MTV Plays Early Morning Music
MTV is launching a block of music videos called “AMTV” that will air from 3 a.m. till 9 a.m., the New York Times reports. The block won’t be rated and the network will use it to experiment with programming and…
Cable
Fremantle Signs Drama Deals
FremantleMedia Enterprises, best known for its unscripted programming, has signed several first-look programming agreements to expand its drama offerings, Daily Variety reports. The company will announce today at MIP TV that it’s signed Mike Tollin of “Smallville,” Bob Cooper of…
Mag, Network Team on Popular Science Show
Popular Science and the Science Channel are teaming up on a new 10-part series called “Popular Science: The Future of,” Advertising Age reports. Popular Science and Science Channel will work together ad sales and marketing duties, sharing revenues on convergent…
Fox News’ Beck is Mad as Hell
The New York Times notices that Glenn Beck is drawing about 2.3 million viewers with his show on Fox News Channel. According to the paper Beck identifies with Howard Beale, the unhinged anchorman from the film “Network.” Meanwhile the cable…
O’Reilly Wants Obama to Succeed
Bill O’Reilly, whose “The O’Reilly Factor” is marking its 100th consecutive month as the top-rated cable news program, says in an interview with Broadcasting & Cable that he wants President Barack Obama to succeed. “We want to persuade him that…
Univision, Dish in Retrans Impasse
Univision Communications is at an impasse with retransmission-consent negotiations with Dish Network, which could lead to the Spanish-language network dropped from the satellite distributor on April 2, Multichannel News reports. Univision reached an agreement with Time Warner Cable, whose carriage…
Pierce Goes Home for ‘Treme’
Actor Wendell Pierce is at home in New Orleans, where he’s starring in the HBO pilot “Treme,” which looks how the city is coping after Hurricane Katrina, the New York Times reports. Pierce is a community leader in New Orleans,…
Time Warner, TW Cable Rating Cut
Standard & Poor’s cut the its rating on debt issued by Time Warner and Time Warner Cable, Dow Jones reports. TW Cable’s new rating is two steps above the junk category because it borrowed to pay a $10.86 billion special…
Turner Integrates Nationwide in Shows
Upfront Package Puts Advertiser Into TBS’ ‘My Boys,’ TNT’s ‘Day’