Filed under: Food/Home/DIY, Industry, Programming, Daytime, Celebrities, Ratings

Today’s New York Post has a gossip item that says King World execs are unhappy with the ratings for Rachael Ray’s syndicated cooking/talk show and are not going to renew her contract when it’s up in 2010.

Only one problem: the… Continue reading

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Filed under: Industry, Law and Order, Scrubs, Prison Break, How I Met Your Mother, Jericho, Friday Night Lights, Reaper, Moonlight, The Sarah Connor Chronicles

The Hollywood Reporter has an article today that both breaks my heart and makes me ecstatic for the next television season. The article, citing lots of anonymous sources, lists shows that are “on the bubble” for next season — meaning renewal is not certain–and predicts their likelihood of renewal.

Interestingly (and tragically), The CW’s Reaper appears to be on the chopping block. Tonight’s ratings for Reaper could tip the balance, as a new episode goes up against a new episode of Lost. While many critics think Reaper has lost its way since the pilot, I think it’s been pretty much on track. We even got a new story line during the last episode where Sam meets a new love interest, aka the devil’s daughter. The dialogue is clever, the lead actor is lovable, and his sidekicks are, well, a kick. Although, if I didn’t have a way to record both shows, I would probably choose Lost over Reaper tonight.

A list of “on the bubble” shows and their possible future is after the jump:

Continue reading What shows are on the bubble for next season?

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Filed under: Deals, Management, Financials and analyticals, Merrill Lynch, Shareholders

Cumulus Media Inc. (NASDAQ: CMLS) has an SEC FILING this morning noting that the company has received necessary consent from the lender group under its existing credit agreement that would allow it to enter into an amendment to permit a merger. It had previously noted on March 5, 2008 that it had entered discussions with lenders.

Members of the lending group holding in excess of 50% of the debt required to enter into an amendment gave their consents. The management-led merger would be with an investment group led by its Chairman, President & CEO Lewis W. Dickey Jr. and an affiliate of Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity, part of Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER).

This is not a done deal yet as merger completion remains subject to various conditions. Some conditions include approval by shareholders, FCC approval, and other customary closing conditions. The original buyout price was $11.75. On last look, shares were up more than 12% at $5.51, and the 52-week trading range is $4.90 to $11.74.

This has been one of the longer standing mergers as it was announced back in July 2007 right at the peak of the world being awash in liquidity and the height of private equity deals. On last look, the company had roughly 345 radio stations in 67 U.S. markets. Its market cap as of today is $238 million.

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Money news28 February 2008 Parents pay £6,000 for kids’ first home Bank of Mum and Father forks out cash and helpMirror Money - Money & Financial News - Mirror.co.ukMirror Money - Mirror.co.uk You need Flash Player 8 or higher to view video content with the ROO Flash Player. Click here to download and install it.Money Mailer

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Filed under: Industry, Pickups and Renewals

When you’re an Oscar and Emmy-winning executive producer, you sort of expect your latest Television effort to be excitedly greenlighted network that ordered it. After all, you have a track record of success. Nevertheless, Brian Grazer (Friday Night Lights, Shark, 24) has had his latest effort rejected. Grazer’s Imagine TV/20th Century… Continue reading

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Filed under: Industry, Programming, Ratings

Here are the weekly cable ratings, by number of viewers.

Spongebob is usually in the top 10 every week, but this week he seems to have gone on some campaign to take it over totally. He grabbed the second slot (actually first in households) and four other slots, while the Duke/North Carolina… Continue reading

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Filed under: Industry, Programming

For all you Andy Richter fans who are still waiting for that one show that will actually last a while on the schedule, this might be good news: the former Conan O’Brien sidekick has a new show in development at Comedy Central, for the 2008-09 season. The show is still untitled, but it… Continue reading

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