Archives 2003

• Online retail begins to look like offline
  New media: With sales jump, price-cutting and poorer service

• The real challenge of Everyday Food
  Magazines: It's not Martha's rap but much larger competitors 

• 'Abby,' when trying hard isn't enough
  TV review: Promising UPN sitcom drowns in bad one-liners

• TeleFutura, 1 year old, finds its legs
  Television: Schedule jiggered to complement Univision's

• Fore! The latest on golf course ads
  Out of home: Cart screens allow targeted messages to players

News Shorts
Pigskin playoffs propel Fox to the top
Networks crank up the weirdness with new shows
ABC still holding second-half Super Bowl spots
Will Willow join exit-door conga line at CNN?
Rates up, new subscribers down for cable in 2003
GQ's Cooper: Did I mention I lost some weight?

People
Us Weekly taps seven new staffers
Christopher Baum named travel advertising director at New Yorker
Dan Rutherford promoted to Kiplinger.com editor
Tia Williams joins Teen People as beauty director
Nina Willdorf new assistant lifestyle editor at Worth
Astrologer Sydney Omarr dead at 76
Former St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Gregory B. Freeman dead at 46
Former Albuquerque Journal editor Gerald J. Crawford dead at 70
'Joe Millionaire' star has money woes
'King of Queens' co-star finds love match

Tuesday, January 7, 2003

• For the networks, an anxious midseason
  Television: Slew of new shows to combat a slump in ratings

• Tough market for EMAP's Q
  Magazines: Hot Brit music could be swamped in U.S. bid

• Big stink over CBS hillbilly reality series
  Television: Rural activists: Don't you dare pick on our folk

• Holiday surfers were cloud worriers
  New media: Traffic was off, except to the Weather Channel

• Web flotsam of 2002 worth pondering
  Commentary: Odd items on junk mail, ecommerce and ad $s

Web Shorts
Student accused of stealing DirecTV secrets
Tech spending outlook gloomy for 2003
Poll: Internet users want spam outlawed
Ask Jeeves waves bye-bye to banners

People
Patricia Liguori named vice president of research for ABC Owned Television Stations
Maria Francisca Rocha joins People en Espaol as fashion and beauty editor
Tony Pederson, executive editor, retires from Houston Chronicle
Barbara Seerman named music business development director at Relix
David Batterson named associate editor of Palm Springs Life
David Shipley rises to op-ed editor at New York Times
Christine Kay is new deputy op-ed editor at New York Times
Catherine Gale rises to managing director of DraftWorldwide's Asia Pacific region
James Peters and Graham Fordyce join DraftWorldWide Asia Pacific region management team
Robert DeBitetto becomes head of programming at A&E Network
Nancy Dubuc becomes vice president of documentary development at A&E
Christopher Reeve will teach new Superman old tricks
Rick Schroder 'Scrubs'down for guest appearance
Wesley Snipes lends star power to 'Bernie Mac'
British cameraman assaulted during reality show filming



Wednesday, January 8, 2003

• Courtroom catfight over 'Survivor' ripoff
  Television: ABC: 'Celebrity' is original enough. CBS: Get real.

• Networks trim away age lines
  Research: Audience drops to 44.7 years in fourth quarter

• Female Entrepreneur, for power women
  Magazines: Question: Has this title's time come and gone?

• Football's amazing restorative powers
  Broadcast recap: Great ratings pepper-upper for ABC and Fox

• In this lull, a stellar 'Dead Zone'
  Cable recap: Well-timed second-season premiere is best ever

Web Shorts
Code-breaking Oslo teen not guilty in DVD case
Yahoo reaches 2 million paid subscriber mark
Britain warns parents of internet pedophiles
Study: Republicans vote more than Dems (online)
Seaside city goes wireless to attract tourists
Sick of sharing the beach? Buy this island!

People
Lisa Weaver rises to general manager/executive director of Wilkins Media
Carolyn Wall, Matt Ryan, Reggie Lucas and Mark Graham form Quintacom
Frank Rich promoted to associate editor at New York Times
Monica Thomas named Midwest co-manager at Traditional Home
Terrell Holmes joins UNreal Marketing Solutions as media account supervisor
Keli Lee rises to senior vice president of casting at ABC Entertainment Television Group
Barbara Banda, Cathy Leibowitz and Mary Tricoli named group managers at Eagle Television Sales
Maureen Walsh new director of strategic marketing at Adlink
Howell getting hitched: NYT boss proposes
Hollywood's worst dressed: Cable stars Anna Nicole, Kelly top list
'Once and Again' star tapped to play serial killer
It's a girl for 'Scrubs' star and producer husband
Aimee Osbourne to take center stage, briefly

Thursday, January 9, 2003

• Imagining a Saturday Wall Street Journal
  Newspapers: Nifty idea, sure, but is it real or just Times envy?

• Few magazines will win rate hikes
  Buyers retain clout: Unless you're hot you're not

• 'High School Reunion,' reality most steamy
  Television: WB may have found secret to school days genre

• Sniff! Chilly fall for soap operas
  Television: Only 'General Hospital' and 'Passions' are up 

• What do you trust? Not the internet.
  New media: Traffic may be up but most still antsy about buying

Web Shorts
Aiming at Microsoft, Apple debuts new products
Xbox Live tallies initial sales of 250,000
Charges against school-dissing teen dropped
For long trips and quiet kids, it's DirecTV for cars
Holiday-connected internet use increases

People
Longtime White House reporter Sarah McClendon dies at 92
Joanne Howery new managing editor of Alive
Kathy Nenneker becomes editor of New Parent
Hank Ratner upped to Cablevision vice chairman
Richard J. Kosinski joins Forbes.com as regional sales manager
Linda Yaccarino rises to general manager of TBS and TNT sales
Keith Bowen rises to SVP of national accounts for TBS and TNT sales
Trish Frohman get new duties as SVP of Turner sports sales
Chris Eames to Turner's SVP of sales, marketing and promotion
Terry Balagia joins Fox as creative marketing chief
Betsy Bergman ups to vice president of affiliate relations and advertising at Universal Domestic Television
Fox's Bernie Mac signs movie deal

Friday, January 10, 2003

• Nielsen breaks Boston revolt
  Television: Signs ABC affiliate to local people meter system

• Dandy '02 for some magazines 
  Ad recession? Real Simple's ad pages up 68%

• AMC's tricky reinvention
  Television: From old movies to all things movies is working

• Killing time for syndie's young
  Television: After 'Dr.Phil,' there's a rising stack of body bags 

• 'The It Factor,' done gone Hollywood
  TV review: And it works, too. Better-focused second season. 

Web Shorts
New sites add dimension to chat experience
FTC: E-auction hoaxes are skyrocketing
Online banking surges, especially in Europe
EBay jet pack sellers demand no-fly promise
Flat-panel displays in demand for LCD monitors
London school combats teasing with eye scans

People
Albie Hecht named president of The New TNN
Steve Jones upped to ABC News vice president and general manager of radio
'The Surreal Life' a little less surreal without two has-beens
Rupert Everett gets NBC pilot
Bald and the beautiful: Ving Rhames as Kojak
Former CBS chair Thomas H. Wyman dies at 73

Case quits AOL, avoiding a fight
Besieged chairman: Let's move business ahead. Turner is gracious in victory. Sigh of relief from Time-Warner legions.

Television: Better call him 'Joe Hollywood'
Fox 'Millionaire' hunk is really a star wannabe.
Did we think this expose was coming? yes.

Out of home: Your client on a cuppa joe
New gizmos: Peel-off coupons and scratch-offs

News Shorts
CBS takes Sunday night with grid overtime
NBC will challenge Bowl with 'SNL' special
Comcast teams up for new black cable channel
'Buffy' without Buffy? It's a possibility
'Married...with Children' reunion set for Feb. 16
Ex-AOLer Levin gets urge to diverge from wife

People
John Miller leaves '20/20' for LAPD
George Solomon, Washington Post sports editor, retires
Steve Harvey in talks to return to WB
'Gilmore Girls' to spin off guy
USA hopes to cast new 'Baretta'
UPN model show taps judges
Yasmine Bleeth details coke addiction in Glamour
Will McDonough, Boston Globe sports columnist, dies at 67


Tuesday, January 14, 2003

Magazines: March, a journal of young ideas
New Gen Y literary title in the spirit of New Yorker. Of course, we raise the usual questions about how it expects to make money.

News Shorts
'Joe Millionaire' hits the numbers again
CBS takes Sunday night with grid overtime
Judge: 'I'm a Celebrity' is original enough
Fox gets Hilton sister for 'Green Acres' remake
Battle of the sexes on 'Survivor: Amazon'
Much-maligned Voter News Service shuts down

People
John S. Needham is the new head of public affairs at Time Inc.
Chuck Cordray becomes vice president of consumer marketing for TV Guide Publishing Group
Eric Hansen appointed COO of Henninger Media Services
Stacie de Armas rises to Arbitron's director of Hispanic marketing services
Janet McKevitt becomes Outside's executive director of travel and sponsorship sales
Colleen Comerford promoted to Wilkins Media Company traffic manager
Betsy Braun named NBC Enterprises' vice president of programming and development
Alan Seiffert named NBC Enterprises' vice president of business affairs
CBS lines up stars for ratings stunts
Matt and Mary come home on 'Seventh Heaven'
James H. Hale, former Kansas City Star publisher, dies at 75

Wednesday, January 15, 2003

Sports TV: As X Games go mainstream, big $s
More advertisers drawn by desired young viewers. Top sponsorships are sold out with three weeks still to go.

Broadcast recap: 'Joe Millionaire' Isn't the only hot new show
Strong debuts as well from 'Bachelorette,' 'Surreal Life,' Star Search' and 'Mister Sterling' . 

Television: ABC's big gamble on Jimmy Kimmel
Is late night ready for this toilet bowl humorist? Do Jay and Dave have much to worry about? 

Web Shorts
New AOL era begins with shakeup, agency firing
IM infection rate could be high in '03
Study: Workers find their news online
At the gym, protecting privates from the public

Thursday, January 16, 2003

Television: Plunk! Free fall for the Osbournes
Like a sack of rocks for MTV family soap opera. America sniffs and moves on. Could it be overexposure, per chance? 

TV review: 'Queens Supreme,' case dismissed
Silly, dull mess of a show, a real talent-waster. Goofy Kelley-style  touches. Did we really need to know about that severed member?

News Shorts
'Bachelorette' sweeps Wednesday for ABC
Slow-building '24' wins Tuesday for Fox
ABC's Lyne: Our reality habit is under control
Fashion mag accused of body swapping
'Married Man' gets the boot from HBO
Tom Cruise: Judge says I'm straight, so pay up

People
William Li appointed New Yorker advertising director
Richard Stengel new nation editor at Time
Belinda Luscombe new arts editor at Time
Edward Lewis and Arthur Cooper to receive magazine lifetime achievement awards
Gary M. Singer named Rodale women's publishing group senior director of finance
Susannah Pask tapped as W Jewelry publisher
New at Working Mother: Susan Lapinski named executive editor, Jolie Solomon named deputy editor and Rachel Deahl named editorial assistant
Daniel Franklin becomes Economist's 'The World in .' editor
CaroleAnne Dolan steps down at A&E
Erica Conaty becomes Bravo marketing and communications director
Salaam Coleman Smith appointed E! Networks vice president of programming
Andrea Mergentime named senior vice president of marketing and client relations at PROMAX/BDA
Guest stars abound on 'Seventh Heaven'
Melissa Joan Hart is getting hitched
Police officer rescues David Brinkley from fire

Friday, January 17, 2003

New media: Minus AOL, web advertising blossoms
One forecast sees it growing by 7.4% in 2003. This 
may be the year that becomes the year of the internet, at last.

TV review: ''Mister Sterling,' hats off to you
'West Wing' wannabe is strong in its own right, a political story
that has actors and even a plot and not a whiff of reality anywhere

Commentary: How I learned to stop worrying . . .
and love ad zapping. It's here. So grow with it.
By Carla Sarett and Robin Broitman

Web Shorts
AOL must shape up or click out of merger
Booming Yahoo will bloom bigger this year
DirecTV's fortunes up in '02 but will fall in '03
Lindows targets schools to expand brand
Why WiFi? So Canadians can surf from anywhere
Lycos surfers give Atkins, Pilates thumbs-up

Tuesday, January 21, 2003

Syndication
Slim pickings in new syndie shows
Fewer offerings from fewer studios, for a new low. Well, of course, there is Ellen DeG and Sharon Oz.

Sports TV
Cold comfort for Yankee fans
YES-Cablevision standoff going into second year. 3M NY-area customers won't see games

Television
TNN's quest for the lost boys 
Target: TV's elusive young men. Can it be done? Will they commit? Can they commit? Wrestling won't be enough.

New media
For Kazaa, bad press is good press
Traffic swells from record industry suit to shut it. Audience is up 15 percent, and it now reaches10 percent of the web universe 

Out of home
Stuff your client in a fortune cookie
Must-read ad messages after a Chinese dinner. A perfect time too, with New Year celebrations.

Commentary
Thinking beyond reach and frequency
Try it. Consider the fit with the vehicle's values.
What really matters is whether your message is compatible. 
By Robert Passikoff

News Shorts
Joe Millionaire' blows off NBC's Monday lineup
Pigskin playoff sails past Golden Globes
Shoved out, IHT chairman blasts NY Times
Fox will get the jump on fall with summer rollouts
Riordan's new L.A. weekly set for June launch
Fox hit with ageism suit over 'American Idol' rules
Report: Stossel will follow Miller at '20/20'
Two more years for record-setting 'Simpsons'
Zucker: 'Friends' ends after season 10, honest

Web Shorts
San Francisco bars the way to Segway scooters
Music industry gives it away to fight free sites
Jailed hacker returns to internet after eight years
Child internet porn punishment lax in Ireland
Chinese gov't sees bloggers as security threat

People
Material Girl will make her episodic TV show debut
'Everybody Loves Raymond' star teams with shoplifter
Real-life couple feign divorce on screen
'American Idol' host renews radio contract
'Baretta' needs new lawyer
Al Hirschfeld, New York Times artist, dies at 99

Wednesday, January 22, 2003

Sports TV
This Super Bowl could make $ sense
Viewers will watch the ads. They may see the game too.
A hot game could deliver more than buyers bargained for.

Television
Fox: We'll begin our season in summer
Rush to beat new-show clutter of mid-September.
Will it work? Quite possibly. Remember 'Melrose Place?'

Magazines
In tough times, tough go downmarket
How else to explain rise of cheap-living and supermarket title? Actually, there are several ways. Read this story and find out.

New media
Don't kiss off the popup just yet
Power to annoy still sells. Look for smarter use, also  better creative to engage surfers to actually read them.

Moscow letter
American TV big heels to Ruskie boot
Walks as NTV head. His crime: Ratings mongering, Putin alleges. Boris Jordan's
real crime may have been turning profit.

News Shorts
Sockeroo 'American Idol' premiere for Fox
'Joe Millionaire' blows off NBC's Monday lineup
E! mulls reality series about Us Weekly crew
Rumor: No more 'Frasier' after next season
(W)NEW format for station after church sex prank
Murdoch flirts with EchoStar to make GM jealous

Web Shorts
Legitimate e-marketers unite to fight spam
Salon makes freeloaders view even more ads
Verizon ordered to reveal alleged infringer's name
Microsoft, Sun agree to terms for Java inclusion
Adult services king: Early adapters yearn for porn

People
Lisa Donohue and Karen Jacobs rise to EVPs at Starcom U.S.A.
Tony Weisman upped to chief marketing officer at DraftWorldwide Chicago
Valentine J. Zammit named to 24/7 Real Media board of directors
Michelle Balaz rises to Biography's Midwest ad director
Sports announcer Joe Buck to write Sporting News column
Diane Crook rises to Men's Journal advertising director
Neil Viserto joins Adlink as vice president of sports
James Pentz upped to Media Networks vice president of sales
Joel Chiodi promoted to executive director of marketing and promotions at Game Show Network
Kelly Bernstein promoted to manager of marketing and promotions at Game Show Network
Yoram Ezra becomes Tacoda Systems deployment manager

Magazines
Here's how to fix TV Guide
Show readers how to get more from the tube.
Better what-to-watch pieces and reviews.
More entertainment coverage.

Television
Debunking myths about older viewers
You no longer reach them whenever you buy TV.  As networks target younger, they are drifting to shows they can identify with.

Television
As sweeps nears, 
all eyes on Fox
Can it topple NBC? Likely not, but it will be close. Dynamic ratings duo: 'Idol' and 'Joe.'

Broadcast recap
Meet primetime's
real workhorses
Jeer as critics might, these shows pull #s. 'America's Funniest,' 'Cops,' 'Girlfriends' . . . 

Cable recap
Basketball begins to work for ESPN
Clash of titans hots up Lakers-Rockets viewers. Shaq 
disses Yao. Shaq apologizes. Press pumps it up. Fans throng.

News Shorts
'American Idol' whacks Wednesday competition
Sockeroo 'American Idol premiere for Fox
New Fox News host is a different kind of spinner
Founder of gay magazine Out dead at 36
'Surreal World' star: Don't call me a has-been
For the serious auction junkie, 'eBay TV'

Web Shorts
Small e-businesses see big 4Q gains
Microsoft chasing EC deal to avoid long trial
Raider searches outnumber Buc hunts on Yahoo
Study: Email use helps nonprofits' cash appeals
Chancellor steals shirt of your back in new game

People
Paul Wang joins ABC as vice president of marketing
Geoff Calnan joins ABC as vice president of on-air promotion
William P. McDonald named New York Times deputy culture editor
Jodi Kantor named New York Times Arts & Leisure editor
Terry Eberle joins Florida Today as executive editor
TiVo president Morgan Guenther quits
Glenn Reynolds becomes MSNBC weblogger
Media Rating Council elects new executive committee
'Lord' star goes behind 'Angel' camera
Derek Osenenko moves to Cherry Hill Courier-Post as executive editor
Newsweek senior editor Sarah Pettit dies at 36

Thursday, January 23, 2003

New media
America's growing web dependence
It's now often the first stop for news and information.
What's surprising: How quickly this reliance has developed.

Magazines
The other hot lads magazine, FHM
Proof there's room for more than Maxim. Yes, young men will and do read. Just keep it short.

TV review
'24,' simply
the  best show on TV
Try the adjectives: Brilliant, daring, shocking . . . Need we say more? Yes.

TV review
'Miracles' will need a few to survive
Good touches, but ABC spooker needs a star. Where
is David Duchovny, an actor who could underplay a part? 

Magazines
Docs: Our quotes were cooked in Rolling Stone
Say 'bug chaser' HIV story is a work of fiction. Story claims
 fourth of gay men who contract AIDS do so intentionally.

News Shorts
NBC and CBS tie in 18-49s on scrappy Thursday
'American Idol' whacks Wednesday competition
Last-minute skinny on Super Sunday spots
Kimmel: I don't wanna be a Letterman wannabe
Jerry Springer, U.S. Senator? It could happen
Dobbs' wife didn't know she was packing heat

Web Shorts
Registration required at paper sites; readers shrug
Court finds AOL not liable for 'hostile codes'
FTC: Internet is scam central, so be careful
Amazon posts net profit for quarter, maybe year
Father-son bonding movie uses virtual casting

People
Cathy Cavender, former Rosie editor, heads list of new Lifetime magazine hires
Olivia Monjo new Women's Day special interest publications editor in chief
Marsha Greenberg named marketing director for Fast Company
RIAA head Hilary Rosen to resign
Karlene Lukovitz becomes BPA's vice president of communications
Stephanie Aaronson named Hallmark Channel director of corporate communications
Amber Williams rises to Hallmark Channel manager of network program publicity
Alison Bourke becomes IFC Television director of original programming
'SNLer' gets own NBC show
You won't believe what 'Joe Millionaire' said
Former 'Gimme a Break' star Nell Carter dies at 54

Monday, January 27, 2003

Sports TV
Major eyeballs
for Super Bowl
Game averaged 43.8 household rating and 62 share. But viewer falloff hurt 'Alias' airing. 

Research
More Hispanics but harder to reach
Greater diversity and moving into smaller markets. 
Too, more bilinguals. Do you target by language or culture? 

Out of home
Soon, your client on digital billboards
Hot stuff this is: Full-size live posters on highways. Change messages when you please. Follow folks to work and back.

Web Shorts
Weekend's worm slows internet, cripples S. Korea
Peer-to-peer sites proliferate by 300 percent
Lawyer sues eBay after being told 'Get a life'
European e-commerce rockets in fourth quarter
Poll: Zebras had toughest job at Super Bowl

Tuesday, January 28, 2003

Sports TV
Now the real score: The top ads     
Tivo: Reebok No. 1 fav, Bud takes 5 of top 10. Note to media buyers: Top three aired in the second half.

Television
Hewitt: My '60 Minutes' are up
Producer's exit eases way for younger makeover. Can it ever be hip again?

News Shorts
Weak debuts for ABC's 'Veritas' and 'Miracles'
Marines: No special treatment for 'Idol' contender
Kimmel smoothes out bumpy debut with booze
Mom killers copied technique from 'Sopranos'
Tug-of-war over 'Showtime at the Apollo'

Web Shorts
Did debilitating worm originate in Asia?
Gulp! Big MSN marketing push was for naught
Advertisers salivate as more Hispanics get wired
Panicked music retailers form online trinity
INS terrorist-fighting measures get hacked

Wednesday, January 29, 2003

Television
NBC's sweeps plan: Scratch & hiss
Big three competitors are eating at its 18-49 lead. What to do? Longer 'Friends," realities and drug lord saga 'Kingpin.'

Cable recap
'South Park,' make room for 'Chappelle'
Socko satirical sketchman on Comedy Central. Blind white supremacist who's black.

TV review
'War Stories,' NBC's terrific, terrifying movie
Well-told, gripping story of reporters in combat
It's on tonight, coming with praise from our Dan Jewel.

Web Shorts
Video game sales jump to all-time high in '02
AOL users vote Ozzy, Terry Tate Bowl's best
Microsoft: You should've downloaded our patch
Court finds London cafe violated copyright laws
Amazon to stick with free shipping for $25 or more

Thursday, January 30, 2003

Sports TV
Super Bowl: Where the boys were
Say what you want about the game but ABC can brag that it upped the count of young men and also of women viewers

TV review
'Dragnet,' againstv the odds, it works
O'Neill pulls off a solid Joe Friday. Al who? Great TV, no, but good TV

News Shorts
NBC's 'War Stories' takes a direct hit
Bush speech fails to halt 'Idol's' momentum
'Joe Millionaire' lass starred in fetish flicks
MTV searches for top street basketball stars
Rap mags The Source and XXL cross swords

People
Tim Cadogan heading Yahoo search options
Roger Marmet becomes TLC general manager
Kelley lashes out at ABC: They're killing 'Practice'
John Ritter wil host TV Land Awards

Conglomerates
Coming rumble for control of AOL
Bet your boots Ted will rally pals for takeover. Spring assault.
Do we see the demise of the Time Warner guard? Perhaps.

Television
For sweeps, ABC's reality quick-fixes
Duct tape for hole-full schedule. Could take No. 1. Romp of has-beens in the rough (right).

New media
Growing case for web ad dayparts
Reaching the right folks when they are most open. OJ in the morning, beer at night. What could make more sense?

News Shorts
NBC walks off with first night of sweeps 
NBC's 'War Stories' takes a direct hit
Michael Jackson is focus of two sweeps specials
Clear Channel chief disputes monopoly tag
Gear founder Guccione will host music show
Study: Strict TV watching rules make teens rebel

People
Randy Falco rises to NBC group president
Peter Finch leaving SmartMoney
Erica S. Kasel to Departures magazine marketing director
John F. Hardman rises to SVPof Kids' WB!
Deirdre O'Grady is TWC Media Solutions' new VP of pricing and operations
Robin Schwartz becomes ABC Family Channel VP of programming
Damon Wayans turns scribe for ABC
NBC: Billy's the brilliant Baldwin. Hmm.
It's a girl for 'Providence' star

Monday, February 3, 2003

Magazines
TV Guide's new editor: Mike LaFavore
Founding Men's Health editor beats out ex-EW top pencil Jim Seymore to lead turnaround. We have some advice for Mike. 

Research
Upon discovering
radio has bumps
 Arbitron finds listening jumps with news flashes.
 Or when Pamela Anderson is appearing on Howard Stern.

Out of home
Your client up side a cop car
Yeah, and it's legit. Cities, needing $s, are putting advertising on the sides of their police vehicles.

News Shorts
'Kingpin' tops Sunday but nipped at by 'Dragnet'
Levin speaks, dissing Case and AOL-ers
Ex-Time columnist tagged as Ann Landers heir
MTV says sorry for Gandhi clone cartoon
New Arab news channel will offer rival viewpoint
Study: TV's messages not lost on infants

Web Shorts
Bad Taste Dept.: eBay zaps shuttle parts auction
Security experts: Microsoft really blew this one
Laid off CNET employees: Bid on us, please
Papers snookered by GOP dirty tricks letters

Television
Hour may be here for Headlines News
Repositioned to snag younger, casual viewers with shorter, chatty segments. This ratings laggard will be off to war too.

TV review
'Kingpin,' little bada, less bing
Full of sound and fury, 
signifying lots of imitation

New media
The graying of online job seekers
Almost half are 35 to 54. A third make over $75K. Traffic's
way up, with Monster controlling a huge share of the market.

Web Shorts
Cheating students busted for cell text messaging
Vatican searches for patron saint of internet
Wary taxpayers in seasonal surge to prep sites
EBay seller busted for pushing poppy pods
No Olsen action for e-spooked Midwest schools

Wednesday, February 5, 2003

Conglomerates
Ted: I don't got the jack for CNN
In mega-mouth-off, Turner says he can't buy back news
network. Rips CNN-ABC deal. Reveals spanking his father.

TV review
'A.U.S.A,' in need of a good scrub(s)
Canned laughter drowns sitcom's  stale script.  'Scrubs' creator needed here.

Cable recap
'Patriot' wins
hearts on war's eve
TBS scores with Gibson film, even 
among young. Wins last week in households.

News Shorts
ABC Tuesday lineup tanked by reality shows
Fox noses out with 'Joe,' as CBS and NBC duke
Cablevision & YES negotiate like grownups. Not.
Study finds more and safer sex in primetime
CNN tops Fox in Columbia coverage ratings
Snubbed, Kelley takes aim at ABC and 'Dragnet'
WB shifts around 'Sabrina' and 'Jamie Kennedy'
Correction: Examiner's Layne is a newspaperman

Web Shorts
ISPs grasp for ways to hold onto subscriber bases
Web security has shown few improvements
Sotheby's bows to eBay for online auctions
Japanese eagerly await mobile videophones
CNN/SI meets final end with name change

People
J.C. Watts, ex-pol, will pen Sporting News column
Tim Reis rises to president of Forbes custom pubs
John Weisgerber rises to Forbes custom pubs publisher
Jeff Reilly upped to Forbes custom pubs GM
Kari Sagan becomes executive producer of 'Soap Talk'
Colby Jones joins UNreal Marketing as director of media and performance marketing
'Firefly' star gets deal with NBC
Rob Lowe prepares for 'West Wing' exit
'Bachelorette' reject arrested
The butler did it on 'Joe Millionaire'
Angela Lansbury's husband dies at 84

Thursday, February 6, 2003

Magazines
For sale sign
on Seventeen
Hefty list of possible buyers for Primedia title. But only brave should bid. Crowded field ripe for shakeout.

Media Life interview
How consolidation leads to dull TV
MediaCom's Mandel: We must ensure diversity. Group calls for
cap on shows from network shops to protect indie producers. 

News Shorts
ABC Tuesday lineup tanked by reality shows
NBC will air Athens Olympics around the clock
Reality blockbusters bring big ad bucks to Fox
Pay-per-view sance to channel Princess Diana
Hip-hop coalition calls for Pepsi boycott

People
Lance B. Taylor rejoins ABC as SVP of current programming
Tom Tolbert leading ABC's NBA announcing team
Thomas A. Jolly becomes New York Times sports editor
John McAlley and Jay Woodruff rise to Entertainment Weekly assistant managing editors
Courtney A. Lumpkin becomes In Style national correspondent
Willie Wilkov joins DraftWorldwide as vice president/account director
Jeff Evans, Brett Marottoli, Shawn Reed and Jim Urick rising at Starz Encore Group
Louis D. Boccardi retiring as AP CEO
Managing editor Alex MacLeod is leaving Seattle Times
Bruce Raisner rises to NCC VP of customer relations for e-business
Michelle Goyette rises to NCC VP/controller
Peter D'Urso and April Panster join NCC as account executives
'The Bachelor' is a bachelor once again
Paul Newman takes stage to screen
WB says he 'Tarzan'
Halle Berry doing an Oprah thing
'Fear Factor' host eyeing 'Man Show' gig

Friday, February 7, 2003

Magazines
Rosie: We wuz robbed by G+J
Says books cooked to tie her to magazine. Claims secret memo to German command.

TV review
'Dragnet' must escape its history
Few remakes overcome the past. Jack, you there?
Ethan Alter's praise not withstanding, it may be a tough go.

News Shorts
NBC walks off with first night of sweeps 
NBC's 'War Stories' takes a direct hit
Michael Jackson is focus of two sweeps specials
Clear Channel chief disputes monopoly tag
Gear founder Guccione will host music show
Study: Strict TV watching rules make teens rebel

People
Randy Falco rises to NBC group president
Peter Finch leaving SmartMoney
Erica S. Kasel to Departures magazine marketing director
John F. Hardman rises to SVPof Kids' WB!
Deirdre O'Grady is TWC Media Solutions' new VP of pricing and operations
Robin Schwartz becomes ABC Family Channel VP of programming
Damon Wayans turns scribe for ABC
NBC: Billy's the brilliant Baldwin. Hmm.
Its a girl for 'Providence' star

Monday, February 10, 2003

Media economy
War may be heck on media spending
It certainly won't help. Networks will take a hit, and so will newspapers. But the good news: Most $s will return to market. 

Magazines
Ladies' Home Journal takes aim at the heart
Makeover has Mrs. Mom as the center of family relationships. Leaving the sisterhood.

Out of home
Your client on buildings, writ large
Wraps with huge messages (and you can see out). Tall tales indeed.

News Shorts
'Simpsons' takes night from NBC
Wacko Jacko special sweeps night for ABC
Will Buffy pass the stake to Faith in spinoff?
VH1 blames 'Liza and David' meltdown on Gest
Rolling Stone responds to bug chasers imbroglio
New hope for tawdriest reality show ideas
Levins' split leaves Architectural Digest in a bind

People
Sandra J. Sobierai is People's Washington bureau chief
Peter Armour becomes Advance Magazine Group SVP of consumer marketing
John Dioso joins Us as managing editor
John Kline joins Us as deputy managing editor
Tim Andrews leaving Primedia
MC Hammer gets own WB sitcom
Howard Stern's rest stop red flagged

Tuesday, February 11, 2003

Research
Reality's power to wrinkle its foes
Pass the Botox: Viewers age for competing  scripted shows. Youth flight to 'Idol' grays '8 Simple Rules.' No wonder Moonves is moonstruck.

Radio
Among blacks, radio's gaining
Listeners growing in some top urban markets. Arbitron: Great way to move product but you'd better know your stuff.

News Shorts
Mounting #s for Fox's 'Joe Millionaire'
'Simpsons' takes night from NBC
Pepsi sponsors WB game show with $1B prize
Jacko, primed to fire back, backs down instead
Whoa, Dell dude busted for pot possession
Zeta-Jones goes to court over tab's wedding pics
Jordan's farewell sparks best-ever All-Star ratings

People
At Forbes, four promotions: James Berrien to publisher/president,
Sean Hegarty to executive vice president/CFO,
Terrence O'Connor to SVP/general counsel and Scott Masterson to SVP/general manager
Diane Silberstein tapped as Playboy associate publisher for advertising
Philippe Guelton becomes Hachette Filipacchi Media's North America division EVP/COO
Dan Kendall joins Starz Encore Group as DirecTV vice president
At Hearst, three corporate promotions: Howard Grier to associate publisher of marketing,
Rebecca Eldridge to director of marketing and promotion and Erica Linn to New York sales manager
Mary Paris joins MSNBC.com as director of cross-media sales
Thomas Bosco joins MSNBC.com as East and Midwest regional sales director
Willow Bay scooting out of CNN
Will 'Angel' cross over to 'Buffy?'
'MNF's' Al Michaels re-ups with ABC
'Superman' continues small-screen run

Wednesday, February 12, 2003

Television
Sweeps' real star may be the WB 
Tracking big gains in most sought-after viewers. 18-49s ratings up 27 percent and its share up 32 percent.

Television
Fading fortunes for syndie game shows
Lackluster 'Millionaire,' so on to the next big thing. But what will that be? Age-old problem for syndication.

News Shorts
NBC's 'Kingpin' wilting in the heat of sweeps
Mounting #s for Fox's 'Joe Millionaire'
Hackers indicted for stealing satellite TV signals
Real-life hillbillies force change of plans at CBS
Coming: Gay makeovers for straight guys, more
ESPN powder letter not anthrax, just a hoax

People
Keith Olbermann will anchor CNBC/MSNBC Olympic coverage
Gary W. Austin rises to Primedia Consumer Guide division president
George H. Bartman joins DJG Marketing as senior vice president of sales and marketing for Waiting Room Subscription Services
Amy Weber Dice rises to Business 2.0 associate publisher/marketing
Linda Dupree upped to Arbitron's Portable People Meter senior vice president
Susan Parkes becomes House & Garden associate publisher
'Joe' didn't fool this castoff!
'Friends' star takes center stage
Stephen Bochco pilot finds a star

Thursday, February 13, 2003

New media
Yahoo's plunge into premium content
Follows AOL and MSN. Blind leading the blind? Hard to say, but idea of users paying when so much is free has its doubters

Television
History speaks to reality's untimely end
Remember the big game shows? No? Here's why.  Viewers go buggy for a time but lose interest quickly. Attention span: 3 years.

News Shorts
Wednesday's 'Mole' finale bumps ABC to No. 1
NBC's 'Kingpin' wilting in the heat of sweeps
'Idol' tosses contestant with kiddie porn past
Find your mother a mate on new reality show
National 'do not call' list gets OK from Congress
UPN says bye-bye to children's TV block

People
Robert Friedman jumps AOL for Classic Media
Paul Friedman, ABC News No. 2, steps down
Laura Zygaldo rises to Millennium Sales & Marketing manager
Susan Schwartzman joins Spin as fashion and grooming advertising director
Rey del Valle becomes ABC Family Channel VP of finance
Christy Haubegger joins CAA as Hispanic consultant
Matthew Frankel becomes IFC VP of communications
Mimi James named VH1 SVP for talent and creative development
Michael Savage gets MSNBC show
Dana Carvey hawks for Frito Lay

Friday, February 14, 2003

Television
Monday Wacko Jacko schlock-a-thon 
Could this be sweeps? NBC running Jackson nose-pos and ABC re-airing Brit documentary. Will America weary?  

TV review
'Joe Millionaire,' too clever by half
First Fox tricks the women, now the viewers. Bad. But the sleaze, oh, my. . .

News Shorts
New 'Survivor' marches out grandly
Wednesday 'Mole' finale bumps ABC to No. 1
MTV and BET get their war coverage on
'Joe Millionaire': Appearances can be deceiving
Conde Nast ditches plan for new men's mag
A.M. news ratings up, especially for 'Early Show'

People
Lisa Freeman rises to CFM Direct VP of client relations
Andrew Surden rises to CFM Direct senior account supervisor
Shannon Peterson becomes Game Show Network publicity manager
Nikki Lichterman named Game Show Network publicist
Andrew Nigolian joins Starz Encore as VP of account division
No Locklear, no NBC pilot
Country version of 'American Idol' switches hosts
Osbourne brat pulls out of concert
Small-screen bit actor Stacy Keach Sr. dies at 88

Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Television
Yikes! Yet more reality shows birthing
Love's the theme for many--or what passes for it. Or maybe it's just lust. But you be the judge.

New media
Valentine's big wet web smooch
Day of dearest sentiments finds a vital life online. Lots of traffic for flowers, cards and hearts, of course.

News Shorts
Fox's fake 'Joe' puts cleats to surreal Jacko
Simpsons and Bundys help Fox to Sunday win
Left out lefties get their own talk radio network
Saddam boots Fox News crew from Baghdad
Sci Fi dragged to court over alien murder stunt

People
Nancy Silverstone rises to Starz VP of program acquisitions
Fox News reporter Greg Palkot tossed from Iraq
Barbara Walters gets Robert Blake interview
Protesters want to reinstate 'American Idol' porn maven
Dr. Phil will guest on 'Frasier'

Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Television
Fox's great triumph in 'Joe Millionaire'
Season's top show and the network's best ever. Very hot among young women in particular. True love scores $1M.

Magazines
Real Simple soars as Martha stumbles
Time Inc. title's newsstand sales up 20 percent in second-half '02. Dominatrix's magazine slides 22 percent at the stands.

News Shorts
Brutal end for NBC's 'Sopranos'-wannabe 'Kingpin'
ESPN helps out ABC with football game swap
All-star lineup at Grammys' NYC homecoming
Tyson PPV bout is on again, off again, on, off...
Blake blabs to Babs on '20/20' next week
Ailing Reuters commits to massive job chop

People
Tom Halleen to AMC programming and scheduling VP
Four rise at Tribune Media Services: Alexa Bazanos to VP of human resources, Jay Brodsky to VP of technology, Jay Fehnel to VP of business development and Stephen Tippie to VP of marketing
Susan Ollinick becomes Parenting Group's VP of communications
Who's writing the 'Dawson's Creek' finale?
Delta Burke goes southern in 'Sweet Potato Queen'
'X-Files' veteran to play 'Tarzan's' uncle
Comic Doug Stanhope joins 'The Man Show'
Ex-'Ellen' co-star Joely Richardson returns to TV
'Dr. Phil' producer Jeremy Stabile dies at 28

Thursday, February, 20, 2003

The media economy
Upfront-wise, reality will bite
Audience swells for shows like 'Joe Millionaire' won't affect what ad time costs. It's scripted fare buyers bet on. And they will pay.

Ratings recap
Pass the smelling salts.
Conked 'ER.' In matchup, 'CSI' leaves NBC top drama on  the floor. Yet more Thursday night sweats.

TV review
'Alias,' in praise of spy TV done right
ABC deserves credit for standing behind this show, even with its low ratings. Expect to see a third season so we may parse its plots.

News Shorts
ABC's Bachelorette' finale wins but hurt by 'Idol'
Brutal end for NBC's 'Sopranos'-wannabe 'Kingpin'
Pauley bids adieu to NBC and 'Dateline'
Shades of 'Indecent Proposal' in new ABC series
President Bartlet urges: Say no to war
CNN vet Kaplan will run ABC's war coverage

Web Shorts
Report: Attack breaches 5.6M credit cards
Microsoft latest ISP to join anti-spam suit parade
Americans zap French with anti-war e-support
Walmart.com takes pro-Linux stance
Overture picks up AltaVista on the cheap

Friday, February 21, 2003

Conglomerates
CNN's for sale, isn't for sale, is for sale . . .
Who knows? But do know it could be real soon. Viacom's Karmazin rattles media cages with quip: Sure, I'd love to buy it

TV review
'1st to Die' already has
Mark NBC's excruciating three-hour thriller DOA. Bad acting, bad evening.

Commentary
On reaching the antiwar elite
Finding the way: A media planner's challenge. And a bit of Friday whimsy. What do you tell them when you do? 

Web Shorts
Pulling the plug on short-lived AOLTV
California senator proposes outlawing spam
PA cyber law treats non-porn sites as porn
Another Napster lawsuit, this vs. Bertelsmann
Companies not getting the hang of e-service

People
Lisa Karlin named People broadcast correspondent
Robert Russo becomes Cable Center president/CEO
Peter Arnett will cover Iraq for MSNBC's 'National Geographic Explorer'
CBS adds Charlie Sheen to pilot roster
Scott Glenn dabbles in 'Homeland Security'
Mario Van Peebles takes to the 'Street'
Former 'Eight is Enough' child star arraigned
Rebecca DeMornay gets a Fox-y daughter

Monday, February 24, 2003

Newspapers
Death's shadow looms o'er SF Examiner
Staff splashed in move to free daily. Fang dangle. Pondering fate of William Randolph Hearst's first newspaper. Scatter no rosebuds.

Magazines
Randi Mandi in a Hearst launch
Ex-Mlle. editor Norwood hires on for a fashion title. Expect affordable wear for young women.

Media economy
Dour $ outlook for kids upfront
Buyers: But CPMs will be up for leading players. Early deals being done but negotiations will drag well into summer. 

Ratings recap
Fox's rising clout among the young
Sweeps top 10 slots across broadcast and cable. 'Simpsons' specials rank No. 1 and 2  in demos 18-24, 12-24, 9-14 and 2-11 .

Out of home
Put your client on tony shopping bags
What's new: Distribution in hot places like SoHo. Be seen where cool people hang. Snoot appeal.

News Shorts
Even a dull Grammy night can still win primetime
NY Post apologizes for Koufax gay rumor
Court TV OK'd to carry Blake's pre-trial hearing
Emmy dons tweak awards to reflect reality
HotorNot.com guys threaten suit over 'Am I Hot?'

Web Shorts
European broadband #s juiced by online gaming
Coming soon to Everest, a chance to log on
Online sales tax not hurting Wal-Mart's sales
Rabbi nabbed arranging date with underage IMer

People
Initiative Media's Ray Dundas and Peter Butchen rise to SVP group directors of national broadcast
'Bachelor' babe: 'It felt like a bomb dropped'
Dr. Phil's jet-setting ways carry a hefty price tag

Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Magazines
Art Cooper to Si: I believe I'll retire
Longtime GQ editor under pressure from lad titles. 
Also feeling heat from revived Esquire. Was he shoved? 

Magazines
Top editors scoot from Fast Company
Gracious exit from ailing title. Who will step in?
Founders offer help in search. Bad news for G+J. 

Research
Nielsen: We're rolling out the people meter
Will be in LA, New York, Chicago and SF in '04. 
Defeat for Boston broadcast stations, win for media buyers 

New media
Media Metrix: Our #s were, ah, off
Adjusts at-work data, altering some sites' rankings, revising system introduced in November. Art of web guesstimation.

New media
Snow drives users to shovel and surf
Weather.com tracks a 29% traffic jump for week. Parents turn to web for word of warming and lists of cancellations.

News Shorts
Socko debut for CBS's 'Fat Greek Wedding'
Even a dull Grammy night can still win primetime
Saddam challenges Bush to televised debate
Jacko's lawyers in grab for unaired footage
Princess D's gallant sues backtracking Fox News
MTV rapper search sparks Times Square brawl

Web Shorts
Direct marketing group joins anti-spammers
Microsoft ups corporate communications control
Fourth-quarter online sales soar 28.2 percent
Swiss researchers crack email security code
Nielsen//NetRatings will debut new service

People
Diane Rubin becomes Court TV senior trial producer
Deanna Kizis named Elle west coast editor
Michael Spalding named National Geographic Television and Film VP of sponsorship sales
Jason Meil named National Geographic Television and Film VP of program development and sales
Kurt Schneider joins WWE as EVP of marketing
ABC pilot gets its lounge singer
'Dawson' moves to big-screen role
Rob Lowe lands post-'West Wing' gig
'Soup-er' to guest on 'Friends'
On 'Real World,' how low can you go?
Oprah's half-sister dies at 43

Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Television
Fox stomps with first sweeps win
Grabs 18-49s. CBS takes households. Losers: NBC and UPN.
Read along as we review who won what and why. Charts, too.

Television
MSNBC gives Donahue the bounce
Didn't deliver ratings to justify show's high cost. Limousine liberal with a flat tire. Next to face the gong: Jesse Ventura. 

Magazines
Granger's very non-laddy Esquire
Defying the trend, a magazine of the crafted word for men who can read--and do

TV review
'Lone Ranger,' an evening out camping
Real stinker of a movie! Tonto, your knife, please. WB looking to create another 'Smallville.' Boy, oh, boy.

Cable recap
'Stone Cold' kick for TNN wrestling
Ratings leap from mat with Austin's WWE return. Bug-eyed superstar with fan appeal.

News Shorts
'Idol' tops Tuesday on a very competitive night
Socko debut for CBS's 'Big Fat Greek Life'
Southern senator scorches CBS over 'Hillbillies'
'Mr. Personality,' where looks don't mean a thing
Docs: 'CSI' gets it all wrong, spooking patients
Programming revamp and layoffs at CNNfn

Web Shorts
Coming soon, the (legal) return of Napster
AOL to spammers: Prepare to be slammed
Lovegate virus worms way through Europe, Asia
Sony still tops in games console market

People
Erica Alpers joins Child Magazine as Midwest manager
Doug Turshen appointed TV Guide creative director
Joe Cruz becomes Range Online Media online production manager
John Young rises to Stein Rogan + Partners creative director
Randy Charles named Rodale Customer Relationship Marketing Division SVP
Sydney Pollack to host Turner Classic Movies' 'The Essentials'
'Joe' butler returns on 'Anna Nicole Show'
Bye-bye, 'Buffy!'
Heather Locklear lands at NBC after all

Thursday, February 27, 2003

Magazines
Red Herring prepares to close 
Report: Cash-strapped title is peddling circ list
Big publishing houses pass on keeping it alive. Would leave field to Smart Company and Biz 2.0

Television
Say so long to Mr. Rogers
He passes, a cardiganed legend of American TV. We will all miss him. A grand voice of tolerance.

Television
MSNBC's right turn may not hit a wall
Dump the libs. Out-Fox Fox.
Geez, it could work. Why not?

TV review
Don't bet the feta on 'Greek Life'
Great debut, but movie adaptations often stumble.
Let us ponder the history of  hit TV shows from big-screen hits

New media
Blacks play fast catchup with broadband
Big draw is entertainment, which needs speed. 
Six of the top 10 sites for African-Americans offer music and video.  

News Shorts
'Idol' tops Tuesday on a very competitive night
Come fall, 'Joe Millionaire' will try to fool us again
'Buffy's' Gellar: My slaying days are over
Program notes: 'Alias' and '24' return, more
CMJ admits to publishing phony playlists

Web Shorts
Study: Pay sites need free content, too
AOL tells subscribers: Give MusicNet a try
Overture aims at Google, buys another search site
Scientists: Electronic voting isn't problem-free
Male trucker e-poses as incestuous woman

People
P. Thornton Withers rises to Runner's World ad director
Katherine Thorpe becomes Rodale Sports Group Detroit sales representative
Stellene Volandes named Departures Magazine associate editor
Jordan H. Rednor and Steve Gundersen team for Rednor Gundersen Group Ltd.
Mary M. Collins named Broadcast Cable Financial Management Association president/CEO
Tamyra Gray's perfect pitch on 'Boston Public'
'N Sync-er pays a 'Big Fat' visit
Kelly Ripa pops out another kid
Curtains for Evan and Zora?
Another 'Gilmore' guy packs his bags
Showtime to option Richard Pryor's life
Also on Showtime, a cartoon from a 'SpongeBob' veteran
It's magic! JK Rowling to appear on 'Simpsons'
Tom Selleck agrees to 'Touch 'Em' on NBC

Friday, February 28, 2003

Tycoon alert
Some media rich get even richer
Sure, it's been a tough year for Ted, but Oprah and Mike rise on Forbes list of world billionaires. Mort's about flat while Rupert's in a slide.

Television
This sweeps, everyone won something
(UPN excepted.) Come and pore over the final #s.
Looking beyond Jacko and Joe, we see a broadcast surge.

TV review
'Grounded For Life,' a deserved second shot
May it succeed on the WB as it failed on Fox. If not, well, there's always UPN.

Television
Incredibly shrinking kids television
Fewer venues targeting young'uns =higher ad $s. Ratings in tumble.

Television
Grammys' real appeal among young
Snore as you please but kids went, like, nuts. Why?
Lots of rising performers and fewer gray beards of past fame.

News Shorts
CBS takes Thursday against an army of reruns
Babs bombs with '20/20' Blake interview
Donaldson stays put after MSNBC talks fizzle
Men's Health editor Zinczenko caught in the act
Does closet-delving NY Post have a secret?
Oprah will highlight classics with new book club

Web Shorts
Newspaper sites sued for copyright infringement
EBay execs: War would sure be bad for us
Earthlink invites customers to make net calls
Government seizes piracy site, but it's still online
Telemarketers hope to short-circuit the zapper

People
Sherry Grummel named PHD USA VP and local broadcast director
Tami Corbin rises to ABC VP of human resources
Ex BWer Judy Dobrzynski becomes CNBC's managing editor
Editor in chief Herbert G. Klein will retire from Copley Newspapers
J. Curt Hockemeier joins Cedar Point Communications board
'Sex-y' Kim Cattrall splits with husband
So far, so good for 'Bachelorette' pair
'Blue' cop Kim Delaney makes a return
Why Bruce Willis made his 'Late Show' hosting debut
David McCallum will spin off 'JAG'
New David E. Kelley cast comes together
'Push, Nevada' escapee re-signs with ABC
UPN nabs 'Weapon X' lead

Monday, March 3, 2003

Television
The bust-out that is celeb reality
Does it entirely bite? No, but it's mostly ho-hum. ABC jungle romp under-wows.
Yuk in the muck as we watch Alana preening without makeup. 

Sports TV
Learning how to box in Spanish
Split card: Fights on Telemundo, then on NBC. Hispanics love the sport, though it's otherwise KO'd.

Out of home
Your client on unmentionables
Ads on condom wrappers. Target the young. Pass them out in saloons, even on the street.

Web Shorts
Identity theft a concern for online job seekers
Cornell email: Yep, you're in...oops, you're not
MLB.com hopes to goose traffic with free audio
California auctions off confiscated carry-ons

Tuesday, March 4, 2003

Television
At ABC Sports, Katz is out,Bodenheimer's in
ESPN chief's big challenge: Get the Olympics.
All sports now under one guy. Tip: Get along with Wallau.

Magazines
The little magazine that might
Oh, the buzz over The Next American City. A title about urban planning, no less, but from two kids who work the connections.

News Shorts
NBC takes Monday with longer 'Fear' and 'folks'
Big Four split Sunday with strong new shows
September launch for grown-up music magazine
'Dating Game' and 'Newlyweds' revivals on NBC
Ex-Us editor sues Jann over retirement plan
Whoa, Snoop and Ashton get shows on MTV

Web Shorts
SportsLine.com will host NCAA champ sites
Online Brit betting getting big bounce
Yahoo, USA's ad deal promoting 'Monk,' more
Amazon begins peddling domain names
Like, whatever: Microsoft targets young users

Wednesday, March 5, 2003

London
A wounded FT: We will soldier on
Red ink for salmon broadsheet. Sale talk nixed. 'Over my dead body,' says Dame S. Slim consolation: WSJ hurts too.

Broadcast recap
Big fat hit is 'Big Fat Greek Life'
Very fat #s. Top new (scripted) midseason show. Second airing on Sunday off from debut but still very strong.

Television
Whither Bravo under NBC's wing
Risk: Loss of identity to become a re-run mill. But the reward
has been a rise in viewers drawn by the beefed up schedule.

People
Sean Flanagan rises to National Geographic publisher
Lori Cohn becomes Conde Nast Bridal Group's executive beauty editor
Gayle Champagne named James G. Elliott Co. Detroit office manager
Cort Casady and Rich de Michele will executive produce SOAPnet awards
NYT reporter Sheryl WuDunn will host 'Page One'
Melody Hazen rises to Hallmark Channel director of marketing
Nigel Cox-Hagan named VH1 SVP and creative director
Forbes.com's Arik Hesseldahl is web's most wanted
Molly Shannon is 'Cracking Up'
'Cheers' spitfire joins WB's 'Dicks'
Rob Lowe pilot fills out cast
Brian Dunkleman jumps to another talent show
Jack Black signs HBO sitcom deal
It's a boy for Jerry Seinfeld's wife
Teri Hatcher splits with actor husband

Thursday, March 6, 2003

Television
Bubba and Bob doing '60 Minutes'
Two gifted word-slingers will debate
on issues in the news. Hewitt's hurrah.

Sports TV
Arena Football, if you've noticed
Quiet debut on NBC, and not likely ever to roar. But still a strong sport with a real fan base, along with ratings similar to hockey's.

News Shorts
'I'm a Celeb' perks up for its final night, barely
ABC's 'Family' debut tops NBC's new 'Deal'
CBS will carry full Tony Awards show this year
'The Practice' makes the case against reality TV
Saddam's CBS translator used a phony accent
Who do you love, America? Oprah, of course

People
MBA Jungle editor in chief Vince Bielski exits
Scott Garner rises to Disney Channel VP of scheduling and planning
Chris Lacroix rises to Disney Channel VP of marketing
Doug Miller becomes Henninger Media Services sales and marketing director
Linda Gallo joins Rainbow ad sales as VP of Midwest sales
John Faratzis named TNN's 'Slamball' executive producer
John Heilemann and John Batelle will write columns for Business 2.0
Rick Gillis becomes ID Media Chicago SVP director of client services
Serge Schmemann named International Herald Tribune editorial page editor
Andy Richter controls two CBS pilots
'Buffy' actor finds work on CBS
Adam Arkin gets an on-screen wife at NBC
WB fills out two pilot casts
Former 'Spin City' actress becomes NBC marshal

Friday, March 7, 2003

Magazines
Si to Steve: Psst! Let's try our luck again
Conde Nast launching men's shopping guide. So are others, but viability is a big ? Shop till we flop.

TV review
'Oliver Beene,' or 'Malcolm's Wonder Years'
Who says stealing's a bad thing? Not Fox. Though heavy-handed, retro almost works.

Magazines
Meeting celebs on a Red Carpet
A special title for big Hollywood nights:  Hi, Salma, Nicole . . .
Hint: Don't looks for scandals. This is first-name star coverage.

Web Shorts
AOL promises crackdown as spam load doubles
Hackers steal private info on Texas students, staff
TiVo, PBS partner to promote highbrow shows
Court OKs posting sex offender mugs on web
New technology: Testing the anthrax sniffer

Monday, March 10, 2003

Media economy
The big chill: War and ad spending
For marketers, it's begun. When will it all end? Expect deeper cuts, with a lot riding on how the early days of attack turn out.

Interview
Greg Gutfeld ragging on magazine snootery
Stuff's editor cracks nasty about his competitors. Way nasty. Sample: Editors care most about winning awards

Out of home
Your client among the NY limo crowd
Ads on vouchers target big-income executives. Nab the swells on the roll.

News Shorts
Strong Sunday debut for Fox's 'Oliver Beene'
Cablevision and YES await hearing on NJ bill
Mystro TV, AOL's top-secret answer to TiVo
Sohmer, ABC's top ad guy, in quick scoot
Guest host parade as Letterman recuperates
New study connects TV violence to aggression

Web Shorts
OPA: Paid content spending way up in 2002
Another 9/11 will cripple companies, report warns
Record number of eyeballs watching TiVo
New: Buy a computer to match your couch

Tuesday, March 11, 2003

Television
HBO to Tony: Bada-bing to you
In court today to force 'Sopranos'  star to show for new season. About $s

Television
With war, think escapist television
During Vietnam, we had 'The Beverly Hillbillies,' which says loads about the time. Imagining a world that will never be.

News Shorts
NBC takes Monday with super-sized 'Fear Factor'
Strong Sunday debut for Fox's 'Oliver Beene'
DirecTV makes play for Cablevision customers
Coming to TNN: Howard Stern, the early years
Media bigs get worked up over bias question
Ohio voters say 'no thanks' to Jerry Springer

Web Shorts
Web measuring services start including dayparts
Pump up the volume for this video game
Scam asks EarthLink users for credit card info
Disney tech search ends with Google
OPA adds five companies, including Primedia

Wednesday, March 12, 2003

Radio
Get this: Radio is more diverse       
Study: Consolidation has led to more formats. Why? Owners with multiple stations can better target audience segments.

Broadcast recap
Amid reruns, Reality is still king
Accounts for four of top 10 shows for the week. Just a so-so contender: I'm a Celeb.'

London
Brit news channels bulk up for Iraq 
Race to see who win hearts and minds of viewers. Thinking: Whoever jumps ahead in ratings will keep the lead with peace.

People
Maxine Davidowitz becomes Rodale women's group VP and group art director
David Sternberg rises to Fox Cable Networks SVP of emerging networks
Larry Glick rises to Travel & Leisure Golf magazine advertising director
Adam Ochs named MMT Team C account executive
Tom Selleck stalks off 'Third Watch' set
Matthew Modine becomes CBS's 'Expert Witness'
NBC casts Las Vegas show
Breckin Meyer drops out of NBC's 'Coupling'
Fox axes 'Bernie Mac' executive producer

Thursday, March 13, 2003

Television
Surprise! YES-Cablevision playing ball
NY mayor brokers deal: Cable giant will air Yankee games, with some subscribers paying as basic service, others as premium.

TV review
'Married by America,' fee fi faux Fox fun
Great hook, dreadful execution. Are we  jaded yet?  Do we care if their love is true? 

News Shorts
Ho-hum Wednesday debut for' All American Girl'
Fox's 'Idol' sashays, in an easy Tuesday win
'All My Children' leads in Daytime Emmy noms
'Rich Guy, Poor Guy,' 'Joe Millionaire' redux
Station says 'I don't' to 'Married by America'
Iraq invasion puts ? over college hoops tourney

Web Shorts
Improved Yahoo SpamGuard jettisons more junk
Yikes! Feds say AOL may be in even deeper
New: Get face time while you chat with MSN IM
Profs take the guesswork out of March Madness
Company makes Sirius bid to overtake XM Radio

Friday, March 14, 2003

Magazines
Once Coop scoots, who will pencil GQ?
What will it become? Twit lit? Babes and beer? (This is not a quiz.) Ponder the options with us.

TV review
'Mafia Doctor,' out of whack
Let this CBS Sunday movie sleep with da fishes. Thicket of clichs.

Commentary
Imagining Coke as a media baron
Just a brand, you say? Look all around you. Think of a
 world in which this ber-brand becomes the messenger to all.

People
Tom Zappala is ABC Family VP of program acquisitions and scheduling
Clint Stinchcomb becomes Discovery HD Theater SVP and general manager
Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos escapes a crash with minor bumps
'Baretta's' Robert Blake will stand trial on murder charges
Ex-child star Macaulay Culkin guests on 'Will & Grace'
Small-screen version of 'About a Boy' casts Patrick Dempsey
CBS lands Gary Cole and Bill Smitrovich for drama pilots

Monday, March 17, 2003

New media
The grand and quiet web revolution
First medium (and earliest) for top executives. They'll jump online before picking up the paper--if they still read one.

Television
Sorpresa, for reaching Hispanic kids
Great idea. Can it work  where none has worked before? Will kids' families switch to digital?

Out of home
Put your client in nail salons
Neato place for sampling to a range of women. Polish up one's paws for the prom.

People
Sandy Fernandez to Washington Post's Sunday Source editor
San Jose Mercury News ups two: David Yarnold to editor and Susan Goldberg to executive editor
Brian Haley snags final bro role in CBS's 'The Brotherhood of Poland, NH'
Craig Bierko plays ex-hockey player for ABC's 'Hench at Home'
Jeremy Gaines rises to MSNBC VP of communications
Paul Stojanovich, creator of Fox's 'Cops,' dies in a nasty fall

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

Television
Cable to buyers: So you want a deal?
Arguing for its greater value over broadcast spots.  With upfront right around the corner, study  promises to put #s to the claim.

Magazines
Learning how to say Yo! in Arabic
Title to tell Mideast youth we're okay sorts. Coming in spring from your State Department.

News Shorts
Strong numbers for President's war speech
Fox tops Sunday while CBS's 'Mafia Doctor' sinks
HBO vs. Gandolfini feud takes a civil turn
Smart family deluged with TV movie offers
Oprah to 'Bachelorette': Get hitched on my show

Web Shorts
Ready, aim... Yahoo fires at RealNetworks
New AOL mail program targets the techie elite
For Iraq coverage, Americans look abroad
Tablet PC sales surprisingly brisk, IDC says
Texas student charged with major hack

Wednesday, March 19, 2003

Television
Don't bet on a long swell in war viewing
Eyeballing will taper after the initial few weeks. Once ads return, Americans will quickly slip back into old viewing habits.

Broadcast recap
America yearns for 'Law & Order'
The times, perhaps? Trio bolsters weaker NBC shows.
Network reclaims lead in 18-49s, ending Fox's six-week run.

Commentary
Web and radio, so happy together
Way cool and getting cooler for direct marketers. 
Pitch them from the dial, send them to a web site to act.

Web Shorts
Microsoft boo-boo allows Army computer attack
RIAA's threat: We know who's downloading
NetRatings hauls NPD Group into court
Expedia's new war policy: Yeah, you can cancel
For the very poor, cheap, no-hassle broadband 

Thursday, March 20, 2003

Magazines
New Yorker tops in writing nominations
Atlantic is No. 2 with seven National Magazine Awards chances. 
GQ is up for four, ahead of Esquire's three, as Cooper heads out.

Conglomerates
It's official: Karmazin
will stay at Viacom
But deal may weaken his leverage. Will it?
Why this management marriage was worth saving.

TV review
'On the Spot,' a blotch of blunders
WB blooper: Part improv, part sitcom, all bad. 
Trained monkeys could do it better. Let's hope they do.

News Shorts
'Idol' boosts Fox before war coverage begins
Fox sweeps Tuesday 18-49s with 'Idol'
Monica Lewinsky will host Fox dating show
Vanity Fair: No reporters at our Oscar party
Conflict settled, 'Sopranos' set to start shooting
Mogul alert: Whispers as Diller quits Vivendi post

Web Shorts
For news junkies at work, Reuters provides video
French site promotes presidential pretzel protest
New pacifist approach: Make worms, not war
Study: More than 10% of tech workforce gone
Priceline extracts itself from Hotels.com

Friday, March 21, 2003

Television
Days of tumult in war coverage
Fox News leads CNN and ABC blunders badly. NBC and CBS switch back to airing some scripted shows.

Younger viewers
'SpongeBob,' make room for 'Fear Factor'
Surprising strength among younger kids. Super-sized Las Vegas special beats cartoon champ head-to-head among 2/11s 

War report
Latest update on media war plans
Roundup on TV schedule changes as they happen
and other developments in media as the war in Iraq continues 

People
Susan Murrow rises to Discovery Networks VP for talent management
At NPR, three new hires: Michael Riksen becomes VP of national affairs, Rodney Huey becomes VP of communications and Walt Swanston becomes director of diversity management
Four men's basketball coaches comment on the postseason for CBS SportsLine.com
Tonnya M. Kennedy named managing editor at The State
'Game Over' for Marisa Tomei and Patrick Warburton
Former 'Family Matters' star returns for ABC pilot
Patricia Heaton eyes starring role in 'Goodbye Girl' remake
Paget Brewster jumps from 'Andy Richter' to 'The Snobs'
Fox drama gets under Rachel Ticotin's 'Skin'
'Major Dad' star joins untitled ABC comedy pilot

Monday, March 24, 2003

Television
A war advertisers can do without
As it turns nasty, many decide to stay dark longer. It could be weeks before they return to the cable news networks.

Television
Putting a lid on product placement
Great idea: My widgets in your sitcom. Not really. Which is why the WB has quietly shelved  ad-less 'Live from Tomorrow.'

Out of home
Put your client on the bus (live)
TV screens roll ads and news for commuters. Mounted screens for capturing a captive audience.

Web Shorts
Gov't sites not ready for high volume of war traffic
Big boom upcoming for online gaming industry
Este Lauder, Amazon lead web advertisers
Sending personal email at work? You're not alone

Tuesday, March 25, 2003

Media and the war
America: We welcome your ads
Survey: Many will pay more attention. Just don't be cute. Best place for messages to air may be amid war coverage..

New media
When will web go mainstream? It has.
Biggest offline advertisers becoming big online. Doubled their presence since 2000. Likes: Rich media and very big portals.

News Shorts
'Miss USA' gives NBC a Monday win in 18-49s
Sunday Oscars viewership tumbles badly
Al-Jazeera reporters barred from Stock Exchange
MTV Europe sanitizes video playlist for wartime
NBC snaps up rights to Oscar-winning 'Chicago'
Program notes: WB sticks with six, ABC shuffles
Real-life Jack settles suit against 'Will & Grace'

People
Johnathan Rodgers named president/CEO of new network targeting African-Americans
Paul Turcotte succeeds Kim Pinto as Premiere publisher
Michael Wolfe rises to O, The Oprah Magazine associate publisher
Sean O'Boyle becomes NBC Enterprises SVP for national syndication sales manager
CAB's Ostrow: Okay, I'll hand in for another two months
Joel Grey and Tippi Hedren join cast of ABC pilot '111 Grammercy Park'
NBC sitcom pilot 'Mr. Ambassador' receives a Ward
Benjamin McKenzie joins Fox drama pilot 'OC'
'Sex and the City's' Samantha will get a model love interest

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

Television
CNN chucks Chung in swing back to news
Ex-ABCer dished by Ted Turner as 'just awful.' 
Squabbled with new guard over fate of her show. 

Research
For women, this war is a turnoff
Fewer support it and fewer tune into TV coverage. Opposition increased after fighting began and American  lives were lost.

Cable recap
Fact: CNN leads among women
Fox News is bastion of men and older viewers. Turner network sees strong female gains, ranking No. 1 with 18- 34s.

Web Shorts
War rivals basketball as top web search
Traffic surge to new English al-Jazeera site
Iraqi blogger gives first-hand view of Baghdad
Hotmail thwarts spammers with message limit
AOL radio ditches RealNetworks for Dolby

Thursday, March 27, 2003

Television
MSNBC: Don't blow your big chance
The stumblebum cable news network is seeing a viewer surge, thanks to sibling NBC. Can it hold it? Will its blunders be forgotten?

Radio
War cheers: Right wing radio's hurrah 
Listeners flocking to gas and hear gas from Rush & Company.
Howard Stern too. No similar excited pulse for liberal talkers.

Radio
Album rock picks up the beat
Sinking format grabs on to alternative's stars. Less Bruce, lots more Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters and Audioslave

Web Shorts
For Muslim and Arab groups, hacking = protest
Iraqi war won't hurt tech spending, companies say
Latest from AOL: You've got (voice)mail
Movielink builds indie cred through Artisan deal
Study: Site referrals from search engines grow

Friday, March 28, 2003

Washington
FCC's day of media reckoning
June 2 is the date FCC votes on media deregulation.Expect ownership caps to be eased. By how much? We will see.

TV review
'Black Sash,' up Dawson's Creek with much prattle
Lots of earnest teen drama, not enough fireworks. Not nearly enough Karate Kidding around.

Sports TV
Ad time in the finals? Pray for Kty.
Or an act of God. NCAA b'ball is basement bound. War isn't helping but ratings would likely be down without battles in Iraq.

Web Shorts
Industry takes anti-piracy crusade to campus
AOL cutting off free access to People and EW
Study: Digital households to hit 96.7M this year
Cadillac and Pepsi sites see big surges from Oscars
Cybersecurity slips down states' agendas

Monday, March 31, 2003

Breaking story
NBC fires Arnett over Iraqi interview
Star Baghdad reporter praised Iraq's cooperation
and was critical of U.S. war preparations and strategies 

Media and the war
Syndicated TV may take a big hit
Heavy preempting for national and local war reports. Unlike with broadcast, revenue from bumped ads will never return.

Television
Don't toss sod on NBC's 'Ed' just yet New Friday time slot may be its salvation, not death. Later crowd may latch onto this dramedy. 

News Shorts
Fox's 'The Pitts' premiere lands near the bottom
Letterman returns to late night after illness
Whoops! SEC tells AOL to fix $400M pen slip
Poll: Americans have had enough of the TV war
Kelly Osbourne: MTV makes me want to retch

People
Glamour hires three: David France becomes senior contributing editor, Caroline Campion becomes senior editor and Gunnar Peterson becomes contributing editor
Jay Meyer rises to American Express Publishing corporate sales director
Deborah O'Brien rejoins Food & Wine as account manager
Karl A. Spangenberg named Hotelevision CEO
Laurie Benson promoted to Hotelevision EVP of strategic sales and marketing
'American Idol' finalist has scandalous rap sheet
Audra McDonald leaves 'Sterling' for 'Violent Crime'
Sofia Milos will get more screen time as 'CSI: Miami' regular
Phoebe's boyfriend, Paul Rudd, back for at least seven more 'Friends'

Tuesday, April 1, 2003

Sports TV
YES-Cablevision: Hey, we'll play ball
Last-sec deal puts Yank opener on. 

TV review
'Lost At Home,' lost in schmaltz
Psst ! ABC, ditch some of the sentimental stuff. Skip the goo.

News Shorts
CBS takes Monday with regular programs
Fox's 'The Pitts' premiere lands near the bottom
Canned by NBC, Arnett finds work at UK paper
Iraq bars Reuters from sharing feed with CNN
Report: Embattled Martha took pay cut last year
New Yorkers swarm to USA's 'Rudy' biopic

Web Shorts
Islamic group calls for jihad on HS student's site
Like, of course: Cell phones rule among young
Segway sales just aren't scooting fast enough
More Europeans handle money matters online

Wednesday, April 2, 2003

Television
CNN is closing in on Fox News
Rupe network #s in faster slide. Is it  just too heavy? As war goes on, viewers may be opting for news without the bull horns.

Broadcast recap
Here's the shows hanging in limbo
We weigh the odds of their chances for renewal in May for the next season.

Cable recap
As war interest wanes,TBS delivers escape
Tops in 18-34s, thanks to 'Miss Congeniality.'

News Shorts
Babs' delayed Oscar special loses to 'Dateline'
CBS takes Monday with regular programs
Who wants to be the next Donald Trump?
Newly sensitive Madonna yanks war video
Gearing up for talk show, Sharon O. is cancer-free
Four missing Iraq journalists turn up safe

Web Shorts
Sweden overtakes U.S. as most connected
Cost-cutting AOL slashes additional 420 jobs
PayPal accused of accepting criminal money
Oslo's 'DVD Jon' being retried in copyright case
Win pennies through Amazon trivia questions

Thursday, April 3, 2003

Television
Cable tops Big 4 in audience share
Takes Q1, a first, for a full year. Wins sweeps too. Now the hard part: Getting buyers to spend more and to pay more. Good luck.

Media and the war
MSNBC: Geraldo's a rat
Fox News: Arnett's a bigger rat
Slugfest of words as cable networks diss and double-diss  two disgraced reporters. And where is CNN? Reporting the real war. 

Media and the war
'Let me know when we win'
Viewers lose interest in war way sooner even than researchers had expected 

Media and the war
War is raising viewers' stress levels
Poll: Increased fright, sadness and depression as fighting in Iraq goes on

Sports TV
Here at last, College Sports Television
Rah! Rah! Great demographics. Will they watch? Debuting next week.

News Shorts
ABC's 'Bachelor' gaining on 'American Idol'
Babs' delayed Oscar special loses to 'Dateline'
Claim: Radio consolidation doesn't bother fans
Turn trots out software that shows cable's edge
Gross-out king Green in new show on MTV
Study: Embeds strong on detail, weak on context
Arab news network clashes with Iraqi regime

Web Shorts
Study: Low-income kids play more video games
Al-Jazeera bests sex as top search term
Nielsen//NetRatings starts Hispanic services
CA pleads: Don't sell cigs to minors over web
Infinity stations push new AOL broadband
MSNBC.com partners with Financial Times

People
Stacey Lynn Koerner rises to EVP director of global research integration
Laura Molen becomes TNN VP director of ad sales
Cliff Lachman named VH1 SVP of production and development
Jim Wilson named New York Times picture editor
Starz Encore Group shakes up affiliate sales
D.L. Hughley will play a 'Tonight Show' cameraman on NBC
Contestants remain safe on boot-less edition of 'Idol'
Coming soon to theaters: Ozzy the movie
CBS fills out sitcom pilot cast for 'All Grown Up'
Robert Loggia will play high-powered Mafioso on 'Sopranos'
Jeff Daniels may join Patricia Heaton in TNT's 'Goodbye Girl'
The most trusted network anchor? Tom Brokaw

Friday, April 4, 2003

Magazines
No. 2 pencil at GQ eats lead
Longtime pro Beiser shown the door with Coop.
 Will this magazine soon run with the laddies?

Younger viewers
Much of why  'Wanda's' hot
Young-uns go gaga. Lead-in 'Idol' is like rocket fuel. 

Magazines
Book, about books for everyone
Riding atop the great American cultural wave of reading.
Reviews, features, pretty pictures. Challenge: To keep
its mission under scaleback by partner Barnes & Noble. 

Web Shorts
MSN takes aim: Forget AOL, Google's next
AOL's dial-up slide will continue well into 2003
Webcasters, music industry agree to royalty fees
Saddam song: See Iraqi leader dance and die
Fox Films finally go online with CinemaNow

Monday, April 7, 2003

The media economy
Brighter ad $ outlook, even with war
Zenith bumps up 2003 U.S. #s, citing rising profits. Pushes up growth to 2.2% from 1.9%. Darkest of dismal scientists.

Media and the war
War takes lives of two top reporters
NBC's David Bloom's death follows that of Michael Kelly,   an award-winning writer and editor for the Atlantic Monthly

Out of home
Hot dog client? Put him on a stand.
Street corner umbrellas are no longer just for eats. Be seen blocks away by the hungry hordes

News Shorts
Couric special helps NBC to Sunday lead
Whoops! TV Guide pays tribute to axed Arnett
Cablevision drops out of DirecTV bidding
HBO sparks controversy with rehab documentary
Reality TV notes: Charlie on 'Extra,' more
Outdoor ad revenues up a smidgen in 2002

People
Dr. Douglas G. Brinkley named American History editor
Ann Siegel becomes time & SPACE's VP and general manager
'60 Minutes' No. 2 Philip Scheffler will retire
Tennis Channel adds three: David Safran becomes SVP of ad sales, Faye Walker becomes VP of marketing and John Morse becomes VP of research
John Lithgow and Stanley Tucci cast in HBO project
Former 'Cosby' tot's Disney Channel show renewed
'Sopranos' mobster busted in real life
How much does Matt Drudge make from his site?

Tuesday, April 8, 2003

Magazines
Hearst yanks drapes on Victoria 
Redundant shelter title expires in parlor, amid bevy of sisters 

TV review
Don't bet the ranch on 'Lucky'
History tells us supporting actors seldom rise, as much as we may like our actor John Corbett.

News Shorts
CBS tops on Monday with NCAA Syracuse win
Couric special helps NBC to Sunday lead
Al-Jazeera Baghdad staffer killed in U.S. airstrike
CBS and UPN takeover 'Smackdown' ad sales
British 'Millionaire' winner found guilty of cheating
CBS snips Philly mayor's cameo from 'Hack'
Correction: Wrong rate base for Business Week

People
Viacom chief Sumner Redstone marries schoolteacher
Jodi Friedman becomes Comcast Cable Communications director of programming
David Ernst upped to Initiative Media Worldwide EVP director of futures & technologies
Eric Zinczenko rejoins Rodale as Backpacker publisher
Greg Neal rises to Fine Living Network VP of creative services
Lynn Gardner named History Channel director of public affairs
Kevin O'Connor named host of PBS's 'This Old House'
CBS interests Valerie Bertinelli and Cloris Leachman in some 'Crazylove'
French Stewart returns to NBC in untitled sitcom
What a drag: Harvey Fierstein signs ABC development deal
David Letterman on the lookout for new cue card holder

Wednesday, April 9, 2003

Media and the war
News-wise, this is indeed a cable war
Survey: Leaves other media in the dust, as it were. Surprising is how few see broadcast networks as source of most Iraq news.

Television
Sinking ABC Family going after MTV set
From the shadow of its parent, in search of teens and a stronger identity before viewers and media buyers

Cable recap
'The Real World,' a reality all its own
You'd think it'd sink. Nope. Finale wows younger set. Hot tub hullabaloo. Charts.

Web Shorts
Canadians rush to broadband faster than U.S.
More online spending = worse customer service
New TiVo software allows computer interaction
Disney's video on demand on TV, not online
Desert town auction deserted by eBay buyers

Thursday, April 10, 2003

Magazines
Great sucking sound among men's titles
Death to all that are perceived as Maxim clones. Mad scramble to fill niche between laddies and GQ.

Research
A quiet revolution in how we watch TV
Huge impact of those on-screen program guides. Some 80 percent of viewers say they use them. Print guides are off to the bone yard.

New media
Now the awards that do matter: The Webbies
BBC leads with three nominations for best sites. Onion's
up for two, and all kidding aside so is The New York Times.

Web Shorts
Sony does about-face on free music downloads
Consumers know of HDTV but still not buying it
Syracuse adds web-based reporting facilities
Surfers remember NBC's fallen David Bloom
Survey: Biggest career sites are also the best

People
Esquire's Andy Ward tapped as new articles editor at GQ
At More magazine, Wendy Kittredge is new sales development director, Julie Graham is new special events director, Lee Bowles is new account manager and Danielle Yuen is new promotions director
Michael Copeland and Om Malik join Business 2.0 as senior writers
Ilene Hoffman becomes Business 2.0 photography editor
Elisabeth L. Rosenthal named New York Times science editor
Robin Eisner and Molly Masland become MSNBC.com health editors
Terri Chiodo rises to Investor's Business Daily VP national advertising director
Madonna's anti-war video the focus of new MTV special
Carey Lowell will play blind teacher in Lifetime movie

Friday, April 11, 2003

Magazines
Magazines see ad growth for March
Pages up 9%, with first-quarter pages up 5%. Categories with strong growth: Shelter and, big surprise, travel. Charts galore.

TV review
'Platinum,' not your usual UPN turkey
The MTV series MTV never thought of making. Very promising hip-hop series with some imaginative writing.

Sports TV
Soccer? How quickly we forget.
Ho-hum season opener for U.S. soccer. World Cup furor over. Weekly sports charts.

Web Shorts
Yahoo ups revenue outlook after strong Q1
Broadband in 22 percent of U.S. homes this year
Forbes.com brags: See our advertising metrics
USA Interactive buys out Hotels.com stake
Survey: Online pill poppers may be less informed

Monday April 14, 2003

The media economy
Very slight ad losses from war
Chump change: Were off just $6 million after two weeks.
Earlier forecasts had networks losing hundreds of millions.

Magazines
Maer Roshan's very daring Radar
First issue goes for buzz with hotted up exposs. Attacks Details as, ah, gay. Promises tough celeb coverage. But do people really care?

Television
Sniff! Weepy tale of Lifetime's tumble.
Flight of primetime audience. Doctor! Doctor! Get thee to ER.
Big plan to regain No. 1 slot: Beef up its original programming.

 Younger viewers
'Dragonball Z,' older kid on the block
Coming hot show for boys 9-14. Whiff of sarcasm. Cartoon's fast-gaining Toonami block.

Out of home
Place your bets! Your client at the track.
Messages on video screens carrying races. Hark, the beloved quadrupeds.

Sports TV
A view from the ditch:Miss Martha & the loopies
Augusta protest grandly fizzles. 'Make my dinner,' reads one
sign. Elvis is sighted. Klansman instructs on care of white robes

Web Shorts
IRS predicts more e-filers than ever this year
Your $4K could buy a Saddam autograph on eBay
In fight for No. 2, Microsoft cuts Euro XBox price
Sprinks begins targeting via Burst network

Tuesday, April 15, 2003

Research
For monied folk, it's, why, 'Joe Millionaire'
Talk about surprises. Big-earners were  fans. Top shows: 'West Wing' and '24.' 

Sports TV
Even Martha couldn't revive Masters Viewership off for a second year. Burk protest for admission
of women to Augusta National fizzled in a ditch. Tiger tamed.

Magazine review
Radar, pretty smart after all
Roshan's chance-taking pays off. It's not Talk. It may be better. Can it survive? This magazine may take very deep pockets.

TV review
'Watching Ellie,' let's not, again
On tonight, a grating, migraine-inducing half-hour. Ex-'Seinfeld' delight is an abrasive, shrill, hyperactive presence.

Television
LA? NY? Nope. Take me to Vegas
The hot new setting for TV shows. Dice, dames, escape, a place to turn from the realities of war, the economy and life. 

New media
On the web, it's all about SARS
Yikes. U.S. surfers hunt down deadly disease. The hot topic on sites dealing with health issues. How do I avoid getting it?

News Shorts
Fox's 'Married' finale gains but CBS wins Monday
Fox, led by 'Simpsons,' has an easy Sunday win
Stockholders: AOL suits have been swindling us
Hachette and Wenner planning bids for Seventeen
Sharon Osbourne in public brawl over necklace
DreamWorks brings CGI magic to primetime

Web Shorts
NYTimes.com reports record March traffic
Auto makers advertise SUVs heavily online
New wave of spam capitalizes on Iraqi war
The latest: Special boots to walk on water

People
Les Moonves rises to CBS chairman and CEO
Gary Morgenstein named Lifetime Corporate Communications director of trade and business publicity
Jungle Media Group makes new hires and promotions
Laura Lee rises to Hallmark Channel's director of central region network distribution and service
Lisa Barraso becomes Hallmark Channel's regional manager of network distribution and service for the central region
Tom Southwick named Starz Encore Group VP of corporate communications
Taye Diggs brings his charms to NBC's 'West Wing'
WB's 'Gong Show' remake finds its Chuck Barris
David E. Kelley splits with longtime agency Endeavor

Wednesday, April 16, 2003

Television
In latest morph,TNN becoming Spike
All male all the time network (hold the Viagra). Shaking off Nashville roots.

Television
CNN: Let news reign at night 
Moves Zahn to primetime in place of chatters (Too Foxy)

Magazines
Death trot among the teen magazines
Too many titles. Who will exit ? Age before beauty, we would suggest. Seventeen sale lags. Might the title be bought and folded?

Broadcast recap
And that great young diva herself, Cher
Well, not young, but she still sure pulls in viewers.
Special kicks butt, ratings-wise, besting younger and hotter performers. Lots of charts to pore over.

Cable recap
Put down that hanky and grab a paint brush
TLC is clocking huge gains among women at a time when longtime leader Lifetime is sliding.

News Shorts
NBC's 'Watching Ellie' off to a so-so start
Fox's 'Married' finale gains but CBS wins Monday
News ratings sag as Iraq war winds down
Claim: Sharon Osbourne got real nasty in catfight
New Yorker's Lemann joins Columbia J-school
Multitasking Olsen twins become TV producers
Correction: Wrong figure on TV ad losses

Web Shorts
New round of AOL vs. spammers begins
Microsoft barely dodges class action suit
DirecTV subscribers up and losses down
Dogged by Microsoft, Overture expands overseas
In wired S. Korea, ISPs beware. Another folds

People
TV Guide promotes five in TV Guide Network Group
Rob Wussler named NBC Enterprises VP of Midwest sales
Tricia Melton becomes Lifetime Entertainment Services VP of marketing
Anna Wintour's daughter finds a very Vogue summer job
Changes at ESPN the Magazine: John Papanek promoted to SVP editorial and Gary Hoenig becomes editor in chief
'Law & Order' beauty is pregnant with first child
On Fox finale, 'Married by America' couples break up
David Bloom memorial service on tap for today
Body of former 'COPS' producer found in Oregon

Thursday, April 17, 2003

Television
A shrinking color gap on broadcast TV
More shows are ranked high by blacks and whites. At the same time, more show are airing with racially diverse casts.

Television
Neato guide to fall broadcast shows
What new is cooking for ABC, Fox, and the WB--where they stand, and what sorts of shows are in development as we enter upfront.

Television
Fox's grand scheme for another sweeps win
Can it whup NBC a second time? Enter Monica. Enter Michael.

Research
Kids, the real power in buying
Huge study shows their influence over parents is far deeper than once thought.

New media
Papers rule local web advertising
TV and radio stations are but blips on the $ radar.
Call it a lost opportunity they could well come to regret.

News Shorts
ABC's 'Bachelor' rises to No. 1 in second hour
NBC's 'Watching Ellie' off to a so-so start
Latino billboard mogul buys Disney's Angels
Partisan Review, storied anti-Stalin journal, folds
A&E doles out $1M per 'CSI: Miami' rerun
Jann and Terry close to burying the hatchet?
Tennis Channel finally gets launch date

Web Shorts
From Dear Abby to dear military, now online
Sina.com becomes Chinese search site sponsor
MSNBC.com remains top news site for March
Anger and outrage over Sony game's title
Pay a few bucks for Paul McCartney cooties

People
Tim Koogle, Yahoo's first CEO, leaves board of directors
Randy Stearns rises to ABCNews.com executive producer
'American Idol' upset! Carmen stays while Kimberly C. goes
Jennifer Aniston considers producing (movies) with husband
U.S. producer wins case against British tabloid

Monday, April 21, 2003

Television
NBC's May sweeps comeback strategy
Beefing up its hits, counter-punching Michael & Monica on Fox. 
Material Girl will guest on 'Will & Grace.' Revenging February. 

Sports TV
Expect a ratings dip for NBA playoffs
No Jordan, no Ming, no super-hot team =blah. 
Bodes poorly for finals, which were off last year.

Younger viewers
When kids make the funniest noises
Enduring strength of Nick's Kids' Choice Awards. Hot with 2-11s.

News Shorts
Yuen & Leung get the TV Guide boot
Reality TV on the big screen: 'The Real Cancun'
Ted speaks: Rupe's a warmonger and a creep
HBO shelves Castro docu after bout of repression

People
David Ma becomes Entrepreneur Media's southwest advertising director
Carla Engler rises to Ladies' Home Journal beauty/fashion creative director
John Marshall and Mike McLaughlin join Harris and Baseview sales team
Yahoo CEO Terry Semel's very big payday
Sports Illustrated columnist marries an athlete

Tuesday, April 22, 2003

Conglomerates
Widening probe into AOL deals
Funky accounting suspected in key transactions. The timing could not be worse for an already beleaguered Dick Parsons.

Television
'Extreme Engineering' Discovery's recovery
Quirky show is the sort that could revive viewership. A 'Trading Spaces' for men?

News Shorts
Fox's Monica Lew whips up an audience
ABC takes Sunday with 'Ten Commandments' movie
Miners will protest 'Hillbillies' at Viacom powwow
Classmates and eBay spring from web to tube
CNN jumps gun with Castro and Reagan obits 
Infinity targets testy Stern for mainline advertisers

People
Frequent sitcom guest star Graham P. Jarvis dies at 72
MTV casts musical edition of 'Wuthering Heights'
Mary Ellen Iwata becomes HGTV VP of development
George Oritz named Caballero TV & Cable Sales VP of sales
Rebecca Lynn Meyer becomes Continental Television VP and sales manager

Wednesday, April 23, 2003

Research
Drug ads gets the message across
Study: People do respond to the slew of drug ads. Rise in share of people who discuss brand products with their doctors.

Magazines
Mysteries, delving  into history's puzzles
Revealed: Tonic Jekyll drank that made him bad (cocaine  was an ingredient). Learn about how gold-seekers from the planet  Marduk may have launched our civilization as we know it.

Cable recap
'Helen,' Greek dame, scores for USA
Easter airing lands in top 10 across  demos. Face that launched 1,000 ships. Butt bared.

Web Shorts
Apple aiming for bite of online music industry
Internet quilt comforts families of those in Iraq
Study: High-speed cable quicker than DSL
Nielsen//NetRatings introduces small-site service
Another federal cybersecurity czar steps down

Thursday, April 24, 2003

Magazines
Hearst wins bid for Seventeen
Edging out Hachette, as Primedia shucks assets. Ailing leader in a field that's become overcrowded.

Magazines
Travel Holiday's death was self-inflicted
Slit wrists discounting ad pages as the third title against bigger competitors. Category is quite healthy.

Media and the war
War's TV ad losses more than recovered
Third week sees $76M increase in spending over year earlier, leaving a net gain of $70.2M. Big gainer: non-news cable networks.

Research
Burgeoning spending by Hispanics
Rising three times faster than population growth. Total $s up 50 percent in five years. Gap in household incomes is narrowing.

London
Redesign to pink up the Financial Times
Cozier feel, hoping to halt flight of U.K. readers.
Dare we say, expect more than a whiff of rival Wall Street Journal.

News Shorts
Fox takes Wednesday in reality matchup
Tight race among Big Three behind 'Idol' sweep
NBC takes 'Just Shoot Me' up on the offer
Martha Stewart producing TV series on pet care
'Growing Pains' star hurt in hockey accident
Conservative group gives Dan Rather high marks

People
Rick Alessandri rises to ESPN Enterprises SVP/GM
Marian Conicella named Philadelphia magazine publisher
Brian Kennedy rises to Entrepreneur Media Eastern advertising director
NPR's Carl Kasell getting married this May
Rick Feldman becomes NATPE president and CEO
Fox News Channel employee booted for looting
Seann William Scott and Justin Timberlake named MTV Movie Awards co-hosts
In latest 'American Idol,' Carmen gets the yank
PIC-TV producer liaison Diederike Fehrle dies at 55

Friday, April 25, 2003

Washington
Clock ticks down on media reform June vote over relaxing FCC rules on who can own what, 
even as opponents rally for more time for public discussion

New media
The unwired, and proudly so
There's a growing army of folks kicking the internet habit. 
Call them internots: They know how but they'd simply rather not.

TV review
Here's how to fix 'Boston Public'
David E. Kelley, you there? Now you  listen up. First off, you'll have to . . .

Magazines
MPA's humorous poke at television
Sweepstakes reminds media buyers of magazines' value.
Grand prize: Trip to romantic resort. First prize: a TiVo device.

News Shorts
NBC takes first sweeps night as Jacko flops
Fox takes Wednesday in reality matchup
O.J. volunteers as TV commentator for Blake trial
Loyal Tina B. plugs Maer's Radar in column
Reality TV tryout for a job on 'SportsCenter'
Ouch! Stern bites CBS honcho in 'snake' attack

People
Barbara Jones becomes Organic Style articles director
Michael Gross exits New York Daily News for Radar
Thomas E. White named DraftWorldwide New York SVP account director
George Kalogerakis joins Travel + Leisure as articles editor
Luke Barr joins Travel + Leisure as senior editor
Carol Eng rises to MTV SVP original programming
Will Leeza Gibbons return to 'Extra' anchoring gig?
David James Elliott signs on for another two-year 'JAG' stint
Jon Stewart continues his 'Daily' mocking for one more year
Carl Bernstein on potential Deep Throat ID: Someone deserves a spanking

Monday, April 28, 2003

New media
Web's power elite pal up to fight spam
AOL, MSN and Yahoo pact to erase noxious messages. Big battle looming over just what spam is. Lots of interests will clash.

Television
Time for an all-reality network? Yup.
Remember Richard Hatch? You'll see him again. Reality Central. This cable network will be launching early next year.

Magazines
The guy who'll edit Lucky for men
He's Ariel Foxman. Task: Be their shopping muse. Yikes, can he do it?

Sports TV
Here's one race you can bet on
NBC's all lathered up for next Saturday's Kentucky Derby. Last week by the #s, with charts.

Out of home
Your client, singing in the restroom
Spritzing fragrances and handing out samples as well. And of course let's not leave out the signage.

News Shorts
'Touched by an Angel' ends on a low note
Fox shareholder sues over DirecTV deal
NBC's Banfield sounds off on the TV war
Webby organizers cancel, citing travel fears
'Celeb Temps': Leave your cares to a C-list star

Web Shorts
Judge declines to shut down Morpheus, Grokster
Under pressure, Google buys ad targeter
Australian pirates cost record labels $35M+
Court to Verizon: Reveal downloaders' names
Microsoft delays Office 2003 till late this year

People
Debra De Roo Ballard named Cachet magazine associate publisher
Reporters Motoko Rich and Gardiner Harris join the New York Times
Ted Turner: Rupert Murdoch is a warmonger
Lakers forward fined for shoving TNT cameraman
 

Tuesday, April 29, 2003

Magazines
Worth magazine halts publication
In talks to sell investor title. Fall relaunch eyed if sale goes through. Staff is out. Spring and summer issues canceled.

Television
Come fall, look for lots of new shows
Networks could be replacing a third of primetime. Fox has the most work to do, even with success of its reality programming.

Television
ABC's troubles worsen with sweeps
Likely No. 4. Expect a major revamp next season. Over-reliance on reality.

Radio
Mel rips loose over radio blues
Cleats Infinity big over ad sales slump. 'No reason why our revenues are not  higher.'

New media
Online bill-paying is now way cooler
Security concerns eased, big rise in those who do. Figure a 42 percent jump in users in 2002. An attractive demographic.

News Shorts
CBS and NBC share Monday night wins
'Touched by an Angel' ends on a low note
Powell speaks: Time to end regulated monopolies
National Enquirer: Oops, on that gay sex ring . . .
Hustler's Flynt: I'll pay $s for famous Bush video
Seattle newspaper war over joint operating pact

Web Shorts
After a drought, U.S. firms will up tech spending
Monster.com delists some global hot spots
Issue: In what jurisdiction do you sue web sites?
Off to jail for Chinese internet cafe operators
Another push to crack down on spammers

People
Jim McClintock rises to SVP at ABC
At Lifetime.com, promotions for Lisa Black and Kris Soumas
Richard Purcaro joins Boating Magazine as brokerage sales manager

Wednesday, April 30, 2003

New media
Rebound for AOL (we kid you not)
This may be year ad sales recover for ailing giant, predicts one analyst. 'There very much should be a turnaround this year.'

New media
Suddenly, everyone's getting tough on spam
Virginia law would toss spamsters in the hoosegow. Flush of new state and federal efforts to restrict junk email.

Broadcast recap
Fox swats hard at NBC in sweeps
More than 'Idol' power. Strong showing in top 30.  But fizzle sets in.

Cable recap
NBA's swish shot for TNT
B'ball pushes network to the top in major demos

Letter from London
'The People's Quiz,' reality TV for the masses
Think of a million or so contestants. They are in their bathrobes, sitting on the sofa. They reach for the phone.

News Shorts
Fox wins Tuesday, once again driven by 'Idol'
CBS and NBC share Monday night wins
Tonight on CNBC, Tina Brown's TV debut
Lawsuit: People left me in Laci husband photo
Maxim treads familiar TV ground with 'Hotties'
Utah reporters fired for role in Enquirer fiasco

Web Shorts
Congratulations! You're...not a winner. Sorry.
Lecturing file-swappers while they're in the act
McDonald's halts U.K. text-messaging promotion
RealNetworks hits 1M subscriber milestone

People
Carlos Lamadrid rises to publisher at Men's Journal
Kirsten Russell joins the Magazine Group as group publisher
Megan McTavish is again head writer on ABC's "All my Children"
Roseanne as domestic goddess on ABC Family reality series
'Cheers' chums Shelley Long and John Ratzenberger reuniting on '8 Simple Rules'

Thursday, May 1, 2003

Media economy
Expect a robust upfront TV market
Ignore the naysayers. Total sales will be up, with CPMs.
Big concern: Possible stampede of buyers by the networks.

Magazines
Martha Inc. gets a horsewhipping
Ad pages and revenue skid from her legal ills. Says she: Don't know when it will end.

Media and the war
TV $ gains flatten after war's first month
Ahead $70.2 million over the same four weeks in 2002. Cable news losses shift to cable entertainment and spot. Broadcast even.

Television
Oxygen: Let there be entertainment
Chat's out, original programming in, at cable network. Bergen bounced in women's network makeover for mainstreamers.

Television
What it takes for a successful spinoff
Pulling a 'CSI.' Many try, few make it. Here's why  First off, you need a .  .  

News Shorts
Fox takes Wednesday, but NBC's 'Law & Order' pulls
Fox wins Tuesday, once again driven by 'Idol'
Widespread anger over latest ESPN cash grab
Judge: Zahn did no wrong in ditching Fox News
AOL in talks to sell teams to Texas auto tycoon
Mr. T sues Best Buy over 'Rocky' spoof ad
New McCann-Erickson unit aims at Gen Y

Web Shorts
U.K. cops arrest notorious Fluffi Bunni hacker
States to Congress: Leave spam problem to us
AOL offers members protection from viruses
Man busted selling 'stolen' car on auction site

People
Martin Yudkovitz is to become president of TiVo
At Teen People, Angela Burt-Murray is named articles director and Zena Burns music editor
Etienne Katz signs on as New York rep for Business 2.0
Michael Reagan joins Sales and Marketing Management
Michael Dessart has been named a marketing VP at CSTV
At Wicks Business Information, Willy Burkhardt takes over as EVP and COO; John Riccardi becoming EVP and CFO
 

Friday, May 2, 2003

Television
Sorkin: I'm outta 'The West Wing'
Creator and series writer says this is his last season with fading White House drama. No. 2 also scooting.

Newspapers
NY Times axes plagiarizing writer
Swiped from Texas paper's profile on missing son. Paper going over reporter's other stories for evidence of theft.

TV review
'Lucy,' not hardly a Ball
Three-hour biopic is about three hours too long. Clichd  Lucille Ball sweeps stunt written on cardboard from a check list.

Interview
A talk with Salon's Patrick Hurley
On the magazine, on advertising, on circulation $s. The art of tinkering with subscription models looking for what works.

Best of the Best: Salon magazine
Media Life tips to its long and brilliant journey in
the first award in our Best of the Best Awards. We explain why.

News Shorts
NBC takes second Thursday of sweeps
Fox wins Wednesday, but 'Law & Order' pulls
Suit: 'Best Damn Sports' anchors harassed me
Tina Brown greeted by yawns in CNBC debut
Kate Betts named to edit Time Style & Design
New editor for Stuff as Gutfeld given TV duties

Web Shorts
File-sharing Four reach settlement with RIAA
FTC fights rising tide of online auction fraud
Anti-spam sentence is Denmark landmark
The Terminator returns in first high-def DVD

People
Craig Moon is the new chieftain at USA Today
Michael Brennock is director of sales at DJG Marketing's Waiting Room Subscription Services
Steven Cheskin quits Discovery Network's Travel Channel
Steve Smith to senior editor of PBI Media's Electronic Gaming Business newsletter

Monday, May 5, 2003

Television
Fox News' war spoils: Sticky viewers
Better hold on audience gains from Iraq. Lead in key demos now several times greater than CNN and MSNBC.

Magazines
Elizabeth Crow gets the Primedia boot
No need for fix-up editor with Seventeen gone. Fate of former Mademoiselle editor was sealed with ouster of Tom Rogers. 

Newspapers
LA Examiner launch will skip to the fall
Scratch June 5 date as Riordan chases investors. Hiring investment bank to sniff out funds for weekly.

New media
Record labels turn to rat-finking
Software to mess up computers of downloaders. Be warned: No more Mr. Nice Dude, if you swipe our tunes.  Pay to play or else.

Out of home
Rinnng! Your client on a doorknob.
Neato. Sweep the hood with dangling messages. Ads printed  on postcard stock hang there, waiting for the homeowner to return.

News Shorts
ABC sweep stunts tumble CBS's 'Lucy' 
Former Reagan aide heads right for MSNBC
Did Stuff's Gutfeld prank himself out of a job?
FX's 'The Candidate' bows out of the race
Relive concert on the way home with instant CD
Cable network reaches out to Muslim-Americans

Web Shorts
Apple music site receives big traffic on day one
Spam set to conquer new frontier: cell phones
Study: Sports fans switching to broadband
U.K. tests e-voting, but apathy still remains
No clear answer on net's best discount travel site

People
Eric W. Becker rises to Starz Encore Group executive director of corporate communications
John Stamos joins 'Friends' quasi-star stable
'Bend it Like Beckham' star will become 'ER' intern
Detoxing reality star Jack Osbourne opens up to People
Kathy Griffin can't get enough reality television
'Legally Blonde' star guests on 'Sex and the City'
'Six Feet Under's' Arthur the intern moves on to ABC
 

Tuesday, May 6, 2003

Conglomerates
Ted's big vote of no AOL confidence
Dumps more than half his stock, taking huge $ bath. Torn up over foundering company. 

Newspapers
Even with war, big papers lost readers
If anything, Iraq may simply have slowed declines. Weekday NY Times suffers 5.3 percent drop. Globe is off 6.3 percent.

Television
Syndicated TV, now revived, goes for ad $s
Thanks, Dr. Phil. Upfront could be up 10 percent, a credit to new crop of shows.

Television
Reworking '24' to beat the clock
Its life ticks off. Here's how to give it more seasons. Now about that daughter . . .

New media
With spring, sports rule the internet
Fan traffic surges over NFL Draft weekend. # nuts. Last April weekend is big for basketball, baseball, football and hockey.

Best of the best
Best of the Best: Budget Living
Media Life tips to a very smart, very timely magazine launch.
Budget Living was a good idea, and the execution lives up.

News Shorts
ABC's 'Practice' ends sans a bang 
ABC sweep stunts tumbles CBS's 'Lucy'
Wal-Mart bans sale of Maxim, FHM and Stuff
Two more years for Oprah; end looms for 'Frasier'
Reality show about goings-on at Bonnie's Us
MSNBC, Ventura grapple over talk show details
Ratings slide for NBC's NBA-less Derby

Web Shorts
Coming soon: Pittsburgh's robot hall of fame
Former KGB-er crying over Amazon review
Busy USA Interactive acquires Lending Tree
Verizon slashes DSL prices.  A jab at AOL?
Match.com: No regime changes here, thanks

People
Ian Aaron will head new TV Guide Television Group
Paul Livornese becomes People creative director for marketing
Jacob R. Miles named Urban America Television Network president
Christina Jackson rises to Hallmark Channel senior designer
Paul Memoli becomes AP Radio Sales regional sales executive
Mike Rose named Clear Channel Radio Sales emerald team VP/sales manager
Howard Katz joins NFL Films as COO
New AMC series features interviews with Oscar-winning actresses
John Leguizamo signs to voice Spike TV cartoon
Geraldo whines on his web site: MSNBC was out to get me!
Former 'American Idol' contestant take Starr turn on WB
'AI' country style: 42-year-old wins USA's 'Nashville Star'
Matt Lauer trading places with New York City cabbie
'Friend'-less no more: Matt LeBlanc weds

Wednesday, May 7, 2003

Magazines
NY's Katz jumps, Lucky for him
Job: Sway ad buyers that real men do shop. And that they can read and do. Joins swarm of exits from ailing Primedia.

Broadcast recap
CBS's sweeps play: Stay out of the mud
But a stuntless May could put it No. 4 in 18-49s, even as it stands to take total viewers. Lots of charts to pore over.

Television
Networks: Let's get real about summer
Expect a flush of new shows to fend off cable. Lots of reality, as we would expect, and much of it ripping off successful shows

Magazines
JD Jungle, against the law of averages
Oddity, a career title with very classy journalism.
Up for a National Magazine Award for excellence.

Cable recap
'Punk'd,' the young and the feckless
Teens swarm to MTV 'celebs-prank-celebs show. Cool stars, mean jokes, hot stuff. Charts to die for.

Best of the Best
Best of the Best: NY Daily News
Media Life tips to a newspaper with deep New York roots. 
It has built those roots even deeper in its very changed city.

News Shorts
Building 'American Idol' puts Fox well out front 
ABC's 'Practice' ends sans a bang
Bad blood flows at Senate's cable rates hearing
Deejays suspended for playing Dixie Chicks
NBC drops 'Ortegas' and Fox snaps it up
New Republic con artist relives exploits in book
Fox News surges in ratings as CBS sags badly

Web Shorts
Hitwise begins American net measuring service
Judge rules eBay not liable for broker's comments
Gov't begins phasing out paper savings bonds
For cops, Cisco develops internet phone tap
Study: Gamers can be old or young, boy or girl

People
Lisa Brown rises to America Online EVP of interactive marketing
Shirley Powell rises to Turner Broadcasting head of PR
Sonja Visser and Lillian Martin become Lifetime regional directors of distribution and field marketing
Sue R.E. Geramian rises to Gruner + Jahr VP of corporate communications
Bruce Wallin named Robb Report executive managing editor
Lisa Penelton becomes Draft SVP of analytic services
This just in: 'Weekend Update' anchor Tina Fey re-ups for $4M
Jane Pauley ponders plans for post-NBC life
Brianne Leary and Andrea Immer host new Fine Living shows
Justin Timberlake revs his engine for TBS and TNT
Bam! Emeril signs five-year extension with Food Network
Monica Lewinsky drops in on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'

Thursday, May 8, 2003

Magazines
Atlantic tops magazine awards 
Winning two National Magazine Awards, amid tributes for late Michael Kelly. New Yorker also takes two. Upset winner Parenting.

Television
Ad $s on the rise in kids TV market
Supply's down, demand's up, pushing CPMs. Choice inventory rising 20 percent. 

Research
Girls watch more TV. Not.
Actually, boys do. Why? More shows target them. Female viewing rises in later years when more shows aim to reach women.

Magazines
Geez. Playboy's in the chips
In the black, rather. Now about Kaminsky's redo . . .A good start, but can he keep Hef's reader as he goes lad-ways?

London
Big Brit stinkup over sports coverage
Teams tell papers: We own the story you print. Papers: Hey, free speech.

News Shorts
Building 'American Idol' puts Fox well out front
Brown and Cronkite bow out of questionable spots
Lukewarm reaction may chill Clinton-Dole series
Globe writer iced for desire to smack star's wife
McMahon makes millions from moldy mutt
Correction: Wrong name for '24' organization

Web Shorts
Google staying private for now, but as for future ...
College crackdown nabs OSU student pirates
1 million bite on Apple's iTunes music service
Study: More people using online photo services
At Microsoft, potty training for the internet

People
Susan Ungaro re-ups as American Society of Magazine Editors president
Sheldon Rabinowitz becomes ABC SVP of finance
'Dog Eat Dog' producer Stuart Krasnow signs NBC deal
At Court TV, Mark Fichandler rises to VP of documentary development and international co-production, Lori Siegel rises to executive producer of documentaries and series, and Robin Sestero joins as executive producer of documentaries and specials
Jim Johnston becomes producer for 'Starting Over' 
Cynthia Derick and Frank Scotello rise to ABC Cable Networks regional VPs
Chris Kattan exits 'Saturday Night Live'
Coolio dogs Lou Diamond Phillips in TBS shark movie
Maer Roshan's mysterious and disgusting package
Pete Townshend cleared of online kiddie porn charges
Muppets take back America: Jim Henson's kids buy company
Jane Pauley sets final 'Dateline' interview
'Welcome Back Kotter's' Boom-Boom collared in domestic dispute

Friday, May 9, 2003

Magazines
Ellie winners also big ad page winners
Double-digit increases for the Atlantic, Vanity Fair, CN 
Traveler, Details, NatGeo Adventure, Outside, Parenting and Scientific American. Only SI shows a drop for first four months. 

Magazines
Primedia whacks up its trade titles
End of Media Central. Dozens out. Further slashing as ailing conglom sheds so it may survive. The word: Titles will be sold.

TV review
'Behind the Camera,' sharply in focus
From NBC, deft look back on 'Three's Company.' Really the story of Suzanne Somers, blond thing.

'Younger viewers
'Dawson's Creek,'we will miss thee
Sweet youth return to aging WB fave for finale. The show that defined the WB.

Poet's corner
Upon learning of McD's internet ambitions
Our occasional poet Tim McHale versifies on the meaning of it all

News Shorts
NBC takes third sweeps Thursday with 'Friends'
'Idol' stomps but ABC and NBC show strength
Pat Summerall exiting Fox broadcast booth
Steelworkers join protest over reality 'Hillbillies'
Big Three networks' ad dollars down in 1Q
Rupe's Fox News biased? Brits investigate

Web Shorts
Judge awards Earthlink $16.4M in spam case
Iraqi blogger emerges from rubble, OK but angry
Customer: MSN and Best Buy played me for fool
Video gamers pay little attention to advertising
Naked tennis, anyone? Watch it on the web

People
Jean Rossi rises to Fox Entertainment Group Integrated Sales president
Neil Mulcahy becomes Fox Entertainment Group Integrated Sales EVP
Tara Sorenson named National Geographic Television & Film's Kids' Programming and Production VP of development
George Hirsch joins Salon board of directors
Salon CFO Robert O'Callahan resigns
David Florence rises to Draft Inc. president and COO
Elisa Torres becomes MsMsica TeVe Network VP of distribution
Tennis analyst Mary Carillo replaces Chris Evert at NBC
Pepsi taps Drew Carey to host billion-dollar special on the WB
NBC to 'AUSA' producers: Sign Heather Locklear and you're back
Former 'CSI: Miami' star Kim Delaney checks into rehab
Dick Clark signs on to produce 'You Asked For It' update
Not all smooth sailing for National Geographic Adventure award winners
Philly Daily News accidentally resurrects Johnny Unitas
Vanessa L. Williams joins bubble show 'Boomtown'

Monday, May 12, 2003

Television
A spinoff in the works for 'Friends'?
That's the speculation. Hey, it might even be true. It sure makes sense.

Newspapers
Trail of deception:The NY Times' wayward reporter
Jayson Blair's journey into plagiarism and deceit. Paper uncovers a history of stories spiced from other papers and his imagination.

Sports TV
Expect another sleeper Indy 500
Lack of dramatic storylines to draw in viewers. Chart of last week's ratings.

Out of home
Name a town after your client
Great buzz when the press jumps on the story. Challenge: Persuading town folk.

Web Shorts
Study: Typing beats talking in business setting
Iran bans more than 15,000 non-porn sites
Verizon targets pay phones as new WiFi zones
Irish schools track truants via parental cell phone

Tuesday, May 13, 2003

Washington
FCC lays out its ownership plan
Powell: lift TV station caps to 45 percent ceiling. Ease newspaper rule. 

Television
WB does open heart on its fall schedule
Six new shows and lots of old ones switcherooed. Surprising
move consider its strong growth in viewership this season.

Television
NBC's rescue plan for Tuesday night
Cushion fading 'Frasier' with two new comedies. Then end the night with 'L&O: Special Victims Unit.' New fall season chart. 

London
Let's not go too nuts over 'Coupling'
Raunchy? Yes. Hottest show in the U.K.? No. NBC is spinning on that.

News Shorts
CBS's wins Monday with its regular lineup
CBS Sunday 'Survivor' finale scores big #s
Report: Martha in talks to settle with feds
Death knell sounding for 'Big Fat Greek Life'?
The Smoking Gun takes its gotcha game to TV
ABC News names Slavin head of newsgathering

Web Shorts
Flower shoppers go online to send love to mom
Record companies chuckle as virus targets Kazaa
Comcast aims at TiVo with new DVR device
Gov't to herb sites: Stop claiming SARS cure
'Bumfights' producers plead guilty to charges

Wednesday, May 14, 2003

Washington
Big blowback over FCC dereg plan
Congress moves to halt easing of ownership caps.
Commission Dems kicking up over June 2 vote deadline.

Broadcast recap
CBS's shrewd play with 'Survivor' finale
Bump to Sunday saved it from ratings bomberoo. Still worst finale #s ever.

Best of the Best
Best of the Best: 'This Old House'
Media Life tips to a show that has inspired millions of fixer-uppers, many of them women. It is classic great television.

Web Shorts
Chinese quarantine e-rumors about SARS
Microsoft: OK, iLoo was true, but we're dumping it
Sony launches handheld gaming device
Study: Students go online for music and porn

People
Coleman Breland rises to Turner Network Sales EVP of sales
Karen Byko rises to Turner Network Sales EVP of business operations
Brian D. Urban named Gemstar-TV Guide International CFO
Mike Richards joins dick clark productions as senior development executive
Charles Tillinghast rises to MSNBC.com VP of sales and business development
Charles McCullagh becomes MPA vice president/international
Sean Gallagher rises to Discovery Channel director of development
John Stossel joins Barbara Walters as '20/20' co-anchor
Host Jules Asner says so long to E!'s 'Revealed'

Thursday, May 15, 2003

Television
Fox's plan: Build a scripted schedule
For fall, four new dramas, three comedies, less emphasis on reality programming, though  'Joe M' and 'Idol' will be back in some form.
Click to see fall season stories on ABC, NBC, CBS and  the WB.

Television
UPN narrowing its primetime focus
Revamp to build on urban and wrestling crowds. Bye-bye 'Buffy.'

Newspapers
Times big: I blew it with Blair
Raines admits failure of vigilance with plagiarist. 
Editor tells newsies at meeting: 'Buck stops here.' 
Fiat-friendly manager. Enemies stoop to feast. 

Magazines
Aniston seething over Redbook cover
Actress: Photo sliced and diced w/o my okay. Enlarged head is the Pitts.  

Television
To Susan Lyne: Bring back 'MOW'
That's 'Movie of the Week,' when ABC was hot. It launched dozens
of new shows, including hits 'Charlie's Angels' and 'The Love Boat.'

Research
MPA to Detroit: Too much TV is bad for you
Study: Ad $s wasted saturating television. Advice: shift a bit to print.

Web Shorts
Congressionally mandated kids domain readies
Study: Americans don't trust web for health info
Nerd nirvana: Microsoft's new video game pairing
Google News goes global with five new nations
Primedia introduces video on demand on campus

People
Louis Muckle becomes Rolling Stone advertising fashion director
Hugh Jamieson named Rolling fragrance and grooming manager
Greg Williams rises to Maxim editor
James Heidenry and Charles Coxe rise to Maxim co-executive editors
George Greenberg rises to Fox Sports Net EVP programming and production
Mike Sheehan rises to Interpublic Group CEO
Nefarious 'Buffalo Spammer' hauled back into court
Rueben and Clay remain while Kimberly gets 'Idol' boot
Rejected 'Bachelorette' suitor becomes latest ABC 'Bachelor'
Robert Stack, Elliott Ness on 'The Untouchables,' dies at 84

Friday, May 16, 2003

Media economy
Upfront: Shop till you drop (it all)
We're betting Mel Karmazin is right at $9 billion, his prediction for sales for broadcast ad time. Expect healthy CPM increases. 

Television
Come fall, TV like we used to watch
Networks are all playing to their strengths. 
Return of scripts. Little reality beyond the established hits. 

Newspapers
Times cooked-stories probe widens
Paper looking into work of other reporters as Blair looks into book deal. Race debate rages. Moral posturing by Times-haters.

TV review
'Hitler: The Rise of Evil' fails to 
CBS made-for offers no insight into history's worst villain. Part I Sunday.

News Shorts
NBC triumphs on final Thursday of sweeps
'West Wing' finale stumbles, blitzed by reality
FCC's Powell: I'll stick to my timeline, thanks
NRA joins lefty groups in fighting dereg
Hillary picks Babs, showing no hard feelings
Westwood's Hollander takes over limp Infinity
Three-hour extravaganza for Daytime Emmys

People
Shane Coppola becomes Westwood One president and CEO
Malley becomes National Geographic associate publisher
At WFofR, Terry Bragg, Walter E. Brockwell, E. Larry Hable, Harry Moore and Steve Thompson get promoted
Sheryl Gatto named eDiets.com VP of marketing
Rest easy, 'Joe Millionaire' butler will return to Fox
Questionable Charisma: Carpenter may not return to 'Angel'

Monday, May 19, 2003

Television
Telemundo's big plan to whittle at Univision
Lots of sports, including Olympics, and a J Lo novela. Focus on American Hispanics. Will it work?

TV review
'Martha Inc.,' light on the hot sauce
Tonight's NBC flick leaves out  book's best dirt. Missing is the bitch within that is so much of Stewart's public image. (Looking for past reviews? Click here.) 

Sports TV
With Annika, a goose for PGA golf
All eyes will be on Sorenstam taking on  the boys this weekend, with CBS the winner. 

Television
What's hot on TV for the week
The top shows, the finales, the movies of note. A new weekly feature from the editors of Media Life, appearing each Monday.

News Shorts
'Hitler,' fighting on three fronts, collapses
CBS finishes on top Friday with 'CSI' repeats
Time Inc. mulls Life encore as newspaper insert
Report: Talk of Martha settlement was premature
Middle East meets West in new TV ventures
ABC leads nets at Daytime Emmys as 'View' wins

People
Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski appears on 'Seventh Heaven'
Geraldo Rivera's getting hitched for a fifth time, to a younger woman
Margery Gladstone becomes DNR publisher
'The Bachelor' chooses perky Jen over unfriendly Kirsten
Macy Gray animates her life on the small screen
Salary of eBay CEO will nearly quadruple this year

Tuesday, May 20, 2003

Television
Kelley tosses cast of ABC's 'Practice'
New and cheaper cast for ailing Sunday drama. Risky ploy to rescue sagging show.

Magazines
The not entirely all new Playboy
Makeover nips and tucks, keeping the curves

Television
What's hot on TV for the week
The top shows, the finales, the movies of note. A new weekly feature from the editors of Media Life, appearing each Monday.

Web Shorts
New virus spreading via faux Microsoft address
Justice Dept. busts 135 for online identity fraud
Study: European broadband users surf longer
Net gains genius with posting of Einstein papers
Times Square billboard to show Yahoo searches

Wednesday, May 21, 2003

Newspapers
Jayson jests: I got over on the Times
Plagiarist delighting in attention but snivels over comparisons to Stephen Glass as abler conman. No remorse over misdeeds.

Research
'Shush! I want to see this movie ad'
Surprise, movie-goers accepting of commercials. High recall.

Broadcast recap
The hurt Fox must feel over its fumbling fall
Gangbusters season finish but NBC gets the cigar, leading by nose in 18-49s. Ah, but for such stinkers as 'girls club' . . .

Cable recap
For NASCAR, the night moves
Evening racing draws viewers, so expect more. Hot $s. Lots of charts.

News Shorts
Fox's 'Idol' lead trimmed by finales and stunts
WHO votes for strong limits on tobacco ads
Study: Surprisingly, less sex in primetime
New system to rate kid-friendliness of media
Chinese team broadcasts first video from Everest

People
Donald Browne takes over at Telemundo
Jim Ritts and Robert Metz rise to Primedia executive vice presidents
David Willey becomes Runner's World editor in chief
Ric Lippincott becomes All Comedy Radio VP of network affiliation
Robert Wussler named Ice Channel vice chairman
New Fox network Fuel adds six to staff
Hugh Jackman named host of Tony Awards on CBS
ValueVision Media CEO Gene McCaffrey exits
Julianne Nicholson joins Steven Bochco drama's cast

Thursday, May 22, 2003

Media economy
Upfront winding down, with $s way up 
Expect sales to break $9 billion, with network CPMs in mid-teens, well above most expectations just days ago. Media Life pegged it.

Television
With 'Idol,' Fox pulls off a sweeps squeaker
Coming from behind, edges out NBC by  a nose, days after NBC declared a victory 

Television
At season's end, ABC is a sinker
Overcome by disappointments after hopeful start. Done in by a schedule that fell apart and competitors that gained strength.

TV review
'The O'Keefes,' taking an incomplete
Mixed up WB comedy about home-schooled kids. Melding cheeky with warm and fuzzy. Ugh. Debuts tonight.  

News Shorts
Fox 'Idol' finale draws great swarms--40 million
Fox's 'Idol' soars Tuesday going into season's end
Times' Raines loosens grips on Times' reins
Mort looks to lure WashPost's top gossip to NYC
Bronfman and Dolan link up for Vivendi bid
Study: Children among victims of media dereg

People
Alina Cho named ABC News Live New York correspondent
Lisa Radist joins Gruner + Jahr partnership marketing department as western director
Margaret E. Buchanan becomes first female publisher at Cincinnati Enquirer
Ryan Seacrest goes from 'Idol' to syndication deal

Tuesday, May 27, 2003

Media economy
And such an upfront it is
Broadcast hits $9.3 billion, surprising all, and cable is breaking records as well as it heads into a week of heavy deal-making.

Washington
Expect slight impact from new FCC rules
Major consolidation unlikely, at least in near term. TV stations
will change hands but only a few big players will go a-gobbling.

Out of home
Put your client out with the trash
Ads over recycle bins at tony commuter stations. The right people doing the right thing.

News Shorts
CBS takes Memorial Day amid a rash of repeats 
Yet more cast turnover at 'Boston Public'
PETA: Tell Vogue's Anna what you think of fur
Hilary Duff parts ways with Disney and 'Lizzie'
'Boy Meets Boy,' reality TV gets its gay on

People
Jeff Gralnick returns to NBC with 'The News with Brian Williams'
Craig Plestis named NBC vice president of alternative programs
Rosemary Ellis joins Prevention magazine as VP and editorial director
Laura Reimers becomes Discovery Health Channel VP of communications
Guillermo Sierra named Discovery Networks Latin America/Iberia VP of programming
Andy Verderame rises to Court TV SVP creative services
ABC begins search to replace pregnant Melissa Stark on 'MNF'

Wednesday, May 28, 2003

Television
All the #s on 'American Idol'
Everything you ever wanted to know--and more. Mega chart.

New media
'Matrix' redux is web's sweetheart
Must be summer movie season, or darn near. Lots of buzzzz.

London
As Teletubbies go blah, enter Boohbahs
Eh oh. Give a big hug to next kid craze, maybe.

News Shorts
'Dog' debut pushes NBC ahead on Tuesday 
CBS takes Memorial Day amid a rash of repeats
T&L Golf's No. 2 jumps to head up Time4's Golf
Questions linger over decisive 'Idol' vote
New mini-mag for hardcore Dr. Phil devotees
Ex-commando sues Fox News over terror tape
Time running out for 'Reading Rainbow'

People
Brooke Bailey Johnson named Food Network SVP/GM
Rick Rodriguez rises to Travel Channel EVP/GM
Brad Turrell rejoins WB as EVP network communications
Stephanie Aaronson becomes PBS senior director of media relations and program promotion
Andrew Capone named CNBC Europe and Asia Pacific VP of ad sales
TNS Media Intelligence/CMR hires two new executives and promotes three
Lisa Arbetter joins Lucky for men launch team
Blairism? Hartford Courant writer fired for plagiarizing
Leeza Gibbons will test the nation's IQ on Fox
CSTV offers wannabe sportscasters a gig
Simon Cowell: Will he or won't he return to 'Idol?'

Thursday, May 29, 2003

Newspapers
Can Raines hang on at the Times?
Top reporter Bragg quits in widening Blair mess. Newsroom in a roil. Editor needs to restore confidence in his leadership. Can he?

Magazines
Fast Co. publisher taking a hike
Former New Economy title in ad page struggle. Linda Sepp eased out as magazine goes through edit makeover.

Broadcast recap
Sweeps' real winners and losers, by the #s
Closer look at the shows that made the difference, beyond Fox's 'American Idol' 

Magazines
American Magazine, about, well, America
Celebrating how we live, light on the nostalgia. Get it at your Wal-Mart.

News Shorts
NBC's 'Fame' scores with big #s debut 
'Dog' debut pushes NBC ahead on Tuesday
Time Inc. will kick off 2004 with two launches
Biz Week stock scammers settle out with SEC
Surprise, newspaper ads up 1.8 percent in Q1
Preteen soccer star nets $1M+ in Nike deal

People
Sean B. Cunningham named Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau president and CEO
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences chairman Bryce Zabel says no to second term
Patricia Kollappallil joins Animal Planet as VP of communications
Christine Levesque named Gemstar-TV Guide EVP of communications, marketing and government affairs
Pascal Gregoire rises to Leagas Delaney Group vice chairman Europe
FX head Kevin Reilly reportedly eyeing jump to NBC or Showtime
Spinoff rumor: British actor cast as 'Friend's' younger brother
James Miller ready to remake CNN's 'American Evening With Paula Zahn'
'Malcolm' producer lands at Fox neighbor 'Bernie Mac'
Jon Favreau's 'Dinner With Friends' gets another serving

Friday, May 30, 2003

Magazines
A boomlet of new titles in '04
Yes, ad dollars will be up, but the driving force is the growth imperative: the need for publishers to tap emerging segments 

TV review
Rating the season finales, tops to flops
Best: ABC's 'Alias' and WB's 'Dawson's Creek.'  Bummers: '24' and 'CSI: Miami.'

Younger viewers
According to 'Jim' its proper respect
Belushi show's rising strength with young viewers on super-competitive Tuesdays

New media
How older workers use the web differently
For one, checking their stocks late in the day, out of habit from
the days when closing prices were reported on the evening news

Web Shorts
Microsoft and AOL settle extended browser suit
Europeans adopt broadband for porn reasons
The quick 'n' easy online divorce gains popularity
Study: Video games may make kids smarter
Soccer fans get HD broadcast at Regal theaters

Monday, June 2, 2003

Magazines
Downward trail of tears for trades
Ad pages tumble as internet steals away readers. Will they ever come back? Certainly not soon--and probably never.

Media economy
Upfront gets lusher still counting their dollars, sellers see even stronger growth 
in sales for cable and syndication going into this week. Oy.

Washington
Primer on FCC media rule changes
It's a done deal: Here's what the commission approved today. 

Magazines
Myrna Blyth calls it quits at Meredith
Bumped upstairs for redo of Ladies' Home Journal. Leaving as top editor of More to finish a book on women and media.

TV review
'Second Chance,' undeserving of a first
NBC reality stinker: Are they kidding or what? You don't really know. You don't really need to.

Out of home
Your client in high-class saloons
Backlit posters near the bar or dance floor, getting the once-over

Sports TV
Funny Cide's long shot is NBC's winner
Belmont Stakes pitting horse against history. Last Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978. Viewers will rise 50 percent. Charts.

News Shorts
CBS takes Sunday with Bullock's 'Time to Kill' 
ABC tops heap on Friday with 'Funniest Videos'
TiVo begins selling viewer info to advertisers
'Law & Order' producers asking for $550M re-up
'GMA' surges but 'Today' holds onto No. 1 spot
Crawford and Lanzano join Mindshare

Web Shorts
Amazon.com ponders adding music downloads
EarthLink planning rich media ad blocking tool
Controversial new college class: Virus writing 101
Guardian signs Baghdad blogger for column

People
Nomadic Bryant Gumbel will anchor PBS quarterly program
New York Times' Nancy Sharkey exits Blair investigation committee
Chronicle of Higher Education editor Scott Jaschik and managing editor Douglas Lederman leave
Chrysler Group marketing head James C. Schroer exits
Ryan Seacrest resumes hosting duties with 'American Juniors'
Randy Quaid gets his own 'National Lampoon' movie on NBC

Tuesday, June 3, 2003

Sports TV
Olympic puzzler: Where's ABC?
CBS quits rights bidding, edged out by NBC's big $s

Newspapers
When it Raines, it pours (buckets)
Times scandal gaining more public attention by the day.
Suffering new heaps of abuse for handing of post-Blair probe.