Broadcasting & Cable News

House Judiciary OKs Sunset of Most of Satellite License

November 24, 2019

The latest shoe has dropped in the ongoing saga of STELAR reauthorization/not reauthorization, and it is a hefty wingtip in favor of broadcasters. The House Judiciary Committee Thursday (Nov. 21) approved the Satellite Television Community Protection and Promotion Act of 2019, which would sunset ...

Pai Proposes Dropping MVPD 30-Day Blackout Notification

November 24, 2019

FCC chair Ajit Pai is proposing eliminating the requirement that cable operators provide their subs at least 30 days notice of a TV station channel coming off their systems, changing it to notice "as soon as possible" given that retrans deals are often struck in the 11th hour. The chairman blogged ...

Judiciary Delays STELAR Bill Markup Until Thursday

November 24, 2019

The House Judiciary Committee has recessed a marathon markup without taking up its version of a STELAR reauthorization bill. STELAR includes the compulsory satellite distant signal license and the mandate that broadcasters and cable operators negotiate retransmission consent in good faith. ...

House E&C OKs Broadband Bills

November 24, 2019

Wrapping up a long two days, the House Energy & Commerce Committee approved a handful of bipartisan broadband and tech-related bills on a variety of topics, from broadband mapping and network security to freeing up spectrum. Related: House Schedules Communications Bills Markup There were a ...

Starks Releases Network Security Report

November 24, 2019

FCC commissioner Geoffrey Starks said the key to securing 5G networks is not to focus on weeding out suspect tech so much as on weeding out suspect tech suppliers. Starks has proposed his own “Find it, Fix it, Fund it" approach to the issue. Starks released a report Thursday (Nov. 21) on network ...

Primetime Ratings: Fox, NBC Split Win as ‘Masked Singer’ Rocks

November 24, 2019

Fox and NBC split the win in Wednesday prime ratings, high-flying The Masked Singer leading Fox and the robust Chicago shows pacing NBC. Both networks did a 1.2 in viewers 18-49, per the Nielsen overnights, and a 6 share. That beat the 0.8/4 posted by CBS. Shows were up against the CMA Awards on ...

Showtime Orders Season Two of ‘Desus & Mero’

November 24, 2019

Showtime has picked up a second season of Desus & Mero, the network’s first late-night talk show. Season two begins Feb. 3 and will offer new episodes every Monday and Thursday at 11 p.m. ET/PT. Showtime calls the program “the intersection of pop culture, sports, music, politics and more.” The ...

Broadpeak Joins ETSI, Strengthens the Company's Involvement in 3GPP Standards Development

November 24, 2019

CESSON-SEVIGNE, France — Nov. 21, 2019 — Broadpeak®, a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, today announced that it is now a member of ETSI, a leading standardization organization for Information and ...

ABC Premieres ‘American Idol’ Feb. 16

November 24, 2019

ABC has shared its mid-season schedule, which includes the network’s third season of American Idol kicking off Sunday, Feb. 16. Ryan Seacrest is back as host and Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie return as judges. Before that, The Bachelor begins Jan. 6 with a three-hour premiere. Jeopardy! ...