Often seen as recession-proof, the TV and movie industries are concerned that the vast array of programming available on the Internet may convince consumers to stay home and cancel their premium cable, the Los Angeles Times reports. While Hollywood films…
Despite a worsening economy and a drop in basic subscribers, the nation’s biggest cable operator, Comcast Corp., said Wednesday that its third-quarter earnings rose 38%, TVWeek says. Net income was $771 million, or 26 cents a share, up from $560…
Although this fall saw a big trend in TV adaptations of foreign programs, so far it has been U.S.-grown series that have found the most success this season, the Hollywood Reporter says. Among the 12 new scripted shows that debuted…
Barack Obama is spending $3.5 million to air a half hour campaign ad in primetime Wednesday, but it is unclear how many people will tune in, TelevisionWeek says. Even if undecided voters watch, it’s unclear the long-form infomercial will convince…
MSNBC boss Phil Griffin still carries the ID card he carried when he worked for CNN in the early 1980s, a sign that he’s been in cable news almost since its beginnings, the New York Observer reports. These days, Griffin…
With “90210” back on the air, the CW and CBS Paramount Network Television are talking about bringing back its spinoff “Melrose Place,” TelevisionWeek says. A CBS Paramount spokeswoman tells TVWeek the talks about a new “Melrose” have just begun and…
Despite being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Patrick Swayze is putting 12-hour days on the set of “The Beast,” a new series for A&E, the New York Times reports. So far, the “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost” star has missed only a…
With Amy Poehler leaving “Saturday Night Live” after having a baby, Seth Meyers will be anchoring the show’s “Weekend Update” segment alone for the foreseeable future, executive producer Lorne Michaels tells the New York Post. Michaels also says the show…
The New York Times is the latest to notice that Hulu, the web video venture of News Corp. and NBC Universal, is doing fairly well. One popular aspect is having a single commercial between program segments, which contrasts with the…
CNN is trying to get newspapers interested in a new CNN Wire that it says will “provide stories of interest to your newspaper and online readers,” Editor & Publisher reports. At this point, CNN says it is talking to a…