Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Andrew Heyward, CBS Corporation, CBS News, Dan Rather, Ira Gammerman, Leslie Moonves, National Guard, Sumner Redstone
Yesterday, many of the claims filed by Dan Rather in a $70 million lawsuit last September against the CBS Corporation were dismissed by Judge Ira Gammerman of the New York Supreme Court. The judge rejected Rather’s claim of fraud against CEO, Leslie Moonves, Viacom-CBS Chairman, Sumner Redstone and former CBS News president, Andrew Heyward in addition to his assertion that the network made him the scapegoat involving the bru-ha-ha surrounding the 60 Minutes II use of controversial papers in the story about President Bush’s National Guard service in the 1970s. The lawsuit further accused CBS of not giving him worthy assignments on CBS News programs following his resignation as anchor in March 2005. (Cynopsis 4/11, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/10/national/main4006080.shtml 4/10)
Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather and CBS President Leslie Moonves. (CBS/AP)
General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt is resisting calls to sell off NBC Universal. Investors’ cries could grow louder if GE disappoints when it reports first-quarter earnings. Still, in the current financial environment, a sale of GE’s media holdings is seen as unlikely. (http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/10/news/companies/simons_nbcu.fortune/index.htm 4/10)
General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt has so far resisted calls to sell NBC Universal.
A handful of media companies are gearing up to submit second round bids for the Weather Channel. Fewer than five companies are putting together the second-round bids. A source briefed on the matter says Time Warner is in talks to buy the channel from Landmark Communications. (http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSN1040547020080410 4/10)
After airing only one episode Tuesday night, CBS cancelled the reality competition series Secret Talents of the Stars. The premiere/finale episode posted a 1.5/4 among A18-49. Starting next Tuesday, CBS will air 48 Hours Mystery in the 10p slot for two weeks then Shark returns with new episodes post-strike as of April 29. (Cynopsis 4/11)
Apparently, CBS’ secret talent is cancelling shows.
Wednesday night’s finale of High School Reunion (10p) on TV Land delivered a 0.5 rating and 560,000 viewers among A25-54. The program also averaged more than a million total viewers. (Cynopsis 4/11)
Click the image below to watch the final episode.
Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” will tape from Philadelphia next week, the show’s first road trip, to cover Pennsylvania’s pivotal Democratic primary on April 22. The shows will feature guests such as Gov. Ed Rendell, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders. (Multichannel News 4/10)
Donal Logue was added to the HBO biker gang pilot, 1% playing a character called Misfit along with Timm Sharp, Lucy Punch and Sonny Barger. Donal was also just added to the cast of NBC’s Life for its second season next fall. (Cynopsis 4/11)
High-definition airings of Major League Baseball games by Comcast SportsNet will increase by more than 60% this season, particularly in the New York and Chicago markets. All Mets, White Sox and Cubs games will be in HD, company spokesman Tim Fitzpatrick said. (TVWeek.com 4/10)
A new study from market research firm Centris says more than 9 million U.S. households are in “challenging reception areas” and could experience some reception problems after the February 2009 switch to all-digital TV. The report said about 17 million homes currently rely on analog signals and 54% of those — 9.2 million — will have problems because of land topography, tower distance and antenna quality. (Broadcasting & Cable 4/10)
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