NBC UNIVERSAL CHIEF LOSES A THIRD OF HIS PAY

NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke had his compensation slashed by more than a third in 2011, according to an SEC filing. Not that the reduction will inspire much distress. Burke wound up the year with $23.7 million versus $34.7 million he received the previous year. Also taking a significant cut in pay was Burke’s boss, […]

NBC ALIGNS ALL ITS CABLE NETWORKS FOR SMASH RERUN

Six cable networks owned by NBC Universal will simultaneously broadcast a rerun of the pilot episode of NBC’s Smash tonight from midnight to 1:00 a.m. In a statement, the company called the simulcast, which will air from midnight to 1:00 a.m. a “cable roadblock,” presumably suggesting that viewers clicking their remotes to see what’s on […]

MEDIA CAUGHT IN MARKET WHIRLWIND

Like a TV reporter hanging on to a light pole during a hurricane, the media drew attention to itself Thursday as the Dow plunged 512 points. For some media companies, the nosedive was far greater than the overall setback. CBS Corp., which is the least diversified of all the major media companies and primarily depends […]

NBC WINS OLYMPICS — THROUGH 2020

In a surprise announcement, the International Olympic Committee said today (Tuesday) that NBC has won U.S. rights to broadcast the next four Olympic Games. The network had been vying against Fox and ABC/ESPN and had been considered an unlikely prospect to win out. Its rivals had promised more live broadcasts, and NBC for the first […]

AN FCC COMMISSIONER HEADS TO COMCAST

Barely four months after voting to approve Comcast’s takeover of NBC Universal, FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell is stepping down from the broadcasting regulator to become a lobbyist for Comcast. The broadcast/cable giant maintained, however, that it did not begin discussions with Attwell about taking the job until after the FCC had approved the deal. Official […]

NBC GETTING $200 MILLION FOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Steve Burke, the new president of NBC Universal, will be pumping $200 million of mostly Comcast money into program development for the broadcast network in hopes of making it competitive again. As reported by today’s (Thursday) New York Post, most of those funds will go towards revamping the 10:00 p.m. time period, a period that […]

HULU’S SUPPLIERS TO EARN $300 MILLION IN 2011

Hulu said on Wednesday that it’s on track to produce some $300 million in revenue for its content suppliers. While that might appear to be a huge figure, it actually amounts to just about $820,000 per day divided among 264 content partners or an average of $3,000 per day for each. Nevertheless, Jason Kilar, Hulu’s […]

OLBERMANN EXIT COULD HIT NBC-U’S EARNINGS

Outgoing NBC Universal bosses may have boasted in the past that growing revenue from its cable networks has more than offset sliding revenue from its NBC broadcast network, but the departure of Keith Olbermann is likely to see MSNBC’s revenue drop significantly. “It could bring down the average rating [of the network],” Gary Carr, of […]

HULU POSTPONES IPO

Still searching for a way to recycle television shows profitably online, video website Hulu.com has reportedly postponed plans to offer an IPO and may pursue other options to raise funds needed to broaden its content. According to the Wall Street Journal, Hulu chief Jason Kilar and senior Hulu board members from Hulu partners News Corp, […]

NBC UNIVERSAL SETS UP SYFY FILMS

Taking a cue from other media conglomerates that have encouraged their cable networks to move into the movie business, NBC Universal is setting up SyFy Films, with authority to produce low budget ($5-25 million) sci-fi, fantasy, and horror movies. In an interview with Broadcasting and Cable magazine, SyFy President Dave Howe said that while Battlestar […]

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