We’re used to seeing fan campaigns to save just about any show on the broadcast and basic cable networks, but fans rally to save PBS shows, too.

New York’s WNET,org announced plans to end its Worldfocus that is distributed across the country after 18 months and the New York Times reports dedicated viewers are trying to save it.  Like most such campaigns the outlook isn’t good:

But like a similar campaign in recent months to save “Now on PBS,” which will show its last episode April 30, the impassioned efforts of some dedicated viewers seem unlikely to succeed before the show goes off the air on April 2.

WNET.org’s chief executive Neal Shapiro says, “I think it would take an incredible miracle,” to keep Worldfocus going, noting that the show got funding, just not enough funding to continue.   PBS was among those who declined to finance the show.

Unlike most of the shows we see this happen with, there’s no huge outcry among fans hoping for another network to pick the shows up.

In the aftermath of Jay Leno in primetime,  media analyst Larry Gerbrandt takes a look at the risky economics of one hour primetime dramas for THR.

The article confirms some of things discussed here, some of them regularly, in posts and comment threads:

Read the full story

Although many  renewal and cancellation announcements for broadcast TV primetime shows for the 2010-11 season will happen prior to these dates, the network upfront events are the final date on which each network’s fall schedules might be revealed.

So, you’ll know no later than these dates about the fate of your favorite broadcast primetime shows.

2010 Broadcast Network Upfront Meetings

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via JackMyers.com

The reality show being pitched by former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin with reality producer Mark Burnett has been passed on by all the major networks according to reports, but still has hope of finding a home on cable.

Variety’s Michael Schneider earlier in the day reported that both A&E Networks (which includes, A&E, History and Lifetime) and Discovery (which includes Animal Planet and TLC) were interested.  But James Hibberd reports that Discovery has passed.

Schneider  reported that Palin is seeking around $1 million per episode.  Hibberd’s report ups to between $1 million and $1.5 million and notes that’s a hefty amount for a first year series.

The Tribune Company claims to Broadcasting & Cable that one reason it’s suffering is because its relatively successful syndicated programming and local newscasts are mismatched with its CW primetime lineups in 13 of its 19 markets.

And that disconnect is felt at many of Tribune’s stations, say company executives. “Part of the problem is that our primetime is trying to be hipper than our TV stations,” says one Tribune insider who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the exec’s business relationship with The CW. “Our stations are programmed very much like independents all day long, and then our primetime shows are too hip for the room. A big chunk of your revenue should be coming from primetime. If we had prime fixed, or at least working somewhat, we’d be so much better off.”

via Broadcasting & Cable

We’ve written often about the fact that it’s the conventional wisdom that the CW loses money as a broadcast network, but that its owners (CBS, Warner Brothers) recoup those losses with the gains in the value of the shows they produce for the network (all the current scripted CW shows).

But all the CW local affiliates suffer from its primetime ratings losses as well (the Tribune is just the most visible, and likely most desperate, among them) and how will they recoup their losses?

In a piece nicely laying out the playbook in the recent retransmission battles (like Cablevision vs. ABC that threatened the Academy Awards telecast two Sundays ago), Broadcasting and Cable’s Marisa Guthrie lays out the next three big likely retransmission fights:

• August 2010: ABC-Time Warner Cable
• October 2010: Fox-Cablevision
• Fall 2010: Fox-Dish Network

My guess is that the Fox-Cablevision battle will be the most heated. Fox will have the World Series upcoming and Cablevision has figured prominently in several retransmission battles already. Time Warner, to date, seems less contentious, and ABC’s got nothing big in August to hold up as a “must see”. And there hasn’t been a big battle with a satellite or telco provider like Dish Network yet. My guess is that they’re still playing the TV provider underdog role, and are happy to pay up for the time being and let the cable MSOs take the point in the fights.

The Pew Project For Excellence in Journalism’s 2010 The State Of The News Media report estimates that Fox News lead its cable news competitors in profitability for 2009, ahead of CNN and Headline News combined, and far ahead of MSNBC.

CNN chief Jon Klein has stated recently that 2009 was its most profitable year ever, and the SNL estimates agree, just barely. Note what a significant share of revenue cable subscriber fee (vs. advertising) are for the cable news networks (as they are for most cable networks). Subscriber fees are not nearly as subject to rapid change as advertising revenues might be.

While MSNBC has recently closed the ratings gap with CNN, they’re still far behind in revenue and profitability, in large part because of the subscriber fee gap.

Note that the ad CPM (cost per thousand viewers) rates in the table below are from 2008, all other numbers are 2009.

Channel 2009 Profit 2009 Total Revenue 2009 Ad Revenue 2009 Subscriber Revenue 2008 CPM for 30-second ad 2009 Average Monthly Subscriber Fee CNN & HLN $475.5 million (+1%) $1.18 billion (-1%) $513.4 million $578.8 million $5.81 $0.48 Fox News $534.8 million (+17%) $1.21 billion (+14%) $622.9 million $569.5 million $3.97 $0.49 MSNBC $149.6 million (+1%) $367.5 million (+ < 1%) $183.6 million $180.2 million $3.33 $0.16

Source: SNL Kagan, a division of SNL Financial LLC. All figures are estimates, and figures for 2009 are projections.

There is a mountain of data in the original report for those interested.

Ever wanted to be a real TV mogul? As long as you don’t mind a little winter weather, Channel 38 in Muskegon, Michigan can be yours, for an opening bid of $550,000. (or perhaps less, the seller is motivated).

Not only a TV mogul, you’d practically be a TV monopolist (well, at least to the few folks who have only really bad analog antennas) since it’s the only local analog broadcast station!

For such a modest sum, the details are almost an afterthought, but here they are:

This is a full Television Station for sale.This broadcast from a 200 ft tower not shown. The 200 ft tower does not go with the sale but the antenna and all equipment does.

It has the license and the property. It is operating on channel 38 in Muskegon, Michigan. It also is on the area Comcast Cable system and several smaller cables throughout the city.

The station broadcasts to Muskegon County, Oceana County, Ottawa County and parts of Kent County.

It has been on the air since 1990.

The property, license and equipment are being sold as a unit. The station is operating 24 hours a day. It has not conformed to digital yet but has a construction permit that goes with the sale for digital 49.

The construction permit is good for six months with a renewal of an additional 6 months.

Owner wants to retire south.

Additional information is available upon request. Please call 231 733-4040  This station has a newer transmitter and over $100,000.00 in other equipment. All studio and editing equipment also comes with it. It is on thea air 24 hours a day.

When you add a digital transmitter you can also add several more broadcast channels.

This was priced at 1 million dollars before. This is priced to sell. The digital channel and the analog can both stay on the air. It is the only local broadcast station in this area.

WE WILL ALSO TAKE AN OFFER ON THIS…

via Ebay