In Depth

Editorial: CBS Buckles Under ‘Reagans’ Pressure

If we are to take CBS at its word, the decision to dump the miniseries “The Reagans” only two weeks before it was scheduled to air was made because of a last-minute realization that the long-in-the-works project “does not present…

Guest Commentary: Network Evening News Faces Uncertain Future

When I read that more television viewers watched the coverage of 9/11 on the 24-hour cable news channels than on the Big 3 networks, it became apparent that it was the dawn of a new day. When Tom, Peter and…

Giving Women TV That Resonates

Some industry insiders shook their heads when Dawn Ostroff, who made a name for herself developing programming for women at Lifetime Television, was named president of entertainment at UPN.UPN had earned a reputation as the testosterone network because of its…

Pay-for-Play Comes Under Fire

Under growing criticism from Washington policymakers, WFLA-TV, Media General’s NBC affiliate in Tampa, Fla., last week announced it had beefed up its disclosure policies to ensure that viewers are aware that the station is airing pay-for-play segments on its morning…

E!: Empowerment or Exploitation?

E! Networks President and CEO Mindy Herman gave birth two weeks ago and is now dividing her time between telecommuting and attending to her firstborn. The process of nursing, she said, “is even more unrelenting than the search for ratings”-a…

News Briefs

Tween star Hilary Duff has signed a talent holding deal with CBS. The network plans to develop a sitcom around her for the 2004-05 season. Ms. Duff’s mother, Susan Duff, will serve as an executive producer on the project. Ms….

Affils Weather Protests

Charlie Hogetvedt is general manager of KKTV, the Gray Television-owned CBS affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colo. In the weeks before CBS pulled the plug on its miniseries “The Reagans,” Mr. Hogetvedt said he received hundreds of phone calls and e-mail…