President Bartlett Gets to Finish His Second Term

Even though it has lost 3 million viewers to the stupidity of 'Bachelor' and 'Bachelorette', West Wing has been picked up by NBC for two more seasons with an option for a third.

Maybe, just maybe, we'll see Bartlett through term completion.

Zap2it: 'West Wing' Gets Two More Years in Office

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Interpublic Investigated by SEC

Kinda hard keeping good books after all those aquisitions, eh?

Boston Globe: SEC Opens Formal Investigation of Interpublic's Earnings Restatement, Company Says
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Media Predictions for 2003

Among the more interesting 2003 predictions:

• Most technology publications will cease their print versions by July and move to the web.


• Lead time between major news event and made for TV movie will collapse to 3-4 weeks.


• Reality programming to be supplanted by fantansy programming. (thank God)

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Accepting Tivo/PVR Ad Skipping and Moving On

There has been so much whining and complaining among television executives about these new technologies that allow viewers to skip commercials. What these executives fail to understand is there is nothing they can do about it. The landscape is changing. Video On Demand, anything on demand for that matter, is upon us and is growing fast. Clinging to old business models will simply be the death of media companies.

Here is a good article about this very topic.

MediaLife: Friday
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NFL Refuses Las Vegas Superbowl Spot

The Mayor of Las Vegas is "hotter than finger grease" mad over the NFL's decision not to air a spot promoting Las Vegas. The NFL has an agreement with ABC and can veto any spot having to do with sports betting.

"The league office decided that the commercial was not in our best interest," said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy . "The NFL has a long-standing policy that prohibits the acceptance of any message that makes reference to or mention of sports betting."

However, people who have seen the spot claim there is no reference to gambling and cannot understand the decision.

ESPN: ESPN.com: NFL - Vegas mayor talks litigation after Super Bowl ad rejected
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Magazines Extend Brands to Television

More and more magazines are taking their brands to television in an effort to increase brand awareness and circulation. Car and Driver has had a television show on TNN for three years and Maxim announced plans to air television specials. Other magazine taking to the airwaves are Woman's Day, Vogue, Esquire, Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies Home Journal, and Road and Track.

MediaDailyNews: Magazines Extending Brands to TV
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Cybill Shepard to Play Martha Stewart

Remember Cybill Shepard? She was on 'Moonlighting' with Bruce Willis and on some other sitcom, whose name I can't remembner, with Alicia Witt. She is going to play crusty Martha Stewart in an NBC movie.

Hollywood Reporter: Shepherd adopts Stewart lifestyle for NBC telefilm
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Richard Parsons is New Chairman of AOL

Richard Parsons, current AOL CEO, will assume the position of Chairman, formerly held by Steve Case.

MediaWeek: AOL Board Makes Richard Parsons Chairman
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