Television

Leading Kids’ TV Brand Will Be Included in Mediaset Premium Gallery

Milan, 29th May 2008 -- Disney Channel Italy today announced that from July 1st it will increase its reach by launching on pay digital terrestrial television (DTT), as part of the new Mediaset Premium Gallery offer.

This new step perfectly reflects the Company’s global strategy to make its programming available as widely as possible and to continually explore opportunities to take its programming to viewers via new platforms.    » read more »

Disney Channel Spain Set to Help Drive DTT Platform

London and Madrid, May 28, 2008 -- In a global first, Disney Channel Spain will launch on free Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) on Tuesday, 1 July, 2008, with the ability to reach all television viewers in Spain. The most popular kid’s channel in the country, Disney Channel debuted on pay cable in 1998 and will now launch on DTT as an ad-supported channel. It is expected to be a key driver of the adoption of Spain’s DTT platform, which will replace analogue terrestrial television and become the standard in 2010, reaching all Spanish homes. The announcement was made today at a presentation to advertisers and media in Madrid.    » read more »

Country’s Next Great Duo Moves from Television to the Recordning Studio after Receiving a Recording Contract with Sony BMG Nashville

NASHVILLE, June 3, 2008 – Thousands of hopefuls auditioned, but only two performing duos make the final cut to become country’s next great duo on the finale of the CMT music competition series CAN YOU DUET, from “American Idol” producers FremantleMedia North America. After weeks of rigorous auditions, performer boot camp and weekly performances in front of a live audience, the winning duo is announced on Friday, June 13 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, on CMT immediately following a new episode premiering at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.    » read more »

June 3, 2008 -- There has been some discussion around Monday Night RAW’s Memorial Day rating. Let’s put all this into perspective. First, over the past 13 weeks (3/3/08-5/26/08) Raw has averaged more weekly viewers than during the first 13 weeks following the show’s return to the USA Network in October 2005.

Even with a lower than usual rating, on Memorial Day, RAW was the #1 regularly scheduled cable program in primetime among households. RAW also was the #1 program on all primetime television among Persons 12-17 and the #2 television program among Males 12-17, Males 12-34, Males 18-34 and Persons 12-34.    » read more »

New Animated Reality Series Premieres Thursday, June 5, at 9 p.m. (ET, PT)

June 3, 2008 -- Thursday nights on Cartoon Network will become a lot more dramatic with the new animated reality series Total Drama Island from CAKE distribution. The animated series involves a group of spirited teen characters who sign up to star on a new reality series for a $100,000 prize.    » read more »

STAMFORD, Conn., June 3, 2008 – WWE® Chairman Vince McMahon will give away a total of $1 million dollars of his personal wealth each week beginning Monday, June 9th.

“This is my own version of an economic stimulus plan for our viewers, which will no doubt increase television ratings as well.”

To participate, viewers must register on wwe.com each week and then watch Monday Night RAW® on USA Network to acquire the code necessary to win. Winners will be contacted live throughout each Monday Night RAW broadcast.

Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to wwe.com/worldwide.

Source: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

NASHVILLE, June 3, 2008 – CMT will feature NASHVILLE STAR judges John Rich, Jewel and Jeffrey Steele in a themed weekend to promote new episodes of the weekly music competition series on Saturday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7. All weekend long, Rich, Jewel and Steele will have fun introducing such CMT programs as the popular series CAN YOU DUET, CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN, MOBILE HOME DISASTER and TRICK MY TRUCK, and talk about the upcoming season of NASHVILLE STAR which premieres on NBC and re-airs on CMT the following week.    » read more »

No Man Is Safe from Elimination, as One of the Most Shocking Dates In the History of the Series Gives All the Bachelors Something to Contemplate

Tuesday, June 03, 2008 -- "Jimmy Kimmel Live" will air special half-hour primetime shows on each night that ABC airs the basketball finals. Beginning June 5, join host Jimmy Kimmel as he welcomes special guests including David Beckham, Edward Norton, Charles Barkley, Liv Tyler, Adam Sandler, Eminem, Shaquille O'Neil, Magic Johnson and New Orleans Hornets guard and 2008 MVP contender Chris Paul, among others.

Signature comedy pieces will also air throughout the primetime specials, including a celebrity bowling match, a spelling bee, outrageous basketball tricks and a casino night in which Jimmy's Aunt Chippy will attempt to win big at Blackjack for each and every audience member.    » read more »

- First 'Execution' On "The Mole" Was Marcie Ciscel's
- Next Episode Airs Monday, June 9, On ABC

Tuesday, June 03, 2008 -- Despite being voted by the other players as "most likely to be The Mole," Marcie Ciscel of Corona, CA, was the first one "Executed" at the end of last night's season premiere of "The Mole." The next episode airs MONDAY, JUNE 9 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Jon Kelley ("Extra," "The National Sports Report," "Baseball Today") is host.

In the next installment, "Episode 502," participants face a formidable team while playing Chile's most popular sport, soccer, and Bobby travels in a wheelbarrow to search for the town's missing pigs.

The 11 players remaining on "The Mole" are:
Alex (Haverford, PA)
Ali (St. Louis, MO)    » read more »

June 3, 2008 -- Several college football matchups have been determined involving SEC and ACC teams for telecasts in 2008 on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com. Highlights include:

* Saturday Night Football on ABC, the first weekly college football primetime series on broadcast television, will kick off its third season with Alabama vs. Clemson at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on August 30 at 8 p.m. ET. The showdown between SEC and ACC power programs will mark the first meeting between the schools since 1975. Another Saturday Night Football telecast will pit defending SEC East Champion Georgia at Arizona State, coming off a 10-3 season and a Holiday Bowl appearance, on September 20 at 8 p.m.    » read more »

June 3, 2008 -- ESPN’s NBA coverage has generated audience growth across the company’s multimedia platforms, including significant improvements in television viewership and online traffic during the NBA Playoffs.

ESPN – NBA Playoffs through Eastern Conference Finals

* ESPN’s coverage of the 2008 NBA Playoffs ranks as the network’s most-viewed ever (3,149,000 households; previous high – 2,994,000 households in 2006);
* The 3,149,000 households for 21 telecasts marks an increase of 41 percent when compared to 2,239,000 households last year (17 telecasts);
* The corresponding 3.3 rating is up 38 percent over the 2.4 rating in 2007.

ABC – NBA Playoffs through Eastern Conference Finals    » read more »

SportsCenter NBA Finals Special – 1987 Celtics/Lakers – Tuesday on ESPN

June 2, 2008 -- The 2008 NBA Finals, featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant and the Boston Celtics and Kevin Garnett, will tip off on Thursday, June 5, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC, ABC HD, ESPN Radio and ESPN International.

ESPN’s multi-platform presentation of The Finals will include coverage across ABC, ABC HD, ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN International, ESPNEWS, ESPNEWS HD, ESPN.com, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPNdeportes.com, ESPN Classic, ESPN360.com, ESPN The Magazine and ESPN Mobile Properties.

ABC’s primetime lineup will include:    » read more »

June 2, 2008 -- The familiar trio of Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka will call the West Coast game for the second consecutive year in ESPN’s season-opening Monday Night Football doubleheader -- Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders on September 8 at 10:15 p.m. ET. The game will follow the Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers telecast at 7 p.m.    » read more »

Big Brown Seeks First Triple Crown Since 1978; ESPN to Offer Extensive Multimedia Coverage

June 2, 2008 -- ESPN will offer seven hours of coverage leading to ABC’s two-hour race broadcast Sat., June 5, as Big Brown attempts to win the 140th Belmont Stakes and become the first horse to capture the Triple Crown since 1978. ESPN will have programming from noon to 5 p.m. ET , followed by the race coverage on ABC. All Belmont programming on ABC and ESPN will be aired in high definition television on ABC HD and ESPN HD, respectively.

Overall, ESPN will provide Belmont Stakes coverage on nine platforms: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN Deportes, ESPN360.com, ESPN International, and ESPN Mobile TV.    » read more »