Broadcasting & Cable articles from April 2009

Broadcasting & Cable archives from April 2009

Dawn of the Post 'Star Anchor' Era.
April 6, 2009... By Michael Malone Bye-bye, Ron Burgundy-big-contract newsreaders are being pushed to extinction by hungry (and cheap) multitasking reporters. When he broke into television in 1985, WBZ Boston anchor Jonathan Elias says he viewed some...

Deals.
April 6, 2009... By BIA Financial Networks TV KTNC-TV/Concord, KUNO-TV/Fort Bragg, KMPH-CA/Merced, KFRE-TV/Sanger, KDSL-CA/Ukiah and KMPH-TV/Visalia, Calif.; KPTH/Sioux City, Iowa; KPTP-LP/Norfolk, KPTM (TV) & KKAZ-CA/Omaha, Neb.; KKNJ-LP/Alamogordo,...

Obama Must Talk DTV.(Barack Obama)(digital television)
April 6, 2009... Staff President Obama recorded a message to air on Spanish-language TV network Univision recently during its Latin music awards show. According to Univision, that show set a record as the most-watched program in the 21 years the network...

Bringing the Action to Red Sox Nation.(New England Sports Network)
April 6, 2009... By David Tanklefsky Beantown's McGrail helped turn NESN into a basic cable winner The New England Sports Network (NESN) was a fledgling premium cable channel headquartered in the cramped confines of Boston's Fenway Park when Sean...

Winds of Change.
April 6, 2009... By Michael Malone OK City covers twisters creatively The Oklahoma City TV race is as wide open as the local terrain. KOCO and KWTV split the total day household and primetime crowns in November. After ironing out a ratings glitch with...

Power Lunching on a Shoestring.
April 6, 2009... By Melissa Grego With budgets getting gutted, new rules of business meals emerge For years, a major media company's communications executive and I have met for lunch at the same reasonably priced French restaurant halfway between his...

Life After Local TV.
April 6, 2009... By Michael Malone Former anchors find fulfillment-and sometimes riches-after leaving the station world Beau Baehman's workday is vastly different now than it was prior to leaving his sports anchor job at KMIZ Columbia, Mo., on Feb....

'ET' Jumps on Web Bandwagon.(Entertainment Tonight)
April 6, 2009... By Paige Albiniak CBS Mobile launches free Apple application Once upon a time, producing a half-hour entertainment newsmagazine meant just that. These days, producing a nightly half-hour show is only the beginning. Access magazines now...

Sony Broadens HD Broadcast Line for NAB.(Sony Electronics)(National Association of Broadcasters)(high definition)
April 6, 2009... By Glen Dickson Introduces lower-cost cameras and switcher; rolls out production automation software Sony Electronics' big news for NAB is a lower-priced high-definition production line aimed at mid-market broadcasters and smaller...

Hulu Gets Traction as Web Video Go-To.
April 6, 2009... By Claire Atkinson Despite exclusivity debate, talks with Disney help site cement status Hulu gained momentum last week in its quest to be the likely de facto destination for top-shelf, full-length TV programming online, much the way...

High-Definition For 'Hospital'.(General Hospital )
April 6, 2009... By Glen Dickson ABC soap makes moveto 720p format ABC is breathing new life into its flagship soap opera General Hospital for the May sweeps, as the longest-running dramatic serial in the network's history will begin broadcasting in...

NBC Hungry for Boston Market?(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... By Michael Malone Amidst Leno flap, network may launch O&Oin place of WHDH Call it the Boston Jay Party. NBC is threatening to strip WHDH Boston of its affiliation after the Sunbeam-owned station said it will launch a 10 p.m. newscast...

Jimmy Fallon Answers His Critics.(Interview)
April 6, 2009... By Ben Grossman The newhost on adjusting to late-night pressures Jimmy Fallon and everyone else in television knew the early episodes of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon were going to be pored over by critics everywhere. And they were. ...

New Calls for Newspaper-Station Joint Ventures.
April 6, 2009... By John Eggerton Buckling economy leads to talk of loosening ownership restrictions Newspaper and broadcast lobbyists have been trying to make a point about media ownership for years. Now it seems the buckling economy has helped make...

Breathing New Life Into Oxygen.(Oxygen Media L.L.C.)
April 13, 2009... By Marisa Guthrie Network Takes on Lifetime and Oprah's New Net With Attitude (drinking and swearing welcome) Working at Oxygen-the home of 'badtastic' reality spectacles like Bad Girls Club and Tori & Dean -requires a level of fervor...

What Would Tim Say?(National Association of Broadcasters)
April 13, 2009... Staff With the annual National Association of Broadcasters show coming up next week in Las Vegas, we were reminded of a surprisingly engaging speech given at last year's confab by actor Tim Robbins. His politics aside, Robbins delivered a...

Making His Name in the News Business.(Fox News Network L.L.C.)
April 13, 2009... By Marisa Guthrie Chris Wallace, son and stepson of famed newsmen, carved his destiny from childhood Chris Wallace grew up pretending to be a newsman. As a child, during car rides with his stepfather, former CBS News president Bill...

Buffalo Soldiers.(Time Warner Inc.)
April 13, 2009... By Michael Malone Troubled NY market slogs toward light at end of tunnel Buffalo may be mired in a protracted economic slump, but there's never been a better time for news in the No. 51 DMA. Time Warner Cable (TWC) launched the 24/7...

Killing News to Save the Station.(WYOU)
April 13, 2009... By Michael Malone WYOU's disbanded news operation may be the first of many The end of local news came quickly at WYOU in northeastern Pennsylvania. On the afternoon of Friday, April 3, the station announced that its news department had...

Where the Girls Are.
April 13, 2009... By Paige Albiniak Oprah, Maury drawing most young female viewers in talk show genre The youngest-skewing talk show on daytime television - besides Oprah - isn't Tyra , Rachael or Ellen . It's NBC Universal's Maury , hosted by...

A Few Bright Spots Among Spring Class.
April 13, 2009... By Marisa Guthrie John Wells drama, Bob Saget comedy open solidly in network rookie slate As the broadcast networks head into the final months of a particularly grueling season with few new hits to speak of, the pressure is on to find...

FX To Release 'Sunny' Special Straight-to-DVD.('Fox Home Entertainment)
April 13, 2009... By Alex Weprin Nets continue to tinker with home-video windowing Straight-to-DVD carries a nasty stigma in the film industry, but FX hopes it may be an emerging trend in television. The network is planning to release a straight-to-DVD...

Price' Set for Hi-Def IT Future.
April 13, 2009... By Glen Dickson CBS installs file-based Harris system in L.A. CBS has installed a file-based production system from Harris Corp. at CBS Television City in Hollywood to support the game show The Price is Right . It's part of a broader...

Tribune Station, Paper Launch Joint Morning Show.(Tribune Broadcasting Co.)(Brief article)
April 13, 2009... By Michael Malone Will look at other dayparts after South Florida program debuts Ayear after moving in together, Tribune's TV and newspaper outfits in South Florida are set to launch the joint morning program South Florida.com/Live on...

A Minute for Rice.
April 13, 2009... By Ben Grossman New Fox television honcho Peter Rice is probably on input overload right now. But the best thing he could do to cement his expected ascension to Rupert Murdoch's right-hand man would be to take some advice from yours truly....

Irving's Place.(dialogue with Internet Innovation Alliance chairman Larry Irving)(Interview)
April 13, 2009... By John Eggerton The former NTIA chief talks about cross-ownership, broadband grants and the DTV transition Larry Irving ran the NTIA under President Clinton and counseled Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.). He talked with B&C about how he...

Top 25 Station Groups (GCI).(Company rankings)
April 20, 2009... By Paige Albiniak With station sales stalemate showing no signs of lifting, list is almost unchanged from 2008 The tough economy has brought station sales to a screeching halt, say analysts, and that has kept movement among B&C 's...

Deals.(List)
April 20, 2009... By BIA Financial Networks TV KBMT (TV)/Beaumont, Texas PRICE : $25,000,000 BUYER : London Broadcasting Co. (Terry London, president/CEO) SELLER : Texas Television (Michael McKinnon Sr., president) FACILITIES : Ch. 12,...

Full Dance Cards.
April 20, 2009... Staff Broadcasters meet at NAB in Las Vegas this week with a lot on their minds and plates. They could be forgiven for feeling a little like Ginger Rogers, who had to do everything Fred Astaire did, only backward and in high heels. They...

Her Heart's in the Right Place.(WGHP)(Occupation overview)
April 20, 2009... By Michael Malone Karen Adams keeps N.C.'s WGHP on track--and on top--after 10 owners Much has changed since Karen Adams started at WGHP 33 years ago. The North Carolina station has had two different affiliations, ABC and Fox, and 10...

Green Goes Mainstream.
April 20, 2009... By Stuart Miller Programmers now push environmental stars and stories Green is growing up. At first, green was "the new black," as cable networks raced to show that it was hip for their viewers. Today, the hue has faded into the...

Desert Drama.
April 20, 2009... By Michael Malone Good and bad news from New Mexico Albuquerque news departments have a major story on their hands. Police have found the remains of as many as 13 women buried under a construction site in the past few months. Stations...

Giving It the Old College Try.
April 20, 2009... By Michael Malone Stations seeing spike in trade-school ad dollars thanks to recession While education has long been a steady source of advertising for local television, several general managers say the bleak economic picture has made...

Syndie Makes Its Upfront Pitch.
April 20, 2009... By Paige Albiniak As a battered economy looms over the entire television industry, syndicators tout consistency Like the broadcast and cable networks, the syndication world is sweating over how this year's upfront plays out. Given the...

Tech Wizards Get Their Due.(12th Annual Technology Leadership Awards )(Brief article)
April 20, 2009... By Staff Broadcasting & Cable 's 12th Annual Technology Leadership Awards pays special tribute to leaders of the business whose innovation, imagination and achievement deserve special recognition. With this year's winners, B&C has now...

Earl Arbuckle.
April 20, 2009... Michael Malone Military background helps Fox vet keep stations in line When Fox Television Stations VP of Engineering Earl Arbuckle isn't working on getting the 27 Fox-owned stations fully ready for the analog shutoff or equipping them...

Mike Doback.(Scripps Howard Cable Television of Knoxville)
April 20, 2009... Glen Dickson Embracing the file-based future In his long television career, Scripps Television VP of Engineering Mike Doback has worked through several technology "game changers," including the move from film-based news acquisition to...

John Honeycutt.(Discovery Communications Inc)
April 20, 2009... Glen Dickson Mastering the multichannel world John Honeycutt, chief media technology officer for cable programming giant Discovery Communications, has built his fast-moving career on launching large multichannel broadcast operations....

Steve Hellmuth.
April 20, 2009... David Tanklefsky The NBA's technology all-star You might say Steve Hellmuth, executive VP of operations and technology for the NBA, was as suited for his job as any star player, bringing a lottery pick's skill and enthusiasm to his...

George Hoover.(NEP Broadcasting)
April 20, 2009... David Tanklefsky High-definition storytelling George Hoover, chief technology officer for NEP Broadcasting, has overseen the upgrading of more than half the company's 60-truck fleet to HD. NEP's first HD unit was put into service in...

Bob Seidel.
April 20, 2009... Glen Dickson CBS' technology test pilot In his 33-year career at CBS, Bob Seidel has been on the leading edge of television technology, developing new equipment and processes that have set standards for the network and affiliates. ...

Fox Business Gets a New Look.(Fox News Network L.L.C)
April 20, 2009... By Glen Dickson Launches graphic-intensive studio with uptown views Fox Business Network will give viewers a brighter look at the world--or at least Midtown Manhattan--starting April 20, when it begins broadcasting from a new high-tech...

NBCU, Fox Tout AFD Progress.(NBC Universal Inc.)(Fox Entertainment Group Inc.)(active format description)
April 20, 2009... By Glen Dickson Downconversion technology gains traction with cable, satellite As they head to NAB, engineers from NBC Universal and Fox say they are happy with the industry's adoption of Active Format Description (AFD) technology. AFD...

Upfront Guessing Game: Fire Away.
April 20, 2009... By Claire Atkinson With ad pricing under pressure, pundits' predictions vary wildly Thanks largely to the battered economy, the annual spring rite of predicting the total upfront haul is as tough as it's ever been. But as always, that...

Analysts: Media Earnings to Remain Challenged.(NBC Universal Inc.)
April 20, 2009... By Claire Atkinson Quarterly results expected to reflect ongoing ad doldrums NBC Universal's first-quarter earnings last week set the stage for a series of media company results expected to reflect the continuing advertising slowdown....

NAB Tackles Tough Times.(National Association of Broadcasters)
April 20, 2009... By John Eggerton Economic troubles may have regulatory upside for group The National Association of Broadcasters has had a challenging last year or so, and still has plenty of work to help its members survive and thrive in tough times...

Bohrman Pushes Holograms, Pans Stephanopoulos.(David Bohrman)(George Stephanopoulos)
April 20, 2009... By Alex Weprin CNN Washington bureau chief talks tech before NAB David Bohrman, senior VP and Washington bureau chief for CNN, has helped bring innovations like the Magic Wall and holograms to his network. In advance of a panel he is...

Broadcasters Set Mobile DTV Test Markets.(Brief article)
April 20, 2009... By Glen Dickson Atlanta, Seattle stations begin broadcasts in May Atlanta and Seattle have been selected as official test markets for mobile digital television (DTV) as part of the Advanced Television Systems Committee's (ATSC) formal...

The Last Man Standing Finally Falls.(Column)
April 20, 2009... By Ben Grossman There is a good chance this will be my last column, being as it's hard to file from a jail cell, much less six feet underground. The wife, you see, informed me late last week that the in-laws were coming the next day to...

Sue Naegle's New Recipe for HBO.(Home Box Office Inc.)
April 27, 2009... By Melissa Grego Agent turned entertainment chief raises first-year crop of originals with new development process It's just a few weeks shy of a year since Sue Naegle made her big career shift when we meet for breakfast at the casual,...

Bad Times, Hard Choices.(Journal Broadcast Group)
April 27, 2009... Staff Journal Broadcasting's unaudited operating income for all of its 12 TV stations for the first quarter of 2009 was down more than 98% from last year's $3.6 million in Q1, which came before the economic meltdown. Even across-the-board...

Fates & Fortunes.(briefs)
April 27, 2009... Staff PROGRAMMING ESSIE CHAMBERS , VP, Nickelodeon Original Movies, has been named senior VP of original programming, BET. LARRY KLEIN , music producer, has been named showrunner, The Brian McKnight Show . ANDREW VREES , news...

Her Eye's on the Prize.(Jo Ann Ross)(Occupation overview)
April 27, 2009... By Claire Atkinson CBS sales chief Jo Ann Ross amasses respect along with ad dollars "Rap music fan" is probably not the descriptor one might associate with Jo Ann Ross, the industry's first female network sales chief. But she often...

Wonderfully Weird Austin.
April 27, 2009... By Michael Malone Business is down, but spirits are up Austin is a city where a little eccentricity isn't just tolerated--it's celebrated. "Keep Austin Weird" is a popular slogan around town. It's also the name of a festival and a 5K...

The Kids Are Alright.(Career development)
April 27, 2009... By Michael Malone College students remain hopeful at RTNDA despite dim job prospects Kayla Smith, a junior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, has envisioned a career in TV news since she was a little kid. She'd watch Today with her father,...

Off-Net Sitcoms See Spring Thaw.(Television syndication)
April 27, 2009... By Paige Albiniak Distributors consider opening sales for Christine, American Dad Spring may finally be upon the syndication business: Warner Bros. and Twentieth Television are strongly considering opening the market for two off-net...

Sources: Spike Nears 'Entourage' Deal.(deal closing between MTV Networks Inc. Spike TV and Home Box Office Inc.)
April 27, 2009... By Alex Weprin Sibling network Comedy Central likely to get a window Spike TV is closing in on a deal to acquire off-network cable rights to HBO's Entourage , according to people familiar with the negotiations. While details of...

ABC O&Os Launch Digital Network.(American Broadcasting Companies Inc. ABC Broadcast Group)
April 27, 2009... By Michael Malone Stations look to 'Live Well' on subchannels ABC's 10 owned stations will launch a new digital channel, Live Well HD Network, April 27 with three hours of daily original programming produced primarily by the stations...

Slower Upfront For Hispanic TV.(Television broadcasting)
April 27, 2009... By Claire Atkinson Spanish-language nets fight recession pressures After significant growth in recent years, the Hispanic television upfront marketplace is expected to end up flat or even down from last year, say industry observers....

NBC: Leno Top Marketing Priority.(National Broadcasting Company Inc.)(Brief article)
April 27, 2009... By Claire Atkinson Network eyeing flow with news properties Sorry, Conan O'Brien, but NBC says Jay Leno is its top marketing focus for 2009. "Leno is the single most important marketing priority of the year," says NBC...

'B&C' Recognized.(Broadcasting and Cable)(Brief article)
April 27, 2009... By Staff Editor Ben Grossman's Left Coast Bias column finalist for Mirror Award Broadcasting & Cable is among 29 finalists honored in six categories in the third annual Mirror Awards competition, sponsored by Syracuse University's...

This Is Gonna Hurt a Little Bit.(Personal account)
April 27, 2009... By Ben Grossman In general, I consider myself pretty unflappable. For instance, I haven't had a legitimate panic attack since 1995. And I don't know from angry grudges--even against, say, Northwestern University, which rejected my...

Warning: TV Content Controls on the Table.(television)(Federal Communications Commission)
April 27, 2009... By John Eggerton A new push by activist groups would allow viewers to block "objectionable" advertising material If some kids' activists get their way, the government will require broadcast and cable networks and stations to rate...

Sue Naegle's New Recipe for HBO.(Home Box Office Inc.)(Occupation overview)
April 27, 2009... By Melissa Grego Agent turned entertainment chief raises first-year crop of originals with new development process It's just a few weeks shy of a year since Sue Naegle made her big career shift when we meet for breakfast at the casual,...

Cerio to Head Cable Sales At WBDTD.(Tommy Cerio)(Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution)(Brief article)
April 27, 2009... By Paige Albiniak When Tommy Cerio, one of syndication's favorite sons, was tapped last week to be executive VP of cable sales at Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution and serve as WBDTD chief Ken Werner's top lieutenant, I was a...

Her Eye's on the Prize.(Occupation overview)
April 27, 2009... By Claire Atkinson CBS sales chief Jo Ann Ross amasses respect along with ad dollars 'Rap music fan' is probably not the descriptor one might associate with Jo Ann Ross, the industry's first female network sales chief. But she often...

Wonderfully Weird Austin.(South by Southwest )
April 27, 2009... By Michael Malone Business is down, but spirits are up Austin is a city where a little eccentricity isn't just tolerated-it's celebrated. 'Keep Austin Weird' is a popular slogan around town. It's also the name of a festival and a 5K...

The Kids Are Alright.
April 27, 2009... By Michael Malone College students remain hopeful at RTNDA despite dim job prospects Kayla Smith, a junior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, has envisioned a career in TV news since she was a little kid. She'd watch Today with her father,...

Sources: Spike Nears 'Entourage' Deal.(MTV Networks Inc. Spike TV to acquire Home Box Office Inc.)
April 27, 2009... By Alex Weprin Sibling network Comedy Central likely to get a window Spike TV is closing in on a deal to acquire off-network cable rights to HBO's Entourage , according to people familiar with the negotiations. While details of...

ABC O&Os Launch Digital Network.(American Broadcasting Companies Inc. ABC Broadcast Group)
April 27, 2009... By Michael Malone Stations look to 'Live Well' on subchannels ABC's 10 owned stations will launch a new digital channel, Live Well HD Network, April 27 with three hours of daily original programming produced primarily by the stations...

Slower Upfront For Hispanic TV.(television)
April 27, 2009... By Claire Atkinson Spanish-language nets fight recession pressures After significant growth in recent years, the Hispanic television upfront marketplace is expected to end up flat or even down from last year, say industry observers....

NBC: Leno Top Marketing Priority.(National Broadcasting Company Inc.)(Brief article)
April 27, 2009... By Claire Atkinson Network eyeing flow with news properties Sorry, Conan O'Brien, but NBC says Jay Leno is its top marketing focus for 2009. 'Leno is the single most important marketing priority of the year,' says NBC...

Warning: TV Content Controls on the Table.(television)
April 27, 2009... By John Eggerton A new push by activist groups would allow viewers to block 'objectionable' advertising material If some kids' activists get their way, the government will require broadcast and cable networks and stations to rate...