Business

NBC Lineup Shows Signs of Life in Thursday Ratings

The entire NBC lineup improved over last week in Thursday’s overnight ratings, TVbytheNumbers.com reports, but even so, the network remained mired in fourth place. Fox won the night in the key 18-49 demo with a 3.4 average rating, followed closely…

ABC Gives Full-Season Orders to Three Shows

ABC has given full-season pickups to three shows, along with ordering five additional scripts for another show, reports the Los Angeles Times’ Show Tracker blog. The fairy tale-themed drama "Once Upon a Time" and the comedies "Happy Endings" and "Last…

Who Is Hollywood’s Most Overpaid Star? Forbes Unveils the List

A number of TV stars who have shifted their focus to movies are on the new Forbes list of Hollywood’s most overpaid stars, the magazine reports. But No. 1 on the list — by a lot — is an actress…

Legendary Baseball Owner Wants L.A. Dodgers

With bidding to open soon for ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers, one name that surfaced this week as a potential buyer for the team is a sentimental favorite — the former owner of the Dodgers, Peter O’Malley, the Los…

Popular Period Drama Gets Another Season

A British period drama that airs in the U.S. on PBS has been picked up for a third season, even before the second season has been seen by U.S. viewers, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The show is the popular…

Two More TV Station Groups Report Third-Quarter Revenue Declines

Local ad revenues for two more station groups declined in the third quarter. Local TV revenues for CBS were down 6%, reports TVNewsCheck, and local TV revenues for Gray Television were down 10%, reports B&C. The story about CBS says: "The…

TVWeek Wants to Know What YOU Think

NewsPro magazine and TVWeek.com are conducting a survey about the nation’s top journalism education programs and we would like to know your opinion. We have a very short, four question survey in which we invite you to participate. Your opinion…

Another DVD Rental Service Raises Prices

Following price increases by Netflix and Redbox, another DVD rental service is readying its own price increace, Bloomberg reports. Blockbuster is raising some DVD rental prices for its Blockbuster Express kiosks, the story reports. The rental fee for releases that…

Apple Finally Admits Battery-Life Problem in Some New iPhones and Other Devices That Use the New iOS Operating System

"Apple on Wednesday said it had found a few problems that are leading some iPhone customers to experience less-than-expected battery life with iPhones running its latest software," according to AllThingsD.com. The story continues, " ‘A small number of customers have…

MTV Maps Out Return of Signature Show Amid Concerns About Ratings Erosion

MTV is charting plans for the return of a show that has become a huge ratings generator for the network, but the network’s excitement may be tempered by concern about a drop in ratings. The fifth season of "Jersey Shore"…