Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: CBS, CBS Evening News, CBS News, CNN, Katie Couric, Miley Cyrus, NBC, Wall Street Journal
Katie Couric may leave her post as CBS Evening News anchor before her contract is up in 2011, per a report in the Wall Street Journal. The report indicated she might depart as early as January 2009, following the presidential inauguration. Katie has been anchor with CBS News since 2006 and despite the media flurry over her leaving NBC‘s Today to be solo anchor at CBS, the CBS Evening News continues to rank third with total viewers and among the news sweet spot demo of A25-54. (Cynopsis 4/10, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120778369100203247.html 4/10)
“Hannah Montana,” the Disney show that has spawned a 3-D movie, a sellout concert tour and a clothing line, has been renewed for a third season. The series starring Miley Cyrus is the highest-rated show on television among viewers ages 6-14. (Yahoo!/E! Online 4/9)
Singer/songwriter Jewel was added to NBC’s Nashville Star as a mentor and judge to the contestants along with country music star John Rich. The competition series debuts on NBC June 9 at 930p. (Cynopsis 4/10)
After airing ego trip’s The (White) Rapper Show last year, VH1 will now explore the future of female rap artists as ego trip’s Miss Rap Supreme eight-episode competition series debuts next Monday at 10p. Ten female MCs will be tested with various challenges such as stage presence, creativity and mental astuteness with one swaggering over the others to win $100,000 and the title of Miss Rap Supreme. Returning as host for this new version produced by 10X10 Productions is Michael “MC Serch” Berrin and joining him is female rap artist Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker. (Cynopsis 4/10)
Despite political pressure from lawmakers arguing that forcing a la carte programming on cable companies would raise rates and lower channel options, FCC chairman Kevin Martin told members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government that he would not change his mind on the topic. “Absolutely, I am still enthusiastic about it,” Martin said Wednesday. “I absolutely think it’s the right thing.” (Multichannel News 4/9)
Hackers hired by News Corp. unit NDS Group stole and posted data that allowed free access to Dish Network’s satellite television service, the company says, in a corporate spying trial against its rival that could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. NDS denies the spying charge. (Iwantmedia 4/10, http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSN0947553720080410 4/9)
Verizon is suing Time Warner Cable for false advertising, alleging that the country’s second-largest cable firm makes a number of inaccurate claims about the telecom’s FiOS TV service in its ads. But Time Warner Cable spokesman Alex Dudley said the federal lawsuit, which was filed in the Southern District of New York, was “without merit,” adding that “we look forward to defending against it in the appropriate venue.” (InformationWeek/Reuters 4/9)
Following in Cablevision’s footsteps, Time Warner Cable has started offering caller ID on TV for 50,000 customers in the New York area. The service has been a big hit for Cablevision, which recently announced it delivered more than 1 billion caller ID on TV messages since debuting the service systemwide in November. (New York Post 4/10)
Cablevision is said to be uninterested in buying Newsday from Tribune, contrary to press reports. Separately, New York Daily News owner Mort Zuckerman has made a bid for the Long Island daily. Newsday also is in talks with Rupert Murdoch for a sale or a joint venture. (Iwantmedia 4/10, http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSN0940597520080409 4/9)
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