Disney buying Fox assets in $52B split of Murdoch empire
The sale marks an epic downsizing for Rupert Murdoch, an 86-year-old former Australian who spent his adult life amassing the assets that made him a kingmaker in U.S. and U.K. politics.
TV
Articles
FCC relaxes limits on owning newspapers, TV stations
One company can now own newspapers and broadcast stations in one market, undoing a ban in place since 1975.
Papa John’s blames NFL ‘debacle’ for hurting its pizza sales
Papa John’s International Inc. founder John Schnatter is going after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, saying weak handling of the league’s national-anthem controversy has hammered sales of his pizza.
FCC chairman moves to end TV-newspaper ownership ban
The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission said he’ll move to weaken or kill local media ownership restrictions next month, potentially clearing the way for more consolidation among companies that own TV and radio stations.
Sinclair might sell up to $1B in TV stations to complete Tribune deal
Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. received bids for as many as 10 television stations as it takes steps to win approval of its proposed merger with Tribune Media Co., people familiar with the matter said. Tribune Media owns two local stations.
Indiana among top states for Netflix ‘binge-racing’
More and more viewers are plowing through a streaming network series’ full season in less than 24 hours after the release of those episodes.
Channel 13 returns for DirecTV, U-verse subscribers
Local subscribers to the services lost access to the channel’s programming in early September as the parties negotiated on a contract.
Pay-TV’s ‘salad days’ appear over as customers abandon big providers
Barring a major fourth-quarter comeback, 2017 is on course to be the worst year for conventional pay-TV subscriber losses in history.
Owner of Indy-area newspapers merging with broadcast firm
A media group that owns more than a dozen newspapers in Indiana—including publications in Zionsville, Avon, Lebanon and Anderson—has announced it is merging with a company with dozens of TV and radio stations.
General manager ousted at WRTV amid low news ratings
A Scripps official flew in Monday to inform the WRTV staff of Larry Blackerby’s firing and his interim replacement.
Grady leaving WRTV, Pacers for Nets job in New York
Michael Grady, a sports reporter at WRTV-TV Channel 6 and public address announcer for the Indiana Pacers, has taken a position as sideline reporter for the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.
Longtime Indianapolis TV news anchor Caldwell dies at 92
Howard Caldwell, a fixture on Indianapolis television news for more than 35 years, died Monday.
Media firms team up to collect goods for hard-hit Harvey areas
Companies across central Indiana are banding together to publicize a drive for food, beverages and other essential items needed by those displaced by the hurricane and tropical storm.
WTHR weekend anchor Pescovitz leaving for Minneapolis station
Naomi Pescovitz, a North Central High School graduate, will help to launch a 7 p.m. newscast at KMSP-Fox 9, which she said will “give me my weekends back and I’ll be able to turn off that 1:30 a.m. alarm clock.”
Fox in talks with Ion Media amid tensions with Sinclair, source says
21st Century Fox is in talks to operate local TV stations across the nation with Ion Media Networks, potentially paving the way for Fox to dump Sinclair Broadcast Group as an affiliate partner, a person familiar with the situation said. Sinclair is acquiring two local stations from Tribune Media.
Long-time statewide media directory folding after 30 years
The Indiana Media Directory’s clients ranged from Cook Medical and Donato’s Pizza to the United Way and YMCA. It was widely used by public relations and advertising firms.
Big Ten announces new TV deals with FOX, ESPN, CBS
The Big Ten Network will triple its prime-time national TV exposure during football season and also add more prime-time basketball games, thanks to new broadcasting deals.
WRTV changes afternoon lineup, pulls 4 p.m. newscast
Officials for Channel 6 said the station is canceling “The Now” to make room for a new show produced by its parent company, Scripps, in partnership with singer Faith Hill.
WISH-TV adding more local programming to morning schedule
Starting Sept. 11, WISH-TV Channel 8 plans to air nothing but local programming from 4 a.m. to noon. But the “Rachael Ray Show” will replace its noon newscast.
Questions abound for future of Indy 500 on television
The rapidly changing sports media landscape has left a hazy cloud of uncertainty over the future of the race. Its current contract with ABC runs through next year, and some experts anticipate new bidders.