CBS

R.E.M. once sang about this moment. “It's the end of the world as we know it,” Michael Stipe sang loudly. He repeated those words a few hundred times, just be certain that we got the message. Today, we're getting that message loud and clear. Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) wants to take Hulu off the hands...

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is out with its report today on CBS (NYSE: CBS), reiterating Buy. In a note to clients, Bank of America Merrill Lynch writes, "Despite the absence of the Super Bowl and even-year political dollars in CY11E, CBS' underlying adv. strength, improved cost structure and...

Deutsche Bank is out with its report today on CBS (NYSE: CBS), raising its PT from $32 to $35. In a note to clients, Deutsche Bank writes, "We continue to believe expectations are too low relative to the potential for the growth in retrans/reverse retrans ($1b/yr by 2017), terrific cost control,...

According to Wedbush, CBS (NYSE: CBS) is launching the fewest new shows this fall. Wedbush said that it spoke with ad agency buyers, as well as TV network and other execs at the third day of this week's upfront presentations in New York, where CBS capped off the major network presentations. “...

He's the one man I didn't think of when plotting my replacement for Charlie Sheen. But it looks like the Punk'd creator and former That ‘70s Show star is set to take the lead on Two and a Half Men. The Wall Street Journal reports that Kutcher, should he accept the reported (but still unconfirmed)...

Goldman Sachs is out with its "Americas: Entertainment" update, and notes CBS' ratings win. In a note to clients, Goldman Sachs writes, "CBS knocked FOX from the lead position last week with its March Madness coverage. CBS garnered a 2.9 rating, up 12% yoy. CBS's Final Four coverage on Saturday...

It seems that YouTube users' homegrown shtick is no longer enough for Google (NASDAQ: GOOG). According to the Financial Times, the company is prepared to pay “cash advances against future advertising revenues in return for lending their name to these channels and overseeing the content.” That's an...

Mom always said that if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. But maybe she should have said, “If you can't say something nice, your employer might fire you.” Last night after the market close, Aflac (NYSE: AFL) announced that it had severed ties with the squeakiest voice in...

He's a man of many words – many of which don't make any sense. Charlie Sheen, the man who helped make Two and a Half Men the number-one comedy on television, has been the talk of the town. But while his fans, enemies and the general public argue over whether we're simply laughing with him or at...

Now that the Sheen has hit the fan for CBS' (NYSE: CBS) most popular comedy, what should the leading television network do next? Ultimately, CBS must (and will) replace Charlie Sheen. It would be foolish to cancel the show without at least trying to move forward. But if the producers can't come up...

The major broadcast networks were collectively down 32% yoy last week, facing a comparison against last year's Winter Olympics on NBC (NASDAQ: CMCSA), Goldman Sachs reports. “FOX (NASDAQ: NWSA) won the week with a 3.5 rating, up 10% yoy due to a repeat-heavy schedule last year,” Goldman Sachs...

Earlier this month the FCC said it will propose new rules governing negotiations between television broadcasters and cable providers for the carriage of their channels. The FCC is looking to prevent circumstances that outcome of broadcast channels being pulled from cable providers which, in turn,...

The 2011 ad budgets are coming in at healthy 4-5% growth levels, with TV and Internet again gaining share, Deutsche Bank reports. Ad strength is expected to carry over into the new year, and should be reflected in low upfront cancellations for 1Q11 that are due by mid November. “We continue to...