The networks will combine to deliver 175 hours of coverage across broadcast, cable and digital platforms. Financial terms of the deal announced Wednesday were not disclosed, though it was clear the PGA Championship is more attractive held in May than in August. The agreement gives CBS and ESPN, which broadcast the Masters, the first two majors of the year.
Women directed a record 25% of episodic television in the 2017-18 season, an increase of 4% from the previous season, according to the Directors Guild of America study released Wednesday.
Jerry Walsh: Nexstar’s National Resource For Local News
As the station group’s VP of local content development, Jerry Walsh explains how his four-person team is working to make every Nexstar station a better local news producer and programmer. In addition, he’s the newly minted chairman of RTDNA and he offers his take on the evolving mission of that group.
The defunct retailer has filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that Sinclair Broadcast Group, Tribune Media and other big owners of local TV stations conspired to jack up the prices of local commercials, violating federal antirust laws.
Digital video advertising spending will continue to hit sharp gains — rising nearly 30% to $27.82 billion this year, according to eMarketer. Total digital video ad spending — which includes social platforms — will make up 25% of all U.S. digital ad spending.
Exclusives
Covington & Burling and Debevoise & Plimpton, the two outside law firms tasked with investigating claims of misconduct at CBS, have already interviewed more than 150 people, according to an email update sent to employees last week. Current employees, former employees and other “individuals with information pertinent to our investigation” have spoken to investigators.
Station Trading Roundup: 3 Deals, $940,000
The sale of K20JX-D Sacramento, Calif., tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.
Dow Falls 56, Nasdaq Inches Up 2
U.S. stock indexes closed mixed Tuesday. Raw-material producers plunged on worries that inflation and weaker demand are eating into their profits. On the opposite end were technology stocks and other sectors, which recovered some of the sharp losses caused by last week’s rapid rise in interest rates.
Bob Iger shared the stage with presidential historian Doris Keans Goodwin at Tuesday’s Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit, but he didn’t want people to read into it. “I happen to be speaking with a presidential historian, but it’s just a coincidence,” he told the crowd. “I am not doing that. It’s off the table. I am running the Walt Disney Co.” Questions of a possible presidential run in 2020 have followed the Disney CEO for some time.
Strategies that let super PACs delay revealing their donors until after the election are gaining popularity among both Democrats and Republicans.
Nielsen Catalina Solutions, the joint venture of Nielsen and Catalina that specializes in data and measurement relevant to the CPG industry, says it has expanded its Advanced TV Suite to include purchase-based ad targeting. The new capability will work alongside the suite’s existing capabilities, which track sales measurement.
Disney’s $71.3 million deal to acquire key Fox Television Group assets leaves top FTG executives in no man’s land. The list includes FTG Chief Marketing Officer Shannon Ryan, EVP Casting Sharon Klein, CFO Robert Barronand and SVP Brand Management & New Media Strategy Michael Gooch.
The idea behind WatchBack is for the media giant to learn about consumption habits, data that is often not available to NBC when someone watches a show on linear television.
As of Monday, the FCC’s lone administrative law judge had still not weighed in as to whether he will shut down the designated hearing on allegations that Sinclair Broadcast Group misled the agency about its proposed $3.9 billion purchase of Tribune Media, leaving that serious “lack of candor” charge hanging over the company.
CBS stock posted a sharp late Monday gain on the news that the CBS board is planning to “test the market” when it comes to finding a potential buyer. CBS stock closed on Monday up 3.1% to $57.04. The report of the move from the board possibly seeking a buyer came from Fox Business Network.
Dow Closes Up 40, Nasdaq Sinks 52
Stock indexes ended mixed Monday, but tech companies, including payment and credit card companies, slid further. Bond markets in the U.S. were closed for the Columbus Day holiday and stock trading was relatively light.
Top 21st Century Fox television executives Peter Rice, Dana Walden, John Landgraf and Gary E. Knell are officially headed to the Magic Kingdom. The Walt Disney Co. announced that Rice and Walden will come aboard to lead the conglomerate’s non-sports television operations. Rice has been named chairman, Walt Disney Television and co-chair, Disney Media Networks. Walden has been named chairman, Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment Landgraf will serve as Chairman of FX Networks and FX Productions. Knell will serve as chairman of National Geographic Partners.
KBTX General Manager Mike Wright Resigns
Mike Wright, the general manager of Gray Television’s CBS affiliate in Waco, Texas, has resigned. His last day at the station was Thursday, Oct. 4.
Fox has named former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks as its chief communications officer. Hicks was head of the communications team at the White House before leaving in March. She worked for Trump at his company before he was elected.
Five states have cleared the way for sportsbooks, and more than 20 others, plus Washington, D.C., are debating legislation and could start the betting in the coming year or two. It’s an industry that some believe topped $100 billion as an underground market and some analysts think could grow into a $6 billion to $16 billion industry, depending on how many states get onboard.
Skinny bundles of TV channels have emerged in the last few years as a cheap, streamlined alternative to the bloated and expensive cable packages of old. But those bundles have started to put on a few pounds lately. Within the past year, several major streaming television services — including YouTube TV, AT&T’s DirecTV Now and Dish’s Sling TV — have raised prices on their skinny offerings.
Nearly a week after their distribution agreement expired, Fox Networks Group and Altice USA have reached a new carriage agreement. The deal includes retransmission consent payments for WNYW New York, and cable networks FS1, FS2, National Geographic Channel and FX.
Jessell | NFL Ratings Gain Isn’t Antidote For NFL Anxiety
After two seasons of steep ratings declines, the NFL is up 3% so far this season. But broadcasters should still worry about their most important programming. Renewal negotiations with the NFL loom and broadcasters may face competition for the rights from streaming companies and wireless carriers that may drive up the prices.
Rally will help CBS disperse $20 million to groups dedicated to supporting #MeToo and promoting workplace safety and equality for women.
Two years after the parent company of the Chicago Tribune renamed itself Tronc, it’s going back to calling itself Tribune Publishing, the company announced Thursday. The name change, which formally takes effect Tuesday, will close a sorry chapter in the history of the Chicago media giant, which drew nearly universal revulsion and ridicule when it unleashed Tronc on the world in June 2016.
Collins | Tips For Improving Your Revenue Forecasts
Here are three suggestions: forecast often; methodically and carefully create forecasting plans with team members and other key stakeholders; and be sure to include insights from experienced media finance professionals with credible industry insight.
Dow Closes Down 201, Nasdaq Slides 146
Rising interest rates sent technology and internet stocks skidding Thursday. Tumbling bond prices over the past two days is sending interest rates sharply higher, a development that worries investors because it can eventually slow economic growth by making borrowing more expensive for consumers and businesses.
