Top Stories

EL SEGUNDO: The growth of the IPTV market in the U.S. continued to decelerate in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to IHS Screen Digest. Verizon and AT&T, the two major IPTV players in the U.S., reported a combined gain of 326,000 video subscribers in the quarter, which is 19-percent less than the …

NEW YORK: CC Studios is a new in-house creative initiative from Comedy Central that will focus on developing content, concepts and talent for digital platforms. CC Studios aims to be a place where comedy and technology come together across multiple platforms, delivering original content that is for millennials. The studio …

NEW YORK: Last night’s Super Bowl averaged 108.4 million, making it the third most-watched game of all time. Preliminary ratings results from Super Bowl XLVII on CBS show an overnight rating of 48.1 percent, with a 71 share in the 56 metered markets across the U.S. Last night’s game, which …

PORT WASHINGTON: Free TV streaming is becoming a growing trend with traditional television customers, almost level with SVOD usage, according to The NPD Group, which also finds that Hulu.com is the leader in this segment. According to NPD’s Free Streaming TV report, 12 percent of U.S. TV watchers say they have streamed shows …

NEW YORK: Bonnie Hammer is taking over responsibility for the entire cable portfolio at NBCUniversal, while Lauren Zalaznick shifts her focus to digital and emerging technology and former Univision exec Joe Uva joins the company in the newly created role of chairman for Hispanic enterprises and content. Hammer, Zalaznick and …

BEVERLY HILLS/MIAMI: Netflix has gained a first look at the movies from Flavor Unit Entertainment, which is owned by Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere, for the U.S. market. Through the exclusive licensing deal, Netflix can select movies to debut shortly after their theatrical release. Starting in the spring, the service …

NEW YORK: Net income at Time Warner soared 51 percent to $1.17 billion for the fourth quarter, despite revenue being largely unchanged. Fourth-quarter revenue was essentially flat at $8.2 billion, with growth at the Networks segment being offset by the declines in the Film and TV Entertainment and Publishing segments. Revenues …

NEW YORK: SPI International is working with Ustream for the live streaming of the pay-TV channels Fightbox HD, Docubox HD and Fashionbox HD in the U.S. Fightbox is a channel focused on combat sports, featuring martial arts from more than 40 different disciplines. Docubox presents nonfiction documentaries and TV shows, while Fashionbox …

NEW YORK: A two-year agreement has been signed that gives AMC a first look at scripted projects from Double Feature Films. This is the first time that Double Feature Films has done a first-look pact with a cable network for TV projects. The company will be developing and producing scripted projects …

PREMIUM: Jeff Wachtel, co-president of USA Network and co-head of original content at Universal Cable Productions, tells TV USA about the channel’s cost-effective production models and the innovative way its shows have been marketed under the now famous "characters welcome" tagline. WS: How did "characters welcome" come about? WACHTEL: It was …