Daily Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

Based on ratings achievements during a multi-week sneak preview in four major markets, Fox Television Stations group will launch The Wendy Williams Show produced and distributed by Debmar-Mercury for a mid-2009 start on all of its 27 stations in 18 markets. (Cynopsis 8/19)

After watching this show in the background while working at home a couple of weeks ago, I can firmly say that this is one of the worst daytime shows I have ever seen.  Male guests spend most of their time fawning over the drag-queen-like Williams while Wendy spends most of her time fixing her hair or awkwardly interviewing guests.  I can’t believe people are watching this. . .

Based on new Live+7 ratings data, the season three premiere of Eureka on the SCI FI Channel July 29 averaged 1.60 million A18-49 viewers, 1.77 million A25-54 viewers and 3.36 million total viewers. (Cynopsis 8/19)

Sundance Channel and Grey Goose Entertainment revealed the six match-ups for its fourth season of Iconoclasts, which premieres October 16 at 10p. The six-part series, executive produced by Robert Redford and produced by @radical.media will feature Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu with entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson; fashion designer Stella McCartney with artist Edward Ruscha; skateboarder Tony Hawk with filmmaker/actor Jon Favreau; political humorist Bill Maher with music industry executive Clive Davis; tennis star Venus Williams with musician/producer Wyclef Jean; and actress Cameron Diaz with architect Cameron Sinclair. (Cynopsis 8/19)

This show is amazing and inspirational.  If you haven’t had the chance to catch an episode, I highly recommend it.  Get your DVR out kids.

For the upcoming political conventions, CNN is bringing back the “CNN Grill” where politics and food can mingle, reports Multichannel News. The 2008 CNN Grills will be open for business at the Democratic National Convention in Denver from August 25-28 taking over Brooklyn’s restaurant located near the Pepsi Center. In St. Paul for the Republican National Convention, the CNN Grill will operate from September 1-4 located at the Eagle Street Grille next to the Xcel Energy Center. (Cynopsis 8/19)

Now that AMC’s “Mad Men” has whet our appetites for all things 1960s, it’s time for another flashback, this one from 1968. On Sept. 2, Cartoon Network will debut an updated version of “The Banana Splits” kids show with all the modern conveniences — its own Web site, DVDs and music CDs — as well as the more old-school toys, games, books and apparel. MediaPost Communications (8/18)

NBC Universal’s purchase of The Weather Channel likely will not be its last cable deal, according to General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt. In an interview with CNBC, Immelt said he was pleased with the partnership formed with Bain Capital and the Blackstone Group in The Weather Channel deal, adding that “we’re not done doing cable deals.” CNBC (8/18) , Broadcasting & Cable (8/18)

Verizon Communications spent about $23 billion to build a fiber-optics network to deliver faster Internet speeds and high-definition channels. But, this analysis piece asks, was it worth it? Verizon says its FiOS service is proving to be more successful than it promised when it began, but the market share for cable companies offering Internet services is growing too. The New York Times (8/18)

Looking to free up some spectrum space, RCN Corp. has announced that beginning Oct. 1 about 15,000 of its customers in New York will receive a free upgrade from basic cable to digital cable. As a result of the deal, RCN’s basic-cable customers, who get 97 analog channels now, will receive a free set-top box and gain access to 108 digital channels and 45 music channels, the company said. The New York Times (8/18)