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BROADCAST/CABLE

“Indecision 2008: America’s Choice,” Jon Stewart’s and Stephen Colbert’s cluster coverage of the presidential election, attracted 3.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched election special in Comedy Central history. The show earned a 1.9 rating among 18- to 49-year-olds, 47% higher than the 2004 “Indecision.” TVWeek.com (11/5)

A combined total of 70.6 million viewers tuned in to watch extended election night coverage across 14 network last night, according to Nielsen Research.  Leading the broadcast and cable networks in total viewers for the 8-1230am time frame was CNN with 13.2 million viewers, immediately followed by ABC News with 12.5 million.  A full list of the 14 networks and their total viewers for the evening are listed below in the Ratings section. (Cynopsis 11/6)

SCI FI Channel approved nine new episodes of Scare Tactics for next spring. Hosted by Tracy Morgan, this hidden-camera series using elaborate sets and scenarios to scare the bee-geebies out of unsuspecting people has averaged 1.54 million total viewers through its third season (July-November 2008). (Cynopsis 11/6)

Adult Swim, the grown-up version of Cartoon Network, in January will begin programming at 10 p.m., seven days a week, adding an extra hour on Mondays through Saturdays. The Turner network also announced that it would fill that extra hour by becoming the exclusive cable TV home of reruns of the venerable Fox hit “King of the Hill.” The Hollywood Reporter (11/5)

(Below) Can the change in political leadership also signal a change in reality television?  This sounds insanely awful.

In its new reality beauty competition series True Beauty, ABC explores what really makes a person attractive. From executive producers Tyra Banks and Ashton Kutcher, True Beauty debuts January 5 at 10p. Over the course of eight episodes, six beautiful females and four handsome guys will live together in a Los Angeles mansion while they participate in various inner and outer beauty challenges eliciting their true temperament. (Cynopsis 11/6)

ABC canceled the midseason series Single With Parents, the comedy produced by ABC Studios and DreamWorks and starring Alyssa Milano, according to THR. Production on the show had been interrupted due to disagreements over creative direction and with no resolution, ABC decided to nix it altogether. (Cynopsis 11/6)

With advertising revenue from the presidential election picking up steam during the third quarter, Time Warner’s cable TV channels, led by CNN, reported a 21% increase in operating income during the period. Overall, Time Warner, which recently spun off its Time Warner Cable unit, posted profit of $1.07 billion on revenue of $11.71 billion. The Wall Street Journal (11/6) , Reuters (11/5) , Mediaweek (11/5)

The cable TV channels of News Corp. were one of the few silver linings in an otherwise bleak fiscal first-quarter earnings report issued by the company. While the cable channels saw operating income rise 31%, primarily because of higher carriage fees, News Corp. as a whole reported a 30% drop in profit during the period, which ended Sept. 30. The Wall Street Journal (11/6) , Multichannel News (11/5)

During its busy session on Tuesday the FCC also launched an investigation into the pricing policies of America’s major cable operators and Verizon Communications, reports the AP. The agency sent a letter to a multiple MSOs and Verizon, asking them if they’re using the nation’s digital transition to trick customers into paying higher fees by moving analog channels to costlier digital tiers to make room for more HD or broadband offerings. (Cynopsis 11/6)

The billions of dollars spent during the 2008 election cycle gave media companies a sorely needed boost. But the world financial crisis that exploded this autumn will keep rattling them well into 2009, analysts say. “The worst case is nothing happens until 2010.” (Iwantmedia 11/6, http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSTRE4A4AN520081105 11/5)

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