Here are the most read stories of the week.

Q&A: Charter ad sales chief: New data tools making 'advertising even more powerful'

Charter Communications Inc. Executive Vice President and Spectrum Reach President David Kline in a recent interview talked about data's impact on the distributor's ad sales, the strength of the political category and the debut of an addressable offering in Los Angeles. Spectrum Reach, the ad sales unit of Charter, has completed the rollout of the TV planning tool AudienceApp in 80 markets.

Data Dispatch: Content demand could make Lions Gate prime M&A target

With high-profile content assets getting scooped up in cross-industry megamergers, studio owner Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. may be the next in play. Speaking at a recent investor conference, Lions Gate Vice Chairman Michael Burns acknowledged that when it comes to consolidation, "we're predator until we're prey." Further, when asked if he was surprised that tech companies have not been more active in media M&A, Burns said "the convergence [is] going a little slower than I would have thought, but that could accelerate quickly."

Cable giants to sit out 5G high-band spectrum auction; DISH, telcos in

All four top telcos — Verizon Communications Inc., AT&T Inc., T-Mobile US Inc. and Sprint Corp. — applied to bid in the upcoming millimeter wave spectrum auctions, as did Cox Communications Inc. and DISH Network Corp. Absent from the list, however, were cable operators Comcast Corp., Charter and Altice USA Inc.

Viacom, Philo mull ad-free content offerings

Viacom Inc. and low-price streaming video distributor Philo Inc. are exploring advertising-free content options in the wake of such offerings from AMC (US) and FX Network (US). Calling ad-free "a different viewing experience" that some subscribers are willing to pay more to receive, Philo CEO Andrew McCollum told attendees at New York Media Festival on Oct. 5 that Philo executives are contemplating how commercial-free presentations could be seamlessly integrated within the platform.

Q&A: NY pension fund: More regulation needed on board diversity disclosures

Investors are increasingly speaking out about their desire for meaningful data on environmental, social and governance indicators. S&P Global spoke with Gianna McCarthy, director of corporate governance at the New York State Common Retirement Fund, about the data issues.