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BROADCAST/CABLE by Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

In the headlines again, this time with more specific news, NBC announced yesterday Jay Leno will host a new live primetime comedy/talk show beginning fall 2009. The Monday-Friday hour-long show based in Burbank will air at 10p/EST and 9p/CST. The new show will contain some of the same elements as The Tonight Show including an opening monologue, guests, comedy skits like “Headlines,” “Jaywalking”, as well as more topical content and newsmakers. It should be pointed out, however, that this new show will not be a simple remake of The Tonight Show. Leno will get an entirely new set … the vertical striped curtain and desk belong to Tonight Show.  In making this unprecedented move of stripping a primetime talk show, NBC realizes the show will have a lower ratings threshold than a scripted series and be more economical to produce. (Cynopsis 12/10)

The Friday premiere of Nickelodeon’s “Merry Christmas Drake and Josh” pulled in 8.1 million viewers to become the most-watched live-action movie among children 2 to 11 and total number of viewers in the channel’s history. The two-hour movie, starring Drake Bell and Josh Peck, featured a guest appearance by Henry Winkler. Broadcasting & Cable (12/9)

The season-ending episode of Discovery Channel’s “Storm Chasers” was rated the No. 1 show among men 18 to 34 Sunday night on prime-time, ad-supported cable channels with more than 3.2 million viewers. For Discovery, it was the most-watched show since July 2007 among adults 25 to 54 and men 25 to 54 and the most-watched Sunday night show by men 18 to 34 since “Planet Earth.” Multichannel News (12/9)

With NBC announcing Monday that it will combine operations with sister studio Universal Media Studios, industry sources have been buzzing about similar plans under consideration at ABC. Entertainment head Stephen McPherson is rumored to head the newly merged unit. (Iwantmedia 12/10, http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i4d2fc033695aeeced71236392bc3d5a3 12/9)

Disney is feeling the financial squeeze, but its cutbacks during the downturn likely will be less dramatic than those at other media conglomerates, according to CFO Tom Staggs. “You’ll see us taking some of those steps in the ensuing weeks and months.” (Iwantmedia 12/10, http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117997131.html?categoryid=3284&cs=1 12/9)

Pressure is mounting on CBS to lower its dividend, now yielding 14% after a 73% decline in the shares this year. Investors may be anticipating a dividend cut as slumping advertising sales hurt cash flow at the broadcaster, according to Moody’s analyst Neil Begley. (Iwantmedia 12/10, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&refer=&sid=alqVeY6.FPQQ 12/10)

VH1′s premiere of original series Real Chance Of Love Monday night at 9p delivered a 1.4 A18-49 rating and 2.6 million viewers. Following at 10p, the season finale of Scream Queens posted a 1.0 rating among A18-49 and 1.7 million viewers. (Cynopsis 12/10)

VH1 will premiere its new eight-episode reality series Confessions of a Teen Idol January 4 at 8p. The series takes a group of former teen idols from the 80s and 90s and under the tutelage of Scott Baio, former child star now producer Jason Hervey and celebrity psychologist Cooper Lawrence, each are given the tools and confidence to make a career comeback. (Cynopsis 12/10)

TBS is going a little Greek as the comedy-targeted network ordered a presentation for a 30m late-night show tentatively titled Frat House from Bunim-Murray, cites THR. The project, similar to Will Ferrell’s 2003 comedy Old School, is about three guys plated by Bret Ernst, Theo Von and Bert Kreischer who long for their old frat house days. (Cynopsis 12/10)

Bravo will introduce viewers to a second season of The Millionaire Matchmaker in time for Valentine’s Day on February 12 at 10p. Viewers will watch as Patti Stanger, owner of an exclusive Los Angeles matchmaking firm, and her staff chooses potential mates for male millionaires and new for this season, the company will work on behalf of wealthy female and gay clients. (Cynopsis 12/10)

Tivo unveiled its latest gimmick to try and serve ads to commercial-skipping consumers. Advertisers can now place targeted messages on a new Pause Menu, which comes up anytime a viewer pauses a live or recorded program. The ads can be tied to specific shows or can target a range of programming by genre or keyword within the program description. Mercedes-Benz USA and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment are two early adopters of the feature. (Cynopsis 12/10)

Cox Communications systems nationwide on Jan. 1 will begin carrying Fox Business Network, adding about 2 million subscribers to FBN’s rolls. The deal brings FBN, which launched in October of 2007, to about 45 million U.S. homes. Mediaweek (12/9)

DirecTV said that while it remains bullish about 2009, hiring will be frozen and all but the most critical capital projects will be suspended as visibility on the economy remains poor. The largest U.S. satellite television provider also plans to raise rates next year. (Iwantmedia 12/10, http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081209/directv_economy.html 12/9)

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