Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
NBC has ordered up six episodes of Kath and Kim from Reveille and NBC Universal Media Studios, and starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair. This marks NBC’s first jump into series without first ordering a pilot, in keeping with Jeff Zucker’s statements recently that by skipping the expense of ordering many pilots of projects that never go forward, it allows the network to go straight to series. The show is based on an Australian series of the same name and is about a 40-something divorced mom (Shannon) and her self-absorbed daughter.
The details of a plan to resolve the Hollywood writers strike are beginning to emerge. One plan under discussion involves a tiered system, which would pay writers residuals based on how many times a television show is viewed online. Also: The writers’ union will meet with membership Saturday. (http://www.nypost.com/seven/02062008/business/strike_breakthrough_553997.htm 2/6, http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-announces-member-meetings-for-saturday 2/5)
Disney and News Corp. this week are shrugging off the impact of the Hollywood writers strike, but both admit the conflict is speeding changes in the television industry. “Even if there’s a settlement soon, it is guaranteed that we will make far fewer pilots,” says Disney boss Bob Iger. (http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUSN0519254120080206 2/5)
Disney is reporting first-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates, boosted in part by the success of “High School Musical” and “Hannah Montana.” Costs at Disney’s ABC network need to come down, says CEO Bob Iger. The network upfront “feels like a bit of an anachronism to me.” (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=aPtbGjWN_yhU 2/5)
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn is establishing a blog, icahnreport.com, to discuss corporate governance. The 71-year-old investor has a long history of agitating for change at companies, such his 2006 attempt to break up Time Warner. Many boards “really are not doing their job,” he says. (http://www.reuters.com/article/mergersNews/idUSN0521567420080205 2/5)
Food Network’s Down Home with the Neelys premiered last Saturday (11a) with 700,000 W25-54 viewers and a 1.1 rating and averaged 870,000 A25-54 viewers and a 0.8 rating.
Who among us does not love a group of playful pups? Not many, according to Nielsen, which reported 8 million unique viewers overall tuned in to Animal Planet’s 12-hour “Puppy Bowl IV” extravaganza Sunday. (Multichannel News 2/5)
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