When Joel Surnow first suggested to his producing partner Robert Cochran that he had an idea for a TV show that would consist of 24 one-hour episodes, each representing one hour in a single day, Mr. Cochran was not exactly…
ABC to host July affiliates meetingNew York-ABC will host an affiliates convention July 10 in Chicago. The schedule is still under discussion, said a network spokeswoman, but it is likely to include traditional daypart presentations by executives from news, sports,…
Jill Clayburgh, formerly of NBC’s “Leap of Faith,” has signed to star in ABC telefilm “Phenomenon.” … Journalist Lara Logan will join CBS’s “60 Minutes” as a contributing correspondent. She will be based in London. … Esai Morales, who appears…
Even if Adelphia Communications files for bankruptcy that will not put the cable operator out of its misery any time soon.According to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing the company made last week, attorneys for the company, shareholders, creditors and…
1 Mel Karmazin and Les Moonves Viacom president and chief operating officer; CBS president and CEOPower move: Mr. Moonves finally took control of UPN, and Mr. Karmazin won–at least temporarily–a dramatic showdown with Viacom Chairman, CEO and majority owner Sumner…
When David Nutter signed on to direct a segment of the World War II miniseries “Band of Brothers” for HBO last year, it was a return to his roots in cinema and a departure from the type of work he…
Every actor looks for the role that will make all the difference, that will guarantee his place among the stars after years of success in notable supporting parts and lesser-known films and shows. John C. McGinley seems to have found…
The broadcast-network upfront marketplace turned fast and furious late last week.By last Friday, the buyers and sellers were “swapping spit,” one buyer said. “Some people are in the corner jumping each other’s bones, others are on third base.”In fact, serious…
What it is: FlipFactory TrafficManager from Telestream in Nevada City, Calif.What it does: The system, a software application that comes pre-installed on a Windows 2000 server, automates the ingestion of commercials for broadcasters. FlipFactory TrafficManager monitors local and remote servers…
When it comes to network ownership of programming, the pendulum may be swinging back the other way.Almost a decade after the abolition of the government’s financial interest and syndication rules that prohibited broadcast networks from having ownership stakes in their…