If, as they say, TV networks' most valuable marketing tool is their own airwaves, then why don't they make more use of that tool? The answer, in part, is that keeping the number of network promos around the same levels lets the network keep the same levels of inventory to sell to paying advertisers. Who wants to cut commercials -- really?

The DVR has been blamed for a lot, from the demise of certain TV shows with lower rating, to the hindering of TV marketers' commercial efforts. Now comes a first: The DVR has taken down an entire network.

It seems to be an anticlimactic TV season. Many networks shows have witnessed not only falling ratings in their finales versus a year ago -- but weirdly lower ratings versus recent in-season episodes.

Nobody is selling a broadcasting network today -- not Walt Disney, not Sumner Redstone, not Comcast (wait, we are getting ahead of ourselves). But people are, in fact, trying to sell information about the possible selling of a broadcast network. One opportunistic -- and former -- Walt Disney employee allegedly only wanted some $15,000 for such insider information. That seems cheap compared to what one would imagine for the potential multi-billion sale of a network such as ABC.

It's not enough to choose a cold-weather Super Bowl. Better to choose a place where there's a 90% predictive weathercast it will snow that weekend in February.

A TV niche only takes you so far. Peter Roth, president of Warner Bros. Television, believes that's the case for CW. The highly targeted network for young women -- women 18-34, specifically -- perhaps needs to grow up a bit. So it's picking up "Nikita," an action-adventure that Roth says will "expand the brand."

Just two reality shows out of 36 new broadcast network shows are in the works for the 2010-2011 broadcast season. What does this say about the new season creatively, if not financially? There must be reality show burn-out among viewers and advertisers.

More doping allegations against famous athletes -- this time about a big-name cyclist, Lance Armstrong, and other top cycling stars. What do viewers feel about this? Weariness and perhaps resignation.

ABC's Jimmy Kimmel again gives us the shorthand state-of-TV-business report. We can only hope TV and media agency executives do the honorable thing -- and respond with crazy business decisions.

With NBC suddenly adding to the wealth of new shows for advertisers to mull over -- some 13 in all - one question remains, how to market all of these programs?