Business/Revenue

After 22 years of existence, Uncommon Goods will debut its first national TV spot this week.

Stock indexes closed lower Friday as jobs data sparked uncertainty. The S&P 500 fell 0.2% after wavering between small gains and losses for much of the day. The modest drop snapped a three-day winning streak for the benchmark index. Even so, it managed a 0.8% gain for the week, less than half of the index’s loss last week.

ATSC 3.0, also known as NextGen TV, promises a huge range of exciting possibilities for TV viewers and multiple new revenue streams for broadcasters. By supplementing traditional video entertainment and information service with a new, efficient datacasting platform, broadcasters of all types stand to increase revenues while transforming their existing spectrum into a vibrant new tool for consumers and businesses alike. The road to implementing this new technology, however, is paved with challenges.

Stocks closed higher Thursday as receding debt fears spurred a rally. The S&P 500 rose 0.8%, its third-straight gain. Nearly 80% of stocks within the benchmark index gained ground.

Scripps picks the former station manager of KPEJ Odessa, Texas, to oversee its CBS affiliate in Nebraska.

More than a year after Ron Meyer was shown the door suddenly at NBCUniversal over an affair, a payout by him and alleged extortion attempt against him, the former vice chairman of the Comcast-owned company has received a payout of his own. In a deal negotiated by Hollywood heavyweight attorney Patricia Glaser, Meyer has landed a settlement in the realm of $20 million.

ViacomCBS said its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share on both its Class A and Class B Common Stock. The dividend will be payable on Jan. 3, 2022 to stockholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 15, 2021. At the same time, the board also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.4375 per share on its 5.75% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock. The dividend will be payable on Jan. 3, 2022, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 15, 2021.

MSG Networks announced that it has completed a comprehensive, multi-year renewal of its distribution agreement with Verizon Fios. The new deal ensures Verizon Fios customers will continue to have access to MSG Networks and hundreds of exclusive, live games from the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and New York Red Bulls as part of their Fios TV packages and through MSG GO, the companies said.

Young talent is fleeing local television, feeling overworked, dramatically underpaid and no longer lured by TV’s once-gleaming promise. Executives need to act now to stop the exodus, says an industry talent recruitment and retention expert.

Tegna’s stations were blacked out to Dish TV’s 3 million subscribers Wednesday evening after the two companies were unable to reach a new retransmission deal. The blackout affects Dish customers in 53 markets.

AC Dotdash is acquiring Meredith Corp. in an all-cash deal valued at $2.7 billion, the companies announced Wednesday. Dotdash is the publishing division of Barry Diller’s IAC holding company. Meredith’s wide-ranging portfolio includes publications like People, InStyle and Real Simple. The combined company will be called Dotdash Meredith.

Stocks edged higher Wednesday as Wall Street shook off volatility. The market rallied back from a morning loss shortly after Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell offered Democrats an emergency short-term extension to the federal debt ceiling into December.

Claudia Eller: It will be a downright fiasco if the leadership of Hollywood’s studios, networks and streamers doesn’t do everything in its collective bargaining power to prevent the labor union representing camera operators, editors, production designers, grips and other workers from going out on strike.

How Jonathan Kanter, the Biden administration’s choice to be the Justice Department’s antitrust chief, became a progressive foe of Big Tech.

Negotiations between the studios and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees are expected to continue on Wednesday as the sides try to avoid a strike that would shut down production and immediately cripple Hollywood’s content pipeline. In what could be taken as a sign of progress, the two sides are not saying much publicly about the negotiations.

The purchase of KVME Bishop, Calif., by Weigel Broadcasting tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The broadcaster is telling the satellite provider’s customers that with an extension to the current carriage agreement set to expire, they could lose access to its stations.

Stocks rose on Wall Street Tuesday, led by tech, banks and the price of oil. The rally, which lost some momentum in the final hour of trading, left the S&P 500 1.1% higher. About 73% of the companies in the benchmark index rose.

It’s typical for Hollywood’s labor unions to support for each other during labor disputes, but the support for IATSE during its current contract dispute with film and TV producers goes beyond the usual labor solidarity. That’s because the below-the-line workers’ union could be setting a standard for all future Hollywood contracts in the streaming era.

The multi-pronged commitment seeks to apply research, data and quantifiable targets to effect societal change, starting with racial equity and mental health.

It plans to soon launch a local news operation to serve Spanish-speaking audiences in the New Mexico DMA.

“Opportunities Await — Ready … Reinvent Revenue” seminar, free for MFM members, will be held virtually Oct. 19-20.

CEO Carlos Watson has dismissed reports that his embattled company is shutting down, but it remains to be seen if wary advertisers will come rushing back.