NBC Universal – News Stories About NBC Universal - Page 2

Comcast Plans to Announce NBC Deal Tomorrow

Dec 2, 2009 3:19 PM CST

Comcast Plans to Announce NBC Deal Tomorrow

Joint venture would have $51B in assets

(Newser) - Comcast is set to announce its acquisition of NBC Universal tomorrow. The deal with GE will make Comcast an entertainment behemoth, with a big stake in the cable, TV, and movie industries. Combined assets of the venture would have been $51 billion last year, the Wall Street Journal reports. Anti-trust...

NBC Turns Down PETA Ad

UNHAPPY HOLIDAYS

Nov 24, 2009 12:37 PM CST

NBC Turns Down PETA Ad

Commercial, intended for Macy's parade, has no disturbing images

(Newser) - This is the ad PETA wanted to run during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but NBC shot them down, saying it “does not meet NBC Universal Standards.” As you can see in the video, there’s nary an offensive image, just a little girl describing the horrors...

To Save NBC,
Rethink Leno Strategy

technical difficulties

Nov 9, 2009 1:30 PM CST

To Save NBC, Rethink Leno Strategy

CEO Jeff Zucker to blame for slump

(Newser) - Cable giant Comcast wants to buy a controlling interest in NBC Universal. Sure, the company's movie business and cable channels are appealing, but what about the broadcast network? NBC is floundering, and CEO Jeff Zucker is to blame, Mark Harris writes in New York. One big problem is The Jay ...

Bon Jovi Is NBC's First
'Artist in Residence'

Oct 14, 2009 9:38 PM CDT

Bon Jovi Is NBC's First 'Artist in Residence'

Jon and the boys will promote new album exclusively on network-owned air

(Newser) - In a move that will keep him exclusively on NBC-owned airwaves as he promotes his band’s upcoming album, Jon Bon Jovi has signed on as the network’s first “artist in residence.” His first appearance was on this morning’s Today show; he has spots scheduled with...

Why Rupert
Murdoch Won't
Buy NBC Stake

OPINION

Oct 13, 2009 11:53 AM CDT

Why Rupert Murdoch Won't Buy NBC Stake

The News Corp. mogul is interested, but the deal will likely not go through

(Newser) - Sources tell CNBC Rupert Murdoch wants to add a stake in NBC Universal to his ever-expanding media empire—which could lead to some awkward moments between Bill O’Reilly and Keith Olbermann at the company Christmas party—but it probably won’t happen, writes John Cook on Gawker. Considering the...

Comcast Weighs Charging Viewers for Hulu

Analysis

Oct 5, 2009 3:25 PM CDT

Comcast Weighs Charging Viewers for Hulu

Cable giant no fan of free site, and could soon own NBC's part of it

(Newser) - Comcast is no fan of Hulu's business model, and the cable giant could soon own a stake in the site—which means trouble for fans of using it to watch TV shows free. Comcast is in talks with NBC to pool their entertainment offerings in a joint venture that would...

Comcast Near $35B Deal
for NBC Universal

Sep 30, 2009 9:01 PM CDT

Comcast Near $35B Deal for NBC Universal

Cable giant has been in talks with owner of network for weeks

(Newser) - Comcast is near a $35 billion deal to acquire NBC Universal, which encompasses the network, a movie studio, cable channels and more, sources tell the Wrap. Bankers from the cable giant and General Electric, NBCU’s parent company, met Tuesday after Comcast decided to think bigger than a pursuit of...

Tina Talks
Emmys, Jay,
and Sarah...Sorta

Aug 10, 2009 12:44 PM CDT

Tina Talks Emmys, Jay, and Sarah...Sorta

(Newser) - As if its record 22 Emmy nominations weren’t enough, 30 Rock also recently landed a syndication deal. Tina Fey talks success—and Sarah Palin—with Broadcasting & Cable:

On possibly hosting the Emmys: "No, I think it's a hard job and a thankless one. I think maybe it's

...

Silverman
Leaves NBC,
Goes Digital

Jul 27, 2009 11:00 AM CDT

Silverman Leaves NBC, Goes Digital

Will head new company created with Barry Diller

(Newser) - Ben Silverman is leaving NBC Entertainment and hitting the Internet, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The division's co-chair—who may have jumped and may have been pushed—will partner with Barry Diller and IAC to create “a next generation enterprise that bridges the gap between traditional television and the...

Leno Website
Previews
'Terrible
Jokes'

OPINION

Jul 23, 2009 12:18 PM CDT

Leno Website Previews 'Terrible Jokes'

Staffers are dour, jokes are just plain bad

(Newser) - The days of thejaylenoshow.com being a funny site—back when it was owned by a stubborn realtor refusing “to budge in the face of increasingly desperate corporate pressure” from NBC—are over. Sadly, the URL now belongs to The Jay Leno Show, writes Seth Abramovitch for Movieline. Though...

NBC Releases
Project Runway
to Lifetime

Apr 2, 2009 9:36 AM CDT

NBC Releases Project Runway to Lifetime

Legal jousting over, show back in summer to face Bravo knockoff

(Newser) - After a nearly season-long hiatus, Project Runway will finally be back on air this summer, the Washington Post reports. In an out-of-court deal, the Weinstein Co. has agreed to pay NBC for allowing the show to move to Lifetime. And—as is common in the fashion world—NBC plans to...

Times Cuts Salaries, Jobs;
Post Offers More Buyouts

UPDATED

Mar 26, 2009 1:17 PM CDT

Times Cuts Salaries, Jobs; Post Offers More Buyouts

(Newser) - The economic crisis and outdated business models are forcing steep cuts at three venerable news organizations. The New York Times today announced a 5% pay cut for all employees, who were offered 10 extra days off as compensation, "in a spirit of shared sacrifice and as a way to...

Stewart 'Incredibly Unfair,'
Says NBC Chief

Mar 18, 2009 1:48 PM CDT

Stewart 'Incredibly Unfair,' Says NBC Chief

(Newser) - NBC CEO Jeff Zucker said today that Jon Stewart’s Daily Show attacks are “incredibly unfair to CNBC and the business media,” Broadcasting & Cable reports. “CNBC is a spectacular organization and in particular Jim Cramer,” Zucker continued. “What is going on now is absurd....

For Its 1st Birthday, Hulu Gets Social Networking

Mar 12, 2009 1:22 PM CDT

For Its 1st Birthday, Hulu Gets Social Networking

Video site also vows to add more content

(Newser) - To mark its first anniversary, Hulu is launching friends lists, most popular rankings, and more content—including show archives and classic cartoons and movies, CNET reports. But staying innovative isn't easy for a new media outlet with old media bosses. The website, which is owned by NBC and News Corp....

Off-Screen
Bickering Spoils Project Runway

opinion

Feb 19, 2009 1:13 PM CST

Off-Screen Bickering Spoils Project Runway

No designers at Friday's finale as 6th season stuck in court

(Newser) - Cattiness on Project Runway is part of the show's distinctive flavor, but it's legal wrangling between networks and producers that has kept the whole 6th season off the air. As a result, the finale, a live event tomorrow at New York Fashion Week, will be completely anonymous: Designers will be...

Hollywood Reeling
From DVD Slump

Jan 16, 2009 6:40 AM CST

Hollywood Reeling From DVD Slump

Disappearing profits threaten movies, star deals

(Newser) - Hollywood studios are faced with huge losses because of a 21% slump in DVD sales and the fallout from the crisis on Wall Street, reports the Financial Times. Studio heads have been forced to cut back on the number of new movies in production and are preparing to trim the...

'Bruno' Borat
Disrupts
NBC Set

Nov 18, 2008 3:05 AM CST

'Bruno' Borat Disrupts NBC Set

Baon-Cohen infiltrates set of psychic drama Medium in latest character role

(Newser) - No one saw it coming. Production was temporarily halted and an extra forcibly removed during the filming of the popular NBC detective series the Medium when the actor suddenly disrupted a tense courtroom scene involving Patricia Arquette, reports Entertainment Weekly. The extra turned out to be Borat star Sacha Baron...

Football Goes Mobile on Sprint Phones Tonight

Nov 6, 2008 5:19 AM CST

Football Goes Mobile on Sprint Phones Tonight

NFL games head to tiny screen

(Newser) - Sprint is about to score big with football fans with the first-ever live broadcast of an NFL game on mobile phones. The debut phone-cast will be tonight's Cleveland Browns showdown with the Denver Broncos. Eight more games from the NFL television network will be available over 7 weeks as part...

It's Not Too
Late, MSNBC: 'Stay Crazy'

OPINION

Sep 8, 2008 5:09 PM CDT

It's Not Too Late, MSNBC: 'Stay Crazy'

Blogger calls for Matthews, Olbermann to keep their jobs

(Newser) - David Gregory will be the face of MSNBC's election coverage, and the ouster of "loud shouty people" Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews isn't sitting well with at least one viewer. "It's a stupid, stupid idea, for many reasons," Alex Pareene writes on Gawker of NBC Universal's decision....

Maddow Helps MSNBC Make Left Turn

analysis

Aug 22, 2008 8:06 AM CDT

Maddow Helps MSNBC Make Left Turn

Network hopes new anchor will translate into ratings, ad revenue

(Newser) - Rachel Maddow's promotion to prime-time at MSNBC more clearly draws the partisan lines among the cable networks, writes Brian Stelter of the New York Times: MSNBC on the left, Fox on the right, and CNN claiming middle ground. Now the big question: Will the Maddow move translate into more ads?...