At 8:00 PM on NBC, It’s Reality Only October 20, 2006 9:54 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Television.add a comment
As part of its restructuring plan announced by NBC Universal, NBC will no longer program any scripted series in the 8:00 PM time-period on weeknights beginning next season.
Citing increased development and production costs as the reasoning, NBC network chief Jeff Zucker has announced plans to replace all drama in the time-period with reality or game-shows only. “It’s good economics,” Zucker says, “concentrate the high-cost shows at 10 p.m. and the inexpensive game and reality shows at 8 p.m., and you won’t need to air as many expensive shows.”
Only time will tell if this strategy will pay off, but one wonders what will happen to the few shows currently airing in the 8PM time-period. Those shows include “Friday Night Lights” on Tuesday, “30 Rock” and “Twenty Good Years” on Wednesday, and “My Name Is Earl” and “The Office” on Thursday nights.
The CW Picks Up Full Seasons of “The Game” and “7th Heaven” October 20, 2006 8:35 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Television.add a comment
The CW has given a full-season order to its only remaining new show this season, “The Game”. Its other new series, “Runaway”, has already been canceled.
The series hasn’t faired that well in the ratings, but it has done well in one of the networks key demos (W18-34), holding onto 95% of its lead-in “Girlfriends”.
“The Game” has averaged 2.69M viewers through three new episodes this season.
“7th Heaven” was also given a go-ahead on a full season order.
King Of The Hill Returns In January October 20, 2006 7:02 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Television.add a comment
The 11th season of “King of the Hill” will premiere Sunday, January 21st at 7:30 PM on FOX.
Created and exec-produced by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, “King of the Hill” is the second-longest running sitcom behind another Fox show, “Simpsons”.
The season finale this past May was expected to be the show’s last airing, and Fox even decided against returning it, but they had a change of heart late in the game, and decided to return the show as a mid-season replacement.
The 10th season opened with 7.15M viewers, before settling into an average of 5.68M viewers a week through 15 new episodes.
“October Road” Picked Up By ABC October 20, 2006 2:01 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in New Show Orders, Television.add a comment
ABC has ordered six episodes of the drama “October Road”.
The series stars Tom Berenger as a young novelist who returns home to teach at a local university.
Amazon Adds to Unbox Service With A Few Showtime Series October 20, 2006 2:01 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Television, Video Downloads.add a comment
Amazon has added a few more television shows to their recently debuted Video Download service titled Unbox.
The series, which will be sold individually for $1.99 each or at a slight discount if purchased by season, include “Weeds,” “Sleeper Cell,” and “Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, and the pilot episode of new series “Dexter”, which will be sold for only one cent.
In An Effort To Bring Total Spending Down, NBC Universal Will Cut more than 700 Jobs October 20, 2006 2:00 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Television.add a comment
NBC Universal is cutting about 700 jobs to save the company about $750 million in spending.
The restructuring follows a July initiative that NBC Universal Television Group President Jeffrey Zucker billed as a comprehensive review of a media business that needs to change with evolving digital technologies. The company has been challenged by a ratings decline at NBC that is only beginning to turn around, and NBCU last week said second quarter profit dipped 10 percent from a year earlier.
The new plan, dubbed NBCU 2.0, will bring big changes for the news division, which has been the focus of the most persistent job-cut rumors. The boldest stroke will move MSNBC to NBC News’s Manhattan headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza from the cable channel’s New Jersey home of 10 years.
For more on this news, please follow the link to the source.
ABC Gives Full Season Order To “Brothers & Sisters” October 20, 2006 1:59 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Renewals, Television.3 comments
“Brothers & Sisters” will have a chance to play out its full season, as ABC has given the go ahead on the back nine.
Though the series has not been able to match the performance of former time-period holder “Grey’s Anatomy”, it consistently performs well in A18-49, where it is currently the second highest rated freshman series in the demo (behind “Heroes”).
Through 4 episodes, the series has averaged 13.58M viewers and a 4.9 A18-49 rating.
ABC gives “Ugly Betty” A Full Season Order October 13, 2006 8:28 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in New Show Orders, News, Television.1 comment so far
“Ugly Betty” joins “Heroes” and “Jericho” as the only new shows of the season to be given a full season commitment.
ABC announced today in a press release.
The series has shown strong performance in three weeks on the air, averaging 15.3M viewers and a 4.7/13 A18-49 rating.
Follow the link to read the press release.
TV Notes: Schedule Changes/Orders October 12, 2006 9:12 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Fall 2006 TV, News, Television.add a comment
Schedule Changes
Medium
Starting November 15th, “Medium” will air in “Kidnapped’s” former time-period (Wednesday at 10:00 PM).
Last season, the show averaged 11.1M viewers a week, with a 4.1/10 A18-49 rating.
3 lbs.
Previously rumored, now confirmed by CBS, the new drama “3 lbs.” will be placed in the schedule starting Tuesday, November, 14th. It will occupy the now vacated time-period of the canceled “Smith”.
Back Nine Orders
Jericho
CBS has given a full-season order to the successful new drama “Jericho”.
The show is currently averaging 11.3 million viewers a week and a 3.4/10 A18-49 rating.
It is only the second new series this fall to receive a full season commitment (the other being “Heroes”).
TV Notes: Schedule Changes/Additions (“Medium”, “3 lbs.”) October 11, 2006 8:25 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Television.1 comment so far
“Medium” may be tapped to fill in for the time-period now vacated by “Kidnapped”, according to sources. From Broadcasting & Cable:
NBC is expected to bring back Medium to replace the relocated Kidnapped Wednesdays at 10.
While NBC isn’t commenting, sources with knowledge of the situation said the network is planning on bringing the veteran drama back onto the schedule in coming weeks, though it will continue to monitor Dateline in that slot.
CBS is also said to be mulling over a decision to put their new drama 3 lbs (starring Stanley Tucci and Mark Feuerstein) about surgeons in the time-period where “Smith” was airing; Tuesday’s at 10:00 PM.
Neither report has been confirmed from the networks involved.
Your Entertainment Now 