CBS and Time Warner are considering placing a joint bid for the rights to air the 2014 and 2016 Olympic Games, the Associated Press reports. A deal between the two media companies and a winning bid could bring the Games…
CBS is prepping the relaunch of its recently acquired Web property TV.com and is shaping it as a destination that will go “beyond Hulu,” PaidContent reports. While in the past the site has served as a “digital water-cooler,” CBS plans…
CTV has canceled “Canadian Idol” for 2009, citing the weak economy, TheStar.com reports. Zack Werner, a judge on the show, said he was informed of the decision Monday and that the show will be in a “resting” period for the…
Discovery Communications will begin using TNS Media Research’s DirecTView audience measurement services for viewer data across the company’s cable and satellite networks. DirecTView uses return-path data from 100,000 DirecTV satellite subscribers to give clients insight into the viewing habits of…
Versus has acquired exclusive U.S. television rights to the 2009 Tour Down Under. The Tour Down Under starts Jan. 20 in South Adelaide, Australia, kicking off Versus’ 2009 cycling coverage. The network will air 30-minute highlight shows each day from…
OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network has appointed Liz Dolan as its chief marketing officer. Ms. Dolan will be responsible for the brand identity of the network and its marketing efforts for the on-air launch in late 2009/early 2010. Her marketing…
NBC touted the debut of Ryan Seacrest’s new reality show “Momma’s Boys” as “the most anticipated premiere” of the year, but viewers apparently disagreed. Despite the benefit of a huge lead-in from the season finale of “The Biggest Loser: Families,”…
News Corp.’s 20th Century Fox Television is cutting the budgets of shows in production by 2%, TelevisionWeek reports. The cuts affect shows including “24” “Family Guy,” “Life on Mars” and “Dollhouse.” “Everyone understands that revenues are down and these steps…
Former Screen Actors Guild president Melissa Gilbert calls a possible strike “foolhardy” and warns that with the economy in a recession, “Now is not the time for a strike,” in an op-ed published in the Los Angeles Times. “SAG is…
Television studios are considering producing many of their pilots under American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union representation because of the threat of a strike from the Screen Actors Guild, the Hollywood Reporter says. Warner Bros. TV is considering…