Cablevision Systems plans to build a Wi-Fi high-speed wireless network, following on the heels of Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House’s joint venture to build a nationwide Wi-Max broadband network, Multichannel News reports. The network will be free of…
ESPN has partnered with Coldplay to promote its live U.S. soccer coverage, E! Online reports. The band’s music will be used in commercials for the European Championship, the Web site says. “Viva la Vida,” the first single from the band’s…
Stephen Root has joined the cast of HBO’s upcoming vampire drama “True Blood” for three episodes, the Hollywood Reporter says. Root will play a lonely, smitten vampire named Eddie Gautier, the newspaper says. —Vlada Gelman
ABC has passed on the opportunity to acquire “The Golden Cage,” the controversial U.K. successor to “Big Brother,” the Hollywood Reporter says. ABC was discouraged by the high production costs of the program, a representative for producer Jon de Mol’s…
The American Federation of Television & Radio Artists and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers have agreed to a media blackout during their current negotiations, Mediaweek reports. The two sides sat down to begin formal negotiations on Wednesday….
The MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Connecticut is the first advertiser to employ a technology that allows viewers watching high-definition TV to click through to information from the Internet. Horizon Media is working on the project with Backchannelmedia and WCVB-DT,…
Sinclair Broadcast Group may go private, CEO David Smith said Wednesday, according to Media Daily News. Despite an 8% increase in revenues to $160.9 million and a 23% jump in operating income during its first quarter, Smith said the company’s…
LIN Television CEO Vince Sadusky likened the digital television transition to Y2K, telling securities analysts this morning that he believes it will not affect most television viewers, TVNewsday reports. Cable and satellite subscribers, who make up 90% of homes, will…
Discovery Communications’ U.S. Networks unit racked up an 18% increase in operating cash flow on a 3% increase in revenues during the first quarter, Discovery Holding Co. reported Thursday. Excluding the results of Travel Channel, which was sold last year…
Comedy Central is breathing new life into the iconic 1970s variety program “The Gong Show.” The network has greenlighted “The Gong Show With Dave Attell,” the comedian-star of the network’s “Insomniac” series. The new “Gong Show,” set to premiere July…