- Wizards Rule: Disney-ABC Domestic Television has cleared Wizard's First Rule in 84 percent of the country, including all top 50 markets, i.e., the 50 largest metro areas in the country - essentially making it a "firm go". To see a complete list of station groups airing the show this fall, click here (locally, Wizard's will air on WGN-TV.)
This marks the first scripted hour to air in first-run syndication since MGM's She Spies debuted in 2002. For Disney-ABC, it is their first scripted hour show in syndication since Land's End and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids in the 1990's, when it was known as Buena Vista Television.
- Meanwhile, NBC Universal has sold off-network weekend runs of House and Monk to 99 percent of the country, with WFLD-TV clearing them both locally. Fox O&O's in New York and Los Angeles nabbed House, while NBC O&Os in those two same markets (WNBC and KNBC) nabbed Monk.
- Twentieth's Boston Legal has been sold in 92 percent of the country for a fall 2008 launch for weekend runs (WLS-TV will carry the show locally.) This deal is separate from the one made last month with ION Television, which enables the former PAX network to strip the show five days a week.
Monday, March 17, 2008
High Court to hear indecency case
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the fleeting profanities case, with pits the major networks against the FCC. So we'll finally see if we truly live in the home of the free and the brave or if we live in China.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Another reason to cancel your cable subscription
Besides the cable news channels and Chris Berman:
MTV greenlights Paris Hilton reality series, titled Paris Hilton's My New BFF.
A Bachelor knockoff clearly targeted for the "whatever" generation. Don't know what BFF stands for (code word for slave, perhaps? Yeah, the "winner" of this show gets to work on the Paris plantation - what a prize!), but I'm betting the last two letters stands for what the "winner" is likely to get: f'd over.
MTV greenlights Paris Hilton reality series, titled Paris Hilton's My New BFF.
A Bachelor knockoff clearly targeted for the "whatever" generation. Don't know what BFF stands for (code word for slave, perhaps? Yeah, the "winner" of this show gets to work on the Paris plantation - what a prize!), but I'm betting the last two letters stands for what the "winner" is likely to get: f'd over.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Comcast Sportsnet to air classic Blackhawks game
Here's something you won't find on ESPN Classic (and that's not a bad thing): A classic Blackhawks game featuring the Golden Jet, Bobby Hull.
The game from Dec. 11, 1971 features Hull and two other Blackhawk legends - Stan Mikita and goalie Tony Esposito, will air Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet. Their opponent was the Toronto Maple Leafs and was broadcast from Maple Leaf Gardens. It was originally broadcast on CBC and was televised in black-and-white (yes, in 1971. CBC didn't have a full-color schedule until 1974 - eight years after the U.S. networks went to broadcasting their entire prime-time schedules in color.)
There's also going to be pre-game, post-game, and intermission interviews.
Recently, the three Hockey Hall of Famers returned to the Blackhawks organ-i-zation as goodwill ambassadors. Hull and Mikita were honored at a recent home game.
Official Comcast SportsNet press release
The game from Dec. 11, 1971 features Hull and two other Blackhawk legends - Stan Mikita and goalie Tony Esposito, will air Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet. Their opponent was the Toronto Maple Leafs and was broadcast from Maple Leaf Gardens. It was originally broadcast on CBC and was televised in black-and-white (yes, in 1971. CBC didn't have a full-color schedule until 1974 - eight years after the U.S. networks went to broadcasting their entire prime-time schedules in color.)
There's also going to be pre-game, post-game, and intermission interviews.
Recently, the three Hockey Hall of Famers returned to the Blackhawks organ-i-zation as goodwill ambassadors. Hull and Mikita were honored at a recent home game.
Official Comcast SportsNet press release
South Bend PBS station may go all-digital
WNIT, a PBS station in South Bend, is asking the FCC permission to broadcast only in digital after the station's broken-down analog transmitter sputtered out for good on Wednesday.
The transmitter broke down last month, when one of two tubes which fed the station's audio and video feeds stopped working. The feed was rerouted to the station's other tube, which forced the station to operate at reduced power. When that tube broke down, the station's analog signal was forced to go off the air (WNIT's digital signal, which is carried by cable and satellite providers, wasn't affected.)
With the digital switchover taking place on February 17 of next year, WNIT felt fixing the analog transmitter (which would be obsolete by then) wouldn't make sense. Viewers without cable can still get the station's signal by buying a digital converter box, which is sold in most electronic stores. Government coupons can help cut the price down to next-to-nothing for consumers in most cases.
The transmitter broke down last month, when one of two tubes which fed the station's audio and video feeds stopped working. The feed was rerouted to the station's other tube, which forced the station to operate at reduced power. When that tube broke down, the station's analog signal was forced to go off the air (WNIT's digital signal, which is carried by cable and satellite providers, wasn't affected.)
With the digital switchover taking place on February 17 of next year, WNIT felt fixing the analog transmitter (which would be obsolete by then) wouldn't make sense. Viewers without cable can still get the station's signal by buying a digital converter box, which is sold in most electronic stores. Government coupons can help cut the price down to next-to-nothing for consumers in most cases.
Viewers flock to cable premieres
Bravo's new season of Top Chef - shot on location here in Chicago - was a big hit with viewers. Airing Wednesday night at 9 p.m., the season premiere of the cooking contest nabbed 2.2 million viewers - up 11 percent from last season.
However, Top Chef was topped by the season premiere of South Park and the series premiere of Lewis Black's Root of All Evil. South Park drew 3.1 million viewers and came close to outdrawing CW's America's Next Top Model in adults 18-49. Park was up 11 percent from last October's premeire.
Evil grabbed 2.3 million viewers and it won its time slot in key young male demos. And yes, the new show is already causing controversy, and not for taking on Oprah (and no, that's not me making the comments in Alex Weprin's blog.)
However, Top Chef was topped by the season premiere of South Park and the series premiere of Lewis Black's Root of All Evil. South Park drew 3.1 million viewers and came close to outdrawing CW's America's Next Top Model in adults 18-49. Park was up 11 percent from last October's premeire.
Evil grabbed 2.3 million viewers and it won its time slot in key young male demos. And yes, the new show is already causing controversy, and not for taking on Oprah (and no, that's not me making the comments in Alex Weprin's blog.)
Thursday, March 13, 2008
"TMZ" gets new slot - and channel
Katie, Brian, and Charles: you met your match.
Beginning Monday, Harvey Levin's syndicated celebrity gossip paparazzi show TMZ will face off against network newscasts in Chicago with the show moving to 5:30 p.m. on Fox-owned WFLD-TV. The program currently airs on sister station WPWR-TV at 6:30 p.m.
TMZ will continue to air at 11:35 p.m. on WFLD.
Fox-owned stations in New York (WNYW) and Los Angeles (KTTV) already air the Warner Bros. - syndicated magazine directly against the network newscasts with some measure of success. TMZ airs in those two markets at 6:30 p.m.
The moves are being made due to the arrival of Everybody Loves Raymond at WPWR and four other My Network TV stations owned by Fox (WWOR in N.Y., KCOP in L.A., KDFI in Dallas, and KTXH in Houston.) The off-network sitcom is moving from Tribune stations in these markets.
Raymond is airing at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on WPWR beginning Monday. Fox is also moving Malcolm in the Middle to WPWR (a move long overdue), where it will air at 5:30 p.m. - the same time period where it has aired on WFLD since 2004. Still Standing (a former CBS sitcom) moves to 6:30 p.m. from 5 p.m. on WPWR.
Raymond is also airing Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. on WFLD, while Malcolm gets a second weekday airing at 7:30 a.m.
The moves leave King of the Hill, Seinfeld, and The Simpsons as the only off-network sitcoms left on WFLD's weekday schedule, as the station is moving more toward news, court, and reality programming, while WPWR is being positioned more for recent off-network sitcoms and first-run talk and game shows.
At one time, WFLD's early-evening (or early fringe and access) lineup consisted of off-network sitcoms such as Happy Days, Gimme A Break!, Diff'rent Strokes, The Cosby Show (which it paid a record $105,000 an episode for), Family Matters, Home Improvement, and M*A*S*H.
Will WFLD launch a early fringe news show in the future like many other Fox-owned stations have done? Only time will tell.
And if you think slotting TMZ at 5:30 p.m. between two airings of The Simpsons is - well - odd, think of TMZ as a comedy show itself - if you've seen it, then you know what I mean.
Beginning Monday, Harvey Levin's syndicated celebrity gossip paparazzi show TMZ will face off against network newscasts in Chicago with the show moving to 5:30 p.m. on Fox-owned WFLD-TV. The program currently airs on sister station WPWR-TV at 6:30 p.m.
TMZ will continue to air at 11:35 p.m. on WFLD.
Fox-owned stations in New York (WNYW) and Los Angeles (KTTV) already air the Warner Bros. - syndicated magazine directly against the network newscasts with some measure of success. TMZ airs in those two markets at 6:30 p.m.
The moves are being made due to the arrival of Everybody Loves Raymond at WPWR and four other My Network TV stations owned by Fox (WWOR in N.Y., KCOP in L.A., KDFI in Dallas, and KTXH in Houston.) The off-network sitcom is moving from Tribune stations in these markets.
Raymond is airing at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on WPWR beginning Monday. Fox is also moving Malcolm in the Middle to WPWR (a move long overdue), where it will air at 5:30 p.m. - the same time period where it has aired on WFLD since 2004. Still Standing (a former CBS sitcom) moves to 6:30 p.m. from 5 p.m. on WPWR.
Raymond is also airing Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. on WFLD, while Malcolm gets a second weekday airing at 7:30 a.m.
The moves leave King of the Hill, Seinfeld, and The Simpsons as the only off-network sitcoms left on WFLD's weekday schedule, as the station is moving more toward news, court, and reality programming, while WPWR is being positioned more for recent off-network sitcoms and first-run talk and game shows.
At one time, WFLD's early-evening (or early fringe and access) lineup consisted of off-network sitcoms such as Happy Days, Gimme A Break!, Diff'rent Strokes, The Cosby Show (which it paid a record $105,000 an episode for), Family Matters, Home Improvement, and M*A*S*H.
Will WFLD launch a early fringe news show in the future like many other Fox-owned stations have done? Only time will tell.
And if you think slotting TMZ at 5:30 p.m. between two airings of The Simpsons is - well - odd, think of TMZ as a comedy show itself - if you've seen it, then you know what I mean.
"Rachael Ray" out at WABC? (updated 2)
The New York ABC-owned station is considering axing the program from its 10 a.m. time slot due to mediocre ratings, according to this article in the New York Post. Or is it because ABC parent Disney wants to reclaim the time period for its own fare (remember Wayne Brady's and Tony Danza's talk shows? Works of masterpiece right there.)
If WABC axes Ray, other ABC O&O's (like WPVI in Philadelphia) could follow. One problem though: Ray is signed with the group until 2010.
But it turned out the story was false. A spokeperson from CBS Television Distribution who handles Ray said there's no truth to the rumor.
A little nitpick here: In the Post article, it says that King World is producing Marie Osmond's new talk show for fall 2009.
Um, geniuses: 1). It's Program Partners producing Marie Osmond's new show, not King World. 2) King World changed its name to CBS Television Distribution last year. 3.) CBS is in talks with Valerie Bertnelli for her own talk show in fall 2009, and she's made regular appearances om Rachael Ray this season.
Then, you wonder if any of what the Post said is really true (it wasn't). Rachael Ray is actually winning its time slot on WABC.
Of course, if the New York version of the Chicago Sun-Times didn't spend all its time attacking Family Guy, then maybe they would get something right. But what else you expect from The Daily Rupert?
updated 11:37 p.m. on 2008-03-15
If WABC axes Ray, other ABC O&O's (like WPVI in Philadelphia) could follow. One problem though: Ray is signed with the group until 2010.
But it turned out the story was false. A spokeperson from CBS Television Distribution who handles Ray said there's no truth to the rumor.
A little nitpick here: In the Post article, it says that King World is producing Marie Osmond's new talk show for fall 2009.
Um, geniuses: 1). It's Program Partners producing Marie Osmond's new show, not King World. 2) King World changed its name to CBS Television Distribution last year. 3.) CBS is in talks with Valerie Bertnelli for her own talk show in fall 2009, and she's made regular appearances om Rachael Ray this season.
Then, you wonder if any of what the Post said is really true (it wasn't). Rachael Ray is actually winning its time slot on WABC.
Of course, if the New York version of the Chicago Sun-Times didn't spend all its time attacking Family Guy, then maybe they would get something right. But what else you expect from The Daily Rupert?
updated 11:37 p.m. on 2008-03-15
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Black TV crew attacked in South Carolina
A crew from CBS affiliate WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, S.C. were attacked by four people while reporting on a homicide story. The attackers also used racial slurs.
The incident happened Monday in Union, S.C., where WSPA reporter Charmayne Brown and the cameraman, both African-American, were reporting on a homicide case across the street from the family's home, when members of the family confronted the crew and asked them to leave. When they refused, the family members attacked Brown with fists and used racial slurs. The camerman and several other bystanders intervened. The incident was caught on camera by a rival station, NBC affiliate WYFF-TV.
All four, who are white, have been arrested in the attack.
The homicide case involved the murder of 73-year old Tommy Howell, who was found dead in his home Monday morning. The grandson (Michael Shane Howell) was arrested in the case.
WSPA is owned by Media General, while WYFF is owned by Hearst-Argyle. Both stations serve the Greenville (S.C.)-Spartanburg (S.C.)-Ashville (N.C.) market, whose DMA is ranked 36th. The market is also home to Sinclair's ABC affiliate WLOS-TV (based in Ashville) and Meredith's Fox affiliate WHNS-TV.
The incident happened Monday in Union, S.C., where WSPA reporter Charmayne Brown and the cameraman, both African-American, were reporting on a homicide case across the street from the family's home, when members of the family confronted the crew and asked them to leave. When they refused, the family members attacked Brown with fists and used racial slurs. The camerman and several other bystanders intervened. The incident was caught on camera by a rival station, NBC affiliate WYFF-TV.
All four, who are white, have been arrested in the attack.
The homicide case involved the murder of 73-year old Tommy Howell, who was found dead in his home Monday morning. The grandson (Michael Shane Howell) was arrested in the case.
WSPA is owned by Media General, while WYFF is owned by Hearst-Argyle. Both stations serve the Greenville (S.C.)-Spartanburg (S.C.)-Ashville (N.C.) market, whose DMA is ranked 36th. The market is also home to Sinclair's ABC affiliate WLOS-TV (based in Ashville) and Meredith's Fox affiliate WHNS-TV.
Hulu's here
On Hulu, this Family Guy moment is presented to you by Chevrolet.
NBC Universal and News Corp. are finally opening up its video-streaming service Hulu to the public today, after nearly five months in private beta.
Hulu features TV programs from NBC Universal and Fox parent News Corp., not to mention other content providers, including the NBA, MGM, Sony, Lionsgate, and Warner Bros. Television. Shows being streamed include current series such as Family Guy, The Simpsons, and House, and classics such as The A-Team, Bewitched, and The Bob Newhart Show.
Not all content providers are on aboard however, as the company with the biggest television library (CBS) is not on board, and neither is Viacom or Disney/ABC.
Full-length movies are also available to stream, including Ice Age and The Jerk.
Meanwhile, Hulu is hoping the advertising is has on its site is aimed to engage viewers, not annoy them (though the ad bugs on-screen might be a bad idea... )
Radio's Renaissance
It looks like the NBA, NHL, and the Chicago Blackhawks aren't the only ones having a renaissance - According to Kurt Hanson, radio is having one, too (and the recent AOL-CBS Internet radio streaming deal cements that point.)
Maybe radio isn't dead after all - you know, unlike the Bulls' current season.
Maybe radio isn't dead after all - you know, unlike the Bulls' current season.
Lee Abrams joins Tribune
XM it seems can't catch a break: first, AOL Radio dumps them for CBS, and now Lee Abrams - who has been with XM since 1998 - has jumped to Tribune as Chief Innovation Officer (no, I am not making this up), where he will report to Randy Michaels, who is Tribune's chief executive of broadcasting and interactive.
Abrams, who is a Chicago native, once worked for album-rocker WLUP-FM, and is credited for spearheading the format. Abrams also gave Chicago radio legend Steve Dahl and nationwide radio star Howard Stern their first jobs in broadcasting.
Abrams, who is a Chicago native, once worked for album-rocker WLUP-FM, and is credited for spearheading the format. Abrams also gave Chicago radio legend Steve Dahl and nationwide radio star Howard Stern their first jobs in broadcasting.
Jacobson: "Law & Order" episode no laughing matter
An episode of tonight's Law & Order: a reporter, looking to get to the bottom of a story regarding a man suspected of killing his wife, shows up at one point in the episode with a bathing suit on.
Sounds familiar?
To Amy Jacobson, it does. All too familiar, and she's not pleased about it.
Tonight L&O features Chicago native Lara Flynn Boyle as a reporter, who according to the preview from NBC, "uses her sexuality to break the case".
As many of you recall, former WMAQ-TV reporter Amy Jacobson was spotted by a crew from WBBM-TV last July at Craig Stebic's house wearing a bikini. Stebic is a suspect in his wife's Amy disappearance. Jacobson lost her job shortly thereafter.
Jacobson blasted Law & Order and creator Dick Wolf in today's Sun-Times, saying the episode is "a reminder of the high price I had to pay for doing my job. Hollywood takes things like this out of context all the time." She has no plans on watching the show.
So, its been eight months since she's been out of work and apparently, she's still not all the wiser. And certainly, if Law & Order and Wolf has to rely on "ripped from the headlines" stories to get plots for his program (which is in its eighteenth season), then we all know this program has run out of ideas. But it's all about surpassing Gunsmoke for the longest-running drama of all time, right? Keep in mind The Simpsons (an animated comedy) still has a step ahead of Wolf & Co. in the race with Gunsmoke for longest-running scripted program of all time.
Classic Post: What was she thinking? (July 10, 2007)
T Dog's Think Tank: Local media blows it again (July 15, 2007)
Sounds familiar?
To Amy Jacobson, it does. All too familiar, and she's not pleased about it.
Tonight L&O features Chicago native Lara Flynn Boyle as a reporter, who according to the preview from NBC, "uses her sexuality to break the case".
As many of you recall, former WMAQ-TV reporter Amy Jacobson was spotted by a crew from WBBM-TV last July at Craig Stebic's house wearing a bikini. Stebic is a suspect in his wife's Amy disappearance. Jacobson lost her job shortly thereafter.
Jacobson blasted Law & Order and creator Dick Wolf in today's Sun-Times, saying the episode is "a reminder of the high price I had to pay for doing my job. Hollywood takes things like this out of context all the time." She has no plans on watching the show.
So, its been eight months since she's been out of work and apparently, she's still not all the wiser. And certainly, if Law & Order and Wolf has to rely on "ripped from the headlines" stories to get plots for his program (which is in its eighteenth season), then we all know this program has run out of ideas. But it's all about surpassing Gunsmoke for the longest-running drama of all time, right? Keep in mind The Simpsons (an animated comedy) still has a step ahead of Wolf & Co. in the race with Gunsmoke for longest-running scripted program of all time.
Classic Post: What was she thinking? (July 10, 2007)
T Dog's Think Tank: Local media blows it again (July 15, 2007)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Comcast, Big Ten Network near deal
It's too late for the just-about-to-conclude college basketball season, but Comcast and the Big Ten Network are close to a deal that would put the new college sports net on its extended basic package.
Comcast recently dropped a provision in its stance, stating BTN was a "niche" channel, and should be regulated only to a sports tier. Currently, BTN is not available on Comcast, Time Warner, Charter, or Mediacom cable systems.
But if a deal with Comcast is achieved, the channel could be in place just in time for the Big Ten football season this fall, plus it could also thaw negotiations between the other cable company holdouts.
Already, BTN is available on Dish Network and Direct TV, and on Chicago RCN and WOW cable systems. BTN is also available on WOW systems in Ohio and Michigan.
Comcast recently dropped a provision in its stance, stating BTN was a "niche" channel, and should be regulated only to a sports tier. Currently, BTN is not available on Comcast, Time Warner, Charter, or Mediacom cable systems.
But if a deal with Comcast is achieved, the channel could be in place just in time for the Big Ten football season this fall, plus it could also thaw negotiations between the other cable company holdouts.
Already, BTN is available on Dish Network and Direct TV, and on Chicago RCN and WOW cable systems. BTN is also available on WOW systems in Ohio and Michigan.
Ladies and Gentlemen, let the speculation engines begin
So where is the world is Mark Supplesa going to end up next? Channel 2? Channel 5? Channel 9? CLTV? (One can only hope not.)
The speculation engines are revving up and circulating on where the news anchor, who rejected a generous offer from Fox-owned WFLD-TV, is going to land next.
Supplesa is planning to stay in the Chicago market, but where he lands is not going to be known for at least ninety days, since any offer he gets Fox can match in that time frame.
Given that, his agents are in no hurry to secure an offer from competitors.
So as they say in television land, Stay Tuned.
The speculation engines are revving up and circulating on where the news anchor, who rejected a generous offer from Fox-owned WFLD-TV, is going to land next.
Supplesa is planning to stay in the Chicago market, but where he lands is not going to be known for at least ninety days, since any offer he gets Fox can match in that time frame.
Given that, his agents are in no hurry to secure an offer from competitors.
So as they say in television land, Stay Tuned.
Sports ratings going up, up, and away
Maybe its the writers' strike. Maybe its the Cubs' post-season run. Maybe its the Blackhawks' resurgence. Maybe its the Celtics and Lakers making noise in the NBA playoff race. Maybe its the hugely successful NFL post-season. Whatever it is, sports is gaining viewers from a year ago, and all sports are benefiting.
Even a Cubs exibition game from nine days ago set a spring-training record for Comcast SportsNet Chicago on March 1 - a 2.0 rating, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The NBA and the NHL have seen rating gains from a year ago, with the NBA up 9 percent in households, with ESPN and TNT also showing gains in households and in male demos. The NHL is up 26 percent in total viewers on NBC and up 30 percent on Versus, to a point where hockey is even outdrawing the numbers it had on ESPN, despite limited distribution.
This comes as viewers sought seeking alternatives to reruns and reality shows on the networks, impacted by the recently concluded writers' strike.
Even a Cubs exibition game from nine days ago set a spring-training record for Comcast SportsNet Chicago on March 1 - a 2.0 rating, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The NBA and the NHL have seen rating gains from a year ago, with the NBA up 9 percent in households, with ESPN and TNT also showing gains in households and in male demos. The NHL is up 26 percent in total viewers on NBC and up 30 percent on Versus, to a point where hockey is even outdrawing the numbers it had on ESPN, despite limited distribution.
This comes as viewers sought seeking alternatives to reruns and reality shows on the networks, impacted by the recently concluded writers' strike.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Suppelsa out at WFLD
Mark Suppelsa who is co-anchor of Fox-owned WFLD-TV's 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. newscast, has stepped down.
No word was given on why Mr. Suppelsa is leaving the broadcast, but he recently rejected a four-year renewal pact from the station.
Suppelsa came to WFLD-TV in 2003 from NBC-owned WMAQ-TV, where he started on the noon newscast, then was promoted to 9 p.m. a year later, where he has anchored alongside Robin Robinson. He replaced long time vet Walter Jacobson.
This is a huge blow to WFLD's struggling news operation, which trails WGN's and unlike other Fox-owned stations and Fox affiliates in the rest of the country, is unable to benefit from its' parent networks successful prime-time line-up, which is anchored by American Idol.
No word on the next move for Suppelsa (start your speculation engines.)
No word was given on why Mr. Suppelsa is leaving the broadcast, but he recently rejected a four-year renewal pact from the station.
Suppelsa came to WFLD-TV in 2003 from NBC-owned WMAQ-TV, where he started on the noon newscast, then was promoted to 9 p.m. a year later, where he has anchored alongside Robin Robinson. He replaced long time vet Walter Jacobson.
This is a huge blow to WFLD's struggling news operation, which trails WGN's and unlike other Fox-owned stations and Fox affiliates in the rest of the country, is unable to benefit from its' parent networks successful prime-time line-up, which is anchored by American Idol.
No word on the next move for Suppelsa (start your speculation engines.)
"Price" 2, "Deal" 0
The Price Is Right did it again Friday night, giving away another one million dollars on its Million Dollar Spectacular prime-time special, when a contestant came within $500 of the retail price in the Showcase Showdown.
Meanwhile, the hapless louts over at Deal or No Deal have yet to give anyway a million on their program, despite having thirteen million dollar cases on a few shows. Since the mission ended, ratings have dropped substantially (hey, you live by the gimmick, you die by the gimmick.)
So what's the biggest news at Deal they can muster out? Going to three overseas countries to do episodes for the sets of their versions of Deal for May sweeps. Whoopee. Nothing compliments your show better than paying a visit to the set where they rip your version off (but producer Endemol doesn't mind. They license the format around the world.) Then again, isn't Deal's format based on the British version (sans the models and goofy gimmicks?)
When they do leave, let's hope Deal goes overseas and never comes back (the models can stay, though.)
UPDATE: Saw an NBC promo this evening touting Deal as "The Most Watched Show on TV". Guess they haven't heard of a show called American Idol. L. O. to the freakin' L.
This is like Power 92 (WPWX-FM) saying they are really Number One In The Streets (again, L.O. to the freakin' L.)
My guff, how desperate can you get? They should change Deal Or No Deal to Desperate Deal, with NBC President Ben Silverman as host and NBC Universal Chairman Jeff "Doogie" Zucker as The Banker.
updated 7:30 p.m. on 2008-03-10
Meanwhile, the hapless louts over at Deal or No Deal have yet to give anyway a million on their program, despite having thirteen million dollar cases on a few shows. Since the mission ended, ratings have dropped substantially (hey, you live by the gimmick, you die by the gimmick.)
So what's the biggest news at Deal they can muster out? Going to three overseas countries to do episodes for the sets of their versions of Deal for May sweeps. Whoopee. Nothing compliments your show better than paying a visit to the set where they rip your version off (but producer Endemol doesn't mind. They license the format around the world.) Then again, isn't Deal's format based on the British version (sans the models and goofy gimmicks?)
When they do leave, let's hope Deal goes overseas and never comes back (the models can stay, though.)
UPDATE: Saw an NBC promo this evening touting Deal as "The Most Watched Show on TV". Guess they haven't heard of a show called American Idol. L. O. to the freakin' L.
This is like Power 92 (WPWX-FM) saying they are really Number One In The Streets (again, L.O. to the freakin' L.)
My guff, how desperate can you get? They should change Deal Or No Deal to Desperate Deal, with NBC President Ben Silverman as host and NBC Universal Chairman Jeff "Doogie" Zucker as The Banker.
updated 7:30 p.m. on 2008-03-10
New links added
Some things have been changed on the sidebar at The T Dog Media Blog:
-Since the Writer's Guild strike is over (thankfully), I have taken down the WGA Strike Central section, but several of those links have relocated to the sidebar: Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily blog has been added, as well as The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.
- As a thank you for Larz (who runs Chicagolandradioandmedia.com) for adding my blog to his sidebar on his blog, I've returned the favor and added his new CRM Blog to my sidebar.
- Remember the T Dog Think Tank I wrote back in October regarding television's worst shows? No? Good. The article is in the process of being rewritten (hey, I could've written it better than that!) and will be prominently featured on the sidebar. The post will also be constantly updated with latest inductees (such as Celebrity Apprentice.)
- I've added a new section regarding the upcoming television digital transition, which takes place February 17, 2009. So far, I have added DTVAnswers.com, and more links will be added as soon as they become available.
- I'm also in the process of adding links to websites featuring Chicago's television and radio history. You'll see them here soon.
I hope the changes will make the place more fun and reflective of media in Chicago and the Midwest. Your visits to the site are always appreciated.
- As a thank you for Larz (who runs Chicagolandradioandmedia.com) for adding my blog to his sidebar on his blog, I've returned the favor and added his new CRM Blog to my sidebar.
- Remember the T Dog Think Tank I wrote back in October regarding television's worst shows? No? Good. The article is in the process of being rewritten (hey, I could've written it better than that!) and will be prominently featured on the sidebar. The post will also be constantly updated with latest inductees (such as Celebrity Apprentice.)
- I've added a new section regarding the upcoming television digital transition, which takes place February 17, 2009. So far, I have added DTVAnswers.com, and more links will be added as soon as they become available.
- I'm also in the process of adding links to websites featuring Chicago's television and radio history. You'll see them here soon.
I hope the changes will make the place more fun and reflective of media in Chicago and the Midwest. Your visits to the site are always appreciated.
Friday, March 07, 2008
AOL, CBS Radio team up
XM ends partnership with AOL, launches new online radio initiative
CBS Radio and AOL struck a major deal Friday, which allows AOL to stream all CBS-owned radio stations on its Internet Radio service. The deal will mesh CBS-owned radio stations with AOL's existing radio stations, and it also calls for CBS to create custom radio stations exclusively for the Internet.
CBS is also developing a new player for AOL listeners, which will enable listeners to toggle between stations, rate songs, buy albums, link to artists' web sites, and even purchase concert tickets.
AOL will have access to Chicago's terrestrial CBS radio stations, including sports talk WSCR-AM (The Score), Triple A-formatted WXRT-FM, rhythmic/hip-hop outlet WBBM-FM (B96) and new AC station WCFS-FM (Fresh 105.9)
Other stations available to AOL listeners include legendary Oldies station WCBS-FM in New York, alternative rocker KROQ-FM in Los Angeles, and urban-formatted WVEE-FM in Atlanta, plus several JACK radio stations, including WJMK-FM in Chicago.
CBS will sell adtime for the online stations using CBS TargetSpot, with commercials differing from their terrestrial counterparts.
Read the official press release from CBS Radio
What about XM?
As a result of the CBS deal, XM has opted out of its contract with AOL, effective May 1. On that date, XM channels will no longer be available on AOL's website. Instead, XM has decided to re-launch its own online radio service, named XM Radio Online.
XM will stream 80 channels of commercial-free music, along with exclusive content from Bob Dylan, Oprah Winfrey, and Opie & Anthony.
Customers who sign up for the internet service get a fourteen-day free trial and afterward, pay just $2.99 a month for the first six months.
Analysis: Trading in commercial-free XM channels for Eddie & Jobo? What a bum deal! (it's worst enough I have to see the two old geezers in those insurance commercials on TV.) While it seems like a huge victory for terrestrial radio, it actually may help Internet Radio. AOL's deal with the enemy (CBS Radio) is better for them than one with XM, given one company is obviously in better financial shape than the other. XM is in the process of merging with Sirius, and the future of both (and satellite radio in general) is quite unclear. It's still not known whether or not the FCC will approve the deal.
One could wonder however, what the CBS/AOL deal means for RIAA and Sound Exchange, which has been seeking bigger royalties from Internet streamers. They could go after the two for a even bigger payday.
Also, are AOL's XM Internet listeners - many of them who left terrestrial radio for the greener pasture of commercial-free stations - stick around? With plenty of choices on the Internet - including lots of commercial-free stations, many of them (like me) will likely leave AOL. But those listeners will be replaced by a lot of CBS Radio ones, many of them are quite loyal to their outlets (with WXRT as an example.)
CBS is willing to bet the farm on Internet radio with AOL. It's a bet worth taking.
Rant: You think I was going to let this deal go without criticizing it a little? As for yours truly - is he ticked that XM decided to move its Internet channels to a pay platform, knowing damn well you can get other Internet stations without commercials for free? Is he ticked AOL sold out to CBS Radio, a group known for its cookie-cutter formats and annoying radio personalities? Is he ticked that AOL is moving to an advertising-supported format? You bet. Thank goodness for those other choices. Have fun with your new best friends Eddie & Jobo, AOL.
The business side of me says this is a good deal. The Internet radio fan side of me says this deal completely blows. Now I know what a person who eats Frosted Mini-Wheats for breakfast feels like.
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