Broadcasting & Cable articles from March 2006

Broadcasting & Cable archives from March 2006

Four A"s Gives Television an F.(American Association of Advertising Agencies conference)(television advertising)
March 6, 2006... By Anne Becker Lack of ad measurement is driving advertisers to other platforms The nation's largest advertising agencies blasted TV networks for their lack of accountability and warned that new- media alternatives will continue to...

Watching the Commercials.(Stacey Lynn Koerner of Interpublic Group of Companies Inc.)(Brief Article)(Interview)
March 6, 2006... By Anne Becker Stacey Lynn Koerner on the TV ads of tomorrow Formerly an executive VP at Initiative, Stacey Lynn Koerner was recently named president of Interpublic Media's yet-to-be-titled 'consumer-experience practice.' She spoke to...

Fall Prediction: No Big Spenders.
March 6, 2006... By John M. Higgins A sluggish economy, advertisers' annoyance over cost, and new-media alternatives may mean a flat upfront Each fall, viewers get a sparkling new season of TV: an inevitable raft of reality shows, sitcoms and, this...

Capital Gains.
March 6, 2006... By Anne Becker Techie city boasts healthy station competition In Austin, the capital of the Lone Star State, ABC affiliate KVUE is the market leader, boasting The Oprah Winfrey Show , Entertainment Tonight , Sex and the City and...

Fast Track.(NBC Universal Inc. signed a contract with Galan Entertainment)(Program Partners Crime Watch market share)(CBS Broadcasting Inc. retransmission-consent deals )
March 6, 2006... By Staff AP, MSN Roll Out Video Service John Eggerton The AP and MSN on March 1 launched a breaking-news video service to 450 member Web sites that have signed on so far. The service debuted with great fanfare, feeding a...

Disney"s Shopping "Housewives".(Walt Disney Co.'s price for Desperate Housewives)
March 6, 2006... By John M. Higgins/Jim Benson Walt Disney Co. is hoping cable networks will be desperate for a bona fide hit. It is asking a rich price for cable rights to ABC hit Desperate Housewives : $1.2 million per episode. Disney unit Buena...

Flash!
March 6, 2006... Edited by Joel Topcik Gore: Still Slaying "Em in Florida Staff I'm Al Gore , and I used to be the next President of the United States.' Stop! 'I'm on step nine on the road to becoming a recovering politician.' No,...

Newsmags in Trouble.
March 6, 2006... By J. Max Robins Among 25- to 54-year-olds, the key news demo, a measly 3.4 million have been watching that edition, and only 2.9 million on average in that group have watched the Sunday edition lately. Of course, the folks at NBC News...

Throw the Book at "Em.(Brief Article)
March 6, 2006... By Staff What has the cast of The Sopranos been doing during those looooong stretches of hiatus? Putting pen to paper, apparently. About a dozen books are credited to Sopranos cast members (with a little help from ghostwriters and...

CW, My Network TV Win Affils.(distribution of services)
March 6, 2006... By Allison Romano As they race toward their Sept. 5 debuts, The CW and My Network TV have fired their latest shots in the battle to sign up affiliates. The CW, already ahead in distribution, recruited five new stations. But My Network TV...

Will Reality Spring Back?(reality television programs ratings)(television broadcasting industry)
March 6, 2006... By Ben Grossman Apprentice , Amazing Race off to sluggish starts Will Reality Spring Back? Apprentice , Amazing Race off to sluggish starts By Ben Grossman While American Idol 's audition stage has come and gone, March kicks off a...

Hearst Plots Future.(Terry Mackin of Hearst-Argyle Television Inc.)(Interview)
March 6, 2006... By Staff Few people have felt the recent market gyrations of local TV more than Terry Mackin. As Executive VP of Hearst-Argyle Television and Chairman of the NBC affiliate board, Mackin's main objective is to grow ratings and revenue in an...

Washington Watch.
March 6, 2006... By John Eggerton Third Prize Is, You're Fired! John Eggerton New NAB President David Rehr has begun instituting a strategy to turn the annual State Leadership Conference in Washington into a group 'issues' effort to lobby...

Where to be and what to watch...(television programs)
March 6, 2006... By Michael Malone Monday, March 6 It's Spring Cable Week , and cable operators are on top of the world-or darn-near close to it. The New York chapter of the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) is throwing...

Open Mike.(Letter to the Editor)
March 6, 2006... By Staff Public-Interest Regulations Need FCC Approval, Too Editor: I agree that over two years is too long a wait for new rules that will clarify local broadcasters' role in the competitive video marketplace ['The FCC Crawl,'...

Pay To Play.(retransmission consent agreements)(television broadcasting industry)
March 6, 2006... By Staff When Don Ohlmeyer still ran NBC's West Coast Entertainment department, the network would issue a weekly ratings report boasting it was the No. 1 cable network. Ohlmeyer explained that, since most people get broadcast stations...

Fates & Fortunes.(Bill Hoffman as a vice president of WSB Atlanta)(Shawn Bartelt appointed by WFTV/WRDQ Orlando)(Craig Nichols promoted to general manager of KOB San Diego)
March 6, 2006... By Melanie M. Clarke Broadcast TV Staff Bill Hoffman , VP/general manager, WFTV/WRDQ Orlando, Fla., becomes VP/general manager, WSB Atlanta. Shawn Bartelt , director, sales, WSOC/WAXN Charlotte, N.C., tapped as VP/general...

More Than a Numbers Cruncher.(Dunia Shive of A.H. Belo Corp.)
March 6, 2006... By Allison Romano Belo's new president of media operations adds it all up When Jack Sander, Belo Corp.'s former president of media operations, met Dunia Shive for the first time, he was amazed to learn that she had never worked in a...

Obituaries.(Darren McGavin, Dennis Weaver, Don Knotts )(Obituary)
March 6, 2006... By Staff Don Knotts died Feb. 25 of pulmonary and respiratory complications in Beverly Hills. He was 81. Knotts was best-known for his role as the nervous and bumbling deputy Barney Fife in the TV series The Andy Griffith Show , which...

Still on a Roll.(revenue is increased for radio and television stations which are targeted hispanics)
March 6, 2006... By Mark R. Fratrik Dollars adding up for Hispanic TV/radio The recent announcement that Univision is putting itself up for sale-and the list of list of potential suitors-is yet another indication of the attractiveness of Hispanic...

Marketers Still Don"t Get It.(television broadcasting industry's hispanic marketing)
March 6, 2006... By George Winslow New study says Hispanic youth think U.S advertisers don't connect Nearly four-fifths (79%) of 14- to 34-year-old Hispanics cannot identify a brand that accurately targets young Latinos, according to a major new study...

The School for Success.(Telemundo Group Inc. workshop for selecting writers)
March 6, 2006... By Magaly Morales How a Cuban laborer became a star telenovela writer Whether good writers are born or made, none go far without learning some lessons about how to nurture the craft. This principle is particularly true in the...

How Hot Is Univision?(Univision Communications Inc. market share)
March 6, 2006... By Wayne Friedman It owns the market, and the market is on fire Univision is still in one of those rare dominant industry-leading positions in media, akin to what the U.S. English-language broadcasting networks were in the 1960s and...

My Network TV Courting Affiliates.(News Corp. and Twentieth Television joint venture to aims redefine television network)
March 6, 2006... By Jim Benson News Corp.'s new venture aims to redefine the TV network In unveiling My Network TV and its ambitious plan for two hours of original strip programming in prime starting in September, News Corp. described it as the network...

Local Broadcasters Make the HD Leap.(with the prices of high definition television equipment coming down, cable television industry providing high definition services)
March 6, 2006... By Glen Dickson Gannett emerges as a leader of a handful of affiliates that get the big picture With HD equipment costs coming down to standard-definition prices and the HD audience growing, local stations are going high-def. ...

Ad Trackers Spot the Spots.
March 13, 2006... By Anne Becker Networks shell out to boost accountability Networks and agencies are increasingly calling on a handful of companies that help verify whether ads actually run. At a time when accountability is all the rage in TV and...

Phonezilla!(telcos entry into cable industry's business allowed)
March 13, 2006... By John M. Higgins AT&T, BellSouth deal creates a giant, but cable isn't scared Just three days after cutting a $67 billion deal to buy BellSouth last week, AT&T Chairman Ed Whitacre got a precious gift from Washington. Key...

Deals.
March 13, 2006... By BIA Financial Networks TVs KYAV(LP) Palm Springs, Calif. PRICE: $1.55 million BUYER: U-Dub Productions LLC (Dave Rennie, CFO) SELLER: JDF Investment Co. (Sim Farar, managing member) FACILITIES: Ch. 12, 0.99 kW,...

Slow and Steady.(Little Rock, Arkansas and Louisville, Kentucky)
March 13, 2006... By Allison Romano Little Rock grows despite few sexy sectors Growth in Little Rock, Ark., isn't flashy, but it's growth nonetheless. Covering 35 counties, the No. 57 Nielsen market is home to the state capitol and the new Clinton...

Networks Seeing Stars.(attracting best acting talent)
March 13, 2006... By Jim Benson Pilot season a boon for A-list names, and a few fresh faces Networks are increasing their spending and pursuing top talent more aggressively this pilot season than in years past, according to producers, casting executives...

Fast Track.(Bravo Cable Network buys Six Feet Under)(management shakeup at QTV Management)(Comcast Corp. to buy E! Entertainment Television)
March 13, 2006... By John M. Higgins Deal would bolster cable operator's position in programming Comcast in Talks To Buy E! John M. Higgins Cable giant Comcast Corp. is in talks to buy the remaining stake it doesn't own in E! Entertainment...

Flash!(Chuck Lorre criticizes Donald Trump)(Michael Davis' planned book Street Gang)(Learning Channel's new slogan 'Live and Learn')
March 13, 2006... Edited by P.J. Bednarski The Trump Bump Feels Good This Time P.J. Bednarski It's not just Donald Trump versus Martha Stewart . It turns out The Apprentice front man has yet another enemy in the TV business. Veteran producer...

Tribune Teams With The Tube To Offer Music.(Tribune Broadcasting Co. to launch Tube Music Network service)
March 13, 2006... By Allison Romano Tribune Broadcasting Co. will launch The Tube Music Network music-video service on its stations' digital broadcast channels this summer, marking the company's first foray into digital multicasting. Tribune cut a deal...

The Distribution Derby.(CW Television Network and ACME Communications in partnership)(My Network TV signs deals)
March 13, 2006... By Allison Romano The CW, My Network TV sign up key partners The CW network closed a key deal with station group ACME Communications last week, as well as individual affiliation pacts with 10 other stations. In the process, it moved...

NBC U"s Digital Chief.(Beth Comstock)(Interview)
March 13, 2006... By Anne Becker NBC Universal's deal to buy female-focused Internet portal iVillage for $600 million in cash gives the company a new way to reach women, while also providing NBC a way to further cross-promote its shows. Beth Comstock,...

Industry Rates Nielsen Sale.(VNU acquired by private equity companies)
March 13, 2006... By Staff TV, ad execs wary of $9 billion takeover of Nielsen parent VNU TV, ad execs wary of $9 billion takeover of Nielsen parent VNU Dutch media company VNU, parent of Nielsen Media Research, last week accepted an $8.9 billion...

'Las Vegas' Blasted at FCC.
March 13, 2006... By John Eggerton and Ben Grossman FCC indecency complaints for first quarter 2006 are expected to at least triple the number for fourth quarter 2005, thanks to a campaign against NBC drama Las Vegas . By the FCC's count, it had...

Where to be and what to watch...(television programs)
March 13, 2006... By Michael Malone Monday, March 13 Notice a little extra sun poking through today? Yes, winter's almost over. And it's Sunshine Week : an industry-wide effort by the news media to alert the public to their right to access...

Memo to the News Networks.
March 13, 2006... By Danny Schechter To: Executives at News Networks From: Former network producer Danny Schechter Re: Third-anniversary coverage of the war in Iraq Thanks for inviting me as a former network news producer turned media critic to...

Roses and Thorns.(Radio-Television News Directors Foundation First Amendment Awards)
March 13, 2006... By Staff The Radio-Television News Directors Foundation First Amendment Awards dinner in Washington last week served as one of those reminders that it takes smart and dedicated men and women to make the news business work both as a...

Fates & Fortunes.
March 13, 2006... By Melanie M. Clarke Broadcast TV Melanie M. Clarke Mike Shippey , local sales manager, KQCA Sacramento, Calif., named national sales manager, WKBD Detroit. Paul Grove , VP, national programming and production, WEDU Tampa,...

Sale Plays Matchmaker Again.(Lori Sale of International Creative Management Inc.)
March 13, 2006... By Ben Grossman ICM's new brand guru has a knack for creating perfect pairs Lori Sale likes putting people together. Twice, she has introduced couples who have gone on to get married, and she has come close with some others. And...

ABC Seeks Second-Generation HD.(high definition television)
March 13, 2006... By Glen Dickson For ABC, HDTV is old news. The network's priority at NAB is replacing the first-generation 720-line progressive-scan (720p) HD playback gear that it installed at its New York broadcast center back in 1998 to launch HD...

Clear Channel Seeks a Dialogue.
March 13, 2006... By Stewart Schley It has little to do with traditional ways of distributing pictures and sound. Instead, DeClue is convinced viewer interactivity will be important. So, at NAB, he'll be looking for creative ideas to support a...

Keep It Simple, Suppliers!(CNN planning to high definition transition)
March 13, 2006... By Ken Kerschbaumer The HD transition will be top of mind for CNN staffers at NAB, especially with vendors like Sony, Grass Valley and Panasonic all offering viable HD field-acquisition formats. But CNN isn't just looking at the quality of...

ESPN Eyes Future Upgrades Today.
March 13, 2006... By Ken Kerschbaumer Gear for ESPN's new Los Angeles facility and eventual expansion of the just-built tech complex in Bristol, Conn., are just two of the items that will keep ESPN VP of Technology Planning Jim Servies and his crew busy at...

Shopping Vegas, Thinking Houston.(Fox Networks' new facility)
March 13, 2006... By Glen Dickson Fox Networks' major technology project over the next two years will be building a 150,000-square-foot, high-definition broadcast facility in Houston to serve as a national base for its 15 regional sports networks. With...

In the Family Way.(Family Friendly Programming Forum)
March 13, 2006... By Kevin Downy Quietly, ad coalition continues to push wholesome series The Family Friendly Programming Forum launched in 1998 with a fairly straightforward goal: to persuade the broadcast networks to put on more prime time programs...

Shopping in High Gear.(NAB 2006)(Brief Article)
March 13, 2006... By Staff The theme of NAB 2006 tells the story: 'Immediate Education, Immediate Inspiration, Immediate Innovation.' That is the new world of media: It's happening instantly . The industry has always moved fast, but never before has...

What Children Teach Their Parents.(ads targeting children)
March 13, 2006... By Kevin Downey Advertisers tap into kids' clout on moms' and dads' buying decisions Networks targeting kids and teens have been whacked in recent years by a slowdown in advertising from core categories such as toys and certain types...

NBC Will Gear Up for More HD.(high definition)
March 13, 2006... By Glen Dickson HD production gear and advanced compression technology will be top of mind for NBC Universal. The NFL returns to NBC this fall on Sunday nights, and telecasts will be in high-def. Also, by this fall, the Today show will be...

Sinclair Just Kicking the Tires.(Sinclair Broadcast Group to embrace high definition technology)
March 13, 2006... By Ken Kerschbaumer Del Parks, Sinclair Broadcast Group VP of engineering and operations, and his team of five Sinclair engineers will head out to Las Vegas without a major shopping list. Mainly, Sinclair is upgrading its current Avid...

Tribune Tries Video Squeeze Play.(Tribune Broadcasting Co.)
March 13, 2006... By Stewart Schley By Glen Dickson By Stewart Schley Moving digital video files to its TV stations more efficiently will top the technology wish list for Tribune Broadcasting Co. at the NAB. Chief Technology Officer Ira Goldstone...

"Geraldo" Pounds the Pavement.(Geraldo at Large)
March 13, 2006... By Ben Gross Hitting the road spells higher ratings Twentieth Television executives are focusing on boosting ratings for Geraldo at Large . Following the old-school television strategy of going local, Twentieth has taken the show on...

FCC's Full Frontal AssaultAssault on TV.
March 20, 2006... By John Eggerton Record fines point to a stricter FCC In a single stroke that has television's creative community seething, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin gave notice that his agency will clean up the...

Deals.
March 20, 2006... By BIA Financial Networks TVs KADF(LP) Austin, Texas PRICE: $1.5 million BUYER: Una Vez Mas LLC (Randy Nonberg, president) SELLER: Shaffer Communications Group Inc. (Joseph Shaffer, president) FACILITIES : Ch....

FLASH!
March 20, 2006... Edited by P.J. Bednarski It's KRZY!: CW Starts Call-Letter Frenzy Staff Call it Extreme Makeover: Station Edition . As affiliates sign up with The CW or My Network TV , station managers are frantically plotting to rebrand...

Full-Court Press.
March 20, 2006... By Allison Romano Market as competitive as March Madness Unlike many midsize markets, where one station dominates for decades, the leader title is up for grabs in Louisville, Ky. Belo Corp.'s ABC affiliate WHAS is the long-time news...

FAST TRACK.(Universal Music International along with EchoStar Communications Corp. introduces new channel)(Discovery Communications Inc. and National Broadcasting Company Inc. in partnership to telecast program for kids)(Cartoon Network to telecast animated cartoon)
March 20, 2006... By Staff Music Channel Ready To Rock John M. Higgins Universal looks to challenge MTV Record company Universal Music is in talks with EchoStar Communications Corp. to create a challenger to MTV called International Music...

Comcast-Disney Fight Simmers.
March 20, 2006... By John M. Higgins Carriage beyond TV leads long list of issues Comcast's effort to buy Walt Disney Co.'s share of E! Entertainment is generating buzz but is really a sideshow to the broader talks about cable operators' carriage of...

Sneak Peek at Network Development.
March 20, 2006... By Jim Benson and Ben Grossman NBC goes multi-platform, but other networks are wary As ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson prepared for the annual ritual of network fall development presentations last week, he seemed hesitant...

Married to the Mob.
March 20, 2006... By J. Max Robins Generally, I'm a 60 Minutes fan, but the opening segment of the March 12 edition of the newsmag was a glaring example of what happens when deals are cut for exclusive access and long-harbored hard feelings get in the...

Sinclair Rethinks News Mission.(television station revamps its service strategy)
March 20, 2006... By Allison Romano Station group will revamp its controversial centralized service Sinclair will eliminate newscasts on all of its WB stations by the end of the month, including those in Milwaukee, Tampa., Fla., and Buffalo, N.Y....

Kellner Bets on CW.(Kellner, Jamie,The CW Television Network)
March 20, 2006... By Allison Romano As The CW and Fox's My Network TV prepare to launch this fall, veteran TV executive Jamie Kellner is watching closely. An early architect of Fox Broadcasting and founder of The WB, he understands the challenges of...

AOL Unveils Video Service: Reruns.(America Online Inc.)
March 20, 2006... By Anne Becker Late to the game, Internet giant vows to catch up Time Warner's AOL launched a broadband video Web site, In2TV, last week, hoping to be a contender in the online-video business with reruns such as Growing Pains . ...

SURFING.(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... By Anne Becker SCRIPPS JUMPS INTO BATH Anne Becker Scripps Jumps Into Bath Scripps is set to launch HGTV BathDesign, the second of 10 planned broadband channels associated with its cable networks, at the end of April. The...

Where to be and what to watch...(Calendar)
March 20, 2006... By Michael Malone Monday, March 20 The NAB Futures Summit is under way in Pebble Beach , Calif., as broadcast professionals get a crash course in emerging technologies from forward thinkers like Brightcove 's Jeremy Allaire and CBS...

The Three C's of the Digital Age.(choice, convenience, and control to satisfy a customer)
March 20, 2006... By Randy Falco We hear a lot of talk about the endless benefits to the consumer of our new digital age. This is the era of the three C's: choice, convenience, and control. If you ask consumers what is important to them, they'll tell...

Clear as Mud.(United States. Federal Communications Commission)
March 20, 2006... By Staff The Federal Communications Commission said last week's package of indecency findings gives broadcasters a clearer sense of what is and isn't indecent. Hardly. The rulings instead extend the same confusing patchwork of...

Fates & Fortunes.(apointments)
March 20, 2006... By Melanie M. Clarke Broadcast TV Staff Sandra Gehring , VP, marketing and research, Emmis Television stations, Orlando, Fla., named to the new role of corporate director, marketing and promotion, Weigel Broadcasting Co.,...

Spike Boss Has a Sharp Eye for Hits.(Kevin Kay )
March 20, 2006... By Anne Becker Kay made his bones writing cue cards for Carson Kevin Kay has found himself behind the scenes in television since he was a kid. The Spike TV bigwig got his start working for a teleprompter service owned by his...

They Won't Grow Up.(Baby Boom Generation)
March 20, 2006... By Kevin Downey For this generation there's life after 18-49 and even after 25-54 Baby boomers aren't quietly shuffling off into old age. The oldest of them--the ones born in 1946--turn 60 this year, but boomers are putting a new...

The Tag-Along Generation.
March 20, 2006... By Kevin Downey Networks don't target middle-aged viewers, but they get them anyway American television is obsessed with serving young adult viewers because that's whom most advertisers want to reach. But the 77 million baby boomers...

The Boomer Hit Parade.(television networks targeting baby boomers)(Table)
March 20, 2006... By Kevin Downey A PEEK AT NETWORKS, PROGRAMS THEY WATCH Kevin Downey Shows with a median age 50 and above in fourth quarter 2005, as compiled by Magna Global's Steve Sternberg Program Network Age...

Still Rockin' in Wisconsin.
March 20, 2006... By Jim Benson With help from FX, That '70s Show posts sky-high numbers No joke--the most dramatic year-to-year ratings increase in syndication belongs to a comedy. Carsey-Werner's off-network That '70s Show , being sold for its second...

TECH BRIEFS.(tracking technology )(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... By Glen Dickson Indy Cars Adopt NASCAR Technology Staff Coverage of auto racing's IndyCar Series on ABC and ESPN will soon feature the same Sportvision car-tracking technology that NASCAR broadcasts have used for years....

High Hurdles in Digital-TV Race.
March 20, 2006... By Glen Dickson With deadline ahead, television industry assesses nagging issues Consumer-electronics manufacturers, broadcasters and legislators descended on Washington last week for the Consumer Electronics Association's...

Wisconsin Wise Guys Plot TV Takeover.
March 27, 2006... By Michael Malone Ex-Onion writers shake up A tired comedy landscape Jon Stewart's deadpan delivery as host of the Oscars gave America a taste of the tart satire on display most nights on Comedy Central. At one point, he noted that the...

Deals.(Public notice)
March 27, 2006... By BIA Financial Networks TVs W53CC Milwaukee PRICE: $1.35 million BUYER: Bustos Media Enterprises LLC (Amador Bustos, president/CEO) SELLER: MS Communications LLC (Mark Silberman, president) FACILITIES: Ch. 38, 35 kW...

A News War Brews.(news broadcasters market)
March 27, 2006... By Staff Stations jostle for the top in fierce battle over ratings There's more than beer brewing in Milwaukee. Local TV stations are in a fierce battle, with no clear winner. Perennial news leader WTMJ, a Journal Broadcasting-owned...

Countdown for Daytime Voters.(Annual Daytime Emmys Awards 2006)
March 27, 2006... By Kevin Downey Emmy Awards will be handed out a month from now The voting period for the 33rd Annual Daytime Emmys Awards is ticking down as the organizers continue their aggressive push to bring relevancy-and ratings-back to the...

Fast Track.(National Broadcasting Company Inc)
March 27, 2006... By Ben Grossman and Allison Romano Show could follow Today, have local component NBC Plans Daytime Talker Staff The NBC Universal Television Stations group is developing a daytime talk show for its stations that could be a...

Carter Dishes on 'Zippy,' 'Purple Steve'.(Bill Carter's Desperate Networks )
March 27, 2006... Edited by Joel Topcik When New York Times reporter Bill Carter 's hotly anticipated book on the TV industry comes out this spring, don't expect to see NBC Universal exec Jeff Zucker lining up for a signed copy at the book party. ...

CBS Braces for Cable Showdown.
March 27, 2006... By John M. Higgins Moonves wants retrans fees for his stations, but can he deliver? CBS chief Leslie Moonves is giving station owners something to cheer about in the war between cable operators and broadcasters over carriage of...