Broadcasting & Cable News

Sports Fans Turn to News as Virus Wipes Out Games

March 22, 2020

On their first weekend without sports because of the coronavirus crisis, sports fans tuned to news, according to data from Inscape. Over March 14 and 15, sports fans watched 40% more C-SPAN, 35% more CNN, 16% more CNBC, 16% more MSNBC and 7% more Fox News, compared to the previous weekend. Sports ...

CBS’ Owned Stations Pitch In with National Newscasts

March 22, 2020

With CBS News’ home base in New York closed due to coronavirus, CBS’ owned stations are helping get the national newscasts out to viewers. The weekend of March 21-22, CBS Weekend News will be produced out of Dallas, with KTVT staffers filling key roles in the production. KCBS Los Angeles ...

FCC Hands Out More Temporary Spectrum

March 22, 2020

AT&T and Verizon have gone back to the FCC for additional special temporary authorities (STAs) for added spectrum as they deal with the increased broadband load of a pandemic-sequestered populace trying to work and learn and get medical treatment and play online. The FCC said Friday ...

NAB: Unprecedented Backing for Coronavirus PSAs

March 22, 2020

The National Association of Broadcasters said it has had "unprecedented" support for its coronavirus PSA campaign. It said that has translated to over $10 million in donated airtime since the initiative's launch March 12. Related: NAB Show 2020 Won't Be Rescheduled It said the PSAs have ...

NBCU Opens News Nets to All Pay TV Subscribers

March 22, 2020

NBCUniversal said that it was making its news channels, MSNBC and CNBC, available to all video customers through the coronavirus crisis. The TV stations owned by NBCU--NBC and Telemundo affiliates--will be streaming their local newscasts, as well as coronavirus-related press conferences. The ...

ABC Orders Season Four of ‘Station 19’

March 15, 2020

ABC has renewed firefighter drama Station 19 for a fourth season. The series is produced by ABC Studios. Krista Vernoff is showrunner. “Krista Vernoff is a sharp, superb storyteller and we’re so grateful to her -- along with the talented cast and crew -- for all they’ve done to make Station 19 ...

SPJ to Trump: End Coronavirus-Related Speech Restrictions

March 15, 2020

The D.C. chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, on reports the Trump administration is clamping down on government statements about the coronavirus, say those are just the latest in decades-long efforts by government agencies to control information flow. It wants journalists to keep ...

CBS, NBC, Comedy Central to Suspend Live Audiences for Late Night Talk Shows

March 15, 2020

Add CBS, NBC and Comedy Central late night talk shows to the growing list of live programming that will air without live studio audiences, as fears of coronavirus tightened its grip on television production in New York. CBS said it will suspend live audiences for The Late Show with Stephen ...

Pai Defends Mozilla Decision Comment Release

March 15, 2020

FCC chairman Ajit Pai Pushed back hard on Wednesday (March 11) against suggestions by Democratic commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel that he was playing "hide the ball" with the way the FCC issues its request for comment on the remand of some of its net neutrality dereg order. Related: FCC ...