Matthew Keys
Verified
(He/Him)
- Journalist, Freelance
- Owner and Editor, Solano NewsNet
- Publisher, TheDesk.net
Sacramento, San Francisco, United States
As seen in:
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LinkedIn,
ВКонтакте,
Dailymotion,
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Medium,
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and
Covers:
Broadcast TV, broadcast radio, cable TV, satellite TV, streaming video, streaming media, connected TV advertising, technology, connected TV, telecommunications, print industry, social media
Doesn't Cover:
Please don't ask me to link to your casino or gambling blog.
Award-winning news publisher, covers the business of media and tech at @thedeskdotnet | Past: @reuters, @fox40, @abc7newsbayarea | matthew@matthewkeys.net
Articles by Matthew Keys
Gray Media combines newsrooms in Louisville
Gray Media has combined the newsrooms of its two television stations in Louisville, Kentucky, creating a single news operation that will produce local programming for broadcast television and streaming platforms. The new multi-platform newsroom, which launched Monday, October 26, brings together more than 100 journalists from WDRB (Channel 41, Fox) and WAVE (Channel 3, NBC), making it one of the largest local television news operations in the country, according to Gray.
Nexstar to pay $80,5000 to settle FCC probe over rules violations
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week agreed to wind down a compliance-related investigation against Nexstar Media Group over its handling of advertising spots aired during children’s television programming, among other matters. The agreement was approved Tuesday by the Acting Chief of the FCC’s Media Bureau.
Fox News leads October ratings; CNN, MS NOW report audience growth
Fox News Channel maintained its position as the most-watched cable news network in October, while competitors CNN and MS NOW reported double-digit increases in year-over viewership as audiences followed political developments ahead of the November midterm elections. Fox News averaged 1.1 million total-day viewers during October, compared to 588,000 for MS NOW and 402,000 for CNN, according to Nielsen ratings released by the network and confirmed by The Desk on Wednesday.
Fox Noticias launches daily Spanish news updates, new podcast
Fox News Media is expanding its Spanish-language news program Fox Noticias with a weekly video podcast and daily headline updates, adding new programming intended to reach Hispanic audiences across streaming, social media and digital audio platforms. The expansion begins on Thursday with the debut of “Cafecito Chats,” a weekly interview program hosted by Fox Noticias anchor Andrea Linares.
Fox's Jack Abernethy: Media consolidation can strengthen free speech
The top executive at Fox's local television business made the case of media consolidation while accepting a First Amendment award by a leading non-partisan, non-profit foundation.
TEGNA appoints Brian Gregory to GM roles in Charlotte, Greensboro
TEGNA has appointed Brian Gregory as President and General Manager of two of its North Carolina television stations, NBC affiliate WCNC (Channel 36) in Charlotte and CBS affiliate WFMY (Channel 2) in Greensboro, the company announced Wednesday. Gregory will oversee operations at both stations, including their financial performance, news programming, advertising sales, digital and streaming operations and community engagement efforts.
Versant launches new channels on Prime Video, Roku
Versant is tapping into its cable television programming catalog for the launch of several new free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels that will roll out on two leading platforms over the next few weeks. The new channels — CNBC Ambition, Snapped, Botched and Oxygen Murders of America — became available on Prime Video in the United States this week, and will roll out to users who watch content on The Roku Channel throughout November, the company said in a press release.
Scripps says layoffs done for now, touts higher political ad forecast
The E. W. Scripps Company released a snippet of its upcoming earnings report to investor on Wednesday, affirming a higher political advertising revenue forecast for the year that should bring in nearly $275 million in revenue from its local stations and national multicast networks.
Fox One election coverage powered by new AI-driven features
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DIRECTV bringing back Election HQ pop-up channel in November
DIRECTV is resurrecting its Election HQ pop-up channel about two years after the satellite and streaming company first tested it. The pop-up channel will be available from November 2 to November 4, offering live TV coverage from four networks CNN, MS NOW, Fox News and Newsmax on a single screen alongside election results powered by the Associated Press as data becomes available.
Fox’s Jack Abernethy: Media consolidation can strengthen free speech
The top executives at Fox’s local television business made the case of media consolidation while accepting a First Amendment award by a leading non-partisan, non-profit foundation.
Parks: Streamers value HDR content for premium viewing experiences
High dynamic range (HDR) technology is becoming an increasingly important part of premium video entertainment, with growing adoption across streaming television, live sports, gaming and mobile devices, according to new research from Parks Associates.
Scripps begins new round of layoffs impacting technical, news production roles
The E. W. Scripps Company started a fresh round of buyout offers and layoffs on Tuesday as part of a broader strategy to address its sizable debt load by cutting down on employment-related expenditures. According to multiple employees familiar with the matter, the layoff notices and buyout offers are impacting nearly all Scripps-owned stations across the country, including key markets like Detroit, Cincinnati, Denver and Phoenix.
Bowling TV launches on Roku, Vizio free streaming platforms
A free, 24-hour stream dedicated to the athletic competition of bowling has launched on Roku and Vizio’s free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) platforms. The channel, appropriately called Bowling TV, is operated by Triple B Media and offers around-the-clock programming devoted to professional and amateur bowling, including live tournaments, archival competitions and original shows.
Tubi leans into TikTok creators for next content incubation round
Fox-owned streaming service Tubi has selected 12 TikTok creators to develop 10 original television series as part of a partnership intended to bring short-form video personalities into long-form streaming entertainment. The projects were announced Tuesday as part of the Tubi x TikTok Creatorverse Incubator, which was unveiled in March. The companies said the initiative represents Tubi’s largest investment to date in original programming developed with digital creators.
SiliconDust: Broadcasters already know about NextGen TV emergency alert limits
Television technology developer SiliconDust is pushing back on claims made by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) related to an upcoming nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and other federally-mandated emergency notification networks, saying local TV stations and owner groups should already know about the limitations that the countrys newest broadcast standard imposes on the delivery of those messages.
Madhive partners with AdImpact for local TV ad spend data
Madhive has reached an agreement with AdImpact to incorporate competitive advertising spending data into its platform, giving local television broadcasters and advertising agencies more information about where companies are spending money across traditional television and streaming.
Hearst’s Vice President of Sales Gerry McGavick to retire
Gerry McGavick, Hearst Television’s Vice President of Sales, will retire at the end of the year, concluding a four-decade career in advertising and broadcast television that included nearly 20 years at the company’s ABC affiliate in New Hampshire. McGavick has spent the past five years overseeing revenue generation across Hearst Television’s platforms, working with advertising agencies, national sales representation firms and other business partners.
Verizon shrugs off SpaceX as postpaid business blooms in Q3
Verizon delivered a mixed earnings result for the company’s third quarter (Q3) of the year, seeing higher revenue and profit during the period buoyed by strong wireless subscriber uptake and continued demand for its land-based and fixed wireless broadband services. On Monday, the telecom reported $34.31 billion in revenue during Q3, up 1.5 percent from last year, while adjusted earnings rose 8 percent to $1.31 per share.
Microsoft offers buyouts to 60,000 workers amid AI spending push
Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to around 60,000 employees as the company looks to control expenses while pouring billions of dollars into artificial intelligence infrastructure. In a memo released on Monday, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer Amy Colman said the buyout program gives eligible workers an opportunity to leave the company with financial support.
Skydance mandates return-to-work, offers buyouts following Warner Bros acquisition
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TEGNA appoints Mellynda Hartel to lead three Florida television stations
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DIRECTV reaches DAZN agreement for local NBA games in five markets
DIRECTV has reached a multi-year distribution agreement with DAZN to carry local television broadcasts involving five National Basketball Association (NBA) teams, expanding its regional sports coverage as the league’s local distribution arrangements continue to evolve.
Instagram takes on YouTube’s living room dominance with Apple TV app
Meta-owned Instagram is pushing further into the living rooms of its users by releasing a new app for Apple TV devices this week. The app became available in the Apple App Store over the weekend, and allows users of Apple TV devices to stream Instagram Reels and other video-based content on what is presumably the biggest screen in a typical home.
Netflix releases update supporting iPhone Duo screens
Netflix has become the first major global streaming service to tap into the advantages of the new iPhone’s dual screen hardware. On Monday, the streamer said it refreshed its iPhone app with a redesign that makes videos stream natively on the iPhone Duo, a foldable smartphone introduced earlier this month. The application supports full-screen, book, tent and tabletop viewing modes, allowing users to access playback controls without having to reposition the device.
Gray Media names Jennifer Rieffer to GM role in Charlotte
Gray Media has appointed Jennifer Rieffer to lead its CBS affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina as the station’s new General Manager, the company announced early Monday morning. Rieffer will assume her new position at WBTV (Channel 3) on November 16, moving to Charlotte from Cincinnati, where she has served as Vice President and General Manager of Gray-owned Fox affiliate WXIX (Channel 19) since December 2021.
Griffin Media to bring Oklahoma City Thunder games to free broadcast TV
Griffin Media has signed a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team to move nearly 70 regular-season, locally-televised games to free broadcast TV this season. Of the 67 games covered by the agreement, 63 will be distributed through Griffin-owned independent station KSBI (Channel 52) in Oklahoma City and participating pay television providers, including Charter’s Spectrum TV and DIRECTV.
DirecTV inks distribution deals with NHL teams for new channels
Satellite and streaming television provider DIRECTV has reached a multi-year distribution agreement with the National Hockey League (NHL) to carry four new regional channels operated on behalf of the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues.
News anchor gets restraining order against Bakersfield shooting suspect
A California news anchor has obtained a protective order against a woman accused of shooting at a local television station multiple times earlier this month. The anchor, Aaron Perlman, was told by police that he could have been a target in the incident, according to court records. The warning came after police arrested Thomashana Renee Zeigler, 46, on suspicion of shooting in the direction of the TV studios of KBAK (Channel 29, CBS) and KBFX (Channel 58, Fox) at least twice in early October.
Local Fiber rebrands to BroadX, expands broadband distribution services
Broadband technology company Local Fiber has changed its name to BroadX as it expands beyond Internet service availability tools to offer a broader platform for broadband sales, distribution and order management. In an announcement this week, the new BroadX said the rebrand is part of a broader strategy to serve Internet providers across multiple broadband technologies and geographic markets, rather than limiting itself to fiber-optic connectivity and local service availability.
Google ISP GFiber to take over Ting Fiber in Colorado Springs
GFiber, the broadband provider previously known as Google Fiber, has agreed to take over Ting Fiber’s long-term lease of a municipal fiber-optic network in Colorado Springs, providing financial relief to Ting’s parent company while expanding Google’s broadband operations in Colorado. The agreement will transfer Ting’s remaining lease obligations with Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to GFiber, which will replace Ting as the network’s tenant. The transaction is expected to close in March.
Fubo inks deal with broadcasters to add more basketball games
The Walt Disney Company’s streaming sports platform Fubo has inked a deal with several local television broadcasters to bring their channels into the service, expanding the availability of National Basketball Association (NBA) games during the 2026-27 season. The deal includes agreements with Gray Media, the E. W.
FCC’s Gomez urges NAB to defend broadcasters against polling investigations
The lone Democratic voice at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is hoping to find an ally in the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) as her office attempts to thwart election-related interference by the agency’s Chairman, Brendan Carr.
Locality names Saul Stetson to SVP, Head of Product role
Local television advertising technology company Locality has appointed Saul Stetson as its new Senior Vice President and Head of Product, putting him in charge of product strategy and development across the company’s broadcast television and streaming advertising businesses.
Free Live Sports rolls out personalized recommendations through Gizmott pact
Free Live Sports has moved its streaming applications to a new technology platform that uses artificial intelligence to personalize the order in which viewers see sports channels. The artificial intelligence-powered personalized recommendations were enabled thanks to a partnership between tech developer Gizmeon and Sports Studio, the parent company of Free Live Sports.
Sinclair inks deal to bring Spurs games to CW Network affiliate
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Free Live Sports rolls out personalized recommendations through Gizmeon pact
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Scripps CEO defends layoffs, newsroom restructuring
The top executive at the E. W. Scripps Company is defending the broadcaster’s decision to lay off journalists and restructure many of its local television newsrooms around inter-station collaboration and artificial intelligence, claiming there are some early signs that the effort has started to pay off.
Hearst Television finance executive Stanley Herriott to retire
Hearst Television says its Vice President of Finance Stanley Herriott will retire at the end of the year, concluding an eight-year tenure with the broadcast television company. Herriott joined Hearst Television in 2019 and has overseen financial planning and analysis across the organization, along with its regional finance, corporate finance, billing and receivables and credit and collections operations.
Hearst green-lights second season of “Home for Good”
Hearst Media Production Group (HMPG) has renewed its home renovation series “Home for Good” for a second season, with new episodes scheduled to premiere Saturday, January 9, 2027, on ABC television stations nationwide. The half-hour series will continue airing as part of the “Weekend Adventure” educational and informational (E/I) programming block, with Art Edmonds returning as host.
FCC upholds fines against New York, Massachusetts pirate radio operators
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has upheld three financial penalties totaling $60,000 against individuals accused of operating unlicensed FM radio stations in New York and Massachusetts. The decisions, affirmed by the Chief of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau this week, involve unauthorized radio operations in Brooklyn, Spring Valley and Hyannis, Massachusetts.
Report: Elon Musk makes $1 billion investment in Skydance
Billionaire Elon Musk has invested approximately $1 billion in Skydance, the newly combined entertainment company formed through Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) earlier this month. The investment was reported Thursday by CNBC, which cited a person familiar with the transaction who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Comcast's Xfinity touts enhancements to X1, internet in time for NBA tip-off
Comcast is expanding the sports viewing capabilities of its Xfinity television platform for the 2026-2027 NBA season, introducing low-latency 4K streaming, enhanced wireless connectivity and interactive features designed to improve the experience of watching live basketball.
Raleigh news producer arrested at TV station
A veteran television news producer was arrested by local police in North Carolina on Wednesday after allegedly violating a domestic violence restraining order. The producer, Randall Kerr, was detained by police inside the lobby of Raleigh-Durham TV station WRAL-TV (Channel 5, NBC), according to police records. The arrest comes about a week after Kerr allegedly violated a domestic violence restraining order issued by a court in January, the records showed. Kerr has worked for the station since 2004.
Former TEGNA CEO Michael Steib takes top job at Angi
The former top boss at local television broadcaster TEGNA has traded media for digital home services. Last month, Michael Steib was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Angi, the hospitality marketplace where he already served as a board director, the company announced in a press release. In his new role, Steib will oversee the company's executive leadership, corporate strategy and daily operations.
YouTube has milestone moment in Nielsen’s August “The Gauge” report
YouTube crossed a critical threshold in August as the social video platform captured more than 15 percent of time spent with television in American households, according to the latest installment of Nielsen’s “The Gauge” report. The report, which covers the measurement month of August, said total time spent with TV was predictably lower across the board as Americans had fewer live sports options and returned to work and school following summer breaks.
Comcast revenue dips slightly as Peacock posts profit in Q3
Comcast continued to experience declines in its core broadband and cable television business during the third quarter (Q3) of the year, with income-related declines in those business sectors eroding the gains that its streaming service Peacock made during the period. On Thursday, Comcast reported Q3 revenue of $29.3 billion, down 6 percent compared to last year when the company logged $31.2 billion in overall income.
CBS launches year-round political reporting unit in Sacramento
Skydance’s local television station in Sacramento is launching a year-round reporting unit focused on state politics, expanding on its Emmy Award-winning “Bear Politics” franchise and expanding it to more CBS-owned stations in Northern California.
Former TEGNA CEO Michael Steib takes top job at Angi
The former top boss at local television broadcaster TEGNA has traded media for digital home services. Last month, Michael Steib was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Angi, the hospitality marketplace where he already served as a board director, the company announced in a press release. In his new role, Steib will oversee the companys executive leadership, corporate strategy and daily operations.
Comcast’s Xfinity touts enhancements to X1, Internet in time for NBA tip-off
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