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☆ Americans Get Nostalgic for the Cable TV Experience
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Sarah Krouse | Jessica Toonkel | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Andrew Rivera and his girlfriend were aimlessly scrolling through Hulu and Netflix on a recent Sunday night, overwhelmed by the variety of TV shows and movies they could watch. Channel-surf’s upAfter several minutes of decision paralysis, they gave up and opened another app: Pluto TV, a free streaming service whose interface mimics cable TV’s. They flipped through a few channels and quickly settled on an already-started episode of the British version of “Antiques Roadshow,” and eventually watched multiple episodes in a row.

☆ Google TV gets 800 free channels
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Google announced that starting Tuesday it's adding more than 800 free channels to its Google TV app on the Chromecast streaming device and select TVs made by Sony, CL, Hisense and Philips. Google's aggregation of several existing free TV services like Fox's Tubi, Paramount Global's Pluto TV and Haystack News is a move to differentiate its streaming operating interface from competitors, including Roku , Apple and Amazon . The Alphabet unit said it is integrating free channels into the "Live" tab where users will see content from channels like NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX. The service is launching in the U.S. on all Google TV devices. Eligible Android TV devices will be able to access the new TV guide and free channels later this year.

☆ Paramount Explores Sale of Majority Stake in Noggin Streaming Service
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Joe Flint | Jessica Toonkel | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

‘PAW Patrol’ is one of the shows in Noggin’s lineup that caters to young children. Paramount Global is exploring selling a majority stake in Noggin, its online learning service for preschool children, according to people familiar with the situation, part of the entertainment company’s efforts to give priority to its Paramount+ and Pluto TV streaming services. Much of Noggin’s content, including “PAW Patrol” and “Peppa Pig,” is created by Nickelodeon, a cable channel also owned by Paramount, and appears on Paramount+ as well as Noggin’s own direct-to-consumer platform.

☆ Paramount Global Explores Sale of Majority Stake of BET Media Group
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Jessica Toonkel | Joe Flint | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

An episode of ‘Sistas’ on BET. Paramount Global is exploring a sale of a majority stake of BET Media Group, which includes the cable channel. Paramount Global is exploring a sale of a majority stake of BET Media Group, which includes the cable channels BET and VH1, people familiar with the matter said. The decision to consider selling a majority stake of the assets, which cater primarily to Black audiences, is part of the entertainment giant’s effort to shore up resources to bolster its flagship Paramount+ streaming service and its advertiser-supported free streaming platform Pluto TV, some of the people said.

☆ Paramount Global considers selling majority stake of BET Media Group, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Paramount Global is considering selling a majority stake of BET Media Group, the owner of the BET cable network and studio, VH1, and the streaming service BET+, according to people familiar with the matter. While other assets at Paramount Global are closely intertwined with its flagship streaming service Paramount+, BET has its own streaming service, its own ad sales team, and an investment from actor and producer Tyler Perry. Selling a majority stake in BET Group would allow Paramount Global to get added capital to spend on programming for Paramount+ and Pluto TV, its free ad-supported streaming service. Paramount moved VH1 into BET Media Group in October. BET Media Group is run by BET CEO Scott Mills.

☆ Former EMX Digital employees are furious they were let go without severance after the adtech firm's owner Big Village filed for bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Nearly all staff at adtech firm EMX Digital were laid off this week after parent company Big Village filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Big Village, EMX Digital, and Lake Capital Partner did not respond to a request for comment. EMX Digital got backlogged on payments to publishersTwo of the former EMX Digital employees said that financial problems started last summer, after Big Village rebranded from Engine Group. There were internal rumors that this was when Lake Capital Partners started looking for a buyer for Big Village, according to two former employees. At the same time, EMX Digital stopped paying publishers, and between July and September, EMX Digital was bombarded by emails from publishers who were getting increasingly mad about missed payments, said one former employee.

☆ Exclusive: Warner Bros Discovery licenses movies and TV shows to Roku, Tubi
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Jan 31 (Reuters) - Warner Bros Discovery Inc (WBD.O) has reached deals with streaming services Roku Inc (ROKU.O) and Fox Corp's (FOXA.O) Tubi to license 2,000 hours of movies and TV series, as it becomes the latest media company to embrace free, ad-supported streaming TV. The streamers announced Tuesday they plan to use the content to launch Warner Bros-branded free, ad-supported TV (or FAST) channels. For the first nine months of 2022, Warner Bros Discovery's streaming business, which includes HBO Max, lost $1.38 billion. The studio is seeking to capitalize on a growing segment of the streaming universe, which industry executives see as complementing subscription streaming services. AMC Networks Inc (AMCX.O), Comcast Corp's (CMCSA.O) NBCUniversal and the National Hockey League have launched FAST channels over the last year.

☆ Inside the turmoil at Cheddar News, where an editorial 'identity crisis' and misfired social media strategy divided the newsroom and drove staffers to the exits
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Reed Alexander | Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +21 min

16 insiders described unrest and discord partly fueled by the site's revamped social media strategy. Malaspina's plan was for Cheddar to look and feel like a social media platform and to position its stars as influencers. Concerns inside Cheddar intensified when Malaspina, a newcomer to journalism, refocused its coverage on social media content. Multiple segments and even an entire show — "Trending" at 7 p.m. — centered on social media trends and TikTok challenges. It's very troubling to think that news professionals would inflate or distort their social media followings.

☆ HBO Max has always streamed HBO series like 'Game of Thrones' without commercials. But that's going to change.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ads are coming to HBO original series like "Game of Thrones" on HBO Max. Running ads alongside HBO originals could turn off viewers or possibly anger creators. HBO Max has kept commercials off its most prestigious programming — HBO originals series like "Mare of Easttown" and "Game of Thrones" (though ads appear in HBO Max originals like "The Flight Attendant" and "Hacks"). At the service's launch, Andy Forssell, then HBO Max EVP and GM, called the plan an effort to create an "elegant, tasteful ad experience that is respectful of great storytelling." With HBO Max, WBD is racing to make streaming profitable while slashing debt.

☆ Jim Cramer's top 10 things to watch in the market Friday: Inflation, natural gas plunge, Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Case in point: Natural gas prices plunge roughly 25% this week alone and even more for the month. Citi cuts price target on Paychex (PAYX) to $119 per share from $131. Wedbush cuts price target on Tesla (TSLA) to $175 per share from $250, though keeps its outperform (buy) rating. Loop Capital cut Paramount Global (PARA) to a sell from hold, slashing its price target to $14 per share from $30. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ CBS-owned stations added to free, rapidly growing local news streaming service VUit
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

He added: "It's a double-edged sword when making the transition to the [streaming] TV world." TV and streaming services are crawling all over each other for more content that retains viewers. Some companies like Sinclair have created their own free streaming services, and many affiliates use their websites and build their own apps to offer newscasts. VUit aims to work with CBS's local stations to boost their hyperlocal events on the platform and attract more eyeballs. A recent Iceman Challenge mountain bike race in Traverse City, Michigan, available only from local station WWTV on VUit's platform, garnered thousands of viewers.

☆ Warren Buffett just bet big on Paramount to win the ad streaming wars — here's what makes its business unique compared to competitors like HBO Max, Disney, and Netflix
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Elizabeth Pham Janowski | Ryan Joe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The maturation of ad-supported streaming services over the last year have become clearer. Discovery, and Netflix, which are charging high rates for streaming ads against so-called premium content. If these companies hope to attract premium CPMs however, they need to get them now. "The only reason, in my opinion, that they can control premium CPMs today is that they're just starting at this," Martin said. She believes the market will force services charging "premium" CPMs to lower these prices over time.

☆ Warner Bros Discovery reports underwhelming revenue, says new streaming service coming earlier
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Discovery reported its third-quarter earnings on Thursday, missing analyst expectations, as it felt the effects of a tough advertising environment and costs associated with its post-merger restructuring. CEO David Zaslav also announced that the merged version of the company's HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming services will be coming in the spring, earlier than the previously announced summer release date. Here's what the company reported compared with analysts' expectations, according to Refinitiv:Revenue: $9.82 billion vs. $10.36 billion expectedThe company reported a loss per share of 95 cents, citing macroeconomic headwinds, particularly in advertising. Discovery is the result of a merger between AT&T's WarnerMedia and Discovery, which was completed earlier this year. Industry peer Paramount Global reported earnings on Wednesday, also missing analyst estimates as its TV and advertising revenue fell.

☆ Paramount Global shares slide as results miss and TV revenue falls
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Paramount Global on Wednesday reported $6.92 billion in revenue for its third quarter, an increase of 5% year-over-year. Yet the company's results missed expectations as it suffered from cord cutting and a drop in advertising revenue. Advertising revenue for the segment also dropped, a sign that macroeconomic headwinds are beginning to hit. Paramount said advertising revenue for its TV networks was down 3% to about $1.9 billion. The company noted it also restructured some of its international affiliate TV agreements during the quarter, which shifted revenue from pay-TV services to streaming.

☆ Paramount misses revenue estimates on ad weakness
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 2 (Reuters) - Paramount Global (PARA.O) fell short of analysts' estimates for quarterly revenue on Wednesday, as the media giant struggled with the absence of major content releases and an extended weakness in ad sales. Total revenue rose 5% to $6.92 billion in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, but missed the average estimate of $7.01 billion, according to Refinitiv data. Paramount said advertising revenue declined 2% in the quarter. Revenue at TV Media, its biggest reporting segment, declined 5% to $4.95 billion, capturing the bulk of weakness in the ads market. Fox Corp (FOXA.O) on Tuesday reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue, with an 8% rise in ad revenue due to higher political advertising revenue on its TV stations.

☆ Netflix and Other Streaming Platforms Are Embracing Ads—but Will the Advertisers Love Them Back?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Suzanne Vranica | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

As big streaming services roll out new ad-supported plans, marketers still face challenges with streaming ads. Marketers are excited that more streaming platforms are embracing advertising, but they say running ads on streaming services remains rife with challenges. The streaming industry’s two largest players, Netflix Inc. and Walt Disney Co.’s Disney+, are preparing to launch ad-supported versions of their platforms in the coming months. They will be joining a crowded field that includes streaming services owned by media companies—such as Comcast Corp.’s Peacock, Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.’s HBO Max and Paramount Global ’s Pluto TV—and device makers such as Roku Inc.’s Roku Channel and Amazon.com Inc.’s Freevee.

☆ Streaming Platforms Are Embracing Ads—but Will the Advertisers Love Them Back?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Suzanne Vranica | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Marilyn Monroe is well remembered for her iconic movies from the 1950s. Below, we rounded up some of Marilyn Monroe's best movies, along with details on where you can stream them online. Marilyn Monroe has a supporting role as Claudia Casswell, a beautiful aspiring actress who doesn't have the talent for the industry. 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'A shot of Marilyn Monroe in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." Two of the Donahue children end up joining a show starring Victoria Parker, a successful performer played by Marilyn Monroe.

☆ A hacker turned serial entrepreneur who built an ad platform for streaming TV just raised $6.75M and plans to mimic Google's playbook by courting smaller advertisers
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Lindsay Rittenhouse | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The startup makes running ads on streaming TV simpler and cheaper for small to mid-sized businesses. Vibe, which measures how streaming TV ads perform for small to mid-sized businesses, raised $6.35 million in seed funding from French venture capital firm Elaia Partners. Its technology lets advertisers create and run campaigns by themselves on streaming TV platforms. Quérou added that Vibe does not compete with public adtech companies like The Trade Desk, which works with larger TV advertisers. Quérou also previously founded Motionlead, a creator of playable ad units that is now part of app retargeting platform Adikteev.

☆ Streaming services are in a land grab for TV ad dollars. Here's a rundown of what HBO Max, Peacock, and others are offering and what they charge.
▼ + stars: | 2022-06-13 | by ( Lauren Johnson | Lindsay Rittenhouse | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Competition for streaming TV ad dollars is heating up. The battle for streaming TV dollars is heating up. Amazon wants to make a big push into TV advertising, and recently hosted its first in-person NewFronts event to pitch its streaming TV offerings. Two ad buyers said that Hulu is looking to up its ad prices this year and compete for larger budgets. Ad prices vary significantly based on the amount of data and targeting that advertisers use, according to ad buyers.

☆ MTV's CMO describes how she built hype around revivals of 'The Hills' and 'Jersey Shore,' and the network's turnaround effort under Chris McCarthy
▼ + stars: | 2019-07-29 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The network has seen an early lift in linear-TV ratings since reviving unscripted franchises from the 2000s like "Jersey Shore" and "The Hills." Turn on MTV during any weeknight and you might think it's 2010, with new episodes from old reality-TV franchises like "The Hills," "Jersey Shore," and "Teen Mom" rolling out weekly. Parkes spoke with Business Insider about selling nostalgia with revivals like "The Hills: New Beginnings" and the "Jersey Shore" spin-offs as well as courting the next MTV generation. It followed another MTV revival, a dating spin-off of "Jersey Shore," called "Double Shot at Love with DJ Pauly D and Vinny." For the premiere of "The Hills," it was 24% — close to the 25% the "Jersey Shore: Family Vacation" spin-off had.

Persons: Jacqueline Parkes, Parkes, Chris McCarthy, Alexa, Natasha Bedingfield, —, DJ Pauly D, Vinny, Sean, Diddy, Combs, McCarthy, McCarthy's Wharton, Colleen Fahey Rush, IndieWire, Nina Diaz, They're, Tim Nolan Organizations: MTV, Viacom, VH1, CMT, Viacom's Digital Studios, Business, Twitter, Nielsen, CBS, Hollywood Reporter, Wall, Macquarie Capital Locations: Jersey, California, New Haven , Connecticut, New England, New Jersey , Arizona, Southern California

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