TV Guide Finishes Content Makeover
Switches to Entertainment Amid Behind-the-Scenes Drama
Cable
Weather Channel on the Sales Block
Landmark Wants $5 Billion for Network, Web Site
Writers Strike News Roundup: Friday, Jan. 4
Leno Asked, Received Guild Permission Over Monologue A controversy over Jay Leno’s penned monologue has ruffled Writers Guild of America feathers, but NBC is claiming the guild gave permission to Mr. Leno to write his own material, Deadline Hollywood Daily…
Food Network Makes Three-Year Agreement With Host Alton Brown
Food Network signed a new three-year agreement with host Alton Brown. The channel recently re-signed celebrity cook Rachael Ray, but has a less-certain relationship with its biggest star Emeril Lagasse. Production of long-running “Emeril Live” was halted late last year….
CBS Folds College Sports Television Networks Into CBS Sports
CBS is folding College Sports Television Networks into the operations of CBS Sports, the company said Thursday. Tony Petitti, executive VP and executive producer of CBS Sports, will oversee day-to-day operations of CSTV, replacing Brian Bedol, who founded the company…
DIY Network to Air Toilet Bowl Marathon on Super Bowl Sunday
While most people are glued to the Super Bowl, DIY Network is planning a Toilet Bowl Marathon for viewers more interested in tiling than touchdowns. DIY will be showing 11 hours of new episodes of its series “Bathroom Renovations” from…
Hallmark Trims Religious Programming
Hallmark Channel owner Crown Media Holdings reached an agreement with the National Interfaith Cable Coalition, which owns a stake in the company and provides programming to the channel, that reduces the amount of faith-related shows on the network. Hallmark and…
Landmark Set to Sell Weather Channel, Other Assets
Landmark Communications plans to put its assets, which include the Weather Channel, up for sale. In a statement Thursday, Landmark said it has retained investment banks J.P. Morgan and Lehman Brothers to assist in exploring strategic alternatives, including the possible…
Haddad Preps Political Specials on XM
MSNBC’s former chief political producer Tammy Haddad will launch a series of political specials on XM Satellite Radio’s POTUS ’08 channel. The show will premiere Thursday at 6 p.m., with a guest lineup that includes “Meet the Press” moderator Tim…
E! Picks Up Second Season of ‘Chelsea Lately’
E! Entertainment Television picked up a second season of its weeknight comedy talk show “Chelsea Lately,” featuring comedian Chelsea Handler. The new season kicks off Jan. 7 at 11:30 p.m. on E! Since its July debut, the half-hour series has…