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In Depth

Programmers prepare contingency plans

With the buildup of U.S. troops in the Middle East, network news divisions aren’t the only ones planning for what looks like an inevitable war with Iraq.Entertainment divisions have been discussing contingency plans over the past few weeks and drawing…

Bush Administration Agenda: Greater Media Access

Amid rumblings of an impending war, Pentagon officials are putting the finishing touches on a precedent-blasting plan to let more than 500 journalists join U.S. troops involved in a widely anticipated military intervention in Iraq. This front-line access to combat…

Ratings

see publication for listingsweek of feb. 3-9

Close-up: Sheila Rosenbaum

Sheila Rosenbaum has joined Universal Domestic Television as VP, development. Ms. Rosenbaum will develop first-run programming. Most recently she was executive director of development at Buena Vista Productions. While at Buena Vista she participated in the launch of “The Wayne…

Film Market shifts toward TV business

Going into its annual run in Santa Monica, Calif., the American Film Market-once the province of film distributors looking for theatrical release or video sale-has shifted significantly into the television business.Total revenues generated at the market by the television side…

NBA All-Star Game sets cable record

The NBA All-Star Game last week was a slam-dunk for TNT.Sporting an energized Michael Jordan in what is likely to be his final All-Star Game appearance, as well as a double-overtime nail-biter finish, the 2003 edition ranks as the most-watched…

Fox reality sweep

After two weeks of sweeps, NBC continues to hang in there in the adults 18 to 49 race despite not having a monster reality hit such as Fox’s “American Idol” or ABC’s “The Bachelorette” to drive young adult ratings.Fox has…

New study questions news quality at O&Os

A study that claims top station groups fail to produce “quality” news-released just before the government’s media ownership meetings-is drawing criticism from members of the station community.The study, executed by the Project for Excellence in Journalism in collaboration with Princeton…

What’s next for CNN and ABC News

Now that the parent companies that tried to arrange a cost-conscious marriage between their news operations have accepted that they cannot make it work, what does the future hold for CNN and ABC News?AOL Time Warner announced Thursday that a…

Regional rollout appeal

Twentieth Television, which successfully launched “Texas Justice,” “Good Day Live” and “Ex-treme Dating” on a national platform after trial regional rollouts, has plans to continue its test pattern.Sources said that the syndicator has several series in the works but may…