-
Big Bird, Bill Simmons, Jon Stewart: HBO Keeps Stockpiling Talent
Thursday, November 5, 2015 - 8:07am | 601HBO has signed comedian Jon Stewart to a four-year digital content deal. Stewart is just the latest in a list of big-name additions by the network. HBO is fighting with a batch of new competitors in the exploding business of digital and mobile video. HBO announced this week that the...
-
WWE 'Raw' Sees Ratings Bump, But Will It Make A Difference?
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 - 1:50pm | 217World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.'s (NYSE: WWE) flagship show, "Monday Night Raw," saw this week's episode score a 3.28 cable rating, up a noticeable margin from last week at 3.03 (3.0). In light of the winter storm, WWE canceled their love show and instead hosted the three-hour block...
-
Will Telecom Bundling Eventually Kill Cable?
Friday, August 22, 2014 - 5:08pm | 781The so-called “triple play” bundle originally offered by cable companies has been very successful. Combining telephone, television and Internet into one package provided additional revenue for the companies and, in most cases, value for customers. When telecoms got involved, triple...
-
Is The World Cup Making U.S. Soccer More Popular Than Ever Before?
Thursday, June 26, 2014 - 12:24pm | 849The United States is in the midst one of the most important games in its World Cup history. If recent trends hold they may come out on top -- win or lose. The U.S. national team takes on Germany in the final game of group play. A win or a draw and they're in the rest of the tournament....
-
Netflix Breaks Into Talk Show Realm With Chelsea Handler
Thursday, June 19, 2014 - 1:00pm | 597The most prominent woman in late-night talk-show history will be changing the game again. Beginning in 2016, Chelsea Handler will bring her talk show to Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), a first for the ever-evolving streaming service. Netflix will premiere Handler’s first hour-long stand-up...
-
What Led To WWE's Smackdown?
Friday, May 16, 2014 - 12:23pm | 647Wrestlemania 30 was the culmination of three decades of effort, growth and determination. Was this the peak for WWE (NYSE: WWE)? The company had been in talks for months trying to find a new television contract. It finally landed one on Thursday, when the company released a statement that it...
-
NBA Brings Down The Hammer On Clippers' Owner: Now What?
Tuesday, April 29, 2014 - 4:09pm | 1003NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is just three months into his job, but has already set a precedent that could define him for a lifetime. "I will urge the board of governors to exercise its authority to force a sale of the team," said Silver on Tuesday afternoon. Following the league'...
-
With Its Stock Continuing To Sink, Could An Off-Season Benefit WWE?
Saturday, April 12, 2014 - 3:51pm | 571WWE (NYSE: WWE) is finishing up one of the most tumultuous weeks in recent memory for the company. Wrestlemania 30 was by almost all accounts a huge success; there were no major streaming issues on the WWE Network, storylines were advanced and looked to set the show up well for the near future....
-
Letterman Out, Colbert In As Late Show Host -- How Will He Do Amid Late Night Disrupt?
Thursday, April 10, 2014 - 1:47pm | 788He is America. And so can you? CBS (NYSE: CBS) announced that satirical political pundit and comedian Stephen Colbert will replace David Letterman as host of Late Show. Letterman announced in early April that he will be retiring from hosting the show when his contract ends sometime in 2015. "I...
-
WWE Network Hits 667K Subscribers In Six Weeks, But What Does The Future Hold?
Monday, April 7, 2014 - 4:21pm | 493The Undertaker's vaunted streak came to an end, but Vince McMahon may be chanting a familiar refrain. WWE (NYSE: WWE) announced on Monday that it's on-demand streaming network has reached 667,287 subscribers since launching on February 24. The announcement comes off the heels of the company's...
-
Trailblazers: Vince McMahon Takes His Empire, And An Industry, Over The Top
Sunday, April 6, 2014 - 11:56am | 1157The life of a World Wrestling Entertainment (NYSE: WWE) employee can be a grueling one. The company performed 321 live events, including 65 international, in front of nearly two million fans in 2013. Professional wrestling, or what WWE likes to label "sports-entertainment," has changed...