Broadcasting & Cable articles from September 2006

Broadcasting & Cable archives from September 2006

Fall Harvest.(television broadcasting industry)
September 4, 2006... By Ben Grossman Critics pick most-promising rookies of the season Where last fall produced few hits, television critics say the broadcast networks this season have found the right combination of writers, characters and actors to...

For the first time in years The Peacock Is Strutting.(National Broadcasting Company Inc.)
September 4, 2006... By Ben Grossman But can NBC live up to the hype? We got trouble, right here at NBC, with a capital T and that rhymes with G, as in 'Gee, we're screwed!'" Those words, set to a tune from the Broadway musical The Music Man , were...

Character Blogs Connect.(Weblogs help market programs)
September 4, 2006... By Michael Malone TV-show Weblogs provide unique marketing opportunity and draw viewers With the third-season premiere of ABC blockbuster Grey's Anatomy set for Sept. 21, the writing crew is busy hammering out final storylines and...

Hostage Centanni Speaks.(Steve Centanni)(Olaf Wiig )(Interview)
September 4, 2006... By John M. Higgins The Fox News reporter details his Palestinian kidnapping nightmare During their 13 days as hostages of Palestinian kidnappers, Fox News correspondent Steve Centanni and cameraman Olaf Wiig kept reminding themselves...

Flash!(Hubbard Broadcasting and DirecTV sign deal)(Conan O'Brien performance at the Emmy Awards)(marketing campaign of Moosejaw Mountaineering)
September 4, 2006... Edited by Joel Topcik Hubbard's Secret Satellite Weapon Staff Now we know why the clan of venerable broadcaster Stanley S. Hubbard is suddenly so busy in the cable business: Time is running out. After years of stalled cable...

The Best Show on TV.(The Wire)
September 4, 2006... By J. Max Robins The Wire , perhaps the only police drama that truly deserves to be called "gritty," begins its fourth season on HBO next Sunday. Let me be the first to begin the campaign for a fifth. A nuanced portrait of urban Baltimore,...

MNT's Ratings Dilemma.(MyNetworkTV)
September 4, 2006... By Jim Benson No overnight info for startup's strips MyNetworkTV (MNT) debuts Tuesday, but it will be more than a week before the TV industry knows how well the startup network is doing in the Nielsen ratings. The network is the...

Fast Track.(market shares in the cable television broadcasting industry)(National Broadcasting Company Inc. NBC Sports launches web site)(Brent Bozell leaves Parents Television Council )
September 4, 2006... By Anne Becker Summer Scorecard Staff Ad-supported cable grows, broadcast loses No matter the buzz for YouTube and other Internet video sites this summer, Americans still love the boob tube. Summer primetime viewing was right...

Bragging Rights.(Emmy Awards)
September 4, 2006... By Jim Benson What's the etiquette of promoting Emmy wins? What's the shelf-life of a self-congratulatory promo for a Primetime Emmy-winning show? That's what networks are trying to figure out as they begin to rush out those spots...

Murphy's Law: More Sex for 'Nip'.(Ryan Murphy)(Nip/Tuck )(Interview)
September 4, 2006... By Anne Becker Getting a facelift for each new season is a must for FX's Nip/Tuck . The racy plastic-surgery drama is back for a fourth season. Logging a healthy 3.9 million total viewers and 2.7 million adults 18-49 last year, the Golden...

Behind the Cultural Clean-Up.(Frederick Lane )(Interview)
September 4, 2006... By John Eggerton Author Frederick Lane takes aim at the crackdown on indecency Author and attorney Frederick Lane has served as an expert witness on the issue of online pornography for public defenders and the Justice Department,...

Where to be and what to watch...
September 4, 2006... By Michael Malone Monday, Sept. 4 I left my heart -- in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan ? Yes, velvety vocal stylist Tony Bennett turns up on Canadian Idol , as an episode dedicated to Bennett's oeuvre airs in the Great White North tonight....

Let Broadcasters Be Free.
September 4, 2006... By James H. Quello Broadcasters need help. The government must assure the future maintenance of television and radio's expensive but vital emergency, local-news and community services. Some may consider my endorsement of the open...

Labored Days.
September 4, 2006... By Staff There has been a flurry of union activity in the industry recently, and it's hard not to think of that as we return from celebrating Labor Day. In our business, that's a holiday that also signals the beginning of the new...

Fates & Fortunes.
September 4, 2006... By Melanie M. Clarke Broadcast TV Staff Dana C. Hayes Jr. , senior VP/sales and marketing, Tribune Media Net, Chicago, tapped as senior VP/sales, Tribune Interactive, Chicago, effective Sept. 1. Louis Spitzer ,...

Choreographing a New 'Dance.(Biography)
September 4, 2006... By Michael Malone Sundance's Michalchyshyn pairs art-house films with funky new series Laura Michalchyshyn has a knack for marrying the avant-garde and the mainstream. Since becoming executive VP of Sundance Channel in January 2005,...

HD 3D: No Glasses Required.(WOWvx technology)(high definition three dimensional technology)
September 4, 2006... By Glen Dickson Philips pushes WOWvx technology Technophiles traveling to Amsterdam for the IBC convention may want to schedule a side trip to the town of Breda, some 60 miles south, to see the latest in 3D display technology. ...

Doing More With Less.(MPEG-4 AVC HD and SD encoders )
September 4, 2006... By Glen Dickson Tandberg and others showcase advanced encoding at Amsterdam show Doing more with less" is a common refrain in business. But it's never been more of a necessity than it is now for telcos launching TV services and...

IBC Product Preview.(Zandar Technologies)(Broadcast Pix)
September 4, 2006... By Glen Dickson Anystream Provides Avid HD Helper Video transcoding supplier Anystream says it has eliminated a bottleneck for HD production by supporting faster-than-real-time conversion of DNxHD, Avid's compressed HD format, into...

Kids' Network Grows Up.(DIC Entertainment L.P.)
September 4, 2006... By Jim Benson DIC preps teen block as stations outgrow 'toons The DIC Kids' Network will grow into the DIC Teen Network next year when the weekly syndicated three-hour programming block shifts its target audience from kids age 6-11...

TV Guide Net Gets Makeover.(The Fashion Team)(Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. TV Guide Publishing Group)(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... By Ben Grossman The TV Guide Channel is launching its sixth new series of the year, The Fashion Team, in an ongoing effort to reposition itself as the need for its scrolling guide wanes. Hoping to build on the fashion buzz evident with...

Deals.
September 11, 2006... By BIA Financial Networks TVs WUPV Ashland, va. PRICE: $47 million BUYER: Southeastern Media Holdings Inc. SELLER: Lockwood Broadcasting (James Lockwood Jr., CEO) FACILITIES: Ch. 65, 2,690 kW, ant. 863 ft. ...

The Digital Dash.(Sumner Redstone's business planning)(E! Entertainment Television Inc. lauches television programs)
September 11, 2006... By Anne Becker Sumner Redstone wants Viacom to quicken its new-media pace. Can anyone move fast enough? Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone lamented last week that his company's approach to the "digital revolution" had not been...

Fast track.(public opinion on Katie Couric)(investigation against News Corp.)(trends in ad spending)
September 11, 2006... By Staff Couric Opens Big, Levels Off Staff Despite mixed reviews of Katie Couric 's first nights as anchor of The CBS Evening News --many critics panned everything from the story selection to her white blazer--the network's...

Flash!(hard life of journalists)(public opinion on how Katie Couric will fare)(MyNetworkTV launches program)
September 11, 2006... Edited by Michael Malone Bloody Hard Reporting: Danger on Duty Staff Hard news has taken on a whole new meaning of late. Last week, local television reporter John Mattes was added to the list of reporters getting beaten up in the...

Buckeye Bonanza.(elections in Ohio)
September 11, 2006... By Allison Romano Broadcasters bank on political windfall this season Stations in Columbus, Ohio, are preparing for a bountiful harvest this fall, with statewide elections and the first sweeps period of the new TV season in November....

Why The Cable Buzz Is Gone.
September 11, 2006... By John M. Higgins Cool-kid cable networks mature For years, cable networks have been the cool kids of media, floating on buzz and rising Nielsen numbers. However, what really set cable programmers apart from their slow-grow broadcast...

Freston Set Free.(Tom Freston)
September 11, 2006... By J. Max Robins No matter how much his $50-million-plus cushion may have softened the landing, ex-Viacom CEO Tom Freston is surely nursing a bruised ego after his longtime boss Sumner Redstone kicked him to the curb last week. But I can't...

Station Owner Takes Control of Its Air.(Media General Cable launches program)
September 11, 2006... By Allison Romano Creating daytime shows means bigger revenue chunk A local show gets a much bigger stage next week when station owner Media General exports Daytime , an infotainment program produced by NBC affiliate WFLA Tampa, Fla.,...

NY TV-Fest Founder Talks.(New York Television Festival )(Interview)
September 11, 2006... By Staff The second annual New York Television Festival (www.nytvf.com ), a six-day celebration of all things television, takes place this week in Manhattan. Styled after the Sundance Film Festival, it's a showcase for both unproved...

'Fleeting' Profanities: OK for Now?(Golden Globes vs. Federal Communications Commission)
September 11, 2006... By John Eggerton Court stays decision pending review; FCC warns against saying too much The FCC is not likely to issue any indecency fines or findings for "fleeting profanities" for the next six months, but broadcasters have no...

Where to be and what to watch...
September 11, 2006... By Michael Malone Monday, Sept. 11 The National Association For Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) holds its Growth By Multiples conference at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. The Town Hall Meeting on diversity features...

Hope for a New Start.(broadcasting regulations)
September 11, 2006... By Staff Last week, the Federal Communications Commission, by taking a step back, gave itself the chance to take a crucial step forward. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York gave the FCC the 60 days it asked for...

The Advertising Generation Gap.(trends in the cable television broadcasting industry)
September 11, 2006... By Mike Harding He "doth protest too much, methinks." Shakespeare's dictum seems well suited to the broadcast thought-leaders who are protesting online advertising trading. News flash! Online trading already occurs. It's happening in...

Fates & Fortunes.(American Movie Classics Company L.L.C. appoints Charlie Collier )(Daphne M. Leroy and Kimberly Gabelmann join National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications)(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... By Melanie M. Clarke Programming Staff Charlie Collier , executive VP/general manager, advertising sales, Court TV, New York, named general manager, AMC, New York. Advertising/Marketing/PR Staff Daphne M. Leroy ,...

Crime Pays for an Ex-Lawyer.(Barry Schindel)(Biography)
September 11, 2006... By Jim Benson Numb3rs' Executive Producer Schindel finds drama in a past life In his previous life as a practicing attorney, Barry Schindel approached his profession as if he were a performer in "the theater of the courtroom." But...

Obituary.(Obituary)(Brief article)
September 11, 2006... By Staff Animal Planet's crocodile hunter Steve Irwin , 44, died Sept. 4 after being stung by a stingray while diving on Australia's Great Barrier Reef with a camera crew in pre-production for a series centered on his 8-year-old daughter,...

Venevision Goes to the Movies.
September 11, 2006... By P.J. Bednarski Spanish features with English subtitles Venevision International, the Miami-based distributor and production company, said last week it will launch a movie channel as part of Comcast's CableLatino package. ...

Diversity's Driver.(National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications)
September 11, 2006... By Kevin Downey NAMIC's Johnson wants cable to push minority execs ahead When Kathy Johnson became a member of the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) a few years after the organization was founded in...

A School for Success.
September 11, 2006... By Stewart Schley Cable's top pros travel the nation touting the business to college students When Joe Marchesani met Patrick Esser for the first time, in 1973, Marchesani, an assistant professor at the University of Northern Iowa,...

Why Minorities Aren't Rising.(National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications)
September 11, 2006... By Kevin Downey NAMIC's new study sees a management gap; are CEOs paying attention? When someone says they "work in television," it tells so much. And so little. Television careers range from working in ad sales to marketing,...

New Road For Ad Sales.(trends in the ad business)
September 11, 2006... By Kevin Downey To get ahead, buyers have to learn to sell across platforms If anything became clear during this summer's upfront ad market, it was that the media industry--and the language of media--is radically changing. Virtually...

No Matter What You Speak.(NBC Universal launches program)
September 11, 2006... By David Goetzl NBC U's new Qubo not just for Spanish-speaking kids NBC Universal is giving its kids' programming a new accent. The company is joining with several partners to launch Qubo, a weekend block offered in English on NBC and...

Tips in Two Languages.(English and Spanish)
September 11, 2006... By George Winslow KCET offers daily programs in English and Spanish While many programmers wrestle over whether they should be reaching their Hispanic audiences in English or in Spanish, public station KCET is doing both. In Los...

Women's Work?
September 11, 2006... By Stewart Schley A cable-industry advocacy group aims to close the techno-gap between the sexes Yvette Gordon-Kanouff understands the importance of having a mentor. As a teenager in Orlando, Fla., her best friend's father, an...

TuTv's Five Flavors.(Company overview)
September 11, 2006... By George Winslow Suite of Latin channels is a taste of home in the U.S. Bigger isn't always better when it comes to Hispanic marketing, says Ariela Nerubay, VP of sales and marketing at TuTv, a five-channel venture between Televisa...

'House' on Fire.(NBC Universal signs distribution deal)(market share of news magazines)
September 11, 2006... By Ben Grossman NBC U licenses drama, mulls Office strategy NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution has licensed House to Fox stations in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago for a double run on weekends beginning in fall 2008. And...

NBC Unveils Mammoth HD Displays.(high definition)(National Broadcasting Company Inc.)
September 11, 2006... By Glen Dickson New studio puts NFL front and center Celebrating its return to NFL coverage, NBC unveiled a high-definition studio at its New York headquarters that features two of the world's largest HD plasma displays. A pair of...

Clearer View For 'View'.(The View)
September 11, 2006... By Glen Dickson The View has received a high-def makeover for its 10th season, coinciding with the debut of moderator Rosie O'Donnell last week. The Emmy Award-winning chatfest airs in the 720-line progressive (720p) high-definition...

Can He Fix Viacom?(Sumner Redstone)(Company overview)
September 11, 2006... By John M. Higgins Sumner Redstone axes friend, tightens grip to right his media ship By axing his longtime friend and CEO Tom Freston, Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone tightened his grip on management and vowed to put the media...

MNT Ratings Picture: Unclear.(MyNetworkTV)
September 11, 2006... By Jim Benson MyNetworkTV 's debut last week came under immediate scrutiny, but executives overseeing the new netlet believe its true fate won't be known for at least half a year. Twentieth Television President/COO Bob Cook says a...

Cracking the Market.
September 18, 2006... By David Goetzl It's tough to grow a network in the 500-channel world In the multichannel universe, the path to becoming an established network is a long, tricky journey. But last month, Ken Solomon took two important steps toward...

American TV Rebounds Worldwide.
September 18, 2006... By John M. Higgins Prices soar abroad for U.S. Shows When Sony Pictures Television started shopping new NBC series Kidnapped to networks around the world, the studio was optimistic. After all, such taut dramas typically play well...

Is "Free Speech" Endangered at CBS News?(CBS Inc. CBS News debuts program)(CW Ohio Inc. on the hunt for a host)(Newton Minow gets award)
September 18, 2006... Edited by Joel Topcik Is "Free Speech" Endangered at CBS News? Staff Free speech may be the animating principle behind journalism, but it doesn't necessarily make for good TV. That's what CBS News appears to be learning from...

The Beltway Loosens.(television broadcasting industry)
September 18, 2006... By Allison Romano Washington news enters Baltimore's local mix Suburban sprawl is drawing Baltimore ever closer to its Beltway neighbor, Washington, D.C. Now it's blurring the lines in Baltimore's station market. Last month, Fox-owned...

On Sale at Wisteria Lane.(advertising trends)
September 18, 2006... By Anne Becker TV characters hawk big brands online as product integration goes digital The tours are among the new product-integration opportunities that TV networks and advertisers are exploring on the Web. Advertisers have struck...

Fast Track.(Rupert Murdoch and John Malone's business strategies)(MyNetworkTV backs its programs)(NBC Universal launches broadband service)
September 18, 2006... By Staff Murdoch, Malone Talks Deciphered Staff There's an important lesson in Rupert Murdoch 's discussions to give up his stake in DirecTV : Control is more important than News Corp. 's strategy. In talks first revealed by...

A Tale of Three Women.(Meredith Vieira, Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer)
September 18, 2006... By J. Max Robins The folks at Today had good reason to be giddy last week when they broke out the Champagne after wrapping their first broadcast with new co-host Meredith Vieira. With the new season under way and the morning wars begun...

Campaign Ads Pour In.(political campaigning)
September 18, 2006... By Allison Romano This year looks great, 2007 looks even better In California, tobacco companies are bombarding TV with ads opposing a proposed tax on cigarettes, while energy companies fight a tax to fund alternative-fuel research. In...

Now Streaming.(television broadcasting industry)(Brief article)
September 18, 2006... By Staff Digital deals With the fall season set to start, broadcast networks announced a slew of deals to digitally distribute their new shows, both on their Websites and through partners. ABC reached a deal to allow affiliates to...

Moran Covers the *Other War*.(Terry Moran)(Interview)
September 18, 2006... By Allison Romano With most of the nation focused on Iraq, ABC News' Nightline anchor Terry Moran opened a recent report from Afghanistan by asking, "Is the 'other war' getting out of control?" Five years after 9/11, more than 2,641 U.S....

Missing FCC Study Sparks Inquiry.(Federal Communications Commission)
September 18, 2006... By John Eggerton Former staffer alleges 2004 localism inquiry was destroyed On the eve of his renomination hearing, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin vowed to investigate allegations that a staff study on local TV-station ownership was...

Where to be and what to watch...
September 18, 2006... By Michael Malone Monday, Sept. 18 Since it's not every decade that a new network comes about, The CW is throwing a big old launch party at Warner Bros. Studios in Los Angeles . Chris Rock and Tyra Banks turn up for the wingding in...

Net Neutrality and Free Speech.
September 18, 2006... By Randolph J. May The debate over Internet neutrality continues to rage. Proposed net-neutrality laws would commonly prohibit all broad - band service providers, such as Verizon and Comcast, from blocking or degrading access to any lawful...

The Lesson of '9/11'.(The Path to 9/11 )
September 18, 2006... By Staff Television that takes chances always gets our attention and applause; the medium is bolder and better than ever. But criticism of ABC's controversial two-part movie The Path to 9/11 , which began airing on the night of the fifth...

Fates & Fortunes.
September 18, 2006... By Melanie M. Clarke Broadcast TV Staff Diana Wilkin , VP/general manager, KGPE Fresno, Calif., named VP/general manager, WAWS/WTEV Jacksonville, Fla. Ron Damron , controller, WBZ Boston/WSBK Boston/WLWC New Bedford, Mass.,...

Wald Boosts Business at CNBC.(Jonathan Wald)(Consumer News and Business Channel Partnership)(Biography)
September 18, 2006... By Joel Topcik Former Today executive producer offers "industrial-strength personal finance" Jonathan Wald was already planning to return to producing TV news when Hurricane Katrina hit last year. The storm just sped up his timetable....

A Cable Sampler.(Sportsman Channel lines up programs)(Lime offers health related programming)(launch of Reelz Channel)
September 18, 2006... By Staff Going Fishin' Joel Brown The hunting and fishing trips on the Sportsman Channel take place nowhere near the concrete canyons of Manhattan. But the action that affected the channel's future the most took place there. ...

First Peek at "Rachael Ray".
September 18, 2006... By Ben Grossman Food Network vet prepares launch Rachael Ray's new show is off to a smoking start. A recent taping in New York had to be halted when a tray of pita bread caught on fire. Terry Wood, president of creative affairs and...

High-Def "Tipping Point" at IBC.(International Broadcasting Convention)
September 18, 2006... By Staff Vendors at Amsterdam show cite big European growth The broadcast industry's mood at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) last week was like the weather in Amsterdam: sunny and warm. Tech vendors reported robust...

Stations Unite in Tower Project.
September 18, 2006... By Glen Dickson After losing their sticks in a helicopter crash, Georgia stations will share hardware A single tower will perform double duty for two Georgia stations that lost their 1,000-foot broadcast towers in a June helicopter...

Digging In.(Writers strike)
September 25, 2006... By Jim Benson As the threat of a strike looms, writers rally to show entertainment companies a new reality Greeted by the sounds of Twisted Sister's defiant anthem "We're Not Gonna Take It," more than 400 writers rallied in a Los...

Big News in the Backyard.
September 25, 2006... By Allison Romano Stations cover the ComAir crash When a ComAir commuter jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Kentucky's Blue Grass Airport last month, killing 49 people, Lexington broadcasters mobilized to cover the story. The crash...

R U Texting?(television channels using text messaging as promotional tool)
September 25, 2006... By Anne Becker Millions of TV viewers are, giving networks a lucrative new channel to audiences This season, NBC's hit primetime game show Deal or No Deal is inviting viewers to send a text message and pick the "lucky" case. Winners...

Fast Track.(News of cable and broadcasting industry)
September 25, 2006... By Staff Cablevision Missteps Again John M. Higgins After acknowledging last week that it had granted stock options to one of its executives after he died, once again, Cablevision Systems will endure a humiliating spanking in...

Grey's Tops CSI.(Grey's Anatomy)(television audience ratings)
September 25, 2006... By Jim Benson ABC becomes Thursday-night contender In a head-to-head battle of season premieres, ABC 's Grey's Anatomy beat CBS ' CSI Thursday, winning the night among prized adults 18-49 and transforming ABC from a distant also-ran...

Flash!(News of entertainment industry)
September 25, 2006... Edited by Joel Topcik Fans Cry Foul Over "Office" *Spoiler* Joel Topcik It must have been a cruel summer for fans awaiting the new season of NBC comedy The Office . How else to explain the alarm that followed a New York Times...

In the Hot Seat.(Communicopia media investor conference)(Industry overview)
September 25, 2006... By John M. Higgins Media executives endure investor scrutiny at Communicopia During Goldman Sachs' Communicopia media investor conference last week, a top executive privately confessed, "I'm so glad I don't have to do that any more."...

A Modified MSNBC?(restructuring of MSNBC Cable Network)
September 25, 2006... By J. Max Robins There has been speculation for months about MSNBC's future as a 24-hour cable news channel--or, maybe more to the point, its lack thereof. But one indication may have come last July, when the 10-year-old network launched a...

News En Español Is Outsourced.(Spanish news)
September 25, 2006... By Allison Romano Third-party news caters to Hispanic market Come January, Dallas-Ft. Worth viewers will see Maria Arita, anchor of the 4 p.m. news on CBS-owned KTVT, reporting the day's events on another station in town. Under a new...

The Price of Emmys.
September 25, 2006... By Allison Romano To see how far Peter Price has come in his efforts to grow the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), one need only view the guest list for this year's News and Documentary Emmys. The Sept. 25 gala will...

Missing in D.C.
September 25, 2006... By John Eggerton Boxer produces another MIA report; scientist may have been stifled on global warming When Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) produced yet another missing media-ownership report--this one on radio ownership--FCC Chairman...

Where to be and what to watch...(Obituary)
September 25, 2006... By Michael Malone Monday, Sept. 25 Breakfast with Martha Stewart ! The mind is flush with visions of scones, brioche French toast and berries you never heard of. See what Martha is serving up as Advertising Week gets under way in New...

Syndication and the New Metrics.
September 25, 2006... By Hadassa Gerber Marketers and their agencies have always tailored their media planning and execution to the needs of individual brands. But the concept of a "one-size-fits-all" measurement system for viewership may no longer apply....