Digital video recorders will be in 52.3 million U.S. households—or 44% of TV households—by the end of 2014, a leading ad buyer estimates. Between the time DVRs became popular, in 2004, and their 10th anniversary in 2014, the machine will…
BBC Wales has signed “Doctor Who’s” Russell T. Davies to help develop a drama about a small town facing the closure of its main factory, according to the U.K.’s The Stage. The drama, called “The Fabulous Baker Boys,” will be…
Former top Turner Broadcasting and NBC executive Scott Sassa has been named president of Hearst Entertainment & Syndication, the company said Thursday. Mr. Sassa will be overseeing the group responsible for Hearst’s interests in cable television networks, including ESPN, Lifetime,…
Panasonic, the world’s largest plasma television maker, increased its offer for Sanyo Electronics by 8% to about $8.6 billion, a bid that was rejected by Sanyo shareholder Goldman Sachs, Reuters reports, citing people familiar with the process. The bid from…
Philips cut its mid-year profit forecast because of lower-than-expected earnings from its consumer lifestyle and lighting division, Reuters reports. Europe’s largest consumer electronics company has been particularly hurt by the economic downturns in Europe and North America, the wire service…
Oxygen’s season-three premiere of “Bad Girls Club” Tuesday set records as the network’s highest-rated and most-watched season premiere ever. The premiere drew a 0.8 household rating, averaging 807,000 total viewers. Among viewers 18-49, “Girls” drew 568,000 viewers; 405,000 viewers were…
Advertising spending next year will be the lowest since 2001 as cash-strapped carmakers, airlines and hotels continue to cut back marketing budgets, Advertising Age reports, citing a study by Fitch Ratings. The ad market will be further weakened by expanding…
Cash-strapped television stations can save money by investing in components that cut power use, automate many of the news production functions and allow cameras to operate robotically, TVNewsday reports. Other cash-saving methods include using fluorescent lights in studios and automating…
Stan Carmack, a Kansas City television news broadcaster for more than a quarter century, died at age 71, Bottom Line Communications reports. Carmack, who interviewed seven U.S. presidents, also served as master of ceremonies for local opera and symphony productions,…
NBC’s “Knight Rider,” an updated version of the 1980s series, is stopping production after its 17th episode of the season, which will air Feb. 25, the Hollywood Reporter says. With low ratings, the show, for which NBC recently announced changes…