Nokia opened the VMware Ready for NFV Certification Lab at one of its facilities. The lab serves to certify that Nokia's virtual network functions are compatible with VMware's vCloud NFV platform.
The Digital Licensing Coordinator and the Mechanical Licensing Collective, an organization created under the Music Modernization Act of 2018, have reached a deal regarding the operation and funding of the MLC and its central database of musical recordings. Digital music services, including Amazon, Google, Pandora, Apple and Spotify, will provide the MLC with $33.5 million to cover its initial costs and $28.5 million for its first annual operating budget.
The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation honored nine newscasters and television executives this week at its Giants Of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts awards in New York City, the 17th time the event has taken place. Honorees include journalist Connie Chung, "Dateline NBC" anchor Lester Holt, CBS Television President Peter Dunn, PBS chief Paula Kerger, Patrick Communications founder Larry Patrick, CW President Mark Pedowitz, Advanced Television Systems Committee President Emeritus Mark Richer and Premiere Networks chief Julie Talbott.
The Federal Communications Commission says it will still allow wireless microphone use in unoccupied VHF or UHF space, but users are facing increasing competition as the television channel repack forces stations to share smaller amounts of spectrum. Industry experts are making efforts to educate the FCC on the number of wireless devices affected and the impact on business.
Local radio stations in Los Angeles leapt into action yesterday to provide minute-by-minute coverage of the fatal shooting that occurred at a Santa Clarita high school, dispatching reporters to the location and monitoring other information sources. Morning show anchors at one AM station continued broadcasting into the afternoon to maintain coverage of the events for local listeners.
Disney+, the entertainment giant's streaming service, reports it has 10 million subscribers after being active for two days. Chief executive Bob Iger has predicted Disney+ will attract from 60 million to 90 million subscribers around the world by 2024.
Nickelodeon will produce original movies and series for Netflix under a multi-year agreement the companies announced that also reportedly includes a "music-based" "SpongeBob SquarePants" spin-off focusing on the Squidward character. The deal, reported to be worth about $200 million, will involve Nick creating content based on familiar characters as well as new ones.
Coverage of the first day of impeachment hearings into President Donald Trump on all of the major networks attracted millions of viewers, but did little to sway public opinion on the president, experts say. Many conservative commentators dismissed the proceedings as nonsensical, while left-wing observers suggested testimony in the hearings directly implicated Trump.
Jennifer Nettles of the musical group Sugarland walked the red carpet at Wednesday's CMA Awards in a cape with "equal play" messages written on both the front and back of its pink fabric. Nettles says she'd like to see equal representation for both genders on country stations, and the idea that audiences aren't interested in women's stories is a myth.
The Senate Commerce Committee backed cybersecurity legislation aimed at increasing awareness about attacks and training workers to fight them. With bipartisan backing, the bill includes a provision that would establish a public-private exchange program in which private experts would join government security efforts while public employees would help private entities.