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  • Survey: Local NDs Give So-So Marks To National TV News

    In a TVNewsCheck survey, a cross-section of news directors at TV stations around the country were asked to grade ABC News, CBS News, CNN, FNC, NBC News and MSNBC on "overall journalistic quality." None received an A, four earned Bs and, as for Fox News Channel and MSNBC, they may have to stay after class. More | Comments (7)

  • Ex. Session: Record Political Ad Boom Looms, But ...

    TVB’s political ad guru Jack Poor says there’s good news and bad news for TV stations in this election year. The good news is that their four-fifths share of total TV spend will be up 20% to around a record $2.5 billion, and no other medium seems positioned to cut into stations' share. The bad news is that the total take will be suppressed due to the lack of any major gubernatorial contest that swelled the coffers in 2010. More | Add comment

  • Jessell: Disclosure Rule The First Step Toward Quotas

    The FCC's proposed disclosure rules, which would require stations to detail the kinds of programming they air and post the info on their websites, should be fought tooth and nail by broadcasters. What the regulators want are statistics that they can use to hang over stations in the form of a programming quotas at license renewal time. And a quota is nothing but a mandate. It's the federal government telling stations what programming they must air, and that slams right into broadcasters' First Amendment rights. More | Comments (9)

  • Front Office: Cord Cutting Is Gen Y’s Latest Trend

    A growing number of young adults born between 1980 and 1995 — Gen Y — are purchasing over-the-air antennas to watch television programming. Gen Ys are inherently more adept at, and prone to, experimenting with alternative forms of viewing TV content; they are less likely to accept the need to subscribe to subscription-based pay TV once they’re free to make their own decisions about it. More | Comments (11)

  • NAB 2012: Getting The Shot Cheaper, Easier, Faster

    JVC%27s+GY-HM150
    JVC's GY-HM150
    As more and more stations adopt the one-man band approach to newsgathering, the camera manufacturers are turning out new units that are small enough and light enough to be managed easily, and big enough and heavy enough to be balanced for a steady shot. Plus, they’re inexpensive enough that any station's budget can handle them, too. More | Comments (7)

Special Reports

  • 2011—Year In Review: Revisit the year’s top developments in business, programming, journalism, technology, regulation and more.
  • Audience Measurement: The state of ratings is examined in three parts: an interview with the head of the Media Ratings Council; the growing presence of Rentrak; and the search for a better local ratings currency.
  • Traffic Reporting: This four-part TVNewsCheck Special Report focuses on what it takes to stay on top of the growing commuter gridlock across the country.
  • Remembering 9/11: TVNewsCheck looks back 10 years after the attacks with a series of five articles.
  • Severe Weather News: This five-part TVNewsCheck Special Report focuses on the changing technology used to stay ahead of storms.
  • TOP 30 TV STATION GROUPS: TVNewsCheck's exclusive ranking by coverage with a summary of each group's holdings and top executives.

Industry Calendar

March 2012
Tu
Th
13-15
American Cable Association
ACA’s 19th Annual Summit
Washington, D.C., DC
We
We
21-22
Borrell Advertising Associates
The Borrell Local Online Advertising Conference
New York, NY
We
Th
21-23
BIA Kelsey
ILM EAST
Boston, MA
April 2012
Sa
Th
14-19
National Association of Broadcasters
NAB Show
Las Vegas, NV
June 2012
Tu
Th
12-14
PromaxBDA
PromaxBDA: The Conference 2012
Los Angeles, CA

Station Directory

Net Essentials

AP Breaking News

Our Advertisers

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Front Office by Mary Collins
Gen Y’s Latest Trend: Cord Cutting
TVNewsCheck, Feb 3, 2012, 8:23 AM EST
A growing number of young adults born between 1980 and 1995 — Gen Y — are purchasing over-the-air antennas to watch television programming. Gen Ys are inherently more adept at, and prone to, experimenting with alternative forms of viewing TV content; they are less likely to accept the need to subscribe to subscription-based pay TV once they’re free to make their own decisions about it. Full Story | Comments (11)
FRONT OFFICE BY MARY COLLINS
Person To Watch: Cox's Lacey Lewis
TVNewsCheck, Jan 20, 2012, 8:44 AM EST
The Media Financial Management Associations is honoring outstanding industry executives with its People to Watch awards. Among this year's honorees is the SVP of finance for Cox Enterprises who has consistently shown a willingness to take on new challenges. Now, if she could only find time for to earn that helicopter pilot's license. Full Story | Add comment
FRONT OFFICE BY MARY COLLINS
Learning Lessons From A ‘CFO Of The Future’
TVNewsCheck, Jan 6, 2012, 8:15 AM EST
Among the Media Financial Management Association’s picks of executives to watch, Bonten Media’s CFO William “Scott" Moody demonstrates a capacity for identifying the issues executives will need to address at stations and companies to ensure their success in the coming year. Chief among them is understanding and nurturing the linkage between operations and finance. Full Story | Add comment
FRONT OFFICE BY MARY COLLINS
Resolve To Take Time For You In 2012
TVNewsCheck, Dec 16, 2011, 6:31 AM EST
Too often, when we pass up on informal and formal activities to aid our professional development for the sake of a pending project, we are also sacrificing the contribution these educational opportunities could be making to the success of our organizations. Full Story | Comments (2)
Front Office by Mary Collins
Avoid Problems Posed By Medical Records
TVNewsCheck, Dec 2, 2011, 8:09 AM EST
Late last year, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission published regulations governing the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) that are applicable to employers. Here are 10 suggestions for addressing the aspects of the new regulations that employers are likely to encounter on a recurring basis and can be the most challenging. Full Story | Add comment
FRONT OFFICE BY MARY COLLINS
Social Media Is Stations’ Sales Trump Card
TVNewsCheck, Nov 18, 2011, 8:36 AM EST
Social media tools are quickly becoming a hybrid powerhouse for both driving viewership and empowering account reps to offer advertisers the cross-platform marketing promotions that can transport viewers from programming to their digital destinations. When it comes to the consumer, we’ve demonstrated that TV is social media’s killer app. Now is the time for us to demonstrate to advertisers that TV can deliver killer results for their social media ad spending. Full Story | Comments (1)
Front Office by Mary Collins
How To Stay In Tune With Music Copyrights
TVNewsCheck, Oct 28, 2011, 5:45 AM EDT
Even the slightest unauthorized uses of copyrighted music in television programming, advertisements and content developed for online and other multiplatform content carry significant financial penalties. With the risk of penalties that onerous, and an appreciation for just how limited fair uses of copyrighted materials can be, stations and programmers have all the more reason to ensure that their employees understand and comply with all of the copyright rules. Here’s a primer on how to stay on the right side of the law. Full Story | Add comment
Front Office by Mary Collins
Tablets Spell Out Stations' Mobile Future
TVNewsCheck, Oct 14, 2011, 7:24 AM EDT
2011 has been called “the year of the tablet.” What we’re seeing with mobile today is really no different than any of the other technological innovations that have continually transformed TV since its very inception. Thanks to Information Age pioneers like Steve Jobs, tablets are just the latest challenge requiring us to adapt our business models in order to retain customers and grow revenue. Tablets are not only influencing where we experience television, they are helping to re-shape the way we experience it. And they are providing TV stations with new opportunities for reaching mobile viewers. Full Story | Comments (4)
Front Office by Mary Collins
Taking Some Of The Risk Out Of Disaster
TVNewsCheck, Sep 30, 2011, 8:12 AM EDT
You can't prevent natural and man-made disasters, but you can mitigate their impact on your business by preparing for emergencies and making sure you have insurance to cover the loss of property and revenue caused by service disruptions. Full Story | Add comment
Front Office by Mary Collins
Back-Office Systems Need Foward Thinking
TVNewsCheck, Sep 9, 2011, 8:21 AM EDT
Before his sudden and tragic death last April, Belo's Steve McIntosh argued for a new generation of traffic and billing systems that would integrate all the services that broadcasters are now offering. "By continuing the status quo we chain ourselves to the past and forgo — or at least severely limit — our ability to capitalize on what the future may hold," he wrote. Full Story | Add comment
Front Office By Mary Collins
How To Rebound From A Bounced Check
TVNewsCheck, Aug 26, 2011, 7:49 AM EDT
It's frustrating to receive a bad check, but if you do, act fast. The sooner you do, the better your chances of getting your money. This is the advice of Robin Szabo, president of Szabo Associates and a former MFM board member. “One phone call might quickly prompt the customer to fix the mistake,” he says. And he has more tips for dealing with the NSF notice. Full Story | Add comment
Front Office by Mary Collins
Worker 'Misclassification' Could Spell Trouble
TVNewsCheck, Aug 12, 2011, 8:13 AM EDT
A number of states, including New York and California, are cracking down on the use of independent contractors. The increase in enforcing employment laws reflects the intersection of dwindling revenues and increases in unemployment insurance claims that has hit most states. And there’s also a proposed federal law that would fine firms $1,100 to $5,000 per worker for violations. Here’s what you need to know to protect your company from running afoul of federal and state employment laws. Full Story | Add comment
Front Office by Mary Collins
TV Everywhere Can Work For Everyone
TVNewsCheck, Jul 29, 2011, 8:20 AM EDT
It's not about the technology used for delivering TV programming; it’s about the viewer’s ability to access the desired programming at the desired time using the most convenient device or platform for that particular moment. TV Everywhere addresses those needs by allowing customers to take their pay TV subscriptions with them, preserving the traditional business model. Full Story | Comments (6)
FRONT OFFICE BY MARY COLLINS
Choosing The Right Biz Planning Software
TVNewsCheck, Jul 15, 2011, 8:11 AM EDT
Having the right business planning tools won’t just make the budgeting process easier and more integral to your business plan, it will also help you become a “world class” organization, the experts say. Here are some good tips for finding and evaluating those tools. Full Story | Add comment
Front Office by Mary Collins
Making Every Employee Part Of The Team
TVNewsCheck, Jun 24, 2011, 6:52 AM EDT
One of the most important ingredients to the success of any business is employee engagement. Here are a variety of strategies you can use to measure, set goals and improve this vital component. And don't forget the importance of commnication: “The tone comes from the top. People may doubt what I say, but they always believe what I do,” advises Keen CFOs' Bill Keenan. Full Story | Comments (1)
Front Ofice by Mary Collins
Investing in Networking Is Good For Business
TVNewsCheck, May 13, 2011, 8:46 AM EDT
One of the common misperceptions about networking is that it’s only of value for sales people looking for new business, or for those who have lost their jobs.However, learning how to network effectively — and feeling comfortable speaking with new acquaintances can be hugely beneficial to all professionals as well as their employers. Full Story | Add comment
Front Ofice by Mary Collins
Don't Take License Renewals Lightly
TVNewsCheck, Apr 29, 2011, 6:42 AM EDT
It's that time again, and communciations attorney Lee Shubert cautions against taking a cavalier approach to license renewal certifications. “Be mindful that your station license is probably your most valuable business asset, and that it is at jeopardy during the license,” he says in the latest issue of Financial Manager. Full Story | Comments (1)
FRONT OFFICE BY MARY COLLINS
Revaluing The Role Of Credit And Collections
TVNewsCheck, Apr 15, 2011, 5:44 AM EDT
Ad sales can’t benefit the bottom line until the payments are received. Renaming the credit and collection function will help to shift internal perceptions about its importance to the success of the business. Full Story | Comments (1)
FRONT OFFICE BY MARY COLLINS
Busting Ad Compensation And Liability Myths
TVNewsCheck, Apr 1, 2011, 5:52 AM EDT
Knowing the facts and developing the very best credit practices are essential for optimizing your ad sales operation. Eliminating old misperceptions can help media companies develop better compensation and credit liability practices that protect their own interests while fostering a win-win relationship with valuable industry players. Full Story | Add comment
FRONT OFFICE BY MARY COLLINS
New Media Requires Tougher Credit Checks
TVNewsCheck, Mar 18, 2011, 6:49 AM EDT
As non-traditional media revenue continues to increase in leaps and bounds, the need for more diligent credit sleuthing grows along with it. LIN Media's credit and collections chief Greg Frost has some tips for how you can avoid coming up short when dealing the new breed of advertisers and their agencies. Full Story | Comments (1)
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The Market

Symbol Last Change (%)
Nasdaq 2915.86 +11.78 (+0.41%)
NYSE 8082.98 +13.27 (+0.16%)
S&P 500 1349.96 +2.91 (+0.22%)
Updated 02/08 4:24p ET Quotes delayed at least 20 mins.
Source: Financial Content

Ratings

Overnights, adults 18-49 for February 7, 2012
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    3.1/8
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    3.0/8
  • 3.
    2.4/6
  • 4.
    2.0/5
  • 5.
    1.6/4
  • 6.
    0.6/1
Source: Nielsen
Reviews
Opinions
Features
  • Neil Genzlinger

    Smash, NBC’s series about backstage Broadway, comes with New York and Hollywood names off screen (Steven Spielberg, Therese Rebeck) and on (Debra Messing and Brian d’Arcy James). Given that pedigree, you’re expecting to be bowled over by the pilot, but it ends up feeling like a collage of devices from the zillions of previous backstage plays, musicals and movies. However, be patient — Smash gets better as it goes along and by Episode 3 it shows signs of becoming an addictive pleasure along the lines of this season’s Revenge.

  • Lori Rackl

    Pop some Dramamine before watching ABC's new horror series, The River, because the shaky camera work is more likely to make you seasick than scared. You can, however, skip the sleeping pill. The River's two-hour premiere should suffice. Billed as a thriller, the show tries hard to be terrifying and eerie in a Paranormal Activity kind of way. It ends up being hokey and, even worse, boring.

  • Robert Lloyd

    Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, veterans of Fox's sketch comedy MADtv, have a new series of their own, Comedy Central's Key & Peele. It is a genial, at times almost genteel, half-hour in which the pair's obvious niceness shines through even their more pugnacious characters. (Key's version of road rage is to shout, "Selfish!") In a roundabout way, that's the point. The sketches are consistently smart and smartly acted and flow easily from ordinary premises to weird conclusions.

  • Hank Stuever

    Discovery's Bering Sea Gold doesn’t seem at first like it has crossed any new reality TV frontier, relying on elements and structure familiar to the form. Enticingly (to the network), it combines the ocean and the gold and the cold and the reactive testosterone among bad-tempered desperados. To which I am surprised to cry: Eureka, they’ve found it! Bering Sea Gold is a testament to how thoroughly absorbing the genre can still be, when it’s done right.

  • Joanne Ostrow

    Kiefer Sutherland displays his softer side in Fox's Touch, a touchy-feely drama merging paranormal, spiritual and sweetly familial elements. shows off his acting chops, long forgotten, in scene after scene. It's heavier lifting than usual for the actor who was often reduced to caricature in 24. Sutherland is all about vulnerability in a show whose goal is nothing short of proving the interconnectedness of human life. We'll see if audiences can tolerate the notion of profound interrelatedness as weekly entertainment.

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