Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for May 6-12. Listings include the week’s ranking and viewership. 1. “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 12.6 million. 2. “Game of Thrones,” HBO, 12.5 million. 3. “NCIS,” CBS, 11.7 million. 4. “Young Sheldon,” CBS, 10.5 million. 5. “FBI,” CBS, 8.8 million. 6. “Blue Bloods,” CBS, 8.5 million. 7. “Mom,” […]
Apple Revamps TV App for Direct Subscriptions to Channels
NEW YORK (AP) — Apple users will be able to subscribe to HBO, Showtime and a handful of other channels directly through Apple’s new TV app, bypassing the need to download or launch a separate app. The new capabilities available Monday come ahead of Apple’s plan to offer its own original shows, including ones from […]
Grants Announced for Expanding NC Rural Broadband Access
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — About 10,000 North Carolina households and several hundred businesses and government buildings are expected to gain high-speed internet access through the first grants issued by a new state broadband initiative. State leaders announced this week that nearly $10 million will be distributed to winning applicants in 19 counties through the Growing […]
AT&T Shares Slump as More TV Customers Leave
DALLAS (AP) — Shares of AT&T slid Wednesday as the wireless and entertainment company reported that its TV customer losses continued in the first quarter. AT&T Inc., which owns DirecTV, said it lost 627,000 video customers in the January-March quarter. Its DirecTV Now streaming service, a cable alternative launched in 2016, lost customers for the […]
Maine Senator Backs Push to Narrow “Digital Divide” in US
BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP) — A group of U.S. senators including Maine independent Sen. Angus King is introducing legislation designed to narrow the “digital divide” in the U.S. King’s office says in a statement the legislation would create a pair of $125 million grant programs focusing on projects that provide “equal access to information technology and […]
Amazon and Google End Spat, Bring YouTube to Amazon Devices
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon and Google are ending their nearly 2-year spat, agreeing to bring their video streaming apps to each other’s devices. Back in 2017, Google pulled its popular YouTube video app from Amazon’s Fire TV after the online shopping giant refused to sell some Google products. Amazon has since started to sell […]
Vermont House Overwhelmingly Approves Community Broadband
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved a bill designed to help rural communities get access to the internet. The legislation aims to bring broadband internet to around 17,000 Vermont residents who lack basic internet access outside of dial-up. Vermont Public Radio reports about 50,000 other residents have internet access […]
Duke-UCF Thriller Helps Boost TV Ratings for NCAA Tournament
CBS Sports and Turner Sports say television ratings for the NCAA Tournament across four networks that broadcast the first week of games were up 8 percent over last year. Tournaments games drew an average Nielsen rating of 6.4, up from 5.9 last year. The rating got a boost from the dramatic Duke-UCF game on Sunday. […]
Maine Picks New Director to Lead Broadband Push
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine has named a new executive director to lead efforts to expand broadband across the rural state. Department of Economic and Community Development commissioner Heather Johnson has named former small business advocate Peggy Schaffer to lead the ConnectME Authority. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has pledged to expand broadband access and stimulate […]
Chipmaker Nvidia to Acquire Mellanox for $6.9 Billion
Chipmaker Nvidia will acquire network and data transmission company Mellanox for $6.9 billion in an all-cash deal. The acquisition, which equates to $125 per share, has been approved by both companies’ boards and is expected to close by the end of 2019 pending regulatory approval. The companies are frequent collaborators and said Monday that the […]