Daily Marauder

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Chinese Americans protested outside CNN’s offices in Los Angeles on Saturday, calling for the dismissal of commentator Jack Cafferty, due to his recent anti-Chinese remarks. (Iwantmedia 4/21, http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cnn20apr20,0,2778839.story 4/20)

Viacom, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer and Lions Gate said Sunday they would form a joint venture to create a new premium channel and video-on-demand service that will launch in the fall of 2009. The channel, still unnamed, will run movies and series from the companies’ libraries and will be in direct competition with existing pay channels such as HBO, Showtime and Starz. (The Wall Street Journal 4/21, The Washington Post/Reuters 4/20)

President Bush will make a guest appearance on Monday’s “Deal or No Deal” on NBC. Bush taped a video message for “Deal” contestant Capt. Joseph Kobes, a U.S. Army transportation officer who served three tours of duty in Iraq. Kobes named the president as “one of his heroes.” (Iwantmedia 4/21, http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cnn20apr20,0,2778839.story 4/18)

CBS chief Les Moonves paid a surprise visit to CBS News on Friday to support embattled anchor Katie Couric. Moonves told employees that “there are no plans for a change.” That doesn’t mean her status won’t be reviewed if ratings continue to lag, but that won’t happen until after the election. (Iwantmedia 4/21, http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080418/tv_cbs_couric.html 4/18)

Several U.S. television networks are starting to break with tradition by importing international productions to air in the United States. Thanks in part to the Internet, Americans are more “comfortable” with international programming, says CBS Entertainment exec Nina Tassler. (Iwantmedia 4/21, http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984270.html?categoryid=2522&cs=1 4/18)

HBO has acquired an additional 85 theatricals from Disney, which the channel can begin running in 2012. The new deal includes movies such as “Chicago,” “National Treasure” and “Sin City” and follows a previous pact between the two companies for 100 movies. (The Hollywood Reporter 4/20)

Spike TV has acquired the rights to all four “Rambo” movies. The guy net recently picked up the 2008 “Rambo” for $4.5 million from Lions Gate, which it can partner with the previous three it bought from CBS “Rambo: First Blood,” “Rambo: First Blood Part II” and “Rambo III.” (Variety 4/20)

ESPN’s coverage of the 2007-08 NBA season jumped 14%, to 1.2 million homes, according to Nielsen data. During its 70-game schedule, ESPN averaged a 1.3 rating, an 18% increase over the previous season. (Mediaweek 4/18)