Analysts estimate that nearly 71.5 million viewers tuned in to watch election coverage Tuesday night. ABC bested NBC as the most watched broadcast network, while cable coverage was up 50% in household prime-time ratings from four years ago.
Google has abandoned its proposed search ads deal with Yahoo. Google walked away after the Department of Justice told both parties it would sue them to block the agreement. Yahoo's stock was up on the news, while board member Carl Icahn continues to push for a sale to Microsoft.
Sprint will bring NFL games to mobile devices. The mobile broadcast deal, valued around $500 million for five years, gives Sprint the right to phone-cast 8 exclusive NFL Network games a year. The big question is whether or not Sprint will be able to sell more than $500 million in phone plans.
Michael Crichton, author and creator of the hit television drama ER, passed away yesterday. Crichton, who was battling cancer, is best known for Jurassic Park. NBC CEO Jeff Zucker noted that Crichton "was a modern day Rennaissance man...who helped change the face of televised drama."
Plus, today's consulting question, "Who will be Obama's chief of technology?" Shelly has the answer on today's MediaBytes.
Shelly Palmer is a consultant and the host of MediaBytes a daily show featuring news you can use about technology, media & entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group LLC and the author of Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV (2008, York House Press). Shelly is also President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NY (the organization that bestows the coveted Emmy® Awards). You can join the MediaBytes mailing list here. Shelly can be reached at shelly@palmer.net