Daily Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

Serialized drama series “House” is averaging 2.9 million viewers for USA Network, which last month began running the show Monday to Friday and, in some cases, three episodes consecutively on Sunday nights. USA acquired the off-network show in 2005 for $1.4 million per episode. TVWeek.com (10/12)

The legal dispute between cable nets Bravo and Lifetime over “Project Runway” could set up some interesting programming challenges for Lifetime if the show does not join its slate next January as expected, according to this analysis. If a judge cannot resolve the matter in time, the show, which ends its fifth season on Bravo on Wednesday, may not be able to go to Lifetime until summer 2009. Mediaweek (10/13)

Over on NBC, Universal Media Studio’s Knight Rider received a go-ahead for four more scripts. Thus far the remake of the 1980s hit show has not performed well overall yet it is considered a vehicle to attract young male viewers. The series airs on Wednesdays at 8p. (Cynopsis 10/13)

Sumner Redstone is selling about one-fifth of his controlling stake in Viacom and CBS to pay down debt. The sale plan is announced as both Viacom and CBS warn that deteriorating advertising sales will slash their profits, prompting their shares to drop and bring down other media stocks. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a247VDPj5Vh0 10/10)

ABC is resurrecting the sci-fi thriller V, the 1980s miniseries about alien lizards on Earth, writes Variety. Scott Peters (The 4400) is writing the new adaptation which ABC picked up as a spec script and Warner Bros. TV is producing. (Cynopsis 10/13)

The CW has a spinoff in the works based on its reality series America’s Next Top Model. A pilot was ordered for Operation Fabulous, starring ANTM regulars Jay Manuel and J. Alexander, who will travel cross-country giving average women full makeovers. (Cynopsis 10/13)

Solid performances by cable nets USA, Bravo, Sci Fi, Oxygen and CNBC — along with a major boost from the Beijing Olympics — helped NBC Universal generate $5.1 billion in revenue in its third quarter, a 35% spike from the comparable period a year earlier, and operating profit of $729 million, up 10%. Even without the Olympics, NBCU’s revenue would have increased 8%, thanks to the cable channels. OneTRAK (10/10) , TVWeek.com (10/10)

Turner Broadcasting and MGM Worldwide TV are working together to develop a new half-hour animated show for Cartoon Network titled “Pink Panther & Pals.” Turner and MGM are preparing 26 episodes of the show, which is expected to debut in the fall of 2009. Variety (10/12)