Comcast Ducks NBCU Questions on Earnings Conference Call

Comcast Corp.'s top executives wouldn’t discuss any deal with G.E. for control of NBC Universal when asked about it on the company’s third-quarter earnings conference call with analysts, B&C reports.

CEO Brian Roberts did try to allay shareholder fears about the possible deal, however, saying, "While we can't comment on rumors, we only look for opportunities that can accelerate growth, make those businesses more profitable and give them the benefits of scale."

The company’s programming operations, which includes the E! Entertainment, Style and G4 cable networks, saw a 10% rise in revenue, to $383 million in the quarter. Those channels would move into the possible joint venture with G.E. as part of the deal to take a controlling stake in NBC Universal.

--Elizabeth Jensen

iTunes Shopping Pay TV Service; Comcast CEO Brian Roberts Responds to the Idea

A lot of buzz so far this week from Peter Kafka's online story that Apple is shopping an iTunes pay-TV service to various networks, both broadcast and cable.

Kafka writes the popular MediaMemo for All Things Digital, where he's Senior Editor.

Kafka says it's an idea that Apple has floated before. But now with 100 million customers for its iTunes store, the conversations could turn serious. Price point for the service would be around $30 a month.

As for why programmers might NOT want to participate, Kafka writes, "Cable networks, for instance, don’t want to threaten existing relationships and subscription fees from cable providers like Comcast (CMCSA). And programmers are also worried about the effect a subscription service would have on advertising revenue: Even if the service didn’t distribute TV programs until after their initial air date, that could cut into ratings, which now measure viewership over the course of several days. "

Kafka also speculates that if any studio/programmer might be interested in leading the charge to join with Apple on such a service, it would be Apple's pals at Disney.

According to the Associated Press, on an earnings call today Comcast CEO Brian Roberts was asked if such a service from Apple would be a "long-term threat to Comcast."

Roberts reportedly responded: "I've been saying for a long time that I think video over the Internet is more friend than foe. ... Specifically to the Apple reports, let's wait and see what does materialize. I read the reports myself. I think there are many folks who want to deliver parts of the experience.

"I think a little bit goes back to (the) question, which is, why can't we have the most robust experience right to the TV set, right from Comcast Cable? And I think we very much take all these possibilities and use it as a galvanizing mechanism inside the company to come up with better and more innovative products."

--Chuck Ross

‘Sunny in Philadelphia’ Off-Cable Reruns Picking Up Stations

Off-cable reruns of FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” have cleared 45 percent of the country in advance of the show’s fall 2011 launch, B&C reports.

Stations in 23 markets, including nine of the top 10, and 17 of the top 20 have picked it up.

--Elizabeth Jensen

OMG, This Can't Be Good: Guess in Which Country the Debut of '30 Rock' Got a Zero Rating

We're willing to take the high road here and blame this one on lousy distribution and promotion.

The debut of "30 Rock" in Germany on Sunday night pulled a 0.0 rating, according to The Hollywood Reporter. That means less than 5,000 viewers tuned in, THR says.

According to the report: "asking Germans to laugh is never easy, but the debut was below even the lowest forecasts of broadcaster ZDFNeo. The digital niche channel, which is run by pubweb ZDF, had made "30 Rock" the flagship in its new relaunch, promising more cutting-edge programming for a younger demographic."

--Chuck Ross

With Leno in Primetime, Who is the New King of Late Night?

No one was buying NBC's declaration of its opinion, made right when the season started, about who should be crowned the new king of late night.

TV Critic Aaron Barnhart, of the well known TV Barn, in an Open Mike blog piece, gives his opinion about who's doing things right in late night, who's doing things badly, and who has the best show in the nightpart.

--Chuck Ross

Comcast Planning to Sell NBC Network and NBC's TV Stations?

If, as expected, Comcast buys a majority stake of NBC Universal, will the cable giant sell the NBC network and the NBC TV stations?

According to Claire Atkinson at B&C, that answer may be yes, and those discussions may have already begun. Here's what Atkinson writes, "One Wall Street player confirmed market rumors that bankers have already descended on the MSO's Philadelphia headquarters to work with management on selling the NBC Network and stations to a third party. Comcast had no immediate comment on that still-hypothetical possibility."

--Chuck Ross

Trifecta Entering Production With Two New Strips for 2010

Trifecta Entertainment will enter original production for syndication with two new strips,  "Judge Heck" and "Tooned In," set for fall 2010. It also has set for a 2010 debut a Canadian educational show aimed at young adults called "Mystery Hunters," reports B&C.

"Judge Heck" takes place in Missouri court room, and stars federal judge Anthony “Tony” Heckemeyer.

"Tooned In" is an entertainment magazine that features animated hosts sharing the gossip and celeb news. In "Mystery Hunters," two teens lead the way in a weekly exploration of supernatural mysteries.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Streisand to Check in With 'The Doctors'

Barbra Streisand will be phoning in to the Nov. 16 episode of CBS Television Distribution's syndicated medical show “The Doctors."

Streisand will be speaking with the doctors in support of The Barbra Streisand Women's Cardiovascular Research and Education Program at Cedars-Sinai medical center in Los Angeles, which she created further research on the female heart. 

Dr. C. Noel Bairey Merz, director of Cedars-Sinai's Women's Heart Center, will be appearing on the show to discuss the subject.

-- Allison J. Waldman

G.E., Comcast Deal for NBCU Could Come by Next Week

General Electric and Comcast reached a tentative agreement Friday on key points of a deal for Comcast to take control of NBC Universal, the New York Times reports.

A formal announcement could come sometime next week, the paper said, citing people briefed on the discussions. One remaining obstacle is negotiations with Vivendi over its 20 percent stake in NBCU, which analysts expect G.E. to buy. Those talks could still fall apart.

Under the deal being discussed between G.E. and Comcast, Comcast would own about 51 percent of NBCU, and contribute several billions of dollars, as well as cable networks. G.E. would keep the remaining stake and contribute about $12 billion in debt.


--Elizabeth Jensen

Dennis Hopper Battling Prostate Cancer

Dennis Hopper has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to his manager, the Associated Press reports.

The 73-year-old actor, who recently finished shooting on the the second season of the Starz network’s "Crash," is being treated at the University of Southern California.

The AP report says that "Asked about Hopper's prognosis, [Hopper's manager] said, 'We're hoping for the best.' He would not elaborate on the actor's condition."

--Elizabeth Jensen