In Push to Sell Ads, CBS Sells Itself in New Campaign

26.6 million tuned in for awards show

(AP) - The Grammys hit a high note in the ratings last night, drawing the show's biggest TV audience in a decade. Preliminary Nielsen figures today show the CBS broadcast attracted 26.6 million viewers, improving on last year's robust audience by 680,000 viewers. The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards was also up by 3% in households over last year's broadcast, and dominated its network rivals last night. More»

For the first time, 'Dancing With the Stars' leads

(NEWSER) - Dancing With the Stars beat American Idol—both nights of it—in the ratings for the first time last week. According to Nielsen, nearly 23 million people tuned in to DWTS on Tuesday, compared to Idol’s 21.8 million Tuesday and 20.5 million Wednesday. One possible reason? “I chalk it up to the Gosselin effect,” an analyst tells the AP . More»

This year's network pilots include four with non-white stars

(NEWSER) - The upcoming crop of pilots for network TV offers hope that the industry taboo against minority leads in dramas can finally be put to rest. Four of the most high-profile projects in the works feature non-white actors, notes the Hollywood Reporter , including Forest Whitaker in a spinoff of Criminal Minds for CBS. More»

From election-night snafus to the WGA strike

(NEWSER) - It’s been an embarrassing decade for TV networks, as the Hollywood Reporter proves with its list of the aughties’ biggest industry mistakes:

1. Hollywood writers’ strike: It was unnecessary and “mutually destructive”—and for viewers, “has there ever been a longer 14 weeks?”
2. ABC’s rejection of CSI: The show has scored $6 billion for CBS and prompted spurned producer Jerry Bruckheimer to walk out on Disney.

That and Leno's exit make erstwhile underdog late night winner

(NEWSER) - David Letterman’s scandalous admission of intraoffice sex and his role in a blackmail scheme appear to have titillated audiences. CBS’ Late Show is up 13% in total viewership for the season over last year. Sure, Dave is off 8% in the adults 18-to-49 demographic, but that’s nothing compared to the Tonight Show’s plunge. Since Conan O’Brien took over, the chatfest's ratings have fallen 15% in the demo and 47% overall. More»