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Jim Spanfeller, founding publisher of Yahoo! Internet Life, has found a new job. Spanfeller has been named CEO of Forbes.com and executive vice president of electronic publishing for Forbes' publishing division, a newly created position. He replaces Jeff Killeen as CEO. Killeen has stepped down from the position but remains on Forbes' board of directors. Spanfeller, 44, joined Forbes just before the holidays as head of new media. Previously, he served as president of Ziff Davis Media's Consumer Magazine Group. He was forced out by Ziff Davis Media’s new CEO and president Jim Dunning this September, soon after the company reorganized its magazine portfolio.
Last bodies appear to be scooting APB
Could it be that APBnews.com, the Rasputin of dying dot.coms, has finally breathed its last? Just two weeks after putting down rumors about the company's long-overdue demise, executive editor Hoag Levins resigned yesterday. "Future histories of the early days of Internet publishing will surely include APB as an important footnote," wrote Levins in a memo announcing his departure. Managing editor Ed Levine, whose Dec. 15 memo prompted the earlier reports of APB's end, also resigned yesterday, as did staff writer Seamus McGraw. The company's death scene has now dragged on since June, when mass layoffs accompanied the revelation that APB had run out of money. The site was then acquired by SafetyTips.com for $950,000, and has been operating with a skeleton staff ever since.
FCC clears Azteca's LA station deal
Azteca America has cleared an important hurdle as it prepares for its spring launch. The new Spanish-language network, a joint venture between Pappas Telecasting and Mexico’s Television Azteca SA, has been given final approval from the FCC to build a TV station in Los Angeles. The new station, channel 54 on the dial, will be called KIDN-TV. Having a Los Angeles station was part of Azteca’s launch strategy and was seen as essential to the fledgling network, which will launch in 14 markets, including Miami, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Francisco. Los Angeles is the country’s top Hispanic market. Azteca will be the fourth Spanish-language TV network in the country after Univision, Telemundo and the newer Hispanic Television Network, which launched in Feb. 2000.
ABC rides high on college pigskin power
The Sugar Bowl college football game on ABC dominated the ratings on Tuesday up against mostly repeats as the networks sit back in preparation for midseason. The network won every half-hour in households and adults 18-49. Ratings peaked at 9:30 p.m. with a 13.6 household rating and 20 share. On the West Coast, ABC’s lineup also consisted of repeats of its usual lineup of "Millionaire," "Dharma," and "Geena." ABC averaged a 12.7/20 among households and averaged a 7.6 adult 18-49 rating, based on preliminary Nielsen data. CBS, meanwhile, had an 8.3/17 and a last place 3.4 adult 18-49 rating with repeats of "JAG" and "Judging Amy. The network lost some steam at 9:00 p.m. in households with an original episode of "60 Minutes II" though. That’s when it faced a repeat of "Frasier" on NBC, which scored the second-highest rating for the night with a 9.3/14. NBC averaged a third place finish with a 7.3/11 and a 4.1 adult 18-49 rating. Fox tied NBC among the younger demo but finished last with a 5.0/8 with repeats of its younger-skewing "That 70s Show," "Titus," and "Dark Angel." This followed a rockin' New Year's Day for ABC, which easily won the night of Jan. 1 with coverage of college football bowl games. Repeats of CBS's Monday night comedies held the second place position for the network, while the reappearance of "Mysterious Ways" on NBC helped that network finish third overall. Reruns of "Boston Public" and "Ally McBeal" dropped Fox to fourth. On New Year's Eve, Fox's repeats fared better, with "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill" winning the night among adults 18-49 for Fox. CBS won the night among households, despite the best efforts of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" and "Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve" on ABC. The Nielsen overnight household rating and share and adult 18-49 rating for Monday, January 1, were: ABC 11.2/17 and 7.3, CBS 7.9/12 and 4.7, NBC 6.9/11 and 3.7, and Fox 4.8/7 and 3.2. For Sunday, December 31: CBS 6.4/12 and 1.8, ABC 5.9/12 and 4.0, Fox 5.6/11 and 4.5, and NBC 5.0/10 and 2.6.
ESPN sets up an original programming unit
ESPN has established a new unit dedicated to developing more original non-news programming for the Disney-owned cable sports channel. The unit, to be called ESPN Original Entertainment, will generate movies, game shows, documentaries and lifestyle shows, according to the Hollywood Reporter. EOE’s first product will be "The Life," a show about the homes and lifestyles of athletes, based on a section in ESPN The Magazine. "The Life" debuts Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. and will be rerun at 4 p.m. the same day as well as several times weekly on ESPN 2.
Bid-athon for chance to appear on 'Incorrect'
Ever get the urge to shout down the panelists on one of those political talk shows? Well, get your credit card out: Beginning Jan. 12, fans of "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher" will be able to bid for a chance to appear on the show as a guest panelist as part of a charity auction conducted jointly by ABC Television, eBay and Walt Disney Internet Group. The bidding, which will take place on www.abctvauctions.com, runs through Jan. 22, with the highest bidder winning transportation for two to Los Angeles, a two-night hotel stay and a $500 appearance fee, not to mention the chance to challenge Maher in person on his libertarian views at the Feb. 1 taping. "I'm expecting either a wealthy fan or Ross Perot," said Maher in making the announcement. Proceeds of the auction will go to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
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