Logo

Daily Archives : Sep 9, 2010

Report: MGM to Enter Pre-Packaged Bankruptcy and Re-Emerge Primarily as a Cable TV Producer; Search on to Find a TV Topper

MGM–the studio with perhaps the most -storied name in Hollywood–is expected to enter a pre-packaged bankruptcy and re-emerge as a company that primaily produces TV shows for cable, Variety reports [Note: Variety is behind a firewall and may charge you…

Media Planning for the Holidays–Think Syndication This Christmas Season

Here’s a guest column by Mitch Burg, president of the Syndicated Network Television Association, with his pitch of why syndicated programming may be a smarter place for your money come December, when a number of networks show reruns. How I…

Survey: Public May Be Getting Tired of Reality TV

A new poll commissioned by TiVo provides indications that the public may be getting tired of reality TV, TheWrap reports. "Snooki and ‘Real Housewives’ fatigue may be setting in," the survey states, according to the story. The study examines which…

Entertainment Chief Lays Out Challenges Facing ‘Probably the Last Broadcast Network That Will Ever Be Built’–And Why Its Struggles Could Serve as a Blueprint for Network TV

On the eve of its fifth season and still unprofitable, her network "is probably the last broadcast network that will ever be built," Dawn Ostroff, entertainment president for the youth-focused network CW, tells the Los Angeles Times. "The marketplace is…

‘Hills’ Villain Spencer Pratt Offers Public Apology to Heidi

Spencer Pratt, best known for his bad boy role on the MTV reality show “The Hills,” has issued a long public apology to his wife, Heidi Montag, People magazine reports. In an interview with the magazine, Pratt addressed the woman…

TNT Moving Ahead With New Version of ‘Dallas’; Other Pilots Also Ordered

That big-screen version of "Dallas" may or may not come to fruition, but TNT has given the thumbs-up to a television pilot based on the CBS prime-time soap opera, according to TheWrap. Cynthia Cidre will exec produce the pilot for…

Modest Premiere Ratings for CW Shows as Reality Again Wins the Night

NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” Fox’s “MasterChef” and CBS’s “Big Brother” were the top-rated shows in the Nielsens for the 18-49 demo Wednesday night, TVbytheNumbers reported. “Big Brother” led all shows in the 8 p.m. hour with a 2.6 rating in…

Sports Commentator Avoids Criminal Charges

An ESPN sports commentator who was arrested in a domestic violence dispute last month will not be charged in the case, reports mediabistro.com. Jay Mariotti was suspended by AOL Fancast.com and has not appeared on ESPN’s "Around the Horn" since…

After Lukewarm Test Runs, Twentieth May Push Ahead Anyway With Talk Shows Starring Ex-Governor, Former Late-Night Host

After two new talk shows wrapped up their test runs with middling results, Twentieth Television says the programs may still end up in syndication for the fall of 2011, reports TVNewsCheck.com. "The Huckabee Show," hosted by former Arkansas Gov. Mike…

Guess Which Broadcast Network Was No. 1 Last Week In the 18-49 Year-Old Demo (Hint: It Was The First Time This Network Accomplished This Feat)

Wonder if you can guess which broadcast network–for the first time ever–was No. 1 for an entire week (last week) in the 18-49 year-old demo in the national ratings. It was Univision, reports the Los Angeles Times’ Company Town blog….