• News Corp. Divests More TV Properties, Station Sale Follows DirecTV, TV Guide by Joe Mandese

    Is News Corp. becoming a publishing centric media conglomerate? That appears to be a pattern emerging following Saturday's announcement that the company would divest of eight U.S. television stations to private equity firm Oak Hill Partners for about $1.1 billion. The divestiture, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2008, follows News Corp.'s deal to acquire print and online publisher Dow Jones & Co. for $5 billion, and moves to liquidate other TV assets, including stakes in DirecTV and Gemstar TV Guide. ...Read the whole story

  • Report Puts Another Digit On TV Writers Strike, But Main Issue Is Digital by David Goetzl

    A new report suggests the gulf between what striking writers want and studios will pay can be valued at some $120 million--considerably more than previous estimates of $20 million. Yet the divide isn't enough to impact major media companies' earnings. The real issue is the future: Setting a precedent that impacts what writers, actors and directors earn in the digital marketplace. ...Read the whole story

  • Spring Cleaning: USA Network To Debut New Marketing Campaign by Wayne Friedman

    USA Network will unveil a new off-network consumer marketing campaign this spring--the same time that sister network NBC will be airing episodes of USA series'"Monk" and "Psych." ...Read the whole story

  • 'Washington Post,' 'Chicago Tribune' Raise Newsstand Prices by Erik Sass

    Two of the nation's largest newspapers--The Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune--plan to raise their newsstand prices in 2008. Although they may help offset losses in the near term, analysts say the newsstand price increases are a band-aid that fails to address the causes of the underlying secular downturn. ...Read the whole story

  • 'Colbert,' 'Daily Show' Return To Airwaves by David Goetzl

    The kings of late-night satire are back, sans the writers. Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report" will return to production Jan. 7. ...Read the whole story

  • ESPN Extends Youth Reach, Buys SchoolSports by Erik Sass

    As ESPN the Magazine celebrates its 10th anniversary, ESPN is set to expand its youth-publishing operations with the purchase of SchoolSports Inc., which publishes Rise and Girl, both targeting high-school-age athletes. The terms of the deal, which also included the Rise Web site, Risemag.com and its high-school basketball event business, were not disclosed. ...Read the whole story

  • TBS Customizes Home Depot Holiday Spots by David Goetzl

    Continuing with a new model of on-air/online campaigns, TBS is running a holiday effort with Home Depot. They run during the net's "Breakroom" afternoon comedy block. It's the first time sponsorship has been customized with a micro site. ...Read the whole story

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