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Bravo Deal With PayPal Mobile to Facilitate Purchases by Cellphone

Bravo said Thursday it made a deal with PayPal Mobile that will allow viewers to use their cellphones to buy products featured on Bravo shows while watching those shows. The new Text to Buy service will launch on Bravo April…

Big 4-Commissioned Study Says No Difference Between DVR Owners and Nonowners in Ad Recall

A study sponsored by the four major television networks and released Thursday found that there is no difference between DVR owners and nonowners in ad recall or ad recognition of commercials aired on network TV during prime time.The study, conducted…

Fox Schedules ‘Feresten’ Debut

Fox is scheduling the series premiere of its new weekly late-night chat series “Talk Show with Spike Feresten” for Sunday, Sept. 16, at 12 a.m. (ET) following the network’s sketch comedy series “MadTV.”Todd Yasui, Fox’s senior VP of late-night programming,…

Vieira to Replace Couric on ‘Today’ in September

Meredith Vieira will become Matt Lauer’s co-anchor on the top-rated “Today” show in September, succeeding Katie Couric, NBC Universal Television Group CEO Jeff Zucker announced Thursday morning.“This is an announcement that I couldn’t be happier to be making,” said Mr….

Upset Brewing on ‘Idol’

Expect the unexpected on tonight’s results episode of “American Idol.” During today’s chat with TelevisionWeek Publisher Chuck Ross, “American Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said, “Every year we have a furor about something,” a vote that shocks the fans, and…

The CW Basing Headquarters in Burbank

As part of its pledge to be an entirely new network, The CW announced this week it would base its headquarters in office space unique from UPN and The WB’s current headquarters.The CW has acquired space in Burbank, Calif.’s Pinnacle…

‘Pepper’ Fails to Spice Up Viewers

The WB’s debuting comedic drama “Pepper Dennis” underperformed in its Tuesday night premiere, dropping in the ratings from its lead-in and the time period average.“Pepper” scored a 1.0 in the adults 18 to 49 demographic, a number that includes live-plus-same-day…

House Passes Telco Bill Out of Committee

The House telecommunications subcommittee voted 27-4 late Wednesday to approve legislation what would make it easier for phone companies to launch pay TV services.Under the measure, sponsored by Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, the phone companies would be allowed to roll…

‘Passions’ Character Gets Real-Life Clothing Line

NBC Daytime is spinning off a clothing line inspired by one of the characters on “Passions” with the launch of CraneCouture.com, a Web site offering youthful clothes similar to those worn on the soap by Fancy Crane, a character played…

NBC Universal Expands Diversity Project Online

NBC Universal is launching the Web site DiverseCityNBC.com as part of its program to expand opportunities for performers from different ethnic and racial backgrounds. Marc Hirschfeld, executive VP of casting for NBC Entertainment, made the announcement Wednesday.NBCU will offer information…