Multichannel News back issues from October 2004:
Comcast grows sports empire.(Comcast SportsNet)
Oct 04, 2004; ... When it wasn't joining in Sony Corp.-'s buyout of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. or talking to Time Warner Cable about carving up Adelphia Communications Corp., Comcast Corp. has been busy assembling a nationwide string of regional sports networks. From modest ...
Big guys to split up Adelphia?(21% Solution)(Adelphia Communications Corp.)
Oct 04, 2004; ... Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corp. say they might make a joint bid for Adelphia Communications Corp., but some analysts figure that Comcast will reap the benefits of Time Warner buying Adelphia with minimal financial risk to itself. In other words, it would be a typically ...
DTV lesson from 'Rosty': broadcasters argue transition plan is political poison.(digital television)
Oct 04, 2004; ... WASHINGTON -- Broadcasters are airing a new battle cry: Remember Rosty. In 1989, Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.) was smacked with umbrellas and had his car mobbed by dozens of seniors, furious that their Medicare premiums would rise to pay for catastrophic healthcare insurance--a ...
Another solid quarter for cable: despite Olympics, cable wins its 4th straight quarter.
Oct 04, 2004; ... Even the Summer Olympics couldn't deter cable from thrashing the broadcast networks in both ratings and audience share during the third quarter. The cable industry continued its dominance of the broadcast networks, winning the third-quarter share ratings race for the fourth ...
Fox News scores a win in debate.(This Just In)(Fox News Network L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... NEW YORK -- Fox News Channel was a landslide winner among cable viewers with its presentation of the Sept. 30 debate between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). According to Nielsen Media Research data, Fox News averaged 9.56 million viewers from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m ....
Simmons to start hip-hop VOD channel.(This Just In)(Russell Simmons plans to launch a television channel)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... NEW YORK -- Entrepreneur Russell Simmons is going ahead with plans to start a hip-hop based video-on-demand channel to launch sometime in 2005. The yet-to-be-named network, owned and operated by Simmons' media ...
Bresnan takes to BlueHighways TV.(This Just In)(Bresnan Communications L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... PURCHASE, N.Y. -- Bresnan Communications will launch BlueHighways TV in early 2005, under an agreement announced Friday. American-heritage proponent ...
How to fluster a Snake Master.(Through The Wire)
Oct 04, 2004; ... Sipping tea in the lounge of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on New York's Central Park South, Austin Stevens asks a visitor about the weather. Told it looks like rain with temperatures in the 70s, Stevens winces, saying that's cold--and it is for a man whose home country of Namibia gets as hot as ...
Cox crews pitch in after Hurricane Ivan: MSO sends crews from other systems to cope with devastation from Ivan.(Cox Communications Inc.)(Marine Safety Office)
Oct 04, 2004; ... Cox Communications Inc. sent in the cavalry--support crews from 10 unaffected systems--to help its Gulf Coast operation cope with the effects of Hurricane Ivan after its land-fall Sept. 16. Ivan hit the Florida panhandle with 130-mile-per-hourwinds--the worst weather event to ...
Studio: movies have basic appeal.
Oct 04, 2004; ... Though basic-cable networks continue to place much marketing muscle behind original and acquired series, statistics compiled by Warner Bros. Media Research show that theatrical films remain the "successful programming constant" among basic networks. In a two-year study of ...
Gay-aimed 'Here! TV' goes premium.
Oct 04, 2004; ... Here! TV, formerly just an on-demand and pay-per-view service targeting gay audiences, last week launched as a 24-hour premium network. The linear mini-pay channel is now available to distributors, debuting right on schedule Oct. 1. Here! TV plans to announce its first major ...
Arbitron, VNU, to gauge ads' impact.(Arbitron Co.)(VNU N.V.)
Oct 04, 2004; ... Arbitron Inc. and Nielsen Media Research parent VNU N.V. are teaming up to develop a new system designed to monitor the messages people hear from television and radio ads both inside and outside of their homes, and how that advertising impacts spending habits. In collaboration ...
Congress steps into content-ratings mess.
Oct 04, 2004; ... WASHINGTON -- What started 36 years ago as a letter-based system to help adults determine which movies their children could watch has been successful enough to be extended to video games and television. But now Congress wants to help fix a system many parents call vague and ...
Comcast adds to OpenCable options.(Comcast Corp.)(Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Ltd.)
Oct 04, 2004; ... Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.'s deal to provide Comcast Corp. with Panasonic's OpenCable-compliant middleware for advanced set-top boxes serves two purposes. First off, it cleans up a legacy 150,000-order set-top contract Comcast inherited from AT&T Broadband. Secondly, it ...
Courting younger viewers: court TV sets ratings marks among 18-49 set.(Programming)
Oct 04, 2004; ... Court TV's strategy to draw younger viewers with hipper, faster-paced original programming has thus far yielded ratings dividends for the investigation network. Network president and chief operating officer Art Bell said the addition this year of such story-driven and topical ...
Better life is seeking carriage fulfillment.(Programming)(Better Life Media Inc.)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004; ... A Minneapolis-based multi-media company hopes to help viewers improve their lives via a new linear/video-on-demand channel expected to launch sometime in 2005. The independently owned Better Life Media Inc. will offer operators and direct-broadcast satellite providers original ...
Murder most Amish with 'Plain Truth'.(Movie Review)
Oct 04, 2004; ... Take a few frames of the Amish-centered Witness, add just a touch of the miraculous mystery-solving of Agnes of God and you have a sense of the flavor of Plain Truth, a murder mystery debuting on Lifetime this week. While this film has some of the same travelogue cinematography ...
Lifetime sets lineup for 'WomenRock!' show.(Programming Briefs)(Lifetime Television )(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... NEW YORK -- Lifetime Television has set the lineup for its fifth WomenRock] concert, which will air Thursday, Oct. 28 at 11 p.m. (ET/PT). WomenRock! is part of the network's fight against breast cancer. Taking the ...
'Shameless' import for BBC America.(Programming Briefs)(Channel 4 International)(BBC Worldwide Americas Inc.)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... SILVER SPRING, MD. -- In a deal with Channel 4 International, BBC America win import the first two seasons of dramedy Shameless to U.S. shores in April. Written and created by the award-winning Paul Abbott--whose resume includes BBCA political thriller State of ...
'Farscape' finishes with Sci Fi marathon.(Programming Briefs)(Sci-Fi Channel Inc.)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... NEW YORK -- Sci Fi Channel is sending off Farscape in a big way. During a weekday marathon running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. that began on Oct. 1 and will continue until Oct. 15, the NBC Universal Cable service will air all 88 episodes of the series. The stunt is a prelude to ...
LNY 1 series rides the rails.(Programming Briefs)(New York 1 News Inc. and New York Newsday partner to create a new news program)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... NEW YORK -- New York 1 News, Time Warner's Cable's local news channel, is teaming up with New York Newsday to create a weekly news program about New ...
Another cut for E!'s 'Dr. 90210'.(Programming Briefs)(E! Entertainment Television Inc.)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... Los Angeles -- Reality series Dr. 90210 will return to E! Entertainment Television's lineup for a second season, the network said Tuesday. Looking at the world of cosmetic surgery and the ...
ESPN Deportes offers free preview.(Programming Briefs)(ESPN Inc.)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... BRISTOL, CONN. -- ESPN Deportes will offer MSOs a free preview of its Spanish-language service in mid-month. ESPN Deportes will be available to operators from Oct. 16 to 20, when it will feature eight matches from the UEFA Champions League, including coverage of such top ...
'Iron Chef America' gets a full serving.(Programming Briefs)(Television Food Network G.P. )(Triage Entertainment)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... NEW YORK -- Getting a sweet taste from previous specials. Food Network will turn Iron Chef America into a full-course series next year. The one hour installments, co-produced by Triage Entertainment, are expected to premiere in primetime next January. Based on the Japanese cult ...
Adlink.(People)(appointments)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... Los Angeles advertising interconnect Adlink has named ERIC KERN national sales manager. He was national sales manager at KTTV and KCOP, both Los Angeles. ...
BigBand.(People)(BigBand Networks Inc. appoints Frederick Ball)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... FREDERICK BALL has been named chief financial officer at BigBand Networks Inc. He comes from Borland ...
CSN.(People)(Comcast SportsNet appoints Michael Jenkins)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... MICHAEL JENKINS has joined Comcast SportsNet's Baltimore/ Washington ...
Discovery.(People)(Discovery Communications Inc. appoints Alexa Verveer)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... Discovery Communications Inc. has elevated ALEXA VERVEER to senior ...
ESPN.(People)(appointments at Entertainment and Sports Programming Network)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... ESPN promoted JEFF SIEGEL to senior vice president, affiliate advertising sales. He was director of affiliate advertising sales and new business. Also, ESPN upped a trio of executives: MANISH JHA to senior vice president, ESPN Mobile from ...
Fine Point.(People)(Fine Point Technologies Inc. appoints Minturn S. Osborne)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... Broadband provisioning firm Fine Point Technologies has added MINTURN S. OSBORNE as ...
GFC.(People)(Bob Dibetta appointed)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... Fulfillment-services provider GFC has elevated BOB DIBETTA to ...
GSN.(People)(Zig I. Gauthier appointed)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... ZIG I. GAUTHIER was named vice president of original programming at GSN. He comes from Fox Cable ...
HRTS.(People)(Hollywood Radio and Television Society appoints Andy Friendly)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... ANDY FRIENDLY was named president of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society's board of directors. A veteran TV producer, he served as network ...
Insight.(People)(Insight Communications Company Inc. appoints Charlie Barnes)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... Insight Communications Co. has elevated CHARLIE BARNES to vice president, product ...
Events.(Calendar)
Oct 04, 2004 ... October 5 International Radio and Television Society Foundation, Newsmaker Breakfast: "Media Buying Chiefs," The Plaza, New York. Contact: Marilyn Ellis, (212) 867-6650 Ext. 306 or visit www.irts.org. 7 Cable & Telecommunications Association ...
Lippin Group.(People)(Robin Mesger appointed)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... Public-relations firm The Lippin Group has elevated ...
MTV Networks.(People)(MTV Networks Inc.)(appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... MTV Networks has elevated three members of its affiliate sales and marketing group: STEPHANIE RUYLE was elevated to vice president, field marketing; SAMANTHA COOPER was elevated to vice president, national accounts and DIANE REED was named senior director of field marketing, national ...
MTV2.(People)(Carol Eng appointed)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... CAROL ENG was named to the newly created post of senior vice president, programming and ...
Myrio.(People)(Myrio Corp. appoints Pieter Dujist)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... Internet-protocol video software and services provider Myrio Corp. has added PIETER ...
RCH Cable.(People)(RCH Cable Outsourcing Services appoints Steve Nolfi)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... RCH Cable Outsourcing Services has elevated STEVE NOLFI to vice president, sales and operations, Eastern division. He was He had been VP, client ...
Spike TV.(People)(Robert Friedman appointed)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... ROBERT FRIEDMAN was named senior vice president of programming at Spike TV. He comes ...
Starz Encore.(People)(Starz Encore Group L.L.C. appoints Amy Kuessner)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... AMY KUESSNER has joined Starz Encore Group LLC as senior director, program ...
SureWest.(People)(Philip A. Grybas appointed)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... PHILIP A. GRYBAS was named senior vice president and chief financial officer at SureWest ...
Time Warner Cable.(People)(Patricia Mitchell appointed )(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... Time Warner Cable's Cincinnati division has added PATRICIA MITCHELL as vice president ...
Turner.(People)(Turner Broadcasting System Inc. Turner Sports appoints Kevin McMahon)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... Turner Sports has named KEVIN McMAHON senior manager of marketing and programming, responsible for Turner Network Television's National Association for ...
Weather.(People)(Weather Channel Inc. appoints Cindy Jones and Eileen Lichtenfeld)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... The Weather Channel has elevated CINDY JONES to vice president, consumer marketing. She was director of strategy and development. ...
Major shows.(People)(Calendar)
Oct 04, 2004 ... November 3 20th Annual WICT Foundation Benefit Gala, Hilton Washington Hotel, Washington. Contact: Melissa Northern, (703) 234-9812. January 6-9 CEA, 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas. For more information, ...
Soap season's start.(Freeze Frame)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... At SoapNet's fall launch party, held at Falcon in Hollywood (l. to r.): Wally Kurth, host, 1 Day With ...; Sherri York, VP, marketing; Mary Ellen DePrisco, VP, original ...
Stand by your kid.(Freeze Frame)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... At the taping of the CMT Outlaws concert special in Nashville (l. to r.) Tanya ...
Midday at the Oasis.(Freeze Frame)(HGTV)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... Tom Kolenda of Holland, Mich., won the $115,100 grand prize in HGTV'S "Outdoor Oasis" sweepstakes. Pictured (l. to r.): Jan Liddicoat and John Ceniceros, Scripps Networks; Brenda and Maximillian Kolenda; ...
Emmy star power.(Freeze Frame)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... On the red carpet at the Emmy Awards (l. to r.): E! Networks CEO Ted Harbert, Live from the ...
Good sports.(Freeze Frame)(Charter )(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... Charter CEO Carl Vogel (l.) and ESPN president George Bodenheimer show off their strong ...
Suiting up.(Freeze Frame)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... At Comcast SportsNet Chicago's network launch event, "The Future of Chicago Sports" (I. to r.): Dan Jiggetts, on-air host; Jack Williams, CEO, Comcast SportsNet; Dennis FitzSimons, chairman and CEO, Tribune Co.; Grace Winston, president, Broadcast ...
Fight night.(Freeze Frame)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... Enjoying TVN'S hospitality before the Sept. 18 Oscar De La Hoya-Bernard Hopkins fight in Las Vegas (l. to r.): John Smith, TVN; Bob Ormberg, ...
Funny business.(Freeze Frame)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... At Comedy Central's Emmy party (l. to r.): The Daily Show host Jon Stewart; senior VP original programming and head of development Lauren Corrao; CEO ...
Learning experience.(Freeze Frame)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... C-SPAN and Cablevision brought students and teachers from Bethpage, N.Y., to the Republican National Convention as part of the "Power to Learn" program. Pictured (l. to r.): C-SPAN's Peter Kiley; Cablevision's ...
You're hired!(Freeze Frame)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004 ... NBA Entertainment VP, senior creative director Scott Weinstock takes a meeting with Donald Trump during a shoot ...
A magazine model of brand extensions: 'ESPN The Mag' sets the pace for cable-net spinoffs.(Marketing & Advertising)
Oct 04, 2004; ... Apparently, adding just four letters to the cover of a magazine can make break the publication--so long as those characters are ESPN. The sports network first took a crack at the publishing world in 1988 with the launch of TV Sports, a monthly magazine that detailed TV sports ...
Time Warner nets $1M from LMN promotion.(Local Ad Sales)(Lifetime Movie Network)(Brief Article)
Oct 04, 2004; ... Time Warner Cable officials estimate the operator generated about $1 million in incremental revenue from a local affiliate-sales promotion that it ran recently with Lifetime Movie Network. Twenty-two Time Warner Cable divisions participated in the "Best Seat in The House" ...
Barton eyes news probe: '60 Minutes' flap may lead to post-election hearings.(Policy)
Oct 04, 2004; ... WASHINGTON -- CBS News anchorman Dan Rather usually travels with a camera crew. On his next visit to Capitol Hill, don't be surprised to see him traveling with counsel. Reacting to problems at CBS News over Rather's 60 Minutes Wednesday broadcast of allegedly forged ...
McCain gets some spectrum back.(DTV Transition)(Digital Television)
Oct 04, 2004; ... WASHINGTON -- Senate Commerce Committee chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) is known as a maverick who has trouble working with his colleagues, especially Republicans. Last week, McCain demonstrated that he can be a team player and hammer out a compromise. The Senate ...
Gospel Music Channel launch gets VOD boost.(On demand: where content meets technology: VOD * HDTV * DVR * ITV * HSI)
Oct 04, 2004; ... It's no secret that launching a program network is challenging in today's cable environment. But more and more networks are looking at a blended linear network/video-on-demand approach that provides the potential for operators and programmers to get what they want. The latest ...
HBO tweaks on demand: premium network already enjoys success with on-demand strategy.(Home Box Office Inc.)
Oct 04, 2004; ... Home Box Office's HBO On Demand service has helped the network reduce digital churn, increase satisfaction levels and has helped operators increase VOD usage. Now, as the service moves towards maturation, HBO is tweaking programming and marketing tactics to cement the relationship between ...
First-run VOD.(October Movies)(Video On Demand)(Illustration)
Oct 04, 2004 ... <Pre> OCTOBER MOVIES First-Run VOD The following tables list the first-run and continuing movies in the video-on-demand window from the major studios that supply product to cable operators: Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, ...
HDTV in October.(On Demand)(High Definition Television)(Illustration)(Calendar)
Oct 04, 2004 ... <Pre> HDTV IN OCTOBER The following chart lists prominent national HDTV programming for this month from cable's major HD programmers, including primetime and premiere fare, plus live events, and is meant to provide a sampling of what these networks offer. All listings for 8 ...