Time Warner Cable and CBS play chicken. Sotelo exit plot twist.
After the coffee. Before figuring out when to sneak a nap.
The Skinny: I worked from 5:30 a.m. to midnight Monday so I’m very groggy this morning. You can thank me later for making sure no one missed one minute of the craziness between Time Warner Cable and CBS. And remember, I’m not getting paid what the big shots at those two media giants are pulling down. Besides that story, Tuesday’s news includes the real story behind radio personality Eddie “Piolin†Sotelo’s exit from Univision and Sinclair Broadcast Group strikes a deal for Allbritton Communications.
Daily Dose: OWN, the cable channel co-owned by Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications, appears to be finally turning the corner. On its second-quarter earnings call Tuesday morning, Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav said OWN is now cash-flow positive. Much of the credit goes to higher distribution fees and the addition of two shows from producer Tyler Perry.
Game of chicken. On Monday, Time Warner Cable and CBS took viewers and the media on a roller coaster ride. The two companies, unable to hammer out a new distribution deal to keep CBS-owned properties including TV stations in Los Angeles and New York City on Time Warner Cable systems, kept agreeing to a short-term extension. Then, at 9 p.m. PDT, Time Warner Cable yanked the CBS signals off its systems and told customers no deal could be reached. But just a few minutes later the networks were back on. There is still no agreement and now the new temporary deadline is Friday afternoon. Wake me then. Coverage of all this distribution drama from the Los Angeles Times and New York Times.
PHOTOS: Hollywood backlot moments
More to the story. The removal last week of popular radio personality Eddie “Piolin†Sotelo by Univision had to do with accusations of sexual harassment against him. According to the Los Angeles Times, Alberto “Beto†Cortez, a writer, producer and performer on the “Piolin por la Manana†morning radio show, charged that Sotelo was “physically, sexually and emotionally harassing†to him. Sotelo’s lawyer denied the claims.
Big is the new big. The massive wave of consolidation in the local television station business continued Monday with Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group buying Allbritton Communications for $985 million. The deal gives Sinclair, already one of the operators of TV stations, seven more stations including WJLA-TV in Washington. Sinclair will also own Allbritton’s Washington-based local news cable network NewsChannel 8, which will boost its presence on Capitol Hill. Overall, Sinclair owns or operates well over 100 outlets. More on the deal from the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal and Broadcasting & Cable.
Have a cow man. Already one of the most popular and financially successful series in television history, Fox’s “The Simpsons†is poised to make even more money. While reruns of the hit cartoon have populated local TV stations for years, repeats of the show have never been sold to a cable channel. The reasons for that are too complicated to explain here, but now 20th Century Fox is going to start shopping it to cable channels and there will likely be lots of eager buyers. Details from TV Guide.
PHOTOS: Celebrities by The Times
Together Again. It wasn’t that long ago that Bob and Harvey Weinstein were angry at Walt Disney Co. over how the media giant ran their production company Miramax. Now Disney and the Weinsteins -- who now operate The Weinstein Co. -- are teaming up on a movie based on the Artemis Fowl young adult book series. Guess time heals all wounds. Reuters on the reunion.
If only this was televised. Wendi Murdoch has hired a new lawyer to handle her divorce from media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The New York Times says she tapped William Zabel, who represented Jane Welch in her divorce battle with then-General Electric boss Jack Welch. Murdoch had been represented by Pamela Sloan but apparently felt that she needed more independent counsel.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: Madison Square Garden Co., the new owners of the legendary Forum in Inglewood, have big plans re-energize the facility and take on Staples Center.
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