DirecTV offers skinny bundle sports package, “MySports”

Comes after Venu collapse Just days after the planned Disney-Fox-Warner Bros. Discovery joint venture Venu fell through, one of the principals that helped bring down the effort is releasing its own “skinny bundle”.  DirecTV announced Tuesday it was launching MySports, a new sports streaming service available at launch in seventeen of the top twenty markets including Chicago, and includes local […]

Disney’s Hulu + Live TV merges with Fubo, Venu lawsuit settled

Paves way for new Disney-WBD-Fox joint venture to launch [Editor’s Note: This article has been updated.]  In a stunning turn of events, virtual multiple video program distributor Fubo announced Monday that it agreed to terms to merge with rival Hulu + Live TV, owned by The Walt Disney Company. Just as important, it removes a key stumbling block for sports-themed […]

Republicans get involved in Venu-Fubo spat

A change in Presidential administration toward Trump could help Venu Is the Venu-Fubo fight becoming politicized? To the surprise of some, it is. As first reported by Awful Announcing on September 28, six Republican Attorney Generals and five Republican Congressmen are filing separate friend-of-the-court briefs with Venu in their fight with Fubo over the right to exist. The Attorneys General […]

DirecTV, Disney strike new carriage agreement

Signals return in time for Emmys and MNF After thirteen days, The Walt Disney Co. and DirecTV settled their beef with a new tentative carriage agreement, restoring Disney’s sixteen channels to the service, including ABC and ESPN. The settlement also returns those channels – including all ABC affiliates nationwide, to DirecTV Stream and U-Verse. The signals returned Saturday morning just […]

The Media Notepad: WBD strikes back against NBA with lawsuit

Also: The U branding returns to Channel 26; CBS 2 boss takes over sister station in Detroit [Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on July 30 and updated to provide the latest information on CW 26’s shift back to independent status.] Making good on their promise, Warner Bros. Discovery filed suit against the NBA Friday after rejecting their matching […]

NBA announces new media deals: NBC, Peacock in; WBD out

Deals worth $76 billion NBA returns to NBC for the first time in 21 years Amazon Prime gets streaming games for first time  Warner Bros. Discovery may take legal action against the league in an unprecedented move  [This article has been updated. See the bottom of this post for notations.] Roundball Rock is coming home.  After months…and months of speculation, […]

Chicago Bears involvement on “Hard Knocks” a win for NFL, Max

Comes over Bears’ Chairman’s objections While former President Donald Trump’s 34 felony indictments were being handled down Thursday afternoon, the NFL snuck through this piece of news –  the Chicago Bears will finally be featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks for a five-week run beginning August 6 and streaming on Max.  “We are honored to feature such an iconic NFL franchise […]

Cable TV back? Disney, Warner Bros. announce bundling plan

Includes Hulu and but no word on if new sports streaming service is included In a move for their streaming services to become more economical for subscribers, The Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. Discovery announced Wednesday a plan to bundle their streaming services. Both plan to launch the bundle this summer with ad-supported and commercial-free tiers being offered. Notably […]

Weigel launches MeTV Toons

New digital subchannel and streamer to feature Bugs, Daffy, Scooby, and more  Your favorite cartoon characters are returning to broadcast television. Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting announced Thursday it is launching a new, 24/7 classic animation channel in conjunction with Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns the classic Warner Bros. Loony Tunes and Hanna-Barbera libraries. “We are honored to work with the amazing […]

“Bob Hearts Abishola” heads to off-network syndication for fall

Deals made as CBS sitcom wraps up five-season run In a move that was expected given it was approaching the five-season mark, Warner Bros.’ sitcom Bob Hearts Abisola was sold in broadcast off-network syndication to several station groups this fall with 92 episodes available to air, announced last week.  Warner did not announce what percentage of the country is cleared, […]

Disney-Fox-WBD joint venture: DOA with the DOJ?

Justice Department to analyze deal as the NFL pushes back The planned sports streaming venture proposed by Disney’s ESPN, Fox Corporation, and Warner Bros. Discovery could be finished before it even gets off the ground. Two significant developments took place this week as the Department of Justice (DOJ) is now looking at the proposed joint venture for anti-trust concerns. The […]

Station group supports new ESPN-Fox-WBD sports streaming service

s Questionable if others are on board; cable group opposes effort With the surprise announcement of a new sports streaming service this week involving three big media conglomerates, reaction is pouring in and as expected, it’s mixed. Local station broadcaster Gray Television said it would support the new planned effort between Fox, Disney-owned ESPN/ABC, and Warner Bros. Discovery under one […]