Local TV Now

We’re delaying this week’s episode of the podcast a day.  We had am interview lined up for Friday that had to be rescheduled, but we’re going to do it tomorrow morning and then put Episode 35 online.

Thanks for understanding.  I hope it’s worth the wait, and come back on Monday.

In this week’s episode, the DTV coupons have expired. What? You still have one? Too bad. Plus, we talk about website branding and ask whether it’s better for your website brand to be tied to your on-air brand or to go in another direction. Then, NBC is restructuring Leno. What does that mean for affiliates? All these questions are answered and more.

Links:

• Digital-TV coupons expire; 54 percent used
• ABC Affils Weigh In on News Shakeup
• Station Websites: New Platform, New Name
• NBC Shakes Up The Format For ‘The Jay Leno Show’

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 35:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

In this episode, we tackle some big issues like: Is the nation’s number one syndicated show about to move to a small digital cable network? Plus, we talk about retransmission fees from cable companies and discuss how local stations can get a bigger piece of the pie…maybe with the help of their network partners. Then, we’ll talk to the folks at Grass Valley about the new mobile television technology they’re rolling out, and we’ll finish by discussing Apple’s foray into subscription television.

Links:

• The end of “Oprah” as we know it
• Question for Oprah: Broadcast or Cable?
• CTD Keeping ‘Dr. Phil’ In Residence
• 2010 Retrans Rallying Cry: ‘A Buck A Sub’
• Sinclair Open to Network-Handled Retrans
• Apple on eve of iTV

Guest:
Richard Fiore, senior director for transmissions and mobility at Grass Valley

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 33:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

In this episode, we get the other side of the pending spectrum battle from the Consumer Electronics Association. Last week, we got the TV industry’s side from Harry A. Jessell at TV NewsCheck. Now, we bring you an interview with one of the people in charge of lobbying for the consumer electronics industry in Washington. He tells us why getting more spectrum is imperative, but the two of us may disagree a bit on where that spectrum should come from.

Links:

• CEA Not Advocating A ‘Spectrum Grab’

Guest:
James Hedlund, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Consumer Electronics Association

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 22:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

In this week’s episode, Doug’s angry, and he rants about the Olympics (now just 100 days away) and NBC’s monetary policy when it comes to The Jay Leno Show.  However, he is very sensible when it comes to WGCL’s decision to turn over their TV sports department to a sports talk radio station and mobile DTV deployment.  He’s kind of a two-headed monster that way.

Links:

• The Zone to cover sports for WGCL
• 790/The Zone takes over sports for WGCL-TV
• What NBC Gave Up in Ad Pricing for ‘Leno’ Prime-Time Show
• How Much Does Jay Leno’s Worthless Comedy Cost?
• Gray Television readies mobile DTV service in Omaha market
• NBCU Sets Nov. 4 ‘Countdown To Vancouver’

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [35:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

We talk to Harry A. Jessell in this special, mid-week episode about the possible, upcoming fight against cash-for-spectrum. Will the FCC and consumer electronics manufacturers push for television stations to give up their spectrum? We’ll discuss, plus we’ll tell you how over-the-air mobile television and local HD news plays into this issue.

Links:

• It’s Too Early For Cash-For-Spectrum
• CEA Calls For More Broadband Spectrum
• ATSC Mobile Digital TV Spec Approved
• Race To Local HD News Turns Into A Slog

Guest:
Harry A. Jessell, Editor and Co-Publisher, TVNewsCheck.com

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 18:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

In this week’s episode, we chat with Programming Insider Marc Berman to break down the winning and losing networks and shows in the fall season so far. Plus, we chat about the many rumors and floated ideas about Hulu becoming a paid site. In addition, we talk about the wish of affiliates that the Eye Network would not have so much time between the end of their 10 p.m. shows and the start of the late local news, and we break down the advantages of cable shows that are heading into syndication.

Links:

• CBS Affils Want 10 P.M. Dramas to Fill Out Hour
• Hulu testing models to boost revenue
• Hulu to Charge for Some Content in 2010?
• Can Off-Cable Get Stations On Track?

Guest:
Marc Berman, Programming Insider for Mediaweek

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 31:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

In this week’s episode, we talk about Balloon Boy and how it helped KUSA in Denver do huge numbers on TV and the web.  Plus, added DVR viewers are helping keep some shows from being canceled, and we talk to reporter Matthew Flamm about LX New York’s not-so-good first weeks on the air.

Links:

• Balloon Boy and KUSA: “Ma’am, This is the Real Deal”
• Balloon Boy takes 9News’ website numbers through the roof
• Premiere week DVR results
• NBC Rains on ‘Glee’s’ Thanksgiving Day Parade
• WNBC stumbles with LX New York, Leno
• This Just In — I’ll Now Work My Own Prompter

Guest:
Matthew Flamm, Senior Reporter at Crain’s New York Business

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 33:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

In this episode, we dissect the new RTNDA research about TV station websites, who has news, and what kind of content is important.  We also talk about Comcast’s rumored interest in NBC Universal.  Plus, the Associated Press is looking to charge websites to get a half-hour jump start on releasing AP stories.  Um…I’ll give you three guesses what we think of that idea.

Links:

• Comcast’s Rivals For NBC
• AP May Charge Online Sites For Early News Access
• RTNDA/Hofstra University Survey on TV  and Radio Station Websites

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 33:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

In this episode, we talk to the pollster behind a new study that finds that people still watch a lot of TV and still get news from TV regularly despite projections by some that TV news is in permanent decline. Plus, we talk about NBC’s local news ratings which are down double digits in major markets following Leno. And lots of talk about syndication including MyNetwork TV’s move to be a syndicator instead of a network.

Links:

• The Future of Media in Greater Boston Poll Results
• MyNetworkTV exits ratings game
• NBC Affiliates OK on ‘Jay’ So Far
• Jay at 10, Bad News at 11?
• Mags, ‘Oprah,’ ‘Oz’ Shine In Syndication
• First ‘The Doctors’, Now ‘The Lawyers’?

Guest:
Raymond P. Howell, president of Howell Communications

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 40:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player