The story of humanity begins millions of years ago, long before recorded history,

in the depths of the Paleolithic era. Early humans, often referred to as hominins,
roamed the Earth, hunting and gathering for survival. They developed simple tools
made of stone and bone, which marked the beginning of technological innovation.

During this time, Homo habilis, known as the "handy man," is believed to have been
the first to use tools. This innovation allowed early humans to access new food
sources, such as bone marrow, which provided essential nutrients and contributed to
the development of the human brain. As time progressed, Homo erectus emerged, a
species known for its upright posture and more advanced tool-making abilities.

The control of fire by Homo erectus around 1.5 million years ago was a
groundbreaking achievement. Fire provided warmth, protection from predators, and a
means to cook food, making it easier to digest and unlocking more nutrients. This
period also saw the development of early social structures, as small groups of
humans began to form communities.

The Paleolithic era, lasting until about 10,000 BCE, was characterized by a nomadic
lifestyle. Human groups moved with the seasons, following the migration patterns of
animals and the availability of plant resources. Artifacts such as cave paintings
in Lascaux, France, and the discovery of ancient burial sites suggest that early
humans developed complex belief systems and rituals, laying the foundation for
future religious practices.

1.2 The Neolithic Revolution

Around 10,000 BCE, the world experienced a dramatic shift with the advent of
agriculture, marking the beginning of the Neolithic era. This transition from a
hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled farming communities is often referred to as
the Neolithic Revolution. It began in the Fertile Crescent, a region in the Middle
East that includes modern-day Iraq, Syria, and Israel.

The domestication of plants and animals allowed humans to produce surplus food,
leading to population growth and the establishment of permanent settlements. These
early agricultural communities practiced crop cultivation, growing wheat, barley,
and legumes, while domesticating animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle. This
surplus of food enabled the development of specialized labor, with individuals
taking on roles such as tool-making, pottery, and weaving.

The establishment of permanent settlements led to the construction of more complex

dwellings and the development of early forms of governance. Social hierarchies
began to emerge, as certain individuals or families accumulated wealth and power.
The construction of megalithic structures, such as Stonehenge in England and
Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, suggests the existence of organized religious practices and
communal rituals.

The Neolithic Revolution also saw the rise of trade, as communities began to
exchange surplus goods with neighboring groups. This early trade facilitated the
spread of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices, laying the groundwork for
the development of more complex societies.

1.3 The Rise of Early Civilizations

The development of agriculture and the establishment of permanent settlements set
the stage for the rise of early civilizations. Between 4,000 and 3,000 BCE, several
of the world's first civilizations emerged in river valleys, where fertile land and
access to water provided ideal conditions for farming.

Mesopotamia: The first known civilization, Sumer, emerged in Mesopotamia, located

between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in modern-day Iraq. The Sumerians developed
cuneiform, one of the earliest writing systems, which they used to record
transactions, laws, and stories. Sumerian cities, such as Ur and Uruk, were
characterized by ziggurats, large stepped pyramids that served as religious
centers.

Egypt: To the west of Mesopotamia, the civilization of ancient Egypt developed

along the Nile River. The Nile's predictable flooding provided fertile soil for
agriculture, allowing the Egyptians to build a prosperous and stable society. The
construction of monumental structures, such as the pyramids of Giza, reflected the
Egyptians' belief in the afterlife and their reverence for their pharaohs, who were
considered gods on Earth.

The Indus Valley: In South Asia, the Indus Valley Civilization emerged around 2,600
BCE in what is now Pakistan and northwest India. This civilization was known for
its advanced urban planning, with cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro featuring
grid-like streets, sophisticated drainage systems, and uniform brick houses. The
Indus Valley people engaged in long-distance trade with Mesopotamia, exchanging
goods such as cotton, beads, and pottery.

China: To the east, along the Yellow River, the early Chinese civilization began to
take shape. The Xia Dynasty, which ruled around 2,100 BCE, is considered China's
first dynasty, although much of what is known about it comes from later historical
texts. The Shang Dynasty, which followed, is better documented and is known for its
advances in bronze casting, writing, and the development of a stratified society.

These early civilizations shared several common features, including centralized

governments, social hierarchies, the development of writing systems, and complex
religious practices. They also engaged in trade, which facilitated cultural
exchange and the spread of technologies such as the wheel, the plow, and
metallurgy.

Chapter 2: The Classical Era

2.1 The Ancient Near East
The Classical Era, spanning from roughly 1,000 BCE to 500 CE, saw the rise and fall
of powerful empires and the flourishing of intellectual and cultural achievements.

Assyria and Babylon: In Mesopotamia, the Assyrian Empire rose to prominence around
900 BCE, known for its military prowess and extensive conquests. The Assyrians
developed a sophisticated system of administration, dividing their empire into
provinces governed by appointed officials. Their capital, Nineveh, became a center
of learning and culture.

The Assyrian Empire eventually fell to the Neo-Babylonian Empire, led by King
Nebuchadnezzar II. Under his reign, Babylon became one of the most magnificent
cities of the ancient world, renowned for its Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World. The Babylonians made significant advances in
astronomy, mathematics, and literature, with the Epic of Gilgamesh being one of the
oldest known works of literature.

Persia: In the 6th century BCE, the Persian Empire, under the leadership of Cyrus
the Great, emerged as a dominant force in the Near East. The Persian Empire was
characterized by its tolerance of different cultures and religions, as well as its
efficient administration. The construction of the Royal Road facilitated
communication and trade across the vast empire, which stretched from the Indus
Valley to Egypt.

The Persian Empire reached its zenith under Darius the Great, who expanded its
territory and implemented administrative reforms. The empire's decline began with
the Greco-Persian Wars, a series of conflicts with the Greek city-states, which
ultimately weakened Persian dominance in the region.
2.2 Ancient Greece
While empires rose and fell in the Near East, the civilization of ancient Greece
was experiencing its Golden Age. Greek culture, philosophy, and politics would have
a profound and lasting impact on the Western world.

The Archaic Period: Beginning around 800 BCE, the Archaic Period of Greece saw the
formation of city-states, or polis, each with its own government and identity.
Athens and Sparta were two of the most powerful city-states, with Athens known for
its democracy and cultural achievements, and Sparta for its military discipline.

The Greeks made significant advances in art, literature, and philosophy during this
period. The epic poems of Homer, the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey," became cornerstones
of Greek literature, while the works of philosophers such as Thales and Pythagoras
laid the groundwork for future scientific and philosophical inquiry.

The Classical Period: The Classical Period, from the 5th to the 4th century BCE, is
often considered the height of Greek civilization. This era was marked by the
Persian Wars, during which the Greek city-states united to repel the Persian
invasions. The Athenian general and statesman Pericles led Athens during its Golden
Age, overseeing the construction of the Parthenon and the flourishing of the arts.

Greek philosophy reached its zenith during this period, with the works of Socrates,
Plato, and Aristotle laying the foundations of Western thought. Socrates, known for
his method of questioning, encouraged critical thinking and self-examination. His
student, Plato, founded the Academy in Athens and wrote dialogues that explored
topics such as justice, politics, and the nature of reality. Aristotle, a student
of Plato, made significant contributions to a wide range of fields, including
biology, ethics, and logic.

Greek drama also flourished during the Classical Period, with playwrights such as
Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides creating works that explored complex themes of
fate, morality, and the human condition. The comedies of Aristophanes provided
sharp social commentary, often mocking the

Title: An In-Depth Exploration of Human History

Introduction

Human history is a vast tapestry woven from countless threads of culture,

technology, conflict, and achievement. From the dawn of civilization to the present
day, the story of humanity is marked by incredible progress and profound
challenges. This exploration will cover major periods and events, offering a
detailed account of how societies evolved and shaped the world as we know it.

Chapter 1: Prehistoric Times

Prehistoric times, spanning from the emergence of early humans to the development
of writing systems, lay the foundation for the history that followed. The study of
this era includes the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age.

The Stone Age: This period is divided into the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and
Neolithic eras. Early humans, or hominins, used simple stone tools and lived as
hunter-gatherers. The invention of agriculture marked the transition to settled
communities in the Neolithic era, leading to the rise of early farming societies.

The Bronze Age: The advent of metalworking with bronze revolutionized tools and
weapons. This era saw the rise of the first major civilizations in Mesopotamia,
Egypt, the Indus Valley, and China. The development of writing systems, such as
cuneiform and hieroglyphics, allowed for the recording of events and administration
of complex societies.

The Iron Age: Iron tools and weapons became prevalent, further advancing
agriculture and warfare. This period includes the establishment of empires and the
expansion of trade networks. The Iron Age is marked by significant cultural and
technological advancements, including the rise of classical civilizations like
Greece and Rome.

Chapter 2: Classical Antiquity

Classical Antiquity encompasses the rise and fall of ancient empires and the
development of foundational philosophical, political, and scientific ideas.

Ancient Greece: Greek civilization is renowned for its contributions to philosophy,

politics, and art. The city-states of Athens and Sparta were influential, with
Athens being the birthplace of democracy. Philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and
Aristotle laid the groundwork for Western thought.

The Roman Republic and Empire: Rome's transition from a republic to an empire
marked a period of territorial expansion and consolidation. The Pax Romana, a long
period of relative peace, allowed for advancements in law, engineering, and
culture. The fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE led to the fragmentation of
Europe into various successor states.

Chapter 3: The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages, or Medieval period, followed the fall of the Roman Empire and
extended into the Renaissance. This era is characterized by feudalism, the rise of
Christianity, and the development of early nation-states.

Early Middle Ages: Often referred to as the Dark Ages, this period saw the decline
of urban centers and trade. The spread of Christianity played a significant role in
shaping medieval European society. The Carolingian Empire under Charlemagne
attempted to revive the legacy of the Roman Empire.

High Middle Ages: The growth of towns, trade, and universities marked this period.
The Crusades, a series of religious wars, had significant political and cultural
impacts. The Gothic architectural style emerged, with impressive cathedrals and
castles being built across Europe.

Late Middle Ages: This era experienced turmoil with the Black Death, the Hundred
Years' War, and the Great Schism of the Catholic Church. Despite these challenges,
the period saw significant advancements in art, science, and literature, setting
the stage for the Renaissance.

Chapter 4: The Renaissance and Enlightenment

The Renaissance and Enlightenment periods represent a time of cultural rebirth and
intellectual advancement.

The Renaissance: Beginning in Italy in the 14th century, the Renaissance was a
revival of classical learning and artistic expression. Key figures include Leonardo
da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. The invention of the printing press by
Johannes Gutenberg facilitated the spread of new ideas.

The Enlightenment: The Enlightenment, or Age of Reason, emphasized reason, science,

and individualism. Philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Kant challenged
traditional authority and contributed to the development of modern political and
social theories.

Chapter 5: The Modern Era

The Modern Era encompasses the dramatic changes and developments from the
Industrial Revolution to the present day.

The Industrial Revolution: The 18th and 19th centuries saw profound changes in
industry, technology, and society. The shift from agrarian economies to
industrialized ones led to urbanization and new social dynamics. Innovations such
as the steam engine and mechanized production transformed various aspects of life.

The 20th Century: This century was marked by two World Wars, the Cold War, and
significant social and technological changes. The rise of digital technology,
globalization, and the internet reshaped economies, communication, and daily life.

The 21st Century: The early 21st century is characterized by rapid technological
advancements, environmental challenges, and ongoing geopolitical shifts. Issues
such as climate change, digital privacy, and global health are at the forefront of
international discourse.

Conclusion

The story of human history is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and

complexity of our species. From the earliest civilizations to the modern era, each
period has contributed to the rich tapestry of our collective past. As we look to
the future, understanding our history provides valuable insights into the
challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

This outline provides a broad overview, and each section could be expanded with
additional details, events, and figures to create a comprehensive and lengthy text.
If you'd like more detailed sections or specific aspects of any period explored
further, just let me know!

3/3

You said:
is it enogh for 50mb txt file
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
The text provided is a broad overview and serves as an outline rather than a
detailed narrative. To reach a 50MB text file, you would need a much more extensive
and detailed account.

For reference, a 50MB plain text file contains approximately 50 million characters.
Given that the average English word is around 5 characters long (plus spaces and
punctuation), this translates to roughly 10 million words.

To produce such a large text file, you would need to:

Expand Each Section Significantly: Provide detailed descriptions, historical

context, and analysis for each period, event, and figure mentioned.
Include In-Depth Subtopics: Cover related topics, such as specific historical
events, cultural developments, and notable individuals in great detail.
Add Examples and Anecdotes: Incorporate numerous examples, anecdotes, and case
studies to enrich the narrative.
Here’s a quick example of how you might expand one section:

Original Brief Section:

The Renaissance: Beginning in Italy in the 14th century, the Renaissance was a
revival of classical learning and artistic expression. Key figures include Leonardo
da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. The invention of the printing press by
Johannes Gutenberg facilitated the spread of new ideas.
Expanded Version:

The Renaissance: The Renaissance, originating in Italy during the 14th century,
marked a profound transformation in European culture and thought. It was
characterized by a renewed interest in classical antiquity and a flourishing of the
arts, science, and intellectual

You said:
pls provide the neccsary text for 50mb txt file
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
To generate enough text for a 50MB file, I’ll start with a lengthy narrative and
provide a detailed exploration of a topic. Given the constraints here, I’ll produce
an extended piece on one subject.

Let’s focus on a detailed examination of the Renaissance. I’ll start with an

expansive section on this topic, and you can let me know if you need further
elaboration or additional sections.

Title: The Renaissance: A Detailed Exploration

Introduction

The Renaissance, spanning roughly from the 14th to the 17th century, was a period
of profound cultural, artistic, and intellectual transformation in Europe.
Originating in Italy, this era marked the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning
of the modern age. It was characterized by a revival of classical learning, a
flourishing of the arts, and significant advancements in science, politics, and
philosophy. This detailed exploration delves into the key elements of the
Renaissance, examining its origins, major figures, and its lasting impact on
Western civilization.

Origins and Early Influences

The Renaissance began in Italy due to a combination of geographic, economic, and

cultural factors. Italy's city-states, such as Florence, Venice, and Rome, were
centers of trade and commerce, which facilitated the exchange of ideas and wealth.
The decline of feudalism and the rise of a wealthy merchant class created an
environment where art and learning could thrive.

Geographic and Economic Factors: Italy's location at the crossroads of trade routes
between Europe and the Middle East brought a constant flow of new ideas and
cultural influences. The rise of a merchant class, particularly in cities like
Florence and Venice, provided the financial resources necessary for the patronage
of artists and scholars.

Humanism: The intellectual movement known as humanism was a driving force behind
the Renaissance. Humanists emphasized the study of classical texts from Greece and
Rome, believing that these works offered valuable insights into human nature and
the potential for individual achievement. Key figures such as Petrarch and Erasmus
played significant roles in promoting humanist ideals.

Key Figures and Their Contributions

The Renaissance is marked by the achievements of numerous influential figures in

various fields, including art, science, and literature. Each contributed uniquely
to the cultural revival of the era.

Leonardo da Vinci: Often described as the archetypal Renaissance man, Leonardo da

Vinci's contributions spanned art, science, engineering, and anatomy. His
masterpieces, such as "The Last Supper" and "Mona Lisa," are renowned for their
innovative techniques and profound emotional depth. Leonardo's notebooks, filled
with sketches and scientific observations, demonstrate his relentless curiosity and
intellectual versatility.

Michelangelo Buonarroti: Michelangelo was a sculptor, painter, and architect whose

works are considered some of the greatest achievements of Renaissance art. His
sculptures, including "David" and "Pieta," showcase his mastery of form and
anatomy. Michelangelo's frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and his
design of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome are iconic achievements in
Western art and architecture.

Raphael Sanzio: Raphael was celebrated for his harmonious compositions and graceful
figures. His frescoes in the Vatican, including "The School of Athens," reflect his
ability to blend classical themes with Renaissance ideals. Raphael's work is
characterized by its clarity, balance, and serene beauty.

Niccolò Machiavelli: As a political philosopher, Machiavelli's writings, including

"The Prince," offer a pragmatic and sometimes controversial view of political power
and governance. His work remains influential in discussions of political theory and
realpolitik.

The Impact on Art and Architecture

The Renaissance was a golden age for art and architecture, marked by a shift
towards naturalism and a renewed interest in classical antiquity.

Artistic Innovations: Renaissance artists developed new techniques to enhance

realism in their work. The use of linear perspective, pioneered by Filippo
Brunelleschi and later refined by artists like Leonardo and Raphael, allowed for
the creation of more lifelike and spatially accurate representations. Chiaroscuro,
the contrast between light and dark, was employed to add depth and volume to
figures.

Architectural Achievements: Renaissance architecture was characterized by its

symmetry, proportion, and use of classical elements such as columns and arches.
Filippo Brunelleschi's design of the dome of Florence Cathedral was a
groundbreaking achievement in engineering and aesthetics. The revival of classical
orders and the integration of humanist principles into architectural design
influenced subsequent architectural styles.

Scientific and Technological Advances

The Renaissance was also a period of significant scientific and technological
progress, driven by a spirit of inquiry and experimentation.

Astronomy and Mathematics: The work of astronomers such as Copernicus and Galileo
challenged existing views of the universe. Copernicus's heliocentric model proposed
that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun, fundamentally altering the
understanding of the cosmos. Galileo's observations with the telescope provided
empirical evidence supporting the heliocentric theory and contributed to the
development of modern physics.

Printing Technology: The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in

the mid-15th century revolutionized the dissemination of knowledge. The ability to
produce books quickly and in large quantities made literature and scientific
discoveries more accessible to a broader audience. Gutenberg's Bible, the first
major book printed using movable type, is a landmark in the history of printing.

Cultural and Intellectual Legacy

The Renaissance left a lasting legacy that continues to influence Western culture
and thought. The revival of classical learning and the emphasis on human potential
laid the groundwork for the Enlightenment and the modern era.

Educational Reforms: The Renaissance prompted changes in education, with a renewed

focus on the study of classical texts and the development of humanist curricula.
Universities and academies became centers of learning and scholarship, promoting a
broad-based education that included the arts, sciences, and humanities.

Artistic Influence: Renaissance art set new standards for artistic excellence and
served as a model for subsequent artistic movements. The techniques and styles
developed during this period influenced the Baroque, Neoclassical, and Romantic
periods, and continue to be studied and admired by artists and scholars today.

Conclusion

The Renaissance was a transformative period that reshaped many aspects of European
culture and intellectual life. Its impact on art, science, and philosophy laid the
foundation for the modern world and continues to resonate in contemporary society.
By revisiting the achievements and innovations of this era, we gain a deeper
understanding of how the Renaissance contributed to the development of Western
civilization and shaped the course of history.To generate enough text to fill a
50MB file, we'll need an extensive amount of content. Given the limitations here,
I'll create a substantial amount of text on a topic. For this exercise, I’ll expand
on the Renaissance, but in a more comprehensive way, covering additional details,
key events, figures, and themes.

---

**Title: The Renaissance: A Comprehensive Exploration**

**Introduction**

The Renaissance, spanning roughly from the 14th to the 17th century, was a period
of transformative cultural, artistic, and intellectual revival in Europe. This era
marked the transition from the medieval period to the modern age, characterized by
a renewed interest in classical antiquity, advancements in art and science, and
significant social and political changes. This comprehensive exploration delves
into the origins, key figures, major achievements, and lasting impact of the
Renaissance.
**Chapter 1: Origins and Early Influences**

**1.1 The Birth of the Renaissance**

The Renaissance began in Italy, a region that was uniquely positioned to foster
this cultural rebirth due to its geographic, economic, and social conditions.
Italy's city-states, such as Florence, Venice, and Milan, were thriving centers of
trade and finance, which provided the necessary resources and environment for the
flourishing of arts and learning.

**1.2 The Role of Humanism**

Humanism, a central intellectual movement of the Renaissance, emphasized the study

of classical texts and the human experience. Humanists like Petrarch, often
referred to as the "father of humanism," sought to revive the literature and
philosophy of ancient Greece and Rome. This movement laid the intellectual
foundation for Renaissance thought, promoting a focus on individual potential and
critical inquiry.

**1.3 Economic and Social Conditions**

The economic prosperity of Italian city-states played a crucial role in the

Renaissance. The rise of a wealthy merchant class, including influential families
such as the Medici in Florence, provided patronage for artists and scholars. This
financial support was instrumental in enabling the creation of groundbreaking works
of art and the advancement of scientific research.

**Chapter 2: Key Figures and Their Contributions**

**2.1 Leonardo da Vinci: The Polymath**

Leonardo da Vinci, born in 1452, is often celebrated as the quintessential

Renaissance man due to his wide-ranging contributions to art, science, and
engineering. His notebooks, filled with sketches and observations, reveal his keen
interest in anatomy, mechanics, and flight. Leonardo's works, such as "The Last
Supper" and "Mona Lisa," exemplify his mastery of perspective, composition, and
emotional expression.

**2.2 Michelangelo Buonarroti: The Sculptor and Painter**

Michelangelo, born in 1475, was renowned for his exceptional skill in sculpture and
painting. His iconic sculptures, including "David" and "Pieta," demonstrate his
profound understanding of human anatomy and his ability to convey complex emotions
through marble. Michelangelo's frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel,
including "The Creation of Adam," are celebrated for their grandeur and artistic
innovation.

**2.3 Raphael Sanzio: The Master of Harmony**

Raphael, born in 1483, was known for his harmonious and balanced compositions. His
frescoes in the Vatican, such as "The School of Athens," depict a gathering of
classical philosophers and reflect Raphael's ability to blend classical themes with
Renaissance ideals. Raphael's work is characterized by its clarity, grace, and
serene beauty.

**2.4 Niccolò Machiavelli: The Political Thinker**

Niccolò Machiavelli, born in 1469, made significant contributions to political

philosophy with his work "The Prince." This text, written as a guide for rulers,
offers pragmatic and sometimes controversial advice on power and governance.
Machiavelli's ideas on political realism and statecraft have influenced modern
political theory and practice.

**Chapter 3: Artistic Innovations and Techniques**

**3.1 The Development of Perspective**

One of the most significant artistic innovations of the Renaissance was the
development of linear perspective. Pioneered by Filippo Brunelleschi, this
technique allowed artists to create the illusion of depth and space on a flat
surface. By using a single vanishing point, artists were able to achieve greater
realism in their compositions. This innovation is evident in works such as Leonardo
da Vinci's "The Last Supper" and Raphael's "The School of Athens."

**3.2 Chiaroscuro and Sfumato**

Chiaroscuro, the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, was employed to
enhance the three-dimensionality of figures and create dramatic effects. Leonardo
da Vinci's use of chiaroscuro in his portraits, such as the "Mona Lisa," adds depth
and volume to the subject. Sfumato, another technique developed by Leonardo,
involves the subtle blending of colors and tones to create a soft, smoky effect, as
seen in the "Mona Lisa."

**3.3 The Revival of Classical Themes**

Renaissance artists drew inspiration from classical antiquity, incorporating themes

and motifs from ancient Greece and Rome into their work. Classical ideals of
proportion, balance, and harmony influenced Renaissance art and architecture.
Sculptures of mythological figures, such as Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus,"
reflect the Renaissance's fascination with classical mythology and human beauty.

**Chapter 4: Architectural Achievements**

**4.1 The Dome of Florence Cathedral**

One of the most remarkable architectural achievements of the Renaissance was the
construction of the dome of Florence Cathedral, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi.
Completed in 1436, this dome remains one of the largest masonry domes in the world.
Brunelleschi's innovative use of a double-shell construction and herringbone
pattern allowed for the dome's impressive height and stability.

**4.2 St. Peter's Basilica**

The redesign of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, initiated by Pope Julius II, was
another major architectural project of the Renaissance. The design, influenced by
architects such as Bramante, Michelangelo, and Bernini, represents a synthesis of
Renaissance ideals and Baroque embellishments. Michelangelo's design for the dome,
completed posthumously, is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture.

**4.3 Renaissance Palaces and Villas**

The Renaissance also saw the construction of opulent palaces and villas, reflecting
the wealth and status of their patrons. Notable examples include the Palazzo Medici
in Florence, designed by Michelozzo di Bartolomeo, and the Villa Rotonda near
Vicenza, designed by Andrea Palladio. These buildings showcase the Renaissance
emphasis on symmetry, proportion, and classical elements.

**Chapter 5: Scientific and Technological Advancements**

**5.1 The Copernican Revolution**

The Copernican Revolution, initiated by the work of Nicolaus Copernicus,

transformed the understanding of the cosmos. Copernicus's heliocentric model,
proposed in his seminal work "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium," challenged the
geocentric view of the universe and laid the groundwork for modern astronomy. This
model, which posits that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun, was
further supported by the observations of Galileo Galilei.

**5.2 Galileo's Contributions**

Galileo Galilei, an influential figure in the Scientific Revolution, made

significant contributions to observational astronomy and physics. His use of the
telescope allowed him to make groundbreaking discoveries, such as the moons of
Jupiter and the phases of Venus. Galileo's support for the heliocentric model and
his work on the laws of motion paved the way for modern scientific inquiry.

**5.3 Advances in Printing Technology**

The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century
revolutionized the spread of knowledge. Gutenberg's development of movable type
allowed for the mass production of books and facilitated the dissemination of new
ideas. The Gutenberg Bible, printed in 1455, is considered one of the first major
books produced using this technology.

**Chapter 6: Cultural and Intellectual Legacy**

**6.1 Educational Reforms**

The Renaissance prompted significant changes in education, with a renewed focus on

classical learning and humanist principles. The establishment of universities and
academies, such as the University of Padua and the Academia dei Lincei, promoted a
broad-based education that included the study of the arts, sciences, and
humanities. Renaissance educational reforms laid the foundation for modern liberal
arts education.

**6.2 Artistic Influence**

Renaissance art set new standards for artistic excellence and influenced subsequent
artistic movements. The techniques and styles developed during this period, such as
linear perspective and chiaroscuro, became fundamental to later artistic
traditions. The Renaissance also inspired the Baroque, Neoclassical, and Romantic
periods, and its legacy continues to be studied and celebrated.

**6.3 Political and Social Changes**

The Renaissance contributed to political and social changes, including the rise of
nation-states and shifts in power dynamics. The development of political theories,
such as Machiavelli's ideas on statecraft, influenced governance and political
thought. Social changes, including the growth of a literate and informed public,
played a role in shaping modern Western societies.

**Conclusion**

The Renaissance was a period of profound transformation that reshaped many aspects
of European culture and intellectual life. Its impact on art, science, and
philosophy laid the groundwork for the modern world and continues to resonate in
contemporary society. By examining the achievements and innovations of this era, we
gain valuable insights into the development of Western civilization and the
enduring legacy of the Renaissance.

---

This expanded exploration covers a wide range of topics related to the Renaissance.
To achieve a 50MB text file, further elaboration would involve adding even more
details, subtopics, and extensive coverage of related historical and cultural
contexts. If you need additional sections or more specific details, please let me
know!During the first quarter of that night's Monday Night Football game against
the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went
into cardiac arrest and collapsed midfield after tackling Bengals wide receiver Tee
Higgins. Hamlin received treatment (including CPR and automated external
defibrillation) on-field by stadium medical personnel, who were able to restore his
heartbeat, and was subsequently taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center in
critical condition. (Hamlin came out of his induced coma on January 5, with his
neurological functions determined to be intact; he was released from UCMC on
January 9 and returned to Buffalo, where he underwent two additional days of
evaluation at Buffalo General Medical Center before being released there.) After
being suspended for roughly 45 minutes with 5:58 remaining in the quarter, the game
—which was simulcast on ABC, in addition to its regular broadcasts on ESPN, ESPN2,
ESPN Deportes and ESPN+—was postponed. On January 6, the NFL announced that the
game would not be completed; playoff seeding that was to be determined by the
Bills–Bengals game was instead decided by winning percentage (factoring this, the
Bengals would clinch the AFC North championship title), and matchups were
determined through Wild Card games (involving the Miami Dolphins against the Bills,
and the Baltimore Ravens against the Bengals) scheduled for January 14 and 15,
respectively. The Bills and Bengals would each advance to the Divisional Playoffs,
which saw the Bengals qualify for the AFC Championship, 27–10, in a January 22
rematch against the Bills. [1][2]
[3][4]
[5][6]
3 For The View's first episode of the year, current and former hosts (including
original panelists Star Jones, Debbie Matenopoulos and Meredith Vieira, the latter
appearing via phone call due to illness) reunite to honor Barbara Walters. Walters,
who died on December 30, 2022, at age 93, created and produced the ABC daytime talk
show, and was among its panelists from its August 1997 debut until her retirement
in May 2014. [7]
5 CBS West Coast flagship KCBS-TV and independent KCAL-TV, both in Los Angeles
and owned by the network, jointly rebrand their news department as KCAL News. The
change takes effect with the launch of a six-hour local morning newscast on KCAL-
TV, with a one-hour simulcast on KCBS-TV (which begins carrying CBS Mornings live
at 4 a.m. PT along with the West Coast feed at 7 a.m. PT). Local and network
management agreed to the KCAL News rebrand as a way to leverage KCAL-TV's stronger
identity in the market, having been the first station to launch a three-hour
primetime newscast in 1990. [8][9]
6 Dish Network removes 32 stations collectively owned by Mission Broadcasting
(including WPIX/New York City, WXXA/Albany, WYOU/Scranton–Wilkes Barre,
KWBQ–KASY/Albuquerque–Santa Fe, WNAC/Providence, KAMC/Lubbock, and KLRT–KASN/Little
Rock) and White Knight Broadcasting (owner of WVLA/Baton Rouge and KFXK/Longview),
after the satellite provider and the two Nexstar Media Group affiliate companies
fail to renew a carriage agreement that expired that day. The blackout effectively
leaves the affected Mission and White Knight stations without satellite
distribution as both groups have been involved in separate carriage disputes with
DirecTV (and co-owned DirecTV Stream and U-verse TV) that began in October 2022.
[10][11]
[12][13]
10 The 80th Golden Globe Awards air on NBC and stream on Peacock from The
Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, with Jerrod Carmichael hosting. It follows a one-
year absence from the network after NBC declined to air the previous year's
ceremony in support of boycotts by various media companies, actors, and other
creative individuals in the entertainment industry over the Hollywood Foreign Press
Association's lack of action to increase the diversity of the organization's board
membership. Among television awards, Abbott Elementary was the top winner with
three awards each ("Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy", "Best Actress in a
Television Series – Musical or Comedy" for Quinta Brunson, and "Best Supporting
Actor in a Television Series – Musical-Comedy or Drama" for Tyler James Williams),
tying with top film winner The Banshees of Inisherin (which won for "Best Motion
Picture – Musical or Comedy", "Best Screenplay", and "Best Actor – Motion Picture
Musical or Comedy" for Colin Farrell) for the most wins overall among the
ceremony's awards. [14][15]
[16]
12 Nexstar Media Group ceases live streams of local programming (including
newscasts) produced by its stations on their websites and mobile apps, instituting
a two-hour delayed feed of each station's local programs in its place. The change
is an apparent effort to obtain leverage in contractual negotiations with linear
pay TV providers, amid Nexstar's carriage disputes with providers such as DirecTV,
Dish Network and Verizon FiOS (see January 6 entry as an example). Three of the
group's major-market stations (WGN/Chicago, KTLA/Los Angeles and KRON/San
Francisco), and live breaking news and severe weather events covered by the
affected stations are exempt from the change, which deviates from the now-standard
practice of offering live newscasts online for the convenience of viewers who are
unable to view them at home or who live outside of the station's home market.
[17]
15 The 28th Critics' Choice Awards airs on The CW from the Fairmont Century
Plaza Hotel in Century City, with Chelsea Handler as host. Among television
nominees, Better Call Saul had the most wins with three awards ("Best Drama
Series", "Best Actor in a Drama Series" for Bob Odenkirk, and "Critics' Choice
Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series" for Giancarlo
Esposito), while Abbott Elementary won two awards ("Best Comedy Series", and "Best
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series" for Sheryl Lee Ralph). Everything Everywhere
All at Once won five awards (including "Best Picture", and "Best Supporting Actor"
for Ke Huy Quan) to become the ceremony's top winner overall and among film
nominees. Special honors went to Jeff Bridges (Lifetime Achievement Award) and
Janelle Monáe (#SeeHer Award). [18][19]
[20][21]
17 The Daily Show begins its post-Trevor Noah era, returning from a five-week
hiatus with Leslie Jones beginning a week-long stint as guest host. Jones is the
first in a series of guests who will anchor the Comedy Central nightly program
while the network determines a permanent successor for Noah, who ended a seven-year
run as host in December 2022. [22][23]
19 LIV Golf signs a multi-year deal with The CW to broadcast and stream its
events beginning with the 14-tournament 2023 season (the first event being the LIV
Golf Mayakoba tournament at the El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Course in Solidaridad,
Quintana Roo from February 24 to 26). The deal is the golf organization's first
U.S. broadcast deal—its inaugural year in 2022 was available only through YouTube—
and the CW's entry into live sports telecasts. This deal was criticized by the
National Press Club as an attempt by Saudi Arabia's monarchy (which finances LIV
through a sovereign wealth fund) to sportwash its unflattering reputation after
their alleged involvement in the October 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal
Khashoggi. As CW stations are only contractually obligated to air the network's
prime time schedule, 14 affiliates (eight owned by CBS, five owned by Tegna, and
Weigel-owned WCIU/Chicago) declined to air the LIV telecasts; CW majority owner
Nexstar leased airtime on other stations in those markets. [24][25]
[26][27]
[28]
23 CBS News Detroit, a localized extension of CBS News's streaming service,
formally launches in Detroit. CBS-owned WWJ-TV simulcasts the 6 and 11 p.m.
newscasts, with additional newscasts debuting on both platforms in the coming
weeks. This marks a return to local news on WWJ-TV since a partially-outsourced
morning drive newscast was cancelled in 2012. (An 11 p.m. newscast, produced by co-
owned WKBD-TV, ran from 2001 to 2002, when the entire news service was shuttered.)
The launch of CBS News Detroit was delayed throughout much of 2022 due to pandemic
and supply chain-related delays. WKBD-TV's 10 p.m. news, originally produced
remotely from KTVT/KTXA in Dallas–Fort Worth, had already been relaunched as
Detroit Now News, a hybrid national-local newscast featuring CBS News Detroit
reports and content. [29][30]
[31][32]
[33]
The Association of Pickleball Professionals signs multiplatform deals with CBS
Sports and ESPN to broadcast and stream its tournaments beginning with the league's
2023 season. In addition to coverage on APP's standalone outlet, APP TV, the
agreements encompass eleven of the 22 APP Tour events scheduled for the 2023
season, covering streaming coverage of eight events on ESPN+ (beginning with the
Daytona Beach, Florida event held from February 8–12) and accompanying hour-long
recap shows airing on ESPN2, and linear broadcasts of three additional events and
recap programs on CBS Sports Network. [34][35]
[36]
24 In the wake of felony charges of domestic abuse against him being made public
following a court hearing on January 12, Adult Swim announces that it has severed
ties with Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland. The single-count charges of
domestic battery and false imprisonment, to which Roiland pled not guilty in
October 2020, were related to a complaint involving an alleged incident that
occurred ten months prior with an unidentified woman. Following Roiland's exit,
production of the animated series will continue with co-creator Dan Harmon
remaining as its lone showrunner, while the title characters, which had been voiced
by Roiland, will be recast. Hulu would follow suit the next day, dropping him from
Solar Opposites (the lead character of which he also voiced, in addition to
handling showrunning duties) and the just-premiered Koala Man. [37][38]
[39]
The FCC issues a fine of $504,000 against Fox for "willfully violating" regulations
prohibiting the sounding of Emergency Alert System tones or the simulation of an
EAS alert during television programming in the absence of an emergency for a
November 2021 promotional segment that aired during Fox NFL Sunday for a game
telecast involving the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles that followed the
pre-game show. (The Giants won that game, 13–7.) The promo mimicking an emergency
broadcast, described by Fox as a "short comedic advertisement", began with a three-
second excerpt of the 853 Hz and 960 Hz tones used to precede EAS alert
transmissions, which the network admitted had been downloaded or recorded from a
YouTube video. [40][41]
25 DirecTV removes Newsmax TV from the namesake satellite provider, and sister
services DirecTV Stream and U-verse TV, after the company and network parent
Newsmax Media fail to agree on a new contract. Although DirecTV cites aggressive
carriage fee demands for the removal (while noting the wide availability of the
network's content on its website and free streaming platforms), Newsmax accused the
company of "deplatforming" it and fellow archconservative news and commentary
channel One America News Network (which DirecTV removed in April 2022)—inferring an
ideological motive for the decision, even though DirecTV continues to carry their
main conservative rival Fox News—and dishonesty about the network's fee increase
offers. A group of 41 Republican congressmen led by Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) sent a
letter to the CEOs of DirecTV and shareholders AT&T and TPG Capital the week
before, warning them of possible House committee hearings over the impasse should
the provider drop the network. Newsmax TV, as with OAN, has challenged the 2020
presidential election, earning support from former president Donald Trump (who is a
personal friend of Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy) amid his criticism of Fox News
for being the first television news outlet to call Arizona for Democratic
challenger Joe Biden in that election. DirecTV reached an agreement to resume
carriage of Newsmax on March 22. [42][43]
[44][45]
As part of a multi-year agreement that also extends their carriage contract for
Court TV, the E. W. Scripps Company and YouTube TV announce that the vMVPD service
will add Ion and digital multicast networks Bounce TV and Scripps News to its
lineup, effective on this date. Under the terms of the deal, YouTube TV has the
option of adding fellow Scripps-owned multicast networks Grit, Ion Mystery and Laff
at a later date. [46]
27 ABC News officially cuts ties with Amy Robach and T. J. Holmes. The two hosts
of GMA3: What You Need to Know, who had respectively been with the network since
2012 and 2014, had been off the air since December 5, 2022, after a Daily Mail
exposé revealed they had been in a romantic relationship (and had left their
respective spouses), an affair ABC described then as "an internal and external
disruption" but not a violation of company policy (although an internal
investigation would commence). On May 11, the news division named Good Morning
America weekend co-anchor Eva Pilgrim and correspondent Demarco Morgan to co-host
GMA3, while transportation correspondent Gio Benitez (who was among those acting as
substitute hosts on the program following Holmes and Robach's departure) will take
over Pilgrim's GMA weekend anchor slot. [47][48]
Deadline reports that CNBC will discontinue producing original entertainment
content for its prime time block, emphasizing instead on reruns of reality and
documentary shows (e.g. Shark Tank, American Greed). The business news-oriented
network's prime time had been home to first-run unscripted content that focused on
wealth and lifestyle, including Jay Leno's Garage (whose cancellation had been
announced earlier in the week) and the Kevin O'Leary-hosted Money Court. [49]
30 Paramount Global announces plans to fully integrate its Showtime network with
the premium tier of the Paramount+ streaming service, beginning on a future date
yet to be announced. The combined service will be branded as Paramount+ with
Showtime, replacing a bundle of the same name that launched in mid-2022. [50]
FuboTV loses access to CBS stations in 160 markets after their respective owners
(including Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group, the E. W. Scripps
Company, Hearst Television, Cox Media Group and Tegna) declined to accept the terms
of a renewed master affiliate carriage agreement negotiated between network parent
Paramount Global and the vMVPD. A national CBS feed, offering most of the network's
base schedule (excluding some live sports events) and news content from the CBS
News Streaming Network, was provided to substitute the affected affiliates. (CBS's
owned-and-operated stations were not affected by the impasse as they were carried
on a different carriage agreement.) Three weeks after the affiliate board approved
a revised carriage deal, the affected stations began returning to Fubo on March 31.
[51][52]
Longtime KSAT-TV/San Antonio sports director Greg Simmons resigns after 42 years, a
decision made after his being charged for DWI. Weekend sports anchor Larry Ramirez
would serve as KSAT's interim sports director. [53][54]
31 YouTube TV drops MLB Network from its channel lineup after failing to reach a
contract renewal agreement. Subscribers will be able to continue watching select
national Major League Baseball games on Fox, ESPN and TBS. [55]
February
Date Event Source
3 For the first time since 2015, Paul Shaffer reunites The World's Most
Dangerous Band (the house band for David Letterman's Late Night and Late Show) to
fill in for The Tonight Show's regular house band The Roots, who were in Los
Angeles preparing for a performance at the Grammys. [56]
5 The 65th Annual Grammy Awards airs on CBS from the Crypto.com Arena in Los
Angeles. Trevor Noah serves as host of a ceremony that sees notable winners
including Lizzo, whose "About Damn Time" wins Record of the Year; Harry Styles,
whose Harry's House wins Album of the Year; and Beyoncé, whose four wins on the
night (including Renaissance as Best Dance/Electronic Album) push her career Grammy
mark to 32, making her the most-lauded artist in Grammy history. [57]
7 NFL Network removes analyst and former player Michael Irvin from its coverage
of Super Bowl LVII following allegations of sexual misconduct toward a woman at a
hotel he was staying at in the Phoenix area, where the game will be held. Though
surveillance video showed him interacting with the woman, Irvin told Dallas–Fort
Worth radio station KRLD-FM and The Dallas Morning News that he had no recollection
of any incident because he had been inebriated, and denied any wrongdoing. Irvin
would file a $100 million defamation suit against the anonymous accuser and the
hotel on February 9. [58][59]
8 The Wall Street Journal reports Warner Bros. Discovery will continue to
operate Discovery+ as a standalone streaming service, a pivot from the company's
initial plans to shutter it entirely following the May 13 launch of its combination
service Max, which will feature most of Discovery+'s existing content library in
addition to the full HBO Max library. WBD cites concerns about Discovery+
subscribers opting out of moving to the pricier offering for the decision. (WBD has
indicated that the combined service's ad-supported and ad-free tiers will be set at
a higher price point than those of HBO Max and Discovery+.)[60][61]
NewsNation correspondent Evan Lambert is arrested on disorderly conduct and
criminal trespassing complaints for allegedly disrupting a news conference by Ohio
Governor Mike DeWine on the February 3, derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight
train containing hazardous chemicals that prompted residential evacuations in East
Palestine. The D.C.-based correspondent was conducting a live report for the
Nexstar-owned cable news channel's Rush Hour program when police officers inside
the gym of the village's elementary school, where the news conference was held,
told him to conclude the report while DeWine was speaking, and subsequently pushed
Lambert to the ground and handcuffed him after acceding to their request. DeWine
later condemned the officers' actions, clarifying he did not authorize Lambert's
arrest. Lambert was released from the Columbiana County Jail later that evening on
an $850 bond; he is scheduled to be arraigned on February 23. [62][63]
12 The Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Philadelphia Eagles, 38–35, in Super Bowl
LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, which was broadcast on Fox (in
English) and Fox Deportes (in Spanish), and streamed on the Fox Sports app and
NFL+. It was the first Super Bowl assignment for play-by-play announcer Kevin
Burkhardt and color analyst Greg Olsen, who succeeded Joe Buck and Troy Aikman as
Fox's NFL broadcast team in 2020 after they were hired by ABC/ESPN to call its
Monday Night Football and NFL playoff telecasts. The Fox telecast averaged 115.1
million viewers according to Nielsen data, becoming the most-watched program in
American television history (just ahead of Super Bowl XLIX), with viewership
reaching 118.7 million during the halftime show (headlined by Rihanna, who revealed
her second pregnancy with the performance); the Fox Deportes telecast was watched
by 951,000 viewers, becoming both the most-watched Super Bowl broadcast and the
most watched non-soccer sports telecast in Spanish-language cable history. [64]
[65]
[66][67]
[68][69]
[70][71]
[72]
[note 1]
15 Gray Television sells Fox affiliate KNIN in Boise, Idaho (operated by the E.
W. Scripps Company) to Marquee Broadcasting in exchange for MeTV affiliate WPGA in
Macon, Georgia. When completed, the deal will result in Gray owning at least one
full-power station in nine of Georgia's eleven television markets. The deal was
completed on May 1. [74][75]
16 Ryan Seacrest announces he will step down as co-host and executive producer
of Live with Kelly and Ryan, which he has hosted alongside Kelly Ripa since 2017,
to concentrate full-time on other projects (including his hosting duties on
American Idol and his syndicated radio program). Ripa's husband, Mark Consuelos,
who has frequently served as guest host since she became co-host of the Disney/ABC-
produced syndicated morning talk show in 2001, will succeed Seacrest on April 17 as
permanent co-host of the renamed Live with Kelly and Mark. Seacrest—who will return
occasionally to guest co-host—will continue hosting Live through April 14, at which
time he will relocate to Los Angeles to host Idol's live performance shows. [76]
[77]
[78][79]
22 Spectrum News 13 reporter Dylan Lyons is killed, and colleague and
photojournalist Jesse Walden critically injured, in a shooting incident in the
Orlando suburb of Pine Hills, Florida that also claimed the life of a nine-year-old
girl and critically injured her mother. Lyons and Walden were at the scene of a
homicide that claimed the life of a woman earlier that day. A teenager was taken
into custody as a suspect in both incidents. [80][81]
23 Ellen Pompeo makes her last appearance as a cast regular on Grey's Anatomy as
her character, Meredith Grey, leaves Seattle and Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital for
Boston in the episode "I'll Follow the Sun." Pompeo has been with the ABC medical
drama since its 2005 premiere, and remains attached as an executive producer and
narrator, in addition to making occasional on-screen guest appearances, the next of
which will be the current 19th season's finale in May. [82]
Dish Network is hit by a cyberattack that resulted in data being extracted from its
IT networks; and the company's internal servers, customer support systems and
company websites being knocked offline, with service disruptions affecting its co-
owned vMVPD service Sling TV and wireless provider Boost Mobile. Dish and Sling
subscribers also experienced difficulties accessing streaming apps (such as its
Dish Anywhere service, OTT services purchased through Dish and TV Everywhere apps
of various networks carried by the Dish satellite service and Sling) using their
provider logins. Some employees continued to be paid during the outage despite it
preventing them from performing their jobs. Although Dish restored "many of the
systems," including its websites, customer service operations and self-service
applications within weeks of the attack, service disruptions and technical issues
lingered into March as customers continued to report call center backlogs (some
lasting up to 14 hours) and problems processing payments. Several Dish investors
filed a class action lawsuit over the breach on March 30, accusing the company of
negligence in failing to properly secure customer data. [83][84]
[85][86]
[87]
24 Warner Bros. Discovery informs the teams whose games air on its AT&T
SportsNet channels based in Denver, Houston, and Pittsburgh that the company will
exit the regional sports network business, and that its AT&T Sports Networks unit
will file for Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy unless the channels are sold or the
teams take back their broadcast rights by March 31. Teams that air on Seattle-based
Root Sports Northwest are not part of the proceedings as WBD only holds a minority
stake in that network. [88][89]
Warner Bros. Discovery files a breach of contract lawsuit with the New York Supreme
Court, accusing Paramount Global of violating a 2019 agreement that gave HBO Max
rights to stream the first 23 seasons of South Park as well as three subsequent
seasons that had yet to air at the time on Paramount-owned Comedy Central. The suit
alleges Paramount diverted most of the animated series' post-2019 episodes to
Paramount+ under a separate $900-million deal between ViacomCBS Domestic Media
Networks (now Paramount Media Networks) and series creators Trey Parker and Matt
Stone reached in August 2021, despite WBD holding streaming exclusivity over the
series under their $596.7-million (or $1.7 million per episode) deal, and only
produced 14 of the 30 additional episodes promised to fill out the WBD–Paramount
contract. Paramount countersued WBD on April 19, alleging the contract did not
define a specified episode commitment for future seasons or required it to license
made-for-streaming South Park movies to HBO Max. WBD and Paramount both claim they
are owed $52 million in unpaid license fees. [90][91]
26 The 29th Screen Actors Guild Awards are presented at the Fairmont Century
Plaza in Century City, California, with notable winners including the motion
picture Everything Everywhere All At Once (four awards) and TV series Abbott
Elementary and The White Lotus (wins for comedy and drama ensembles, respectively).
The ceremony airs live on Netflix's YouTube channel, a one-year arrangement between
SAG and Netflix before the streamer, once its live-streaming capabilities are
worked out, carries the ceremony exclusively beginning in 2024. (The SAG Awards'
former broadcast homes, TNT and TBS, announced in 2022 that they would no longer
broadcast the ceremony.) [92][93]
[94]
March
Date Event Source
4 The 2023 Kids' Choice Awards airs on Nickelodeon and was simulcast on six
Paramount-owned sister networks (including the Nick Jr. Channel, Nicktoons,
TeenNick, TV Land and MTV2) from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, with Nate
Burleson and Charli D'Amelio (who won "Favorite Female Creator") as hosts. Harry
Styles won the most awards among all nominees with three each: for "Favorite Male
Artist", "Favorite Global Music Star", and "Favorite Song" (for "As It Was"). High
School Musical: The Musical: The Series (with Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett
winning both "Favorite Kids TV Star" categories) and Wednesday (which won "Favorite
Family TV Show" and "Favorite Female Family TV Star" for Jenna Ortega) were the top
winners among TV nominees with two each. Other major winners include Sonic the
Hedgehog 2 ("Favorite Movie"), SpongeBob SquarePants ("Favorite Animated Series"),
and Adam Sandler ("King of Comedy Award"). Also on this day, Nickelodeon receives
its first major rebrand in almost six years. [95][96]
[97][98]
8 Fremantle, the production company behind The Price Is Right, announces that
the CBS game show will relocate from Los Angeles' Television City to Haven Studios,
a Fremantle-co-owned facility in nearby Glendale, California, when its 52nd season
begins taping in the summer. The game show has originated from Studio 33 at
Television City (renamed in 1998 as the Bob Barker Studio, in honor of the former
longtime host) since premiering in 1972; its move, and the pending relocations of
several other shows from the facility (among them The Young and The Restless and
Real Time with Bill Maher), comes before the start of a $1.25 billion renovation of
the property, which Hackman Capital Partners bought from CBS in 2018. [99]
Hulu removes 34 ABC stations operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group from its vMVPD
service in 32 markets, after the streaming service reportedly declined Sinclair's
offer to add Tennis Channel as part of a renewed agreement for the stations. Unlike
the earlier FuboTV master agreement dispute between CBS and several of its
affiliate operators (see January 30 entry), Hulu—which is majority owned by ABC
parent Disney—did not substitute the affected Sinclair stations with a linear ABC
national feed. (A feed was provided to the affected markets exclusively for the
network's telecast of the 95th Academy Awards four days later.) The dispute lasted
until April 21, when Hulu and Sinclair agreed to reinstate the affected stations
through a new contract. [100][101]
[102]
WLBT/Jackson removes longtime morning anchor and chief meteorologist Barbie Bassett
(who is white), after she quoted the Snoop Dogg-coined slang, "Fo shizzle, my
nizzle" ("nizzle" referring to the Black term of endearment vernacular for
"nigger"), when a collaboration with another WLBT reporter was jokingly raised
during the Gray-owned NBC affiliate's 11:00 a.m. newscast, after a report on the
introduction of a new wine to the rapper's Cali Wine Collection line. Although WLBT
—which infamously had its license revoked by the FCC in 1969 from original owner
Lamar Life Insurance, due to the station's advocacy of racial segregation and
omission of civil rights movement coverage during NBC News broadcasts—has not
formally disclosed Bassett's status, her biography was removed from its website.
Bassett previously apologized for a similar incident in October 2022, in which she
suggested reporter Carmen Poe (who is Black) ask her grandmother—whom Bassett
referred to as "grandmammy"—for a pie recipe to get a scoop on a then-upcoming ESPN
College Gameday telecast from Jackson State University. [103][104]
12 The 95th Academy Awards airs on ABC from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with
Jimmy Kimmel as host. Everything Everywhere All at Once was the top winner with
seven awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh, who became the
first Asian woman to win the honor), Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), and Best
Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis). Other major winners included All Quiet on
the Western Front with four awards (including Best International Feature Film) and
The Whale with two (including Brendan Fraser for Best Actor). The telecast was seen
by an estimated 18.7 million viewers, up 12% from the previous year. [105][106]
[107][108]
[109][110]
[111]
[112]
13 As part of a multi-year agreement that also extends their existing carriage
contracts for the group's 40 CBS stations and NewsNation, Nexstar Media Group and
YouTube TV announce that the vMVPD service will add 59 Nexstar-operated stations
serving 56 markets (consisting of 29 CW, 26 MyNetworkTV and four independent
stations, including WPIX/New York City, KTLA/Los Angeles, WGN-TV/Chicago, KRON/San
Francisco, WPHL/Philadelphia, and WDVM–WDCW/Washington, D.C.) to its lineup. The
deal fills a major affiliate coverage gap for The CW on YouTube TV, as Nexstar was
the largest group without a carriage deal for its CW stations (CBS and Sinclair
Broadcast Group were the largest CW station operators to offer their affiliates on
the service); it also expands local MyNetworkTV carriage on YTTV (beyond affiliates
operated by Fox and Sinclair) for the first time. [113][114]
14 Diamond Sports Group files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the U.S.
Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The operator of the Bally
Sports group of regional sports networks, which carry local broadcasts for nearly
half of the teams in the NBA, NHL and MLB (42 teams in total across 19 channels),
had been struggling to reduce around $8 billion in debt acquired through its 2019
purchase of the former Fox Sports Networks from The Walt Disney Company. Diamond's
financial health, which was impacted by cord-cutting as well as carriage disputes
earlier in the decade that significantly reduced Bally Sports' vMVPD distribution,
became an issue after announcements that it had missed a $140 million payment to
its lenders in February, and a scheduled rights payment to MLB's Arizona
Diamondbacks on March 10. Diamond will separate from majority parent Sinclair
Broadcast Group as part of the reorganization, and plans to continue to produce and
air games. Diamond president Steve Rosenberg subsequently stepped down on March 20,
succeeded by CFO David DeVoe. [115][116]
[117][118]
[note 2]
DirecTV files a lawsuit against Nexstar Media Group, Mission Broadcasting and White
Knight Broadcasting with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New
York, accusing the groups of price fixing through an "illegal conspiracy" to
collectively bargain in retransmission fee negotiations using "sidecar"
arrangements between Nexstar and the latter two companies meant to skirt FCC
regulations (including its local station ownership caps). The suit is in relation
to a broader carriage dispute involving 23 Mission and two White Knight stations
that were removed from DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-verse TV during separate
negotiations in October 2022. District Judge P. Kevin Castel dismissed the
antitrust lawsuit on standing grounds on March 20, 2024. [124][125]
[12][126][13]
[note 3]
15 Sports Business Journal reports that Greg Gumbel has signed a contract
extension with CBS Sports that will allow the veteran sportscaster to remain studio
host for its NCAA basketball coverage while stepping away from his role as play-by-
play announcer for its NFL broadcasts. Outside of the period when the network did
not have the NFL (1994–97), Gumbel has been with CBS since 1990 and is the first
African-American to handle play-by-play for the Super Bowl.[127]
17 Tyra Banks discloses in an interview with TMZ that she will step down as co-
host of Dancing with the Stars after three seasons to focus on her business and
television production projects. Banks succeeded Tom Bergeron (who had hosted DWTS
since its 2005 debut on ABC) and Erin Andrews as sole host of the reality
competition series in 2020. On March 20, Julianne Hough—who served as a pro dancer
from 2007 to 2009 and as a judge from 2014 to 2017—was named to succeed Banks,
alongside returning co-host Alfonso Ribiero, who joined the series in 2022
(coinciding with its move to Disney+). [128][129]
[130]
NBC and the post-production editing staff of Saturday Night Live announce a
tentative labor agreement that averts a strike against the variety series that was
set for April 1. The staff of 12–20 editors and film managers, who edit pre-taped
sketches for SNL, unionized in October 2022, sent contract proposals to
NBCUniversal that December, and approved a strike authorization with the Motion
Picture Editors Guild on January 23. The deal, whose ratification was announced on
March 23, gives the team pay boosts, healthcare benefits, employer-paid meals, and
accommodations for those who work long shifts with short turnarounds. [131][132]
[133][134]
18 KCBS–KCAL/Los Angeles weekend morning meteorologist Alissa Carlson Schwartz
faints on-air just prior to presenting a weather segment during the CBS-owned
duopoly's Saturday morning newscast. The rest of the broadcast was preempted
following the incident, with both stations (which simulcast portions of the
newscast) airing pre-recorded and paid programming in its place. Carlson—who, while
employed at NBC affiliate KGET/Bakersfield, was diagnosed with a heart valve leak
after vomiting on-set during a weather report in 2014—was treated for a head
injury, and later revealed in a March 21 interview with CBS Mornings that the
fainting spell was induced by vasovagal syncope likely triggered by dehydration.
[135][136]
[137][138]
24 Sinclair Broadcast Group lays off 30+ news department employees and cancels
certain local newscasts produced by NBC affiliates WPMI/Mobile (operated under an
SSA with Deerfield Media) and WEYI/Saginaw–Flint (operated under an SSA with Howard
Stirk Holdings), Fox affiliate WACH/Columbia, and Fox/ABC affiliate WGXA/Macon, and
shuts down the news department of ABC affiliate KAEF/Arcata–Eureka, California.
WPMI cut more than 20 members of its approximately 30-person news staff, and
discontinued its weekday morning and noon newscasts as well as the lifestyle
program Gulf Coast Today; WEYI cut six production staffers, and cancels its weekday
morning and weekend evening newscasts; WACH cancels its four-hour morning newscast;
and WGXA cut nine production staffers, reduces its hour-long weeknight 5:00 p.m.
newscast to a half-hour and cancels its Sunday–Thursday 10:00 p.m. newscast. On
April 3, most of the affected stations replaced some or all of the affected
newscasts with Sinclair's syndicated national newscast, The National Desk (with
WACH replacing the first hour of its morning newscast with a repeat of its 10:00
p.m. newscast, and WPMI replacing its local midday programs with additional runs of
Family Feud), while KAEF began simulcasting newscasts from Redding parent station
KRCR (retaining two Eureka-based reporters to file reports for those broadcasts).
[139][140]
[141][142]
[note 4]
26 The United States Army pauses its recently launched advertising campaign
featuring on-screen narrator Jonathan Majors, which revives its classic "Be All You
Can Be" ad slogan, one day after the actor's arrest on misdemeanor domestic
violence charges in connection to a March 24 domestic dispute, in which Majors
allegedly physically assaulted a woman he was dating, resulting in her sustaining
minor head and neck injuries. New ads in the campaign, which do not feature Majors,
would be rolled out the following weekend. [143][144]
27 Chanel West Coast announces her departure from MTV's Ridiculousness after
signing a deal to develop, produce, and star in unscripted projects for MTV parent
Paramount Media Networks and its MTV Entertainment Group subsidiary. Chanel had co-
presented the comedic clip show, alongside Steelo Brim and lead host Rob Dyrdek,
since its launch in 2011. [145]
28 One day after The Bachelor's 27th season concludes, Mike Fleiss announces his
departure from the Bachelor franchise he created and had produced since the first
Bachelor season on ABC in 2002. Claire Freeland, Jason Ehrlich, and Bennett
Graebner are immediately tapped to oversee the dating game show franchise, which
also includes The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. Though Fleiss, ABC, and
Warner Bros. Television Studios (the franchise's producer) were tight-lipped as to
the reason for his departure, a Variety report later indicated that Fleiss was the
subject of an investigation, conducted by an outside party, into allegations of
bullying and racially discriminatory behaviors. [146][147]
April
Date Event Source
2 The LSU Tigers defeat the Iowa Hawkeyes to win the championship of the 2023
NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. Simulcasts of the game on ABC and
ESPN2 drew a combined 9.9 million viewers, the largest ever television audience for
a women's college basketball game. [148]
The 2023 CMT Music Awards airs on CBS from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, with
Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini as hosts. In addition to co-hosting, Kane Brown won
the Video of the Year award for his collaboration with wife Katelyn Brown, "Thank
God". Jelly Roll was the top winner of the night, with three awards (all for his
single "Son of a Sinner"). [149][150]
3 The UConn Huskies top the San Diego State Aztecs in the title game of the
2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The CBS broadcast attracted
14.693 million viewers, a record low for the championship event. The broadcast is
also Jim Nantz's last college basketball assignment for CBS; though he remains the
network's lead play-by-play announcer for NFL and PGA golf events, Nantz steps back
from college basketball after calling 32 consecutive tournaments for CBS and Turner
Sports. Ian Eagle will succeed Nantz as CBS' lead college basketball announcer in
the 2023–24 season. This also marks the first Men's Final Four to be overseen by
Charlie Baker, who was appointed president of the NCAA in December 2022 to succeed
Mark Emmert (who announced his retirement in April of that year). [151][152]
[18] [17]
Frontier Communications removes three networks—Newsmax Media-owned Newsmax TV, and
Fuse Media-owned Fuse and FM—from its systems, after declining to negotiate new
agreements with their respective parent companies. The dispute involving Newsmax
comes two weeks after DirecTV ended a two-month dispute with the conservative news
and commentary channel, and 4+1⁄2 months after Frontier dropped its
archconservative competitor One America News Network in a similar dispute. [153]
American Idol season 21 contestant Sara Beth Liebe abruptly quits during the
Hollywood Week round, citing the need to be with her children. Liebe called out
Katy Perry on social media two weeks prior for a controversial "mom-shaming" joke
that the singer made during her initial audition, in which she remarked that Liebe,
after revealing she was a mother of three at age 25, had been "laying on the table
too much." [154]
5 Hearst Television announces it will purchase NBC affiliate WBBH/Fort Myers
from Waterman Broadcasting for $220.54 million, pending FCC approval. The purchase—
which includes the LMA rights to Montclair Communications-owned ABC sister WZVN—
marks the family-owned Waterman's exit from broadcasting (the group, originally
founded in 1956 as a radio station operator, had owned WBBH since 1978), and will
give Hearst its fifth station in Florida, alongside its existing properties in
Orlando (WESH/WKCF), West Palm Beach (WPBF) and Tampa (WMOR). The sale was
completed on June 30. [155][156]
12 As part of a multi-year agreement that also extends their existing carriage
contracts for the group's 25 CBS and 16 MyNetworkTV stations as well as Comet,
Sinclair Broadcast Group and YouTube TV announce that the vMVPD service will add
Tennis Channel and its companion AVOD streaming channel T2, and digital multicast
networks Charge! and TBD to its lineup, effective June 1. This would later be
followed on July 19 by a similar deal between Sinclair and Hulu to add the three
networks as well as Comet to the service's vMVPD offering in January 2024. [157]
[158]
PBS and many of its member stations suspend activity on Twitter after the social
messaging platform labeled the service's accounts as "government-funded media." The
designation had earlier been given to NPR, which suspended posts the day prior amid
a broader dispute that began on April 4, when Twitter first relabeled the
counterpart radio service under the "state-affiliated media" classification
previously given only to news agencies influenced or controlled by autocratic
governments. PBS and NPR, which are editorially independent, consider both labels
to be misleading and meant to undermine their credibility; both public broadcasters
are funded primarily through donations from viewers as well as corporate and
philanthropic donors, while government appropriations to the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting account for >1% of their overall funding. (Other public broadcasters,
including the BBC and CBC/Radio-Canada, have also criticized or paused activity on
Twitter after being assigned the label.) [159][160]
[161][162]
13 The studios of WWMT/Kalamazoo–Grand Rapids were evacuated around 2:30 p.m.
ET, after a Greenville man with a history of mental illness threatened to kill
himself with a bomb he claimed to have in his backpack. (Authorities later
confirmed that they only found an iPhone charger and wiring in the backpack.) The
suspect—who initially said he was submitting a news tip—forced his way through the
front door of the Sinclair-owned CBS/CW affiliate's lobby when chief engineer
George Markle moved to barricade the suspect between both lobby doors, and helped
evacuate station staff from the building. After two hours, the suspect surrendered
to police and was taken to the Kalamazoo County Jail. [163][164]
[165]
16 Due to a 90-minute delay over what is later revealed to be an overlooked
technical bug, Netflix aborts plans to live-stream the Season 4 reunion special of
dating series Love is Blind. The special would have been the streamer's second-ever
live event (after Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, which ran without error on March
4). The reunion is recorded and released on a tape delay the following day. [166]
[167]
[168]
18 Avoiding a trial in Delaware Superior Court that already had a jury empaneled
and sworn in, Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News announce a $787.5 million
settlement agreement in the former company's defamation lawsuit over the latter's
airing of baseless claims that Dominion's voting machines switched votes cast for
Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden, one of several
conspiracy theories spread by Trump, his supporters and many conservative media
outlets to explain his defeat by Biden. Dominion had been seeking $1.6 billion in
damages. Though the settlement does not require them to apologize on-air, Fox News
does acknowledge in a statement that "the Court's rulings [found] certain claims
about Dominion to be false." [169]
19 The news-gathering helicopters of Griffin Media's two Oklahoma CBS affiliates
sustain damage from a supercell thunderstorm that spawned at least nine tornadoes
across the central section of the state. While covering an EF3 tornado that caused
extensive damage in Cole, three-inch hailstones knocked out the windshield of a
Bell 407 operated by Oklahoma City flagship KWTV; pilot Jim Gardner and
photographer Rich Kriegel, who were both on board, were not injured. An EF2 tornado
which struck Shawnee later that evening damaged the tail rotor and roof of a Bell
206 B3 JetRanger operated by Tulsa sister KOTV (which was being housed in a hangar
for maintenance and required inspection) at the city's airport. [170][171]
20 The WNBA announces a multi-year deal with the E. W. Scripps Company that will
see Ion Television air regular season doubleheaders, along with regional telecasts
(airing in early- or late-evening broadcast windows) carried on selected Ion O&Os,
on Friday nights starting with the 2023 season. Ion's initial slate of 44 WNBA-
produced games will air over 15 weeks from May 26 to September 8. The deal gives
Ion its first national sports telecasts since a three-event UFC preliminary fight
deal in 2010–11, and marks the first rights deal ever signed by Scripps Sports,
which was formed in December 2022 to acquire sports events for Ion and Scripps's
local television stations. [172][173]
[174][175]
Fox News announces it has parted ways with conservative commentator Dan Bongino,
who hosted the Saturday prime time show Unfiltered for the network as well as the
Fox Nation program Canceled in the USA. According to Bongino, the move was due to a
breakdown in contract negotiations and not related to Fox's settlement with
Dominion Voting Systems. [176][177]
21 Paramount Global agrees to a $167.5 million settlement of a case stemming
from the 2019 merger of CBS Corporation and Viacom filed by former CBS shareholders
against some of the company's former officers and directors (including vice-
chairperson Shari Redstone and acting CEO Joseph Ianniello) over alleged breaches
of fiduciary duties related to the merger negotiation and approval. [178]
23 NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell departs the company following a third-party
investigation into a complaint relating to an inappropriate relationship that Shell
had with a female employee. Comcast president Michael J. Cavanagh will assume
management responsibilities for the division until a successor is appointed. CNBC
anchor and senior international correspondent Hadley Gamble—who lodged the
complaint alleging sexual harassment by Shell, and allegations of bullying and
discrimination by members of CNBC World's management team in March that led to
investigations into both matters—would subsequently reach an agreement with
NBCUniversal to depart the network on May 9. [179][180]
24 Fox News parts ways with Tucker Carlson, permanently ending Tucker Carlson
Tonight with the April 21 broadcast (which ended with the expectation that it would
be back the following Monday). The dismissals of Carlson and senior executive
producer Justin Wells—reportedly directed by Fox Corporation executive chairman/CEO
Lachlan Murdoch and Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott to Fox chairman Rupert Murdoch
—are tied to a discrimination lawsuit by producer Abby Grossberg (who was fired in
March, and would go on to settle the litigation for $12 million on June 30),
alleging she was subjected to bullying and antisemitic comments while working on
the program, and was coerced by company lawyers to provide misleading testimonial
answers in the Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit settled six days prior.
Private text messages that Carlson sent to colleagues (expressing skepticism of
election fraud claims made by former president Donald Trump's attorneys,
criticizing the network for "jeopardizing" its credibility by amplifying the
claims, and revealing that he hated Trump "passionately") were among the internal
messages made public through the Dominion lawsuit that were widely seen as exposing
Fox to greater legal liability. Carlson's former 8:00 p.m. ET slot was temporarily
filled by Fox News Tonight, which was hosted by a rotation of network
personalities; Jesse Watters Primetime took over the hour on July 17, as part of a
broader prime time realignment that also saw timeslot changes for The Ingraham
Angle and Gutfeld! (with Ingraham being moved to Watters' former 7:00 p.m. ET
slot). Carlson would debut a conservative commentary video series on Twitter on
June 6, prompting a cease and desist notice issued by Fox News one week later,
citing a non-compete clause in his former contract that runs until early 2025.
[181][182]
[183][184]
[185][186]
[187][188]
[189]
CNN parts ways with anchor Don Lemon, following a series of controversies over his
on-air remarks and treatment of network colleagues, and an April 5 Variety report
that outlined allegations of mistreatment toward several former female colleagues—
including Nancy Grace, Kyra Phillips and Soledad O'Brien—and instances of "diva-
like behavior" during his 17-year career at CNN. Lemon was earlier criticized for
remarks about Nikki Haley, which were widely perceived as sexist, on the February
16 edition of CNN This Morning, suggesting the former United Nations ambassador and
South Carolina governor (who turned 51 the month prior) was not a viable
presidential candidate because she "isn't in her prime"—referencing a comment Haley
made during her declaratory speech the day prior that implied President Joe Biden
and her rival for the 2024 Republican nomination, Donald Trump (then 80 and 76,
respectively), were too old to hold office. [190][191]
[192][193]
[note 5]
The Walt Disney Company conducts a second round of layoffs affecting hundreds of
employees, including ABC Current Programming SVP Stacey Adams, Freeform programming
development SVP Julie Jarmon, and Disney Branded Television unscripted programming
VP Marc Buhaj, and 20th Television SVP and Current Programming co-chief Dana
Sharpless; FiveThirtyEight founder/CEO Nate Silver will also depart at the end of
his contract later this year as part of cuts to the ABC News unit. The company will
also combine the current programming and development teams of Disney Television
Animation, and dissolve digital content division 20th Digital Studio, Disney Media
Distribution's first-run syndication unit and Disney Television Studios's marketing
division (marketing responsibilities for programs produced by its studio units will
be handled by the company's television and streaming properties). [194][195]
[196][197]
Concluding an expansion that began on April 1 (when it replaced overnight drama
series and infomercials with repeats of its evening talk and analysis shows),
NewsNation permanently switches to a 24-hour all-news schedule on weekdays: the
Nexstar-owned network debuts a four-hour rolling afternoon news block, NewsNation
Now (replacing crime dramas in that slot), and an hour-long political news show,
The Hill (a broadcast extension of the co-owned publication, replacing an hour of
NewsNation Rush Hour). The expansion coincides with the unveiling of a new studio
at its New York bureau in the Daily News Building (where co-operated CW affiliate
WPIX also christened a separate studio on that date). Syndicated scripted series
acquired before the former WGN America began its gradual format shift from
entertainment to news in February 2021 (such as Blue Bloods and Last Man Standing)
and time-brokered programs will continue to air on weekends outside of prime time
until late 2024, when NewsNation plans to switch to all-news programming full-time.
[198][199]
[200]
25 A man carrying an electric guitar and a handwritten sign—reading "Free Billie
Eilish", and referencing a dark web conspiracy theory regarding the CIA's infamous
MKUltra experimentation program and ex-Illuminati "insider" Donald Marshall—climbed
onto a digital billboard on KTLA/Los Angeles's landmark auxiliary transmission
tower outside its Sunset Bronson Studios facility. (The Nexstar-owned CW
affiliate's promotional billboard was subsequently turned off temporarily for
safety reasons.) The man descended from the tower after about three hours, as
firefighters and LAPD crisis negotiators sought to get him down an adjacent ladder.
He was arrested on a suspicion of trespassing complaint. [201][202]
26 Facebook Watch announces the cancellation of Red Table Talk, the streaming
service's last remaining original program, with its producers seeking a new service
for future episodes of the talk show. The move comes amid ongoing layoffs at
Facebook Watch parent Meta Platforms (which included that of Mina Lefevre, Facebook
Watch's head of development and programming) and a shift in emphasis by Meta toward
content for its Horizon Worlds virtual reality service. [203]
ESPN cut ties with baseball reporter Marly Rivera for calling fellow reporter Ivón
Gaete a "fucking cunt" in a heated caught-on-tape exchange on April 18, after
Rivera alleged Gaete tried to interview Aaron Judge, despite the former having had
been scheduled to interview the New York Yankees outfielder. [204][205]
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt vetoes H.B. 2820, a bill that would extend
authorization for the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, the state's PBS
member network, through July 1, 2026. Although Stitt later alleged the veto was
over objections to LGBTQ+ content on certain PBS programs that he claims
"indoctrinat[es]" and "overly sexualizes" children (harkening rhetoric of a broader
ongoing culture war over LGBTQ+ rights), the bill is one of over 20 measures (some
passed unanimously by the state's House and Senate) that he elected to veto in a
broader impasse with Senate leaders over his education and tax proposals—which, in
addition to increasing education funding and teacher salaries, would also create a
voucher-like tax credit program. The veto of H.B. 2820—which, had it not received
the required two-thirds support of both legislative chambers to override it, would
have resulted in OETA's agency authorization expiring on July 1 and the member
network ceasing operations when its existing funding appropriations lapsed in July
2024—was overridden by the legislature on May 25 (the penultimate day of its 2023
session), passing the House, 73–23, and the Senate, 38–6. [206][207]
[208][209]
[note 6]
A red-tailed hawk fatally collided with a Bell 206 JetRanger operated by WPLG/Miami
as the helicopter flew over Pembroke Pines en route to cover a story during the BH
Media-owned ABC affiliate's noon newscast. Pilot Mark Lewis and photographer Joe
Brennan were not injured, and the helicopter—which sustained damage to its cockpit
window—landed safely. [211][212]
27 Just shy of a year after announcing his departure, James Corden hosts The
Late Late Show for the 1,193rd and final time. Will Ferrell and Harry Styles are
the guests on the finale, which also featured a pre-recorded farewell message from
President Joe Biden and a dream sequence sketch that included appearances by fellow
current and former late night hosts Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel,
Seth Meyers, David Letterman and Trevor Noah. The last episode of Corden's 81⁄2-
year run as host—which was preceded earlier that night by the show's final prime
time Carpool Karaoke special—also served as the series finale of the CBS late night
talk franchise, which debuted in January 1995 with Tom Snyder as its original host.
After airing reruns of The Late Late Show for the remainder of spring and summer,
the timeslot was filled by reruns and unaired episodes of the comedy panel show
Comics Unleashed starting in September until mid-January of the next year. [213]
[214]
[215][216]
[217]
Sinclair Broadcast Group announces it will cancel full-length newscasts and lay off
all news department staff at CBS affiliate KTVL/Medford, Oregon, and CBS/Fox
affiliate KPTH/Sioux City, and discontinue partially outsourced newscasts on NBC
affiliate WNWO/Toledo (co-produced by CBS sister WSBT/South Bend since March 2017),
CBS affiliate WGFL/Gainesville, Florida (co-produced by CBS sister WPEC/West Palm
Beach since October 2019), and Fox affiliate KPTM/Omaha (co-produced by Fox sister
KMPH/Fresno since 2013), effective May 12. The National Desk will replace newscasts
on all five stations starting May 15. The cuts, as well as reductions in news
production at five other stations (see March 24 entry), are believed to be related
to the recent bankruptcy of Sinclair-controlled Bally Sports parent Diamond Sports
Group. [218][219]
[220][221]
[222][142]
[note 7]
28 Phoenix's professional basketball teams, the NBA's Suns and the WNBA's
Mercury, reach agreements with Gray Television to air their regionally televised
games on independents KTVK and KPHE-LD, and with interactive video provider Kiswe
to livestream their games on team-specific subscription streaming services. The
deal—which was slated to begin with a Mercury-Minnesota Lynx preseason game on May
25 and last five years for the Suns and two for the Mercury—would see the Gray
stations maintain exclusivity over certain Suns and Mercury games, feature team-
related programs on KTVK and KPHE, and have the content distributed throughout
Arizona across KTVK's translator network and Gray-owned KPHE repeaters in Tucson
(KOLD-DT5) and Yuma–El Centro (soon-to-launch KAZS). The Suns and Mercury are the
first major-league teams to end their television partnerships with Bally Sports
since the March 14 bankruptcy of parent Diamond Sports Group, whose Bally Sports
Arizona has carried Suns and Mercury games since 2003 and 2006, respectively. (The
Suns were last on over-the-air local TV when the team ended its contract with
MyNetworkTV O&O KUTP in 2011.) U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Christopher Lopez, who
is overseeing Diamond's bankruptcy proceedings, would void the Gray deal on May 10,
on the basis that the Suns and Mercury violated rules that froze Diamond's rights
with the teams and gave them a right of first refusal to match the deal, while in
bankruptcy. Diamond effectively reversed course on July 13, declining to submit an
offer matching the Gray deal to retain the Suns/Mercury rights before that day's
deadline. [223][224]
[225][226]
[227][228]
[229][230]
[note 8]
30 During ABC's coverage of Game 1 in the Miami Heat–New York Knicks playoff
series, a bumper shown during the telecast included stock footage with the original
towers of the World Trade Center in the background. After complaints from viewers,
ESPN said it "mistakenly used an old stock image and we apologize." [231]
May
Date Event Source
1 Two days after the conclusion of the 2023 NFL draft, Xfinity drops NFL
Network from its systems after failing to reach a contract renewal agreement prior
to its expiration. The blackout ends the following day, reportedly resolved after a
phone discussion between NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Comcast CEO Brian
Roberts conducted the previous afternoon. [232][233]
As part of a multi-year agreement that also extends their existing carriage
contracts for the company's 90 ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox stations and NewsNation,
Nexstar Media Group and Hulu announce that the latter will begin carrying
additional Nexstar-run stations serving 32 markets (consisting of 26 MyNetworkTV
and four independent stations, including WGN-TV/Chicago, KRON/San Francisco,
WPHL/Philadelphia, WTTA/Tampa–St. Petersburg, KAUT/Oklahoma City and
WDVM/Hagerstown–Washington, D.C.) to its vMVPD service's lineup. Although some of
Nexstar's 29 CW affiliates were reportedly added to Hulu beginning in February, the
terms of the deal do not specify whether carriage of other CW stations operated by
Nexstar were included as part of the agreement. [234][235]
[236]
2 The Writers Guild of America commences a strike against television and film
studios, its first labor stoppage since 2007 and the largest production stoppage
for the American entertainment industry since 2020, after the union and the
Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to agree on a new
contract by the WGA's May 1 renewal deadline. The WGA sought increases in
compensation and residuals, and greater protections for over-scale pay (citing a
decline in pay despite the expansion of content with the rise of streaming services
in recent years that effectively created a "gig economy" for unionized writers),
staffing requirements for television shows to employ a certain number of writers
for a specified period of time (regardless of need for specific episodes), curbs on
mini-rooms (where groups of writers outline story breakdowns and write scripts),
and restrictions on chatbot scriptwriting. The strike immediately halted production
of late night talk and variety shows; and, just as how the Fall network schedules
were impacted by the 1981 and 1988 strikes in addition to being compounded by the
concurring SAG–AFTRA strike that would begin on July 14, halted or delayed
development and production of scripted series for the 2023–24 network schedule
(resulting in unscripted programs, and acquired foreign, cable and streaming series
occupying much of the Fall schedule), along with cable and streaming programs that
have uncompleted episodes. At the outset, prime time network schedules were not
significantly disrupted at the strike's commencement (after production on most
scripted network shows for the 2022–23 season had already concluded). As well, some
shows that employed paerticipating WGA members continued production, either without
pre-written material (including talk shows The View, The Kelly Clarkson Show and
Gutfeld!) or using fi-core and non-union writers to continue ongoing and planned
storylines (as soap operas had done during previous strikes). The WGA would declare
the strike over effective at 12:01AM on September 27, three days after the Guild
and AMPTP reached a tentative agreement that was approved by Guild leadership on
September 26, and allowing its rank and file to return to work while they perform a
ratification vote. [237][238]
[239][240]
[note 9]
A man fires an automatic-style rifle into a glass door panel outside the front
lobby of WHBQ/Memphis around 11:30 a.m. CT. The suspect—who had a history of mental
illness, and was in the midst of a mental episode that family and friends
reportedly intended to seek help for that day—had earlier informed an employee of
the Imagicomm-owned Fox affiliate that he was carrying a gun while talking to them
outside the studio's front gate. Employees were evacuated to a back parking lot for
around 30 minutes as police secured the area; no one was injured. The suspect was
arrested about two hours later at a nearby burger restaurant, where he was
barricaded inside a bathroom and posted a Facebook Live video, in which he insisted
on speaking with "news people" about alleged evidence into corruption in the
Memphis Police Department. [241][242]
[243]
[note 10]
4 The NHL's Vegas Golden Knights sign a multi-year agreement with the E. W.
Scripps Company's Scripps Sports division to air their regionally-televised games
on Ion O&O KMCC/Laughlin–Las Vegas (which will become an independent station). The
deal, effective with the 2023–24 season, replaces AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain as
the Knights' television partner and expands the team's local relationship with
Scripps (KMCC sister station KTNV has carried the Knights' preseason and ABC-
televised regular season games since the team's inaugural 2017–18 season,
concurrent with its AT&T SportsNet contract). Scripps will syndicate the Knights
telecasts to stations across the team's broadcast territory, including the
company's stations in Boise, Salt Lake City and Montana. The Knights are the first
major-league team to cut ties with AT&T SportsNet since its parent, Warner Bros.
Discovery, announced its intent to exit the RSN business. [244][245]
[246]
Gray Television fires South Dakota State Capitol reporter Austin Goss (who filed
reports for KOTA–KEVN/Rapid City and KSFY–KDLT/Sioux Falls) following his arrest on
charges of making "threatening, harassing or misleading contacts" tied to a January
23 prank call he made to former South Dakota State Senator and Republican Party
chairman Dan Lederman by spoofing the personal cell phone number of Governor Kristi
Noem, which a state investigation found that Goss may have obtained during
"personal and professional" communications with her. [247]
5 NBC Sports California suspends veteran Oakland Athletics play-by-play
announcer Glen Kuiper, after he appeared to refer to the Negro Leagues Baseball
Museum as the "nigger league museum" during the pre-game show for that night's away
game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Kuiper apologized for the
remarks—which he made while discussing a visit he and broadcast partner Dallas
Braden made to the museum earlier that day—following a commercial break at the top
of the sixth inning. The A's denounced Kuiper's remarks in a statement on Twitter,
calling his use of the slur "unacceptable." Kuiper was fired by NBC Sports
California on May 22. [248][249]
[250][251]
[252][253]
[254]
6 The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla is televised on all
major broadcast networks, cable news channels and BBC America. The ceremony was
watched cumulatively by 10.9 million viewers according to Nielsen, with ABC's
coverage leading all networks with 3.04 million viewers. [255][256]
7 The 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards are broadcast on MTV and its sister networks,
with Scream VI (Best Movie) and The Last of Us (Best Show) among the notable
winners. Originally planned as a live ceremony (from the Barker Hangar in Santa
Monica, California), the event airs instead as a prerecorded presentation in the
wake of several attendees, and previously announced emcee Drew Barrymore,
withdrawing in solidarity with striking WGA members, as well as plans by the Guild
to picket the event. (Barrymore, who still appeared on the broadcast in pre-
recorded skits, has agreed to host the ceremony in 2024.) [257][258]
[259][260]
8 Nexstar Media Group announces it will acquire independent station KUSI/San
Diego from McKinnon Broadcasting for $35 million. The deal would create a duopoly
with Fox affiliate KSWB (the first such duopoly in the San Diego market), and marks
the family-owned McKinnon's exit from broadcasting (McKinnon, which was founded in
1962, had launched KUSI in 1982 and the station was its last television property
following the 2010 sale of KIII/Corpus Christi to London Broadcasting Company).
Nexstar plans to turn KUSI into a CW affiliate once its contract with Tegna-owned
KFMB-DT2 (which runs through September 2026) expires or is terminated early. [261]
[262]
[263][264]
[note 11]
9 Paramount Media Networks announces it will shut down MTV News as part of
broader layoffs and cost-cutting at the company, affecting 25% of the company's
U.S.-based staff. Launched in 1987 but affected by downsizing in its later years,
MTV's news and documentary division was noted for its coverage of music, politics,
lifestyle, and pop culture that was geared toward the network's younger audiences.
Paramount Global also announces the consolidation of Showtime Networks and MTV
Entertainment Studios into a single "studio" unit, and the nine separate operations
teams of the Paramount Media Networks cable channels into one portfolio group.
[265][266]
10 CNN's Kaitlan Collins moderated a town hall with Donald Trump at Saint Anselm
College in Goffstown, New Hampshire, in front of an audience primarily made of
likely Republican primary voters. The former president and 2024 Republican
presidential candidate made numerous false claims (including repeating voter fraud
allegations in his 2020 presidential election loss); reiterated his support of the
2021 U.S. Capitol attack; credited himself for appointing three of the six Supreme
Court justices who overruled the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion ruling in the 2022
Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision; and sidestepped questions
about whom he supported in the Russia–Ukraine war and if he supported a national
abortion ban during the event. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and CNN
Global CEO Chris Licht defended the decision to hold the town hall; however, media
observers, CNN staffers, and Trump critics across the political spectrum denounced
it for appearing to "normalize" his candidacy—despite Trump being the subject of
multiple criminal and civil cases (including federal and state investigations into
his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, and a New York civil trial that
concluded the day prior, in which he was found liable of sexually abusing and
defaming former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll, remarks about whom Trump made
during the event were amended into a separate defamation lawsuit against Trump,
filed by Carroll in 2019, on May 22), and his tendency to make false claims and
spread disinformation. In response to the event, legal commentator Tristan Snell
said he would no longer appear on CNN under its current leadership. The town hall
was watched by 3.1 million viewers according to Nielsen, lower than that of the
network's July 2022 town hall with President Joe Biden (3.7 million). [267][268]
[269][270]
[271]
15 WideOpenWest announces it will discontinue its in-house pay television
services, Ultra TV (a traditional pay-TV service relying on QAM/IP-based set-top
boxes that launched in 2011) and WOW tv+ (an IPTV service using Android TV
infrastructure that launched in March 2020), and migrate its remaining video
customers—totaling 117,100 subscribers as of Q1 2023, a 6.2% decline from Q4 2022—
to YouTube TV, under a partnership that wil see the Alphabet-owned vMVPD provider
be offered as part of WOW!'s Internet bundle, beginning that Summer. [272][273]
[274][275]
[note 12]
Country singer Reba McEntire, who earlier served as an advisor in the Knockout
rounds for the 23rd season of The Voice, was announced to succeed outgoing coach
Blake Shelton—the last of the NBC music competition series' four original coaches,
who earlier announced his departure prior to the Season 23 premiere—for the 24th
season. The semifinals, which followed a real-time voting structure without an
"Instant Save" feature for the first time since Season 5, saw both artists coached
by Shelton, Grace West and NOVIAS, advancing to the following week's final round;
both artists would go on to lose to eventual winner Gina Miles, who was coached by
former One Direction member and debuting coach Niall Horan, making him the series'
tenth overall winning coach and the third coach to win on their first attempt.
 [276][277]
[278][279]
17 Mission Broadcasting announces it will acquire MyNetworkTV affiliate
WADL/Mount Clemens, Michigan from Adell Broadcasting Corp. for $75 million. Clinton
Township-based Adell, which signed on WADL in May 1989, will retain ownership of
religious broadcaster The Word Network and radio station WFDF/Farmington Hills.
Upon closure, Mission intends to contract with partner company Nexstar Media Group
to provide operational services for WADL, which it planned to turn into Detroit's
affiliate of The CW (a network majority owned by Nexstar); the station briefly
affiliated with the network on September 1 (replacing WKBD), before moving to
Scripps-owned WMYD due to a dispute between Adell and Mission/Nexstar over their
affiliation contract. The sale was approved eleven months later on April 23, 2024;
however because of issues concerning Nexstar's management of Mission-owned WPIX/New
York City (which resulted in a $1.82-million fine, and a requirement for Mission to
sell the station to Nexstar or an independent third-party to comply with FCC
ownership rules that the LMA's structure had purportedly violated due to
attributable interests in the latter's involvement with WPIX), the approval was
conditioned on Nexstar not being involved in financing Mission's purchase of the
station, Mission enforcing limits to performance bonuses and ad revenues provided
to Nexstar under any LMA between the two groups, the station limiting carriage of
Nexstar-provided programming to no more than 15% of the station's weekly
programming time (a clause normally applied to local programming provided by a
station operator under LMA rules that likely constrains WADL from carrying the full
CW schedule as intended, particularly as Scripps plans to drop it from WMYD in
September 2024 as part of a chain-wide disaffiliation from the network), and that
any SSA cannot include an option for Nexstar to purchase WADL outright. [280]
[281]
[282][283]
[284][285]
19 Citadel Communications announces that it will sell independent station WSNN-
LD/Sarasota, Florida to Nexstar Media Group for $1 million. The transaction, which
is expected to be completed by the end of the year, will combine the station with
Nexstar's existing Tampa–St. Petersburg duopoly of WFLA (NBC) and WTTA
(MyNetworkTV), and marks Citadel's exit from broadcasting; the company—which
acquired WSNN in 2009—had owned nine major-network stations in the Midwest and New
England (including current Nexstar properties WHBF/Rock Island–Davenport,
KCAU/Sioux City and WIVT/Binghamton) at various points from its founding in 1982
until 2019. The sale was finalized on July 20. [286][287]
[288][289]
22 Fifteen months to the date after it was first announced, Tegna announces it
has terminated its deal to be acquired by hedge fund Standard General. The $8.6-
billion deal, which was originally slated to be completed in the second half of
2022, had faced regulatory hurdles (the FCC's Media Bureau had designated the deal
for a hearing by an administrative law judge in February), scrutiny from lawmakers
and labor unions concerned over job losses (in part because the deal did not
address conflicts with stations operated by Cox Media Group—whose majority owner,
Apollo Global Management, helped finance the deal—in four markets), and a deadline
for Standard General to arrange financing for the deal on this date. As a result of
the deal's termination, Tegna (which owns and operates 68 stations in 54 markets)
announces a share repurchase plan and the collection of a $136 million termination
fee from Standard General. [290][291]
[292]
23 Netflix begins cracking down on unauthorized password sharing between
subscribers and non-paying customers in the U.S. by introducing an $8/month "extra
member" option to permit access to users who do not live in the account holder's
household, and intending to block devices attempting to access a user's Netflix
account without paying over a certain timeframe. Netflix initially tested the
"extra member" program—which resulted in account cancellations in countries where
paid-sharing has been implemented—to primary account holders in Chile, Costa Rica
and Peru in 2022, and formally commenced paid-sharing in Canada, New Zealand,
Portugal and Spain In February 2023. [293][294]
[note 13]
24 Gray Television files a lawsuit in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals that
requests to vacate a $518,283 fine issued by the FCC in July 2021 (which was upheld
on appeal in a 3–1 vote by the FCC Media Bureau in October 2022), pertaining to a
July 2020 non-license asset deal between Gray and Denali Media Holdings that saw
the former acquire and transfer the CBS affiliation rights for Anchorage from KTVA
(now a Rewind TV affiliate) to Gray-owned KYES (now KAUU). Because Gray already
owned NBC affiliate KTUU, the FCC considered the transaction as equivalent to
purchasing a second top-four station in violation of FCC duopoly regulations. Gray—
which acquired KAUU (then a lower-rated MyNetworkTV affiliate) in 2016—contends the
FCC had no authority to regulate the affiliation purchase as it did not involve a
license transfer, that its regulation of a "functional equivalent" to the agency's
Top-4 Rule via the fine exceeds the agency's regulatory authority, and that the
fine violates the First Amendment by penalizing Gray's programming decisions
without furthering a "legitimate" government interest. [295][296]
[297]
29 Silver Chalice acquires majority control of Stadium from Sinclair Broadcast
Group (which co-founded the broadcast/streaming sports network with the Chicago
White Sox subsidiary in 2017, as a reconfiguration of Sinclair's American Sports
Network syndication service). Sinclair cites that the decision to sell its
controlling stake in Stadium was due to insufficient viewership to justify
continued financing, refuting a report by Front Office Sports disclosing the
purchase that it was tied to financial issues related to the recent bankruptcy of
its Diamond Sports Group unit. Stadium will maintain its affiliation agreements
with Sinclair-run stations, while Sinclair will continue to supply some programming
for the network. [298][299]
30 One week after failing to make a rights payment before the end of its fee
grace period, Diamond Sports Group informs the San Diego Padres that it will no
longer provide financing to Bally Sports San Diego that would enable the regional
sports network to continue paying fees to the team. The Padres' local television
rights consequently reverted to the team and Major League Baseball following that
evening's game against Miami (the first of a three-game away series), marking the
first instance since Diamond's March 14 bankruptcy filing that it returned the
local MLB broadcast rights to a franchise. The league took over production of the
Padres' regional telecasts starting with the May 31 Padres–Marlins game, and began
carrying them on alternate channels on Cox, Spectrum, U-verse, DirecTV and Fubo
within the team's home market, along with, for the first time ever, a blackout-
free, direct-to-consumer option via MLB.tv. Game announcers Don Orsillo, Mark Grant
and Bob Scanlan will remain on the broadcasts as they are directly employed by the
Padres. [300][301]
[note 14]
June
Date Event Source
4 Chuck Todd announces that he will stepping down as moderator of Meet the
Press after nine years. Todd's tenure as moderator, which would end on September
10, saw the NBC program launch into other ventures (including the NBC News Now
extension show Meet The Press Now, which Welker co-hosts and had originally debuted
on MSNBC in 2015 as MTP Daily, weekly podcasts and a documentary film festival),
and Todd himself facing criticism from some viewers and media critics for not
pushing back against false statements made by guests (particularly those made by
former president Donald Trump, his administration's officials, and his
archconservative supporters in political leadership). Todd will be succeeded as MTP
moderator on September 17 by NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker, who
will move from the co-anchor chair at Saturday Today to become the political talk
show's first female moderator (since co-creator Martha Rountree's 1947–53 tenure as
its original host), as well as the first person of color to regularly serve as the
program's moderator (Welker is of mixed Black–Caucasian heritage). [302][303]
[304]
6 The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reports that Red River Broadcasting has exercised
an option to terminate the sale of Fox affiliates KQDS/Duluth–Superior and
KVRR/Fargo–Moorhead to Forum Communications. The $24-million deal, first announced
in November 2021, was dependent on the FCC approving a waiver of ownership rules
prohibiting the combination of two full-power "Big Four" outlets in the same
market, in order to allow a duopoly between KVRR and Forum-owned ABC affiliate
WDAY. The FCC, which has only once approved such a "Big Four" duopoly (in 2019),
had not yet considered the Fargo waiver. (Forum, which also owns The Forum and News
Tribune newspapers in the respective cities, would have had no such issues in
Duluth as it has no existing television properties in that market.) [305][306]
[note 15]
7 Warner Bros. Discovery announces the departure of Chris Licht as CEO of its
CNN Global division after just over one year. Licht had already ceded operational
control of the network to WBD Chief Corporate Operating Officer David Leavy in the
fallout from the Donald Trump town hall meeting, though the ouster came in the
aftermath of the June 2 publication of a less-than-flattering Atlantic article
documenting Licht's short but tumultuous tenure at CNN. [307][308]
[309]
Actor Jay Johnston is arrested by the FBI for his alleged involvement in the
January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The comedian/actor (known for his
roles in Mr. Show with Bob and David, The Sarah Silverman Program and Bob's
Burgers) was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice on counts that include civil
disorder, entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or
disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage
through Capitol property. [310]
11 The 76th Tony Awards air on CBS and Paramount+ from New York's United Palace,
with Ariana DeBose as host. Notable winners included Kimberly Akimbo (Best
Musical), Leopoldstadt (Best Play), and the first two non-binary performers to win
acting awards (J. Harrison Ghee for Some Like It Hot and Alex Newell for Shucked).
The ceremony and telecast were initially postponed on May 12 after organizers for
the Tonys were denied a waiver request from the Writers Guild of America to use
pre-written material during the Guild's strike against the Alliance of Motion
Picture and Television Producers (both CBS and Paramount+ are AMPTP members). But
by May 16, organizers agree to ceremony alterations—including refraining from using
a script and placing an emphasis on live performances from Tony-nominated shows—
thus allowing the event to proceed without a WGA waiver or picket line. [311]
[312]
[313]
12 The Denver Nuggets defeat the Miami Heat, 94–89, in Game 5 of the 2023 NBA
Finals to win their first championship in franchise history; the Nuggets, in their
first-ever Finals appearance, defeated the Heat in four of five games in the best-
of-seven series; ABC carried the NBA Finals exclusively for the 21st consecutive
year. This year's NBA playoffs, which began on April 15 (and were televised on TNT,
ESPN, ABC and NBA TV—with each team's regional broadcaster also televising local
coverage of First Round games, except for most weekend games that ABC televised
nationally), saw ESPN/ABC carry the Western Conference Finals and TNT carry the
Eastern Conference Finals, per the alternating exclusivity rotation under the NBA's
contracts with ESPN Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports.[314][315]
[316]
[note 16]
Pat Sajak announces on social media that he will retire as host of Wheel of Fortune
at the conclusion of its 41st season in mid-2024; he will remain with the program
thereafter as a consultant. Sajak has hosted the Sony/CBS-distributed game show
since December 1981, when he succeeded Chuck Woolery on the now-defunct network
version (Sajak would leave that version in January 1989, six months prior to its
move from NBC to CBS, to host his own late-night talk show for the latter network),
and began hosting the syndicated version when it debuted in September 1983. On June
27, it was announced that Ryan Seacrest will succeed Sajak as host for the 2024–25
season. [317][318]
13 The Vegas Golden Knights defeat the Florida Panthers, 9–3, in Game 5 of the
2023 Stanley Cup Finals to win their first championship in franchise history; the
Golden Knights, which began play in the NHL six years prior, defeated the Panthers
in four of five games in the best-of-seven series. TNT, TBS and TruTV simulcasted
this year's Stanley Cup Finals, per the alternating rotation under the NHL's
contracts with ESPN Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports. It marked both the
first time that the three networks carried the championship series and the first
time since 1994 (when it was carried nationally by ESPN and regionally by New York
City-based MSG) that the Finals aired exclusively on cable in the U.S. This year's
Stanley Cup playoffs began on April 17, and was televised on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TBS
and TNT, with each franchise's regional broadcaster also televising local coverage
of First Round games (except for weekend games that ABC televised nationally).
[319][320]
[note 17]
Sports analyst/commentator Shannon Sharpe announces he will be leaving the FS1
morning sports talk show Skip and Shannon: Undisputed, which he has co-hosted since
its debut in September 2016, following that day's broadcast. It was then announced
that the show would take a hiatus until August 28 due to Fox Sports failing to find
a new debate partner with Skip Bayless. [321][322]
[323]
20 The NBA's Utah Jazz signs a multi-year agreement with Sinclair Broadcast
Group to broadcast their regionally televised games and other team-specific
programs on the company's Salt Lake City duopoly of KUTV (CBS) and KJZZ
(independent), effective with the league's 2023–24 season; the stations replace
Warner Bros. Discovery-owned AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain and Root Sports
Northwest as the Jazz's regional television partners. The deal also marks the
team's return to KJZZ, which previously held over-the-air telecast rights to Jazz
games from 1993 to 2009. Team owner Ryan Smith's holding company, Smith
Entertainment Group, also starts a new in-house production division, SEG Media, to
produce the telecasts, which will also be carried on a new subscription streaming
service scheduled to launch in October. Game announcers Craig Bolerjack, Thurl
Bailey and Holly Rowe will remain on the broadcasts as they are directly employed
by the Jazz. [324][325]
[note 18]
21 Television presenter Geraldo Rivera announces he has quit the Fox News talk
show The Five, which he has co-hosted since January 2022. On June 29, the same day
his final episode was scheduled to air, Rivera announced that he would be leaving
Fox News entirely after having quit the program; he later alleged in a July 13
appearance on The View that a "toxic [work] relationship" with an unnamed Five co-
host led to his departure. [326][327]
[328]
23 KQED 9/San Francisco's KQED Newsroom ends after 55 years on television. KQED
News continues on KQED 88.5 FM, online, and social media platforms. [329]
27 Roku and CBS Sports announce a multi-year deal to become the exclusive
American media partners for the Formula E electric motorsport series. The deal
marks the first sports rights agreement for Roku and expands CBS's existing
relationship with the promotion; Roku will stream 11 races per season on the Roku
Channel and CBS will carry five races per season that will also be streamed on
Paramount+, with all races carried by the two streaming services being accessible
through Roku's live-streaming sports aggregation platform. [330]
28 As part of a multi-year agreement that also extends their existing carriage
contract for NFL Network and expands its distribution to co-owned DirecTV Stream
and U-verse, NFL Media and DirecTV announce that the latter will add NFL RedZone to
the lineups of its subscription television services. The addition of RedZone will
allow DirecTV subscribers to continue to view regional NFL broadcasts not carried
within their home market in some capacity, after the league's December 2022 deal
with Google to distribute the package to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels
customers resulted in DirecTV losing residential carriage rights to the NFL Sunday
Ticket out-of-market sports package following the 2022 season. [331]
[note 19]
29 Nexstar Media Group fires news director Stanton Tang and assistant news
director Amy Fox from NBC affiliate WOOD/Grand Rapids, following an internal
investigation into a leaked memo urging reporters and producers to cover fewer
stories on West Michigan-area Pride Month events because of criticism from
conservative viewers over related stories aired earlier that month on its
newscasts. Tang—who, in the memo, had asked reporters to only cover Pride events if
considered newsworthy and to pursue viewpoints reflecting "both sides" of the story
—had also been accused by station journalists of having his own right-leaning views
influence editorial decisions (occasionally sending links to Twitter posts from
conservative news outlets and commentators as story ideas in emails to reporters),
and of fostering a hostile work environment within the news department (including
pressuring and getting into intense arguments with journalists that caused some to
take sick leave due to mental anguish, and discouraging them from voting in the
2022 Michigan gubernatorial and U.S. House primaries, only to later acknowledge he
voted in that election, in possible violation of voter intimidation laws); prior
complaints about Tang's workplace conduct allegedly went unaddressed when brought
up to WOOD general manager Julie Brinks and to Nexstar management. News producers
Luke Stier and Madeline Odle were also terminated for leaking information about the
memo to local media and broadcast industry outlets. Veteran television executive
Steven Ackermann was appointed as interim news director on June 30. [334][335]
30 In what the network describes as a move meant to "identify additional cost
savings," ESPN lays off about 20 on-air personalities. The notable names confirmed
on this date to be exiting include NBA analysts Jalen Rose and Jeff Van Gundy; NFL
studio analysts Matt Hasselbeck, Keyshawn Johnson, Rob Ninkovich, and Steve Young;
NFL draft expert Todd McShay; boxing analyst and This Just In host Max Kellerman;
college football analyst David Pollack; college basketball analyst LaPhonso Ellis;
veteran reporter/host Suzy Kolber; and SportsCenter anchors Neil Everett and Ashley
Brewer. It is the third round of layoffs this year at ESPN, following two waves
affecting behind-the-scenes staffers earlier in the Spring.[336][337]
July
Date Event Source
1 Hawaiian Telcom removes the Honolulu duopoly of Fox/CW affiliate KHON and
MyNetworkTV affiliate KHII, and NewsNation from its systems across the state after
failing to renew an agreement with Nexstar Media Group that expired on June 30. The
provider filed an FCC complaint on July 6, asking for the commission to rule
Nexstar's failure to continue the channels’ carriage as a violation of good-faith
negotiation rules for each day since the previous contract lapsed. Hawaiian Telcom,
which noted the Islands‘ volcanic and mountainous terrain prevents many residents
from receiving KHON/KHII over-the-air and alleged that the group sought to increase
fees to carry the channels by 80%, accused Nexstar of withholding consent by not
responding to its request to extend negotiations by one week—forcing it to remove
the channels—until immediately before the agreement expired. The parties reached a
multi-year agreement to restore KHON/KHII (along with Rewind TV-affiliated KHON-
DT4) and NewsNation to Hawaiian Telcom's lineup on July 20, although the provider
stated it would not drop the Nexstar complaint (which it amended the day before to
allege the group had unraveled an earlier version of the deal on July 17, demanding
Hawaiian Telcom rescind the complaint and not file future FCC complaints against
Nexstar). [338][339]
[340]
[note 20]
2 DirecTV removes 159 stations owned by Nexstar Media Group after the two
parties fail to reach a new carriage agreement. The impasse results in the complete
loss of stations operated by Nexstar and its partner companies (Mission
Broadcasting and White Knight Broadcasting) from the DirecTV satellite service,
DirecTV Stream and U-verse, amid an existing contractual and legal dispute between
DirecTV and Nexstar dating to October 2022, concerning alleged collective
bargaining influence by the three station groups in retransmission fee negotiations
that prompted the earlier removal of Mission and White Knight's respective stations
from the company's television services (see March 14 entry). In a July 18 FCC
letter, DirecTV accused CW majority owner Nexstar of forcing Sinclair Broadcast
Group to remove 21 affiliates (all based in markets where both groups operate
stations, and leaving subscribers of the vMVPD service in those areas unable to
view CW programs) from DirecTV Stream on July 12; Nexstar countered that DirecTV
Stream continued to carry Sinclair's CW stations without renewing a prior agreement
that expired in November 2022. A gradual restoration of the Nexstar stations to
DirecTV would begin on September 17, with the companies announcing a new multi-year
carriage deal the next day. [341][342]
[343][344]
10 Charter Communications announces it will begin offering a reduced-cost tier
of its Spectrum TV Select cable package that will exclude regional and many
national sports networks featured in its standard basic tier (including its own
Spectrum Sports channels in areas where Charter also operates an RSN). The Spectrum
Select Signature tier—which will gradually launch across most of its footprint
beginning in late Summer, alongside the renamed Spectrum Select Plus expanded tier—
will be marketed primarily to non-sports fans, and is intended to limit cord-
cutting among existing subscribers. The company also plans to launch a subscription
streaming service for its Spectrum Sports channels, which will be available at no
extra charge to Select Plus subscribers. Concurrently, Charter announces a new
carriage agreement with DirecTV for Spectrum SportsNet and SportsNet LA, which
lowers the required coverage rates for the two Los Angeles-based networks under
terms similar to recent deals that saw the company reduce coverage mandates for
owned or third-party regional sports networks carried on its systems (RSNs usually
require carriage by at least 80% of a provider's regional subscribers); Charter
intends to impose similar provisions for its Spectrum Sports RSNs in future
negotiations with other providers, enabling them to reduce programming costs
subsidized by their customers. [345][346]
[347]
[note 21]
Saima Mohsin, who served as an international correspondent for the network from
2013 fo 2017, sues CNN for racial discrimination and wrongful termination. The
journalist (who became a freelance presenter for Sky News in 2022) suffered severe
tissue damage after a cameraman accompanying her on assignment accidentally drove
over her foot while covering the Israel-Palestine conflict in 2014. Moshin—who is
British Pakistani—alleges that the network refused to provide adequate
accommodations for her injury, which left her unable to do more physically
demanding reporting work, and denied her request to move to an anchor role
(alleging an executive said she didn't "have the look we are looking for") and
other on-air opportunities in favor of white American correspondents. [348]
13 The Atlantic Coast Conference announces a four-year deal with The CW, under
which the network will broadcast a total of 50 ACC college football and basketball
games (initially consisting of 13 football, 28 men's basketball and nine women's
basketball games) each season through the 2026–27 academic year. Raycom Sports—
which sublicenses the ACC television rights from ESPN, and terminated a preceding
national broadcast deal with Bally Sports on June 15—will produce the telecasts.
Starting with a September 9 non-conference football game between the Pittsburgh
Panthers and Big 12 member Cincinnati Bearcats, The CW will air two ACC football
games each Saturday during the Fall (in the afternoon and prime time), and Saturday
afternoon men's basketball doubleheaders and Sunday afternoon women's basketball
games from December to February. [349][350]
[351]
[note 22]
15 SAG-AFTRA commenced a strike against television and film studios, after the
union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to agree
on a new contract after their previous agreement expired on June 30. This marks the
first time that actors have initiated a labor dispute since the 1980 actors strike.
With the concurrent Writers Guild of America strike, this was also the first time
that actors and writers have walked out simultaneously since 1960. Similar to the
WGA, SAG-AFTRA cited several issues, including economic fairness, residuals,
regulating the use of artificial intelligence, and alleviating the burdens of the
industry-wide shift to self-taping. In addition to impacting film and television
productions, actors could not take part in promotional work, such as press junkets,
film premieres, and other events such as the San Diego Comic-Con. Journalists and
performers employed under the SAG-AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Network
Television Broadcasting contract (a separate agreement negotiated between the
union, major broadcast networks and other producers which currently runs through
July 2024) were not affected, allowing news programs, most talk, variety, game and
reality shows, soap operas, sports and promos to continue production with SAG-AFTRA
members covered by that agreement. The strike ended on November 9 after a new
agreement with the AMPTP was reached. [352][353]
[354][355]
[356]
The New York Supreme Court rules in favor of DirecTV in a breach of contract
lawsuit filed by the company in November 2021 against Nexstar Media Group,
involving a 2015 carriage renewal agreement for WDVM/Hagerstown, Maryland (then-NBC
affiliate WHAG). The suit alleged that Nexstar did not give DirecTV adequate notice
that the station would become an independent once its affiliation contract with NBC
expired in July 2016, resulting in the satellite provider overpaying to carry a
station that would no longer be a Big Four affiliate. (As part of an effort at the
time to reduce affiliate duplication in certain markets, NBC parent Comcast elected
to disaffiliate from WHAG—a decision that was disclosed publicly by Nexstar in
February 2016—due to perceived competition with nearby O&O WRC/Washington, D.C.)
The court ruled that Nexstar overcharged DirecTV by basing its carriage fee rate
for WDVM on its prior NBC affiliation, and ordered the broadcaster to repay
“several million dollars” worth of excess fees that DirecTV paid during the
contract term (plus interest). [357][358]
[359]
[note 23]
17 Four days after its release, CMT removes the music video for Jason Aldean’s
single "Try That in a Small Town" from its rotation, amid controversy over the
song's lyrics and the video's themes. The scrutiny pertained to the lyrics being
interpreted by some listeners as evocative of vigilantism, lynchings and sundown
towns (the former interpretation also drawing criticism as Aldean performed at the
Route 91 Harvest music festival during the October 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting);
the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, where the video was filmed,
being the site of several incidents of racial violence (including a 1927 lynching
and the city's 1946 race riots); and the juxtaposition of the lyrics and excerpts
of news footage from the 2020 race riots (including lootings and violent clashes
between protesters and officers) interspersed in the video. Aldean responded to the
criticism on Twitter, asserting the song was meant to represent “the feeling of a
community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of
differences of background or belief." [360][361]
[362][363]
[364]
[note 24]
18 Diamond Sports Group files separate lawsuits against majority owner Sinclair
Broadcast Group and senior creditor JP Morgan that seek to receive compensation for
Sinclair's preferred equity repayment to the investment firm. Sinclair compeleted
its $1.025-billion worth of equity repayments to JP Morgan in February for its
preferred interest in Diamond that it acquired as part of the group's 2019 purchase
of the former Fox Sports Regional Networks from Disney. Diamond accuses Sinclair of
manipulating the payment schedule so that JPMorgan was nearly made completely whole
on its investment, even though it knew the former's bankruptcy would wipe out its
equity in the subsidiary, [366]
After Diamond Sports Group receives bankruptcy court approval of its motion (filed
on June 22, with the intent of terminating the contract effective June 30) to
surrender its contract with the team, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Major League
Baseball assume the regional television rights to the former's games from Bally
Sports Arizona, starting with that night's game against the Atlanta Braves. The
telecasts will be carried on alternate channels on Cox, Spectrum, Xfinity, DirecTV,
DirecTV Stream, Fubo and other providers within the team's regional territory,
along with a blackout-free livestream on MLB.tv (with all games scheduled through
July 23 available free to stream using MLB login credentials on the respective
websites and apps of the MLB and the Diamondbacks). Due to the earlier departures
of the NBA's Suns and WNBA's Mercury from the network (see April 28 entry), the
loss of the Diamondbacks from the network leaves the NHL's Arizona Coyotes as the
only major Phoenix-area sports franchise that maintains a broadcasting relationship
with Bally Sports Arizona. Game announcers Steve Berthiaume and Bob Brenly will
remain on the broadcasts as they are directly employed by the Diamondbacks. [367]
[368]
[369][370]
[note 25]
23 Preceding that day's ESPN+ broadcast of a friendly match between AC Milan and
Real Madrid CF at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, ESPN soccer analyst Shaka
Hislop fainted on-air while co-hosting the pre-match show with play-by-play analyst
Dan Thomas. The retired professional soccer star later regained consciousness and
was treated by stadium medical personnel, later describing the incident as
"awkward" and was seeking medical opinion on the cause of his collapse. [371]
[372]
[373]
28 NASCAR announces a seven-year deal with The CW to broadcast Xfinity Series
races exclusively on the network starting in 2025. The deal—which replaces NBC, USA
Network and Fox Sports as the second-tier circuit's broadcast partners—will see The
CW air 33 live races each year as well as weekend practice and qualifying events,
with additional content being made available on The CW's streaming apps and digital
platforms; NASCAR Productions, the stock car racing league's in-house production
unit, will handle production responsibilities for the race telecasts and other
ancillary content. The deal will mark the first time that all Xfinity Series races
will be available exclusively on American broadcast television. [374][375]
[376]
[note 26]
August
Date Event Source
2 Jeffrey Goldberg is named moderator of Washington Week effective August 11,
coinciding with The Atlantic (where Goldberg has served as editor-in-chief since
2016) joining Washington, D.C. PBS member station WETA and NewsHour Productions,
LLC as an editorial partner of the PBS political affairs program, which will
accordingly be retitled Washington Week with The Atlantic. Goldberg succeeds
Yamiche Alcindor, who stepped down from the role on February 24, primarily to focus
on her job as Washington correspondent for NBC News (various journalists have
served as guest moderators since Alcindor's departure). [377][378]
4 Days of Our Lives producer Corday Productions announces the departure of the
Peacock soap opera's longtime co-executive producer/director Albert Alarr, with
senior producer Janet Spellman-Drucker replacing him as co-EP and the company
announcing it will be "implementing additional HR protocols." Alarr's departure
comes in the aftermath of an investigation conducted by Days distributor Sony
Pictures Television (outlined in a July 25 Deadline Hollywood report) that revealed
Alarr had allegedly fostered a toxic work environment on the program, and had been
verbally and physically abusive toward staffers (namely female staffers, who allege
incidents of inappropriate comments and physical contact by Alarr). Though Corday
Productions reportedly gave a written warning to Alarr (who denied the allegations
against him) and ordered him to undergo training, his continued presence on Days
led to on-set tensions among those aware of the investigation, with cast members
petitioning for Alarr's ouster. [379][380]
[381]
9 Big Brother season 25 contestant Luke Valentine is removed from the
CBS/Paramount+ reality show one day after uttering the N-word in a conversation, a
violation of the show's code of conduct. [382]
10 The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and Fox formally announce that the
75th Primetime Emmy Awards will be pushed back from its original planned date of
September 18 until January 15, 2024. The rescheduling, due to the ongoing Writers
Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes, mark the first postponement of a Primetime Emmy
ceremony since 2001, when the September 11 attacks and ensuing start of the war in
Afghanistan pushed the 53rd Primetime Emmys from September to November. (The
related Creative Arts Emmys will also move from September to the weekend of January
6–7, 2024.) [383]
15 Sage Steele announces that she has left ESPN after settling her lawsuit
against the network and its parent, The Walt Disney Company. Steele, who had been
with ESPN since 2007 and had anchored SportsCenter and NBA Countdown, had sued ESPN
and Disney in 2022, alleging the network had "sidelined" her after she criticized
the network's COVID-19 vaccination policy and questioned the ethnicity of former
U.S. President Barack Obama. [384]
Nielsen Media Research reports that for the first time since it started its monthly
gauge in 2021, the combined share of broadcast and cable network viewing during
July was less than half of all total TV usage (49.6%). [385]
20 Spain defeats England, 1–0, in the final of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
The tournament, which began on July 20, was televised by Fox Sports and Telemundo
respectively in English (on Fox and FS1) and Spanish (on Telemundo and Universo),
with all games streamed on the Fox Sports app and Peacock. The networks and
streaming platforms carried a primarily late night and early morning schedule of
games—with only five matches being held during prime time—due to the tournament
being played across nine cities in Australia and New Zealand (12–16 hours ahead of
Eastern Daylight Time, depending on each game's corresponding host venue). [386]
[387]
[388][389]
23 Fox News hosts the first of the 2024 Republican Party presidential debates at
Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which will also host the GOP's nominating
convention. Eight candidates appear on the stage—Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Ron
DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Asa Hutchinson, Mike Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Tim Scott—
the lowest number of candidates for the first Republican debate stage since 2012.
The relatively low number was due to strict RNC requirements that any participants
have at least 40,000 individual donors and poll above 1% in either three national
polls or two national polls and one state poll. (By comparison, high candidate
numbers caused both the 2016 GOP and 2020 Democratic debates to be spread out over
two nights.) Thanks to not meeting polling requirements or refusing to sign a
loyalty pledge to back the eventual nominee, Ryan Binkley, Larry Elder, Will Hurd,
Perry Johnson, Francis Suarez, and former president Donald Trump did not attend;
Trump, the polling frontrunner, instead appears in a pre-taped interview with
Tucker Carlson that aired as counterprogramming to the debate on X (formerly
Twitter). [390][391]
[392][393]
30 Two months after the ouster of Chris Licht (see June 7 entry), Warner Bros.
Discovery announces the hire of Mark Thompson as CNN's new chief executive officer;
Thompson is previously known for his tenures as director general of the BBC and CEO
of The New York Times. [394]
31 The cable networks and TV stations owned by The Walt Disney Company
(including Disney Channel, Freeform, National Geographic, the FX and ESPN networks,
and ABC O&O stations), are dropped from Charter Communications' Spectrum cable
systems due to an unresolved carriage dispute. The two companies would announce a
new agreement on September 11, one that allows customers who subscribe to certain
Spectrum packages access to the Disney+ and ESPN+ streaming services (and, when it
launches, ESPN's direct-to-consumer service), but also allows Charter to drop
carriage of Freeform, FXX, FXM, and smaller Disney- and Nat Geo-branded channels.
[395][396]
September
Date Event Source
2 Producers of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta announce that cast member Erica Mena
will not return to the VH1 reality show for its next season, its 12th, after a
Season 11 episode (which originally aired on August 29) captured Mena directing a
slur at castmate Spice during an argument (and table-flipping incident) between the
two women. [397]
5 Citing a desire to focus on his "health, family, and faith," Chris Mortensen
announces on social media he retired from his NFL reporting role at ESPN after the
network's coverage of the league's player draft in April. Mortensen had been a
mainstay of ESPN's pro football coverage since joining the network in 1991, and
appeared in his "insider" role on draft broadcasts, Sunday NFL Countdown, and
SportsCenter. [398]
8 Stations owned and operated by Hearst Television (37 stations covering 27
markets) are dropped from Dish Network due to an impasse in retransmission
negotiations between the two sides. [399]
Fox News fires senior executive John Finley following an investigation into a
violation of the company's conduct standards. Finley's 20-year tenure at Fox
included serving as executive producer of Hannity and helping to develop other Fox
News signature shows (including Outnumbered and The Five) as well as the Fox Nation
streaming service. [400]
9 With Kristen Welker moving to host Meet the Press (see June 4 entry), NBC
News justice correspondent Laura Jarrett becomes the new co-anchor of the Saturday
edition of Today alongside Peter Alexander. [401]
12 The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards airs on MTV and its related digital and
linear platforms from Newark's Prudential Center. Nicki Minaj serves as host, with
notable winners including Shakira (Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award), Diddy
(Global Icon Award), Minaj herself (Best Hip-Hop Video for "Super Freaky Girl"),
and Taylor Swift (a night-leading 9 awards, including her 2nd consecutive Video of
the Year, and record-extending 4th overall, for "Anti-Hero"). [402]
14 Morgan Murphy Media announces it will acquire three TV stations in Michigan
from The Marks Group: WBKP/Calumet and WBUP/Ishpeming (affiliated with The CW and
ABC respectively and simulcasting each network on both stations across the market
over subchannels), and WBKB-TV/Alpena (CBS/NBC/ABC/Fox). The $12 million deal,
which also includes radio properties in the western Upper Peninsula, is expected to
close at the end of the year pending regulatory approval. [403]
18 Amid the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes, ABC announces that it will simulcast
ESPN's Monday Night Football during each week of the 2023 NFL season. This marks
the first time a full season of Monday Night Football has aired on ABC since 2005.
[404]
21 WWE announces that its Friday night showcase SmackDown will leave Fox for USA
Network in October 2024 as part of a new deal with USA owner NBCUniversal that also
includes a series of WWE prime time specials airing on NBC beginning in the 2024–
2025 TV season. SmackDown previously aired between 2016 and 2019 on USA, which
currently also carries Monday Night Raw and NXT telecasts under separate deals that
end in September 2024. [405]
Rupert Murdoch announces he will step down as chairman of Fox Corporation and
sister company News Corp in November. Murdoch's son, Lachlan Murdoch, will become
sole chairman of both companies at that time, while the elder Murdoch, who founded
the Fox television network in 1986 and Fox News in 1996, will retain a "chairman
emeritus" role. [406]
26 Sean McManus announces he will retire from the chairman role at CBS Sports in
April 2024, with David Berson replacing him. McManus, who has been with CBS since
1996 and has been its sports division's chairman since 2011, is noted for securing
several sports rights deals for the network (most notably the 1998 return of the
NFL after a four year hiatus); he also concurrently served as president of both CBS
Sports and CBS News from 2005 to 2011. [407]
27 The second 2024 Republican Party presidential debate takes place at the
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. The event is
conducted by and aired on Fox News and Univision. [408][409]
28 The inaugural edition of the People's Choice Country Awards, the country
music-focused offshoot of the People's Choice Awards, airs on NBC and Peacock from
Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House. Little Big Town serves as hosts of a ceremony
that includes notable winners Morgan Wallen (The People's Artist), Jelly Roll (four
awards, including Male Artist and New Artist) and Lainey Wilson (three awards,
including Female Artist). [410]
October
Date Event Source
5 Roy Wood Jr. announces he will not return to The Daily Show when it returns
from the WGA strike on October 16. Wood had been a correspondent on the Comedy
Central program since 2015 and had been regarded as a candidate for the permanent
host role (Wood, in an interview with NPR, indicated he would still consider such a
role if the network extended it to him). [411]
The NHL's Arizona Coyotes announce they have agreed to end their relationship with
Bally Sports Arizona, and that the team has reached a multi-year deal with Scripps
Sports to carry Coyote games on Scripps-owned KNXV-DT2 in Phoenix as well as KGUN-
DT2/Tucson and KUPX-TV and KSTU-DT2/Salt Lake City. The Coyotes were the last
remaining Arizona pro sports team with a contract with Bally Sports Arizona, after
the network ceded Arizona Diamondbacks rights back to Major League Baseball (see
July 18, 2023, entry) and the NBA's Phoenix Suns and WNBA's Mercury signed new
deals with Gray Television (see April 28, 2023, entry). [412]
10 Barry Melrose announces he is stepping down from his hockey analyst role at
ESPN due to his being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. A former player and coach
(most notably coach of the Los Angeles Kings), Melrose had been a popular part of
ESPN's NHL and collegiate hockey coverage since 1994. [413]
13 In the wake of the Israel-Hamas war that began on October 7, MSNBC
temporarily removes Muslim hosts Ayman Mohyeldin, Mehdi Hasan and Ali Velshi from
anchoring duties, with their shows temporarily being replaced by ongoing coverage
of the war during the weekend. Their shows returned to air the following weekend.
[414]
17 Paramount Global announces that it will shutter Showtime's sports division at
the end of the year, with all sports content within the company, and any content
that may air on Showtime, expected to be produced by CBS Sports beginning in 2024.
Showtime Sports launched in 1986 and has been known for its coverage of boxing
(primarily under the Showtime Championship Boxing and ShoBox: The New Generation
banners) and mixed martial arts (namely the Bellator MMA promotion) on both the
Showtime network and pay-per-view. [415]
November
Date Event Source
1 The Walt Disney Company announces it will acquire the remaining 33% in the
streaming service Hulu that it does not already own from NBCUniversal. The $8.61
billion deal is expected to close in 2024. [416]
Stephen Colbert reveals that Taylor Tomlinson will host After Midnight, a new
program that will follow his Late Show on CBS' late night schedule beginning in
early 2024. [417]
7 WWE announces that its Tuesday night program NXT will move from USA Network
to The CW, as part of a five-year deal that starts in October 2024. [418]
8 The 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards airs on ABC from Nashville's
Bridgestone Arena, with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning as hosts. [419]
NBC News airs the third 2024 Republican Party presidential debate from Miami.
[420][421]
9 The National Women's Soccer League announces four-year media deals with
incumbent CBS Sports as well as ESPN, Prime Video, and Scripps Sports. The deals,
which will bring $60 million in rights fees to the league per year (40 times what
the previous deal with CBS had brought in), will include matches on CBS's and
ESPN's respective on-air and streaming platforms, Friday night games on Prime
Video, and Saturday night doubleheaders on Scripps-owned Ion Television. [422]
15 Giving no initial reason for doing so, Univision news anchor León Krauze
announces his departure from the Spanish-language network. Krauze had co-anchored
the network's late-night newscast, Noticiero Univision Edición Nocturna, since
January 2022, and had spent the prior 10 years as news anchor for Univision's Los
Angeles O&O, KMEX-DT. [423]
23 The 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast attracts a record TV
audience for NBC, with 28.5 million total viewers watching the event on NBC or
Peacock (22.3 million for the live morning broadcast alone). [424]
26 The live broadcast of the NFL RedZone channel is interrupted by a fire alarm
inside the NFL Network studio in Inglewood, California; the alarm, which turns out
to be a false one, forces host Scott Hanson and the channel's production crew to
temporarily evacuate the studio (viewers would see coverage of the Buffalo
Bills/Philadelphia Eagles game in the interim). [425]
29 NASCAR announces seven-year deals for its top-tier Cup Series, beginning in
2025, with Fox Sports, NBC Sports, Prime Video, and TNT Sports. The deals will see
incumbents Fox and NBC carry an equal number of 14 races each season, but also see
new partners Prime Video and TNT not only split a mid-season package of 10 races
but also exclusively carry practice and qualifying sessions for every Cup Series
race. [426]
30 Bailey Cable TV, a TV/internet provider serving small towns in southwestern
Mississippi and eastern Louisiana, closes operations and disconnects service to
customers without advance warning. [427]
After the two sides fail to reach a retransmission agreement before a 5PM (Pacific
Time) deadline, 66 stations (in 52 markets) owned by Tegna Inc. are removed from
the DirecTV satellite service. The signals would be restored on January 13, 2024,
after Tegna and DirecTV reach a new agreement. [428][429]
In what the network bills as “The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate,” Sean Hannity
moderates a debate on Fox News between two state governors with confirmed or
rumored presidential aspirations, Florida Republican Ron DeSantis (who was seeking
the GOP nomination for president in 2024) and California Democrat Gavin Newsom
(who's been regarded as possibly contending for his party's nomination in 2028).
[430]
December
Date Event Source
1 Six months after the company terminated a proposed sale of the stations to
Forum Communications (see June 6 entry), Red River Broadcasting enters into an
agreement to sell Fox affiliates KVRR/Fargo–Moorhead and KQDS/Duluth–Superior to
Coastal Television Broadcasting Company; the stations are Red River's last
remaining TV properties, and the transaction, which is subject to FCC approval, is
later priced at $18.1 million. [431][432]
6 The five major commercial broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, and NBC)
begin their prime-time schedules by simulcasting an "in memoriam" tribute card to
the legendary producer Norman Lear, who died the previous day. [433]
The fourth 2024 Republican Party presidential debate is held in Tuscaloosa,
Alabama, airing on NewsNation and simulcast on The CW. It's the first national news
program for the latter network since its 2022 purchase by Nexstar Media Group, and
it becomes the last of the five major English-language commercial broadcast
networks in the United States to offer news programming. [434][435]
7 Amazon Prime Video announces it has reached an agreement to carry Premier
Boxing Champions events beginning in 2024, both pay-per-view events available to
purchase on streaming, cable, and satellite, as well as additional bouts and
ancillary programming available to Prime Video subscribers only. The deal, which is
projected to feature 12-14 events in its first year, replaces PBC's relationship
with Showtime in the wake of that cable network's exit from sports productions (see
October 17 entry). [436]
15 Mayim Bialik announced that she was fired from Jeopardy! Bialik had shared
hosting duties on the syndicated game show with Ken Jennings, who has been the
show's sole host since May (after Bialik stepped back in support of the show's
striking writers) and will go forward in that same capacity. [437][438]
The 50th Daytime Emmy Awards, the first major showbiz award event since the
resolution of the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes (it had been rescheduled from June
16 due to the WGA strike), air on CBS from Los Angeles' Westin Bonaventure Hotel.
Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner host the ceremony that sees such notable winners
as General Hospital (Outstanding Drama Series), The Kelly Clarkson Show
(Outstanding Talk Series), and Susan Lucci and Maury Povich (Lifetime Achievement
Awards). [439][440]
[441]
19 A helicopter operated by ABC O&O WPVI-TV/Philadelphia crashes in a wooded
area in Washington Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, killing pilot Monroe
Smith and camera operator Christopher Dougherty. [442]
26 Stating the need remains to continue ensuring competition and diversity of
viewpoint, the FCC announces in its quadrennial ownership review that it will
uphold restrictions that forbid common ownership of two of the four major TV
networks, and strengthen rules that forbid one entity from owning every TV station
in a single market (with case-specific requests for ownership of more than one of a
market's top-four stations still considered). Broadcasters had lobbied for the
loosening of station ownership rules, citing loss of audience share to streaming
services.