Daily Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

The deal between Comcast and NBC Universal is moving toward a likely official conclusion as media honchos gathered this week at 30 Rockefeller Plaza to kick tires, scrutinize balance sheets and perform due diligence. (The Wrap 10/22)

Jeff Gaspin, NBC Universal’s top television exec, claims that NBC will no longer program to profit margins — meaning no more “Jay Leno”-like programming that is profitable merely because it is cheaply produced. The announcement is said to be “stunning” Hollywood. (The Washington Post 10/23)

Stunning yes, if you consider that Marc Graboff (Co-Chairman/NBC) mentioned mere days ago at Digital Hollywood LA how profitable Leno was for the advertisers and how he considered that things were going “well.”

To satisfy the “Gleeks,” aka fans of new frosh series Glee, FOX said it will release the first 13 episodes of its music-filled drama on DVD at the end of this year, per Variety. ‘Glee’ Season One: Road to Sectionals will be available in stores by December 29. The 13-episode set will also contain a director’s cut of the pilot episode as well as behind-the-scenes features, cast audition clips and music performances from the show. Later in mid-2010 the full first season of Glee will be released on DVD, picking up the new original episodes slated to air on FOX next spring. The 13-episode set, coming out this December will also include a voucher toward the purchase of the full season box set. (Cynopsis 10/23)