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More AOL Woes for Time Warner

The entertainment conglomerate that began the year as AOL Time Warner ends it as simply Time Warner. But the hangover from the merger of Time Warner and America Online, which has been denounced as one of the worst business deals…

Sinclair Fortifies Station Newscasts

David Smith, the chairman, president and CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group, was holding court after hours in the lobby of the Sinclair Building, located in the Baltimore suburb of Cockeysville, Md. Dressed casually in a sweater vest, khakis and boat…

Success Story: Mankato’s KEYC Backs Volunteer Program

As the only station in Mankato, Minn., about 80 miles southwest of the Twin Cities, CBS affiliate KEYC-TV has always maintained a strong focus on community and local sponsorships.For the past 19 years the station, owned by United Communications Corp.,…

The Real Deal on TV Ad Pricing

Virtually since the inception of the upfront network TV advertising sales process, Madison Avenue has been complaining about it, but beginning this year a few agencies may finally be able to do something about it.The usual upfront complaint is that…

‘Wall Street Week’ Sees Downturn, Gets Berth Bump

In the battle of the competing Wall Street programs, it looks like veteran Louis Rukeyser is getting the last laugh. Mr. Rukeyser, the host for 32 years of PBS’s “Wall Street Week,” was dumped by producer Maryland Public Television last…

Quick Takes

“Two major areas will have a significant impact on the television industry in the coming year: the continued growth of high-definition television penetration and the rapid growth of DVR technology.”Ben Pyne, senior VP, affiliate sales and marketing, ABC Cable Networks…

Correction

* In “Fox First: Reality Soap Opera” (TelevisionWeek, Dec. 22 & 29, 2003), Mentorn is the name of the entity producing “Forever Eden” in association with A. Smith & Co.

‘Idol’ Aims to Pump Up the Marketing, Pricing

When Fox’s hit series “American Idol” returns Jan. 19, all of the major sponsors will be back as well, with plans for even greater local and national marketing efforts and at a significantly higher cost-at least $28 million from each,…

I PREDICT!

Last January in this space, I made three predictions for the coming year: 1. Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. will buy DirecTV.2. Hollywood and the tech industry will reach a digital TV compromise.3. TV manufacturers will use sports to help drive…

Guest Commentary: What Does ‘Queer Eye’ Say About Gays on TV?

Although it has a very hip edge, there is also an underlying sweetness that Carson, Kyan and the gang on Bravo’s smash hit “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” often show for some of their subjects, especially as they get…