Picture This
Tom Umstead focuses on TV programming in his column.
Butler: Aspire To Reflect Positive Images Of African-American Community
Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s new cable network Aspire will offer African-American-themed programming that emphasizes faith, family and community, according to new Aspire general manager Paul Butler. I recently spoke to Butler about the Aspire brand and well as the network’s launch plans in a wide-ranging interview that appears below. TU: How would you describe the Aspire b ...... Read More
Comments (1)Cable Gets Nostalgic
Over this summer and fall, a number of cable networks are going back to the future with remakes of several series and movies, in hopes of standing out in an otherwise crowded programming marketplace. TNT in June will resurrect iconic TV characters J.R. and Bobby Ewing in a remake of the hit 1980s drama Dallas. Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy are a lot grayer than they were during the original show ...... Read More
Comments (0)White: UFC On Fox, Mayweather-Cotto Won't KO Each Other
UFC president Dana White is not concerned about scheduling Saturday’s UFC on Fox 3 live telecast up against HBO Sports’ Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto pay-per-view boxing event. In fact, White told me during a UFC/Fox Sports luncheon yesterday in New York that the same-day scheduling actually works well for both entities and won’t cannibalize viewers. “I love it. On a ni ...... Read More
Comments (0)Nets Flip The Script At Upfronts
This year’s cable network upfronts have thus far produced the typical laundry list of original scripted comedies and dramas, as well as competition reality shows and the occasional game show. What’s interesting about this upfront season is not so much the shows themselves, but the networks that are flipping their programming strategies to try new content formats. BET will most ...... Read More
Comments (0)Disney's 'Gravity Falls' Teaser Spots Seek To Scare Up Fans
Disney Channel hopes to build momentum for the June launch of its new animated series Gravity Falls by launching five commercial spots that tell a spooky story involving the show’s main tween-aged characters. The spots give Disney Channel the opportunity to introduce viewers to Gravity Falls, in which twin kids Dipper and Mabel Pines face unique adventures as they spend their summer vacat ...... Read More
Comments (0)Schleiff: Planet Green Turning Red, White And Blue
Discovery Communications is re-branding yet another of its digital channels, turning its ecology and environment-themed Planet Green into Destination America, a broadly-focused network that will celebrate the people, places, and stories of the United States. I spoke to Destination America president and general manager Henry Schleiff about the strategy behind Planet Green’s re-brand and what ...... Read More
Comments (0)WWE Taps Social Media To Entice WrestleMania PPV Buys
The WWE is looking to pin down pay-per-view buys for this Sunday’s WrestleMania XXVIII event through a late, heavy social media marketing blitz. The organization will stream live content leading up to its marquee PPV event on YouTube, Facebook and WWE.com as part of an overall social media push that it hopes will convince viewers to fork over the suggested $55 retail price for the PPV show, ...... Read More
Comments (1)BabyFirst Americas Looking To Cultivate Young Minds
I recently caught up with BabyFirst Americas vice president of programming Mario Solis Marich and CEO/chairman Constantino “Said” Schwarz to talk about the new Hispanic-targeted kids network that’s set to launch later this Spring. The two executives discussed the concept behind BabyFirst Americas – one of four multicultural-themed networks to launch on Comcast Cable sys ...... Read More
Comments (0)Digital Diversity By The Numbers
Multicultural viewers are more likely to consider cutting the cable cord and getting their TV fix through alternative distribution platforms, according to a new multicultural digital-media report from Horowitz Associates. The move is being led by Hispanics, who are 18% likely or very likely to cancel TV service altogether and not replace it in the near future, compared to 13% of white urban multic ...... Read More
Comments (0)Magic Johnson `Aspires' To Fill Multicultural TV Void
NBA Hall-of-Famer and business entrepreneur Ervin “Magic” Johnson will soon play on the cable industry’s court with the summer launch of Aspire, an African-American targeted, family-themed basic cable service. I recently talked to Johnson about his plans for Aspire, one of four multicultural-themed networks to launch on Comcast Cable systems over the next two years as part of ...... Read More
Comments (0)No Mayweather-Pacquiao Bout Would Be a Blow
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao announced earlier this month that they will step in the ring this spring. The problem is that they won’t be fighting each other.That’s been the song the cable industry has been singing for the better part of two years. Everyone associated with the sport and the PPV industry knows that a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight would most likely draw the biggest p ...... Read More
Comments (1)What ‘Soul Train’ Set in Motion
The television industry lost a pioneer earlier this month in Soul Train producer and host Don Cornelius. Cornelius broke down walls with the three-decade run of his syndicated series, self-dubbed “the hippest trip in America” because of its culture-defining, trend-setting content. He opened TV’s doors to African-American performers, actors, producers and writers both in front ...... Read More
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