Dish Network and Game Show Network reached a carriage agreement that restores the channel on Dish TV and Sling TV and ends a blackout that started earlier this month (see 2209070001), Dish said Tuesday.
The FCC plans a forum on accessible emergency information in video programming Oct.6, said a public notice Monday. Hosted by the Media Bureau and the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, the event will “explore the current state of emergency information in video programming, as well as advancements that may occur in the future” and include panels featuring speakers from TV companies including ABC and Gray, and consumer groups such as the Hearing Loss Association of America and the National Federation of the Blind, the PN said.
New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) pushed MLB and Apple to reach agreement with YES Network allowing the regional sports network to carry the Yankees game against the Boston Red Sox. The game was to be carried on Apple+ Friday night. "To deny millions of New Yorkers, and fans around the nation, the opportunity to watch as (Yankees outfielder) Aaron Judge steps up to the plate, is wrong and unfair," James said Friday. Citing New York cable subscribers "being asked to pay extra if they want to watch this exciting home run chase, and potentially historic game," James said Apple and MLB should "reach a fair accommodation with the YES Network so that fans can watch what we all hope will be history made this evening.” MLB and Apple didn't comment.
Illinois' Cable and Video Competition Law (CVCL) doesn't give East St. Louis a right of action to seek video service provider franchise fees from streaming services, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Beatty of East St. Louis ruled Friday, dismissing a putative class action complaint brought by the city. In the docket 3:21-CV-561 order Friday granting the streaming service defendants' motions to dismiss (see 2203290039), Beatty said CVCL explicitly says the state attorney general can institute a lawsuit for CVCL violations, but it doesn't say that local government units can do likewise. That the AG's office hasn't pursued a suit "does not somehow mean the statutory enforcement framework is an inadequate remedy," said the order. There was no oral argument, with Beatty in the order calling it "not necessary." The city didn't comment.
A 3.3% year-on-year ad spending decline in August, the third consecutive monthly ad spend decrease, was “far better than the market performed in July,” when ad spending dropped 12.7%, reported eMarketer Thursday, saying the August numbers “should ease some anxiety that July’s dramatic figures would become the norm.” Still, “until core issues plaguing the industry are resolved,” said analyst Daniel Konstantinovic, “the downturn will continue.” Konstantinovic called year-on-year spending decreases “inevitable” as post-pandemic “normalcy” resumes. “Digital ad spending reached record highs during lockdowns that increased the average consumer’s screen time, but now that society is reclaiming some normalcy, issues with addressability, measurement, and economic uncertainties have caught up with the industry," said the analyst. July figures were particularly rough due to the lack of major sporting events, he noted. Issues with addressability and changes in consumer spending habits are driving the industry’s big spenders to “permanently shift their strategies,” Konstantinovic said. The recent spending downturn came mostly from the top 10 ad categories, which had a 5.1% falloff, the most noticeable coming from carmakers, which cut spending 23% in June and 43% in July, he said. The money is going instead to customer experience and post-purchase marketing, he said. Worldwide ad spending on technology and electronics is expected to be up 25% this year vs. 2021, eMarketer said.
Fox Corp. shareholders will vote Nov. 3 whether to recommend the company annually issue a report on its federal and state lobbying activities, per a company SEC proxy filing this week. The proxy said Fox's board urges a "no" vote on the shareholder-brought proposal, saying it has "made sweeping changes to its political activities disclosures and policies this year and already publishes nearly all of the information requested by the proponent." Also on the agenda is a vote to amend Fox's certificate of incorporation to reflect Delaware law changes on officer exculpation. The board recommended a "yes" vote for that.
Film production companies that sued Verizon earlier this month for vicarious copyright infringement regarding alleged piracy by the carrier's internet subscribers using BitTorrent have voluntarily dismissed the claim, per a notice (docket 1:22-cv-07586) Monday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
Government mandates prioritizing carriage of rural and agricultural content would likely be unconstitutional, said a Free State Foundation blog post Friday reacting to two congressional resolutions -- HR-1239 and SR-712 -- trumpeting the value of such content. Rural TV network RFD-TV supports the resolutions (see 2207180037). “Congress should steer clear of mandating or appearing to direct the programming content choices of video service distributors,” said the blog post. The courts would take a dim view of a “program carriage or placement mandate favoring specific video content,” FSF said.
Streaming usage was 35% of overall TV consumption in August, its second straight month as the top TV viewing category, reported Nielsen Thursday. Broadcast and cable each gained in August as well, with shares at 22.1% and 34.5%, respectively, it said. Though total time spent watching TV in August was down slightly from July, broadcast, cable and streaming each had increases in share compared with the previous month, it said. HBO Max had a 13.7% increase in August viewing volume compared with July and a record-high 1.2% share of TV consumption, aided by the release of HBO's House of the Dragon, said Nielsen. Viewing of Netflix's Stranger Things steadily declined in August, leading to a 6.5% drop in usage and loss of 0.5 share points, bringing the streaming platform to 7.6% share of TV, it said. Time spent watching YouTube increased 2.8% in August and gained 0.3 share points, tying Netflix's share for the first time at 7.6% of total TV.
More than two-thirds (68%) of U.S. internet homes watch NFL games online and plan to do so throughout the football season, reported Parks Associates Wednesday. The new NFL+ subscription VOD service aims to capitalize on that popularity by offering access to live local and prime-time games, but the NFL+ fan experience has been less than ideal, it said. NFL+ included out-of-market preseason games that were “viewable only on mobile devices," said Parks analyst Eric Sorensen. “Now, with the start of the NFL season, many fans are frustrated with local blackouts on the service. An NFL+ subscription does not guarantee access to every game, but Twitter reactions show the NFL must do a better job of informing fans of the extent and limitations of the product.” The NFL didn’t respond to requests for comment.