TelevisionWeek back issues from February 2004:
Thanks, Kevin. No, We Really Mean It ... Thanks a Lot ...(Globe Globe winners thank Kevin Huvane)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Creative Artists Agency partner Kevin Huvane was one of the most-thanked people onstage at the Golden Globes. Sarah Jessica Parker, winner of the award for actress in a comedy or musical TV series, walked to the podium and said, before thanking anyone else: "Kevin Huvane. Because I want to ...
Comcast Pushes for Spot, Recasts Image; No. 1 Cable Operator Renames Ad Division 'Spotlight' in Effort to Double Revenues by '07.(Advertising)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Jon Lafayette Comcast Corp., the nation's biggest cable operator, is looking to shine a spotlight on its advertising sales division. In fact it's renaming the unit Comcast Spotlight. And it's making a bold promise. While admitting spot cable let down ...
The Ratings Wizard.(Performance Tracker)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Naomie Worrell Monday, Jan. 19, 2004-Sunday, Jan. 25, 2004 TV Season Week No. 18 The three-night premiere of "American Idol's'' third season helped Fox win adults 18 to 49 for the week with a 5.6 average rating/14 share. The network also won total ...
The Insider; A 'FRIENDS'-LY BASH.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Michele Greppi "Friends'' producers ran everyone but essential personnel out of the sitcom's Warner Bros. studio home of the past 10 seasons while final scenes of the finale were shot and tears were shed. But on Saturday, Jan. 24, grins were in evidence when several ...
Station Owners See Mixed Results; Absence of Political Ads Affects Groups' Earnings.(Deals)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Jay Sherman Five owners of television stations announced mixed results in their latest round of quarterly earnings reports, with each company claiming varying degrees of success in overcoming the absence of political advertising spending. Last week's slew of ...
Contract Talks Starting Early; Pacts Expire May, June; SAG, AMPTP Open Discussions This Week.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: James Hibberd Labor issues are looming large in Hollywood as contract negotiations approach for the Writers Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists. All sides are seeking to avoid a repeat of a work slowdown and ...
Rogers Advising American Media; Print Exec Guides Magazine Brand to TV, Cable.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Diane Mermigas They may not have the allure of cable news or niche video magazines, but Tom Rogers is betting American Media's Star, National Enquirer and other lively grocery checkout publications have just the right cachet for targeted cable and local broadcast TV ...
Herzog to Return to Comedy Net as CEO; Anticipating Post-Merger Executive Shifts at NBC Cable, He Exits USA.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Jon Lafayette A funny thing happened to Larry Divney on the way to his retirement as CEO of Comedy Central. He found out he was being replaced by predecessor Doug Herzog, now president of USA Network. The punch line to the whole affair is that even though ...
POWELL'S GOT TO GO.(Federal Communications Commission)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Phillip Swann Technology executives fantasize about it behind closed doors; some Republican officials think it might be best for the party; and some agency observers wonder whether it will happen soon. But no one dares talk about it in public. Until now. Michael Powell, ...
'Fear' Puts Viewers Closer to Reality; Cellphone Interactivity Will Be Tested During Sweeps.(Converging Media & Technology)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Daisy Whitney When contestants on NBC's "Fear Factor'' immerse themselves in a box full of 500 tarantulas this month, some AT&T Wireless subscribers will play along. The daring reality show with an off-the-scales ick factor will allow mobile phone users to ...
BBC America Strikes Gold; Wins for 'Office' Should Pay Dividends.(Golden Globes)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Melissa Grego HBO may have tallied the most TV trophies at the Golden Globes, but surprise double-winner "The Office''-and BBC America, where it airs-stand to gain the most from their victories. BBC America was the only network aside from HBO to win multiple ...
Studios Wary of Short Orders in Long Run; Nets' Limited Series May Hurt Producers' Profits.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Leslie Ryan Beaten down by the big numbers that short-run reality series pull, several of the broadcast networks have expressed interest in developing short-run scripted series, which could be promoted to viewers as special events rather than long-term commitments. ...
Editorial: Hasta la Vista, Sweeps System.(Press Room)(Editorial)
Feb 02, 2004 ... In a period of transformation, uncertainty and rapid change for the TV industry, at least one of the changes on the broadcasting horizon is a welcome one. That change is the widespread introduction of Nielsen Media Research's People Meter systems, which is expected to result in the ...
GLOBES SHINE DESPITE SECURITY, TIME PRESSURE.(Golden Globes)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Alex Ben Block "Luckily, I don't have to shoot you.'' That was the not very comforting message delivered by a female police officer as TelevisionWeek publisher Chuck Ross and I took a wrong turn trying to find our way to the Beverly Hilton last Sunday. We were ...
Quick Takes; Do TV awards shows influence your viewing decisions?(Press Room)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Naomie Worrell "The highly viewed award shows cannot help but influence our viewing choices. Not that we stop watching our favorites when they lose, but we are encouraged to sample the winners that we may not have seen before.'' Bill Carroll, VP, director of ...
Indecency on D.C.'s Radar; Fines, Laws, Hearings on Election-Year Agenda.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Michele Greppi Do four-letter words warrant six-figure fines for broadcasters who can't bleeping keep them off the air? That's just one of the questions to which Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., wants answers by Feb. 3 from NBC Chairman and CEO Bob Wright, Fox ...
Previews; Wedding Bowl.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Bliss hits Stuckeyville on NBC's "Ed'' as the season concludes Friday with Ed and Carol getting married in a circus-themed setting. Ed Stevens (played by Tom Cavanagh), a former hotshot New York lawyer who now owns a bowling alley, and Carol Vessey (Julie Bowen), the hometown girl he ...
RECALLING A SENTIMENTAL HERO.(End Page)(Obituary)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Tom Shales My first impulse when writing a story about Jack Paar is to call up Jack and get his latest funny take on what's happening in the world. His curiosity was never satisfied, his keen eye never dimmed. But there is no calling Jack now. Those of us who ...
Success Story: Weather Kindles Kids' Link to News.(Advertising)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: SHEREE R. CURRY Getting children interested in the news just may start with the weather. That's the attitude at KXMB-TV in Bismarck, N.D., and sister station KXMA-TV in Dickinson, N.D., both owned by Reiten Television. The CBS affiliates' "Weather Kids'' ad ...
NBA TV to Travel Inside All-Star Events.(TV Currents)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: JON LAFAYETTE There's more to this year's NBA All-Star Game than the coverage on TNT. NBA TV, the league's digital cable channel, is planning extensive coverage of events surrounding the All-Star Game. While TNT shows the events, NBA TV will take viewers ...
Top Seven Weeklies on the Rise; Six Earn Double-Digit Increases Despite Back-to-School Youth Drain.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Chris Pursell As young viewers headed back to school after the winter holiday, syndication numbers dipped for nearly every genre. The exception was, however, weeklies, with each of the top seven shows showing improvement for the week ending Jan. 18, according to Nielsen ...
HBO Dominates Globes.(Golden Globes)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: MELISSA GREGO HBO took seven of the 11 TV prizes at the 2004 Golden Globe Awards. Five of the pay-TV network's wins were for miniseries "Angels in America,'' which won best miniseries and four acting nods. HBO's two other awards went to "Sex and the City's'' ...
News Briefs; Telepictures' 'Elder Show' a Firm Go.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... As expected, Telepictures announced last week the sale of upcoming talk show "The Larry Elder Show'' to the Viacom Stations Group for launch this fall. In addition, Telepictures has issued the upcoming series a "firm go.'' The Viacom Television Stations Group has licensed the show to air ...
Hollywood Labor Pains.(TV Currents)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Screen Actors Guild: Melissa Gilbert, president. 98,000 members. Contract expires June 30. American Federation of Television & Radio Artists: John Connolly, president ....
Cable Notes; Reid to Depart Discovery Health.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Bob Reid, general manager of Discovery Health, is leaving the network. Under Mr. Reid, the channel grew to about 50 million subscribers, but he disagreed with Discovery Networks U.S. President Billy Campbell on how to take the channel to the next level, a Discovery spokesperson said ....
Pixar, Disney to End Partnership; Negotiations Between Jobs and Eisner Break Down; Disney Shares Fall.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Jay Sherman Wall Street responded with muted disappointment at the surprise announcement late last week that ABC parent Walt Disney Co. and animation company Pixar Animation Studios, the team behind the hit films "Toy Story'' and "Finding Nemo,'' will go their separate ...
Mary-Ellis Bunim Blazed Reality Trail; Pioneer Dead at Age 57.(TV Currents)(Obituary)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Chris Pursell Bunim-Murray Productions was devastated last week with the passing of two executives, including reality television matriarch and co-founder Mary-Ellis Bunim. Ms. Bunim fought a long battle with cancer and passed away Thursday in Los Angeles at ...
Filling Jack's Shoes.(chief of Motion Picture Association of America)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Now that Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., has taken himself out of the running to succeed Jack Valenti as head of the Motion Picture Association of America, the man to beat is said to be Sen. John Breaux, D-La.-if he will take the job. The senator was in the running last year, but dropped out in ...
MTV Challenger Fuse Ready for Its Close-Up; Network's Strategy Is to Deliver More of What Rivals Lack: Music Videos.(Creative Assignments)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: James Hibberd To hear Marc Juris tell it, programming the Fuse music network was easy. He simply set up a Web site, solicited viewers' opinions, then aired the videos his audience wanted to see. No committee poring over submissions, no strategizing playlists, just being, ...
Biz Briefs; Time Warner Reports Positive 2003 Results.(Briefs)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: JAY SHERMAN Time Warner Chairman and CEO Richard Parsons last week declared the company victorious in regaining its financial strength, calling 2003 a "reset year'' in which the company achieved all of its goals, including paring down its debt load to $20 billion nearly ...
Food Ships Movable Feast; Traveling Exhibit of Edibles, Wine to Feature Chefs, Sampling, Seminars.(Advertising)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Food Network has teamed with the exhibition company DMG World Media to launch "Food Network's Great Big Food Show,'' a consumer exhibition scheduled for Nov. 5 to 7 in Philadelphia and Nov. 12 to 14 in Cleveland. The live food and wine event will feature famous chefs, product ...
Gigs.(Creative Assignments)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: NAOMIE WORRELL ROLES World champion skateboarder and video game star Tony Hawk will host GSN's "Video Game Invasion: The History of a Global Obsession.'' The two-hour documentary covers the creation and evolution of video games. David Carr and David Comtois ...
Upton Gets Bipartisan Backing; White House Endorses Bill to Hike Fines for Indecency.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Doug Halonen Giving a shot of testosterone to what already looks like a regulatory behemoth, the Bush administration last week endorsed legislation to crack down on indecent broadcasts by jacking up the maximum fine for airing off-color programming from $27,500 to ...
Guest Commentary: A Slippery Slope From News to Entertainment.(Press Room)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Jeff Alan This will be the year of Michael Jackson, Robert Blake, Martha Stewart, Princess Diana, Scott Peterson, Kobe Bryant and, no doubt, many other celebrities whose scandals have yet to materialize. As American journalists can stray across the line into ...
MURDOCH: MALONE FRIEND, NOT FOE.(News Corporation)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Diane Mermigas In a candid interview, News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch told me he does not feel threatened by Liberty Media Corp. Chairman John Malone's emergence as the second-most-powerful voting shareholder in his company, and even hinted that the two might one day ...
Finding Meaning in Ad Lingo; 'ROI,' 'GRP,' 'Recency' Among the Dynamic Phrases Explained in Recently Published Guide to Industry Terms.(Media Planner)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Joe Mandese Special to TelevisionWeek When it comes to industry jargon, media planning seems to have more than its fair share of business gobbledygook. And with good reason: Given the dynamic nature of the marketplace they are entrusted to evaluate, media planners must ...
TNT Shooting for Higher Ad Rates; NBA All-Star Game Brings CPMs in Broadcast Range.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Jon Lafayette Building on the hoopla from last year's record-breaking performance, the TNT network is on a fast break to the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles, which is proving to be one of cable's biggest draws among both viewers and advertisers. Last year's ...
TW Operating as 'Best-in-Class'; Jeffrey Bewkes and Don Logan on AOL, Distribution and Extending Older Brands.(TV Currents)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Byline: Diane Mermigas Time Warner's two corporate lieutenants strategically and intellectually complement and challenge each other. Don Logan, 59, chairman of Time Warner's media and communications group, is a career publisher and a longtime chairman of Time Inc ....
The Gang's All Here.(advertising for the new season of "The Sopranos")(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2004 ... Here's an offer you won't want to refuse: "The Sopranos" returns to HBO on March 7 with a bang. To make sure fans of the northern New Jersey family make the connection, an estimated $5 million new marketing campaign focuses on-what else?-their wild, dark nature. The theme is "Hell Hath No ...
Roving Eye: Golden Globes.(pictures from the Golden Globe Awards)(Brief Article)
Feb 02, 2004 ... 1. HBO's Carolyn Strauss, left, and Jeff Bewkes celebrate with actress Kristin Davis at HBO's Golden Globe Awards after-party Jan. 25 in Beverly Hills. 2. Showtime's Bob Greenblatt, left, and Matthew Blank greet Barbra Streisand and James Brolin, star of "The Reagans," at ...
At Press Time; `Fear' to FX, Tribune.(TV Currents)(Brief Article)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: CHRIS PURSELL NBC Enterprises has sold the off-network run of "Fear Factor'' to FX, which plans to run it as a strip starting this fall, sources said. A deal for a concurrent run as a strip on the Tribune stations is expected. The pact for the Endemol-produced, ...
A clean Sweep at Court TV.(Eureka Vacuums)(Brief Article)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Despite the Academy Awards' red-carpet imagery, Eureka vacuum cleaners probably don't spring to mind when you think of Oscars. Nevertheless, Eureka is advertising on Court TV for the first time, and its six-figure buy is based around a "Guess Who's Cleaning Up at the Oscars'' sweepstakes ....
Keeping Abreast.(Blink)(Brief Article)
Feb 09, 2004 ... While the debate rages over Janet Jackson's Super Bowl flash, a breast shot of a different kind aired at least twice since last fall with no public outcry. Leah is a Hollywood makeup artist who dropped from 300 pounds to about 100 pounds after undergoing gastric bypass surgery. She was ...
TiVo's News Flash.(Converging Media & Technology)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Phillip Swann What do Janet Jackson and TiVo have in common? They both used the Super Bowl to get more exposure. By now, unless you've been living on another planet, you know that Ms. Jackson flashed her right breast at the close of the Super Bowl halftime ...
More Work Ahead for TW's Parsons.(Time Warner Cable)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Diane Mermigas Time Warner Chairman and CEO Richard Parsons faces the challenge of beating his own best hand. In the past year he has taken the beleaguered company further down the road to recovery than anyone thought possible, and still Wall Street is demanding the sale ...
Super Bowl Fallout: TV Has Itself to Blame.(Press Room)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Who's to blame for Janet Jackson's bare breast at the Super Bowl? Who cares? As the fallout continues from the halftime incident, everyone is looking for someone to blame. But whether one chooses to single out CBS, MTV, the NFL, Ms. Jackson, Justin Timberlake, a "wardrobe ...
Close-up: Mark DeVitre.(Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution)(Brief Article)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Mark DeVitre has been named VP, sales, Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution. Mr. DeVitre will be responsible for the domestic licensing of feature films, television series, miniseries, TV movies and specials to the pay television and basic-cable networks. He joins WBDCD from Fox ...
Quick Takes; Which TV personality or executive is most likely to make news this year?(Press Room)(Brief Article)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Naomie Worrell "Christina Norman, president of VH1, is a dynamic force changing the face of television in 2004. Christina is the mastermind behind VH1's turnaround, with ratings up significantly since she took over. Her charisma, creativity and leadership will get her ...
Kids Ad Picture Clearing; Media Agencies Hope Demand Will Firm Up After Toy Fair Conference, Where Licensing Deals Are Announced.(Media Planner)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Joe Mandese Special to TelevisionWeek As the major ad shops begin finalizing their media plans for upcoming 2004-05 upfront TV negotiations, the kids television marketplace will be their first major challenge. The kids market-which in theory could happen soon but likely ...
New 'Batman' Taking Flight; Warner Bros. Readies Series for Kids' WB, Cartoon Network.(TV Currents)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Chris Pursell Warner Bros. Animation is set to place its highest-profile action hero in a new environment. The company is producing "The Batman'' for Kids' WB and the Cartoon Network. The new animated project will chronicle the early days of the Caped ...
Newsmakers.
Feb 09, 2004 ... Advertising & Agencies John Harper to executive VP, sales and client services, Ocean Bridge International Advertising Group, Santa Monica, Calif., from VP, sales, PIC-TV, Los Angeles. Julie Ottmar to media coordinator, McKee Wallwork Henderson, Albuquerque, N.M., ...
The 'Big' Ending.(Sex and the City)
Feb 09, 2004 ... HBO has been trying to keep details of the Feb. 22 series finale of "Sex and the City'' under wraps, especially whether or not Mr. Big (Chris Noth) will re-ignite his on-again, off-again love affair with Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker). While we don't know whether Mr. Big ...
'Ellen,' 'Millionaire' Set Records; 'Chris Matthews' Jumps 27 Percent; 'On-Air' Gets Lift Across Demos.(TV Currents)(Brief Article)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Chris Pursell Two sophomores and a rookie hit all-time highs in syndication for the week ending Jan. 25, when strips "The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' and "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' broke plateaus and weekly half-hour "The Chris Matthews Show'' soared. A ...
NATPE Gives Nod to Las Vegas; On Heels of Successful 2004 Conference, Board Hopes to Return Next Year.(National Association of Television Program Executives)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Chris Pursell Flush with the success of January's convention, NATPE board members met last week to discuss the organization's next step and all eyes are now on a return to Las Vegas. Sources confirmed that executives agreed to return to Las Vegas next year as ...
'Joe Schmo' Returns for 2nd Season; Spike's Homegrown Hit Could Premiere in May.(TV Currents)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Chris Pursell Spike TV's first homegrown hit, "The Joe Schmo Show,'' will return to the cable network, sources said, possibly as early as May. The second season is expected to receive more hype than the original runs of the series, which aired last fall. "The ...
It's Showtime for Pay TV Net; Splashy 'L Word' Could Bring Channel Out of Shadows.(TV Currents)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: James Hibberd Last month Showtime accomplished something it hasn't managed in years, a feat that recently thwarted even its much larger competitor HBO: the launching of a new hit series. The premiere of "The L Word,'' Showtime's lesbian-themed ensemble drama, ...
Nets Rush to Find Video Editing Tools.(TV Currents)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Michele Greppi Although the other networks felt unanimous relief that it was CBS under barrage by viewers, press and politicians in the aftermath of Janet Jackson's Super Bowl flash, there remained great pressure at every network to ensure there would be no further ...
Indecency Bill on Fast Track; Multiple Fines, License Revocations Among Penalties on the Table in Wake of Super Bowl Stunt.(TV Currents)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Doug Halonen The political firestorm ignited by Janet Jackson's Super Bowl stunt appears likely to result in federal legislation encouraging multiple fines for incidents of indecency in the same program. The new measure would fine violations at 10 times the ...
Rogers Breathed Life Into Role; Exits 'Days' After a Tour de Force Season.(Special Report: Daytime Emmy Awards)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Michael Maloney Special to TelevisionWeek Talk about your good news-bad news situation-Suzanne Rogers, the "Days of Our Lives'' veteran who saw the prominence of her character, Maggie Horton, rise and fall over her 30-year run on the series, was given a story line last ...
ALSO IN THE RUNNING.(Special Report: Daytime Emmy Awards)(Brief Article)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: MICHAEL MALONEY As sophisticated redhead Skye Chandler, Robin Christopher has brought some much-needed levity to the life of Luke Spencer on "General Hospital.'' Maybe no one can ever replace the absent Laura in Luke's life, but Skye is having fun trying, and Emmy ...
The Ratings Wizard.(Performance Tracker)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Leslie Ryan Monday, Jan. 26, 2004-Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004 TV Season Week No. 19 A competitive Super Bowl in which the New England Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers in the last seconds of the game gave CBS decisive weekly wins in adults 18 to 49 ...
ALSO IN THE RUNNING.(Special Report: Daytime Emmy Awards)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Lee Alan Hill "The Oprah Winfrey Show'' and "Dr. Phil'' are tops in the Nielsens in the daytime talk show derby, but when it comes to Emmys, voters have been trending away from hosts of programs with substantive topics in favor of lighter fare hosted by comic ...
'Y&R' Strong Contender for Top Prize; Series Notes 30th Year, Has Banner Season With Gripping Stories, Shocking Revelations.(Special Report: Daytime Emmy Awards)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Alan Carter Special to TelevisionWeek Who said less is more? It certainly wasn't Jack Smith, the co-executive producer and co-head writer of daytime's top-rated "The Young and the Restless,'' which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2003. While soap producers ...
ALSO IN THE RUNNING.(Special Report: Daytime Emmy Awards)(Brief Article)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Alan Carter Producers at last year's outstanding drama winner, "As the World Turns'' (CBS), surely know how to put a good reel together, and the mystery of Rose's murder was a page turner with a satisfying and unpredictable conclusion. Add to that the fact that daytime ...
He Couldn't Hide His 'Guiding Light'; Aleksander Exploits Star-Making Turn.(Special Report: Daytime Emmy Awards)
Feb 09, 2004 ... Byline: Alan Carter Special to TelevisionWeek Grant Aleksander, who plays Phillip Spaulding on CBS's "Guiding Light,'' said he has spent most of his 22-year daytime career trying "to stay under the radar.'' Too bad for Mr. Aleksander, a strapping, blond, buff bodybuilder type ...