All articles tagged with #broadcast television
ABC will simulcast ESPN's two first round College Football Playoff games in primetime on December 20 and 21, marking the first CFP or BCS telecasts on broadcast TV since 2010. The other two first round games will air on TNT Sports on December 21. The rest of the playoff will be exclusive to ESPN cable networks, with the National Championship set for January 20.
WBAY-TV will broadcast ten Milwaukee Bucks games for free on its network across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa, featuring pregame and postgame coverage by Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson, and Steve Novak, with Melanie Ricks reporting from the sidelines. The move aims to make the games widely accessible to fans and is part of a distribution agreement between the NBA and various broadcasting companies.
All major broadcast networks will run a simulcast tribute to honor the late Norman Lear, the iconic TV writer and producer, in recognition of his vast accomplishments and influence across television. Lear, who died at the age of 101, was closely associated with the medium of broadcast TV and was known for creating popular sitcoms such as All In The Family and The Jeffersons. His death has sparked an outpouring of tributes from actors, writers, executives, networks, and companies.
The CW Network has signed a five-year deal with WWE to become the exclusive broadcast home for WWE NXT starting in October 2024. This marks the first time in its 13-year history that NXT will air on a broadcast television network. The agreement will bring 52 live weekly events featuring WWE's up-and-coming Superstars to The CW Network. The move is seen as an opportunity to expand NXT's audience and capitalize on the popularity of the show among younger viewers. The CW Network has been making strides in its live sports programming schedule and aims to offer over 500 hours of sports programming year-round.
WWE's weekly showcase for up-and-coming wrestlers, NXT, will move from USA Network to The CW in October 2024 as part of the company's new media rights deals. This move follows WWE Smackdown's departure from Fox to USA at the same time. The deal will give The CW a year-round block of programming and potentially increase NXT's reach, as The CW is available in about 100 million homes in the United States compared to 72 million for USA. WWE president Nick Khan stated that the move to The CW was a "no brainer" due to the network's increased reach and the economics of the deal. WWE is also expected to make a decision on a new rights deal for its flagship series, Monday Night Raw, in the first half of next year.
WWE's developmental brand, NXT, is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to move from basic cable to broadcast television, specifically the CW Network, when its current media rights deal ends in September 2024. The potential five-year agreement is expected to be the largest increase in media rights fees for NXT. This move would provide NXT with a wider reach, as the CW Network is available in 99% of US households with a television. The report comes amidst the CW Network's shift towards reality programming and live sports, with rumors of it also considering hosting Billy Corgan's NWA.
Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger is considering strategic options for the company's traditional broadcast and cable businesses, including national network ABC, as the decline of linear TV continues. With the rise of streaming services and cord-cutting, TV networks are losing relevance and viewership, leading to a decline in TV advertising. The value proposition has changed, with streaming giant Netflix now worth nearly as much as Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Fox, and Paramount combined. While sports programming is propping up TV networks, the increasing costs of securing rights and the entry of technology giants like Amazon and Apple pose challenges. Advertisers are also facing shrinking audiences, with traditional TV viewership falling below half while streaming hits record levels. Disney's TV channels, including ABC, are estimated to be worth around $15 billion, and the company may consider a spin-off or a partnership with a private equity firm to navigate the changing landscape.
The CW has acquired the rights to the long-running highlights and analysis series Inside The NFL, which was dropped by Paramount+ earlier this year. Produced by NFL Films, the show will air on broadcast television for the first time since its inception in 1977. The CW is looking for new hosts and producers for the show, which will debut on September 5 at 8pm and stream on The CW app. The move is part of The CW's push into sports coverage.
The NCAA women's basketball national championship game between LSU and Iowa averaged 9.9 million viewers on ABC and ESPN2, up 103% from last year and easily the most-watched title game in the history of the women's tournament. The Tigers' win, which peaked with 12.6 million viewers, outdrew the previous tournament record of 8.1 million for a Virginia-Stanford national semifinal on CBS in 1992. It was the first women's title game on broadcast television since 1995.