Daily Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE by Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

Nielsen reports the total estimated viewers for the second live Presidential Debate between candidates Senators Barack Obama and John McCain Tuesday night from 9-1030p reached 63.2 million total viewers. Nielsen’s combined total viewer number includes 11 networks: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telemundo, Univision, BBC-America, CNBC, CNN, FOX News Channel and MSNBC. ABC did the best again with 13.2 million viewers, followed by NBC at 10.8 million, CBS 9.4 million, CNN 9.2 million, FOX News Channel 8.7 million and MSNBC 3.7 million. (Cynopsis 10/8)

Adding to its growing development slate, Cartoon Network has approved production of “Tiger’s Apprentice,” a live-action/CGI movie about a teenager in San Francisco who is aided by a shape-shifting tiger. The movie, which is based on the best-selling novel by Lawrence Yep, is scheduled to debut in 2010. Variety (10/8)

A&E Network hits the streets with new police officers as new series Rookies premieres October 21 at 10p with two back-to-back 30m episodes. Shot on location in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana and Tampa, cameras will go along with rookie officers in squad cars as each patrol their beat for the first time. (Cynopsis 10/8)

With only a few legal dramas currently on TV, David E. Kelley is sticking with this genre, writing a new legal drama spec script for Warner Bros. TV, reports THR. Kelley, who moved to Warner Bros. last May after having been with 20th Television for twenty years, is taking this 60m project to the broadcast networks this week and perhaps will snag a commitment. At this time, Kelley’s legal dramedy Boston Legal on ABC is completing production on 13 episodes. (Cynopsis 10/8)

On Tuesday, the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences voted to lift the ban on movie commercials during the Oscar telecast. This ban on movie ads has existed since the early 1950s when the award event first began on TV. For the 81st annual Academy Awards airing February 22 on ABC, the board will now allow a limited number of ads to run promoting movies opening the last week of April at the earliest. (Cynopsis 10/8)

FOX News Channel re-upped with Sean Hannity to keep the co-host of Hannity & Colmes with the network through 2012. Hannity also hosts the Sunday show Hannity’s America on FOX News and just inked a new $20 million deal for his syndicated radio show that is heard in 500 markets. (Cynopsis 10/8)

U.S. cable operator Comcast is offering special deals of free television for a year in a bid to win new subscribers ahead of a government-mandated digital television switch-over on Feb. 17. New customers who sign up for Comcast Internet or phone service will receive free basic cable. (Iwantmedia 10/8, http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSTRE497BMZ20081008 10/8)

Leave a Comment so far
Leave a comment