TV big shots to debate free streaming but other agendas may be at play

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If you’re and early bird and you love potentially awkward moments, head over the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences next Tuesday, November 17 at 8 a.m, (ouch) for Broadcasting & Cable Magazine’s panel discussion ‘Free Streaming: Killing or Saving The Television Business?’

No, it’s not the topic that’s awkward. The answer to the question being posed is pretty easy. Free streaming is killing the TV business just like giving content away on line is killing the print business and it will remain that way unless the ad dollars online suddenly skyrocket. Oops, am I allowed to say that?

The potentially awkward part will be seeing NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios Chairman Marc Graboff on a panel with not only Bruce Rosenblum, president of Warner Bros. TV, but also producer and Writers Guild of America West President John Wells. As you may recall, NBC recently kind of rubbed Wells and Warner Bros. the wrong way when it abruptly pulled the plug on the cop drama ‘Southland.’ We seem to recall that Wells even said something about how disappointed he was that NBC could no longer support quality dramas.

Oh and there’s also that little Comcast-NBC deal. Maybe Graboff can fill us in on that too and what it means for him and the network and if his new boss will be his old boss.

We’re sure everyone will be on their best behavior although lets hope moderator and Broadcasting & Cable editor Ben Grossman prods them just a little bit. After all, tickets are $75 and people will want their money’s worth. (You can go to Broadcasting & Cable for more information.)

If those three aren’t in the mood to mix it up, the fourth panelist is none other than CBS Network TV Entertainment Group chief Nancy Tellem. Maybe she’ll let us know whether she’s staying or going. And if she can’t do that, at least tell us if her sports agent husband Arn Tellem is going to get the Yankees to give World Series MVP Hideki Matsui a new deal.

-- Joe Flint