A study by the Association of Public Television Stations has found that older Americans are far more likely to rely on over-the-air TV signals, making them less prepared than most for the analog to digital-only transition coming in less than two years. In the first quarter of 2007, the data shows that 24 percent of households with people 65 and older got their TV over-the-air, as compared to 19 percent of younger households. Of the oldsters who have only over-the-air, only 17 percent own a digital TV. Further, just 41 percent of people 65 and older have bought …

The American Society of Newspaper Editors and the Associated Press Managing Editors are upset with an NFL decision to force news photographers to wear vests with the logos of Canon and Reebok while tshooting games. "It is anathema to us that our employees should be put in the position of becoming walking billboards or be viewed as troublemakers for refusing to wear advertising materials just to do their jobs," writes ASNE President Gilbert Bailon in a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "It is our hope that the NFL will simply credential our representatives and let them go about …

The high-def TiVo Series3 digital video recorder, which came out last year, got good reviews, but had a hard time selling because of its $800 price tag. Now the company is hoping to garner more custom by dropping the TiVo HD to just $299. Apart from the huge cost spread, the big difference between the two is that TiVo HD has a 160GB hard drive, good for 180 hours of standard-definition programming or 20 hours of high-def, while the Series3 has a 250GB hard drive. But TiVo HD also allows recording and playback of HDTV, while featuring "CableCARD" …

Pfizer is going with the playful approach in a new spot for Viagra that that features its take on Elvis Presley's "Viva Las Vegas." And while the Food and Drug Administration yanked their "Wild Thing" ads off the air three years, they got the Feds' blessing in advance this time around. The 60-second spot from McCann Erickson, which rolled out this week, revolves around a band of middle-aged men playing "Viva Viagra." Pfizer says the ad did well in a test: "The goal of these ads is to take that upbeat tone and positive approach and motivate men to …

A bewigged man screaming about hamburgers to people kicking trees has become the first advertising hit for fast-food chain Wendy's in years. In the spot, the tree-kickers are interrupted by a man wearing a red wig -- like the hairdo in Wendy's logo -- as he cries out for a "hot juicy burger" instead of one made from frozen beef. The offbeat approach has apparently resonated with the younger consumers that the company is targeting, being viewed 800,000 times at YouTube.com while prompting amateur copycat videos. "For the first time since Dave Thomas passed away, the brand is …

TV stations in Detroit are facing an ad spending slump fueled largely by cutbacks from domestic automakers, but operators are hopeful things could brighten up by the end of the year as political dollars start to flow. The Democratic and Republican parties of Michigan parties have set primary elections or caucuses in late January, which could mean an influx of presidential campaign spots in the fourth quarter. "I think there's a reasonable expectation of political revenue in the fourth quarter, but how much is anyone's guess," said Steve Wasserman, vice president and general manager at NBC affiliate …

A new Fox comedy, "Back to You," marks both the return of two top TV stars -- Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammer -- and a possible rebirth of the sitcom. New comedies have become scarce as a result of the surge of reality shows, while TV audiences shrink overall. "We really do feel like underdogs," says Steve Levitan, who is producing the show with Christopher Lloyd. "The world is very different now." The reception of "Back to You" could well influence development for next season and possibly beyond. If it flops, the future of television comedy may …

The number of newsletters that take ads has nearly tripled in the last five years, according to the latest edition of the Oxbridge Directory of Newsletters, as the number of newsletters accepting advertising rose from 1,052 to 3,085. Newsletters have typically relied on subscription revenue, but marketers are getting more attracted to their targeted readership in today's competitive media environment. By category, among the fastest-growing newsletters last year were natural history/wildlife, which went form 23 titles to 66 and trucking, which was up form 24 to 34. Legal still rules them all, though, with 1,125 titles, …

Discovery Channel's credibility could take a hit on news that the host of its most popular series, "Man vs. Wild," may have been staying in hotels when he was supposed to be out facing the elements. On Monday, the cable net responded to a probe by a British TV station which also carries the show under the title "Born Survivor: Bear Grylls." Channel 4 discovered that Grylls had been snoozing indoors at least two nights when he was shown as sleeping in the wild. "Discovery Communications has learned that isolated elements of the "Man vs. Wild" show in …

Former NBC News anchor Campbell Brown has signed on with CNN, joining the cable network on Sept. 1. At NBC since 1998, Campbell was a Washington correspondent before heading up to New York to anchor "Weekend Today" and occasionally filling in for Brian Williams on "Nightly News." CNN has not said what she will do for them, but there is talk that she might land a prime-time spot -- maybe as a replacement for Paula Zahn's tanking show. "We are extremely fortunate to be able to bring Campbell Brown to CNN," says Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. "Campbell …