Court lifts stay
on FCC ownership rule
Other shorts: Healthcare vote delivers for cable news
By Louisa Ada Seltzer
Mar 24, 2010
Court lifts stay on FCC ownership rule change
Back in the 1970s, before there was such a thing as the internet, the Federal Communications Commission thought it wise to restrict newspaper companies from buying TV stations in the same markets, fearing that it would create monopolies over the news and silence opposing views. These are different times, and many would like to see those rules eased. It may now happen, finally. A federal appeals court has decided to lift a stay on a 2007 FCC rule change allowing newspaper companies to buy TV stations in the top 20 markets, as well as in smaller markets where there was no worry of creating news monopolies. The court has lifted the stay as it considers challenges to the FCC rule change by both sides of the issue. In theory the court’s ruling could open up a flood of cross-ownership deals, though it would seem unlikely in the present media climate where both newspaper and TV owners are struggling so. At some point, the court, the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia, will rule on the legality of the FCC rule change, but in the meantime the FCC will be reviewing its own position on the ownership issue, and it’s a good bet that the agency, now controlled by Democrats, will back away from the 2007 rule change and decide that the old cross-ownership ban should remain in place after all.
Healthcare vote delivers viewers for cable news
Sunday night’s U.S. House of Representatives vote on healthcare reform was must-see-TV for cable news viewers. Fox News Channel led the big three cable news networks with 965,000 primetime viewers 25-54 on Sunday night, up 37 percent from the 705,000 viewers it averaged in the demo for the entire week. CNN averaged 637,000 25-54s that night, up 181 percent from its 227,000 viewer weekly average, while MSNBC averaged 315,000 25-54s, up 39 percent from 226,000 for the week. The big night helped two of the three networks to significant week-to-week gains in primetime among the 25-54 set; FNC was up 27 percent and CNN was up 40 percent, with MSNBC up a slight 1 percent. Meanwhile, in other cable ratings, ESPN’s “SportsCenter” averaged 601,000 total viewers on Sunday from 6:56 to 8 p.m., up 19 percent from the same night last year thanks to the network’s five-minute interview with Tiger Woods. Golf Channel also scored an interview with Woods, averaging 150,000 total viewers from 7:30 to 8 p.m., up 168 percent from 50,000 viewers in the 7-8 p.m. timeslot on the same night a year ago.
Bum Rush: Site raises $ to send talker to Costa Rica
If Rush Limbaugh is going to fly off to Costa Rica, he ought to at least fly first class, and now he’ll be able to do just that. A group of non-Rush fans set up a fund-raiser of sorts after Limbaugh vowed to flee to Costa Rica if the Obama administration succeeded in getting a health care reform measure through Congress. The purpose of the fundraiser: to raise money to buy Limbaugh a one-way ticket at a cost of just under $1,200. It was done through the web site ATicketForRush.com, and it claims it raised the money in just 18 hours. The drive has been so successful that the site is now collecting money to cover Limbaugh’s moving expenses, rent on an apartment and Spanish lessons, assuming the No.1 conservative radio talker is not fluent in that tongue. As of this morning the site had raised $2,201. If Limbaugh should turn down the ticket, apartment, moving expenses and Spanish lesson, the site says it will donate the collected funds to Planned Parenthood.
Upfront update: A 'Slightly Off' IFC lineup
Should IFC stand for Increasing Funny Content, rather than Independent Film Channel? That's what it sounds like based on the network's upfront presentation yesterday. IFC is putting a greater focus on comedic shows, including a slate of expanded originals led by the scripted show "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret," from former "Arrested Development" actors David Cross and Will Arnett, which premieres this fall. Under the new tagline "Always On. Slightly Off.," signaling that the network will still embrace its off-kilter indie roots, IFC will also introduce a half-hour program based on the faux newspaper The Onion called "Onion News Network." It's the first time the paper has ventured into television. Other new series include the Kids in the Hall reunion "Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town" and "Dead Set," a satire about the U.K. edition of "Big Brother." The shows should play well to IFC's viewer base, which is 70 percent male. The network has also placed six shows in development, including "I Love the A.D.'s," in which animated biblical characters interact with a slacker-esque Jesus.
Programming notes: 'Scrubs' may be scrubbed
It appears ABC’s “Scrubs” will finally scrub out, at least according to erstwhile star Zach Braff. On his Facebook page Braff posted, “It appears that 'New Scrubs,' 'Scrubs 2.0,' 'Scrubs with new kids,' 'Scrubbier,' 'Scrubs without JD' is no more. It was worth a try, but alas ... it didn't work. Zb,” although ABC has yet to officially confirm the news. But it wouldn’t be a surprise considering how low ratings have been for the ninth season. The series’ past two episodes have combined to average a 1.4 rating among viewers 18-49 in the Wednesday 8 p.m. timeslot, according to Nielsen, even worse than previous timeslot occupant "Hank," which was canceled. Meanwhile, in other programming, CBS’s “Two and a Half Men” will produce a total of 22 episodes this season rather than 24 as originally planned, due to star Charlie Sheen’s rehab stint. On cable, Spike TV will premiere the second season of “Deadliest Warrior” on April 20 at 10 p.m., with a season-one recap episode airing at 8:30. In July TLC will roll out “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta,” which will follow the goings on at Bridals by Lori in Atlanta. And HBO has picked up a second season of “The Ricky Gervais Show,” even though season one has averaged just 180,000 viewers per episode. The show takes Gervais’ podcast recordings and adds animation to them.
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