TV/Cable News

An additional NFL game and the presence of Super Bowl 50 on CBS-TV one year ago made a big difference for CBS Corp. in Q1. So did a loss of political dollars, as the company swung to a net loss. Net revenue was down to $3.34 billion, from $3.59 billion. But, the coming merger of CBS Radio with Entercom had perhaps the biggest impact on CBS's Q1 earnings.

Here's something every media company would like to see in its Q1 results: Despite an 86% drop in political advertising, Gray Television enjoyed a 17% year-over-year jump in its total revenue as its net income surpassed $10 million. That's on an as-reported basis, however. On a "combined historical basis," total revenue slipped by 1%, to $203.9 million.

Things are looking a little Gray in Vermont's biggest city. That's because Gray Television has snagged the biggest CBS affiliate in the Green Mountain State.

With the completion of the new ATSC 3.0 broadcast TV standard now just weeks away, experts from the broadcast television industry will gather in Washington, D.C. in less than two weeks for a day-long conference devoted to next-generation television sponsored by the Advanced Television Systems Committee.

Cars.com is driving off from the company formerly known as Gannett before spinning off its newspaper division in 2015. But, prior to the separation into two separate publicly traded entities, Cars.com will make a one-time cash distribution of $650 million to what's now known as TEGNA. Once the spin is done, TEGNA President/CEO Gracia Martore will head into retirement.

Sinclair Broadcast Group stockholders may not be thrilled with the company's Q1 performance. Just before Noon Eastern, the company's shares tumbled to $36.10 before recovering somewhat with a 2.6% decline, to $37.35. Could it be the company's Q2 so-so pacings that are spooking investors?

There's new research from Leichtman Research Group on the percentage of U.S. TV households that have at least one television set connected to the internet via a smart TV set, a stand-alone device, a gaming system, and/or a Blu-ray player. It's surging, and a vast majority of American homes now have connected TVs.

With its adaptation of the Margaret Atwood dystopian classic "The Handmaid's Tale" earning accolades -- and new consumers -- Hulu has leaped into the live TV streaming business with the launch of a new beta service and user experience now available to the public.

"Alexa, what's the news?" If you live in Cleveland, Nashville, or West Palm Beach, Amazon's voice-activated virtual assistant will turn to the local newsrooms of Channel 5, respectively. That's all thanks to a deal with The E.W. Scripps Co. that now connects its local newsrooms to the increasingly popular smart home device.

That's how Sinclair Broadcast Group Executive Chairman David Smith summarizes the state of his broadcast media company, which saw its Q1 total net revenue increase to $649.9 million, from $578.9 million, as its net income surged thanks to an 'Alarm' sale.

Coming July 1, kids will have a new choice to click with when it comes to programming geared just for them. In a late Tuesday announcement, Sinclair Broadcast Group unveiled its newest entry into the children's content arena with 'KidsClick.'

"Enhanced capabilities" with Nielsen's Social Content Ratings that support the analysis of owned activity and organic activity within the total social TV conversation have been rolled out by the audience measurement giant.

So much for that "UHF Discount." When it comes to UHF stations that participated in the just-completed FCC broadcast spectrum auction, they may as well have hit the jackpot at a slot machine at the Encore during the 2017 NAB Show in Las Vegas. An analysis of the Reverse Auction dollars shows that stations between channel 14 and channel 69 attracted some big dollars, thanks to the valuable spectrum tied to these facilities.

Raycom Media has completed the acquisition of two ABC affiliates in the Sunshine State, in a deal that saw Kalil & Co. represent the company.

Two big fast-food chains were very active with their placement of cable TV spots for the week ending April 30, according to Media Monitors. The top advertiser at the networks it measures? Burger King. Meanwhile, XFINITY is in, thanks to its efforts to promote a new bundle option. Check out the full Top 10 right here, and take note of who's advertising -- and who isn't.