On Screen Representation Matters Beyond Pride Month
Cable programming once again set a record this year for having the most LGBTQ+ characters on screen. According to the 2018-2019 GLAAD “Where We Are on TV” report, an impressive total of 208 LGBTQ+ characters were shown across the cable platform. Specifically, cable programming featured: 120 LGBTQ+ series regular characters – up from 103 last year; 88 recurring LGBTQ+ characters – up from 70 last year; and 95+ more LGBTQ+ characters than broadcast and streaming (which featured 113 and 112 characters respectively.) The report, which GLAAD has put out for the past 23 years running, sheds light on
How to Watch the Women's World Cup: Fox Sports and Telemundo Up Their Game in 2019
The FIFA Women's World Cup kicks off today in France, and network executives are hoping to draw in the largest viewership of the tournament in history. Four years ago, the USA Women's team defeated Japan in the final to win the tournament as 26 million fans tuned in. In fact, it became the most-watched soccer match in U.S. history, according to Nielsen. As Fox Sports and NBCUniversal’s Telemundo continue their exclusive coverage of the tournament this year—in their respective English and Spanish broadcasts—both networks have high expectations for even greater success this time around. Fox
Technology is Revolutionizing Everything About TV
Ten years ago, you had to choose between relaxing on the beach and catching the game back in the house. Today you can enjoy the sun without missing a minute of the action, thanks to new technology and streaming apps. But it’s not just about being able to take your entertainment with you (though that’s pretty groundbreaking); the television renaissance is starting to push the boundaries of the medium and challenge what we used to think TV could be. Once a sea of variety shows, sitcoms, and serial cop dramas, we now have interactive pick your own adventure style programs and shows that
NCTA President & CEO Michael Powell Testifies on the Exploding Video Marketplace
Tomorrow, NCTA President & CEO Michael Powell will testify before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on the state of the television and video marketplace. As Powell lays out in his testimony, the evolution of the video programming marketplace from an analog broadcast medium to today's digital and increasingly online space has created "a world of robust competition, constant innovation, and significant changes in consumer experiences and preferences." Along with this new world of competition and consumer choice have come changes in how video and content providers
Why Ride TV's Mission is About More Than Horsing Around
With world-renowned horse races like the Kentucky Derby held earlier this month and the Belmont Stakes coming up next week, equestrian culture is generating all sorts of excitement and buzz as of late. It's not surprising then to hear that there is a huge audience for this kind of programming from Ride TV, an emerging network that is making a name for itself in the equestrian world. The demand for horse content is strong and continues to grow. As a network, Ride TV has created a place where viewers can watch show jumping, barrel racing, dressage, bull riding, and much more. "We want to become
HBO's Game of Thrones Shatters Viewership Records During Final Season
Winter has officially come to an end. It's never easy to say goodbye to a beloved show, especially one that has united fans all over the world for eight years and brought them together over watch parties, social media, or even just conversation. HBO's Game of Thrones—the network's biggest series in history—aired its finale this past Sunday, and while this last season spurred controversy among critics, the show still pulled in a record of 19.3 million viewers in a single night. The series high raked in almost two million more viewers than the season eight premiere, and surpassed The Sopranos
National Geographic's Science Fair Inspires the Next Generation
Next week, around 1,800 high school students from around the world will gather in Los Angeles to compete at the world-renowned Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). It's quite the achievement for the many teenagers who come from all types of backgrounds to make it to the festival, and for those who will win prizes and scholarships for the innovative projects they present. Student projects turn into patents, and the festival is known to produce future award-winning chemists and Nobel Prize winners. Earlier this year at the Television Critics Association Press Tour, NCTA sat
Live TV Still the Biggest Draw for Younger Viewers, New Study Shows
It's no secret that younger generations today turn to their digital devices to help them in almost every aspect of their lives, and media and entertainment are no different. People can watch TV on their phones while on the subway, or catch up on an episode while waiting at the airport. But what's fascinating is that despite this new flexibility that technology and TV networks have provided in recent years, millennials still very much tune into live TV. According to Nielsen's first quarterly Content Ratings Benchmarks report, 81 percent of people in the 18-34 demographic who consume content
Game of Thrones By The Numbers
Millions of people will tune into HBO this Sunday to watch the final season premiere of Game of Thrones. The massively successful series has inspired a concert tour, countless podcasts, and is even credited with increasing tourism to filming locations like Croatia and Iceland. After eight years, 73 episodes, and approximately 4,250 minutes of game-changing action, the song of ice and fire will finally go quiet. With the end on the horizon, let’s take a look at all the ways we can measure the Thrones impact. 128 The total number of Emmy nominations the show has received since it premiered in
C-SPAN's 40th Anniversary is a Celebration of Democracy
Forty years ago today, Americans witnessed the very first airing of the House of Representatives. C-SPAN officially launched on March 19, 1979, and has been broadcasting countless federal government proceedings ever since. In honor of its anniversary, the network has donned a new look and a campaign with fresh tag lines and messaging that viewers will see over the next several months, but its mission stays the same—and that is to continue to provide viewers with uneditorialized and unfiltered coverage of the U.S. political process. Its new secondary tagline, "Make Up Your Own Mind," pretty