Latest from Next TV in Nab-2015

CBS Station Chiefs Ponder All Access Offer

michael.malone@futurenet.com (Michael Malone) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 20:30:00 +0000

A curious group of affiliates took in CBS’ All Access presentation in Las Vegas, and most came away intrigued about the opportunities in partnering with the network on the live streaming initiative.

CBS announced recently that a dozen station groups were on board, representing 55% of U.S. households when coupled with CBS’ owned stations. But Michael Fiorile, affiliates board chairman, warned that it will be some time before full-scale buy-in occurs. “I’d characterize the meeting as positive, but affiliates are still learning what it’s about,” he said. “It’s a lot to comprehend.”

Affiliates have to make the investment in Syncbak, the platform driving the $5.99 a month service, to make it work. According to the blanket deal, stations get 59 cents per subscriber, which ramps up commensurate to the subscriber base. While the affiliates board has signaled that they’re pleased with the framework that was negotiated, station chiefs are penciling out the numbers to see if there’s money to be made.

The slogan at the closed 90-minute meeting at the Wynn read “Move Into Digital Together”, and the station partners were warm to the idea of working alongside the network to increase their collective reach. “There’s a lot of settling to do, but anything that increases distribution is a good thing,” said one senior group exec who asked to remain nameless.

NAB: WideOrbit Officially Opens Programmatic TV Marketplace

George Winslow — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 16:30:00 +0000

With new advertising technologies becoming a particularly hot topic at this year’s NAB, WideOrbit is launching its programmatic TV market place for local broadcast TV stations.

As previously reported, the WO Programmatic TV market was operating in beta for the last few months at a number of stations and was used to buy ads in both the Super Bowl and the Oscars.

“As the media business evolves, WideOrbit’s mission remains constant: make it easier to buy and sell media,” said Eric R. Mathewson, founder and CEO of WideOrbit, in a statement.

SES to Deliver Live UHD Broadcasts at NAB

George Winslow (Broadcasting & Cable) — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 16:30:00 +0000

With tech vendors set to show a wide variety of new equipment for 4K production and distribution at the 2015 NAB Show, satellite operator SES has teamed up with Harmonic, Sony, TelVue, Pacsat and Superior to deliver a live linear Ultra HD broadcast to a cable system for three days in Las Vegas.

The tech partners are billing the demo, which will start on April 13, as the first time live UHD broadcasts will be delivered to a cable system.

The feeds to a fully operational cable system in the SES NAB booth can be seen at the SES, Harmonic and Sony booths.

The Sinclair Broadcast Group is also helping. A reporter from its KSNV in Las Vegas will be conducting celebrity interviews. In addition to the feeds to the three booths during NAB, that content will be delivered to viewers watching KSNV-TV news in Las Vegas and other Sinclair stations.

The demo will use SES satellites and teleport network and a team of technology partners.