Business

Fox Plays Down Early Success of NBC’s ‘The Voice,’ Says ‘X Factor’ and ‘Idol’ Are the ‘Gold Standard’

With the stakes high for Fox in the battle of singing competition shows, the network had to say something about a strong new rival for its “American Idol” and “X Factor.” Peter Rice, chairman of entertainment for Fox Networks Group,…

‘America’s Most Wanted’ Cut Back to Quarterly Specials

Fox announced today that it is essentially canceling “America’s Most Wanted,” although it will keep it around in scaled-back form by slating four quarterly two-hour specials for the show, Deadline.com reported. Kevin Reilly, Fox entertainment president, said it didn’t make…

Two-Time Oscar Winner Expected to Star as Infamous Crook in HBO Movie

A two-time Oscar winner is expected to play convicted Ponzi scheme operator Bernie Madoff in an HBO original movie, reports The New York Times’ Media Decoder blog. The actor is Robert De Niro. HBO has acquired the rights to the…

Hey Comcast NBCUniversal, Appearances DO Matter

Recently Comcast NBCUniversal hired a new lobbyist, who is leaving the FCC to join the company. She is Meredith Attwell Baker, and a few months ago Baker voted to approve the Comcast NBCUniversal deal. TVWeek Open Mic Guest Blogger Norman…

Fox Has Plans for Kiefer Sutherland … But What Are They?

Buried below the headlines in Fox’s rollout of its fall 2011 programming lineup was talk about former “24” star Kiefer Sutherland coming back to the network, The Washington Post reports. Sutherland will star in the previously announced new series “Touch,”…

NBC Reveals Plans for ‘The Apprentice’ if Trump Runs for President

NBC President Bob Greenblatt, speaking on a conference call Sunday after releasing the network’s fall schedule, talked about the network’s plans for “The Apprentice” should host Donald Trump announce that he’s running for president, TVLine.com reported. The network would replace…

Couric’s Last ‘Evening News’ Broadcast Scheduled for This Week

"CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric’s last broadcast has an airdate, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which cites an announcement Couric made on Friday’s edition. The telecast is scheduled for this Thursday, May 19. Substitute anchors will probably rotate in…

Netflix Moving Further Into Original Programming, Sets Sights on Becoming ‘Fifth Network’

Netflix is nearing agreements to finance new original shows, just after the streaming-video service made a $100 million, two-season deal for "House of Cards," reports the New York Post. Netflix’s goal, according to some insiders, is to become "the fifth…

Sheen Sounds Off on Kutcher’s Move to ‘Men’

Charlie Sheen has shared his thoughts about the news that Ashton Kutcher will take over as the lead on CBS’s "Two and a Half Men," Sheen’s former perch, reports TMZ.com. Sheen apparently believes it will be a disaster. Sheen told…

CBS Picks Up Two Pilots to Series

On a day when the broadcast networks made sweeping programming announcements, CBS got in on the act with the news that it is picking up J.J. Abrams’ “Person of Interest” and Michael Patrick King and Whitney Cummings’ “Two Broke Girls”…