Cable Notes
John Malone’s Liberty Media said last week that its third-quarter profit nearly doubled to $41 million, or 2 cents a share, from a year-earlier profit of $22 million, or 1 cent a share, while revenue surged 72 percent to $905…
In Depth
It’s on the Bag
In New York and Los Angeles, where entertainment awards shows are consumed like popcorn, cable network Trio is waging its biggest promotional campaign ever. To back its “Awards Show Mania” month in December, the Vivendi Universal-owned network is stamping its…
NBC Wants to Unload Pax
It looks as if Lowell “Bud” Paxson’s dream of launching a new television network has died.With NBC’s decision last week to unwind its 32 percent stake in Paxson Communications, Mr. Paxson’s plan to tap NBC’s programming has gone up in…
Hiss and Boo Only if You Aren’t Invited
“How could anyone not like him?” Jerry Seinfeld’s mom asks in the “Seinfeld” episode “The Pilot.” After the series’ nine years in national syndication, the answer is lots of people love him and continue to watch. The hit sitcom averaged…
NBC Pits Poker vs. Super Bowl 2004
NBC Sports is betting that a couple of hours of poker can trump the Super Bowl’s pre-game programming.NBC will televise a two-hour special of “The World Poker Tour” on Feb. 1, Super Bowl Sunday, bringing together winners from the weekly…
Newsmakers
BroadcastingJim McKairnes to senior VP, program planning and scheduling, CBS, from VP, program planning and scheduling.Rob Genolio to promotion manager, KBHK-TV, San Francisco, from promotion manager, TechTV, San Francisco. Also, Michael McKinley to account executive, from account manager, Telemundo and…
‘K Street’ Reaches a Dead End
It was heralded as a show that would break new ground. HBO’s “K Street” would be a hybrid reality show crossed with a scripted drama that brought together the best and brightest in show business and politics. It certainly sounded…
Nielsen: Finding Lost Boys
Nielsen Media Research this week will deliver to its clients a white paper whose bottom line is expected to be that there is no need to correct anything in Nielsen’s methodology. It’s a message guaranteed to anger the TV rating…
‘School of Rock’/ ‘Rundown’ Deal
With their new prime-time shows struggling to find viewers or facing cancellation, the networks may be turning to theatrical movies as ratings insurance.Fox Broadcasting last week acquired the rights to two of this year’s more popular films: “The Rundown,” starring…
Laughing all the way
On his hit TGIF comedy on ABC, “George Lopez,” comedian George Lopez plays an assembly line worker who has been promoted to manager of an airplane parts factory. In real life, Mr. Lopez is known for promoting a number of…