| WGA Strike Central: Day 72 |
 New episodes return to Late Night but do viewers?
The late night talk shows returned last Wednesday after two months of reruns caused by the still ongoing Writers Strike, reports Carat's Broadcast and Video Beat. CBS's programs returned with writers, due to a separate deal between the WGA and Worldwide Pants, which owns both shows; all other shows returned without their writers. A first glance at the ratings shows nice rebounds for most shows, particularly The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which was hardest hit in viewers due to the walkout. An exact year-ago comparison makes this initial picture a little murkier. Despite all the hype about the return of the programs, ratings are at best flat on the key advertiser target of Adults 18-49 with Leno down over 10% versus year ago. Even Carson Daly's wee hours show showed slippage despite his Last Call series being first to come back with fresh episodes in November. CBS's Letterman and Ferguson shows also got nice post strike increases but are flat on Adult 18-49 versus year ago. ABC's Nightline (unaffected by the strike) suffered from the fresh competition and was down in the ratings as well. This kept its lead out Jimmy Kimmel Live from experiencing a post strike increase in ratings.
| See the chart here |
CBS Paramount kills deals, too
CBS Paramount Network TV yesterday became the second TV studio after ABC Studios to terminate production deals under the force majeure provision. Universal Media Studios, Warner Bros. TV and 20th Century TV will likely follow suit any time now. "Production companies in the entertainment industry continue to feel the impact of the ongoing writers strike," CBS Paramount said in a statement justifying the termination letters. "As a result of this change in development and production activity, we have made a difficult decision to discontinue overall deals with a number of writers and producers whose talents we greatly value and respect."
Latest network primetime schedule changes
Carat Programming's Broadcast and Video Beat reports CBS has acquired the rights to recycle some used content from pay cable sibling Showtime. A squeaky clean version of serial killer drama Dexter will air on Sundays at 10 p.m. as of 2/17. Dexter's executive producer and WGA member Daniel Cerrone, as well as other writing producers, won't be involved in creating the edited version for CBS; they're on strike. Effective 2/10, CW's Monday night comedy block will move to Sunday nights, where it briefly aired when the network launched back in September '06. Freshman drama Gossip Girl (8 p.m.) followed by Pussycat Dolls: Girlicious (9 p.m.) will occupy Monday nights.
| See the latest January/February 2008 primetime grids |
WGA nixes awards show
The WGA West has called off the 2/9 awards show in LA, unless the strike is resolved by then. WGA says it will announce its awards as planned but added, "There will be no Writers Guild of America West show until the strike is over." WGA East has not yet decided whether it will proceed with its awards event in NYC.
| The WGA announced the nominations nonetheless |
George Clooney offers "Mediation Panel"
to end WGA strike
Hollywood's Triple-A list actors have started becoming involved in trying to solve the WGA strike, according to LA Weekly's Nikki Finke: "I've just been told that George Clooney today is volunteering to personally set up a so-called 'mediation panel' including himself and with plans to ask Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and John Wells to be part of it, plus three or four bigwigs who are siding with the producers."
|
|
|
|
|
TV News ®
|
 Slime time in South Carolina
The looming primary battle in South Carolina has candidates and their staffs on their toes. When it comes to political advertising, the state has an anything-goes reputation, and despite pledges from several candidates, this year is expected to be no exception. Republicans head to the polls Saturday, 1/19/08, with Democrats following suit a week later, 1/26/08. According to Time magazine, negative mailers are flying into mailboxes throughout the state already on the Republican side. Official campaign activity is only part of the picture. 527 organizations and other political groups are mounting campaigns of their own. These flights may not be coordinated with official campaign organizations, and often leave the candidate apologizing for ad that do not have the standard "I'm J. Doe, and I approved this message" disclaimer. According to Time, some activity in the state hasn't even been tracked to its source yet, in particular those flooding the state with messages from phone banks and robocalls.
TVBR observation: We like to remember this every time some politician stands up and says the public airwaves should be put at their disposal for free political advertising. We're sure that a sizable percentage of the electorate would agree that such ads are among the worst and least-informative elements of modern political campaigning, and the last thing we need is more of it. We note further that the calls for free airtime invariably come from federal office-holders, who greedily propose to allocate every last second to themselves -- state and local politicians never seem to be considered for a piece of this boondoggle/windfall.
Ion cuts carriage deal with Comcast
Ion Media Networks announced a multi-network package deal for carriage on Comcast systems. Under the agreement, Comcast will continue carrying Ion's flagship television network, which airs a mix of programming aimed at a broad audience. In addition, Comcast systems will offer Ion's 24-hour linear digital networks: qubo, a channel focusing on providing children with a good value system and literacy, and Ion Life, a channel for mature adults focusing on healthy lifestyle options, personal growth and wellness. "This agreement is another milestone in our multi-platform network strategy and reflects our commitment to working with our cable partners to offer digital value-added products for underserved and diverse special interest TV categories," said Steve Friedman, President, Ion Media Networks Distribution.
 Buy one, get one free
Bear Stearns analyst Vic Miller has been studying the Belo split into two companies. At the current share price, he figures the newspaper company stock (A.H. Belo, which will trade as AHC) is basically being thrown in for free if you buy Belo stock (BLC) for the TV company. "At Friday's 15.04 price, we believe the implied multiple for newspaper for AHC, if the TV assets traded at 9.0 times 2008 EBITDA, approximates minus 4.5 times EBITDA. BSC analyst Alexia Quadrani has an Underweight rating on newspapers, but we think AHC has a strong newspaper franchise. The price also implies a 6.8x multiple for BLC's TV station group, which is too low given the quality of BLC's TV station group," Miller wrote, approaching the valuation from both directions. "If BLC's newspapers and TV stations trade in-line with comps, at 6.5x and 9.0x 2008 EBITDA, respectively, the stock(s) should trade more closely to 22.00 (combined)," Miller concludes.
A Fool-ish investment?
Last year Wall Street watcher Motley Fool had the XM/Sirius merger pegged as a go. This despite the fact that one of its own analysts had picked one of the components, XM, as one of the worst portfolio picks of the year. As the sun rises on 2008, the merger still hasn't been approved, and the stock is back on the worst pick pedestal. Analyst Philip Durell says that the numbers that are rising are the wrong ones for the most part, and that the positive growth in revenue is deceptive, since it comes at a steep cost. Subscribership is up, too, but that has been somewhat deceptive: Durell noted a gross increase of 952K subs for Q3, but that translated into a mere 315K net subscriber additions as many sampled the service for free as part of a new car acquisition and then returned to local radio once the trial subscription ran out. He says it costs the company about 116 dollars to add a subscriber, up from 94 dollars a year ago. Durell notes that the merger, if it goes through, would certainly help the two satcasters with administrative costs, and would prevent "car companies and one-air talent" from playing "one satellite company off against the other." He concludes, "Yet joining one value destroyer to another isn't likely to bring the enterprise to the promised land of profitability."
TVBR observation: We can't help noting that one of the big benefits touted for the merged companies is stripping talent and auto manufacturers of the ability to negotiate with two competing companies. Sure, it WOULD be nice if satellite audio became a monopoly with dictatorial powers over those it does business with, including subscribers. If one or the other company, or both, are in danger of going under, they should come clean and say so. Otherwise, they should buckle down and compete with one another as is clearly specified in their charters.
 Atonement, Mad Men win Golden Globes
The Golden Globes' usual glitz and glamour were instead stuck with a low-key, one-hour news conference announcing the winners, thanks to the WGA strike. The surprises and upsets came quickly during the short press conference, hosted by Access Hollywood's Billy Bush and Nancy O'Dell. Atonement took home the top prize. The voters of the Hollywood Foreign Press also had a song in their hearts, handing out hardware to musical films Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Best Musical or Comedy; Best Actor, Musical or Comedy), I'm Not There (Best Supporting Actress) and La Vie en Rose (Best Actress, Comedy or Musical). The night's biggest upset came in the Best Director category, which saw The Diving Bell and the Butterfly's Julian Schnabel beat out No Country For Old Men's Joel and Ethan Coen. In the TV categories, AMC's fresh drama Mad Men bested House and Grey's Anatomy for Best Drama, while the cable hit's John Hamm took home Best Actor. Other upsets included Extras beating out 30 Rock and Pushing Daises for Best Comedy, and Longford's Samantha Morton nabbing the Best Supporting Actress trophy from Grey's Anatomy's Katherine Heigl.
| See the full list here |
|
|
|
|
|
Ad Business Report TM
|
Fox Reality Channel taps KushTV Network
Fox Reality Channel announced that it will sponsor KushTV.com, the fastest growing online television and lifestyle network, to create a viral buzz and promote two of Fox Reality Channel's upcoming original series, "Battle of the Bods" and "Paradise Hotel 2." In this deal, Fox Reality Channel will sponsor KushTV's number one show "Perfect Picks" a show featuring the Olly Girls from E!'s popular and highly rated show, "Sunset Tan", and distribute 3-5 minute mini clips from its upcoming reality shows, "Battle of the Bods" and "Paradise Hotel 2" across the KTV network. Starting 1/16 and running for eight weeks, KushTV.com developed an integrated program bringing Fox Reality Channel in front of their younger male audience. KushTV.com continues to empower the young adult male market's internet and television experience by creating programs which will provide Fox Reality Channel the opportunity to drive male viewers to move from the internet to television.
Additionally, Fox Reality Channel's original series, "Battle of the Bods" and "Paradise Hotel 2" will have prime exposure and banners on the KushTV.com homepage. The KushTV.com audience will have exclusive access to a clip of the new late-night show "Battle of the Bods," premiering 1/19, which takes five ladies and has them rank themselves in order of attractiveness to match the rankings of a panel of male judges sitting behind a one-way mirror. They'll also get to see a steamy clip from the late-night MA version of "Paradise Hotel 2" premiering on 2/4 1aET/10pPT. Each week KushTV will syndicate and promote their show "Perfect Picks" along with FRC's original series' webisodes across 50 of their branded channel partners including MySpaceTV, YouTube, Helio, IMEEM, Veoh, Break, Heavy and Akimbo.
MasterCard Priceless spots
to have new "flavor" this year
 MasterCard Worldwide introduced a new tag treatment highlighting both credit and debit payment options in its Priceless television advertising. The MasterCard logo will "flip" to showcase the two payment forms that consumers use the most - credit and debit. The new tag begins appearing on three new Priceless TV spots - entitled "Catch," "Dinner Out," and "Milk". This marks the first time in the decade-long history of the Priceless campaign that these forms are featured together. The new tag will appear on most Priceless TV advertising moving forward, where appropriate. Creative was handled by McCann Erickson/New York.
|
|
|
|
| Media Business Report TM |
Americans slam news media on believability
A Sacred Heart University Poll found significantly declining percentages of Americans saying they believe all or most of media news reporting. In the current national poll, just 19.6% of those surveyed could say they believe all or most news media reporting. This is down from 27.4% in 2003. Just under one-quarter, 23.9%, in 2007 said they believe little or none of reporting while 55.3% suggested they believe some media news reporting. The perception is growing among Americans that the news media attempts to influence public opinion - from 79.3% strongly or somewhat agreeing in 2003 to 87.6% in 2007. And, 86.0% agreed (strongly or somewhat) that the news media attempts to influence public policies - up from 76.7% in 2003. Other low positive ratings included: fairness (31.3%), presenting an even balance of views (30.4%) and presenting negative and positive news equally (27.5%).
"Americans know bias and imbalance when they see it and they don't like it. When most service organizations strive for consumer satisfaction ratings in the high eighties to low nineties, an overall positive rating of 40.7% is dismal," said Jerry Lindsley, director of the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute. He added, "Americans know that it's just not that hard to present both sides and keep personal bias at home." The most trusted national TV news organizations, for accurate reporting, in declining order included: Fox News (27.0%), CNN (14.6%), and NBC News (10.90%). These were followed by ABC News (7.0%), local news (6.9%), CBS News (6.8%) MSNBC (4.0%), PBS News (3.0%), CNBC (0.6%) and CBN (0.5%).
TVBR observation: Of course, alternative media has led to much of the skepticism. A lot of the complaining from alternative media sources seems to be an overall propaganda-like reporting on critical issues, where news organizations report the news too often in a lock step fashion, rather than raising critical questions and giving their own take. Of course, Lou Dobbs would be an example to the contrary.
|
|
|
|
| Media Markets & Money TM |
Tully puts a lei around one more
Clear Channel has sent another television property on a virtual Hawaiian vacation. WMLT-TV, which brings CW programming to the good people of Memphis TN over Channel 30 (DT 31) is being parked with Jeanette Tully in the Aloha Station Trust, to await further disposition. It is scheduled to be sold to TV Acquisition LLC, a subsidiary of Providence Equity Partners Inc.
|
|
|
|
| Washington Business Report TM |
House back in session, Senate on the way
By the time you read this, members of the US House of Representatives will be back on their way to work. The first day of business on the schedule for 2008 is 1/15/08. The Senate is scheduled to kick off the second session of the 110th Congress next week, Tuesday 1/22/08. Both chambers will have the usual truncated sessions typical of election years, which usually include a great deal of pressure to conclude as much official business by the end of July or earlier as those facing re-election challenges turn their attention to their home districts or states. The good news, and it's usually the news, is that broadcast issues are not on the radar as far as the mainstream press is concerned. Iraq and the economy will as usual be front-line issues, and any issue which either party thinks it can highlight for election purposes will come to the fore whether or not it has any chance whatsoever of actually becoming a law. Both houses have pending legislation to shoot down the FCC's split-vote approval of easing restrictions on media cross-ownership in the top 20 DMAs. That, and the ever-mounting pressure to tie up all loose ends in advance of the 2/17/09 DTV conversion should be the hottest items of business on the broadcast agenda this session.
|
|
|
|
| Programming Business Report |
 More reality for CBS
With the future of scripted series up in the air, CBS has ordered up three new reality series. The three concepts include celebrities, pets and a hidden camera. OK, not exactly new concepts, but the Eye net is trying to put a new twist on each.
* "Secret Talents of the Stars": This biweekly celebrity talent show will uncover some of the most fascinating and unique secret talents of film and television stars, whether it be singing, dancing, magic or even acrobatics. Celebrities will compete in a tournament-structured format to determine who has the best hidden talent.
* "America's Top Dog" (still a working title): This is an hour-long series where "man's best friend" can help its owner win big bucks. Owners and their pets - from "pageant dogs" to those dogs simply trained at home - will live together and battle it out in a dog competition that puts the dog's relationship with the person who has raised and trained it to the test.
* "Game Show in My Head": This half-hour series is a hidden camera game show in which contestants wear an earpiece as they go about life in the city and are instructed by the host back in the studio to do stunts. If the contestants can perform crazy, outrageous and often embarrassing tasks in public, they can go home with big money. However, if they fail to perform one task, they'll lose all the money they earned thus far and go home empty-handed.
"Secret Talents of the Stars" is executive produced by Robyn Nash and Don Weiner for Magic Molehill Productions Inc. "America's Top Dog" is executive produced by R.J. Cutler, Stu Schreiberg and Stephen Kroopnick for Magic Molehill Productions Inc. "Game Show in My Head" is from fox21, produced by Hat Trick Productions and Katalyst Films, Inc. with executive producers Jimmy Mulville & Leon Wilde and Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg & Karey Burke. No word yet on debut dates.
|
|
|
|
| Entertainment Business Report TM |
Univision gets animated
 The Univision Television Network announced it will debut the first ever Spanish-language animated series in primetime. The new animated series is based on one of the most popular and beloved classic TV shows in all of Latin America, "El Chavo del 8" (The Kid from #8). It kicks off with a one-hour special featuring El Chavo himself, Roberto Gómez Bolaños, and many of the original live-action cast members on Sunday, January 20th, 2008 at 7:00 pm ET/PT. Regular 30-minute episodes are scheduled to run thereafter on Sundays from 7:30pm - 8:00 pm ET/PT. As in the original, this new animated version focuses around the adventures and tribulations of the title character, El Chavo, an orphan (played by the series' creator, Roberto Gómez Bolaños of "Chespirito" fame) and other inhabitants of a fictional Mexico City neighborhood or vecindad.
NBC goes for more Gladiators
With strong ratings thus far, NBC has picked up a second season of the competition series "American Gladiators," which airs on Mondays. "American Gladiators has delivered everything we were hoping for and has come out of the gate as a top contender. We couldn't be more pleased with the audience reaction to this top-notch show all ages can enjoy," said Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment.
Bravo's "The Real Housewives" heads to NYC
Building off the success of the original series "The Real Housewives of Orange County," Bravo is heading to the big apple for its newest installment, "The Real Housewives of New York City." The series will feature an elite and powerful set of New York socialites as they juggle their careers and home lives with busy calendars packed with charity fund-raising galas, the social whirl of the Hamptons, and interviews for elite private schools. It premieres Tuesday, 3/4 at 11 PM ET/PT and moves to its regular time period on Tuesday, 3/11 at 10 PM ET/PT. "This series will explore the personal and professional lives of five ambitious women who in the upper crust of New York," said Frances Berwick, EVP, Programming & Production, Bravo. "'The Real Housewives of Orange County' continues to thrive and this series will explore many of the same relatable issues - relationships, children, and work-life balance - while giving a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make it in the privileged world of Manhattan society."
|
|
|
|
| Ratings & Research |
Half of US consumers reduce spending
 to combat gas prices
A new study from The Nielsen Company finds 49% of US consumers are reducing their spending to compensate for rising gas prices, up four points from June 2007. Consumers are also battling high gas prices by combining shopping trips and errands (70%), eating out less (41%) and staying home more often (39%). The study said 2008 will likely be a challenging year for U.S. consumers and the economy as a whole as we grapple with growing inflation, credit card debt, declining house values - - as well as expectations for gasoline to hit 3.40 by spring. Nielsen's survey finds that record-high gas prices likely contributed to 2007's less-than-stellar holiday sales season. 60% of consumers surveyed said they had less money to spend during the holidays due to increased gas prices, and 44% of consumers reported they planned on spending less money on holiday gifts in 2007 as compared to the year prior. Nielsen finds that gas prices are impacting where consumers shop, with 27% of consumers reacting to gas prices by shopping more at supercenters, or megastores and big-box stores, where more items needed are in one store. Increased fuel prices are resulting in more coupon clipping, with 25% of consumers using coupons to save money, up from 20% in June 2007. 23% of consumers indicate they will buy less expensive grocery brands to deal with higher gas prices, signaling a possible boost for private label or store-brand products and lower-priced branded products.
|
|
|
|
| Stock Talk |
Big Blue makes 'em happy
IBM issued preliminary results for Q4 and they were better than Wall Street had expected. That ignited a stock rally. The Dow Industrials rose 172 points, or 1.4%, to close at 12,778.
Most TV stocks were higher. However, Young dropped 8.8% as the euphoria subsided over its decision to put KRON-TV San Francisco up for sale. That caused the TVBR Television Index to decline 0.439, or 0.5%, to 91.918. The best performer was Belo, up 5.4% after Goldman Sachs analyst Vic Miller said the current stock price seemed to ascribe no value to the newspaper operation that is being spun off into a new company.
|
|
|
|
| Stocks |
Here's how stocks fared on Monday
| Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
|
Acme*
|
ACME
|
|
2.65
|
+0.05
|
Journal Comm.
|
JRN
|
 |
7.51
|
+0.15
|
|
Belo*
|
BLC
|
|
15.85
|
+0.81
|
Lincoln Natl.
|
LNC
|
|
56.35
|
+0.57
|
| CBS CI. B* |
CBS |
|
24.27
|
+0.17
|
LIN TV*
|
TVL
|
|
11.48
|
-0.02
|
| CBS CI. A |
CBSa |
|
24.32
|
+0.25
|
McGraw-Hill
|
MHP
|
|
42.90
|
+0.19
|
|
Clear Channel
|
CCU
|
|
34.69
|
+0.22
|
Media General
|
MEG
|
|
17.69
|
+0.17
|
|
Disney
|
DIS
|
|
30.35
|
+0.03
|
Meredith
|
MDP
|
|
50.33
|
-0.30
|
|
Emmis
|
EMMS
|
|
2.80
|
+0.06
|
News Corp.
|
NWS
|
|
20.16
|
+0.43
|
|
Entravision*
|
EVC
|
|
6.94
|
-0.03
|
Nexstar*
|
NXST
|
|
8.01
|
-0.07
|
| Equity Media* |
EMDA |
|
3.34 |
-0.07 |
Ion Media
|
ION
|
|
1.33
|
-0.01
|
|
Fisher*
|
FSCI
|
|
34.01
|
-0.55
|
Saga Commun.
|
SGA
|
|
5.99
|
+0.06
|
|
Gannett
|
GCI
|
|
33.92
|
+0.38
|
SBS
|
SBSA
|
|
1.65
|
+0.14
|
|
Gen. Electric
|
GE
|
|
35.46
|
+0.29
|
Scripps
|
SSP
|
|
42.08
|
+0.63
|
| Google |
GOOG |
|
653.82
|
+15.57
|
Sinclair*
|
SBGI
|
|
8.29
|
unch
|
|
Gray*
|
GTN
|
|
6.95
|
+0.08
|
Time Warner
|
TWX
|
|
16.22
|
+0.21
|
|
Gray, C1. A
|
GTNa
|
|
7.70
|
-0.03
|
Wash. Post
|
WPO
|
|
801.00
|
+6.98
|
|
Hearst-Argyle*
|
HTV
|
|
19.89
|
-0.01
|
Young*
|
YBTVA
|
|
0.83
|
-0.08
|
*Component of the TVBR Television Index
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bounceback
|
 We want to
hear from you.
This is your column, so send your comments and
a photo to tvnews@rbr.com
|
|
|
Below the Fold
|
Media Markets & Money
Tully puts a lei around 1 more
Clear Channel has sent another property on a virtual vacation...
Programming Business Report
More reality for CBS
With the future of scripted series up in the air, ordered up 3 new reality series, - Swell...
Ad Business Report
Fox Reality Channel
Taps KushTV Network
Entertainment Business Report
Univision gets animated
Will debut the first ever animated series in primetime...
|
|
|
Stations for Sale
|
 Market your Stations For Sale
in our daily epapers.
Contact
Jim Carnegie
jcarnegie@rbr.com
|
|
|
TV Media Moves
|
McCarthy joins Univision
 Univision Communications announced former EVP/MTV Networks Brand Solutions Lisa McCarthy has joined on as EVP/Client Development and Partnership Marketing, effective immediately. She'll be based in New York and report to David Lawenda, President of Advertising Sales for Univision. McCarthy will be dedicated to serving the needs of marketers across Univision's portfolio. Her sales and marketing teams will be responsible for educating marketers about the economic and political power of the U.S. Hispanic consumer. This will be the first team under Lawenda that represents Univision's entire portfolio of assets, and allows clients to have a single, holistic dialogue with Univision. They will work in concert with the vertical media teams that represent Univision's television, radio and digital assets. Remember, Peter Lazarus, a former sales executive at NBC who handled the last two Olympic Games efforts, joined Univision last week as EVP/network sales.
 Saridakis to Gannett
Gannett has recruited Chris Saridakis, who had been CEO of the rich media company PointRoll, as Sr. VP and Chief Digital Officer. He will be responsible for expanding and enriching the company's global digital operations. "Chris is a visionary and an innovator, as well as a smart businessman - as his success growing PointRoll demonstrates," said Gannett CEO Craig Dubow. Saridakis will become a member of the Gannett Management Committee (GMC) and report to Dubow. Also, Jack Williams was named president of Gannett Digital Ventures, which will oversee Gannett's portfolio of online classified companies and other diversified businesses. Williams will continue reporting to Dubow and will remain on the GMC.
|
|
|
More News Headlines
|
 Karl Davis
dead at 59
Karl Davis, General Manager of Raycom's WECT-TV (Ch.6, NBC) Wilmington, NC, died Saturday while riding his motorcycle with a group of cyclists. According to local reports, Davis ran off onto the shoulder on a sharp curve and was thrown off when he tried to get the motorcycle back onto the pavement.
CBS distributing
CSI worldwide
CBS Corporation announced that it will assume control of all international television distribution for the CSI franchise. That follows closing of an agreement with GS Capital partners, a private equity fund managed by Goldman Sachs & Co., which had previously purchased Alliance Atlantis' financial interest in CSI. GS Capital Partners will remain 50/50 partners with CBS in owning the CSI franchise.
Don't shoot the messenger, buy them
Broadcaster/evangelist Pat Robertson has had his run-ins over the years with the Virginian-Pilot, the major daily newspaper in the Norfolk area, including his home base of Virginia Beach. But now that Landmark Communications has put all of its media properties up for possible sale, Robertson sees an opportunity. "Although the price for The Weather Channel is a little rich for my blood, I am considering a potential bid for the Pilot and have asked my attorneys to look into it. It would be particularly helpful to provide internships for Regent University journalism students," Robertson said in an email that his personal assistant sent to the newspaper. Robertson is the founder and President of Regent University in Virginia Beach, in addition to founding the Christian Broadcasting Network and hosting the daily "700 Club." Price speculation for Landmark's crown jewel, The Weather Channel and its Internet site, has been in the five billion range. There hasn't been much price speculation yet on the Norfolk market newspaper's value.
TVBR observation: Is Robertson serious, or did he just want to scare the living daylights out of the newspaper staff? We wait to see what happens.
|
|
|
TVBR Radar 2008
|
|
Television News you won't read any where else. TVBR--First, Accurate, and Independently Owned.
|
WGA Strike Central, Day 71
ABC Studios axes 30 producer deals
The next wave of destruction wrought by the WGA strike has just begun: ABC Studios on Friday became the first TV studio to terminate overall deals under the force majeure provision in its producers' deals. Close to 30 writing and nonwriting producers without active projects have been fired.
TVBR observation: If any local TV operator thinks this is going to end and get your life back to the way it was - forget it. TVBR recommends local operators start searching for content because some of the new reality programming being pumped out by the networks smells like a rotten egg. Ever step on a rotten egg? Can't get rid of the smell and that smell will spread through out your program line up. Localism now takes on an entire new meaning this year.
01/14/08 TVBR #8
Board sets split in motion
Belo Corporation will complete its previously announced split into two companies (10/2/07 TVBR #192) next month, as the current board of directors last week approved details of the split. Belo's board has established the close of business on January 25, 2008 as the record date for shareholders and set a distribution ratio of 0.20 A.H. Belo shares for each share of Belo Corp. A.H. Belo will be the new company created to own the newspaper properties, while the television properties remain under the company's current name. The distribution of A.H. Belo common stock is expected to occur on Friday, February 8th and will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol "AHC" on Monday, February 11th. Belo Corp. will continue to trade as "BLC." No fractional AHC shares will be distributed and cash will be paid in lieu of fractional shares. In other words, if you now own 100 Belo Corp. shares, after the distribution you will own 100 shares of Belo Corp. and 20 shares of A.H. Belo.
TVBR observation: What is the relative value of the two stocks? We'll find out soon enough in the market. Belo said the NYSE has advised it that "when issued" trading in both post-split stocks will begin January 23rd, two business days before the record date. This could be a little confusing, since the "when issued" Belo Corp. shares will not include any right to receive A.H. Belo shares, while anyone selling Belo Corp. shares the "regular way" will also be selling their rights to the new A.H. Belo share distribution. In theory, the Belo Corp. shares trading the "regular way" on the NYSE should be valued about the same as one share of "when issued" Belo Corp. plus 20% of one share of "when issued" A.H. Belo. TVBR will be trading the "when issued" prices to see if that is indeed the case.
01/14/08 TVBR #8
WGA Strike Central, Day 68
"Law & Order" showrunner in fracas with Fox employee
Looks like tempers are getting a bit frazzled in LA with working employees crossing picket lines daily. News Corp as well as striking writers have confirmed to LA Weekly's Nikki Finke that an impatient Fox employee driving a black SUV got into a physical fracas with picketing Rene Balcer, showrunner of Law & Order and co-creator of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
01/11/08 TVBR #7
Private equity funds
raised record bucks in 2007
How's that, you ask? Didn't the credit markets collapse at mid-year and derail the private equity industry? Welcome to the new era of vulture private equity. According to Dow Jones Private Equity Analyst, a unit of the company now owned by News Corporation that tracks the private equity business, US private equity firms raised a record 302 billion bucks in 2007, up 19% over 2006.
TVBR observation: Anyone want to bet on how long it will be before we see one of those vulture funds making a bid for a battered broadcasting company? There are plenty of unhappy investors, particularly in radio, who would welcome an opportunity to cut their losses and run. Interep and Regent Communications have already had encounters with such funds, but both remain independent and publicly traded.
01/11/08 TVBR #7
Disgruntled investor
throws in the towel
Remember Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder Advisers LLC, one of the big shareholders pressing Emmis to do a buyout deal to cash out public shareholders? (10/26/07 RBR #210) Well, the investment group says it no longer owns over 5% of Emmis' stock and may sell more, due to its disappointment that nothing has happened to enhance shareholder value. Bleichroeder Advisers still owns 1,434,000 Emmis shares, but no longer has to file reports on how large (or small) its stake is. It is playing close to its vest on whether or not it will sell off the rest of the shares right away.
01/11/08 RBR #7
TV station revenues
expected to rise 11% this year
Typical of the odd-even cycle of years with and without federal elections, BIA Financial Network reports that 2007 television station revenues fell 2% to 22.2 billion. But with record political spending expected this year, the firm forecasts that 2008 TV station revenues will rise as much as 11%.
01/11/08 TVBR #7
WGA Strike Central, Day 67
Globes cancellation costing big bucks; what about Academy Awards?
With cancellation of the Golden Globe Awards on 1/13 because of the WGA strike and plans to picket, the loss will reportedly cost NBC between 10 and 15 million in ad revenue, even with the show's replacement with alternative coverage announcing the winners (the show was expected to bring in 25 million for the net).
01/10/08 TVBR #6
|
|
|
TVBR Classifieds
|
Sales & Special Events Coordinator
Bow Tie Cinemas, a fast-growing, family owned cinema chain seeks energetic, detail oriented and organized individual to manage group sales, special events, house rentals. Must have excellent communication, multi-tasking and follow-up skills. Base salary, attractive commissions and benefits. To send resume and salary requirements via email see -
TV Careers
Hard finding that key person
to fill the important position at your organization? TVBR Classifieds, Results with Service. Contact April McLynn at classifieds@rbr.com
|
 |
|
|
|
|
