television

DirecTV, Viacom make up: 17 channels restored

After more than a week of failed negotiations that led to a service cut-off, television giants DirecTV and Viacom have reached a new agreement that will restore many of the media conglomerate's popular television channels to the satellite service provider's 20 million U.S. customers.

The agreement, described as "long-term," will see 17 television channels -- including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET and Spike, among others -- restored. Viacom cut service for the channels on July 10.

"We are very pleased to be able to restore the channels to our customers and thank them for … Read more

IMDb on the go

More than just a tool for reading up on celebs and movies, the IMDb mobile app lets you access an enormous entertainment database, view movie trailers, read reviews, track shows, and even get notifications for updates on your favorite celebs. What's more, the Android tablet version is optimized for the larger screen, as it breaks up IMDb's sections into two functional panels.

IMDb opens up directly to a Home screen displaying new trailers, popular movies and shows, upcoming titles, and top news. If you log into your IMDb account, it also shows you recommendations for shows and movies, … Read more

Sonic screwdriver remote lets you Time Lord over your TV

The Doctor's impressive arsenal of technology is known to be finicky. The TARDIS, in particular, seems to have a mind of its own. Now imagine his sonic screwdriver is on the fritz and can only do one thing: operate a TV. You can have that sonic screwdriver.

The Sonic Screwdriver Programmable TV Remote at ThinkGeek is a note-perfect replica of the tool used by the latest Doctor, played by Matt Smith on the BBC.

The sci-fi magic happens when you use the remote's gesture-based command system. Rotate the sonic screwdriver for volume. Change channels with the flick of a wrist. It can also store up to 39 remote control codes to handle all the devices in your entertainment system.… Read more

TVFoodMaps is a GPS-guided tour for food TV fanatics

TVFoodMaps for Android is an app that takes you on a tour of all the restaurants featured on your favorite Food Network and Travel Channel shows, using GPS. For self-proclaimed food enthusiasts, it is a veritable treasure trove of eating advice.

Launch TVFoodMaps, enable GPS, and watch the app immediately get to work searching for notable restaurants in your vicinity. The home screen lets you choose to do a keyword search or jump straight to a map of nearby hot spots. For users of the paid premium version, you can also browse by TV show and even get notifications when … Read more

Five years in, the iPhone's greatest legacy: Its apps

The very best feature the iPhone ever had didn't exist until a year after the iPhone first debuted. It wasn't the Web browser. It wasn't the touch screen.

It was the apps.

While I remember the magical parts of owning the first iPhone, those aren't really what I think it will be remembered for. After all, touch screens, cameras, and all its other iconic elements have been appropriated by competitors.

The lingering bombshell that the iPhone has birthed is, needless to say, the idea of apps.… Read more

Want affordable OLED TVs? Don't hold your breath, Panasonic says

The beauty of slender OLED televisions might be enticing, but their price tags aren't. And according to Panasonic, that will continue to be the case for the time being.

Company President Kazuhiro Tsuga told reporters in Tokyo today, according to Reuters, which was in attendance, that he does not believe OLED pricing will match LCD televisions "for a considerable time." According to Reuters, he didn't provide a road map on when the televisions might come down to a far more affordable level.

OLED televisions have become the most sought-after sets in the marketplace. The devices are … Read more

Cheaper OLED TVs the goal for Sony-Panasonic effort

Sony and Panasonic have announced a partnership designed to mass-produce OLED panels for large displays and televisions.

According to the companies, they will jointly develop OLED panels with help from their respective technologies. That will result in reducing the total costs of production, potentially making OLED panels more affordable to vendors looking to bring the technology to future sets, the companies say. Mass production should begin at some point next year.

Sony and Panasonic have been rumored to be in talks about OLED production for a while now. Both companies have lost the LCD market, and Panasonic's focus on … Read more

Marketing TV with a summer road trip

The new TV season is rapidly approaching. We're hard at work making all the promos, ads, apps, stunts, and social media content designed to catch America's eyes, whet their appetites, and get them to tune in to CBS in September.

Getting people's attention in the summer months is particularly tough: kids are out of school and the nation is in vacation mode. It's a time for cookouts, swimsuits, and state fairs.

So this year, we're taking a high-tech, high-touch approach by going directly to the people and their summer events with the CBS Buzz Tour … Read more

Uh oh: LCD TV shipments fall for the first time ever

The television market hit a rough patch during the first quarter of 2012, according to new data from research firm NPD DisplaySearch.

During the period, total television shipments worldwide hit 51.2 million units, representing an 8 percent decline compared with the first quarter of 2011. LCDs took up the major share, tallying 84.2 percent ownership of the television market. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) televisions took 10 percent of the market, followed by plasmas with 5.8 percent share.

The big news, however, was that for the first time ever, LCD shipments were actually down year over year. According … Read more

Catch the CBS buzz

We're hitting the road this summer with the CBS Buzz Tour, bringing all things CBS directly to the fans. CBS giveaways, a photo green screen experience, and special events may be coming to a city near you! Read more about it in a recent New York Times article.

And be sure to "Like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @cbsbuzz to get the latest updates on the CBS Buzz Tour!