The NFL has agreed on a two-year extension of its network TV deals with Fox and CBS through the 2013 season. The increase in rights fees paid by the networks was in the low single digital percentage range, say insiders. Under the deal, CBS is set to broadcast the Super Bowl in early 2013, with Fox carrying the one in early 2014. CBS Sports president Sean McManus calls NFL Football "the single most important sports property in the world" and describes the deal terms as a win-win, saying the financials make sense for both sides. Fox Sports chairman …

The global recession is roughing up smaller advertising companies even more than their bigger rivals, a lesson being learned by two companies partially owned by French industrialist Vincent Bolloré. Aegis Group PLC, in which Bolloré holds a 30% stake, reported that first-quarter revenue fell 12%, excluding the effects of acquisitions, divestments and currency shifts. Havas SA, in which Bolloré holds a 32.9% stake and is also chairman, reported an 8.4% drop in first-quarter revenue, by the same measure. Aegis and Havas are two of the small players among ad parent companies. "Small holding companies get hit harder …

Cablevision is in talks to offer an interactive travel service on TV in competition with travel Web sites such as Expedia and Orbitz. The service would allow Cablevision customers to book trips through their TV sets, says John Pasmore, president of Voyages North America, the provider that is in discussions with Cablevision. The companies are discussing services that would allow users to book flights, hotels and tours. Voyages recently began offering travel videos through Cablevision systems. The new service would build on an existing on-demand service begun two years ago. At that time, Cablevision started a travel channel …

Chopping Newsweek's circulation in half, along with a redesign that debuts this week, may well determine whether the 76-year-old newsmagazine survives. The new focus means Newsweek will now concentrate reporting and argument -- while kissing off a recap of the week's news. Owned by The Washington Post Co., the magazine is accelerating the revamp after losing nearly $20 million in the first quarter. Circulation will be cut from a high of 3.1 million to 1.5 million by the beginning of 2010, in part by discouraging renewals. The magazine will also nearly double its subscription price and charge a …

Thanks to improved ratings in some of its major markets, CBS Radio is seeing an improvement in advertising sales in the second quarter. The good news is largely the result of new and returning ad clients and growing interest in its online streaming. In the first quarter, revenue at CBS Radio fell 29% to $259.7 million. Operating income plunged 62%. Now, however, trends are improving, as some advertisers who had held back on spending during the fourth quarter and the first two months of the year feel the need to return to the public's attention, says CEO Dan …

Female-targeted cable channel WE is working on cross-media promotions in a pact with Meredith magazines including Parents, Ladies Home Journal, Fitness and Family Circ. The deal marries Meredith magazines with WE's unscripted programs and weight loss series "I Want to Save Your Life." It includes print editorial content featuring WE personalities, on-screen appearances by Meredith's stable of experts and collaboration on public affairs initiatives. The initiative kicks off in the June issue of Fitness with an interview with Charles Stuart Platkin from TV's "I Want to Save Your Life." The magazine will also get integrated branding on …

The Wall Street Journal has boasted about its rising circulation and the growing number of people online who are using its site. Nonetheless, parent company News Corp is cutting costs. The latest are cuts in employees' benefits packages. Dow Jones CEO Les Hinton says other media companies are making benefits changes driven by short-term necessity, but his team conducted a "deep" 18-month review of the entire benefits program. The result: a lower rate of company contributions to retirement savings programs starting next year. In addition, the company's retiree health-care subsidy will be curtailed for most employees effective in …

Out-of-home networks in sports venues such as stadiums, hockey rinks, health clubs and sports bars are offering a much wider array of digital opportunities as sports fans warm to the new ad-and-content medium. OnSite Network's video service, now called SportScape, features live feeds of games with local content and ads wrapped around the outer margins of the screens. It is currently available in 100 sports-friendly drinking establishments, expanding to 500 new ones. The trend is also apparent at Sports Media, which currently has about 600 Jumbotrons and 25,000 TV screens in everything from major- and minor-league sports …

The Forbes media empire is about to sustain some major cuts. Roger McNamee, one of the driving forces behind Elevation Partners' decision to buy a big stake in Forbes Media about three years ago, has resigned from the Forbes board. Elevation's Bre Pearlman, who has a reputation as an aggressive cost-cutter, will replace McNamee. The resignation is the clearest sign yet that Forbes' future growth is falling flat. "Forbes and Elevation agree that we could no longer count on Forbes.com to offset declines in print. We agreed to a strategy shift from investment in the Web to aggressive …

For decades, marketers and their media buyers have been forced to buy ad positions across entire network schedules if they wanted to be in the hottest shows. But marketers' patience with this system seems to be running out. Many are pushing harder than ever before to buy programs and not networks. With audiences following specific pieces of content, marketers want to entwine themselves not necessarily with NBC, CBS or the CW, but with "CSI" or "Gossip Girl." So far it is unusual for networks to agree to sell ads in specific shows to advertisers who don't want to …