Nielsen: Social networking ranks No. 4 on web
The dramatic rise of social networking means that in a few short years social networks and blogs have become the fourth-most-popular online activity, passing personal email, according to a new study from Nielsen. What’s more, the amount of time that surfers are spending on these sites is still growing at a rapid pace. Last year, the category grew three times faster than the rate of growth for the internet overall. Now 67 percent of the global online population visits what Nielsen calls the member communities category, which includes social networks and blogs. It is growing twice as fast as the other major categories, passing email and now only ranking behind search, portals and PC software. Facebook, says Nielsen, is now the world’s most popular social network and is visited by 30 percent of people online each month across the nine markets that Nielsen tracks.

Sign of the Times: Paper sells its offices
The New York Times has a new owner – at least, its Manhattan headquarters does. The newspaper company, which like many across the country has struggled during the recession, is selling off $225 million worth of space in its downtown office building to W.P. Carey & Co., with plans to lease it back. The money raised will go to paying down the company’s more than $1 billion debt and building up its cash cushion, after it was forced to suspend its dividend and take a $250 million loan from billionaire Carlos Slim Helú just in the past few months. NYT Co. is still looking for a buyer for the Boston Red Sox to free up even more cash. After a decade, the Times will have the option of buying back the space, leading Times leadership to “characterize the agreement more as a loan secured by the building, than a real estate transaction,” according to a story in today’s Times.

Burns’ General Motors sponsorship stalls out
Tiger Woods isn’t the only one being cut loose by struggling General Motors. The car company also has elected not to renew its sponsorship of PBS filmmaker Ken Burns, one of the country’s foremost documentary makers, according to a report in the Detroit News. GM has been underwriting his films for more than a decade, but “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” premiering this fall, will be the last in that 10-movie deal. GM had footed some 35 percent of Burns’ bills and also pushed educational outreach for the films. Though GM apparently made the decision last year, it has just now become public. It comes at a time when the automaker, reportedly on the brink of bankruptcy, is cutting back all sorts of marketing. It sat out the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards and last year ended a sponsorship deal with Woods, the world’s best golfer.

Programming shorts: Disney readies ‘Jonas’ preview
Disney Channel is about to combine the talents of actors from three of its series, with a dash of The Jonas Brothers thrown in. The cable network next month will premiere the original movie “Hatching Pete,” which stars Jason Dolley from “Cory in the House,” Mitchel Musso from “Hannah Montana” and Tiffany Thornton from “Sonny with a Chance.” But here’s the part tweens will really tune in for: During the movie the network will also air clips of Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas giving a tour of the set of their upcoming comedy “Jonas,” as well as preview of the upcoming Disney/Pixar movie “Up.” “Hatching Pete” premieres on April 24 at 8 p.m. Meanwhile, in other programming, Adult Swim plans to roll out “The Mighty Boosh” on March 29 at 1 a.m., after acquiring all three seasons of the British comedy. Sundance Channel on April 21 will premiere the third season of “The Green,” a block of programming dedicated to the environment. At 9 p.m. the network will premiere the series “Eco-Trip: The Real Cost of Living” and “Carbon Cops,” as well as the documentary “Flow: For the Love of Water.” Finally, Turner Classic Movies will celebrate its 15th anniversary throughout the year with a slew of “TCM Spotlights” and guest presenters. “TCM Spotlight” will look at Latin filmmakers in May and Hollywood’s greatest directors in June, while later this year Warren Beatty will present a special on “Dick Tracy.”