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In Depth

NBC Midseason: ‘Kings’ Gets ‘ER’ Slot

NBC will bid farewell to “ER” with a two-hour finale on March 12 at 9 p.m., the network said in its mid-season schedule announcement. New series “Kings” will start with a two-hour premiere March 19 at 9 p.m. before it…

Fox News Nails November Sweeps Ratings Win

Fox News Channel’s firm grip on the cable news crown continued in the November sweeps, which was chock full of economic, political and terrorism news that boosted ratings across the board. Ten of the top 15 cable-news programs for the…

Showtime Renews ‘Californication’

Showtime says it ordered a third season of its David Duchovny series “Californication.” Production will resume in the spring on 12 episodes expected to air late next year. “It wouldn’t be Showtime without a yearly dose of ‘Californication,’” Robert Greenblatt,…

Video: ‘TMZ’s’ Jim Paratore on 2009 Prospects

Television stations are going to try to stay in their comfort zones when choosing new syndicated programming in the future, “TMZ” Executive Producer Jim Paratore said. At TelevisionWeek’s 2008 Syndication Roundtable, Mr. Paratore said stations’ conservatism in tough economic times…

‘Yule Log’ Returns to iN Demand Networks, WPIX

iN Demand Networks is bringing back “The Yule Log” on Dec. 8 due to popular demand. The high-definition “Yule Log,” featuring a crackling fireplace and holiday music, is available free to Comcast, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable and Bright House…

FCC’s Martin Puts Channel Discrimination on Agenda for Dec. 18 Meeting

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is proposing the agency speed its response to independent networks’ complaints that satellite and cable providers treat their owned channels and independent ones differently. Such discrimination could help the NFL, sports team owners and…

Comedy Central Updates Jokes.com

Comedy Central has relaunched its Jokes.com Web site, which now offers and cross-references 5,000 standup comedy clips and 12,000 text-based jokes. The revamp of the site follows updates of the network’s other sites, including ComedyCentral.com, TheDailyShow.com, SouthParkStudios.com and ColbertNation.com. Together,…

Video: How, Not If, to Test New Syndie Shows Is Key, Nogawski Says

Testing syndicated shows is important, CBS Television Distribution President John Nogawski agreed with Debmar-Mercury Co-President Mort Marcus at TelevisionWeek’s Syndication Roundtable. “I don’t think we should be putting shows on the air and testing it on their air,” Mr. Nogawski…

Video: NBCU’s Argentino Says Reduce Risks in 2009

Television syndicators can minimize risks in 2009 by communicating with advertising partners about development and testing new shows, according to Bo Argentino, senior VP for advertising sales at NBC Universal Television Distribution. Heading into an uncertain economic climate for 2009,…

Hallmark Signs on With Google TV Ads

Hallmark Channel signed a deal with Google that allows the search giant to sell ads on the cable channel through its Google TV Ads platform. Google, which has been looking to use its targeting and analysis tools to move into…