Morning Fix: Britney, Demi on Fox! Rebekah Brooks to be charged.

After the coffee. Before seeing how many people watched Howard Stern on "America's Got Talent."

The Skinny: Company Town, home of the Morning Fix and all the other entertainment news you need is moving to a new neighborhood. Soon -- perhaps even later today -- we will have a new URL. For now, this address will take you to the new home when it is up and running, but if you want to bookmark the new address (you know you do), here it is: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/. Tuesday's headlines include a recap of Fox's schedule announcement, including the additions of Britney Spears and Demi Lovato to "The X Factor," the criminal charges against former News Corp. newspaper executive Rebekah Brooks, and a review of Howard Stern's debut on "America's Got Talent."

Daily Dose: As is often the case, there is a proceeding going on at the Federal Communications Commission that's not getting much attention now but could turn out to be a big deal later. The FCC is reexamining how it defines a multichannel video program distributor (what we used to call cable and satellite operators) as well as what constitutes a channel. How the FCC rules could ultimately determine future regulation (or lack thereof) for new content distribution systems via broadband or other digital platforms.

Getting Foxy. News Corp.'s Fox Broadcasting unveiled a fall schedule that includes two new comedies, two new dramas and the addition of Britney Spears and Demi Lovato to Simon Cowell's musical talent show "The X Factor." Fox, which is coming off a season that saw declines in overall viewers and in adults age 18-49, is also planning a makeover for "American Idol" before that show returns in the spring of 2013. Media buyers at Fox's presentation to advertisers seemed pleased with the clips of the new shows. Personally, I was wondering why Spears -- who is said to be getting in the neighborhood of $15 million to join "The X Factor" -- couldn't be persuaded to belt out a tune. Coverage and analysis of Fox's schedule from the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, USA Today, Variety, Vulture and the Hollywood Reporter. One word of advice to Fox: Change the name of "The Mindy Project," the new sitcom starring Mindy Kaling. That title makes it sound like the show is under construction. Find something cuter, like "New, New Girl."

Go hop somewhere else. In between showing clips of new shows and feeding shrimp and booze to media buyers, the broadcast networks are also using upfront week -- which is where they announce fall schedules to advertisers -- to voice their dissatisfaction with satellite broadcaster Dish Network. The issue isn't static on the screen but a new feature Dish is offering to subscribers. It's called the Auto Hop and it makes it easier to never see a commercial. More on the Auto Hop and why the broadcasters are mad from the Los Angeles Times. In a separate but related story, cable giant Comcast Corp. is working on a way to make a commercial that would show up on screen while a viewer is fast-forwarding through commercials. Now that's dirty play! More on that from Fierce Cable.

Call the lawyer. Rebekah Brooks, the former head of News Corp.'s British tabloids, is going to be prosecuted on charges of "conspiracy to pervert the course of justice," for allegedly hiding material from investigators probing the papers for phone hacking and other ethical lapses. Brooks, who years ago told Parliament that the newspapers had paid police for stories, was informed she would face charges along with her husband Charlie Brooks and several others. Brooks was one of News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch's top executives and close personally to the mogul and his family. Details from the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

Looking east. News Corp. isn't going to let a little scandal in Britain stop the rest of its global plans. The company, which owns the 20th Century Fox studio, is buying a stake in Bona Film Group, which is a big movie distributor in China. The move is the latest by Hollywood to establish a foothold in China. More from the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times.

Quit while you're behind. The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., owner of the Golden Globes Awards, has indicated that it will file an appeal to a decision by a U.S. District Court judge that the TV rights to the show belong to Dick Clark Productions. Although no appeal has been filed yet, the HFPA indicated in a court filing that it plans to do so in the next 30 days. Interestingly, the association said acceptance of the appeal could speed up an out-of-court settlement. Dick Clark Productions, having won once, has indicated that the prospect of striking a new TV agreement with the HFPA is unlikely for now. The story that won't end from Deadline Hollywood.

Don't they want people to see it? The Hollywood Reporter says Paramount Pictures will offer a teaser trailer for the sequel to Will Ferrell's "Anchorman" during screenings of "The Dictator," the latest offering from Sacha Baron Cohen. Having seen something like five different trailers for "The Dictator," I don't think I need to see the movie, In fact, the latest trailer pretty much guaranteed I won't see the movie.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Interim Yahoo CEO Ross Levinsohn brings a mix of old and new media experience to the job. Scott Braun, manager of teen sensation Justin Bieber, is getting into business with Universal Music. Robert Lloyd on Howard Stern's debut on "America's Got Talent."

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter. I dare to be different! Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: "The X Factor" judges, from left, L.A. Reid, Demi Lovato, Simon Cowell and Britney Spears at Fox's upfront presentation party on Monday. Credit: Evan Agostini / Associated Press

The Morning Fix: NBC bets on laughs! 'Avengers' still on top.

After the coffee. Before the subway to Radio City.

The Skinny: Looks like upfront week will kick off with a humid and rainy day in New York. Monday's headlines include analysis of NBC's fall schedule, a look at how "The Avengers" dominated the weekend box office again, and the long, strange journey "Men in Black 3" took to get to the big screen.

Daily Dose: Once touted as the successor to "Desperate Housewives," ABC's hour-long comedy "GCB," about out-of-control Dallas divas, didn't make the cut for the fall schedule. While its ratings weren't the greatest, shows that have smaller audiences are returning. So why aren't the girls of "GCB" coming back? Ask Madison Avenue. Originally called "Good Christian Bitches" and then "Good Christian Belles," the show's name didn't charm advertisers, who weren't fooled by the acronym. The show proved to be a hot potato for ABC's sales department even without a B or C word in the title. But not all Bs are created equal: The network's "Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23" is still on the schedule. 

Peacock strut. NBC unveiled a fall schedule that features comedies on four nights, including Friday, which will host returning sitcoms "Community" and "Whitney." Among the highly anticipated new shows are sitcoms starring former "Friends" star Matthew Perry and a new drama about firefighters from "Law & Order" creator Dick Wolf. The network will now also air fall and spring versions of its musical talent show "The Voice." Analysis of NBC's new schedule from the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Vulture, Variety, Hollywood Reporter and Deadline Hollywood. Also, the Wall Street Journal profiles Linda Yaccarino, NBC's head of cable ad sales, and New York Times columnist David Carr looks at the challenges the TV industry faces in trying to rope in today's tech-savvy viewer. 

Who has the best shrimp? This week, the broadcast networks present their fall schedules to advertisers in what's known as the upfront. It's called that because after the presentations advertisers buy commercial inventory ahead of the new season. You can generally tell how a network is doing based on what kind of beer and food they have at their party. And if they aren't having a party, well then it's time to advertise on a different network. An overview of the week's festivities from the New York Times.

Still a lot to avenge for. "The Avengers" continued to rule the box office, taking in a $103.2 million in its second weekend. That figure is more than any film has ever made in its second weekend in release. That may be, but I still think "The Hunger Games" was better. The staying power of "The Avengers" was enough to soften the bite of Johnny Depp's "Dark Shadows," his latest collaboration with director Tim Burton. The "Dark Shadows" debut took in $28.8 million. Box office coverage from the Los Angeles Times and Movie City News.

Goal! Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN, looking to build on its international presence, is expected to aggressively bid for soccer rights in Britain. Up for grabs is the Premier Soccer League, at a price tag  north of $3 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. ESPN will have to try to take the ball away from British satellite broadcaster BSkyB, which currently has the rights. Well, if ESPN wins, maybe BSkyB can come here and bid on the NFL. Details from the Wall Street Journal.

Ticking clock? As John Malone's Liberty Media continues to gobble up more stock in satellite radio broadcaster Sirius XM, things may get tough for Chief Executive Mel Karmazin. Liberty currently owns 46% of Sirius, and while the Federal Communications Commission initially rebuffed its application to take control of the company, if it keeps buying stock it seems only a matter of time. Karmazin, who has been trying to resist Malone's aggressive moves, has indicated in the past he's not looking to be a No. 2 executive again. The Street anticipates what may happen next.

Barry's bet. New York magazine takes a look at Barry Diller's plans to revolutionize how the TV signals of the broadcast networks are delivered to the home. The only problem is the broadcast networks don't want this revolution to be televised.

Pour me a stiff one! For decades, advertising for hard liquor was taboo on television. Then cable networks started to carry commercials and now it appears the broadcasters are also loosening up. Advertising Age notes that both ABC and NBC are carrying commercials for the hard stuff in late-night. Frankly, given that the drinking age for beer and liquor is now 21 everywhere, it doesn't seem to make sense that one can advertise all over the place without raising an eyebrow while the other has to hide in the shadows of late-night.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: It was no small feat getting the latest "Men in Black" movie to the big screen.

— Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter. I'll tweet from the A train! Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: "The Avengers." Credit: Zade Rosethal / Disney.

The Morning Fix: 'Avengers' to rule again; bye-bye commercials

After the coffee. Before setting my DVR to never watch any commercials again.

The Skinny: I was at the "Battleship" premiere last night and although I don't do reviews, I will note two things: The crowd went crazy for Rihanna (more than even star Taylor Kitsch), and "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival is an odd song to play at the end of a pro-military movie. Today we've got a box-office preview that looks kind of like last week's, commercials going away with the click of one button, and more upfronts-mania.

The Daily Dose: Opening a movie overseas first means the story of its commercial fate is largely told before it even comes to the U.S. With "The Avengers," we already knew it would be a blockbuster. With "Battleship," which is at a tad over $200 million and will likely end up totaling about $250 million internationally, blockbuster status looks all but impossible. Assuming the film has a decent domestic showing of between $100 million and $200 million, Universal is likely looking to roughly break even on its most expensive film of the year. Not exactly what studio executives were hoping for, but it could be worse.

"Avengers" fans to assemble again: Usually when one big budget movie opens right after another in the summer movie season, there's a rapid shuffling in the rankings. But after the record-busting opening of "The Avengers" last weekend, it's sure to be No. 1 again this weekend, when it will likely drop by 50% or 60% to between $80 million and $100 million. Tim Burton's and Johnny Depp's "Dark Shadows," meanwhile, will debut at a distant No. 2 around $40 million. Box-office predictions from the Los Angeles Times and Variety.

A skip and a hop: Skipping commercials has become standard practice for most of us who have a DVR and don't watch television live anymore. But at least we have to put a little work into it, pushing the fast forward button and trying to estimate when the commercial break will end (an art I've become quite good at). Now satellite TV provider Dish Network has added an "auto hop" feature to its state-of-the-art Hopper DVR (which I, by the way, have) that allows the viewer to automatically skip all commercials on broadcast network shows without fast forwarding. The networks haven't spoken up yet, but lawsuits may be on the way, say the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times.

Ahead of upfronts: It's that magical time of the year when a tradition started before DVRs and mass viewing of cable, the network upfronts, turns our eyes to what's coming on TV in the new fall season. Next week, advertisers, networks and journalists will gather in New York for the official announcement of which pilots are getting series orders, which existing programs are coming back, and which have reached their end. A key priority for the networks will be trying to get more 18-49 year-old viewers, after losing ground in that key demographic this past season, reports the Los Angeles Times. Meanwhile, there was a lot of news Thursday on pickups at NBC, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Those who live in... CBS is suing rival ABC, alleging that the latter's upcoming series "Glass House" is a rip-off of the former's long-running show "Big Brother." The snarky comments about someone in Hollywood accusing someone else of being unoriginal write themselves, but this suit could test if there's a legal line that can't be crossed with reality-show concepts. It doesn't help that many of the "Glass House" producers allegedly used to work on "Big Brother." Details from the New York Times and Bloomberg.   

It wasn't just about the traffic: President Obama's much-hyped $15-million fund-raiser at George Clooney's house featured some expert glad-handing by a leader of the free world whose new stance on same-sex marriage has won him even more fans in the entertainment industry. Here's the Los Angeles Times report from the scene. Deadline has the pool report from journalists allowed to hang out and observe, one of whom notes that "As LA/Hollywood fundraisers go, the trappings of this one didn't put it in the top 10."

Sony's struggles: Sony's new CEO, Kaz Hirai, warned us that turning around the company wouldn't be easy, and its most recent financials prove things will get worse before they get better. The Japanese electronics and media giant reported a $5.6-billion loss in its most recent fiscal year as its electronics and television businesses struggled. Things weren't so bad at the movie and TV studio, though. Details from the Los Angeles Times.

Also in the Los Angeles Times: Video game sales plunge in April. Kenneth Turan reviews "Dark Shadows." Silicon Valley types are trying to engineer their own health.

-- Ben Fritz (who's on Twitter)

Photo: Jeremy Renner and a digital hulk in "The Avengers." Credit: Marvel

The Morning Fix: Howard comes to NBC! Harry Potter heads to Japan.

After the coffee. Before learning a new blog program.

The Skinny: Could Wednesday night's "Modern Family" have plugged Disneyland a little more? Funny episode but a little over the top in its promotion of ABC parent Walt Disney's theme park. Thursday's headlines include the addition of Howard Stern to NBC's "America's Got Talent," a look at Time Warner Cable's sports programming strategy, and Harry Potter's move to Japan.

Daily Dose: Howard Stern may be larger than life (see below) but his new co-judges on "America's Got Talent" --  Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne -- prefer him to previous judge Piers Morgan. "He had no respect for my judging," said Mandel, who added that he doesn't miss "so much disdain and hatred." Osbourne too said Stern is a better fit than Morgan. 

America's got Howard. Radio's bad boy is coming to prime time. On Monday, Howard Stern, the brash and controversial radio host, starts his stint as a judge on NBC's variety show "America's Got Talent." Stern, who has judged the assets of women for years, joked that there won't be much of a learning curve. “Naked women, singers, jugglers, it’s all the same,” he said. While the Parents Television Council, a TV watchdog group, has been complaining about Stern's hiring, advertisers don't appear too worried that the variety show will get dragged down in the gutter. More about Stern's new gig from the Los Anglees Times, USA Today and New York Times. 

'Harry Potter' sets sights on Japan. The movie franchise may have ended, but Warner Bros. is still looking to milk every last cent out of "Harry Potter" that it can. The theme park version is headed to Japan, where it will be an attraction at the Universal Studios park. Details on the importance of keeping the "Potter" brand alive from the Los Angeles Times.

Not taking no for an answer. Although the Federal Communications Commission rejected Liberty Media's application to be declared de facto owner of satellite radio company Sirius XM Radio Inc., the fight's not over. Liberty is gobbling up Sirius stock and now owns more than 46%. More on the fight for Sirius from the Wall Street Journal.

What about Bob? Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger is on the receiving end of a relatively puffy profile from Fortune. In the piece, Iger said recently ousted studio chief Rich Ross was not fired because of the mega flop "John Carter" but because he was the "wrong fit." So does that mean if "John Carter" had been a hit that Ross would still be in his job? Didn't think so.

Everyone wants to play scheduler. While there is a lot of debate about how relevant TV schedules are in the era of the DVR and Netflix, in my opinion scheduling is more important than ever. After all, you need to find the right slot to guarantee your show gets sampled and thus becomes something people later record or watch on some other platform. With that in mind, Variety offers up its suggestion to the networks on what to place where. I'll offer one too. CBS needs to move "The Good Wife" off of Sunday night and put it back on Tuesday.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Time Warner Cable is gearing up to take on Fox Sports. George Clooney's big Obama fund-rasier is an A-list event. 

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter. We'll climb the mountain together. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: Howard Stern. Credit: Mark Seliger/NBC.

The Morning Fix: Virgin takes movie-making to new heights. Disney profits jump.

After the coffee. Before seeing if there's a reporter role in the next 'Avengers' movie.

The Skinny: A great season finale for Fox's "New Girl" Tuesday night. Now the network needs to spend the summer figuring out how to get this show, which started out strong and then slipped in the ratings, back in the hearts and minds of viewers. Wednesday's headlines include a look at how Virgin shot an entire movie up in the air, how Disney survived "John Carter" and posted strong earnings, and a preview of upfront week. 

Daily Dose: NBC is boosting its alternative programming unit by signing new development deals with several top reality producers including Jason Ehrlich (“The Bachelor"), David A. Hurwitz (“Fear Factor”), Alex Katz (“The Biggest Loser”) and Lee Metzger (“The Voice”). Probably a smart move since NBC's track record with sitcoms and dramas has been nothing to write home about lately.

No walking off the set. In what appears to be a first, Virgin Group shot a film completely up in the air on its flights. The half-hour romance, starring Janeane Garofalo, Ben Feldman and Luis Guzman, was shot over nine days on flights from Los Angeles to London, Dallas, Fort Worth and Sydney, Australia. It will be screened on Virgin flights and is part of a marketing campaign for the airline. Wonder if there will be complimentary popcorn. Details on the 35,000-foot production from the Los Angeles Times.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. Remember when Ellen DeGeneres coming out on her old ABC sitcom was a big deal? Nowadays gay characters populate much of prime time and rarely get a second glance either internally or from advertisers. Still, if you're in a mafia drama and your character is going to come out, you might want to start looking for new work. More on the declining controversy over portrayals of gays on television from the New York Times.

John who? Despite a $200-million write-down of the flop film "John Carter," Walt Disney Co. reported a jump in profit of 21% to $1.14 billion. As usual, the theme parks and the cable networks —  particularly sports empire ESPN — led the way. The company also said there would be an "Avengers" sequel. There's a shocker. More on the earnings from the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

Unhappy prince. News Corp.'s second-biggest shareholder, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, has expressed concern about the ongoing ethics scandal and government probe that has followed at the media giant's British newspapers. The Guardian quotes the prince as saying it is not "helping the name of the company."

Garth's new gig. Former veteran network executive Garth Ancier, whose résumé includes stints at Fox, NBC and the WB, is advising tech company Intel Corp. which is hoping to lead the way on creating a broadband programming service that would distribute channels over the Internet much the same way cable distributes through a wire. More on Ancier's role from Variety.

Start packing. Next week, the broadcast networks unveil their fall schedules to advertisers in advance of selling commercial inventory for the next television season.  The Hollywood Reporter looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the networks as well as what new programs are in the pipeline.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: James Rainey on the financial health of Eyetronics Media & Studios, the company that was supposed to be a production partner for non-commercial station KCET-TV.

— Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter and you won't need to go to the upfronts. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: "John Carter." Credit: Walt Disney Co.

The Morning Fix: OWN drags Discovery profits down. Manny TV!

After the coffee. Before figuring out what to wear during upfront week.

The Skinny: Tuesday's headlines include how important a PG-13 rating has become to Hollywood, Discovery earnings taking a hit because of losses from the Oprah Winfrey Network, and the movie theater chain AMC Entertainment possibly going up for sale.

Daily Dose: On Monday, CNBC ran a heavily hyped special "Stay Tuned: The Future of TV." While the program spent a lot of time looking at how YouTube and other digital companies are planning to launch online channels, the financial network steered clear of raising the key issue of whether there would be enough viewers and advertising revenue to support all these ventures. Also, the special didn't raise any of the concerns from media watchdogs about how big media companies such as CNBC parent Comcast Corp. are trying to stifle the growth of new content delivery systems.

Rated for success. It's no accident that most of Hollywood's biggest hits have a PG-13 rating. With that in mind, studios are doing all they can to avoid a dreaded R rating. While some R ratings don't hamper success ("Bridesmaids," "The Hangover"), a PG-13 allows for a wider audience,especially for kids who want to see it without parental supervision. Seems to me the key to getting a PG-13 rating is to show very little consequence to violence as was the case with "The Avengers," which for all its mayhem had only one real death scene and hardly any blood. More analysis of PG-13 from the Los Angeles Times.

For sale? Theater chain AMC Entertainment is in sales talks with the Wanda Group, a big owner of theater chains in China, according to the New York Times. AMC, which is owned by several private equity groups, is worth about $1.5 billion, the article said. Interestingly, the push by Wanda Group to own theaters here comes at the same time Hollywood studios are trying to boost their presence in China.

Not living your best life yet. Discovery Communications released its first-quarter earnings Tuesday morning, and while its revenues rose 16% to $1.10 billion, its profits fell almost 30% to $221 million as the cable giant started absorbing all of the losses at OWN. Details from Reuters and Bloomberg.

Full house again. After being held up by politics, the Senate approved the nominations of Republican Ajit Pai and Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel to the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC had been operating with a chairman and two commissioners, rather than the usual four, for several months. Both are lawyers who have worked at the FCC and on Capitol Hill for years. More from the Washington Post.

Beating the drum. Former comedian-turned-politician Al Franken, now a Democratic senator from Minnesota, is again attacking Comcast Corp. Franken, who was very vocal about his opposition to the cable giant's takeover of NBCUniversal, sent a five-page letter to the Federal Communications Commission asking it to investigate Comcast for violating the conditions it agreed to in return for approval of the merger. Comcast said it has complied with the FCC's conditions. Coverage from Variety.

Life outside the ring. Is welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao trying to be the next Oprah Winfrey? The Wall Street Journal looks at the boxer's busy schedule outside the ring that includes lots of TV appearances here and a variety show -- "Manny Many Prizes" -- in his native Philippines. Just one tip: if anyone offers to start a network with your name on it, make sure they foot the bill for the losses.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Need to make a commercial on the cheap? Check out Poptent Inc., which basically turns creating ads into a contest for its large network of freelancers and first-time producers. ESPN2's "First Take" is finding an audience.

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter. I get frequent flier miles for each new follower. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: Oprah Winfrey. Credit: Frank Gunn/Associated Press.

The Morning Fix: 'Avengers' huge! Celebs edge out voice-over pros.

After the coffee. Before signing up for a voice-over class.

The Skinny: Two things about Sunday night's "Mad Men." First, using that Beatles song wasn't cheap. Second, did they have hand dryers in bathrooms in the mid-1960s? Monday's headlines include analysis of the record box office for "The Avengers," what the growing trend of movie and TV actors doing voice-over work means for professional voice actors, and Walt Disney Co.'s ABC News and Univision forming a joint-venture.

Daily Dose: Next month Charlie Sheen's much-anticipated new comedy "Anger Management," for the FX cable network, will premiere. But anyone thinking that now that Sheen's on cable he can let the obscenities fly should think again. Although FX doesn't shy away from bad language on most of its shows, including "Louie" and "Sons of Anarchy," that won't be the case for "Anger Management," which is steering clear of swear words, according to network insiders. The reason for that is the makers of the show -- Debmar Mercury -- want to sell reruns to broadcast stations to run in the early evening, so producers will be ready to wash Sheen's mouth out with soap if he starts talking dirty.

Top this: "The Avengers" had a record-breaking opening weekend, taking in more than $200 million. That easily topped the previous record of $169.2 million raked in by  2011's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2." "The Avengers" has already taken in more than $440 million overseas. Yes, I saw it and while it was exactly what I expected -- things get smashed up and Robert Downey Jr. makes wisecracks -- it didn't need to be almost two-and-a-half hours. Also, how many times do I need to see Grand Central Station destroyed? Box office recaps from the Los Angeles Times and Movie City News.

Speechless. As more television and movie stars get into voice-over work, professional voice actors are finding it tougher to land the plum gigs. Some grumble that advertisers are wasting their money on A-list talent when few listeners really spend a lot of time figuring out who's pitching them and there's no proof that having a celebrity voice boosts sales. But advertisers and marketers think having a known name can boost brand awareness. A look at how the influx of celebrities is changing the voice-over business from the Los Angeles Times.

Stamp of approval. News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch has a lot of headaches these days, thanks to the ethics scandal at his British newspapers and a declaration by Parliament that he's not fit and proper to lead the media giant. But one group is unlikely to question or criticize Murdoch: his own board of directors. New York Times columnist David Carr suggests the News Corp. board rests comfortably in the mogul's pocket.

New friends. Walt Disney Co.'s ABC News and Spanish-language giant Univision are forming a joint-venture to create a 24-hour news channel. While the channel will be in English, it will be aimed at Latino viewers. The channel won't launch until 2013. Details on the announcement from TV Newser.

Change of address? ABC's comedy "Cougar Town" may be moving to cable channel TBS. "Cougar Town," which has struggled to establish itself on ABC but has a cult following, probably won't get renewed by the network for next season. TBS, which has been trying to establish a presence in comedy, is in talks on a two-season order of "Cougar Town," according to Deadline Hollywood.

Looking to sell. Comcast Corp. said it is going to unload the bulk of its minority stake in A&E TV Networks, parent of cable channels A&E, History and Lifetime. The company's majority owners -- Hearst Corp. and Walt Disney Co. -- will now have to negotiate a price. Comcast has put the value of its 15% interest at about $2 billion.

Where you'll find me. Next week the broadcast networks and a few of the big cable channels (USA, ESPN, Turner) will unveil their fall schedules to advertisers. The Hollywood Reporter has a presentation and party guide. Of course, the purpose of all this is to sell commercials. Ad Age has a look at how the ad market is looking.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: A profile of AMC's head of programming Joel Stillerman, who's looking for the next "Mad Men."

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter. I'm trying to get 7,000 followers before the end of the month. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: "The Avengers." Credit: Zade Rosethal/Walt Disney Co.

The Morning Fix: 'Avengers' to rule world. Pilot buzz picks up.

After the coffee. Before seeing if your pilot got picked up.

The Skinny: Is it too late to get tickets for a Saturday matinee of "The Avengers"? Get my assistant on that. Friday's headlines include a look at the weekend box office, a peak at pilot buzz at the networks and yet another story about the woes of Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications' OWN.

Daily Dose: It was three years ago Saturday that the first "After the coffee" appeared in this space. While the Morning Fix's actual anniversary is a few weeks earlier (exact dates are hard to find in the archives), it was the "After the coffee" phrase that was the start of the column finding a voice. So to see how far this space has come, take a look back at the May 5, 2009 column. It looks pretty primitive.

All around the world. "The Avengers" opens Friday in the United States but it's already a blockbuster thanks to the $250 million the movie has raked in overseas. Here, it is expected to take in about $150 million this weekend. The record opening for a movie in North America is the $169.2 million for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2." Box office preview from the Los Angeles Times. 

Take that! Samuel Jackson, star of "The Avengers," took to Twitter to bash New York Times critic A.O. Scott, who didn't give a totally glowing review of the blockbuster. "Avengers fans, NY Times critic AO Scott needs a new job! Let's help him find one! One he can ACTUALLY do!" Jackson tweeted. Hope Jackson at least tweeted a thanks to the paper for the glowing profile it ran of the actor in its Sunday magazine earlier this week. More on Jackson's tweet and the reaction from The Wrap.

Let the buzz begin. With just over a week until the broadcast networks unveil their new schedules to advertisers at the upfront presentations, executives are all locked away in pilot screenings deciding what new sitcoms and dramas will make the cut. Once that work is done, the schedulers jump in and try to figure out what show will go where. Then, in a final act of madness, the networks will premiere most of these shows in a two-week period in the fall and wonder why so many flopped. A look at how pilot season is wrapping up from Variety, Hollywood Reporter and Deadline Hollywood.

Finding that special look. With period pieces on the rise in television, it is creating a lot of challenges for the wardrobe folks who have to come up with authentic yet still stylish outfits for actors. The Wall Street Journal looks at the lengths wardrobe people will go to find that look that just screams 1864!

Still not tired of reading about OWN? Business Week weighs in with its piece on the bumpy road Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications have been on with the cable network OWN, which has struggled to find an audience.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Betsy Sharkey on "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel."

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter and stay ahead of the curve. Twitter.com/JBFlint

The Morning Fix: Thumbs-up for 'Avengers,' Viacom profit up

After the coffee. Before what is hopefully the last visit to the dentist for a while. 

The Skinny: Was having a Twitter debate over whether "Mad Men" is better than "The Sopranos." Here's how I know "The Sopranos" is better. Years from now I don't think I'll be going on YouTube to look at "Mad Men" clips the way I do with "The Sopranos." Thursday's headlines include a rave review for "The Avengers," Viacom's profits are way up, Bloomberg won a legal fight against Comcast and CNN's rating woes continue.

Daily Dose: Want to learn how to get coffee, kiss butt and be quiet while being yelled at? Well, now there is a boot camp for aspiring production assistants. That's right, for a mere $145 the Quixote boot camp will teach you the "basic dos and don'ts while on set." Here's a link to the Groupon coupon (of course) for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

You can run but you can't hide. We don't normally lead off with movie reviews at the Morning Fix, but with so much attention being focused on "The Avengers," it seems appropriate. In the Los Angeles Times, critic Kenneth Turan says "The Avengers" is a "behemoth of a movie" that is " smartly thought out and executed with verve and precision." How good is it? Turan says viewers may not even notice that the movie runs almost 2 1/2 hours. Guess I know what I'm doing this Saturday.

Give Cartman a raise! Viacom, the entertainment giant whose holdings include cable channels MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and BET as well as movie studio Paramount Pictures, released its second quarter results early Thursday morning and said profits jumped 56% to $585 million. The gains were attributed to an increase in subscription fees at its cable networks and a strong  quarter from Paramount Pictures. Early analysis from Bloomberg and Reuters. The Wall Street Journal also weighs in on Nickelodeon's ratings woes.

Bloomberg beats Comcast. The Federal Communications Commission decided in favor of Bloomberg TV in its bitter fight with Comcast Corp. over channel positioning. At issue was where Bloomberg TV was placed on Comcast cable systems in relation to where Comcast-owned CNBC and MSNBC were located. Comcast will appeal the decision. Details from the Los Angeles Times and Multichannel News.

Bad news. CNN's ratings hit a new low in April. The cable news channel continues to struggle against opinion-oriented rivals Fox News and MSNBC in prime time. One of CNN's problems has been its inability to create shows that will attract viewers when there isn't a breaking news story happening. Of course, CNN still remains very healthy from a financial standpoint. More from the New York Times.

There's an opening at Disney's movie unit. Former Disney Chief Executive Michael Eisner wants to launch his own movie and television production company. According to CNBC, Eisner is looking to raise about $800 million to get the venture off the ground and will put $20 million of his own money into the start-up. Guess the job as head of Disney Studios, succeeding Rich Ross, doesn't hold much appeal.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: A look at Zynga Chief Operating Officer John Schappert's strategy to keep the social network gaming company on top. The movie "Marigold Hotel" is going after an audience Hollywood usually ignores -- seniors.

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter. It's where all the twits are. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: "The Avengers." Credit: Marvel.

The Morning Fix: Bad 'Luck' for Time Warner. Comcast earnings up.

After the coffee. Before finding out if all Coldplay concerts are that short.

The Skinny: I felt like an extra in "The Walking Dead" trying to get out of the Hollywood Bowl after the Coldplay concert. Good show, but at a $170 a ticket, they could have played a little longer. Wednesday's headlines include Time Warner's results, analysis of News Corp.'s problems in Britain and a fire at Tyler Perry's Atlanta production facility.

Daily Dose: If you are a New Yorker and are wondering why the Empire State Building is lighted up blue Wednesday night, it's not for the Mets. It is a tip of the hat to the Weather Channel, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Just don't tell me it's raining anymore.

London's calling. The Parliament report on the ethics scandal at News Corp.-owned British newspapers dealt a devastating blow to the media giant and its leader Rupert Murdoch. Not only did the report accuse News Corp. executives of misleading investigators and lawmakers, it said Murdoch was unfit to lead the company. While News Corp. acknowledged and apologized for the ethical lapses, the company also took issue with some of the political overtones of the report. Meanwhile, analysts tried to figure out if the report was the beginning of the end of News Corp. or just a blip at a small unit of the giant company. Coverage from the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, News Corp.'s Wall Street Journal and the Guardian.

Some bad luck. Time Warner released its first-quarter results early Wednesday morning. Advertising gains and high subscription fees for its cable networks resulted in better-than-anticipated numbers. However, write-downs for the canceled HBO series "Luck" and the closing of a network in India hurt the bottom line. A quick take on the numbers from Reuters.

Good start. Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable operator and parent of NBCUniversal, released its first-quarter results and said profits were up 30%. NBC's coverage of the Super Bowl meant big advertising gains for the network. Early analysis from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Burning questions. Investigators are trying to figure out what caused a major fire at film and TV mogul Tyler Perry's Atlanta production facility. The fire, which damaged one building on the vast complex, started late Tuesday night. More from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Direct to DirecTV. Mel Gibson's next movie, "Get the Gringo," will be released directly to satellite broadcaster DirecTV at a price of $9.99. After a pay-per-view run on DirecTV, the  movie will head to the DVD shelf. Details from Bloomberg.

Long journey. "Jericho," a short-lived CBS drama about survivors of a nuclear attack that has been off the air since 2008, may be brought back to life by Netflix. Apparently reruns of the series do well on Netflix's streaming service. As TV Guide notes, a lot has to go right for Netflix in talks with CBS, the cast and producers in order to get new episodes of such an old series made. Hey, I still watch my DVDs of the great ABC series "The Job" starring Denis Leary. How about bringing that back next?

Inside the Los Angeles Times: The Academy Awards are staying in Hollywood. TV critic Mary McNamara looks at the growing popularity of the rhymes-with-witch word on television.

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter. I can be obnoxious and condescending but have a good side too. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: Firefighters at Tyler Perry's studio. Credit: Curtis Compton / Associated Press