Broadcasting & Cable News

FCC's 3.5 GHz Auction to Begin June 25, 2020

September 29, 2019

The FCC has voted unanimously to seek comment on a draft framework for auctioning 70 MHz of the 3.5 GHz (CBRS) midband spectrum for 5G, an auction of priority access licenses (or PALs) that has now been scheduled to start on June 25, 2020. FCC chair Ajit Pai said the FCC was remaking rules that did ...

Political Ads on Local Broadcast to Hit $3.2B: Kantar

September 29, 2019

Political advertising spending on local broadcast is expected to rise 12.3% to $3.2 billion, according to a new forecast from Kantar/CMAG. Spending on local cable TV by political campaigns is forecast to jump 41% to $1.2 billion, said Kantar/GMAG VP and general manager Steve Passwaiter. Cable will ...

CTA Unveils ATSC 3.0 Branding

September 29, 2019

The Consumer Technology Association has unveiled a new logo for devices--4K Ultra HD TVs, gateway receivers, portable devices--that meet new ATSC 3.0 interoperability specs. CTA is billing NEXTGEN TV as the go-to-market monicker for the new TV transmission standard technology which ...

Fox Stations, Cable Nets Blacked Out on Dish

September 29, 2019

Fox’s stations and cable networks were blacked out Thursday on Dish Network in a dispute over retransmission consent and carriage fees. The blackout affects stations in 17 markets across 23 states and the District of Columbia. Subscribers to Dish and its Sling streaming services are also unable to ...

Congress Looks at Cameras in Court

September 29, 2019

House members waded into the thorny issue of cameras in the court Thursday (Sept. 26) and the political divide over the issue was on display from the outset. That came in a hearing, "The Federal Judiciary in the 21st Century: Ensuring the Public’s Right of Access to the Courts," in the House ...

WSVN-TV in Miami Renews Affiliation Deal with Fox

September 29, 2019

Sunbeam Television’s WSVN-TV in Miami said it renewed its affiliation deal with Fox, continuing a 30-year relationship with the network. WSVN has been known for its colorful, fast-moving local newscasts, which made for a good fit when Fox was in its upstart stage. Sunbeam also owns WHDH-TV in ...

CNN's Toobin Stands by Statement That Justice Department Is Corrupt

September 29, 2019

The impeachment inquiry and coverage of the testimony of acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire inserted itself into a House Judiciary Committee hearing on cameras in the court Thursday (Sept. 26). Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) used his five minutes of questioning of the witnesses to ...

AT&T Gives Hill Its Take on Sinclair Impasse

September 29, 2019

As a blackout looms with the current retransmission consent impasse between Sinclair and AT&T--Sinclair is warning DirecTV and U-Verse customers the stations (136 stations in 86 markets) could be off those AT&T-owned MVPDs by Sept. 27--AT&T is framing the impasse for legislators ...

WarnerMedia Gets Latinx Comedy in New Cadence Deal

September 29, 2019

WarnerMedia has made a deal with New Cadence Productions that will give it Latinx comedy for mainstream English language viewers. The deal gives WarnerMedia first-look at projects and stand-up comedy specials. WarnerMedia has made a commitment to develop new series and will sponsor the new HA ...