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In Depth

Goldberg Named Chairman, Endemol North America

Endemol USA President-CEO David Goldberg has signed a new multiyear deal and has been promoted to chairman of the company, which is behind such unscripted hits as “Deal or No Deal” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” As part of the…

New DTV Switch Date Pitched: June 12

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., is proposing the transition to all-digital television signals be delayed until June 12. The current DTV-switch date is Feb. 17, but President-elect Barack Obama last week asked legislators to push the date back….

NBC Won’t Cut Back on Pilots, Bromstad Says

New NBC Entertainment President Angela Bromstad said Thursday that the network won’t let the economy—or the pending loss of five hours of prime-time real estate to Jay Leno—affect its development process. “We’re not going to cut back our development spending,”…

Conan to Depart ‘Late Night’ a Bit Early

Conan O’Brien is quitting “Late Night” a bit earlier than thought. Mr. O’Brien’s final 12:35 a.m. broadcast will come on Feb. 20. His replacement, Jimmy Fallon, is still scheduled to premiere March 2. There had been talk that Mr. O’Brien…

NBC Picks Up ‘Office,’ ’30 Rock,’ ‘Biggest Loser’

NBC has given early pickups to “The Office,” “30 Rock” and “The Biggest Loser.” In addition, the network has scheduled the premiere of the new Amy Poehler comedy as well as its new cooking reality show “The Chopping Block.” The…

Univision’s KMEX-TV Dominates 18-49, Nielsen Says

Los Angeles’ Univision O&O KMEX-TV finished the 2008 calendar year as the No. 1 station in the U.S., regardless of language, among viewers 18-49 throughout several parts of the day. Year-end Nielsen Station Index Live + 7 information ranks KMEX…

USA’s Characters Unite Aims to Battle Prejudice

USA Network is launching Characters Unite, a campaign aimed at combating prejudice. The initiative will be launched on Martin Luther King Day. An on-air and online campaign will urge individuals to sign an online pledge for unity and mutual respect….

TCA Video: CBS’ Tassler on Network Troubles

CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler is surveying the broadcast networks’ businesses. Rather than gloat at her competitors’ difficulties, she’s empathizing with the pain that will come with cutbacks in primetime scripted programming. At the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour,…

DTV Coupon Fund Would Grow With New House Plan

In what may be a hint that the date for the digital TV conversion date will be postponed past Feb. 17, a House of Representatives panel is proposing that any new government stimulus plan include a 50% increase in funds…

MLB Network Slates ‘Negro Leagues’ for Jan. 19

MLB Network will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with the debut broadcast of the documentary “Pride and Perseverance: The Story of the Negro Leagues.” The one-hour special, airing at 9 p.m. ET on Jan. 19, is narrated by Hall…