The Morning Fix: Katie makes one decision, but has more ahead. Measuring VOD has a ways to go. Full frontal trend growing.
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After the coffee. Before what better be a Katie Couric-free day!
The Skinny: Had my first Pink’s hot dogs in about 20 years. I’ll pay the price later. Katie Couric makes one decision, but still has one more to go. Comcast follows the lead of DirecTV on releasing new movies on video-on-demand. PlayStation users better change their credit cards.
Kiss me goodbye, Katie. Well, no one saw this coming. Apparently Katie Couric is leaving her job as anchor of CBS’ evening newscast. I had no idea she was even thinking of taking on a new gig. Congratulations to People for landing this big scoop and even an interview with the low-key newswoman who keeps her cards close to the vest. The leading candidate to take Couric’s place is veteran correspondent Scott Pelley. I will wait and see when Us Weekly pops that story. As for Couric, she is considering her options. That means either a big paycheck trying to launch a daytime syndicated talk show or some sort of news post at a network where she would make less money, but have at least a sliver of a chance to hold onto some credibility (if that matters). Coverage and analysis from the Los Angeles Times, TV Guide and Washington Post.
Comcast wants its movies early too. Just a few weeks after satellite broadcaster DirecTV unveiled its plans to premiere movies on video-on-demand just two months after their theatrical release, Comcast is talking to the studios about doing the same. At $30 a pop, it better be a movie so good I was willing to wait two months to see it. Details from Bloomberg.
At least the numbers won’t be wrong. Figuring out how the public is responding to Hollywood’s move to offer movies on video-on-demand only two months after their theatrical debut will be no easy task. That’s because, per the Wrap, ratings measurement for video-on-demand is not exactly as advanced as the platform itself.
For once I’m glad I’m not cool. Hackers infiltrated Sony’s PlayStation and snagged all sorts of personal data from its users. Among information Sony said was vulnerable: addresses, phone numbers, user names and birth dates. The company didn’t say if credit card data was also exposed. Safe to assume it was. More from the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal and Reuters.
Busted! The lawsuit between former ‘Desperate Housewives’ star Nicolette Sheridan and ABC and show creator Marc Cherry just got more interesting. According to the Hollywood Reporter, a writer on the show gave a deposition that seemed to back up Sheridan’s story of the timing of the firing as opposed to what ABC and Cherry have been saying.
Big package. Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger may be returning to the big screen. Deadline Hollywood says the one-time action star is ‘attached to star in a rights package that CAA (Creative Artists Agency) is shopping today that will revive The Terminator.’ Now I admit I’m not a Hollywood insider, so I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m not quite sure what starring in a ‘rights package’ means. I assume that is some sort of code for a movie deal. But I don’t want to take anything for granted. Maybe Arnold is just starring in the deal talks.
Just don’t do this in 3-D. TV and movie watchers are being exposed to a lot more these days when it comes to male nudity. The Daily Beast looks at this trend, which is sure to provide more jobs for special effects experts and more therapy for insecure actors.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: Is there a girl problem on this season of ‘American Idol?’
-- Joe Flint
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