televisions

Consumers waiting for a TV set from Apple may have to sit tight for a couple more years.

Apple won't launch any type of TV this year, says J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz. Instead, the company is likely to build up to such a product in two separate phases.

First, Apple would expand its current TV box by launching a more advanced set-top module sometime in 2013 at the earliest. Then the company could unveil a full-blown TV with a display and speakers in 2014 or later, the analyst said in a research note released today.

Why no … Read more

That wise old marketing philosopher Yogi Berra said: "I don't make predictions, especially about the future." By looking back at some of the history of entertainment marketing and how people have responded to it over time, we can gain perspectives that help us in the present and future.

We're heading into the Upfront season -- the time each year when television networks host presentations in New York to introduce our new shows and fall schedules to the advertising community. Now is a good time to look back at our collection of vintage CBS print ads from … Read more

Even with all of the media choices available to viewers today, on-air promotion continues to be the single most effective way for TV marketers like CBS to get the word out about our shows. Yes, we also advertise on every media platform in every format -- print, digital, outdoor, radio, mobile, social. But nothing has the same creative impact as the running our promos on the first screen.

Promos give people a free sample of the show. Research tells us that viewers like promos -- they view them as entertainment content and program information that helps them decide what to … Read more

When shopping for a replacement for my recently departed Toshiba TV, which died after just a few years of service, I paid a lot more attention to warranty. Sadly, few of the models I looked at offered more than the standard one year.

Too bad I missed out on this one: Best Buy has the Insignia NS-55E560A11 55-inch LED HDTV for $899.99 shipped, plus sales tax in most states. The only thing more amazing than that price is the warranty, which covers parts and labor for a full two years.

And if I'm not mistaken, you can stretch that an additional year … Read more

"Why does everything on the new TV look like video out of a bad soap opera," my wife asked me, about a day after our new set arrived. "You're crazy," was my response. I figured the move from a 40-inch set to a 55-inch one was taking some time to get used to.

As it turned out, she was right. After a few more days, even I conceded that unless "Game of Thrones" was now being shot in the same studio as "The Young and the Restless," something was wrong.

It … Read more

In a world of limitless choice, the appetite for big event television continues to grow. And as exciting and pervasive as social media chatter about television has become, it simply reflects -- and often magnifies -- the enduring power of what happens on the first screen.

For example, with more than 13 million viewers, the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on CBS delivered a 4 percent increase over last year's ratings. That's the result of a vibrant country music community looking to connect with their favorite artists and each other during the live broadcast.

Together with … Read more

Cutting the cord in hopes of saving money on television programming is often contemplated. But last year, relatively few cable or satellite subscribers in the U.S. actually did it, a new study shows.

The Convergence Consulting Group yesterday released its research on TV cord cutting to see how many people left their cable or satellite plans behind to access all their content over the Web. The firm found that 1.05 million people in the U.S. cut their TV subscriptions last year. Since 2008, 2.65 million people have decided against cable or satellite and gone to alternative … Read more

It was nearly one year ago that Royal Philips announced its desire to reduce its reliance upon televisions. And now, it has finally gotten its wish.

The company today announced that the transaction to complete a joint venture with TP Vision (TPV) has finally happened, and the companies are now moving forward with offering sets to consumers around the world. TPV will own 70 percent of the venture, while Philips will control 30 percent of the new operation.

Philips and TPV announced their partnership last April. The companies initially planned to start their joint venture late last year, but the … Read more

Thirty years ago this week, CBS broadcast the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game for the first time. As a freshman at the University of North Carolina, Michael Jordan hit the game-winning basket for the Tar Heels' 63-62 victory over the Georgetown Hoyas. Take a look.

While today we have giant flat screens, HD video, and social media to give us a vastly improved Final Four viewing experience, it's all still about the content. No amount of technological innovation can change the fact that we all just want to see a good game.

Be sure to tune in to … Read more