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July 20, 2026

BUY THIS BLENDER, SAVE A JOURNALIST?

If it feels like your favorite morning show has turned into QVC with better lighting, you’re not imagining it.

The LA Times reports that those "Steals and Deals" segments on Today, Good Morning America, and CBS Mornings aren't just filler—they’re keeping the lights on. Networks and station groups are leaning heavily into embedded e-commerce, putting QR codes on the screen and taking a cut (often 20% or more) of every sale.

And it’s not just the big networks. Syndicated shows like The View, Entertainment Tonight, and Inside Edition are all in on the hustle, and local TV groups are following right behind them. With broadcast ad revenue plummeting—down 23% since 2022—and cable carriage fees drying up, stations are desperate for cash to offset massive newsroom budget cuts.

Brian Meehan, co-founder of media e-commerce company Knocking, calls the practice the "savior for media."

That might sound like typical vendor hype, but insiders say these four-minute shopping segments generate well into the eight-figure range for networks and station groups.

The strategy relies on a simple trick: leverage viewer trust. Even if news anchors aren't directly doing the infomercial pitch, standing next to a lifestyle contributor gives the products an unearned "seal of approval." Former NBC News consumer reporter Jeff Rossen recently pitched online deals for Tegna stations, using the journalistic credibility he built over decades to push kitchen gadgets and household goods.

While purists (including FTVLive) might cringe at mixing news talent with pitchmen, the suits don't care.

Former CBS News President Andrew Heyward summed up the modern reality best: “If helping me buy a better blender also helps pay for an investigative reporter, I’m fine with it.”

But, thew issue I have, what if it is not a better blender? Are TV stations testing the products they are pitching, or are they just taking the company’s word for it? I think we all know the answer.

In today's broadcast landscape, that blender deal might literally be the only thing paying for the reporter.

Welcome to TV news in 2026.

More Scripps Cost-Cutting

When it comes to penny-pinching in broadcasting, Scripps is at it again, but this latest wave of budget cuts could directly hit local viewers. You can read this story on FTVLive.

Sinclair Takes A Knee to Trump (Yes, Again)

While major networks opted out of airing a recent political address, Sinclair issued strict orders to its affiliates, though some local stations quietly defied corporate command. You can read this story on FTVLive.

3 And Out in O-Town

After a brief three-year stint forecasting weather in Orlando, one meteorologist has officially signed off, leaving viewers guessing where he’ll land next. You can read this story on FTVLive.

Quick! Post It!

In a rush to get news out on social media, one Gray station published a graphic before changing the template. Alert viewers caught on quickly. You can read this story on FTVLive.

This is Tegna...

While a fill-in meteorologist was busy anchoring severe weather coverage during a live tornado warning, the station's main chief was surprisingly active on social media instead. You can read this story on FTVLive.

Ummmmm.....

Dunkin' officially dropped the word "Donuts" from its brand identity years ago, but it seems one local newsroom clearly missed the memo on the name change. You can read this story on FTVLive.

Signed Off from the Scripps Station

Another prominent personality has parted ways with a Scripps-owned outlet, and signs suggest she might be leaving the television news industry altogether. You can read this story on FTVLive.

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