Broadcasting & Cable articles from November 2007

Broadcasting & Cable archives from November 2007

BC Beat.
November 5, 2007... By Staff Phony CSI Pamphlets: Obfuscation for Jesus Staff CSI: Palestine" screams the printed pamphlet with the familiar logo and yellow crime scene tape across the top. This is, however, not an ad for Anthony Zuicker 's latest,...

A Lot to Learn.(youth market of animated television programs)
November 5, 2007... By David Goetzl Reams of research turns kids TV into Preschool 101 In a sleek New York office, a confidential 210-page document serves as the key to what some believe will be the next breakout hit in pre-school programming: Super Why!...

Growing Up Fast.(growth of PBS Kids Sprout)
November 5, 2007... By Paige Albiniak Sprout marks 2nd year in 35m homes It's just two years old and PBS Kids Sprout, the 24/7 pre-schoolers' network spawned by PBS, Comcast, Sesame Workshop and HIT Entertainment, may be one of fastest growing cable...

Deals.
November 5, 2007... By BIA Financial Networks TV W68DY/Hattiesburg, Miss. PRICE: $9,000 BUYER: Anderson, Sylvester (Sylvester Anderson, owner) SELLER: Snyder, Vernon G. (Vernon Snyder III, owner) FACILITIES: Ch. 68, 2 kW RADIO ...

Capital Improvements.(KOVR-TV takesover KCRA-TV)
November 5, 2007... By Michael Malone KOVR plots takeover in Sacramento KCRA has long been the big dog in Sacramento, but the CBS-owned KOVR appears poised to stop that. With new news sets, overhauled sales operations and a revamped approach to...

Brittney's Second Act.(KPIX-TV (San Francisco, California) hires Brittney Gilbert)
November 5, 2007... By Michael Malone Pioneering WKRN blogger Gilbert heads to KPIX San Fran Brittney Gilbert, formerly the face of the progressive Web strategy at WKRN Nashville, is moving next week to the Bay Area to head up a new blog effort at KPIX....

Belo Corp. Ups Four.(appointments at A.H. Belo Corp. )(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... By Michael Malone Belo Corp. promoted four executives in its television department last week. Peter Diaz was named executive VP of television operations, Kathy Clements was named senior VP of television operations, Mike Devlin was named...

Time Running Out for Tribune.
November 5, 2007... By John Eggerton Exec says company needs FCC waivers to avoid unwinding deal If the Tribune Co. can't get the FCC to give it waivers of the newspaper-television cross-ownership rule in the next couple weeks, the $8.2 billion sale of...

How Much Will WGA Strike Hurt?(Writers Guild of America )
November 5, 2007... By Ben Grossman and Marisa Guthrie Writers want a piece of new-media money As the Writers Guild of America (WGA) prepared to go on strike at 12:01 a.m. Monday, two critical issues emerged: How long can the networks hold out? And how...

Hulu Hullabaloo.(National Broadcasting Company Inc., The News Corporation Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... By Anne Becker NBC and News Corp. launched their online video venture Hulu last week to a group of beta testers, who praised the site for its ease of use and advertising structure. But the group questioned its limitations on content, such...

U.S. Seeks Profanity Review.(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... By John Eggerton The Justice Department asked the Supreme Court last week to review a lower court's decision that the FCC failed to justify its crackdown on fleeting expletives in Fox's Billboard Awards show. The department said that,...

FBN's Kevin Magee Hits Back.(Fox Business Network)(Interview)
November 5, 2007... By Marisa Guthrie As the executive vice president of Fox Business Network, Kevin Magee oversees the channel's day-to-day operations. Like many people at the just-launched channel, Magee is a veteran of CNBC, cable's business news leader in...

Nielsen Gives Fuzzy Picture of HDTV Penetration.(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... By Glen Dickson Rating firm's numbers fall short of set-top, CEA figures Measurement giant Nielsen finally released estimates of high-definition-set penetration for both the United States and Local People Meter markets, and the numbers...

CBS Will Skip NATPE Convention.(National Association of Television Programming Executives )(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... By Paige Albiniak Just as Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution decided to come back to the National Association of Television Programming Executives show floor, CBS Television Distribution-which has incorporated King World...

IPTV Hits the Heartland.
November 5, 2007... By Glen Dickson While the efforts of large telephone companies like AT&T and Verizon to offer television service in major markets have been well-documented, small telcos serving rural areas are quietly embarking on a TV revolution of their...

Where to be and what to watch-.(Calendar)
November 5, 2007... By Michael Malone Monday, Nov. 5 Entering its 182nd year on the air, 60 Minutes is relevant as ever-even if that Sarkozy guy didn't see fit to stick around until the end of his interview. The Center for Communication offers 'What's...

Can a Strike Save TV?
November 5, 2007... By Ben Grossman Many people who work in the television industry right now might wonder why the industry hasn't taken a cue from WarGames , the 1983 Cold War drama where Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy almost blow up the world. The...

Show and Tell.
November 5, 2007... By Staff FCC Chairman Kevin Martin last week made a spectacularly rational proposal: Let's require stations to more fully tell the commission and the public just exactly how they are serving the public interest. To some broadcasters,...

When Competition Doesn't Quite Cut It.
November 5, 2007... By Harold Feld At its open meeting last week, the FCC took two steps to promote competition for video and voice services. First it banned exclusive contracts between providers and owners of 'multiple dwelling units' (MDUs), such as rental...

Fates & Fortunes.(appointments at Fuse, Tivo Inc., The Media Group.)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... By Staff Broadcast Staff Thomas MacArthur , general sales manager, WPFO Portland, has been promoted to president and GM. Cable Staff Lisa Swan , coordinator of affiliate marketing, The Sportsman Channel, has been...

Earley Rises With Fox.(Fox Broadcasting Co.)
November 5, 2007... By Ben Grossman Crafting the branding message for the Fox television network is no easy task. While its fare has always been edgy, even the ideas that didn't get on air-such as televising an empty jetliner crashing in a desert, and last...

Everything But Trebek.(CBS Broadcasting Inc.)
November 5, 2007... By Paige Albiniak New online 'Jeopardy!' a bonus for stations Harry Friedman, executive producer of CBS' Jeopardy! , has created a Web extension of the game designed to give TV stations that air the veteran quiz show a little more...

Verizon: 150 HD Channels in '08.(Verizon Communications Inc., DIRECTV Inc.)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... By Jonathan Hemingway Verizon Communications is taking on DirecTV in the arms race of high-definition channel expansion by promoting delivery of more than 150 channels by the end of 2008. Verizon plans to expand the number of HD...

BC Beat.
November 12, 2007... Edited By Joel Topcik 'Sarah Connor' Scribe Misses Own Party Joel Topcik Josh Friedman did not enjoy watching the World Series on Fox last month-and it had nothing to do with analyst Tim McCarver or any gratuitous Taco Bell...

Mobile TV Takes Flight.(television)
November 12, 2007... By Glen Dickson New broadcast digital TV standard could open UP markets A coalition of almost 800 local stations is working to bring live over-the-air broadcast TV to mobile television devices within a year. The broadcasting groups...

A Lot of Little Videos.
November 12, 2007... By David Goetzl Carriers and networks test mobile TV While so far mobile TV is an emerging market, the current writers' strike illustrates its potential. In fact, the emergence of new devices like video phones is a big reason there is...

Deals.(Cumulus Broadcasting Inc.)(WilTel Communications Group Inc.)
November 12, 2007... By BIA Financial Networks Radio WNZZ-AM/Montgomery, Ala.; KYNF-FM/Prairie Grove (Fayetteville), Ark.; WZBN-FM/Camilla (Albany), WMGB-FM/Montezuma (Macon), WNUQ-FM/Sylvester (Albany), WTYB-FM/Tybee Island (Savannah), Ga.; WTWR-FM/Luna...

Plotting a Direct Course.(DIRECTV Inc.)
November 12, 2007... By Jonathan Hemingway At the programming helm, Derek Chang steers DirecTV's strategy It should come as no surprise that DirecTV's charismatic programming chief Derek Chang was a coxswain for his rowing team in college. 'He's the guy...

Pack Mentality.
November 12, 2007... By Michael Malone In Green Bay, a winning team is good for business Only the most optimistic fans would've foreseen such a hot start for the Packers, and their success is something the whole of Green Bay can rally behind. Perhaps...

Strike? What Strike?(National Association of Television Program Executives)
November 12, 2007... By Paige Albiniak Game shows, 'hybrid' talk shows will fill syndication void Syndicators are hustling to get a flurry of first-run shows on the air come fall 2008. Major and independent studios have plenty in development as they...

Unsettling Times.(Writers Guild of America)
November 12, 2007... By Staff There is no business like show business, and as of Nov. 5, when the Writers Guild of America went on strike against the studios and networks, there has been virtually no business at all. The strike affects not only some of the...

Open Mike.
November 12, 2007... Staff Ownership Rules A Threat to Free Press Editor: Current media ownership rules threaten far more than Sam Zell's acquisition of Tribune ( 'Time Running Out for Tribune,' Nov. 5, p. 8). The rules undermine our Constitution and...

Cable Takes the Measure of C3.
November 12, 2007... By Anne Becker New metrics leave networks with options on how best to read the stats The threat of a prolonged strike wasn't the only issue bottlenecking the TV industry last week. Confusion pervaded another central concern: The...

More Stations Get Retrofitted.(Equity Broadcasting Corp.)(CBS Corp. CBS Television)
November 12, 2007... By Michael Malone With Retro Television Network (RTN), vintage TV goes digital Is the Fonz still cool with viewers nearly a quarter-century since Happy Days last aired? Apparently so, as numerous stations have signed up Retro...

Net Neutrality Back in Spotlight.
November 12, 2007... By John Eggerton Service providers' access-limiting practices put issue on front burner With broadband networks grabbing attention over text-messaging, content-blocking and traffic-limiting practices, the network neutrality issue is...

Where the Boys Are.(Twentieth Television)
November 12, 2007... By Paige Albiniak 'Family,' 'Men' pull in young males Bob Cook, president and chief operating officer of Twentieth Television, has three teenage sons, all of whom love Family Guy , Fox's animated sitcom that's had almost as many lives...

Why the Strike Will Be a Long One.(Writers Guild of America)
November 12, 2007... By Ben Grossman Hot issues and harsh words impede return to the bargaining table Don't expect the strike to end anytime soon. That is the word from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the Writers Guild of America...

DTV Boss Makes Early Transition.(United States. National Telecommunications and Information Administration)(digital television)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... By John Eggerton The head of the Bush Administration agency overseeing the digital-TV-to-analog converter-box-subsidy program is leaving the agency soon, only about six weeks before the launch of one of the most critical missions for the...

Fates & Fortunes.(appointments at the mass media industry)
November 12, 2007... By Staff Broadcast Staff Debra Martine Mcgaughy , director of public relations, Houston Community College Southeast, has joined HCCTV Houston as general manager. Derrall Stalvey , assistant news director, WATE Knoxville, has...

CBS News Writers Mull Strike; ABC Showdown Looms.(CBS Inc. CBS News., ABC News Inc.)
November 12, 2007... By Marisa Guthrie While thousands of drama and comedy writers hit the picket lines in New York and Los Angeles last week, 500 employees at CBS News represented by the Writers Guild of America East were preparing to take a strike vote of...

NBC Threatens To Lay Off Leno, Conan Non-Writers.(National Broadcasting Company Inc.)
November 12, 2007... By Ben Grossman NBC informed the nonwriting staff of The Tonight Show With Jay Leno that it will be laid off at the end of this week in the wake of the show shutting down for the writers' strike. With Leno refusing to cross the picket...

Stations Fear Glut of Reruns.(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... By Ben Grossman Faced with a slate of reruns and reality if the writers' strike persists, stations are making plans to produce original content to freshen up the mix. KHQ Spokane has specialized in local sports specials in the past, such...

'Nightline' May Gain From WGA Strike.
November 12, 2007... By Marisa Guthrie and John Eggerton The writers strike has condemned late night television to the rerun graveyard at a particularly inopportune time. But late night comedy's considerable losses may be Nightline 's gain. The ABC News...

Providence Equity May Bail on Clear Channel TV Buy.(Providence Equity Partners Inc., Clear Channel Communications Inc.)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... By Jonathan Hemingway Providence Equity Partners is mulling whether it will back out of a deal to buy Clear Channel Communications' television assets. A deal struck in April had Providence taking 56 television stations in 24 markets...

Senators Resist Quick Media Vote.(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... By John Eggerton FCC Chairman Kevin Martin got major pushback last week on a plan to vote on media ownership rules by the end of the year. At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, one of media consolidation's strongest critics, Sen....

Liberty's Starz Up.(Liberty Media Corp.)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... By Jonathan Hemingway Liberty Media, a holding company for Liberty Interactive and Liberty Capital, felt soft retail trends in its QVC unit during the third quarter, while operating income at its Starz Entertainment business jumped 98%....

CNN Names Brown's EP.(Cable News Network appoints Mitchell Semel as executive producer)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... By Staff Mitchell Semel, a former comedy-development executive at CBS and NBC, was tapped to be the executive producer for Campbell Brown's CNN show. Semel does not come from the ranks of news producers, although he has considerable...

Correction.(Correction notice)
November 12, 2007... By Staff A photo of the anchor team from WBAY Green Bay incorrectly ran in the Nov. 5 profile of the Sacramento market. B&C regrets the error.

Liberty With Content for All.(Liberty Media Corp., DIRECTV Inc.)(Interview)
November 12, 2007... By Staff Like a chameleon changing its colors, Liberty Media is becoming an owner and distributor of television content. The media company run by the cable pioneer John Malone is expected to close on its acquisition of a 38.4% stake of...

Where to be and what to watch-.(Calendar)
November 12, 2007... By Michael Malone Monday, Nov. 12 NBC Universal president/CEO Jeff Zucker and NBC Sports & Olympics chairman Dick Ebersol are feted at the Paley Center's annual gala at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. Al Michaels hosts...

Overseas Strike Out?
November 12, 2007... By Ben Grossman If the financial model for network television is broken, the lucrative international marketplace has served as a crutch helping to keep the mess on its feet. But the major studios are now getting downright petrified...

How Far Can Cable Stocks Fall?
November 19, 2007... By Jonathan Hemingway Declining subscriber rolls, satellite and telco competition, and threats of regulation sinkcable stocks Cable investors are sleeping like babies these days-they're more likely to wake up every few hours and cry....

Deals.(Greater Media Inc.)(Raycom Media Inc.)(Regent Communications Inc.)
November 19, 2007... By BIA Financial Networks TV WBTV TV/Charlotte, N.C.; WCSC TV/Charleston, S.C.; WWBT TV/Richmond, Va. PRICE: $583 million BUYER: Raycom Media (Paul McTear, president/CEO) SELLER: Lincoln Financial Media (Terry Stone,...

Log Rolling.
November 19, 2007... By Michael Malone Timber-and technology-keep Spokane growing It's a mix of old and new in Spokane. Venerable industries such as timber, agriculture and mining still drive the economy, while fresh sectors like high tech are playing a...

The Way It Was for Cronkite's Strike Sub.
November 19, 2007... By Marisa Guthrie So far, the WGA skirmish has had a discordant impact on television. But in 1967, when the industry was a three-network town, a strike by the America Federation of Television and Radio Artists, which represented on-air...

Ratings Bump from the Picket Line?
November 19, 2007... By Anne Becker Some cable networks are counter-programming in the hope strike fallout will lure viewers and drive revenue Reality-heavy cable networks are facing a unique marketing challenge. Many are quietly anticipating a ratings...

Standing United.(Directors Guild of America)
November 19, 2007... by John Eggerton and Ben Grossman WGA, SAG say directors' pact wouldn't hurt them Writers Guild of America West president Patric Verrone said last week that the WGA and the Screen Actors Guild will stand strong together even if the...

Cable Networks Redesign Sites.(Crown Media Holdings Inc. Hallmark Channel)(Lifetime Television Network)
November 19, 2007... By Anne Becker Hallmark, Lifetime, CourtTV using online to woo younger viewers At a time when the prolonged writers' strike is threatening to drive broadcast networks' viewers online, several cable channels, including Hallmark Channel,...

Avid Abandons NAB in '08.(National Association of Broadcasters)(Avid Technology Inc.)
November 19, 2007... By Glen Dickson Weary of 'shouting' at itscustomers on confab floor Hardware giant Avid Technology announced last week that it won't exhibit at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention in Las Vegas next spring. It will...

CBS Files to Dismiss Rather Lawsuit.(CBS Inc. CBS News)(Viacom Inc.)
November 19, 2007... By Marisa Guthrie CBS filed a motion to dismiss Dan Rather's $70 million lawsuit against the company. Calling the suit 'a regrettable attempt...to settle old scores and perceived slights,' the company filed its motion Thursday in New...

Obama Outlines Tech-Policy Agenda.
November 19, 2007... By John Eggerton If elected president, Barack Obama would appoint the nation's first chief technology officer, 'clarify the public-interest obligations of broadcasters who occupy the nation's spectrum' and help public broadcasting to...

ATAS Picks New Chairman.(Academy of Television Arts & Sciences)(Brief article)
November 19, 2007... By Ben Grossman The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences elected John Shaffner to take over as chairman and replace Dick Askin. Shaffner, an Emmy Award-winning production designer, was elected second vice chair in 2001 and has been...

Martin's Newspaper Clip Job.(Kevin Martin)(Newspaper Association of America)(Interview)
November 19, 2007... By Paige Albiniak On Dec. 18, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is set to hold a vote on the newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rules, which have been debated in Washington for more than 30 years. Under Martin's basic deregulatory proposal,...

Martin's Goal: Tweak Ownership Rules.(United States. Federal Communications Commission)(Kevin Martin)
November 19, 2007... By John Eggerton FCC chairman pushes for vote on plan that lifts some-but not all-limits FCC Chairman Kevin Martin pulled a neat trick last week in his showdown with media consolidation critics over the issue of revising ownership...

Where to be and what to watch-.(Calendar)
November 19, 2007... By Michael Malone Monday, Nov. 19 Thanksgiving is upon us, the time of year when we give thanks to the things that make us happy: centuries of peaceful pilgrim-Indian relations, pumpkin pie and, of course, Weeds . Showtime 's...

It's All Hot Air.(Survey)
November 19, 2007... By Ben Grossman Much has been made about which side is winning the public relations battle two weeks into the writers' strike. If you believe studies and most media reports, the Writers Guild is trouncing the Alliance of Motion Picture and...

What Is Television These Days?
November 19, 2007... By David Wolf What does the term 'television' actually mean? The definition of what constitutes TV is becoming increasingly blurred, as ambitious new entrants, new channels and new interactive capabilities flood the market. Some...

The Perplexing Chairman.(Kevin Martin)(United States. Federal Communications Commission)
November 19, 2007... By Staff There are plenty of reasons to criticize FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, ranging from his attacks on TV content to an almost Ahab-like determination to stick the harpoon of a la carte into the nearest cable leviathan. But his...

Fates & Fortunes.(Faith & Values Media)(PlowShare Group)(Sony Pictures Television)(Turner Network Sales)
November 19, 2007... By Staff CABLE Staff EMILIO BRAUN BURILLO , founder, Red W, has joined CaribeVision as executive VP. Also at CaribeVision, ENRIQUE DE LA CAMPA CORCUERA , head of business development and strategic planning, Grupo Pegaso, has...

Fast Riser.
November 19, 2007... By Allison Romano 'Today' anchor Natalie Morales is quickly making a name for herself at NBC News On any given morning, NBC Today show anchor Natalie Morales might deliver the day's top news, report from a disaster site or cook up...

Global Warming.
November 19, 2007... By Kevin Downey Golden Globes have a way of spotting hot TV shows Give a few dozen journalists from faraway places like Colombia and Tahiti ballots to choose the best television shows and actors in America, and you're bound to get...

Motherly Love.(Warner Bros.)(MomLogic.com)
November 19, 2007... By Paige Albiniak Warner Bros. launches MomLogic Website In its latest effort to meld Web and TV content-and make some money in the process-Warner Bros. Television Group last week unveiled its new mom-focused portal, MomLogic.com . The...

'Early Show' Clear on HDTV, Fuzzy on DTV.(High definition television)(digital television)
November 26, 2007... Edited By Joel Topcik With the transition to digital broadcasting only 15 months away, legislators have been pushing broadcasters to make sure viewers get the information they need. And consumer advocates are keeping an eye on makers of...

Great View: HD Offerings Climb.(High definition television)
November 26, 2007... By Anne Becker Cable networks find the economic upside of pleasing viewers and operators with more hi-def For the cable industry, adding high-definition TV is no longer just a matter of cost versus building revenue. Networks now accept...

HDTV Set Sales to Soar.(High definition television)
November 26, 2007... By David Goetzl Demand fuels discounts, choices Acouple of weeks ago, Steve Rosen stood in front of a mammoth wall as a range of startling images beamed out over the Norwalk, Conn., Best Buy store where he's a supervisor. There above...

'Tis the Season for HD Bargains.(High definition television)
November 26, 2007... By Greg Tarr Lower prices across formats will leave consumers king In the time between last week's Black Friday and the coming Super Sunday (Feb. 3), bargains in the high-definition market will remain as sure a thing as the New England...

Who's Got the Best HD?(DirecTV filed a suit against Cox Communications)(High definition television)
November 26, 2007... By Jonathan Hemingway Cable, Satellite, Telcos Claim Top Picture, Channel Selection As the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear and Americans add high-definition television sets to their wish lists, viewers will be awash in...

Wider World of HD.(EchoStar Communications Corp. offers 15 channels)(high-definition )(Brief article)
November 26, 2007... By Staff In the high-definition arms race, distributors push to add new HD channels when programmers make them available. A total of 68 national cable networks, including premium services, have launched so far. DirecTV's boast of 70 or...

Tech Hurdles Remain for Digital Switch.
November 26, 2007... By Glen Dickson and John Eggerton Broadcasters, Operators Haggle Over 'Downconvert' Details The switch to digital TV coming Feb. 18, 2009, was sold to Washington policymakers in part on the promise of those ultra-sharp HD pictures. But...

Who's Really Watching HDTV?(High definition television)
November 26, 2007... By Glen Dickson Set research yields more confusion than clarity In the nine years since the first high-definition TV sets hit store shelves, most things HD have gotten easier. Production and transmission equipment have gotten cheaper...

Deals.
November 26, 2007... By BIA Financial Network TV KECY-TV/El Centro& KDFX-CA/Indio, CALIF. PRICE: $2 million BUYER: News-Press & Gazette Co. (David Bradley,president) SELLER: Pacific Media Corp. (James Everett, vicepresident) FACILITIES:...

FCC Set to Clamp Down on Cable.
November 26, 2007... By John Eggerton In a letter sent last week to the FCC, four major media leaders strongly cautioned FCC Chairman Kevin Martin on his notion of claiming more control over the cable industry than the commission now assumes. News Corp.'s...

Warner Bros.Handles Hunt; 20th in Session.(Brief article)
November 26, 2007... By Paige Albiniak Warner Bros. has cleared The Bonnie Hunt Show in more than 75% of the country for next fall, the syndicator said. The one-hour daytime strip is cleared in 17 of the top 20 markets. Stations signing on include nine outlets...

Strike Update: Guarded Optimism.(CBS Corp.)(Warner Bros.)(Walt Disney Co. Walt Disney Studios)
November 26, 2007... By Marisa Guthrie Resumption of talks a step toward ending stoppage As the writers and studios/networks prepared to resume formal talks on Monday, the mood in Hollywood was hopeful, but realistic. Heads of the top talent agencies...