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Oprah Giving Up Syndicated Talk Show, Moving It To Her Cable Network In 2011 (Deadline Hollywood Daily)
In the coming days Oprah Winfrey and Discovery will announce OWN's on-air launch for the start of 2011. And, in several weeks, Oprah will tell the public that she's ending her syndicated daytime talk show when her current deal runs out and moving it to OWN, probably as soon as mid-2011. NYT: Winfrey is "nearing a decision," and also negotiating with syndicators other than CBS. Forbes: Adding Winfrey's chat-fest to OWN's schedule would likely improve the network's (and her own) bottom line. AP: Winfrey says she's keeping singer BeBe Winans off her show until domestic violence charges against him are resolved.
Kyle Pope Is the Next Editor of Observer (NYO)
Kyle Pope, formerly the number two editor at Condé Nast Portfolio, is the next editor of The New York Observer. Current editor Tom McGeveran, who will be leaving the paper at the end of the year, introduced Pope to the editorial staff at a meeting yesterday afternoon.
30 Years Later: Ted Koppel on Nightline's Evolution (TVNewser)
Nightline debuted March 24, 1980, with Ted Koppel at the helm -- but only, he says, after both Dan Rather and Tom Brokaw declined offers to anchor the new program. Koppel, of course, became synonymous with Nightline, anchoring until his retirement from the program in 2005. He talks with TVNewser 30 years after it all began.
Top BusinessWeek Editors to Stay at Magazine (Talking Biz News)
Bloomberg LP's Norm Pearlstine sent a memo yesterday to BusinessWeek's staff noting that the magazine's two executive editors, Ellen Pollock and John Byrne, and its managing editor, Ciro Scotti, would remain with the publication. Editor-in-chief Steve Adler has already announced he's leaving. NYT/Media Decoder: Jessica Sibley will be publisher of the new magazine. Roger Neal, the general manager of the Web site, will not make the move.
Murdoch's Plan for Web Pay Walls 'Raises Questions of Anti-Trust Law' (Guardian)
Questions over competition in the media industry have been raised by Rupert Murdoch's admission that News Corp. is talking to other organizations about its plans to introduce Web charging. Murdoch admitted that it is proving harder than expected to introduce charges for readers of newspaper Web sites. Guardian: Guardian Media Group has not been party to any discussions with Murdoch or any other publisher about erecting paywalls.
CBS Posts Profit, Bolstered by TV Division (WSJ)
CBS Corp. reported a solid profit for the third quarter, as its television revenue grew on syndication sales. The company joined several media peers this week in noting quarter-to-quarter improvement in what has been a dismal year for advertising. Ad sales account for more than half of CBS's revenue.
Condé Nast Hires Crisis Intervention Expert (NYP)
Condé Nast CEO Charles Townsend and Chairman S.I. Newhouse, Jr. are turning to crisis manager and media coach Michael Sheehan to help with PR. Newhouse and Townsend made the hire under prodding from Lucky publisher Gina Sanders, who noted that morale at Condé has hit an all-time low.
Onion, Comedy Central Team on Show (Variety)
The Onion is teaming with Comedy Central to produce a half-hour scripted comedy pilot based on the Onion Sports Network Web site. The series is designed to appeal to both casual and hardcore fans of sports as well as the Onion's well-defined style of humor.
Tucker Carlson Hiring for New Right-Leaning Politics Site (Politico)
Tucker Carlson has been uncharacteristically quiet when it comes to his forthcoming conservative online news site, The Daily Caller. Carlson hasn't mentioned any hires since first talking about the site in May, but now Moira Bagley, who's worked for the RNC, Roll Call, and New Majority, has signed on as an editor.
Cost Cutting, New Business Model Top of Mind for Playboy CEO (Folio:)
In order for the print edition of Playboy magazine to break even or be profitable, "bolder steps are required," recently-named CEO Scott Flanders said during the company's third quarter earnings call Thursday. The company's print/digital group reported a $900,000 loss through the first nine months. The Wrap: Is Playboy inching toward (center)folding?
Google News Embraces Self-Identification of Content (Nieman Lab)
Some online-only news organizations were upset when Google News began attaching a "(blog)" label to their content two months ago. Others complained the label was outdated and inconsistently applied. Now Google News is asking publishers to label themselves.
Jayson Blair: Offering His Views On Making Up News (NPR)
David Folkenflik: Today, the twice-yearly Washington and Lee Journalism Ethics Institute will hear from its latest keynote speaker: Jayson Blair, the former New York Times reporter who triggered the greatest scandal in the newspaper's history.
How to Survive a Media Layoff (Silicon Alley Insider)
Erin Carlson: Has old media's not-so-sudden collapse killed your job? Got you laid-off? Do you have the gut feeling you're next in line? Don't panic. Follow your bliss. If it's journalism, then avoid listening to the horror stories of people failing to find work. There are plenty of ways to remain in the media.
Boston Globe's Editorial Page Revamped Under New Editor (Boston Phoenix)
Adam Reilly: It's been three months since Peter Canellos replaced Renée Loth as editor of the Boston Globe's editorial page. In that time, readers have received a bevy of cues that, on Canellos's watch, the paper's op-ed section will be a radically different beast.
Sesame Street at 40 (USAT)
As Sesame Street kicks off its 40th anniversary season Tuesday, with first lady Michelle Obama and Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda as guests, it is indisputably the most beloved children's show in history, and one of television's biggest and most enduring success stories.