Ratings
see publication for the following charts:Demographic ratings: broadcast prime time, syndicationNight by night nielsen prime time ratings for the week of Jan. 20-26Ratings for the week of Jan. 20-26
In Depth
Senators prod FCC on ownership issue
Senate antitrust subcommittee leaders last week urged the Federal Communications Commission to halt plans to ax or relax agency rules that limit how many media properties a company can own.“We urge you to support the public interest in diverse media…
Close-up: Lisa Hackner
Universal Domestic Television has named Lisa Hackner executive VP, development. In this newly created post Ms. Hackner will develop first-run programming for UDT. Ms. Hackner was previously with Telepictures Productions, where she developed and launched such shows as “Change of…
Profile: Gareth Cooper
A cynic, or a bitter media planner, might suggest that the reason so relatively little is written about Super Bowl advertising after the event is that too many clients and their agencies discover $2.1 million is too much to pay…
Guest Commentary: NATPE letdown
“Why is it like this?” asked Matthias Kremin of Germany’s WDR, who was attending his first National Association of Television Program Executives convention. I asked every buyer I met, “What do you think of the convention?” but Kremin’s words crystallized…
Putting some English on `The Osbournes’
When is a ratings drop not a ratings drop?Just ask the folks at MTV who are now making the same argument about “The Osbournes” that E! Entertainment recently made for “The Anna Nicole Show,” namely that overall household ratings might…
Major Events
CABNew York, Feb. 11. Info: Joleen Martin, 212-508-1214 or joleenm @cabletvadbureau.com.CABleConnects 2003San Antonio, Feb. 19-21. Info: 512-474-2082 or www.txcable.com.NAB 2003Las Vegas, April 5-10. Info: 800-342-2460 or www.nab.org/conventions.RTNDA@NABLas Vegas, April 7-9. Info: 202-467-5200, 800-80-RTNDA or www.rtnda.org. Sportel AsiaHong Kong, April 8-10….
Quick Takes
“If you’re attempting to do television that is daring, that takes chances, that challenges norms, it’s always better to premiere it midseason, when audiences are hungrier for something different.”Neal Justin, television critic, Minneapolis Star Tribune“I think January is an excellent…
Talking trash TV
As the gap between the rich and poor in America widens-and am I ever on the wrong side of that one-so it seems does the gap between good television and bad. Passing out awards recently to the 10 best examples…
Safer eyes life after ’60’
Morley Safer intends to continue chain-smoking at his desk, but he, unlike longtime colleague Don Hewitt, does not intend to die at his desk.“Say that,” he said in the heavily tarred voice that is as much a trademark as his…