Logo

With O’Brien in Line-up, Turner Wants More Money from Advertisers

May 20, 2010  •  Post A Comment

The pitch from Turner Broadcasting’s upfront presentation was that its two entertainment channels, TNT and TBS, deserve the same treatment as the top broadcasters, reports the Los Angeles Times’ Show Tracker blog. 

"The playing field has leveled,” said Turner Entertainment Networks President Steve Koonin. “We have more original programming on TNT and TBS than ever before. … We have more than earned our admission ticket.”

Luring talk-show host Conan O’Brien certainly helps with that claim. O’Brien, who will premiere his TBS show on Nov. 8, also lauded the virtues of cable networks during the presentation, telling the audience that basic cable "is what makes this country great. I do not want to live in a country with less than six ESPNs."

Turner is adding several new shows to its schedule, including the TBS comedies "Are We There Yet?" with Ice Cube, Tim Meadows’ "Glory Daze" and an animated show called "Neighbors From Hell."

TNT, meanwhile, will see the return this summer of shows such as "The Closer" and will add two dramas, "Memphis Beat," a cop program with Jason Lee and Alfre Woodard, and "Rizzoli and Isles," starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander.

5 Comments

  1. Koonin’s logic is made suspect by hiring a talk-show host that no one else wanted.

  2. How does picking up a broadcast newtwork has-been (rerun?) all of a sudden make them a broadcast network? Do they have the same mass audiences every night like CBS, FOX or ABC??? Do they spend billions producing network news and supporting local news in 200 markets?
    I’m sure some DumbA$$ internet obsessed marketer may waste his clients money in bigger chunks because of conan, but I can’t imagine any experienced intelligent buyers or planners falling for the pitch. Remember FOX affiliates begged not to be saddled with his show, so what makes it anything other than another show that jumped the shark but wants to cling to life on cable.

  3. It is the eyeball count and not the quality of the program that draws the advertising dollars. The programing may be original and costing more but the viewers are not there yet on each individual cable channel. And millions to go before they catch up.

  4. These cable channels are getting better programming and will be giving the major networks a run for their money. I know I will be tuning into Conan on November 8 to see what he will do on a new channel. With the ratings they are going to get, it makes sense to be looking at the advertisers.

  5. High quality info here! Keep up the great work. I love the feelings being expressed.

Leave a Reply to Buy Backlinks Cancel Reply

Email (will not be published)