Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007

Overnights
Pulped: Orange Bowl gets the squeeze
Early ratings show a steep tumble in viewers, off by more than a third for ho-hum BCS match between Louisville and Wake Forest

Research
For media, the best and worst of 2006
Defining story was the changing network anchors, say readers of 2006. Biggest debacle: O.J. Big downer: Demise of WB/UPN.

Television
So long, Steve Irwin, crocodile hunter
Saluting the media notables who died in 2006, from the Animal Planet star to LA Times' Otis Chandler to CBS's Frank Stanton

Popcult
Looking out, a dandy 2007 at the Bijou
Box office receipts could grow 7 percent, after what turned out a decent 2006 following a grim 2005. Expect ad spending to rise.

Out of Home
Your message targeting mall shoppers
Retailers can tailor ads on highway signage to car occupants based on what they're listening to on the radio. Getting the signal.

TV This eek
Nickers: ABC's 'Knights of Prosperity'
Mick Jagger cameos in the debut episode of this well-reviewed sitcom about bungling thieves. But it's up against murderers' row

News shorts
Fox's Fiesta Bowl OT thriller wins Monday night
Reports dub 2006 most deadly year for journalists
Unhappy new year as Philly Inquirer dumps 68 jobs
Graphic gaffe: You say Osama, CNN says Obama
And while we were gone: Shock shudder, WSJ debut


Web shorts
Media sweetie Colbert also one of the year's top blogs
The top console of the holiday season was ... Xbox?
Study: 93 percent of email sent in 2006 was spam
For anniversary, CBS shedding 'Light' on volunteers


People
Former Us Weekly columnist Timothy McDarrah found guilty of soliciting sex with a minor
Daily News' Ben Smith joins The Politico to cover politics
Ex-Sun columnist Michael Olesker joins the Baltimore Examiner
Brianna Keilar becomes general assignment correspondent at CNN
Trevor Shepard becomes art director at Stardust Studios
Rick Sanchez becomes weekend anchor for 'CNN Newsroom'
Jason Seiken joins PBS as SVP of interactive
Russell A. Brown becomes director of business development at Iconix Brand Group
Brady Ackerman becomes co-host of 'The Terry Bowden Show'
Fred Campbell and Catherine Seidel become FCC bureau chiefs
Elyse Salpeter and Lori Altman rise at USA Weekend magazine
Oprah Winfrey opens a girls' school in South Africa
Boston Globe columnist Donald Murray dies at age 82

Thursday,  Jan. 4, 2007

Overnights
A buff return for 'Beauty and the Geek'
Pulls a 2.9 in 18-34s, tying previous series high and boding well for the CW as the reality show slides in for 'Top Model' until spring

Cable
For MSNBC, out from the cellar at last
Fourth-quarter surge in ratings under new chief, up a third in key demographics, as it plays to its strengths. Less rock, more roll.

Magazines
Why magazines are in such doldrums
Ad spending is flat, and it's not just the internet, though it plays a big role. Talking with longtime magazine consultant Marty Walker.

Television
Less sizzle and pop on New Year's eve
Ratings were down or flat for the broadcast networks and their annual coverage of the Times Square hoopla. Dick Clark factor.

New media
Technotreachery: The new white liars
When fibbing, folks favor email and cell phones, a study finds, believing their lies are harder to detect when not told face to face

TV This Week
Stage flight: Whither 'CSI's' Petersen?
Good question. The actor is out a few episodes for a theater gig, and the buzz is that this is a first step to leaving the show entirely.

News shorts
Teen steam doused: Fox bids adios to 'The O.C.'
Programming notes: Early axe for Megan Mullally
News-Express boots columnist for Wiki-plagiarism
The Donald renews Rosie feud as Babs makes nice
Britain's Men and Motors revs for reality strip show

Web shorts
NBC makes some of 'Apprentice' available online
Already break your resolution? Well, you're not alone.
Game on: Showtime launching broadband service
Study: Web job postings up 17 percent year to year

People
Frederico Traeger joins Lopez Negrete Communications as creative director
Dana Krozek joins The Fader as account manager
Linda Tse Carreia becomes associate director of interactive marketing at AARP
Brion D. Palmer joins Wicks Business Information as publisher
Michael Leathers becomes creative director at Trailer Park
Mike Baron joins Twentieth Century Fox as director of brand licensing
Christopher Licht rises to executive producer of MSNBC's 'Scarborough Country'
Michelle Niven rises to SVP of affiliate ad sales at Oxygen
Louis J. Abitabilo becomes VP and general manager at Nexstar Broadcasting Group
Neil Capel joins Music Nation as chief technology officer
Shari Mesulam rises at and four join mPRm Public Relations
Paris Hilton nightclub cutting ties with its namesake
Former EarthLink CEO Garry Betty dies at age 49

 

Friday,  Jan. 5, 2007

Overnights
A sweet adieu: 'CSI' hits a season high
Aging CBS crime show clocks an 8.3 in 18-49s against 'Grey's' repeat, boosted by heavy promos for its star's month-long hiatus

Media economy
Media-wise, '07 is looking right decent
Buyers see 2007 as strong and stable, without major upheavals, despite challenges facing traditional media. Steady as it goes.

Dayparts update
In dayparts, what to watch for in 2007
Look for another new face on 'The View' and a redo for CBS's early show. Gibson will take on Williams as Fox enters late night.

London
Brighter times for the Financial Times
It has stemmed circulation and ad declines under its new editor and the healthier UK economy. But its world has changed forever.

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, help, I want to return to media
The writer left the business a decade ago in 1995 and now faces a really steep re-learning curve. Can it be done? Rachel speaks.

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: Trump on Letterman; Saturday: HBO's 'Munich; Sunday: AFC wild card playoff game on CBS. Can Jets top the Patriots?

News shorts
'Geraldo' discharged: Back to Fox News for Rivera
CBS finds only 56 percent aware of TV shows on web
When it comes to product placement, reality rules
Time for a change: Newsweekly makes Friday debut
Programming notes: 'Chappelle' enters syndication

Web shorts
Holiday e-sales jump 26 percent over 2005 to $24.6B
Brazilian judge bars YouTube's s#x on the beach clip
Study: Mobile phone video game market will explode
Sisters organize web benefit for CNET editor's family

People
Adriana Ruiz rises to senior account executive at Goodman Media
Ex-MTVer Herb Scannell co-founds Next New Networks
Bruce Headlam rises to media and marketing editor at New York Times
Michael Steib joins Google from NBC video programming team
Robert Sharenow rises at A&E to SVP of non-fiction and alternative programming
Adrienne Skinner joins Comcast Spotlight as VP of online strategic sales
Eva Hiltner rises at and two more join MTV Networks International
Zena Tsarfin becomes managing editor at Super Deluxe
Kimberly P. Sterton becomes VP of domestic television sales at First Look
'Lost's' Emilie de Ravin and new husband Josh Janowicz split
'Oprah' audience member suing studio for injury during taping
Tiffani Thiessen joins regular cast of 'What About Brian?'
Rob Lowe's role continuing on 'Brothers & Sisters'

Monday, Jan. 8, 2007

Overnights
Not so rosie: 'Apprentice' hits new low
Debut of Trump reality shows earns a 5.7 in households, its worst ever, and loses much of its 'Grease' lead-in. Pulls a 4.1 in 18-49s.

Television
Tonight's the big game, except for Fox
Ratings will likely be well off for the final game in the BCS series between Florida and Ohio State, perhaps reaching record lows

Sports TV
A media buyer's primer on Super Bowl
With just four weeks to go the hype is upon us. Here's an overview of advertising on this annual sports event and what really matters.

Popcult
In the UK, AM radio's end may be near
Regulators begin talks of phasing it out as its share of listeners tumbles further with more and more switching to digital platforms

Out of Home
Your client skiing during the big game
And on the trails with thousands of women to boot as they turn out for the National Women's Winter Tour. Escape from Super Bowl.

TV This Week
Taste of New York: VH1's newest flavor
Tiffany Pollard returns with her own reality show after munching all of the scenery on 'Flavor of Love 2.' A good man is hard to find.

News shorts
NBC airs top Saturday wild card game in four years
Blackmail gone bad: Man busted for targeting Oprah
Comcast subscribers may lose Sinclair local stations
'Celebrity Big Brother' contestants fleeing the house
Fourth Associated Press journalist killed in Iraq war

Web shorts
Revamped Time.com: More features and bigger ads
Study: Social networks connect established friends
Verizon Wireless promises live TV service for cells
AmericanIdol.com streaming episodes of top show

People
Phylis Avoy becomes VP at Ad Partners
Robert M. Bakish and Wade Davis rise at Viacom
Donna Kerin becomes VP of advertising and media sales at NBC Universal
MTV Networks appoints new global digital media executive team
Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) Times managing editor David Iseman exits
David Seeley joins Crossroads Television as creative director
Elizabeth Reaser joins cast of 'Grey's Anatomy'
Darren Doyle and James Kramer join Debmar-Mercury
Former 'SNL'-er Chris Kattan engaged to model Sunshine Tutt
Steve Irwin's final broadcast won't include footage of his death
Bindi Irwin starts U.S. television career with talk-show appearances
Thomas Haden Church and Walter Hill work on new AMC projects
Public journalism advocate Cole Campbell dies at age 53


Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007

Overnights
Final BCS bowl off from high last year
Early ratings down 16 percent in households, to a still solid 19.1 as Florida blows out favored Ohio State, in a surprising outcome

Television
New syndie thing: Dearth of celebrities
Syndicators will not be pitching big-name talkers at next week's NATPE after a string of flops in recent years. Jane Pauley effect.

Research
The big trends to keep an eye on in '07
One is user-generated ads on Super Bowl Sunday. Others are localization and OSU's Greg Oden. Talking with JWT's Ann Mack.

New media
For Europe, boom year for internet ads
Optimism is running high among media buyers, and it's ditto for forecasters, who see spending rising around 30 percent in 2007

Newspapers
Don't write off the daily paper quite yet
Newspapers are hurting but still amazingly healthy, with ties to their readers that are truly unique. They'll be around a long time.

TV This Week
Dished 'Dirt': Will viewers do it again?
The new FX series premiered to huge numbers last week as the curious tuned in to see Courteney Cox. But reviewers savaged it.

News shorts
Study finds slowdown in newspaper readership dip
First Bush, now Blair: Channel 4's fictional future view
Moroccan government not laughing at magazine joke
Tabs tattle on Babs and Rosie's pre-'View' snafu
Programming notes: ABC airing Woodruff special


Web shorts
SlingCatcher, for sending web video to television
Survey says: Google rises to top brand in the UK
Sears tries virtual reality showroom for Second Life
Bravo searching for 'Real Housewife' on YouTube


People
Cari Weissberg joins Mediaedge:cia as senior partner and group director
John Weisgerber and Pat Dignan rise at Forbes.com
Marcia Kline joins Esquire as associate publisher of advertising
David Mattingly joins 'Anderson Cooper 360' as regular contributor
Andrew Bunker and Brian Hoopes rise at Bonneville International
Jon Lee joins CMD as managing director of brand strategy
Henry Ahn rises at NBC Universal Television to EVP
Jocelyn Wong joins Jumpstart Automotive as West Coast sales manager
Clayton Rose rises to EVP of business and corporate development at Internet Broadcasting
Bill Pugh joins Sporting News Radio as program director
Paul Santello, John Cate and Michael Soh rise at Carat Fusion
Lisa Weinstein-Scholtes and Paul Laureano rise at Fox Sports en Espanol
Scooby-Doo animation designer Iwao Takamoto dies at age 81

Wednesday, Jan.10, 2007

Overnights
Booty: 'People's Choice' wins for CBS
Bless the buzz over 'Pirates of the Caribbean,' night's big winner, and Depp showing up. Rises 13 percent in households, to a 7.6.

Magazines
Consumer titles end 2006 on flat note
Ad pages even with 2005 as auto hits the brakes. Drugmakers step in to make up the difference. Big gainers: Food magazines.

TV Reviews
'Armed & Famous,' and oddly enticing
New CBS reality show should be just dreadful. Imagine, D-listers in cop uniforms. Yet the cast brings it together, showing real heart.

Television
In sports, the year belongs to the NFL
Games account for top 10 shows on basic cable, and ratings are up for all four carriers at a time when other sports are suffering

Cable
Speed Channel, where things go faster
Though still small, the network is up 10 percent in total viewers and 45 percent among men 18-34. Target: Elusive young males.

TV This Week
On A&E, Tony Soprano, less dirty talk
Editors spent a year cleaning up his act for 'The Sopranos's' first cable airing outside of HBO. Bada Bing girls wear bathing suits.

News shorts
Unnecessary roughness: Coach is sorry for shove
Fast Company ups the pace: Fortune's Safian joins
Tribune, Gannett and McClatchy team for e-ad sales
Way-hot NBC ends CBS's 15-week reign in viewers
Dirty money: Stern and agent reap a Sirius bonus

Web shorts
It's true: Apple debuting new iPhone this summer
CBS letting viewers sling TV clips from set to web
Judge okays return of sanitized YouTube in Brazil
Latest accusation against Black: Bad internet posts

People
Tom Cosgrove joins Discovery Networks as SVP of programming
NextMedia co-founder Carl E. Hirsch stepping down
Michael Brodeur steps up as Joe Keohane steps down at Boston's Weekly Dig 
James Green joins Games Media Properties as CEO
Glenn Beck joins 'Good Morning America' as regular commentator
Richard Rothstein rises at NBC Universal to SVP of cable programming
Benjamin Ringe becomes NBC Media Productions executive director of development 
Geof Rochester joins WWE as SVP of marketing
Marc Olivier becomes VP of strategy and development at Castalia Communications
Owen Jones becomes development director at Third Floor Prods.
Mike Pons rises at The Weather Channel to VP of corporate strategy
'House' co-stars Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer get engaged
Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez starring in ABC Family movie

Thursday, Jan.11, 2007

Overnights
A ho-hum debut for 'Armed & Famous'
New CBS reality show pulls a 2.9 in 18-49s, winning its timeslot, though on a slow night and following a rash of dismissive reviews

Dayparts update
For Fox, 'Idol Rewind' sings of spring
Big ratings for new syndicated show bode well for new season of the network's hit show. Clip job is No. 3, ahead of Rachael Ray.

Magazines
About to arrive, Tyler Brule's Monocle
New magazine from the founder of Wallpaper* will cover global affairs, business, culture and design for people with lots of money

Newspapers
In St. George, Utah, there's lots to read
The Spectrum, circ. 24,000, puts out 40 niche titles, in what's becoming the new thing: creating slews of targeted publications

Television
The Golden Globes, for the fun of it all
Who will win, or should win, and why, and what the Oscar folks could gain from watching. Talking to TheEnvelope's Tom O'Neil.

TV This Week
On 'Nashville Star,' sounding right on
It's about the music on the USA talent show, making it the one 'American Idol' me-too to survive and grow. Jewel of a showcase.

News shorts
Royal mess: Rupe bans Middleton paparazzi shots
Berman bummer: Former Fox whiz out at Paramount
Police mull drug motive in PC World editor's shooting
Rosie's final razzie: 'View' puts Trump feud to rest
Programming notes: NBC Universal eyes talk show


Web shorts
Just call it eBuy: Auction site acquires StubHub.com
An iPhone? I don't think so, says Cisco Systems.
Study: Half of Brits suffer from technology frustration
Movie site: We'll pay $1M for Britney-KFed s#x tape


People
Oprah hosting primetime Oscar special for ABC
Doug Brod rises to editor at Spin Magazine
Michael Small becomes general manager for Radar Online
Matt Orser and Alvaro Ramos Solanes join la comunidad
Moksha Fitzgibbons, Jeanette Lukasik and Kelly McCabe rise at Complex magazine
John D. Clayton joins Marketing Management Analytics as VP of account management
Susan Solano becomes Telemundo SVP of consumer marketing 
Beth Goss becomes EVP of ad sales for Cartoon Network
Brooke Burke and David Charvet welcome baby girl Heaven
'Jim's' Courtney Thorne-Smith weds agent Roger Fishman
Former 'SNL' comedian Dennis Miller launching radio show
Former Times Regional president James C. Weeks dies at age 64
'The Munsters' actress Yvonne DeCarlo dies at age 84


Friday, Jan.12, 2007

Overnights
Rising audiences for 'Earl' and 'Office'
NBC sitcoms hit season highs in 18-49s, boosting network to No. 1 for the 8 p.m. hour, without CBS's 'Survivor' to drain off viewers

Cable
For cable networks, a new, harsher era
The growth in ad dollars came easy for so long. No longer. More and more, they will scrap one against the other to win their share.

TV Reviews
'24,' back again, and with a vengeance
Fox's counter-terrorist epic has its full mojo working as season six begins, its writers fending off any inclination to ease the tension

Younger viewers
The franchise of 'High School Musical'
It's aired 16 times since its debut nearly a year ago on the Disney Channel, always ranking high with tweens. Credit smart nurturing.

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, help me, this rep is a real jerk
A young female buyer complains of rude behavior on the part of a male salesman. He goes over her head too. What should she do?

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: Kiefer and Jill on NBC's 'Conan;' Saturday: NFL playoffs on Fox and CBS; Sunday: the season premiere of HBO's 'Rome'

News shorts
Bada-bang! A&E's 'Sopranos' a hit with 4.3M viewers
MTV Networks chief Wolf out after just 15 months
Naked ambition: Playboy bunny in a military muddle
President's Iraq speech most-watched since 2004
Another paper cut: NY Times Co. shaving 125 jobs

Web shorts
Sundance makes its shorties available for download
Huffington Post hopes to carry e-presidential debates
Daily Telegraph removes Hussein hanging blog post
Rotten Tomatoes crowns 'Royale' as the year's best

People
Julie Friedlander becomes ICON International associate director of national broadcast
Hello! joins newspaper ban on Kate Middleton paparazzi pictures
British import: Soccer star David Beckham joins MLS
Michael Carroll becomes travel and tourism director at Wall Street Journal
Mark Burnett will executive produce MTV Movie Awards
Chris Simko becomes director of new CBS Sports Properties Group
Jonathan Towers and William Fisher heading up development at Towers Productions
Mary Beth McAdaragh becomes SVP of affiliate relations for MyNetworkTV
Andrew Russell becomes SVP of PBS Ventures
Marion Edwards rises to Twentieth Century Fox president of international television
Kirstie Alley starring in Lifetime original movie 'And She Was'
Lifetime orders 'State of Mind,' starring Lili Taylor
Alan Cumming starring in Sci Fi remake of 'The Wizard of Oz'

Tuesday, Jan.16, 2007

Overnights
'Golden Globes' bump with box office
Viewership is up 7 percent over last year, to 20 million, reflecting better year for movies, led by 'Dreamgirls.' Still, '24' holds up well. 

Television
Media buyer's guide to 'American Idol'
What advertisers get for their $600,000 per spot and other facts about American television's priciest series. What it means to Fox.

Television
Pondering the magic of 'American Idol'
Fox's talent series gains with each season, defying all the odds. Talking with Shari Anne Brill, Heather Kruse and Lisa Herdman.

Popcult
Swan tale: 'Ugly Betty's' night of gold
ABC hit comedy wins two Golden Globe awards, with America Ferrera taking best actress in a comedy, in a sure ratings booster

Out of Home
Your client on video talking to crowds
Four-side screens get the message out at night on city street on top of vehicles, parked or moving. Toss in a wrap or street team.

TV This Week
'Idol' challenge: Top last year's tune-in
That was 35.5 million, and that will be tough, but it could be close. Anything over 28 million viewers will set a record for the season.

News shorts
Sunday overnights: Big night for Fox and Jack Bauer
Programming notes: No 'Idol'-'Dancing' showdown
'Passion' play? NBC fattening 'Today' to four hours.
Judge dismisses anthrax-related case versus Times
In Britain, the day's news and the anchor's bra. Oops.


Web shorts
Instant gratification: Netflix offers movie downloads
Long-rumored TMZ.com TV show launching this fall
Report: User-generated video won't be a big ad draw
Indian government outraged by gonzo Gandhi e-video


People
Greg Meidel becomes president of MyNetworkTV
Tania Villalon becomes account director for MEC Bravo
Jennifer Caserta joins fuse network as EVP and general manager
Lew McCreary joins Harvard Business Review as senior editor
Michele Babicz and Darrah Deo rise at Conde Nast Media Group
Drew Zoller becomes VP of business development at Enterprise IG
Billy Stewart joins Viamedia as new business development manager
Lauren Gellert rises at Court TV to VP of alternative programming
Adley Gartenstein rises to president of Film Movement
Former 'Friend' Jennifer Aniston rejoins Courteney Cox on FX's 'Dirt'
Marc Buhaj becomes SVP of programming at Jetix Europe
'Queer Eye's' Fab Five disbanding after this season
George Clooney executive producing Sci Fi original miniseries 'Diamond Age'

Alternative media
Oops. PA nixes huge ad on GW bridge.
Pop-up for the pooped: A hotel room 
Taste of South Beach in chilly January
Forecasts: Strong 2007 for out-of-home

Wednesday, Jan.17, 2007

Overnights
'American Idol' debut pulls 37.3 million
Almost 2 million more viewers than last year and the second most watched episode ever. Season opener earns a 15.7 in 18-49s. 

Research
Nielsen revises its commercial ratings
Ratings service will offer more data streams for delayed viewing when the system rolls out in May, but buyers still see it as flawed

TV Reviews
'Naked Trucker and T-Bones,' forget it
A Southern-fried mess, at once awful and boring, in which the two characters drone on, singing here and there, about nothing much

Magazines
Fido Friendly, for traveling dog people
It certainly seems the ultimate niche title. That it is, yet it speaks to a wider trend. Must-haves: World Famous Joybies Piddle Pants.

New media
For the 50-plus searchers, Cranky.com
A new search engine targets the older set, on the notion that their needs are unique and that they deserve results tailored for them

TV This Week
Tougher play for 'Friday Night Lights'
Already struggling NBC drama now faces 'Idol' in its new timeslot. It's just for one night, but it will bring on a drubbing it can ill afford.

News shorts
Fox apologizes for profanity as PTC starts FCC rally
Ten axed after cutesy radio contest leads to death
Study: Bad moods boost creativity and production
Programming notes: 'Ray' rates long-term renewal
Amid racism charges, 'Big Brother' viewership soars

Web shorts
Study: Global digital music $ almost doubled in 2006
LA secures first conviction under '03 Can-Spam act
A novel idea: Washingtonpost.com serializes fiction
Baidu starts ad-supported Chinese music service

People
Tunku Varadarajan rises to Wall Street Journal assistant managing editor
Matthew Belvedere, Jay Keller and Chris Wilson join USNews.com
Bryan Postlethwait rises to SVP of programming for Playboy Entertainment Group
Katherine Johnson rises to SVP of promotions and marketing at Turner Entertainment
Harold Geller joins American Association of Advertising Agencies as president of digital initiatives
Elizabeth Kalodner and Ken Ross become EVPs for new CBS divisions
Cindy Schwartz joins Mason Media Group as business development executive
Amanda Bennett joins Bloomberg News as executive editor
John Yang becomes NBC News correspondent
Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic become lead AFL announcers on ESPN
Valeria Corbetta becomes director of editorial development at Conde Nast International
K-Fed starring in Super Bowl spot for Nationwide Mutual
TNT commentator and former NASCAR champion Benny Parson dies at age 65

Thursday, Jan.18, 2007

Overnights
Second huge 'Idol' night: 36.9 million
Fox show tops last year's night two by 5.4 million and beats the four other networks combined. Pulls a 15.4 rating in adults 18-49.

Television
NBC's suddenly sinking Sunday night
Returning 'Apprentice' and 'Jordan' are hurting, their ratings way off in their first weeks, putting at risk all the gains from fall football

Cable
Tabloid tales: FX's 'Dirt' takes a tumble
Second outing falls 30 percent in 18-49s from its socko premiere. Big draw: Courteney Cox. Big turnoff: The icy tab editor she plays.

Research
For women, sports is a field of dreams
Female viewership is up for major global events, rivaling men's in some cases, as well-heeled players become aspirational figures

Sports TV
Meet Gino Bona, Super Bowl ad writer
The NFL has chosen his spot to air in the big game, one of three created by football fans this year. A copywriter gets his big break.

TV This Week
MVP dukeout: Nowitzki versus Bryant
The two top NBA contenders go face to face when the Mavericks play the Lakers, and all the buzz is over who deserves the honor

News shorts
Programming notes: NBC renews four hit shows
Hot UK rumor: Is Pearson putting FT on the block?
Brits' 'Celebrity Big Brother' controversy goes global
Washington Post flavors its newsboxes with Onion
He said, he said: 'Grey's' guys disagree on epithet

Web shorts
Nielsen//NetRatings: Newspaper blog readership up
Study: 15 percent mostly used web for election news
New 'Day Break' will dawn on ABC.com next month
Holiday iPod sales soar 50 percent over last year

People
Steven Koepp, Jerry Useem, Susan Callaway, David Whitford and Jennifer Reingold join Fortune
Scherri Roberts rejoins Hearst Magazines as VP and director of human resources
Seven join or rise at Money magazine
Bob Thompson becomes president at Fox National Cable Sports Networks
Evelyn Nussenbaum joins Business 2.0 magazine as senior editor
Randy Freer becomes president at Fox Regional Cable Sports Networks
Mark Marvel, Randy Smith and Mary Stenmark join MSNBC.com
Jamie Davis, Jory Reinhart and Tom Doyle join Pro Cycling Tour marketing team
Michael Bergmeijer becomes WSJ managing director of European operations
HarperCollins shuts down Judith Regan's ReganBooks imprint
Randy Michaels heading up Oak Hill Capital Partners TV group
Ex-NBCer Neal Shapiro may head Educational Broadcasting Corporation
Oprah, Jon Stewart and Hugh Laurie are America's favorite TV personalities

Friday, Jan.19, 2007

Overnights
Faint golden afterglow for 'Ugly Betty'
ABC show is up 5 percent in total viewers after winning Golden Globes, taking timeslot, while Mexico's 'Betty' soars on Univision

Newspapers
For Art Buchwald, the very last laugh
This great and celebrated wit took on death and found humor in it, as he had found humor in life over many decades as a journalist

Dayparts update
Sob! So long, 'Passions,' so much fun
Tribute: The NBC series was over the top and goofy, but it never shied away from risk-taking in its effort to reinvent the soap opera

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, help me return to a big market
A buyer is working in a small market for a year and worries that it will carry a stigma when it comes time to return to a major market

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: USA's 'Monk;' Saturday: Duke and N.C. State clash on ABC; Sunday: CBS's AFC and Fox's NFC championship game

News shorts
The ax falls again at Time Inc.: 289 jobs will be cut
Report: Not a great year for black and Hispanic mags
Angry sponsor cuts ties to 'Celebrity Big Brother'
Shades of 'Grey:' What next for Isaiah Washington?
Programming notes: CW's 'Chris' will be back again

Web shorts
Buchwald starts a trend with NY Times video obituary
Families sue MySpace over alleged s@x predators
Ring, ring! Fox News dials up cell phone audiocast.
Hackers unleash 'Storm Worm' after bitter winds

People
Jerry Ferrara becomes VP and online advertising director for Investors.com
Timothy Callahan joins Inc. Magazine as marketing director
Stephen Colbert and Bill O'Reilly's meeting of the minds
Carly Feinstein, Jackie Ling, Alexandra Szostczuk and Rebecca Tumulty rise at MediaVest
Christopher Powell joins Scripps Network as EVP of human resources
Cox Enterprises promotes 13 employees in its corporate headquarters
Kathleen Delaney joins Dow Jones Indexes as senior director of marketing
Mike DeTurris, Mike Bonetti and Andy Hazy become sales managers at Jumpstart Automotive
Kimberly Palmer joins U.S. News & World Report as an associate editor
Christopher Weis joins AP Radio as regional radio executive
Plain Dealer editor Doug Clifton is stepping down
Katie Couric filming a feature for CBS's Super Bowl pregame show
'Barney Miller' actor Ron Carey dies at age 71

Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2007

Overnights
Huge numbers for Colts-Patriots game
AFC championship draws 43.1 million total viewers, according to fast nationals, and 16.1 in 18-49s for CBS, for a season record

Cable
A cooling for local cable ad spending
Slower adoption of technologies like VOD and competition from the web have analysts trimming forecasts to yet still-healthy levels

Magazines
Look, a peek into High Street windows
New British weekly reporting the latest fashions as they change by the nanosecond for young women who shop. Quite the launch.

Popcult
Latest kiddie abuse: The birthday party
Birthdays Without Pressure aims to talk sense to America about how increasingly elaborate soirées are damaging to the children

Out of Home
Your client at the big game, in high res
New digital signage is more visible on TV, so it has more impact for fans watching the play at home as the camera scans the arena

TV This Week
From Fox this a.m., it's Mike and Juliet
Network is rolling out a morning news chat duo to compete with the Big Three networks as part of a big push into other dayparts

News shorts
Weekend overnights: NBC tops slow Friday in 18-49s
Channel 4 mulls pulling the plug on 'Big Brother'
Bauer mixing Cocktail Weekly for women in their 20s
Fox revives 'Death' with a new post-'Idol' timeslot
Gas bags: O'Reilly-Colbert crossover pumps ratings

Web shorts
Young-skewing CW finally puts shows on the web
Kazakh court convicts blogger for dissing president
NBC hopes super 'Heroes' will boost interactive site
From 'L Word' to V word: Showtime finds virtual Life

People
Kathleen Tetidrick joins Ad Partners as media buyer
Debra J. Menin rises to VP and national entertainment director for Parade magazine
John Hesano rises at Eastman Radio to VP and general sales manager
Anderson Cooper signs new deal to stay at CNN
Sarah Cronan and Robin Pate rise at Scripps Networks' HGTV
Princess Di takes the top honor for UK's most memorable TV interview
GLAAD honors 'Grey's' despite Isaiah Washington controversy
John J. Martin becomes VP of advertising at Sun-Times Media Group
AOL co-founder Steve Case launches health web site
Teenager suspected in murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink
'Six Feet's' Lauren Ambrose and husband welcome first child
News reporter Brendan Keefe arrested while covering story
'Dharma & Greg's' Jenna Elfman and husband expecting first child

Alternative media
In transit ads, Titan's the big city play
Music of 'Grease,' on New York streets
Touting HD radio's virtues, in orange
'Psst! Hey, fella, try the Navy Reserves'

Tuesday, Jan.23, 2007

Overnights
In first face to face, 'Heroes' beats '24'
Newer NBC show averages a 6.5 in 18-49s while Fox's veteran series pulls still-strong 5.4 and takes households. NBC wins night.

Television
Ratings-wise, a promising Oscar night
'Dreamgirls' is not up for best picture, a blessing for ABC, since musicals deliver poor ratings. And Scorsese is up for 'Departed.'

Newspapers
For newspapers, it's all about mothers
Long an afterthought, moms are the new hot demographic, and publishers are in a lather to understand and cater to their needs

Sports TV
On the matter of Super Bowl ad clutter
And, yes, it does matter, hurting recall among viewers. Last year's ads ran 47 minutes. Is it worth it? Talking with TNS's Jon Swallen.

New media
The new news thing, from web to print
In London, Newsstand will print content from web sites and blogs when it launches this April as a hyper-local weekday newspaper

TV This Week
The State of the Union: A nation waits
President's speech will likely draw over 40 million viewers as the U.S. worries over Iraq and other issues. 'Idol' should also deliver.

News shorts
Halo effect: Saints-Bears game draws 43.2M viewers
Will new buyers ensure Air America isn't grounded?
Deja vu: Alleged racism on another Channel 4 show
Daily News: Post state editor paid by NY lobby group
Swish! DirecTV nets March Madness deal with CBS. 

Web shorts
New Google project toys with web video advertising
MySpace royally upset over alleged Spam King email
Wenner's Us Weekly weaves web TV deal with Veoh
Spiking the political punch: The SotU drinking game

People
Patrick Thomas joins MediaSpan as manager of network ad sales
Sandy Drayton joins Women's Health as executive director of brand communications
Larry Most joins Sun Sports and FSN Florida as ad sales director
Judy Woodruff joins 'The NewsHour' as full-time correspondent
Jane Grenier becomes publisher for CondeNet's new Flip
Lucy Bartholomay rises to Boston Globe managing director of product innovation
Six join or receive promotions at Screenvision
Todd Schwartz joins and Michael Spierer rises at Playboy Entertainment Group
Steve Cappuccio becomes business development executive at Mason Media Group
Sean Redlitz and C.J. Arabia join NBC Universal's DotComedy
Jamie Foxx launching new Sirius Satellite Radio channel The Foxxhole
Isaiah Washington promises to educate others about the cruelty of gay slurs
'Girls Gone Wild' founder Joe Francis is fined $500,000

Wednesday, Jan.24, 2007

Overnights
A bigger tune-in for State of the Union
Bush speech pulls 31.4 million total viewers on Big Four, up 14 percent over last year, with an 'Idol'-fueled Fox nabbing a full third

Television
Tortoise-like, CBS eases up into No. 1
Programming strategy that looked overly cautious in the fall is paying off as both ABC and NBC stumble and Fox plays catchup

Magazines
This year, few titles will see rate hikes
Buyers are saying no to all but the hottest, and they've got the leverage, with advertisers moving more spending to the internet

TV Reviews
'Pros vs. Joes,' sofa jocks with an itch
The athletic sparring is pretty ho-hum stuff. What redeems this series on Spike is its unabashed wackiness and host Papadakis.

Cable
For Lifetime, a shot at the dating game
'Gay, Straight or Taken' aims for younger women, and it's off to a promising start as the network looks to reverse its slide in ratings

TV This Week
Back, and on cable, NHL All-Star game
The last such event was in 2004 on ABC. Now it's on Versus and the audience will be a fraction of the size. But the play's the thing.

News shorts
Report: Rupert eyes British news analysis magazine
More ABC News unrest: Cuomo's near-miss in Iraq
U.S. Attorney: No charges filed in Page $ix scandal
They're just not that into him: Sony axes 'Behrendt'
Over the line? Princeton abuzz over satirical story.

Web shorts
Nielsen Analytics paints portrait of broadband users
Oxygen breathes life into web offerings with Oomph
Overexposed: New site digs up even more Paris dirt
Red alert: MySpace issuing notices on missing kids

People
Stephen E. Snyder becomes COO at CBS Interactive
Ron Feinbaum rises to EVP of business development at Scipps Networks
Nancy Marzouk joins [x+1] as VP of media sales
Claudia Silver joins Departures as fashion, beauty and fragrance manager
Kevin Hoffman replacing Steve Perry as City Pages editor
Rick Berger joins Alloy Media + Marketing as VP and general sales manager
Suzanne Dunn joins Concrete Pictures as VP of interactive business development
Radio anchor Scott Cortelyou arrested for alleged relationship with a child
Scott Mills becomes president of BET Networks' Digital Media Group
James Pretretti, Travis Howe and Mark Donohue rise at Sony Pictures Television
Roberta Rivinus and Chad Apgar rise at Eclipse Marketing Services
Cheri Oteri lends voice to Fox pilot 'The Life and Times of Tim'
Lisa Williams returns for second season on Lifetime


Thursday, Jan.25, 2007

Overnights
'Idol' gains viewers in its second week
Up 7 percent in 18-49s over same night last year, to 13.9 rating, drawing 33.6 million viewers. Doubles other networks in last hour.

Dayparts update
Laughs are fewer for syndie's sitcoms
Ratings sink for 'Seinfeld,' 'Friends' and 'Raymond,' the three top comedies, and the worry is that there's nothing to replace them

Television
Big midseason puzzle: 'American Idol'
Many media buyers admit to being at a loss as to why the show is such a hit. But they have few doubts that Fox will win the season.

Research
With cable networks, image is the key
And it may be the most important thing when it comes to media people's plans to up ad spending. Talking with Beta's Andy Klein.

Magazines
For Penthouse, back to its beginnings
New UK edition of the men's title launches in London, where the magazine was first published 40 years ago, with a fresh identity

TV This Week
Imagining Clark Kent in the loony bin
As it turns out, though, he's not crazy at all but the captive of an evil doctor. He's tipped off by a fellow patient, a Justice Leaguer.

News shorts
Updated numbers: Bush speech biggest since 2003
Philly Inquirer owner launching new express paper
Done deal: Swedish group buysTime Warner titles
What Rupe's Tribune bid means to NYC newspapers
Page Six blind item: Which rival tabloid got it wrong?

Web shorts
LA Times: We're putting renewed effort into the web
Fox targets YouTube over prematurely leaked '24'
Great e-debate: Did McCain nod off during the SotU?
Study: More time spent with computers than spouses

People
Mr. Washington goes to rehab: 'Grey's' doctor seeks help
Susan Taylor rises to associate media director at RBW Advertising
Eric Schwab becomes associate publisher for Motor Trend and Automobile
Dan Wheeler rises to EVP of business development at WorkPlace Media
Kent Rice and John Hyde rise at Starz Media
Ken Karnes joins Cellfire as VP of retail sales
Michael Zamba joins The Magazine Group as VP of custom publishing
Diane Tryneski rejoins ABC as SVP of TV, broadcast and engineering
Ann Leary becomes EVP at Clear Channel Katz Advantage
Gaynor Strachan-Chun joins Ovation TV as VP of marketing
Julie Lane becomes SVP for Clear Channel Katz Advantage
Lori D. Asbury becomes SVP of marketing and creative services at HGTV
Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni re-up with NBC's 'L&O: SVU'


Friday, Jan.26, 2007

Overnights
'Men in Trees' climbs to a ratings high
ABC dramedy averages a 3.9 in 18-49s, winning its timeslot on a night of reruns, as it shows signs of building after a modest start 

Media economy
A brighter picture for the cable upfront
Last year was a stinker, with sales flat versus 2005, but analysts see a better market this spring with spending up mid-single digits

TV Reviews
'The Apprentice,' puffs of tired bluster
What began as almost a goof on the Trump persona has now turned into the real thing, and it's not pretty, or likable or watchable

Younger viewers
Among wee ones, it's 'Go, Diego, Go'
Season debut ranks behind only 'American Idol' among 2-to-5s. 'Dora' spinoff is now No. 1, outdrawing 'Dora' and 'SpongeBob.'

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, help me buy media in Thailand
The writer has a client opening operations there. Rachel's advice: Find the right partners and be ever alert to the cultural differences.

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: Aussie Open on ESPN2; Saturday: ABC figure skating; Sunday: HBO's 'Extras.' Harry Potter sheds goody-goody rep.

News shorts
ABC re-ups reality shows 'Wife,' 'Nanny' and 'Videos'
Growing stink over CNBC anchor's pal at Citigroup 
This year's big thing: The Super Bowl in high-def
A smelly proposition: WSJ sniffing out scented ads
Former NBC treasurer facing wire fraud charges

Web shorts
Cell snafu the latest problem to dog Brit 'Big Brother'
Online buzz builds for KFed's cheeky Super Bowl ad
For current events junkies, Wii offers AP news feed
Newbies YouTube and Wikipedia rank in top brands

People
Megan Reichard rejoins Empower MediaMarketing as client strategist
Douglas Toews becomes SVP of marketing communications and branding at Rodale
Kevin Wood and Cyndi Hochberg rise at Sarasota Homes & Lifestyles
Philip Elmer-DeWitt joins Business 2.0 as executive editor
Jesse Angelo rises to managing editor at The New York Post
Clare Pizey becomes creative director at BBC's Features and Formats Studio
Sean Connolly joins Ellis Entertainment as development director
Ian Dowds rises to sales controller at Turner Broadcasting
Zach Posner joins National Lampoon as VP of corporate development
Food network: That 'Iron Chef' glitch was not subliminal messaging
Spike Lee directing new NBC pilot 'M.O.N.Y'
'Talent' judge Brandy involved in fatal accident
Michael Vartan starring in new ABC drama pilot

Monday, Jan. 29, 2007

Overnights
Steep fall for CBS Sunday night movie
Drops 31 percent in 18-49s, to a 2.9, from its regular 'Trace' and 'Cold Case' lineup. Movie airs to avoid running low-rated repeats.

Sports TV
Super Bowl will be bigger, you can bet
Why this game will top last year's audience of 90.7 million when Indianapolis's Colts play the Chicago Bears next Sunday on CBS

Newspapers
In Deerfield, N.H., there's news aplenty
Citizens started their own newspaper, the Forum, irate over the dailies' poor coverage. They're the reporters, and no one is paid.

Popcult
Altrourism, travel for big-hearted folks
Imagine going on vacation to do relief work for tsunami victims or to help teach in a school in Africa. More Americans are doing it.

Out of Home
Your client doing right by college kids
Sponsoring volunteer work over spring break, whether trips to help victims of Katrina or helping out in a shelter for the homeless

TV This Week
Pier looks: There she is, Miss America
This is the pageant's second year on CMT, and it's going against a tougher broadcast lineup. It will struggle to draw even 3 million

Tuesday, Jan.30, 2007

Overnights
Fox first: Monday squeaker over NBC
Wins the night with a 4.8 rating in adults 18-49, a mere 0.2 lead, in a rare loss for NBC as hits 'Heroes' and 'deal' lose momentum

Sports TV
This Super Bowl, CBS has a clear field
Expect little to no counter-programming on Sunday. Unlike in past years, other networks are resigned to airing reruns and movies.

Sports TV
Just who will be watching Super Bowl
Chances are they're Republican, male and like Big Macs. They're likely not Hispanic. Talking with Experian Simmons' Max Kilger.

New media
Forecast: Online retail will hit the wall
Share of sales will max at 10 percent to 15 percent, yet influence on purchases will keep growing, reaching almost half of all sales

Radio
Big breath of life for ailing Air America
Wealthy New Yorker is stepping in as its new owner with the aim of building up the liberal chat network as a profit-making business

TV This Week
With 'Road Rules,' MTV changes lanes
Reality show returns in a revamp of Tuesday lineup, and ratings could be way up with the rollout of Nielsen's college viewing data

News shorts
Houston PPM wins long-awaited MRC accreditation
Curtains for Rupe design magazine as rumors swirl
Martha Stewart Living woos Boodro as new editor
Ex-TV presidents Berman and Braun return to roots
S#x worker setback: Court dismisses Sun libel suit

Web shorts
Study: One third of YouTube viewers watching less TV
Heiress Hilton sues to shut down Parisexposed.com
San Fran Chronicle turns reader beefs into podcasts
In Nicktropolis, virtual encounters with SpongeBob

People
Christina Clayton rises to media buyer at Ad Partners
Martha Stewart appearing in NFL Network Super Bowl spot
Gerard Broussard becomes managing partner of strategic insights for Mediaedge:cia
Reggie Rouse becomes VP of urban programming at CBS Radio
Paul Jelinek becomes SVP of digital media at A&E
Pam Slay rises to SVP of network program publicity for Hallmark Channel
Tom Winiarski rises to SVP of ad sales and marketing for TBS
Paul Reader joins Men's Health as executive director of brand communications
Pamela Sader joins Weekly Reader as SVP of sales and marketing
Kerry Bianchi becomes group publisher of Smithsonian Publishing
Jorge L. Figueredo joins Dow Jones as SVP of human resources
Andrea Mondello joins Success magazine as web editor
Bob Kusbit returns to MTV Networks as CMT head of development

Wednesday, Jan.31, 2007

Overnights
Full 'House': Pulls 11.2 in adults 18-49
Fox doc drama in series high in first post-'Idol' airing and also a broadcast season high for a scripted series. 'Idol' draws a 13.3. 

Television
The one show 'Idol' can't stop: 'Bella'
Univision's Mexican 'Ugly Betty' is actually rising in the ratings, its romantic plotline bringing about some of its highest numbers ever

Magazines
Some tweaking ahead for UK's Cosmo
A new editor takes over the monthly on Monday, and she's got a job on her hands: Updating the title to fend off a slew of weeklies

Cable
VH1's '(White) Rapper,' the new sitcom
Kids living in a house and playing the fool as aspiring rap singers captures a lot of the comedic action of the old scripted comedies

TV Reviews
'Sarah Silverman,' laughs and squirms
There's both in the comic's Comedy Central sitcom, which works best when she's bouncing her bizarre brand of humor off others

TV This Week
Looking at how the high court works
PBS takes a peek at the personalities behind the court's leading decisions in 'The Supreme Court,' a fascinating four-part series

News shorts
Baquet and forth: Ex-LA editor rejoins The NY Times
Paper scrap: WSJ and Post reinstate stock listings
Ratings roundup: Williams powers ESPN2 to record 
Venture capital firm pours $25M in upstart erinMedia
The naked rebuke: Miss USA nixes Playboy spread

Web shorts
TV and film downloads will hit $3.9 billion by 2012
ComScore: Worldwide internet use still on the rise
Study: Young and old differ on good web behavior
In a first, NFL sells Super Bowl highlights on iTunes

People
Doug Hurst rises to Scripps Networks SVP and general manager of non-linear distribution
Marisa Belger, Jeanann Pannasch, Maria McDaniel and Bill Cooley join Tango
Paul Butler joins Gospel Music Channel as VP of business affairs and development
Kent Rees rises to VP of marketing at IFC
Leon Schweir becomes Big Ten Network head of production
Alexandra Constantinople joins Wired Media as executive director of communications
Eugene Robinson becomes senior editor at Mac|Life magazine
New hires and promotions at Campbell Mithun
Ivan Perez becomes VP and director of sales at Azteca America
Marilyn Milloy joins and Andrzej Janerka rises at AARP The Magazine
Lauren Stein rises to VP of drama programming at NBC Universal
Author Sidney Sheldon dies at the age of 89
William S. Weil becomes COO at National Geographic Entertainment Group


Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007

Overnights
Returning 'Bones' gets an 'Idol' boost
Fox drama jumps 50 percent over season average, to a 4.2 rating in 18-49s, as the lead-in for the reality show, winning its timeslot

Newspapers
Fact is, your average paper is just fine
The circulation crisis is hurting the big dailies but smaller papers are flat or even gaining. And that's most of the papers in America.

Dayparts update
When stars act up, celeb TV gets a rise
'Grey's Anatomy' slurfest pumps 'Access Hollywood' to its best ratings in three years. (This Washington could tell a lie, and did.)

Sports TV
What makes for a great Super Bowl ad
Of course, humor leads. It's a party day, why not. Now name the most successful ads. Talking with Seton Hall's Walter Guarino.

TV This Week
It's up from the deep for CBS's 'Shark'
Dismissed early on, it may be the season's sleeper, following the slow-growth pattern of 'Without a Trace' in the very same timeslot

News shorts
Turner apologizes for panic over outdoor campaign 
Acid-penned columnist Ivins dies of cancer at age 62
Orange crush: Media General closes Tampa tabloid
NBC: Most online TV viewers are just catching up
Berlusconi's wife airs their dirty laundry on page one

Web shorts
Askmen.com declares Beyonce top fantasy girlfriend
Study: Traffic to game advertisers' sites rose by half
Place your bets: Absurdist odds for Super Bowl XLI
Online poll finds skinny models are so way passe

People
Digby A. Solomon becomes president and CEO of The Daily Press
James Kaminsky joins Men's Journal as editor
Sarah Valasek joins Empower MediaMarketing as client strategy director
Ellen McGirt joins Fast Company as a senior writer
Riyad Abu-Sharr joins Star Marketing as CFO
Paula Newton becomes international security correspondent at CNN
Les Eisner becomes EVP at The Lippin Group
Nick Tarnowski, Heather DeRonck and Tim Beitz join 160over90
Erika Hart Hindle joins Overture Films as SVP of finance and administration
John Alvarez, Amy Willis, Amie Hinderliter and Amy Taylor rise at Oxygen
Campbell Mithun's John Rash debuts radio show 'The Rash Report'
YouTube.com star Lisa Donovan lands 'MADtv' gig
Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox share a kiss on 'Dirt'


Friday, Feb.2, 2007

Overnights
ABC wins big on first night of sweeps
Second-best night for 'Betty' and 'Grey's' this season and the network's best night in four months. Cliffhangers deliver upswing. 

Sports TV
Readers pick Colts to win Super Bowl
Expect record or near record viewing and close game on CBS. Most anticipated ads: Bud's. See after-bump for 'Criminal Minds.'

Television
CBS's post-game bet: 'Criminal Minds'
Though building, the drama is not expected to score like 'Grey's Anatomy' did for ABC last year, lacking its buzz. But it will do well.

Younger viewers
With kids, Super Bowl is about the ads
Or a lot more so than for adult viewers. Almost a third of those 6 to 18 rank them tops, above the game. What works best: Funny.

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, what is the pay like in sales?
An assistant planner sees a career on the sell side, in TV, but is curious about salaries. Rachel advises also considering online.

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: 'Wing' ding on USA's 'Monk;' Saturday: 'MADtv' spoof of '24;' Sunday: Super Bowl on CBS. Grab the chips and dip.

News shorts
Boston bummer raises issues for alternative media 
Study: Ads receive almost as much scrutiny as game
Among Baby Boomers, the 'Bud-weis-er' frogs rule
Rush Limbaugh, radio host and Nobel Prize nominee
MyNetwork's new identity: Less novelas, more action

Web shorts
Dirty money? CBS passes on p#rn site's $50M offer.
Metro's web division eyeing user-generated content
SI acquires user-generated sports site FanNation
'A Million Penguins,' the first collaborative wiki-novel

People
The latest on 'Celebrity Big Brother:' A criminal investigation?
'Last Comic Standing' returns with new host Bill Bellamy
Reports: 'The Dr. Keith Ablow Show' is history
Kaitlin Quistgaard rises to editor in chief at Yoga Journal
Mac Budill rises to EVP of programming at Cablevision
Michael Bonner, Salil Dalvi and Ron Lamprecht rise at NBC Universal
Howard Fienberg becomes director of government affairs at CMOR
'Witchblade' actress Yancy Butler accuses ex-boyfriend of stalking her
Eric Muhlheim becomes SVP of English Language Learning for Disney Publishing
Bounty hunter 'Dog' Chapman being sued for assault
Wife of 'Grey's Anatomy' star Patrick Dempsey delivers twins
Rachelle Lefevre cast in ABC drama pilot 'Life on Mars'
'Malcolm' dad Bryan Cranston cast in AMC drama pilot 'Breaking Ba

Monday, Feb. 5, 2007

Overnights
Early word: Super Bowl flat to last year
Averages a 42 household rating and 63 share in top 55 markets, off .5 percent. Peaks with a 44.0 at 9 p.m. as Colts go on to win.

Newspapers
An evil few dare write in Nuevo Laredo
Reporters risk death reporting on the drug cartels that control this Mexican border town, and many have died. Their silence remains.

TV Reviews
'Rules of Engagement,' trench warfare
The new CBS sitcom is a long slog of lame jokes, truly spadefuls. The one engaging performance comes from Patrick Warburton.

Popcult
Tallying up the true cost of asparagus
A British grocer aims to figure the carbon footprint of all products it sells and put it on labels. Bold idea, a head-scratcher of a task.

Out of Home
Your client taking a shine to the links
A new perk for golfers is a free shoe cleaner by the club house, and it comes with signage up at eye level that players can't miss

TV This Week
Time up, Clavo sweeps back into town
And ripe to tangle with David Caruso's Horatio, a crook from the past on 'CSI: Miami' in some CBS stunting for the rating period

News shorts
Weekend overnights: CBS takes Friday night easily
Anheuser-Busch once again tops Super Bowl ads
Report: Zucker will ascend to NBC Universal top spot
Boston says Turner will pay for terror $care expenses
Brit Channel 4 yanks 'Wank Week,' at least for now

Web shorts
Media Life readers again correctly predict Colts win
Study: 42 percent of kids are exposed to online p#rn
Viacom to YouTube: Remove our videos immediately
Web site: 'Studio 60' and '30 Rock' headed on hiatus

People
Report: Sumner Redstone settles suit with son Brent
Tiffany Long joins Ad Partners as account coordinator
Lee Hunt becomes interim managing director of Promax/BDA
William Kapfer becomes VP and publisher of Genre
Jim Weiss joins Gospel Music Channel as VP of public relations
Grant Show cast in CBS project 'Swingtown'
Norbert Leo Butz joins the cast of 'Playing Chicken'
Brooke Shields joins cast of NBC's 'Lipstick Jungle'
Ripple adds five VPs and two to its board of advisors
Shane Belcher rises at NBC U Cable's Emerging Networks to director of programming
Seth Shapiro becomes SVP of cross media strategy at The Opportunity Management Company
Justin Timberlake hosting Nickelodeon's 'Kids' Choice Awards'
Former E.W. Scripps chairman Charles E. Scripps dies at age 87

Alternative media
Troubling signs: Twin Cities digital ado 
Now, an out-of-home video ad group
Coming, social shopping by cell phone
The wow factor: Dancing high in the sky

Tuesday, Feb, 6, 2007

Overnights
Hefty debut for 'Rules of Engagement'
CBS's new sitcom pulls a 5.2 in adults 18-49, beating Fox's '24' and bettering last year's 'Christine' premiere. Super Bowl bump.

Sports TV
Stunner: Super Bowl pulls 93.2 million
The third-biggest audience for a TV show ever and second-best for the game, behind only 1996 Cowboys-Steelers' 94.1 million

Sports TV
Why the Super Bowl ads were so limp
Perhaps clients quashed the clever ideas, leaving fans to groan. And why so many critters? Talking with Bart Cleveland of AdBowl.

Sports TV
But look to see more user-created ads
The off-Madison Avenue spots won over viewers, creating buzz for the advertisers when most others got a big ho-hum from fans

New media
TV where viewers pen the actors' lines
New technology directs scenes and dialogue in real time, as the show airs, based on text messages from the audience. Et tu, Ed.

TV This Week
Bedside vigil: Will 'Gilmore Girls' live?
The CW is in a fever to resign the two stars of the drama, which while off, still holds its own against Fox's 'Idol.' (Be still, my heart.)

News shorts
Survey: Parents stress about media's impact on kids
New CEO Zaslav boots five in Discovery restructuring
Brokeback backlash? Snickers yanks Super Bowl ad.
Turner and Interference pay $2M in Beantown blunder
Brit women's magazine Real closed after makeunder

Web shorts
Wal-mart joins online movie and TV download march
Minded Mencia: Comedian's beer spot rules on TiVo
Dutch spam king sent 9 billion ads, authorities say
Give me shelter: Hachette launching fix-up site

People
Liddy Manson becomes COO at Freewebs
Tricia Wilber rises to EVP of Disney media advertising sales and marketing group
Jodi Brenner rises to SVP of business and legal affairs at NBC Universal Television
Jason McQueen joins MindShare Interactive as strategic consultant
Sloane Cooper joins Nick Davis Productions as VP of production
Karen Reynolds joins Court TV as director of public relations
Saul I. Fruchthendler joins Zephyr Media Group as general manager
Mark Garner joins A&E as VP of affiliate distribution
Keith Gibson becomes art director at DZP Marketing Communications
Ben Silverman signs first-look deal with NBC Universal Television Group
'Mod Squad' actor Tige Andrews dies at 86
Singer-actress Barbara McNair dies at the age of 72
Kirstie Alley cast in Fox comedy pilot 'The Minister of Divine'

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007

Overnights
CBS's' 'NCIS' withstands 'Idol' assault
Military drama up 8 percent over its season average in 18-49s, to a 3.9, even as the Fox hit reality show surges. Age before booty.

Television
For CBS, the race is on to hold its lead
Super Bowl gives it a nifty bump in the ratings but Fox is surging ahead and ABC will soon pick up with the return of its hit shows

Cable
All the boys just love Sarah Silverman
Her debut breaks through on the boys club that's Comedy Central, beating everything on cable and broadcast among men 18 to 24

TV Reviews
'Lost,' finding its way back to its roots
The hit ABC drama got itself lost last fall, but its writers have a clear sense of how to regain its momentum as the series returns

Magazine Review
A kind word or two for Bonnie's Star!!!
Fuller's weekly's a fun read and hard to put down, and that's the work of a good editor. Read all about Angelina's GIANT veins!!!

TV This Week
Crunch match: UNC and Duke go at it
Both basketball teams are suffering from losses, and one stands to recover and perhaps climb back, the other to slide yet further

News shorts
Instrument malfunction? Parsing Prince's shadow.
Snickers and GM weather criticism over Bowl spots
Televisa hopes to win big with new lottery promotion
At Santa Barbara's News-Press, yet more labor strife
'World News' draws largest audience since March '05

Web shorts
Ex-AOL employees acquitted in PurchasePro case
Amazon and TiVo merge e-downloads with television
Facebook begins video contest for Comcast show
Survey: Kids give K-Fed's Super Bowl ad thumbs up

People
It's official: Jeff Zucker is the new president and CEO of NBC Universal
Scott Sutherland rises to market manager at Bonneville International
Meredith Artley joins LATimes.com as executive editor
Jonathan Taylor becomes VP of public relations at Starz Media
Patricia Liguori rises to SVP of research at the ABC-Owned Television Stations Group
Halim Trujillo heading up MindShare's new multicultural unit
Pina DelPercio becomes accessories editor at Marie Claire
Jack Kennedy and Sarah Harden become SVPs at Fox Networks Group
Julie Roehm and Mike Boyd join BIAP's board of directors
Paul Brake joins National Geographic Channel as VP of finance
'Married with Children' actor David Faustino seeks a divorce
Harold Perrineau cast in CBS drama pilot 'Demons'
Tommy Mottola and Dave Broome developing new reality show for TLC



Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007

Overnights
ABC's 'Lost' returns with less cha-cha
Hit show averages a 6.5 in 18-49s in new timeslot, off 13 percent from last fall's premiere, which aired after 'Dancing with the Stars'

Newspapers
The endangered newspaper that is not
Circulation is actually growing worldwide, and there are now more daily papers. Big force in developed nations: The rise of freebies.

Research
TV viewing is up, despite online video
And that's true even among young audiences, those most inclined to visit such sites as YouTube. Folks find room for newer media.

Television
This sweeps Grammys may well matter
CBS needs the event to do well to stay ahead of Fox and win in February. Why sweeps still matter. Talking with Katz's Bill Carroll.

Dayparts update
Out on the hustings with Tim Russert
Election 2008 has already started on TV, where 'Meet the Press' is getting a boost in ratings with a series of candidate interviews

TV This Week
For 'Ugly Betty,' it's always something
And just as well, too, with 'Survivor' returning. And as the plotlines reach into new areas, ratings are up for the first-year ABC series.

News shorts
Hike! CBS dashes off to a Super lead for sweeps.
Sulzberger not sure how long print edition will last
A new Spanish-language public television network
Nielsen study: TV households will hit 163.7M by 2050