ESPN

Media companies would do well to follow the lead of the Walt Disney Company and its top revenue-producing subsidiary, ESPN, and institute rational succession planning. This past week Disney and ESPN announced that ESPN president George Bodenheimer would move up to Executive Chairman, and executive vice president for content, John Skipper, would become president of Continue Reading →

This semester my housemates and I decided to cut the cord and just get a high-speed Internet plan. At first, no one complained since we collectively have accounts on Netflix, hulu+, WatchESPN, EPIX, and HBO/MAX GO—we are the poster boys for TV Everywhere. However, once the NFL season started, we found ourselves unable to watch Continue Reading →

Latinos wishing to watch the Summer Olympics from Beijing in Spanish three years ago couldn’t do so in primetime, just like the rest of America. Or during the daytime hours. They had to wake up at 4 a.m.(Eastern time) in the morning, every morning events were presented, and be as glued to the action as Continue Reading →

Oprah Winfrey feels your pain, media critics and fans who see the seven-month-old television channel bearing her name falling short. That’s why she starts this month as chief executive officer of OWN, plunging herself and her Harpo Studios crew into turning the fortunes of this channel around this fall and beyond. She’s acknowledged a few Continue Reading →

“Dear Netflix” is a trending topic on Twitter today and you don’t need to set up any sophisticated social listening software to get the message: @jerrybyers Dear Netflix, I only knew you for a short time. Streaming library is limited and Redbox is a lot cheaper. See ya. #fail The social media backlash to Netflix’s Continue Reading →

What can possibly follow an extremely active first six months of 2011? Try these observations out for size: ***Original programming on cable networks continues its summer dominance over broadcast networks. We’re now at the point where on some weeknights other than Friday or Saturday, the combined ABC/CBS/NBC share of households is 16 or 17 percent, Continue Reading →

Time Warner Cable is experimenting with a less expensive cable package called “TV Essentials.” What’s the catch? Major cable networks like ESPN, Comedy Central, TNT, Fox News and MSNBC won’t be included in the package. “TV Essentials” is aimed at lower-income households and will be tested in select cities for less than $40 per month. Continue Reading →

Will Disney Go Dark on TWC? The Walt Disney Company and Time Warner Cable have made significant progress regarding their programming fee negotiations. People close to the talks report that online video is the major source of dispute. If an agreement is not made before midnight this Wednesday, ABC local, ESPN and some Disney channels Continue Reading →

June 15, 2010 – Today’s most interesting stories in technology, media and entertainment: Be the First MTV TJ: MTV and ZYNC from American Express have partnered to find the social voice of MTV. Nominate yourself or your favorite social media superstar and help them win the ultimate dream job: The first MTV TJ. The winner Continue Reading →

May 13, 2010 – Today’s most interesting stories in technology, media and entertainment: Putting A Hurt On Illegal Downloaders: The producers of the Hurt Locker are working directly with the US Copyright Group in an effort to sue “tens of thousands” of people who illegally downloaded the film online. The Hurt Locker, which won an Continue Reading →