Daily Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

During NBC’s Super Bowl XLIII broadcast on February 1, viewers will need 3-D glasses to view a 90-second commercial promoting the March release of animated movie Monsters vs. Aliens from DreamWorks Animation. DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said the 90-second commercial plus giving away 150 million pairs of 3-D glasses through 28,000 retail locations via the Pepsi/SoBe Life displays will cost “tens of millions of dollars” and he calls the deal “perhaps the biggest media-advertising event in history.” A single 30-second ad in the Super Bowl is tabbed at approximately $3 million. (Cynopsis 1/6)

Is it wrong that I want to rubber band the glasses to my mom’s dog and see what happens?  All in good fun…

The eighth season opener of A&E’s “The First 48″ attracted a record 2.3 million viewers, according to the network. The episode, which originally aired Jan. 1, won the much-coveted adult 18-to-49 and 25-to-54 demographics as well. Multichannel News (1/5)

Bravo is back in Manhattan as season two of The Real Housewives of New York City debuts February 17 at 11p following the finale of The Real Housewives of Orange County. The series will shift to its normal time slot of Tuesdays at 10p starting February 24. (Cynopsis 1/6)

To promote the new season of “Big Love,” a drama about a polygamous family, HBO is installing billboards in New York and Los Angeles that feature headphone jacks that allow passers-by to plug in and listen to people confess secrets. The campaign, by BBDO New York and other shops, is based around the tag line, “Everyone Has Something to Hide,” and also includes a microsite and performing street teams in major cities. The New York Times (1/5)

NBC News is denying a Drudge Report story claiming that conservative author Ann Coulter has been banned from the network after “Today” dropped her from Tuesday’s program because of breaking-news events. “We look forward to welcoming her back in the future,” says NBC. (Iwantmedia 1/6, http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i27e6523c216f71f782c2de31d9dec3fb 1/5)

If only they could ban Crazy Train Coulter…  And yes, I say this with full liberal bias.

As more cable channels produce must-see programs, a top-rated cable outlet could come to reach as many viewers as one of the broadcast networks, according to industry analysts. Within three or four years, “you probably could lose one” of the major broadcasters. (Iwantmedia 1/6, http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=133514 1/5)

TV and film company Lionsgate has acquired the TV Guide Channel and TVGuide.com from Macrovision for $255 million. For Lionsgate — which controls channel FearNet with Sony and Comcast and soon will launch pay-cable movie channel Epix with Viacom and MGM — the move represents deeper involvement in the cable arena. The Wall Street Journal (1/6) , Advertising Age (1/5)

CBS plans to reduce capital spending to $350 million this year and would sell more radio stations at the right price, according to CEO Les Moonves, speaking at an investor conference. He adds that he is optimistic advertising will recover: “CBS is going to get the bulk of that revenue.” (Iwantmedia 1/6, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a87gPx6Opxhk 1/6)

WGN America formed a new partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to begin airing the first-run, original show WWE Superstars beginning this April. WWE Superstars, a 60m weekly series produced by WWE, will highlight various Superstars and Divas from the three WWE franchises. The program will air Thursday nights at 8p and 11p and with a third run on the weekend. (Cynopsis 1/6)

New York viewers will get extra financial insight into the current economic crisis as The New York Times business reporter/columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin hosts a new seven-episode series It’s the Economy, NY! What’s Happening and What It Means to You. From WNET.ORG, the series opens this Thursday on New York public television stations THIRTEEN at 8p and WLIW21 at 1130p. During each episode, Sorkin will interview top financial leaders focused on topics important to New Yorkers. (Cynopsis 1/6)

Time Warner Cable is signing a new deal to carry CBS’s flagship network and Showtime premium channel. CBS and Showtime will be part of Time Warner Cable’s “Start Over” feature that lets viewers restart shows and the “Look Back” service that makes programs available for three days. (Iwantmedia 1/6, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=aISSWRB.Occo 1/6)