Media News

Click here to receive mediabistro.com's Daily Newsfeed via email.

Ex-TRL Host to Join Extra (P6)
A mere week after the cancellation of MTV's TRL, host Damien Fahey's been snatched up by Extra. "The show called and asked if he would start this weekend as one of their new special correspondents." A rep confirmed that Fahey was in talks with Extra: "There are other networks competing for him, but he's definitely going to give this gig a shot."

Newsprint Costs to Remain Steady (Daily Beast)
In a rare reprieve for the print media, several paper manufacturers are indicating that they will end the price hike that has been crimping newspaper budgets for the past year. The cost of newsprint on the East Coast has risen by 37 percent since last October, to a 12-year high, contributing to wave of downsizing in the beleaguered newspaper industry.

Cygnus, Wasserstein 'Going in Different Directions' (Folio:)
This summer, Wasserstein and Co. emerged as the likely buyer for Cygnus Business Media. A deal was expected to close by the end of August. Now, Wasserstein and Cygnus owners, Boston-based ABRY Partners, are reportedly "going in different directions." "Exclusivity was broken," said the source. "While they still reach out occasionally ...[Wasserstein] essentially is on the back burner."

For Two Celebrity Mags, a Reality Check on Readers (WSJ)
Celebrity gossip magazines Life & Style and In Touch are lowering the number of weekly readers they promise to advertisers, a move that reflects the magazine industry's slump. Bumpy sales at the Bauer Publishing Group titles and other celebrity glossies have defied expectations that financially strapped consumers would snap up escapist entertainment.

CW Says It is Retaking Control of Its Sunday TV Lineup (NYT)
An effort by the CW network to sell off part of its prime-time schedule appeared to fall apart Thursday in the wake of low ratings for the Sunday schedule put together by an independent production company. Although the firm, Media Rights Capital, contracted to buy the Sunday hours for a year, the CW said it was ending the deal after three months.

More Newsfeed here...