Broadcasting & Cable News

Congress Directs FCC to Review TV Ratings

February 24, 2019

Turns out Congress has mandated a review of the TV ratings system. The Parents Television Council had called on the FCC to undertake the review last week. Congress included a provision to that effect in the omnibus 2019 Appropriations Bill that passed last week, averting another government shutdown ...

Congress Directs FCC to Review Market Mod "Issues"

February 24, 2019

The recently passed 2019 Appropriations bill--the one that avoided a second government shutdown--was a massive tome that included directing the FCC to provide a "full analysis" of its treatment of market modification petitions. Those are petitions by broadcasters or satellite operators or county ...

Wendy Williams to Return to Talk Show March 4

February 24, 2019

After taking two months off to tend to illness and injury, Wendy Williams will return to her eponymous talk show on Monday, March 4, Lionsgate-owned Debmar-Mercury, which produces and distributes the show, said Thursday. “Wendy Williams is an incredible talent with the most unique voice in daytime. ...

OSTP Trumpets Trump Tech Efforts

February 24, 2019

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) says the Trump Administration has been an "an active and meaningful driver for science and technology policy in America," including clearing away some impediments to the rollout of 5G and rural connectivity. That came in OSTP's Science ...

Primetime Ratings: Mighty ‘Masked Singer’ Leads Fox to Win

February 24, 2019

Fox took Wednesday ratings, as a robust The Masked Singer led to a hearty 1.9 in viewers 18-49, per the Nielsen overnights, and an 8 share. Runner-up NBC got a 1.3/6. On Fox, Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back grew 10% to 1.1 and The Masked Singer climbed 8% for a 2.6. Spoiler alert--Joey ...

Vermont Bans Chinese Tech From Government Info, Telecom Systems

February 24, 2019

The State of Vermont is banning Huawei, ZTE and other Chinese telecom equipment from all of its information and telecommunications systems, as well as Kaspersky-branded security products, like Anti-Virus or products from Kaspersky Government Security Solutions. That is according to a directive from ...

Trump Tweets Call to 5G Arms

February 24, 2019

President Donald Trump tweeted his call for victory in the race to 5G next-gen wireless broadband. That came the same day a White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) update on Trump's tech accomplishments led off with efforts to goose that 5G effort. Sandwiched between tweets about ...

FCC to Vote on Disbursing $1 Billion in New Repack Funds

February 24, 2019

The FCC will be voting on a proposal at its March 15 meeting to establish rules for disbursing the additional $1 billion Congress approved for post incentive-auction TV station (and now some radio station) repack/moving expenses. That is according to FCC chair Ajit Pai, who outlined the meeting's ...

WORK Microwave at CABSAT 2019

February 24, 2019

In the Middle East market, today's satellite operators need high-performance, cost-effective satcom solutions for delivering high-quality broadcast and high-speed broadband offerings. At CABSAT 2019, WORK Microwave — a market leader with more than 30 years of experience — will demonstrate its ...