Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
HBO is yet to deliver a follow-up “edgy” hit series to rival “The Sopranos,” which is believed to have prompted a recent executive shake-up at the Time Warner premium cable channel. HBO is pinning its hopes on “True Blood,” a drama about vampires in Louisiana, set for September. (Iwantmedia, 3/21, http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_13/b4077050393595.htm 3/20)
HBO has picked up a comedy pilot starring actor David Cross playing himself. “David’s Situation,” which begins filming in May, revolves around Cross’ move to a gated community in the suburbs, where he lives with two roommates, one a conservative and the other a liberal. (The Hollywood Reporter 3/21)
“Black Magic,” the ESPN movie focusing on African-American athletes and coaches during the Civil Rights movement, became the network’s most-watched documentary ever in its March 16 premiere. The presentation attracted an average of 1.2 million households and drew a 1.3 rating. (Mediaweek 3/20)
Simon Fuller, creator of American Idol, has a real-time medical drama pilot, Austin Golden Hour that has been picked up by The CW. The pilot is about a group of young emergency room surgeons and EMTs that work closely together and go through the crucial 60 minutes following a trauma. The drama also recounts their personal, interconnected relationships. Fuller’s 19 Entertainment and CBS Paramount Network TV are producing.
DirecTV successfully launched a new satellite providing it with the capability to offer up to 150 national HD channels and expand its delivery of local HD channels to more than 100 DMAs, representing 84% of U.S. TV households. If only Dish Network, still playing catch up on the HD front, could be so lucky. Its satellite fell short of its orbit last week, a mishap expected to reduce the bird’s lifespan. Dish has two additional satellite launches planned this year to help it make good on its 100 HD channel capacity goal. (Cynopsis, 3/21)
If at first you don’t succeed … The FCC is calling for a do-over, scheduling a second net neutrality hearing after complaints emerged that Comcast rigged the first one by stocking the room with its employees. This one will take place on the West Coast at Stanford University on Thursday, April 17. (Cynopsis, 3/21)
Media-company defaults may increase as the U.S. economy heads into a recession. Bonds of media firms such as Univision and Tribune are trading at “distressed levels.” Publishers and broadcasters are among the weakest in this downturn as advertising dollars shift to the Internet. (Iwantmedia 3/21, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601068&sid=aW02qb9XmUcs 3/20)
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