Fubo loses 100,000 subscribers during Q1 amid battle with broadcasters
Fubo lost 100,000 customers during the first quarter of the year as sports fans churn out at the end of football season.
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The latest stories published on The Desk.
Roku close to landing Sunday morning baseball games
Roku is in advanced talks with Major League Baseball about a package of Sunday morning and early afternoon games.
Weigel reveals list of cartoons coming to MeTV Toons channel
“Tom & Jerry,” “The Smurfs,” “Wacky Races” and “Freakazoid!” are some of the animated series coming to the new network this summer.
Fubo seeks second congressional hearing on pay TV industry woes
Fubo is asking federal lawmakers to hold a second hearing exploring competition in the pay television space, with a specific focus on a forthcoming streaming service being developed by broadcasters.
Sony, Apollo offer $26 billion in cash for Paramount
Sony and Apollo Global Management have formalized their $26 billion all-cash bid for Paramount Global.
Weigel launching retro cartoon channel MeTV Toons
The channel, which will feature classic animated series, will debut on free, ad-supported streaming platforms and broadcast TV in mid-June.
Xumo CEO Colin Petrie-Norris departs company
The executive spent 12 years at the technology company, overseeing its development and its acquisition by Comcast and Charter.
DirecTV will keep Bally Sports channels under multi-year agreement
Customers without access to Bally Sports in their DirecTV package will be able to purchase Bally Sports Plus through the satellite provider.
Fubo unveils carousels, pause ads within streaming service
Fubo has debuted four new CTV ad units that marketers can take advantage of to reach premium linear content streamers.
Roku debuts new content line-up, ad opportunities in Roku City
A new zone for the Summer Olympic Games and a partnership with The Trade Desk were among the reveals.
Nexstar reclaims Chicago’s CW affiliation for WGN-TV
It will mark the first time that “Chicago’s Very Own” has carried CW Network programming since 2016.
Comcast turns down offer to extend Diamond Sports carriage deal
The situation means Comcast’s Xfinity TV subscribers are likely to lose access to their local Bally Sports channel in the near future.
Fubo pulls remaining Discovery channels amid contract dispute with WBD
The channels were offered on Fubo through a carriage deal that pre-dated WarnerMedia’s merger with Discovery Networks.
Brian Watson to end two-decade career at Paramount
His resignation will take effect in early May, according to a memo obtained exclusively by The Desk.
Google offers Display & Video 360 update at NewFronts
Step into the future of ad buying. Experiment, ask questions and let Display & Video 360 fuel your growth. This opportunity is unprecedented — make it yours.
Samsung TV Plus launches new pro-sports partnerships
New performance-driven advertiser solutions unveiled to include direct access across CTV and Mobile Ad inventory where users get news and Olympics content
T-Mobile expands ad business with new products, partnerships
Today, T-Mobile announced the expansion of T-Mobile Advertising Solutions during its first-ever presentation at IAB NewFronts.
NBC prepares $2.5 billion bid for national NBA television rights
A takeover of some national NBA broadcast rights by NBC could make WBD’s streaming joint venture with ESPN and Fox less-attractive to basketball fans.
ITV taps British creators for new “ITV Insiders” initiative
ITV wants to leverage Britain’s smartest, culturally-relevant and forward-thinking creators.
Broadcasters launch Freely TV in United Kingdom
The service offers streaming versions of linear channels and on-demand content from Britain’s public service broadcasters.
British lawmakers set new rules for smart devices sold in country
Smart devices like Amazon’s line of voice-activated speakers will have to adhere to new rules meant to increase security.
Paramount misses on revenue, TV business sees lift from Super Bowl during Q1
Paramount Global’s CEO Bob Bakish will depart from the company on Tuesday; the company missed revenue estimates during Q1, but beat on earnings.
Ex-DAZN worker confirms early end to All Elite Wrestling distribution deal
The wrestling franchise pay-per-view ratings were below expectations, leading DAZN to end the distribution deal ahead of schedule.
Comcast to raise price of Peacock before Olympics
Want to stream Peacock content without ads? Be prepared to pay $14 per month for the privilege.
TCL to distribute three Hearst-programmed streaming channels
TCL has inked a distribution agreement with Hearst Television to bring three of their channels to the FAST platform TCL TV Plus.
Cox Media stations return to Dish Network after 17-month dispute
Around a dozen stations are now available to Dish Network customers in Cox Media-served markets.
Paramount CEO Robert Bakish likely out this week
Paramount CEO Bob Bakish could be replaced as soon as this week, according to a report published over the weekend.
SportsNet Pittsburgh launches direct-to-consumer streaming TV service
SNP 360 offers live access to Pittsburgh Pirates and Penguins games for $18 per month.
Charter sees 392,000 cable TV disconnects during Q1
CEO Chris Winfrey affirmed “short term market challenges,” but said Charter still offers compelling products to consumers.
Amazon to stream NHL games in Canada through deal with Rogers
Prime Video will offer a rolling slate of NHL games on Monday evenings for two years.
Comcast CEO Brian Roberts pay increased to $35.5 million in 2023
Despite challenges in the TV and broadband space, Comcast’s top executive is still making bank.
CBS Sports launches Champions League streaming channel
CBS Sports is rolling out a new free streaming television channel dedicated to the UEFA Champions League.
Mattel partners with Samsung for 3 FAST content channels
The channels are launching later this year, and will be placed in a dedicated “Kids” section on Samsung TV Plus.
Roku grows to 81.6 million users, narrows financial loss during Q1
The company’s total revenue grew to $882 million, up 19 percent on a year-over basis; loss narrows to $50.8 million.
Scripps News relaunches website, refreshes mobile and streaming apps
The new Scripps News mobile app offers more personalized news features, including push alerts across news, weather and sports stories.
FCC votes to restore Obama-era network neutrality rules
The FCC has voted 3-2 to restore network neutrality rules first put in place during the Obama administration.
Local Now adds six BBC FAST channels to streaming service
The channels added to Local Now include BBC Game Shows, BBC Impossible and BBC Top Gear, among others.
OTTera partners with ThinkAnalytics to expand personalization, revenue opportunities
The partnership will see OTTera integrate two ThinkAnalytics AI-driven products to increase monetization and personalized content recommendations.
Broadband helps boost Comcast’s Q1 revenue, Peacock grows to 34 million subscribers
Comcast and the NFL’s decision to move a key NFL playoff game to Peacock earlier this year helped grow the streaming service’s customer base to 34 million.
Philo adds six new channels to base plan, including Dabl
Four other channels from AMC Networks are also launching on Philo this week.