In the first of what promises to be a long series of related challenges, the Big 4 TV networks, their affiliates and Hearst Argyle Television announced Friday that they have asked federal appeals courts to overturn key aspects of the…
Digital video recorder maker TiVo said Thursday it has won its patent suit against satellite operator EchoStar Communications.According to a statement issued Thursday evening by the Alviso, Calif.-based TiVo, a federal jury in Texas found EchoStar infringed on TiVo’s patent…
Fox Broadcasting and its affiliates have agreed to a precedent-setting six-year extension of their NFL cost-sharing agreement that will maximize the network’s ability to repurpose its programming on new media platforms while giving the affiliates a share of any revenue…
The New York Times Co. said Thursday that it is exercising its right to require Discovery Communications to buy the newspaper group’s 50 percent stake in digital cable channel Discovery Times. The move reflects the newspaper group’s desire to focus…
MTV announced Thursday it has ordered “Rob & Big Black,” a reality buddy comedy starring professional street skateboarder Rob Dyrdek and his bodyguard Christopher “Big Black” Boyki. MTV has ordered eight episodes of the series, which is set to debut…
NBC Universal saw its segment profit fall 8 percent in the first quarter as persistent ratings weakness in NBC’s prime-time lineup, along with red ink generated by the network’s airing of the Winter Olympics in February, weighed heavily on the…
Katie O’Connell, currently NBC’s New York-based program development executive, has been named senior VP of drama development for NBC, and will relocate to the network’s Burbank, Calif., corporate offices. Ms. O’Connell will continue to report to Katherine Pope, executive VP…
Richard Hatch, who won fortune and fame in the first edition of CBS hit reality show “Survivor,” is being held in solitary confinement in a Plymouth, Mass., jail while he awaits sentencing on tax evasion charges, the Associated Press has…
In this week’s edition of TVWeek.com’s Executive Briefing, “American Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe reveals which big music star will follow rock group Queen on next week’s show. In addition to previewing tonight’s episode, Mr. Lythgoe reveals the real reason…
Adelphia Communications said Wednesday that it is revising its bankruptcy plan to settle a dispute among feuding credit holders that could stall the cable operator from completing its sale to Comcast and Time Warner Cable.Under the proposed revision, which requires…