Hijacked Crew Member Calls CNN
A man who said he was a crew member of the hijacked Maersk Alabama called CNN and talked with anchor Kyra Phillips, TVNewser reports. “So now we’re just trying to offer them whatever we can. Food. But it’s not working…
Cable
Here! Renews ‘Dante’s Cove’
Gay and lesbian network Here! said it’s bringing back the gothic soap opera “Dante’s Cove” for a 10-episode fourth season, Multichannel News reports. The season will start with a destruction of the cove, the trade paper says. -Aimee Picchi
YES Signs FiOs VOD Deal
YES Network, the regional sports network that is the home of the New York Yankees, has signed a carriage agreement to put on-demand Yankees games on Verizon’s FiOs service, Broadcasting & Cable reports. Viewers will be able to watch the…
TNT Using Twitter for NBA Promo
TNT is using Twitter and Facebook in its “40 Games in 40 Nights” promotion for the NBA playoffs, the Hollywood Reporter says. Eight of TNT’s on-air hosts and analysts will use Twitter starting April 14 and post tweets during the…
MLB Net Adds Live Saturday Games
MLB Network said it is adding a package of live Saturday evening games to its broadcast schedule, doubling the number of games it will carry in its first season. The first Saturday night game will air April 11 and feature…
Obama Favors ‘Entourage,’ ‘Wire’
President Barack Obama’s favorite television shows include HBO’s “The Wire” and “Entourage,” which features a character based on the brother of Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, Politico.com reports. Obama was interested in watching Jon Stewart’s take-down of CNBC, although…
Fox News a Bright Spot for News Corp.
Fox News Channel is part of a cable unit that is the bright spot at News Corp., whose stock has plunged 62% in the past 12 months, Reuters reports. With President Obama taking office, ratings rose 24% in the first…
Cablevision’s Dolans Take Pay Cut
Cablevision Systems’ Charles and James Dolan took pay cuts last year, reducing their take-home pay by $2 million and $10 million, respectively, Multichannel News reports. Chairman Charles Dolan took home about $13.4 million in salary, bonus and other compensation in…
TW’s Bewkes Earned $19.9 Million
Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes earned $19.9 million in compensation in 2008, little changed from the $19.6 million he received in 2007, Multichannel News reports. According to a regulatory filing, his base salary rose to $1.75 million from $1.25 million,…
ABC Family Signs Disney Film Deal
ABC Family has pre-purchased two future Disney movies for their network TV debut as part of a five-film agreement, Daily Variety reports. The two yet-to-be-released films are “G-Force” and a 3-D version of “A Christmas Carol.” The agreement also includes…