It's been a good morning for the three major a.m. news shows: For the first time in 18 years, all -- NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and CBS'"Early Show" -- grew in the key 18-49 demographic. Those encouraging numbers were just released for the 2010-2011 season. "Today" continued its reign as No. 1, while "Good Morning America" showed the most growth, with a 10 percent increase in total viewers.

Missteps by Netflix have opened the door to competitors to grab angry customers looking for new options for video rentals and instant online streaming of TV shows and films. Blockbuster, the once-dominant video store chain that Netflix helped nudge into bankruptcy, wants to compete. Now a unit of Dish Network, Blockbuster is expected to announce its jump into the streaming market on Friday. Netflix is facing a subscriber backlash over its price increases; shares have fallen 50% in two months. "It's the right time for Blockbuster," said Brean Murray analyst Todd Mitchell, who has a "buy" rating on Dish …

The Indianapolis Newspaper Guild has taken to outdoor advertising -- and leafleting at a Colts NFL game -- to "save local news." The union is currently undergoing collective bargaining with the Indianapolis Star, one of the many Gannett papers that has undergone rounds of job cuts, pay freezes -- and may now face outsourcing of production functions to Kentucky. The guild has also launched a "Save the Star" website. Btw, this news story about the campaign to "save local news" by saving the local newspaper ran on a local news website run by the local news …

With former White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers on board as CEO for just over a year, Johnson Publishing appears to have made a successful turnaround. The parent of Ebony and Jet magazines has stopped its plummeting circulation figures and is now hiring again, reports NPR's Cheryl Corley. Tactics leading to the turnaround have included the outsourcing of circulation efforts, selling an equity stake to banker JPMorgan Chase, setting up new editorial and management teams, and pushing for younger and higher-income readers. Ebony, for instance, has launched an iPad app and features Mary J. Blige on the …

Bravo's one of our guilty pleasures, but even we have to admit this promo sounds a bit "bananas," (one of Rachel Zoe's pet words, we are somewhat embarrassed to admit we know). Anyway, seems that the show "Watch What Happens Live" will now feature its own turtle mascot, who will appear on the show with host Andy Cohen. This girl turtle (unnamed at this point, but Cohen does call her his "newest Bravolebrity") will be part of a weekly Facebook game in which contestants vie to design the most popular outfits and tanks for her. And the most popular designer …

Large media companies have been working hard to stop consumer from "cord cutting" -- that is, ending their cable TV subscriptions for online streaming and other alternative content sources. This hopeful trend is noted by Nomura Securities analyst Michael Nathanson, who credits such moves as "limiting the availability of premium content in deflationary settings while providing legitimate alternatives to emerging online models." He cites Starz' refusal to renew a streaming arrangement with Netflix as the latest example of this trend.

New GQ publisher Chris Mitchell, recently recruited from Condé Nast Traveler, has made some staffing changes of his own: "Brendan Monaghan and Alice McKown have been named associate publishers at the title, with Monaghan getting a promotion from advertising director, while McKown comes from Condé Nast Traveler, where she was associate publisher," reports David Lipke.Also coming from Condé Nast Traveler will be Jenny Glassberg as advertising director and Janice Trichon as director of finance and operations.

By partnering with ESPN, content streaming Web site Slacker will add sports content to its music, ABC news and comedy programming starting today.The basic service will be free to Slacker users; subscribers who pay for Radio Plus ($3.99 a month) or premium service ($9.99 a month) can listen to an ad-free program plus customize an ESPN station according to sport, teams or ESPN programs.

"News organizations whose mobile apps only provide users with their articles or videos are missing a big opportunity," writes Jeff Sonderman. He suggests companies look to create apps that fill consumer needs, like the RedEye, the app for the Chicago Tribune's commuter-focused publication on culture and entertainment, which includes tips on getting around the city by public transportation, along with restaurant options. "These are the apps that build loyal audiences because they help people get things done instead of just presenting another thing they feel obligated to do (keep up with news stories)," Sonderman writes.

In what may be a first for PBS, the channel will debut the first episode of "Prohibition," a three-part series by noted documentary-maker Ken Burns, on the iPad and iPhone starting Sept. 23. Burns says a big reason for this kind of launch was timing, to tie into all the buzz around the first episode of the new season of HBO's "Boardwalk Empire," set in Prohibition-era Atlantic City, N.J.-- though we don't really understand this reasoning. Couldn't the doc have debuted on live TV and still made that time deadline?