Author:
Matthew Keys
Matthew Keys is the award-winning founder and editor of TheDesk.net, an authoritative voice on broadcast and streaming TV, media and tech. With over ten years of experience, he's a recognized expert in broadcast, streaming, and digital media, with work featured in publications such as StreamTV Insider and Digital Content Next, and past roles at Thomson Reuters and Disney-ABC Television Group.
Spectrum offers complementary Amazon Prime to low-income Internet customers
Qualified low-income customers of Spectrum Internet can now receive Amazon Prime for free.
DIRECTV drops WRTV amid dispute with Circle City
The channel disappeared Monday evening after the companies were unable to resolve a dispute over fees and carriage terms.
Nexstar Chief Technology Officer Brett Jenkins to retire
Nexstar Media Group said Brett Jenkins will retire from full-time work effective October 1; he will transition to Executive Advisor and continue overseeing several special projects.
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Fawesome redesigns streaming TV app with new ad formats
Fawesome has launched a redesigned connected television experience that places greater emphasis on content discovery and gives advertisers new ways to reach viewers before they start watching a movie or show.
Circle City presses DIRECTV for deal involving WRTV, WISH-TV
WRTV would become the third Circle City station unavailable to DIRECTV customers in Indianapolis if no new deal is reached.
NEW DETAILS
Ampere: Streaming platforms slow price increases as consumers vote with wallets
Across the three major streamers, average price increases fell from 24 percent of the prior subscription price in 2023-24 to 14 percent in 2025-26.
DATA
Groups seek to join Disney’s lawsuit against FCC over ABC licenses
The proposed intervenors support Disney’s challenge but argue the company’s corporate interests may not always align with the interests of viewers.
FIRST ON THE DESK
ESPN to raise streaming prices in September
The cost of ESPN Unlimited will rise to $32 per month for all streaming-only sports fans by mid-September.
wedotv expands FAST channel distribution on VIDAA platform
The expanded deal broadens wedotv’s free ad-supported streaming television presence on VIDAA, which is used across smart TVs from Hisense, Toshiba, Loewe and other brands.
CNN blames technical glitch for brief outage of channels
The issue started around 12:15 p.m. Eastern Time during a live broadcast of "Inside Politics with Dana Bash" on CNN and CNN International.
Sinclair: On-air KOMO employees vote to leave SAG-AFTRA
Anchors and reporters at Sinclair's local television station in Seattle narrowly voted to break from SAG-AFTRA for their union representation, the company said in a statement on Monday.
California AG cancels Paramount settlement talks over press leaks
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office would be willing to meet again if Paramount “stops playing games and engages sincerely.”