TV/Cable News

In a move perhaps fueled by the FCC's spectrum auction, Los Angeles-based KCET-28 will once again be tied to PBS after going independent on New Year's Day 2011. KCET's parent company has entered into a merger with PBS SoCal —a recipient of hundreds of millions of dollars in the FCC's incentive auction.

Here's some more fodder for groups like the American Cable Association, who have wagged their index fingers at broadcast TV companies for a problem they say is directly related to a whopping surge in retransmission fee agreements. According to just-released data from Kagan, S&P Global Market Intelligence, U.S. consumers have seen a 74% increase in their pay TV bill since 2000.

If it wasn't for all of the discussion surrounding a reunification with CBS Corp. and whether or not Bob Bakish is in the mix, Viacom's just-released fiscal second quarter 2018 results would be greeted with widespread cheer, free of rumors and speculation. The company's earnings were ahead of consensus estimates, yet results were mixed. Brian Wieser, Senior Research Analyst of Advertising at Wall Street financial house Pivotal Research Group, dissected Viacom's earnings and says that despite the so-so results, "many favorable new initiatives were described which could provide some optimism for the future of a standalone Viacom."

TEGNA's Board of Directors on Wednesday declared a dividend of 7 cents per share, payable on July 2 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 8. With that, TEGNA shares saw a much needed-boost on Wall Street on Wednesday, climbing 3.8% to $11.13 to reverse a downtrend for the company's stock.

Republican FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly's push to heavily modify or erase the agency's "KidVid" regulations is largely fueled by his belief that the rules are outdated, with children largely consuming Video on Demand (VOD) choices, over-the-top (OTT) sources and cable TV channels that offer kids' programming 24/7. Nowhere is it being argued that children are tuning out TV, although broadcast TV ratings during "KidVid" hours are a far cry from years past. In fact, new research from U.K.-based Futuresource Consulting suggests that watching the big screen remains the activity that children dedicate the most time to.

A Florida-based non-profit operation focused on evangelical Christian programming, founded by Bob D'Andrea in 1979, has closed on its acquisition of a full-power TV station, Class A sibling, and an LPTV cousin in the Crescent City, Sin City, and a key market in the Rockies, respectively.

Comcast Corp.'s FreeWheel next-generation TV and premium video advertising technology has just gotten a boost thanks to a multi-year agreement with the company responsible for SpongeBob and Gwen on BET's In Contempt. 

The Spanish-language broadcast TV network now owned by the Philip Falcone-led HC2 Holdings Inc. has just doubled down on its over-the-air abilities in Southern Nevada. Thanks to a new arrangement announced Monday, Azteca América will now be seen on not only a HC2-owned low power TV facility, but also a full-signal UHF station owned by one of the biggest players in U.S. Hispanic media.

How badly do automotive dealer associations want May bouquets full of flowery sales? Just take a look at the big boost in broadcast TV ad activity in the last week. According to the latest Spot Ten TV report from Media Monitors, several auto dealer associations revved up their activity to encourage shoppers to arrange a test drive -- and consider a possible lease or purchase of a new vehicle.

U.S. financial markets tumbled on Friday, once again extending a rollercoaster ride on Wall Street that sees no signs of ceasing anytime soon. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 201.95 points, to 24,462.94, as Nasdaq was off 91.93 points, to 7,146.13. Media stocks were awash in a sea of red, but four companies stand out with gains to end the week. The situation for top TV companies isn't so pretty.

With its shares hitting a new five-year low on March 19 and rough seas on Wall Street resulting in a bruising session for Nielsen, the company's board of directors nevertheless put a stamp of approval on an increase in its quarterly cash dividend.

The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) has revealed the winners of the 2018 Celebration of Service to America Awards, recognizing outstanding community service by local broadcasters. These award recipients will be honored at the Celebration of Service to America dinner, held Tuesday, June 12 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. Top honors are going to a big TV station owner, and an independently owned FM in L.A.

U.S. financial markets finished Thursday's trading on a down note, but that had no impact on the solid performance seen by Nexstar Media Group on Nasdaq. What other companies had a strong day, or a disappointing one? Click here for the details in brief!

The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has unveiled its plans for the 2018 ATSC Broadcast Television Conference, set for May 23-24 in Washington, D.C. Keynote speakers will include the NAB's Chief Technology Officer and the head of America's Public Television Stations (APTS).

If there was a competition to become the most prolific buyer of radio or TV stations in 2018, there's no question who would come out on top. Philip Falcone and his HC2 Station Group has been snapping up TV properties left and right since the start of the year, continuing a buying trend that began with the end of the FCC's Spectrum Auction. HC2 is at it again, and just acquired a channel-sharing agreement forged by a full-powered UHF station serving a university town in the Lone Star State that's giving up its spectrum to the benefit of wireless service providers.