Successfully programming Friday prime time, once a relatively simple task for the broadcast networks, has become a greater exercise in futility than scheduling Saturday nights.Friday prime time has devolved into the lowest-viewed night of the week. It’s gotten so bad…
When KCNC-TV investigative reporter Brian Maass received a confidential tip in early December about police officers loafing on the job at Denver International Airport, he knew at once he was onto a solid local story. He did not expect the…
Odds have always been stacked against network TV pilots getting strong initial audience sampling-it’s sort of like gambling the mortgage on the roulette wheel. That’s why MRCGroup, a Las Vegas-based research company, is getting network and studio executives to realize…
Under legislation being considered by Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Federal Trade Commission would be required to issue a report to Congress every year on whether the entertainment industry is marketing violent content to kids.The annual review would keep tabs on…
Lynn Lehmkuhl has been named VP, corporate sponsorship, for the Sesame Workshop. She was formerly with Emap USA as president of the youth group. Ms. Lehmkuhl will be responsible for securing corporate sponsorships for Workshop’s signature series, “Sesame Street,” “Dragon…
The hard-liquor industry may be bloodied, but it’s not down for the count.That was the message last week of Peter Cressy, president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, who said his member companies are continuing…
The Bush administration made a mistake when it changed the way media mergers and other corporate deals are reviewed by the government.Under the new policy, which federal regulators pushed through last month without consulting Congress, the Department of Justice takes…
ABC cancels `Once and Again’Citing ongoing ratings problems, ABC has decided to cancel the critically received drama “Once and Again,” setting Monday, April 15, as its final airdate. Announcement of the series finale, though not entirely unexpected, comes amid a…
More than 400 media buyers and sellers will come together May 8 to explore this year’s television ad market at the Upfront Summit in New York. The summit, presented by Electronic Media and Advertising Age, will feature four “superpanel” discussions,…
Adelphia stock drops on news of debt, lossAdelphia Communications Corp. stock initially plummeted more than 30 percent to $14 a share last week after the company disclosed $2.3 billion in off-balance-sheet debt and an unrelated, wider-than-expected fourth-quarter loss resulting in…