Keeping TV Studies students informed of news, views, and reviews about television
Saturday, April 30, 2011
L&O: CI
Law & Order: Criminal Intent is ending soon (maybe); Charlotte Howell proposes that it's been an outlier in the L&O franchise.
Labels:
characters,
convention,
drama,
gender,
law and order,
locations,
narrative,
nbc,
procedural,
production,
usa network
Prime-Time Ratings: Friday
Fast nationals: A decent night for CBS, while Fringe dropped in overall viewers but was steady in the demo. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Labels:
daily ratings,
friday ratings
Good Wife's Women
Jan Hoffman discusses the female characters in The Good Wife and its female co-showrunner, Michelle King.
Labels:
characters,
gender,
narrative,
representation,
set design,
showrunners,
the good wife
Kids' TV & Smart TV
Todd VanDerWerff assess the Hub show My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, and Dan Kois uses his 6-year-old daughter's Phineas and Ferb fandom to lead into a discussion of viewing sophisticated shows.
Labels:
children,
convention,
criticism,
narrative,
quality tv,
spectatorship,
taste culture,
the hub
NBCU Synergy
The WSJ covers Comcast's attempts to exploit synergy with NBCU properties. (Note: article is behind a paywall)
Labels:
comcast,
conglomeration,
industry,
nbcu,
synergy
Friday, April 29, 2011
Bravo Best at Product Placement
According to Nielsen, Bravo does product placement better than any channel.
Labels:
advertising,
bravo,
cable,
marketing,
product placement
Animation Postponed
Fox is postponing til next year an animation crossover event planned for Sunday because the hurricane-themed episodes might be deemed inappropriate given the recent tornado disasters.
Labels:
american dad,
animation,
family guy,
fox,
scheduling,
united states of tara,
weather
Female Writers
Pamela Ribon writes of her frustration as a female comedy writer, such as being told she should be grateful that she gets writing jobs because writers' rooms have to have one woman in there. Community's Dan Harmon offers thoughts on women comedy writers.
Social Rankings
A firm called SocialGuide has created a ranking of shows based on social media buzz.
Labels:
facebook,
internet,
ratings,
ratings alternatives/buzz,
social media,
spectatorship,
twitter
Prime-Time Ratings: Thursday
Fast nationals: On the first night of May sweeps, Idol won as usual, Steve Carell's exit was a good boost for The Office, a lot of other shows had drops. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Labels:
daily ratings,
thursday ratings
Local Tornado Coverage
Brian Stelter looks at how live local TV covered the devastating weather in the south this week. And Price Coleman covers how stations used multi-platform services to get coverage out.
Labels:
internet,
live,
local,
local news,
network news,
news,
social media,
weather,
weather channel
HBO Expanding Access
HBO will make (or already has made) its programming available on mobile devices with its HBO Go app for phones and tablets. Will Richmond sees this as a necessary but insufficient step.
Labels:
apps,
distribution,
hbo,
hbo go,
ipad,
mobile,
online tv,
premium channels,
tablets,
tv everywhere
Royal Wedding Coverage
Matt Zoller Seitz reviews the mind-numbing display that was American coverage of the Royal Wedding, as does James Poniewozik. And Linda Holmes has a report from the scene. Somewhat more cheeky coverage from TWoP. As far as British TV's coverage, some are saying ITV outdid the BBC.
This could end up as one of the most-watched events in TV history.
This could end up as one of the most-watched events in TV history.
Friday Fun
The Jeff/Shirley 'shipping montage that wasn't in last week's Community:
Labels:
community,
friday fun
British Reality
American Drew Grant turned on a TV in Britain and observed some interesting reality TV (check out the comments section for some British responses).
Labels:
britain,
international,
reality tv,
teens
Local TV Up
Local TV stations enjoyed increased revenue in 2010 thanks especially to political advertising and rebounding national advertisers.
Labels:
advertising,
broadcasting,
local,
politics,
revenue
Good TVeets
Snark, snark, snark, snark, snark, snark, oh that's a pretty dress, snark. #myfeedthismorning
Feeling slightly awkward about Princess Beatrice's hat, to be honest.
4 a.m. Matt Lauer says "fairy tale" within seconds of signing on. It's going to be a long day.
Follow @GoodTVeets
Thursday, April 28, 2011
More Apps to Come
TWC's CEO says the iPad app is only the beginning of the cable operator's plans to enable live TV streaming.
Labels:
apps,
distribution,
internet tv,
ipad,
online tv,
streaming,
tablets,
time warner cable,
tv everywhere
Google TV Limp
Google TV is not selling well.
Labels:
google tv,
internet tv,
over-the-top,
revenue,
set-top boxes,
technology
Time Warner & Netflix
Time Warner CEo Jeff Bewkes insists, rather suddenly, that he's a big fan of Netflix's TV subscription service.
Labels:
industry,
netflix,
online tv,
streaming,
time warner
2.5 Men to Return?
Rumor is that Two and a Half Men will be back in the fall sans Charlie Sheen. Charlie Sheen has, um, responded.
Labels:
2011-12 season,
cbs,
charlie sheen,
comedy,
fall season,
sitcoms,
two and a half men
Exec Moves
Mark Pedowitz has moved in as president of The CW, while VP Scott Landsman is moving out at Comedy Central.
Labels:
comedy central,
industry,
the cw
Killing the Same
Daniel Walters argues that despite its AMC cred, The Killing isn't that different from conventional, gruesome network procedurals.
Labels:
amc,
cable,
convention,
narrative,
networks,
procedural,
quality tv,
the killing,
violence
Comcast Siblings
Brian Steinberg looks at how Comcast outlets NBC News and E! are working together.
Labels:
comcast,
conglomeration,
e,
industry,
nbc,
network news,
news,
synergy
Real World Issue
Andy Dehnart reports on some behind-the-scenes reality at The Real World, a cast member's gay porn past, and how the show is dealing with it.
Labels:
characters,
lgbtq,
porn,
reality tv,
representation,
the real world
Discovery Profits
Discovery Communications is doing quite well, and will pump some of those profits into OWN.
Labels:
advertising,
cable,
conglomeration,
discovery,
industry,
own,
revenue,
synergy
Weather Channel Forecast
Weather Channel's CEO sees sunny skies ahead (sorry; I am fundamentally incapable of avoiding a pun in this situation).
Labels:
cable,
programming,
weather channel
MIT7 Agenda
You can check out the agenda for the upcoming Media in Transition conference, which includes brief summaries of each paper.
Labels:
academia
Rosenthal Interview
Alan Sepinwall interviews Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal about his documentary on the Russian adaptation of Raymond.
Media & Birtherism
Brian Stelter outlines how news media coverage helped to fan the flames of birtherism to this point.
Labels:
cable news,
controversy,
ethics,
news,
politics
Prime-Time Ratings: Wednesday
Fast nationals: Idol dominant but down from last week; Survivor hit a demo low. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Labels:
daily ratings,
wednesday ratings
TV Adapts
Tech company CEO Ron Frankel outlines the ways that traditional TV needs to adapt to ongoing and oncoming changes.
Labels:
broadcasting,
hulu,
industry,
internet tv,
mobile,
netflix,
networks,
online tv,
over-the-top,
predictions,
tv everywhere
BBC Worldwide Changes
BBC Worldwide, the BBC's international commercial arm, is undergoing strategy changes.
Labels:
bbc,
britain,
globalization,
industry,
international
BSkyB Growth
BSkyB has outperformed analyst expectations recently, meaning Rupert Murdoch may have to sweeten his takeover offer.
Labels:
britain,
conglomeration,
industry,
international,
news corporation,
revenue,
sky/bskyb
Geordie Shore
MTV UK has announced the cast of its British version of Jersey Shore called Geordie Shore, which starts airing in a month and will provide competition for The Only Way is Essex, which is sort of Britain's version of The Hills.
Meanwhile, Jersey Shore has helped fuel Viacom profits.
Meanwhile, Jersey Shore has helped fuel Viacom profits.
Labels:
britain,
casting,
international,
jersey shore,
mtv,
ratings,
reality tv,
revenue,
the hills,
viacom
Egypt's Jon Stewart
An Egyptian surgeon has fostered a new career as a TV news parodist.
Labels:
comedy,
egypt,
international,
middle east,
news,
satire,
the colbert report,
the daily show
RIP Teleprompter Guy
Hubert J. Schlafly Jr., who invented the teleprompter, has died.
Labels:
history,
news,
technology
Spectrum Plan Illegal
A collection of station owner groups argues that the FCC's plan to reclaim spectrum space is unnecessary and illegal. And CBS says it's keeping its space, though it doesn't oppose the general idea of the FCC's plans.
Labels:
broadband,
broadcasting,
cbs,
fcc,
law,
mobile,
regulation,
spectrum
Upfront Windfall
John Consoli says the networks are expecting the ad money to flow generously at this year's upfronts.
Labels:
advertising,
development,
networks,
predictions,
revenue,
upfronts
TV Dramas
Todd VanDerWerff takes us back to the world of 1980s drama with an excellent overview. Also among the AV Club offerings is Noel Murray's "Very Special Episode" analysis of an early 1960s detective drama called Checkmate.
Good TVeets
There are Civil War re-enactments that are less staged than 'Real Housewives.'
Real World fans Googling Dustin Zito's gay sex have taken down reality blurred. Porn is still the Internet's lifeblood.
This calls Trump's judgment into question. The Supreme Court should reopen the Gary Busey firing.
Follow @GoodTVeets
Labels:
tveets
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
BBC & US Shows
BBC1 head Danny Cohen says the channel won't be looking to import US shows.
Labels:
bbc,
britain,
imports,
international,
production,
programming
Soap Items
Ed Martin blames creative bankruptcy on the part of the networks for soap cancellations, while ABC is being sued by the heirs of General Hospital's creators for revenue owed.
Labels:
abc,
cancellation,
cbs,
daytime,
failure,
general hospital,
law,
networks,
soap opera
Saving the News
Eric Deggans shared ideas with NPR about saving network evening news.
Labels:
cable news,
cbs,
katie couric,
network news,
networks,
news
British TV Crime
BBC1 chief Danny Cohen believes there's too much crime on TV, plus too many male detectives.
Labels:
bbc,
britain,
casting,
characters,
drama,
gender,
itv,
narrative,
procedural
Best Roles for Women
IFC proclaims the 25 best TV roles for women (Buffy FTW!)
Labels:
best lists+rankings,
characters,
criticism,
gender
Favorite Channels
A media research firm surveyed what viewers' favorite cable channels are; the winners (Discovery, History & Food Network) don't match up with the highest Nielsen-rated channels.
Labels:
cable,
channel branding,
discovery,
food network,
history channel,
nielsen,
ratings,
spectatorship
American Family Online
All episodes of An American Family can now be found online, along with two follow-up extras.
Labels:
documentary,
history,
online tv,
reality tv
Comcast Network VOD
Comcast will now offer current prime-time programming from all four major networks via video-on-demand.
Labels:
comcast,
distribution,
networks,
video-on-demand
Prime-Time Ratings: Tuesday
Fast nationals: The Voice came out of the gate strong, while Glee dropped. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
In other ratings news, the NBA playoffs have been doing well.
In other ratings news, the NBA playoffs have been doing well.
Labels:
daily ratings,
tuesday ratings
Playstation Impact
The Sony Playstation outage is affecting Netflix and Hulu too.
Labels:
gaming/consoles,
hulu,
internet,
netflix,
online tv,
set-top boxes
Obama & Trump
For the TV media perspective on the Obama birth certificate release and Donald Trump's (pathetic) role, see James Poniewozik and Eric Deggans.
Labels:
cable news,
news,
politics
3D Scam
Jason Hiner argues that 3D TV and movies are a misguided attempt to scam viewers out of money.
Labels:
3d,
aesthetics,
spectatorship,
technology,
tv sets
Good TVeets
Why don't Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton have charm bracelets made of Emmys? #fnl
If you'd told me someday i'd watch Fox in primetime and a gay kid would sing a show tune, i'd have said, yeah, and there's a black president
If I could be allowed a food metaphor, HBO's Sunday lineup of Game of Thrones & Treme is like a supermarket sheet cake followed by raw kale.
Follow @GoodTVeets
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
CW Renewals
No surprises among The CW's announced renewals today; we await news on the bubble shows like Nikita.
Supernatural Fandom
Cory Barker offers up a conference paper on Supernatural, fandom and anti-fandom.
Labels:
characters,
fandom,
narrative,
spectatorship,
supernatural,
the cw
NAB Says No Crisis
The NAB doesn't buy that there's a shortage of spectrum space dictating the need for repurposing it for mobile broadband use.
Labels:
broadband,
broadcasting,
fcc,
mobile,
nab,
regulation,
spectrum,
technology
More Tyler for TBS
TBS has ordered a third Tyler Perry-produced show, this one a single-cam comedy-drama called For Better or Worse.
Labels:
african-americans,
cable,
comedy,
tbs,
turner,
tyler perry
Couric Officially Out
Katie Couric confirmed exclusively to People Magazine (?!) that she's leaving CBS Evening News. Bill Carter and James Poniewozik follow with thoughts.
Labels:
cbs,
katie couric,
network news,
news
Prime-Time Ratings: Monday
Fast nationals: ABC had a pretty good time of it against mostly repeats. Final ratings. Cable ratings.
Labels:
daily ratings,
monday ratings
Yahoo Checks In
Yahoo has bought up a TV check-in app called IntoNow.
Labels:
apps,
check-in services,
internet,
mobile,
social media,
spectatorship,
yahoo
Fall Hopes
Comcast is hoping that a good fall will help boost NBC's image.
Labels:
2011-12 season,
channel branding,
comcast,
demographics,
development,
fall season,
nbc,
networks,
pilots,
programming,
ratings,
revenue
International Key for Soaps
Sara Bibel proposes that if Disney had put more effort into selling All My Children and One Life to Live internationally, they might not be expiring soon.
Labels:
abc,
disney,
failure,
imports,
international,
revenue,
soap opera,
syndication
Multi-Platform Efforts
ESPN, Weather Channel, and Turner Sports receive the highest marks for multi-platform extension efforts.
Labels:
channel branding,
espn,
internet,
marketing,
merchandise,
multi-platform,
radio,
turner,
weather channel
Online Investment
Travel Channel has invested in the travel site Oyster.com, which Courtney Boyd Myers sees as a shrewd move.
Labels:
cable,
internet,
marketing,
scripps,
travel channel
Writers Room
Lee Goldberg describes his time in a comedy writers' room working on a pilot.
Labels:
comedy,
pilots,
production,
sitcoms,
writing
Harmon on Reddit
Community creator Dan Harmon took questions on Reddit and gave some great answers about writing and his show.
Labels:
comedy,
community,
dan harmon,
nbc,
production,
showrunners,
sitcoms,
writing
BAFTA Awards
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Television Awards nominations are out, and standouts include the drama Misfits and Doctor Who's Matt Smith (who becomes the first Doctor to be nominated). Listed separately are the craft nominations.
Good TVeets
Near as I can figure, The Voice is just like Idol, except the contestants sing directly into the judges' asses.
I can't make sense of Game of Thrones but basically decent textiles are hard to make and then everyone got puppies.
Jack Donaghy/Ron Swanson is the brother Ron Swanson/Jack Donaghy never talks about.
Follow @GoodTVeets
Labels:
tveets
Monday, April 25, 2011
Parks & Rec Politics
Juliet Lapidos digs into politics as represented in Parks and Recreation.
Labels:
characters,
comedy,
narrative,
nbc,
parks and recreation,
politics,
representation,
sitcoms
BBCA Record
The Doctor Who premiere Saturday gave BBC America its highest-rated telecast ever.
Labels:
bbc america,
cable,
demographics,
doctor who,
imports,
ratings
Charter Selling LA
Continuing its reorganization, Charter Communications is putting up for sale its Los Angeles region cable systems, with Time Warner Cable pinpointed as the most logical buyer.
Maddow Profile
The Guardian profiles MSNBC's Rachel Maddow and her anchor image. Update: Maddow now clarifies a few of the comments she made about closeted gays in the news business.
Labels:
anderson cooper,
cable news,
lgbtq,
msnbc,
news,
rachel maddow
Global Subs Up
While cord cutting is nipping at subscriber numbers in the US, globally pay TV subscriptions have risen.
Labels:
cable,
cord cutting,
international,
pay tv,
satellite
Inside The Stream
Jared Keller looks at Al Jazeera's social media-focused online news show The Stream.
Labels:
al jazeera,
channel branding,
internet,
news,
online video,
social media,
web series
Netflix News
Netflix has just released its latest earnings statement and now touts more subscribers than any other video service in North America, passing Comcast (though Robert Seidman thinks that's a flawed comparison). That makes it seem quite a challenge for Dish to potentially catch up as a competitor with its Blockbuster purchase. Netflix insists its about TV reruns, not cable competition.
Labels:
comcast,
dish network,
industry,
internet,
netflix,
online tv,
online video,
reruns,
revenue
New In Media Res
Theme: Globalization and Japanese Popular Culture
- Monday April 25, 2011 – Ian Peters (Georgia State University) presents: "Genki Dama Saves the World": Japanese Popular Culture, Globalization, and Relief Efforts
- Tuesday April 26, 2011 – Jake Tarbox (Arashi Productions) presents: The Death of Manga?
- Wednesday April 27, 2011 – Alex Leavitt (University of Southern California) presents: The Global Cult(ure) of Hatsune Miku
- Thursday April 28, 2011 – Kinko Ito (University of Arkansas at Little Rock) presents: Love and Sexual Fantasies of Adult Women in Japanese Ladies’ Comics
- Friday April 29, 2011 – Laura Imaoka (University of California, Irvine) presents: The Ambassadors of Cute: Helping or Hurting Japan’s Global Image?
Labels:
animation,
comics,
globalization,
international,
japan,
movies,
representation
BBC Risks
The incoming head of the BBC Trust insists that the BBC needs to take more risks, and the head of Editorial Policy says he will dial down compliance demands to encourage more risk-taking.
Labels:
bbc,
britain,
news,
programming,
public broadcasting
Upfronts Optimism
The upfronts are expected to bring good news for TV ad time (note: WSJ article behind paywall), and Steve McClellan reports that entertainment cable networks are in an especially good position.
Labels:
advertising,
amc,
cable,
fx,
networks,
predictions,
revenue,
tbs,
tnt,
turner,
upfronts,
usa network
Royal Coverage
The networks are turning to on-air talent to help them stand out amidst a ton of royal wedding coverage all using the same video feed, and Simon Reynolds explores what image of Britain some Americans have thanks to TV and film imports.
Labels:
britain,
casting,
imports,
international,
language,
movies,
news,
representation
DVR Ratings
Bill Carter reports that networks are paying greater attention to DVR ratings when weighing cancellations and renewals (see: Fringe), even over some advertiser objections.
Labels:
advertising,
cancellation,
dvr,
fringe,
networks,
ratings,
renewals,
time shifting
Good TVeets
I feel wrong watching #ThKilling over #CelebrityApprentice. and then I feel wrong for feeling that. #TVshamespiral
Tonight on AMC's "Who Killed Dat Girl?": Lady Sleepsalot and City Councilman Raspy Squarejaw grieflirt in the cereal aisle!
#thekilling #spoileralert it was Colonel Mustard in the library with the gun.
Follow @GoodTVeets
Labels:
the killing,
tveets
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Prime-Time Ratings: Saturday
Overnights: Moses dominated the night.
In UK ratings news, early results indicate Doctor Who's premiere was solid but down from last year's premiere. Ratings for the BBC America airing will arrive in a day or two.
In UK ratings news, early results indicate Doctor Who's premiere was solid but down from last year's premiere. Ratings for the BBC America airing will arrive in a day or two.
Labels:
daily ratings,
doctor who,
saturday ratings
TV & Online Audiences
Phil Napoli considers overlaps between TV and online audiences.
Labels:
internet,
online tv,
social media,
spectatorship,
twitter
Belsat TV
The media in Belarus are tightly controlled by the government, so it's left to Belsat TV in Poland, which sends its satellite signal into Belarus, to provide independent coverage of the country's news.
Labels:
censorship,
europe,
international,
news,
satellite
Death on TV
Ending on The Killing, Justin Fowler considers the state of death on TV.
Labels:
decency,
drama,
narrative,
news,
procedural,
representation,
serial,
the killing,
violence
Good TVeets
Sometimes I wish I was an at-risk teenager just so Coach and Tami Taylor could inspire me.
Moses: From everlasting to everlasting. Translation: God, this movie is long. #tencommandments
I'm pretty sure Steven Moffat has given me more nightmares in my adult life than I ever had as a kid. #DoctorWho
Follow @GoodTVeets
Labels:
tveets
Saturday, April 23, 2011
OVD Category
The FCC will now count online video distributors in their own category -- as OVDs -- when analyzing viewership trends. The other two categories are broadcast TV stations and MVPDs (or multichannel video programming distributors).
Labels:
broadcasting,
fcc,
industry,
online tv,
pay tv,
spectatorship
BBC Cuts
The NYT covers the BBC's efforts to cut costs amid many pressures.
Labels:
bbc,
britain,
budgets,
industry,
international,
public broadcasting,
revenue
Blue Bloods Turmoil
Deadline reports that the creators of CBS's Blue Bloods have left the show due to creative differences with the network over how heavily procedural (versus character-based) the show should be.
Labels:
blue bloods,
cbs,
characters,
drama,
narrative,
networks,
procedural,
production,
showrunners
Sherlock's Cliffhanger
Scott Higgins analyzes the cliffhanger that ends Sherlock's third episode.
Labels:
drama,
narrative,
sherlock,
spectatorship
Luck Troubles
Creative differences among big-name producers David Milch and Michael Mann are causing problems for HBO's Luck.
Labels:
hbo,
luck,
production,
quality tv,
showrunners
Community's Community
Ryan McGee, who has decided to stop watching Community, writes of the gruff he's gotten from Community fans for this decision and questions why some seem to feel threatened by other viewers' and critics' opinions and experiences of shows.
Network Promotion
Steve Sternberg argues that fewer network shows would fail if they were advertised on the other networks.
Labels:
advertising,
cancellation,
failure,
marketing,
networks,
ratings
Friday, April 22, 2011
Cord Cutting
Yet another cord cutting study says it's no big thing, but a digital antenna retailer says it expects sales to double this year. And NewTeeVee has declared Tuesday to be Cord Cutters Day.
Labels:
broadcasting,
cord cutting,
digital,
online tv,
technology
McCourt & Fox
You probably saw headlines that MLB has taken over the Dodgers; this follows owner Frank McCourt making a TV deal with Fox, as well as a personal loan deal, which may not hold up. Update: Joe Flint questions Fox's judgment in making the loan.
Labels:
baseball,
fox,
licensing,
news corporation,
regional networks,
sports
USA Formula
Amy Chozik profiles the USA Network's successful formula.
Labels:
burn notice,
cable,
channel branding,
characters,
comcast,
convention,
marketing,
narrative,
nbcu,
programming,
ratings,
usa network,
white collar
No Emmy Deal Yet
We still don't know what network the Emmys will air on in September.
Labels:
awards,
emmys,
networks,
television academy
3D Challenges
Cliff Edwards looks at challenges for 3D TV, including format battles.
Labels:
3d,
technology,
tv sets
Prime-Time Ratings: Thursday
Broadcast finals: After Fox, NBC did best in the key demo, CBS in total viewers. Also, The Paul Reiser Show did miserably and has already been cancelled. Cable ratings.
Labels:
daily ratings,
thursday ratings
New Flow Issue
- "'Let's Get Stinko': Melodrama and the Mundane in Todd Haynes's Mildred Pierce" by Lisa Coulthard: An exploration of melodrama and the mundane in Mildred Pierce.
- "Lines in the Sand: Media Studies and the Neoliberal Academy" by Hollis Griffin: A critique of the neoliberal academy's influence on media scholarship.
- "Undateable: Some Reflections on Online Dating and the Perversion of Time" by Lucas Hilderbrand: An examination how online dating alters traditional notions of romantic temporality.
- "The Hills, Jersey Shore, and the Aesthetics of Class" by Amanda Ann Klein: A considertion how aesthetics construct a performance of class and ethnicity as being tied to specific notions of taste and cultural capital.
- "An Eye for an Eye: Remakes and Repression" by Janani Subramanian: An examination of stylistic distinctions in film remakes, noting the cultural, narrative and stylistic contrasts between contexts of production.
Labels:
academia,
aesthetics,
class,
drama,
hbo,
internet,
jersey shore,
movies,
narrative,
quality tv,
remakes/adaptations/spinoffs,
taste culture,
the hills,
the wire
Hoover Impact
A Wharton post considers the possible impact of Hoover's soap-defending boycott of ABC.
Labels:
advertising,
cancellation,
marketing,
revenue,
soap opera
Black News Coverage
A group of Pittsburgh local TV news directors may sign a pledge to cover the city's black community in more positive ways.
Labels:
african-americans,
bias,
diversity,
ethics,
local,
local news,
news,
race/ethnicity,
representation,
violence
Oprah as Icon
A Yale researcher says Oprah Winfrey's popularity makes her akin to a religious icon.
Labels:
fandom,
oprah winfrey,
religion,
stardom/celebrity,
talk
Indecency Request
The White House has asked the Supreme Court to reinstate the FCC's indecency rules and fines, tossed out by a circuit court last year as unconstitutionally vague.
Labels:
censorship,
controversy,
decency,
fcc,
language,
law,
regulation,
sex
Spectrum Fight
Broadcasters are pitted against wireless companies in the spectrum battle, which the FCC has foreseen coming for more than a decade.
Labels:
broadband,
broadcasting,
fcc,
mobile,
regulation,
spectrum,
technology
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Al Jazeera Profile
American Journalism Review profiles the current state of Al Jazeera: "The Qatar-based channel’s extensive coverage of the Arab Spring underscores its emerging role as a major player. But controversy continues to swirl about its coverage."
Labels:
al jazeera,
bias,
controversy,
international,
middle east,
news
BET Rebranding
BET's upfronts presentation reflected its ongoing rebranding effort to present a more family-oriented image.
Labels:
bet,
channel branding,
demographics,
marketing,
upfronts
Hulu In Australia
Australia is about to get Hulu.
Labels:
australia,
distribution,
globalization,
hulu,
international,
online tv
Broadcasting Decline
A media analysts report says the broadcast networks are in decline.
Labels:
advertising,
broadcasting,
demographics,
networks,
predictions,
programming,
ratings
News Corp v. TWC
Joe Flint notes that News Corporation and Time Warner Cable keep fighting over various issues.
Labels:
conglomeration,
industry,
ipad,
news corporation,
sports,
tablets,
time warner cable
Who's Back
Doctor Who returns to both UK and US television Saturday, with the day/date US release intended to combat piracy; a British sci-fi site has an excellent interview with showrunner Steven Moffatt.
Labels:
bbc,
bbc america,
britain,
characters,
doctor who,
imports,
narrative,
production,
scheduling,
science fiction/fantasy,
showrunners,
writing
BSG on BBCA
BBC America has picked up the non-British Battlestar Galactica.
Labels:
battlestar galactica,
bbc america,
cable,
channel branding,
reruns,
syndication
Backdoor Pilots
Jaime Weinman writes about the backdoor pilot circumstance, happening tonight with an episode of Bones, and Lee Goldberg follows with more thoughts.
Labels:
bones,
characters,
narrative,
pilots,
writing
Nurturing Needed
Wayne Friedman discusses the importance of nurturing a show, giving it time to grow, which unfortunately isn't happening as much these days.
Labels:
cancellation,
demographics,
industry,
networks,
parenthood,
ratings
Trends in TV Viewing
Nielsen's latest report is on TV audiences and viewing trends, including cool charts about online TV viewing and device usage by race
Labels:
advertising,
age,
demographics,
dvr,
mobile,
nielsen,
online tv,
race/ethnicity,
ratings,
social media,
spectatorship,
sports,
time shifting,
twitter
Lucy Writer Dies
Pioneering TV writer Madelyn Pugh Davis, who wrote for I Love Lucy, has passed away. The TV Academy's online archive has a video interview with her and writing partner Bob Carroll, Jr.
Hashtag TV
Michael Schneider says you should prepare to see more Twitter hashtags appearing during TV shows.
Ad Reward
Pepsi has an iPhone app that lets you check in when you see a Pepsi ad on TV and thus earn a free beverage.
Labels:
advertising,
apple,
apps,
social media,
spectatorship
Comcast Sports Coverage
Comcast and NBC are taking advantage of corporate synergies by having a Comcast regional sports channel provide the sports coverage for an NBC affiliate in San Francisco.
Labels:
broadcasting,
cable,
comcast,
conglomeration,
industry,
local,
local news,
nbc,
sports,
synergy
Game of Thrones & Race
Some are asking if Game of Thrones is racist due to its depictions of the Dothraki.
Labels:
game of thrones,
hbo,
narrative,
race/ethnicity,
representation
Apps With Ads
Some have concerns about TV viewing apps that could place ads on top of content.
Labels:
advertising,
apps,
distribution,
international,
online tv
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
ABC Announcement
ABC has posted an official announcement about the cancellations of All My Children and One Life to Live and also allowed viewer comments, which, as you can imagine, are not filled with happy thoughts. Michael Sciullo looks at how fan anger has spilled out on the internet.
Labels:
abc,
all my children,
cancellation,
daytime,
fandom,
one life to live,
soap opera
Fox TV Interview
THR interviews Fox Television Studios president David Madden about how his company is tinkering with TV tradition, including with shows like AMC's The Killing.
Labels:
20th century fox tv,
amc,
cable,
drama,
narrative,
networks,
production,
programming,
quality tv,
reality tv,
the killing
Dish-TiVo Ruling
Dish Network lost an appeal against a ruling that some of its DVRs violate TiVo's patents, but the company vows to keep fighting.
Labels:
dish network,
dvr,
law,
technology,
tivo
TV Check-In Battle
Janko Roettgers charts out the TV check-in service battle for users.
Labels:
check-in services,
getglue,
internet,
miso,
social media,
spectatorship,
twitter
Glee = South Park
Jaime Weinman says Glee most resembles South Park in certain ways.
Labels:
animation,
characters,
comedy,
convention,
criticism,
drama,
glee,
narrative,
south park
X Factor Cleared
ITV's X Factor was just cleared by the media regulator Ofcom of charges that dances by Rihanna and Christina Aguilera violated broadcast decency rules.
Labels:
britain,
controversy,
decency,
itv,
regulation,
sex,
the x factor
Game of Thrones Theory
Rowan Kaiser puts Game of Thrones in the narrative contexts of fantasy and quality TV.
Labels:
characters,
drama,
game of thrones,
genre,
hbo,
quality tv
American Family
Dennis Lim digs into the story behind An American Family as depicted in HBO's Cinema Verite; Richard Rushfield looks back on the original series; and Laurie Winer talks to the disgruntled creator of American Family. PBS will be rerunning the ground-breaking series, which isn't available on DVD, perhaps the most important TV series in history that isn't.
Update: All episodes of An American Family can now be found online, along with two follow-up extras.
Update: All episodes of An American Family can now be found online, along with two follow-up extras.
Labels:
documentary,
hbo,
history,
narrative,
production,
reality tv
Idol's Staying Power
The predicted drop in ratings supremacy for American Idol hasn't happened.
Labels:
american idol,
demographics,
fox,
ratings,
reality tv
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
2.5 Men Downfall
Maria Elana Fernandez digs into what production on Two and a Half Men was like the past few years, as Charlie Sheen got worse.
Labels:
cbs,
charlie sheen,
production,
two and a half men
Web Series Legitimacy
Jeremy Scott believes web TV series have reached a point of legitimacy.
Labels:
internet,
ratings,
spectatorship,
web series
Cable Ad Market
There's a sunny forecast for cable ad dollars in 2011.
Labels:
advertising,
cable,
predictions,
revenue,
upfronts
HBO Everywhere
HBO will soon be available to subscribers via mobile apps.
Labels:
distribution,
hbo,
hbo go,
ipad,
mobile,
online tv,
streaming,
tablets,
tv everywhere
ESPN Ethics
ESPN is pulling its poker programming in the wake of fraud allegations directed at its online poker sponsors, and ESPN has made public all of its announcer endorsement deals.
Labels:
advertising,
espn,
ethics,
marketing,
product placement,
sports
NBC Gets NHL
NBC Sports outbid ESPN for NHL rights.
Labels:
espn,
hockey,
nbc,
nbc sports,
nbc sports network/versus,
sports
Thrones Review
Gina Bellafante wrote a typically mediocre review of Game of Thrones, which made a particularly unfortunate claim that women don't like the fantasy genre. A backlash resulted; Bellafante has now responded. Alyssa Rosenberg also chimes in.
Labels:
criticism,
game of thrones,
gender,
hbo,
review
British Youth Viewing
An Ofcom survey found that British youth would rather give up their TVs than their mobile phones or the internet.
Labels:
britain,
international,
internet,
mobile,
social media,
spectatorship
British Salaries
Televisual uncovers the average salaries for British TV industry personnel.
Labels:
britain,
industry,
international,
labor,
production,
salaries
TV in 2020
Michael Stroud predicts what television will be like in 2020.
Labels:
3d,
cable,
hdtv,
internet,
internet tv,
mobile,
networks,
online tv,
over-the-top,
predictions,
tv sets
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Stream
Al Jazeera's experiment in social media-centered news, otherwise known as a program called The Stream, launched today.
Labels:
al jazeera,
channel branding,
cord cutting,
international,
marketing,
news,
social media,
twitter
VH1 Makeover
VH1 is setting out to target women 25-35.
Labels:
cable,
channel branding,
demographics,
gender,
programming,
ratings,
reality tv,
vh1
Xbox TV
There might be TV content coming to the Xbox soon; then again, maybe there won't be.
Labels:
distribution,
industry,
licensing,
microsoft,
xbox
Ebersol War
Dick Ebersol wants to fight to keep the Olympics on NBC; Comcast may not back the all-out effort.
ABC Boycott
In an intriguing move, the Hoover vacuum company is backing frustrated soap opera fans by pulling its advertising from ABC (drumming some free publicity in exchange). Consumer Reports says this could help Hoover sales in the end.
Labels:
abc,
advertising,
cancellation,
daytime,
soap opera
British Soaps
With the impending demise of US soap operas, Gillian Reynolds considers the state of UK soaps. (Somehow Murder She Wrote comes up too.)
Labels:
britain,
narrative,
soap opera
Apple TV Set
Marco Arment doesn't foresee Apple manufacturing a TV set (link fixed), but MG Siegler says the market is ripe for it. And Chris Dixon says it's possible, and Ryan Lawler considers what an Apple HDTV set would need in order to succeed.
Streaming Competition
Jemima Kiss outlines how streaming options are challenging traditional TV distribution.
Labels:
broadcasting,
distribution,
dvd,
industry,
netflix,
networks,
spectatorship,
streaming,
youtube
Fox Evolution
Brian Steinberg traces the development of Fox network.
Labels:
broadcasting,
fox,
history,
networks,
news corporation
New In Media Res
Theme: TV Failure
- Monday April 18, 2011 – Jason Mittell (Middlebury College) presents: The Failure of Failure in Terriers
- Tuesday April 19, 2011 – Ryan Bowles (University of California-Santa Barbara) presents: "It’s Not You…It’s Nielsen": Cancellation Heartbreak and Measurement Magic
- Wednesday April 20, 2011 – Anne Moore (Tufts University) presents: Losing to Win: Twin Peaks and Serial Failure
- Thursday April 21, 2011 – Cory Barker (Bowling Green State University) presents: Stranger in a Strange Land: Quality Television’s Episodic Failures
- Friday April 22, 2011 – Tom Hallaq (Idaho State University) presents: Dinner with Mavis: Reviewing The Tonight Show Conflict
Labels:
cancellation,
comedy,
failure,
jay leno,
narrative,
nielsen,
quality tv,
ratings,
serial,
terriers,
the tonight show
Channels Return
A handful of Fox and Discovery channels have returned to TWC's iPad app.
Labels:
carriage,
discovery,
distribution,
fox,
ipad,
licensing,
streaming,
tablets,
time warner cable
Obscenities Rise
Brian Steinberg discusses the rise in obscenities and depictions of sex on TV.
Labels:
broadcasting,
cable,
decency,
language,
networks,
regulation,
representation,
sex,
violence
Upfronts Cheat Sheet
Brian Steinberg analyzes how each major TV outlet is positioned going into the upfronts period.
Labels:
advertising,
cable,
networks,
revenue,
upfronts
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Reality Rocks Convention
Jon Caramanica tells us what happened at the Reality Rocks Expo, a reality TV fan convention.
Labels:
fandom,
reality tv,
stardom/celebrity
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Online Commercials
Wayne Friedman expects that as ad time increases on online TV, especially the kind you can't skip through, viewers will return to old ways of ignoring them, but perhaps also turn to second screens until they're over.
Labels:
advertising,
internet,
online tv,
screens,
spectatorship
FCC Questions
Joe Flint says the FCC is asking Comcast the wrong questions in trying to determine how much independently-owned content it carries on its outlets.
Labels:
comcast,
conglomeration,
fcc,
independent,
industry,
nbc,
nbcu,
regulation
Google Outdraws ITV
Google will earn more advertising money in the UK than ITV, the usually the biggest advertising earner in Britain.
Time Warner Shuffling
Time Warner Cable just dramatically reshuffled its channel line-up, and Aaron Barnhart thinks it may have been a backdoor rate hike.
Reality Over Docs
British director Kevin Macdonald claims reality TV has pushed out documentary films on British TV.
Labels:
britain,
documentary,
international,
programming,
reality tv
Thursday Worries
Matt Zoller Seitz sees a lot of problems with NBC's Thursday nights.
Labels:
30 rock,
comedy,
community,
demographics,
nbc,
parks and recreation,
programming,
ratings,
scheduling,
sitcoms,
the office,
thursday
Netflix Regulation
Pay TV operators in Canada are pushing to have Netflix regulated like a traditional TV outlet.
Labels:
broadcasting,
canada,
distribution,
netflix,
regulation
Friday, April 15, 2011
Traveling
I'm traveling out of town today and will be out and about for the next week, so posts will be sporadic here until I return.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Eco Complaint
Environmental groups are accusing CBS of misleading consumers with its EcoAd marketing program.
Labels:
advertising,
cbs,
controversy,
environmentalism,
marketing,
social issues
New Broadcast Streamer
A new startup called Bamboom offers to stream live broadcast signals to connected devices, though its legality is still in question.
Labels:
broadcasting,
cord cutting,
digital,
distribution,
local,
streaming,
technology
AMC & OLTL Cancelled
It is with great sadness that I report the impending demise of All My Children and One Life to Live. I refuse to write the ridiculous names of the shows replacing them. Entertainment labor unions are especially unhappy. The Wrap interviews ABC Daytime president Brain Frons, who says it's all about ratings.
Kay Reindl mourns more than just the demise of a genre. Sam Ford argues that soaps have fallen prey to an assumption of inevitable death and says too few are working on ways to save the genre; instead, the industry is looking to other types of programming. C. Lee Harrington looks at what we're losing.
Kay Reindl mourns more than just the demise of a genre. Sam Ford argues that soaps have fallen prey to an assumption of inevitable death and says too few are working on ways to save the genre; instead, the industry is looking to other types of programming. C. Lee Harrington looks at what we're losing.
Labels:
abc,
all my children,
cancellation,
daytime,
genre,
one life to live,
soap opera
Prime-Time Ratings: Wednesday
Fast nationals: CBS pulled in second behind the Idol train, while ABC's sitcoms hit lows. Broadcast finals. Cable ratings.
Labels:
daily ratings,
wednesday ratings
Station Tumblr
A few local stations are adding Tumblrs to their internet presence.
Labels:
broadcasting,
channel branding,
internet,
local,
local news,
marketing,
social media
Digital Ratings
Wayne Friedman considers how Nielsen's Extended Screen ratings that including viewing on digital platforms might have an impact.
Staffing Season
TV writer Daniel Thomsen lays out some realities of series staffing season and finding success as a writer.
Labels:
development,
labor,
pilots,
production,
writing
ESPN Rules
ESPN has issues new product endorsement guidelines for announcers and on-air talent.
Labels:
advertising,
espn,
marketing,
product placement,
sports
New Upscale Channel
Because rich men apparently don't have enough for them already on television, here comes a new cable channel: Discovery's Velocity, with sports and leisure content targeted at upscale males.
Labels:
cable,
channel branding,
demographics,
discovery,
gender,
upscale,
velocity
Good TVeets
American Idol judge: "You move me beyond tears." What's beyond tears? Cramps?
If a show called CAKE SHOW HOARDERS existed, the Food Network itself would be an eligible participant.
Oh, yes, I would watch a show all about Mags and helen. I would watch ten shows about Mags and Helen. #Justified
Follow @GoodTVeets
Labels:
american idol,
justified,
tveets
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
UK Product Placement
Erin Copple Smith discusses the recent implementation of product placement on British TV.
Labels:
advertising,
britain,
international,
marketing,
product placement,
regulation
Katims Interview
Vlada Gelman interviews Parenthood and Friday Night Lights producer Jason Katims.
Labels:
characters,
drama,
friday night lights,
narrative,
parenthood,
showrunners
Prime-Time Ratings: Tuesday
Fast nationals: NCIS and Dancing With the Stars had the biggest numbers last night. Broadcast finals. Cable ratings: Deadliest Catch came back strong.
In other ratings news, once football ended, NBC lost ground to Univision in 18-49.
In other ratings news, once football ended, NBC lost ground to Univision in 18-49.
Labels:
daily ratings,
demographics,
football,
nbc,
ratings,
tuesday ratings,
univision
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