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In Depth

Hope and the Pope: Even TV Has Priorities

For years, Bob Hope’s specials on NBC drew huge ratings. His recent death got some NBC veterans talking about an anecdote from 1978, recounted in the late Brandon Tartikoff’s 1992 book, “The Last Great Ride.” It was a Sunday afternoon…

A Young Master of Acquisitions

From a quick look at Brandon Burgess’ stats, it might be tough to believe that much of what he has accomplished professionally took place by the time he was 35. Indeed, the list is impressive: He has orchestrated more than…

MSNBC Plays ‘Hardball,’ Gets Viewer Hike

MSNBC, while still in third place in the cable-news race, bucked the summer tradition of declining viewership and posted June-to-July growth with three of its four evening shows.The results raised spirits at the long-struggling news network, especially since three out…

Getting the Rollback Rolling

Jeff Chester, executive director of the watchdog Center for Digital Democracy, said he was first convinced that efforts to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s media ownership deregulation had legs June 3, the day after the agency’s controversial vote.Like dozens of…

Dear Suitor: A House Isn’t Always a Home

While the family house on “Who Wants to Marry My Dad?” may seem homey, it’s not really home for the Mueller family. They actually reside in Cincinnati, not Southern California. Executive producer Scott Satin, who also produced the show’s predecessor…

Previews

The 2003 Golden Boot Awards on Saturday in Beverly Hills celebrate 100 years of Westerns in TV and the movies. The annual event is presented by the Motion Picture & Television Fund, which uses proceeds for its health care and…

Graphics Sharing Saves Time, Money

Several station groups are evaluating and implementing graphics-sharing or centralization projects as they pursue new operating efficiencies.Hearst-Argyle, Media General, Raycom Media, Liberty Corp. and others are leveraging graphics technology to realize economies of scale across small and large markets.Hearst-Argyle has…

Basketball to Hollywood: He Chose to Court Talent

Upon graduating from college, Peter Micelli had one last multiple-choice test to take. Choice A: Play professional basketball in Italy for $60,000 a year; or Choice B: Work in the mailroom of a Hollywood talent agency for about $4.25 an…

MY EVENING WITH HDTV

How many channels are available on your cable or satellite TV service? Two hundred? Three hundred? Now guess how many of those networks broadcast in high-definition TV? The answer: 12.Twelve! Gloria Allred is on more than 12 channels! And the…

Close-up: Chuck Saftler

FX Networks has promoted Chuck Saftler to general manager of the Fox Movie Channel, adding to his current title of senior VP of programming and acquisitions. As general manager, Mr. Saftler will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the network,…