Devoted to show business and the entertainment industry

Using data from Nielsen Media Research, Jack Wakshlag, head of research for Time Warner's (TWX) Turner Broadcasting System, showed that TV viewership has been growing and not declining. Of course he picked the data that showed the best side of the Turner stations. But it still reflects a reality that we occasionally get into at bizofshowbiz.

First of all, dating from 2001, TV viewing has grown by 8% as a whole. When you divide that into five years, it's barely over a 1% growth rate. All that growth is connected to the cable stations.

Concerning CBS (CBS-A), News Corp.'s (NWS) Fox, General Electric's (GE) NBC and the Walt Disney Co.'s (DIS) ABC networks, the news isn't good. Five years ago, viewers watched a total of 11.1 hours a week, while now it's down to 9.6 on the big four.

Citing the data from Nielsen, Wakshlag boasted on how the five top sitcoms on cable were connected to TBS. The problem is, like we said last post, is that they are dropping in viewers extremely fast also; about half as many as last year.

Speaking at a conference, president and COO of News Corp. (NWS-A), Peter Chernin talked about the next several years and what it would bring News Corp.One of the things he asserted was that they should be able to sustain double-digit... Continue Reading

In an interview with the Hollywood Wiretap, Chronicles of Narnia producer Mark Johnson offers some insights into the current state of Hollywood. He is currently in pre-production on the next installment of the Narnia series: "Prince Caspian." In confirmation of... Continue Reading

Mel Gibson chastised Hollywood producers for the endless amount of offerings that involve "sequel after sequel." He added that the present movie goers are a lot smarter than studio heads give them credit for.Before he ever released "Passion Of The... Continue Reading

Another sign that the Motion Picture Association of America Inc. (MPAA) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) are struggling is their Holiday Blitz campaign. Rather than concentrate on marketing their product, they're instead still trying to play piracy... Continue Reading

With Hollywood in the midst of a reality check, I think it offers an opportunity for independent filmmakers to rise to the front, if they offer quality films as a legitimate alternative.As one writer recently said concerning the current disruption... Continue Reading

In the midst of a long-term disruption in the industry, the 4 big tv networks have to be happy that they have a slight increase in viewership for the year so far, increasing by 2% collectively, which equals about a... Continue Reading

The NFL is being challenged concerning its practice of granting exclusivity to certain carriers or controlling the tier where cable operators can offer NFL programming. Jeffrey Pash, NFL executive vp told the Senate Judiciary Committee "The centerpiece of the NFL's... Continue Reading

In a move made to help combat DVD piracy in China, News Corp. (NWS-A), through their 20th Century Fox film division will start to sell movies in China through Zoke Culture Group, which is the largest video distributor in China.... Continue Reading

Starz, LLC has announced that they are forming a new studio called Overture Films. The goal of the company is to offer between 8 to 12 full-length films a year; whether they produce them or buy them. One of the... Continue Reading

Fresh off of their tremendous upswing in profits for the fourth quarter, based upon their successful movie offerings of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," and Pixar's "Cars," Disney says through their CEO Bog Iger that payoff from their... Continue Reading

For the second straight week, Sacha Baron Cohen's "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" took the No. 1 box office spot, with an estimated $29 million for the weekend. The 10-day total for the... Continue Reading

With expenses for its new horror channel, FEARNet, higher than budgeted for, Lionsgate Entertainment Corp. (LGF) reported higher quarterly loss than expected. The result was a 3.76 percent drop in its share price, or 40 cents. Lionsgate Chief Executive Jon... Continue Reading

With expectations high, the Walt Disney Co. (DIS) didn't disappoint, as the share price rose to a five-year high in antipation of its fourth-quarter earnings report. The company reported on Thursday that its quarterly profits more than doubled, with results... Continue Reading

With the upcoming launch of "Babel," director Alejandro González Iñárritu will complete the last piece of his trilogy. Starting with the tiny-budgeted Amores Perros, Iñárritu has developed a reputation of being a tremendous storyteller with the ability to also put... Continue Reading

Frustrated with their venture into China, along with changes that no longer allow it to control its projects, Time Warner Inc. (TWX) is pulling out of the China movie business. Their initial reason for entering the Chinese market, was based... Continue Reading

Don't Count Us Out, an anti-Nielsen group backed by News Corp. (NWS), expressed its approval of a deal between Nielsen and News Corp. for the next eight years. The problem was the new local people meters that Nielsen introduced which... Continue Reading

Citing a new report from Nielsen Media Research, Media Daily News reported that the first blending of TV ratings and Nieslen//NetRatings online user panel concludes that TV viewing is 8 percent lower in Internet users' homes in the U.S. One... Continue Reading

The new CW network is struggling temendously as its ratings have decreased in the high double-digits. Through Oct. 29, ratings for 7th Heaven are down 33 percent, Gilmore Girls is down 22 percent, Smallville is down 22 percent and Supernatural... Continue Reading

With the new prime-time TV season over a month along, the results, for some, have been surprising. Some of the shows with the big names failed almost immediately, while other shows that there were no known actors on, have thrived.... Continue Reading