News
The latest stories published on The Desk.
Charter, Optimum restore regional news pact
The deal will restore Spectrum News NY1 to Optimum TV customers and News 12 to Spectrum TV customers in the New York metropolitan area in September.
Philo brings full Discovery Plus catalog into app for bundled subscribers
The move allows Philo streamers to watch content from Discovery Plus without needing a separate app; a commercial-free upgrade is also available.
Comscore to lay off workers under business realignment plan
The company plans to expand use of offshore resources for repeatable operations and reduce legacy business costs.
Gracenote to help improve search, ad opportunities across Tubi, Fox One
Tubi Media Group will use Gracenote’s tools to improve search, discovery and recommendations across its streaming properties.
Newsmax preps lawsuit over FCC broadcast TV ownership vote
In an interview with The Desk on Tuesday, Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy reaffirmed his commitment to litigation and said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr was "not good for conservatives."
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Deals with streamers helps radio-focused iHeart pivot during Q2
Streaming pacts with Netflix and Disney are providing incremental revenue to its overall business, but traditional broadcasting represents the largest — but declining — share of revenue.
EARNINGS REPORT
KDKA is next CBS-owned station to debut augmented-virtual reality studio
KDKA, known as CBS Pittsburgh, is the 13th CBS station to integrate AR/VR technology into its newsroom operations.
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Low-power TV advocates want voluntary transmission to 5G broadcast standard
The petition asks the FCC to amend one of its rules so low-power TV transmitters can use 5G broadcast instead of NextGen TV signals.
California AG Bonta accuses Paramount’s Ellison of “blackmail” over lawsuit
The lawsuit, brought by California and other state attorneys general, seeks to block Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner Bros Discovery.
Comcast restores NFL Network, NFL RedZone to Xfinity TV
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, and it wasn't clear if Comcast will move the NFL Network to a lower-priced package.
YouTube raises payment threshold for independent content creators
The new requirements mark a significant increase from current thresholds, and could deprive independent creators of incentives to continue offering their videos there.
FCC warns consumers about scammers impersonating agency officials
In the reported scheme, scammers claim a consumer’s phone number is under investigation for criminal activity.