Comedy and Comebacks as Networks Woo Advertisers with New TV Shows
May22

Comedy and Comebacks as Networks Woo Advertisers with New TV Shows

Despite the intense focus on new ways of doing business in the digital era, the broadcast networks clearly have a case of Everything Old Is New Again.   From reboots of “Roseanne” to “Dynasty,” “Will & Grace” to “S.W.A.T.,” and of course, “American Idol,” that was the key takeaway from the week of television upfronts held at venues across New York City.   Historically, NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, Univision and the CW showcase...

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Upfronts, Center and Sideways, All Over the Map for TV Hopefuls
May22

Upfronts, Center and Sideways, All Over the Map for TV Hopefuls

Attending upfronts is a bit like partaking in an all-you-can-eat buffet: something you do once a year–in which some of the offerings are pretty tasty, some inedible, several of which that are incredibly delicious and leave you hungering for more, others that can best be classified as comfort food, plus some new offerings sprinkled here and there throughout the line. It all amounts to the net effect of leaving you sated, if...

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Score! NBC has Three of the Top 10 Fall Shows with the Best Chance for Success
Aug21

Score! NBC has Three of the Top 10 Fall Shows with the Best Chance for Success

It won’t be long before fall TV shows hit the airwaves, and perhaps not much longer before some of them don’t make the cut. But there are strong indications from a new study about what shows are likely to hit it out of the park. Three of the top ten are on NBC, according to a study by NewMediaMetrics, which measures consumers’ emotional attachment to show concepts. For the past seven years, the study has logged an 80% accuracy rate....

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Summer TV Press Tour Broadcast Highlights, From Gothic Queens to Goofy Dads and Secret Agents
Aug14

Summer TV Press Tour Broadcast Highlights, From Gothic Queens to Goofy Dads and Secret Agents

For fourteen straight days – 15 if you include the opening night party thrown by Nat Geo, the Television Critics Association summer press tour took over the Beverly Hilton for its semi-annual look at participating networks’ programming. The nearly nonstop series of panels and parties give those who cover television multiple opportunities to have access to executives and talent, who field a wide array of questions from media members....

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Battle of the Network Parties
Aug09

Battle of the Network Parties

  It’s that time of year again when the television networks preview their fall programming for TV critics in a 10-day confab known as TCA Summer Press Tour, headquartered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.   After the daily panel sessions– where critics watch clips and then hammer  executives, producers and show talent with questions– it’s time to party and, um, network some more. Here is our rundown, and it...

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