Breaking News Archives
Zucker: NBC Close to Final Deal on Vivendi NBC should have a final agreement to buy Universal’s assets from Vivendi by the end of this month and close on the deal by the end of the first quarter of next…
In Depth
Breaking News Archives
ABC, Touchstone to Continue Production of ‘8 Simple Rules’ ABC and Touchstone Television have decided to continue to produce sophomore sitcom “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter” after the unexpected death of lead actor John Ritter last week….
Robert Johnson
Born in rural Mississippi, the great-grandson of slaves, Robert Johnson is a billionaire businessman who built the empire that would become Black Entertainment Television. Cable was not his first career choice. After graduating from the University of Illinois and earning…
John Rigas
John Rigas and his family have brought fame, fortune and a certain notoriety to the little town of Coudersport, Pa. Mr. Rigas plopped down a hefty $300 for the town’s cable franchise in 1952, then nurtured the company into one…
Who Was Walter Kaitz?
Were it not for a bottle of vodka, there may never have been a Walter Kaitz Foundation. Legend has it that a family friend bribed a Russian prison guard to release young Walter and his relatives, who were political prisoners,…
NBC Taking TV’s Future by the Reins with on-demand content, delivery
News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch and NBC Chairman Bob Wright are among the media visionaries delivering a jolting wake-up call to content producers-one which, if unheeded, will likely cost the program makers competitive footing and billions of dollars in revenues…
Breaking News Archives
Judge Upholds Order That Vivendi Pay Messier In a setback for Vivendi Universal in its legal battle with deposed Chairman Jean-Marie Messier, a New York state judge denied the French conglomerate’s request to dismiss an arbitration panel’s order that Vivendi…
Ralph Roberts
From his first purchase of a tiny cable system in rural Mississippi, Ralph Roberts went on to forge the nation’s largest cable footprint. After founding the company that would become Comcast Corp. in 1963, Mr. Roberts has held the title…
Playing Favorites
Odds are set by America’s Line based on the predictions at GoldDerby.com, an Internet site that features predictions from top journalists. Odds are set for entertainment purposes and should not be used for gambling. Drama SeriesThe Sopranos – 3:2; Six…
Syndie Notes
Twentieth Television has found a location, more stations and a name for its January strip. “On Air With Ryan Seacrest” has added Viacom-owned stations in San Francisco (KBHK-TV), Miami (WBFS-TV) and Indianapolis (WNDY-TV); Sinclair-owned WCWB-TV in Pittsburgh; Meredith-owned KPDX-TV in…