| February 15, 2013 | News for the cable and broadband industry |
 |  |
| Business News |  |  |
|
- AXS TV signs CBS as new investor
AXS TV, the startup channel formed by Mark Cuban, AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media and CAA, has added CBS as a minority investor. The broadcast network has agreed to help market AXS and allow the network to cover the Grammys, Tonys, Kennedy Center Honors and other live events to develop "shoulder" programming. The deal reportedly does not involve cash or access to sports programming. The Hollywood Reporter
(2/14)      
| Programming News | | |
|
- AMC may add life to IFC with episodes of "The Walking Dead"
AMC Networks is said to be considering running episodes of its popular series "The Walking Dead" on its sibling channel, IFC, as a way to boost the audience and therefore its appeal to Time Warner Cable and other cable providers. Time Warner Cable is in carriage talks with AMC Networks, and reportedly doesn't want to pay more for IFC and WE. New York Post
(2/15)
- CNN, under new chief, goes for drama with cruise-ship coverage
CNN on Thursday dedicated major resources to covering the return to port of the stranded Carnival Cruise Line ship Triumph, reflecting the new stewardship of former NBC chief Jeff Zucker. CNN assigned a helicopter to circle the ship, a correspondent at sea on a nearby boat and a pair of correspondents waiting at the dock. "The cruise ship story was a no-brainer to [Zucker]," Brian Stelter writes. "[F]rom a producer's standpoint, it has high stakes, human drama and a logical beginning, middle and end." The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Media Decoder blog
(2/14)
| Eye on Video | | |
|
- YouTube channel FreddieW seems ready for prime time
FreddieW, a YouTube channel that promises "sweet vids with rad FX," shows the potential of video outlets to achieve true mainstream appeal. The channel has 4.6 million subscribers and has notched nearly 800 million views. On the financial side, the channel has signed Dodge as the sponsor of the second season of its "Video Game High School" series, and has generated $808,341 in funding through Kickstarter. Adweek
(2/14)
| Marketing Trends | | |
|
- Golf Channel is TV venue for FootJoy promos
FootJoy, a golf apparel brand, has unveiled a multiplatform effort built around the tagline "FJ. The Mark of a Player." The campaign includes a trio of TV spots by Innocean USA that are airing on the Golf Channel, built around golfers' "unbreakable emotional bond with the game," says Innocean Executive Creative Director Greg Braun. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily
(2/14)
| Advanced Products | | |
|
- Digital-literacy training to be offered by Connect2Compete, FCC
Connect2Compete, the cable-supported public-private initiative to expand broadband adoption among low-income users, is teaming up with the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Best Buy's Geek Squad to offer free digital-literacy training. Under the initial phase of the partnership, people in Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia, St. Paul, Minn., and Washington, D.C., will be able to access the program via HUD neighborhood network centers and other facilities. Additional cities will be announced in the coming months. Broadcasting & Cable
(2/14), Education Week
(2/14)
| Competitive Watch | | |
|
- Many of DIRECTV's existing customers will pay more for RSNs
DIRECTV this spring will start charging current subscribers a $3-a-month surcharge for regional sports networks in New York, Los Angeles and other places where there are multiple RSNs; the satcaster introduced the surcharge in August for new customers only. Verizon FiOS also has begun implementing a similar $2.42 monthly RSN fee, but cable providers have yet to follow suit. Separately, DIRECTV announced in its earnings report that it added 103,000 net new U.S. subscribers and increased revenue in the U.S. by 5% to $6.3 billion. Multichannel News
(2/14), Multichannel News
(2/14)
| Association News | | |
|
-
Recognizing excellence in cable and content marketing
Mark your calendars for the 2013 Mark Awards call for entries on Feb. 20. Visit the Mark Awards website or join the CTAM Mark Awards group on LinkedIn for updates and/or answers regarding the application process.
-
Cable-op makes moving easy
Moving can be overwhelming, but CTAM's Marketing Co-op makes moving easy with CableMover. The site offers tips on home Internet service, changing addresses and even getting moving quotes. Consumers simply enter in their new ZIP code to receive the latest cable offers in their area on bundle packages, high-speed Internet and home phone services.
| SmartQuote from NBCUniversal On Demand | | |
|
 |
 | Come on out. Oh, the weather outside is weather ..."
--Surfing Instructor (Paul Rudd), "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"
|
 |
| This title and more are available On Demand! Movies & TV shows from NBCUniversal: digital.nbcuni.com. |
|
| |
| |
|
Read more at SmartBrief.com |
|
A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including:
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| | Recent CTAM SmartBrief Issues:
- Thursday, February 14, 2013
- Wednesday, February 13, 2013
- Tuesday, February 12, 2013
- Monday, February 11, 2013
- Friday, February 08, 2013
| | | Lead Editor: Stephen Yusko
CTAM Editorial Advisor: Jason King
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | |
| |
|
| © 1999-2013 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
