My Network TV no longer a network (updated)

Instead, call it a “programming service.” My Network TV is revamping its programming model, with the service airing ten hours of material a week instead of twelve this fall with Saturday nights handed back to affiliates. My Net is also cutting back on original programming, adding a movie night, and instead airing a two-hour block of Law & Order: Criminal […]

Jay Leno to stay with NBC – at 9 p.m. Central

And that’s 9 p.m. every weeknight. In a stunning and historic announcement, NBC is keeping Jay Leno by giving him a hour a night – in primetime. Leno is expected to take over the 9 p.m. time slot (that’s 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific) every weeknight as a strip beginning next fall. Excluding special events (and My Network TV’s short-lived […]

NBC subtracts Weather Plus

NBC and its affiliate board announced it was pulling the plug on NBC Weather Plus, a digital subchannel network focusing exclusively on weather, much like cable’s The Weather Channel, which NBC Universal recently acquired. A total of 90 stations used NBC Weather Plus, which launched as the nation’s first all-digital subchannel network in 2004. It provided stations with 24-hour weather […]

"Project Runway" moves to Lifetime

NBC sues to keep show on Bravo In a move that surprises everyone in the industry, Lifetime snared the rights to Bravo’s hot reality fashion series Project Runway, in a five-year deal with the show’s production company, The Weinstein Co. NBC Universal, the owner of Bravo, has filed suit against the move, saying it had the right of first refusal […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: NBC encourging you to become a pirate

A deal was struck this week that may encourage people to join the Pirates. No, not the Pittsburgh Pirates, though they need all the help they can get. I’m talking about the world of download piracy. NBC last week renewed Friday Night Lights for a third season. The critically-acclaimed drama has struggled in the ratings for the past two seasons […]

Hulu’s here

On Hulu, this Family Guy moment is presented to you by Chevrolet.NBC Universal and News Corp. are finally opening up its video-streaming service Hulu to the public today, after nearly five months in private beta. Hulu features TV programs from NBC Universal and Fox parent News Corp., not to mention other content providers, including the NBA, MGM, Sony, Lionsgate, and […]

NBC Universal to buy Oxygen

NBC Universal has purchased female-oriented cable network Oxygen for $925 million dollars. To pay for the transaction, NBC Universal will sell two TV stations, one in Los Angeles (KWHY-TV), the other in Puerto Rico. Here is the official press release.

NBCU, Apple come to impasse on pricing of TV shows; deal ends

NBC Universal has decided not to renew its deals with Apple’s iTunes when it comes up in December. Apple then retaliated and pulled NBC’s fall shows from its service. NBC Universal’s content accounted for 40 percent of the sales of iTunes video product, including popular shows like The Office and Heroes. This happened coincidentally with NBC Universal ‘s announcement that […]

L.A. Telemndo anchor supsended two months

One anchor sleeps with the mayor, she keeps her job; one anchor shows up at the Stebic house, she loses her job. Both employed by the same company. Something’s not connecting here. Then again, it is the world of television news, right?

Amy Jacobson settles with WMAQ-TV

Amy Jacobson, who was caught in the Stebic household two weeks ago tomorrow (thanks to a videotape shot by WBBM-TV) has settled with her former employers, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. She had four months to go on her contract. She also may be pursing legal action against WBBM, who videotaped her without consent. In that interview with the Sun-Times, […]

Wallace named head of NBC-owned stations

NBC Universal announced this morning that John Wallace will succeed Jay Ireland as president of the NBC-owned stations (Ireland took a position with GE Capital management. GE owns NBC Universal.) Wallace will report directly to NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker. NBC owns and operates ten English-language stations in New York (WNBC), Los Angeles (KNBC), Chicago (WMAQ), Philadelphia (WCAU), […]

More NBC from the press tour

More nuggets from the NBC portion of the press tour: – NBC has signed disposed Grey’s Anatomy star Isiah Washington to appear in five episodes of The Bionic Woman, which debuts this fall. – Jerry Seinfeld will appear on the season premiere of 30 Rock, while Alec Baldwin will stay with the show. Last spring, he wanted out of the […]

Barely done

One thing Barely Today didn’t want to do is barely get viewers. As a result, NBC-owned WMAQ-TV has dropped the show and will expand its morning newscast to 4:30 a.m. starting Monday, where Barely Today previously aired. The program was hosted by Bruce Wolf, who will now be reassigned to sports anchoring and reporting duties during the morning newscast.