Kirby Grines (Courtesy photo)
“Here’s how the whole thing got started: In junior high, I found the one guy in town who would sell cigarettes to a kid.”
That was how Kirby Grines kicked off our pre-interview.
The question had something to do with his earliest memory of being interested in the business of sales. Like any good businessman, Kirby knows how to take the lead in a conversation and capture the attention of his audience. He does so in somewhat unconventional ways — recounting a story about buying tobacco off a delinquent adult, or rapping about streaming bundles in front of hundreds of C-suite and senior-level executives at an industry conference.
In many ways, Kirby is the total package — a naturally cool and charismatic person who knows how to take command of a room and win people over, and also a highly-intelligent thought leader who can help explain the complicated intersection of media,...
“Here’s how the whole thing got started: In junior high, I found the one guy in town who would sell cigarettes to a kid.”
That was how Kirby Grines kicked off our pre-interview.
The question had something to do with his earliest memory of being interested in the business of sales. Like any good businessman, Kirby knows how to take the lead in a conversation and capture the attention of his audience. He does so in somewhat unconventional ways — recounting a story about buying tobacco off a delinquent adult, or rapping about streaming bundles in front of hundreds of C-suite and senior-level executives at an industry conference.
In many ways, Kirby is the total package — a naturally cool and charismatic person who knows how to take command of a room and win people over, and also a highly-intelligent thought leader who can help explain the complicated intersection of media,...
- 9/20/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
(Photo by Ted Pio Roda / Handout)
The fandom surrounding basketball prodigy Caitlin Clark has driven immense interest in Women’s National Basketball Games (WNBA) since she was drafted by the Indiana Fever earlier this year — and no television broadcaster has benefitted more from this than the E. W. Scripps Company.
On Thursday, executives at Scripps said viewership of its WNBA on Ion telecasts drew 23.37 million unique viewers across its games and wrap-up shows, a 133 percent increase compared to the 2023 season, when Ion began airing Friday evening WNBA games.
Ion broadcast nearly four dozen WNBA games this season, a record for the league. The games air for free on over-the-air Ion television affiliates across the country, and through the Ion free, ad-supported streaming TV (Fast) channel on platforms like Fox Corporation’s Tubi, Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus and Amazon’s Freevee.
“This season was a big step forward for the...
The fandom surrounding basketball prodigy Caitlin Clark has driven immense interest in Women’s National Basketball Games (WNBA) since she was drafted by the Indiana Fever earlier this year — and no television broadcaster has benefitted more from this than the E. W. Scripps Company.
On Thursday, executives at Scripps said viewership of its WNBA on Ion telecasts drew 23.37 million unique viewers across its games and wrap-up shows, a 133 percent increase compared to the 2023 season, when Ion began airing Friday evening WNBA games.
Ion broadcast nearly four dozen WNBA games this season, a record for the league. The games air for free on over-the-air Ion television affiliates across the country, and through the Ion free, ad-supported streaming TV (Fast) channel on platforms like Fox Corporation’s Tubi, Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus and Amazon’s Freevee.
“This season was a big step forward for the...
- 9/19/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
A sound technician with ESPN helps produce a telecast of a football game.
A tentative deal between the Walt Disney Company and pay television provider DirecTV has opened the door for millions of satellite and streaming TV customers to receive access to ABC, ESPN and other Disney-owned channels once again.
The pending agreement, announced early Saturday morning, comes about two weeks after DirecTV was forced to pull the Disney-owned networks when a distribution contract with Disney lapsed without a new deal in place.
A source tells me Disney and DirecTV are “very close” on a new deal that would restore ABC, ESPN and others to DirecTV and U-Verse, but no additional details. $Dis, $T
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) September 14, 2024
The situation left around 11 million customers of DirecTV via Satellite, DirecTV via Internet, DirecTV Stream and U-Verse unable to access channels like ESPN, FX, National Geographic and Freeform. Satellite subscribers were also...
A tentative deal between the Walt Disney Company and pay television provider DirecTV has opened the door for millions of satellite and streaming TV customers to receive access to ABC, ESPN and other Disney-owned channels once again.
The pending agreement, announced early Saturday morning, comes about two weeks after DirecTV was forced to pull the Disney-owned networks when a distribution contract with Disney lapsed without a new deal in place.
A source tells me Disney and DirecTV are “very close” on a new deal that would restore ABC, ESPN and others to DirecTV and U-Verse, but no additional details. $Dis, $T
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) September 14, 2024
The situation left around 11 million customers of DirecTV via Satellite, DirecTV via Internet, DirecTV Stream and U-Verse unable to access channels like ESPN, FX, National Geographic and Freeform. Satellite subscribers were also...
- 9/14/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
(Stock image via Pixabay, Graphic by The Desk)
Satellite and streaming pay TV platform DirecTV is taking an unusual tactic during its ongoing dispute with the Walt Disney Company: Pointing customers to some of its competitors.
On Friday, the company said it was offering existing DirecTV via Satellite, DirecTV via Internet DirecTV Stream and U-Verse customers the option to take advantage of promotional pricing from streaming TV platforms Fubo and Sling TV so they can watch the conclusion of the U.S. Open tennis tournament and the start of “Monday Night Football,” both of which are carried on ESPN.
A DirecTV spokesperson tells me the original bill credit offer was $20, but Fubo/Sling each kicked in an additional $10 to those who sign up for their services, bringing total to $30 — but customers have to call or visit TV Promise website to get it.
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) September 6, 2024
Customers...
Satellite and streaming pay TV platform DirecTV is taking an unusual tactic during its ongoing dispute with the Walt Disney Company: Pointing customers to some of its competitors.
On Friday, the company said it was offering existing DirecTV via Satellite, DirecTV via Internet DirecTV Stream and U-Verse customers the option to take advantage of promotional pricing from streaming TV platforms Fubo and Sling TV so they can watch the conclusion of the U.S. Open tennis tournament and the start of “Monday Night Football,” both of which are carried on ESPN.
A DirecTV spokesperson tells me the original bill credit offer was $20, but Fubo/Sling each kicked in an additional $10 to those who sign up for their services, bringing total to $30 — but customers have to call or visit TV Promise website to get it.
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) September 6, 2024
Customers...
- 9/6/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
Bango’s Digital Vending Machine connects services and their customers with subscription-based offerings like streaming products. (Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
Technology firm Bango has integrated the Walt Disney Company’s flagship streaming service Disney Plus into its Digital Vending Machine for telecom partners.
The integration of Disney Plus allows partner telecom services like Verizon and BT Group to offer their customers access to Disney Plus, either through wholesale purchase arrangements, a bundle or through some other means.
Verizon utilizes Bango’s Digital Vending Machine to power its subscription marketplace called Verizon Plus-Play (stylized as Verizon +play). Through the platform, Verizon offers access to a number of subscription-based products and gives customers the ability to purchase unique bundles like Netflix and AMC Plus at deep discounts.
Verizon has long offered certain wireless and home Internet users access to the Disney Plus bundle, which includes two other streaming services,...
Technology firm Bango has integrated the Walt Disney Company’s flagship streaming service Disney Plus into its Digital Vending Machine for telecom partners.
The integration of Disney Plus allows partner telecom services like Verizon and BT Group to offer their customers access to Disney Plus, either through wholesale purchase arrangements, a bundle or through some other means.
Verizon utilizes Bango’s Digital Vending Machine to power its subscription marketplace called Verizon Plus-Play (stylized as Verizon +play). Through the platform, Verizon offers access to a number of subscription-based products and gives customers the ability to purchase unique bundles like Netflix and AMC Plus at deep discounts.
Verizon has long offered certain wireless and home Internet users access to the Disney Plus bundle, which includes two other streaming services,...
- 9/4/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
The Los Angeles bureau of CNN. (Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
Warner Bros Discovery (Wbd) will begin offering a simulcast of CNN International through streaming service Max in several European countries this week, the company announced on Tuesday.
The streaming simulcast of CNN International comes about a year after Wbd began offering a version of the cable news channel through Max in the United States, which mostly offers programs from CNN International with a few original news programs sprinkled in throughout the day.
On August 29, the CNN International feed will land on Max in 22 European countries, including Spain, the Nordics, Belgium, the Netherlands and in key parts of Central and Eastern Europe. The simulcast is already offered through Max in France and Poland.
“Ahead of election day…Max subscribers will be able to follow every twist and turn on the campaign trail during the final critical weeks of...
Warner Bros Discovery (Wbd) will begin offering a simulcast of CNN International through streaming service Max in several European countries this week, the company announced on Tuesday.
The streaming simulcast of CNN International comes about a year after Wbd began offering a version of the cable news channel through Max in the United States, which mostly offers programs from CNN International with a few original news programs sprinkled in throughout the day.
On August 29, the CNN International feed will land on Max in 22 European countries, including Spain, the Nordics, Belgium, the Netherlands and in key parts of Central and Eastern Europe. The simulcast is already offered through Max in France and Poland.
“Ahead of election day…Max subscribers will be able to follow every twist and turn on the campaign trail during the final critical weeks of...
- 8/27/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
Gray Television CEO Pat Laplatney (center) participates on a panel with other broadcast television executives at the 2024 TV of Tomorrow Event in San Francisco. (Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
Gray Television earned $826 million in overall revenue during the second quarter (Q2) of the year, around 2 percent higher than the comparable quarter in 2023 but lower than what the company had previously forecasted.
In its earnings release on Thursday, executives at Gray Television said they were “overall pleased with our results,” but said economic factors “largely beyond our control appear likely to result in somewhat lower revenues for the year than we previously anticipated.”
That includes a continued softening of the traditional advertising market, which has seen buyers move their cash away from broadcast television toward connected TV platforms like streaming services and free, ad-supported streaming TV (Fast) channels over the past few years.
Core advertising revenue at Gray clocked...
Gray Television earned $826 million in overall revenue during the second quarter (Q2) of the year, around 2 percent higher than the comparable quarter in 2023 but lower than what the company had previously forecasted.
In its earnings release on Thursday, executives at Gray Television said they were “overall pleased with our results,” but said economic factors “largely beyond our control appear likely to result in somewhat lower revenues for the year than we previously anticipated.”
That includes a continued softening of the traditional advertising market, which has seen buyers move their cash away from broadcast television toward connected TV platforms like streaming services and free, ad-supported streaming TV (Fast) channels over the past few years.
Core advertising revenue at Gray clocked...
- 8/8/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
Adam Ware, the Senior Vice President of Growth Networks at Sinclair, Inc. (Courtesy photo)
In the mid-1990s, Adam Ware found himself traveling a lot on Rupert Murdoch’s private jet.
The trips were all business — he and several other young TV executives were tasked with wooing over independent stations in small markets across the country, convincing them to convert to the fledging Fox network, at a time when few believed the network had what it took to compete against “The Big Three” — ABC, CBS and NBC — which had dominated the airwaves for decades.
While certain executives at other TV networks were disparaging Fox as a “coat-hanger network,” Ware wholeheartedly believed in what Fox was doing. His second job out of college, Ware quickly rose to the rank of Senior Vice President of Network Distribution at Fox. In those days, Fox had a knack for hiring people in their 20s and 30s into executive roles,...
In the mid-1990s, Adam Ware found himself traveling a lot on Rupert Murdoch’s private jet.
The trips were all business — he and several other young TV executives were tasked with wooing over independent stations in small markets across the country, convincing them to convert to the fledging Fox network, at a time when few believed the network had what it took to compete against “The Big Three” — ABC, CBS and NBC — which had dominated the airwaves for decades.
While certain executives at other TV networks were disparaging Fox as a “coat-hanger network,” Ware wholeheartedly believed in what Fox was doing. His second job out of college, Ware quickly rose to the rank of Senior Vice President of Network Distribution at Fox. In those days, Fox had a knack for hiring people in their 20s and 30s into executive roles,...
- 8/8/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
(Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
British households are subscribed to an average of more than three premium streaming services, and spend over £630 per year (around U.S. $800 per year) juggling the costs of those different products, according to new market research released by Bango on Wednesday.
The data point was outlined in a new report called “European Subscription Wars: Super Bundling Awakens,” which is based on responses from more than 5,000 streaming customers across Europe. The report follows similar surveys conducted in the United States and Latin America, which Bango released earlier this year.
While American and Latin American viewers have been gravitating toward streaming services for more than a decade, the trend has only just started in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. For decades, TV fans there were super-served by broadcast and cable networks that offer time-shifted channels, which presented programs on a one-hour delay or longer,...
British households are subscribed to an average of more than three premium streaming services, and spend over £630 per year (around U.S. $800 per year) juggling the costs of those different products, according to new market research released by Bango on Wednesday.
The data point was outlined in a new report called “European Subscription Wars: Super Bundling Awakens,” which is based on responses from more than 5,000 streaming customers across Europe. The report follows similar surveys conducted in the United States and Latin America, which Bango released earlier this year.
While American and Latin American viewers have been gravitating toward streaming services for more than a decade, the trend has only just started in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. For decades, TV fans there were super-served by broadcast and cable networks that offer time-shifted channels, which presented programs on a one-hour delay or longer,...
- 6/12/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
(Imagen cortesía)
(Traducido por Carol Alfonso) Los consumidores en América Latina están gastando alrededor de $444 dolares por año en servicios de streaming por suscripción, según los resultados de una nueva encuesta publicada el Jueves.
El informe, publicado por la firma de tecnología Bango, evaluó las respuestas de más de 6,400 clientes de streaming en seis países latinoamericanos: Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, México y Perú. Concluye que el mercado de televisión por streaming en esos países latinoamericanos está madurando a buen ritmo, pero los consumidores podrían estar sintiendo la presión de todas esas opciones premium donde más cuentan: Sus billeteras.
Alrededor del 68 por ciento de los consumidores encuestados por Bango dijeron que no podían permitirse todos los servicios de suscripción que querían ver, dijo la compañía. Los streamers en Brasil fueron los más sensibles a esas condiciones, donde el 73 por ciento dijo que sienten que no puede comprar todos los servicios de streaming que desean.
(Traducido por Carol Alfonso) Los consumidores en América Latina están gastando alrededor de $444 dolares por año en servicios de streaming por suscripción, según los resultados de una nueva encuesta publicada el Jueves.
El informe, publicado por la firma de tecnología Bango, evaluó las respuestas de más de 6,400 clientes de streaming en seis países latinoamericanos: Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, México y Perú. Concluye que el mercado de televisión por streaming en esos países latinoamericanos está madurando a buen ritmo, pero los consumidores podrían estar sintiendo la presión de todas esas opciones premium donde más cuentan: Sus billeteras.
Alrededor del 68 por ciento de los consumidores encuestados por Bango dijeron que no podían permitirse todos los servicios de suscripción que querían ver, dijo la compañía. Los streamers en Brasil fueron los más sensibles a esas condiciones, donde el 73 por ciento dijo que sienten que no puede comprar todos los servicios de streaming que desean.
- 6/7/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
Globoplay is one of the most-popular streaming television services in Brazil. (Courtesy image)
(Versión en español) Consumers in Latin America are spending around $444 per year on subscription-based streaming services, according to the findings of a new survey released on Thursday.
The report, released by technology firm Bango, evaluated responses from more than 6,400 streaming customers in six Latin American countries — Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. It concludes that the streaming TV market in those Latin American countries is maturing at a good rate, but consumers might be feeling the strain of all those premium choices where it counts the most: Their wallets.
Around 68 percent of consumers surveyed by Bango said they couldn’t afford all the subscription services they wanted to watch, the company said. Streamers in Brazil were most sensitive to those conditions, where 73 percent said they feel like they can’t purchase all the streaming services they desire.
(Versión en español) Consumers in Latin America are spending around $444 per year on subscription-based streaming services, according to the findings of a new survey released on Thursday.
The report, released by technology firm Bango, evaluated responses from more than 6,400 streaming customers in six Latin American countries — Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. It concludes that the streaming TV market in those Latin American countries is maturing at a good rate, but consumers might be feeling the strain of all those premium choices where it counts the most: Their wallets.
Around 68 percent of consumers surveyed by Bango said they couldn’t afford all the subscription services they wanted to watch, the company said. Streamers in Brazil were most sensitive to those conditions, where 73 percent said they feel like they can’t purchase all the streaming services they desire.
- 6/6/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
A billboard for the Hulu series “Futurama” as seen in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
The Walt Disney Company and Comcast Corporation have reached a point of contention over how much Hulu is actually worth as Disney continues to pursue its full acquisition of the streaming service, according to a report.
On Friday, the Wall Street Journal said both sides had hired banks to appraise the value of the streaming service, with Comcast’s financial advisors suggesting Hulu is worth as much as $40 billion and Disney’s bankers putting Hulu’s valuation around $27.5 billion.
Disney owns 66 percent of the streaming service, which started as a joint venture between it, Comcast-owned NBC Universal and Fox Corporation nearly two decades ago. At the time, all three sides had an equal stake in the venture — 30 percent — with a rotating list of minority shareholders owning the remaining 10 percent.
Over time,...
The Walt Disney Company and Comcast Corporation have reached a point of contention over how much Hulu is actually worth as Disney continues to pursue its full acquisition of the streaming service, according to a report.
On Friday, the Wall Street Journal said both sides had hired banks to appraise the value of the streaming service, with Comcast’s financial advisors suggesting Hulu is worth as much as $40 billion and Disney’s bankers putting Hulu’s valuation around $27.5 billion.
Disney owns 66 percent of the streaming service, which started as a joint venture between it, Comcast-owned NBC Universal and Fox Corporation nearly two decades ago. At the time, all three sides had an equal stake in the venture — 30 percent — with a rotating list of minority shareholders owning the remaining 10 percent.
Over time,...
- 5/31/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
Rick Howe (left) and Inscape founder Zeev Neumeier participate in a discussion at the TV of Tomorrow Show in 2024. (Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
Inscape founder Zeev Neumeier is bringing his AI-powered venture Gray Swan out of stealth mode and into beta testing.
Gray Swan is a service powered by artificial intelligence that aims to help marketers better optimize their connected TV campaigns by exploring potential problem areas, including bad pricing setups, supply and demand partner “degrades” and errant winning and non-winning bids.
The name “Gray Swan” was inspired by the book “The Black Swan” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, which examines once-thought improbable events with massive scale and unpredictability that are rationalized after the fact using logic and data.
At the TV of Tomorrow Show in San Francisco earlier this year, Neumeier said Gray Swan works in the same realm by vacuuming up data from its partners and clients,...
Inscape founder Zeev Neumeier is bringing his AI-powered venture Gray Swan out of stealth mode and into beta testing.
Gray Swan is a service powered by artificial intelligence that aims to help marketers better optimize their connected TV campaigns by exploring potential problem areas, including bad pricing setups, supply and demand partner “degrades” and errant winning and non-winning bids.
The name “Gray Swan” was inspired by the book “The Black Swan” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, which examines once-thought improbable events with massive scale and unpredictability that are rationalized after the fact using logic and data.
At the TV of Tomorrow Show in San Francisco earlier this year, Neumeier said Gray Swan works in the same realm by vacuuming up data from its partners and clients,...
- 5/28/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
A T-Mobile retail store in downtown Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
T-Mobile has agreed to pay $4.4 billion for “substantially all of” U.S. Cellular’s wireless business, the companies announced on Tuesday.
The sale will see T-Mobile acquire U.S. Cellular’s wireless customers, stores and some spectrum-related assets, according to a press release issued Tuesday morning. U.S. Cellular has more than 4.6 million customers and is the fourth-largest wireless company in the United States, offering service in nearly two dozen states. It is popular in rural areas that have been typically underserved by major wireless providers.
“With this deal, T-Mobile can extend the superior Un-Carrier value and experiences that we’re famous for to millions of U.S. Cellular customers and deliver them lower-priced, value-packed plans and better connectivity on our best-in-class nationwide 5G network,” Mike Sievert, the CEO of T-Mobile, said in a statement.
T-Mobile has agreed to pay $4.4 billion for “substantially all of” U.S. Cellular’s wireless business, the companies announced on Tuesday.
The sale will see T-Mobile acquire U.S. Cellular’s wireless customers, stores and some spectrum-related assets, according to a press release issued Tuesday morning. U.S. Cellular has more than 4.6 million customers and is the fourth-largest wireless company in the United States, offering service in nearly two dozen states. It is popular in rural areas that have been typically underserved by major wireless providers.
“With this deal, T-Mobile can extend the superior Un-Carrier value and experiences that we’re famous for to millions of U.S. Cellular customers and deliver them lower-priced, value-packed plans and better connectivity on our best-in-class nationwide 5G network,” Mike Sievert, the CEO of T-Mobile, said in a statement.
- 5/28/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
A T-Mobile retail store in downtown Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
An American man living in Turkey was arrested earlier this month and is in the process of being extradited to the United States to face charges of hacking into a computer system used by T-Mobile, The Desk has learned.
John Binns, 24, was detained by Turkish authorities after a local court approved an extradition request by federal prosecutors in the U.S., according to two sources familiar with the matter.
In January, The Desk reported Binns was indicted on 12 counts related to unauthorized access to computer systems used by T-Mobile back in 2021. Then, Binns digitally poked around T-Mobile’s servers until he found a hole, and was able to exploit the security issue in order to download records connected to tens of millions of T-Mobile’s current and former wireless subscribers.
Binns acknowledged trespassing into computer networks used by T-Mobile,...
An American man living in Turkey was arrested earlier this month and is in the process of being extradited to the United States to face charges of hacking into a computer system used by T-Mobile, The Desk has learned.
John Binns, 24, was detained by Turkish authorities after a local court approved an extradition request by federal prosecutors in the U.S., according to two sources familiar with the matter.
In January, The Desk reported Binns was indicted on 12 counts related to unauthorized access to computer systems used by T-Mobile back in 2021. Then, Binns digitally poked around T-Mobile’s servers until he found a hole, and was able to exploit the security issue in order to download records connected to tens of millions of T-Mobile’s current and former wireless subscribers.
Binns acknowledged trespassing into computer networks used by T-Mobile,...
- 5/27/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
(Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
New research from Parks Associates and Bango are trumpeting the strategy of subscription bundles across different services.
A new white paper called “Effective Bundling: Pain Points and Expectations from Subscription Leaders” asked executive leaders across video, music, education and productivity markets to weigh in on how individual services are driving consumer retention and engagement compared to bundles.
Executives affirmed subscription bundles help drive higher consumer satisfaction, engagement and retention when purchasers are able to buy groups of services at one price, compared to when they pay for those services on an individual basis. The paper reflected a 22-point lift in the Net Promoter Score (Nps) associated with Internet service providers who offer bundles of other subscription-based products to consumers.
While any subscription-based service can offer a comparable bundle, executives say telecoms like home Internet and wireless providers are a natural fit for service...
New research from Parks Associates and Bango are trumpeting the strategy of subscription bundles across different services.
A new white paper called “Effective Bundling: Pain Points and Expectations from Subscription Leaders” asked executive leaders across video, music, education and productivity markets to weigh in on how individual services are driving consumer retention and engagement compared to bundles.
Executives affirmed subscription bundles help drive higher consumer satisfaction, engagement and retention when purchasers are able to buy groups of services at one price, compared to when they pay for those services on an individual basis. The paper reflected a 22-point lift in the Net Promoter Score (Nps) associated with Internet service providers who offer bundles of other subscription-based products to consumers.
While any subscription-based service can offer a comparable bundle, executives say telecoms like home Internet and wireless providers are a natural fit for service...
- 5/26/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
A T-Mobile retail store in downtown Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
T-Mobile is taking a page out of the “Big Wireless” playbook by implementing price adjustments on some older plans that will see most long-time customers pay more money for the same service.
Affected customers began receiving text messages this week warning them of the price increase, which could see them pay between $2 and $5 extra on top of their old monthly rate.
The rate adjustment appears to primarily impact older wireless tiers like T-Mobile One and T-Mobile Simple Choice, according to KnowTechie, which published a copy of a text message received by a long-time customer.
A T-Mobile executive affirmed the price increases in a memo circulated to employees on Wednesday, noting it was the “first time in nearly a decade” that the wireless provider had adjusted its price on long-time customers. It comes several months after...
T-Mobile is taking a page out of the “Big Wireless” playbook by implementing price adjustments on some older plans that will see most long-time customers pay more money for the same service.
Affected customers began receiving text messages this week warning them of the price increase, which could see them pay between $2 and $5 extra on top of their old monthly rate.
The rate adjustment appears to primarily impact older wireless tiers like T-Mobile One and T-Mobile Simple Choice, according to KnowTechie, which published a copy of a text message received by a long-time customer.
A T-Mobile executive affirmed the price increases in a memo circulated to employees on Wednesday, noting it was the “first time in nearly a decade” that the wireless provider had adjusted its price on long-time customers. It comes several months after...
- 5/22/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
NewsNation offers reports and analysis on current events, political affairs, true crime and pop culture. (Courtesy image)
For the first time, NewsNation is going all-in on news programming.
The cable network that relaunched from the ashes of WGN America will finally ditch its predecessor’s re-runs of sitcoms and dramas when it introduces a new schedule consisting entirely of news and political affairs programming in June.
Starting June 1, NewsNation will offer a new weekend evening news program called “NewsNation Now with Adrienne Bankert,” hosted by the news outlet’s former morning show host. The show debuts several months after NewsNation revamped its weekend schedule to include more news programming and a Sunday morning political affairs show hosted by Christ Stirewalt.
“We are immensely proud to announce that NewsNation [will soon be] a 24-7 cable news network,” Sean Compton, the President of Nexstar’s Networks division, said in a statement on Wednesday. “This milestone...
For the first time, NewsNation is going all-in on news programming.
The cable network that relaunched from the ashes of WGN America will finally ditch its predecessor’s re-runs of sitcoms and dramas when it introduces a new schedule consisting entirely of news and political affairs programming in June.
Starting June 1, NewsNation will offer a new weekend evening news program called “NewsNation Now with Adrienne Bankert,” hosted by the news outlet’s former morning show host. The show debuts several months after NewsNation revamped its weekend schedule to include more news programming and a Sunday morning political affairs show hosted by Christ Stirewalt.
“We are immensely proud to announce that NewsNation [will soon be] a 24-7 cable news network,” Sean Compton, the President of Nexstar’s Networks division, said in a statement on Wednesday. “This milestone...
- 5/22/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
Data showing the domestic Fast channel market, as released by Crg Global at the TV of Tomorrow Show in March 2024. (Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
The number of free streaming content channels dipped slightly to just under 1,950 during the month of May, according to a report on Monday.
The report, published by Gavin Bridge of Crg Global in his “FASTmaster” newsletter, showed the number of free, ad-supported streaming TV (Fast) channels tracked by him was 1,943 as of this month.
The number reflected a drop of 20 content streams compared to data points Bridge presented at the TV of Tomorrow Show in San Francisco in March, during which he revealed there were 1,963 Fast channels across monitored platforms.
Gavin Bridge. (The Desk photo)
In an email sent to The Desk late Monday evening, Bridge clarified that the revised number of Fast channels accounted for Comcast’s Peacock removing some of its...
The number of free streaming content channels dipped slightly to just under 1,950 during the month of May, according to a report on Monday.
The report, published by Gavin Bridge of Crg Global in his “FASTmaster” newsletter, showed the number of free, ad-supported streaming TV (Fast) channels tracked by him was 1,943 as of this month.
The number reflected a drop of 20 content streams compared to data points Bridge presented at the TV of Tomorrow Show in San Francisco in March, during which he revealed there were 1,963 Fast channels across monitored platforms.
Gavin Bridge. (The Desk photo)
In an email sent to The Desk late Monday evening, Bridge clarified that the revised number of Fast channels accounted for Comcast’s Peacock removing some of its...
- 5/21/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
Sinclair Inc.’s Chief Operating Officer and President of Local Media Robert Weisbord (center) participate in a panel discussion with other television industry executives at the 2024 TV of Tomorrow Event in San Francisco. (Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
Sinclair, Inc. has hired an investment banking firm to explore a possible sale of more than 60 local television stations, according to a report.
On Thursday, CNBC said the media company was weighing the possibility of trimming its local TV station portfolio by as much as 30 percent, which would involve selling off more than five dozen of its 185 television stations across the country.
Through local marketing agreements, Sinclair operates nearly 300 local broadcast TV stations within the lower 48 states. Stations owned by shell companies like Cunningham Broadcasting and Deerfield Media are not part of the strategy, according to a person familiar with the matter, who confirmed CNBC’s report and provided additional information on condition of anonymity.
Sinclair, Inc. has hired an investment banking firm to explore a possible sale of more than 60 local television stations, according to a report.
On Thursday, CNBC said the media company was weighing the possibility of trimming its local TV station portfolio by as much as 30 percent, which would involve selling off more than five dozen of its 185 television stations across the country.
Through local marketing agreements, Sinclair operates nearly 300 local broadcast TV stations within the lower 48 states. Stations owned by shell companies like Cunningham Broadcasting and Deerfield Media are not part of the strategy, according to a person familiar with the matter, who confirmed CNBC’s report and provided additional information on condition of anonymity.
- 5/9/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
Fubo’s new “Instant Headlines” feature uses AI to create news clips from programming aired on channels like NewsNation and MSNBC. (Courtesy image)
Fubo saw its customer base shrink to 1.51 million paid customers in North America during the first three months of the year, reflecting a loss of 100,000 accounts as customers churn out for other streaming options.
The sports-heavy streaming service offers comparatively less live events from top-tier franchises like the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) during Q1 and Q2 due to its lack of carriage of Warner Bros Discovery (Wbd) channels — namely, TBS, TNT and Tru TV — which offer some games from those sports organizations.
Instead, Fubo primarily markets the live sports programming carried on the four broadcast networks, ESPN, Fox Sports 1 and its regional sports channels. NFL games are a large driver of subscribers during the second half of the year, and...
Fubo saw its customer base shrink to 1.51 million paid customers in North America during the first three months of the year, reflecting a loss of 100,000 accounts as customers churn out for other streaming options.
The sports-heavy streaming service offers comparatively less live events from top-tier franchises like the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) during Q1 and Q2 due to its lack of carriage of Warner Bros Discovery (Wbd) channels — namely, TBS, TNT and Tru TV — which offer some games from those sports organizations.
Instead, Fubo primarily markets the live sports programming carried on the four broadcast networks, ESPN, Fox Sports 1 and its regional sports channels. NFL games are a large driver of subscribers during the second half of the year, and...
- 5/3/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
A T-Mobile retail store in downtown Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
Today, T-Mobile announced the expansion of T-Mobile Advertising Solutions during its first-ever presentation at Iab NewFronts. The expansion includes exclusive owned and operated inventory — including an in-store Retail Media Network (Rmn) with more than 20,000 screens across T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile retail locations nationwide — plus mobile inventory through its T Life app that reaches more than 7 million engaged customers. Additionally, T-Mobile is adding Plex — a global streaming media company — as a connected TV (CTV) partner to expand inventory for advertisers and innovate on the connection between mobile and CTV.
“T-Mobile has a simple mission: Be the best in the world at connecting customers to their world,” said Jp Colaco, SVP and Chief T-Ads Officer, T-Mobile. “T-Mobile Advertising Solutions has the unique opportunity to propel the industry forward, delivering more personalized, customer-centric advertising driving higher engagement and superior outcomes for marketers.
Today, T-Mobile announced the expansion of T-Mobile Advertising Solutions during its first-ever presentation at Iab NewFronts. The expansion includes exclusive owned and operated inventory — including an in-store Retail Media Network (Rmn) with more than 20,000 screens across T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile retail locations nationwide — plus mobile inventory through its T Life app that reaches more than 7 million engaged customers. Additionally, T-Mobile is adding Plex — a global streaming media company — as a connected TV (CTV) partner to expand inventory for advertisers and innovate on the connection between mobile and CTV.
“T-Mobile has a simple mission: Be the best in the world at connecting customers to their world,” said Jp Colaco, SVP and Chief T-Ads Officer, T-Mobile. “T-Mobile Advertising Solutions has the unique opportunity to propel the industry forward, delivering more personalized, customer-centric advertising driving higher engagement and superior outcomes for marketers.
- 4/30/2024
- by The Desk
- The Desk
What a leading AI-powered image generator produces when prompted to create a picture showing “Google dominating small publishers.” (Computer generated image by The Desk)
“In a world where the cost of a loaf of bread rises faster than the morning sun…” Like me, but no, not me. A friend asked one of the AIs to write an unCharles opening. I think he was mocking me. Or, maybe the AI was. Whatevs. I chose to see having someone I know tell an AI to ape me as the most sincere form of modern flattery.
Some people I know are far less forgiving. One of them is Matthew Keys. He runs The Desk, a website about TV and streaming read by 50,000 professionals who strategize about that kind of stuff.
Spammers copied Matthew’s recent story about the arrest of Marco Gaudino and pasted it to their site. Google put the aped version...
“In a world where the cost of a loaf of bread rises faster than the morning sun…” Like me, but no, not me. A friend asked one of the AIs to write an unCharles opening. I think he was mocking me. Or, maybe the AI was. Whatevs. I chose to see having someone I know tell an AI to ape me as the most sincere form of modern flattery.
Some people I know are far less forgiving. One of them is Matthew Keys. He runs The Desk, a website about TV and streaming read by 50,000 professionals who strategize about that kind of stuff.
Spammers copied Matthew’s recent story about the arrest of Marco Gaudino and pasted it to their site. Google put the aped version...
- 4/20/2024
- by Charles Benaiah
- The Desk
Plex offers hundreds of free, ad-supported television content streams through its app for smart TVs, phones, tablets and other devices. (Courtesy image)
Software developer Plex says its streaming media platform now has over 1,000 free, ad-supported linear content streams across its global footprint.
The announcement was made in a press release on Wednesday, through which Plex said it had a precise count of 1,112 linear content streams offering movies; local, national and international news; general entertainment series; lifestyle programs; sports; documentaries and music.
More than 800 of those free, ad-supported streaming television (Fast) channels are available in the United States, while the rest are spread across Plex offerings in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Morocco and over 180 other countries.
Programming partners include Fox Corporation, the BBC, Paramount Global, AMC Networks, A+E Networks, Comcast’s NBC Universal, Euronews, Lionsgate, PBS and the E. W. Scripps Company, among others.
The news follows...
Software developer Plex says its streaming media platform now has over 1,000 free, ad-supported linear content streams across its global footprint.
The announcement was made in a press release on Wednesday, through which Plex said it had a precise count of 1,112 linear content streams offering movies; local, national and international news; general entertainment series; lifestyle programs; sports; documentaries and music.
More than 800 of those free, ad-supported streaming television (Fast) channels are available in the United States, while the rest are spread across Plex offerings in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Morocco and over 180 other countries.
Programming partners include Fox Corporation, the BBC, Paramount Global, AMC Networks, A+E Networks, Comcast’s NBC Universal, Euronews, Lionsgate, PBS and the E. W. Scripps Company, among others.
The news follows...
- 4/17/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
Interactive TV Today and TV of Tomorrow Show founder and host Tracy Swedlow. (Photo via LinkedIn)
Next week, hundreds of media, entertainment and technology executives and stakeholders will come together at a former U.S. Army installation in the middle of San Francisco to lay out plans for the future of technology and television.
It might be difficult to believe now, but there was a time when conferences were siloed by specific industries within those realms: Broadcasters and cable executives went to broadcasting trade shows in Washington. Marketers and advertisers attended the Upfronts in New York City. Technologists gushed over new gadgets at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas. Rarely did the industry shows veer outside their lane, even though the industry itself was rapidly changing.
Tracy Swedlow knew early on the sectors were blending together — and that high-level stakeholders from each industry needed to come together to exchange their ideas.
Next week, hundreds of media, entertainment and technology executives and stakeholders will come together at a former U.S. Army installation in the middle of San Francisco to lay out plans for the future of technology and television.
It might be difficult to believe now, but there was a time when conferences were siloed by specific industries within those realms: Broadcasters and cable executives went to broadcasting trade shows in Washington. Marketers and advertisers attended the Upfronts in New York City. Technologists gushed over new gadgets at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas. Rarely did the industry shows veer outside their lane, even though the industry itself was rapidly changing.
Tracy Swedlow knew early on the sectors were blending together — and that high-level stakeholders from each industry needed to come together to exchange their ideas.
- 3/22/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
Allegiant Stadium, the home of the Las Vegas Raiders football team and the host of Super Bowl Lviii in 2024. (Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
The Super Bowl match-up between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers drew more than a half-million viewers to Comcast’s Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, the broadcaster said on Monday.
Around 514,000 households tuned in to watch Kansas City defeat San Francisco to clinch a rare overtime win in Super Bowl Lviii (58) earlier this month, a 49 percent increase compared to the number of households that tuned in to watch Kansas City top Philadelphia just one year prior.
The game was also the most-watched National Football League (NFL) event aired by Sky Sports, surpassing the previous season’s playoff match between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, which had 415,000 viewers.
A spokesperson for Sky noted that around 100,000 more...
The Super Bowl match-up between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers drew more than a half-million viewers to Comcast’s Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, the broadcaster said on Monday.
Around 514,000 households tuned in to watch Kansas City defeat San Francisco to clinch a rare overtime win in Super Bowl Lviii (58) earlier this month, a 49 percent increase compared to the number of households that tuned in to watch Kansas City top Philadelphia just one year prior.
The game was also the most-watched National Football League (NFL) event aired by Sky Sports, surpassing the previous season’s playoff match between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, which had 415,000 viewers.
A spokesperson for Sky noted that around 100,000 more...
- 2/19/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
An office for Consolidated Communications in Yelm, Washington. (Photo by Matthew Keys for The Desk)
Consolidated Communications will exit the cable television market by the end of the year as it focuses on building out and maintaining its land-based broadband service business.
This week, customers in some areas began receiving notifications of Consolidated’s intention to stop offering traditional cable TV service, which will affect fewer than 30,000 subscribers, or less than 10 percent of its overall customer accounts.
“Consolidated’s strategy is based on a fiber-first product offering, which provides consumers and businesses a future-proof technology with unlimited bandwidth potential. As we make this transition, it will mean sunsetting some legacy products, such as linear TV services,” a spokesperson for Consolidated Communications said in a statement.
Consolidated has started notifying customers and municipalities in the areas where it provides cable TV service with information about its forthcoming plans and guidance on...
Consolidated Communications will exit the cable television market by the end of the year as it focuses on building out and maintaining its land-based broadband service business.
This week, customers in some areas began receiving notifications of Consolidated’s intention to stop offering traditional cable TV service, which will affect fewer than 30,000 subscribers, or less than 10 percent of its overall customer accounts.
“Consolidated’s strategy is based on a fiber-first product offering, which provides consumers and businesses a future-proof technology with unlimited bandwidth potential. As we make this transition, it will mean sunsetting some legacy products, such as linear TV services,” a spokesperson for Consolidated Communications said in a statement.
Consolidated has started notifying customers and municipalities in the areas where it provides cable TV service with information about its forthcoming plans and guidance on...
- 2/16/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
Lisa Lopez-Galvan.
An on-air radio personality was killed during a mass shooting at the end of a rally for the Kansas City Chiefs football team on Wednesday.
Lisa Lopez-Galvan was attending the rally in celebration of the Chief’s win at Super Bowl Lviii when gunfire rang out at the end of the event.
At least 22 people were injured in the shooting, including 11 children, according to local law enforcement and hospital officials. One person died from their injuries, police said at a press conference, though they did not identify the deceased victim.
The Kansas City Star newspaper later said Lopez-Galvan’s family confirmed the radio DJ died while undergoing surgery after she was shot in the abdomen. It was not clear if Lopez-Galvan was the only fatality.
Lopez-Galvan served as an on-air personality for community radio station Kkfi (90.1 FM), where she hosted a Hispanic music program called “Tejano Tuesday.” She...
An on-air radio personality was killed during a mass shooting at the end of a rally for the Kansas City Chiefs football team on Wednesday.
Lisa Lopez-Galvan was attending the rally in celebration of the Chief’s win at Super Bowl Lviii when gunfire rang out at the end of the event.
At least 22 people were injured in the shooting, including 11 children, according to local law enforcement and hospital officials. One person died from their injuries, police said at a press conference, though they did not identify the deceased victim.
The Kansas City Star newspaper later said Lopez-Galvan’s family confirmed the radio DJ died while undergoing surgery after she was shot in the abdomen. It was not clear if Lopez-Galvan was the only fatality.
Lopez-Galvan served as an on-air personality for community radio station Kkfi (90.1 FM), where she hosted a Hispanic music program called “Tejano Tuesday.” She...
- 2/15/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
London, Sep 25 (Ians) As part of a UK’s National Cyber Crime Unit investigation, a 17-year-old teenager was detained on suspicion of Rockstar Games hack that led to a major Grand Theft Auto (GTA) VI leak.
According to the reports, the alleged hacker might have also been involved in an intrusion on ride-hailing service Uber.
“@CityPolice confirm 17-year-old arrested over hacking incident; source says the crime is related to intrusion on Rockstar Games and possibly Uber Technologies,” prominent journalist Matthew Keys tweeted.
This month Uber has blamed the infamous Lapsus hacking group for the cyber attack on its internal systems recently.
Uber had also mentioned that “there are also reports that this same actor breached video game maker Rockstar Games”.
Meanwhile, Rockstar Games’ confirmed ‘network intrusion’ resulted in the leak of 90 videos of GTA VI, showcasing its engine, gameplay and more from an early development build.
The leak provided a glimpse into GTA 6 development,...
According to the reports, the alleged hacker might have also been involved in an intrusion on ride-hailing service Uber.
“@CityPolice confirm 17-year-old arrested over hacking incident; source says the crime is related to intrusion on Rockstar Games and possibly Uber Technologies,” prominent journalist Matthew Keys tweeted.
This month Uber has blamed the infamous Lapsus hacking group for the cyber attack on its internal systems recently.
Uber had also mentioned that “there are also reports that this same actor breached video game maker Rockstar Games”.
Meanwhile, Rockstar Games’ confirmed ‘network intrusion’ resulted in the leak of 90 videos of GTA VI, showcasing its engine, gameplay and more from an early development build.
The leak provided a glimpse into GTA 6 development,...
- 9/25/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
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