Congress late Thursday extended the satellite license yet again, this time to May 31, which lets operators deliver distant network TV signals. The Senate and House passed, and the president late Thursday signed, H.R. 4851, the "Continuing Extension Act of 2010."

For the past several months, the extension has been wedded to extensions of jobless and medical benefits, which like the satellite license, would have expired at the end of last year without federal action. Congress could not agree to a five-year renewal. Read the whole story...

McCann Erickson has filed a lawsuit against Lori Senecal, the CEO of Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal + Partners (KBS), charging her with recruited former colleagues from the Interpublic Group unit and solicited business from McCann clients in violation of her contract with that shop. Since Senecal took her new post, the agency and MDC have poached McCann execs with offers of up to a 50% increase in compensation to join KBS and MDC, sources said.

Those claims are made in court papers filed by McCann against KBS and its corporate parent, MDC Partners. According to the suit, filed in February, Senecal, who quit her post as president of McCann New York last August, has since solicited and performed work for long-standing McCann client Weight Watchers and other agency clients. KBS and MDC have not filed a response. Read the whole story...

Warner Bros.' Telepictures division is developing two new shows for syndication, according to industry sources. One stars Steve Ward, who with his mother, JoAnn, has had two seasons on VH1's "Tough Love." The Wards run a matchmaking service out of Philadelphia, called Master Matchmakers.

The other is a new twist on "Lifechangers," which the studio has been developing out of a segment on its TV entertainment magazine "Extra." Telepictures is working with another VH1 star, Dr. Drew Pinsky, to host. Pinsky is a VH1 veteran with "Celebrity Rehab," "Sober House" and "Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew." He also hosts MTV's "Sex ... with Mom and Dad." Read the whole story...

Britain's ITV is in discussion to transport it programming to the U.S. through Hulu. The broadcaster is committing 125 titles to the effort, including hits like the original "Prime Suspect" (starring Helen Mirren) and "Cracker" (with Robbie Coltrane) and the '60s puppet action show "Thunderbirds."

The goal is to roll out the ITV programming over a six-month period. There are some potential problems associated with the deal, including issues of music clearances and content and compliance concerns. Read the whole story...

Morgan Stanley analyst Ben Swinburne downgraded shares of Time Warner saying the factors that could boost growth at the media company are largely past it. He lowered his rating to "Equal Weight" from "Overweight." He said any return on the stock would be in line with its peers. The end of the "Harry Potter" films also makes prospects at Warner Bros. unclear.

Swinburne prefers Walt Disney Co., CBS Corp. and Omnicom Group Inc., which he rates as "Overweight." The analyst said he sees more growth in local advertising going forward instead of on cable networks, which held up fairly well in the recession. Time Warner owns HBO, TBS and other cable channels but not local TV stations. Read the whole story...