The Rise of 'Zero TV' Homes Has Broadcasters Nervous
The rise of so-called 'zero TV' households--those that don't pay for cable or satellite services and instead watch shows via the Internet--has broadcasters nervous.
The rise of so-called 'zero TV' households--those that don't pay for cable or satellite services and instead watch shows via the Internet--has broadcasters nervous.
Cablevision has accused Viacom in an antitrust lawsuit of forcing it to pay for more than a dozen low-rated cable networks in order to get access to Viacom's more popular channels such as Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central, the latest flare up between distributors and program makers.
As cable companies and satellite TV providers made their latest quarterly reports, one thing became clear: Americans are fed up with their bills for premium TV. The cable and satellite TV industries ended the period with 292,000 fewer customers than they started with.
Starting Thursday, Boxee TV will be sold exclusively at 3,000 U.S. Walmart stores. The $98 device features a built-in antenna to grab free over-the-air broadcast TV, and it also tethers to the Internet to stream YouTube, Netflix, and Pandora. Is this a way for you to ditch your cable bill for good?
Dish Network needed this week's deal that will allow it to continue broadcasting local television channels in some of Gannett's markets, but it's just one less problem that the company has to tackle.
The Walt Disney Co. said Wednesday that it reached a long-term agreement with the nation's largest TV signal provider, Comcast Corp., that extends their partnership into the next decade. The deal covers major pay channels ESPN, Disney Channel and ABC Family and the retransmission of free ABC broadcast network programs through seven ABC TV stations. It allows Comcast subscribers to gain greater access to shows on demand over the Internet on multiple devices.
Apple could be about to make TV buffs very happy. 2012's Apple TV launch may be accompanied by an Internet-based TV service for which viewers will finally be able to choose which channels they want without having to pay for hundreds they don't.
Don't look now, but the cord-cutting trend continues for Comcast. Though the country's largest cable provider tried to mask its woes with upbeat spin in its quarterly report, Comcast is serving 577,000 fewer households than it was a year ago.
Poor customer service is one of the primary reasons people tend to shun certain companies and even whole industries. 24/7 Wall St. identified the U.S. industries with the most complaints, as well as the troubles people have with them. If customer service is important to success, those we identified could be in trouble.
The U.S. economy is still sputtering, and household budgets are still under pressure. So where are we cutting: Fancy coffee? Check. Eating out? You bet. But there are a few things that once would have been considered luxuries the recent poll shows Americans just aren't willing to do without.
Glenn Beck's show still has higher ratings than all of its 5 p.m. cable competitors put together, but it has been losing viewers at an alarming rate. And it's got fewer -- and less prestigious -- advertisers than "The Situation Room" or "Hardball with Chris Matthews." Will Fox pull the plug?
In a Q&A, Wolfe (pictured, left) recounts how he came to be the creator and star of The History Channel show, and he provides some behind-the-scenes glimpses into the life of a collector always hunting the next big discovery. Also, he recalls finding his "holy grail" in a barn near Philadelphia.
Hulu reached an agreement with Viacom that will once again allow the video site to air episodes of Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" and Stephen Colbert's "The Colbert Report," 11 months after the shows were pulled from the site.
Don't bet on it. While media chatter has it that the conservatives at Comcast are going to overhaul MSNBC's lineup, the problems with Olbermann were more managerial than political. The channel's demographics are actually quite favorable, and other shows' ratings are strong.












