Mediaweek - News

Microsoft’s Massive, comScore Strike In-Game Ad Pact

Mike Shields — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Jointly develop research methodology that will help brands track visits to their Web sites or search queries that result from in game ad campaigns

CNN Anchor Lou Dobbs Leaving Network

Anthony Crupi — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:42:00 EST

CNN anchor Lou Dobbs on Wednesday announced he was leaving the news network, telling viewers he was granted an early release from his contract.

Current TV Shifts Focus, Cuts 80

Anthony Crupi — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:58:00 EST

Current TV, the cable channel founded by former Vice President Al Gore, has begun overhauling its programming model, a process that began Wednesday with the elimination of 80 full-time staff positions.

Huffington Post Gets Into the Sports Game

Mike Shields — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:33:00 EST

HuffPost Sports will feature signature mix of breaking news, aggregated stories, community, video and guest celebrity bloggers

ABC Swings the Axe on Hank

Marc Berman — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:59:00 EST

Recently introduced Wednesday 8 p.m. ABC sitcom Hank, headlined by former Cheers and Frasier star Kelsey Grammer has ceased production immediately, and will be replaced beginning next week by a combination of comedy repeats and holiday specials.

Bayer HealthCare Picks Initiative

Steve McClellan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:50:00 EST

Bayer HealthCare has consolidated its U.S. media duties with Interpublic Group's Initiative after a review, according to sources.

No More Dollhouse for Fox

Nellie Andreeva — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:39:00 EST

Dollhouse is closing its doors at Fox. The network has canceled Joss Whedon's cult fave, which in May beat the odds with a second-season pickup despite low ratings.

NBA Launches Online 'TV Companion'

Mike Shields — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:42:00 EST

More and more sports junkies are watching games on TV while simultaneously tethered to the Web—checking statistics, monitoring fantasy teams or talking trash with friends. Now the National Basketball Association is looking to embrace the multiscreen fan experience.

Prediction: Hearst to Sell More Than 50% of Subs Online in 2010

Lucia Moses — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:12:00 EST

The Internet is becoming a panacea to soft newsstand sales at Hearst Magazines, as the company predicts it will sell more than half its subscriptions via the Web next year.

TV Networks vs. Stations Retrans Battle Brewing

Katy Bachman — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:11:00 EST

The battle between TV networks and their affiliates for retransmission dollars could be heating up. Perry Sook, the outspoken chairman, president and CEO of Nexstar Broadcasting said Wednesday (Nov. 11) that retransmission dollars belonged to the stations, not the networks.

YouTube to Test Ad-Skipping Option

Brian Morrissey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:59:00 EST

Google could employ elements of its successful search-ad formula as it adjusts its approach to making money on YouTube.

Discovery.com Launches Standalone News Site

Mike Shields — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:50:00 EST

Discovery Communications has decided to take its longstanding news channel on Discovery.com and let it stand on its own.

Winstar Interactive Media Lands Continental Sales Pact

Mike Shields — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:34:00 EST

Continental and Winstar are banking on the appeal among brands of reaching the site’s 10 million monthly unique users, most of whom are in a trip-planning frame of mind

Steelers Get Mile-High Ratings on ESPN's MNF

Anthony Crupi — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:36:00 EST

For the first time in over a year the Pittsburgh Steelers returned to the Monday Night Football lineup, and in so doing, the defending Super Bowl champs helped draw a crowd for ESPN.

Women Clicking for 'Virtual Currency' on Web

Stacy Straczynski — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:42:00 EST

Women are jumping at the chance to earn online points and virtual dollars, according to a new report from online marketing firm Q Interactive.

Solid Sampling for Turner's Lopez Tonight

Anthony Crupi — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:37:00 EST

In the aggregate, Lopez Tonight averaged 1.82 million viewers 18-49, 1.64 million adults 25-54 and 1 million viewers 18-34, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day ratings data

CBS Sets New Local Broadcast Organization

Katy Bachman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:29:00 EST

CBS put in place Tuesday (Nov. 10) a new management structure for its local TV and radio broadcast operations. The new local broadcast organization, which combines TV and radio into one segment, was in keeping with the company’s new financial reporting structure revealed last week during its third-quarter earnings call.

Grubbs Leaving Omnicom

Steve McClellan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:03:00 EST

Omnicom Group veteran Steve Grubbs, currently CEO of the holding company's sports and entertainment division, is leaving the firm at the end of the year. The news was disclosed to company employees in a recent e-mail from Omnicom Media Group CEO Daryl Simm.

Mediaweek TV: Gay TV Now, Ep. 2

Alan Frutkin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:48:00 EST

The amount of gay and lesbian characters and subject matter is increasing exponentially on network and cable TV, and Mediaweek.com has noticed. So, we called on our video correspondent Alan Frutkin to investigate.

USA Net Wins Ratings Race; ESPN Nabs Key Demos

Anthony Crupi — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:58:00 EST

USA Network last week won the overall cable ratings crown, averaging 3.2 million viewers in prime time, but for the second consecutive week the general-entertainment channel couldn’t top ESPN among the core demos.

AOL Cuts About 100 Staffers

Mike Shields — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:26:00 EST

Layoffs are reportedly not part of a much larger restructuring that the embattled Web company is planning for either later this year or early next year

AppNexus Nets $5 Mil. in Funding

Brian Morrissey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:06:00 EST

Online ad exchange platform AppNexus has added an extra $5 million in funding to help the company build out its product.

EA Posts $391 Million Loss

Paul Bond — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:04:00 EST

Electronic Arts said Monday that it lost $391 million in its fiscal second quarter and will lay off 1,500 people.

MSNBC's Morning Joe, Starbucks Extend Deal

Elaine Wong — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:32:00 EST

Starbucks has given one of its best-selling coffees a new name and packaging. The move comes as the coffee giant looks to increase awareness of its community volunteerism efforts.

Midseason Changes Hit ABC, NBC, The CW

Marc Berman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:09:00 EST

ABC has decided on the fate of two more freshman series—dramas The Forgotten and Eastwick.

Gray Television Seeks to Protect Retrans

Katy Bachman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:08:00 EST

First TV networks took away affiliate compensation. Now they’re going after a percentage of a TV station’s retransmission dollars. Some groups, such as Gray Television, are just saying no.

Clear Channel Media's Revenue Down 17% in Q3

Katy Bachman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:06:00 EST

Under private equity and struggling with a financial reorganization, Clear Channel Media Holdings reported revenue down 17 percent to $1.4 billion in third quarter. Radio declined 17 percent to $703.2 million, an improvement over the 21 percent drop in the previous quarter.

Forecast Downgraded for DOOH

Katy Bachman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST

Even digital out-of-home, one of the fastest-growing media, was not immune to the effects of the economy in 2009.

Mad Men Season Finale Captures Large Audience

Anthony Crupi — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:27:00 EST

Sunday night’s third-season finale of Mad Men drew 2.32 million viewers, making it the most watched closing episode in the series’ history.

Cable Networks Acquire Rights to Curb Your Enthusiasm

James Hibberd — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:03:00 EST

TV Land and TV Guide Network banded together to jointly acquire the basic cable rights to HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.