This year's TV upfront has its usual theme. The first network to do deals -- once again, Fox, as has been the case for many years -- has set the bar price-wise. But perhaps a few more competitors than in the past are complaining that Fox could have commanded higher prices.

PBS is just coming to the realization -- perhaps obvious to others -- that viewers move on quickly after TV shows have ended. PBS executives say viewers make for the "exits" when a show like "Masterpiece Theater" concludes, with ratings dropping substantially. As a result, some messages from PBS sponsors messaging have been falling on deaf ears. So PBS executives -- already under stress by some conservative-minded politicians who want to cut Federal funding -- say they'll now add messaging at 15-minute increments to some shows.