Cable360: C-SPAN Carries K Mart; IFC in Hotels; Esquire Gets MoJo
Watch It On C-SPAN, Analysis on Bloomberg
Talk about transparency in government. C-SPAN 2 will carry tomorrow’s FCC session, beginning at 9:30 am ET [early Tues the meeting was re-scheduled to begin at 11 am ET]. As if we had to tell you, the Commission is set to consider a vote on Chairman Kevin Martin’s proposal that would expand FCC powers over the cable industry.
To get primed for tomorrow’s action (as if), tonight on Bloomberg’s Money & Politics (7 & 9pm ET), Adam Thierer of the CATO Institute and Andrew Schwartzman, President of the Media Access Project, will discuss the 70/70 rule and give their take on Martin’s proposal for new regs. Tomorrow on Money and Politics, Bloomberg’s Peter Cook interviews NCTA chief Kyle McSlarrow following the FCC’s meeting and vote.
Tennis Anyone?
Tennis Channel and VERSUS will provide coverage of the 2007 Davis Cup final starting Friday, as the US hosts defending-champ Russia on hard courts in Portland, OR. It’s the first time in 15 years that the US has hosted the Davis Cup; and it hasn’t hoisted the Cup since 1995. VERSUS will carry all matches live, beginning at 4 p.m. ET Friday and Sunday, and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, followed by nightly replays on Tennis Channel at 10 p.m. ET.
IFC Films On Command
IFC Entertainment today announced an expansion in its day-and-date distribution model for select independent films. Certain films from IFC’s theatrical catalog will be available in hotel room televisions via LodgeNet’s On Command platform the same day they are released theatrically and on demand. The films will be available in hotel rooms under the Special Premieres category.
Switched on the TiVo!
NCTA and TiVo said today cable operators will introduce an external adapter next year that will enable TiVo DVRs equipped with CableCARDs to access switched digital channels without a set top box.
[Read the announcement]
Guiding Savannah
TV Guide Network is renewing its Making News reality series franchise that focuses on local television news outlets. Next season’s subject on Making News: Savannah Style (June 2 premiere) will be the crews at ABC affiliate WJCL-TV and FOX affiliate WTGS-TV in the coastal town of Savannah, Georgia. Both stations are owned by New Vision Television, which hired a new GM after the previous one was arrested for embezzling funds. Last season’s Making News: Texas Style (Odessa, Texas) was the network’s top-rated original series last summer.
Ascending to HD
Ascent Media Systems & Technology Services said it has completed the transition and upgrade of six Discovery television networks to HD. Ascent didn’t name the six, but said it is responsible for “the design and construction of Discovery’s HD infrastructure at its Sterling, VA, origination facility within an accelerated, six-month timeframe.” That facility supports origination and programming for: Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC and The Science Channel.
Hunn Does Sundance
Andrew Hunn was named VP, Affiliate Sales, Sundance Channel. Hunn has been with Rainbow since 1991, most recently as director, national accounts.
NFL Net’s Big Game
Here we go. As we said this morning, a version of the anti-NFL Network column will begin to flood the system when sportswriters wake up to the fact that most of America will miss seeing Thursday night’s Packers at Cowboys game. The matchup between the pair of 10-1 teams will be carried only on NFL Network. Here’s a version of the column by Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic, who bashes NFL Net more than he does cable operators.
[Arizona Republic]
Mad Men’s Woman
Good way to start the post-Thanksgiving season. Rainbow Media upped our friend Theano Apostolou to VP of publicity, talent relations and promotional events for AMC. Apostolou will lead AMC’s consumer communications for original series, movie franchises, and industry events. Previously Apostolou served as VP of public relations for AMC and WE tv. Apostolou and her team created much buzz for original series Mad Men (of course, that the series was critically acclaimed didn’t hurt). In the coming year she’ll oversee all press for the January premiere of original series Breaking Bad.
Esquire’s Mojo
Esquire Magazine and HD channel MOJO are embarking on a strategic partnership that will result in Take it from Esquire, on-camera interstitials emphasizing style and service info from Esquire. The series of interstitials will run some 30 to 45 seconds and cover topics ranging from how to grill the perfect steak to wardrobe tips. The partnership spans across platforms, including video, online and print. The interstitials eventually will be found online and on other platforms.
