What’s Next After ‘Portlandia’ and How IFC Programs For Binge Viewers
At the TV Critics Association Winter Tour in Pasadena last week, cable networks and critics gathered not just to discuss the premieres of upcoming shows, but to also celebrate the stories and content that make their networks unique. We sat down with Christine Lubrano, IFC senior vice president of original programming, to talk about how her network creates new stories, keeps viewers excited, and imagines the future after the hit series, Portlandia. “We are actively looking for projects that feature women's points of view, diverse casts, diverse points of view–that is super important to us as
truTV President Chris Linn Talks on Creating TV Content for the Smartphone Era
The first day of the cable portion of the Television Critics Association Winter 2018 tour in Pasadena, California was full of TV talent and critics eager to get the latest scoop on shows coming out this spring and summer. We sat down with truTV President Chris Linn to talk a bit about how his network, which has recently shifted to delivering primarily comedy content, reaches its audience and keeps viewers coming back for more. How has truTV evolved in the past several years? In 2008, truTV became the reality arm of Turner, and this was during the big reality boom, and it had solid success in
Women Shine at This Year’s Golden Globes
The 75th Golden Globes aired earlier this week, and if anything stood out, it was the accolades for the strong female storytelling that’s been missing in years past. HBO's Big Little Lies made a big splash, winning in four categories: Best Television Limited Series; Nicole Kidman for Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series (fellow co-star Reese Witherspoon was also a nominee in the same category); Laura Dern for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Limited Series; and Alexander Skarsgard for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Limited Series
Three Questions: How a Network Stays True to Its Mission in the Digital Era
Expert: Richard Weinstein, C-SPAN Vice President, Digital Media C-SPAN’s Richard Weinstein gives the lowdown on how the network has adapted to the evolving marketplace while continuing to provide audiences with its staple product—which is uninterrupted and uneditorialized coverage of all facets of the U.S. political process. What makes C-SPAN stand apart as a network? In this era of social media and instantaneous public commentary, giving people the chance to see what's going on in our government without filters is more critical than ever. We are still driven by the same mission we had when C
2017 Brings in More Scripted TV Content Than Ever Before
As 2017 winds down, it's common to see annual "best of year" lists floating around, and TV and entertainment writers have even more programming to choose from this year. FX Networks estimates that the final count for the number of scripted TV series in 2017 will exceed 500 by year end. That's up from 455 from last year, and more than double since 2010. With more options than ever in programming content, 2017 continued the trend of bringing viewers a plethora of niche and diverse stories, reaching people of all different backgrounds. In fact, a survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers speaks to the
Connected TVs and TV Everywhere Are Gaining Ground
With more pay TV subscribers becoming regular TV Everywhere users, the connected TV is rapidly becoming the preferred device to watch. Industry reports show that consumers are opting to utilize connected TVs, TV Everywhere services and programming apps that are creating a whole new way of watching television. The Nielsen Total Audience Report, which found that consumers this year are spending 32 more minutes a day than last year connected to media for a total of 10 hours and 48 minutes, highlighted internet-enabled devices capable of streaming content to a TV set. TV-connected devices include
American Ninja Warrior Nick Hanson Shares His Story of Rural Broadband
Nick Hanson is a lot of things; he’s a coach, a volunteer, a Native Alaskan, and a Ninja Warrior. He’s also an internet advocate. Hailing from Unalakleet, an extremely small town in Western Alaska, Hanson knows how important a reliable internet connection is for small communities like his. It’s a lifeline, delivering access an education, receive quality healthcare, and remain plugged in to the rest of the world. With Hanson’s notoriety as a competitor on American Ninja Warrior, a TV show where athletes race to complete extremely difficult obstacle courses, Hanson has a remarkable platform to
TV Piracy's Reckless Consumption of ‘Phantom’ Bandwidth
Sandvine's spotlight on subscription TV piracy released earlier this month highlighted some of the major problems that unlicensed content is causing in the media and entertainment space. The costs that are lost to content creators– which TV piracy services are essentially stealing from– could mean less money to invest in creative programming in the future. But another issue that the report raised which isn't talked about very much is phantom bandwidth and its effect on cable operators and consumers. But first, what is phantom bandwidth? Sandvine defines phantom bandwidth as "data that is
New Report Shows $4.2 Billion in Losses from Pirated TV
Sandvine released its 2017 Global Internet Phenomena Spotlight on Subscription Television Piracy report this week. In it, Sandvine revealed that 6.5 percent of households in North America are illegally accessing subscription-based television content each month. The report looks at how unlawful content distributors aim to "replicate the live television experience offered by cable and satellite providers," and projects that it will continue to grow if left unchecked, especially given the low cost for users to access this unlicensed content. The report also found that these pirated services
Starz Executive Shares Strategy Behind Diverse Storytelling
Cable has long been telling stories that not only entertain and inform, but that challenge the status quo and ultimately lead to encouraging cultural shifts in our society. But powerful programming is only possible if it speaks to the many demographics and perspectives that make up America's viewership, and often it’s those stories that don't usually see enough screen time that make all the difference. One network that has prided itself on telling those stories is Starz. Starz is known for some of its hit shows like Power, the second-most watched series on cable behind Game of Thrones last