TV/Cable News

Gray Television is not pleased that two pranksters appeared on one of its Wisconsin stations, duping producers and anchors into thinking they were legit strongmen there to demonstrate feats of strength. But what's led them to sue the duo is the use of station footage on a website to promote their act, without authorization. We have an RBR + TVBR Observation on the situation.

The Chairman/CEO of growing MVPD Altice USA has been tapped to deliver a Keynote address on the subject of "Global Growth and the Future of Media" at the 2017 NAB Show in Las Vegas.

As investors take the day off to observe Passover or Good Friday, ahead of the Easter holiday, several media companies are readying their financial data for the upcoming release of their quarterly earnings results. Among the companies setting dates are The E.W. Scripps Co., Gray Television, and Meredith Corp.

With all of the noise and chatter over the power of subscription on-demand video (SVOD) services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu, there's a growing belief that broadcast and pay-TV networks are in big trouble. But, are they? Pivotal Research Group Senior Analyst Brian Wieser took another stab at answering that question. Here are his conclusions.

Comcast Corp. has confirmed its results from both the Reverse Auction and Forward Auction, and it is pocketed nearly a half-billion dollars. At the same time, it is relinquishing spectrum in three of its duopoly markets, and in Gotham there's a bit of surprise.

Yet another ugly fight over retransmission fees involving a TV station owner and AT&T-owned DirecTV is now over. This one involved the only ABC affiliate in Hawaii, among a handful of other stations.

The FCC announced Thursday that some 957 non-winning stations participating in the FCC's spectrum auction must change channels to clear the new wireless airwaves for use. Meanwhile, a MyNetworkTV station in Michigan is opting to sign off the air altogether.

A TEGNA Media TV station in Atlanta and a Graham Media Group VHFer in Detroit have been honored with two top honors by the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF). Cox Media Group's WEDR "99 Jamz" in Miami is also getting a NABEF Service to America Award -- and is the lone commercially licensed FM getting such an honor.

Qligent, a specialist in cloud-based, enterprise-level media monitoring and analysis, has finalized an integration partnership with Artel Video Systems designed to help broadcasters ease the transition to ATSC 3.0.

NBCUniversal has taken a big step in reaching mobile consumers by striking a deal with mobile advertising player Kargo. The newly forged relationship will allow NBCUniversal to bring to fruition "the world's largest premium ecosystem for mobile advertising."

If you don't think the FCC is serious about the placement of required public file documents in a radio or TV station's electronic public file, think again. A multicultural TV station in one of the nation's biggest markets could be held liable for a $20,000 forfeiture from the FCC.

On Oct. 21, 2016, Reuters reported that -- according to "people familiar with the matter" -- Altice USA is "drawing up plans for a potential initial public offering" of stock. Those rumors are now reality, and an SEC filing outlines some of the concerns Altice has -- including a still-unresolved IBEW deal in New Jersey.

A seamless move to new VHF channel assignments in the upcoming TV spectrum repack won't be the easiest of tasks. GatesAir is doing its part to make the transition as seamless as possible.

Viacom's Class B shares saw its "market perform" rating reaffirmed by a Wall Street investment house today, while its price target was boosted by three dollars.

The commercial availability of Nielsen's National Out-of-Home Reporting Service has arrived, and ESPN is the first client to sign on as a subscriber. The eagerly awaited opt-in service is designed to provide TV networks that elect to subscribe with program and commercial ratings for Live through Live + 7 days of time-shifted viewing.