Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
ESPN executive John Skipper said the Disney-owned sports network wants TV rights for the 2014 and 2016 Olympics, which it would carry live regardless of the time zone. “We serve sports fans. It’s hard in our culture to fathom tape-delaying in the same way they have,” said Skipper, referring to NBC, the current holder of the Olympic TV rights. The New York Times (8/19)
November 25 will be the final episode date for FX’s The Shield, per Variety. The seventh and final season kicks off September 2. (Cynopsis 8/20)
Warren Sapp, former NFL star will join Inside the NFL on Showtime as an analyst along with host James Brown and other analysts Phil Simms and Cris Collinsworth. Inside the NFL, produced by CBS and NFL Films, begins on Showtime September 10 following 31 seasons on HBO. (Cynopsis 8/20)
Emmy-nominated “Damages” on FX and “Mad Men” on AMC may have given cable the prestige it needs to bid for a turn hosting the annual awards program, according to this report. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has contracts with ABC, CBS and NBC for broadcast rights for the next three years and is expected to begin talks in 2009 for the next licensing agreement, which usually spans eight years. United Press International (8/19) , Variety (8/19)
A new study by the Pew Research Center suggests that news reports on CNN are more believable than any other cable or broadcast network. CNN got the highest ranking from 70% of respondents, edging out cable competitors MSNBC (63%) and Fox News Channel (59%). Multichannel News (8/19)
NBC Universal’s cable and broadcast TV properties are still writing ad business for the Olympics in a record-setting performance that has eclipsed $1 billion, according to this article. The ad-revenue torrent has surprised even NBCU officials: “We’ve written a lot more business than we thought we would,” said Seth Winter, senior vice president for NBC Sports & Olympics sales and marketing. The Hollywood Reporter (8/19) , Broadcasting & Cable (8/19)
BET will debut its first scripted TV series, Somebodies on September 9 at 1030p with two half-hour episodes. Shot on location in Athens, GA and the University of Georgia, the story is about Scottie, played by Hadjii, who is trying to find his way in the world but finds himself stuck in the role of “professional” student as his buddies move on to the real world. He then begins a journey of self-discovery. (Cynopsis 8/20)
SlamBall will soon have a home on CBS and VERSUS, reports Variety. The first-ever team action sport that combines parts of basketball, football, hockey, soccer and gymnastics and owned by IMG Sports Media and Tollin Productions, will have its championship title game air on CBS November 2. In addition, VERSUS will air eight SlamBall games on Sundays beginning August 31. The SlamBall league is expected to launch in 2009 over the July 4 weekend in eight U.S. cities. (Cynopsis 8/20)
ABC gave the go-ahead for a Supernanny spinoff featuring Chicago child therapist Mike Ruggles, reports THR. The project titled Supermanny will air as a back-door pilot special this fall in the new Supernanny time slot of Fridays at 9p. Ricochet Television, which produces the original Supernanny, is also involved with production on this project. (Cynopsis 8/20)
Comcast has announced the addition of 15 high-definition cable networks to its Chicago-area systems, bringing the country’s No. 1 provider up to 500 HD options in The Windy City. Comcast officials say they remain committed to the company’s so-called Project Infinity, in which subscribers by 2009 will get access to 1,000 hi-def choices at any given time. Multichannel News (8/19)
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