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…
“American Idol” judge Simon Cowell received the most votes for reality-show villain while colleague Paula Abdul was voted worst reality-television judge, Reuters reports, citing an AOL Television poll. About a third of those surveyed said they wanted to take part…
Celebrity chef and “Hell’s Kitchen” star Gordon Ramsay has formed a production company with U.K.-based partner Optomen Television, which has co-produced two seasons of “Kitchen Nightmares” in the U.S., Daily Variety reports. The company, called One Potato Two Potato, will…
Satellite television operators DirecTV and Dish Network aren’t likely to be allowed to merge despite pending regulatory merger approval for satellite radio companies XM Satellite and Sirius, Broadcasting & Cable reports, citing Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Craig Moffett. The merger-related…