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In Depth

Jane Pauley Going for Wide Appeal

In more than 25 years as co-host of NBC’s “Today” and co-anchor of “Dateline NBC,” Jane Pauley never went ga-ga for celebrities simply because of their celebrity. And she doesn’t intend to get into the Running of the Bulls-like stampede…

Kings With the Midas Touch

“Wheel of Fortune,” “Oprah Winfrey” and “Jeopardy!” Were this an answer on the “Jeopardy!” game board, the question would be simple: “What are the top three programs in the Nielsen syndication ratings since 1986?” That length of time on top…

New Polling System Ready for Iowa Test

The primary election season shifts into high gear this week with the Iowa caucuses, which will give TV networks and the Associated Press the first high-profile test of the National Election Pool, a new system for gathering voter data and…

Roving Eye

1. MTV President Brian Graden quiets the crowd at the Television Critics Association press tour Jan. 9 in Hollywood.2. Judy Reyes, left, Donald Faison, Zach Braff, Bill Lawrence and Sarah Chalke of NBC’s “Scrubs” answer critics’ questions Jan. 14.3. Star…

John Conomikes

Chair of the executive committee, Hearst-Argyle Television“Roger King is a Damon Runyon character. He’s bigger than life. He’s the epitome of what a syndication salesman or executive should be. Everyone knows that. What they don’t know is how truly generous…

ABC in Talks for ‘Five People’

ABC is in discussions with author and sports columnist Mitch Albom to acquire his best-selling novel “The Five People You Meet in Heaven,” the network announced last week at the Television Critics Association press tour in Los Angeles. The book…

Sun never sets on ‘Wheel of Fortune’, ‘Jeopardy!’, Syndie franchises

Country/RegionNetwork/DistributorProgram Title*AFRTS =AFRTSWheel of FortuneAustraliaSeven NetworkWheel of FortuneBrazilSBTRoda A Roda*CanadaVariousWheel of FortuneEcuadorEcuavisaLa Ruleta de la FortunaGermany9LiveGlucksrad*JapanGlobal Learning Wheel of FortuneChannelMalaysiaAstroRoda Impian*MexicoVisatWheel of Fortune*Middle EastOrbit**Wheel of Fortune*St. ThomasTV 2Wheel of Fortune*SingaporeTCSWheel of FortuneTurkeyTGRTCarkifelekVietnamVTV3Chiec non ky dieu* U.S. version of the show…

Net in Works for Asian Americans

Former Paramount, Spelling Entertainment and TBS Media Management executive Michael Hong is leading an effort to launch a new network targeted at Asian Americans. New York-based ImaginAsian TV, which Mr. Hong aims to launch in August, is looking for carriage…

New Year Pops a Cork for Syndies

The new year started on a high note for syndication as newsmagazines, game shows and relationship strips began 2004 with a bang, according to Nielsen Media Research figures for the week ending Jan. 4.Rebounding from a typically slow Christmas week,…

NBC, GE Continue to See Profit Growth

NBC continued its profit momentum, it reported last week, recording a 14 percent jump in fourth-quarter profit and a 21 percent rise for 2003, helping parent General Electric continue its revenue and profit growth trends for the quarter and year.The…