The Diginet World Is Having A Moment
Broadcasters including Scripps, Tegna, CBS, Sinclair, Ion and Gray have been laying bigger bets in the multicasting business, acquiring some of the more popular diginets and partnering to develop new ones in a market showing signs of further expansion. CBS’s new diginet DABL, for instance, is bringing back the classic lifestyle programming of Martha Stewart and others in the fall.
The agreement includes renewals of all Law & Order franchises, making Ion the only network to have all three series.
Ion, Trinity and Univision have weighed in at the FCC with supplemental evidence for what they argue is the need to roll back the FCC’s 39% cap on a TV station group’s national audience reach, and preferably all the way rather than raising it once again.
21st Century Fox is in talks to operate television stations across the U.S. with Ion Media Networks, potentially paving the way for Fox to dump Sinclair Broadcast Group as an affiliate partner, a person familiar with the situation said. Closely held Ion would contribute its more than 60 independent stations to the joint venture, while Fox would throw in its 28 stations, which include top markets such as New York and Los Angeles. As part of the deal, Fox would consider switching its affiliation to Ion from Sinclair for 26 stations that are up for renewal this year, said the person, who asked not to be identified.
2016 Revenue: $147.9 million Stations: 62 stations in 56 markets Coverage: 64.82% Ownership: Private Key Executives: Brandon Burgess, chairman-CEO; David Glenn, co-head of TV stations operations; Terri Santisi, co-head of TV stations operations. What’s Up: It received $84.6 million for selling the spectrum of two of its stations. In May, Ion Media announced that it would move its New York […]
The Big Five plus Univision have all suffered ratings declines with 18-49s this season. But Telemundo and a host of smaller networks are growing.
Exclusives
The programming service’s fall launch week kicks off tonight, highlighted by the season 4 premiere of original series Saving Hope at 11 p.m. ET.
Ion Television is adding a syndication run of ABC’s Canadian-produced police drama Rookie Blue to its general entertainment lineup in the fall.
Hulu Plus and CBS announce new SVOD deal for CBS drama starring Tom Selleck. WGN America acquires exclusive basic cable rights while Ion gets exclusive weekday, primetime rights for off-net episodes.
