A new cable TV industry vow to provide many subscribers with technology to block offensive programming doesn’t go far enough because it still requires consumers to subsidize fare they don’t want.At least that was the reaction last week from Sen….
Earlier this month Viacom was in a high-profile stare-down with No. 2 satellite operator EchoStar Communications over programming fees for carriage of networks such as CBS, MTV and Comedy Central. The battle involved tricky must-carry issues and even stirred up…
For the fourth season of “Queer as Folk,” Showtime is launching its largest marketing campaign ever for a program in a non-premiere season. The multimillion-dollar advertising effort for the network’s influential gay-themed drama includes preview screenings in six U.S. cities…
The upfront’s not that big a deal to advertiser-friendly Discovery Communications.Not when cross-platform and worth from $5 million to $100 million already account for more than 20 percent of the programmers’ total ad revenues, said Joe Abruzzese, president, advertising sales,…
House Panel to Examine Satellite Rules The House telecommunications subcommittee has announced hearings April 1 on legislation to reauthorize the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act. The law, which is slated to expire this year, sets the ground rules for satellite…
Writers and Producers Schedule Talks The Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers announced late Thursday that negotiations for a new contract will begin April 5. “We are prepared to meet with the companies…
Writers Guild Settles With U.S. Department of Labor The Writer’s Guild of America expects to start talks with producers on a new contract very shortly now that a U.S. Department of Labor investigation has been completed, according to an announcement…
James Miller Resigns From CNN James Miller has resigned effective immediately from CNN, where he had been senior executive producer of “Anderson Cooper 360” and “Paula Zahn Now” since last year. A brief announcement was made early Tuesday evening to…
In a seismic shift in its regulatory approach to indecency enforcement, the Federal Communications Commission last week ruled that use of the F-word and similar expressions runs afoul of agency regulations-no matter in what context the words are used.Also last…
“Hell yes, I get caught up in it. It’s the best three weeks in sports. Although it’s such a big money maker, you don’t think about that aspect. It’s just the games, the kids, the emotions. For a lot of…