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Tom Umstead focuses on TV programming in his column.
Mayweather, Mosley Bowling In Miami
Among the hoard of fans, celebrities, groupies and media converging on Miami this weekend for Super Bowl XLIV are pro boxers Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr.-“Sugar” Shane Mosley. Now that their May 1 welterweight pay-per-view battle is set in stone, HBO Sports is wisely looking to get as much exposure for the fighters as possible by showcasing them in front of ...... Read More
Comments (1)'Heights' No Longer Making History
Feb. 1 marked the start of Black History Month, and as with every February in recent years a number of cable networks are showcasing various specials, movies, and original programming fare highlighting African American excellence on the small screen. Unfortunately this February also marks the departure of ad-supported cable network’s only scripted drama series with a predominantly African-A ...... Read More
Comments (0)Cable Takes TCA Stage
Now that NBC’s newest reality series The Jay, Conan and Jeff Show has left the stage at the Winter Television Critics Association press tour , its now time for the cable industry to shine in Pasadena. Several of the industry’s top cable programmers including HBO, Discovery, MTV, Nat Geo, AMC and FX are gearing up for presentations to TV Critics during the last three days of the two-w ...... Read More
Comments (0)Pacquiao-Mayweather Fight On the Ropes
Promoters for the proposed March 13 Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight dropped some coal in boxing fans’ stockings over the Christmas holiday as a feud over drug testing has put the blockbuster fight – which looked all but done two weeks ago — in jeopardy of completely falling apart. According to ESPN.com, the Mayweather camp has insisted that Pacquiao – who has won ...... Read More
Comments (1)SAG, Globes Give Little Love To Cable Comedies
The biggest surprise from this week’s Golden Globes, Writer’s Guild and SAG Award nominations in the television category was the lack of love given to cable’s quality comedy series. I know broadcast television is in the midst of a comedy sitcom revival after it all but abandoned the genre once Everybody Loves Raymond went off the air, but cable has been mining the space recent ...... Read More
Comments (0)Marlon Steps To The Mike About `Jacksons' Reality Series
On the eve of the Dec. 13 premiere of A&E’s reality series “The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty,” I had a chance to talk to Marlon Jackson to get his take on the six-part series that takes a behind-the-scenes look at the famous musical family. Marlon also talks about some of his other projects along with his feelings about potentially appearing onstage in a Jackson 5 reuni ...... Read More
Comments (1)Life After ‘Monk’
USA Network tonight (Dec. 4) brings the curtain down on its Emmy-award winning dramedy series Monk after seven seasons. I recently spoke to USA Network president Bonnie Hammer about the impact Monk and actor Tony Shalhoub’s portrayal of the series’ lovable, obsessive-compulsive lead character has had in driving USA to become basic cable’s leader in the development of suc ...... Read More
Comments (0)Potential March Madness For PPV Boxing
March 13 is now the proposed date for a potential Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. pay-per-view fight. ESPN.com is reporting that the undefeated five-time world champion Mayweather has agreed to terms to fight the recognized pound-for-pound boxing champion Pacquiao on March 13 in what could be the richest PPV boxing match in history. Boxing promoter Bob Arum was headed yesterday to Pacqui ...... Read More
Comments (0)Disney XD Googles Movie Marketing Campaign
Disney XD’s marketing campaign for its Nov. 27 original movie Skyrunners is literally out of this world. The kids-oriented network has teamed with Google to give users visiting the Google/Skyrunners website the chance to watch online an unidentified flying object land right in front of their homes. In association with the Google Maps feature, Disney XD is providing users who typ ...... Read More
Comments (1)Pacquiao Win Sets Up Potential Mayweather Matchup
Now that Manny Pacquiao has disposed of former welterweight champ Miquel Cotto, the drumbeat has already begun for a 2010 showdown between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. At the end of Pacquiao’s 12-round decisive TKO of Cotto last night, which gave Pacquiao an unprecedented seventh title in seven different weight classes, much of the sold out crowd at the MGM Grand Arena at Las Vegas beg ...... Read More
Comments (0)Big Month For VOD Pix
November’s video-on-demand movie lineup, featuring nearly a dozen titles premiering on the same day and date as their home-video release, is close to the business touchdown that cable operators have always envisioned for the platform. With big box-office titles like Sony’s The Da Vinci Code sequel Angels and Demons ($133 million at the box office) and The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 ($64 ...... Read More
Comments (0)Viewers Still Watching Television At Record Levels
So much for viewers ditching the television set for the computer. Nielsen today (Nov. 10) reported that Americans spent an all time high four hours and 49 minutes a day on average in front of the TV during the 2008-09 television season. According to the report, the amount of TV viewing per individual was up four minutes from the prior TV season and up 20% from 10 years ago. The average household w ...... Read More
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