Women's World Cup Champs Won Audiences on TV and Online
This year's FIFA Women's World Cup final between the USA and the Netherlands was a thriller, and the USWNT players weren't the only ones walking away with a victory. The TV networks that aired all of the matches experienced viewership highs during the last game, and record-breaking numbers during each stage of the tournament. FOX reached over 14 million viewers and peaked at nearly 19 million during the final match this past Sunday hosted in France, even with the game airing during a holiday weekend and in a non-ideal early time slot due to the time zone difference. The game is now the most
Live TV Still Strong Among American Viewers
It's a pretty good time to be a TV viewer in today's rich and busy media and entertainment marketplace. TV has been completely redefined in every sense of the word. Cable programmers have invested over $430 billion over the past two decades to bring viewers the award-winning shows that they love, and there are more scripted programs today than there ever have been. Technology and fast broadband networks have granted people the flexibility to watch TV whenever, wherever, and however they want. This gives consumers a freedom and convenience that they didn't have before tablets or apps. But the
Smithsonian Channel Brings LGBTQ+ Experiences Out of the Archival Closet
As the cable industry celebrates Pride Month, it’s worth noting that this week marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that shaped the LGBTQ+ movement as it is known today, starting from Christopher Street in New York City and spreading around the country. Stonewall, and the protests that followed, gave rise to the term “Pride,” the rainbow flag, and annual marches in New York City and around the United States. However, while the Stonewall Riots catalyzed change, the event was by no means the beginning of the LGBTQ+ movement. The team at Smithsonian Channel recognized this and set
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