Comcast Must Court Olympics, Part of NBC's Legacy by David Goetzl

When Comcast was considering purchasing NBC Universal, one of its advisors urged the cabler only to do the deal if it would embrace the future of broadcast TV. That guru, News Corp. COO Peter Chernin, said he told Comcast head Brian Roberts to only spend the billions if you can "fall in love" with NBC. ...Read the whole story

  • DVR Penetration Means Time-Shifted Viewing Is Up by Wayne Friedman

    Television time-shifted viewing is growing this season -- for almost all shows. Brad Adgate, senior vice president and corporate media director for Horizon Media, says throughout the season so far there are 19 shows that witnessed 3 million or more viewers after seven days of time shifted viewing. ...Read the whole story

  • Over the Limit: Underage Kids See More Alcohol Ads by Wayne Friedman

    A new study by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth claims a rise in TV alcohol advertising to underage young viewers -- and that the distilled spirits industry has breached its self-imposed limits. ...Read the whole story

  • packaged goods P&G's Pepto-Bismol Targets Party-Hardly-ers by Aaron Baar

    "Pepto has generated an incredible pop-culture relevance ranging from multiple references to our recognizable 'Pepto-Bismol Pink' color to inclusion in humorous news stories and social media conversations regarding upset stomach," says Nathan Fox, brand manager. "This allows us to execute a tongue-in-cheek strategy." ...Read the whole story

  • Cablevision Completes Bresnan Acquisition by David Goetzl

    Cablevision, which spent years building its lucrative footprint in the New York area, is now operating in the Rockies. The company has completed its acquisition of cable operator Bresnan Communications, which has about 300,000 TV customers in four Western states. ...Read the whole story

  • Time Warner Cable Names Marcus COO by David Goetzl

    Time Warner Cable's CFO Robert Marcus becomes president/COO, replacing Landel Hobbs, an advocate for cable operators' boosting ad sales and a leader in the formation of Canoe Ventures. ...Read the whole story

  • MTV Network Integrates Across Properties, Social by Laurie Sullivan

    MTV Networks (MTVN) has implemented Janrain Engage to give site visitors one log-in across the network of more than 50 properties, as well as the ability to share articles, comments, and video clips with friends on multiple social networks and sites including Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo and MySpace. ...Read the whole story

  • TV Hits Rare, But NBC Can 'Sing' by Wayne Friedman

    TV shows with a sudden rise in viewership are rare these days: NBC now has one of those in "The Sing-Off." The second-year limited series "Sing-Off," an a cappella group competition program, has been on a tear lately. ...Read the whole story

Televisions: Flat Profile For Sales Of 3D Sets by Wayne Friedman

Give me television equipment surveys -- and then give me real results. The truth seems to be somewhere in between. Talk to the chief executive at Best Buy, the nation's largest electronic retailer, and you'll get the lowdown over what is really going on with 3D and Internet-connected TVs: Consumers just aren't buying as many as had been expected. ...More

  • Watching TV One Minute; Someone On TV Watching ME, The Next by Wayne Friedman

    Though Internet and mobile platforms seem to garner more concerns over privacy, TV, for all its laid-back, lean-back media profile, still makes the average consumer wonder a bit -- even if he/she isn't exactly sure what is going on. ...More