive and encouraging tone was struck.

On August 2, the end of an era — and the leadership of a broadcast media company — came for Ralph Oakley. Today, the former Quincy Media, Inc., leader was saluted for his accomplishments at the virtual TVB Forward Conference, marking perhaps his final industry appearance.

The Phoenix-based production and broadcasting studio used by a popular host known for the latest news on everything digital — including technology, and security threats and scams — is for sale. But, it’s far from a cessation of operations.

Barbara Kriesman, the Video Division Chief who works alongside Audio Division Chief Al Shuldiner, has been plenty busy with her own NALs to over-the-air TV operators. In fact, two were released today to none other than the biggest licensee of TV stations in the U.S.

Private companies, communities and institutions of higher learning are rejoicing over the decision by a nation's president to grant nearly 160 operating licenses for radio and television stations. The new broadcast properties are coming to Nigeria.

What is the biggest takeaway from the latest Spot Ten Cable report from Media Monitors? There is very little fluctuation from last week, based on the play count of paid advertisements tracked by the iHeartMedia-owned company. And, that's a good sign for spot cable that long-term activity is alive and well.

On Thursday, the broadcast television group led by Byron Allen closed on its acquisition of a Meredith Local Media property it chose to sell in order for it to complete its sale to Gray Television for upward of $2.8 billion. Now that the spinoff deal has been completed, Gray's closing on the Meredith properties is on track for a Q4 completion.

Hearst Television has officially turned on the lights at Hearst Audience Marketplace, described as "a data-driven audience-targeting feature enabling marketers to use connected TV (CTV), over-the-top (OTT) and programmatic display/video platforms more easily to reach the most specific category of consumer down to zip-code level."

The Video Advertising Bureau (VAB) has released an in-depth custom analysis of the marketing and media investment strategies of some of the fastest-growing DTC brands. VAB analyzed the following 30 brands, which the groups says "are each embracing a total audience marketing strategy to successfully fuel business outcomes."

The independent TV measurement and analytics firm known as 605 has expanded its partnership with data and technology provider PlaceIQ, a relationship that brings "always on" planning, measurement and attribution to the television marketplace. How so? 

The NBCUniversal-owned Spanish-language network will be marking New Year's Day 2022 with its arrival in a big Midwest DMA, where Gray Television will make a low-power facility a sibling to the full-power UHF CBS affiliate it operates alongside the local affiliate for The CW Network.

Where Sinclair Broadcast Group's shares will go come November 2021 and beyond could be fueled by Sinclair's third quarter performance. And, we now know when the company will be sharing its fiscal report card for the period ending September 30.