New Efforts Reshape The Latest Spot Ten Cable Report

From cool treats on sizzling summer days to iced tea pitches to stay hydrated, a variety of food brands and QSRs remain among the most active at Spot Cable, the latest report from Media Monitors shows.

Viacom Shares Surge On Talk Of CBS Counter Offer

In the latest update from unnamed sources to Reuters, it appears that a below-value all-cash bid for Viacom presented to the company by kissing cousin CBS Corp. has been swatted away. Instead, Viacom President/CEO Bob Bakish, who earned total compensation of $20.3 million in 2017, is likely positioning himself for a future role in a reunified CBS by assisting in the preparation of a counterproposal.
Reno, Nev.

NEXTGEN TV Arrives In Nevada’s No. 2 DMA

A Deerfield Media-owned broadcast TV station operated via a shared services agreement with Sinclair Inc. has helped usher in the arrival of NEXTGEN TV to the Reno-Carson City, Nev., market, as it is serving as the ATSC 3.0 lighthouse for the DMA.

Here’s Who NABEF Will Celebrate On June 12 in D.C.

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.

‘Florabama’ UHF Could Pay Up For Issues/Programs Flub

The broadcast home of a hyperlocal television operation branded as "Blab TV," which serves the Fort Walton Beach-Destin, Fla., area in addition to counties in Alabama north of the Florida state line, could be on the hook for a sizable fine for a delinquency tied to the filing of issues/programs lists associated with the UHF property.
E.W. Scripps Company

A ‘Solid’ Q1 For Scripps … With Scant News On Radio

For those wondering about The E.W. Scripps Co.'s sale of its 34 radio stations, announced in January, there was nary a word about its plans. That's not to say Scripps' top executive didn't have any update to share. Meanwhile, industry observers are chatting -- and a deal in two markets may be very close at hand.

The Pay TV Bundle: At A Critical Crossroads

For MoffettNathanson's three analysts, Michael Nathanson, Robert Fishman and Craig Moffett, what Disney does to resolve its retransmission consent dispute with Charter Communications — a potential industry-shifting gamechanger, with respect to retrans impasses — has only exacerbated a lingering issue the analysts have been monitoring for months: "The future of the Pay TV bundle is at a critical moment, with ESPN playing the starring role."

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.
Fran Drescher

SAG-AFTRA Congratulates the WGA. It Now Wants Its Own Deal

After 146 days, the strike called by the Writers Guild of America is nearing its conclusion, as a tentative agreement was reached with the AMPTP ahead of the Jewish day of atonement, Yom Kippur, late Sunday. The actors union that remains on strike congratulated the WGA on the near-official deal, while it remains unresolved with its own labor dispute.

KLAX Sold To El Dorado-Affiliated Entity

If you're stuck in Los Angeles traffic and just saw this headline, beware: We're not talking about the Spanish Broadcasting System FM known as "La Raza." Rather, this KLAX and its sibling are TV stations, and they've just been snatched by an entity connected to the President of El Dorado Broadcasters in a deal brokered by Kalil & Co.
Pat LaPlatney, Gray Television President and Co-Chief Executive Officer since January 2019

Gray Finalizes Its Q3 ’23 Results Release Date

Gray Television is following the lead of Nexstar Media Group by moving forward with the release of its third quarter 2023 financial results on the second Wednesday in November. And, the company will hold its conference call for analysts and investors immediately after that of Nexstar.

Justice Kennedy’s TV Legacy: ‘Must Carry’ Rules

Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Anthony Kennedy on Wednesday announced his retirement. At age 81, Kennedy's stepping down from the bench could have major long-term ramifications on the ideological composition of the nation's highest court. For TV broadcasters, Kennedy will be remembered for something that is discussed on a daily basis by MVPDs and owners of UHF and VHF stations.

PILOT Launches 2023-24 Next-Gen TV Fellowship

The innovation arm of the NAB, Pilot, has kicked off the third annual PILOT Next Gen TV Fellowship program at the association's Washington, D.C., headquarters. The biggest change from 2022? This year’s program, its third, has expanded and includes students from Howard University and the University of Missouri.

Holy Toledo! An iHeart Act Of Defiance

Here's a transaction that may seem unusual: iHeartMedia is parting ways with a TV station. It's a move that comes more than a decade after predecessor company Clear Channel Communications left the television business.

Production Accounting in Television Gets Modernization Effort

Cloud-based FinTech platform Conduiit, designed to offer a one-stop shop for boosting profitability in TV productions, has closed on $1 million in pre-seed capital. This reflects "the industry’s excitement for innovative tech services in entertainment and Conduiit’s potential to revolutionize financial management in the sector."