Filed under: TV

Visit our Filed page for categories. To browse by specific topic, see our Inside page. For a list of companies covered on this site, visit our Companies page.

 
Feb. 28 at 6:56 a.m.
54 comments
Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Media, TV

Oprah’s OWN struggles to bring in viewers

Oprah Winfrey talks to reporters about OWN in January. (Reuters)

From the New York Times | Oprah Winfrey’s 2-month-old cable channel, OWN, is attracting fewer viewers than the obscure channel it replaced, Discovery Health. At any given time this month, there have been about 135,000 people watching OWN, according to Nielsen, and only about 45,000 of those people are women ages 25 to 54, the demographic that the channel is focusing on.

Winfrey and her partner, Discovery Communications, have preached patience, especially because she will have a minimal presence on the channel until after “The Oprah Winfrey Show” ends its remarkable run in September. Get the full story >>

Feb. 22 at 1:28 p.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Internet, Media, TV, Technology

Netflix has deal to stream from CBS library

By Reuters

CBS Corp. struck a partnership with Netflix Inc. allowing the online video company to stream CBS library content, including television shows “Cheers,” “Frasier,” “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Twilight Zone” to Netflix subscribers. Get the full story »

Feb. 22 at 9:05 a.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Media, Retail, TV, Video

Free streaming video for Amazon Prime members

By Reuters

Amazon.com Inc. on Tuesday added a streaming-video service offering for its $79-a-year Amazon Prime members, an expected move by the online retailer as it looks to more directly compete with Netflix Inc. Get the full story »

Feb. 18 at 2:24 p.m.
2 comments
Filed under: Computers, Entertainment, Philanthropy, TV, Technology

U. of C. to get some of Watson’s ‘Jeopardy!’ prize

By Wailin Wong

IBM supercomputer Watson takes on "Jeopardy!" champs Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. (IBM photo)

IBM’s supercomputer, Watson, may have trounced the last hope for humanity when it beat two “Jeopardy!” champions in a three-night contest this week, but it has also extended a philanthropic helping hand to mere mortals.

IBM is allocating $500,000 of Watson’s $1 million winnings to World Community Grid, a project where volunteer PCs users make up a “virtual supercomputer” that helps scientists with research projects. The grid harnesses the spare computational power of 1.7 million PCs from 535,000 volunteers in 80 countries, putting this combined capability to work on complicated problems. Get the full story »

Feb. 16 at 3:59 p.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Earnings, Internet, Media, TV, Telecommunications

Comcast earnings soar; now hard part begins

By Los Angeles Times

Comcast surpassed analysts’ estimates for its earnings in the final quarter of 2010 — its final period before adding NBC Universal to its mix. The company’s operating income grew rose 10.8 percent for the quarter. Revenue was up 7.2 percent to $9.72 billion.

Now the work begins. Despite all of the talk about the importance of fixing the ailing NBC broadcast network or the glamour of entering the movie business, Roberts said the first priority of his lieutenant, NBC Universal Chief Executive Steve Burke, would be “to maintain the strong momentum and focus of the cable channels.”

Feb. 15 at 3:54 p.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Bankruptcy, Media, Newspapers, Philanthropy, Radio, TV

Tribune Co. reorganization plans draw new fire

Bloomberg News | The Robert R. McCormick Foundation, onetime one of the largest shareholders in Tribune Co., opposes the remaining two reorganization plans for the media giant, because neither would end lawsuits against shareholders, including the foundation, that made billions of dollars in the company’s leveraged buyout.

Feb. 15 at 9:36 a.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Sports, TV

Blackhawks, Ch. 9 extend broadcast deal

By Phil Rosenthal

Tower Ticker |  The Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago’s WGN Channel 9 said Tuesday that they have extended their broadcast partnership through the 2015-16 season.

The value of the deal was not announced.

The news comes a day after pro basketball’s Los Angeles Lakers announced a new 20-year local TV deal with Time Warner Cable that will take the franchise off over-the-air television beginning with the 2012-13 season, except for national network broadcasts.

Feb. 11 at 12:36 p.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Media, TV

Tribune Co. to put another $53M into Food Network

By Ameet Sachdev

Tribune Co. plans to invest $53 million in its Food Network partnership in connection with the cable channel’s launch of a second culinary channel last year, a source close to the transaction confirmed Friday.

The Chicago-based parent of the Chicago Tribune and other media assets expects to file a motion regarding the investment with the bankruptcy court in Delaware Friday, the source said. Tribune Co. has been operating under Chapter 11 protection since December 2008. Get the full story »

Feb. 9 at 1:00 p.m.
2 comments
Filed under: Books, Magazines, Media, Music, Sports, TV

Magic Johnson invests in Vibe, Soul Train

By Associated Press

Magic Johnson, who last year passed on a deal to buy Ebony and Jet magazines, will become chairman of Vibe Holdings, the owner of the magazines Vibe and Uptown and the Soul Train TV show. Get the full story »

Jan. 27 at 5:24 p.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Chicago executives, Media, Newspapers, Radio, TV

Zell tells Forbes he won’t miss Tribune Co.

By Phil Rosenthal

Tower Ticker | The same day Tribune Co. reported an uptick in its business during 2010, Forbes Magazine posted an interview with Chairman Sam Zell in which the entrepreneur once more made it clear he won’t be sorry to say farewell to the Chicago-based media concern.

Jan. 27 at 11:07 a.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Media, TV

Tammie Souza back, Amy Freeze out at Ch. 32

By Phil Rosenthal

Tower Ticker | Fox-owned WFLD-Ch. 32 on Thursday announced its re-hire of weathercaster Tammie Souza, a move rumored so long that viewers can be excused for thinking it occurred. It also has hired an Indianapolis anchor as a general assignment reporter.

As expected, WFLD will not be renewing the the contract of lead weathercaster Amy Freeze, who’s expected to leave in the next month after four years at the station. Bill Bellis, the chief meteorologist at Phoenix’s KNXV-TV since 2003, is set to slide into Freeze’s Channel 32 post in late February.

Sources said there were discussions with Freeze about continuing at WFLD in a non-weather role, but nothing has come of that.

In a move not involving the weather department, WFLD has hired Tisha Lewis, an anchor at Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co.’s WXIN-TV in Indianapolis, as a general assignment reporter, beginning Feb. 2.

Jan. 26 at 12:44 p.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Bankruptcy, Earnings, Media, Newspapers, Radio, TV

Tribune Co. revenue climbs 1%

By Tribune staff report

Chicago-based Tribune Co. said Wednesday that operating cash flow at its two largest publishing units — the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune — was essentially flat in 2010 compared to 2009, while overall operating cash flow increased $140 million to $635 million.

“The past year showed substantial improvement over 2009,” Chandler Bigelow, Tribune Co.’s chief financial officer, said in a statement. Get the full story »

Jan. 25 at 5:28 p.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: IPOs, Media, Stock activity, TV

Nielsen IPO pulls in $1.6B at $23 a share

By Reuters

Nielsen Holdings, the consumer measurement firm known for its dominance in TV ratings, priced shares in its initial public offering above the expected range Tuesday.

Nielsen sold 71.4 million shares for $23 each, raising about $1.6 billion, an underwriter said. The company sold $250 million worth of mandatory convertible subordinated bonds alongside the IPO. Get the full story »

Jan. 24 at 4:43 p.m.
1 comment
Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Media, TV

Subway joins exodus of ‘Skins’ advertisers

By Reuters

Sandwich chain Subway Monday became the fifth company to distance itself from MTV’s controversial new series “Skins,” pulling its advertising from the teen show after a campaign by a parents TV watchdog.

A representative for Subway told The Hollywood Reporter the company would not be running its ads on Monday’s second episode of the drama series about misfit teens who dabble in drink, drugs and sex. Get the full story »

Jan. 24 at 12:43 p.m.
Comments Off
Filed under: Bankruptcy, Litigation, Media, Newspapers, Radio, TV

Tribune creditors seek information on buyout

By Associated Press

Attorneys for creditors who oppose the Tribune Co.’s proposed reorganization plan are seeking more information related to the 2007 leveraged buyout that left the media conglomerate saddled with debt. Get the full story »

« Newer Entries
Older Entries »