multicast networks

Coach and Gimme A Break Join Tribune Broadcasting’s multicast entertainment network in January.

Weigel Broadcasting, Chicago-based parent company of the popular Me-TV Network, is suing Los Angeles-based Pervasive TV for using the name ReachMe.TV. In a lawsuit filed this week in U.S. District Court, Weigel is claiming trademark infringement, unfair competition and deceptive trade practices by Pervasive, which shows its ReachMe.TV mobile entertainment network online and on screens at airports and hotels across the country.

Tegna will be a charter broadcast launch partner in the new adventure and exploration multicast network set to debut in January and will hold a minority ownership stake.

Larenz Tate and Erica Ash will host the 2018 Bounce Trumpet Awards, celebrating African-American achievements and contributions. The gala black-tie ceremony will be held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta on […]

In addition, the four — Bounce, Escape, Grit and Laff — have been renewed on 21 other stations, boosting Bounce to 86% of the United States and 95% of African-American households, while Escape, Grit and Laff will now reach 89%, 87% and 90% of all U.S. TV households, respectively.

Tribune Broadcasting’s multicast network Antenna TV will present all episodes of the legendary sitcom All in the Family in one holiday weekend marathon.  It will run all nine seasons (207 episodes) on […]

The Heartland Network, Luken Communications’ country music and lifestyle multicast channel, has returned to the Chicago market (DMA 3) on WJYS. The independent station, owned by Oxford Media Group, began […]

Since Scripps was already a 5% owner in a portion of the business, its net purchase price is $292 million for the multicast networks Bounce, Grit, Escape and Laff.

TeleXitos, Telemundo Station Group’s national Spanish-language multicast network, will celebrate Halloween with four weeks of special programming. Beginning Sunday, Oct. 1, viewers can tune in to TeleXitos every Sunday until […]

Laff, the Katz-owned comedy multicast network that’s being acquired by E.W. Scripps, introduced the multiple Emmy-winning sitcom That ’70s Show to its lineup with a daylong marathon on Sunday, Sept. 24. The marathon […]

Sinclair Broadcast Group continues its expansion in the multicast network space with premium sports content.

Rev’n, Luken Communications’ automotive multicast network, has further expanded its over-the-top availability by launching its channel on the Roku streaming platform. The new channel, available for free in the Roku channel […]

The partnership will boost the diginet’s distribution coverage to more than 80 affiliates covering over 73% of U.S. households.

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5, Hearst-owned NBC affiliate KCRA Sacramento, Calif. (DMA 20), will simulcast its 5 p.m. newscast on its Estrella TV Sacramento that airs on ch. 58.3. “We are […]

More than 100 missing children and 100 most-wanted fugitives featured on the diginet have been returned home or captured.

“Ladies and gentlemen, The Beatles!” That simple introduction changed America and TV forever, as 73 million people gathered in front of their televisions to see The Beatles’ first live performance […]

Family Entertainment TV said today that the multicast network received its highest viewing with 97,500 households on Aug. 7 at 8 p.m. with Perry Mason, according to ComScore ratings. FETV airs […]

The new agreement extends carriage of the Bounce, Escape, Grit and Laff multicast networks through 2024. In addition, Univision will add Bounce in Washington on Sept. 30.

The African American-targeted multicast network’s 2017-18 programming will feature the new Grown Folks in addition to the exclusive telecast of The Trumpet Awards 2018, quarterly Ed Gordon newsmagazine specials and a new season of Premiere Boxing Champions on Bounce.

Scripps was already a 5% owner in a portion of the business, so its net purchase price is $292 million for Bounce, Grit, Escape and Laff. Founder Jonathan Katz will continue to lead the Katz networks business. The company, with about 130 employees, will remain based in the Atlanta area.

Luken Communications has launched its Heartland Network multicast network on Dilicast Broadcast Services-owned WLPS-CD Lumberton-Pembroke (the Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C., DMA: No. 129). Heartland features country music and lifestyle programming composed […]

The spirits and bottom lines of broadcasters should be buoyed by the technology and policy cards they are being dealt when it comes to ATSC 3.0. If the simulcast-based channel-sharing proposal before the FCC is adopted, TV broadcasters will have the tools they need to make the transition while continuing to deliver their main channel and popular diginets as legacy DTV channels — if they can cooperate. This is the third installment of a three-part Multicasting Special Report. Part 1 appeared Tuesday morning, Part 2 on Wednesday morning. You can read all the stories here.

That’s the goal of Steve Schiffman, Lonnie Cooper, John Ford and Barry Wallach who are moving the Justice Network diginet in that direction since its launch in 2015. It’s now at about 60% U.S. coverage. To fill its programming grid, Justice has tapped into a vast reservoir of low-cost “factual” crime shows originally produced for cable over the past decade-and-a-half in addition to two originals. Above, John Walsh, the public face of the network, with Sergeant Ralph Woolfolk of the Atlanta Police Department. (Justice Network photo by Ray Sullivan.) This is the second installment of a three-part Special Report. Part 1 appeared Tuesday morning, while Part 3 on technology will run Thursday before noon ET. You can read all the stories here.

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.

The TV and music industry executive is chosen to oversee the company’s portfolio of multicast networks.

NBC-owned multicast network Cozi TV will commemorate Black Music Month with the premiere of new, original short-form vignettes featured in a week of curated programming, complete with cameo appearances from […]

The veteran cable net sales executive will oversee sales at Bounce, Escape, Grit and Laff.

Antenna TV, Tribune Broadcasting’s multicast network, will pay tribute to the legendary comedian Don Rickles. Beginning tonight, April 6, through Sunday, April 9, Antenna TV will air a classic Johnny Carson episode […]

TeleXitos, the Telemundo Station Group’s Spanish-language multicast network, is airing air a box office hit movie every Friday night at 8 p.m. ET for the next three weeks as part […]

Sinclair Broadcast Group has begun to roll out a first-of-its kind, over-the-air multicast network showing digital programming that’s designed to appeal to millennials. TBD will feature web series, short films, fashion, comedy, lifestyle, online video game competitions, music and viral content and will air on many of its stations in 81 markets.