No Red Carpet For TV Guide Net's 'Golden Globes'

Deprived of its tentpole red-carpet coverage at the Golden Globes due to the writers' strike, the TV Guide Network will air a truncated lineup surrounding the awards Sunday.

The channel will offer a two-hour "Countdown to the Globes" preview show from 7 to 9 p.m. It will break for NBC News' one-hour press conference announcing the winners, then return at 10 for an hour "wrap-up" show.

In addition to its two-hour, live red carpet coverage (hosted by Lisa Rinna and Joey Fatone) being cancelled, another casualty is Monday's "Fashion Wrap with Lisa Rinna"--a show that is well-known, thanks to previous host Joan Rivers.

The network is not expected to lose any advertisers, although it will shift certain sponsorships of red-carpet coverage--a fashion cam, for example--to its Jan. 27 SAG Awards telecast, a source said. Still, the network offers advertisers ratings guarantees that will likely result in having to provide makegoods.

TV Guide Network was scheduled to cover red carpets at four events this quarter, with the SAG Awards, Grammys and Oscars following the Globes. Advertisers generally buy all four in a package.

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Another network losing signature programming at the Globes is E!, with its "Live from the Red Carpet" a no-go. The network has yet to announce any revised schedule for Sunday.

The red carpet at major Hollywood events serves as a critical revenue generator for TV Guide Network and E! as viewers tune in--particularly women--to glimpse what stars are wearing and catch the usually upbeat interviews with nominees and other stars. Both networks could be hurt further--and more dramatically--if the writers' strike affects the coming Oscars and leads to a cancellation of the red carpet there. The SAG Awards will not be affected.

The Golden Globes was cancelled after the striking writers threatened to picket a full televised ceremony, and actors were then unlikely to participate. Instead of its usual glitzy coverage of the red carpet and ceremony, NBC will instead air the one-hour news conference to announce the winners--without the 25 winners present.

All three hours of TV Guide Network's Globes coverage Sunday will take place at its Hollywood studio. "Countdown to the Globes" pre-show will be hosted by Chris Harrison, the host of ABC's "The Bachelor" and Maria Sansome from Yahoo's "The 9."

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