Media: Tuning In

So Long, '30 Rock': We May Never See Your Kind Again

So Long, '30 Rock': We May Never See Your Kind Again

We may never see sitcoms like "30 Rock" and "Community" again after next season, unless we subscribe to Showtime or HBO.

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How '30 Rock' Pitched Kraft on Product Placement

How '30 Rock' Pitched Kraft on Product Placement

Kraft's recent appearance on a live "30 Rock" resulted from a pitch by the show, a reversal of the usual order of things.

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Apple's Rare Ad Misstep: Celebrity Siri Ads That Slice the Wrong Way

Apple's Rare Ad Misstep: Celebrity Siri Ads That Slice the Wrong Way

The new spots position Siri as a substitute for the personal assistants and go-fers that seem so prevalent in the pampered culture of Hollywood.

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'Mad Men' Is Great Art, Not Such Great TV Business

'Mad Men' Is Great Art, Not Such Great TV Business

Despite its focus on the selling of corporate America, "Mad Men" does more for art than it does for commerce.

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Cartier's Three-Minute Gem Extends Demand for Longer Spots

Cartier's Three-Minute Gem Extends Demand for Longer Spots

After shrinking to as short as 15 seconds, TV ads seem to be moving the other way. Cartier's spot joins long ads by Old Navy, Chrysler and Chipotle.

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'Terra Nova' Is Extinct, but Big TV Gambles Shouldn't Be

'Terra Nova' Is Extinct, but Big TV Gambles Shouldn't Be

"Terra Nova" was an expensive show that averaged about 10 million viewers, more than "Private Practice" but fewer than "2 Broke Girls."

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Does TV Have Time for Two-Minute Ads?

Does TV Have Time for Two-Minute Ads?

Has the clock struck for the regular appearance of TV ads that are a whopping two minutes in length -- or more?

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The 2012 Super Bowl: The Year Advertisers Gave It All Away

The 2012 Super Bowl: The Year Advertisers Gave It All Away

By pre-releasing their spots, many marketers traded surprise and delight on game day for a tally of Twitter mentions, YouTube streams and Facebook likes. We offer a few early lessons we've picked up in the aftermath of this annual ad showcase.

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Ain't Life a 'B----' for ABC?

Ain't Life a 'B----' for ABC?

With its "Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23," is ABC attempting a viable entry into TV's new Era of the Sitcom? Or is it just hoping to gin up publicity?

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GM Super Bowl Gambit May Not Have Any Gas

GM Super Bowl Gambit May Not Have Any Gas

Can GM really integrate its cars into other marketers' Super Bowl ads? Here's why we're skeptical.

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Should Dinosaurs Still Walk This Earth? Fox Ponders 'Terra Nova'

Should Dinosaurs Still Walk This Earth? Fox Ponders 'Terra Nova'

Fox executives will start grappling with the fate of "Terra Nova" after this evening, when the network airs a two-hour season finale for the much-ballyhooed sci-fi drama whose ratings performance hasn't quite matched the hype accorded it for the last year or so.

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Why 'American Muslim' Isn't Going Anywhere Soon

Why 'American Muslim' Isn't Going Anywhere Soon

Just because a sliver of the population doesn't like a show doesn't mean it has to go off the air, even if some advertisers join the niche that's complaining.

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How Many Upfronts Does TV Need During 'Upfront Week'?

How Many Upfronts Does TV Need During 'Upfront Week'?

USA is moving its presentation into the week traditionally (mostly) reserved for broadcast networks, packing a tight schedule even tighter. But buyers need more time for analysis and contemplation, not less.

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Google as Cable Guy? The Role May Not Suit

Google as Cable Guy? The Role May Not Suit

Google may expand its broadband service in Kansas to cable TV as well, The Wall Street Journal reports. But Google's experiments like these tend to fizzle.

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How Much Does an NBC Turnaround Even Matter Any More?

How Much Does an NBC Turnaround Even Matter Any More?

The longer it takes Comcast to straighten NBC out, the more time viewers have to find other sources of entertainment on cable and the web. Most recently, the debut of "Rock Center" delivered pretty modest ratings.

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'Rock Center' Winning Higher Ad Rates Than Some NBC Stalwarts

'Rock Center' Winning Higher Ad Rates Than Some NBC Stalwarts

NBC's new "Rock Center with Brian Williams" is commanding higher prices for 30 seconds of commercial time than "The Playboy Club" or even some of the network's more established shows.

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Should Red Bull Have Paid ABC for its Cameo on 'Suburgatory'?

Should Red Bull Have Paid ABC for its Cameo on 'Suburgatory'?

TV networks love paid product placement, but free cameos -- like Red Bull's appearance on ABC's "Suburgatory" -- may be unstoppable.

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Why Were 'Gossip Girl' Characters Chatting About a Discontinued Tablet?

Why Were 'Gossip Girl' Characters Chatting About a Discontinued Tablet?

Once you integrate a product into a TV show -- weaving HP's TouchPad into "Gossip Girl," for example -- you can't rip it out.

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Is a Dress Code Required for NBC's 'Prime Suspect'?

Is a Dress Code Required for NBC's 'Prime Suspect'?

Here's a bit of a head-scratcher: Why is the tough New York detective in NBC's new "Prime Suspect" wearing such a fashionable chapeau?

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CBS Is Giving Hulu a Brief Kiss, Not a Bear Hug

CBS Is Giving Hulu a Brief Kiss, Not a Bear Hug

Some people will say a new pact means CBS is finally falling for Hulu, but they'll be missing the point.

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