TV/Cable News

In a major plus to consumers and companies offering so-called "over-the-top" TV service package, the CBS Affiliate Board today reached a wide-ranging agreement with CBS Corp. that will extend non-CBS O&Os beyond its CBS All Access platform. This means affiliates can now have their channels available on OTT platforms from Hulu, Google's YouTube TV and "future new entrants," with additional revenue possibilities for all.

For the company formerly known as Gannett before spinning off its newspaper division in 2015, the first three months of 2017 paint a familiar picture to those following the earnings reports of the nation's biggest publicly traded broadcast TV companies. TEGNA saw flat revenue in Q1, while its net income sagged.

The parent of three television networks originally founded by former radio station owner Bud Paxson is relocating its New York City broadcast operations to One World Trade Center in lower Manhattan.

Nexstar Media Group released its first Q1 earnings report following its merger with Media General, and on a combined basis, Nexstar had a stellar first three months of 2017. A key catalyst for the growth? Retransmission fees, the new go-to for many broadcast TV companies.

Content providers will need to seek integrated video solutions to minimize costs, streamline processes and provide growth opportunities at every step in the video life cycle. That's the key take away from a new report from video monetization technology and services provider Ooyala, produced in collaboration with U.K.-based Futuresource Consulting.

A trio of law firms say they are commencing an investigation into the fairness of the sale of Tribune Media Co. to Sinclair Broadcast Group. Is this a case of "ambulance chasing," or does a dissent group of Tribune shareholders truly want to put a stop to the biggest TV industry deal in recent memory?

Three of the top 10 slots in the Media Monitors Spot Ten Cable for the week ending May 7, 2017, are insurance companies. Meanwhile, the NBA picked up their activity as the 2017 playoffs edge closer to the championship round.

For broadcast television, the Golden Arches translates to advertising gold. There's also big new activity from two big makers of allergy medications, while a health and beauty brand finds itself in the Media Monitors TV Spot Ten for the week ending May 7, 2017.

Upon closing its merger with Tribune Media in Q4 2017, Sinclair will enjoy a whopping $4.3 billion in combined revenue, while enjoying coverage of 72% of the U.S. That's nearly double the size of the broadcast TV industry's other key players, and Wells Fargo Securities senior analyst Marci Ryvicker gives her thumbs up. Meanwhile, media brokers who spoke with RBR+TVBR see this as the beginning of a transformative time for the TV business.

Following rumors late Sunday that a deal was imminent, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media Co. have reached a deal that will see Sinclair acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Tribune for $43.50 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $3.9 billion. Sinclair will also assume approximately $2.7 billion in net debt.

With tough comps due to a loss of political dollars and a tightening advertising landscape, perhaps flat is good for a media company in the early months of 2017. For The E.W. Scripps Co., TV division revenue was statistically flat in Q1. Meanwhile, the company's radio stations experienced a 4.2% revenue dip during the quarter. What's truly hurting Scripps is its digital division, and there's one clear reason why.

Entravision Communications pocketed millions of dollars by relinquishing spectrum to wireless services companies in the just-completed FCC incentive auction. We now know that the company has entered into a channel-sharing agreement with a Washington, D.C.-based station that will allow the company to let a UHF station live on -- and finally relocate to the Nation's Capital 16 years after Entravision intended to do so.

Gray Television offered several comments with respect to its Q2 2017 guidance on Thursday, along with the release of its Q1 earnings results. Unlike some broadcast radio companies, Gray is anticipating double-digit local ad revenue growth in Q2, along strong national ad revenue. What's the overall prognosis for the quarter, on a combined historical basis?

The first three months of 2017 have been kind to a company dedicated to super-serving Hispanic media consumers across the U.S. Entravision Communications, which not only owns radio stations but is also the largest Univision and UniMás affiliate partner in the nation, saw its net income rise 15% in Q1. The good performance, thanks wholly to its TV segment, came as the company's board of directors approved a cash dividend to shareholders.