Dan Rather criticized the bottom line of merging media companies at the National Conference for Media Reform, Broadcasting & Cable reports. Rather argued that corporate news companies are more concerned with making money and “so-called human-interest stories, celebrity fluff, sensationalist…
Thirty-second ad spots make up 55% of all advertising units, while 15-second and 30-second spots account for 93% of all commercials during prime-time, according to the Nielson Co., Media Daily News reports. The company also found that dramas are the…
The second-season premiere of “Army Wives” saw the series hit new records for Lifetime, becoming the most-watched and highest-rated original series in the network’s history. “Wives” returned for its second season June 8 in its 10 p.m. time slot, earning…
MediaTides has developed a DTV marketing campaign that emphasizes the positives of the digital transition, particularly the benefits that viewers will be gaining, TVNewsday reports. The campaign alerts viewers to multicast channels as well as high-definition and surround-sound programming, the…
Discovery Communications has appointed two vice presidents in its licensing department. Julie Robertson and Jo Edwards have been named VP of domestic licensing and VP of international licensing, respectively. Ms. Robertson will manage Discovery’s domestic licensing enterprise and strategies, with…
DirecTV will retransmit LIN TV-owned and/or -operated broadcast stations in analog and high-definition as part of an agreement announced today, TVNewsday reports. The agreement covers stations in 15 markets, including Albuquerque, N.M.; Austin, Texas; Buffalo, N.Y.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Hartford-New…
Comedy Central has given Bobby Lee’s half-hour comedy a pilot order, the Hollywood Reporter says. Troy Miller, executive producer on HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords,” will direct and produce the program about Lee’s experiences living in a multicultural world, the…
Versus has locked up the Tour de France, one of the channel’s biggest events, with an extension of its deal to run through 2013, company executives said. “Signing a multiyear extension deal with the [Amaury Sport Organization, organizers of the…
Fox and ABC have largely concluded their sales in a surprisingly robust upfront advertising market. ABC topped its goals, exceeding last year’s sales of about $2.4 billion by $125 million, according to Mike Shaw, the network’s president of sales. Prices…