October 2008 - The Business of Television

NBC Gives ‘Kath & Kim’ Back-Nine Order

NBC has decided to show some patience with low-rated new comedy “Kath & Kim,” giving the series a full-season order. The network late Friday ordered nine additional episodes of the Universal Media Studios/Reveille-produced half-hour, which stars Molly...

Published Fri, Oct 31 2008 9:11 PM by News

Filed under: Broadcast, NBC, Kath & Kim, Reveille, My Name Is Earl, Universal Media Studios, Teri Weinberg

Spanish-Language WXTV Wins Time Slot in New York

Univision’s WXTV 41 is the most-watched TV station in New York by adults 18-49 during the 6-8 p.m. weekday time period, an October audience survey found. WXTV attracted 147,000 viewers ages 18-49 in the time period, with WABC-TV coming in second at 142...

Published Fri, Oct 31 2008 4:09 PM by News

Filed under: Broadcast, Univision, TV Ratings, WXTV 41

19.8 Million Watched Breeders’ Cup on ABC, ESPN

The 2008 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which aired Oct. 24-25 on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, attracted 19.8 million viewers. The horse-racing championship was up 62% in viewers from last year’s 12.2 million viewers. The event also attracted a 0.7 household...

Published Fri, Oct 31 2008 3:20 PM by News

Filed under: Broadcast, Cable, ABC, ESPN, TV Ratings, 2008 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, ESPN2

D.C. Appeals Court Upholds Cable Carriage of Local Station Signals

The federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., today ruled to uphold the FCC’s decision to require cable systems to make the digital signals of local broadcast must-carry stations viewable to all subscribers, including analog subscribers. The decision...

Published Fri, Oct 31 2008 2:45 PM by News

Filed under: Broadcast, Cable, Digital, FCC, NAB, Analog

ABC Adds to ‘Samantha’ Order

ABC is giving a vote of confidence to second-year comedy “Samantha Who”? The network has ordered seven additional episodes of the Christina Applegate series, bringing to 20 the total number of episodes it plans to produce. While full-season orders usually...

Published Fri, Oct 31 2008 2:09 PM by News

Filed under: Broadcast, ABC, Samantha Who?

Clearleap Gets $3.3 Mil Investment

Video technology company Clearleap has secured $3.3 million in venture debt financing from Silicon Valley Bank. The funds will go toward enhancing development of infrastructure and business management products for television service providers and media...

Published Fri, Oct 31 2008 1:40 PM by News

Filed under: Digital, Silicon Valley Bank, Clearleap

Obama Campaign Buys First Ads in Arizona

Barack Obama's presidential campaign is taking the unprecedented step of launching its first advertising in rival John McCain’s home state of Arizona. Obama campaign manager David Plouffe announced the advertising buy this morning, saying the campaign...

Published Fri, Oct 31 2008 11:26 AM by News

Filed under: Advertising, Barack Obama, Election, Campaign, John McCain, Arizona, David Plouffe

ABC Radio Networks Adds Content From E!, Style, G4

The Comcast Entertainment Group said Friday it made a deal with ABC Radio Networks that will bring content from E! Entertainment, Style Network and G4 to radio listeners. E! is expected to create celebrity and entertainment content for radio. Style will...

Published Fri, Oct 31 2008 11:16 AM by News

Filed under: Cable, Comcast Entertainment Group, E!, G4, John Najarian, ABC Radio Networks, Style

Negative Ads Rule as Campaign Nears End, Study Shows

As the presidential campaign moved into its closing weeks, negative ads continued to dominate the airwaves. But Barack Obama’s ads have turned more negative while Republican John McCain has mixed in some positive messages to his earlier all-out-attack...

Published Fri, Oct 31 2008 11:13 AM by News

Filed under: Advertising, Barack Obama, Election, Campaign, John McCain, Ken Goldstein, University of Wisconsin

Fox Votes ‘American’ Into Fifth Season

Fox is waving the flag for “American Dad,” renewing the Seth MacFarlane-produced animated series for a fifth season. The renewal had been expected by executives at 20th Century Fox Television, which produces the show. Fox has ordered 22 episodes of “Dad...

Published Thu, Oct 30 2008 10:00 PM by News

Filed under: Broadcast, Fox, 20th Century Fox Television, American Dad

'King of the Hill' Canceled

Fox has canceled long-running animated comedy "King of the Hill." The show's most recent episode order of 13 half-hours will be its last, a Fox spokesman said Thursday. Given the lead time for animation, it's likely the series will air...

Published Thu, Oct 30 2008 8:17 PM by News

Filed under: Broadcast, Fox, Gary Newman, King of the Hill

Bravo Turns Up the Flame on Fashion

Bravo announced a slew of projects in development at the network, in addition to the pickup of new fashion competition series “The Fashion Show.” Shows in development include the topical “Fashionality,” featuring some of New York’s biggest “tastemakers...

Published Thu, Oct 30 2008 7:51 PM by News

Filed under: Cable, Bravo, Fashionality, Celebrity Sew-Off, The Fashion Show, Double Exposure, The Dubai Project, Polo

Discovery Goes ‘Inside the Target Car’ on JFK Anniversary

Discovery Channel will air “JFK: Inside the Target Car” on Nov. 16, the 45th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The special employs cutting-edge forensics and film archives to prove that the only bullets fired at President...

Published Thu, Oct 30 2008 7:37 PM by News

Filed under: Cable, Discovery Channel, JFK: Inside the Target Car

Soggy World Series Slips to Lowest Ratings Ever

Bad weather led to bad ratings as the 2008 World Series on Fox drew the smallest audience in its history. The five-game series concluded with the Philadelphia Phillies beating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in the conclusion of Game 5, which had been suspended...

Published Thu, Oct 30 2008 5:43 PM by News

Filed under: Broadcast, Fox, Ratings, World Series, Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelphia Phillies

Obama Drives ‘Daily Show’ to Record Ratings

Sen. Barack Obama’s appearance on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” last night was the program’s most-watched episode ever. The episode attracted 3.6 million total viewers and a 2.6 household rating, besting its previous record—when...

Published Thu, Oct 30 2008 5:40 PM by News

Filed under: Cable, Barack Obama, Election, Comedy Central, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report, TV Ratings