Daily Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

HBO has given a green light on the development of two series: a drama about biker gangs from Oscar-nominated writer Michael Tolkin to be titled “1%” and “Patient 2344,” which will be set in a medical research institute and executive-produced by Oscar-winning director Robert Zemeckis. The channel also picked up “Tell Me You Love Me,” its controversial and steamy drama series, for a second season. (The Hollywood Reporter 10/4)

ABC’s debut episode of “Cavemen” Tuesday night tied “NCI”‘ on CBS for the top show among viewers ages 18 to 49, giving ABC its best ratings in the 8 p.m. timeslot since November. “Cavemen” is based on characters from the Geico insurance commercials. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aYaPoSz3gWOM 10/3)

Caveman Episode 1

Showtime will use MPEG-4 HD technology when it begins distributing the new Smithsonian Channel in the fourth quarter. Specifically, Showtime will rely on Motorola’s SE-5100 MPEG-4 AVC HD encoders to make use of the MPEG-4 format, which offers superb video quality, according to a Showtime representative. (CED Magazine 10/3)

Rupert Murdoch is set to face a challenge to his family’s control of News Corp. at the company’s annual meeting Oct. 19, after shareholder advisory Institutional Shareholder Services recommended fund managers back a move to change the media giant’s share structure. (http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/challenge-unlikely-to-loosen-murdochs-hold-on-news/2007/10/03/1191091194066.html 10/4)

Music publisher Bourne Co. is suing News Corp.’s Fox network for using the tune of the 1940 Oscar-winning song “When You Wish Upon a Star” without permission. A song parody on the animated series “Family Guy” contains an “anti-Semitic message,” Bourne claims. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aEM2plOH9Q_w 10/3)

The media and information industries saw record numbers of mergers and acquisitions during the first three quarters of the year, with 637 deals worth $95 billion, says a report by media investment bank Jordan, Edmiston Group. The number of online media deals jumped to 232. (http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071003/FREE/71003028/1078 10/3)

NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker called for tougher penalties against media pirates in an address to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce yesterday claiming, “Today we are losing the battle.” He cited a new study from the pro-industry Institute for Policy Innovation as evidence, which estimates nearly $60 million and 375,000 jobs are lost annually because of copyright infringement. Mr. Zucker would like to see IP enforcement departments created by Congress to police the internet, advertisers stop providing financial support to illegal sites and web 2.0 companies provide better filtering technologies.

NBC Universal aims to double revenue from its internationally distributed cable channels such as CNBC Europe and the Sci Fi Channel during the next three years. Jeff Zucker, the media company’s top executive, also wants to extend the networks’ global footprint to 30 countries in the same time period. (New York Post/Bloomberg 10/4)

RCN subscribers have a new HD channel - TBS HD launched yesterday and in time to carry the American and National League division playoffs in hi def.

The $11.6-million verdict in the harassment case against New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas isn’t likely to affect the career of James Dolan, the head of Madison Square Garden and parent Cablevision, observers say. Cablevision’s move to go private is expected to win easy approval. (http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzmsg045401415oct04,0,6668386.story 10/4)