After six years at CNBC, anchor Dylan Ratigan left the network March 27. His contract negotiations broke down because "he wanted things from NBC in addition to CNBC," says an insider. CNBC stars Maria Bartiromo and Erin Burnett have deals which ensure exposure on other NBCU platforms. At least one other network, ABC, is reportedly interested in Ratigan. While ABC does not have the cable breadth of NBCU, the network could provide Ratigan with opportunities beyond business news. Ratigan is telling friends he chose to leave because he wants to continue pursuing a story which began on his …

Nielsen Co. is adopting a new payment schedule for its suppliers around the world, a move that suggests the company might be facing a cash crunch. According to the new plan, suppliers can either wait 75 days for payments, or get their money in 15 days at a 3% discount. Nielsen previously paid many of its suppliers within 30 days. Nielsen is not the only company in the marketing and ad sector seeking to delay vendor payments. Omnicom recently told commercial TV producers they would have to wait until the client paid the agency before the agency paid the …

The cinema ad industry has a new client. The Federal Reserve plans to launch a commercial in movie theaters around the country to warn homeowners about foreclosure scams. Like many consumer product ads, the Fed's spot is designed to extend the reach of the content on the Federal Reserve Web site. The 30-second ad will run in 14 cities that are struggling with high-foreclosure housing markets and an outbreak of scam artists charging for information that is free from the government. The closing shot in the spot guides viewers to foreclosure tips and other housing-related information on the …

MTV Networks is launching a worldwide initiative to promote new music. First up: the band Green Day. On April 24 the band's video for the single, "Know Your Own Enemy," will be exclusively aired across all of MTV's 66 TV channels and 200 websites in 162 countries. The broadcaster hopes to leverage its international clout to lure other acts into signing similar pacts. "The global breadth of MTV's network makes us uniquely positioned to bring our audiences exclusive access to some of their favorite artists," says Bruce Gillmer, senior VP at MTVN International. "Only MTV can connect Green Day …

Fox Broadcasting's move this season to offer the drama "Fringe" with limited commercial interruption is showing some success, with audiences showing better-than-average recall of the ads, according to a February survey by Magna Global. Previous studies done by Fox with research firms Innerscope and IAG seem to support Magna's data, but those were based on "Fringe's" pilot episode, which was heavily promoted. Magna Global selected a random sample out of 20,000 TiVo viewers. About 36% of those surveyed fast-forwarded past the ads. Some 10% of "Fringe" viewers correctly recalled at least one ad, which was nearly twice …

More Americans are turning to satirical news shows to keep abreast of what is happening in the world. In a poll conducted last weekend, 24% of respondents agreed that TV shows like "The Colbert Report" and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart are "taking the place of traditional news outlets." The survey, by Rasmussen Reports, also shows that people don't necessarily think this trend is a bad thing. Nearly 40% believe such programs make Americans "more informed" about current events, while only 21% think the shows make people "less informed." But even as these shows have become more …

While product-placement deals are usually the work of TV networks and major brands, local TV stations are getting into the act. For instance, local stations that air Meredith's syndicated hour-long lifestyle program "Better" are now running customized videos that feature State Farm Insurance. Program syndicators "are a little bit more open" to adopting branded-entertainment ideas, compared to networks, "who have to deal with their own standards and practices," says Ed Gold, State Farm ad director. Three-to-five minute videos centered on child-care topics, such as baby-proofing the home, are integrated into Meredith's "Better" program. The videos are the …

Richard Beckman, head of the Condé Nast Media Group, is shifting to another branch of the company. He will become president and CEO of Condé Nast's Fairchild Fashion Group, replacing Dan Lagani, who is leaving the company after three years at the post. Only a few weeks ago, Beckman was seen as a possible successor to Walter Anderson, the 31-year vet of Condé Nast's Parade, who is retiring. Lou Cona, senior vice president, will succeed Beckman at the Media Group, which handles the company's big, multiplatform deals.

The penny-pinching ways of Comcast CEO Brian Roberts -- long a sore spot for investors -- have made Comcast likely to be one of America's few corporations to get a debt-rating upgrade by Moody's Investors Service. While most media companies are drowning in debt, Comcast has a debt ratio of 2.5 times net assets, as well as nearly $4 billion in annual free cash flow. The company recently said it would raise its dividend by 8%, or a total of $60 million, and yet it still remains in line for a debt upgrade. While insiders don't think …

A branded Web series designed to shill Suave hair-care products and Sprint wireless services to females has become a full-fledged broadcast TV sitcom. "In the Motherhood," an ABC series about working moms that was adapted from the Web, is debuting today. TV executive producers Jennifer Konner and Alexandra Rushfield adapted the Web series, which averaged 3 million online visitors per episode. Konner says ABC "really wanted to take an honest approach to mothering using the same tone as the Webisodes." Both producers say they could foresee networks using the Web more as an incubator. "With the Internet, …