Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Volume 32 | No.008

Cablefax DailyTM What the Industry Reads First No More Silos: Sarnoff’s Impact August, was free to fans and offered first looks at upcoming projects in the DC Comics’ universe, including movies, video on WarnerMedia games, comics and TV shows. WarnerMedia studios and network group CEO Ann Sarnoff “It really was a tribute to the things that the fans love about hasn’t been afraid to make her voice heard since being tapped as DC and bringing it all together in one place, at one point in the first woman to head Warner Bros. Speaking at CES Wednes- time, and creating an event of it,” the CEO said. The event was day, Sarnoff attributed much of what she’s learned about diversity a major success for Sarnoff and the team, generating more and inclusion to her early days at Nickelodeon in the late ’90s. than 22 million fan interactions in August. “In terms of being a woman in this industry, it hasn’t been Those that attended the Fandome got a sneak peek of what easy. Earlier on, as in most industries, you had to conform was to come with “Wonder Woman 1984,” which made its debut to more of the male culture,” Sarnoff said. “At Nickelodeon, on Christmas Day on HBO Max. Warner Bros announced in early honestly, it’s the first time where I felt I could bring my full December that all of the movies in its 2021 slate would also pre- self in, and part of it is because it was being run by Geraldine miere day-and-date on the streaming platform. With the shift that Laybourne, who was a woman, and the staff was 60% female.” has become necessary due to the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 Laybourne’s leadership served as an example of how to get a pandemic, Sarnoff said companies can no longer rely on opening Friday, d ecember 18, 2020 seat at the table and make a difference, she added. able ailyTM C faxdayD box office numbers to predict the success of their films. Her top priority since joining AT&T has been to deconstruct hulu RaisiN g P R“Unlessices you’re serving ads, the eyeballs in that day-and- the silos that remained in place from the old Time WarnerHulu + Live. TV is the latest vMVPD date world are less relevant to ctheablefax overall engagementdashboaR dof the What Sarnoff didn’t expect to find was a just-as-siloed Warnerto raise pricing before year’s end, up- ping its base service—thepackage price tag fromamount it coststweet you tweet to acquire a subscriber,Research the Bros. “We have had weekly meetings on our big franchises$54.99/month to $64.99/month. The ➢ 46% of consumers are more likely commercial-freechurn version levelis also seeingevery month… it’s a completely different set of talking about how we can collaborate together, how we make to patronize local/small businesses a shift from $60.99/monthmetrics that to $70.99/ the industry is not geared to measure,”this holiday she season, said. driven primar- the whole more than the parts, how we bring the amazingmonth. The price increase will impact ily by a desire to give back to their new and existing“When subs and more take effect of the world is looking at streamingcommunities and looking(53%). characters and stories to life in a new and different way,”with shethe first billing cycle on or after Dec 18. for proxies of success, my guess is there will be➢ Customersthings we choose will to shop at said. “What I said to them was ‘Look, you don’t want your small businesses for the quality of distRibutiolearnN sooner on in the equation.” goods (48%) and customer service fans to see your org chart, and boy can they see it right Starznow.’” launched on fuboTV Friday. The Pai Questions Big Tech Transparen(45%)cy as well as the ability to find Sarnoff pointed to the DC Fandome virtual event as achannel great is now available as a premium unique merchandise (44%). add-on to fuboTV’sWhen base outgoing package for FCC chair Ajit Pai was asked on C-SPAN last example of the newfound unity amongst the various segments$8.99/month. -- Latin concert channel ➢ The top way consumers plan to Tarima has beenweek added toabout the $5/month Facebook and Twitter’s decision supportto suspend local/small the businesses by of WarnerMedia. The virtual DC Fandome, which occurredCine y Entretenimientoin add-on package ordering take out from local restau- to DishLATINO. rants (48%). Many consumers also c-baNd auctioN hits $30mlN intend to get groceries at local mar- The FCC’s C-band auction surpassed the kets (37%), buying gift cards from local retailers (23%) and sharing $30mln mark before Friday’s last bidding their favorite businesses with family round ended. Bidding is scheduled to and friends (24%). continue through Round 45, which ends at noon ET on Dec 23. The auction will The Cablefax Editorial Team is Wednesday, January 6, 2021 Volume(Source: Comcast 32 | No.003 Business) then take a break until Jan 4, when reporting on vital industry updates Round 46 will kick off at 10am. Up for Quotable Thursday, d ecember 31, 2020 grabsCable is fax280 DmegahertzailyTM of mid-band up ahead every day. We want to hear from you, spectrum in the 3.7-3.98 GHz band. “I’m personally very excited about the wearable space. I think that has a lot of JAN 11-14reporting: VIRTUAL the CESnews 2021 for New Yorkers and we wish them wellTM in so please reach out to share your CablefaxPeoRetRPaleNs couNtdowN Dailyopportunity with not necessarily XR, but New Year’s Eve continues to be a contract deadline for many a their future endeavors,” Charter said. Terms weren’t disclosed. “PBS NewsHour” producer James F Blue III JAN 13: FCC OPEN COMMISSION augmented reality. And we’re already carriage deal, and there were stillWhat plenty of negotiationsthe Industry that were adios r to eeadsl Rey FI rst was named svp and head of Smithsonian testing and trialing industrial use cases, news and stories. going down to the wire Thursday. Mediacom needed Mto EETINGstrike a Reminder that El Rey’s 24/7 linear network is shutting down news networks and Twitter. Whenbelieve the Houseit or not, and in ourSenate cell sites to help ChannelnewDark agreement. HeDay: alsoThursday willPowell withoversee TEGNA newsDescribes for stations and in several mar- today. CFX broke the news earlier this month. El Rey has steadily went out of session as a group techniciansbroke into the commission Capitol, C- equipment factualkets including unscripted the Des contentMoines ABC for affiliate, the MTV Minneapolis-St JAN Paul14: ROCKYlost linear M OUNTAINdistribution C overABLE the past year, with AT&T dropping the Capitol Chaos as Unimaginable SPAN continued with live coverageusing from the its traditional studio (Greta hardhat with an EntertainmentNBC The station world KARE watched portfolio, and viaSt Louistelevision reporting NBC affiliatenetworks to Chris KSDK. and MediacomAbroadbandSSOCIATION channel EPIC in V JanuaryIRTUAL and PARTY Charter removingAR-capable it in September. visor. So early Its days, but if we Content. Community. Daily. Monday, January 4, 2021 Brawner hosting) mixing in interviews with reportersVolume inside 32 | No.001 successfullyconnections reached as the aUS deal Capitol with Waypoint was breached Media by for president WMDN carriage dropped from about 33mln homes in November 2019 McCarthy and Nina Diaz. and outside the Capitol, memberscan of do Congress, that in our live little video space of industry, TVTrump (CBS) supporters and WGBC TVWednesday (FOX/NBC) as in theMeridian, House MS, and Thursday. Senate to around 13mln as of last month, according to Nielsen data. editoR’s Note JAN 19-22:from VIRTUAL its camera NATPE and M poolIAMI cameras,imagine and social how mediamany opportunitiesposts exist Verizondebated is facinga move similar by somea deadline Republicans with Hearst to for overturn stations suchelec - RatiNgs across broader industries, be that oil and Your next issue of Cablefax Daily will from reporters and members. As the protests heated up, astion WBAL-NBC results. in Baltimore and WMUR-ABC in Boston. It’s also Fox News has now officially won primegas and or total medial day for professionals.” 2020, as Amy Maclean, Editorial Director, CNN cut away from the Senate floor to document the scene arrivestill “This negotiating on is Dec a sad 31. with and We’ll Gray deeply beTV surefor disturbing WWBT-NBC to update moment and WUVP-CW forJAN our 25-28 nain - projected.: REALS CREENIt became S UMMITthe first cable news– T-Mobile net to endpres, a yeartechnology with NevilleTM Ray outside the Capitol. Fox News, CNN and MSNBC all had [email protected] Cablefax.comRichmond,tion,” NCTA VA. pres/CEO CablefaxOn and Tuesday, send Michael DISH news lostPowell alerts Capitol told for CFX Broadcasting. “The2021 storm’s - more than 3.5mln viewers inDaily prime. Itdiscussing was a pretty 5Ggood use year cases for at Oppen- coverage from inside and outside the Capitol as the riots anythreeing breakingof NC the stations, Capitol news WRAZ is yousomething (FOX), need WILM Ito could(IND) know. andnot WRALimagine (NBC) in inmy all the news nets though. See our storyheimer’s. -- Watching 5G TNT Summit and TBS’s What the Industrycontinued, and all r threeeads covered FPresident-ElectI rst Joe Biden’s or 301.354.1760 awildest retrans imagination.skirmish. They Nothing remain darkis more at press important time. However, to our coun the - 24-hour marathon of “A Christmas Story” has become a tradition Happy holidays! speech to the American people shortly after 4pm, with split- DBStry than provider a working did finally democracy reach a truce and with what Nexstar we are, bringingwitnessing an that shows up in NielsenAlthough ratings. traditional The flickMVPD claimed subscribers the first, declinedsecond during the Retrans Agenda: Virtual MVPDs,screen footage showing the current scenes at the Capitol. endtoday to ais 23-day a bleak blackout moment of 164in our stations history.” in timePowell for isChristmas a former and third spotsfirst on halfChristmas of 2020, Day retransmission across broadcast consent and revenuecable, earned by ATSC 3.0’s Role in RetransmissionTelemundo, Univision, Newsmax, One America News morning.FCC chairman WGN America and the wasson alsoof retired restored four-star to DISH general and will Colin be with nearly 32mlnmajor people station watching groups at increased some point. in Theboth TBS the mara first -and second As we head into 2021, there may not have beenand a virtuallyhuge everyThe other cause channel continues! with a regular news pres- made available on vMVPD Sling in early 2021 as part of an extra thon peaked atquarters 8pm on ofDec 2020 24 with by nearly2.5mln 20% viewers, compared while TNT’s to the first and Powell, Secretaryretransmission of State under consent George blackout W. Bush to ring. in the year (those hap- add-on package. TEGNA and AT&T/DirecTV settled their 18-day ence were alsosecond covering quarters Wednesday’s of 2019, according developments. to S&P Global And . NAB pres/CEOpened Gordona few weeks Smith early, a andformer involved Republican DISH and marathonAT&T), but peakedRaising with funds the for9am the Dec Lustgarten 25 telecast Foundation (1.6mln viewers). for spat on Dec 20, with 64 stations in 51 DMAs returning. in the midst Theof all FCC it,’s networks newly released interrupted Communications to report Marketplace that re- 38224 senator representingthere’s stillOregon, plenty also for broadcasters reacted to Wednesday’s and MVPDs to PeofretPancreatic about.Ple Jon Ossoff hasport, beatbroadcast David retrans Perdue consent in Georgia, revenue jumpedassuring from a $6.42bln cviolence.haRteR “We, Ny First,1are lawsuit saddenedthere are settled aand smattering disheartened of retrans by the blackouts ac- Rose entering Jerez was named vp, customer success for WOW!. She DemocraticLearnin majorityCancer 2015more, toResearch visitin $11.71bln the Lustgarten.org/HolidayBash Senate. has in never 2019. CNN been Theand report moreMSNBC important.noted both though that Chartertions unfolding’s Spectrum2021, in our Networksincluding nation’s a 4-day-and-countingsaid capital. it reached To the a confidential spatjournalists between TEGNApreviously and served as a consultant of digital growth and deliv- © 2021 Access Intelligence, LLC. Federalmade coverage copyrightthe retrans available law growth to prohibits streamrate had for declined free.unauthorized from nearly 25% from resolutionrisking their with livesfiveMediacom NY1 to bringanchors. But this there’s who unprecedented suedalso what’s the company ahead. scene In last a torecent ery, meeting marketing and customer care operations at Fox. Prior to Networks2016 that toweren’t 2017 tointerrupting about 10% fromlinear 2018 programming to 2019. From 2018 www.cablefax.comyear,Americans allegingreproduction acrossagewith and FCCthe gender commishnation, discrimination. by stayNathan any safe Simingtonmeans Asand a resultvigilant,”, Hearstand of the imposesrepresentativeshe that role, fines she held ofleadership up to positions$150,000 at DIRECTV/AT&T, for violations. were still reacting.to 2019, 688BET total posted retransmission a point of consent view piece fees paid at by cable settlement,said in a statement. Charteremphasized said ACA the Connectsthefive importancewomen— pres/CEORoma of retrans Torre, Matt Kristen in Polka light ofmost expected recently as associate vp, retention marketing operation BET.com, sharingsystems the to televisionwords of broadcastBlack legislators. stations increased, Among on aver- Shaughnessy,took to Twitter Jeanine continuedto emphasize Ramirez, decreases Vivianthe importance inLee ad and revenues. Amanda of working And Farinac they’re with- increasingly VIRTUAL CELEBRATION ethoseditoR featured’s Noteage, were by 11.2%. Rep KeithAnnual Ellison fees paid (D-MN), per subscriber who tweeted increased, on ci—andboth sides Spectrum to lookingsolve Networks problems.to streamers, have mutually “Today which agreed we don’t all to havemust part the ways.stand same broadcast Wean wish image you of aaverage, peoplehappy new byrunning 17.8%, year! through Yourrising next from the issue $109.70 building, of Cablefax to and $129.27 Rep over the “Weagainst want violence,to thankcarriage them cancel obligationsfor theirthe hatred,years as cableof anddedicated operators. reach service out to inall DailyYvette will Clarke arrivesame (D-NY),January period, who4. the tweeted,report found. “This Average is domestic monthly retransmission ter- “The Hearst representatives reinforced the importance extending a hand of grace and mercy,” he said. consent fees per subscriber per broadcast station increased of local broadcast revenues derived from ‘virtual’ MVPDsrorism. inPeriod, fullwww.cablefaxdaily.com stop.” | Page 3 Visibly shaken reporters and politicians appeared on by 20.5%, increasing from $1.07 to $1.29 from 2018 to 2019. light of the growing consumer trend toward streaming video Cable operators say retrans costs help explain increases in programming and the continued importance of ensuring that cable prices (the monthly price for cable subscribers who take such revenues are retained by local broadcasters to reinvest only the basic service grew by 10.7%, to $34.79 in 2019, while in their locally-produced news and other video content,” Hearst expanded basic increased 7.1% to $86.70). explained in an ex parte describing the Dec 30 teleconference. Another issue to watch in the retrans space is ATSC 3.0. NAB Streamers have been able in some instances to avoid stations has petitioned the FCC to clarify the application of ATSC 3.0 group retrans deals and carry a national feed of network pro- rules to multicast streams. NAB wants the FCC to recognize that gramming. For example, Hulu+Live TV lost Nexstar-owned in simulcasting arrangement involving multicast streams, the ABC affiliates in October, replacing them with ABC’s national licensee who originated the programming rather than the licensee feed. The two recently reached a new pact, with the stations whose facilities are being used to distribute the programming set to return this month. Corporate Licenses MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2020 Cablefax Daily

VOLUME 31 | NO.213 Deal Talk: W H A T T H E I N D U S T R Y R E A D S F I R S T Dissects $8.1blnRCN/Wave/Grande Stonepeak Deal CEO News broke Sunday that Partners is buying Grande, California called Wave and Astound BroadbandStonepeak (made Infrastructure up of TM Cablefax Daily and $4.5bln of assumed debt) from private equity firm lot of money and horsepower. They had raised a big fund two enTouch) for $8.1bln ($3.6bln in cash Digital West and management company years ago and just finished completing another even larger than 1mln customers across Chicago, Eastern Pennsylvania, . “They [Stonepeak] bring a RCN, fund as we speak,” Holanda said. “Our ability to continue to Cablefax Daily (ISSN 1069-6644) is published daily by Access Intelligence, LLC | www.cablefax.com | 301.354.2101 | Editorial Director: Amy Maclean,Massachusetts, 301.354.1760, NYC, NorthernPatriot California, Media Oregon,. Astound Texas, has moreDC, grow through small M&A and more transformational M&A, and and Washington, and is the sixth largest US cable company. TPG our ability to continue to be able to expand our residential and The Patriot team will continue to run the company after the commercial fiber networks into more areas close to where we [email protected] | Publisher, Cablefax and Cynopsis: Robbie Caploe, 917.974.0640, [email protected] | Senior Editor: Sara Winegardner,deal closes, which is expected to happen 301.354.1701, in 2Q21. Patriot already do business is where Stonepeak is going to be very CEO Jim Holanda told advantageous.” WHAT THE INDUSTRY READS FIRST. positive for the industry. “I think private equity infrastructure With the drama that’s unfolded between Altice USA and CFX that he views the transaction as a [email protected] | Assoc Editor: Mollie Cahillane, 212.621.4951,[email protected] | Exec Director, Strategic Partnerships:investors—that Albert by their nature Nassour, maybe have a longer-term time Cogeco, it may not seem like there’s much on the market. horizon than regular private equity investors—realize the value But the Astound team sees things differently, looking to forge © 2021 Access Intelligence, LLC. Federal copyrightof the assets that law underlie these prohibits networks, in terms of fiber a unauthorizedpath similar to and conduit rights and strand. This is infrastructure that is for fiber providers, fixed wireless ISPs and a stake in Cable One, which recently brokered deals 917.545.3129, [email protected] | Dir of Marketing: Kate Schaeffer, [email protected] | Prod. Mgr: Joann Fato, [email protected] difficult to replicate or go build| Kerry in a cost-effective Smith, manner,” Broadband Investments that could grow to be the whole he said, pointing to recent deals between enchilada. “There are still 740-member companies within www.cablefax.com reproduction by any means and imposes finesEQT forof up to $150,000NCTC .for I don’t think violations.the rest of the world knows there are that with MorganZayo Stanley and Infrastructure. Divisional President, Marketing & Media Group, [email protected] | Group Subs/Subscription Questions,Client Services: 301.354.2101, [email protected] and the many small- and medium-size | cable companies that are still Get reduced subscription rates for multiple Stonepeak’s deep pockets could also help Astound make Mega Digital Colony and out there, and many of them are family owned. You add to some more acquisitions. It closed on Houston-basedAltice USA that layer the smaller or regional fiber players, and there are Annual subscription price: $1,749.00/year | Access Intelligence, LLC, 9211 Corporate Blvd., 4th Floor, Rockville, MD 20850 with its 22K customers about five weeks ago, and itpartnership recently a lot of those as well,” Holanda said. “I think there are M&A filed with the possibilities. Obviously, nothing of the scale of when we put FCC to buy a small fiber company in central RCN and Grande together and added Wave. But I think there readers in your organization. enTouch could be some exciting opportunities.” While many might consider Astound an overbuilder, Holanda said that 50% of the company is an incumbent cable opera- tor. Like many of its peers, it has emphasized broadband for

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© 2021 Access Intelligence, LLC. Federal copyright law prohibits unauthorized www.cablefax.com reproduction by any means and imposes fines of up to $150,000 for violations. Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Cablefax DailyTM president’s social media accounts, he said he wouldn’t second Rosenworcel joined other commissioners and staff in thanking guess those decisions given the circumstances at the Capitol. Pai for his years of public service and in welcoming Nathan Sim- Since then, Twitter decided to permanently ban Trump’s ac- ington, who was attending his first meeting as a commissioner. count. “With respect to those more recent decisions, look, we’re While Rosenworcel hasn’t always agreed with Pai, she praised him going through difficult times and these are difficult questions for keeping FCC employees safe during the pandemic. “He went to confront, but I do think these determinations speak to the above and beyond to keep the staff of this agency informed and consistency and transparency, or lack thereof, when it comes to engaged in a time of crisis, and for that he deserves great credit the decision-making process,” Pai said in a call with reporters and appreciation,” she said. Pai, who served as a FCC commis- Wednesday. “It’s still unclear why certain decisions were made sioner before Trump named him chairman in January 2017, got a and whether the principles that animated those decisions are bit emotional as he said goodbye, particularly as he went through being applied throughout the platform. For example, why does a long list of thank-yous that included family as well as his grade the Supreme Leader of Iran still have an account?” He said school principal. “To my parents, Indian immigrants who came he’s been talking about the consistency and transparency of in 1971 with $8 and a transistor radio and the American dream, Big Tech for a long time now. Trump was impeached by the I hope I made you proud,” he said, closing with, “It’s been a ride House Wednesday, with debate taking place at the same time of a lifetime and only in America.” as the FCC’s open meeting. The House vote was 232-197. Ten Lawmakers Call for FCC Scrutiny on RDOF Republicans joined with Dems in voting for impeachment, includ- Long-form applications for winning bids in the FCC’s Rural Digital ing former House Commerce chair (2010-2016) Fred Upton. Opportunity Fund auction are due Jan 29, and members of Con- Goodbye Pai gress are preparing to ask the agency to closely scrutinize the Ajit Pai will step down from the FCC on January 20, with com- submissions to make sure they are in compliance with program missioner Jessica Rosenworcel widely expected to take over as requirements. Phase 1 of the auction closed December 7, with chairman. Wednesday’s meeting was a review of FCC Bureau 5.2 million locations auctioned for $9.2 billion in subsidies to accomplishments over the last four years under his leadership. bidders for expanding broadband to unserved areas. Charter was Rosenworcel used her remarks to address the Capitol riots, call- the biggest winner, securing 1.1 million locations and qualifying ing the violence an ugly chapter in American history. She said for $1.1 billion in subsidies. In a draft obtained by Cablefax, a the country needs connections that “remind us that our states lengthy bipartisan list of House and Senate members ask the are united and that our interdependence is powerful,” and she agency to validate that each winner in fact has the technical, fi- declared that the newly appropriated Emergency Broadband Fund nancial, managerial, operational skills, capabilities, and resources for expanding internet access can help with those connections. to deliver the services that they have pledged for every American

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Cablefax38203 Cynopsis Daily (ISSN Sports 1069-6644) Media_BannerAds_7.5x3.33.indd is published daily by 1Access Intelligence, LLC | www.cablefax.com | 301.354.2101 | Editorial Director: Amy Maclean, 301.354.1760,1/8/21 9:07 AM [email protected] | Publisher, Cablefax and Cynopsis: Robbie Caploe, 917.974.0640, [email protected] | Senior Editor: Sara Winegardner, 301.354.1701, [email protected] | Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships: Albert Nassour, 917.545.3129, [email protected] | Dir of Marketing: Kate Schaeffer, [email protected] | Production Manager: Joann Fato, [email protected] | Kerry Smith, Divisional President, Marketing & Media Group, [email protected] | Group Subs/Subscription Questions, Client Services: 301.354.2101, [email protected] | Annual subscription price: $1,799.00/year | Access Intelligence, LLC, 9211 Corporate Blvd., 4th Floor, Rockville, MD 20850

www.cablefaxdaily.com | Page 2 Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Cablefax DailyTM they plan to serve. The letter, being circulated by Representatives Sparklight Ups Data Transport Game Jim Clyburn (D-SC) and Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Senators Amy Sparklight Business launched its Optical Wavelength service Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (R-SD), also asks the FCC to Wednesday. The service uses the company’s fiber network to de- make the status of its review available ASAP and to consider op- liver a dedicated point-to-point, high-capacity data network service portunities for public input on the applications. More than $11 to business and carrier customers in the Sparklight footprint. billion will be made available in Phase 2 of the RDOF auction, Partnerships Abound which targets areas that are deemed partially served as well as Firstlight Media and Evergent Technologies are working any that were not won in the first phase. together to further integrate their cloud-based capabilities. The Hallmark Requests Return of Campaign Funds deal will see the combination of Firstlight’s content manage- Hallmark Cards, parent company of Hallmark Channel, ment system and Evergent’s OTT and traditional video solution wants Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) to enhance user and subscriber management. “By combining to return donations made by its political action committee. our cloud-based platform with Evergent’s advanced technology, The decision was made after some lawmakers objected to the we’re creating an agile, robust solution that can support the certification of last week’s electoral vote. “Hallmark believes industry’s needs at a strategic point in the engagement funnel the peaceful transition of power is part of the bedrock of our and can build long-term value for our customers,” Firstlight democratic system, and we abhor violence of any kind. The co-founder/chief business officer Paul Pastor said. -- TiVo and recent actions of Senators Josh Hawley and Roger Marshall Cox Communications have agreed to a multi-year extension do not reflect our company’s values. As a result, HALLPAC of the pair’s IP agreement for the former’s media-related pat- requested Sens. Hawley and Marshall to return all HALLPAC ent portfolios. campaign contributions,” Hallmark said in a statement. Programming Univision Launching AVOD HBO’s series “Insecure” will wrap with its upcoming fifth sea- Univision is the latest programmer to roll out a free, ad- son. Production is set to being this month, with episodes to supported streaming service. It bills PrendeTV, set to debut debut later this year. -- TNT and Bleacher Report are producing in 1Q21, as the only streaming service created exclusively the first annual “AEW Dynamite Awards.” The awards show, for the US Hispanic audience to feature free, premium 100% which will honor top AEW stars and viral moments of the Spanish-language programming. The announcement comes past year, will livestream Jan 27 at 7pm ET on the Bleacher within two weeks of ForgeLight and Searchlight Capital Report app. closing on their acquisition of Univision. “With the launch of People PrendeTV we are focused on bringing new ways for our adver- BET promoted Tiyale Hayes to svp, brand strategy and mar- tisers to reach the US Hispanic audience and, importantly, keting, reporting to CMO Kimberly Paige. – Media marketing PrendeTV will be a critical part of our strategy to grow the vet Jennifer Ball joined BBC Studios as svp, marketing. scope of our business partnerships with our key distributors,” Ball has previously held marketing roles at Univision and CEO Wade Davis said. It will launch with more than 30 chan- Promax. -- New CSG CEO Brian Shepherd is establishing his nels and 10,000 hours of VOD programming. leadership team, tapping Ken Kennedy for the new post of Sinclair CBS Renewal COO and president of the Revenue Management and Digital ViacomCBS and Sinclair signed multi-year agreements Monetization solutions unit. A 15-year CSG vet, Kennedy was across 13 CBS network affiliations for Sinclair stations that previously president of technology and product. -- Viacom- serve nearly 6 million TV households. Sinclair is one of the CBS Kids & Family consolidated all live-action production largest operators of CBS affiliates. Under the deal, Sinclair’s under one team that will be by Nickelodeon’s Shauna Phelan CBS affiliates will remain locally available to subscribers of and Zack Olin. The two are broadening their current roles to CBS All Access, ViacomCBS’ SVOD streamer. The renewal now also oversee live-action for Awesomeness and third- includes WPEC in West Palm Beach and WRGB in Albany. party platforms. -- Global licensing company Principal Media California Net Neutrality Fight named former Playboy Enterprises global TV president Gary Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and 13 Democrats in California’s con- Rosenson as its new CEO. Ex-A+E Networks exec Melanie gressional delegation have asked Attorney General-designate Torres joins Principal as svp, worldwide distribution, and Dan- Merrick Garland to withdraw the federal government’s lawsuit iel Boluarte was upped to svp, business development. -- The against the State of California over its net neutrality law as board of Adaptive Spirit voted to expand its membership one of the first actions after inauguration. Asked about the by two, adding Cox svp, field operations Colleen Langner and move, FCC chair Ajit Pai said it would be up to the next ad- Liberty Latin America vp, product and technology Ewam ministration to decide how to proceed. “As we saw it and as de Freitas. “We are excited at the new perspectives they will the Department of Justice saw it in the past, we believe the bring to the organization and thank them for their willingness California legislative scheme was in direct conflict with the to pitch in to support the cause,” board chair Steve Raymond federal deregulatory scheme,” he told reporters Wednesday. said in a statement.

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Think about that for a minute...

government can do. The obvious mechanisms that led to Cusp the echo chambers and feedback loops leading up to efforts Commentary by Steve Effros to overturn an election and the sacking of the Capitol are As should be obvious, my column in last Wednesday’s issue privately owned. of Cablefax was written prior to the unbelievable desecra- The current cynical, repetitive manipulation of the inherent tion of the nation’s Capitol. There’s lots I could write about power of platforms like Facebook and Twitter has finally been that despicable event, but most of it has already been said. staunched. But that’s only because the private owners, who That our industry has a unique relationship with Congress have every right to do so, belatedly said “enough” when the and the Capitol should be obvious. We have long known violence that many saw coming finally flared. That’s just a and heralded that institution and promoted the ability of tourniquet, and there’s a very good question as to who, if all Americans to witness, for themselves, what was being anyone, should have the power to apply it. said and done in “the people’s house.” The cable industry, after all, started and funds C-SPAN. I have been wrestling with these questions for most of my adult journalistic and legal life. There are no easy answers. Today, an article of impeachment of the President was ad- But what I do know is, as I said, we have reached cusp. The opted, again, by the House with the C-SPAN cameras letting intersection of the arc of uncontrolled public discourse and the entire world witness, and judge for themselves, what is public action is now going to force us to seriously rethink happening. No one behind a microphone will tell you what is how big, how powerful, how loud any one speaker or forum “true” or what is “fake.” You will see it as it is happening. should be allowed to get. There are only a few major plat- That’s a particular type of communication, and a valuable forms, or networks that now control the distribution of ideas. one, but it can’t be the exclusive way we learn about what’s There are estimated to be only 35 major “influencers” who going on around us. dominate those communications forums. We will have a Context, interpretation, and additional perspective are significant debate about how and who should monitor those also very important in understanding. That’s where edito- forums and users, but to start, I would suggest we disallow rial discretion, and, yes, well identified opinion are critical. any to remain that big or influential again. Once this current crisis is stabilized, how we deal with all of that is, as I suggested last week, going to be the subject of intense debate. Of course it already is, in the context of things like “Section 230,” something you have been reading about here for well over a year. But now we have reached cusp. We have got- ten to a point where it is obvious that how things are said, which forums are used, or abused, and who controls those forums and means of communication are a central part of T:202-630-2099 what happened last week. We cannot let it happen again. [email protected] So how do we protect the right of everyone to “speak their minds,” while at the same time assuring that information (Steve Effros was President of CATA for 23 years and is now does not become so warped and amplified that it spurs an advisor and consultant to the cable industry. His views do delusional acts? Note, again, that this is not an issue of not necessarily reflect the views of Cablefax.) “the First Amendment.” That is a restriction on what the

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