Broadcasting & Cable Blogs
What Becomes of Kirk Black's CBS Affils Board Seat?
Kirk Black’s sudden resignation, along with those of a few colleagues, from WGCL Atlanta earlier in the week raised a few questions, including what becomes of Black’s seat on the CBS affiliates board. Black has been an influential presence on that board for years, including holding the vice chairman title, and was set to assume the role of treasurer as the board positions turned over ... More
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Station to Station covers the odds, ends, ups and downs of the local television business across America
Video Competition Report Circulated
The FCC circulated its long-awaited video competition report to the commissioners for their vote on Wednesday, according to several FCC sources. The report concludes, among other things, that online video has become a “thriving industry.” The “annual” report (see below) covers developments in the video program market between 2007 and 2010. The term “annual” ... More
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BC/DC is the media executives\' must-see view from Washington, delivered by yours truly without the aid of rose-colored glasses and without the need, quite yet, of bifocals.
Santos, Smith move up to co-EP roles at 'Wilkos,' 'Springer'
Selina Santos and Kerry Smith each have been promoted at NBCUniversal’s The Steve Wilkos Show and The Jerry Springer Show. Santos is now co-executive producer of Wilkos, while Smith will perform the same role at Springer, said Rachelle Wilkos, wife of Steve, who executive produces both programs. Santos has been supervising producer of Wilkos since the show premiered in 2007. Prior to ... More
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USA Takes Swing in Upfront Big Leagues
USA Network, the top-rated cable network, closed out upfront week Thursday with a presentation to ad buyers that showed it belonged in the big leagues. It attracted an overflow house of media buyers who waited in a long line under a hot sun (welcome after a rainy week) to get in, and used social media to draw cheering fans as the stars of its shows walked a red carpet outside Lincoln Center’ ... More
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B&C Business Editor Jon Lafayette covers the financial dimension of the TV business at the intersection of Wall Street and Madison Ave.
Stern Doesn't Want to Make 'America's Got Talent' Into 'The Howard Stern Show'
In advance of his debut next Monday on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, new judge Howard Stern held a press conference in New York Thursday, where he responded to critics’ assertion that his no-holds-barred style would not play nicely with network television audiences. Saying Stern has been no stranger to controversy would be a massive understatement. However, Stern knows what type ... More
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Commentary, analysis and observations on the business of television from the staff of Broadcasting & Cable.
Book Review: Littlefield's 'Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV'
Former NBC entertainment president Warren Littlefield isn’t just airing some old Friends’ dirty laundry in his new memoir, Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV. The book, coming out May 1 from Doubleday Publishing, recounts — through anecdotes from cast members and executives of NBC’s hit shows such as Seinfeld, Cheers and ER — one of the most ... More
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BC Review offers one-stop shopping for TV fanatics, with a roundup of the latest reviews from the leading critics.
WBTV’s Roth: ‘Nikita’ Big Part of The CW’s Future
With 26 Warner Bros. TV-produced series now slated to air on the broadcast networks next season, WBTV President Peter Roth says it is “another satisfying year” for the studio. WBTV is in business with all of the networks–with five new series on NBC’s schedule alone after being shut out of the network’s 10 p.m. hour last year by The Jay Leno Show. WBTV’s un ... More
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Interviews with TV industry figures over their favorite meals.