TelevisionWeek back issues from April 2005:
Vanguard honorees maintain tradition; 2005 winners fill some big shoes.(Special Report: National Show)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Lee Alan Hill Special to TelevisionWeek When Decker Anstrom, president and chief operating officer of Landmark Communications, and Abbe Raven, president and CEO of A&E Networks, pick up their Vanguard Awards for Distinguished Leadership this week at the 2005 National ...
Cable future for Fox's 'Arrested'? Speculation runs high after net cuts episodes.(TV Currents)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: James Hibberd Fans of the critically acclaimed Fox Network sophomore comedy "Arrested Development'' are hoping their prayers will be answered this spring. First, they hope Fox will renew the show. If that doesn't happen, they are praying that a cable network will pick it ...
KOCO takes 'Ultimate' step and cashes in; Viewer makeovers lure advertisers.(TV Currents)("Oklahoma's Ultimate Makeover" on KOCO-TV)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Daisy Whitney In an era when local broadcasters feel financially squeezed from nearly every direction, an Oklahoma City station has turned to an old-fashioned programming strategy to make some new-style money. Hearst-Argyle-owned ABC affiliate KOCO-TV ...
Spirit Awards to remain with IFC for 3 years; Rainbow's AMC, WE to carry event features.(Cable Connection)(Independent Film Channel to keep telecast)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Jon Lafayette And the winner is ... A new deal will keep the live telecast of the Independent Spirit Awards on Rainbow Media's Independent Film Channel for the next three years. The arrangement with Independent Feature Project/ LA, valued as a ...
Signs of M&A return may be misinterpreted; Despite the race for Adelphia, the real trend to watch is systems going private.(Cable Connection)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Jay Sherman To see all of the hubbub surrounding the auction for Adelphia Communications, one might conclude that the mergers-and-acquisitions craze has once again visited the world of cable. Indeed, the list of candidates chasing Adelphia and its 5.3 million ...
Digital affils working for UPN; Utilization of stations' spectrum provides a lucrative local revenue stream.(TV Currents)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Michele Greppi Gray Television's new digital UPN affiliate, launched last week in Tallahassee, Fla., was the result of a resourceful pact with UPN parent CBS, the company's fourth such collaboration with CBS since last fall. It was also the 15th digital UPN ...
TV Land, Nick at Nite Ramp Up Originals; More 'Farrah' on Tap, Along With 'Top 10,' 'Tickled Pink,' Others.(TV Currents)
Apr 04, 2005 ... Byline: Jon Lafayette TV Land will be "Chasing Farrah'' with a stream of additional original programming. After the first two episodes of its reality show featuring former "Charlie's Angels'' star Farrah Fawcett produced solid ratings, the network asked for a seventh ...
Kramer hangs out shingle; Ex-David E. Kelley chief secures pilot deals with TLC.(TV Currents)(Jeffrey Kramer launches Juniper Place Productions)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: James Hibberd Former David E. Kelley Productions President Jeffrey Kramer has launched his own independent company and has three pilot orders from TLC. Formed earlier this year, Mr. Kramer's Juniper Place Productions aims to produce network and cable ...
'Yes, Dear' survives, thrives despite critics; CBS sitcom overcomes cool reception to reach fifth season.(Creative Assignments)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Christopher Lisotta When the CBS sitcom "Yes, Dear'' premiered in October 2000, critics were not kind. But like high-profile sitcoms, "Yes, Dear'' appears to have gotten the last laugh. Despite predictions that the show, which profiles the lives of ...
New Lifetime boss to keep movie fare; Sees expansion of series.(TV Currents)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Jon Lafayette New Lifetime Entertainment Services President and CEO Betty Cohen doesn't plan to mess with the movies. "When you have a strong franchise, as Lifetime does with movies, you don't want to run from that. It's what's been driving their success,'' ...
Which cable net is 'Arrested's' best fit?(TV Currents)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: James Hibberd TelevisionWeek spoke to nearly a dozen TV insiders, including agents, producers and cable network executives, to compile a list of likely and not-so-likely cable network destinations for "Arrested Development'' should Fox cancel the series. HBO: ...
Cablevision tale gets new twists; Voom uncertainty, possible Adelphia play make investors jittery.(Deals)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Jay Sherman Cablevision Systems managed to continue confounding the financial world last week, due to a series of decisions and developments that have left many Wall Street players without a clear sense of where the company might be heading. A lot of the ...
CNN plans to sell Headline on its own; Rising ratings generate demand.(TV Currents)(Headline News on ratings tear)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Jon Lafayette As the upfront approaches, CNN is changing the way it sells its Headline News service, which has been on a ratings tear in recent weeks. Headline News has traditionally been sold packaged with CNN, but with Headline's new prime-time programming ...
Johnathan Rodgers.(Special Report: National Show)(Biography)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Lee Alan Hill Special to TelevisionWeek Johnathan Rodgers, president and CEO of TV One, said it took him a while to fully appreciate the advantages of his chosen industry. "I didn't always love cable,'' he said. "I came out of the broadcast world, but I've come to ...
News Briefs; Fox renews 'Malcolm in the Middle'.(Briefs)
Apr 04, 2005 ... Fox has renewed "Malcolm in the Middle'' for a seventh season, the network announced last week. Creator/executive producer Linwood Boomer, who also signed a development deal with "Malcolm''-producer Regency Television, has said the next season could be its last. Weather Channel ...
TLC orders dancing, ghosts.(TV Currents)("Super Natural" and "Ballroom Bootcamp" to premiere on Discovery Networks' TLC)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: James Hibberd Discovery Networks' TLC is near an agreement to greenlight two original reality series that continue to expand the network beyond the makeover genre. "Super Natural'' follows a squad of New Jersey-based paranormal investigators and "Ballroom ...
Olympics mag, more interaction promised to affils; Localized opportunities make a splash at meeting.(TV Currents)(NBC News meets with affiliates)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Michele Greppi A localizable prime-access fringe Olympics magazine show and increased interaction between NBC News and local news producers and executives are among the commitments that emerged from a daylong meeting between NBC executives and the NBC affiliates advisory ...
Allen Readying Deal to Buy Paxson for $2.2B; Liquidation Fight With NBCU Among Hurdles.(TV Currents)
Apr 04, 2005 ... Byline: Jay Sherman Syndicated television show impresario Byron Allen is gearing up to put together a $2.2 billion deal to purchase Paxson Communications, the beleaguered broadcaster that confirmed late last week that it has decided to dump its strategy of airing rated content ...
Telco's take on cable.(TV Currents)(phone giants and cable giants clash over video efforts)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Alex Ben Block Terry Denson will be among those attending the National Show this week in San Francisco. He won't make speeches or appear on panels, but his presence, along with that of others on a similar mission, should stir concern among those with a vested interest in ...
The Insider; ABC News Now soon?(TV Currents)(digital national-local news network launch)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Michele Greppi The Insider hears that ABC News President David Westin will announce the next stage of his plan to build a digital national-local news network around ABC News Now, his division's broadband operation, at the National Cable & Telecommunications ...
Scripps outlines changes for GAC; First step will be juggling schedule.(TV Currents)(Scripps Networks plans makeover for Great American Country)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Jon Lafayette Four months after being acquired by Scripps Networks, Great American Country is getting a schedule makeover. The move is the first step in plans to refurbish the country music channel under its new management, led by Scripps Senior VP Ed Hardy ...
Decker Anstrom.(Special Report: National Show)(Biography)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Wayne Karrfalt Special to TelevisionWeek Known for his integrity, keen intellect and ability to form a broad-based consensus, Decker Anstrom is one of this year's two winners of the NCTA's Vanguard Award for distinguished leadership. His role as the cable industry's ...
George Bodenheimer.(Special Report: National Show)(Biography)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Wayne Karrfalt Special to TelevisionWeek George Bodenheimer avoids the spotlight. Perhaps it's his humble beginnings, his start in the ESPN mailroom in 1981, then the moves up the ladder through affiliate sales and marketing. Or perhaps it's his belief in the ...
Cable may score more football; ESPN covets 'MNF' franchise, even Super Bowl.(TV Currents)(future of Monday Night Football)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Jon Lafayette There's been a lot of talk about "Monday Night Football'' going to cable. But why stop there? How about the Super Bowl? Longtime observers of the television sports business speculate that while The Walt Disney Co. huddles with the National ...
'Nightline' slot up for grabs; ABC considers non-news program.(TV Currents)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Michele Greppi "Nightline's'' time slot will remain ABC News' to lose in the wake of Ted Koppel's announcement that he will leave ABC News and the 11:30 p.m. series effective Dec. 4, according to the conventional wisdom shared in TV circles last week. "Nightline's'' ...
TV Guide to debut first series slate; Channel preparing four new weekday shows.(TV Currents)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: James Hibberd After months of airing occasional specials and timely red carpet coverage, TV Guide Channel is readying its first weekday slate. The Monday-through-Friday schedule will be filled by two new original series, two series based on previously aired ...
Gigs.(Creative Assignments)
Apr 04, 2005 ... Byline: NAOMIE WORRELL Roles Alyson Hannigan ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer'') has signed to appear in CBS's "How I Met Your Mother.'' Neil Patrick Harris ("Doogie Howser, M.D.'') and Jason Segel ("Freaks and Geeks'') will also appear in the comedy pilot from 20th ...
David Cohen.(Special Report: National Show)(Biography)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Sharon Edry Special to TelevisionWeek David Cohen said that by age 3, he was certain he'd grow up to become a lawyer. "That's what I always wanted to be,'' he said. "When I went to law school and joined a firm, I thought that's where I'd spend my whole career.'' ...
National Show 2005.(Special Report: National Show)
Apr 04, 2005 ... When: April 3-5 Where: Moscone Center, San Francisco VANGUARD AWARDS CEREMONY AND RECEPTION When: April 4, 5-7 p.m. Where: Moscone West, third level ...
NCTA roundup; Stevens meet set.(TV Currents)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005 ... Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, was planning to meet privately with top cable TV industry officials Sunday at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's conference in San Francisco to hear suggestions on how best to deal with indecency concerns. Sen. Stevens became chairman of the ...
Cable eyes the future; With infrastructure largely in place, focus is on digital horizon.(Special Report: National Show)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Jon Lafayette At this year's National Show the insular cable industry is opening up. The National Cable & Telecommunications Association's annual convention, running April 3 through April 5 in San Francisco, will spotlight new product offerings and feature ...
CABLERS TEAM TO THWART SATELLITE; Marketing Pooled for Big HD Events.(Cable Connection)
Apr 04, 2005 ... Byline: Wayne Friedman Cable operators increasingly are pooling their marketing resources to promote big high-definition TV events, all in an attempt to combat strong marketing efforts by satellite distributors DirecTV and EchoStar. Since promoting HD broadcasts of ...
Steve Miron.(Special Report: National Show)(Biography)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Amy Helmes Special to Television Week Honored with this year's NCTA Vanguard Award for young leadership, Steve Miron downplayed his achievements as president of Advance/Newhouse Communications and his 15-plus years in the cable industry. He didn't seem completely ...
Wilt Hildenbrand.(Special Report: National Show)(Biography)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Daisy Whitney Wilt Hildenbrand lives by a simple philosophy. "It all goes back to basic electronics,'' he said. "If you get a good grounding in that, you can figure anything out. That's one thing I fall back on and rely on a lot because no one has defeated the basics. ...
Abbe Raven.(Special Report: National Show)(Biography)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Lee Alan Hill Special to TelevisionWeek Abbe Raven, recently promoted to president and CEO of A&E Networks, sees her role in no uncertain terms: "We have a No. 1 obligation to our viewers and affiliates and our advertisers and our investors-to deliver a top-quality ...
Barry Rosenblum.(Special Report: National Show)(Biography)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Christopher Lisotta Barry Rosenblum, executive VP of Time Warner Cable, said things have changed dramatically since he first started working in the cable industry. "It was very different,'' he said. "Twenty-five years ago we were TV. You'd come into the area ...
Value of tracking on rise at networks; Marketers tweak promotion based on studies of viewer awareness, intent to view.(Research Report)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Wayne Friedman In today's cluttered media world, "tracking'' research, which measures viewers' awareness of and intent to view programming, is becoming a more significant tool of the prime-time business. That's primarily because tracking helps network ...
Leslie Ellis.(Special Report: National Show)(technical writer to be honored with Vanguard Award)(Biography)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Libby Slate Special to TelevisionWeek When Leslie Ellis was majoring in business and minoring in computer science at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, her fellow students teased her, she said, because she was so bad at writing computer code. In the ...
Nielsen steering committee begins to take shape; Ratings firm putting $2.5M into project.(Research Report)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Michele Greppi The client members of a Nielsen Media Research steering committee designed to give clients a larger role in improving Nielsen's service are expected to be in place and ready to meet by late May. Nielsen has hired media research consultant ...
Success story: Clients, viewers win with contests.(Advertising)(TV viewers help companies come up with promotional campaigns)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: SHEREE R. CURRY Some TV stations are helping area companies use promotional contests to entice viewers into coming up with creative services that normally would cost the advertising client many thousands of dollars. When Mr. ShowerDoor, a Naples, Fla.-based ...
Building brand awareness quickly; TV series debuts, like feature films, start promo campaigns slowly then escalate before premiere dates.(Media Planner)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Mark Dominiak Special to TelevisionWeek Spring is in the air. Easter Sunday recently passed, March Madness has whittled itself down to tonight's final game and the new baseball season starts this week. This is a time of year for both endings and beginnings. ...
Editorial: Golden opportunity for Stevens to listen.(Press Room)(Ted Stevens takes his concerns to the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's National Show)(Editorial)
Apr 04, 2005 ... Sen. Ted Stevens can hardly be considered a friend of the cable industry, having made headlines in recent weeks by calling for the extension of broadcast indecency regulations to cable. But to his credit, the Alaska Republican who now heads the powerful Commerce Committee is ...
Quick Takes: Do you have VOD? Do you use it?(Press Room)(Kathleen Finch and Peter Reckell respond)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Naomie Worrell "Yes, I do have VOD and utilize it to the fullest. My family and I often view movies on-demand as a weekend activity. Mag Rack is also a favorite of mine, and I have viewed many interesting fitness and pet care segments. Being a working mother, the ability ...
Corrections.
Apr 04, 2005 ... * In "Power Breakfasts on Tap'' (TelevisionWeek, March 28), Don Bellisario executive produces "NCIS.'' * In Roving Eye ...
CNN Headline moves up in prime time; Fox News retains top news position.(TV Currents)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Michele Greppi Fox News Channel still has a robust grip on the lead in the cable news competition, but CNN Headline is shaking up things in the middle of the pack, while CNBC is suffering double-digit ratings erosion, according to recent Nielsen Media Research ratings ...
'Atlas HD' spectacle on track.(TV Currents)(Discovery Communications visual encyclopedia of the world set to launch in 2006)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Daisy Whitney After postponing the launch date by more than a year, Discovery Communications has put its ambitious high-definition endeavor "Atlas HD'' back on track, with the first shows set to air in early 2006. Last fall to allow time improve the ...
Guest commentary: Cable thrives uinder light regulatory hand.(Press Room)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Kyle McSlarrow Ten years ago, long before a job with the cable industry was on my radar screen, the cable industry launched a consumer awareness campaign called The Future Is on Cable. It asserted that cable's broadband infrastructure, still being built, would be the ...
Comcast Wrangles Subscriber Queries; Call Centers Educate Customers While Touting New Services, Upgrades.(Media & Technology)
Apr 04, 2005 ... Byline: Daisy Whitney While Comcast has spent $39 billion over the past decade to upgrade its plant nationwide to accommodate advanced services such as broadband, high-definition TV, digital video recorders and video-on-demand-$600 million of that in the Bay Area alone over the ...
What are they up to now? Recipients of 2004 Vanguards continue to make their mark.(Special Report: National Show)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: ERIC ESTRIN * Dallas Clement, senior VP of strategy and development for Cox Communications, won the Vanguard for young leadership last year, partly because he helped hammer out an agreement with the consumer electronics industry on the complex issue of plug-and-play. ...
Tech briefs; Sci Fi podcasts for promotion.(Media & Technology)(Sci Fi Channel)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: DAISY WHITNEY Grabbing one of Internet marketing's newest buzzwords, Sci Fi Channel has introduced three "podcasts'' to its Web site, Scifi.com, to promote its shows. A podcast is downloadable audio content, such as a radio show, that can be played on an Apple iPod. ...
Scripps' hi-def two-step; Plans dropped for compilation channel; HGTV and Food Network will launch in HD in 2006.(TV Currents)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Daisy Whitney In a major shift to its high-definition strategy unveiled late last year, the Scripps Networks now is developing two stand-alone HD channels, rather than one catch-all HD destination for its brands. As part of the ramp-up, Scripps plans to more than double ...
Lori McFarling; Special to TelevisionWeek.(Special Report: National Show)(Biography)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Sharon Edry As senior VP of distribution and marketing strategy for Discovery Networks, U.S., Lori McFarling manages Discovery's relationships with distributors, oversees her department's marketing efforts and crafts the company's national affiliate marketing strategy. ...
Stephen Rizley.(Special Report: National Show)(Biography)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Daisy Whitney Back in 2000 Stephen Rizley was an unusual choice to head a cable system. He'd been in cable ad sales for nearly 20 years but didn't have much operations experience. But that unconventional background turned out to be a key component in Mr ....
Desperate for a good wine.(Blink)(Stephen McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment, helping Frank Family vineyard create a new wine)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: ALEX BEN BLOCK While Stephen McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment, is busy choosing shows for the fall schedule, he has also been helping create a new cabernet sauvignon called Promise for release in 2007, along with Rich Frank of The Firm, who co-owns the Frank ...
TV doc witness in Jackson case.(Blink)(Dr. Stan Katz testifies at Michael Jackson trial)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: CHRISTOPHER LISOTTA Dr. Stan Katz helps women rebuild their lives as staff psychologist on NBC Universal's syndicated strip "Starting Over,'' but last week he was a media celebrity for a different reason. Dr. Katz testified at the Michael Jackson trial in Santa Maria, ...
Graphic heroism.(Blink)(Greg Peterson helps identify missing man with amnesia)(Brief Article)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: MICHELE GREPPI An alert graphic artist at the Dallas-based graphics hub for 19 stations owned by NBC Universal and Telemundo helped turn a human lost-and-found story into a reunion story. Greg Petersen was on Art House duty last month when he received a photo from ...
The ratings wizard.(Performance Tracker)(TV season week no. 27)(Brief Article)(Column)
Apr 04, 2005; ... Byline: Naomie Worrell Monday, March 21, 2005-Sunday, March 27, 2005 TV Season Week No. 27 Powered by NCAA men's basketball, CBS won the week in adults 18 to 49 with a 4.6/12.6. CBS also won in total viewers with 13.9 million. Top Show of the ...
Roving eye.(News)
Apr 04, 2005 ... 1. Actor Hal Sparks, left, arrives at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards along with award winner Billy Crystal, GLAAD Executive Director Joan Garry and award winner Alan Cumming at the Marriott Marquis in New York March 28. 2. CBS's Nancy Tellem, left, ...
Buying Adelphia Was the Easy Part; Many Issues Remain to Be Settled in Comcast-TW Deal.(TV Currents)
Apr 11, 2005 ... Byline: Jay Sherman For Time Warner Inc., the easy part may have been its win in the closely watched race for Adelphia Communications. With the bankrupt cable operator last week having accepted in principle Time Warner and Comcast Corp.'s joint $17.6 billion cash and ...
Editorial: 'Nightline' Opening Puts Iger to the Test.(Press Room)
Apr 11, 2005 ... Now that Robert Iger is poised to take the reins of power from Michael Eisner, one of the first challenges he faces is the situation at ABC News.Two of the division's most distinguished veterans, Peter Jennings and Ted Koppel, are headed for major ...
Previews; NAB confab opens.(TV Currents)(Brief Article)
Apr 11, 2005 ... The National Association of Broadcasters' Broadcast Engineering Conference kicks off Saturday, April 16, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, followed by the opening of the NAB Broadcast Management Conference and the NAB MultiMedia World Conference on Sunday. The NAB2005 exhibit floor will ...
Cablers Answer Call for Improved VOD; MSOs Introduce Guides With Advanced Features at NCTA National Show.(Media & Technology)
Apr 11, 2005 ... Byline: Daisy Whitney Cable operators are making strides to improve the user experience for video-on-demand. At last week's National Show in San Francisco, Cablevision introduced its new guide, while Comcast demonstrated the next generation of its interactive guide, which will ...
Focus Keeps Targeting's Aim True; Planners Can Significantly Impact Communication Plans by Ensuring That Audience Meets Marketing Definition.(Media Planner)
Apr 11, 2005 ... Byline: Mark Dominiak Special to TelevisionWeek In today's world of fragmented brands and media, the most important decision a planner makes is choosing the target against which the media plan should be directed. From that decision, every other aspect of the media plan is ...
Cars as TV stars.(Special Report: Auto Marketing)
Apr 11, 2005 ... Byline: JILL ANNE CIMINILLO * Buick is the exclusive sponsor of the "Desperate Housewives'' video recaps on America Online. As part of the Buick marketing strategy, the Buick Rendezvous and Buick LaCrosse have appeared on the show. * Cadillac's big turnaround TV ad ...
Guest Commentary: Anybody Seen My Old Friends Dan, Tom, Ted?(Press Room)
Apr 11, 2005 ... Byline: Reuven Frank First Tom Brokaw left. Then Dan Rather. Then Ted Koppel announced this would be his last year on "Nightline.'' And now Peter Jennings is being reduced to at best a sporadic schedule, curtailed by chemotherapy to treat his lung cancer. End of an ...