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In Depth

ABC’s ‘Jake in Progress’ to Premiere March 13

ABC’s new sitcom “Jake in Progress” will get a special preview with two back-to-back episodes Sunday, March 13, at 9 p.m. (ET). The series, which stars John Stamos as a celebrity PR man, will premiere in its regular 8 p.m….

Clear Channel Signs Deal to Develop Branded Entertainment Content

Moving into the branded entertainment TV arena, Clear Channel Entertainment TV, a division of Clear Channel Entertainment, has struck a deal with New York-based MY Entertainment to develop programming, including some with branded entertainment content. MY Entertainment, which has produced…

EIC to Educate Congress

The Entertainment Industries Council is planning a congressional briefing in Washington Feb. 17 to educate Capitol Hill staffers about the value of protecting digital content and the role of the EIC in encouraging use of industry influence to address health…

Lombardo: Indecency Crackdown Unfair to Broadcast

The federal government’s crackdown on indecency is hurting the broadcast industry while giving cable, which is not regulated for off-color programming, a free pass, National Association of Broadcasters joint board Chairman Phil Lombardo said in a speech Thursday.“My hope is…

Comcast Says Super Bowl Spurs Increased Interest in HDTV Service

Comcast said it saw a 143 percent increase in the number of customers connecting to hi-def service this January compared with January 2004, the increase buoyed by viewer interest in watching the Super Bowl in high definition. The operator has…

Jeff Shell Joins Comcast as Top Programmer

Comcast Corp. on Thursday named Jeff Shell president of programming at the cable giant, ending months of speculation that the former Gemstar-TV Guide International CEO was being courted by the cable company for a top programming position.The hiring of Mr….

Comcast Reports Rise in Q4 Profit

Strong growth in digital video and high-speed data helped Comcast Corp. post a 10 percent increase in fourth-quarter profit, as the company gears up to focus on its next engine of growth: digital telephone service.The Philadelphia-based company, which has just…

Moran Named National Geographic Channel Programming VP

Heather Moran will join National Geographic Channel Feb. 14 as VP of programming and development. Ms. Moran will report to John Ford, National Geographic’s executive VP of programming, and be responsible for overseeing the network’s original programming development, acquisition strategy…

Bratt to Front ‘E Ring’

Former “Law & Order” series regular Benjamin Bratt is joining the cast of the Warner Bros./Bruckheimer pilot “E Ring” for NBC. Mr. Bratt will play J.T., a hotshot who always tries to break the rules. The pilot has been described…

Ad Groups Want FCC to Rethink Kids TV Rule

A coalition of advertising industry associations announced Wednesday that it has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider a new children’s TV regulation that the association said would require broadcasters to count promotions for shows toward the commercial time limits…