National Sports Ratings for Feb. 11-17
National Ratings for Week of Feb. 11-17, 2008 Event Outlet Household Rating Men 18-49 Monday, Feb. 11 Westminster Dog Show USA, CNBC 1.3 0.3 Tuesday, Feb. 12 Westminster Dog Show (Finals) USA 2.2 0.6…
In Depth
FCC Gives OK to Liberty Media’s DirecTV Buy
The Federal Communications Commission is giving its final approval to Liberty Media’s purchase of News Corp.’s stake in DirecTV. The move completes the unwinding of Rupert Murdoch’s and John Malone’s roles in each other’s companies. Under the arrangement, Mr. Malone’s…
Pfizer Allays House Concerns by Dropping Lipitor Ads Featuring Jarvik
Pfizer is pulling its Lipitor ad featuring Dr. Robert Jarvik, which has created a wave of controversy. The drug company also promised to do a better job of clarifying its use of spokespeople in future advertising messages. The company, under…
FCC Hearing Addresses Net Neutrality
The Federal Communications Commission is hearing new warnings that Internet service providers are unfairly degrading some online TV channels without telling their customers. At a hearing today in Cambridge, Mass., a congressman, consumer groups and executives of video peer-to-peer downloading…
CBS Offers Hi-Def NCAA Highlights on Demand
CBS Sports is working with cable operators including Comcast to provide high-definition highlights of NCAA college basketball tournament games on demand. CBS Sports and CBS College Sports Network will produce customized highlights of 63 tournament games beginning with the first-round…
Oscars May Hit Ratings Low
“No Country for Old Men” took top prize at this year’s Academy Awards, but there weren’t any high numbers for gold men. “The 80th Annual Academy Awards” telecast on Sunday night is poised to break some records: With only 32…
New Media Minute: Rhett and Link on TV Guide; KickApps Goes Free
In her latest New Media Minute, Daisy Whitney looks at the success of Rhett and Link. The comedy duo, previously mentioned on TVWeek.com, has signed a deal with TV Guide to create three new music video parodies for TVGuide.com. The…
YouTube Users Up, MSN, Yahoo Down for Week
YouTube’s audience ticked up for the week ending Feb. 17, hitting 35.2 million unique visitors, up from 33.3 million the week before, according to Nielsen Online. MSN Video took a big dip to 2.7 million for the week, a drop…
HBO Launches Its Own YouTube Channel
HBO continues to explore the broadband video waters via a deal with YouTube to launch a branded HBO channel starting today. The channel will include videos from HBO shows including “Flight of the Conchords,” “The Wire,” “Def Comedy Jam,” “Real…
ABC, Affiliates Agree on Fast-Forward-Disabled VOD Content
Disney-ABC Television Group struck a deal with its affiliate association that lets ABC local stations sell local spots in ABC’s video-on-demand content, which is available in some cable systems with fast-forward functionality disabled. ABC already has a deal in place…