Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Prime-time sensations that faded fast
From The Onion's (the comedy newspaper) A.V. Club, they serve up fifteen shows that started out hot but faded fast, including Batman and The Arsenio Hall Show. They obviously forgot to add a 16th one - the Chicago White Sox.
Syndication's banking on three shows for fall
The syndication business hopes that three new shows can break the losing streak the platform has had for the last few years. The most controversial of the three is Warner's TMZ, the anti-celebrity website that has grown in popularity in the last few months. The trash-celeb show, reminiscent of Hard Copy, premieres Sept. 10 locally on Fox-owned WPWR-TV and WFLD-TV.
Meanwhile, the arrival of two new game shows - Twentieth's Temptation and Program Partners' Merv Griffin's Crosswords - hope to revive interest in the genre. In the last seventeen years, only three game shows have succeeded - Hollywood Squares, Family Feud, and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - all either revivals of past shows or syndicated versions of network ones.
In the fall of 1990, five game shows debuted in syndication and all failed. Among them - revivals of Tic Tac Dough and The Joker's Wild and a game show hosted by Dick Clark called The Challengers.
Fifteen years ago, a widely anticipated revival of You Bet Your Life, hosted by Bill Cosby, tanked instantly and lasted only a year.
New versions of The Price is Right (a nighttime version of the daytime show) and Match Game failed to take off in 1994 and 1998, respectively.
Both Crosswords and Temptation premiere Sept. 10. (Crosswords will air from 2-3 p.m. locally on WMAQ-TV; Temptation will air from 1-2 p.m. locally on WPWR-TV.)
Also on tap are two new courtroom shows: Sony's Judge David Young and Radar's Jury Duty, and the first off-network drama to premiere in syndication as a weekday strip in several years, Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Other off-net premieres include CBS' Half & Half, and Warner's George Lopez.
Meanwhile, the arrival of two new game shows - Twentieth's Temptation and Program Partners' Merv Griffin's Crosswords - hope to revive interest in the genre. In the last seventeen years, only three game shows have succeeded - Hollywood Squares, Family Feud, and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - all either revivals of past shows or syndicated versions of network ones.
In the fall of 1990, five game shows debuted in syndication and all failed. Among them - revivals of Tic Tac Dough and The Joker's Wild and a game show hosted by Dick Clark called The Challengers.
Fifteen years ago, a widely anticipated revival of You Bet Your Life, hosted by Bill Cosby, tanked instantly and lasted only a year.
New versions of The Price is Right (a nighttime version of the daytime show) and Match Game failed to take off in 1994 and 1998, respectively.
Both Crosswords and Temptation premiere Sept. 10. (Crosswords will air from 2-3 p.m. locally on WMAQ-TV; Temptation will air from 1-2 p.m. locally on WPWR-TV.)
Also on tap are two new courtroom shows: Sony's Judge David Young and Radar's Jury Duty, and the first off-network drama to premiere in syndication as a weekday strip in several years, Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Other off-net premieres include CBS' Half & Half, and Warner's George Lopez.
Pittsburgh local fall lineups
Rob Owen of the Post-Gazette has Pittsburgh's fall syndicated lineups. Notables:
-Sinclair's WPMY has Family Guy interspersed with The Simpsons, creating a two-sitcom block. Family Guy is slated to air at 6:30 and 7:30 each weeknight, leading out of Bart & Co. Law & Order: Criminal Intent airs at 11 p.m. on WPMY.
- Sinclair's other station, Fox affiliate WPGH, will air Two and a Half Men at 6 and 7 p.m.
- TMZ, the new anti-celebrity magazine show, airs at 4 and 10:30 p.m. on WPMY.
- Independent WBGN (I've never heard of them either), rolls out Martha Stewart Living, Blind Date, Jury Duty, Degrassi, and Reno 911! (Reno 911! will air weeknights at 11 on WPWR-Channel 50 here beginning Sept. 10.)
- Yet another courtroom show, Judge David Young from Sony Pictures Television, premieres at 1 p.m. on Sept. 10 on CBS-owned (and KDKA sister) WPCW-TV.
- Weekends: WPCW has Cold Case (which is also being cleared in syndication on CBS-owned WBBM-TV here); WPMY has nabbed UFC Wired, Whacked Out Sports, and 24 repeats. Cox's NBC affiliate (WPXI) has Law and Order: Special Victims Unit in syndication.
-Sinclair's WPMY has Family Guy interspersed with The Simpsons, creating a two-sitcom block. Family Guy is slated to air at 6:30 and 7:30 each weeknight, leading out of Bart & Co. Law & Order: Criminal Intent airs at 11 p.m. on WPMY.
- Sinclair's other station, Fox affiliate WPGH, will air Two and a Half Men at 6 and 7 p.m.
- TMZ, the new anti-celebrity magazine show, airs at 4 and 10:30 p.m. on WPMY.
- Independent WBGN (I've never heard of them either), rolls out Martha Stewart Living, Blind Date, Jury Duty, Degrassi, and Reno 911! (Reno 911! will air weeknights at 11 on WPWR-Channel 50 here beginning Sept. 10.)
- Yet another courtroom show, Judge David Young from Sony Pictures Television, premieres at 1 p.m. on Sept. 10 on CBS-owned (and KDKA sister) WPCW-TV.
- Weekends: WPCW has Cold Case (which is also being cleared in syndication on CBS-owned WBBM-TV here); WPMY has nabbed UFC Wired, Whacked Out Sports, and 24 repeats. Cox's NBC affiliate (WPXI) has Law and Order: Special Victims Unit in syndication.
Monday, August 27, 2007
'Tis the fifteenth season
Watch out Homer Simpson, you're not the only one who can go on forever: Viacom and Comedy Central renewed veteran comedy South Park until 2011 (its fifteenth season) - but wait, there's more: Comedy Central and the creators of the show agreed to create a South Park hub to spread the show's material to the Internet, mobile phones, and other media.
Matt Stone and Trey Parker also get considerable raises from the deal from their salaries and guaranteed advances from other ventures of the show, including DVDs, merchandising and syndication (Lionsgate's Debmar-Mercury distributes South Park in broadcast syndication.)
The pact also calls for the creation of South Park Digital Studios, which will focus on the digital animation of the show and other new animated projects.
South Park's first-run episodes draw an average of three million viewers per episode. A new season of episodes begin with a tentative date of Oct. 7.
- Read the official press release on South Park Studio's website by clicking here.
- Want to read a story about how the show is put together? This is a interesting read yours truly found on the Apple website on how South Park Studios puts together a typical episode. To read the article, click here.
Chicago Tribune weighs in on Big Ten-Comcast war of words
They support a la carte programming (which is no surprise given they are staunch supporters of the FCC's indecency campaign and the war in Iraq.) Of course, when was the last time The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board's opinion on anything was revelant to anybody? Aren't newspapers supposed to be dead by now? And since yours truly didn't go to a Big Ten school, why should I subsidize or even care if their fans get a channel on Comcast or not, or whether or not they miss a lousy non-competitive football game? What goes around comes around, Tribune. (Yours truly is a college football fan, but the BCS leaves a bad taste in his mouth.)
And keep in mind in the conference's decision to take their third-tier games off of broadcast television to form this network. Siding with the Big Ten reeks of hypocrisy.
It's easier to talk when you're apart of big media, because you feel you can speak for the rest of us. You're on your way to becoming The Chicago Daily Onion, which resides across the street.
And keep in mind in the conference's decision to take their third-tier games off of broadcast television to form this network. Siding with the Big Ten reeks of hypocrisy.
It's easier to talk when you're apart of big media, because you feel you can speak for the rest of us. You're on your way to becoming The Chicago Daily Onion, which resides across the street.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
There aren't enough DVRs in the world
Yep, you've come a long way, baby. And this Heineken commercial Bob Garfield reviews seems stuck in 1973 in concept. Worst. Commercial. Ever. (Except for those stupid Hyundai spots and the Viagra-deprived old guy on those DirectTV NFL Sunday Ticket ads...)
UPDATE: The ad community responded and many came into defense of the ad, pretty much proof that either the public has lowered its expectations on everything (look at our state government in the wake of last week's floods in the Chicago area - or the government in general with Katrina two years ago) - or Garfield simply has something up his behind (earlier, he misspelled "sexist" and had "sexiest" in his review. Somebody needs to go back to school...)
UPDATE: The ad community responded and many came into defense of the ad, pretty much proof that either the public has lowered its expectations on everything (look at our state government in the wake of last week's floods in the Chicago area - or the government in general with Katrina two years ago) - or Garfield simply has something up his behind (earlier, he misspelled "sexist" and had "sexiest" in his review. Somebody needs to go back to school...)
Saturday, August 25, 2007
The T Dog Media Blog Think Tank: White Sox sliding into oblivion
This story from Crain's Chicago Business from the previous week has an item about the Chicago White Sox - the 2005 World Series Champions who are struggling on the field this year - and in the ratings and at the box office, too. As a result, the team has decided to put its ad agency account up for review.
Like the team this season, the ad campaigns have had numerous misses, including the inane Southside Board of Touirism ad campaign at the beginning of the season (to tout what, the nearest Harold's Chicken Shack?)
A disappointing 2007 season has resulted in declining ratings and attendance numbers. Ratings for White Sox games on Comcast SportsNet are down 50 percent from a year ago and broadcast TV ratings are down 37 percent from that same time frame. While the broadcast ratings are somewhat competitive, they trail those of summertime prime-time fare on the broadcast networks, which consists of reruns and first-run reality shows - most of them declared rating disappointments.
A recent prime-time game on WGN averaged only a 1.9 rating, worse than the CW programming on the station.
Not helping the White Sox is that many televised sporting events are coming off a down year in the ratings. The NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals both recorded record lows this year, and ratings for NASCAR have slipped as viewers have abandoned sports programming for the Internet, video games, home video options, and other television programming.
Meanwhile, the Cubs surging success has resulted in a ratings increase for the team's television broadcasts, with an intriguing storyline (whether or not the Cubs can hold on to first place) -hooking loyal fans and bringing in casual ones. When a team loses, casual fans are the first to go, usually to other entertainment options.
Sports marketing specialists note that there are no advantages to being a one-hit-wonder club.
In other words, the 2005 World champs will likely become more of a trivia question or a segment of a VH-1 special in the same vain as Sean Kingston's singing career - the person solely responsible for Ben E. King turning over in his grave.
This scenario is similar to what happened to the New York Islanders after the team won four Stanley Cups in the early 1980s. The team slid into oblivion in the next decade after numerous losing seasons, in which attendance plummeted and television ratings were turned into hash marks, while watching the arch-rival New York Rangers (The Chicago Cubs of hockey -in popularity at least) win a Stanley Cup in 1994 and maintain a loyal fan base, despite eight consecutive losing seasons a few years afterward.
Not only that, the New Jersey Devils, another New York area team, won three Stanley Cups from 1995 to 2003.
The Islanders are still struggling at the box office and in TV ratings to this very day (Of course, it doesn't help when the team's logo was briefly changed into the Gorton's Fisherman a few years back.)
Then again, so is the rest of the NHL - including the Blackhawks, which the White Sox are now trying to stay ahead of in fan popularity - yeah, that says a lot.
So the lesson learned here is, who ever lands the marketing account for the White Sox - don't go into the frozen foods section of the grocery store looking for ideas.
Like the team this season, the ad campaigns have had numerous misses, including the inane Southside Board of Touirism ad campaign at the beginning of the season (to tout what, the nearest Harold's Chicken Shack?)
A disappointing 2007 season has resulted in declining ratings and attendance numbers. Ratings for White Sox games on Comcast SportsNet are down 50 percent from a year ago and broadcast TV ratings are down 37 percent from that same time frame. While the broadcast ratings are somewhat competitive, they trail those of summertime prime-time fare on the broadcast networks, which consists of reruns and first-run reality shows - most of them declared rating disappointments.
A recent prime-time game on WGN averaged only a 1.9 rating, worse than the CW programming on the station.
Not helping the White Sox is that many televised sporting events are coming off a down year in the ratings. The NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals both recorded record lows this year, and ratings for NASCAR have slipped as viewers have abandoned sports programming for the Internet, video games, home video options, and other television programming.
Meanwhile, the Cubs surging success has resulted in a ratings increase for the team's television broadcasts, with an intriguing storyline (whether or not the Cubs can hold on to first place) -hooking loyal fans and bringing in casual ones. When a team loses, casual fans are the first to go, usually to other entertainment options.
Sports marketing specialists note that there are no advantages to being a one-hit-wonder club.
In other words, the 2005 World champs will likely become more of a trivia question or a segment of a VH-1 special in the same vain as Sean Kingston's singing career - the person solely responsible for Ben E. King turning over in his grave.
This scenario is similar to what happened to the New York Islanders after the team won four Stanley Cups in the early 1980s. The team slid into oblivion in the next decade after numerous losing seasons, in which attendance plummeted and television ratings were turned into hash marks, while watching the arch-rival New York Rangers (The Chicago Cubs of hockey -in popularity at least) win a Stanley Cup in 1994 and maintain a loyal fan base, despite eight consecutive losing seasons a few years afterward.
Not only that, the New Jersey Devils, another New York area team, won three Stanley Cups from 1995 to 2003.
The Islanders are still struggling at the box office and in TV ratings to this very day (Of course, it doesn't help when the team's logo was briefly changed into the Gorton's Fisherman a few years back.)
Then again, so is the rest of the NHL - including the Blackhawks, which the White Sox are now trying to stay ahead of in fan popularity - yeah, that says a lot.
So the lesson learned here is, who ever lands the marketing account for the White Sox - don't go into the frozen foods section of the grocery store looking for ideas.
Friday, August 24, 2007
American Gladitors returns - to NBC
The sports-competition show that aired in syndication locally on WPWR-TV (and later WFLD-TV) in the 1990's, is coming back in midseason - as a prime-time program on NBC.
Reville Entertainment, whose former president Ben Silverman is now co-chairman at NBC, is producing the show along with MGM Television. MGM holds the rights to the series, inherited when they acquired The Samuel Goldwyn Company, the original syndicator of Gladiators. Current WMAQ-TV sports personality Mike Adamle co-hosted the series, which ran from 1989 to 1995.
An interesting question is, a show that wasn't good enough for network prime-time in 1989 is now suddenly good enough for prime-time in 2008? (Yours truly was a big fan of American Gladiators back in the day, but something's wrong when the networks are looking in the syndicated scrap heap for ideas on prime-time programming. Can a revival of the ill-fated 1985 syndicated series Star Games be too far behind?)
Reville Entertainment, whose former president Ben Silverman is now co-chairman at NBC, is producing the show along with MGM Television. MGM holds the rights to the series, inherited when they acquired The Samuel Goldwyn Company, the original syndicator of Gladiators. Current WMAQ-TV sports personality Mike Adamle co-hosted the series, which ran from 1989 to 1995.
An interesting question is, a show that wasn't good enough for network prime-time in 1989 is now suddenly good enough for prime-time in 2008? (Yours truly was a big fan of American Gladiators back in the day, but something's wrong when the networks are looking in the syndicated scrap heap for ideas on prime-time programming. Can a revival of the ill-fated 1985 syndicated series Star Games be too far behind?)
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Webcasters, SoundExchange, record labels come to an agreement
The major record labels and SoundExchange have come to an agreement with large webcasting companies over terms concerning the rates those webcasters have to pay for streaming. According to the agreement, large webcasters like AOL, Pandora, Yahoo!, MTV and Live 365 will not have to pay more than $50,000 per service as a per-station or per-channel minimum royalty to webacast sound recordings. The deal is valid through 2010.
Large webcasters will also not be required to provide DRM-like technology to prevent ripping (or copying) of webcasters' streams, at least for now.
Small webcasters meanwhile, were offered a carry through of the old rates until 2010, from SoundExchange. They have until Sept. 14 to come to an agreement.
UPDATE: Some small webcasters are reportedly rejecting SoundExchange's offer - those than earn $1.2 million in annual revenue or less - a discounted rate of 10%-12% of annual revenue. Some small webcasters say that isn't good enough.
(Updated 10:36 AM on 2007-08-24)
Large webcasters will also not be required to provide DRM-like technology to prevent ripping (or copying) of webcasters' streams, at least for now.
Small webcasters meanwhile, were offered a carry through of the old rates until 2010, from SoundExchange. They have until Sept. 14 to come to an agreement.
UPDATE: Some small webcasters are reportedly rejecting SoundExchange's offer - those than earn $1.2 million in annual revenue or less - a discounted rate of 10%-12% of annual revenue. Some small webcasters say that isn't good enough.
(Updated 10:36 AM on 2007-08-24)
Local news stations flunk geography quiz
From WMAQ-TV's (Channel 5) website this afternoon:
CHICAGO -- The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a tornado warning for portions of Cook and DuPage counties.
I'm suspecting Lauren Jones from Anchorwoman finally landed a job with one or even two of the Chicago TV stations as a news writer....
CHICAGO -- The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a tornado warning for portions of Cook and DuPage counties.
The warning is in effect until 4 p.m. CDT.
At 3:09 p.m., NWS radar indicated strong rotation in a severe thunderstorm near Winfield, moving east at 50 mph.
A second warning was issued for Will County near Elgin, after a spotter reported a funnel cloud. NBC5's Brant Miller said the cell is near Wayne, and the warning will be in effect until 4 p.m.
A tornado was spotted by an amateur radio operator near the Bolingbrook area. The cell that produced the twister will be near Tinley Park and Flossmoor after moving through the southwest suburbs of Joliet.
So, Elgin is near Will County? Isn't Joliet a suburb itself? And one other station website reported that a roof was torn off a building at Sauk Trail and Cicero Avenue in Steger, when it was actually in Richton Park.I'm suspecting Lauren Jones from Anchorwoman finally landed a job with one or even two of the Chicago TV stations as a news writer....
"Anchorwoman" bombs (updated)
Anchorwoman earned a paltry 1.0 rating in adults 18-49 for Fox. It's not a good sign when your reality show about a bimbo newscaster achieves the same ratings as actual newscasts on WBBM-Channel 2.
And you thought the Baltimore Orioles had a bad night...
UPDATE: Anchorwoman was canceled today, marking the first time Fox has yanked a show after one episode since The Rich List last year. The show will be burned off at Fox.com.
The One and Out Club:
You're in the Picture (CBS, 1961)
Turn-On (ABC, 1969)
Co-Ed Fever (CBS, 1978)
South of Sunset (CBS, 1993)
Public Morals (CBS, 1996)
Lawless (Fox, 1997)
Who's Your Daddy? (Fox, 2005)
Emily Reason's Why Not (ABC, 2006)
The Rich List (Fox, 2006)
Thought: She Gone! So what new show this fall may last one episode? Taking bets now on Cavemen and Kid Nation...
Trivia: You're in the Picture's lone air date - January 20, 1961 - was also the same day John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the country's 35th president.
(Updated at 6:18 p.m.)
And you thought the Baltimore Orioles had a bad night...
UPDATE: Anchorwoman was canceled today, marking the first time Fox has yanked a show after one episode since The Rich List last year. The show will be burned off at Fox.com.
The One and Out Club:
You're in the Picture (CBS, 1961)
Turn-On (ABC, 1969)
Co-Ed Fever (CBS, 1978)
South of Sunset (CBS, 1993)
Public Morals (CBS, 1996)
Lawless (Fox, 1997)
Who's Your Daddy? (Fox, 2005)
Emily Reason's Why Not (ABC, 2006)
The Rich List (Fox, 2006)
Thought: She Gone! So what new show this fall may last one episode? Taking bets now on Cavemen and Kid Nation...
Trivia: You're in the Picture's lone air date - January 20, 1961 - was also the same day John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the country's 35th president.
(Updated at 6:18 p.m.)
"Wheel" spinning back to Chicago
Wheel of Fortune, syndication's No. 1 show, is coming back to the Windy City to celebrate its 25th anniversary in nighttime.
The long-running game show, hosted by South Lawndale/Little Village native and Columbia College alum Pat Sajak and letter-turner (or toucher)Vanna White, will be taping at Navy Pier in March of 2008 for three weeks' worths of shows that will air during next May's sweeps.
This the third time Wheel has taped in Chicago. The other times were in 1991 and 2002.
The CBS-distributed program, which airs on ABC-owned WLS-TV here, is Chicago's most popular syndicated program by far. Wheel often outdraws most prime-time programming on the networks locally, including all programs on The CW and My Network TV. Wheel has won the 6:30 prime access slot in Chicago for 23 years and is instrumental in WLS-TV's dominance in local ratings over the last two decades.
For more information about auditions and tickets to the Chicago tapings, click here.
Wheel of Fortune, which debuted in 1975 in daytime on NBC, was created by the late Merv Griffin.
The long-running game show, hosted by South Lawndale/Little Village native and Columbia College alum Pat Sajak and letter-turner (or toucher)Vanna White, will be taping at Navy Pier in March of 2008 for three weeks' worths of shows that will air during next May's sweeps.
This the third time Wheel has taped in Chicago. The other times were in 1991 and 2002.
The CBS-distributed program, which airs on ABC-owned WLS-TV here, is Chicago's most popular syndicated program by far. Wheel often outdraws most prime-time programming on the networks locally, including all programs on The CW and My Network TV. Wheel has won the 6:30 prime access slot in Chicago for 23 years and is instrumental in WLS-TV's dominance in local ratings over the last two decades.
For more information about auditions and tickets to the Chicago tapings, click here.
Wheel of Fortune, which debuted in 1975 in daytime on NBC, was created by the late Merv Griffin.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
You blockhead!
Charlie Brown: (c) United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
The Texas Rangers beat, and I mean beat the Baltimore Orioles in Game 1 of a twi-night doubleheader tonight by a score of 30 to 3.
Who was pitching this game for the Orioles, Charlie Brown?
Dumbest reality show of the year?
Ha. There are about one hundred of them in contention for that title. But the one that may win (non-Flavor of Love category) is Anchorwoman, a new short-term show airing on Fox tonight.
The program features Lauren Jones, a former WWE diva, Barker's Beauty, and current aspiring actress working for a ratings challenged CBS affiliate.
No, it's not WBBM-TV (Channel 2) or WOIO-TV in Cleveland (home of a one-time semi-nude Sharon Reed) - though it could've been....
It's actually CBS affiliate KYTX-TV in Tyler-Longview, TX - market number 111 - a station in the heart of George W. country, where traditionalism is the rule.
If you need any proof that local news (and network programming) has become a joke, this is it (although she does look hot.... You know yours truly will be tuning in....)
Note: Fox's affiliate in Tyler-Longview - KFXK-TV is carrying Anchorwoman, according to the station's website. Surprise, surprise...
"Family Guy Live" comes to Chicago
WMOR-TV in Tampa adds Family Guy to schedule
Walt Belcher in the Tampa Tribune is reporting Hearst-Argyle's WMOR-TV in Tampa-St. Petersburg is adding Family Guy this fall in addition to Reno 911 and Law & Order: Criminal Intent and is also adding The Office in the fall of 2009. The independent station, once known as WTMV and (former WB affiliate) WWWB, also is adding Dead Zone and Chappelle's Show for weekend play.
Also in that article, Belcher mentions the Family Guy live table-reading in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hills Hilton during the TV critics' press tour. The cast performed the X-rated version of the series 100th episode named "Stewie Kills Lois".
The cast is coming to the Chicago Theater on Sept. 14 to perform the same table read with two shows, at 7 and 10 p.m. For ticket information, click here.
Family Guy Live also has performed at the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal and has also performed in New York.
On a personal note, The T Dog Media Blog wants to say thank you to the cast and crew of Family Guy for coming to the Windy City to perform the table read. Yours truly will be there on the 14th. Freakin' Sweet!
Family Guy airs on WGN-TV here in Chicago weeknights at 6:30 and at 10 beginning Sept. 10.
(updated at 1:15pm - wrong draft was posted earlier)
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Cable says no to Big Ten, NFL networks
It looks like the nation's cable channels are getting fed up with sports leagues taking them for a ride - Comcast and Time Warner - two of the nation's largest cable companies - are taking a stand.
Comcast has pushed the NFL Network into a pay-tier with other sports channels -like CSTV and NBA TV for example, while Time Warner isn't carrying the football network at all.
Meanwhile, the Big Ten Network does not have any deals with any major cable operators, and has only a deal with Direct TV and a few small cable operators, like Buckeye Cablesystem in the Toledo area.
The real culprit is money of course - The NFL and Big Ten want the cable operators to pay more to them - in which the cable operators would have no choice to pass that cost to subscribers.
As for the Big Ten Network (BTN), the network is holding hope that a deal can be reached on August 30, when the network launches.
(Minor rant: Ed Sherman of the Trib singles Comcast out but not the area's other cable operators, or Dish Network, who aren't carrying BTN either. Why are you just singling out Comcast, Sherman? They made fun of your mama, or something?)
Comcast has pushed the NFL Network into a pay-tier with other sports channels -like CSTV and NBA TV for example, while Time Warner isn't carrying the football network at all.
Meanwhile, the Big Ten Network does not have any deals with any major cable operators, and has only a deal with Direct TV and a few small cable operators, like Buckeye Cablesystem in the Toledo area.
The real culprit is money of course - The NFL and Big Ten want the cable operators to pay more to them - in which the cable operators would have no choice to pass that cost to subscribers.
As for the Big Ten Network (BTN), the network is holding hope that a deal can be reached on August 30, when the network launches.
(Minor rant: Ed Sherman of the Trib singles Comcast out but not the area's other cable operators, or Dish Network, who aren't carrying BTN either. Why are you just singling out Comcast, Sherman? They made fun of your mama, or something?)
WNYW to run "Simpsons" start to finish; More on Peachtree TV; Chicago fall lineups
Fox-owned WNYW in New York will run every Simpsons episode in chronological order from 1 to 400 beginning on September 10. (Are you listening, WFLD?) Here's are the local fall lineup for WNYW, as well as two other New York stations, Tribune's WPIX and WNYW's sister, WWOR.
Meanwhile, here's more on the new WPCH - the former WTBS in Atlanta. The station is adding House of Payne (in 2008) and The Montel Williams Show, which it is acquiring from ABC affiliate WSB-TV, which previously aired at 10 a.m. This is the first talk show WTBS/WPCH will air since the ill-fated Ask Rita in 2004 and last fall's Megan Mulually Show.
The switchover begins on October 1, so make your plans...
But what about Chicago, you ask? Well, if there is any info on Chicago local TV fall lineups, yours truly will post those as soon as I can get them. Here's what I know thus far (or what I haven't covered in any other post:)
Coming to WWME-TV (Me TV) : The Dick Van Dyke Show (at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m beginning 9/17), The Cosby Show, Cheers
Coming to WGN: Degrassi: The Next Generation (8:30a - Noon Sundays, beginning 9/9)
Coming to WPWR: Temptation
Archive post: WTBS to become Peachtree TV
Updated at 11:38 on 2007-08-26
Meanwhile, here's more on the new WPCH - the former WTBS in Atlanta. The station is adding House of Payne (in 2008) and The Montel Williams Show, which it is acquiring from ABC affiliate WSB-TV, which previously aired at 10 a.m. This is the first talk show WTBS/WPCH will air since the ill-fated Ask Rita in 2004 and last fall's Megan Mulually Show.
The switchover begins on October 1, so make your plans...
But what about Chicago, you ask? Well, if there is any info on Chicago local TV fall lineups, yours truly will post those as soon as I can get them. Here's what I know thus far (or what I haven't covered in any other post:)
Coming to WWME-TV (Me TV) : The Dick Van Dyke Show (at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m beginning 9/17), The Cosby Show, Cheers
Coming to WGN: Degrassi: The Next Generation (8:30a - Noon Sundays, beginning 9/9)
Coming to WPWR: Temptation
Archive post: WTBS to become Peachtree TV
Updated at 11:38 on 2007-08-26
Right-wing groups claim victory with "HSM 2" success
The usual idiots, the Media Research Center (a.ka. the Parents Television Council), take credit for High School 2's success. Never mind that the older siblings and other adults this weekend - the ones with money - were either at the Beyonce concert or went to see Superbad. (Great column, Rich. There may be hope for your paper after all.)
Here's the official press release on HSM2's success via TV Barn's Aaron Barnhart...
Here's the official press release on HSM2's success via TV Barn's Aaron Barnhart...
Monday, August 20, 2007
"Insider "moved back to 5 p.m.
This move must have bombed in the ratings: WCIU is moving The Insider back to 5 p.m. from 6 and to 11 p.m. from 10:35 p.m. next Monday (Aug. 27) instead of waiting for Sept. 10 when newly syndicated repeats of The George Lopez Show takes over at 6 p.m. Girlfriends, which is being withdrawn from broadcast syndication nationwide on Sept. 7 (but will continue Mondays on the CW this fall), will fill the 6 and 10:30 p.m. slots in the interim.
Here's a thought: Move The Insider to WBBM-TV (Channel 2) since CBS owns the show and the program airs in access (from 7-8p) on some CBS-owned stations including WCBS in New York and KCBS in Los Angeles. Put it on at 6 p.m. No one is watching Channel 2 in that time slot anyway since they're airing something called a newscast, and no one will notice the difference between the two.
Here's a thought: Move The Insider to WBBM-TV (Channel 2) since CBS owns the show and the program airs in access (from 7-8p) on some CBS-owned stations including WCBS in New York and KCBS in Los Angeles. Put it on at 6 p.m. No one is watching Channel 2 in that time slot anyway since they're airing something called a newscast, and no one will notice the difference between the two.
Radio rating trend
First trend for Chicago stations - WGN a dominant number one (thanks to the Cubs), with WGCI (and WLIT) performing like the White Sox...
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