Quick Takes
“I think that viewers tend to identify with characters that are like themselves or people they know. So, where do we go? Maybe more diverse characters with the cultural differences being a facet of the show that is explored as…
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Slow rollout working for Twentieth TV
If slow and steady wins the race, then Twentieth Television’s strategy has put the distributor in front in the syndication marathon.The studio’s slow rollout technique during the past year led to the successful launch of “Texas Justice,” currently the top-ranked…
nCube makes VOD more affordable
Promising more affordable solutions for video-on-demand, streaming media and digital ad insertion, nCube Corp. provided a sneak preview of the hardware and software products it will offer at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association show next month.In a demonstration at…
Product Spotlight: Encoda MART
What it is: Encoda MART from Encoda Systems is a data reporting software system that enables station groups and networks to consolidate sales data from individual stations.What it does: Encoda MART unifies data reporting from Encoda’s established traffic systems used…
Business Briefs
Adelphia shares sinkingAdelphia Communications stock continued its free-fall with news that the Securities and Exchange Commission has launched a formal investigation into the controlling Rigas family’s $2.3 billion in loans guaranteed by the company to their partnerships. Adelphia stock closed…
Talent Moves
Mia Farrow has been cast to play the mother of the title character in CBS comedy pilot “Julie Lydecker” from Paramount Network TV. Jennifer Crittenden and Phil Rosenthal are executive producing. … Patricia Richardson has joined the cast of Lifetime…
TV Development Watch
COMEDY8 SIMPLE RULESTouchstone pilot pickup. Auspices: Gamble, Tracy (EP/W pilot); Shadyac, Tom (EP–N/W); Suarez, Flody (EP–N/W); Bostick, Michael (EP–N/W); Cameron, W. Bruce (author); Junger, Gil (D pilot). Talent: John Ritter; Martin Spanjers; Kaley Cuoco; Amy Davidson; Katey Sagal. Logline: Based…
Interactive TV in a struggle to click
To jump-start the rollout of interactive television services, a group of content developers proposed a standards initiative at the National Association of Broadcasters convention earlier this month, but ITV experts disagree on what the spark will be that finally ignites…
Editorial: Regulators rise to a challenge
FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Kevin Martin don’t often take the same side on a controversial ruling. But Copps, a Democrat, and Martin, a Republican, found themselves in agreement earlier this month in a case involving direct broadcast satellite provider…
FCC to OK satellite spectrum sharing
The Federal Communications Commission is expected to announce Monday that Northpoint Technology can share spectrum with its archrivals so it can offer a wireless video and broadband service that competes head-on with cable and satellite, sources said late last week.At…