FOX LAUNCHES NEW VIDEO STREAMING APP— Fox Springer and Warner Bros.’ Crime Watch Daily with Networks Group on Tuesday launched a new version of Chris Hansen. its Fox Now video app that gives users access to content The race for second place ended in a photo finish from the Fox broadcast network, FX and National with Disney-ABC’s Live with Kelly and Warner Bros.’ Geographic Channel. Ellen DeGeneres both posting a 2.4. Live was off 23% The app will add content from Fox Sports in a few from last February, while Ellen dropped 14%. months. Fourth place was also a dead heat between Lachlan Murdoch, executive chairman of 21st NBCUniversal’s Steve Harvey and Maury. Harvey slid Century Fox, said that the new app was in the works 16% year over year to a 1.6, while Maury eased 11%. while speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Debmar-Mercury’s Wendy Williams weakened 12% Media & Telecom Conference last month. from last February to a sixth-place 1.5. The app, which features a completely new user NBCU’s two other conflict talkers — Steve Wilkos and interface, is available only for the latest version of Apple Jerry Springer — tied for seventh, with Wilkos sagging TV. 7% and Springer gaining 8%. By making more content available and making it CTD’s Rachael Ray dropped from seventh place last easier for viewers to find what they want, traditional February into a tie for ninth with Sony Pictures media companies like Fox will better be able to Television’s Dr. Oz. Ray was down 19% to a 1.3, while compete with streaming competitors like Netflix. Fox Oz slumped 13%. also owns a piece of Hulu, which is coming out with a NBCU’s newcomer Harry averaged a 1.1 in its first new streaming service featuring live linear network February sweep. Sophomore Crime Watch Daily was programming this spring. one of only three talkers to avoid year-to-year losses, By combining networks, the app will also become a holding steady at a 1.0. more effective advertising vehicle, Murdoch told the Rounding out the field were CTD’s The Doctors and conference. Warner Bros.’ The Real, both of which relinquished 18% “The more data we have on our customers, the to 0.9. better we are at having the capability to monetize All of the court shows were lower, including CTD’s through advertising to those consumers,” he said. leader Judge Judy, which dipped 8% to a 7.3. CTD’s Hot Bench, eased 4% year to year, to a 2.6 and SYNDICATION SCORECARD—Few shows managed to ranked as the third-highest daytime strip for the first show gains in the February 2017 sweep that ran from time in any sweep behind Judy and Phil. Feb. 2 to March 1. Warner Bros.’ People’s Court shrank 15% to a 1.7, CBS Television Distribution’s Dr. Phil was the only talk while its Judge Mathis moved down 13% to a 1.4. show among the top six to out-perform Feb. 2016, Twentieth’s Divorce Court fell 15% to a 1.1. Trifecta’s growing 11% to a 3.9 live plus same day national sweep Judge Faith faded 11% to a 0.8. household average according to Nielsen Media In access, Debmar-Mercury’s Family Feud finished 4% Research. higher at a 7.4 to lead all of syndication. CTD’s Wheel of Phil has led the talk shows for 16 major sweeps in a Fortune skidded 6% to a second-place 6.7. CTD’s row and won this one by its widest margin ever. Among Jeopardy! dipped 1% to a 6.6. women 25-54, Phil was again easily best with a 1.8 in Disney-ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, with the demo, up 6% from last year at this time. stronger clearances on ABC-owned stations, added 21% At least in part because it was the second-warmest to a 1.7. Debmar-Mercury’s Celebrity Name Game, February on record in the U.S., every other talk and which will end this season, softened 7% to a 1.4. court show was down year to year except NBCU’s Jerry

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Elsewhere, Disney-ABC’s viral video show In fact, the White House press office was trumpeting RightThisMinute, which also moved to stronger stations the story in an email Tuesday issued by White House this season, picked up 17% to a 1.4. press secretary Sean Spicer. All of the magazines fell from last year. CTD’s leader, In the story—the White House included a link to the Entertainment Tonight, dipped 3% to a 3.4 sweep online version—the Post says: "Aides say that the average, extending its winning streak to 105 president sees a new Washington emerging from the consecutive sweeps. ET also got a 24% boost from the budget process, one that prioritizes the military and prior week to a 4.0 on Feb. 27 for its next-day coverage homeland security while slashing many other areas, of the 89th Academy Awards. including housing, foreign assistance, environmental CTD’s Inside Edition retreated 3% for the sweep to a programs, public broadcasting and research." 3.0. Warner Bros.’ TMZ was off 11% to a 1.6. NBCU’s The President has not been shy about attacking news Access Hollywood eroded 12% to a 1.5, but rose 29% stories he does not like, including in the Post, so the fact from the prior week to a 1.8 on Feb. 27 after the Oscars. that the White House circulated the Post story to other Warner Bros.’ Extra yielded 13% to a 1.3, but jumped reporters with a link suggests the story squares with the 25% to a 1.5 with its Oscar coverage. CTD’s The Insider, Administration's view of their budget-cutting, which will end its run after this season, backed off 8% to Washington restructuring plan. a 1.2, but got an 18% bump from the prior week on Feb. Earlier in the week, the Republican National 27 to a 1.3. Committee and Donald Trump team sent out an online Twentieth’s Dish Nation declined 11% to a 0.8. survey seeking input on whether to fund or defund a Trifecta’s Celebrity Page posted a 0.3 in its first February host of programs, from the UN and sanctuary cities to sweep under that title. veterans affairs and arts projects. All of the top-ten off-net sitcoms were down compared to last February. ACA PUSHES FCC TO ELIMINATE CHARTER OVERBUILD Warner Bros.’ The Big Bang Theory slipped 8% to a CONDITION—The American Cable Association has filed 5.6 in its sixth season in syndication. Twentieth’s a letter with the FCC on behalf of 38 small and mid- Modern Family declined 9% to a 3.1 in year four. sized ISPs asking the FCC to remove the overbuild Warner Bros.’ Two and a Half Men moved 7% lower to a condition in the Charter-Time Warner Cable merger. 2.6 in season 10. Twentieth’s Family Guy gave back 5% "[W]e all have plans to invest in improved network to a 2.0 in year 10, tying Twentieth’s freshman Last Man technologies to offer greater performance or to expand Standing in its first February sweep. Warner Bros.’ Mike our networks into unserved areas. Unfortunately, the & Molly dropped 10% to a 1.9 in year three. Warner merger condition requiring Charter to overbuild other Bros.’ 2 Broke Girls plunged 23% to a 1.7 in its providers has undermined those plans to provide sophomore season. Twentieth’s How I Met Your Mother improved services and reach new customers," the ISPs was greeted with a 24% decline to a 1.3 in season 7. told the FCC. "We write to encourage the Commission Twentieth’s The Cleveland Show dropped 29% to a 1.2 to act in the best interests of millions of unserved and in year four, tying Twentieth’s King of the Hill, which underserved customers by eliminating the overbuild descended 8% in year 16, and SPT’s Seinfeld, which condition." deteriorated 37% in season 22. The letter went to all three commissioners, but ACA is definitely preaching to the choir when it comes to FCC SPICER CIRCULATES NEW STORY PREDICTING TRUMP chairman Ajit Pai and likely commissioner Michael BUDGET WILL SLASH NONCOM MEDIA FUNDING— O'Rielly, which would be a majority of the commission The White House was not taking issue with a at the moment. Washington Post story saying the President planned to FCC sources have told B&C that Pai circulated an item slash the funding for public broadcasting in his budget, last month to adjust the Charter-Time Warner Cable expected to be released Thursday. deal buildout condition so that it would no longer

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require Charter to overbuild where a million homes MOZILLA ADDS TWO CITIES TO GIGABIT COMMUNITY were already getting broadband service. FUND—Mozilla (Firefox) is adding two cities to its The 2 million buildout requirement remains, but Gigabit Community Fund. according to the item that could now all be buildouts to The fund is awarding $300,000 in grants to leverage currently unserved homes, with no overbuilding, though gigabit fiber networks in Eugene, Ore., and Lafayette, Charter could still choose to overbuild those one La., the company said. million. They are just no longer required to do so. The money will go to things like ultra-high definition Charter last year said it intended to focus its overbuild in the classroom and VR field trips, taking a page or two activity on telco broadband providers, not other cable from existing Mozilla gigabit cities Austin, Texas; companies. Chattanooga, Tenn., and Kansas City. What was being circulated was, in fact, the grant of a The fund is a collaboration with the National Science petition for reconsideration of the deal condition by the Foundation and U.S. Ignite. ACA, which had asked that the overbuild requirement The two cities were added based on various criteria, be removed. including widely deployed high-speed broadband and a ACA has seven million subs that could theoretically "critical mass" of anchor institutions. be targets for overbuilds. “Mozilla is committed to supporting promising An FCC source said Pai's motivation for scrapping the projects in gigabit-enabled U.S. cities — projects that overbuild condition is that it is more important to build use connectivity 250-times normal speeds to make to unserved houses to close the digital divide than learning more engaging, equitable and impactful," said provide high-speed service where there is already high- Chris Lawrence, VP, leadership network for Mozilla. speed service, and he does not want the overbuild condition to be a disincentive for Charter to serve those EX WHEELER AIDE JOINS DC FIRM—Stephanie Weiner, unserved subs. formerly senior legal advisor to FCC chairman Tom FCC officials were not available at presstime to Wheeler, is joining law firm Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis comment on the status of the chairman's grant of the as a partner in its communications and energy practices. petition. Weiner is a former associate with the firm. If all three voted it, then the two Republicans could Before joining Wheeler's staff, Weiner was senior make it happen. But if Democrat Mignon Clyburn does legal advisor to the general counsel of the Department not vote, the majority would need to schedule the item of Energy. for a public meeting and vote it there. As an advisor to Wheeler, Weiner oversaw broadband Last May, when the Charter-Time Warner Cable issues, including privacy and universal service. Her order was released, then-commissioner Pai blasted the resume also includes deputy general counsel at overbuild condition and the buildout condition as well. NeuStar. "Charter’s increased broadband market share will come "Her experience at the Commission and at DOE will be at the expense of smaller competitors," he said, adding of enormous value to our clients," said HWG chairman that the order moved the FCC "one more step down the Scott Blake Harris, who worked with Weiner at NeuStar path of micromanaging where, when, and how ISPs and DOE. deploy infrastructure." Pai actually dissented from the order—not because GRAY MOVES FOUR VETS TO TOP STATION SPOTS— he thought the deal was not in the public interest but Gray Television has appointed new general managers at because he thought the conditions the FCC majority four of its TV stations, bringing to eight the number of extracted from the companies, in what he signaled was existing Gray employees who have been elevated to the an effort to micromanage the wider internet economy, position this year. were not. They are:

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Susan Ramsett, who is now general manager of "Broadband is a necessity for business in the 21st KWQC, the NBC affiliate in Davenport, Iowa. Ramsett century and its time our policies reflect that," said most recently was general manager of CBS affiliates Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). KOLN/KGIN and NBC affiliate KSNB in Lincoln, Neb., as "In fact, many communities across the country would well as NBC affiliate KNOP, CBS affiliate KNPL and Fox rather have better access to broadband than an affiliate KIIT in North Platte, Neb. additional lane on a highway. For too long problems Shannon Booth, who succeeds Ramsett as general with permitting and siting have held back further manager of Gray’s stations in Lincoln and North Platte, investment in expanding broadband infrastructure Neb. She comes from ABC affiliate KCRG in Cedar across the country,” she said in announcing the hearing. Rapids, Iowa, where she has been brand marketing and “Constituents and businesses back in Tennessee creative services director. consistently have issues gaining access to broadband. Rick Rhoades, who will become the general manager And without a high-speed internet connection, it of WLUC, the NBC affiliate in Marquette, Mich., on April remains difficult to attract businesses and jobs to these 1 when Rob Jamros retires. Rhoades has been the rural areas." station’s general sales manager for the past seven FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is on a road trip this week years. talking up the impact on broadband connectivity to the Ken Long, who is now general manager of NBC economy. affiliate WTAP, CBS affiliate WIYE and Fox affiliate Pai has also been a strong supporter of reducing the WOVA in Parkersburg, W. Va. Long, the station’s sales barriers to broadband deployment, including by easing manager since 2013, succeeds Roger Sheppard, who rights of way and speeding permitting. retired. TELEMUNDO AFFILIATE COMING TO CHARLOTTE— FCC’S PAI HITS THE ROAD FOR BROADBAND— Charlotte, N.C., is slated to get its first full-power, high- FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will take to the road this week on def Spanish-language TV station with the launch of a what is described as a "three-day driving tour" of Telemundo affiliate. Midwestern cities--he is a native Kansan. Cox Media Group will launch Telemundo Charlotte According to the FCC, he will be talking with on June 1, the company announced. It will air in high- entrepreneurs about the importance of broadband definition over the air on ABC affiliate WSOC’s digital connectivity to the economy. subchannel 9.2, as well as on pay-TV platforms. LAFF TV He has made that connectivity, particularly in rural will move to channel 64.4. areas, a focus of his agenda. Charlotte is the fastest growing Hispanic DMA in the Pai will be speaking March 15 at Carnegie Mellon Carolinas and the third-fastest-growing Hispanic DMA in University in Pittsburgh about "Bringing the Benefits of the southeast, according to Cox. The area has seen its the Digital Age To All Americans," after which he will Hispanic population increase by 177% since 2000, it begin his tour, which will include Youngstown, said. Cleveland and Detroit. GSN DOUBLES DOWN ON CORE PROGRAMMING— HOUSE LOOKS INTO LOWERING BROADBAND GSN said its 2017 upfront plans include adding a new BARRIERS—The House Communications Subcommittee original primetime game show Emogenius, renewing will hold a hearing March 21 on how to eliminate freshmen gamers Divided and Winsanity for second barriers to broadband infrastructure. seasons and tacking Hollywood Game Night and Cash On the agenda is a draft bill, “Broadband: Deploying Cab to the schedule via licensing. Winsanity, hosted by America’s 21st Century Infrastructure," to streamline Donald Faison, will get a format tweak before returning permitting and siting at the federal level. this summer, adding more players to the mix, the

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network said. GSN also plans to add interactive quiz network’s reach to 52 million homes in the U.S. game features employing Megaphone TV tech. The increase comes about one year after Tennis The network, owned by AT&T Entertainment and Channel was purchased by Sinclair Broadcast Group in Sony Pictures Entertainment, said it is building on March 2016. Sinclair had said it would pair carriage of viewer growth, saying it added almost 15 million new the sports channel with retransmission consent viewers in 2016 (via Nielsen) and that GSN originals got agreements for its broadcast stations. Sinclair is the more than 33 million social engagements, up 83% largest TV station group in the country with about 171 increase over 2015. Its GSN Now app, offering selected stations in 81 markets. programming for mobile viewing, is now on the App "Tennis Channel is one of the driving factors behind Store and on Google Play. the growth of this sport today, with younger audiences “The continued success of our game shows proves increasingly joining its fan base," said Tennis Channel there is an audience that is craving fun, feel-good president Ken Solomon in a statement. entertainment,” Amy Introcaso-Davis, GSN’s executive vice president of programming and development, said WILLLOW BAY NAMED DEAN OF USC ANNENBERG— in a release. “We are sure-fire escape for everyone in Former Good Morning America Sunday co-anchor the family.” Willow Bay has been named dean of the USC Divided, which forces teams to reach consensus Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. answers, hosted and executive produced by Mike Bay has been director of the school since July 2014, Richards, launched Jan. 19 and will return this summer. following stints as senior strategic advisor to The Emogenius, starting in June, puts contestants' emoji- Huffington Post and a correspondent and host at solving skills to the test. Returning series include brain Bloomberg TV. teaser game Idiotest (pictured), hosted by comedian Bay, who takes over July 1, will be the first woman to Ben Gleib and in a fourth season that launched on Jan. head the journalism school. 19. “Willow Bay is exactly the right person to lead USC Shows in development include: D.I. Why? (working Annenberg at this important time, given the dramatic title), makes contestants compete to follow instructions changes in communications and journalism,” said USC and win challenges based on DIY videos; The Tower, a provost Michael Quick. “Our students, faculty and staff new game show "combining trivia with classic tile- will greatly benefit from Willow’s expertise as they matching puzzle games and with an exciting video game grapple with the ever-evolving world of social media, feel;' Blast Your Past, (working title), executive print and broadcast journalism and converged produced by Andy Cohen and featuring celebrities communication. We expect the school to continue on poking fun at images of themselves before they were its upward trajectory under her skilled leadership.” famous; and Pointless, a successful U.K. game show in which contestants seek answers to general knowledge questions that stump public surveys. Cash Cab comes via Discovery Communications and Hollywood Game Night is via Universal City Studios Productions. GSN said it is not holding a live upfront event for media and buyers unlike past years, opting for more focused meetings with buyers instead.

TENNIS CHANNEL ADDS 7.8M HOMES—The Tennis Channel added 7.8 million homes in its most recent Nielsen universe estimate, increasing the sports

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