mob ties
The wise guys on The Sopranos rarely wear ties, but if they did, the newest line of woven silk ties from Zanzara International might be enough to make even Paulie Walnuts proud. The Florida company has launched two lines of…
In Depth
To Victoria Riskin, Writers Are Kings
In May 2004, the current Hollywood contract between writers and producers expires. Negotiations are always difficult, and the result often sets a benchmark for the rest of the industry’s labor agreements. The last writers strike was an industry-crippling battle, primarily…
Taking a Fresh Summer Approach
The end of May sweeps and the arrival of summer traditionally signal a time when the television industry faces reduced viewing levels as people take to the outdoors and go on vacation. This seasonal trend inevitably brings lower advertising revenues….
missed movie, hit jackpot
Jeremy Trimble, a 27-year-old grad student at the California School of Professional Psychology, went to Hollywood to see Matrix Reloaded last weekend, but it was sold out. His disappointment faded minutes later when he was invited to attend the Get…
Who’s Got the Profits?
My profit’s bigger than your profit. That’s the debate that took over the broadcast networks’ post-sweeps conference calls with reporters last week, which the networks traditionally use to tout their May ratings highlights.CBS Chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves incited the…
Will Strong Upfront Stick?
The strongest broadcast prime-time upfront in years is concluding, but with the economy moving at low single-digit growth rates some sellers and buying executives are concerned whether the upfront commitments will stick.Some believe advertisers may have been stampeded into buying…
Nonfiction Edgier in Reality’s Wake
The voice of God is gone.That disembodied voice that once intoned over documentaries is being replaced by contemporary music, modern graphics and the personal focus of the story.The documentary genre is undergoing a facelift, one that was fueled initially by…
COMCAST OFF TO A STRONG START AS CABLE KING; CHALLENGES LIE AHEAD
Comcast Corp.’s success just six months into the $54 billion merger that made it the largest U.S. cable operator is giving it firepower to reshape many important aspects of the media business. But it still faces some of its stiffest…
Documentary TV
A staple of programming since television’s earliest days, the documentary is evolving along with the medium. Even the reality craze has had an effect on the form. Our special report examines the state of nonfiction filmmaking for television and finds…
Biz Briefs
Gemstar-TV Guide International has set out “to fix the nuts and bolts of the company,” improving its corporate governance policies and internal controls since a new management team was brought in last November, CEO Jeff Shell said last week at…