TV/Cable News

The Parents Television Council late Thursday issued a statement on the FCC’s proposed changes to the “KidVid” rules that currently impose minimum educational and information programming guidelines on television broadcasters for free use of the publicly-owned broadcast airwaves. It's the second time the PTC has chimed in on the matter.

Perry Sook is not only the founder and head of Nexstar Media Group, but he's also Chairman of TVB — the television industry's version of the RAB. Now, Nexstar and Sook are being assailed by a pro-MVPD alliance warning viewers of two Florence, S.C., stations that a local cable TV service provider may be forced by law to drop the stations as a new retransmission fee deal looks bleak.

DISH Network's "skinny bundle" option, Sling TV, is striking back at the launch by AT&T of its "WatchTV" option by becoming the first live streaming provider to give free content and a la carte channels and services to its customers.

Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Anthony Kennedy on Wednesday announced his retirement. At age 81, Kennedy's stepping down from the bench could have major long-term ramifications on the ideological composition of the nation's highest court. For TV broadcasters, Kennedy will be remembered for something that is discussed on a daily basis by MVPDs and owners of UHF and VHF stations.

Twenty-First Century Fox shares climbed 2.4%, to $48.80, on Wednesday on word that the U.S. Department of Justice has given the green light to purchase the company's assets that will not be spun off into "New Fox" — with one big condition. Disney will be required to sell 22 Fox Regional Sports Networks, and the American Cable Association chimed in with its thoughts on the order.

The Media Financial Management Association (MFM) on Wednesday announced the 2018-2019 officers and newly elected board members for the association and its BCCA subsidiary, the media industry’s credit association. Here are all of the details.

How much could Gray Television pocket from the nine stations it is agreeing to shed in order to easily complete its merger with Raycom Media? Jefferies analyst John Janedis has an estimate, and he shared his thoughts in an investor note made available today.

A decade ago, Gray Television's shares were in a stupendous free fall. By the start of 2009, GTN had lost 95.6% of its value compared to the start of 2008. Today, thanks to its just-announced blockbuster merger with Raycom Media, GTN shares appear to be ascending toward a new all-time high.

The combination of Raycom Media with Gray Television, a $3.6 billion deal announced early Monday morning after just weeks of serious negotiation, creates what the companies are calling "a dynamic broadcaster with meaningful scale, significant operating leverage, and a compelling portfolio of high quality assets." How is Gray getting this done? Here are the details, which include a radio duo.

There's a newly released, in-depth white paper from Parrot Analytics that's worth noting if you are among those broadcasters evermore concerned about the rapid growth of "over the top" (OTT) viewing not just here in the U.S., but on a global level. The report takes a comprehensive look at global television demand trends across 10 markets in 2018.

They love avocado toast and The Museum of Ice Cream. Marketers can't stop targeting them. And, new research from Parks Associates shows, they really, really need an over-the-top (OTT) video service in their domicile. They're millennials, and they very much will pay for Netflix, Amazon Video and/or Hulu.

Since 2001, a low-powered television station with studios and operations in Rocky Mount, N.C., has provided a local voice to Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson Counties. This includes an affiliation with the Youtoo America network, and a local newscast.  Now, this LPTV is being sold to a local media group.

While the American Cable Association "appreciates the progress" the FCC has made to reduce the gap in regulatory fees paid by cable/IPTV providers and DBS providers, it believes that it's now time for the Commission to complete its incremental phase-in of DBS fee increases — "to ensure a level playing field."

Less than one week following its merger with Time Warner, AT&T has proved it is true to its word by rolling out a "skinny bundle" of its own to compete with the likes of SlingTV — and, perhaps, its own DirecTV Now offering.