Many NBC affiliates are planning not to air Thursday’s special episode of 30 Rock, which is also designed as an upfront presentation for all of NBCUniversal.

There are several reasons why the affiliates are resisting the show. For one thing, the 30 Rock special will take up a commercial free hour of primetime, and with local ad revenues down because of business closings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, every dollar counts.

Related: NBCU Reunites ‘30 Rock’ for Upfront

The special will also be previewing shows on NBCU cable networks, including USA and Syfy, which siphon off viewers from broadcast, as well as the streaming service Peacock.

Peacock is a particular problem because of NBCU’s plan to let premium subscribers watch NBC late night shows early, during primetime.

Station groups declined to comment. Some referred calls to Gray Television President Pat LaPlatney, who heads the NBC affiliate board. LaPlatney hadn’t returned a call when this story was published.

A NBC spokesperson confirmed that some affiliates have said they didn’t plan to air the special, as was first reported by Vulture.

Viewers in markets where NBC owns stations, about 40% of the country, will be able to watch the show on Thursday night. Other viewers will be able to see it Friday on cable or on demand through Peacock or their cable provider.

Media buyers are mostly in markets where NBC owns stations, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Buyers and clients are also being given a special screening of the special at the end of NBCU’s Creative Summit Thursday afternoon.  

ViacomCBS said Tuesday that it has renewed its affiliation agreements with Nexstar Media Group, covering nine stations in markets including Las Vegas and Raleigh, N.C.

The pacts, which were scheduled to expire later this year, reach about 4 million TV households, or about 3.5% of the total U.S. audience. Coupled with an August affiliate renewal that covered 19 Nexstar stations in 15 markets and other prior renewals, ViacomCBS said it has long-term deals with all of Nexstar’s 49 CBS-affiliated stations.

Nexstar is the largest independent operator of CBS stations in the country. Nexstar’s CBS affiliates are also locally available to subscribers on CBS All Access, CBS’ digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, and distributed across cable and satellite television services as well as virtual multichannel video programming distributor platforms.

“We’re pleased to reach an early agreement with Nexstar that builds upon our longtime partnership and enables us to continue serving millions of households across the country,” said ViacomCBS president, U.S. Networks Distribution Ray Hopkins in a press release. “Together with Nexstar, we look forward to continue playing an important role in providing local communities with the trusted news and entertainment that audiences can rely on during these uncertain times.”

The stations involved in the most recent renewal are: WNCN-TV (Raleigh-Durham, N.C.); KLAS-TV (Las Vegas); KGPE-TV (Fresno-Visalia, Calif.); WYOU-TV (Wilkes Barre-Scranton, Pa.); KVEO-TV (Harlingen-Brownsville, Texas); WTAJ-TV (Johnstown-Altoona-St. College, Pa.); KXMC-TV (Minot-Bismarck-Dickinson, N.D.); WVNS-TV (Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill, W.Va.); and KREX-TV (Grand Junction-Montrose, Colo.)

“We are delighted to extend our affiliation agreement with ViacomCBS, our largest network partner and the nation’s #1 network,” Nexstar CEO Perry Sook said in a press release. “...Together, CBS and Nexstar deliver great entertainment and information to viewers and an excellent marketing platform for local and national advertisers. The agreement also provides further visibility to Nexstar’s distribution revenue growth following the completion of new multi-year retransmission consent agreements in the second half of 2019 representing approximately 70% of our subscribers.”

The field of 68 has been set -- First Four action tips tonight -- and NCAA March Madness Live is available to nearly 100 million pay video subscribers via TV Everywhere access throughout the event.

All 67 games of the 2015 tourney – Kentucky is seeking to become the first men’s basketball team to go undefeated since Indiana accomplished the feat during the 1975-76 season – plus a wealth of content, including archival and 2015 tournament highlights can be streamed over this year’s enhanced version of the NCAA March Madness Live app. Developed in partnership with Turner Sports, CBS Sports and the NCAA, the platform can be accessed from www.ncaa.com/marchmadness, www.CBSSports.com, www.bleacherreport.com, CBS Sports App, Bleacher Report’s Team Stream, the App Store, the Amazon App Store, Windows Store and Google Play. 

Although the 22 contests airing on CBS, including the national championship game on April 6 from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, are accessible to all, the remaining contests, including the national semifinals on April 4, air on Turner Broadcasting-owned services TBS, TNT and truTV. 

Subscribers can gain TV Everywhere access to the contests and content on computers, laptops, tablets and mobile devices by verifying their video subscriptions.

Turner has one of the most robust TVE offerings among the nation’s programmers with deals covering 86 million homes. That total reaches the 99 million mark or thereabouts with the addition of Time Warner Cable subscribers, as Turner has once again reached an interim agreement with the nation’s second-largest MSO during the Madness of March (and early April).

“TV Everywhere continues to be one of the most important initiatives in our industry,” said Coleman Breland, president of Turner Network Sales, the domestic distribution, sales and marketing arm of Turner Broadcasting System. “Offering our content to viewers wherever and whenever is an incredible value to both the consumers and importantly, to our distribution partners.”

Heading into the 2014 tournament, Turner Broadcasting counted 160 distribution partners for TVE that reached some 85 million homes. Over the course of the past year, Turner’s TVE platform has rolled out on a number of smaller distributors, via its master agreement with the National Cable Television Cooperative, and its TVE footprint now extends to 320 affiliates and over 86 million homes.

“It’s imperative that we not only continue to offer these on-demand services but that we create robust, companion viewing experiences like March Madness live which enhances the TV experience for consumers while providing added value to their existing TV subscription,” said Coleman.

With the expanded footprint and consumers’ increasingly familiarity with TVE, tentpole events like March Madness and the Olympics are key authentication drivers.

Like last year, users will once again have a three-hour preview per device before they must authenticate their subscriptions. Turner Broadcasting will regularly run messaging encouraging verification during those periods.

As such, Turner Broadcasting officials are optimistic that sign-up will grow and stoke NCAA March Madness Live usage.

Last year, NCAA March Madness Live generated a record 69.7 million live video streams, a 42% jump from the 2013 event, according to Conviva data. All told, there was a record 15 million hours of live video streaming, 7% more than the prior year.  Much of the growth came via mobile – tablets and smartphones – as streams leaped 71% on these devices during the tourney NCAA tournament, with streaming hours surging 38%.

Those who logged on via TVE were much more engaged with the content.  According to Turner officials citing Conviva data, TVE users streamed an average of 67% more minutes than those who weren’t logged in.  Live streams on logged-in mobile devices accounted for 52% of TVE play during the 2014 tournament.

Overall, TVE usages for last year’s version of March Madness climbed 85% in live streams and 72% in hours spent viewing.

Those gains have once again led to NCAA March Madness Live selling out its inventory for the 2015 event. NCAA corporate champions AT&T, Capital One and Coke Zero are the co-presenting sponsors of the platform.

Moreover, Buick, Capital One and Coke Zero are sponsoring the app for iPhone and iPad, while AT&T, Capital One and Infiniti are backing the Android version. AT&T is also the presenting sponsor for the Windows app. Buick, Infiniti and LG Electronics are NCAA corporate partners.

“Our TV Everywhere strategy is designed to confront the challenges of an evolving media universe and have the ability to deliver branded video content that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere and on any device by consumers,” said Coleman, “while also meeting the business needs of our advertising and distribution partners.”

In Demand has reached a renewal with Zuffa LLC to continue to distribute UFC pay-per-view bouts to more than 50 million households across the U.S., while affording a host of new options for affiliates and consumers.

The multiyear pact, financial terms of which were not disclosed, follows the recent expiration of the parties' contract. The new agreement, coming shortly after UFC 182 (pictured) not only ensures that the UFC's biggest events remain available to residential pay--per-view households, but for the first time affords affiliates electronic sell-through rights of the cards, as well as the ability to proffer subscription service UFC Fight Pass to their authenticated video subscribers. 

In addtion, the deal will see InDemand play a greater role in helping affiliates sell UFC PPV cards to commercial establishments in their territories.

In Demand said it will deliver every UFC PPV event and purchasers will enjoy longer viewership windows via video on demand and TV Everywhere.. In Demand said TVE availability will vary initially, depending on when affiliates add UFC action to the platforms.

All events are offered in both standard- and high-definition formats, plus a separate Spanish-language feed.

“We have been proud to be a part of UFC’s growth from their launch on PPV to their current status as the gold-standard for Mixed Martial Arts, worldwide,' said In Demand executive vice president of proramming and general counsel Michael Berman. "This new deal ensures that we will continue our long-term relationship by not only distributing their core PPV events, but we will also be an intrinsic part of their next generation of growth through subscription and digital ownership of the UFC’s compelling content.”

Noted UFC chief content officer  Marshall Zelaznik:: “It is great to continue our rewarding and long-lasting relationship with In Demand. The ability of UFC to deliver our best and most meaningful fights and events to so many fans in the years to come is great news for our sport, our brand and our partners. This partnership will allow us to continue to be the world’s leading PPV content provider.” 

For upcoming schedules, click here.

Cartoon Network thinks it’s time to bring some adventure to its TV Everywhere platform.

The network will kick off an affiliate-supported, 10-city tour in Kansas City on Sept. 27 centered around its long-running, animated series, Adventure Time.

In the first affiliate promotion of this stripe, Cartoon Network executives hope the family-friendly events aim to drive home the message about TV Everywhere in general and the benefits of Watch Cartoon Network in particular.

“Adventure Time is one of Cartoon Network’s most popular series, and we’re pleased to bring this beloved brand to life by partnering with our distribution affiliates for fans in their local markets,” said Heather Baldino, senior vice president of marketing and revenue integration for Turner Network Sales.

Those attending the highly trafficked Nebraska Furniture Mart outlet in KC, as well as stops in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Denver and San Francisco and others that are part of the tour, will find costumed versions of the show’s Finn and Jake characters, amidst an Adventure Time branded environment, replete with a co-branded green screen. Product demonstrations will also be on the docket, as attendees can pick up related literature.

Moreover, at the Watch Cartoon Network/TV Everywhere bean bag toss game brand ambassadors from Cartoon and the in-market affiliate will inform participants about their TVE options, telling them about the authentication process, where they can simulcast the linear Cartoon Network and on what devices. They will also show users how to navigate the service and engage in its clips and games.

“There’s no better way to demonstrate and explain the power of TV Everywhere than in person, and this promotion is a perfect way for Turner to showcase both the value of the Cartoon Network brand and for the affiliates to showcase the value of having a cable subscription – it’s a win-win for everyone,” said Baldino.

She noted that the promotion affords affiliates flexibility as they also “can leverage this co-branded, family-friendly event for local ad sales and on-site sales opportunities,” as well as the TVE gambits.

Baldino believes that the popularity of Adventure Time, which has been picked up for a seventh season, will appeal to kids and their parents.

The premiere episode of Adventure Time's sixth campaign attracted more than 4.3 million viewers on April 21, according to Nielsen live+7 data. The delivery led Cartoon to the top spot among all kids/boys 2 to 11 and 6 to 11, plus tweens 9-14.

The season premiere also ranked as the network’s top telecast in 2014 to-date among boys 9 to 14.

Debuting on April 5, 2010, Adventure Time over the years has featured guest-voicing from the likes of Matthew Broderick, Donald Glover, Donald Faison, George Takei, Erik Estrada, Andy Milonakis, Emo Phillips, Bobcat Goldthwait, Susie Essman, Anne Heche, Rainn Wilson and Andy Samberg.