Digital

The Amazon-backed free-streaming service has landed library rights to the first two seasons of the series starring Nicholas Pinnock. Should those perform well, it could lead to a third-season renewal on the ad-supported platform.

The approval should be good for four years, but the EU Commission warned it will revoke that if it discerns problems threatening EU citizens’ data privacy rights

The NIckWatch, a wearable consumer product featuring Nickelodeon characters, was introduced by ViacomCBS Networks International Tuesday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The Nickwatch will connect kids and parents via voice and text and feature photo filters, sound effects, games and stickers based on NIckelodeon shows and characters. Content will be updated on an ongoing basis.

In what appears to be an industry first, the Advertising Research Foundation is teaming with seven industry research and/or media suppliers to conduct research on digital device usage and account sharing, which it plans to ultimately launch as a syndicated measurement service. As part of the announcement, the ARF said it would apply to the Media Rating Council to accredit the service in its “second year of execution.”

Netflix has refrained from takeover opportunities, but it’s sparking plenty of industry
mergers just by existing. Netflix Inc.’s grip on streaming-TV audiences is driving other media companies to pursue expensive mergers and takeovers that whiff of desperation. The irony? Netflix
may still beat them all without having spent a single penny to acquire any competitors.

Two executives with extensive experience in broadcast technology and cloud workflows will participate as speakers in a TVNewsCheck webinar set for Thursday at 1 p.m. ET. They join executives from Sky and Global Eagle, who will talk about what they have learned building IP supply chains for media companies. Pictured are, clockwise from left, Dave Travis, group director of content, broadcast and platforms, Sky; Terri Davies, SVP content and media services, Anuvu; Evan Statton, principal architect for media and entertainment, AWS; Glen Dickson, contributing editor, TVNewsCheck and the event’s moderator; and Simon Eldridge, co-founder and chief product officer, SDVI. Register here to attend. 

A federal judge today dismissed the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuit against Facebook, concluding that the government failed to establish that the tech platform had a monopoly on social media networks. The judge, James E. Boasberg, still left open the possibility that the government could revive the case by amending its complaint.

Social media platforms can be beneficial for creating a community, boosting engagement, and driving traffic to main sites. The importance of people recognizing the media brand across different platforms is one key to accomplishing those benefits.

NBC’s Today has long been part of many an American morning ritual. Starting today, however, fans of the program can truly interact with a full version of it at almost any time they want. NBC News is launching its venerable A.M. franchise in podcast form, meaning that people who may want to know what it is going on with the show can find it at times and in ways of their own choosing, not necessarily in the 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. block it runs in each weekday on NBC.

Digital leaders from Tegna, ABC Owned Television Stations, Graham Media and Allen Media told a TVNewsCheck webinar audience last week that OTT has opened a wealth of content opportunities to connect with new audiences, while the industry is also getting better at using first-party data to deepen audience ties and boost revenue.

Digital marketing has changed significantly in the past 18 months, creating opportunities for broadcasters to relate to consumers in new ways. A new, opt-in world for behavioral targeting will open doors to increased engagement, while podcasting, streaming and video advertising and subscription services represent an agile, omni-channel approach to building audience and revenue.

Astute observers of television say the idea of a unifying show on even a modest scale is gone. In its wake are a hundred Twitter niches — and a dangerous lack of common culture. Above, Kate Winslet as Mare in HBO’s Mare of Easttown. The show was a buzzy hit on social media this spring. But like so much of television, its reach was limited.

TVNewsCheck‘s Michael Depp talks with Brodie Fenlon, editor in chief of Canada’s CBC News, about the organization’s month-long suspension of comments on its stories posted on Facebook amid a climate of rising toxicity on social platforms.

When the Judiciary Committee began approving a suite of bills on Wednesday, fault lines were exposed that could make final passage difficult.

Analyst Alan Wolk: While the entertainment offerings on streaming today easily surpass the offerings on cable in terms of both quality and quantity, the same cannot be said for news and sports.

TVision found that in the first quarter 84.4% of U.S. households were able to watch programming on connected TVs, up from 82.4% in the third quarter of 2020 and 80.3% in the first quarter of 2020.

There is much discussion in the broadcasting world around digital ad sales, as evidenced by panel sessions at MFM’s annual conference, Media Finance Focus 2021. While one school of thought is that digital sales is still taking a back seat to traditional ad sales, one very astute ad sales leader is all in on digital ad sales. Here are some of its challenges and opportunities.

Her promotion follows that of Jordan Helman, who was the head of drama before being named head of all scripted content. That was after Beatrice Springborn moved over to run NBCUnviersal’s UCP.

BuzzFeed hopes the move will put it in a better position to capture lucrative digital ad dollars against much bigger rivals like Google, Facebook and Amazon. The company, founded by Jonah Peretti in 2006 and initially known for listicles and online quizzes, has established itself as a serious contender in the news business, this year winning a Pulitzer Prize for international reporting.

Meteorologists Jason Frazer, Britta Merwin, Craig Herrera, Brigit Mahoney, Nick Kosir and Stephen Morgan will lead the platform’s weather coverage once the streaming service launches later this year.

He is promoted from digital marketing and strategic partnerships at Fox Television Stations.

QVC, HSN, Demand Africa and Quincy Jones’ Qwest TV bring more content to Allen Media’s free streaming platform.

Peacock will launch a Tokyo Olympics destination on July 15 featuring live coverage of some the games’ biggest events, including gymnastics, track and field and the U.S. men’s basketball team’s pursuit of their fourth straight gold. The NBCUniversal streamer said Wednesday that Peacock will feature new daily live shows, original programming, dedicated Olympics channels, full event replays and curated highlights. All of Peacock’s Tokyo Olympics programming will be available to stream for free with exception of USA Men’s Basketball live coverage that will be available to Peacock Premium subscribers.

The digital publisher is said to be on the verge of announcing a SPAC merger that would take the company public.