Mediaweek - National Broadcast

Remembering Walter Cronkite

Marc Berman — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:26:00 EDT

The "most trusted man in America," legendary CBS News anchorman Walter Cronkite, passed away on Friday after a lengthy battle with cerebral vascular disease. He was 92.

NBCU's Earnings Drop 41%

Anthony Crupi — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:24:00 EDT

GE chief financial officer Keith Sherin on Friday told investors that the upfront has been “very slow,” adding that NBC will “retain more inventory” than usual, holding out hope for a strong scatter market.

John Goodman Joins Fox's 'Station'

Nellie Andreeva — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:27:00 EDT

John Goodman is returning to comedy series. The Roseanne alum has been tapped to co-star in The Station, the Ben Stiller-produced, single-camera comedy pilot for Fox.

Emmys: HBO Leads the Pack Despite True Blood Snub

Marc Berman — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:49:00 EDT

Marc "Mr. TV" Berman—The Programming Insider—rolls out this year's Emmy nominations and his detailed observations on them. Read on.

All-Star Game Puts 14.6 Million Viewers on Base For Fox

Anthony Crupi — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:26:00 EDT

Tuesday night’s contest now stands as the sixteenth most-watched sporting event of 2009 since Super Bowl XLIII, which drew a record 98.7 million viewers to NBC

NBC Reups With NHL

James Hibberd — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:15:00 EDT

Coming off a year of record NHL viewership, NBC has made a deal to continue airing pro hockey games through the 2010-11 season.

Telemundo, Ford Team for Cross-Platform Microseries

Steve McClellan — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:32:00 EDT

Spanish-language network Telemundo is teaming with Ford Motor Co. on a new 20-episode, cross-platform microseries for TV, cable, online and mobile to promote the launch of the carmaker’s 2010 Fusion brand.

Former ABC President Mark Mandala Dies

Anthony Crupi — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:03:00 EDT

A 32-year ABC veteran, Mandala rose to the post of president of the network in 1985. Capital Cities/ABC would eliminate the position upon Mandala’s retirement in May 1995

Idol's Ryan Seacrest Cashes In

Matthew Belloni and Nellie Andreeva — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:02:00 EDT

Ryan Seacrest is Fox's $45 Million Man. The American Idol host has closed a major new three-year deal with CKX, parent of Idol producer 19 Entertainment, worth $15 million per year.

CSI's Anthony Zuiker Reups With CBS

Nellie Andreeva — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:48:00 EDT

CSI mastermind Anthony Zuiker will continue to call CBS home with a two-year exclusive first-look deal with CBS TV Studios.

31 Million Viewers Watch Jackson Memorial

Marc Berman — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:51:00 EDT

Was the hird most-watched memorial service behind President Ronald Reagan’s burial in 2004 (35 million) and Princess Diana's in 1997 (33 million)

Nets Covering Jackson Memorial Not Concerned About Ad Loss

Anthony Crupi — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:42:00 EDT

While it’s believed that tens of millions more watched on broadcast and cable TV and via streaming online video, a final reckoning won’t be available until Wednesday

TV Nets Flock to Cover Michael Jackson Memorial

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:53:00 EDT

The memorial for Michael Jackson may be a tough ticket live, but it shouldn't be hard to find it on television.

Upfront Stalls in Independence Day Fizzle

Anthony Crupi and Steve McClellan — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:06:00 EDT

As a weary nation welcomed the respite of the long holiday weekend, TV ad sales execs were particularly looking forward to taking in some July 4th fireworks, as pyrotechnics have been in short supply thus far in this year’s upfront marketplace.

NBC News' The Wanted Looks to Nab Terrorists

James Hibberd — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:08:00 EDT

NBC News has scheduled its controversial To-Catch-a-Terrorist investigative program, where an elite team hunts war criminals.

SNL Vet Lands ABC TV Series

Nellie Andreeva — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:57:00 EDT

Chris Kattan has landed his first post-Saturday Night Live TV series.

Hargitay, Meloni Re-ink With NBC's SVU

Nellie Andreeva — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:52:00 EDT

Law & Order: SVU will return with its two stars on board. After on-again, off-again negotiations, Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni have inked new deals to continue on the crime procedural, which is coming back in the fall for its 11th season.

Michael Jackson, Dead at 50

Erik Pedersen — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:32:00 EDT

The erstwhile King of Pop, who went from child star to the world's biggest musical act before his career was derailed by legal problems and personal issues, was not breathing when paramedics responding to a 911 call arrived at his rented home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles

Farrah Fawcett, Dead at 62

Duane Byrge — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:02:00 EDT

Farrah Fawcett, who catapulted to national fame in Charlie's Angels and became a swimsuit poster phenomenon, has died. She was 62.

Telemundo Hits Ratings High With 'Los Victorinos'

Steve McClellan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:22:00 EDT

Telemundo said today it set a ratings record for the debut of its new telenovela, Los Victorinos, which premiered on Tuesday.

Idol's Cowell to Launch Entertainment Firm

Andre Paine — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:49:00 EDT

Simon Cowell is to partner with U.K. retail magnate Sir Philip Green on a global entertainment company that will produce and own TV content in the U.S. and Britain, according to the Financial Times.

Univision, Cox Sign Multi-Year Deals

Georg Szalai — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:45:00 EDT

Univision Communications on Wednesday said it has reached multi-year distribution agreements with Cox Communications, the third-largest U.S. cable operator, and smaller cabler Mediacom.

Carson Sidekick Ed McMahon, Dead at 86

Marc Berman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:56:00 EDT

Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson’s perennial sidekick on NBC’s The Tonight Show died today at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Hospital. He was 86. According to McMahon publicist Howard Bragman, the entertainer’s passing was from a "multitude of health problems the last few months."

Lexus Gets Friends 'Therapy'

Andrew Wallenstein — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:55:00 EDT

A Friends reunion of sorts is coming to the Internet courtesy of Lexus. The carmaker is launching a second season of Web Therapy, an online comedy series starring Lisa Kudrow for its branded-entertainment network, L Studio. Returning June 23, Therapy will feature Kudrow’s fellow Friends alum Courteney Cox as a guest star.

Updated: CBS Exec Fred Reynolds to Retire

Katy Bachman — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:07:00 EDT

Longtime CBS executive Fred Reynolds announced Monday (June 22) he will retire from the company effective Aug. 15, 2009. He will be succeeded by Joseph Ianniello, who has served as deputy chief financial officer since Nov. 2008.

The El Niño Market: Upfront is as Dour as the Weather

Anthony Crupi — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:03:00 EDT

Media buyers and national TV sales executives have yet to clear the air on their pricing differences, but other atmospheric disturbances that have stalled the upfront marketplace are beginning to show signs of dissipating

Bob Cook To Exit Twentieth Television Pres. Post in Nov.

Marc Berman — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:42:00 EDT

To head start-up consulting firm MBN Inc., which will develop digital platforms for Twentieth and other distributors

ABC Unveils New Exec Structure

Nellie Andreeva — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:53:00 EDT

After months of speculation, ABC on Thursday unveiled its new executive structure following the January decision to combine ABC Entertainment and ABC Studios in one group under president, Stephen McPherson.

The Emmys Moves Back to Original Date

Marc Berman — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:07:00 EDT

The 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which was moved up one week from its originally scheduled Sunday, Sept. 20 air date, is moving back to that first date to avoid The MTV Video Music Awards. It had planned to move to Sept. 13 to avoid an NFL football doubleheader.

WGA Links Earnings to Voter Eligibility

Jay A. Fernandez — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:58:00 EDT

The WGA East and WGA West have instituted a minimum income level required for members to be eligible to vote on the Minimum Basic Agreement.