• ABC's Late-Night Plans: Adding Up To More Than One Late-Night Comedian
    Beverly Hills, Calif. -- ABC says two late-night stars could be better than one. Steve McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment, told television critics here that he is surely going to have discussions about Jay Leno if NBC can't come to an alternative programming deal for the current host of "The Tonight Show." NBC has made its decision to bring on Conan O'Brien as the host of "The Tonight Show" in 2009.
  • Fox's New Upfront Plan Starts At Beginning Of Week
    Fox wants to move its upfront location and date? No problem. Just make sure there is air-conditioning and a nosh. It doesn't seem to be upsetting NBC that, planning next year's upfront presentations, Fox is moving in on the peacock network's territory -- that of Monday, NBC's usual date for its upfront festivities. That's because, for some time, NBC has already been telling the media buying community there is a new way of doing business when it comes to buying advertising on television -- and that it doesn't have to do with glamorous, star-studded, two-hour-long events.
  • Dick Wolf Asked For More Order In A TV World Of Different Laws
    Network TV producers have always complained loudly about two issues: the selling of their shows to broadcast networks' own cable networks at low prices; and lower-than-expected promotional support. The key word in all of this is low. The one that is missing is greed.
  • Giving Low-Level Reality Show Celebrities What They Want: A Chance For More Reality.
    Reality shows contestants are like moths -- attracted to the light. Now here comes one with full candle power -- a reality show where the winner wins a reality show.
  • Local TV Stations Will Reward Viewer-Created News Videos: Can You Tell?
    For some time, local TV news stations have looked to enlist local citizens as freelance videographers -- with emphasis on the word "free" -- all for the glory of getting their five seconds of fame on the air. Now St. Petersburg, Fla.-based CBS affiliate WTSP wants a deeper connection, incorporating financial temptation into the typical good-citizen model. The station wants to train TV viewers and pay them $20 for each video clip.
  • YouTube Needs Bigger Bait To Attract Big Fish
    Billions of Internet videos everywhere. But for big TV advertisers, there's little to watch -- and buy. Turns out the new digital age still has some snags for traditional TV marketers. One of the biggest is a problem that still exists in the traditional TV world -- finding the right video to run against to advertiser your products.
  • Fox News: Distorting Pictures For Fun And Buzz
    TV news networks can distort the truth. Fox News now says it distorts pictures because it's fun to do so. But did it get any residual benefit from that fun?
  • Pitching Strike.tv: Looking For Fewer Curveballs
    A new Web site, Strike.tv, was started as a result of last winter's writers' strike. It features 40-odd short-form clips from top TV/film writers -- all with the intent of helping Hollywood crew members hurt by the strike.
  • NBC's Under-The-Radar Campaign Hits Musical Marketing Notes
    NBC might be chiming in on finding a new marketing tag line for its network. NBC apparently wants viewers to "Chime In" -- spinning off its old three -note musical theme, "N-B-C" --in a new slow-building, under-the-radar marketing campaign.
  • TV Stations Turn Blind Eye To Ad Revenues -- Every Other Year
    The good news? Presidential candidates will spend more money on advertising than ever before. The bad news? Automotive advertising, the largest TV station advertising category, is still weaving all over the road.
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