Charter Communications Chair & CEO Tom Rutledge said that new and upcoming streaming services "could have some impact on pay TV subscriber losses, but not as much as other factors." He also suggested that the "lack of sports and news offerings would limit the appeal of streaming offers." Rutledge said, "You still don't have broadcasting in most of those products and you don't have therefore big sports, you don't have 24-hour news, so there are a lot of reasons why those products aren't going to satisfy the full need for television consumers" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 12/9).
PLACE YOUR BETS: In Las Vegas, Bailey Schulz notes Bleacher Report on Thursday will launch a "new live interactive game show, the B/R Betting Game Show." The weekly show will be "filmed in front of a live audience at Caesars Palace's sportsbook, with content shared on Bleacher Report's app and its betting social handles throughout the week." Former NFLer Chad Johnson will be the first of a "series of rotating show guest hosts." Regular hosts include "gambling experts" Kelly Stewart and Cabbie Richards (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/10).
GAME TIME: In DC, Gene Park notes the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences created a "new Sports Emmy category, Outstanding Esports Coverage." Sports Emmy Awards Administration Exec Dir Justine Gubar said that the awards committee made the "unanimous decision to recognize esports journalism in an effort to 'expand the Emmy universe'" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/10).
