• Networks Chase Sitcom Gold
    According to an analysis of pilot orders by Barclays Capital analyst Anthony DiClemente, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox have ordered a total of 84 pilots, and 44 are comedies. Last year, the big four ordered 81 pilots, of which 34 were comedies. The drama orders are basically flat, with 35 ordered this spring compared to 34 last year. DiClemente did not include the CW, but that network has six drama pilots. The CW does not program comedies, at least not intentionally. Fox has ordered the most comedy pilots, with 13 in the works, per the report. Taking a hit …
  • Scripps Heats Up Cooking Channel
    The Cooking Channel will enjoy a faster growth curve than the Food Network, Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. according to CEO Ken Lowe. SNI announced in October that it would change the name of its Fine Living Network to the Cooking Channel and relocate its headquarters to New York. The new network begins Memorial Day weekend with three Food Network stars: Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse. "They are there for the initial phase because they're established stars, and it's very much introducing the Food Network folks to a new brand," he said. Lowe predicts Cooking Channel will …
  • Apple Charges Premium For Mobile Ads
    Apple Inc. aims to charge close to $1 million for ads on its mobile devices this year and perhaps even more to be among the first, ad executives say. Its new mobile-device advertising capability, dubbed iAd, could charge as much as $10 million to be part of a handful of marketers at the launch. Ad executives say they are used to paying between $100,000 and $200,000 for similar mobile deals. Ads are likely to start appearing in applications on its iPhone and iPod Touch devices in June, and its iPad later in the year. The company is making waves …
  • Moonves Voices 3-D TV Doubts, News Corp Upbeat
    CBS Corp CEO Les Moonves sounded a skeptical note on Wednesday at Milken Institute about converting television shows to 3-D, saying he was unimpressed with the visual quality of experiments he has seen so far. Moonves' skepticism of 3-D conversions comes as TV manufacturers from Sony Corp to Samsung Electronics Co Ltd roll out 3-D TV sets. Hollywood studios are also eager to convert their blockbuster films to 3-D. However, Chase Carey, Deputy Chairman of News Corp, told the same audience that 3-D will be a big part of future broadcasts of sports, movies and major events, rather than …
  • More Publishers Outsourcing News
    More major media companies are looking for ways to find cheap content. Thomson Reuters, Cox Newspapers and Hachette Filipacchi have run articles supplied by Associated Content, one of several companies, such as Demand Media and AOL's SEED, that mines reporting from masses of freelancers for as little as $5 a story, notes Ad Age.Associated Content boasts more than 350,000 freelance contributors who have supplied, at current count, more than 2 million articles. Associated pays its contributors anywhere from $5 to $30 per article. Or, it can pay a fee of up to $2 for every 1,000 impressions …
  • Hulu Plans For UK Launch Fail
    Hulu, the US video aggregator, has been forced to abandon plans to launch a UK version of its Web TV service after talks with the major British broadcasters have collapsed. Hulu's negotiating team have said they have been unable to get "any traction in the British TV market" and the "market does not match their business expectations." Hulu is co-owned by News Corp, NBC Universal and Disney and entered into talks with with British TV and advanced talks with ITV last year. Ben McOwen Wilson, ITV's director of online and interactive, said: "Hulu is a major success in …
  • NBC Sports, Daily Racing Form Team Online
    NBC Sports Digital and Daily Racing Form announced an agreement to enlist "America's Turf Authority" to provide digital content in a co-branded online venture to support NBC Sports' Thoroughbred racing coverage, including the just completed "Road to the Kentucky Derby" TV series, the Kentucky Derby May 1, and the Preakness Stakes, on May 15. The 115-year-old Daily Racing Form will host and program a customized digital horseracing section at NBCSports.com and provide content, tools, news coverage, including race previews, entries, results, original video analysis, race replays, etc. The co-branded site will also include expert selections and analysis from DRF's …
  • Fox Won't Sell Fuel Channel
    Late last year, News Corp. tried to sell its tiny Fuel TV cable channel to Viacom Inc. The assumption was extreme sports channel that targeted guys 13 and 34 might make a better fit within Viacom's youth-centric MTV universe. But after complicated talks, News Corp. decided not to sell Fuel and took it off the table, according to three people familiar with the situation. A source said that Fox executives ultimately decided that Los Angeles-based Fuel -- which revels in the lifestyle and culture of skateboarding, surfing and motocross -- could have an upside. The game changer, according …
  • MSNBC Customizes Site For Smartphones
    Citing consumers' needs for engaging, customized news content, MSNBC.com has launched a smartphone-optimized version of its site. The site allows iPhone, iPad, Palm Pre and Android-powered devices to view content from MSNBC Digital Network's shows, such as "Today" and "Meet the Press." It is aimed at providing a "brand centric, immersion experience for consumers," said Jeff Maurone, product manager at MSNBC.com. MSNBC.com is promoting the mobile site on its home page. The ads promote the vibrant video, compelling slide shows and engaging stories. As the launch advertiser, Hilton Hotels will run banners and SMS-based sponsor alerts through the end …
  • NYC Seeks First-Time Fees For TV, Film Shoots
    For the first time, television and film productions that shoot in New York City will have to pay for permits that have always been free. Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration is blaming budget woes for the new fees, which would apply to films, commercials, music videos and television series shot in New York, such as the CBS drama "The Good Wife" and NBC's "30 Rock," reports AP. While the $300 is a barely noticeable budget line in most multimillion-dollar television and screen projects, and most major cities - including Los Angeles, already charge permit fees, the policy is new …
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