Television industry

A worker cleans seats in Arrowhead Stadium before an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
January 07, 2021 - 9:26 pm

Even with empty stadiums, NFL still a ratings monster

Regular-season ratings for NFL games declined this season following two straight years of increases. But in a year that saw the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and a presidential election, the 7% decrease isn't as bad as the league and its broadcast partners feared before the season began...
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Alabama tight end Jahleel Billingsley (19) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
AP
December 10, 2020 - 7:25 pm

SEC on ABC: ESPN to be exclusive TV home, starting 2024

The Southeastern Conference's signature mid-afternoon Saturday game will move from CBS to ABC starting in 2024 as part of a new 10-year contract announced Thursday with ESPN and the powerhouse football league. The deal makes ESPN the exclusive media rights holder of SEC football and men's...
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PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates with Neymar after scoring his side's sixth goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Angers at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France, Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
October 08, 2020 - 8:59 am

French soccer clubs face missed payments from pay TV deal

PARIS (AP) — French soccer clubs hit by falling revenue during the coronavirus pandemic face missed payments from a new television deal with broadcaster Mediapro. The French league said Thursday it refused a request from Mediapro to delay instalments just months into a four-season pay TV contract...
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
September 15, 2020 - 6:12 pm

For television executives, return of football is good news

NEW YORK (AP) — Pro football has probably never been more important to television executives than this year, and its return has them ready to do a happy dance in the end zone. A schedule of opening week games brought viewers back to their sets, led by a Hall of Fame caliber matchup between Tom...
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Las Vegas Raiders players warms up during an NFL football training camp practice at Allegiant Stadium, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
September 02, 2020 - 8:25 pm

NFL, TV partners navigating pandemic and future rights deals

In a year in which few things are normal, there will be some familiar things about NFL broadcasts this season. Announcers will be in the stadiums, pregame shows will have their usual fill of banter and debate and the regular season will start on time. But will it translate to an increase in ratings...
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A directional arrow on a street points to the Signal Iduna Park, Germany's biggest stadium of Borussia Dortmund in Dortmund, Germany, Thursday, May 14, 2020. Bundesliga will now restart on May 16, 2020 when Borussia Dortmund will play the derby against FC Schalke 04 at home without spectators due to the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
May 15, 2020 - 12:10 am

The Latest: Aussie rules football to kick off on June 11

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world: ___ Aussie rules football will kick off again on June 11, with the second round of the Australian Football League to be played almost three months after the competition was suspended because of the coronavirus...
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The logo for NBCUniversal's upcoming streaming service, Peacock, is displayed on a computer screen on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, in New York. NBCUniversal is expected to unveil the price and other details about Peacock on Thursday. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
January 16, 2020 - 8:02 pm

NBC hopes 'free' makes Peacock stand out in streaming era

NEW YORK (AP) — NBCUniversal is launching a new streaming service that will have a large part available for free, an approach it hopes will resonate with people who aren't interested in traditional TV. The service, Peacock, will debut April 15 for customers of Comcast, NBCUniversal's parent company...
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Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (10) runs in for a touchdown against Dallas Cowboys' Chidobe Awuzie (24) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
December 10, 2019 - 6:34 pm

NFL, NCAA football fuel Fox TV's win of the prime-time week

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fueled by both college and pro football, Fox won a rare title as champ of the broadcast week among networks. Fox's Thursday night NFL airing of the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears was the week's top show of any kind with 18.23 million viewers, and its broadcast of the Big 10...
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Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez waves to the fans after Game 7 of the baseball World Series against the Houston Astros Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, in Houston. The Nationals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Offsides with Marc Ryan
November 05, 2019 - 5:43 pm

Strong ending helps World Series avoid record low viewership

NEW YORK (AP) — It may be no solace to the Houston Astros, but the Washington Nationals' comeback win in the World Series helped baseball avoid a dubious record. The series' seventh and deciding game reached 23.2 million people, eclipsing even "Sunday Night Football" and enabling the Series to...
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Houston Astros grounds crew members Jake Cooley, left, and Trey Feltch repaint the World Series logo for the baseball World Series at Minute Maid Park, Monday, Oct. 28, 2019. The Astros will play the Washington Nationals in Game 6 on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
October 29, 2019 - 5:42 pm

Nielsen says World Series is a snooze for most TV viewers

NEW YORK (AP) — Fans in Washington and Houston may be excited, but the rest of the country is reacting to the World Series with a collective yawn. Through the first five games, the World Series has been averaging 11.6 million viewers, the Nielsen company said. That puts it on pace to be the least-...
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