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BROADCAST/CABLE by Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

Late-night talker Chelsea Lately on E! with host comedienne/author Chelsea Handler moves to a new time slot on the network. Starting February 16, Chelsea Lately airs weeknights at 11p followed by an encore airing of E! News at 1130p. Chelsea Lately also airs repeats at midnight and 230a. (Cynopsis 1/29)

The CW’s America‘s Next Top Model struts on the scene with Cycle 12 February 25 at 8p with encore airings on Fridays at 9p. Thirteen model finalists from around the U.S. will compete to land their dream career and a contract through Elite Model Management, a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl and a cover and six-page fashion spread in Seventeen magazine. America’s Next Top Model is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with Bankable Productions. (Cynopsis 1/29)

NBC approved another throw-back to the 1980s as Parenthood, an hour-long dramedy based on Ron Howard’s 1989 movie starring Steve Martin and Dianne Wiest was ordered, per THR. Jason Katims wrote the adaptation and will executive produce along with Howard, Brian Grazer and David Nevins. Universal Media Studios and Imagine TV will produce. NBC also recently approved the pilot Lost in the ’80s, while ABC ordered new adaptations of The Witches of Eastwick and the miniseries V. (Cynopsis 1/29)

ABC gave a pilot nod to Threesome, a comedy from Ricky Blitt (Family Guy), reports THR. The project is about a thirtysomething guy who finds himself in the middle of his needy best friend and his new girlfriend and her teenage kids. Warner Bros. Television will produce. (Cynopsis 1/29)

Writer Richard Fronduto has filed a lawsuit against Disney Channel, claiming that its hit series “Hannah Montana” was inspired by his script. Fronduto said that Disney liked his script so much that they asked him to turn it into a two-hour pilot that became “Hannah Montana.” (Iwantmedia 1/29, http://www.tmz.com/2009/01/28/writer-claims-hannah-is-his-baby 1/28)

Disney-ABC Television is laying off several hundred people, citing the weakening economy. “This was not an easy decision,” said group head Anne Sweeney. The news comes a day after Disney’s ESPN said it would cut 200 jobs. More layoffs at ABC are anticipated in the coming months. (Iwantmedia 1/29, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/01/disney-abc-tele.html 1/29)

The House of Representatives voted 258-168 to defeat the bill to delay broadcasters’ transition to digital by 4 months, just two days after it passed the Senate unanimously, per the AP. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and author of the bill to postpone the switchover, issued a statement expressing disappointment that “far too many” consumers will wake up on Feb. 18 without access to news, information on their TV sets. Opponents complained that a postponement would only add to confusion in the marketplace. (Cynopsis 1/29)

AT&T reported net income of $2.4 billion for Q4 compared to $3.1 billion a year ago, suffering from the upfront subsidy charges associated with signing up iPhone customers. The company earned $12.9 billion for the year up from $11.95 billion for 2007 as revenue rose 4.3% to $124 billion. There were 1.9 million activations of iPhone 3Gs during Q4, with about 40% of them from new AT&T customers. Like Verizon the company lost landline customers but gained wireless and TV subscribers. AT&T added 2.1 million cell phone subs overall and 264,000 U-verse IPTV customers, helping to make up for the loss of 1.56 million landlines during Q4. (Cynopsis 1/29)

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