March Madness TV-rights price tag continues to soar
The media landscape is in the throes of dramatic change that creates uncertainty but also adds to the value of events like the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament that attract huge live audiences.
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Media exposure from 3-week NCAA tournament could pay off big
Coverage from Selection Sunday on March 14 to the championship April 5 should bring an enormous payoff to Indiana, which will host all 67 games, and to Indianapolis specifically, which will host 55 of them.
Super Bowl ad roster features at least 20 newcomers, old favorites
Among them: Amazon shows off a sexy new body for its Alexa assistant, Dan Levy apologizes for eating M&M’s and Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade makes a downpour of lemons a metaphor for 2020’s troubles.
Indiana to air commercial during Super Bowl to promote COVID-19 vaccine
The TV spot, which will be broadcast in six markets throughout the state, will feature the family of an Indiana athletic director who died of COVID-19.
Investigative reporter Chapman latest on-air personality to leave WTHR
Chapman announced the news on Twitter on Thursday afternoon, saying that it’s “now my choice to pursue other dreams and goals.”
WISH-TV owner to launch national news network from Indianapolis
Multicultural News Network will launch in the second half of 2021, and founder DuJuan McCoy said 150 people will be hired to work out of WISH-TV’s Indianapolis headquarters to make it happen.
Old technology has spawned a new idea that’s crucial for schools during pandemic
Indiana is only the second state in the U.S. to use a technology called “datacasting” to deliver educational content into students’ homes—without the need for Wi-Fi.
Myers launches TV ad for final days of gubernatorial campaign
Democratic candidate Woody Myers will debut his campaign’s first TV ad on Friday after struggling to raise funds throughout the election season.
Nonpartisan group condemns use of its candidate information in House Speaker Todd Huston ad
Iowa-based Vote Smart issued a statement Wednesday that said Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston is airing an ad that attacks his opponent, Democrat Aimee Rivera Cole, “with information he knows to be false.”
TV spending adds up to nearly $12M in tight 5th District race
According to a report of media buys obtained by the IBJ, nearly $7 million has been spent collectively by Democrat Christina Hale’s campaign and organizations trying to get her elected over Republican candidate Victoria Spartz since August. About $4.9 million has collectively been spent by Spartz’s campaign and organizations hoping to elect her to the seat.
Barrett ads tied to interest groups funded by unnamed donors
Overall, the Judicial Crisis Network, which was founded in 2005 to promote President George W. Bush’s nominees, said it would spend at least $10 million to support Barrett’s confirmation—roughly the same amount it spent to successfully advocate for Trump’s prior picks for the high court, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
Streaming: Animals, people rescue each other in heartfelt docuseries
That and more is part of “That Animal Rescue Show,” an endearing project that reflects its unexpected creators as well as its stars, human and otherwise. All 10 episodes are out Oct. 29 on the CBS All Access streaming service.
Looking for something to stream? How about David Byrne, ‘The Amazing Race’ & Tommy Lee
Broadway is dark and most concert tours have been abandoned, but you can still feel the thrill of being inside a packed house in “David Byrne’s American Utopia.” Spike Lee’s concert film of Byrne’s acclaimed stage show debuts Saturday at 8 p.m. on HBO and HBO Max, and it may be one of the best films of the year.
Homebound doesn’t mean idle for ‘Queer Eye’ star Tan France
France, a style expert on the show, says he’s not upset it’s suspended due to the pandemic. He and Jonathan Van Ness, the show’s hair expert, are the ones who really get up close with people: “I don’t think any either of us are excited about that right now.”
WTHR-TV’s Diaz to take over for departing morning anchor Hill
Ben Hill, who has co-anchored WTHR-TV Channel 13’s morning weekday news since 2016, is leaving Indianapolis for an anchor job in Nashville, Tennessee, WTHR announced Tuesday.
Review: ‘Palm Springs’—starring Andy Samberg—serves a time-loop, rom-com cocktail
It’s no wonder “Palm Springs”—on Hulu—made such a splash at the Sundance Film Festival in January. It looks like a studio film, it’s fun and reminds you of the sun and warmth. Thankfully, it’s just as effective off the mountain.
Bruce Lee ’30 for 30′ director says martial arts star is ‘the epitome of an American story’
The documentary, which debuted Sunday night as part of the network’s “30 for 30” series, devotes almost two-thirds of its running time to Lee’s experiences as a young man in the America of the 1960s. Of course, he never got to be an old man; he died in 1973 at 32, just as he had become an international sensation.
Scrappy WISH-TV throws passion, resources into covering chaos
WISH usually has one crew on Saturday nights, but on May 30, it had four. WISH went live outside its normal newscasts more than any other station—which is easier for it to do than any other station because it lacks a major network affiliation.
TV: HBO Max rolls in with ‘Love Life,’ a surprisingly deep romance dramedy starring Anna Kendrick
“Love Life” (10 episodes) premiered with Episodes 1-3, exclusively on the new HBO Max, the latest streaming service available for cable-cutters or never-cablers.
Union-connected PAC spends thousands to defeat candidate who represents non-union contractors
Believe in Indiana, a political action committee connected to the Indiana State Building & Construction Trades Council, has spent more than $51,000 to run TV commercials that criticize JR Gaylor, CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana and Kentucky, who is running against Scott Baldwin in the Senate District 20 primary.