Local TV station groups have a lot to be happy about -- rising stock prices and more money from retransmission revenue. And something that isn't always mentioned: scale.

Some polls suggest TV consumers want to see just the game -- and leave politics offscreen. So far, virtually all major NFL marketers are mum on the current kneeling situation.

CBS' "Sheldon" is the most-watched comedy premiere since the net's "2 Broke Girls," which began in 2011. "Sheldon," a prequel to "Big Bang," will start its regular-season run November 2.

President Trump has recently called for NFL players to be fired or suspended if they do not stand for the national anthem, all for showing a lack of patriotism.

In the future of addressable TV advertising, traditional, linear TV viewers may want more transparency -- not just in political ads, but all advertising.

Traditional TV companies moving into digital seems like a no-brainer. But even veteran TV-based companies can miss -- a bit. Take CNN Digital. It pulls in $370 million in revenues a year, according to the company. But despite these numbers, according to BuzzFeed, CNN Digital now has a $20 million budget shortfall. CNN Digital has a staff of 660 people and is not considering layoffs, per various reports. AT&T has yet to close its $85 billion deal for Time Warner, which will add to the company’s already sky-high debt load. So the question is: Is there too much optimism …

TV networks depend on big professional sports, but license fees are proving costly. Magna Global projects the NFL's total national TV advertising -- for all networks -- at $3.9 billion for this season. The license fees for the year come to $4.4 billion.

Perhaps the biggest irony surrounding ESPN anchor Jemele Hill, and the subsequent missive from higher-ups that she "violated" company standards, is that she announced her point of view.

Shorter six-second TV ads -- largely thanks to YouTube -- seem to be in vogue. Yet we are hearing that for certain TV ads, longer is better. In both cases, one TV franchise can handle both: the NFL.

For the better part of a year or so, President Trump and candidate Trump has moaned about CNN, MSNBC and other networks, deriding lower ratings. In fact, all cable TV nets are enjoying continued viewer growth -- thanks in no small part to him.