The Federal Communications Commission is giving a reluctant go-ahead to a new round of early DTV switchovers, telling stations they can terminate their analog signals starting April 16, but imposing more conditions on network affiliates. The FCC said the network…
Sometimes Less Is More—We’re Talking to You, Dick Wolf
Advertising spending fell in 2008, with only Hispanic cable TV and cable TV showing gains, the Nielsen Co. said Friday. Broadcast network television was down 3.5%, syndication was down 0.8%, spot TV in the top 100 markets was down 0.3%,…
Rupert Murdoch has tapped Fox Searchlight movie whiz Peter Rice to run Fox Broadcasting—a left-field choice that is already prompting speculation that Mr. Murdoch may be grooming Mr. Rice for an even bigger job in the long-term. In the short…
Frank Gifford will help his wife, Kathie Lee Gifford, host the fourth hour of “Today” on Friday. The Giffords last hosted a morning TV show together more than 15 years ago. Regular co-host Hoda Kotb returns on Monday.
Time Warner is shaking up its AOL subsidiary and longtime NBC executive Randy Falco, its current chairman-CEO, is departing. Time Warner Chairman-CEO Jeff Bewkes today announced that Google Senior VP Tim Armstrong will become the new chairman-CEO of AOL. “Tim…
NBC had a solid week in late night as viewers tuned in to see the debut of “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.” Competing networks held their ground, however, leading to win-win results for all. In its first week out, “Fallon”…
The National Association of Broadcasters has made its continuing objection to Nielsen’s analysis of the country’s DTV readiness rate more formal. In a letter today to Nielsen Chairman-CEO David Calhoun, NAB President-CEO David K. Rehr complained that Nielsen’s methodology unfairly…
NBC is frontloading its summer schedule, packing June with a bevy of scripted and unscripted series as part of a bid to help boost Conan O’Brien’s premiere month as host of “The Tonight Show.” The network’s just-announced summer schedule includes…
YouTube had the most total streams and unique viewers for February among top U.S. online brands, according to Nielsen Online. The Web site garnered 5.2 billion total streams and 88 million unique visitors. Hulu came in second for total streams…