Crossing the Line
If Abraham Lincoln thought a lawyer who handles his own case has a fool for a client, what would he have said about TV correspondents and anchors who bypass their agents and lawyers to make deals they think will pay…
In Depth
SCOUTING REPORT: What insiders are saying about The WB
“They need to get rid of the comedies that aren’t working for them. The WB has amazing development. They’ve got really solid contenders. At this point a show like Greetings From Tucson shouldn’t cut it for them anymore.” … “The…
Style Sets Slate
Style network is laying plans to shift its fashion focus from the runway to real life, as distribution of the E! Networks-owned cable channel gets ready to approach the 40 million subscriber mark in 2004.To that end, the cable network…
Editorial: The Reality Is Quality Counts
As the broadcast nets make their program selections this week for the fall season they would do well to adopt a healthy degree of skepticism about reality programming and keep the bigger picture in mind. Fox’s megahit American Idol, the…
SCOUTING REPORT: What insiders are saying about ABC
Text:
“They really have to establish themselves with some key dramas. They need their CSI or Law & Order.” … “The problem with drama at A
SCOUTING REPORT: What insiders are saying about ABCText: “They really have to establish themselves with some key dramas. They need their CSI or Law & Order.” … “The problem with drama at ABC is it’s hard to launch a drama…
The Ratings Wizard
Monday, April 28-Sunday, May 4TV Season Week No. 32Sweeps Days No. 5-11NBC leads the pack during the first full week of May sweeps with a 4.4/12 in adults 18 to 49, while CBS wins in total viewers with an average…
How Hard Does Oprah Really Want to Work?
News that Oprah Winfrey was considering an extension to her storied career by possibly adding two years to her contract with King World raised eyebrows among industry insiders wondering how much work, exactly, the reigning queen of daytime will be…
SCOUTING REPORT: What insiders are saying about CBS
“[CBS Chairman and CEO] Les Moonves has been at the right place at the right time. Things have turned around very nicely in terms of their programming. They’ve made some dents on Thursday night and had some pretty good development…
Game time for nets, affiliates
Advertisers won’t be getting network executives’ undivided attention during this upfront week. Hundreds of affiliates will be in town to preview the 2003-04 lineups and to meet with network brass. The formats of the affiliate meetings will vary from routine…
John Reardon on Running a station With a Soul
For many broadcasters, these are especially difficult times. There has never been more competition over the air or from cable, satellite and alternate choices such as video games and the Internet. For some independent stations, however, these changes have actually…