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The latest stories published on The Desk.
The WICT Network names Tracy Pitcher to President, CEO roles
Pitcher succeeded Maria Brennan and will start in the role in early April, coinciding with a relocation of The WICT Network's headquarters to Arlington.
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Paramount CEO says Paramount Plus, HBO Max will merge
CEO David Ellison indicated Paramount Plus’ technology could power the unified platform, with HBO Max content folded into a single streaming stack.
TEGNA ad revenue climbs 4 percent during Q4; distribution income dips
Executives at TEGNA say the company's deal to be acquired by Nexstar should cross the finish line by the second half of this year.
EARNINGS REPORT
C15 Studio renews deal with Formula 1 for free streaming channel
C15 Studio renewed its multi-year deal with Formula 1 to operate the U.S.-based FAST Formula 1 Channel, adding live rights to the 2026 F1 Academy Series.
Bango: Consumers feel fatigue from unused subscriptions, seek lower-priced models
Subscription service users feel like they aren't getting the biggest bang for their buck, which has them looking for novel ways to reduce costs while maintaining access.
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DATA
TV5 Monde inks deal with Plex to offer three streaming channels
TV5 Monde has signed a distribution agreement with Plex to launch three FAST channels in several territories.
FCC gives green light to Charter-Cox merger
The approval came after Charter made key concessions on its DEI practices and promised further rural broadband build-outs.
Disney Plus adds live news feeds from ABC-owned stations
Disney Plus has increased its offering of news content by adding local news feeds from eight ABC-owned stations.
Gray Media CEO: Optimistic FCC will approve local TV swaps, acquisitions
Gray Media CEO Hilton Howell, Jr. says the company is optimistic about its own business deals and those involving other broadcasters, saying the regulatory environment is favorable to consolidation.
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Gray Media sees lower revenue, but higher ad income, during Q4
Gray Media's revenue exceeded its own prior guidance, though financial line items were down almost across the board based on comparisons to a politically-lucrative prior year.
EARNINGS REPORT
Tablo firmware update brings free streaming channels to legacy devices
Nuvyyo is pushing out a firmware update that will allow legacy Tablo DVRs to receive free streaming channels.
California to probe Paramount bid for Warner Bros Discovery
Attorney General Rob Bonta said the deal has not cleared regulatory scrutiny and pledged a “vigorous” state review of the transaction.
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