The Federal Communications Commission is finally publishing the rule it approved in December limiting cable system operators’ reach to no more than 30% of the nation’s cable households, and it’s not taking long to see the agency has a legal…
Netflix, the online movie rental service, is going solely with the Blu-ray format for high-definition DVDs and phasing out Toshiba’s HD DVD format, the company announced today. “We’re now at the point where the industry can pursue the migration to…
Texas and Ohio appear to be in for the biggest advertising fight of the Democratic presidential race since at least Super Tuesday and possibly since New Hampshire. Barack Obama’s campaign said today it is launching ads for both states’ March…
John Lawson, who as president-CEO of the Association of Public Television Stations has been the top Washington executive representing public TV stations, is leaving to become executive VP of policy and strategic initiatives for ION Media Networks. ION programs multicast…
Smithsonian Networks said it completed new distribution deals with Charter Communications and Verizon’s ViOS TV. A joint venture between Showtime Networks and the Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian Networks produces Smithsonian Channel, now in 22 million homes. The new agreements also include…
YouTube should send Sarah Silverman a thank-you card. The world’s biggest video-sharing site saw its unique visitors jump to 34.1 million for the week ending Feb. 3, up from 30.7 million for the week ending Jan. 27, according to Nielsen…
“The Biggest Loser” keeps getting fatter. NBC has given a greenlight to a sixth season of its weight-loss series “The Biggest Loser,” where producers will hit “America’s fattest cities” in search of couples seeking to drop those pounds. “The current…
ESPN broadband sports network ESPN360.com has tapped Damon Phillips as VP of the outlet. In his new role, Mr. Phillips will guide the strategic product vision of the brand, overseeing the programming and production of ESPN360.com. He will be based…
Lifetime Networks named Lori Conkling executive VP of distribution, effective March 1. Ms. Conkling, now VP of national accounts for Disney and ESPN Media Networks, replaces Louise Henry Bryson, who is retiring. Lifetime is half-owned by Disney. She will oversee…
As networks look toward the return of a normal television season for the fall, ABC Entertainment has officially picked up nine series for the 2008-09 season. Among the series gearing up for a new year will be veterans “Brothers &…