Turner Broadcasting this year gambled that original programs such as “The Closer” on its TNT cable network would appeal to advertising buyers as much as broadcast shows. Judging by Turner’s upfront advertising market sales, it was a winning bet. Turner…
Former New York Giants player Michael Strahan will join “Fox NFL Sunday” on Fox Sports, the Hollywood Reporter says. Strahan has been courted by several networks since announcing his retirement on June 9, TVWeek reported. —Vlada Gelman
HBO has obtained the rights to Sloane Crosley’s collection of essays “I Was Told There’d Be Cake,” Daily Variety reports. Crosley said she understood that a show developed from the book would have “more of a ‘Larry David’ vibe than…
Turner Broadcasting ad sales President David Levy has declared his “network replacement” strategy in the upfront to be a success, saying the cable networks he peddles drew price increases that were as high as anyone in all of television. Most…
“Hercules” star Kevin Sorbo will guest star on ABC Family’s “The Middleman” on Aug. 11, TV Guide reports. Sorbo will play a 1969 Middleman, some kind of benevolent Sci Fi entity, who has been cryogenically frozen, the magazine notes. —Vlada…
The University Network, which delivers programming to more than 280 campuses in the U.S., will launch socially conscious music program “BeFree” late this summer, Media Daily News reports. The 10 segments will feature “artists who are facilitating social change through…
Cox Communications has made a multiyear deal with Crown Media Holdings to carry the Hallmark Movie Channel in high definition. The cable giant currently distributes Crown Media’s Hallmark Channel and a standard-definition version of Hallmark Movie Channel. “We are pleased…
IMG Sports Media will take over the international distribution of Fox Sports International programming beginning July 1, the Hollywood Reporter says. While Fox Sports does have the international rights to some sports, it does not own the international rights to…
ESPN wants to expand into late-night television with “ESPN Timeline” next April, Broadcasting & Cable reports. A format for the program has not been decided, but the network wants to follow it up with a more comedic-slanted show along the…
BET and TV One have devised expansive coverage plans for the Democratic National Convention, Multichannel News reports. BET is planning on airing five hours of on-air coverage from the convention itself, while TV One expects to report from Denver throughout…