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
How much was Air America worth? Just $4.25M.

Web shorts
Cell sell: Hearst's Seventeen pushes mobile content
Advertising.com finds shorter is better for online ads
TVB: Local stations' web site revenue up 41 percent
For NY Times magazine film special, an actual movie

People
Rich Miller joins Media First International as general manager
Joseph Capobianco joins YES Network as ad sales account executive
Tracey Baldwin rises at Conde Nast Media Group to corporate sales director
Alvin Williams rises to senior director of music industry development at Gospel Music Channel
Daniel Bordui becomes president of Century Group
Faye Walker joins MGM as VP of worldwide television marketing
Cyriac Roeding and Jeff Sellinger rise at CBS Mobile
Editors Courtenay Smith, Michael Segell, Karyn Repinski and Teresa Dumain rise at Prevention
Elvia Van Es joins and Kevin Shinnick and Mike Duffy rise at Painless Productions
Steve Kern rises to VP of program planning at ABC Entertainment
Roberto K. Rafalowsky becomes director of sales at Digerti iSales
Erick Hachenburg becomes CEO of Metacafe
John Rosso becomes SVP of affiliate relations at ABC Radio Networks

Friday, Feb.9, 2007

Overnights
Slide in ratings for returning 'Survivor'
CBS reality show pulls a 5.8 in adults 18-49, off 8 percent from last fall facing rising competition. More gains for Grey's Anatomy.'

Cable
Rupe: Fox business channel's a go-go
Murdoch sets fall for launch of CNBC competitor, after years of mulling. Times are ripe with flush economy and flush Wall Street.

Younger viewers
The big buzz of 'Naked Brothers Band'
New Nickelodeon show pulls a 10.0 in kids 6 to 11, its best rating since 2000, after a month of intense hype-building on its nick.com

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, I left a big agency to go small
The writer wonders how hard will it be to return, especially to a job as a senior manager. Rachel's advice: Sell a complete package

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: Rachael Ray on CBS's Letterman; Saturday: NASCAR on Fox; Sunday: CBS's Grammy Awards with Justin Timberlake.

News shorts
Food poisoning? Eatery wins newspaper libel case.
The shocking death of Anna Nicole Smith, reality star
More paper cuts: Ann Arbor eyeing voluntary buyouts
British FHM taps new editor amidst circulation slide
PBS leads children's nominees for Daytime Emmys

Web shorts
Survey: Three quarters of ad people trying new media
ESPN shoots for mobile network again with Verizon
Price breaks will spur a surge in HDTV ownership
Dave on dial-up: CBS introduces new mobile content

People
Davan Maharaj rises to business editor at the LA Times
David Kennedy becomes CEO and vice chairman at Interep
Controversial yakker John DePetro returns to talk radio in Providence
Colin Jeffery and Russell Wager join automotive team at davidandgoliath
Max Howard becomes president of Exodus Film Group
Taina Hernandez and Ryan Owens anchoring 'World News Now' and 'America This Morning'
Tiffany Sommers becomes assistant editor at All You magazine
Carl Gardner becomes VP of digital media at Journal Communications
Fox signs Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton for new project 'Action News'
Jeff Foxworthy hosting new Fox quiz show 
Tavis Smiley moderating two presidential forums for PBS
Peter Krause cast in ABC drama pilot 'Dirty Sexy Money'
Warner Bros. VP and general manager Michael Lecourt dies at 58

Monday, Feb.12, 2007

Overnights
A major rebound for CBS's Grammys
Up 22 percent in total viewers over record low last year, to 20.7 million, on a new night away from 'Idol.' Tops ABC's 'Housewives.'

Television
No-no list: The dirty dozen TV shows
The 12 advertisers are most likely to find objectionable because of their content, what and who's most likely to raise flags. (Jerry!)

Television
Grammy bow to Fox's 'American Idol'
Awards to Carrie Underwood affirm show's place in pop music, for best female country vocal performance and the best new artist

Popcult
Debunking the myth of sleepless lives
It's the thing to say people are deprived, and at a huge cost. But folks these days may actually get better rest than their ancestors.

Out of Home
Your client in Vegas with college kids
Hundreds of thousands flock to this resort city over spring break, which makes it an ideal locale for reaching the young party crowd

TV This Week
Bryant Gumbel, working in his milieu
His 'Real Sports' may be TV's best sports show, with interviews offering real depth. A night with Ryan Howard and Mark Cuban.

News shorts
Weekend overnights: CBS and Fox split in 18-49s
Now hear this: Another free daily coming to Boston
GM tweaks controversial robot suicide ad for Oscars
Cartoon Network's Samples exits after Boston glitch
Rumors sprout about big layoffs at Viacom and Emap

Web shorts
Valentine's viruses trying to worm into your heart
Classic TV coming to YouTube with DMGI new deal
Footage of Anna Nicole's last moments hits the web
Yahoo launches worldwide mobile marketing platform

People
dMarc Broadcasting heads Chad and Ryan Steelberg step down
Laura Ellsworth joins CNN as senior producer for 'Reliable Sources'
Rob Wilson rises to art director at Playboy
Wall Street Journal SVP of sales and marketing Judy Barry exits
Michael Sileck becomes COO at World Wrestling Entertainment
'CSI's' Louise Lombard cast in ABC pilot 'Judy's Got a Gun'
ABC casts 'Xena's' Lucy Lawless in drama pilot 'Football Wives'
Sarah Clarke joins cast of untitled NBC drama pilot
Mirriam Shor joins cast of CBS pilot 'Swingtown'
Bridgette Wilson-Sampras joins ABC pilot 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith'
ABC casts John Francis Daley in medical comedy 'The Call'
Fran Kranz cast as lead in CBS comedy pilot 'The Captain'
Newspaper designer Edmund C. Arnold dies at 93

Alternative media
Targeting consumers while they shop
Moving message: Light portable signs
Point of view, atop Rockefeller Center
Getting mileage from user-created ads

Tuesday, Feb, 13, 2007

Overnights
'Rules of Engagement' tops its lead-in
New sitcom gains on 'Two and a Half Men' its second week with a 5.0 in 18-49s, boosting CBS to a close second for the evening

Magazines
Winter chill lingers for consumer titles
January ad pages fall a tad, by 0.9 percent, from a year earlier, but drug ads remain strong, and Detroit is back and spending

Magazines
Circ gains for Penthouse and Playboy
The print men's titles report big increases for second-half 2006, even with the internet. Other big gainers: Inc. and Fast Company.

New media
Busting the myth of tech-savvy youth
European study finds many 18-24s choose to wait rather than jump on each new technology. They too find it a chore to keep up.

Television
Love story: Super Bowl Proposal Guy
Rand Fishkin got shot down on his plan to propose during the big game but last week he finally got on the air. Geraldine said yes.

TV This Week
Pooch parade, and a dandier one, too
It's this year's Westminster Kennel Club Show, and there's just a lot more to talk about, which should boost ratings smartly for USA

News shorts
Vroom! Daytona 500 ad prices soar nearly two thirds.
Tribune bids adios to Hoy, which aligns with El Diario
Metro noses into new territory: Scratch-and-sniff ads
On the Radar: Will third time be Roshan's charm?
Programming notes: Second helping of 'Silverman'

Web shorts
Court rules for Belgian papers in Google News case
TV Guide and Time Inc. partnering with Brightcove
Rivals and CSTV.com score on National Signing Day
Nielsen DigitalPlus, to see who's watching and how

People
CEO Judith McGrath announces job cuts throughout MTV Networks
Elizabeth Talerman becomes VP and senior director of marketing at Martha Stewart Living
Laura Masse rises to EVP of marketing for Crown Media Holdings
Miguel Ferrer becomes programming director at AOL Latino
Neil Russo, Julianne Shepherd and Angela Watford join Vibe Media Group
Tom Jensen becomes senior NASCAR editor at SpeedTV.com
Jim Acosta joins CNN as general assignment correspondent
Now-retired NFL player Tiki Barber joins NBC's 'Today'
Jimmy Smits starring in untitled CBS drama series
WSJ's Jeanne Cummings joins The Politico
Todd Robinson penning new FX drama project 'The Inside'
Steve Harris starring in CBS drama pilot 'Protect and Serve'
Michelle Ryan starring in NBC's drama pilot 'The Bionic Woman'

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007

Overnights
'Primetime' rises on polygamy report
ABC newsmagazine pulls a 3.4 in 18-49s, up 31 percent over last week, in its ongoing series on people choosing different lifestyles

Television
Colossus rising: ABC Thursday night
NBC owned it for decades, CBS for years following a protracted struggle. Then ABC swept in and grabbed it away in a heartbeat.

Research
Fact: Dirty TV shows are ad bummers
Study finds se#%al content actually hurts recall, as does violence, so overloading the brain that the product's message is ignored

Cable
True grit: Remaking the A&E network
'The Sopranos' has helped push it into a top-five cable network, with ratings way up from last year, as it takes on a harder edge

TV Reviews
'Knights of Prosperity,' off the money
New ABC sitcom began with so much promise, only to squander it with its lack of forward motion and thinly developed characters

TV This Week
From Al to Bugs, a valentine to die for
Moran was nowhere to be found that day, but the murder of his mugs lives on in mob history, and the History Channel recalls it all

News shorts
Broadcast veteran Ancier resurfaces at BBC America
Programming notes: An earlier exit for NBC's 'Strip'
Falling Star: Editor Dolce booted at Bonnie's tabloid
Forget the hype, men take Valentine's more seriously
Be mine ... never mind: WZZO offers V-Day divorce

Web shorts
When it comes to e-cards, there's a gender divide
Study: Identity theft more common in LA and NYC
Trio becomes triple threat with a popcult newsletter
Study finds biz podcast primetime starts at 11 a.m.

People
Kris Korteweg becomes general manager at Titan Worldwide
David Bohrman rises to SVP of news and production at CNN
Kenneth Miller becomes senior writer at Reader's Digest
John King returns to Fallon to head up the connection planning unit
Tom Garcia joins McKee Wallwork Cleveland as producer
Anthony Danzi becomes publisher of Maximum PC, PC Gamer and Windows Vista
Gary Dortona joins SPAR Group as SVP of sales and marketing
Brian Gladman becomes director of consumer products at Cookie Jar entertainment
Metro International president Pelle Tornberg stepping down 
Kelli Gross and Jay Moore rise at Maloof Productions
Denise Dahldorf rises to EVP of affiliate sales at MTVN and BET
Marc Gareton rises to SVP of international markets for Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
SI swimsuit issue gets a dream girl: Beyonce on the cover



Thursday, Feb.15, 2007

Overnights
ABC's 'Lost' struggling to find its way
Returned drama dips 14 percent from last week, its first back, to a 5.6 in 18-49s, amid grousing by fans over unresolved storylines

Dayparts update
Gibson's nightly news climbs to No. 1
ABC show leads over NBC in February sweeps, gaining viewers while the other two are flat. Why so? Perhaps it's in the delivery.

Cable
The word: MSNBC re-signs Olbermann
The feisty, left-leaning newsman is the face of the network as it finds its identity and ratings rise. But that face is now a lot pricier.

Magazines
In London, talk of more newsweeklies
At least two titles are rumored to be launching, and the sector is actually gaining readers. Why so healthy? It's a matter of opinion.

Research
Connecting in this age of disconnects
The challenge for marketers is reaching consumers who are often in a state of partial attention and converting them to full attention

TV This Week
For 'ER,' a renewed bout of ratings flu
NBC drama sinks to some of its lowest numbers ever after a fall rebound, and media buyers are feeling achy over the show's fate

News shorts
Balco leaker 'fesses up in Chronicle reporters case
Peachy keen: New York Observer switches to tabloid
From Ben & Jerry's, try Colbert's Americone Dream
RIP 'TRL?' Rumors swirling about fate of MTV show.
A hairy situation: McMahon and Trump get in the ring

Web shorts
Judge dismisses MySpace sexual predator case 
Study: Top day for online Valentine's buys is Feb. 6
Controversial bloggers exit Edwards' 2008 campaign
NY Times and Monster partnering for classified ads

People
Howard Stern proposes to girlfriend Beth Ostrosky
Al Franken running for U.S. Senate in Minnesota
Tom Stolfi and Jeffrey Mahl become EVPs at KSL Media
Cindy Johanson becomes COO of George Lucas Educational Foundation
Nancy Barnes named editor of The Minneapolis Star Tribune
Bruce M. Yeager becomes EVP and CFO of Pappas Telecasting Companies
Marc Hernandez joins Tribal Fusion as vertical sales specialist
Linda Lydon and Steve Clancy rise at Time Inc. Business and Finance Network
Nancy A. McGee joins Starz Entertainment as SVP of marketing
Christy Spitzer joins Lion Television USA as director of development
Andie Kallinger becomes National Cable Communications' director of promotions
Heather Symmes becomes director of marketing strategy at Turner Network Sales
Mark Grace, Eric Karros and Joe Girardi join Fox Sports


Friday, Feb. 16, 2007

Overnights
'Shark' bite: CBS drama closes on 'ER'
Up 5 percent over last week in adults 18-49, just .5 behind fading NBC drama, and beating it in total viewers for fifth straight week

Research
Revealed: Top shows for college kids
Nielsen data shows huge rise for 'Ugly Betty' when their viewing is added to 18-24s. Other big gainers: 'Grey's,' 'House' and 'Trees'

TV Reviews
'The State Within,' Brits' thinking '24'
BBC three-parter is first a fast-paced thriller but it also looks into terrorism's broader effects in one man's search for his lost ideals

Younger viewers
Belated scorer for the CW: 'The Game'
Otherwise a dud, 'Girlfriends' spinoff is gaining with teens and now even beats its lead-in among 12-17s. Call it a late bloomer.

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, help me get my first media job
The writer switched to an advertising major in his fourth year in college and worries that his resume is thin on the fundamentals

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: HBO's 'Def Poetry;' Saturday: TNT's slam dunk contest; Sunday: Fox's Daytona 500 and 'Reba' series finale on the CW

News shorts
Nielsen: Quick DVR playback = greater ad viewing
Felix Dennis eyes auction for titles including Maxim
Winter freeze chills Hispanic magazine ad pages 
Programming notes: Fox renews 'House' and 'Bones'
Morti-fied: U.S. News tagged as gay Jamestown denier 

Web shorts
K.C. Star launches Prime Buzz for primo subscribers
Political web sites way up in January, comScore says
Study: Bloggers will be key to the future of journalism
Brutal weather boosts local TV stations' page views

People
'Countdown' lowdown: Keith Olbermann's new MSNBC contract
Marc Goldstein becomes CEO at GroupM North America
Beth Comstock, Jeff Gaspin and Marc Graboff rise at NBC Universal
Tracy Stalzer rises to associate publisher at All You
Dennis K. Gillespie becomes SVP of distribution for GSN
Hari Sreenivasan joins CBS as correspondent
Richard Bell joins Gospel Music Channel as VP of finance
Hans Fischmann becomes GM of advanced media group at Charter Media
Sarah Tomassi Lindman rises to SVP and GM of The N
Laura Fleury rises at A&E to senior director of nonfiction programming
John E. Kampfe becomes EVP and CFO at TBS
Chris Gilpatric rises to VP and director of affiliate relations at WGN
Keri Russell and Shane Deary tie the knot on V-Day

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2007

Overnights
A stinker sendoff for NBC's 'Studio 60'
Once promising drama pulls a 2.6 in 18-49s, a series low, as it goes on hiatus for 'Black Donnellys.' Its return remains a question

Newspapers
At newspapers, the national bite eases
Publishers are trimming the premiums long charged national ad buyers as circulations tumble and new local competitors emerge

Popcult
In love, hope for men with so-so jobs
Women in fact prefer them over high-salary guys, provided they're decent looking, researchers find. Why? Call it the cheater factor.

Out of Home
Your client's message out on the links
Delivering ads and promotions via GPS systems on cart keyed to where they are on the golf course, as well as by text messaging

TV This Week
A darker take on Black History Month
BET's 'Top 25 Events that (Mis)Shaped Black America' probes issues seldom discussed in typical black history retrospectives

News shorts
Sunday overnights: ABC edges NASCAR-fueled Fox
Daytona 500 races to fifth-best ratings in its history
Measuring Anna Nicole's plus-size news presence
Programming notes: Can 'Deal' save NBC's Sunday?
Seeing Red: Tribune Co. sues over FNC talker's title


Web shorts
Satellite sisters: XM and Sirius confirm merger plan
After Britney shears, eBay sees many hair apparents
Security breach exposes 1,753 SSNs in Connecticut
The foul mountie: Recruiting ads' gangland slip-up

People
AOL chief financial officer Stephen Swad steps down
Kiran Chetry joins CNN as anchor and correspondent
Linda Giambrone, John Hesling, Ian Moffitt and Alice Taylor become VPs at BBC Worldwide
Scott Schaiberger joins Oneupweb as director of marketing
Betsy Roach becomes director for television and film at National Geographic Enterprises
Karrin Smoley joins and Timothy Boell rises at Sundance Channel
Quarterback Tom Brady's ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan is pregnant
'Nip/Tuck' creator Ryan Murphy signs new deal with FX
'NYPD's' Esai Morales and Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon together again on 'The Cure'
Judge: ParisExposed.com can't sell heiress Hilton's racy belongings
Detective Tommy Le Noir hosting reality crime show on Spike TV
'Days' actress Alison Sweeney hosting 'Biggest Loser'
Arlyn Tobias Gajilan becomes senior editor-producer at Portfolio.com

Alternative media
So the devil with Cupid and his arrows
Sweet valentine: Weddings in the sky
Reaching high school kids into sports
To thee, a blue carnation and a smile

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007

Overnights
'Idol' belch: Fox hit slips by 10 percent
Pulls an 11.7 in 18-49s, down from last week, as audition phase ends, though still easily topping all the other networks combined

Television
Readers see a warm, cozy Oscar night
Think viewership will be up for sentimental favorites like Martin Scorsese and Eddie Murphy. And more say they will be tuning in.

TV Reviews
'Maui Fever,' trash rutting in the sand
MTV series reaches new lows in fake reality, built around young wastrels whose lives are infinitely soulless, mindless and boring

Radio
What to make of the XM-Sirius merger
Satellite will become more attractive to advertisers, but it won't be a slam dunk numbers-wise. Talking with Carat's Dennis McGuire.

New media
Monkeyshines: Felix web lad mag a go
Strong start for Monkey, Dennis's digital title, based on first audit, and yet more online-only titles are in the works. The big new thing.

TV This Week
In Jimmy Kimmel, ABC's night vision
His 'Live' is the lowest-rated late-night show, but his numbers are up, putting him in position when Conan O'Brien moves to 'Tonight'

News shorts
The diagnosis: ABC could heal with 'Grey's' spinoff
Lord in a lather! Black sues British author for libel.
The world's top $ix media companies reside in U.S.
Lee's HBO 'Levees' documentary earns Polk award
Pew poll: Viewers suffering from Anna Nicole fatigue

Web shorts
BBC still considering web ad plan despite protests
Joost for You: Angry Viacom anoints new video site
Howard's end? Nope, just another Trojan horse virus.
Google says it has fixed flaw in its desktop search 

People
Newly shorn and tattooed Britney checks into rehab
Meredith Bennett, Richard Dahm and Allison Silverman rise at 'The Colbert Report'
Julia Gunn joins Lifetime as VP of series development
Ken Miller becomes senior writer at Reader's Digest
Stefano Maruzzi becomes president at CondeNet International
Mike Zaneis becomes VP of public policy at Interactive Advertising Bureau
Dirk van de Bunt joins Guthy-Renker as SVP of business affairs
Caroline Baumgard, Rob Smith and Ira Chartoff rise at Endemol USA
Kristen Fox and Kevin Granath join Soapbox Mobile
Bob Orr moves to the Justice Department beat at CBS News
Melinda Clarke joins cast of CBS pilot 'The Man'
Beau Bridges cast in Fox pilot 'Two Families'
London Times journalist Daniel McGrory dies at age 54


Thursday, Feb.22, 2007

Overnights
'Idol' fallout: Returning 'Jericho' slides
CBS post-nuclear drama averages 2.4 in 18-49s, off 27 percent from last fall's average in its first face-off with the Fox juggernaut

Television
A clearer field for 'Friday Night Lights'
Prospects are improving for a second season for this critic fave, its ratings improving as '30 Rock' and 'Studio 60' sink still further

Cable
Good trick: Oxygen's 'Bad Girls Club'
Way bad girls, for sure, but great ratings for the network, its best ever. The reality show is especially strong among women 18-24.

Television
Behind the buzz for this year's Oscars
A big factor is anticipation over best picture. Another is Martin Scorsese's odds. Talking with ComingSoon's Edward Douglas.

Newspapers
For newspapers, simpler means better
More are switching over to modular ad units and far simpler price structures, making life easier for media buyers and their clients

TV This Week
One last sigh: 'The O.C.' says so long
Fox's teen-angster flamed big, only to sink in a tangle of plotlines. The kids who had seen so much of themselves in it drifted away.

News shorts
CBS maintains commanding February sweeps lead
Three athletes join ABC's brigade of 'Dancing' stars
NBC News regains total viewers lead from ABC
Ad-nausea: Restaurateur protests poor NYT review
Nielsen critic erinMedia slashes staff and ambitions

Web shorts
TVB launching internet-based ad buying system 
New York Sun joins growing surge in political sites 
Report: TV and movie downloads will grow to $4B
Movie studio sues Perez over topless Aniston photos

People
Former Dallas Morning News CEO James M. Moroney dies at age 85
Peter McPherson becomes chairman of the board for Dow Jones & Co.
Angela Zucconi joins Vibe Media Group as VP of finance
Rick Doyle joins Starmark/MARC USA as media director
Wendy McCoy joins Gospel Music Channel as VP of marketing
Cory Sher joins here! as director of distribution and marketing
Lee Pearson joins FUEL TV as director of new media
Steve Goore rises at A&E Television to VP of the western region
Clyde D. Smith becomes SVP of global broadcast technology at TBS
Rich Orosco joins Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution as VP of marketing
'Desperate Housewives' actress Marcia Cross gives birth to twins
Reality TV couple Trista and Ryan Sutter expecting first child
Ving Rhames joins cast of ABC's 'Football Wives'


Friday, Feb. 23, 2007

Overnights
'Grey's' in season high on cliffhanger
ABC drama pulls best rating for a scripted series, earning 11.6 in 18-49s, as Meredith's very life was left hanging in the balance

Television
In sweeps, Fox will be the real winner
CBS is ahead and will win based on Super Bowl, but with 'Idol' Fox leads in regular programming. That's what matters to buyers.

Dayparts update
Annamania: Syndie celeb shows soar
Such a year it's been already for the TV wags with Smith dying, Britney ducking into rehab and Isaiah Washington's flapping jaw

TV Reviews
'The Amazing Race,' a field of champs
The very idea of an all-star edition seems risky, and yet it works. Though the characters are known, the drama is as fresh as ever.

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, help me find a job in planning
The writer's worry: A lack of direct experience as a recent college graduate. Rachel opines: Forget experience, just go sell yourself.

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: CW's WWE; Saturday: IFC's Independent Spirit Awards; Sunday: Academy Awards on ABC. Who will take best picture?

News shorts
NBC's late night replacement may be 'SNL's' Fallon
Paper admits publishing rivals' stories with AP byline
Hearst tests portable electronic newspaper in Seattle
CBS and cable operators sign retransmission deal 
Programming notes: 'Six Degrees' returns on ABC

Web shorts
Decision on BBC web ads delayed until this spring
Web rises to No. 2 news source for 18-25s in U.K.
From newshound to songbird: Yahoo's new venture
Egyptian blogger jailed for insulting president and Islam

People
Michael Dupont rises to Oxygen VP of strategic partnerships
Marc Miller joins Fuel Outdoor as COO
Pegg Nadler becomes VP of database marketing at Hachette Filipacchi Media
Scott Mayerowitz leaves Providence Journal for ABC News
Steve Hawn rises to VP of cable sales at Buena Vista Television
Jonathan Aubry rises to director of communications at here!
Maria Ball joins Saks Fifth Ave. as media buyer
Brian Austin Green co-starring in untitled CBS project
It's a boy for 'According to Jim's' Kimberly Williams-Paisley and husband 
'L&O's' Angie Harmon cast in ABC pilot 'Women's Murder Club'
'Charmed's' Alyssa Milano starring in ABC drama pilot
Aric Ackerman joins L.A. Studios as CEO
TV and film actress Janet Blair dies at age 85

Monday, Feb. 26, 2007

Overnights
Early word: A slight uptick for Oscars
ABC show averages a 27.7 household rating in metered markets, bettering last year's 27.1 but behind 2005's much stronger 30.1

Television
Tooting Hollywood, late into the night
In a return to tradition, Oscar night drags on and on, with just a few surprises and fewer awkward moments. Critics carp: A dull affair.

TV Reviews
'The Black Donnellys,' the brutal edge
This is a dark, compelling and risky drama for NBC and likely too much to survive. Its characters are trouble but it's solid storytelling.

Popcult
Counting lives in calories, not in years
Imagine that we have just so many to consume in a lifetime, and when they're gone so are we. It's not as ridiculous as it sounds.

Out of Home
Connecting your client with taxpayers
Ads on envelopes containing W-2 forms employers hand out to workers, and also on their paychecks and direct-deposit receipts

TV This Week
In 'Wife Swap,' ABC has an ideal mate
With ratings up, it would seem an ideal lead-out for the returning 'Dancing with the Stars,' with a strong shot a winning Mondays

News shorts
Weekend overnights: WWE boosts CW to best Friday
Coming soon, three more dailies targeting 18-35s
FCC eyes big fine for Univision kids' TV programming
Boston bummer II: Soft drink's aborted treasure hunt
Vroom! Revver launches new service with FIOS TV.

Web shorts
Will 'Idol' gal be booted over allegedly racy photos?
Study: One-third of internet users now go wireless
Bit goes legit: Offers legal TV and movie downloads
Man charged with illegally uploading 'Flushed Away'

People
Fernanda Fares joins MEC Bravo as senior manager of consumer insights
John Loughlin becomes president at 247MGI
Brian J. West becomes CFO at The Nielsen Company
Lisa Whitmore, Ellene Wundrok and Eva Spring rise at Real Simple
Candice Rainer joins Elle magazine as articles editor
Rachel Bertsche and Brooke Kosofsky Glassberg rise at O, The Oprah Magazine
Alan Platt joins Agoda Company as creative director
Brian Patella joins Time Inc. Business and Finance Network as director of sales
Murray Hardie rises at Fallon to director of account planning
Anna Paquin starring in 'True Blood' drama pilot from HBO
Robert Sullivan rises to EVP of sales at Cablevision Systems
Charles S. Dutton cast in ABC drama pilot 'Suspect'
Kristin Chenoweth co-starring in ABC pilot 'Pushing Daisies'

Alternative media
First the macchiato, now a designer T
On LA buses, video ads for Hispanics
Some ad. Some billboard. Some prank.
On the road, doing good, with Morris

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007

Overnights
A decent drive-by for 'Black Donnellys'
New NBC drama pulls a 3.5 in 18-49s, up 35 percent over last week's 'Studio 60' but then suffers an alarming dip in second half

Television
ABC's big Oscar win: Viewers 18 to 34
Special was up modestly in adults 18-49, but it rose 8 percent in that younger demographic, to a 12.9, its best showing since 2002

Research
How not to screw up a guerrilla stunt
Two recent stunts blew up in their sponsors' faces, both in Boston. They should not have. Talking with Terry Lozoff of Street Attack.

New media
Suddenly, global warming is way hot
Surge in internet searches following UN report affirming that the earth is indeed heating up, making it now a mainstream concern

TV This Week
ABC's Bob Woodruff, reporting again
A special report by the wounded former anchor looks at where we are in Iraq, 13 months after he was injured by a roadside bomb

News shorts
Big controversy brews over Discovery Jesus special
Programming notes: Comedy Central puts web on TV
Fangs but no thanks: AsianWeek sorry-for column
Vanity unfair? Hatfill settles libel suits over anthrax
Alternative digest Arthur Magazine has died, or has it

Web shorts
'Idol' speculation: Is that really Barba in racy photos?
TNS Media Intelligence adds social media researcher
Would-be MySpace extortionists receive probation
NBA highlights go online in new deal with YouTube

People
Jay Morrison joins Fallon as art director
Greg Kahn joins Optimedia U.S. as head of strategic resources
Deborah Kolben joins The Village Voice as managing editor
Lois Curren rises at MTV to president of entertainment and programming
Walker Mason becomes associate publisher at Outside's Go
Elton John celebrates his birthday on MyNetworkTV
Maura Fried and Sandi Castro join The Sportsman Channel
Marissa Jaret Winokur starring in CBS comedy pilot 'Fugly'
'Matrix' star Carrie-Anne Moss cast in ABC pilot 'Suspect'
William Baldwin joins cast of ABC pilot 'Dirty Sexy Money'
Bob Barker guest-starring on CBS's 'How I Met Your Mother'
Bravo reality star Bobby Brown jailed for failure to pay child support
Missi Pyle joins 'The Wedding Bells' cast as a regular


Wednesday, Feb.28, 2007

Overnights
School daze: Big bow for '5th Grader'
Fox game show pulls an amazing 11.2 in 18-49s and retains 83 percent of 'Idol's' monster lead-in. Pulls 26.6 million total viewers.

Television
The five TV shows most hurt by 'Idol'
They range from 'Veronica Mars' to 'Survivor,' and last week the hurt was deeper when the Fox reality series expanded for sweeps

Newspapers
About the little newspaper that could
The Citrus County Chronicle fought the big boys and won, chasing out major dailies from its Florida market. A story of these times.

Cable
The big story in cable is in tiny niches
Very small, targeted networks see huge growth, such as the Golf Channel, up 62 percent, to average 181,000 primetime viewers

Newspapers
In Copenhagen, return of the newsboy
They dart out among the cars at traffic stops, handing out papers. It's the latest tactic to win over readers in a fierce newspaper war.

TV This Week
March rebound: Duke versus Maryland
Just weeks ago, both teams were in trouble, but they're now back in NCAA contention, tied at fifth, and facing off in North Carolina

News shorts
Fox narrows CBS sweeps lead but can it catch up?
Down but not out: NBC renews flagging 'Las Vegas'
ABC's 'World News' hits No. 1 again in total viewers
SI swimsuit party: Glamour, glimmer and hepatitis A
A 275-year-old magazine faces dim future in London

Web shorts
Study: Just 3.4 percent of radio listening is satellite
Louisiana athletic group bars papers' e-photo sales 
Book publishers making excerpts available online
MSNBC tests citizen journalism through FirstPerson

People
Joe Uva becoming new CEO of Univision after sale goes through
Renee Lewin becomes associate publisher of marketing at Good Housekeeping
Gregory Madsen joins Gospel Music Channel as director of affiliate sales
Cheryl Pearson-McNeil rises to SVP of communications at ACNielsen U.S.
Jeff Fleeher becomes VP and CFO for NBC Universal TV Networks Distribution
Jeremy Cornfeldt rises to VP and general manager at Carat Fusion
Jennifer Bergholt becomes online sales director at Active Interest Media
Marc Barson becomes deputy general counsel for Starz Media
Mark Ragone becomes EVP of business affairs at City Lights Media Group
Lucy Liu starring in ABC pilot 'Cashmere Mafia'
James Brolin joins Alyssa Milano in untitled ABC pilot
Victoria Beckham starring in NBC reality show?
Keebler elf voice actor Walker Edmiston dies at age 81


Thursday, March 1, 2007

Overnights
Sockeroo debut for CW's 'Top Model'
Averages a series-best 3.4 in target 18-34 viewers, giving the network its best night ever, despite airing against 'American Idol'

Dayparts update
Readers: Gibson's got the news edge
Rate ABC's evening newscast ahead of NBC by a thin margin, amid reports of a pending shakeup of Brian William's newscast

Dayparts update
Sunrise surprise: The CBS early show
Though still No. 3, it's clocking big gains in ratings while 'Today' and 'Good Morning America' are flat or down. A nose for news.

New media
Behind the coming internet slowdown
Growth in ad spending will come in at 18.9 percent, a big drop from recent years. EMarketer's David Hallerman explains why.

London
Clash of titans: Murdoch and Branson
Two media bigs battle over carriage rights, and it's very nasty, but even larger issues loom. Internet TV threatens both their empires.

TV This Week
For '30 Rock,' decision time is nearing
Struggling NBC comedy is about to go on hiatus, so how it does these two weeks could well determine whether it gets renewed

News shorts
Fox now just a tick behind CBS in February sweeps
Study: Tie between kids' junk food habit and TV is real
Fox offers TV downloads for a price on affiliate sites
'Sopranos' actor tangos off 'Stars' before it starts
USAToday.com eyes network journalism in overhaul

Web shorts
RIAA warns students to stop the illegal downloads
Academy to YouTube: Get rid of Oscars outtakes
International traffic dominates Oscars.com Sunday
New online vote determines NFL Network programs

People
Patrick Keane becomes EVP and CMO at CBS Interactive
Guy Theune and Peggy Gobel rise at Cannella Response Television
Robert Pollock rises to Wall Street Journal editorial page features editor 
Michael Breitner and Jennifer Sommer rise at American Express Publishing
Wendy Goodman joins House & Garden as design director
Jacqueline Shardo joins Empower MediaMarketing as digital strategist
Angela Sparks joins O, The Oprah Magazine as Detroit ad manager
Edgar Hernandez joins Stuff magazine as advertising director
Jim Rapsas joins Spectrum Productions as SVP of development and production
Ryan Donovan joins Versus as VP of marketing
Denise Dahldorf rises to EVP of content distribution for MTVN and BETN
Dunia Shive, Donald Cass and Wes Jackson rise at Belo Corp.
Donald Sutherland and Jill Clayburgh join ABC pilot 'Dirty'

Friday, March 2, 2007

Overnights
Fox's '5th Grader' rips it up some more
Third night of game show averages a 9.4 in 18-49s and holds 90 percent of 'Idol's' lead-in, giving the network a three-night streak

Television
Fox pops out to win February sweeps
Late-hour surge led by surprise hit '5th Grader' snatches victory from CBS, 5.2 to 5.0, coming atop an overload of 'American Idol'

TV Reviews
'The Winner,' actually, quite the loser
The new Fox comedy utterly wastes Rob Corddry's talents, as a piece of scripted sausage squeezed from the grinder of sitcoms

Younger viewers
Hot thing with Hispanic kids: 'Premio'
Univision's music awards special places second among 2-11s behind only Fox's 'Idol,' beating both CBS and ABC for the night

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, I got the chills in out of home
The writer is seeing only 3 percent pay hikes and is not happy. Rachel advises, you may have to move on to get more than that

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: Fox's NAACP awards; Saturday: BBC America's 'Robin Hood' debut; Sunday: Duke-UNC men's hoops game on CBS

News shorts
Surging Gibson finishes February sweeps as No. 1
MyNetworkTV bids adios to low-rated telenovelas
Bobby Brown, the newest employee of D.C.'s Hot 99.5
Breast in show: Jane magazine outs topless models
Correction: History International is an AETN network

Web shorts
Study: IPTV will drive big boom in pay TV revenue
Canada's JumpTV bringing ethnic shows to Joost
Presidential candidates embrace YouTube channel
Hallelujah! Masters adds to Amen Corner coverage.

People
The word: Bonnie Fuller is looking to leave
Kenneth Eng out at AsianWeek after controversial column
Kevin Reilly staying on as president of NBC Entertainment
Ted Grussing joins Luminosity Marketing as media director
National Geographic Channel programming head John Ford steps down
Six rise in sales division at Gorilla Nation
Joanna Prisco and Sharon Male rise to associate editors at Parade
Rita Moreno joins cast of untitled CBS drama pilot
Richard Dreyfuss joins Sci Fi miniseries 'Tin Man'
Amber Tamblyn starring in CBS pilot 'Babylon Fields'
Bill Parcells returns to ESPN for 'Monday Night Countdown'
King World vice president Veronika Lineberry dies at age 44
Former Washington Post reporter Ben Gilbert dies at age 89

Monday, March 5, 2007

Overnights
Big deal: NBC's 'Apprentice' perks up
Averages a 2.7 in 18-49s in new 10 p.m. timeslot, leading out of hit game show 'Deal or No Deal,' its best showing in over a month

Research
In their TV tastes, the rich are different
Many of the favorite shows of affluent viewers earn modest to dud ratings overall. Hot shows: 'The Office,' 'Scrubs' and 'Studio 60.'

Newspapers
Selling the idea of a paper's audience
It makes so much more sense with the internet bringing in new readers, but replacing circulation as the metric won't be so easy

Popcult
'The Secret,' power of richful thinking
Top-selling book and DVD touts wishing for what you want, and getting it, based on the science of vibrations. As seen on Oprah.

Out of Home
Your client's message cruising at sea
Reaching vacationers off sailing on a luxury liner with TV ads and billboards and sample baskets in rooms. Carnival of opportunity.

TV This Week
For CBS's 'Class,' it may soon be over
Sitcom goes into its season finale with a C-minus, and that may not be enough to advance to a second season. Back of the class.

News shorts
Weekend overnights: NBC '100' rises on slow Friday
Former Fairchild head Berner joins Reader's Digest
Clear Channel jumps aboard for Arbitron's Philly PPM
Musical pens: Village Voice boots yet another editor
DirecTV to FCC: An MLB deal would benefit viewers

Web shorts
A wee TV: Verizon delivering live shows via mobile 
YouTube teaming with BBC for three video channels
Reuters launching a MySpace for financial junkies
AOL streaming Rock and Rock Hall inductions live

People
Gregory C. Hancock becomes LA sales manager for Parade
Mary Murano becomes president of distribution at Oxygen Media
Ron Fournier returns to The Associated Press as online political editor
Jonathan Lindenauer becomes Bon Appetit Culinary Studio chef de cuisine
Franke Serpe rises to CFO at World Wrestling Entertainment
John Ratzenberger joins ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars'
Tim Meadows joins cast of TBS's 'The Bill Engvall Show'
Shaquille O'Neal starring in new ABC reality series
Geico cavemen could be starring in their own series
Brian Williams arrives in Iraq for a week-long stay
Isaiah Washington takes home an NAACP Image Award despite gay slurs
Viacom's Sumner Redstone wants to be friends with Tom Cruise again
'The Dick Cavett Show's' Bobby Rosengarden dies at age 82

Alternative media
Soon, data on mall radio listenership
Calif. coverup: Ado over 'Top Model' ad
Now, it's sights and sounds and sniffs
Better data on who sees billboard ads

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Overnights
Worrisome slide for 'Black Donnellys'
Falls 14 percent in 18-49s in second airing, averaging 3.0, and loses 55 percent of its 'Heroes' lead-in. But NBC still wins night.

Magazines
Reel end: Hachette is closing Premiere
Jack Kliger chops long faded movieland monthly, after months of speculation. The victim of changing times and rising competition.

TV Reviews
'Pussycat Dolls,' filling in the numbers
The CW show borrows heavily from 'Top Model' but entirely lacks the elements that make that show work. Exercise in faux reality.

New media
Bigger future for video game consoles
They're no longer just toys for boys but true multi-purpose media devices as they add functions. What it means for media people.

New media
Local search is set to explode--or not
The growth is coming but forecasts are split on how quickly and how much. One has it doubling in a few years, another quadrupling.

TV This Week
Bikini set: 'College Hill' in the islands
BET reality series returns as its top show in black households, featuring eight university students in a house in the Virgin Islands

News shorts
New Times veteran Ortega named latest Voice editor
Angry former media baron Black belts British press 
Boston Globe suspends football writer for plagiarism
Programming notes: ABC dubs 'Knights' replacement
FCC gives radio owners an earful with $12.5M fine

Web shorts
Judge orders papers to remove damning web stories
Bug-a-boo: Wal-Mart sacks worker for taping reporter
Study: Worldwide internet usage jumps 10 percent
After a closer sweeps win, 'Today' revamps web site

People
Alexandra Wallace becomes executive producer at 'NBC Nightly News'
New jobs for Brad Westermann, Megan Gormley, Adam Nash and Eric Johnson at TV Guide Channel
Evansville Courier & Press editor J. Bruce Baumann retiring
Dan Silberman rises to VP of publicity at A&E Network
Peter Macia joins The Fader as editor of fader.com
Cindy Mata rises to Billboard director of business development and Eastern sales
Brian Glynn rises to VP of online sales at CXO Media
Ed Stephen rises to SVP and general manager of CNN Newsource Sales
Dan Dieffenbach becomes SVP of marketing for FSN
Tanya Giles rises to SVP of research and planning at MTVN
Par Ridder becomes publisher and CEO at Star Tribune
Greg Thornhill and John Latona join Nielsen BuzzMetrics
Lina Ardila, Monica Morales and Eliana Ortega join Images USA


Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Overnights
A sockeroo debut for 'Pussycat Dolls'
Reality show pulls a 2.0 in 18-34s and 3.9 million total viewers, CW's best-ever showing for timeslot. Tops lead-in 'Girls' in teens.

Cable
Discovery reaps big buzz over 'Jesus'
And hefty ratings as well, with 4.2 million viewers tuning in for the controversial documentary about what's said to be Christ's tomb

Television
In Spanish TV, Telefutura skips ahead
Younger-skewing network passes No. 2 Telemundo in several key demos during February, though it's still behind in total viewers

TV Reviews
'Dice Undisputed,' has-been craps out
Andrew Dice Clay had a brief fling as an outrageous comic but this VH1 reality show about his comeback aims lands with a thud

TV This Week
For 'Crossing Jordan,' into the breach
Fading NBC drama airs in a new timeslot that next week will pit it against Fox's 'American Idol.' Case of little left to lose if it sinks.

News shorts
Gibson maintains total viewer lead for second week
Wisteria whack: Kashmir quiets 'obscene' cable nets
Study: Nearly 1,000 journalists killed in last decade
Cable ratings roundup: 'Nashville' exits on high note
France bans citizen reporters from recording violence

Web shorts
NYT reporter admits giving loan to p#rn story subject
New on your cell phone, program an at-home DVR
CBS: We've doubled advertisers for NCAAs on web
Music companies sue Yahoo China over copyrights

People
Six rise at Deutsch NY agency
Rick Olshansky and Beth Roberts rise at NBC Universal
Abigail Tuller becomes editor in chief at Pregnancy magazine
Jeremy Adell, Craig Kurland and Masami Yamamoto rise at NBC Universal
Tony Fox rises at MTV Networks to EVP of corporate communications
Daniel Mauch joins Primedia as Automotive Digital VP of ad sales
Greg Schumann rises to VP and publishing director for The Parenting Group
Peter Winkler joins Teletrax as CMO
Jimmy Giliberti and Tim Sharp join LimeLife as SVPs
Tim Daly guest starring in two-hour episode of 'Grey's Anatomy'
Mike Saunders, Roy Dar, Duane Johnson and Brian Kristofek rise at EMAK
Disgraced News of the World royals editor Clive Goodman booted
Marisa Tomei takes the lead in CBS pilot 'Penelope Cloud'

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Overnights
Jungle fumble: 'Lost' sinks to new low
Troubled ABC drama pulls 12.3 million viewers, a series worst, dogged by weak lead-in and grumbles over unresolved plotlines

Media economy
One way hot 2006 for web advertising
IAB: Spending rises 34 percent, to $16.8 billion, and the fourth quarter sets record, up 32 percent. But is a slowdown nearing?

Television
Scandal over contests roils British TV
Charge: Viewers scammed to make pricey calls for contests that were already decided, with the shows taking a slice of the juice

Research
Time-shifted TV: Closer than you think
Lots of folks already watch shows when they want, using DVRs and other devices, and more will follow. Talking with Kaan Yigit.

Dayparts update
Star wattage: Art of chat on 'The View'
Star Jones Reynolds has a new gig on Court TV, and she owes it to the ABC show, increasingly a launch pad for smart gal chatters

TV This Week
In '5th Grader,' Fox joins the big boys
The network is suddenly a real contender on Thursdays after the game show's record-setting debut last week after 'American Idol'

News shorts
The word: Kaplan's in, Hartman's out at CBS News
Three papers boot Coulter after Edwards comment
FX's 'The Riches' gets a pre-debut preview online
Stun gun: Hunting editor exits after controversial blog 
Rosie to 'Idol:' You're weight-ist. 'Idol' to Rosie: Hush.

Web shorts
Magnolia Pictures wants YouTube sourcing revealed
Court bans YouTube for insulting Turkey's founder
Study: Many have web access on cell but few use it
Amazon launches a new download service with TiVo

People
Premiere's Paul Turcotte rises to Hachette Filipacchi corporate sales SVP 
Monica Gadsby heading Starcom MediaVest Group Multicultural
Derek Change and Dan Hartman rise at DirecTV
Dan Fawcett rejoins Fox as president of digital media
Jason Klarman rises to EVP of marketing and digital at Bravo
Jana L. Henthorn rises to SVP of programs and education for Cable Center
Clive Punter rises to CEO at CBS Outdoor International
Bruce Tobey becomes COO of CBS Feature Films division
Susan Malfa and David Epstein join NBC Universal
Eva Kantrowitz joins and Elyse Pollock rises at Horizon Media
Brook Hefner joins Cookie Jar Entertainment as public relations manager
Kal Penn joins the cast of ABC's pilot 'The Call'
Jeffrey Tambor joins cast of CBS pilot 'The Captain'

Friday, March 9, 2007

Overnights
'5th Grader' still at the top of the class
Returning hit Fox game show averages an 8.0 in 18-49s, down just 15 percent from first week and mowing down all competitors

Sports TV
The big bucks behind March Madness
A 30-second spot runs more than $1 million, behind only Super Bowl, even as ratings slide. Why? It's where the young men are.

TV Reviews
'Wedding Bells,' grounds for a divorce
David E. Kelley's new Fox series is high on promise but quickly tumbles, yet another victim of his trademark passion for the quirky

Younger viewers
Zowie, 'El Tigre's' on fire with the kids
New Nick cartoon tops 'SpongeBob's' record debut in 2-11s, set back in 1999, averaging 2.3 million and making it an instant hit

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, my assistant deserves a raise
How do I make the best case to management? Answer: With tact. Money's a tricky issue, and done wrong it could blow up on you.

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: NBC's 'Vegas' finale; Saturday: HBO film 'Life Support;' Sunday: CBS March Madness selection show. Bracketology!

News shorts
Couric: In third but still America's favorite journalist
British regulator may send phone offenders to police
Play ball! DirecTV and MLB firm deal despite gripes.
Study: Most Canadians will follow Lord Black's trial
Sorry, no checking out SI swimsuit issue at the library

Web shorts
With Barba's bye-bye, is an 'Idol' controversy closed?
If you want to grow your blog, link to the competition
No killing this Cucaracha: Strip returns after e-protest
Collegiate copycats: Applicants plagiarize via the web

People
Carrie Sloan becomes editor in chief at Tango
Ed Kelly joins KSL Media as EVP of digital media
John Barron becomes Chicago Sun-Times general manager
Scott Robson joins AOL as editor in chief for Moviefone
John McCoskey becomes chief technology officer at PBS
Caroline Lang rises to VP and managing director at Warner Bros. International
J.D. Beaufils joins PorchLight Entertainment as VP of international sales
USA Network sports SVP Gordon Beck stepping down
Rhaz Zeisler becomes VP of product development at ClipBlast!
Karen O'Hara joins and Larry Landsman and Kerry Gaffney rise at Sci Fi Channel
'Prison Break's' Lane Garrison charged with manslaughter 
Richard Hatch wants new trial on 'Survivor' tax evasion charges
Showtime's 'The L Word's' returns for season five

Overnights
Sunday lift for CBS's 'Without a Trace'
Averages a 4.3 in 18-49s, its best since November as network's lineup gains strength. Leads night with 17.2 million total viewers.

Magazines
Consumer magazines see early thaw
February pages spring up after down January, rising 1.8 percent, as drug and remedy advertisers maintain their elevated spending

TV Reviews
'The Riches,' a heap of character flaws
It's so tempting to root for the Malloys, a clan of roving swindlers, but the new FX drama falls apart despite some very strong acting

Popcult
Big bang: With '300,' off to the movies
After a slow start, the box office season has begun with the first real hit, leading to a spring and summer of expected blockbusters

Out of Home
Your client marching St. Patrick's Day
Sponsors get their Irish up around the country to lend their names and support to parades and events. Green beer signifying spring.

TV This Week
Monday night football all year, nearly
The LA Avengers take on the Orlando Predators in the first game of ESPN2's Arena Football League play, which will run into July

News shorts
Weekend overnights: 'Vegas' finale leads NBC to first
NBC freshening up old 'Office' with new material
New looks for elder titles New Republic and Time
Democrats drop FNC debate after Ailes' Obama quip
Pregnant pause: ABC swaps 'Case' for 'Underbelly'

Web shorts
MyStocks? IAC and Dow Jones launch financial site.
MySpace eyeing a news expansion a la Digg.com
NY Times unwalls web for teachers and their pupils
Showtime plans royal web roll-out for 'The Tudors'

People
TCM general manager Tom Karsch stepping down
Gary Susalis rises to programming manager at Music Choice
Sergei Kuharsky joins Food Network as general manager
Michael Burton rises to This Old House Ventures VP of business development
Eric J. Grilly joins Philadelphia Media Holdings as president of Philly.com
Former 'Live' host Rita Cosby leaving MSNBC
Amber Valletta joins cast of CBS pilot 'Twilight'
Michelle Ribeiro becomes deputy editor at CosmoGirl!
Judith Perez joins Vanity Fair as international fashion advertising director
Beverly D'Angelo joins cast of CBS 'Skip Tracer'
'Buffy's' Eliza Dushku starring in Fox drama pilot 'Nurses'
Nikki Cox starring in CBS pilot 'Fugly'
Comedian Richard Jeni dies at age 49 in an apparent suicide

Alternative media
'Til Death Do Us Part': The comic book
Reaching first-class flyers in their seats
Star power: Waltzing across America
Valet parking at malls, thanks to GMC

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Overnights
Returning 'Old Christine' sinks badly
Double-dose of CBS sitcom averages a 2.7 in 18-49s, down 29 percent from season average airing behind 'Two and Half Men'

Cable
Turner: Big makeover set for Court TV
Remaking as a reality channel targeting young men. Will mostly ditch trial coverage and even its name but will keep a crime focus.

Research
Movie theater spots earn a thumbs up
Arbitron study finds most patrons don't mind ads that run before the main feature, and mind them less than ads in other media

Television
Behind Charles Gibson's rise to No. 1
ABC news anchor owes much of his ratings to viewers quitting CBS after Couric became anchor. Talking with Andrew Tyndall.

New media
With this election, web's got the votes
Candidates are building their campaigns online, with the internet evolving to serve as the old local committee in rallying the faithful

TV This Week
Rest of the best: Drexel and N.C. State
These two teams may have missed the big NCAA cut but both enter National Invitation Tournament playoffs with stellar records

News shorts
Survey says uneducated guesses drive NCAA pools
School daze? Colleges question U.S. News ranking.
Programming notes: '30 Rock' swaps with 'Scrubs'
Muncie gal accuses 'Famous' of disorderly conduct
Study: Soaps' imbibers may encourage teen drinking

Web shorts
Disney's latest web venture targets mom and dad
Study: Offline ads drive consumers online to search
SI.com and NBCSports.com offering a web assist
Mouse movies: A new online film venture for Eisner

People
Regis Philbin temporarily leaving talk show for heart surgery
Jim Heidt joins Golf Digest as Detroit sales manager
Craig Plestis rises to EVP of alternative programming at NBC
John P. Gjekaj joins qubo as account executive
BBC reporter Alan Johnston kidnapped in Gaza
Terry Holmstrom becomes vice president of client activation at Rainbow Advertising
Trish Regan joins CNBC as general assignment reporter
Noah Liberman and Kelly Harfoot join TeamWorks Media
Sundance Channel hires and promotes seven in marketing department
Former Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith joins ESPN as studio analyst
Christina Applegate starring in ABC pilot 'Sam I Am'
Michael Rapaport joins the cast of CBS pilot 'Fugly'
Amy Brenneman joins cast of potential 'Grey's' spinoff



Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Overnights
Fox's 'Idol' chills the rest of primetime
In time of repeats, it easily tops other networks combined with an 11.5 in 18-49s to 7.1 for all the others. Also wins in total viewers.

Newspapers
Coming newspaper wars: The freebies
Imagine your city with three or four free dailies, all competing for readers and advertisers. Expect that things will get plenty nasty.

Cable
The very real wives of Orange County
Bravo reality series has shown real gains, especially with women, even as ABC's fictional housewives have fallen. Relatable factor.

Television
The cat's meow, those Pussycat Dolls
The new CW show has a strong premiere, but it's young women, not males, tuning in to see the burlesque group. Object lessons.

TV Reviews
'Raines,' noir copper with a head case
New NBC drama takes chances and makes them work, with Jeff Goldblum as a tough detective haunted by the victims of crimes

TV This Week
'Idol' effect: Fox's wager on ''Til Death'
Struggling Brad Garrett will get a boost airing after the hit show. But will it last? A string of sitcoms have failed to thrive in the slot.

News shorts
NBC's 'Nightly News' retakes No. 1 in total viewers
Surging Fox slips into a tie for first place with CBS
New at Turner: Newhart on TBS & Bochco on TNT
Roanoke paper quickly dims spotlight on gun owners
'Riches' has FX's second-best debut among 18-49s

Web shorts
Viacom sues YouTube over unauthorized video clips
TV's white space: An untapped broadband source?
Study: P2P downloaders still outnumber legit ones
Bravo acquires snarky site Television Without Pity

People
Steve Driggs, Jason Bangerter and Ryan Goodwin join new agency Struck
Author Roland S. Martin joins CNN as a contributor
Simon Davies rises to associate publisher at The Week
Vincent Vezza becomes SVP of sales and direct marketing at Films Media Group
Monty McMurray joins Food & Wine magazine as account manager
Donna Ebbs rises at ABC Family to VP of movies and specials
Claudia Flowers and Steve Ennen rise at American Business Media
Tamara Kline joins ProLink Solutions as Western region sales executive
Julie Nemeth and Joanne Bornstein rise at E! Networks
Peter Gassiraro joins Enterprise IG as group account director
Four get new positions at the Tennis Channel
It's a boy for '90210's' Tori Spelling and husband
Bill Elliott joins La Opinion as national advertising director


Thursday, March 15, 2007

Overnights
'Idol' kick in the keister for ''Til Death'
Saggy sitcom hits a series best 5.7 in 18-49s in its first outing leading out of Fox reality show. Retains 58 percent of audience.

Magazines
Some fresh faces cited for mag awards
Among the first-time nominees are the Economist and also the Columbia Journalism Review. New Yorker leads the list with nine.

TV Reviews
'Andy Barker: P.I.,' a mystery's solved
Low-key NBC sitcom reveals what makes folks laugh, with Andy Richter playing the sleuth with his trademark understated humor

Dayparts update
Sweet nod to a fading 'Guiding Light'
At 70, CBS soap is older than television itself, and its fate's a bit iffy. But it's No. 1 when it comes to Daytime Emmy nominations.

Sports TV
Yes, a darker side of March Madness
Productivity sinks as workers' attention drifts. Gambling's on the rise, as are hack attacks. Talking with Websense's Steve Kelley.

TV This Week
So let the games begin, now on CSTV
College sports network airs its first tourney game, Vandy versus GW, partnered with sister network CBS to give wider coverage

News shorts
BBC red-faced after 'Blue Peter' phone-in bungle
Study: Product placement rose 37 percent in 2006
Donald vs. Rosie, round III: Somebody stop them
Out of fashion: Dolce & Gabbana dumps Spain ads
LA news anchor gives kidney to rival station's editor

Web shorts
NBC and MobiTV offering primetime via cell phone
Google cloaks search users in greater anonymity
TMZ to DC: Site gives politicians celebrity treatment
Smith and Oscars provide February web traffic bump

People
Steve Wehrenberg rises to COO at Campbell Mithun
Brandon Rea becomes Midwest online manager at Men's Enthusiast network
Pat Pellegrini becomes VP of research for new product development at Arbitron
David Bernstein joins Air America as VP of programming
Davida M. Shear rejoins BlueHighways TV as SVP of affiliate relations
David McKillop joins History Channel as SVP of development and programming
David Blair Epstein becomes VP of digital strategy at NBC Universal Domestic TV Distribution
Glenn Oakley becomes SVP of global operations at VOOM HD Networks
Lauren Vicary joins MSNBC.com as political editor
Lori Mandel joins CBS Radio Sales as research director
Karen Kovacs rises to advertising sales director for People Digital
David Duchovny starring in a new untitled series for Showtime
Ex-congressman Harold Ford Jr. joining Fox News Channel

Friday, March 16, 2007

Overnights
Fox's '5th Grader' holds its own alone
Rating tumbles from last week without 'American Idol' yet still wins its timeslot with a 4.5 in 18-49s, giving Fox a Thursday presence

Magazines
Psst! Shakeout's coming in celeb titles
Media planners and buyers see one or more falling out of what's becoming a severely overcrowded field. Most endangered: OK!

Cable
Behind the name change for Court TV
It's a risky move but necessary, says the network. While ratings are way up, ad dollars are flat, held back by an off-putting image.

Younger viewers
For MyNetworkTV, the rare sweet note
Its 'World Music Awards' scores big with teens, helping network to better CBS over the two hours. Case of hot stars on a slow night.

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, help me be an online planner
The writer has spent two years in print and now thinks the web is the place to be, creatively. But will the move mean a cut in pay?

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: A&E's 'Intervention;' Saturday: ESPN's women's hoops; Sunday: Sweet Sixteen is set on CBS. Is your bracket busted?

News shorts
Upfront update: Scripps networks eye new shows
WPP head: Vicious email labeled me a mad dwarf
Newspaper accidentally prints lottery winner's SSN
Programming notes: Fox orders more '5th Grader'
Anna Nicole fallout: Gabor's husband sues O'Reilly

Web shorts
CBS Sportsline: Big early demand for online NCAAs
YouTube scores March Madness video deal with CBS
NAA: Web newspaper advertising jumps 31.5 percent
Sinbad's not dead, despite what Wikipedia may say

People
Bruce Campbell joins Discovery Communications as president of digital media
Clint Stinchcomb becomes EVP and GM at Discovery Emerging Networks
Jeff Boehme joins The Nielsen Company as SVP of business development
Danielle Perissi becomes VP of communications for Time Inc. Business and Finance
Le Anne Schreiber joins ESPN as ombudsman
Bryan Hale joins True Entertainment as VP of West Coast
Julie Rothman rises at NBC Entertainment to VP of publicity
Former L.A. Times publisher Jeffrey M. Johnson joins Yucaipa 
Andrew Simonian and Rachel Loren join Fox Television Studios
Barry Rosenblum becomes Time Warner Cable L.A. division president 
Stephen Pagano, Nini Facini and John Keib join Time Warner's L.A. division
'American Pie' star Jason Biggs starring in CBS pilot 'Hell'
Regis Philbin recovering from successful heart surgery

Monday, March 19, 2007

Overnights
'60 Minutes' soars on bball and Simon
Nearly doubles last week's 18-49 rating after hot NCAA game and segment on snippy 'Idol' judge Cowell, giving night to CBS

Sports TV
Hot Saturday boosts CBS's NCAA play
Primetime up 23 percent in 18-49s over last year as three games go into overtime, after a slow start. Looking to a sweeter Sixteen.

London
'Can't we all just get along. Not really.'
Murdoch-Branson standoff is now in its third week, advertisers are annoyed, and both sides are losing. So what's the end game?

Popcult
Easing your fears over subliminal ads
New research reveals the busy mind ignores images planted in the background. It's only the idle mind that pays attention to them.

Out of Home
Your client in the sun at Jones Beach
All the ways to reach beach-goers this summer, including the chance to sponsor a concert series at the Long Island public park

TV This Week
With 'Stars,' ABC'll now have a leg up
Season buzz-builder: Heather Mills' prosthetic leg. She herself has joked about it flying off and conking a judge. Can it conk Fox?

News shorts
Weekend overnights: NBC finds a stronger 'Identity'
Laborious conflict: NLRB's News Press complaint
Washington Post scores front-page sports section ad
Magazine launches rose 2 percent in 2006 to 262
Triple 'Jeopardy:' Game show ends in three-way tie

Web shorts
Hopefuls Hillary, Obama and McCain invade MySpace
And the winner is: YouTube's very first web awards
Google buys in-game advertising company Adscape
Hearst, Rodale and Hachette partner with Brightcove

People
Carol Burnett sues over copyright infringement on 'Family Guy'
Kevin Moore, Brad Kohlenstein and Chachi Senior join City Lights Media Group
Jeff Krolik becomes EVP at Fox Sports Networks
Denver Post business editor Stephen Keating stepping down
Ashley Womble joins Cosmopolitan as associate online editor
Sean Gannon joins the New York Post as business editor
CNN's Larry King recovering from vascular surgery
Spike Lee directing BET special on Huey Newton
Former Sun-Times president David Radler settles lawsuit
Daniel Hurwitz joins Revenue Science as director of sales
'Survivor's' Richard Hatch: Prison is no island getaway
Kevin Dunn joins the cast of ABC pilot 'Sam I Am'
Brian Gazer guest editing LA Times' Sunday Current section

Alternative media
2006: Another big year for ad spending
Priceless idea: Notes from golf greats
Fresh approach: Cool car on the scene
Green stuff: Sliming across America

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Overnights
Best debut for 'Dancing with the Stars'
Averages a 6.3 in 18-49s, up 11 percent over last fall, allowing ABC to waltz away with the night. Pulls 21.7 million total viewers.

Research
The sitcom is not dead. It just moved.
Viewership of comedies is actually up. Folks are turning to cable and syndication to find family comedies the networks now shun.

New media
Why fewer Hispanics surf the internet
A major factor is the lower education levels, particularly among immigrants. Those U.S.-born and schooled tend to be fully wired.

New media
Like to twitter? It's the hot new thing.
Actually, one of many hot new things in social networking. Big trend: Rise of fast-growing niche sites, many fed off MySpace.

TV This Week
Now, for the third act, it's 'Tori & Dean'
In so many ways, Spelling is the ideal persona for a reality show, and this is it, on Oxygen. Meet the woman behind the headlines.

News shorts
TVB: Wired cable penetration drops to 17-year low
Study: The average home now has 104 TV channels
National Geographic Channel sticking with science
Bollywood bow: Hello! magazine coming to India
The Burstyn clause: Emmys change nomination rule

Web shorts
Radio groups protest new internet music royalty fees
Metacafe serves up some Bochco-produced videos
Full season of MTV2's 'Andy' on web before TV debut
Chinese university boots president over blog flogging

People
Tim Ryan becomes president, publisher and CEO of Baltimore Sun
Holly Wernet becomes Detroit group brand director for Travel + Leisure
Deanna Brown becomes president of Scripps Interactive group
Mike Billingsley joins Return Path as sales VP
Gary Bembridge becomes head of U.S. advertising sales at Medio Systems
Betsy Scolnik rises to president of National Geographic Digital Media
Miguel Penella rises to CEO at Acorn Media Group
David Joachim rises to weekend editor of NY Times Business Day
Deborah Reichig joins NBC Universal as SVP of market development
Cindy Rakowitz joins 5W Public Relations as SVP and GM
Mari Katsunuma joins Bravo as VP of digital
Michael Nadeau rises at McGavren Guild to VP and director of sales
Lex Medlin joins ABC comedy project 'The Middle'


Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Overnights
'Idol' brunt: Fox rivals resign to reruns
Two-hour reality episode averages an 11.6 in 18-49s, putting it 38 percent ahead of other networks and their slates of repeats.

Television
Nifty ratings bump for NBC's newpeat
Episode of spliced 'Office' reruns is up 27 percent in 18-49 over prior week's repeats. Hour-long show goosed up with outtakes.

TV Reviews
'October Road,' skid marks to nowhere
Soapy ABC drama attempts a CW young thing about lives of twentysomethings as imagined by fortysomethings. Bong, please.

Cable
Inventing a jazzier TV Guide Channel
Though still tiny, its ratings are rising with new shows that play off hot series like 'American Idol.' Finding an identity beyond listings.

Newspapers
Power shift: Hoy's sale to ImpreMedia
The chain did not exist just four years ago. Now it's a huge force in Spanish-language media, with newspapers across the country

TV This Week
Eye on June: Cavaliers and Mavericks
Cleveland and Dallas meet on ESPN in a matchup of two of the top-ranked NBA teams of the Eastern and Western conferences

News shorts
Ethnic magazines see slow February for ad pages
New BostonNOW freebie slated to debut on April 17 
Upfront update: New 'Diary' and 'Prankville' join CMT
Sour note: Hendrix estate upset by Times giveaway
Programming shorts: Fox orders third year of 'Break'

Web shorts
Study: U.S. is the No. 1 exporter of computer fraud
At BetUS.com, lay odds on Lord Black's looting trial
CBS gets into hot high school sports with MaxPreps
Calling all aspiring anchors: Katie needs an intern

People
Lindsey Gloetzner joins McKee Wallwork Cleveland as media buyer
Paul Martinez becomes creative director at Men's Journal
Robert Reif rises to president of Media Networks and Targeted Media
Eleven new associates join The Phelps Group
Jeffrey Lerner rises to SVP of development and current programs at Sony Pictures Television
Andrew Boer becomes VP of business development at Associated Content
Brian Hunt rises to SVP of marketing and sales strategy at NBC Universal
Joe Delgrosso and Charlie Echeverry rise at Disney Online
Rachael McLean joins GoTV as vice president of music
Eva Dillon joins and Ben Madden exits Reader's Digest
Adam Sandler hosts 'Late Show' in a pinch
Neal McDonough joins cast of Sci Fi's 'Tin Man'
George Foreman judging ABC reality show 'American Inventor'


Thursday, March 22, 2007

Overnights
''Til Death' rises riding on 'Idol's' wake
Sagging sitcom gains in its second week leading out of hit reality show with series-best 5.9 rating in 18-49s, giving Fox the night

Television
ABC renews 11 shows for next season
Bold statement amid pre-upfront presentations, after fall that brought a rash of new shows, many of which sank in the ratings

Television
What to look for in the coming season
The networks are sifting through their pilots, looking for the next hit. Vamp me, baby. Talking with Horizon Media's Brad Adgate.

Dayparts update
Already, a new, harder edge to Couric
Just two weeks in, Rick Kaplan is toughening up 'CBS Evening News,' shedding fluff for news. But it could take months for results.

Magazines
Words and ideas: New York Magazine
Snippets of pieces up for National Magazine Awards: Boy's tale of being molested, a profile of Karl Lagerfeld, fashion week blog

TV This Week
Radio's Ira Glass: 'This American Life'
He's among public radio's great talents, and his new show on Showtime is generating lots of critical buzz. Man who tells stories.

News shorts
Proposed iN Demand deal strikes out with MLB
Court says Forbes' Russian editor was out of order
Black's blues: Don't compare me to Gatsby, please
Call it MyTVSpace: NBC entering social networking
New at Nielsen: Product placement comparison tool

Web shorts
Apple finally ships much-hyped iTunes-via-TV device
Ramirez grilled over his eBay good deed gone awry
Study: 70 percent of web population streams videos
Elton John's catalog dances onto iTunes for first time

People
Lee Doyle and Rino Scanzoni rise at Mediaedge:cia
Rob Young and Phil Werz join Goss Agency
Julie Stern becomes VP of production at Lifetime Television
Jean Rossi, Claudine Lilien, Annie Hekker and Jessica Siff join Fox One
Karl Dunn becomes associate creative director at Erwin-Penland
Susan Harrington becomes VP of marketing at Travel + Leisure
Amy Churgin becomes SVP at Conde Nast Media Group
Linda McCutcheon becomes SVP at Nielsen Business Media
Paul Ritter becomes design director at Elle magazine
Marie Sternberg becomes VP of public relations for Lifeskool and Sportskool
Jamie Kennedy joins cast of Fox pilot 'Me & Lee'
Adrienne S. Ford joins Marketing Research Association as PR manager
Miguel Ferrer and Chris Bowers join NBC's 'The Bionic Woman'

Friday, March 23, 2007

Overnights
ABC's 'October Road' loses some gas
Second outing of drama averages a 4.9 in 18-49s, down by 16 percent from premiere, holding 56 percent of 'Grey's' audience

Younger viewers
Sign of the times: 'TRL' going to tape
Stunning ratings slide for once-hot teen fave leads MTV to go to taped episodes of 'Total Request Live' for two days each week

TV Reviews
'Planet Earth,' as compelling as it gets
Discovery Channel documentary tells the story of nature and life itself as if for the first time in 11 parts. Stunning visual experience.

Sports TV
Big Emmy nod to NBC's Olympic team
The Winter Games did not excel in the ratings but the network was tops in its coverage, and that's now up for 10 Sports Emmys

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, I need to work my own hours
The writer wants to know how to negotiate a deal allowing for a nontraditional work schedule. Rachel lays out how to go about it.

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: ABC's 'Six Degrees;' Saturday: figure skating on ESPN; Sunday: NCAA men's b-ball on CBS. Who'll make Final Four?

News shorts
A Current affair: LA Times editorial page editor quits 
Expose-an-illegal radio contest angers NJ Hispanics
Conspiracy theory: Stern sues Burkle and Clintons
More paper cuts: 24 voluntary buyouts at the Globe
Upfront update: Sci Fi orders more 'Ghost Hunters'

Web shorts
NBC and News Corp. team for video sharing site
Politico's blog blunder: Er, Edwards isn't dropping out
Group sues Viacom over YouTube video's removal
Starz sues Disney subsidiary over online film sales

People
Fox Cable Networks affiliate sales president Lindsay Gardner leaving
Richard Rocca joins Glam Media to lead expansion
B.J. Park joins TVB as research director
Frank Wilson rises to VP of production at Speed
Keith Belknap becomes general counsel at Primedia
Leigh Gallagher joins Fortune as senior editor
Star Tribune executive director of product innovation Monica Moses exiting
Rob Smith becomes Playstation Magazine editor in chief
Michael Kaufman joins Al Roker Entertainment as VP of development
Nancy McCartin joins Christal Radio-Boston as sales manager
Alanna Ubach joins cast of Fox pilot 'Playing Chicken'
Anna Chlumsky joins CW pilot 'Eight Days a Week'
Jennifer Coolidge and Alan Ruck star in ABC pilot 'Family'

Monday, March 26, 2007

Overnights
Slippery slide for NBC's 'Grease' finale
Once promising reality show ends with 1.9 in 18-49s, fourth in its timeslot and off 58 percent from its January premiere. Flat note.

Magazines
Time Inc. closes down Life magazine
Ends weekly after two and one half years in its latest incarnation as weekend newspaper supplement, citing struggle for ad pages

Television
Big chill sinks returning 'Six Degrees'
And death appears nigh for the ABC drama, coming back after four months to a 1.6 rating in 18-49s in its new Friday night berth

Popcult
Affluenza, ailment of endless wanting
A writer warns of how the disease is spreading to developing nations and of the addictive behavior it causes among its victims

Out of Home
Your client on shopping cart screens
Ads are triggered to pop up as the shopper nears the product in the aisles, by means of radio frequency identification technology

TV This Week
'What About Brian?' Timely question.
It's the season finale. Will it be the end of the ABC series as well? It wears the J.J. Abrams label but its ratings are in the basement.

News shorts
U.S. News editor Duffy steps down after six years
Manning scores a touchdown for NBC as 'SNL' host
British TV call-in scandal investigation expanding
Upfront update: TV Land bets on Boomers with Elvis
Court strikes down Cablevision's box-free DVR

Web shorts
Blyk gimmick: Free calls for receiving cell advertising 
The Onion adds e-video clips skewering cable news
Man pays $500K on eBay for Anna Nicole's diaries
TV Guide adds video clip search to web offerings

People
Mark Halperin rises to political analyst at ABC News
Joelle Junior rises to assistant managing editor at Prevention
John Nelson joins PizzaAdz as national account director
David Muir becomes anchor for 'World News Saturday'
Susan Winston becomes executive producer of 'Jury Duty'
Wira Soedarmono becomes VP of technology at Channel M
Erik Flannigan becomes SVP of digital media at MTV Networks
Max Crumm and Laura Osnes win lead roles on 'Grease'
'Mail Call' host R. Lee Ermey signs new deal with History Channel
John Michael Higgins cast in lead role in ABC's 'The Thick of It'
'Henry Rollins Show' returns for season two on IFC
Brendan Gleeson starring in HBO and BBC's 'Churchill at War'
Nielsen Business Media CEO Robert Krakoff dies at age 72

Alternative media
'Lose your car keys? Drive an Altima.'
Storefront drama: The crashing Lexus
Donkeys and elephants touring the Hill
Oops! They put up the wrong pictures.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Overnights
ABC's 'Stars' cha-chas the night away
Network wins second straight Monday with a 4.9 in 18-49s, well ahead of its competitors. The two-hour reality show earns a 5.8.

Sports TV
Modest ratings gain for NCAA tourney
CBS sees a 2 percent household boost over last year, to 6.2/13, and coming Final Four looks to be hot. Buyers: Play's the thing.

Television
Fading picture: TV via telephone lines
A few years back fiber optic was the hot thing, but the technology is less and less competitive, and analysts don't see much growth

New media
Peek into the lives of internet refusers
Nearly a third of U.S. households aren't hooked up to the web, and many say they like it that way. And they're not all old, either.

New media
Among gay sites, all the talk is global
Race to be the world's No. 1 destination for gays, lesbians, bis and transgenders. 'Everyone is chasing after the same rainbows.'

TV This Week
Say good-bye to 'Dirt,' maybe for good
Make that a good-bye kiss for the FX series, as guest Jennifer Aniston liplocks with star Courteney Cox in a sure ratings grabber

News shorts
ESPN's audible: Jaworski swapped in for Theismann
Report finds editors optimistic about papers' future
New chapter: LA Times merges books with opinion
NY Times: We were duped by faux Iraq war veteran
Programming notes: 'Idol' grows to an hour in April

Web shorts
Study: Viewers show greater recall of web TV ads
Vonage reassures users: We'll fight patent ruling
Cricket World Cup wants video yanked from YouTube
CBS and Sprint offering mobile TV shows and clips

People
Dan Mason becomes president and CEO at CBS Radio
Mike Bender joins Break.com as director of East Coast sales
Jim Chiddix and Wayne Davis heading up Vyyo Inc.
David Hutchinson and Chad MacDonald rise at Program Partners
Nizar Allibhoy joins ICTV as SVP and general manager
Lacy Gene Garrison, Matthew Armendariz, Alison Zack and Nick Keppol join Behavior Design
Carolyn Kremins rejoins Conde Nast as VP and publisher of Cookie
Linda E. Dunbar joins Dow Jones as VP of corporate communications
Cathy Tankosic joins Magna Global Entertainment as EVP
David Haslingden becomes CEO at National Geographic Channel
Kevin Sorbo starring in Hallmark Channel original 'Avenging Angel'
Andy Serkis and David Tennant starring in HBO and BBC's 'Einstein'
Hot Rod founder Robert E. Petersen dies at age 80


Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Overnights
Two left feet for ABC's 'American Vote'
New reality show debuts with a dismal 1.9 in 18-49s, holding but 43 percent of 'Dancing with the Stars' lead-in. Latest wallflower.

Magazines
Meredith: It's over for Child magazine
Title sees ad page and circulation declines as web takes bigger bite of parent category. Will become part of coming mom portal.

Television
Sinking NBC has lots riding on its fall
Ratings are actually down from a year ago, after a strong early season. To pull out, it will need a real strong slate of new shows.

Cable
For FX Network, a poverty of 'Riches'
Is the cutting-edge network going over the edge? New series sinks in its second airing, and it may be a case of trying too hard.

Newspapers
First blood in London newspaper war
Circulation and ad losses for Evening Standard with the launch of two free afternoon dailies. Titan tangle: Murdoch vs. Rothermere.

TV This Week
On 'South Park,' bit of fun with Hillary
The presidential hopeful is off for a visit to Comedy Central's fictional Colorado town to campaign and get a witty working over

News shorts
Study: Percent of minorities in U.S. newsrooms falls
Upfront update: Yet more movies at rising Hallmark
American Media lays off 20 employees, 12 from Star
Programming notes: NBC re-ups NHL for next year
Matter of opinion: LAT publisher ends guest editors

Web shorts
Web is news medium of choice for young Canadians
Free flashback: Napster offers gratis music via phone 
Local TV sites flirt with YouNews citizen journalism
Man sentenced to death for web suicide pact killings

People
DirecTV Entertainment Group president David Hill returns to Fox Sports
Catherine Dunleavy rises to EVP and CFO of NBC Universal Cable
Dan Lawrence rises to group finance director at Hachette Filipacchi
Gail Joecks rises to creative recruiter at Fallon
Scott R. Moore and Kim Matlock join XOS Technologies
Randy Haldeman rises to CMO at Apptera
Steve Grubbs leading new Omnicom division Fuse Sports & Entertainment
Steve Cohen becomes president of Hometeam.com
Rob Lowe goes full time on ABC's 'Brothers & Sisters'
Marla Ginsburg and Ellie Hannibal join Blueprint Entertainment
Producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen sign two-year deal with Warner Bros.
Clive Crook joins the Financial Times as associate editor and columnist
Jason Alexander guest-starring in ABC comedy pilot



Thursday, March 29, 2007

Overnights
ABC's 'Dream Vote' sacked at the polls
Second airing draws a dreadful 1.5 in 18-49s, down 21 percent fromTuesday debut and finishing dead last. Drags down the night.

Research
Say good-bye to the TV upfront of old
This is the last year ad time will be sold as it is. Come next year, delayed viewing data and commercial ratings will rule the market.

Television
Gauging the fate of the bubble shows
A lot of factors go into deciding which come back. Talking with Campbell Mithun's John Rash and MediaCom's Jordan Breslow.

Dayparts update
'Regis, you get better real soon, hear'
Ratings surge as fans rally behind Philbin as he heads off for a bypass operation with 'Live' averaging 4.4 million total viewers

Magazines
Words and ideas from Field & Stream
Snippets of pieces up for National Magazine Awards: A hunter blows her shot, lightning strikes a fly fisherman, a mind unravels

TV This Week
Life journey: World's must-see places
A young Colorado couple hops about the globe on the Travel Channel's '1,000 Places to See Before You Die.' Red ant dining.

News shorts
Sugar high: Kids' ads dominated by unhealthy foods
Upfront update: USA hopes new crime theme will pay
Programming notes: 'Underbelly' gets new due date
Judge finds for Harper's in open casket photo dispute
So brief a life for So London, finished in three weeks

Web shorts
Readers delve farther into online articles than off
British web ad revenue passes newspapers in 2006
Study: Online Hispanics highly engaged with the web
MTV Networks' cell phone shows getting mobile ads

People
WPP's Sir Martin Sorrell settles spicy lawsuit
Christopher McLoughlin joins Golf for Women as publisher
Elizabeth Conlisk becomes VP of communications for Big Ten Network
Wendy Sanders Berger joins Fitness as publisher
Amy Glickman joins BNC as VP of media relations
Eric Covert rises to VP of creative content at Disney-ABC Cable Networks
George Stewart becomes SVP of media sales for Next New Networks
Bruce Pottash and Jon Birkhahn become EVPs at CBS Television Distribution
Robert Metz replacing Dean Nelson as CEO at Primedia
'Law & Order's' Fred Dalton Thompson eyeing the White House?
Hedda Muskat becomes consulting producer on 'Wife, Mom, Bounty Hunter'
Tom Conti starring in untitled family comedy pilot on Fox
Al Gore gets International Emmy for launching Current TV

Friday, March 30, 2007

Overnights
ABC's 'October Road' in another slide
Drama pulls a 3.5 in 18-49s its third outing following a 'Grey's' rerun, off 29 percent from last week and 40 percent from its debut

Media economy
The upfront market will be up. Or not.
Wall Street sees a bump in spending on TV ad time, with network forecast to rise as much as 4.7 percent. But buyers say no way.

Television
And so there she goes, 'Miss America'
CMT drops the long-sagging beauty pageant after a serious slide in rating for the special's second year, to just 2.4 million viewers

Younger viewers
Hero's welcome for ABC Family movie
Record teen ratings for 'Bring it On' sequel that features Hayden Panettiere, now a big star on NBC's teen fave hit series 'Heroes'

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, what can I make in Columbus?
A buyer wonders what the pay's like elsewhere in the Midwest. Our career columnist advises, head for Chicago or Minneapolis.

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: NBC's 'Raines;' Saturday: CBS's Final Four; Sunday: Cardinals begin defense of their World Series title on ESPN

News shorts
ABC axes sinker 'Dream Vote' after two episodes
What's hottest on campuses: ABC's 'Grey's Anatomy'
Midnight ramblers: A last-minute bid for Tribune Co.
Coming soon to a backseat near you, children's TV
Programming: Fox's 'War at Home' will skip sweeps 

Web shorts
Surprise, women are not as likely to watch videos
Celebmania: Gossip sites see huge traffic jump
UK online ad spending tops national papers
ICANN draws a big X through .XXX domain

People
Christine Petrillo rises to SVP of corporate sales and marketing at Hachette
Eric Pooley becomes editor at large at Time magazine
Dean Starkman joins Columbia Journalism Review to write The Audit
Brian Parks rises to arts and culture editor at the Village Voice
Damian Thorman joins Knight Foundation as national program officer
Beth Mayall becomes editor in chief at Total Beauty Media
Nick Kroll, Bill English and Kaitlin Doubleday cast in ABC's Geico Caveman pilot
Margaret Tobey becomes VP of regulatory affairs for NBC Universal
Chris DeLauro becomes VP of operations and engineering for MSG Media
Ed Steinberg becomes VP of licensing and label relations at Retail Entertainment Design
Geoff Campbell rises to local sales manager at KCHW in Houston
Radio co-host Gene McKay dies at the age of 73
Cops nab Texas TV reporter on an undercover assignment

Monday, April 2, 2007

Overnights
'Bros & Sisters' sinks behind a clipper
Original episode earns a 3.3 rating in adults 18-49 airing after a 'Housewives' clip job, down 25 percent from its season average

Newspapers
Zell of a deal: Tribune Co. has a buyer
Sam wins the long bidding race for the media giant, and now the big question is this: What will stay and what will he decide to sell?

Magazines
Words and thoughts from Vanity Fair
Snippets of pieces up for National Magazine Awards: Lead up to deaths in Iraq; a Dick Cheney profile; piece on Oriana Fallaci

Popcult
Fatal chop to the Napoleonic complex
Study finds short men are not more aggressive, as widely thought, holding their cool when provoked better than taller counterparts

Out of Home
Making your client the talk of the town
Word-of-mouth campaigns can gets thousands clacking about a product's virtues with friends and co-workers and folks they meet

TV This Week
Sporting chance: ABC's' The Bachelor'
Returning reality series airs against NCAA finale on CBS, with a sure boost from similarly female-skewing 'Dancing with the Stars'

News shorts
Weekend overnights: CBS finishes first both nights
Hispanic groups: PBS, we fought in World War II too
Twin City papers go at it over talent defections
Free advertising on 'American Idol?' Bank on it.
CBS scores with Saturday's UCLA-Florida game

Web shorts
Google fools prank: Web link through your plumbing 
EMI won't make Beatles available on iTunes
Google gets heat from Congress over pre-Katrina maps
SonyBMG tells songwriters: Blog us a bar or two

People
Vince Manze moves over to president of program planning at NBC
CNN analyst Jeff Greenfield is returning to CBS
Jerry Saltz becomes art critic for New York magazine
Jeff Hasler and Elizabeth Hillman rise at Discovery Channel
Stefanie Silver joins Better Homes and Gardens as creative director
Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland adapting 'Quinceanera' for TV
Jason Cesare joins Cynopsis Media as sales executive
David Levitt and Samantha Lee join, Kaki Kirby and Lauren Frasca rise at Atlas Media
Virginia real estate agent is the new Maytag repairman
Daniel Lennard becomes VP of original series at Cartoon Network Europe
Ham act: Anna Nicole judge is looking for a talk show seat
Report: George Hamilton will replace Bob Barker on 'Price'
ABC News Radio writer Raja Helou dies at age 65

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Overnights
Big ratings bump for final NCAA game
CBS airing draws 16.8 million total viewers from 9 p.m. to 11 to watch Florida win over Ohio State, up 17.5 percent from last year

Research
Expect higher pricing for Hispanic TV
Buyers can now directly compare their performance to English- language networks, upping pressures to ease pricing disparities

Magazines
The words and ideas of GQ magazine
Snippets of pieces up for National Magazine Awards: A feature on Zimbabwe and Las Vegas and New Orleans dining reviews

New media
One cheddar's life: A tale of our times
A webcam focuses on a 44-pound hunk of cheese, and viewers flock from around the world to peek as it does what cheeses do

TV This Week
Men, crabs and the waters they haunt
Discovery's engrossing 'Deadliest Catch' returns to capture the lives of Alaska's crab fisherman, as the network's top series

News shorts
Study: Ads on syndicated shows hold eyeballs better
BBC's new strategy: A different theme each night
Print pains: Zenith chops 2007 spending growth to 3.4 percent
This time they mean it: CW says no more '7th Heaven'
Google's ad auction deal with Dish: No see'em, no pay

Web shorts
Singers invited: "Idol'-like talent contest on public radio 
Latte high: Slew of hotspots for portable PlayStation
EU probe into iTune restrictions on who can buy where
Classes for cut-ups: Learning standup comedy online

People
Sara Lyle and Alyssa Kolsky joins Good Houskeeping as editors
'NBC Nightly News' weekend anchor John Seigenthaler is out the door
Megan Costello joins TV Guide Channel as VP of research
Gerry Ritchie rises to VP of distribution at BBC Worldwide
Allison Mezzafonte joins Country Living as senior web editor
Jennifer Barendrecht rises at Turner Broadcasting to West Coast ad sales manager
Josie Brockman joins Millennia 3 Television as director of sales and marketing
LeeAnn Baker rises to Midwest account executive at Sony Pictures TV
Tammy Golihew becomes VP of publicity at Warner Bros. Worldwide
Daniel Jaye joins Tacoda as EVP of product management and development
Trump triumphs over McMahon in 'Battle of the Billionaires'
Oops. Freelance editor hired by CBS is charged in bank robbery
WGN's Eddie Hubbard dies at age 89


Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Overnights
ABC rebounds from 'Dream' nightmare
Returning 'Boston Legal' outshines axed show, up 42 percent in 18-49s, to a 2.7 from last week's 1.9, finishing second in timeslot

Media economy
Scatter softens, boding ill for upfront
Advertiser demand has been easing in recent weeks, with prices off, easing pressure on buyers to rush in for deals on next season

Television
For NCAA, Florida sun shines brighter
Gators' second title win pumps ratings but also prospects for the coming season--and suspense. Will fleet foursome stay or go?

Cable
ESPN2 socks a homer on opening day
Cardinals-Mets game was its most-watched ever, averaging 2.53 million households, in a boost for MLB after stinker World Series

TV This Week
For 'Jericho,' out of sight, out of luck
Once-promising CBS drama is all but dead since its return after a three-month break taken to avoid repeats. Call it youthenasia.

News shorts
NBC 'Nightly News' retakes top spot in total viewers
Study: Satellite merger bad idea. Response: Phooey.
Ad nauseam: Philly Inquirer's new page-one addition
A shocking shooting drama at Atlanta's CNN Center 
'Destilando' debut joins Univision's top five novelas

Web shorts
Lusty bow for Showtime's 'Tudors' on- and offline
Rock the vote: MySpace's first presidential election
Blogger Wolf is released after a record prison stint
Traffic stopper: Aussie model's nude photos crash site

People
Former ABC Television president Tom Moore dies at age 88
Arlyne Obregon rises to VP of advertising sales at Sony Pictures Television International
Dani Shapiro joins Travel + Leisure magazine as contributing editor
Report: CNN replacing 'Morning's' Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien
Mark DeVitre rises to business affairs and operations SVP at Warner Bros. Domestic Cable
Taylor Bayouth becomes director of interactive media for Access 360 Media
Laura C. Reid becomes VP of manufacturing and production at Hearst
Beatrice McMillan, Vanessa Goglio, Todd Palatnik and Nicole Hoag join MarVista Entertainment
Jennifer Levene Bruno joins House Beautiful as associate publisher
Bernie Mac and Ben Silverman developing new reality pilot for NBC
Shandi Finnessey bows out on 'Dancing With the Stars'
Event planner and producer Michael David Fox dies at age 42
Former Detroit Free Press publisher and editor Neil Shine dies at age 76


Thursday, April 5, 2007

Overnights
Flop sweat: 'Jericho' dips to new low
CBS drama is off yet again, down 13 percent from last week, to a 2.1 in 18-49s, fourth in its timeslot. Season two looking doubtful.

Television
NBC renews '30 Rock,' in a statement
Though it's struggling, the sitcom is a critic fave, and it says loads about where the No. 4 network is heading under chief Kevin Reilly

TV Preview
For 'The Sopranos,' sense of endings
It's one of television's oddest love affairs, and as it enters its final episodes critics struggle to sum up and anticipate how it will end

New media
Luring women to watch online videos
They represent a desirable target for advertisers, but they watch less than men. Talking with eMarketer's Debra Aho Williamson.

Dayparts update
Right stuff: Fan salutes to Bob Barker
CBS invites viewers to send in video tributes to the longtime host of 'Price is Right' for a special as he retires. Please, nothing dirty.

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Thursday: USA's Masters; Friday: ESPN's NBA; Saturday: 'Ten Commandments' on ABC; Sunday: 'Entourage' returns on HBO

News shorts
New from Forbes, a magazine for executive women
MLB and InDemand reach a deal for Extra Innings
A warm Peabody embrace for bubble show 'Lights'
Greener pasture: Discovery Home Channel rebrands
Oops! U.S. News' major grad school rankings mixup.

Web shorts
Study: A fraction of YouTube content is unauthorized
Intern: I stole Civil War relics and sold 'em on eBay
A royal mess: Thais unplug YouTube over king video
Putting editorial meetings on the web at BostonNOW

People
Lauren Conrad returning for third season of MTV's 'The Hills'
Lou Dobbs becomes special contributor to 'The Early Show'
Ali Hossaini becomes executive producer at Equator HD
Alison Brown returns to Rodale as senior program manager
Patricia Brandino becomes managing director at Minds Eye International
Daniel Spangler joins Cascade Broadcasting as regional stations manager
Rob Carey, Nick Godwin and Gavin McGarry join Cineflix
Page H. Thompson becomes president at the Golf Channel
Rory Camangian joins Schiefer Media as VP of business development
Karen Carr, Chris Finch and David Ostaszewski join imc2
Chris Kelly heading up LA branch of G2 Direct & Digital
Elton John performing in VH1-NBC concert for Princess Di
Erika Christensen and David Cross join CBS pilot 'I'm in Hell'

Monday, April 9, 2007

Overnights
ABC's 'Housewives' falls to series low
Rerun weary? Averages a 6.0 in 18-49s, down 19 percent from most recent original episode. Not helped by debut of 'Sopranos.'

Research
Out of home TV: Not just men in bars
Actually, huge numbers of people are watching outside the home, a third of all viewers per week and for more than two hours a day

Newspapers
In this new era, chains will get bigger
As profits are squeezed, size matters all the more, in terms of cost savings and being attractive to big national retail advertisers

Popcult
When stars play the role of paparazzi
In a new reality series, they get behind the camera to stalk other celebs just as they are stalked, then put out a magazine, Deadline

Out of Home
Your client standing tall on the green
Ads on flagsticks at public and private golf courses are the new thing to catch golfers' attention when their minds are fully focused

TV This Week
On the wing: 'Thank God You're Here'
NBC is committed to unscripted fare at 8 p.m., and its latest is an improv series debuting after 'Deal' that will slide to Wednesdays

News shorts
Weekend overnights: CBS takes Friday with dramas
Cable networks opt out of eBay Media Exchange test
Imus readies for Sharpton, but is his radio job safe?
Another Mexican journalist slain on Good Friday
Court: Indonesian Playboy is racy but not indecent


Web shorts
Marketwatch columnist resigns after controversy
NBC: No. 4 in ratings but tops with online users?
Coming to Akimbo, downloads of NHL playoff games
Vonage fights court order to halt new subscribers


People
Dorothy Young joins SilverCarrot as COO
Ellen Weiss rises to VP of news for NPR
Mark Bautz becomes editor in chief at TV Guide Online
Eric Stein, Andrea Brent, Hazel Brown and Kimberly Howell join Brand Central
Bill O'Reilly and Geraldo Rivera: Hey, we're over that fight
Tori Spelling to Us: The feud with my mom is done
Stephen Moyer joins cast of HBO's 'True Blood'
Mario Lopez joins cast of CW pilot 'Eight Days a Week'
Kyla Pratt joins CW's 'Hell on Earth' pilot
Leslie Bibb joins cast of CBS pilot 'Atlanta'
'Days of Our Lives' actor Edward Mallory dies at age 76
B.C. cartoonist Johnny Hart dies at age 76
Ad agency veteran Diane Rothschild dies at age 63

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

O

vernights
Hopeful debut for NBC's 'You're Here'
Two-hour improv show pulls a 3.6 in 18-49s, growing 16 percent from 'Deal or No Deal' lead-in airing against tough competition

Dayparts update
In mornings, 'Today' loses its oomph
Early gains with Meredith Vieira are fading, and ABC's 'Good Morning America' is narrowing the lead of the longtime top show

New media
Finding silver in the silver singles set
Baby boomers are the fastest-growing demographic on many dating sites, and that's good for business. They spend the money.

Television
'Idol' goof: Pumping Sanjaya Malakar
Sure, he's a lousy singer, but fans love him, and Dave Della Terza of VoteForTheWorst.com is leading a rally to have Malakar win

TV This Week
For 'Dog,' it's no longer just the chase
A&E's bounty hunter has emerged as a complex figure, facing a trial in Mexico and tragedy in his personal life in this new season

News shorts
Study: DVR users skip political ads in big numbers
Fox and Hearst magazines team up for webisodes
Programming notes: NBC scrubs new show 'Barker'
Picture imperfect: Photographer quits over alteration
Discovery slashes another 200 jobs in restructuring

Web shorts
Big differences between top Democrats' web guests
Miseducated? Principal sues over MySpace fauxfile.
ESPN scowls as 'Herd' stampede knocks blog offline
Spring cleaning: Behind Martha's web site revamp

People
Kimberly Kleman rises to editor in chief at Consumer Reports
Kerry Hurbartt rises to editor of The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel
NFL Network taps DeAngelo Hall, Tim Hasselbeck, Jon Runyan and Darren Sharper
Steve Blamer becomes CEO of Creston plc US Holdings
Ed Quagliariello and Terry Schoppmann become SVP and VP at Westwood One
Hunter Nickell becomes president of SPEED
Lionel's syndicated program joins Air America
Michael A. Ross becomes EVP of business affairs at BBC Worldwide America
Alyse Ramer joins The Sportsman channel as director of affiliate relations
Greg Philby rises to editor in chief at Midwest Living
Ken Macha joins NESN as a studio sports analyst
Carla Wojnaroski, Betsy Alexander and Juan Lopez-Valcarcel join iVillage
Former Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Fawn Vrazo dies at age 60


Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Overnights
CBS's 'Unit' feels boot heels of 'Stars'
Drama falls 18 percent from season average in 18-49s, to a 2.8 rating, as the two older-skewing shows fight for audience share

Magazines
With magazines, haves and have-nots
Overall, pages are nearly flat through March, but there were big swings across categories, with some doing well while others sink

Cable
Whack job: 'Sopranos' takes a big hit
HBO season debut draws 7.66 million, off 19 percent from last year and its third-lowest, even as the critics raved. Long of tooth.

Television
It's up from the dead for MyNetworkTV
Celeb tributes, movies and fights boost ratings as new network moves away from disastrous telenovela strategy. Singing praises.

TV Reviews
'Notes from the Underbelly,' take note
New ABC sitcom is full of fast, clever chatter. Yet it goes beyond, offering insight into the challenges couples face starting a family

TV This Week
At last, NHL hockey gains some glam
Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby is the sport's big hope, a star whose wattage has brought Versus its best ratings outside of the Tour

News shorts
Advertisers flee Imus as his penance tour continues
PIB: We're ditching monthly ad reports for quarterly
More paper cuts: Tampa Tribune eliminating 70 jobs
CBS News fires producer over plagiarized notebook
Programming notes: 'Roots' still strong for TV One

Web shorts
Report: Google nears deal to sell ads for DirecTV
Democratic presidential candidates' virtual town hall
Washingtonpost.com debuts high definition podcasts
Study: Wilfing at work sapping two days per month

People
Naomi Bradford rises to VP of business development at Enversa
Masters pounces on bigger ratings with Tiger in contention
Tony Maddox becomes EVP and managing director of CNN International
Steve Martin stepping up as president and CEO of SicolaMartin
Andrew Hersam, Angus Macaulay and Molly O'Keefe rise at Rodale
Oren Lieber rises to VP of national accounts at Fox Cable Networks
Matt Grim joins Fox Sports en Espanol as director of affiliate sales and marketing
Yolanda Jordana joins Firestone Communications as VP of advertising sales
Philip Matthys rises at NBC U Cable to VP of business affairs
Craig Gugel becomes president of Telmar Group
Joan E. Gerberding joins Focus360 as president of LocalFocus
LA radio host Renan Almendarez Coello acquitted of misdemeanor charges
'Dynasty' actor Calvin Lockhart dies at age 72


Thursday, April 12, 2007

Overnights
Sweeter good-bye for Fox's ''Til Death'
Sagging sitcom finale gets boost airing before 'Idol,' pulling a 3.1 in 18-49s and winning 8 p.m. timeslot against weak competition

Radio
One shoe falls: MSNBC fires Don Imus
The big puzzler: Will CBS stand behind him if the nappy-head furor gains momentum? It vows to 'monitor the situation closely.'

Radio
Media buyers: Imus shouldn't be axed
Most readers think shock jock crossed the line in his nappy-head remark but should still keep his job. They agree on little else.

Magazines
Words and thoughts from Newsweek
Snippets of pieces up for National Magazine Awards: Column on power-sharing in Iraq, AIDS issue, online feature on boomers

Dayparts update
Gibson widens his lead over Williams
ABC nightly news anchor pulls 440,000 more viewers last week, aided by a single-sponsor newscast that added minutes to news

TV This Week
Remembering Jackie Robinson, No. 42
It will be 60 years since he joined the Dodgers as the majors' first black baseball player, and ESPN pays tribute with 'After Jackie'

News shorts
Brits enact further bans on kids junk food advertising
Sanjaya stays, Haley goes, and 'Idol' ratings slide
Study: Sniffing out radio's most endangered formats
After magazine closure, Teenpeople.com shuts down
Upfront update: Bravo eyes slightly older audience

Web shorts
New on YouTube: Dialogue with presidential hopefuls
Primetime on TV is also primetime on the internet
Apple teams with MGM for new iPod movie rollouts
Study: Google search share rises as competitors fall

People
John Owens becomes SVP and group editorial director for Men's Enthusiast Network
Anne Thompson becomes chief environmental affairs correspondent at NBC News
Eric Sherman joins fuse as president
Bradley Fleisher and Heather McCallion rise at NBC Universal
Tabitha Calero and Gregory Diamond start Enigmatic Pictures
Maddie Henri rises at Home & Garden Television to VP of original programming
Rutgers women's basketball team appearing on 'Oprah'
Perez Hilton joining Glamour magazine as guest blogger
'Boston Legal's' Julie Bowen and husband welcome a baby boy
Former 'Prison Break' actor Lane Garrison pleading guilty to manslaughter
Eric Johnson starring in Sci Fi's 'Flash Gordon' series
Jay Mohr joins cast of CBS untitled comedy pilot
Actor Roscoe Lee Brown dies at age 81


Friday, April 13, 2007

Overnights
Better yuks for ABC's new 'Underbelly'
Two-episode premiere averages a 3.7 in 18-49s, retaining 74 percent of 'Grey's' clip show audience and tying NBC's ailing 'ER'

Radio
The other shoe falls: CBS boots Imus
Longtime talker loses his job over nappy head quip in the face of rising protests. Moonves lowers the axe amid Imus mea culpas.

Research
In fall, Nielsen will deliver the bar set
Rolling out system to track TV viewing in venues outside of the home with a passive device comparable to nixed Arbitron PPM

Younger viewers
From the lips of kids, 'Backyardigans'
Nick cartoon rises to No. 1 among 2-5s in recent weeks, thanks to new episodes of the series, which uses children to voice parts

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, gee, my boss knows everyone
The writer wants to look for another position but worries that word will get back. It's a small market. How does one keep it secret?

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: Sci Fi's 'Stargate;' Saturday: 'United 93' debuts on HBO; Sunday: '100 Biggest Moments' special on Weather Channel

News shorts
Richard vs. Rupe continues as Virgin Media sues
Now rid of Ridder, Pioneer Press sues Star Tribune 
Study: 70 percent want restrictions on junk food ads
DJ axed after asking listeners to repeat Imus' words
'Nightline' tops delayed 'Late Show' for the first time 

Web shorts
New deals put CBS programs on web heavyweights
Comcast buying Fandango and launching movie site
Mobile TV watching setting to spike in next four years
Study: Internet radio users growing from small base

People
Vonage CEO Mike Snyder resigns and Jeffrey Citron becomes interim CEO
Executive editor Elizabeth Goodman Artis leaves Fitness
Karl Vick becomes L.A. bureau chief at the Washington Post
Jorge Arangure Jr. becomes senior baseball writer at ESPN The Magazine
Charles Weiss rises to associate publisher at Back Stage
Steve Pearl joins The MediGroup as CTO
Alice Dickens rises to director of development at Oxygen
'Harold & Kumar's' John Cho starring in untitled CBS comedy pilot
Bill Heirendt joins Mapleton Communications as market manager
Alison Stewart hosting Sundance Channel's 'ECOBIZ'
Ex-NFLer Tiki Barber joins NBC News' 'Today'
Tracey Ullman starring in new Showtime series
Tucker Carlson hosting CBS game show 'Who Do You Trust?'

Monday, April 16, 2007

Overnights
Fox's new 'Drive' stalls in second gear
Road trip drama scores a 2.6 in adults 18-49 over its two-hour premiere, well down from network's usual Sunday cartoon lineup

Magazines
Portfolio, all glam and big dollars too
Conde Nast's new business magazine debuts with the promise of revitalizing an ailing category. It may. But it faces one hard slog.

Media economy
Syndication's big hope: Proven oldies
A number of network shows are moving over, and that could raise syndication's total take in next month's upfront by a healthy share

Popcult
For tiny Tuvalu, a rising sea of worries
Income is rising from .tv domain name fees but so is the ocean, which threatens to drown the chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean

Out of Home
Your client's handy message at clubs
Patrons' hands are stamped at the entrance and the message stays with them all night long. Reaching the young set on the town.

TV This Week
Pondering: Has '24' jumped the shark?
Twisty plot takes a turn that has fans abuzz: Jack's own brother is revealed as a terrorist. Ratings are down. Might this be why?

News shorts
Weekend overnights: Big dropoff for 'Andy Barker'
Defiant California station airing 'Best of Don Imus'
Poll: 51 percent agree that Imus deserved to be fired
Programming notes: NBC sets summer schedule
Kidnapped BBC reporter's life in danger in Gaza?

Web shorts
Google buys Doubleclick, arousing Microsoft's ire
More Google: Selling radio ads with Clear Channel
Aussie teen's YouTube whopper gets videos yanked
Findmypast's Titanic venture: Listing its passengers

People
Susan Inkrot joins Empower MediaMarketing as buying specialist
Elizabeth Yost, Jim Bono and David Johnson rise at Hallmark Channel
Maria Badillo joins Sorpresa! as VP of programming
Todd Haskell overseeing NYTimes.com advertising
Ken DuBow becomes president of worldwide distribution at PorchLight Entertainment
Gary Miereanu joins Warner Bros. Animation as director of publicity
Steven Rice joins Eric Mower and Associates as account supervisor
Gerry Boehme, Joe Brewer, Robert Lyons and Diane Zigmont-Velez rise at Katz Media Group
Paul Blake rises to VP of sales at Greater Media
Regent Communications SVP of operations Fred Murr retiring
Michael Ginn and Linda Reddington join V-me network
Charlie Sheen settles 'Two and a Half Men' lawsuit
Washington journalist Frances Spatz Leighton dies at age 87

Alternative media
Getting a good handle on college kids
Be good or face the charm school girls
A teasing scent of a billboard mystery
Going where the fans are, in the street

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Overnights
Less there for NBC's new 'You're Here'
Averages a 2.9 in 18-49s for its second outing, down 19 percent from 3.6 last week. Fox's 'Drive' dips 12 percent in second airing.

Research
For young folks, old media's still cool
Study: New media usage comes atop TV, which is actually up, and radio and magazines. The one sinker: Newspaper reading.

Research
Fact: We're just not that much smarter
We're no better informed now than in 1989, even with all the new news outlets. Where you do find the smart folks: 'The Daily Show.'

Newspapers
A wrong turn, then tragedy, in Oregon
The Oregonian is awarded the Pulitzer Prize for a series on one family's fateful trip, and the father's needless death, in a blizzard

New media
To wilf, to wander around the internet
Turns out folks are getting downright lazy in their searches, more prone to lose focus and drift about aimlessly. Men are worse.

TV This Week
On Sundance, creating a green planet
Across all media it's the new color of choice, and the network offers its take with its weekly series 'Big Ideas for a Small Planet'

News shorts
Networks rush in for live coverage at Virginia Tech
McClatchy joins Yahoo newspaper ad partnership
Waste not: Council cracks down on London papers
Puzzler: Did corruption stories prompt hit and run?
Obliterating obesity with BBC3's 'Fat Kids Can't Hunt'

Web shorts
Introducing Jalipo, the net's latest video sharing site
Judges rule royalty rates will stand for webcasters
Web ads help AT&T and GM score in March Madness
LonelyGirl gets some company with new U.K. spinoff

People
Anthony Flaccavento becomes advertising director at Maxim
Jon Cooke rises to account director at Enversa
Lisa Bronson becomes interactive media director at Special Ops Media
Bob Kelly and Kate Rodler become regional sales VPs at Entrepreneur Media
Peter Kiriacoulacos joins Comcast Cable as SVP
Shaunice Hawkins and Elvira Perez rise at Magazine Publishers of America
Tom Hagopian joins Playboy Enterprises as EVP of digital media
Bill Jenkins becomes VP of advertising sales at LATV
Kelly M. McAndrew joins Viacom as VP of corporate communications
Adam S. Gaynor joins GSN as executive director of digital media
Ross Jacobson and Scott Shatsky join Magical Elves as vice presidents
Mark Jarvis joins Dell Inc. as CMO
Regis Philbin returning to 'Live' on April 26

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Overnights
Newsmagazines rise on Va. shootings
Big Three specials draw 24.7 million total viewers, with ABC's 'Primetime' leading with 11.3 million, as part of intense coverage

Television
NBC's Thursday sinks to a record low
Ratings fall to lowest since Nielsen began using people meters in 1987, a 3.3 in 18-49s, all but ensuring a major revamp for fall

Magazines
Buyers: Conde Nast's Portfolio nails it
New upscale magazine is smartly positioned to compete among the leading business titles and yet stand apart, say media people

Cable
Love chain: Most charming 'Mo'Nique'
Newest 'Surreal Life' spinoff has best debut yet on VH1, 'Charm School starring Mo'Nique' drawing some 5 million total viewers

TV Reviews
'Head Case,' quick jabs, some landing
Offbeat Starz sitcom puts real celebs on the couch in 12-minute sketches that work when the satire is underplayed, or about half

TV This Week
Pedal mettle: With 'Setup,' real racing
Speed Channel reality series challenges drivers for a chance to compete at Daytona and to win $100,000. Sure draw for machos.

News shorts
Newscasts swell to an hour to cover Tech tragedies
J. Lo and Marc suing Enquirer over drug allegations
Congress eyes restrictions on new drug advertising
Study: Imus debacle becomes the year's No. 2 story
Defender holds four accountable for check scheme

Web shorts
Last-minute tax filers swamp Intuit, leading to delays
AOL upfront: Wooing advertisers with five new shows
'King's' Remini bringing real moms' stories online
China laments: Nudist web chats are okay after all

People
Angela Shapiro-Mathes becomes president and general manager of TLC
Chhayal Parikh joins U.S. News & World Report as audio and video producer
Rachel Fishman becomes director at Parenting.com
Mark London rejoins The Lighting Design Group as VP of operations
David Evans becomes SVP of Rainbow Broadband
Karl Wolf joins Olson as associate creative director
Matthew Palmer joins Stardoll as EVP and general manager
Ariana L. Squar becomes director of brand integration at NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution
Richard Loomis joins The Walt Disney Company as SVP of marketing
Fred Sawabini becomes SVP at CBS Connections
Rich Sutton, Angela Gaspar and Mary Ann Branco join new media team at Warner Bros.
Roger Eman joins ReelzChannel as CTO and SVP of IT
Tracy Wong, Marin Katacic and Cherie Brussell rise at Horizon Media

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Overnights
Second airing slump for ABC's 'Notes'
New sitcom averages a 2.4 in 18-49s, off 33 percent from last week's premiere, leading out of 'Jim' rather than 'Grey's Anatomy'

Media economy
Rising doubts over eBay media market
In theory, an electronic buying system makes sense, but media people have reservations over whether it would work in practice

Research
The real pain of watching TV tragedies
Vivid images of events like 9/11 haunt our dreams, possibly with serious consequences. Talking with psychologist Ruth Propper.

Dayparts update
Syndication's fall hope: 'Crosswords'
Primetime game shows are an iffy proposition--most tank--but a new daytime strip from Merv Griffin appears to have a real shot

Magazines
Words and thoughts from The Atlantic
Snippets of pieces up for National Magazine Awards: On the war on terrorism, the curse of affluence, five Americans who mattered

TV This Week
Struggle in the skies: The fourth plane
'United 93' captures the late fateful hours of the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania, well short of its target. On HBO2.

News shorts
Ethics 101: NBC's big dilemma with Tech package
Wall Street Journal taps Brauchli as managing editor
Chronicle becomes latest paper to ad to page one
Upfront update: BET orders up first scripted series
Pop up: London music-zine silenced after two issues

Web shorts
Pew: Teens do try to mask identities on social sites
BlackBerry jam: Email service resumes after outage
MySpace tests long-rumored news aggregating tool
Shootings prompt surge to Facebook and news sites

People
Sanjaya Malakar's unlikely 'Idol' run comes to a finish
Brian Kelly rises to editor of U.S. News & World Report
Keith Fox becomes president at BusinessWeek
Vincent Onorati joins iN DEMAND as director of online marketing
Kim Albano rises to ESPN VP of customer care operations
Jina Lee rises to Doremus human resources associate
Jonathan Auerbach becomes editor in chief of Metro New York
Cameron Daddo hosting CBS reality show 'Pirate Master'
Lynn Marzetti joins Viamedia as director of sales in Detroit
Rivers run dry: Lisa Rinna becomes TV Guide red carpet host
Liz Janneman joins Current TV as president of ad sales
Lorenzo Bombelli and Brian Bentley join Imagine Communications
Actress Kitty Carlisle Hart dies at age 96


Friday, April 20, 2007

Overnights
ABC's 'October Road' looks to the fall
Ratings holding for the new homecoming drama as it heads into season finale, amid a declining lineup, with a 4.2 in adults 18-49

Media economy
Media buyers may face pricier upfront
But it won't be driven by demand as much by inventory scarcity, reflecting the broadcast networks' continuing declines in ratings

TV Reviews
'Wife, Mom, Bounty Hunter,' split ends
Sandra Scott's day job is a blast to observe as she outwits bad guys, but the new WE reality series sags when she goes home

Younger viewers
'In the Night Garden,' for the wee ones
From the creators of Teletubbies, a decade later, comes a new series aiming to serve as a lullaby of sorts in the post-9/11 world

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, I want to move to out of home
A television buyer wonders, is it a smart move? Answer: Yes, if it's what you like, but you can kiss off any lofty pay expectations

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: Discovery's 'Earth' special; Saturday: NASCAR on Fox; Sunday: NBA playoffs on ABC: Bryant versus Nash round two

News shorts
Big debate: Should NBC have shown Cho images?
Poll: More than half say Imus should have been axed
NBC sets finale dates but no return for 'Studio 60'
Upfront update: ABC Family orders three new shows
Tempers flare over British journalists' Israel boycott

Web shorts
Chicago Tribune joins web's hyper-local news push
It's share and share alike for Politico and USA Today 
Overdrive: Hachette buys Jumpstart for $110 million
New IAC site targets growing group of blacks online

People
Rush Limbaugh: Virginia Tech shooter had to be a liberal
Clare McHugh becomes managing editor at All You
Isobel McKenzie-Price joins Ideal Home as editorial director
David Mihail becomes director of programming at Channel M
John Parry joins Anime Network as advertising sales director
David McKendrick and Robert Johnston join Esquire
Sharon Osbourne joins 'America's Got Talent' as a judge
Men's Health's Dave Zinczenko joins Al Roker's dating show
Jason Deans becomes acting editor of MediaGuardian.co.uk
Roger Wright becomes director of the BBC Proms
Bradley Whitford, Sharon Lawrence and Daryl Hannah appearing on 'Living With Ed'
Victoria's Secret asks "What is S#xy?" Answer: J. Timberlake
Oliver Stone directing anti-war ad for MoveOn.org

Monday, April 23, 2007

 Overnights
A modest bump for 'Apprentice' finale
Donald Trump reality show averages a 3.2 in 18-49s, its best since its January premiere but seventh season looks iffy as ever

Newspapers
For newspapers, the real fight's within
Their biggest challenge is in reinventing themselves against a past of resistance to change, denial and arrogance. Many will fail.

Out of Home
A parent's nightmare, free cell service
Grand plan: Subscribers get free calling and texting if they agree to receive ads on phones. Target: Europe's 16- to 24-year-old

Popcult
Seeing the TV set as a virtual campfire
Eating plopped in front of it may seem boorish but a Cambridge archeologist argues it's a natural evolution from very ancient times

Out of Home
Your client's message large as the sky
Giant portable billboards are six stories high, standing out at big events. First seen in Europe, they're now rolling out in the U.S.

TV This Week
Members of the wedding (well, sort of)
'Real Wedding Crashers' may seem beneath NBC, as a tacky ripoff of the hit movie, but the network has little left to lose at 10

News shorts
Zell-less paper cuts: LA Times slashing 150 jobs 
Weekend overnights: CBS and ABC tie on Friday
Full court Press: Ex-editor disputes paper's p*rn story
ABC summer drama gets plum post-'Grey's' debut
CBS Radio to KCAA: Silence 'Best of Imus' right now

Web shorts
IAB wants comScore and NetRatings third-party audit 
YouTube yakker: 3,500 give Ryan a ring just to talk
Virtual presidential candidate debate, coming this fall 
Baldwin's regret: Sorry about the nasty TMZ voicemail

People
Jason Kint becomes SVP and general manager at CBS SportsLine
Robin Reinhardt-Locke rises to SVP of studio relations at MTV
Philip Martzolf and Andrew Deutscher rise at Sony Pictures Television
NFL players appearing on Nickelodeon's 'Let's Just Play'
Former 'Apprentice' contestant Kristine Lefebvre appearing on Playboy
Stefani Schaeffer is Donald Trump's new 'Apprentice'
'Imus' producer Bernard McGuirk fired
Michael Smerconish: Potential Imus replacement at MSNBC?
Iostar CEO Dawn Airey leaving her job after eight days
Ex-Us Weekly editor sentenced for attempting to seduce a minor
YouTube: Let's see McCain's 'Bomb Iran' song again
'Bob Vila Show' going off the air after 28 years 
Former Peabody Awards director Worth McDougald dies at 82

Alternative media
Smack: $100,000 fine for the wrong hat
Lying eyes: Ad with a sense of motion
On the road: A hive of bee-utification
Getting NYC folks to mug for cameras

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Overnights
Returning 'Heroes' hits new series low
NBC hit drama pulls a 5.3 rating in 18-49s airing against ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars,' off 20 percent from last airing in March

Research
At last, ad clutter stops getting worse
Shows no growth from last year's 15 minutes on average across broadcast and cable, after rising for years. ABC and MTV lead.

Research
From TiVo, better data on ad skipping
New system reveals how many viewers zip past commercials.
But it will likely bump delayed-viewing buys to next year's upfront.

Radio
End of spots for a Texas radio station
Goes to sponsorships where DJs chat up products between the songs, with fewer interruptions. Talking with KZPS's Kelly Kibler.

New media
To St. Pixels flock the internet faithful
This is an actual church, with real services, and it may be the next dimension in social networking online, one with an honored past

TV This Week
On the offensive: Lakers versus Suns
All bets are off for this playoff game between LA and Phoenix, even with the Suns' win record. Each is capable of jumping ahead.

News shorts
Pulitzer Prize winner Halberstam killed in car crash
Inquirer intel: Will Couric be out after 2008 elections?
No pay for play: NBC nabs rights-free figure skating
Imus-up: CBS Radio suspends DJs over Asian slurs
Tribune: We're slashing 250 jobs in Chicago and LA

Web shorts
Nielsen//NetRatings and comScore respond to IAB
Study: Young men account for most mobile TV usage
Time Warner Cable offering customers public wi-fi 
No laughing matter: Viacom sorry for 'Colbert' suit

People
Ellen DeGeneres co-hosting 'Idol Gives Back' charity show
Pat Jones rises to SVP of account services at Carat Entertainment
Andra Shapiro and George Cheeks rise at MTV Networks
Rosie O'Donnell's odd welcome to Rupert Murdoch at luncheon
Gray Davis becomes non-executive director on DIC Entertainment's board of directors
Carolyn Bekkedahl rises to chief development officer at Mochila
Todd Carville becomes national sales director at NetShelter
Craig Abolt and Scott E. Goldsmith rise at Titan Worldwide
Jamie Brown joins [x+1] as VP of optimization and analytics
Marie Jacobson rises to EVP of programming at Sony Pictures TV
Gary Rosenson rises to SVP of affiliate sales at Playboy Enterprises
David Letterman will be the guest when Regis Philbin returns
Joseph Hutchinson becomes art director at Rolling Stone

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Overnights
'Idol' fundraiser hits a new season low
Averages a 9.6 in 18-49s, off 6 percent from last week's low as contestants sing for charities. Show not helped by Sanjaya's exit.

Dayparts update
Rosie leaving ABC's 'View' come June
Network declines to meet O'Donnell salary demands. No word on a successor. Expect a big hit to show's ratings when she's gone.

Television
On TV, April sinkers bode May stinkers
Many top network shows are hitting season lows, and that could translate into low-rated finales when the season ends next month

Cable
Big bang for Discovery's 'Planet Earth'
Series finale draws 5.57 million total viewers, topping the week on cable, and drawing a wide audience across all demographics

Newspapers
Charges fly in London newspaper war
Titans' tiff: Accusations of dumping papers fly between Murdoch's Thelondonpaper and Rothermere's London Lite, both freebies

TV This Week
The question: Was the press taken in?
Bill Moyers returns to PBS with a new series, and in the debut he argues that the press failed to ask the tough questions on Iraq

News shorts
NY Times shareholder debacle: What it all means
Tribune cuts deeper with 50 buyouts at Baltimore Sun
Ratings roundup: Spike slams other sports Saturday
Upfront update: More reality for women on Lifetime
NAA: Never mind print, papers had record Q1 online

Web shorts
Politics is focal in Burnett's MySpace reality romp
DIY Network's blog cabin: Visitors vote on features
Sprig has sprung: Washingtonpost.com's green site
Bigamists beware China's new web wedding registry

People
Heather Mills takes a final bow on 'Dancing with the Stars'
Mark Mitchell and Joe Tripp rise at Speed channel
Patrick Feehery and Alex Augustinos join McKee Wallwork Cleveland
Frank Cutitta becomes general manager of IDG Connect
Elizabeth Marsh and Lori Lefevre rise at American Express Publishing Corporation
Bruce Ginsberg and Melissa Lander join CoActive Marketing Group
Krista Voda hosting Speed's NASCAR Nextel All-Star coverage
David Botkin becomes SVP of research and audience analytics at CBS Interactive
Doug Perlson becomes CEO of TargetSpot
Michael Wright rises to SVP at Turner Entertainment Networks
A. Ron Milkes joins Endemol USA as SVP of corporate development
Richard Gay rises to EVP of strategy and business at VH1 and CMT
Jennie Baird becomes SVP and editor in chief at iVillage

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Overnights
CBS's 'CSI: NY' joins the list of sinkers
Hits series low with a 3.2 rating in adults 18-49, suffering from a weak lead-in, ABC's 'Lost' and spreading end-of-season malaise

Dayparts update
'The View': Facing the Rosie hangover
ABC show must find itself again after O'Donnell, replacing her with a less controversial co-host as it fights to stem viewer losses

Radio
Fact is, AM-FM radio is healthy as ever
Listening is actually higher among the iPod crowd. Study: Rather than cutting back, they make more time for the new digital media.

Newspapers
Papers feel the heat over classified ads
Revenue drain accelerates as other local media chase after the lucrative sector, led by TV stations pumping up their web sites

TV This Week
For 'October Road,' a brighter outlook
Renewal is the big issue for the new ABC drama as it goes into its finale, but these days the signs are pointing to a new season

News shorts
Lifetime president Cohen exits after viewership slide
Pew poll: NBC made right decision on shooter video
FCC asks Congress for power to limit TV violence
Study: Media jobs lost nearly doubled in first quarter
California radio station drops 'Best of Imus' reruns

Web shorts
NBC's 'Passions' moves from broadcast to satellite
Study: Brits blaming industry for illegal downloads?
Baby on board: Couple's MySpace adoption appeal
The country's bloggiest neighborhood: Clinton Hill

People
Shamefaced Alec Baldwin asks to leave '30 Rock,' but NBC refuses
'Idol Gives Back' by keeping all six finalists till next week
Patricia Andrews-Keenan joins Nielsen as VP of communications
Chris Lozier rises to chief financial officer at Wilkins Media Company
John Haegele and Cliff Kaplan rise at Van Wagner Sports Group
Steve Kane joins Spa Finder as VP of gift sales
Aaron Gallagher, Gavin Woodward and Anne Toal rise at CNNMoney.com
David Becker joins ExpoTV as CMO
Aimee Gerry, Neda LaMarr and Sharyn Alcaraz join Gorilla Nation
Marc Grossman joins Taffy Entertainment as director of PR
MTV 'Total Request Live' host Vanessa Minnillo stepping down
Benjamin Kinzer joins tbd as a designer
Radio talk show host Bernard Spigner dies at age 51


Friday, April 27, 2007

Overnights
NBC's Thursday night sinks yet again
Stinker '30 Rock' finale pulls a 2.4 rating in 18-49s, dragging the ailing network down to a 3.2, worst showing since at least 1987

Research
More folks own DVRs than you'd think
Nielsen reports penetration is 17.2 percent of households, and it's even higher in the big cities. But ad-zapping still isn't a big issue.

TV Reviews
'The Andy Milonakis Show,' not funny
The comic returns to MTV2 for a third season when two would have been enough, or one. Or none. Wacky, incoherent, tasteless.

Younger viewers
V-chip report card: E, as in ineffective
Parents Television Council hits a hot button with a study saying two thirds of dicey shows aren't tagged, amid calls for crackdown

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, I'm hoping to find a media job
The writer took a job in the printing industry right out of school and now wants to work in media. Making the leap won't be that easy.

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: NBA on ESPN; Saturday: NFL Draft on NFL Network; Sunday: ABC's 'Housewives.' Just pick a guy already, Susan.

News shorts
Fox: Solve one DVR issue by swapping in new ads
Danish demise: Dato freesheet the first one to close
Veteran LA Times sportswriter: I'm Christine, not Mike
Upfront update: Adult Swim expands to seven nights
Debate: Should papers have altered shooting photo?

Web shorts
Criminal intent: Google yanks ads linking to malware
Hitwise: Post-YouTube, what's the next web hotspot?
Unspam suing spammers' email address providers
Study: Half of college graduates are using Wikipedia

People
'Idol Gives Back' raises more than $60 million for charity
ABC's Andrea Wong becomes Lifetime president and CEO
ABC's Bob Woodruff going on first overseas reporting trip since injury
Lyne Pitts becomes vice president at NBC News
Christian Guinot and Maria Kolosova rise at Mediaedge:cia
Tracey Bedell and Brendan Reilly rise at NBC Universal TV Networks Distribution
Joshua Mintz and Robert Stopello rise at Telemundo
Michael Endelman joins Spin as staff editor
Jury reaches a verdict on 'Will & Grace' suit, but will it be read?
Jesse Wegman becomes managing editor at New York Observer
Mario Ruiz becomes VP of media relations at HuffingtonPost.com
Former MPAA head Jack Valenti dies at age 85
Sarah Silverman hosting the 2007 MTV Movie Awards

Monday, April 30, 2007

 Overnights
'Desperate Housewives' in a rebound
ABC hit averages 6.6 in 18-49s, up 10 percent over series low last week, airing against light competition on first sweeps Sunday

Research
Ad clutter dips on broadcast networks
Non-program time is cut by 8 seconds per hour for dramas and 5 seconds for sitcoms over the past year, after years of increases

Media economy
In media, the free lunch is fading away
Planners and buyers are going out less often. They say there's a change of attitude about freebies that extends to sellers as well.

Popcult
That old feeling, bout 'My Generation'
The music video's a hit these days on YouTube as sung by the Zimmers. They're way older than the Who. Meet Alf Carretta, 90.

Out of Home
Your client on women's soccer fields
A new professional league is emerging that promises marketers a chance to reach an engaged fan base in an initial eight markets

TV This Week
A night of champs: Cards and Brewers
Major League Baseball is off to a roaring season, especially Milwaukee, which takes on St. Louis, winners of the World Series

News shorts
Weekend overnights: Slow first Friday of sweeps
'Will & Grace' creators resolve NBC Studios case
Revived: Victoria magazine's back after 2003 demise
Philly PPM: African Americans listen to more radio
Overnights correction: Not NBC's worst Thursday

Web shorts
For sale on eBay: A slightly used, error-prone goalie
Vudu: Delivering movies from web to TV, wire-free
'Idol' charity event sets record for call-ins and texts
Student sues university over MySpace degree denial

People
Emiliano Calemzuk becomes president at Fox Television Studios
Rockelle Grenee becomes senior advertising sales manager at RadarOnline.com
Lisa DiMarzio and Jodi A. Gusek join Gemstar-TV Guide International
Former ABC News director Mark Halperin joins Time magazine
MTV entertainment president Lois Curren cuts back
Celia Barbour becomes food editor at O, The Oprah Magazine
Barry Hicks becomes operations assistant at Cox Media Hampton Roads
Deborah Grossman and Jennifer Kauf become co-presidents at GEM Group
Cindy Linnell and Joyce Romano join, and Char Serwa rises at NGC
Former 'Idol' contestant Jessica Sierra arrested for battery
'Soap Talk's' Ty Treadway hosting 'Let's Play Crosswords'
Roma Downey and Mark Burnett tie the knot
Chicago news radio anchor Jim Frank dies at age 66


Alternative media
Digital wars: Kentucky school shut out
Blink bling: Flickering billboard effect
On the road across America with Rexy
Air sickness bags that make the point

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Overnights
'Stars' takes another Monday for ABC
Network averages 4.4 in 18-49s, topping CBS on a competitive night, with NBC just behind, boosted by extended reality trotter

Newspapers
Newspaper circulation easing its slide
Down 2.1 percent on average for top dailies, but some declines, as in Dallas, are voluntary cuts of marginal readers in outer areas

New media
TV over the web, coming Joost in time
Global, high-quality service launches today, amid promises of providing advertisers with the best of television and the internet

Research
Radio buyers can expect deeper buys
More listeners listen to more stations longer, according to data from Arbitron's Portable People Meter for the Philadelphia market

Magazines
Words and ideas: National Geographic
Snippets of pieces up for National Magazine Awards: Coming down the mountain; a soldier's life almost saved; the big thaw

TV This Week
On 'L&O: SVU,' the bigger story to tell
The trick in cop stories is the personal story, melding their outside lives with their police work. This is one TV series that pulls it off.

News shorts
Predicting where Rosie will land after 'The View'
Broken promise: 'Studio 60' returns for summer run
Sports Emmys' golden boy: Analyst Cris Collinsworth
Sign of the Times: Old building sold for mega profit
Clear Channel uses local radio sites for networking

Web shorts
Coming soon to MySpace: Sony's new TV minisodes
Yahoo acquires online advertising site Right Media
It's Cosmo calling: How to ditch that date from hell
British surfers ride wave of social networking traffic

People
Todd Riddle rises at Fallon Minneapolis to creative director
Elizabeth Murad-Patel joins Jumpstart Automotive Media as product manager
Craig Calder becomes CMO at Mochila
Dave Russell and L.J. Kobe join GSD&M
Victor Siegel becomes president and CEO at Blue Frog Media
Angel Gambino joins Bebo as VP of music
Craig Peters becomes VP of footage and multimedia at Getty Images
Jason Crange joins CraveOnline as account executive for the Midwest
Wilmer Valderrama signs with FremantleMedia N.A.
Guhan Selvaretnam joins TBS as VP of new products group
Jorg Cieslok rises to EVP and general manager at Titan Worldwide
Former 'Tonight Show' backup bandleader Tommy Newsom dies
Dwayne Wilkins joins RSN as SVP to head up New York office

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Overnights
Returning 'Veronica Mars' in a tumble
On-the-bubble CW show pulls a 1.4 in 18-34s after two months
on hiatus, down by a third from 'Pussycat Dolls' showing last week

Newspapers
Media fuss over Rupe Dow Jones bid
Pundits ponder: Just what's Murdoch up to, in a deal that seems stacked against him? Or is it? Is The Wall Street Journal at risk?

Magazines
New York is tops in magazine awards
Wins five Ellies, the most of any title, including one for general excellence under Adam Moss. Upsets: New Yorker, 0, Esquire, 1.

Television
Stunner: No. 1 sitcom is an axed show
How bad has it gotten for network comedies? Long-fading 'King of Queens,' axed by CBS, rises to the top series in adults 18-49.

Cable
In a league all its own, the 'NFL Draft'
ESPN has promoted the college pickathon as an event rivaling Super Bowl, with 5.1 million total viewers. A case of silk purses.

TV This Week
Dust dominatrix: BBC's Anthea Turner
Imagine Martha Stewart without her warmth instructing slobs in the business of housecleaning and you have 'Perfect Housewives'

News shorts
Former Newsweek editor Whitaker joins NBC News
Paper cuts: Nearly 400 jobs axed in past two weeks
Upfront update: A&E sticks with what's been working
OK! wedding photos verdict flips again in higher court
ABC renews 'Saturday Night Football' for this fall

Web shorts
Hitwise: Spears and Smith spur celebrity blog traffic
How the worm turns: Sober reappears after two years
Study: Students may not get online copyright laws
Disney creates safe haven for tweens' web sites

People
Rob Hollander joins Carat Fusion as SVP of content strategy
Bob Lanning and Tim Sutton join Big Ten Network
Tom Fox joins Wasserman Media Group executive management team
Ann Jesse joins NetShelter as sales manager for West and Central territories
Philadelphia Inquirer managing editor Anne Gordon leaving
Bryan Hadlock and Dan Albert rise at Marc USA
Robert Leibowitz joins Parade magazine as account executive
Michael Silberman becomes GM at NYMag.com
Ben Whitney joins Superstation WGN as executive director of planning
Tom Halligan joins The Magazine Group as editorial director
Thomas Edsall becomes political editor at The Huffington Post
Grant Communications CEO Milton Grant dies at his home
'Newhart' actor Tom Poston dies at age 85

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Overnights
'Idol' reprieve: Ratings see a rebound
Fox's hit reality show returns to one hour, taking pressure off the other networks in the 8 p.m. hour. ABC's 'Underbelly' perks up.

Newspapers
Murdoch could pull off Dow Jones bid
Challenge will be to win over the Bancroft family, who control The Wall Street Journal. That may not be as hard as many folks think.

Dayparts update
Betting on the wiles of a singing idol
Constantine Maroulis was an 'Idol' finalist, and CBS hopes he'll fuel ratings among young women for 'The Bold and the Beautiful'

Television
The campaign to save 'Veronica Mars'
Once again the CW show is facing cancellation, and once again Cloud Watchers is on a rescue mission: To drive up viewership

TV This Week
Birthing: Test run for 'Private Practice'
Dr. Montgomery meets up with some old pals running a fertility clinic in what could become a spinoff of ABC's 'Grey's Anatomy'

News shorts
Reports: Axed Imus ponders suit against CBS Radio
Worse for The Source: Magazine files for Chapter 11
Hard-core oops: Disney 'toon preempted by p#$%
Study: Fox's O'Reilly lobs an insult every 7 seconds
Dolans finally succeed in taking Cablevision private

Web shorts
Obama regains control of MySpace page after spat
Diggers revolt after site spikes hush-hush DVD code
Sour note: Penn State nixes pioneering Napster deal 
Rosie's e-pledge: I'll be nicer to pregnant Elisabeth 

People
Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson get the boot on this week's 'Idol'
'Heroes' star Milo Ventimiglia directing web comedy series
Elaine Purnell joins Midwest Living, succeeding Lisa Monago
Jonathan Wolman becomes Detroit News editor and publisher
Allison Werder becomes SVP of business development for Parade
Rachel Levitt becomes editor of Boston magazine's Home & Garden
Jennifer Michie joins marblemedia as creative director
Stuart Snyder becomes EVP and COO of animation and young adults at TBS
Melissa Chusid, Staci Dunbar, Jeff Filippi and Denise Giordano gain new positions at MSG Media
Punchali Khanna becomes account manager at Redbook
MobiTV founder Dr. Phillip Alvelda steps down as CEO
Keifer Bonvillain accepts plea deal in Oprah extortion attempt
Julie Fuoti rises to VP of client solutions at Meredith 360

Friday, May 4, 2007

Overnights
Healthy omen for likely 'Grey's' spinoff
Two-hour special averages a 9.0 in 18-49s, giving ABC an easy win for the night as it tests a new show from its hit medical dram

Newspapers
Buyers: Murdoch will get Dow Jones
But most readers don't think he ought to or that he'll be good for The Wall Street Journal. And who should buy it? Warren Buffett.

Television
So long, 'Gilmore Girls,' so long, WB
CW drops show when renewal talks collapse, ending a series that defined the old network. The CW must now create its own identity.

Younger viewers
New hit for kid TV: Ads feed munchies
Study finds snack messages lead kids to overeat, just as major food advertisers are under increasing pressure to curtail pitches

Rachel speaks!
Rachel, is rotating jobs a good thing?
The writer works for an agency that moves people about, from planning to buying to digital. Rachel opines: It's the best training.

TV This Week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: the NHL playoffs on Versus; Saturday: Kentucky Derby on NBC; Sunday: season finale of 'The Amazing Race' on CBS

News shorts
Gallup: Couric's negatives higher than other anchors
Study: 23 percent of TVs don't get cable channels
PC World editor walks amid talk of Apple dumping
Upfront update: Pax rides 'Killer Wave' of new shows
Addition by subtraction: Logo goes commercial free

Web shorts
Study: Nearly half of Europeans watching TV online
Web radio royalties reprieve = more time to protest
Google begins posting Belgian papers' links again
ComScore: Traffic to Second Life jumps 46 percent

People
Clark Hoyt becomes public editor at The New York Times
Noriko Gee rises to director of programming planning at CBS
Steven Huerta rises at NBC to director of program research
Terry Hummel joins RIVR Media Interactive as president
Tom Cosgrove rises to SVP and GM at the Science Channel
Deena Edwards, Mary Donahue and Liz Brach rise at Discovery Channel
Ann Harris joins FremantleMedia Enterprises as head consultant
Paul Rourke rises to SVP and CFO at MTV Networks International
Five rise at TVN Entertainment
Timothy Bell and Gretchen Beidl rise at the Sundance Channel
Andrei Ivanoff becomes director of interactive at la comunidad
Chris Morris joins Yahoo! Finance as managing editor
Matthew Modine joins cast of 'Weeds' on Showtime