Daily Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

“The Tudors,” Showtime’s popular series about King Henry VIII and his many, many wives, will be back for a third season, which begins production June 16. During its second season, the show averaged 912,000 total viewers for its first-run episodes, according to Nielsen. (The Hollywood Reporter 4/22)

Mark Greenberg, former Showtime veteran, may be tapped as CEO to lead the new premium TV channel start-up from Viacom, Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate and MGM, reports Business Week. The new channel, which remains unnamed, is set to launch in 2009. Mark left Showtime after 17 years in 2006 to pursue other career interests. (Cynopsis 4/23, http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/apr2008/db20080422_287056.htm 4/22)

Larry King will continue with CNN at least until 2011 according to his new contract extension with the network. The deal calls for no major changes and Larry will be at the helm of his Larry King Live show, which averages 1 million viewers per night, M-F at 9p. (Cynopsis 4/23) Yahoo!/Reuters/The Hollywood Reporter (4/22)

In the same week that the public learned that CBS and Katie Couric had held secret talks about her future as anchor of “CBS Evening News,” the third-place newscast sank to a record ratings low. The “Evening News” averaged a mere 5.39 million viewers for the week of April 14. (Iwantmedia 4/23, http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/04/katies_evening_news_ratings_hi.php 4/22)

The Nickelodeon kids series “iCarly,” launched in September, aims to break ground in combining scripted television with viewer participation via the Web. The show is a hit in both mediums, says both Nielsen and comScore. And iCarly.com is produced by a staff of three. (Iwantmedia 4/23, http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/04/kids_cotton_to_web_extension_o.php 4/20)

BBC America has picked up two seasons of the recent BAFTA winner, Gavin & Stacey. The 30m romantic comedy will make its U.S. premiere this August with 13 total episodes over two seasons. The series is produced by Baby Cow Production and is distributed by BBC Worldwide. Much like The Office, NBC is considering making an American version of this series sometime in the future. (Cynopsis 4/23)

Gavin & Stacey Clip

If you enjoy James Blunt, you will enjoy this clip.

Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane which opened its second season this past Sunday (8p) on the Style Network, averaged a .63 rating among W18-49. (Cynopsis 4/23)

Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane Promo

As he nears completion of a deal to acquire Newsday, Rupert Murdoch appears likely to pose the first challenge to the media ownership rule that the Federal Communications Commission recently adopted. Even without Newsday, Murdoch was in the process of seeking waivers. (Iwantmedia 4/23, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/business/media/23ownership.html?_r=1&oref=slogin 4/23)

Rupert Murdoch

Liberty Global, John Malone’s cable television company that operates outside the United States, probably won’t bid for the assets of Virgin Media, says Michael Fries, Liberty Global’s CEO. “We have so much opportunity in front of us.” Liberty earlier said it may bid for Virgin Media. (Iwantmedia 4/23, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=a7llDc1_jb4k 4/23)

Fox wants the Federal Communications Commission to rethink its decision not to consider its challenge to indecency fines for a 2003 airing of “Married by America” that showed pixilated body parts. Fox says the rejection was a ploy to “avoid examination of constitutional and factual arguments.” (Iwantmedia 4/23, http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6554131.html 4/22)