Archive for January 21st, 2008
James E. O’Shea is now talking, and he’s not happy. “I disagree completely with the way that this company allocates resources to its newsrooms, not just here but at Tribune newspapers all around the country,” he wrote. “That system is at the core of my disagreements with (Publisher David Hiller). I think the current system relies too heavily on voodoo economics and not enough on the creativity and resourcefulness of journalists.”
January 21st, 2008
With the writers strike raging, one thing is clear: the costly way network television is made isn’t sustainable in a new digital age. “I think there were a tremendous number of inefficiencies in Hollywood and it often takes a seismic event to change them, and I think that’s what’s happened here,” said NBCU chief Jeff Zucker, predicting that “the development process will change forever.” As we’ve reported before, the pilot process is at the top of the list. Meanwhile, it looks like NBCU has patched up its relationship with Apple. “We’ve said all along that we admire Apple, that we want to be in business with Apple,” Zucker said. “We’re great fans of Steve Jobs.” So stay tuned…
January 21st, 2008
Broadcast Interactive Media’s YouNewsTV service — an application that allows users to upload video and photos — has now grown to 50 local TV station sites in 38 markets. If you’re curious, Broadcasting & Cable reports the service costs $2,000 a month on average in licensing fees, including a share of revenue. Broadcast Interactive plans to launch a new feature in coming weeks that will allow stations in the network to share video with each other.
January 21st, 2008
HBO is one of the last television operations to embrace video on the internet. It’s testing a free service that would allow HBO subscribers to watch selected video online. Initially, the service is only available in Green Bay and Milwaukee, with plans to expand.
January 21st, 2008
The editor of the Los Angeles Times, James E. O’Shea, has been ousted for resisting newsroom job cuts. As most in the business know, this isn’t the first time this has happened. In fact, he’s the fourth top exec to leave the paper for the same reason in the last three years. “The departure of Mr. O’Shea appears to contradict statements by Samuel Zell, the Chicago real estate magnate who took over the company last month and is now its chairman and chief executive,” reports the NY Times. “Mr. Zell has criticized the previous regime of the financially troubled company for trying to improve the bottom line by cutting costs, and he has said that the path to profit lies in finding new revenue, not paring costs.” But is anyone surprised?
January 21st, 2008
