AT&T says customers of its U-verse fiber-optic television service will be able to record two high-definition programs simultaneously by October, Web site TVPredictions.com says. The service, slated to reach more than 1 million subscribers by the end of the year,…
Lucia Ballas-Traynor, who has been running MTV’s Latino-themed network Tr3s, is leaving her post to become publisher of Time’s People en Espanol, Multichannel News reports. Ms. Ballas-Traynor had been running the network since 2005, the year before it was rebranded…
MTV’s first political advertisement, purchased by conservative group Let Freedom Ring, slams presidential candidate Barack Obama, calling him “Both Ways Barack” and “worse than a flip-flopper,” the New York Post reported. The ad says Obama has taken opposing positions on…
Scripps Networks Interactive, the parent to HGTV and Food Network that recently split off from E.G. Scripps, isn’t for sale, Multichannel News reports, citing CEO Ken Lowe. Since the split was announced in October, the new company, which also includes…
Ford Motor Co. cut its spending by two-thirds to $100 million during the second quarter, when it lost $8.7 billion, Advertising Age reports. Ford CEO Alan Mulally will try to turn around the company by adding two hybrid models as…
Comcast may acquire the female-shopper-centric electronic newsletter Daily Candy for $75 million, Web site Gawker.com reports. Daily Candy’s controlling shareholder is former AOL executive Bob Pittman, the Web site says. —Danny King
Andy Puzder, chief executive of Carl’s Jr.’s parent company, says his company’s television advertisement featuring Paris Hilton washing a car was “maybe the most successful ad of the decade,” Advertising Age reports. Mr. Puzder says risqué ads may be necessary…
Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs may fetch a sports-franchise record $1 billion when owner Tribune Co. sells the 132-year-old team, ballpark Wrigley Field and 25% of its television station, Bloomberg News reports. Tribune owner Sam Zell has narrowed the suitors…
MTV selected U.K.-based actor-comedian Russell Brand, most recently seen in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” as the host of this year’s Video Music Awards in September, the Associated Press reports. Brand has hosted a number of MTV programs in Britain as well…
Bob Barker, former longtime host of “The Price Is Right,” will be featured in public service advertisements about the 2009 switchover to all-digital broadcasts, Broadcasting & Cable reports. Barker also will be featured in spots shown in Wilmington, N.C., where…