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Television & Radio Recent Headlines  CBS News Operations to Eliminate Jobs Reuters CBS will cut about 1% of its 1,200-employee news work force, the network says, amid a tough media environment. Television news operations, whose viewers tend to be older, have had less success attracting a younger audience drawn to the rapid updates of news on the Internet. Comcast Cuts CEO Pay, Offers Faster Web Multichannel News Comcast will start offering the first-ever U.S. "wideband" cable modem service. The cable giant expects new Internet services to demand ever-greater speeds. Also: Comcast CEO Brian Roberts is taking a 20% pay cut, reflecting the poor performance of the company’s stock. Viacom's Nick Ramps Up Virtual Worlds Hollywood Reporter Nickelodeon is expected to announce that it is developing an entire virtual world based on the network hit "SpongeBob SquarePants," among other social-networking and game projects. The company is in an eyeballs race with Disney, which also targets kids with virtual worlds. NBC to Start 'Adult Themes' Program Hour Hollywood Reporter NBC is unveiling its first-ever 52-week program schedule at its early "in-front" presentation to advertisers. Starting next season, the network's schedule will include themed primetime hours: 8 p.m. is "family hour," 9 p.m. is "blockbuster hour" and 10 p.m. is the "adult themes" hour. DirecTV to Rescue 'Fridays Nights Lights' Multichannel News DirecTV, NBC and Universal Media Studios are entering a "landmark" deal to bring NBC's "Friday Night Lights" to viewers for a third season. Under the deal, the acclaimed but ratings challenged drama will initially air on DirecTV, starting in October, and run later in the season on NBC. Peabody Awards Go to ABC News, Colbert Associated Press The recipients of this year's Peabody Awards for broadcasting excellence in news and entertainment, presented by the University of Georgia, cover the range from ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff, to NBC sitcom "30 Rock," to Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report." NBC to Put Advertisers' Names on Shows New York Times NBC is borrowing a page from the past in asking advertisers to become sponsors of shows. One example is a new deal with the Liberty Mutual insurance company that is centered on a pair of TV movies to be broadcast under the banner of the company -- "Liberty Mutual Presents." CBS TV Stations in 'Black Monday' Job Purge Chicago Tribune Jobs are being eliminated at CBS-owned TV stations across the country in a cost-cutting move. At Chicago's WBBM, 18 staffers are being let go, including lead anchor Diann Burns, the city's highest-paid newscaster at $2 million a year. Other markets hit include New York, Boston and Denver. Clear Channel Banks Want Lawsuit Tossed Associated Press The six banks being sued by Clear Channel and private equity buyers Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee are firing back, asking a New York state court to dismiss the suit and to ignore requests for an expedited hearing. The equity buyers claim the banks are reneging on their commitment. Viacom's VH1 to Launch 'Live Chat' App Mediaweek VH1 plans to launch a new tool built for mobile devices that will provide viewers with the ability to access chat room while they watch the network’s top shows. The new VH1 Watch and Discuss Live Chat application will be available for users to download for free through various mobile carriers. NBC Moving to Boost Digital Mobility Hollywood Reporter Mobile is a small but growing piece of the digital pie at NBC Universal, says chief digital officer George Kliavkoff, who gave the keynote interview Monday at Billboard Mobile Entertainment Live in Las Vegas. Kliavkoff estimates NBCU's digital business could reach $1 billion this year. CNN Bests Fox For First Time Since '01 New York Times The political season continues to be very good to Time Warner's CNN, which will officially announce on Tuesday that for the first time since 2001, it managed to beat News Corp.'s Fox News Channel in prime time for one quarter of the year for viewers age 25 to 54, according to Nielsen. MSNBC's Olbermann In Wal-Mart Battle WWD MSNBC "Countdown"'s Keith Olbermann is waging a battle against Wal-Mart Stores for suing one of its former employees, Debbie Shank, 52, for $470,000 in medical expenses paid for her care after a car accident left her brain damaged. "Wal-Mart, may your stores melt in the hot sun," he says. NBC Signs Kathie Lee, In Time for HDTV Washington Post Kathie Lee Gifford will make her television comeback on NBC News's "Today" show, joining Hoda Kotb to co-anchor the show's seven-month-old fourth hour. "I'm eight years older, 10 pounds heavier, and a half-inch shorter -- just in time for HD television," jokes 54-year-old Gifford. NBC Plans to Boost Station Web Sales MediaPost How eager are local television station owners to accelerate their Web extensions? NBC Universal's 2008 business plan calls for hiring 30 additional sales execs devoted solely to selling the Web sites affiliated with the channels. Currently, NBCU has no more than 40 across 10 markets. CBS Joins Joost in Online March Madness Financial Times Joost, the online television service, is using the March Madness U.S. college basketball games to test a live streaming technology that it hopes will reduce the financial and technical burdens of broadcasting popular events online. CBS is joining forces with Joost for the trial. BBC Redesigns News Site With Video Push NMA.co.uk The BBC is rolling out a new look for its news Web site as part of an ongoing redesign of bbc.co.uk. The news and sport pages will feature an embedded video service. The site will also include more promotion of video around breaking news and live events. Google to TV: We Want to Work with You B&C Google TV Ads director Michael Steib says that the Web giant is eager to work with broadcasters to bring a much wider swath of the ad market onto television. Like Web ads, he says, Google's television ads can be measured for accountability thanks to data pulled from set-top boxes. Comcast, BitTorrent Aim to Bury the Hatchet vnunet BitTorrent and Comcast are in talks to collaborate on ways to run the file-sharing company's technology more smoothly on the U.S. cable provider's broadband network. Comcast has been on the hot seat in recent weeks over its practice of slowing the peer-to-peer traffic of BitTorrent users. Broadcasters Seek Legal Advice on Video Links NMA Britain's BBC and ITV are calling in lawyers to examine the legality of TV listing sites that deep-link to their online video streaming. The broadcasters' legal teams are assessing tvguide.co.uk, which offers visitors direct access to unbranded content from their sites. Showtime Limits Web 'Tudors' to Subscribers New York Post CBS' Showtime is airing Sunday's season opener of "The Tudors" online -- but only to the pay channel's subscribers. Web viewers need a password to watch the show; the password is given only to Showtime customers. However, the code has been published on several media blogs. ABC News Eliminates 20 Jobs in Digital Move B&C ABC News in New York is cutting more than 20 employees in the finance and operations departments as part of an ongoing restructuring. The new structure will "move us forward faster and more effectively into the evolving digital world," says ABC News president David Westin. Clear Channel Says Buyout Deal May Collapse Bloomberg Clear Channel says its sale to private-equity firms may collapse after banks backed out of financing the $19.5 billion deal. The U.S. radio broadcasting giant can't estimate a closing date for the transaction. Bank reps didn't attend a meeting scheduled on Thursday to complete the deal. U.S. States Urge Limits on XM-Sirius Merger Reuters A group of state attorneys general is urging the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to impose restrictions on Sirius Satellite Radio's purchase of rival XM, if it decides to OK the $4.15 billion deal. The merger will result in a single outfit "controlling access," the group says. Viewers Ignore Networks' New TV Shows Hollywood Reporter The broadcast networks, ramping up production following the Hollywood writers' strike, are finding that most of the 10 comedies and dramas launched in the last three months -- such as NBC's high-profile Internet pickup "quarterlife" -- are striking out with viewers. NBC Chief to Plug 'Must See TV' On Air DHD NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker is said to be appearing in an on-air promo slated to air April 3 before the return of NBC's "My Name is Earl." In it, "JZ," as he calls himself, offers a recap of the show's fall season, as well as some zingers about the Hollywood writers' strike. CBSSports.com Sees Big Boost for Games WebProNews CBSSports.com March Madness on Demand is bringing in 3.3 million unique visitors to the NCAA March Madness on Demand video player, a 129% increase over 2007 for the first days of the tournament. More than 3.6 million fans are participating in the bracket games across the Web. Viacom's Nick Show Gets More Interactive Variety Just watching TV is so 20th century, especially for the young audience of Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards. This year's show will let kids vote for their favorites via Nick.com, the TurboNick broadband site, a cell-phone-friendly Web site, and in a special area of its virtual community. Clear Channel Buyout Ordered by Judge MarketWatch A judge is ordering Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and other banks to fund the proposed $19 billion buyout of Clear Channel by Thomas H. Lee and Bain Capital. Clear Channel had claimed that "irreparable harm" would result if the banks were not "enjoined from tortuously interfering" with the deal. Clear Channel Buyout Said 'Near Collapse' Barrons The pending $19 billion buyout of Clear Channel by Thomas H. Lee and Bain Capital Partners is "near collapse" over differences between the buyers and its lenders on credit terms, the Wall Street Journal is reporting. Clear Channel shares are down sharply on the WSJ piece. GE Denies It Will Sell NBC Universal, But ... MediaPost General Electric chief Jeff Immelt emphatically denies plans to sell NBC Universal. However, according to JP Morgan analyst C. Stephen Tusa, NBCU is worth more as a systematic breakup, with assets fetching $45 billion, or $15 billion more than implied in GE's languishing stock price. ESPN Acquires Girls' Basketball Web Site B&C ESPN is buying HoopGurlz.com, widely regarded as the authoritative voice of girls' high-school and college basketball online. The acquisition will help ESPN grow its 12- to 17-year-old audience, says company exec James Brown. HoopGurlz showcases "the student-athletes we strive to serve." CBS Mobile Aims to Simplify News Hunting CNET News.com CBS Mobile is partnering with a firm called Aggregate Knowledge, which sifts through click-histories of every story on mobile Web sites and looks at users in aggregate to find patterns so that it can recommend relevant Web content. CBS Mobile will offer the news feature this week. USA Network Rebrands Online Gaming Site Multichannel News USA Network will play in the online gaming arena under the "Character Arcade" brand with 20 new games and a new pitch to advertisers. Formerly dubbed Character Game Lounge, USA's gaming site generates 30 million page views a month -- half of USA's usanetwork.com traffic. Fox Refuses to Pay TV Indecency Fine Associated Press News Corp.'s Fox says it will not pay $91,000 in fines for airing a 2003 episode of the reality show "Married by America" that featured strippers and whipped cream. The Federal Communications Commission's indecency fine was "arbitrary and capricious," Fox says. Sirius-XM Deal Clears Justice Department MarketWatch The U.S. Justice Department is approving the merger between satellite radio outfits Sirius and XM. The deal must still be approved by the Federal Communications Commission. Analysts say they don't see "anything that jumps off the page to derail" the transaction. NBC Divides TV Studio to Keep Top Exec Los Angeles Times NBC Universal, in a bid to retain a key exec, is splitting its television production studio into two separate operations. Bonnie Hammer, president of both NBC Universal's USA Network and Sci Fi Channel, will become president of cable entertainment and the cable studio. MTV to Launch Series on Multiple Platforms Hollywood Reporter MTV is launching a slate of shortform projects across multiple platforms, a strategy that includes debuting the Web-based comedy series "North Palm Wrestling" on the linear network. Also on the slate are three mobile series that will play on a combination of MTV-branded platforms. Comedy Central's 'South Park' Grows Online TechCrunch "South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker are expanding the Web site for South Park Studios, where viewers can stream any episode from the animated show's 12 seasons. Revenues are being split 50/50 between Comedy Central and Stone/Parker. Disney Plans TV Production Outside U.S. FT Disney is stepping up its local television production and distribution efforts in Europe, unveiling a new management structure as it seeks to develop its international revenues. ABC head Anne Sweeney says that locally-produced shows will play a growing role. Viacom's MTV Sued Over 'Guitar Hero' Game Reuters Gibson Guitar is filing a lawsuit against Electronic Arts and Viacom units MTV and Harmonix for infringing a patent by selling Activision's "Guitar Hero" video game. "Guitar Hero," which lets players strum along to music videos on a toy guitar, has generated more than $1 billion in sales. Oprah's Harpo Sued Over 'Melee' at Show Sun-Times "Oprah Winfrey Show" audience member Orit Greenberg is suing Harpo Studios for $50,000 for medical care after overzealous guests allegedly caused her to fall down a flight of stairs. Harpo management was "careless" by allowing guests to seat themselves, the suit claims. CBS Eyes Payday for March Madness Online BusinessWeek CBS, which holds the rights to NCAA's championship, will stream all 63 basketball games this year to 200 Web sites, making March Madness the biggest expansion beyond television for any major sports event. Online ads could bring CBS $23 million, says CEO Les Moonves. CBS Axes 'Jericho' Despite Fan Protest AP "Jericho," the post-apocalyptic CBS drama whose devoted fans rallied via email to save it from cancellation, has met its end. The show failed to increase its audience and will air its final episode Tuesday. "Jericho" was first canceled last May, triggering a widespread fan protest. Who Will Emerge as The Future of Radio? WaPo As the audience for AM and FM radio declines, online music entrepreneurs like Pandora, Imeem and Last.fm aspire to the "next radio." Younger consumers "want to be the program director and they insist that the program be free," notes one industry observer. HBO Hopes Vampires Replace Tony Soprano BusinessWeek HBO is yet to deliver a follow-up "edgy" hit series to rival "The Sopranos," which is believed to have prompted a recent executive shake-up at the Time Warner premium cable channel. HBO is pinning its hopes on "True Blood," a drama about vampires in Louisiana, set for September. FCC Mulling 'Options' for XM-Sirius Merger RadioInk The proposed merger between satellite radio rivals XM and Sirius is still on the front burner, says Kevin Martin, chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. "I haven't decided what I'm going to do with it," he admits. The agency is reviewing "a variety of options." YouTube Co-Founder Says TV Not Dead Yet Herald Sun YouTube co-founder Steve Chen says his video site is not about to help kill off television just yet. "You're not going to watch a two-hour movie" on a computer screen, he says. Also, YouTube plans to tap into owner Google's search experience to ensure users find more "customized" content. NBC Will Still Exist in 10 Years, Zucker Says AdAge / MW NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker: "I do think there will be a broadcast network in 10 years. But it will not be like the broadcast network of 1975." The big broadcast networks may have to cut back on producing pricey scripted programming. Also: NBC plans to sell two TV stations. Cablevision May Acquire Sundance Channel Bloomberg The Sundance Channel, a joint venture of NBC Universal, CBS and Robert Redford, is for sale and Cablevision may be the eventual buyer, according to Pali Research. Cablevision already owns the Independent Film Channel. Time Warner and Viacom also are seen as potential bidders. Clear Channel Buyout Clouded by Confusion WSJ Confusion is surrounding Clear Channel's buyout amid escalating tensions between private-equity firms Thomas H. Lee and Bain Capital and the banks financing the deal. Doubts that the deal will close is prompting a nearly 9% drop in the company's shares. T.H. Lee and Bain "might jump ship." Univision, CNET Enter Online Content Deal Adweek Univision.com and CNET are entering a content-sharing partnership that will give digital and consumer electronics enthusiasts technology news, product reviews and original videos to help users navigate the high-tech world in Spanish. A mini-site will be available at Univision.com. CNN Anchor Reveals Cancer on His Blog UPI Anderson Cooper is revealing on his Web site that he had a "small spot" of skin cancer removed from his face this week. "I've been off for the last couple of days," the CNN news presenter writes on his blog. "I hadn't planned on mentioning this but I still have stitches." MTV Awards 'More Relevant' Than Oscars LAT Mark Burnett, producer of "The Apprentice," is being rehired to produce the MTV Movie Awards on June 1 after reaping a 3.5 rating in the key demo of 12- to 34-year-olds in 2007. Says Burnett: "I consider the MTV Movie Awards to be the most relevant movie award show." MTV Moves Digital Media to the (Up)front JackMyers Viacom's MTV Networks entertainment sales group will emphasize an expanding slate of original programming, multi-platform digital extensions, industry leadership in reaching male audiences, and R-O-I research during this year's Upfront presentations to advertisers. Disney-ABC Ad Rates 'Very Healthy' Online MarketWatch ABC.com is capitalizing on advertising for online programs thanks to popular shows like "Lost" and "Grey's Anatomy," which are streamed online with limited commercials. Viewers find ads to be an acceptable exchange for program access, says Disney-ABC media exec Albert Cheng. News Corp's Fox Passes CBS as Top Network Bloomberg News Corp.'s Fox is passing CBS as the most-watched television network after its "American Idol" topped ratings and the Hollywood writers strike limited competition from scripted shows. Fox is said to have been harmed the least by the writers' strike of any of the broadcast networks. Oprah in Production Deal with 'Fat Actress' ET Kirstie Alley is entering a development deal with Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions for "future television projects, including a possible daily strip format." The former "Fat Actress" star recently appeared in ads for Jenny Craig. Harpo president Tim Bennett says: "Audiences love her." Comcast: FCC Lacks Authority on P2P Blocking Ars Comcast is informing the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that the agency has no legal power to stop the cable giant from engaging in "network management practices" -- or what critics refer to as peer-to-peer traffic blocking. The FCC does not need to "test its legal authority." NBCU's Jeff Zucker on Hulu, Internet TV Portfolio NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker "We're looking to use online to extend the brands we already have. And then growing mostly organically or with ventures like Hulu where we can distribute our content and make it ubiquitous." Hulu gives advertisers "a quality environment." CBS Exec Wants Combined TV, Web Ratings MediaPost Television ratings should be combined with online video consumption, says Patrick Keane, VP of CBS Interactive. While the Grammys attracted 16.9 million TV viewers -- down 15% from the previous year -- the show also generated 7.9 million online video streams. Fox's 'Expletives' Head to Supreme Court WaPo The U.S. Supreme Court is deciding to hear its first broadcast indecency case in 30 years. The case, to be argued in the fall, involves "fleeting expletives." In March 2006, the Federal Communications Commission cited Fox for expletives uttered during the Billboard Music Awards. Comcast Fights FCC on Cable Acquisitions Inquirer Comcast is asking a federal appeals court to overturn a U.S. Federal Communications Commission rule enacted in December that bars it from making a major cable acquisition. The U.S. cable giant says in a filing that the order is "arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of discretion." ESPN Under Fire from Rivals, Bloggers SBJ ESPN, the sports media Goliath, is attracting widespread criticism from media pundits and bloggers, tweaked by its size, scope and perceived arrogance. Rival networks are circulating a PowerPoint presentation that bashes ESPN's multiplatform strategy and claims ratings are declining. Sports Web Sites Win Big Advertisers Post With millions of people obsessed with picking the winners of the NCAA men's hoops tournament, sports Web sites that offer bracket games are winning with audiences. ESPN.com, CBS SportsLine.com, Yahoo Sports and Fox Sports are signing up several blue-chip advertisers. NBC Universal Buys Stake in DriverTV Journal NBC Universal is paying about $6 million for a 35% stake in DriverTV, a Web site and video-on-demand channel that specializes in videos aimed at car shoppers. The investment is an effort to snare more of the automotive advertising dollars migrating online. CBS Opens Ad Widget Network for Blogs TVWeek CBS is launching a partnership that will syndicate local news widgets to blogs and social media sites in the markets of network-owned television stations. The widgets can be embedded in a Web page and include news, weather, politics, as well as advertising. CNN Atlanta Headquarters Hit by Tornado AP Time Warner's CNN switched to taped programming early Saturday even though a major story -- downtown Atlanta's first recorded tornado -- literally blew right through its news headquarters. The storm shattered windows at CNN.com and in the network's library. No one at CNN was hurt. HBO Entertainment Boss to Step Down DHD Carolyn Strauss is leaving her position as entertainment president at HBO. Hollywood is said to be waiting for Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes, a one-time head of HBO, to make a bold move to rejuvenate its pay channel. Strauss is in talks about taking on a new role with the network. Televisa, Telemundo Eye U.S. Expansion Journal Mexican television giant Grupo Televisa and Telemundo, General Electric's Spanish-language broadcaster, are entering a content-sharing deal in Mexico, opening the door to an eventual alliance in the U.S. Hispanic market. Televisa made a failed attempt to buy Univision in 2006. Media Help Peer-to-Peer Networks Go Legit AP / AT Peer-to-peer technology, best known for pirating movies and music online, is being adopted by media companies as a cheap way to get video content to customers. File-sharing firm Pando is helping NBC provide DVD-quality downloads of its shows. Also: P2P saves NBC "a lot of costs." Sirius Airs Temporary Spitzer Channel Crain's Sirius Satellite Radio is launching a talk show radio network devoted to news and the fallout of the Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal. Dubbed Client 9 Radio, the service will air only from March 14 to midnight March 17, featuring Sirius hosts such as Judith Regan. Clear Channel TV Sale Coming Into Focus Wall Street Journal An affiliate of Providence Equity Partners acknowledges a settlement is possible in a contentious lawsuit over a sale of Clear Channel's television stations. For nearly a month, Providence Equity, Clear Channel and Wachovia have been locked in a legal dispute over the sale. Murdoch to Launch Middle East TV Channels Variety Rupert Murdoch plans to launch two English-language, satellite television channels in the Middle East in partnership with Saudi Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal, the Saudi billionaire who holds a 5% stake in News Corp. One of the channels is a 24-hour movie service dubbed Fox Movies. Gates: TV Will Be Based on the Internet Associated Press Microsoft chief Bill Gates says the coming years will bring rapid changes in media as television increasingly becomes a targeted medium, where viewers can select niche content for news, sports and entertainment. "TV will be based on the Internet; it will be an utterly different thing." Viacom's MTV Tests New Media in Asia Variety Viacom's MTV is using fast-developing Asia to test new media. The company this week is unveiling its first 3G mobile phone play in Cambodia. A partnership in Japan will establish an advertising business model based on free "advergames" that incorporate corporate logos. CBS CEO Moonves Eyes Weather Channel Bloomberg CBS chief Les Moonves says he is actively pursuing acquisitions and considers the Weather Channel a good "fit" for the company. The Weather Channel was put up for sale earlier this year. Moonves notes, however, that acquisitions have reached "absurd" prices. Disney CEO: The Computer Will Replace TV B&C The computer will soon supplant the television as the screen of choice for younger audiences, according to Disney CEO Bob Iger. Broadband will become "the primary source of entertainment." Traditional TV is "still a very powerful medium," he adds. "We denigrate it by calling it 'old.' " CBS: NCAA Webcast Ads More Than Double Bloomberg CBS says its Webcast of the U.S. national college basketball tournament will produce some $25 million in advertising sales, more than double last year's tally. The total will make the Internet event as popular with advertisers as the pre-game show for the Super Bowl on network television. MTV to Make 'Jackass' a Global Community NMA.co.uk MTV Networks is launching Jackassworld.com as a global destination for all "Jackass" content. Following the success of the U.S. site, international editions will launch in the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and other countries, aiming to create a global community around the show. Network News Sees Big Slide in 18-34 Demo ML / WPN Through the beginning of March, ratings for the nightly newscasts on broadcast television are all down year to year among key adult demographics. The sharpest declines are among adults 18 to 34. Also: Visits to news Web sites are said to be up 23%. Comcast Said to Be In 'Strategic Limbo' BusinessWeek Comcast CEO Brian Roberts is seen as "guy shy" following the failed bid to acquire Disney four years ago. But media analyst Richard Greenfield argues that Comcast is in "strategic limbo" and that Roberts should be moving more forcefully into programming and the Web. DirecTV to Roll Out On-Demand Service Wall Street Journal Satellite-television provider DirecTV is testing its own version of an on-demand movies and TV service that it plans to launch in the second quarter. The offering could give the satellite-TV company a weapon to lure customers from cable or phone-company TV services. Sirius-XM Merger OK Expected in Weeks Reuters Sirius Satellite Radio head Mel Karmazin says he hopes U.S. regulators will rule by the end of March on his company's proposed $4.2 billion merger with rival XM. "The fact that it has lingered this long, it has been interpreted ... as good news." He cautions, however, that the time frame could change. MTV Networks Veteran Sykes to Step Down Multichannel News MTV Networks veteran John Sykes is leaving his job as president of network development, without achieving his goal of launching new cable or online networks. "It's his decision," says an MTV rep. Sykes first worked for MTV as a programming exec in the early 1980s. CBS Eyes More Buys in Content, New Media Reuters CBS is looking for acquisitions in content and new media in the next couple of years, according to CEO Les Moonves. The company has no plans to sell radio or television stations unless prices go up. "There might be some terrific deals that are out there," says Moonves. CBSSports.com Offers Video to Rival Sites WebProNews CBSSports.com is launching a developer platform that will allow some 200 Web sites -- including rivals ESPN.com and SI.com -- to carry live video of the 2008 men's NCCA basketball tournament. The move should "greatly increase viewership," says CBSSports.com exec Jason Kint. Nielsen Will Get Data From New Channel Wall Street Journal Nielsen will offer a new service that uses cable set-top boxes to shed light on people's television-viewing habits. Nielsen expects to merge its second-by-second data with information from its panels and other Nielsen data, such as consumer-purchasing information. NBC Universal Is Not for Sale, GE Chief Says New York Times "Should we sell NBCU? The answer is no!" chief Jeff Immelt writes in General Electric's newly released 2007 annual report -- a statement clearly meant to address recent rumors. "I just don't see it happening. Not before the Olympics, not after the Olympics. It doesn't make sense." Comcast Unlikely to See Crackdown by FCC USA Today Kevin Martin, chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, says the agency doesn't need to pass new rules to crack down on Comcast if it determines the cable giant unfairly impedes Internet traffic. Providers are allowed to practice "reasonable" network management. News Corp Loses Web-Site Domain Dispute Wired The World International Property Organization is ruling that Florida businessman Derek Hodges properly registered FoxBusinessNews.com in February 2007. Hodges also is known by the nickname "British fox." Fox Business Channel owner News Corp. is mulling its next step. Television Viewing in 'Cultural Shift' to PCs New York Times Watching television episodes on a computer screen is now a common activity for millions of consumers. "It has become a mainstream behavior in an extraordinarily quick time," says NBC research head Alan Wurtzel. "It isn't just the province of college students or generation Y-ers. It spans all ages." Eisner's 'All-For-Nots' Premieres in Hi-Def Los Angeles Times "The All-For-Nots," the new short-form Web series from Michael Eisner's Vuguru studio, is premiering at All-For-Nots.com, YouTube and Bebo. It will also air on Mark Cuban's HDNet, which may be the first time that a series debuts simultaneously in high definition and on the Web. 'Quarterlife' Alive and Well on the Web Los Angeles Times The online series "Quarterlife," which performed so poorly on NBC that it was yanked after one episode, is "doing just fine on the Internet," writes co-creator Marshall Herskovitz. "How do we define success [when] the same project can be a triumph in one arena and a failure in another?" Hearst TV Station to Bookmark Web Sites Boston Globe Boston firm Backchannelmedia is testing a new technology on Hearst's WCVB-TV that allows viewers to use their remotes to bookmark Web sites and products that are featured on TV so they can check them out later on their computers. Future versions may allow viewers to buy products. NBC Mulls Kathie Lee Gifford for 'Today' New York Times Kathie Lee Gifford is said to be in talks to co-host the fourth hour of NBC's "Today" show. Gifford, who was co-host of "Live With Regis and Kathie Lee" for 15 years, would add immediate star power to the final hour of "Today," which NBC introduced last fall. MSNBC to Ax Tucker Carlson, Sources Say New York Post Tucker Carlson is reportedly about to be let go by MSNBC. The lone conservative at the cable news channel apparently doesn't fit in at the increasingly left-leaning outfit. Carlson, known for his bow ties, has been working without a contract since the end of 2006. Comcast Invests in Online Video Games Hollywood Reporter Comcast's venture-capital arm is investing in Giant Realm, a network of video game/entertainment sites. "One of Comcast's primary products is high-speed Internet," notes Giant Realm CEO James Green, "and one of the biggest consumers of that are people who play video games online." Cable Giants Join Forces to Fight Google New York Times In an effort to slow Google's siphoning of advertising dollars, the six largest U.S. cable companies -- including Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Cablevision -- are making plans for a jointly owned company that would allow marketers to buy ads across the companies' systems. National Public Radio CEO Out After Clash Washington Post Ken Stern, one of the key architects of National Public Radio's rapid growth over the past decade, is stepping down as CEO following a clash with the board over the direction of the organization. NPR says Stern is leaving "by mutual agreement," but is offering no details. News Veteran Friedman Starts Media Firm New York Observer Steve Friedman, the veteran news producer, is starting his own media venture, a consulting firm called Vir2L Media. Friedman is forming the new firm with Nanci Ross, a former CBS News exec. Vir2L Media aims "to make the crazy quilt world of new media and old media work together." CBS Enters Online Radio Deal With AOL Associated Press CBS Radio is teaming up with Time Warner's AOL to provide online streams from all 140 of its stations to AOL's online radio service. The deal will bring news, sports and music programming from big CBS stations to AOL, including WFAN-AM and 1010 WINS in New York. Disney to Offer Vintage TV Series Online Bloomberg Disney will begin showing classic television shows on the Web, says CEO Bob Iger. "In the near future, you'll see more of that product available on Disney.com, either for free or through some sort of subscription. Providing physical goods on DVD is tougher and tougher these days." ABC's Sweeney 'Floored' by TV on the Web Promo Last year, about 140 million episodes of ABC primetime shows were viewed on ABC.com, reports Anne Sweeney, president of Disney-ABC Television. Last fall, people watched 124 million episodes online -- a 178% increase over the same period the previous year. "We were floored, really." CBS: Media Are Hiring More Tech People Reuters Quincy Smith, the head of CBS' interactive operations, is poaching top tech companies for talent, he says. Recent CBS hires have come from eBay, Google, Yahoo, Apple, Oracle, Netscape, Sun, and Microsoft, among others. "Media is finally starting to hire real tech people," he says. NBC, DirecTV Partner to Renew TV Series DHD NBC is reportedly planning to renew the critically acclaimed but low-rated "Friday Night Lights" for a third season by partnering with Liberty Media's DirecTV to share costs. Both NBC and DirecTV will air "Friday Night Lights" across multipurpose platforms. Oprah Apologizes for Crash of Webcast InformationWeek More than 500,000 viewers attempted to watch a Webcast of Oprah Winfrey interviewing author Eckhart Tolle, but after the first few minutes many of the servers powering the site crashed. Winfrey's Harpo Productions notes that Internet broadcasting "is still an emerging medium." XM, Sirius Deal Now Appears 'Less Likely' Barron's U.S. government approval for the pending merger of satellite radio rivals XM and Sirius "now appear less likely," according to Pacific Crest Washington analyst Erik Olbeter. The long delay in approval suggests that regulators "are having a hard time justifying the deal." CNN's iReport Attracts Thousands of Videos Journalism.co.uk Who needs Anderson Cooper? CNN has received more than 100,000 submissions from the public in the past 18 months for its iReporter citizen journalism project, says company exec Chris Press. The new iReport.com is "a lot like YouTube, but with a focus on personal reporting." Pitchfork to Launch Its Own Version of MTV Chicago Tribune The music Web site Pitchforkmedia.com will launch its own version of MTV, with the new Pitchfork.tv. Pitchfork is already widely recognized as the most influential music destination on the Internet. The new video site will air concerts, interviews and music videos. NBC Universal's Firebrand.com Burns Out New York Times Firebrand, a television and online service that since October has been presenting commercials as content, is being shut down as its major investors -- including NBC Universal and Ion Television -- decide to halt funding. The Firebrand TV show on Ion was said to be getting low ratings. Disney's ESPN to Launch ESPN Films Los Angeles Business Disney's ESPN will launch ESPN Films to present scripted and documentary film projects for television and theatrical release. Separately, ESPN says that the new unit will retain the talent firm Creative Artists Agency to explore new commercial opportunities for ESPN Films. NBC Digital Divided Among Three Execs New York Post NBC Universal will divide digital, research and marketing duties among three execs -- Salil Mehta, Mike Pilot and Jeff Gaspin -- after the departure of integrated media boss Beth Comstock, who is headed back to parent General Electric. Comstock will oversee digital initiatives for GE. MTV, MySpace Team Up for TV Series CNET News.com News Corp.'s MySpace and Viacom's MTV are partnering on a weekly television show. However, the program, a countdown show called "MySpace Chart," will air only on the U.K. network MTV Two. There are no plans yet to bring the show to the United States. CNN in Rare Ratings Win Over Fox News Crain's New York Buoyed by a Democratic primary season that attracted new voters, CNN's prime-time audience of 25- to 54-year-olds soared 150% in February over year-earlier levels. The boost gave the Time Warner channel its first victory over News Corp.'s Fox News Channel in six years. CW Restructures, Lays Off Employees Hollywood Reporter The CW is dropping its comedy division, laying off 25 to 30 staffers. The struggling network, born in 2006 from the former UPN and WB, is expected to focus on areas where it has had the most traction -- unscripted programs like "America's Next Top Model" and serial dramas like "Smallville." FCC Head Questions '60 Minutes' Outage Bloomberg Michael Copps, chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, is calling for a probe into why Oak Hill Capital's WHNT-TV, Huntsville, Ala., lost its signal as CBS' "60 Minutes" aired a report about a former Democratic governor. "Was this an attempt to suppress information?" NBC Digital Media Head to Return to GE New York Post Beth Comstock, NBC Universal's integrated media boss, is said to be returning to parent company General Electric. Comstock will run marketing and digital media for GE. Comstock was criticized for her lack of digital expertise at NBC, where she oversaw the lackluster iVillage. CBS Losing 'Most Watched' Title to Fox Los Angeles Times CBS -- the home to hits like "Survivor" and "60 Minutes" -- will almost certainly forfeit its longtime crown as "America's Most-Watched Network" in total viewers. That title is set to go to Rupert Murdoch's Fox, the most youth-seeking of all the networks, boosted by "American Idol." Court Eyes Broadcast 'Fleeting Expletives' Los Angeles Times The U.S. Supreme Court this week may reopen for the first time in more than 30 years the debate over what qualifies as an "indecent" broadcast. The top issue now is the problem of "fleeting expletives" in broadcasts, such as those heard on recent entertainment industry awards shows. XM, Sirius Extend Merger Pact to May Barron's XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio are extending their merger agreement, which had been set to expire March 1, to May 1. The two companies continue to wait a decision on the deal from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department. NBC Goes On $1B Digital Spending Spree Crain's New York They might not purchase Weather.com with a $5 billion price tag, but execs at NBC Universal say the company will increase its investment in the Peacock Equity Fund to $1 billion from an initial $250 million. The fund has already made investments in digital media outfits Adify and Popsugar. Disney's ESPN Eyes More Internet Video Forbes.com ESPN plans to get more ambitious in its use of Web video, with more Web-exclusive content and possibly long-form video. "We are going to launch a number of new, original shows only on ESPN.com," says network exec Ed Erhardt. "We think there's a huge opportunity." XM Rethinks Marketing, Targets iPods Radio Ink XM Satellite Radio is working with Apple to make XM programming more accessible to iPod users. "On the iPod front, we have begun to podcast some of our regional content," says CEO Nate Davis, "and we have talked with Apple about additional things we can do." Web-Based 'Quarterlife' Canceled by NBC Hollywood Reporter Two days after its dismal premiere on NBC, the Internet-to-broadcast series "quarterlife" is moving to Bravo The series will complete its run on NBC Universal's cable network, adding another stop on the show's tour of outlets: from MySpace, to an MTV preview, to NBC, to Bravo. NBC, ABC in Skirmish Over 'Scrubs' Move Variety NBC is crying foul over reports that "Scrubs" is leaving the network and jumping to ABC. The sitcom is produced by ABC Studios. "NBC has a license agreement with ABC Studios, which includes a right of first negotiation and first refusal," says NBC exec Marc Graboff. NBC's Online Future Discussed by Zucker Variety NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker, speaking at Harvard Business School, says he is concerned about the anemic revenues from online video: "The economics are not yet fully formed." Still, Hulu, NBC's online video joint venture with News Corp., is described as "an early success." Creator: NBC's 'Quarterlife' a Failure Hollywood Reporter NBC's premiere of the Web series "quarterlife" marked the network's worst time-period performance in the 10 p.m. hour in at least 17 years. "It never should have been a network show," says co-creator Marshall Herskovitz. "It's too specific. It will probably end up on cable." Seacrest to Peddle Ads for Radio Show Wall Street Journal In a deal with Clear Channel's Premiere Radio Networks, television and radio host Ryan Seacrest will take his radio show nationwide and, in an unusual arrangement, will own and control a portion of the advertising time on the show. The ads will mostly be integrated into the programming. CBS Looks for Growth in New-Media Deals Wall Street Journal CBS, reporting a 15% decline in fourth-quarter net income, is signaling a new acquisition push as it seeks new sources of growth to offset a slowdown in its mature broadcast businesses. Little growth in earnings is fanning concerns about the long-term prospects of traditional operations. NBC Late-Night Host Leno Circled by Suitors New York Times ABC, Fox and Sony Pictures Television are said to be circling Jay Leno, the late-night host who is set to be succeeded by Conan O'Brien at NBC's "The Tonight Show" in 2009. NBC, meanwhile, is expressing its intention to retain Leno with a still-undisclosed plan for a new show. Late-Night TV Satires Become Internet Hits New York Times A video in which ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel jokes about a relationship with actor Ben Affleck is a huge hit online. As of Tuesday, the brief clip has been viewed 2 million times on YouTube. ABC.com shows the video without prompting as the home page is loaded. Comcast Allegations Fly in Hearing Aftermath Associated Press Comcast admits hiring people to fill seats before the start of a federal hearing on how the company manages its broadband network. Many people were turned away before Monday's U.S. Federal Communications Commission hearing, leading critics to accuse Comcast of stifling debate. Sirius Says It Will Be Profitable Without XM Washington Post Sirius Satellite Radio says that it is gaining subscribers, a sign that its business is improving even as the merger with rival XM remains stuck in a regulatory limbo. "We believe we are going to become a profitable company on a stand-alone basis," says CEO Mel Karmazin. Hollywood Writers Approve New Contract Bloomberg Hollywood writers are overwhelmingly ratifying a three-year contract with film and television studios that gives them a bigger share of revenue generated by use of their work on the Internet. Writers Guild of America members cast ballots Monday, with 4,060 taking part. CBS Reports Drop in Profits as Sales Decline Bloomberg / Reuters CBS' fourth-quarter profit fell 15% after election advertising buoyed year-earlier results. "With roughly 70% of their revenues tied to advertising," says one analyst, "they're in a tough macro environment." Also: CBS insists it wasn't hurt by the economy or the writers' strike. NBC Claims Viewers Recall Fast-Forwarded Ads Wall Street Journal According to a test by NBC Universal, television viewers still remember the commercials -- even when they're watching at up to six times the speed of regular live TV. Viewers speeding through ads are said to be paying more attention to the screen than live TV viewers. ABC Oscar Telecast Draws Record Low Ratings Reuters Sunday's broadcast of the Academy Awards ranks as the smallest U.S. television audience for the Oscars since 1974, when viewer totals first became available. The weak ratings come as no surprise given that many of this year's honored films generated little enthusiasm among moviegoers. NBC's 'Quarterlife' Takes 'Voyage' from Web USA Today The twentysomething drama "Quarterlife," premiering Tuesday on NBC, was first pitched to ABC. Rejected, it was overhauled and launched last year on the Internet. Now the webisodes are being tweaked for an hour-long drama format -- the first prime-time drama pulled from the Web to TV. Comcast Under Fire at FCC Hearing in Boston Boston Globe Internet service providers can't "arbitrarily" block consumers from using lawful Internet activities in the name of providing better service, says Kevin Martin, chief of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, speaking at a public hearing focused on Comcast's limits on BitTorrent. Sirius-XM Merger Approval Remains Unclear Reuters Sirius Satellite Radio, whose proposed purchase of rival XM is still awaiting regulatory approval, is reporting a smaller quarterly loss. But lingering uncertainty over the merger deal is likely to overshadow the better-than-expected results. "We are optimistic," says CEO Mel Karmazin. YouTube's Latest Channel: Time Warner's HBO E! News HBO is opening a signature channel on YouTube to air highlights from some of the cable network's most popular shows. Full-length episodes of HBO's newest hit, "In Treatment," will also be available. Plus, HBO and YouTube plan to hatch special YouTube-only features. News Corp Slapped with Indecency Fine Dow Jones The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is imposing an indecency fine of $91,000 against News Corp.'s Fox Television over a 2003 episode of the reality show "Married by America," which aired scenes of nudity. The FCC says it would have fined News Corp. more had it been allowed. Clear Channel TV Faces 'Buyer's Remorse' Bloomberg Clear Channel is said to be in talks with Providence Equity Partners about revising a deal to sell its 56 television stations. Clear Channel sued Providence Feb. 15 over the planned station buyout after Providence expressed "buyer's remorse" and began seeking a reduced price. Former UPN Chief Launches Comedy.com World Screen News Veteran media exec Dean Valentine is unveiling Comedy.com, a new comedy Web site that promises to house the largest jokes database on the Internet, as well as a slate of original stand-up comedy performances. The site is being funded by the San Francisco-based Walden VC. ABC Takes On DVRs with New TV Service New York Times ABC and Cox cable systems are establishing an on-demand video service that will allow viewers to watch ABC shows like "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" any time they choose. Viewers, however, will not be able to fast-forward through the commercials. Comcast Called a 'Disaster for Free Speech' Boston Herald The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will hold a special hearing Monday at Harvard Law School to review charges that Comcast deliberately slowed down the file-sharing traffic of the users of BitTorrent. Critics call Comcast's action a "disaster for free speech." Cablevision May Sell Rainbow Media Unit New York Post Cablevision is quietly working with Bear Stearns on ways to enhance shareholder value, including putting a value on AMC and IFC parent Rainbow Media ahead of a possible sale, as well as drawing up a list of Web sites and music venues for potential acquisitions. CBS to Offer Classic TV Shows Online Forbes.com CBS will begin posting free episodes of some of CBS Paramount Television's archive properties online, such as the first season of "Hawaii Five-O." The move comes on the heels of an announcement by NBC that it will distribute episodes of classic TV shows on NBC sites. MTV's 'Jackass' Moves to the Internet CNET News.com The new Jackassworld.com, jointly run by MTV and "Jackass" star Johnny Knoxville, will be "like an R-rated film," says Knoxville. "You can show whatever you want and it's immediate. When you're filming a TV show it takes a couple of weeks to get to air. ... Viacom left us alone." Air America Radio Sold to Businessman Radio Ink Vermont businessman Charlie Kireker is becoming chair of Air America Radio, as his newly formed Pendulum Media purchases a controlling stake in the four-year-old liberal talk network from Green Family Media. Kireker sees growth for Air America in "this pivotal election year." News Corp Awaits $1.2M Indecency Fine Dow Jones The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is expected to take indecency enforcement action against News Corp. over a 2003 episode of the reality show "Married by America." It must act by April 7, the five-year anniversary of the program's airing, in order to collect the fine. Viacom Exports BET to United Kingdom Reuters Viacom's BET Networks will launch in the United Kingdom next week as the black entertainment and culture network expands its global reach. BET was founded in 1979 by businessman Robert Johnson. In Britain, no direct rival of BET's size exists, execs say. MTV Preps Launch of Jackassworld.com New York Daily News Viacom's MTV is allowing the boys of "Jackass" to take over the network for 24 hours straight, starting Saturday at noon ET. The special is intended to drum up interest in the launch of Jackassworld.com, where the "Jackass" gang will take the act full-time with "uncensored" video clips. NBC Gives Control to 'Quarterlife' Creators Slate Many people are wondering if "quarterlife" will work on television, writes Marshall Herskovitz, co-creator of the Internet-based series, premiering Feb. 26 on NBC. "We've already won the main victory: Our deal leaves us with 100% creative control." NBC hasn't "even read the scripts." ABC Oscar Show Attracts Big Ad Dollars New York Post In the aftermath of the Hollywood writers strike, advertisers are counting on television-starved viewers to make Sunday's Academy Awards show on ABC a ratings winner. Marketers are paying an average of $1.8 million for a 30-second spot, up from $1.7 million last year. Comcast Remains Challenged, Analyst Says Hollywood Reporter Comcast shares have been on the upswing since last week when the firm unveiled a dividend, but Credit Suisse analyst Bryan Kraft thinks the run-up has gone too far. He argues that the company led by CEO Brian Roberts remains challenged given instability "in the core video business." NBC Ends Tradition, Dismisses Fall Debuts New York Times NBC Universal is taking a big step toward undoing one of the television industry's oldest traditions by announcing that it will move to a year-round schedule of program introductions. "We absolutely think this is going to change the industry," says NBC sales chief Michael Pilot. CBS Must Pay $31M for Pollution Cleanup MarketWatch CBS is to pay $31.4 million to resolve all outstanding liability related to the cleanup of six PCB-contaminated "Superfund" sites near Bloomington, Ind. CBS is the corporate successor to Westinghouse Electric, which operated an electrical capacitor production facility in Bloomington. ABC Indecency Fines Will Stick, FCC Says B&C The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is giving about 40 ABC affiliates until Feb. 21 to pay fines of $27,500 apiece for airing a bare behind in an episode of "NYPD Blue," reaffirming its commitment to indecency regulation: Broadcast media "have a uniquely pervasive presence." NBC to Stream Classic TV Shows Online UPI NBC Digital Entertainment and NBC Universal Cable Entertainment say they plan to stream online full-episode streaming of classic television shows like "Miami Vice" and "Emergency." The shows will be streamed on NBC sites includingNBC.com, SCIFI.com, ChillerTV.com and SleuthChannel.com. Hollywood Writers Strike Took $2.5B Toll Associated Press The 100-day Hollywood writers strike took a $2.5 billion toll on the Los Angeles County economy. The cost of the walkout was previously estimated at $3.2 billion. The last writers strike, a 153-day walkout in 1988, resulted in an estimated $500 million in lost wages. TV Networks Set to Abandon Fall Season Wall Street Journal The broadcast networks hope to capitalize on the recent chaos of the Hollywood writers strike by doing away with some of the industry's arcane conventions. Execs say they plan to abandon the clustering of program premiere dates in the fall, instead spreading them year-round. BBC, 'American Idol' Coming to iTunes FT / E The BBC's commercial arm will offer full-length programs as paid downloads for the first time, in a new partnership with Apple's iTunes. Also: Fox's "American Idol" will allow fans to purchase all of the top 24 semifinalist performances exclusively on iTunes for 99¢ per song. Sirius-XM: Still Waiting One Year Later CNNMoney The proposed merger of satellite radio rivals Sirius and XM was announced one year ago. The U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission are yet to give their blessing to the deal, and the stocks of both companies are being "whipsawed" by the uncertainty. NBC Universal Cancels iVillage TV Show TVWeek NBC Universal's "In the Loop With iVillage" will leave the weekday lineup of NBC owned-and-operated stations at the end of March. The cancellation of the show follows close on the heels of the layoffs of about 13 iVillage.com employees, including editor in chief Jennie Baird. MTV Networks Buys Web Sites for Moms Mediaweek MTV Networks is acquiring Babunga.com, a network of niche Web sites aimed at expectant mothers, aiming to expand the Nickelodeon/MTVN kids and family group's footprint in the parenting category. Nick plans to use the acquisition to establish a parents-centric advertising network. BBC Mulls Sale of Commercial Division Times of London The BBC is considering plans for the partial sale or stock-market flotation of BBC Worldwide, its commercial division, by 2012. Patel, The BBC says the idea is a "tempting" way of pulling more money into its coffers. Analysts value BBC Worldwide at more than £2 billion. Clear Channel Sues to Force Deal MarketWatch Clear Channel is filing a lawsuit to force private-equity firm Providence Equity Partners to close a purchase of its 56 television stations. Clear Channel claims that Providence has dragged its feet in the deal for the stations, which Providence has sought since October to renegotiate. GE Should Split Off NBC, Analyst Says Associated Press The timing is right for General Electric to consider a potential breakup to separate NBC Universal, according to JPMorgan analyst C. Stephen Tusa Jr. "We think 2008 could be the time," he says. Tusa recommends that an asset breakup should start "with the cash cow TV stations." XM/Sirius Merger Deal Attracts 'Chatter' Barron's The U.S. Justice Department is about to announce whether or not it will clear the proposed merger of satellite radio rivals Sirius and XM, according to Stifel Nicolaus analyst Blair Levin, citing "increasing chatter." The transaction is likely to be approved, he adds. CBS Goes Ahead with Upfront Presentation Reuters CBS plans to host advertisers at its annual May upfront presentation, after the strike by Hollywood screenwriters had put the event in jeopardy. The network says it will hold the presentation -- when it typically unveils its prime-time television lineup for the new season -- on May 14. NBC News Streamlines Bureaus, Cuts Jobs TVWeek The NBC News bureau system is being streamlined, in an effort to "achieve more journalism and less bureaucracy," according to head Steve Capus. There will be some personnel cuts, "but I would characterize the layoffs as a very small number. This is not massive." Clear Channel Must Sell Four Radio Stations Associated Press The U.S. Department of Justice says Clear Channel must sell stations in Cincinnati, Houston, Las Vegas and San Francisco to win approval for its sale to Bain Capital and Thomas Lee Partners. Also: Clear Channel must pay $22 million to the victims of a 2003 fire at a Rhode Island nightclub. NBC, MTV Team Up to Promote 'Quarterlife' Reuters NBC and MTV are unveiling an unusual plan to promote a new television show, "quarterlife," that will premiere on MTV, but air weekly on competitor NBC. The groundbreaking "quarterlife," which portrays struggling artists in their 20s, was created for the Web in eight-minute segments. NBC's Silverman Sells Firm to Murdoch Los Angeles Times NBC Entertainment co-head Ben Silverman is selling his television production firm Reveille to London-based Shine, owned by Rupert Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth. The deal resolves conflicts of interest issues posed by Silverman's dual role. "I just want to focus 100% on NBC," he says. CBS College Sports Rebrand Claims 40 Jobs Multichannel News CBS is rebranding its College Sports Television and related online activities as CBS College Sports Network, resulting in layoffs of about 40 employees. CBS acquired CSTV in 2005. CBS Sports says: "These changes will best position the new enterprise to fulfill its promise." Hearst Exec to Launch Global News Web Site Boston Globe Phil Balboni, founder of the Hearst-Comcast regional news channel New England Cable News, is leaving the station to start the first U.S.-based Web site devoted to international news. "We're in a major metamorphosis in how news is delivered," observes lead investor Amos Hostetter Jr. Hollywood Writers End Three-Month Strike DHD Hollywood's striking writers -- named I Want Media's 2007 Media Person(s) of the Year -- voted Tuesday to end their three-month walkout. Writers are set to return to work today. "Our business can grow and prosper in the new digital age," says a statement signed by the studio chiefs. Strike's Over, But Will TV Viewers Return? Los Angeles Times During the writers strike, people watched a record number of online videos on sites like YouTube. Teens spent more time on social networking sites such as MySpace. Online game-playing surged. Even DVD sales, which had been in a slow decline, picked up in January. NBC's iVillage Cuts Editor, Employees Mashable NBC Universal's iVillage.com, the women-oriented online network, is said to be laying off staffers, including editor in chief Jennie Baird, who joined last April. Compete.com says that iVillage has had a significant drop in numbers over the past year. NBC acquired iVillage for $600 million in 2006. Comcast: Hampering File-Sharing Is OK Associated Press Comcast is telling the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that hampering some file-sharing by its subscribers is a justifiable way to keep Web traffic flowing for everyone. The cable giant is being accused by consumer groups and law professors of breaching "'Net Neutrality." Nielsen to Track Online Video via TV Panel AdAge With more consumers starting to consider the idea of watching television programs and other video online, Nielsen says it will introduce measurement of TV viewing on the PC screen in its TV panel by the end of 2008. "The clients want it," says Nielsen exec Jim O'Hara. Yahoo Launches Online Tech TV Show San Francisco Chronicle Yahoo is premiering an online tech show, "Tech Ticker," covering Silicon Valley business -- including its own saga involving Microsoft's takeover bid. "Tech Ticker" is hosted by BusinessWeek "Valley Girl" columnist Sarah Lacy and former TheStreet.com reporter Aaron Task. Striking Writers Expected to OK Deal MarketWatch Hollywood's striking writers are expected to approve a tentative deal reached over the weekend with producers -- though it may fall short of their goals. The pact will at least give scribes a framework to renegotiate for something better on the new-media front, say labor experts. CBS Workers Reported Kidnapped in Iraq Washington Post Two CBS News journalists, a British citizen and an Iraqi, were taken from their hotel in Basra late Sunday night by about 20 armed men wearing the uniforms of Iraq's security services. "All efforts are underway to find them," says CBS News in a three-sentence statement. Iowa TV Station Eliminates Jobs, Newscast Quad City Times Young Broadcasting's KWQC, an NBC affiliate in Davenport, Iowa, is laying off 12 employees and canceling its Saturday morning newscast. The parent company is facing financial struggles linked to debt and the vulnerability of its advertising to economic downturns. Hollywood Writers Near Deal to End Strike LAT / DHD The Hollywood writers' union is voting to accept a new tentative deal with the major studios, paving the way for scribes to return to work on Wednesday. Also: Big media execs Peter Chernin, Bob Iger and Les Moonves are said to have been "instrumental in making this deal happen." CNN Launches User-Produced iReport.com Mediaweek Time Warner's CNN is entering YouTube territory with the launch of iReport.com, a new site built entirely on user-produced news. Unlike CNN's own properties, the new site will allow users to post whatever content they choose. Wanna-be Anderson Coopers can upload their own videos. MSNBC Suspends Host for Clinton Remark Washington Post MSNBC is suspending correspondent David Shuster for an undetermined period for making a disparaging on-air remark about Chelsea Clinton. While discussing her role in Hillary Clinton's campaign, Shuster asked: "Doesn't it seem as if Chelsea is sort of being pimped out?" DirecTV-Liberty Deal OK Eyed by FCC Head Bloomberg Kevin Martin, chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, is calling for the approval of Liberty Media's purchase of a controlling stake in DirecTV from News Corp., with some conditions. Martin wants another Malone company to restructure or divest holdings in Puerto Rico. MTV President Norman Out After 17 Years B&C MTV president Christina Norman is exiting after 17 years with the company, as the Viacom network struggles to maintain its hip image in the age of Facebook. Her departure is described as "amicable," yet Norman is said to have been unhappy with the "unclear management structure." CBS, Facebook Team Up for March Madness Business Journal CBS is teaming up with social networking site Facebook to offer March Madness brackets as part of its NCAA basketball-related tournament coverage. Users will be able to compare their picks with friends on Facebook, and CBS plans to sell ad sponsorships tied to the site. Is CBS' Grammy Awards Show Still Relevant? Hollywood Reporter Sunday marks the 35th year of the Grammy Awards telecast on CBS. But with the Grammys battling the perception that it is an icon of the older generation -- and with CBS representing a similarly aged demo -- the show's relevance faces challenges by many newer rivals. CBS, Emmis Cut Workforce in Radio Units MediaPost The radio industry is enduring another round of layoffs, with the announcement by CBS Radio that it cutting 5% of its workforce. Emmis is also slimming down, with 46 employees being laid off. Also, Clear Channel Radio CEO John Hogan recently ordered a freeze on new hires. Hollywood Writers Strike Is Over, Eisner Says CNBC A deal has been struck between the major media companies and the Writers Guild of America to end the writers strike, according to former Disney chief Michael Eisner, speaking in an interview on CNBC. "It's over. They made the deal. It's going on Saturday to the writers in general." MTV to Take On MySpace, Yahoo Music JupiterResearch Viacom's MTV is using its Flux distributed social media platform to build many low-cost mini-sites supporting shows and themes. The uber-brand MTV "doesn't even play much of a role." The network is also returning to its music roots, aiming to supplant Yahoo Music and MySpace. BBC Worldwide Looks to Expand Globally Guardian The BBC's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, is looking to go into partnership with private equity in a bid to expand its acquisition muscle. BBC Worldwide plans to take stakes in independent productions companies and content rights owners and expand the BBC brand globally. Disney CEO: Upfronts an 'Anachronism' Bloomberg Disney is reporting first-quarter profit that beat analysts' estimates, boosted in part by the success of "High School Musical" and "Hannah Montana." Costs at Disney's ABC network need to come down, says CEO Bob Iger. The network upfront "feels like a bit of an anachronism to me." Media Giants Say Strike Is Changing TV Reuters Disney and News Corp. this week are shrugging off the impact of the Hollywood writers strike, but both admit the conflict is speeding changes in the television industry. "Even if there's a settlement soon, it is guaranteed that we will make far fewer pilots," says Disney boss Bob Iger. CBS Mobile to Test Ads for Cellphones New York Times CBS plans to try an experiment with cellphone advertising that is customized for a person's location. CBS Mobile will use the GPS-based technology of the social networking service Loopt to serve advertisements as consumers walk by particular stores and restaurants. Fox Scores Record Ratings for Super Bowl Financial Times News Corp.’s Fox network hauled in $250 million in advertising revenue on the strength of the most-watched Super Bowl ever -- a performance that chief Rupert Murdoch calls "the biggest day in our company's history." Fox says it isn't seeing any "concerns about the economic environment." Cable Networks Sue FCC Over Dual Carriage Variety Six national cable television companies are jointly suing the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, claiming that the agency's dual carriage requirement gives broadcasters unfair advantage. The companies include C-Span, Discovery, the Weather Channel, TV One, A&E, and Scripps. Hollywood Writers Deal May Come on Friday Reuters Hollywood studios and striking writers are agreeing to terms of a new contract that could be presented to union leaders in days and end their labor clash as early as Friday. The "big breakthrough" is said to be how much writers will be paid for Web streaming of television shows. Web Video Boom to Outlive Writers Strike TVWeek Even if the Hollywood writers strike ends this week, the genie isn't going back into the bottle when it comes to Web video, say online video experts. The strike "opened many people's eyes" to the wide range of Internet video. "Just how much 'American Gladiators' can one person take?" TV Without Pity Premieres Online Series Multichannel News TelevisionWithoutPity.com, Bravo's Web site for television fans, will introduce video content and an original online series to its line-up of satirical commentary. The site's first show is "The Week Without Pity," an irreverent take on the best and worst guilty pleasures of the week. Murdoch Eyes Super Bowl Synergy Online Consumerist / NYT News Corp.'s Fox, the broadcaster of this year's Super Bowl, is drumming up added synergy by allowing game advertisers to buy complementing ads on sibling property MySpace. Also: Super Bowl ads can be viewed again online on sites including AOL, MSNBC, MySpace, Spike and YouTube. Chernin: Hollywood Writers Strike Is Over DHD / NYT News Corp. exec Peter Chernin is reportedly telling Hollywood pals that "the strike is over." Also: Informal talks between Hollywood's striking writers and the major studios are said to have eliminated the major roadblocks to a new contract, which could lead to a tentative deal within days. Tribune to Name Wilson President for TV Chicago Tribune Fox Television Network head Ed Wilson is being named president of Tribune Broadcasting, overseeing WGN and 22 other Tribune television stations. Wilson says he says the superstation version of WGN as an untapped resource. "WGN has tremendous upside." CNN Sets Record with Clinton-Obama Debate Washington Post CNN's coverage of the debate Thursday night between Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton clocked 8.3 million viewers -- the highest-rated primary debate in cable television history. The debate drew 1.2 million viewers in the age 18 to 34 demo. CW: 'Canary in the Coal Mine' for TV Industry Los Angeles Times The struggling CW could be a canary in the coal mine for the broadcast television industry. Declining viewership and increased competition from video games, cable TV and the Internet are affecting ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. But they are hitting the youth-focused CW harder. ESPN to Offer Sports Online Free to Some New York Times ESPN will allow Web users on college campuses and military bases -- anyone in the .edu or .mil domain -- to access live programming on its pay video site, ESPN360.com, without charge. Opening ESPN360's doors is expected to more than double the site's base of possible users. Emmis CEO: Tagging Is Radio's 'Killer App' MediaPost In the next few years, digital song tagging will prove to be radio's "killer app," according to Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan. "We want to have a radio tuner in every mobile phone, every PDA sold in the U.S. The industry is pulling together, and we're going to do it." News Corp's Chernin to Enter Strike Talks DHD The negotiations between Hollywood's striking writers and the major studios are set to get a kick-start on Friday when News Corp. boss Peter Chernin returns from London to rejoin the talks. Chernin is said to be canceling his Super Bowl tickets in order to stay in town for the talks. TV Networks Eye Canada as Strike Continues Hollywood Reporter The prolonged Hollywood writers strike is triggering a serious look by U.S. broadcasters into local series produced in the top English-language markets, especially Canada. Canadian series are seen as accessible to U.S. audiences. Canada is said to be "the next big thing." Ex-NBC Head Wright Joins Private Equity Los Angeles Times Former NBC Universal chairman Bob Wright is joining Lee Equity Partners, a private-equity firm founded by Thomas H. Lee, as a senior advisor. Wright, 64, left his management role nearly a year ago after leading NBC for two decades and building it into a media giant. Viacom Converts 1,000 MTV 'Permalancers' Gawker More than 1,000 MTV Networks contractors reportedly are being converted to staff from their previous freelance status, in a move to appease workers upset over recent benefit reductions. MTV employees held a protest about the cuts outside MTV's Times Square offices in December. Young Broadcasting Set for Heavy Layoffs B&C Young Broadcasting is reportedly demanding a $20 million cut in costs across its 10-station group. The higher-priced talent is said to be the first to go. Young's WTEN Albany, N.Y., is dismissing 10 staffers, including anchors and reporters. Young also is selling KRON San Francisco. CBS Pressured to Yank Ledger Party Video EW.com "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider," the entertainment news programs syndicated by CBS, say they won't air a video they acquired that shows the late actor Heath Ledger allegedly under the influence. The Hollywood community pressured the programs not to air the "exploitive" clip. TV Stations Seek Programming to Put Online New York Times Syndicated online content is said to be the hot topic at this year's NATPE conference. As broadcast growth flattens, local television stations are looking to their Web sites for new revenue. Some stations are already airing the Warner Bros. sitcom "Two and a Half Men" on their Web sites. TV Ratings Slide as Writers Strike Drags On Reuters The Hollywood writers strike is taking a heavy toll on prime-time viewership with the major networks airing more repeats, game shows and reality shows. The five top broadcast networks are down a collective 17% for the week ending Jan. 27 in ratings among viewers aged 18 to 49. Striking Writers Abruptly Cancel CBS Event Los Angeles Times The Writers Guild of America is canceling a presentation it had planned in New York next Tuesday to discuss with analysts how the writers strike is negatively affecting CBS in particular. The event prompted an angry response from some execs whose studios are in talks with the writers. ABC Oscar Telecast Preps Contingency Plan Associated Press With the writers strike dragging dangerously close to the ABC Feb. 24 Academy Awards telecast, the film academy is planning two Oscar shows. A contingency plan calls for the use of Oscar history, film clips and other out-of-the-ordinary concepts, says academy president Sid Ganis. CBS, TiVo Form Partnership on DVR Research San Jose Business Journal TiVo is entering into a research partnership with CBS to examine viewing behavior of consumers who use digital video recorders. The partnership will allow CBS to "develop and measure new strategies for its advertising clients, and develop new and improved promotional strategies." Imus Closer to a Return to TV in Big Cities New York Times RFD-TV, the cable channel that carries a simulcast of Don Imus's radio show, is entering an affiliation deal with cable giant Comcast. RFD-TV is now authorized to begin talks to be carried on Comcast cable systems, including those in Washington, D.C., Boston and Chicago. NBC's Zucker: 'Distribution Must Be Ubiquitous' World Screen Jeff Zucker, the president and CEO of NBC Universal, delivered the opening keynote as NATPE kicked off in Las Vegas on Tuesday, calling for a "reengineering of our business from top to bottom." Thanks to new technologies, "today the consumer wears the crown.” CBS' Bob Schieffer Plans to Retire in '09 Associated Press Veteran CBS Washington hand Bob Schieffer, who has anchored "Face the Nation" since 1991, says he plans to step down from the Sunday morning political talk show with the inauguration of a new president next January. "That's when I'll stop doing what I'm doing now," says Schieffer, 70. Disney's 'HS Musical' Gets Global Push New York Times Disney is trying to expand the global reach of "High School Musical" to squeeze even more money from the franchise. New efforts include a London stage production and music videos in 17 languages. The worldwide push is seen as a test of the company's franchise-management machinery. CBS Newsman Wallace Has Triple Bypass New York Post Mike Wallace under went triple-bypass heart surgery in New York over the weekend. "Mike is recovering nicely," says a CBS News spokesman. Wallace, 89, the oldest of the "60 Minutes" correspondents, has been semi-retired from CBS since 2006, serving as a correspondent emeritus. Striking Writers, Studios Close In on Deal Los Angeles Times Hollywood's striking writers and major studios are said to be moving closer to bridging their divide after a week of talks. The outlines of a deal could be reached as early as this week. The parties are believed to be narrowing the gap in key areas, including pay for online distribution. Grammys Reach Interim Deal with Writers Associated Press Hollywood's striking writers say they will grant an "interim agreement" to organizers of the Grammy Awards, allowing the ceremony honoring musicians to be written by union members. The CBS telecast of the Feb. 10 event is expected to air in the traditional format. CBS to Bring Grammy Awards Online World Screen CBS Interactive is entering a two-year deal to become the official online partner of The Recording Academy to distribute programming around the Grammy Awards brand and the awards show broadcast. Grammy-related content will be distributed via CBS.com and Last.fm. NBC Buys Broadband Video Maker LX.tv Crain's New York NBC Universal's Local Media Division is acquiring LX.tv, a Manhattan-based broadband television network Web site that produces original video content about entertainment venues around the New York and Los Angeles areas. LX.tv will produce programs for NBC television stations and Web sites. Striking Writers May Get 'Face-Saving' Victory DHD / NYP The informal talks between Hollywood's striking writers and studio bosses are going "in a positive direction," says an insider. Big media may even let the writers' union "declare a face-saving victory" in order to get a deal done. Also: The strike should be over in two weeks, says Cindy Adams. Diller May Sell HSN Home-Shopping Network Wall Street Journal IAC/InterActiveCorp chief Barry Diller is in discussions to bring in outside investors or possible buyers for all four of the companies he plans to spin off including the HSN home-shopping cable network. IAC has been approached by large retailers interested in acquiring HSN. Comcast to Shut Down Asian-American Channel Associated Press Comcast is pulling the plug on AZN Television, its Asian-American channel. AZN will go off the air after April 9. Comcast says it had difficulty attracting advertisers for the network. AZN's reach was also a lower-than-expected 13.9 million viewers and wasn't growing. AT&T Expands U-verse TV, Internet Service Chicago Tribune AT&T is rolling out U-verse in the Chicago area on Monday. U-verse, which offers home video and high-speed Internet service, is expected to lower cable rates. Nationally, AT&T has installed U-verse for 231,000 customers and is proceeding with about 12,000 new installations a week. Disney's ABC Fined $1.4 Million for 'Buttocks' TV Guide The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is proposing a $1.4 million indecency fine against 52 ABC television stations over a 2003 broadcast of cop drama "NYPD Blue." The fine is for a scene depicting a woman's "nude buttocks." ABC argues that "the buttocks are not a sexual organ." Imus Sued for Badmouthing Advertiser Associated Press Don Imus is being sued for more than $4 million by Nashville-based Flatsigned Press, an advertiser on his former show, who says the radio shock jock badmouthed the company and called its commercials for a book by the late President Gerald Ford "cheesy." Hollywood Writers Sign Two Interim Deals Financial Times The Writers Guild of America is entering interim deals with independent film production companies Lionsgate and Marvel, boosting work opportunities for striking Hollywood writers. The union has already struck other similar deals, notably with United Artists and Worldwide Pants. Clear Channel Takeover Gets U.S. OK New York Post The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is approving the $27 billion buyout of radio giant Clear Channel by private-equity giants TH Lee Partners and Bain Capital. TH Lee's top dealmaker, Scott Sperling, says the deal will probably be completed by March 31. MTV Networks to Launch Gay Video Blogs Mediaweek Logo, MTV Networks' gay-themed cable network, is rolling out a slate of 15 video blogs. Included among the new Web shows are Gay Girls Who Game, hosted by a pair of lesbian video game enthusiasts. The video blogs aim to "create a powerful new generation of voices online." Gemstar-TV Guide Sues Virgin Media Telegraph Virgin Media is being sued for patent infringement by television listings provider Gemstar-TV Guide, which is part-owned by News Corp. Gemstar claims technology used by the U.K. cable TV group to list TV shows and channels and allow viewers to record them infringes its patents. TV Guide Acquisition Deal in Trouble? Folio Gemstar TV Guide's $2.8 billion sale to Macrovision -- by far the biggest consumer magazine deal of 2007 -- faces an uphill battle for shareholder approval and ultimately may not go through, say industry observers. Investor Loeb Partners plans to vote against the deal. Striking Sending TV Viewers to Internet Hollywood Reporter The Hollywood writers strike is beginning to take a toll on television viewing behavior, suggests a poll by MindShare. Almost half of those surveyed in the poll say they are spending more time online as a result of the repeat programming they encounter because of the strike. Strike TV, Film Losses May Top $3 Billion Variety If the Hollywood writers strike continues for another 60 to 90 days, the amount of lost spending on television and film production could reach $3 billion, according to an industry study. The strike to date is estimated to have cost Los Angeles County about $1.5 billion. CBS's Last.fm Launches Free Music Service Bloomberg CBS's Last.fm Web site is starting a free streaming music service supported by advertising. Last.fm has deals with the four-biggest record companies to offer about 3.5 million tracks free of charge to listeners. The site plans to expand beyond music into sports, news and television. Writers Strike Sends Many Americans to Sleep Telegraph The Hollywood writers strike is changing the leisure habits of ordinary Americans. Almost half of those polled by Entertainment Weekly magazine say they are watching less television. Instead, four in 10 said they are reading more books and 27% say they are going to bed earlier. Striking Writers, Studios in Renewed Talks Reuters Striking Hollywood writers are set to meet this week with studio execs including News Corp.'s Peter Chernin and Disney's Bob Iger. The writers's union says it will drop proposals seeking to extend contract coverage to writers who work in reality TV and animation. NBC Universal Ends Pilots to Cut Costs New York Times NBC boss Jeff Zucker says the broadcaster is moving to save as much as $50 million a year by reducing its reliance on expensive pilots. "It's clear we are in a recession in the United States," he says, "and we're going to have to manage our business accordingly." NBC Universal Invests in India's NDTV Networks Variety NBC Universal is paying $150 million for an initial 26% stake in India's NDTV Networks, the holding company for the entertainment networks operated by broadcaster New Delhi Television. The Indian |