Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
BROADCAST/CABLE
The massive stock market sell-off on Friday took a toll on the media giants. By the end of the day, News Corp. — now the world’s biggest media company — sported a market cap of $67.79 billion. Google, meanwhile, saw its stock rise, with a market cap of a whopping $201.24 billion. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i729f8835496e3ace56c3dfbcac45c1b0 10/22)
Rupert Murdoch (Getty Images photo)
News Corp.’s annual meeting on Friday was a “Rupert Murdoch lovefest,” according to a report by the company’s own News.com.au. One shareholder even asked the 76-year-old media mogul for his autograph. Murdoch successfully blocked a proposal to overturn his control of the media giant. (http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,22617898-31037,00.html 10/20)
Fox Business Network, which launched Oct. 15, apparently took some viewers away from rival CNBC during its first four days on the air. From Oct. 15 to 18, CNBC averaged 257,000 viewers from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., down 12% from 293,000 weekday watchers the previous week. (http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6492992.html 10/19)
On Monday, NBC will complete the physical integration of NBC News with MSNBC. The staff of MSNBC relocated from Secaucus, N.J. to NBC headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Center over the weekend. Parts of the new, state-of-the-art digital facility, however, don’t have air conditioning. (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117974436.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 10/21)
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will produce a drama series for HBO that focuses on the politics and intrigue of international aid organizations and humanitarian workers. The series represents the first time Jolie, a United Nations goodwill ambassador since 2001, and Pitt have co-produced a TV project. (The Hollywood Reporter 10/22)
A new campaign from Delta Air Lines touting its in-flight video system is using the stars and hosts from Time Warner cable properties such as the cast of HBO’s “Entourage” and CNN’s Anderson Cooper. To be clear, however, a representative for Time Warner said Cooper was not endorsing the airline … just the cable news network. (The New York Times 10/22)
Comcast is working on its own version of Time Warner Cable’s “Start Over” service allowing viewers jump back in case they missed the beginning of a show, reports Multichannel News. The service, currently deployed in six Time Warner divisions, is slated to launch next year. (http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6492836.html 10/19)
Hollywood writers are giving Writers Guild of America negotiators the go-ahead to call a strike if they are unable to reach a new labor agreement with the studios. Also: Many moguls are said to welcome a strike because they believe the new television season is “dead on arrival.” (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aSb.b3Sbc3WU 10/19, http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/hollywood-moguls-sound-strike-happy-see-new-tv-season-as-dead-already/ 10/21)
This month iN DEMAND Networks introduced two new hi-def sports channels, GameHD and TeamHD, located in the regular sports package area of the cable system’s line-up. TeamHD will air all the NBA scheduled HD games through the NBA League Pass package and GameHD will air HD NHL games on NHL Center Ice in addition to HD MLB games as part of next year’s MLB Extra Innings package. (TheRetailBRIDGE.com 10/22, Broadcasting & Cable 10/19)
Meredith and Comcast are pairing up for a family-focused video-on-demand suite to launch in December. Called Parents TV, the multiple-channel cable platform will focus on every stage of parenthood, “from conception to college,” and will be available free for to Comcast digital subscribers. (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6492980.html 10/22)
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