TV/Cable News

Don't think auto dealer associations are serious about making a strong pitch to consumers ahead of the first day of school or the Labor Day holiday weekend? Think again. Following Toyota's lead, three other big automotive brands have revved up their advertising on spot television.

A veteran TV reporter and anchor who has worked at the Gray Television-owned FOX affiliate serving New Orleans for 23 years spent Friday evening in the air shooting a story with a stunt pilot. Something went gravely wrong, and the plane crashed, killing the pilot and WVUE talent.

Wilkinson Barker Knauer attorney David Oxenford notes that formal notice has been published in the Federal Register of the FCC’s changes in the children’s television rules. This sets the effective date for most of those new rules. If you own and/or operate TV stations, you'll want to read this.

"Great sessions, puppies, yoga, and dancing are just a few memories from Day 2 at Podcast Movement." That's what greeted Twitter followers midday Thursday, as one of the largest audio industry gatherings in the U.S. attracted hundreds of people eager to learn, share, comprehend and conduct big business.

If you're a purveyor of local news, here's something that might catch your fancy: the groups that are most interested in the top headlines, sports news and weather information in their community prefer to get it from a TV station. Here's the bad news: the group of people most interest in local news is highly limited.

"The only real market surprise was the midday timing of the announcement," Wall Street analyst Michael Nathanson says in an investor note focused on the forthcoming ViacomCBS Inc. "Judging by the reaction, the new company will have to work extra hard to prove the financial merits of this combination."

There's no "blackout" worries for any ABC O&Os seen by viewers across Charter Communications' Spectrum cable TV services. Charter and The Walt Disney Company have inked "a comprehensive distribution agreement" that expands the previous deal. It includes the Aug. 22 launch of The ACC Network.

At just 22 years old, Ivy Anderson joined the reporting staff of a Tribune Media-owned CBS station serving North Alabama's Tennessee Valley. Through tears, the station's anchors late last week announced to viewers that she has unexpectedly passed away.

The most anticlimatic announcement in years finally arrived from CBS Corp. on Tuesday afternoon -- it is reunifying with Viacom. But, the initial separation in January 2006 and the reasons the move was done are very much worth a look today.

The largest pay-TV providers in the U.S. – representing about 93% of the market – lost a whole lot of net video subscribers in Q2. And, the year-over-year increase in cord-cutters is a bit startling, new data from Leichtman Research Group show. Should broadcast TV worry?

The latest "Chart of the Week" from Borrell Associates features a particularly intriguing insight from its recently completed survey of 442 local ad agencies. "[It] looks like they're still in love with broadcast TV, but they've started open relationships with other video platforms," says Gordon Borrell.

Over the past 14 years and through massive changes in industry structure, CBS Corp. and Viacom have pursued separate paths and strategies. With new leadership, the companies are operating with similar goals in mind. That's a topic Michael Nathanson addresses in a fresh investor note.

The E.W. Scripps Co. saw a Q2 revenue gain that surpassed Wall Street estimates. A healthy retransmission fee rise was also seen in the quarter. But, Scripps' costs and expenses also increased. The result: a swing to a net loss. Investors were hardly pleased, sending SSP southward on Friday.

"Our second quarter results reflect the great work that continues to be done by our employees in advance of our pending transaction with Nexstar Media Group," Tribune Media's CEO said Friday. How did Tribune Media perform in Q2? EPS beat the Street, but revenue fell short.