Sinclair Broadcast Group said its free, over-the-air multicast networks Comet, Charge! and TBD have made deals that will add 2.4 million TV households to their distribution footprint by the end of the second quarter. The added distribution reflects new broadcast affiliation agreements with Nexstar Media Group, Gray Television and Entravision in markets including San Francisco, Phoenix, San Diego and Hartford-New Haven, Conn.
Beginning September 1, Charge!, Sinclair Broadcast Group’s action and adventure multicast network, and Comet, Sinclair Broadcast Group’s science fiction multicast network add several new stations to their lineup, replacing MeTV in the following markets, according to a statement. Charge! adds 7 new stations: Portland, OR (KATU), Salt Lake City (KUTV), Jacksonville (WLTV), Providence, RI (WJAR), Tucson […]
While many in the TV business are investing billions in subscription streaming services, big broadcasters are focusing on free over-the-air digital channels. Sinclair Broadcast Group has been investing in its digital channels — Comet TV, Charge and TBD — and is seeing a healthy increase in advertising revenue since getting ratings from Nielsen and upgrading their programming. In June, for example, Charge is adding CSI: Miami to its schedule. “What we’ve tried to do with these networks is level up the programming to make them general-market worthy,” Scott Ehrlich, Sinclair SVP, growth networks and content, said.
Sinclair Broadcast Group announced “significant changes” to the content of three, company-owned multicast networks: Comet, Charge! and TBD. The channels, which are available to the vast majority of households across the U.S., will now carry some of the most popular classic television series, as well as TBD’s first-ever original series, The Link. The new programming […]
Optimistic Outlook On Multicast’s Prospects
While diginets still have some hurdles to face — such as rising program license fees — they have captured the attention of general-market advertisers and they are looking forward to the rollout of the upcoming ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard with its expanded capacity. What’s more, the multicast networks are relieved that the FCC’s incentive auction and ongoing repack of the TV band isn’t affecting their station carriage deals to any significant extent.
Exclusives
Sinclair, MGM Launch Comet On Apple, Roku
Sinclair Television Group and MGM’s Comet TV sci-fi and horror broadcast network is now available on televisions nationwide via new apps for Apple TV and Roku. The free, ad-supported Comet TV — stocked with more than 1,500 hours of MGM programming — launched as a digital multicast network in late 2015, and is currently available in over 100 broadcast markets and online at CometTV.com.
As expected, the sci-fi multicast network Comet has reached licensing agreements to air episodes of the original Mystery Science Theater 3000 series and a package of classic Japanese Godzilla movies spanning the years 1954 to 1975. Comet — a co-venture of Sinclair Television Group and MGM — announced the acquisitions early today. The Mystery Science Theater episodes will join the Comet […]
Comet Diginet Streaks Into Multicast Universe
MGM and its partner, Sinclair Broadcast Group, looked to the stars for the inspiration for its latest multicast network, Comet. Central to the channel’s sci-fi programming is the Stargate franchise comprising three live-action series, one animated series and three Stargate movies. Comet’s execs are pleased that the diginet is “skewing younger than most of these other [classic TV] channels.”
Diginets Keep Growing, Despite Auction Cloud
While the spectrum auction and repack could raise challenges, most multicast network players say they’re bullish on the business, especially with the likely adoption of ATSC 3.0. Diginets keep adding affiliates and expanding coverage and the top ones have begun attracting general market advertising. This is Part 1 of a four-part special report on multicasting. Parts 2 and 3 also appear today. Part 4, running Thursday morning, will focus on the technology of compression and channel sharing. You can read the other stories here.
Sinclair Broadcast Group is starting a new science fiction network along with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at the end of the month. Comet, will air MGM TV programming including The Outer Limits, Dead Like Me and several iterations of the Stargate franchise. It will also have movies from the MGM vault as well, including Moonraker and The Terminator.
