Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Arts, CBS, Comcast, General Electric, NBC, NBC Universal, New York Times, Television
Media-watchers say the big story of the the 2009-10 television season is the rise of the Fox network, up 3% in viewers thanks largely to its new musical comedy “Glee” and the strength of medical drama “House.” Fox is the only broadcaster that is “up in all demos.” (Iwantmedia 11/2, Reuters10/30)
Comcast is closing in on a deal with General Electric that would give the country’s largest cable provider majority control of NBC Universal. According to unnamed executives, the two sides arrived at a tentative agreement Friday and the deal could be signed in the next week. The New York Times(11/1) , Reuters (11/2)
Several weeks after David Letterman was shaken by an image-rocking scandal, CBS‘ “Late Show With David Letterman” has shown little sign of weakening audience support. Far from hurting the host’s popularity, the sex-and-extortion headlines seemingly have had little impact on his late-night show and possibly even
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Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Baseball, Hulu, Jason Kilar, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Sport, Television, World Series
With the storied New York Yankees facing off against the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies, Fox Sports has a potentially compelling matchup in baseball’s World Series that should drive strong TV ratings.
All News Corp‘s Fox needs is close games, a full seven-game series and Mother Nature to cooperate and it could see strong revenue, analysts said. (Reuters10/27)
USA’s “White Collar” attracted 5.37 million viewers to its premiere at 10 p.m. Friday. The show averaged 2.18 million viewers in the 25-to-54 demographic group and 1.79 million in the 18-to-49 category. Mediaweek (10/26)
Television industry execs who complain that Hulu is undermining current models haven’t seen the business plan, says CEO Jason Kilar. Some 50% of Hulu’s content has never been available in the living room in the past year, and therefore no threat to the TV, he says. (Iwantmedia10/28, Broadcasting & Cable 10/27)
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Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Comedy Central, FamilyGuy, FOX, Fox Broadcasting Company, Hollywood Reporter, Microsoft, Viacom, Windows 7
The premiere Oct. 22 of Comedy Central‘s “The Jeff Dunham Show” attracted 5.3 million viewers, the most ever for a series debut on the Viacom-owned network. After factoring in showings later in the night, the series amassed an opening-day audience of 7.9 million viewers. The Hollywood Reporter (10/23)
CNN, which invented the cable news network more than two decades ago, will hit a new competitive low with its prime-time programs in October, finishing fourth – and last – among the cable news networks with the audience that all the networks rely on for their advertising. (NY Times 10/26)
Microsoft is backing out of its sponsorship off Fox‘s upcoming “Family Guy” comedy/variety special. The software giant planned to sponsor the show to tout its new Windows 7 operating system. The special’s content, Microsoft says, “was not a fit with the Windows brand.” (Iwantmedia 10/27, Variety10/26)
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Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Events, Gabriel Byrne, NBC, Olympic, Paul Weston, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Sport, Winter Olympic Games
Also this past Thursday at 10p, Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta concluded its second season drawing in a little more than 2.0 million A18-49 viewers and nearly 3.0 million total viewers. These tallies are up 22% and 35% respectively compared to the season one finale. (Cynopsis10/26)
NBC, Universal Sports and UniversalSports.com plan 1,250 hours of coverage of Olympic sports leading to the Winter Games in Vancouver. “For the first time ever, this all happens and is accessible to the American public,” says NBC Olympics president Gary Zenkel. (Iwantmedia 10/26, Yahoo10/26)
HBO renewed its 30m drama series In Treatment, starring Gabriel Byrne as Dr. Paul Weston, for a third season. Production on season three begins early next year in New York with a premiere slated for later in 2010. (Cynopsis 10/26)
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Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Arts, Comcast, Fox Broadcasting Company, Hollywood Los Angeles California, JayLeno, NbcUniversal, Television, Television program
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)
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Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: 4Kids Entertainment, Conan O'Brien, MelrosePlace, Paramount Pictures, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The CW Television Network, Universal Media Studios, Viacom
Looking to regain its popularity with young boys, Nickelodeon has acquired the rights to the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” franchise from The Mirage Group and 4Kids Entertainment for $60 million. The Viacom-owned cable network is expected to produce a new version of the show to debut in 2012, while corporate cousin Paramount Pictures will develop a feature film based on the heroes. Los Angeles Times/Company Town (10/21)
The CW is granting a full season order to the frosh drama Vampire Diaries, taking the series to a full 22-episode season. Since its debut in September, Vampire Diaries has delivered solid ratings and viewers for the network, averaging a 1.8 rating and 3.9 million total viewers last week. Additionally, The CW gave Melrose Placefive more episodes, despite its lukewarm ratings results since its premiere.
NBC gave a development nod to a 30m sitcom from actor/writer Paul Rust based on his past employment at a Wal-Mart store, cites Variety. The yet-to-be-titled project will be produced by Universal Media Studios through Conan O’Brien‘s Conaco banner. Rust will write and star in the project which recounts his former job at a Wal-Mart located in his hometown of LeMars, Iowa following college graduation.
Does Wal-Mart not see the branded entertainment opportunities alllll over this? Makes me think of the web site I turned to most when driving cross country. http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/
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Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Alaska, Government, NBC Universal, Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Palin, Television, Television program, United States
Oprah Winfrey, aiming to climb back from last season’s ratings slump, will attempt to make up with conservative viewers on Nov. 16 when she has Sarah Palin on her syndicated talk show. Palin’s new book, “Going Rogue,” is scheduled to hit bookstores the next day. (Iwantmedia 10/21, Washington Post 10/21)
Combining metrics across multiple platforms, ESPN says it delivered its biggest audience ever in Sept., including a combined total day rating of 1.65 million homes across ESPN’s networks, a 250% spike in time spent on ESPN 360.com (per Move Analytics,) and a 21% boost in unique visitors to ESPN.com, totaling 28.8 million visitors for the month. ESPN.com also had more viewers of online video in September than ever, with 9.3 million viewers logging nearly 196 million minutes of video viewing. (Cynopsis10/21)
Traditional television viewing patterns are collapsing and the industry needs to quickly figure out how to profit in a world where people can watch TV shows anytime, anywhere, says NBC Universal TV chief Marc Graboff. “The audience is so fragmented at the expense of TV shows.” (Iwantmedia 10/21, Reuters10/20)
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