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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: cable TV

cable TV stories: 80 news summaries

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Local TV Stations Could Go Off the Air

Networks consider jumping straight
to cable

Feb 10, 09 1:53 PM CST
(Newser) - For decades, local TV stations ruled the airwaves and were treated with deference by the likes of ABC, CBS, and NBC, which needed them to reach their audiences. But as the recession has pummeled advertising revenue, most have been forced to make drastic cuts, and the networks are contemplating doing... More »

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television • NBC • CBS • advertising • cable TV • Jeff Zucker • Leslie Moonves • broadcasting • local TV stations • network television

Comcast Apologizes for Super Bowl Porn

Cable company blames 'malicious act' for randy interruption

Feb 3, 09 3:35 AM CST
(Newser) - Comcast has apologized to Tucson-area viewers whose Super Bowl coverage was interrupted by a porn clip, reports the Arizona Daily Star. The cable company blames a mysterious "malicious act" for the graphic content that flashed across viewers' screens, and is offering a $10 credit to those who saw the... More »

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Comcast • Arizona Cardinals • cable TV • pornography • Pittsburgh Steelers • adult films • Tucson, Arizona • Super Bowl XLIII

SUPER BOWL

Porn Interrupts Super Bowl Broadcast

TV station probes mystery switch from
gridiron to graphic

Feb 2, 09 4:32 AM CST
(Newser) - Tucson-area Super Bowl viewers were startled when coverage suddenly cut to a very different kind of action in the final minutes of the game, the Arizona Daily Star reports. The game was interrupted by some 30 steamy seconds from a porn channel, featuring full male nudity. Only Comcast customers were... More »

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Comcast • Arizona Cardinals • cable TV • pornography • Pittsburgh Steelers • adult films • Tucson, Arizona • Super Bowl XLIII

Time Warner, Viacom Reach Zero-Hour Deal

Cable provider keeps grip on Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV

Jan 1, 09 9:57 AM CST
(Newser) - The countdown to the New Year was a frantic one for Viacom and Time Warner. The companies had set a midnight deadline in their tense negotiations to keep Viacom’s networks—which include MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon—on the massive cable provider. As the ball dropped, Viacom granted a... More »

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television • Viacom • Time Warner • cable TV • MTV • Comedy Central • Nickelodeon • Time Warner Cable • Dora the Explorer

 Sobbing 
 SpongeBob 
 Joins Viacom 
 Fee Dispute 

Ads aimed at winning support in Time Warner feud feature a sobbing Spongebob

Dec 31, 08 5:29 AM CST
(Newser) - Viacom is enlisting some of its best-known kid cartoon characters in a contract renewal battle with Time Warner, the Wall Street Journal reports. Viacom wants higher fees from the cable carrier for its channels, which could disappear from Time Warner's service at midnight tonight if no new deal is reached.... More »

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television • Viacom • Time Warner • cable TV • MTV • cartoon • SpongeBob • Nickelodeon • Time Warner Cable • Dora the Explorer

OPINION


 Thanks for 
 the Memories, 
 Bob, 'Cuz 2008 
 TV Stunk 

The golden age of TV may have died this year

Dec 28, 08 12:32 PM CST
(Newser) - Today's golden age of TV lost a little shine this year, Heather Havrilesky writes on Salon. Twelve quick months gobbled up all of the momentum and promise from years past, leaving “a haze of crappy, unoriginal new programming, lackluster sophomore shows, flaccid sitcoms and pointless cable comedies.” Old... More »

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television • NBC • CBS • cable TV • ABC • HBO • Showtime • Fox • USA • network television

 7% Not Ready for 
 Digital TV Switch 

With switch due Feb. 17, estimated 7% aren't prepared; feds' coupon program shaky

Dec 22, 08 8:59 AM CST
(Newser) - With US television’s transition from analog to digital broadcasting less than two months away, officials are worried that consumers still don’t have the signal-converter box, the Wall Street Journal reports. An estimated 7% aren’t prepared, and Congress, which authorized $1.34 billion for coupons to help consumers... More »

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television • cable TV • satellite TV • digital broadcasting • digital converter box • digital transition

Oprah Seals Production Deal With HBO

Talk-show host's production company will do films, miniseries on cable mainstay

Dec 16, 08 4:35 PM CST
(Newser) - Oprah Winfrey has a production deal with HBO, ending a long-lived partnership with ABC, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The exclusive, 3-year arrangement will allow Oprah’s Harpo Films more flexibility than before. “Being on a cable channel like HBO offers us a tremendous amount of creative freedom not seen... More »

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television • cable TV • ABC • HBO • Oprah Winfrey • Harpo Films • production deal • creative freedom

 Monk Will Go Out on Top 

USA says quirky detective show will end after upcoming season

Nov 17, 08 1:23 PM CST
(Newser) - The news that the upcoming eighth season of Monk will be its last has fans in mourning, but the USA Network staple leaves a rich legacy, Media Life reports. Monk ushered in the era of original cable programming and has consistently scored top ratings in key demographics. Tony... More »

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television • cable TV • comedy • Emmy Awards • USA • Tony Shalhoub • Monk • cancelled

opinion

Drudge Loses Juice as Media Swing Left

Tough competition drives Fleet Street-style sensationalism, bias

Oct 30, 08 9:38 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Ashley Todd hoax was as good a symbol as any of the decline of the Drudge Report, writes John Gapper in the Financial Times. Liberal blogs, cable TV, and, indeed, newspapers themselves have invaded and occupied Matt Drudge’s sensationalist niche. Tough competition and falling circulation are “pushing... More »

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newspaper • cable TV • Drudge Report • Matt Drudge • journalism • media bias

ANALYSIS

After Beating Back HD DVD, Blu-Ray Hardly in Clear

Satellite, cable, internet offers enough HD options to keep buyers on fence

Oct 15, 08 2:43 PM CDT
(Newser) - Blu-ray might have won the battle against Toshiba’s HD DVD, but it may still be losing the high-definition war as it is forced to compete with other sources of HD content, the Wall Street Journal reports. With cable and satellite TV providers offering more HD channels and video-on-demand services,... More »

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cable TV • Apple • video on demand • Sony • AppleTV • high definition • Samsung • Blu-Ray

 Cable's Mad Men, 
 Adams Sweep Emmys 

Broadcast hangs tough in comedy with big wins for 30 Rock

Sep 22, 08 3:35 AM CDT
(Newser) - Cable shows trumped network TV in last night’s 60th annual Emmy Awards as HBO’s John Adams grabbed 13 awards, a record for a miniseries, the Los Angeles Times reports. AMC’s Mad Men, which led in nominations, took home six trophies, including one for best drama. Glenn Close... More »

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television • cable TV • Los Angeles • Emmy Awards • network television

OPINION

Cable News Was Biggest Convention Winner

Broadcasters cede historic role as political pundits

Sep 1, 08 9:33 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Democratic Convention made it official, writes Scott Collilns in the Los Angeles Times: The broadcast networks have passed the political torch to the cable networks. CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC not only delivered “wall to wall coverage” compared to the broadcast nets' paltry hour of nightly programming. Their... More »

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NBC • cable TV • MSNBC • Democratic National Convention • Fox News • CNN • PBS • broadcasting • CBS News • ABC News • Republican National Convention

analysis

Maddow Helps MSNBC Make Left Turn

Network hopes new anchor will translate into ratings, ad revenue

Aug 22, 08 8:06 AM CDT
(Newser) - Rachel Maddow's promotion to prime-time at MSNBC more clearly draws the partisan lines among the cable networks, writes Brian Stelter of the New York Times: MSNBC on the left, Fox on the right, and CNN claiming middle ground. Now the big question: Will the Maddow move translate into more ads?... More »

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cable TV • MSNBC • NBC Universal • Fox News • Keith Olbermann • CNN • TV advertising • television news • network news • Rachel Maddow • Bill Maher Grid

Even in Tight Election, Media Struggle to Retain Audience

Choosier consumers, Internet video hurt

Aug 4, 08 9:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - Even as the 2008 election attracts more voter interest than it has in decades, media efforts to translate that into financial success have had mixed results, reports the New York Times. While cable news has enjoyed an uptick—and websites are setting record for online video—viewership for mainstream... More »

MORE ABOUT:
cable TV • presidential campaign • American media • ad revenue • TV ratings • web traffic • Election 2008 • network news

GLOSSIES

Mad Men's Moss Puts Bad Bangs to Good Use

Deceptive secretary leads TV 'renaissance of female nerdliness'

Jul 21, 08 8:25 PM CDT
(Newser) - She’s only 26, but actress Elisabeth Moss has already commandeered a niche: She has a knack for playing “easily underestimated innocents,” Emily Nussbaum writes in New York. Moss describes Peggy Olson—“the secretary with the unflattering bangs” she plays on the hit AMC show Mad Men—... More »

MORE ABOUT:
cable TV • The Office • AMC • 30 Rock • Mad Men • Elisabeth Moss

Mad Men, Damages Make History With Emmy Nods

Best-series noms are first for basic cable

Jul 17, 08 9:11 AM CDT
(AP) - Mad Men, AMC's sleek 1950s advertising drama, and FX's legal thriller Damages made Emmy nominations history today as the first basic cable programs to gain best-series nods. HBO's John Adams, meanwhile,  was the overall frontrunner with 23 bids, including a lead-actor nomination for Paul Giamatti's turn as Adams. More »

MORE ABOUT:
television • cable TV • Lost • Emmy Awards • The Wire • network television • Mad Men

Weinsteins Sign 7-Year Deal
With Showtime

Films will replace slate lost when Paramount bailed in April

Jul 15, 08 11:15 AM CDT
(Newser) - Showtime and the Weinstein Company have inked an exclusive 7-year movie deal, giving the pay TV network a replacement for the slate of films it lost when Paramount, MGM, and Lionsgate decamped in April and teamed up to launch a rival network, Variety reports. Showtime had balked at what it... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Hollywood • cable TV • Showtime • Paramount Pictures • Harvey Weinstein • Lionsgate • MGM • The Weinstein Company • Variety magazine

ANALYSIS

 Fox Unleashes
 Attack Dogs
 on Other Media 

Station's PR team jumps at criticism 'like a political campaign'

Jul 7, 08 8:31 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Fox News public relations machine makes no bones about skewering those it perceives as foes, writes David Carr in the New York Times. “At Fox News, media relations is a kind of rolling opposition research operation intended to keep reporters in line by feeding and sometimes maiming them,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
cable TV • journalism • Fox News • public relations • David Carr • News Corp • reporting

 Weather Channel Sells for $3.5B 

NBC, Blackstone, and Bain score cable stalwart for far under expected $5B

Jul 7, 08 6:25 AM CDT
(Newser) - NBC is heading an investor group that will buy the Weather Channel for nearly $3.5 billion—well below the $5 billion Landmark Communications was expecting when it put the iconic cable channel up for sale in January. The group, which includes private equity firms Bain Capital and the Blackstone... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Time Warner • Blackstone Group • cable TV • NBC Universal • Bain Capital • acquisition • Weather Channel • Landmark Communications

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