TV/Cable News

"Is the glass half-empty, or half-full?" That's a question MoffettNathanson Senior Analyst Michael Nathanson asks in an investor note that examines the pay-TV industry's health through the third quarter of 2020. The glass half-empty argument is one he focuses on first. What's his ultimate conclusion?

The FCC on Thursday unveiled its December Open Meeting agenda, and its final item of business on December 10 is a Report and Order that would modify and clarify existing rules to promote the deployment of Broadcast Internet services as part of the transition to ATSC 3.0.

The new NEXTGEN TV service is already on the air in more than a dozen cities, and the Pearl TV business group of broadcasters is working with TV manufacturers to introduce the new service and its capabilities together to drive receiver sales and to raise consumer awareness of the NEXTGEN TV mark.

USSI Global, a provider of customized network, broadcast and digital signage systems and services worldwide, has been signed on to “modernize” Sinclair Broadcast Group’s satellite network, in compliance with the FCC’s C-Band spectrum transition.

Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, has released a report in partnership with the VAB that analyzes TV’s influence on business’ ability to drive financial outcomes and growth by life stage. The analysis found that both direct-to-consumer (DTC) and non-DTC brands across all life stages see measurable results from TV advertising across the board.

Bipartisan legislation that updates how Americans receive emergency alerts through wireless and broadcast emergency alert systems has been approved by the House of Representatives.

FOX Corporation wants its second TV station in New York to also be covered by a permanent waiver -- even as the Supreme Court considers the FCC's appeal of the Third Circuit remand of its cross-ownership rules that would have permitted such a situation, no questions asked.

Thousands of hours of classic TV shows are now available for viewing, at no cost. It's thanks to the launch of the latest AVOD platform, courtesy of a division of Hearst Television.

As long time believers in the magical qualities of Disney’s brands, content and execution, the launch of Disney+ exceeded MoffettNathanson's wildest imaginations. Even today, when the Wall Street financial house looks at Disney, its analysts are unwilling to "take the leap of faith" on DTC valuation traders are willing to make because of unfair comps to Netflix.

As viewers have shifted away from traditional, linear pay TV, one group of viewers seems immune to the siren call of streaming: sports fans. While total hours spent watching entertainment on linear pay TV fell by more than a third since 2010, time spent watching sports dropped by only about 10%, Bain & Company finds. But fan loyalty only goes so far.

One week ago, Nexstar Media Group shares were moving in reverse, dipping to a price last seen in late July. Then came the release of positive third-quarter earnings results. With Wednesday's close on the Nasdaq GlobalSelect exchange, NXST is up nearly $14 per share since Nov. 4. It erases a six-week slowdown and suggests a $100+ price is just days away.

Connected TV ad units are effective. That's the key takeaway from a new study conducted by MediaScience and VDX. Dr. Amy Rask offers an abstract on the findings, which could provide additional intelligence for broadcast TV station owners concerned about "CTV," or ready to jump further into the fast-growing ad revenue generator.

How big is "SVOD," as services such as Hulu, Amazon Video and Netflix continue to dominate among households and its programs earn more and more awards? That might not be the question to ask, given new data from Leichtman Research Group. The percentage of homes that have MVPD services but don't subscribe to an SVOD is downright puny.

ViacomCBS appears to be given little credit for their digital transformation assets, notes MoffettNathanson Senior Analyst Michael Nathanson. "While it might feel like cognitive dissonance, we think there are three reasons for this seemingly inconsistent approach," he shares.

Its shares have rebounded to where they were a month ago, following a better than expected Q3 result -- its first with T-Mobile assets. That led Pivotal Research Group Principal and Entertainment/Interactive Subscription Services Analyst Jeffrey Wlodarczak to update his valuation model on Dish. The result? Pivotal is raising its target price for the company's stock.