The Hollywood Reporter says it’s been another good summer for cable, adding that ad-supported cable networks have again hit record viewership. Using data developed by Turner Broadcasting’s research head Jack Wakshlag, THR says there’s been a small gain over the record set last summer to about 51...

Original Programming Pays Off for Cable

It's no coincidence that cable shows such as "The Closer," "Mad Men" and "Project Runway" are stealing all the buzz and some of the ratings from their broadcast counterparts once again this summer. The cumulative $19 billion investment cable networks have put into original programming since 2003 is...

“… In 2006, audiences appeared to be dropping for newscasts across all time periods during the day — even mornings, which had been growing. That dampened the hopes raised in earlier years that the hemorrhage in viewers had stabilized.”  

“… And by large numbers Americans think most local TV news is all the same. If TV stations are innovating or improving their journalism, most viewers say they haven’t noticed it.”

State of the News Media 2007, An Annual Report on American Journalism - www.journalism.org

Local newscasts across the ...