Four top U.S. television networks have asked a federal court to stop the Internet video service FilmOn.com from offering TV channels over the Web and Apple's iPad for free. FilmOn.com, which claims to be the first HD Internet television network, launched in September 2010. It was founded by British billionaire entrepreneur Alki David. The network's suit comes as start-ups have sought to bypass traditional media companies by offering programming to Internet users without paying fees to free-to-air channels. FilmOn, a Berlin-listed company, initially charged users $9.95 per month, to access "over 30 premium free-to-air television channels." But it …

For years, U.S. News & World Report trailed after Time and Newsweek as the weakest of the three newsweeklies. No more. As of December, U.S. News will cease to exist as print magazine, beyond occasional special issues; it is transitioning to a digital publishing model. It also appears the magazine will be largely exiting the news business, shifting its much-reduced reporting staff to putting out more guides, such as those ranking colleges and grad schools. Per an inter-office memo from the editor: "In addition to upgrades in college and hospital rankings, we'll refine and expand the data and …

Nancy O'Dell was named late last night as Mary Hart's replacement on "Entertainment Tonight," though previous reports said Lara Spencer, the host of "ET" sister show "The Insider," had been the front-runner. Hart is leaving "ET" at the end of this season after 30 years with TV's top-rated celebrity newsmag, which she co-hosts with Mark Steines. O'Dell co-hosted "ET" competitor "Access Hollywood" for 13 years before leaving the show last December, reportedly because she didn't like its tabloid approach to its coverage of celebrities and show-business. Lately, O'Dell has appeared as a correspondent for NBC's "Today" show and "Dateline" …

eByline, an online service that brings together freelance journalists and publishers looking for stories, announced today it has raised $1.5 million in its first round of funding from The E.W. Scripps Company. Reporters can set whatever price they want for their work. Publishers can then pick from individual stories and pay the reporter directly without having to set up any kind of subscription. eByline then takes an 8% cut of the transaction. The Los Angeles-based company was founded in 2009, but the service officially launched last month. Its partnered content publishers include ProPublica, business entertainment news magazine Variety, and …

A cache of venerable brand and corporate names, not used for years -- and, in some instances, decades -- is to be auctioned next month in New York by Michael Reich, whose company, Brands USA Holdings, has been accumulating the rights to the names. Some 150 to 170 names will be available at the auction, scheduled for Dec. 8. The auction is another example of the growing interest in nostalgic brands as economic conditions lead many consumers to look back on what they perceived to be better, less stressful times. Among the nostalgic names scheduled for the auction block, …

Tying the announcement to "Days of Our Lives" 45th season celebration, NBC announced that it has picked up the daytime drama for two more years through the 2012-13 season. "Days of our Lives remains vitally creative through the years as it continues to draw new generations of viewers, especially among its loyal female audience" said NBCU TV Entertainment chairman Jeff Gaspin. The decision is an important jolt for the daytime drama genre, which has seen its ranks dwindle in the past few years amid continuous ratings declines. The longest-running soap, "Guiding Light," which began as a radio drama, …

No weekly magazine tracked by the Media Industry Newsletter has lost more pages of advertising this year than The Nation, which did booming business during the Bush years. As of Nov. 8, ad pages were down 30% compared with last year's figures, remarkable even though advertising accounts for only a 10th of the revenue. Traffic to TheNation.com has also declined recently. And since 2008, the magazine has run an operating deficit of about $500,000 a year. Despite all the gloom, could last week's Democratic pummeling actually have a silver lining for the magazine, once home to writers like Henry …

As part of its partnership with sponsor Buick, Yahoo News has rolled out "Weekend Edition," a lifestyle-focused content package. Weekend Edition features a mix of Yahoo-produced original video, plus content aggregated from sites such as The Daily Beast, Time and LiveScience.com. Topics covered in the new section include exercise, entertainment and parenting. Yahoo has also integrated listings from its local feed, highlighting leisure activities and events.

Time Warner Cable is launching a service to allow subscribers to watch some of their favorite shows three days after they've originally aired. The company wants to stay ahead of the growing threat of cheaper Web video services, like Netflix Inc and Hulu. The new Look Back service is targeted at differentiating the second largest U.S. cable company from rivals like satellite providers DirecTV and Dish Network Corp or new video services from the phone companies Verizon Communications and AT&T Inc. Look Back is launching nationally to most of TWC's 13 million or so customers.

That consumer cable bills will continue to climb is a sure bet. If regulators approve Comcast's control of NBC Universal, it will cost consumers even more -- $2.4 billion more over the next nine years. That's according to a study released today by the American Cable Association, which represents 900 small and medium-size independent cable companies and wants conditions put on the $30 billion transaction. Dr. William Rogerson, a professor of economics at Northwestern University, who served as the FCC's chief economist from 1998-99, conducted the research. He found Comcast-NBCU could raise programming fees significantly above levels the two …