North American television shipment year-over-year unit growth during the third quarter slowed from the second quarter, though it still exceeded previous forecasts, NPD Group DisplaySearch said today. U.S. customers took advantage of cheaper plasma TVs to buy more flat-screen televisions…
USA Today says that fall was a big waste of time for the broadcast networks, which managed to launch just two successful series—CBS’ “The Mentalist” and Fox’s “Fringe”—and held back some of the shows viewers want to see most until…
On-air personalities managed to say and do things on live TV Monday that induced cringes and apologies, the Washington Post reports. The “Today” show ventured into Matt Lauer’s marital history, MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough dropped an F-bomb and Keith Olbermann was…
ABC is pairing “Grey’s Anatomy” with spinoff “Private Practice” in a midseason primetime programming shuffle, the Hollywood Reporter says. “Practice” will move to the Thursday 10 p.m. slot following “Grey’s” beginning early next year. The network will move freshman series…
ABC dropped Sunday’s NASCAR race when it ran long, and shifted coverage to ESPN2, allowing the broadcaster to air “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” USA Today reports. “I like that show, but I’d rather watch the race,” said driver Jamie McMurray,…
Whoopi Goldberg has signed a development deal at Discovery Emerging Networks, Daily Variety reports. As part of the agreement, Goldberg and partner Tom Leonardis will develop projects for Investigation Discovery and Science Channel with a provision that at least one…
Episodes and clips from “Sesame Street” will be available on the Web for the first time, Reuters reports. Children’s Television Workshop has made distribution deals with Apple’s iTunes, Google’s YouTube and News Corp. and GE’s Hulu. —Jon Lafayette
RHI Entertainment Inc., Robert Halmi’s production company, says it is cutting staff and implementing other cost cutting measures, Dow Jones reports. According to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the TV content company is trying to reduce selling, general and…
Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt of MTV’s “The Hills” will be making an appearance on CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother,” TV Guide reports. The two will taunt the show’s lead character Marshall from the cover of a tabloid, the…
Actress Tracy Pollan will be joining the cast of NBC’s “Medium” for three episodes, Entertainment Weekly reports. Pollan, who plays what the magazine calls a “corporate intuitionist” and tries to hire star Patricia Arquette’s character, hasn’t appeared in a major…