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Broadcasters Are Getting Bullied
Plus, a Super Bowl sip creates buzz
Welcome to The TV Room. Your weekly digest of television, streaming, and digital media insights that matter.
This week we're covering:
🏈 The FCC Won’t Let Them Be
🤖 Paramount Avoids a Blackout
🎥 Creative Spotlight: On: “Soft Wins with Elmo”
🕵 Netflix Bites into a New Market
FCC Chair Accused of "Weaponizing" Agency
Three Democratic US Senators have sent a scathing letter to FCC Chair Brendan Carr, accusing him of "weaponizing" the agency to attack broadcasters and public media for "political purposes."
Sens. Edward J. Markey (MA), Ben Ray Luján (NM), and Gary Peters (MI) wrote that Carr's recent actions appear "politically motivated and designed to punish, censor or intimidate members of the free press based on political disagreement with editorial choices."
The senators cited several examples of concern:
Carr reinstated three previously closed complaints against ABC, CBS, and NBC, but not a similar complaint against Fox News.
He opened an investigation into PBS and NPR sponsorship policies with no evidence of wrongdoing.
Carr stated the FCC's review of the Skydance-Paramount merger would consider a complaint about CBS News' editing of a Kamala Harris interview.
"This weaponization of the FCC is unacceptable," the senators wrote. "We urge you to immediately cease such conduct and respect the First Amendment."
Former FCC Chair Al Sikes called Carr's actions "the most egregious use of government power" and a "cynical" threat to free speech. The Wall Street Journal editorial board also rebuked Carr.
The senators warned that Carr's "abuse of the FCC's enforcement tools for partisan political ends" will have a "chilling effect" on news outlets. They urged Carr to "follow the Constitution" and return to "evidence-based decision-making."
Read More:
📺 Power Your Growth with Performance Branding: Webinar with Playbook, Rockerbox, and tvScientific
Performance marketing will eventually hit a point of diminishing returns where scale is impossible within CPA goals. To break this growth plateau, you’ll need to embrace performance branding.
On March 5, at 2 pm ET/11 am PT, Playbook CEO Bryan Karas joins Rockerbox CEO Ron Jacobson and tvScientific VP of Performance Ops & Yield Matt Janusz to teach attendees:
Why performance branding is a growth imperative for smart marketers in 2025
Data and reports that will quantify your performance branding opportunity
Why CTV is growing faster than any other media channel — and driving great performance branding results
TV Industry Updates
Roku’s big year: The streaming giant reported over $1 billion in Q4 platform revenue, driven by advertising and subscriptions.
Lodge is back: Paramount+ is reopening The Lodge to immerse fans in iconic TV experiences, with stops from Lake Tahoe to SXSW announced recently.
Hulu’s ad-free ads: Hulu warned subscribers that its ad-free plans might soon include ads for certain live broadcasts.
Tech at Daytona: Fox Sports announced wider coverage of the Daytona 500 with new Cosm cameras and heavy-lift drones to capture the racing spectacle.
Staying connected: YouTube TV and Paramount Global sealed a multi-year deal to keep essential networks live on the streaming platform.
Stay up to date on the latest in TV advertising by joining our Slack community!
Creative Spotlight: On: “Soft Wins with Elmo”
On launched its "Soft Wins" campaign featuring Sesame Street's Elmo to challenge the high-intensity mindset of running and inspire a gentler approach.
The Details:
The campaign encouraged runners to embrace self-compassion, community, and personal growth over intensity alone.
Elmo starred in the hero film, questioning the "push harder" mentality and making a compelling case for softness in running.
The campaign introduced the Cloudsurfer 2, one of On's softest-ever running shoes, engineered for a smooth and cushioned ride.
Candid stills by photographer Samuel Bradley highlighted the emotional core of the campaign: connection and well-being over intensity.
What We Loved: The campaign brilliantly used Elmo's inherent softness and warmth to disrupt traditional sports marketing, creating a memorable and differentiated message. Using an unexpected voice to redefine sports success echoed a cultural shift favoring balance over burnout.
Marketing Mix
Netflix Bites: The streaming giant opened a restaurant in Las Vegas serving food inspired by Netflix content. The menu will evolve as new shows launch.
AI content expands: ITG acquired PureRed to expand to the U.S. and gain a foothold with top retailers.
Canva meets HubSpot: A new partnership integrated Canva's design capabilities directly into HubSpot's customer platform.
Coca-Cola's prebiotic play: As consumers reach for better-for-you options, Coke introduced Simply Pop, its first entry into the growing prebiotic soda category.
The TV Room is your go-to source for staying ahead in the world of television and digital media. Want to chat about these stories with other industry pros? Join our Slack channel to continue the conversation.