January 2008 News

YouTube’s audience grew slightly the week before Christmas, according to the latest weekly figures for video-sharing sites from Nielsen Online.

YouTube, far and away the leader in video sites, drew 32.8 million unique visitors for the week ending Dec. 23, compared to 31.4 million for the week ending Dec. 16.

Meanwhile, Yahoo Video lost a huge chunk of its audience during that same period. The site attracted 6.2 million unique visitors for the week ending Dec. 16, then dropped to 2 million unique visitors for the week ending Dec. 23.

The reason for the drop was not immediately apparent. However, video sites do shift up and down in viewership from week to week.

The Television Bureau of Advertising said its electronic ad sales platform, the ePort, has begun handling live orders.

The TVB said Harmelin Media sent electronic orders to stations in Philadelphia using ePort, and that Horizon Media bought spots on Gray Television’s WOWT-TV in Omaha, Neb., via rep firm Continental Television Sales using the system last month.

“We’ve successfully sent orders to the Continental Television Sales rep firm, and are eager to broaden the electronic means by which we conduct business on a daily basis,” said Kerry Miller, media buyer at Horizon. “We look forward to the realm of possibilities this will have for us as an agency.”

Both Harmelin and Horizon are clients of Strata Marketing, which owns the first buying system to become compliant with TVB ePort’s open standards.

The TVB said 644 stations in 186 markets are committed to using ePort.

MTV has greenlit a second season of “A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila,” the bisexual dating show.

In the first season, which drew an average of 6 million viewers, Ms. Tequila picked Bobby Banhart. The finale was shot in September, but apparently things didn’t work out for the couple.
For season two, which is scheduled for 10 episodes to air in the spring, Ms. Tequila will get another group of straight guys and lesbians as suitors.

MTV also announced today an overall production services agreement with 495 Productions and its founder and president, Sally Ann Salsano.

"Thanks to the creative talent and vision of Sally Ann Salsano, 'A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila' was one of our big breakout hits for 2007," said Tony Disanto, executive VP of series development and programming for MTV. "We are now officially expanding our relationship with Sally Ann and her team at 495 Productions and look forward to her next slate of projects including another ‘Shot at Love,’ ‘That's Amore’ and more great, compelling TV for our viewers. We're thrilled to be in business with her."

(Editor: Robbins)

E! Entertainment Television picked up a second season of its weeknight comedy talk show "Chelsea Lately," featuring comedian Chelsea Handler.

The new season kicks off Jan. 7 at 11:30 p.m. on E!

Since its July debut, the half-hour series has shown double-digit growth in the time period compared with the year-ago household score.

"Chelsea has a fantastic sense of humor and one-of-a-kind approach to pop culture commentary," said Lisa Berger, executive VP of original programming and series development, E! Entertainment Television. "It's great that audiences have responded to her distinct brand of comedy and we look forward to having the show on our air for another season."

(Editor: Robbins)

Online video network Revision3 said it served up 11 million shows and 44 million clips in the fourth quarter of 2007, a more than five-fold increase from the first quarter of 2007, the company said.

For the full year, Revision3 delivered more than 25 million shows and more than 103 million clips.

Revision3 is one of the leading producers of Web video. Its stable includes the popular tech-centric Web show “Diggnation.” Revision3’s competitors are other Web video producers, such as On Networks and Next New Networks, as well as individually produced Web video shows in its topic areas.

Hearst-Argyle Television has named James J. Carter president and general manager of its WESH-TV, an NBC affiliate, and WKCF-TV, a CW affiliate. Both stations serve the Orlando-Daytona-Melbourne market in Florida.

Mr. Carter has been president and general manager of Hearst-Argyle’s CBS affiliate WLKY-TV in Louisville, Ky., since 1999.

His assignment as successor to the retiring Bill Bauman in Orlando is effective immediately. The name of Mr. Carter’s successor is still to come.

“Jim has been an outstanding executive for our company over the past 20 years,” Hearst-Argyle President and CEO David Barrett said in Wednesday’s announcement. “Most recently, his leadership of WLKY has been most impressive, notably in the area of top-quality local news, critically acclaimed community service and solid growth in ratings, revenue and profitability. Jim will help the WESH/WKCF team build on the successes they’ve achieved in the Orlando market.”

Under Mr. Carter’s management, WLKY has had the top-rated late news in Louisville for 21 of the last 22 rating periods. In addition to the NAB Education Foundation’s Service to America (Television) Award, which recognizes a single U.S. TV station for the totality of its efforts in serving the community, WLKY earned nine 2007 regional Emmy Awards including those for station excellence and news excellence. It also earned eight 2007 regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, including those for overall excellence and news excellence.

Mr. Carter moved to WLKY-TV from WTAE-TV, Hearst-Argyle’s ABC affiliate in Pittsburgh, where he was sales VP.

With bowl games in full force on other networks, NBC’s counterprogramming for the sports fan, the NHL Winter Classic, delivered the league’s best regular-season rating in more than a decade.

The event scored a 2.6 overnight rating and a 5 share on New Year’s Day, as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in the first U.S. outdoor game in NHL history.

“The best regular-season rating in more than a decade is a result of the tremendous efforts of the NHL, and we're delighted by the success of this historic event,” said Ken Schanzer, President of NBC Sports. “Sam Flood, his production team and our broadcasters also deserve credit for conveying the great atmosphere in Buffalo and producing a memorable broadcast. The Winter Classic exposed hockey to a larger audience and definitely made new fans of the game.”

Among the top 10 metered markets were a few surprises, including Las Vegas.

Top 10 Metered Markets:

1. Buffalo, N.Y., 38.2/58

2. Pittsburgh 17.7/30

3. Minneapolis 5.1/11

4. Denver 3.7/7

5 (tie). Providence, R.I., 3.5/7

5 (tie). Las Vegas 3.5/6

7. St. Louis 3.3/5

8. Boston 3.2/6

9. Sacramento 2.9/6

10 (tie). Richmond, Va., 2.8/5

10 (tie). Hartford, Conn., 2.8/5

MSNBC’s former chief political producer Tammy Haddad will launch a series of political specials on XM Satellite Radio’s POTUS ’08 channel. The show will premiere Thursday at 6 p.m., with a guest lineup that includes “Meet the Press” moderator Tim Russert, originating from Iowa against the backdrop of Thursday’s presidential caucuses.

Also booked for the first installment of “High-Definition Politics With Tammy Haddad” are David Bohrman, CNN’s Washington bureau chief and overseer of the news network’s political coverage; Bob Shrum, adviser for Sen. John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign and former VP Al Gore's presidential campaign adviser in 2000; and Alex Castellanos, senior media adviser to GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Ms. Haddad, who started an eponymous media company and has become a contributor to Newsweek and the National Journal Group since leaving MSNBC in late fall, has been executive producer for a number of high-profile TV personalities including Larry King, Tom Snyder, Maury Povich and Chris Matthews.

Joe Mathieu, election anchor and program director of POTUS ’08, said Ms. Haddad’s “deep experience with campaigns and media will tell listeners what the pros are doing and why and what it means to the election.”

The year-old POTUS ’08 channel is commercial-free and available free for two weeks to consumers who sign up for a free trial at www.xmradio.com/potus.

Late Night TV Returns With, Without Writers
David Letterman, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and Craig Ferguson returned to the airwaves last night, Daily Variety reports. Mr. Letterman, however, had the advantage of returning with his writers after his production company, Worldwide Pants, sealed a temporary deal with the Writers Guild of America last week, the newspaper says. All four shows touched on the strike, with Mr. Letterman touting a chorus line of dancers brandishing strike signs. Mr. Leno wrote his own monologue, in which he zinged NBC by saying that more people were picketing the network than currently watching it, the newspaper reports.

Leno Audience Pleased With Writerless Show
Audience members leaving today’s taping of “The Tonight Show” said Mr. Leno was funny, if a little corny, the Los Angeles Times reports. One audience member wondered how long Mr. Leno is going to be able to get away with his cheesy material if the strike continues for longer, the newspaper said. Audience members said Mr. Leno told them repeatedly that he wasn’t breaking any strike rules with his monologue, the newspaper says.

Fox Shifts Midseason Shows to Monday
Fox has moved “New Amsterdam" and "Canterbury's Law," originally scheduled for Friday, to Mondays, as the network sets in for a long strike, Daily Variety reports. The channel has also added a Thursday edition of “American Idol,” the newspaper says. Fox originally announced its midseason lineup a week after the Writers Guild of America went on strike. Now that a longer strike is a definite, Fox is giving its valuable scripted dramas a better position on the schedule, the newspaper says.

Writers Nix Golden Globe Waiver Possibility
The Writers Guild of America has officially clamped down on the idea of offering the Hollywood Foreign Press Association any waiver for its Golden Globes, set to air on NBC on Jan. 13, Daily Variety reports. This has left party, award and event planners in the lurch over what’s going to happen after the Screen Actors Guild informed its member that attending the Globes means crossing a picket line, the newspaper says.

Huckabee ‘Supports’ Writers, Oddly Crosses Picket Line
Picketers roamed outside NBC’s Burbank studios as Jay Leno returned to work, with Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee as Mr. Leno’s guest, Deadline Hollywood Daily reports. Mr. Huckabee told the Associated Press earlier in the day that he supported the writers, and originally thought that all late-night writers had returned to work (as opposed to just shows owned by Worldwide Pants). The Writers Guild of America released a statement giving kudos to Mr. Huckabee’s remarks, but urged him not to cross the picket line, the blog reports. Mr. Huckabee showed up at the “Tonight Show” taping, and the Guild released a statement saying they were disappointed with Mr. Huckabee’s actions, the blog says.

-Andrew Krukowski

Landmark Communications plans to put its assets, which include the Weather Channel, up for sale.

In a statement Thursday, Landmark said it has retained investment banks J.P. Morgan and Lehman Brothers to assist in exploring strategic alternatives, including the possible sale of the company’s businesses.

“At this early stage, we cannot speculate on where this process will lead," Landmark Chairman and CEO Frank Batten Jr. said. “We will consider various options and, at the end, we will advise employees and customers of our conclusions.”

The Weather Channel is one of the few remaining independent cable channels. During the third quarter, it ranked 42nd in total viewers among all advertising-supported cable networks.

Possible buyers included NBC Universal, News Corp. and Comcast.

In addition to the Weather Channel and its Weather.com Web site, Landmark owns nine daily newspapers and more than 100 other publications. It had revenues of $1.75 billion in 2006.

Updated at 9:52

(Editor: Baumann)

Hallmark Channel owner Crown Media Holdings reached an agreement with the National Interfaith Cable Coalition, which owns a stake in the company and provides programming to the channel, that reduces the amount of faith-related shows on the network.

Hallmark and the coalition had a program production and broadcast deal that expired at the end of 2007.

Under the settlement, Hallmark Channel will continue to broadcast a two-hour Sunday morning block of faith and values programming from the National Interfaith Cable Coalition. The NICC last year had six hours of programming on the channel on Sundays and one hour each weekday morning at 7 a.m.

NICC also will relinquish its right to compel Crown Media to purchase more than 4 million shares of Crown Media common stock, currently held by NICC. NICC also is giving up its seat on the Crown Media board.

(Editor: Baumann)

Video search service Truveo said it now indexes more than 100 million online videos. That's 20 times the number of videos it tracked on the Web at the start of last year.

A year ago, Truveo’s servers were adding 20,000 to 40,000 new videos each day to track, the company said. Now, Truveo is adding videos to its index at the rate of 500,000 new videos uploaded to the Web daily.

The number of searchable videos on the Web should hit 1 billion by 2009, the company said.

While most people are glued to the Super Bowl, DIY Network is planning a Toilet Bowl Marathon for viewers more interested in tiling than touchdowns.

DIY will be showing 11 hours of new episodes of its series “Bathroom Renovations” from noon to 11 p.m. on Feb. 3. The program is hosted by licensed contractor Amy Mathews.

The network also is launching a "Nailed at 9" programming block at 9 p.m. EST on Jan. 15. The block is anchored by the new series “Hammered” and the second season of “Man Caves.”

(Editor: Robbins)

The return of network late-night talk shows during the TV writers strike provided a ratings bounce for most of the competitors, with NBC’s “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” and “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” scoring wins in their time slots, according to early Nielsen ratings numbers.

That put writerless Leno ahead of CBS’ “The Late Show With David Letterman,” whose Worldwide Pants production company reached an agreement with the Writers Guild of America that let scribes work for that program.

Fast national ratings may be available later Thursday afternoon and may change the competitive picture somewhat from the overnight numbers from 55 markets metered by Nielsen Co. The early numbers suggest that perhaps viewers were more interested in seeing Mr. Leno work with a short staff than Mr. Letterman with his full crew behind him.

Mr. Leno’s “Tonight Show” averaged a 5.3 household rating in the 55 overnight markets and a 12 share, up 47% from the program’s overnight season average of a 3.6 rating. Last night’s marks were the highest overnight numbers since Dec. 7, 2005.

Mr. Letterman’s “Late Show” averaged a 4.3 household rating/10 share Wednesday night, up 39% from its overnight season ratings average of 3.1.

Mr. O’Brien’s “Late Night” averaged a 2.5 rating/8 share, its highest since Dec. 21, 2005, and a 56% improvement over the season average of 1.6.

Craig Ferguson’s “Late Late Show” averaged a 1.9/6 Wednesday, up 27% from its season average of 1.5.

“Last Call With Carson Daily,” the latest of the late-night shows and the first to return to originals without writers in December, averaged 1.4/6 Wednesday.

ABC’s “Nightline” posted a 3.0/6 Wednesday, followed by “Jimmy Kimmel” with a 1.4/4.

(Season overnight averages for the ABC shows were not available Thursday morning.)

Nielsen’s ratings represent the percentage of all TV homes in the measured area that were tuned to a particular show. The share represents the percentage of all TV sets that were in use in that area that were tuned to the show.)

The shows played off their strike-induced absences.

“Gawd, it’s good to see you,” Mr. Ferguson said at the end of his first new monologue in the two months since the writers strike sent late-night talk shows into reruns.

NBC-owned “Tonight Show” and “Late Night” and ABC-owned “Jimmy Kimmel” are not able to bring back their writers because those networks have not settled with the striking WGA. In addition, the WGA is picketing and otherwise pressuring stars and other potential guests to not cross the picket lines.

Worldwide Pants-owned “Late Show” and “Late Late” on CBS have negotiated a deal with the WGA. That gives them the advantage of being able to put their full writing staffs back to work starting with Wednesday’s shows and makes them the only shows bearing the WGA’s seal of approval for potential guests.

A partial tale of the tapes from Wednesday on the air showed:

—Mr. Letterman back in full production mode, from the taped opening in which Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said the late-night shows’ return means all good things must come to an end. The show included a Rockettes-style picket line, a monologue with best wishes for still-striking writers and jokes about Mr. Letterman’s Gabby Hayes-ish strike beard. The host returned to his Top 10 list (delivered by striking writers from other shows about what they want). Robin Williams—a favorite late-night guest because you just wind him up and let him go—was the show’s WGA-supportive first guest.

—A clean-shaven Jay Leno did a monologue that included an expression of support for the writers. Mr. Leno said the bit was kosher according to WGA rules because he wrote it and tested it on his wife, Mavis. That contention was disputed by some familiar with the WGA rules. GOP presidential frontrunner Mike Huckabee, who apparently had not understood that he was crossing picket lines by appearing on “Tonight,” was Mr. Leno’s main guest. The candidate did double duty by both chatting with the host and playing the guitar before flying back to Iowa in time for Thursday’s caucuses.

—A clean-shaven Jimmy Kimmel did no monologue, citing his uncertainty about what the WGA strike rules are. But he said he is “pissed off” at the WGA for so aggressively working against the late-night shows that have been unable to cut their own deals as Mr. Letterman’s production company did. His main guest: Andy Dick.

—A strike-bearded Mr. O’Brien also expressed support for the writers, doing a video bit about how he’s spent downtime annoying colleagues with his guitar-playing and live demonstrations about how much time he can take up spinning his wedding band. First guest Bob Saget, while a union son of a union father, didn’t have the star power of Robin Williams.

—A fake-bearded Mr. Ferguson declared: “As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted” at the top of a strike-centric show that relied heavily on his trademark extended monologue and some of his character sketches. He signed off by telling viewers, “Let me just say how much of a pleasure it is to be back in your living room or bedroom or wherever the hell you have your television, and that all of the comedy that you saw tonight, whether improvised or written, was brought to you by WGA writers.”

(Editor: Baumann)

Celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton’s war against YouTube didn’t last long.

After posting a YouTube kiss-off video Dec. 20 urging other video creators to defect from the site as well, Mr. Hilton returned to the site Dec. 27 with a video showing his new hair color and hair extensions.

Then on Jan. 1 he posted two new videos: one with his New Year’s predictions for 2008 and a clip of him celebrating New Year’s in Times Square.

His return to the world’s biggest video-sharing site comes just two weeks after the site pulled his channel for two days due to copyright violations. He resolved the copyright matter and the channel was reinstated, but Mr. Hilton said at the time that he planned to test new video services and didn’t intend to return to YouTube.

In late December he posted videos using Revver and private-label service Twistage on his own site. He has continued to post videos on PerezHilton.com using Twistage, including one earlier this week on finding a set of dentures on the streets of New York.

Twistage CEO David Wadler said his company has inked a deal with PerezHilton.com and Blogads.com, which sells ads on Mr. Hilton’s site, to license the Twistage technology to the gossip blogger for posting videos directly on PerezHilton.com.

Mr. Hilton did not immediately reply to an e-mail seeking comment.

12:05 p.m.: Updated sixth paragraph.

The Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences is partnering with the Foo Fighters, CBS Interactive and YouTube on this year’s “My Grammy Moment” contest.

After doing a similar contest that put an unknown singer on stage with Justin Timberlake during last year’s Grammy Awards, this year’s search is looking for classical strings, woodwind or brass players to play along with the Foo Fighters during the 2008 Grammy Awards on Feb. 10.

Starting today until Jan. 20, applicants can submit a 60-second solo piece from the Foo Fighters’ Grammy-nominated song “The Pretender” to YouTube. A Grammy blue-ribbon panel of recording industry experts will choose a pool of 45 performers to be whittled down to 20 by site voters.

From those 20, three will be chosen, and the winner will be announced moments before performing on the Grammy stage.

The videos are located at www.youtube.com/mygrammymoment.

CBS is folding College Sports Television Networks into the operations of CBS Sports, the company said Thursday.

Tony Petitti, executive VP and executive producer of CBS Sports, will oversee day-to-day operations of CSTV, replacing Brian Bedol, who founded the company and sold it to CBS.

CBS said Mr. Bedol will work with CBS Sports and News President Sean McManus and Mr. Petitti over the next few months to effect the transition. He will continue to work with CBS as a senior adviser to CBS CEO Les Moonves.

"Since becoming part of CBS Corp., CSTV has had the opportunity to grow bigger and faster and better than I could have ever imagined," Mr. Bedol said in a statement. "And now, as part of CBS Sports, it joins an institution that has become the model for all others in the sports media business. Leslie, Sean and Tony have created a culture built on pride, excellence and the love of sports, and I’m convinced that it is the perfect environment to continue CSTV’s evolution."

NBC Universal is planning to unveil a new Web site for syndicated entertainment newsmagazine “Access Hollywood” Jan. 7 at the Consumer Electronics Show. The redo is the latest indication of the weight Hollywood studios now place on the electronics extravaganza that kicks off the year in Las Vegas.

The new Web destination for the show will include more video on the home page, better navigation and a design that marries both blog and magazine features. The home page will feature two videos and improved video search tools. Videos will play directly on the home page so users don’t have to jump to a new page when they click on a video.

“Access Hollywood” hopes to capture more ad dollars with the facelift and also remain competitive in the entertainment news arena online. The show relaunched its Web site in May 2006, giving it a top-to-bottom makeover. But that redo became antiquated quickly with the profusion of Web video in the last two years. Online video will grow from $1.4 billion in ad spending in 2008 to $4.3 billion in 2011, according to eMarketer.

In November, Accesshollywood.com attracted 2 million unique users, up 120% from a year ago, according to measurement firm Omniture.

Video advertisers on AccessHollywood.com include Quaker, Macy’s and Maybelline. “Advertisers look at it as a more impactful way to reach an audience rather than just a banner or button. We are looking to increase the quantity and of course the high quality of our video offerings,” said Betsy Bergman, VP of marketing at NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution.

“Access Hollywood’s” Web makeover occurs against an increasingly competitive backdrop. The always-on nature of the Internet has intensified consumer appetite for celebrity news. Web sites like PerezHilton.com, TMZ.com and Hollywood.tv jockey with each other daily in the race to be the first to report both the latest news and antics.

Food Network signed a new three-year agreement with host Alton Brown.

The channel recently re-signed celebrity cook Rachael Ray, but has a less-certain relationship with its biggest star Emeril Lagasse. Production of long-running “Emeril Live” was halted late last year.

Under his new deal, Mr. Brown will produce new seasons of “Good Eats” and “Iron Chef America,” plus specials.

He will also produce a limited series, “Feasting on Waves,” which will premiere in the summer and look at the food and culture of the Caribbean.

“We are thrilled to continue our long-standing relationship with Alton and look forward to creating compelling programs with him,” said Brooke Johnson, president of Food Network, in a statement. “’Good Eats’ launched in 1999, its popularity and that of Alton is a testament to the creativity and longevity of our talent and programming.”

“Food Network is my home and I am staying home,” said Mr. Brown. “I’m looking forward to producing more and varied shows with the network and am especially excited about ‘Feasting on Waves,’ which will bring a whole new perspective to food.”

Viewing remained largely higher than season-to-date averages but subsided to more normal patterns for the networks’ late-night shows on Thursday, their second night back after eight weeks of writers strike-induced reruns.

NBC’s “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” was still in first place according to data from Nielsen Media Research’s 55 metered markets, with an average 4.3 household rating and 10 share of audience, down from its 5.3 rating/12 share Wednesday.

“Late Show With David Letterman” on CBS averaged a 3.8 rating/9 share, compared to its 4.3/10 on Wednesday.

“Late Night With Conan O’Brien” settled back to a 2.1/7 after scoring a 2.5/8 on Wednesday for NBC.

On CBS. “The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” posted a 1.8/6, not far off its Wednesday night average of 1.9/6.

On ABC, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” bucked the trend for a second consecutive night by averaging a 1.5/5, up a tick from Wednesday’s 1.4/4. “Kimmel’s” news lead-in, “Nightline,” likewise inched up to a 3.1/7 (vs. Wednesday’s 3.0/6), likely out of viewer interest in results from the Iowa caucuses that officially kicked off the presidential primary season.

The rating represents the percentage of all TV homes in the measured area that were tuned to a particular show. The share represents the percentage of all TV sets that were in use in that area that were tuned to the show.

Leno Asked, Received Guild Permission Over Monologue
A controversy over Jay Leno’s penned monologue has ruffled Writers Guild of America feathers, but NBC is claiming the guild gave permission to Mr. Leno to write his own material, Deadline Hollywood Daily reports.

Sources said Mr. Leno met with WGA West president Patric Verrone on Monday and asked about his ability to write his own material. Mr. Verrone responded that the guild would look the other way, the blog reports.

Guild Denies Claims of Looking the Other Way
The Writers Guild of America refutes claims that it told Jay Leno it would look the other way if Mr. Leno wrote his own monologue, Deadline Hollywood Daily reports.

A WGA insider said Mr. Leno and Patric Verrone, WGA West president, met on Monday, but Mr. Leno wasn’t there to discuss his monologue. He was there to clarify how he didn’t want to seem like the bad guy in going back to work, the blog says.

The confusion might lie in what happened at the end of the meeting, when Mr. Leno said he was going to do his monologue, which the insider said was interpreted as ad-libbing as opposed to scripting the piece, the blog says.

Strike Poll Paints Dimmer Picture for Writers
In a December follow-up to a poll distributed by Daily Variety in November, job loss has increased, with 26% of respondents saying they’ve lost their jobs due to the strike. That’s compared to 16% in November, the newspaper reports.

Also more respondents said they view the WGA in a more negative light than in the last survey.
Fewer respondents said they believed the strike would turn out in the writers’ favor than in November, Daily Variety said.

The newspaper polled 616 of its subscribers for the survey.

Pants Deal Helps Writers’ Image
The Writers Guild of America’s deal with David Letterman’s Worldwide Pants has boosted the image of the guild, making the WGA look reasonable, Daily Variety reports.

The terms of the deal between the two sides are hush-hush, but industry insiders believe the deal includes residuals of 2.5% of accountable receipts, which could mean the distributor’s gross, the newspaper says.

That deal also overlaps online through free streaming and downloadable video, with a free three-day window for promotional purposes, the newspaper reports.

Directors, Producers Taking Their Time Over Negotiations
Informal talks between the Directors Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers have been occurring over the past week. These talks, which are trying to bring in the right people, could continue well into next week, the Hollywood Reporter says.

Once these informal talks end, the two sides should be at the negotiating table immediately, the newspaper says.

More than 1 million consumers have requested $40-off coupons for DTV converters in the first week the government offered the coupons.

The Department of Commerce said today that consumers have requested 1.9 million coupons. Each household without satellite or cable can get up to two coupons.

The coupons, due to be sent out in February, are intended to defray the estimated $50 to $70 cost of set-top boxes to be sold by major consumer electronics retailers that will allow consumers to get digital TV pictures on analog TV sets.

The government began offering the coupons on Jan. 1.

TelevisionWeek writer Daisy Whitney packs a CES preview, the latest news on Perez Hilton's video technology and her pick for a pair of emerging Web video talents in the latest installment of the "New Media Minute."

Cox is rolling out a mobile advertising component for its marketers starting this month, in a new initiative that should reach most of its footprint by year end.

The mobile capability builds on a handful of experiments Cox conducted in the fall in northern Virginia, San Diego, New England and Las Vegas to loop in text messaging to its TV ads.

Cox advertisers can include a tag in their spots urging consumers to send a text message to receive a special offer, tailored to each advertiser’s needs. That’s similar to how consumers vote for “American Idol” contestants.

The solution is low-tech, but it has produced strong results with early marketers. Also, the new offering gives Cox a toehold in mobile marketing as advertisers explore this nascent medium.

Mobile ad spending will grow from $1.6 billion in 2008 to $4.8 billion in 2011, according to eMarketer.

“We are looking full circle at what advertising can do,” said Peter Schultz, director of advanced advertising at Cox Media. “You have a 30-second spot, you layer with other technology like VOD and long-form ads, and interactive overlays and request for information, but there is still no force driving them to the final sale.”

Mr. Schultz said he hopes the mobile connection can close that loop. “We are making it relevant to you and sending the offer to your cell phone to drive you to the store,” he said.

Cox offers the mobile option via a partnership with marketing firm Ping Mobile, which handles the management of the mobile campaigns.

Cox first tested the mobile tie-in in September with gourmet pizza chain Vocelli in northern Virginia. The commercials included a tag letting consumers know they could send a text message to receive a coupon for money off a pizza. If a consumer sent in that first message, Cox then sent back a reply asking if they wanted to opt in to the Vocelli mobile club and receive additional discounts, Mr. Schultz said.

With the Vocelli campaign, Cox ran about 100 spots per week across various cable channels. Based on Nielsen ratings, Mr. Schultz estimates about 0.5% of viewers who saw the ads requested a coupon. That number is higher than most Internet ad click-through rates.

Of those who requested the coupon, 56% went on to redeem the coupon at a store and 32% chose to opt in to the Vocelli mobile club.

While text messaging is a seemingly simple entry into mobile marketing, Cox needed the partnership with Ping Mobile to manage the campaign, the database and compliance with marketing guidelines.

“When you send a message to a friend, you don’t need permission, but for a company to send a message it does need permission,” said Ping Mobile CEO Shira Simmonds. Clients include Delta Airlines, Macy’s, Sharper Image and Enterprise Rent-a-Car.

Close Up: Arthur Minson

Time Warner Cable has promoted Arthur Minson to executive vice president and deputy chief financial officer. In this role, Mr. Minson will provide oversight of Time Warner Cable’s accounting, financial planning and analysis. Mr. Minson, previously senior VP of finance, joined Time Warner Cable in 2006. Mr. Minson arrived at Time Warner Cable from AOL, where he served as senior VP of corporate finance and development. At AOL, Mr. Minson was involved with financial planning, budgeting, mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Minson obtained his B.S. from Georgetown University in 1992, and his master’s degree in 1997 from Columbia Business School. He lives in Darien, Conn., with his wife and three sons.

BROADCASTING
Gena Ashe to VP/deputy general counsel, PBS, from senior associate general counsel, Darden Restaurants.

Mark Effron to president/chief operating officer, TitanTV Media, from senior VP.

Frank Friedman to senior VP/head of local broadcast, Optimedia U.S., from senior vice president/managing director, Optimedia Indianapolis.

John H. Idler to president/general manager, WTVD, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., from VP/general sales manager, WLS-TV, Chicago.

Shawn Killinger to program host, QVC, from senior producer/host, BabyFirstTV.

Patti Moreno to host, “Farmers’ Almanac TV,” from Internet video host.

CABLE
Axel Escudero to director, corporate communications, MTV Latin America, from director, media relations, Cerveceria y Malteria Quilmes.

Richard Fisher to president, Premier Retail Networks, from president, RespondTV.

Juan Frontini to creative director, MTV Latin America, from same, Young & Rubicam.

David Giles to senior VP, VH1/CMT research, from VP.

Laurie Goldberg to senior VP, communications, TLC, from senior VP, public relations, CNN.

Kevin Hyman to executive VP, cable operations, Bright House Networks, from president, Tampa Bay division.

Marc Juris to executive VP/general manager, truTV, from general manager, Court TV.

Mark McGuire to VP, solutions delivery, Cox Communications, from executive director, enterprise applications.

Edward Sabin to chief operating officer, TLC, from group president/COO, Alchemy Television Group.

Claire Watts to president, U.S. commerce, QVC, from executive VP, merchandising, Wal-Mart.

Samantha Greene Woodruff to VP, strategy/business development, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group, from senior director, strategy/business development.

DISTRIBUTION
Andrew Farley to VP, affiliate sales, Castalia Communications, from network owner/operator.

Thomas Gewecke to president, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, from executive VP, global digital business, Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

Cherie Grobbel to VP, international finance, QVC, from same, Gamestop.

Tara Marshall to director, integrated sales, Sundance Channel, from sales director, ABC Digital Media.

Shelby Mason to VP, western sales, Disney-ABC Domestic Television, from director, Midwest sales.

Curtis Pace to VP, Midwest sales, Disney-ABC Domestic Television, from executive director, southwest sales.

Esther Ready to director, affiliate/strategic partnerships, Word World, from director, marketing, PBS Kids Sprout.

Charles Wing to VP, broadcast distribution, Castalia Communications, from founder, Wing Broadcasting.

JOURNALISM
Paul Bae to manager, digital media, KBCW-TV, San Francisco, from director, arts/technical ministries, First Baptist Church of Fair Oaks.

Jennifer Lyons to executive producer, “WGN Morning News,” from same, “WGN News at Noon.”

Lindsay Radford to news director, KSTP, Minneapolis, from assistant news director.

John Reiss to executive producer, “Hardball With Chris Matthews,” from same, “NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams.”

Maggie Rodriguez to co-anchor, “The Early Show,” from same, “The Saturday Early Show.”

Don Schwenneker to weekend evening meteorologist, CBS 2 Chicago, from meteorologist, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh.

Wen Tung to writer/fill-in producer, KPIX-TV, San Francisco, from same, KNSD, San Diego.

Michael Williams to reporter, WFOR-TV, Miami, from late news anchor, WTVJ, Miami.

Sharrie Williams to reporter, WFOR-TV, Miami, from same, WVTM, Birmingham, Ala.

ADVERTISING
George Abdy to associate art director, Word World, from creative director/marketing manager, InspireWorks.

Arielle Basch to marketing director, Word World, from VP, strategic planning/business development, Kaleidoscope Marketing Group.

Ericka Butler to VP, sales/strategic planning, Entertainment Studios Home Entertainment, from director, category management.

Andrew M. Hunn to VP, affiliate sales, Sundance Channel, from director, national accounts, Rainbow Media Programming.

William Funk to senior VP, sports sponsorship and sales, Turner Sports, from VP, sports sponsorship and sales.

Susanne Smith McAvoy to vice president, ad sales marketing, Hallmark Channel/Hallmark Movie Channel, from marketing consultant, ad sales, Bravo.

Holly Miller to vice president, ad sales, central region, Comcast Networks, from director, ad sales.

MARKETING
Sonia Borris to senior VP, marketing/operations, Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Marketing, from VP, marketing/promotions.

Elizabeth Brooks to chief marketing officer, Real D, from executive VP, marketing, GoTV Networks.

PRODUCTION
Steven O’Neill to senior VP, casting, NBC Entertainment, from VP, casting, Universal Media Studios.

Greg Slowik to chief financial officer, Word World, from chief operating officer/CFO, House Party.

Tracy A. Whittaker to head of creative development, reality, Scott Sternberg Productions, from supervising producer, “The Academy.”

Grace Wu to senior VP, casting, Universal Media Studios, from senior VP, casting, NBC Entertainment.

TECHNOLOGY
Trevor Frederickson to digital sales manager, WBBM-TV, Chicago, from digital account executive, WMAQ-TV, Chicago.

Tom Kingsley to vice president, engineering, MediaComm, from director, engineering/project manager, CNN.

Anne Myers to executive VP, managing director, Starcom MediaVest Group, from managing director, OMD.

Walt Ungerer to executive VP, corporate strategy/investor relations, Vyyo, from VP, corporate communications.

Ashley Woodworth to senior VP, marketing, CinemaNow, from VP, product, Move.

OTHER
John Coletta to assistant VP, international legal/business affairs, BMI, from assistant VP, legal affairs.

Victoria Smart to director, membership department, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, from manager.

In a sign of the emerging power of TV outside the home, NBC Universal will hold what media buyers are likening to an “upfront” presentation for its digital out-of-home assets Jan. 16.

The media company is hoping to get more advertisers to consider NBC for placing ads on TV screens in supermarkets, near gas-station pumps and in taxi cabs and arenas, among other places. Set to be held in Studio 8H, the NBC presentation will address about 200 advertisers and media buyers.

It’s telling that NBC has chosen this year to roll out its first out-of-home upfront. As the Writers Guild of America strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers drags on, it’s growing more likely that the big broadcast networks will pull back from the glitzy May presentations for their prime-time schedules.

Should the strike, which began Nov. 5, continue past late January, it will eat into the networks’ development season, where they devise comedy and drama pilots to show to advertisers. It may be in many networks’ interest to highlight media properties other than traditional TV programs.

In the past, broadcast network rivals have held presentations to advertisers early in the year in hopes of getting marketers to commit dollars well in advance of the May presentations. In February, for example, Yahoo held a meeting for marketers, telling them they should factor the Web portal into their early p