SOME FORECASTERS PREDICT COOLING OFF IN ’06
Fourth-quarter slowdown spurs debate over outlook.
CBS Corp.’s studio arm is changing its identity to CBS Paramount Television. Move comes amid speculation that Brad Grey may start his own TV division under the Viacom-based Paramount Pictures banner.
IRAN LIFTS BAN ON CNN AFTER APOLOGY
Country reverses itself after network apologizes for mistranslating comments by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Exclusives
VIVENDI TO DELIST ITSELF FROM NYSE
The French media-to-telecommunications conglomerate cited cost as one reason for plans to terminate its American depositary receipt program and delist American depositary shares from the NYSE.
NIELSEN OWNER GETS $8.9 BILLION BUYOUT OFFER
VNU sought by private equity investors group that includes AlpInvest Partners, Blackstone Group, Carlyle Group, Hellman & Friedman, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Permira and Thomas H. Lee Partners.
TV’s EVOLUTION BRINGS NEW PROFIT SQUABBLES
As the industry tinkers with formats such as video on demand, the players are ironing out who gets the money.
ABC CLEANS UP AT GOLDEN GLOBES
Its four wins is most among the networks, topping even HBO
BUENA VISTA SELLING ‘LIZZIE’ AND ‘STEVENS’
Buena Vista Television is taking Hilary Duff and Shia LaBeouf into broadcast syndication this fall.
COCA-COLA LIMITS CAA’s MARKETING ROLE
After 15 years , Coke and Creative Artists Agency are on the outs.
NAB’s REHR, NCTA’s McSLARROW FACE ’06
Both Kyle McSlarrow and David Rehr (in his first U.S. media interview since taking office) discuss the regulatory, technological and competitive challenges broadcasting and cable will grapple with this year.
GM SEES NORTH AMERICAN SALES SLIPPING
General Motors, which lost nearly $4 billion in the first three quarters of 2005, on Friday said sales in North America could slip in 2006 as it accelerates a cost-savings plan and moves to stanch losses.
MEDIA GROUPS PLAN MASSIVE AWARENESS PUSH
Major media organizations are planning to announce next week the launch of a massive awareness campaign designed to alert parents about readily available technologies that can block TV programming they consider inappropriate for their children.
USFR MEDIA BUYING KTBU HOUSTON
KTBU (ch. 55), an indie owned by Lakewood Church, has been purchased by a locally owned media company.
