Bob Cook, president of Twentieth Television, the syndication and distribution arm for News Corp.'s broadcast and cable operations, is leaving the company, to form his own company.
Although no replacement for Cook has been named yet, it is expected that Greg Meidel, a veteran television industry executive who currently runs News Corp.'s My Network TV, will get oversight of Twentieth Television as well. My Network TV is the company's small broadcast network, but it has not made much headway in the marketplace and has scaled back its ambitions. A Fox spokesman declined comment, but said a search for Cook's replacement is underway.
For Meidel, a flashy salesman with one of the more arresting heads of blonde hair in the business, taking the reigns of Twentieth is a homecoming of sorts. He ran the unit in the mid-1990s before leaving for stints at Universal and Paramount.
He'll have his work cut out for him. The Wild West heyday of the TV syndication business, where deals would be done on the golf links and in the bar, are long gone. Cable networks, which used to gobble up old episodes of dramas like "NYPD Blue" that first aired on the broadcast networks, now prefer to produce their own shows. Local TV stations no longer cough up the big bucks for sitcom reruns and talks shows, and the ad market is in the tank. Other than that, it's going swell.
Cook said his new company MBN (the initials of his three sons) has already signed a contract with the Fox-owned TV stations to work on developing their digital platforms, His contract at Twentieth is up in November but he anticpates leaving in the next few months once his successor is in place.
-- Joe Flint
'Jon & Kate' and their 'big announcement': Your guess?
Apparently there will be a "big announcement" on "Jon & Kate Plus 8" on Monday's edition of the TLC show. Will they throw in the towel on the reality show and focus on fixing their very public marital troubles? Will they tell the world they're divorcing? Will Kate's haircut announce that it's getting its own Lifetime spinoff?
Whatever it is, as James Poniewozik points out, the couple is, as usual, milking every possible drop of publicity out of the announcement. As he writes, "It's hard to feel badly for a couple suffering in public when they'reworking so hard to get the largest possible audience for theirsuffering in public." Pretty much. Though as I said here, it's hard not to feel sorry for the kids caught in the middle of all this.
There's of course a promotional video for Monday's brouhaha:
And on Twitter today, there was a lot of tongue-in-cheek speculation about what the big revelation could be:
From @justinfinnegan: "Kids are getting too old, bringing on a younger obnoxious cousin. Also adding an animated sidekick only Jon can see."@2zen2: "Kate's really a man, Jon's running off with Cirque du Soleil & the kids get a normal life.''@elgray: "Another J&K possibility: Jon leaving Kate for Octomom, better working conditions."@amytvgal: "Survey says they'll be on the 'Family Feud' playing against the cast of 'Raising Sextuplets.'" @hitfixdaniel: "I'm hoping Jon & Kate are going to space!"@bjwaggoner: "Jon & Kate Monday announcement is: Kids emancipating selves." @TNRLM: "Jon & Kate selling kids to Angelina & Madonna."@franklinavenue: "Two new shows coming to TLC: 'Kate Plus 8' and 'Jon.'"What's your guess?Renowned Irish artiste to perform in Nairobi
Music lovers are in for treat next week when Celtic tenor, James Nelson accompanied by soprano, Maeve Coghlan, and the Celtic TenorÂ's pianist, Colm Henry appear in Nairobi to give two fund-raising concerts at the Lord Erroll restaurant in Runda on June 23 and 24.
Adam Lambert CD expected this summer
Songs from the "American Idol" runner-up will be released this summer by Hi Fi Recordings and Wilshire Records.
Carol Leifer On Life, Comedy And Finding Love At 40
Stand-up comedian and Seinfeld writer Carol Leifer recounts her experiences in love and comedy in her new memoir, When You Lie About Your Age, the Terrorists Win.
PARAGUAY: University Opens Doors to Native Students
ASUNCIÃ"N, Jun 18 (IPS)Video camera in hand, Isidro Romero is getting ready for another day of classes in the Paraguayan capital. He is studying Communications as part of a programme aimed at breaking down the barriers that have blocked access to university level studies by the country’s small indigenous minority.
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