Broadcasting & Cable News

FCC Prepares for Government Shutdown

December 23, 2018

A government shutdown was looking more likely late Thursday (Dec. 20) after the House passed an appropriations bill, with over $5 billion in "wall/steel slat" funding that the Senate is unlikely to pass. If so, the FCC could continue to operate if it has prior-year funding to tap into, but if not, ...

Sen. Manchin Lifts Hold on FCC's Carr

December 23, 2018

Sen. Joe Manchin (D.W.Va.), has lifted his hold on the nomination of FCC commissioner Brendan Carr to a full term after getting assurances from FCC chair Ajit Pai he would re-start the FCC's Mobility Fund Phase II broadband subsidy program as soon as possible and get more funding for Manchin's home ...

Discovery Off-the-Grid Show ‘Homestead Rescue’ Returns Jan. 2

December 23, 2018

A new season of Homestead Rescue starts on Discovery Jan. 2, while a special episode hits the airwaves Dec. 26. The show depicts “homesteading saviors,” as Discovery puts it, Marty, Misty and Matt Raney addressing the most desperate homesteads across America to help struggling folks live off the ...

Mike Wise Joins WUSA

December 23, 2018

WUSA has made a "Wise" move. Veteran sports journalist Mike Wise, most recently from ESPN's Undefeated digital venture, has joined the TEGNA CBS affiliate in Washington as a digital journalist. Wise, who has been a sports columnist and analyst at ESPN, will contribute to WUSA's digital and ...

FCC's 28 GHz Auction Wanes as Holiday Break Approaches

December 23, 2018

With 87 rounds under its collective belt, the FCC's 28 GHz spectrum auction is definitely on the wane. Over the past four rounds, the new money bid for almost 3,000 licenses has decreased from $93,800 to $46,940 to $27,100 to $21,200. But that is still down from the total number of provisionally ...

Primetime Ratings: ABC Wins With ‘Charlie Brown’

December 23, 2018

ABC earned top spot in Thursday’s ratings, as A Charlie Brown Christmas led the net to a 0.9 in viewers 18-49, and a 4 share. That got past the 0.8/4 that CBS rated. The Peanuts holiday special dates to 1965. Charlie Brown did a 1.2, same as it rated in a Dec. 6 airing, and The Great ...

Sprint Pays $330M to Settle False Claims Act Suit

December 23, 2018

New York State has handed opponents of the Sprint-T-Mobile merger some new ammunition. Attorney General Barbara Underwood said Friday that the wireless carrier had agreed to pony up a record $330 million to settle a False Claims Act lawsuit filed by Underwood. Looked at one way, it could be viewed ...

Charter, Viacom Join Blockgraph Data Initiative

December 23, 2018

Looking to prevent the leakage of cable industry subscribers, Charter’s Spectrum Reach and Viacom are working with Comcast on its Blockgraph initiative. Blockgraph, created by Comcast’s FreeWheel Group, uses blockchain software to allow TV and media companies to control and activate their data ...

Oxygen Offers ‘Smiley Face Killers’ January 19

December 23, 2018

Smiley Face Killers: The Hunt for Justice begins on Oxygen Jan. 19. The series follows a private investigation spearheaded by a retired NYPD detective and his team of investigators as they work with victims’ families and forensic experts to further investigate and question that a string of ...