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ArchivesMore Than A Sporting Chance
Posted by Tom Umstead on August 19, 2008
Thus far, NBC's Summer Olympics coverage from Beijing has pulled significant audiences in the first week of its two-week coverage blitz – a clear sign that marquee sporting events on television can still draw huge audiences within a very competitive landscape. Cable Remembers Mac And Hayes
Posted by Tom Umstead on August 12, 2008
Last night CNN’s Larry King Live remembered Mac, who died Saturday at the age of 50 from complications due to pneumonia, with a star-studded tribute show. Comedians D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer and Steve Harvey –who along with Mac appeared in the Original Kings Of Comedy tour and film – appeared on the show. The 50 year-old Mac gained prominence as a standup comedian, but also won praise for his acting on the big screen in the Ocean Eleven franchise a...Read More Foreman Says Boxing Needs A Hero
Posted by Tom Umstead on July 16, 2008
BET Awards Show Doesn’t Strike High Ratings Chord
Posted by Tom Umstead on June 25, 2008
BET hit numerous high notes last night during its annual BET Awards presentation. Too bad one of them wasn't from a viewership standpoint. The show's 5.8 million viewers – while among the largest audiences for a non-sports cable show this year -- was the lowest for the industry’s most-watched awards show since 5.4 million viewers tuned into the 2004 BET Awards event. More than 6.3 million viewers viewed last year's show and caught performances from Beyonce, Diddy, T.I. Stevie Wonder, 50 Cent and others. On paper, this year's roster of performers looked to be one of the show's best ever. From hip-hop artist Lil' Wayne, who's latest album became the first of the year to debut with more than 1 million units sold, to perennial hit makers like Chris Brown, Alicia Ke...Read More Cable’s Summer Job
Posted by Tom Umstead on June 9, 2008
Summer doesn't officially begin for another three weeks, but for the broadcast networks school is already out and vacation has begun. Take A Bite Out Of Apple
Posted by Tom Umstead on May 12, 2008
Apple recently took another step toward its goal of total consumer-entertainment dominance when it struck deals to offer major Hollywood studio movies via its online iTunes Store at the same time those movies hit the video shelves at Blockbuster. So now, millions of consumers with those now-famous white earplugs affixed to their heads, listening to the latest Jordin Sparks tune, will also be able to download American Gangster to their iPods at the same time the movie hits their mailboxes via Netflix. Apparently, the studios no longer believe distribution via the Web or other alternative platforms at the same time those titles come out on DVD will hurt the multibillion-dollar DVD-rental business. ...Read More What's The Big Deal?
Posted by Tom Umstead on April 29, 2008
The magical, sanitized ride of Disney Channel's billion dollar baby Miley Cyrus came to a crashing halt this past weekend when semi-nude photos of the wholesome 15-year old Hannah Montana star were released as part of a photo shoot for the upcoming issue of ...Read More Networks In A Dance-Off
Posted by Tom Umstead on April 2, 2008
Fuse may have been on to something after all. The music network’s Pants-Off Dance-Off show was labeled the “dumbest show on television” by TV Guide when it launched in 2004. Yet millions of viewers tuned in anyway to see everyday people take it all off while dancing to the beat of their favorite tunes. TNT Hopes To Rocket Ratings With NBA Game
Posted by Tom Umstead on March 17, 2008
Turner Network Television has a gem of a NBA telecast tomorrow (March 18) when the Houston Rockets look to continue it’s incredible 22-game winning streak against the league’s best team, the Boston Celtics. TNT owes whatever good ratings fortunes the game delivers to Greg Oden’s bum knee. The rare Tuesday night telecast between the league’s hottest team and the team with the NBA's best record was set last December. The network had originally scheduled the Portland Trailblazers-Phoenix Suns game for tomorrow night’s prime-time slot, but Oden’s season-ending knee injury at the time mitigated the overall appeal of that contest. TNT successfully convinced the league to switch its telecast to the Boston-Houston game to take advantage of growing fan interest in the dominant Celt...Read More Putting Ads On VOD Menu
Posted by Tom Umstead on March 11, 2008
For Cablevision Systems subscribers, last week’s introduction of free video on demand from Scripps Networks’ Food Network and HGTV looked better than a plate of Paula Dean’s southern fried chicken. But one ingredient in the recipe could leave a bitter aftertaste with some viewers: All Food and HGTV on-demand programs include helpings of ads.
Food Network on-demand shows, from such series as Good Eats, feature four 15- to 30-second network promo spots in each episode — four more than Cablevision viewers are used to experiencing during the mostly subscription-based on-demand fare from networks ranging from HBO to Disney Channel.
Still, the exposure to ads...Read More MMA Deals Put Boxing On The Ropes
Posted by Tom Umstead on March 4, 2008
Showtime’s March 1 boxing telecast featuring Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez was a delight for ring sports enthusiasts. The fight, in which both 122-pound warriors battled and battered each other over 12 action packed rounds in the rubber match of their fight trilogy, will certainly be a contender for fight of the year.
Too bad only 15.5 million Showtime pay TV subscribers could witness the slugfest (Showtime will air a replay of the event tonight (March 4) at 10 p.m. and March 5 at 11 p.m.). ...Read More TV's Casting Call Has An Image Problem
Posted by Tom Umstead on February 27, 2008
Earlier this month the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) handed out its annual Image Awards celebrating African-American achievements in the entertainment business.
With regard to television shows, TBS’ Tyler Perry House of Payne, Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven and CW’s Everybody Hates Chris deservedly took home honors in the best comedy, best kids and best comedy writing categories respectively.
The shows would have also merited praise if the civil rights organization offered awards in the category of best shows on television featuring predominately African-Amer...Read More
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