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Can “All News” Survive On CNN?
13 November 2009 1:48 PM, PST
CNN's decision to replace commentator Lou Dobbs with veteran reporter John King may be the final test of whether traditional hard news reporting can survive against the fire and brimstone commentators who have fascinated huge audiences on Fox News, MSNBC and even CNN's sister operation, Hln, several publications observed on Thursday. The San Francisco Chronicle quoted Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism, as saying that "cable has become so ideologically focused" that it raises the question: "Can you build a primetime audience around people who are not ideologues? We don't know." Former CNN anchor Bobbie Battista had mixed feelings about the move. "The journalist in me absolutely believes in what they're doing, that it's the best strategy to be the most trusted network. The programmer in me is saying, 'Wow! That's going to be tough to win,'" she told the Atlanta-Journal-Constitution. "The move is a gamble, »
Palin Says Couric Had A “Partisan Agenda” In Interview
13 November 2009 1:43 PM, PST
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has told Oprah Winfrey that she was immediately aware that her interview with Katie Couric was going badly during the first segment but that Republican campaign officials urged her to press on with it nevertheless. "That is why Segment 2 and 3 and 4 and maybe 5 were scheduled. The campaign said, 'Right on. Good. You're showing your independence. This is what America needs to see and it was a good interview.' And of course I'm thinking, if you thought that was a good interview, I don't know what a bad interview is because I knew it was a bad interview." Palin appeared on Winfrey's program to promote her new book, Going Rogue, in which she accuses Couric of "badgering" her and having a "partisan agenda." She also accuses ABC newsman Charles Gibson of appearing to be bored by discussions of "substantive issues" and that while interviewing her, »
Gay Editor Cautions Against Outing Young Actors
13 November 2009 1:31 PM, PST
The editor of the gay-oriented website AfterElton.com has called upon others in the gay press to go easy on Glee cast member Chris Colfer (or, as he puts it, "zip it and cut the kid some slack") on disclosing his sexual orientation. The 19-year-old actor plays a character struggling with his sexuality in the hit new series. In an editorial appearing on the AfterElton website on Thursday, Michael Jensen observed that the senior gay publication The Advocate had inferred from a comment that Colfer had made in an interview that he was openly gay. (Asked whether he was "out" in high school, Colfer replied, "Oh, no. People are killed in my hometown for that."). However, Colfer later told USA that he wished to keep his sexuality "private," explaining, "As much as I give away of my personal life, the less people will believe me as other characters." Jensen commented »
Youtube To Offer Full 1080P High Definition
13 November 2009 12:31 PM, PST
Stepping up its competition with traditional television, the YouTube website announced Wednesday that beginning next week, many video clips will be available in full 1080p high-definition, the top quality for home-theater systems. "As resolution of consumer cameras increases, we want to make sure YouTube is the best home on the web to showcase your content," the company said in a statement. Previously, its HD-branded clips were available in second-tier 720p, the maximum resolution for most smaller-screen HDTV sets. The website further announced that many clips already available in 720p are being re-encoded to 1080p HD.
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Lou Dobbs Abruptly Quits CNN
12 November 2009 2:25 PM, PST
In a surprise announcement, controversial CNN host Lou Dobbs said shortly after his show began Wednesday night, "This will be my last broadcast." There was no immediate explanation from Dobbs himself or from CNN about why he was leaving so abruptly in the middle of a week with more than a year remaining on his contract. Speculation immediately arose that Dobbs would be heading for Fox News, which might welcome his conservative viewpoints on such matters as immigration reform and corporate bailouts. But a spokesperson for Fox immediately discounted such speculation, maintaining that there had been no discussions between Dobbs and any Fox executives about Dobbs jumping ship. Dobbs himself said merely, "I will let you know when I set my course." Some TV columnists theorized that his closing remarks Wednesday hinted that he would try his hand at politics. "As for the important work of restoring inspiration to our »
Prejean Threatens To Walk Out On Larry King
12 November 2009 2:21 PM, PST
CNN personality Larry King nearly was forced to put on a one-man show Wednesday night when his guest, former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, seemed ready to walk out and was apparently dissuaded during a commercial break. Prejean, who was booked on the show to discuss her new book about losing his beauty-pageant title -- and before the scandal erupted over her alleged sex tape -- became clearly upset when King asked her why she settled her lawsuit against the pageant, insisting that she was bound by a confidentiality agreement. When King insisted that he was not asking her about the terms of the settlement, she interjected: "I think that you are being extremely inappropriate right now, and I'm about to leave your show." A moment later, when King took a call from the audience, Prejean could be seen removing her microphone -- at which point King went to a commercial break. »
More People Watching TV Than Ever Before
12 November 2009 2:17 PM, PST
Despite competition in the home from the Internet, DVD's and videogames, Americans spent more time watching television during the 2008-2009 season than ever before, according to a study by Nielsen Media Research. In a new report released on Wednesday, Nielsen said that Americans spent an average of four hours and 49 minutes a day in front of their TV sets, up four minutes from the previous year and nearly one hour (58 minutes) from the 1998-1999 season. "The continued increase in television consumption can be attributed to several factors including more television sets in the home, and Americans also have more channels and content to choose from and are using their DVRs more than ever," Nielsen explained.
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“V” Ain’T For Victory
12 November 2009 2:15 PM, PST
The alien invasion that ABC launched last week with the debut of V that threatened the status of CBS's NCIS as the No. 1 scripted series, appeared effectively driven back as the second episode of the series lost 27 percent of its first-week audience. The plunge was typical for sci-fi vehicles. Nevertheless, the episode attracted 10.6 million viewers, a solid number despite the fall. ABC improved its ratings at 9:00 p.m. with a results episode of Dancing with the Stars, which drew 15.5 million. But neither ABC show could outshine CBS's one-two punch at 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. In the earlier hour NCIS drew 20.2 million viewers (a tad below its average for the season), and in the later one, NCIS Los Angeles pulled in 16.2 million viewers. CBS also dominated in the 10:00 p.m. hour, with its freshman show The Good Wife rounding up 12.9 million viewers.
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World Series Nabs Top Ratings Score
11 November 2009 5:21 PM, PST
The World Series made a surprise comeback last week, drawing an average of 19.4 million viewers and peaking in Game 6 with 22.3 million, according to final figures released this week by Nielsen Research. Last year the series, hamstrung by rain delays, averaged 13.6 million viewers, a record low. The previous low mark was set in 2006 with 15.8 million tuning in, and 2007's audience was only slightly larger. Meanwhile, football remained a potent weekly force with NBC's Sunday telecast of the Cowboys/Eagles contest drawing 21.9 million viewers. Tuesday night also produced robust competition between CBS's veteran drama NCIS and ABC's newcomer V. Airing in the same 8:00 p.m. time period, NCIS attracted 20.2 million viewers and landed in third place for the week (behind the Wednesday baseball game and the Sunday football game), while V drew 14.3 million viewers, good enough for 12th place. Each of the nightly news programs showed significant audience gains. NBC Nightly News »
Even Howie Mandel Makes As Much As Katie Couric
11 November 2009 5:13 PM, PST
Forget about the much ballyhooed $15 million a year that CBS agreed to pay Katie Couric to anchor the CBS Evening News. At least six other U.S. television personalities earn far more than that each year, according to Forbes magazine. The financial publication said Tuesday that the highest-paid TV personality is Simon Cowell, who earns $75 million on U.S. television alone. (Cowell also commutes to the U.K. each week for appearances on Britain's Got Talent. Pop Idol, and The X Factor.) The Apprentice host Donald Trump landed at No. 2 on the Forbes list with $50 million, followed by Ryan Seacrest with $35 million. Also earning more than Couric are: Charlie Sheen ($21 million), Steve Carell ($20 million); and Howie Mandel ($15 million). (Couric does not appear on the Forbes list because her program does not air in primetime.)
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Producers Revamp “The Jay Leno Show”
11 November 2009 5:07 PM, PST
Hoping to halt the continued exodus of viewers, producers of The Jay Leno Show have returned it to a format resembling Leno's Tonight show, with "signature" pieces being brought forward to the beginning of the show, Broadcasting & Cable observed today (Wednesday). The decision runs counter to the producers' original decision to move the pieces, such as Headlines and Jay Walking to the end of the show in an effort to retain the audiences for the local NBC affiliates' 11:00 p.m. newscasts. In reporting on the format alteration, the trade publication remarked, "It looks as though NBC and Leno are taking the ratings and affiliate feedback seriously and tweaking the show. How it plays out will have to wait for another day."
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Broadcast Pioneer Storer Dead At 81
11 November 2009 5:03 PM, PST
Peter Storer, who expanded the broadcasting empire founded by his father, George Storer, into the fourth largest TV and cable company in the U.S., has died of cardiovascular disease in Saratoga, Wy at age 81. At the time Storer Communications was sold to Kohlberg, Kravis Roberts in 1986, it included seven TV stations and cable franchises in 500 communities in 18 states.
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MSNBC Runs Anti-leno Item
10 November 2009 4:18 PM, PST
Now even MSNBC.com, whose corporate sibling, NBC, made the decision to broadcast The Jay Leno Show at 10:00 p.m. each night, has joined the media outlets criticizing that decision. In an article that appeared on the site Monday, veteran Canadian TV newspaper critic Bill Brioux, now a regular columnist for MSNBC.com, observed that Leno's press coverage keeps deteriorating. He cited numerous devastating reports in such publications as Broadcasting & Cable, MediaWeek, Advertising Age, and the New York Times. Brioux also cited earlier remarks by NBC executives that the Leno show can turn a profit even with a 1.5 rating among the 18-49 demo. "But the numbers have dipped below even that low threshold," he noted. Brioux quoted Marc Berman, who tracks ratings for MediaWeek as saying, "It's an enormous flop."
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Lions Gate Roars Back
10 November 2009 4:14 PM, PST
Lions Gate, which earlier this year was squarely in the sights of corporate raider Carl Icahn after reporting a series of quarterly losses, continued to roar back in its latest quarter. The entertainment company, based in Canada and California, swung to a $31.7 million net profit in the quarter compared with a net loss of $51.8 million during the comparable quarter a year ago. While the company reported a substantial downturn in its cinema and home entertainment businesses, it was easily offset by solid performances from its TV units, which grew 30 percent thanks to the popularity of such shows as Weeds, Mad Men, and Crash. TV syndication and international TV sales also soared during the quarter. Going forward, the company is likely to reap huge rewards from Precious, which had a record-breaking opening in limited release over the weekend and is listed high on the list of most critics as an Oscar contender. »
Recording Industry Gleeful Over “Glee”
10 November 2009 1:55 PM, PST
The recording industry has been given a much-needed shot in the arm by TV shows that spotlight new CDs and by the Fox musical-comedy series Glee in particular, Reuters reported on Monday. Sony's Columbia Records and Fox TV have been releasing cover versions online of songs performed on Glee with often spectacular success. (The cast recording of the 1981 Journey song "Don't Stop Believin'" has sold more than 500,000 copies online, mostly on Apple's iTunes.) Columbia also retains first rights to recording contracts with the show's stars and gets a cut from concerts, endorsements, merchandising and ringtones, Reuters reported. It said that the CW network also gets a reduced rate on the use of music on its programs in exchange for on-air ads for the music which urge viewers to go to Cwtv.com to purchase it.
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CBS News Staffers Aiding Accused Letterman Blackmailer
10 November 2009 1:53 PM, PST
Longtime NBC and CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Bob Arnot, a friend of accused David Letterman blackmailer Joe Halderman, is attempting to raise money among the CBS News staff to help pay for Halderman's defense, the New York Observer reported on Monday. Arnot told the Observer that Halderman has no intention of reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors as several columnists have predicted and intends to take the case to trial. Arnot said that he has already succeeded in raising $100,000 for the 48 Hours producer's defense. A preliminary hearing on the case is scheduled in a Manhattan court today (Tuesday).
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“Gossip Girl” Picks Up Viewers With Threesome Episode
10 November 2009 1:51 PM, PST
Monday night's "threesome" episode of Gossip Girl (which included former child star Hilary Duff in the "ménage") saw a 17 percent rise in the series' ratings among women 18-34 (its target audience) and a 13 percent boost in its total audience from the previous week. However, ratings for the show remained some 29 percent below what they were a year ago. However, it often receives a 30 percent boost in its numbers when Live Plus 7 Day Ratings, which include DVR usage, are released. Monday night's show was roundly condemned by the Parents Television Council, which called on CW affiliates to preempt it. Not one did.
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Sawyer Interview Draws 8.2 Million
9 November 2009 12:41 PM, PST
Diane Sawyer's interview with Rihanna, in which the pop singer spoke for the first time about being assaulted by her ex-boyfriend, Chris Brown, drew over 8.2 million viewers Friday night, making it the second-highest-rated show of the night, behind NBC's Law & Order, according to Nielsen Research -- a significant achievement for any primetime news program. The strong ratings were also regarded as a good sign that Sawyer will be able to compete effectively against NBC's Brian Williams when the two go head-to-head in the evening news wars early next year.
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Gossip Girl Protest May Backfire
9 November 2009 12:40 PM, PST
Efforts by the Parents Television Council and other religious and family groups to persuade affiliates of the CW to refuse to carry tonight's (Monday) episode of Gossip Girl have apparently fallen on deaf ears. The Los Angeles Times reported today that not a single affiliate has agreed to drop the episode (nor has any advertiser done so) and that in fact the protest by the PTC will likely have the effect of boosting ratings for the show, which has seen a major decline this season. According to the newspaper the protest has drawn more attention than usual to the episode, which has strongly hinted that it will involve a threesome among major characters. "This story is organic to the characters and it's handled in a responsible way," Dawn Ostroff, the CW's entertainment president, told the Times. Executive producer Josh Schwartz promised more controversial material before the end of the season. »
Reports: Comcast-ge Deal For NBC By Next Week
9 November 2009 12:19 PM, PST
Moving another step closer toward a deal that would turn over control of NBC Universal to Comcast, General Electric and Comcast have agreed to value the entertainment company at $30 billion, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing a source familiar with the matter. Setting a value on the company is particularly important as the two sides determine exit provisions for Ge, which is likely to face continued pressure from shareholders to dispose of its interests in NBC Universal altogether. The report suggested that Vivendi, which holds a 20-percent stake in the entertainment company, had not assented to the valuation, which would set a price of $6 billion on its holdings. That matter, the report said, was "still being discussed." Vivendi is expected to disclose within the next week whether it will agree to sell its stake to Ge and thereby clear the way for the joint venture. Today's (Monday) Financial Times said that »
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