Discovery Communications has acquired Petfinder.com and PetsIncredible and combined them with Animal Planet to form a new unit called Animal Planet Media Enterprises. Ad-supported Petfinder.com facilitates pet adoption via the Internet. PetsIncredible produces and distributes pet training videos and runs the Web service PetVideo.com. An industry source said Discovery paid about $35 million for the two companies. Maureen Smith, executive VP and general manager of Animal Planet, will be in charge of Animal Planet Media Enterprises, which will also incorporate Animal Planet’s consumer products business, Discovery said in a statement.
-Jon Lafayette
Nielsen, NetRatings Launch TV-Internet Database
Nielsen Media Research and NetRatings Inc. launched a database last week that combines television viewership information with Internet usage data to allow programmers and marketers to study and capitalize on the relationship between the two media. The National TV/Internet Fusion database uses data from the 30,000-houshold Nielsen National People Meter Sample and the 29,000 panelists in the NetRatings NetView sample. An early analysis of the fused data shows that heavy Internet users tend to watch more television than light users, that broadcast and cable networks achieve higher ratings among people who visit their Web sites, and that visitors to pure-play Internet Web sites tend to watch less television than average viewers. -Jon Lafayette
ABC Adds Affiliates in Lima, Ohio, and Bend, Ore.
The ABC Television Network has signed two new affiliates, bringing its total to 218 affiliated stations. Joining the network fold are Metro Video Productions-owned WLOP-TV in Lima, Ohio, and Chambers Communications’ KOHD-TV in Bend, Ore. The station in Lima, the 185th-largest TV market in the country, formerly was an affiliate of UPN, which was shuttered along with The WB to make way for The CW. KOHD is a new station in Bend, the 196th market.
-Michele Greppi
The CW Names Two Programming Execs
The CW announced two executive appointments in its programming department last week, both of whom are new hires for the company. Former Regency Television executive Joanna Klein has been named VP of drama development. Ms. Klein previously served as VP of development and current programming at Regency, working on series including “Thief” and “Windfall.” Former Cruise/Wagner Productions executive Gaye Hirsch has been tapped as The CW’s VP of current programming. Ms. Hirsch will oversee day-to-day production and act as liaison between the network and producers on various CW prime-time series. -James Hibberd
CBS News Leads in Business Emmy Noms
CBS News was No. 1 by a wide margin in nominations announced last week for the Emmy Awards for Business and Financial Reporting, to be given out Dec. 7 by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. CBS News nabbed 15 of the 33 nominations in seven categories. NBC News racked up five nominations and its sister cable channel CNBC claimed four. CNN and PBS programming earned three nominations each. ABC News, Biography Channel and Discovery Times each received one nod. The luncheon awards ceremony will be held at the Rainbow Room in Manhattan. A complete list of the nominees can be found at Emmyonline.tv.
-Michele GreppiI
Turner Announces Broadband Network
Turner Broadcasting said it plans to launch a new network on broadband under the name Super Deluxe. The network will be focused on original comedy material from established and new performers, Turner said in a statement last week. None of the contributing performers was named in the release, but each artist will have his or her area, complete with blogs and other content. Content will also be available on VOD, wireless and personal media players. The channel is designed to deliver an experience that will be like watching viewers’ favorite TV shows with friends through a collection of online community tools.
-Jon Lafayette