Gavel

New Motion Filed In AT&T/Time Warner Trial

Late Tuesday afternoon, large programmers filed a motion to intervene in the AT&T/Time Warner trial — regarding the Justice Department's lawsuit to block AT&T's $85 billion takeover of Time Warner — in response to the ACA/RCN amici.
NBC

NBC #1 In A Flagging TV Industry

According to Nielsen, the average demo delivery for a show that's staying on for the coming season is a 1.2, which works out to 1.55 million adults 18 to 49.

Redstone Hits Back at CBS and Moonves

Things continue to heat up between Shari Redstone’s National Amusements and the CBS CEO. The Redstone family — which owns a controlling interest in CBS and Viacom — filed a complaint in Delaware Chancery Court, Monday, against Moonves and his fellow CBS directors.

Apparel and Autos: TV’s Ad Strength

Auto dealers are racing to get May sales into gear, while two big department stores -- the subject of an intriguing Media Information Bureau column appearing Friday in RBR+TVBR -- are back in a big way in the latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Report.
Comcast

The Word From The FCC: Comcast Claim Dismissed

In October 2017, the FCC's Media Bureau found that Comcast did not discriminate “by reducing distribution” of an African American-targeted religious broadcast network “without a valid business justification.” On Wednesday, the parties involved in that ruling once again found themselves subject to a Media Bureau decision. Again, Comcast was the victor. Why?
E.W. Scripps Company

Scripps Signs New Deals With Two Network Partners

There's no "great affiliate switch" in the immediate future to fear for viewers of 15 ABC stations across the U.S. At the same time, the CBS affiliate in Music City U.S.A. has inked a new long-term deal with the network.

Leading Ladies Lauded In L.A. At Gracie Awards

Wednesday night was full of stars -- and you couldn't even see the sky. That's because the objects of attention were inside the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., as The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) presented the 43rd Annual Gracie Awards. Here's the recap.

Has Sinclair Silenced Too Much Of Its Tribune Deal Details?

That's a question the American Cable Association believes it has an answer to, and it wants the FCC to step in and take action. In the view of the ACA, Sinclair "withheld more than 250 agreements, schedules, exhibits, and related documents, including materials that appear to contemplate ongoing relationships between Sinclair and the parties to whom it will putatively divest stations."

Public TV Embraces Next Gen Broadcast Standard

Public television is ready to embrace the ATSC 3.0 broadcast TV standard. In fact, it is already experimenting with new service and business opportunities the new standard makes possible, the head of America's Public Television Stations says.
21st Century Fox

ACA Assails Comcast’s All-Cash Fox Pluck

The biggest voice in Washington for America's smallest and independently owned MVPDs isn't only bothered by Sinclair's planned merger with Tribune Media. It is also against the announced plan by Comcast to purchase 21st Century FOX after certain assets are sold to Disney. What's Mr. Polka's panning?

Customer Satisfaction Tops Among Video Streamers

Customer satisfaction with video streaming services far eclipses that of subscription TV service. That's a top finding from the just-released American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) 2018 Telecommunications Report. We have all of the details right here.
Wall Street / Trading Floor

Sinclair Sags Again On Wall Street

Sinclair Broadcast Group shares dipped again on Wednesday, as investors learned of RBR+TVBR's exclusive report that a $65 million sale of KPLR-11 in St. Louis to Meredith Corp. has been derailed by the U.S. Department of Justice. Meredith stock was also down.

A New Over-The-Air Solution Is Dished Out

In a move designed to give DISH-owned "skinny bundle" Sling TV "over the top" (OTT) TV service an added boost, a new device that brings together live internet streams and free local TV has been brought to market. The product is marketed with the tag line, "Cut the cord with AirTV and watch TV on your terms."
Wall Street / Trading Floor

Sinclair, Tribune Dip On Word Of Meredith Nix

U.S. financial markets were largely down on Tuesday, but Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media each fell following RBR+TVBR's report that the intended $65 million sale of a TV station it is divesting was scrubbed by the U.S. Department of Justice. The intended buyer's stock was also down.
People watching TV

TV Trends For April? WiFi Power Sends Total Viewing Up

Pivotal Research Group Senior Research Analyst of Advertising Brian Wieser has analyzed trends associated with the use of television alongside commercial share trends for national media owners in the U.S. for the calendar month of April 2018. What did he find? Viewing on internet-connected devices surged.