Multichannel News

• OMD, CBS Vision Team Up On Marketing, Research Center
  
  John Eggerton, November 9, 2009
  Omnicom's OMD media agency is partnering with CBS Vision's Television City Research center in Las Vegas in a venture being branded as Communications Lab @ OMD. OMD said it would help shift audience research from "siloed and synthetic" to "integrated and organic."
  
• 'Hunt. Fish. Feed.' Begins Second Tour In Las Vegas This January
  
  Mike Reynolds, November 9, 2009
  Sportsman Channel and Safari Club International Foundation's Sportsmen Against Hunger will embark a 10-month "Hunt. Fish Feed Tour," with a an assist from a trio of cable operators.
  
• Public Safety Grant Extension Signed Into Law
  
  John Eggerton, November 9, 2009
  The president on Nov. 6 signed into law the bill extending the public safety grant program that uses funds from the auction of reclaimed TV station spectrum.
  
• IFC Greenlights Fourth Season Of `Whitest Kids'
  
  by R. Thomas Umstead, November 9, 2009
  IFC has renewed its sketch comedy series The Whitest Kids U' Know for a fourth season, the network announced Monday.
  
• Starz, QVC Drive Liberty's Q3 Performance
  
  Mike Farrell, November 9, 2009
  Gains at QVC and Starz Entertainment helped drive third-quarter advances for Liberty Interactive and Liberty Entertainment, as the latter moves closer to a reorganization that will create a new Liberty Starz stock.
  
• CableLabs Certifies Seven DOCSIS 3.0 Devices
  
  Todd Spangler, November 9, 2009
  CableLabs has certified six cable modems and voice/data devices for DOCSIS 3.0 specification in its latest certification wave from Cisco Systems, Motorola, Netgear, Juniper Networks, Thomson, Ubee Interactive and D-Link.
  
• Charter Posts Strong Q3
  
  Mike Farrell, November 9, 2009
  About three weeks after receiving notice that its reorganization plan has passed muster, Charter Communications reported third quarter financial results in line with its peers.
  
• Sunny Nielsen Skies For Fx's 'The League,' 'Philadelphia'
  
  Mike Reynolds, November 9, 2009
  FX's fantasy sports-centered comedy improved strongly with its second outing.
  
• Dish Notes: Operational Gains, Financial Weakness
  
  by Kent Gibbons, November 9, 2009
  Analysts working Dish Network’s numbers find operational gains amid financial weakness -- but said investors will love the surprise special dividend of $2 per share.
  
• Dish Posts Subscriber Gains
  
  by MCN Staff, November 9, 2009
  Dish Network said it added net 241,000 subscribers in the third quarter, a period when the satellite TV provider’s total revenue declined 1.5% year over year and net income declined.
  
• Upstart Ski Channel Lands Deal With Dish
  
  by R. Thomas Umstead, November 9, 2009
  The upstart Ski Channel last week sealed a long-term video-on-demand distribution deal with Dish Network, according to network officials.
  
• TV Guide Network, TV Land Gain Basic-Cable Rights To 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'
  
  Mike Reynolds, November 9, 2009
    In a joint acquisition, TV Guide Network and TV Land have secured basic-cable rights to Larry David's uncomfortable comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm.
  
• Setanta Sports Extends Top Rugby Properties Through 2014
  
  Mike Reynolds, November 8, 2009
  Setanta Sports has extended its exclusive U.S. rights to a number of the premier club rugby competitions in the northern hemisphere.
  
• Liao: A Fresh Eye To Speed Innovation
  
  by George Winslow, November 7, 2009
  At just five months into his new job as president and CEO of CableLabs, Paul Liao isn't hesitant to say that both the cable industry and its technology consortium stand on the cusp of a new era.
  
• Versus-DirecTV Remain At Distribution Impasse
  
  Mike Reynolds, November 7, 2009
    More than two months after their contract ended, Versus and DirecTV remain at distribution loggerheads, their impasse showing no signs of subsiding.
  
• Networks Hint At Ad-Sales Rebound
  
  by Mike Farrell, November 7, 2009
  The third-quarter financial reporting season kicked off last week, and early results are hinting that the cable advertising market may be starting to bounce back.
  
• Green: Creating Standards That Worked
  
  by George Winslow, November 7, 2009
    Ask any cable executive to highlight the technical accomplishments of CableLabs founding president and CEO Richard Green, and the conversation almost inevitably turns to DOCSIS and the creation of cable's high-speed data services.
  
• Net Neutrality: In Indie Studios’ Interest
  
  by John Eggerton, November 7, 2009
  Independent Film & Television Alliance president Prewitt talked to Multichannel News Washington bureau chief John Eggerton about the importance of the network-neutrality proposal to the future of her members, who produce and distribute independent TV and films.
  
• Ratings Real With Fifth Season Of Bravo's 'Orange County'
  
  MCN Staff, November 8, 2009
  Bravo's Orange County blondes are back with a Nielsen bounce.
  
• HGTV Builds With 'First-Time Home Buyers' Block
  
  MCN Staff, November 7, 2009
  HGTV continues to connect with viewers interested in first home purchases.