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BROADCAST/CABLE by Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

Comcast will serve up on its video-on-demand platform in March an exclusive music video package featuring the rock band U2 and its new album, “No Line on the Horizon.” The company, which has more than 1,000 HD offerings via VOD, already has premiered one song off the new album. The Boston Globe (2/24) , NewsOXY.com (2/24)

The CW has announced a handful of renewals for Fall 2009 – five dramas and one reality show. Among the early pickups for next season are Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill; frosh series 90210; a ninth season of Smallville; a fifth season of Supernatural; in addition to cycles 13 and 14 of America’s Next Top Model. (Cynopsis 2/25)

Spotted: Ed Westwick and Chace Crawford last night in the meatpacking district looking as good as I thought they would.

Fox News and MSNBC are seeing big audience gains, while CNN is shedding a large share of its audience. CNN shows hosted by Anderson Cooper and Lou Dobbs are losing viewers; MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow is bringing in 134% more viewers than the time period had last year. (Iwantmedia 2/25, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/02/fox-news-and-ms.html 2/24)

“Army Wives,” Lifetime’s most successful series, has been picked up for a fourth season on the female-friendly network even before the third season has premiered. Lifetime ordered 18 new episodes for Season 4, which will debut sometime in 2010. Broadcasting & Cable (2/24)

Summer reality competition series So You Think You Can Dance is scheduled to open its fifth season on FOX with a two-night, four-hour premiere May 21 and May 27 at 8p. (Cynopsis 2/25)

Turner Networks, the big cable programmer that last year made headlines when it scheduled its upfront presentation for ad executives in the midst of the broadcast sessions, and drew comparisons between its lineup and that of NBC, is at it again: The company, with powerhouse networks TNT and TBS, will stage this year’s upfront event on May 20, the same day as CBS. Variety (2/24)

The CW approved a drama pilot order for The Beautiful Life, a drama from executive producer Ashton Kutcher. Featuring an ensemble cast, the drama follows a group of young models living together in New York City. (Cynopsis 2/25)

An updated version of Melrose Place also received a pilot order from The CW. CBS Paramount Network Television will produce the drama about a group of twentysomethings living in the upscale Melrose neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Cynopsis 2/25)

Andy Richter is joining Conan O’Brien as NBC’s The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien begins June 1. Richter will be show’s announcer and also be involved in live and pre-taped comedy sketches. (Cynopsis 2/25)

Nickelodeon has the No. 1 ad-sales organization in television, according to results of the 25th annual “Myers Survey of Advertising Executives on National TV Value and Sales Organization Performance.” The Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group bested more than 35 other national TV sales groups from cable and broadcast to win the competition for the first time. Multichannel News (2/24)

Cable provider RCN added 12,000 customers in the fourth quarter of last year and generated revenue of $188 million, a 12% increase. News of the company’s better-than-expected quarterly results sent its stock 14.7% higher in Tuesday trading. The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires (2/24) , CED Magazine (2/2009) , OneTRAK (2/24)

The latest data from Nielsen show that 15 ad-supported cable networks increased their prime-time ratings — nine of them by double digits — from Jan. 26 to Feb. 22. USA Network was the top network with 3.41 million viewers in prime time during that period, a 13% increase, and made a strong showing in all the key demos. Mediaweek (2/24)

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