Daily Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

CBS — the home to hits like “Survivor” and “60 Minutes” — will almost certainly forfeit its longtime crown as “America’s Most-Watched Network” in total viewers. That title is set to go to Rupert Murdoch’s Fox, the most youth-seeking of all the networks, boosted by “American Idol.” (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-channel3mar03,1,5022500.story  3/2)

Network execs and media buyers say the annual advertising-buying ritual known as the “upfront” is likely to be stronger this year than last. Some TV ad-sales execs admit that there is likely to be a lag before any recession will begin to take its toll on ad budgets. (http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120450960847206713.html  3/3)

Entertaining 9- to 14-year-olds, or tweens, has become big business in the TV industry, particularly on cable, where titans Nickelodeon and Disney Channel run neck-and-neck in the kidvid universe. “For the longest time Nickelodeon was the dominant player, but there is now a real race,” said Bill Carroll, vice president of programming for the Katz Television Group. “In perception, Disney leads by a head. And in the entertainment industry, perception is reality.” (Multichannel News 3/2)

Nick at Nite has picked up the cable syndication rights to The CW’s off-net comedy Everybody Hates Chris, from CBS TV Distribution, on a cash + 2m barter basis, and a minimum of 80 episodes. In the nonexclusive four-year deal, NAN will debut the sitcom in the fall of 2009, and plans to air it in primetime. Everybody Hates Chris has already been cleared in off-network broadcast syndication for fall 2009 in 52% of the U.S. on stations from the Fox, CBS, Cox Television and Weigel Broadcasting station groups.

Beginning June 8, USA Network will serve up dramas during Sunday primetime with season seven of Law & Order: Criminal Intent at 9p, followed by USA’s new original drama In Plain Sight at 10p. 

Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is set to appear today, via satellite from Austin, Texas, on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” the night before the Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island Democratic primaries. The appearance will mark the first time Clinton has been on the program since she declared her bid for the White House. Broadcasting & Cable (2/29)

ABC has a new reality project on tap for this summer, based in part on Disney’s High School Musical, reports Variety.  A national wide competition looking for the best performer, all of whom will be living together at a music conservatory, and with contestants being eliminated one by one until there is just one remaining. 

Music Choice celebrates “Chicks Who Rule” on its On Demand network this month, women considered to be the ruling ladies of Rock, Pop and Hip-Hop. The list of featured artists includes Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Colbie Caillat, Kat DeLuna, Tiffany Evans, Jordin Sparks, Hayley Williams of Paramore, Juliette Lewis of Juliette and the Licks, and the Sick Puppies’ Emma Anzai.

Cartoon Network picked up the U.S. broadcast rights for Blue Dragon from VIZ Media, the Japanese animated series developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy,) based on the popular Xbox 360 console game.

ESPN will team with CAA and sister company Walt Disney Studios to finance and develop theatrical films based on the sporting world. “We see this as a new way to reach sports fans and engage them,” said Keith Clinkscales, ESPN’s senior vice president for content development. “A lot of people who spend time being engaged in ESPN also spend a lot of time going to the movies.” (The New York Times 3/3)

Sen. John Kerry chastised Comcast for packing last week’s public Net Neutrality hearing with its own employees, forcing Harvard campus police to turn away an estimated 100 pro-neutrality advocates. 

The U.S. Supreme Court this week may reopen for the first time in more than 30 years the debate over what qualifies as an “indecent” broadcast. The top issue now is the problem of “fleeting expletives” in broadcasts, such as those heard on recent entertainment industry awards shows. (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-expletive2mar02,0,7115069.story  3/2)

Liberty Media head John Malone may win control of Barry Diller’s IAC/InterActiveCorp in a court fight over IAC’s breakup plan, according to Lehman Bros. analyst Vijay Jayant. “Liberty might get control” by forcing Diller out as the caretaker for Liberty’s 62% voting stake in IAC. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=afN64N90SnzQ 2/27)