Television News

China cracks down on confessional talk shows (Reuters)

Posted: 24 Dec 2008 01:05 AM CST

Reuters - China's broadcasting watchdog has ordered a crackdown on low-brow confessional talk shows as part of a campaign against base entertainment and because such programs often fake their content, media said on Wednesday.

Studio sues CBS over "Two and a Half Men" (Reuters)

Posted: 24 Dec 2008 01:02 AM CST

Reuters - In a surprise move, Warner Bros. Television on Tuesday filed a $49 million breach of contract lawsuit against CBS, claiming that the network has refused to pay agreed-upon fees for airing the hit Charlie Sheen comedy "Two and a Half Men."

"Dexter" co-star lands "Betty" sideline (Reuters)

Posted: 24 Dec 2008 12:59 AM CST

Reuters - "Dexter" co-star Lauren Velez will appear in a multi-episode arc on ABC's "Ugly Betty," playing a nurse who enters the lives of the Suarez family.

Hey there, hold the hullabaloo over Hulu (Reuters)

Posted: 24 Dec 2008 12:56 AM CST

Reuters - It wasn't supposed to be this way. When NBC Universal and News Corp. announced in 2007 that they were getting in business together to launch an online home for their TV and movie offerings, it became a laughingstock. Two media companies collaborating successfully? And online no less?

NBC calls illegal formation on Super Bowl ad (Reuters)

Posted: 24 Dec 2008 12:03 AM CST

Reuters - NBC said Tuesday that it will not allow a spot with multiple advertisers in the Super Bowl.

"Whale Wars" tops for Animal Planet (Reuters)

Posted: 24 Dec 2008 12:02 AM CST

Reuters - Animal Planet's "Whale Wars" made a big splash on the cable network in its first season.

USA returns as king of cable in 2008 (Reuters)

Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:51 PM CST

Reuters - USA Network has regained its crown as the year's most-watched basic cable channel, while football and election coverage dominated the top of the programing chart.

CBS peaks in bleak season (Reuters)

Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:37 PM CST

Reuters - CBS is in the black.

Tina Fey voted AP Entertainer of the Year (AP)

Posted: 23 Dec 2008 07:09 PM CST

AP - Tina Fey is the entertainer of the year? You betcha.

List of top 20 shows in prime-time Nielsen ratings (AP)

Posted: 23 Dec 2008 04:24 PM CST

AP - Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen Media Research for Dec. 15-21. Listings include the week's ranking, with viewership for the week and season-to-date rankings in parentheses. An "X" in parentheses denotes a one-time-only presentation.

CBS Comedies Kill; Momma's Boys Aches (E! Online)

Posted: 23 Dec 2008 12:07 PM CST

E! Online - Monday TV's Big Winners: Three out of four CBS comedies. Repeats or no, they dominated, led by Two and a Half Men (11.8 million viewers, per Nielsen estimates).