December 2008 - The Business of Television -

Adalian Column: Polishing Up the Crystal Ball

I should know better. A year ago at this time, while working for Daily Variety, I joined my colleague Michael Schneider in coming up with a list of eight predictions for 2008. Among our in-print forecasts: The Olympics would be a pop-culture bust, fans...

Published Wed, Dec 31 2008 6:50 PM by News

Filed under: Broadcast, DTV, CBS, NBC, The CW, Print Edition, Conan O'Brien, Guiding Light, Big Brother, Friday Night Lights, Reality, Warner Bros., Oprah Winfrey

Cable Association Steps Into Viacom-TWC Dispute, Orders Crawl Stopped

The American Cable Association demanded that Viacom stop the crawl running during its programming that tells cable subscribers that they might lose networks such as Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon at midnight. The crawl was being televised to all...

Published Wed, Dec 31 2008 3:26 PM by News

Filed under: Cable, Viacom, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, American Cable Association

FCC’s Media Bureau Takes Lead on NFL Net Complaint

The Media Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission is again stepping in to speed the resolution of a complaint that cable systems aren’t dealing fairly with an independent cable network, this time to the benefit of the NFL Network. The Media Bureau...

Published Wed, Dec 31 2008 2:54 PM by News

Filed under: Cable, NFL Network, FCC, Comcast, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, WealthTV, Media Bureau

Time Warner Cable: Viacom Wants $39 Mil More Annually

Time Warner Cable says Viacom, which is threatening to pull signals for 19 cable networks from the operator’s system, is seeking $39 million more annually in the companies’ fee dispute . Viacom plans to remove its channels—including Nickelodeon, Comedy...

Published Wed, Dec 31 2008 11:53 AM by News

Filed under: Cable, Viacom, Nickelodeon, MTV, Time Warner Cable, Comedy Central, Sumner Redstone, Glenn Britt

Viacom Threatens to Pull MTV, Other Networks Off Time Warner Cable

Viacom is threatening to pull its networks, including Nickelodeon and MTV, off of Time Warner Cable tomorrow if the companies don't reach an agreement on fees for the channels. Viacom is readying advertisements featuring characters from its channels...

Published Wed, Dec 31 2008 8:05 AM by News

Filed under: Cable, Viacom, Nickelodeon, MTV, Time Warner Cable, Comedy Central

MLB Network Joins Charter, Cablevision’s Digital Lineups

Charter Communications and Cablevision Systems will add the MLB Network to their digital lineups when the network launches on Jan. 1 at 6 p.m. ET. The MLB Network will join the digital portion of Charter’s expanded basic lineup as well as Cablevision...

Published Tue, Dec 30 2008 4:04 PM by News

Filed under: Cable, Ken Burns, MLB Network, Cablevision Systems, Charter Communications, Baseball

Fox Takes Second Straight NFL Ratings Crown

Fox drew the highest ratings among the networks that show NFL football for the second consecutive year. Fox said its NFL games averaged a 10.5 Nielsen household rating and a 22 share CBS’s Sunday games drew a 10 ratings and 21 share. Fox’s Sunday afternoon...

Published Tue, Dec 30 2008 4:02 PM by News

Filed under: Broadcast, Cable, Fox, ABC, ESPN, NFL, CBS, Desperate Housewives, Monday Night Football, TV Ratings

MLB Network Adds Burns’ ‘Baseball’ to Lineup

MLB Network will air the Ken Burns documentary series “Baseball” as part of its programming launch when the channel goes live Jan. 1. The Major League Baseball-themed channel will air a new episode, or inning, every week starting Tues., Jan. 6, at 8 p...

Published Tue, Dec 30 2008 1:59 PM by News

Filed under: Cable, Ken Burns, MLB Network, Baseball

Combs, E! Team With CÎROC for Safe Rides on New Year’s Eve

Sean “Diddy” Combs will help New Yorkers get home safe on New Year’s Eve. Mr. Combs and CÎROC Ultra Premium Vodka are partnering with the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission and E! Entertainment to give out thousands of debit cards valued up...

Published Tue, Dec 30 2008 12:59 PM by News

Filed under: Cable, E!, Sean Combs, CÎROC, E! Entertainment

FCC Bids Farewell to Tate, DTV Switch Concerns Loom

Departing Federal Communications Commission commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate was saluted today by fellow commissioners at her final FCC meeting before she departs the agency. Ms. Tate, who got a recess appointment to the commission by President George...

Published Tue, Dec 30 2008 11:44 AM by News

Filed under: Broadcast, Digital, DTV, FCC, Deborah Taylor Tate

Classic TV Shows Get Stamp of Approval

The secret word this summer is going to be “postage stamp.” The U.S. Postal Service today unveiled its 2009 lineup of commemorative stamps, and one set to be unveiled Aug. 11 is dedicated to early TV memories. Among programs to be commemorated in the...

Published Mon, Dec 29 2008 3:22 PM by News

Filed under: Broadcast, U.S. Postal Service, Stamps

NBC’s ‘Today’ Rules; ‘Meet the Press’ Holds Steady

NBC morning news programs continue to lead in ratings, as last week’s “Today” and Sunday’s “Meet the Press” performances top their respective time slots. “Today” marked its 680th consecutive week at No. 1 for the week ending Dec. 21, averaging 6 million...

Published Mon, Dec 29 2008 3:11 PM by News

Filed under: Broadcast, ABC, CBS, NBC, Meet the Press, Today, Good Morning America, The Early Show, Face the Nation, TV Ratings, Fox News Sunday, This Week

Fancast to Debut ‘Kyle XY’ Premiere on Jan. 7

Comcast’s online television service Fancast will host the exclusive Web premiere of “Kyle XY’s” third season on Jan. 7. The season premiere of the ABC Family series will be available on the Web site through Jan. 11. The new season premieres on ABC Family...

Published Mon, Dec 29 2008 12:12 PM by News

Filed under: Cable, Digital, ABC Family, Fancast, Comcast, Kyle XY, Matt Dallas, Lincoln Heights

YouTube, Hulu Still Growing, Nielsen Says

The world’s biggest video site and the world’s most popular premium video destination both served up more videos in November than the month before, according to the most recent figures from Nielsen Online. The dominant YouTube delivered nearly 5.6 billion...

Published Mon, Dec 29 2008 8:00 AM by News

Filed under: Digital, YouTube, Online Video, Hulu, MySpace, Fox Interactive Media, Nielsen Online

Syndie ‘Live’ Gets New Look, Sound for New Year

“Live With Regis and Kelly” is starting the New Year with a new theme song and a high-definition look that the Disney-ABC Domestic Television syndicated daytime hit has been working toward since its last major studio makeover. “I always say ‘evolution...

Published Sun, Dec 28 2008 10:36 PM by News

Filed under: Syndication, HD, Disney-ABC Domestic Television, Print Edition, Live With Regis and Kelly, Regis Philbin, Michael Gelman, Gabriel Saientz, Kelly Ripa

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