FOX and CW both released statements promising scaled-back and “truncated” pilot seasons. Fox has cut 8 scripts from 20th Century Fox while CW will drop around a dozen projects. ABC may reduce script orders by as much as 30%. Meanwhile, Jeff Zucker gave more details on his plans for scaling back NBC’s pilot season. He told 16,000 employees during a worldwide videoconference that the network would do one or two pilots at most — and save around $50 million.
GOOGLE and PUBLICIS will collaborate in a unique exchange of technology and company talent. Publicis Chairman and CEO Maurice Levy told reporters that employees from his company will work at Google for a few months during the year and that Google employees will work at Publicis for a similar length of time. The two companies will collaborate on new tools and products for the burgeoning online advertising industry. Specific details of the partnership are in the works.
THE WGA will hold informal discussions with the AMPTP starting today. The Guild has removed its demands to unionize reality TV and animation writers from the table. The Guild has also canceled plans to picket the Grammy awards, thought it remains dedicated to picketing the Oscars.
THE MPAA retracted the findings of a study it used to push for anti-file-sharing legislation since 2005. The Association had consistently claimed that 44% of the movie industry’s domestic losses were caused by illegal downloading of movies on college campuses. However, the true number was actually 15%. The MPAA blames “human error” for the mixup.
CBS has planned a press conference this morning with the founders of Last.fm, which it acquired last year for $280 million. The network will reportedly unveil an “unprecedented service.” No specific details are known, but Les Moonves recently made comments expressing a desire to use the Last.fm technology for a new social video service. Stay tuned.
IFC is launching Media Lab Studios to create original scripted series for the web. The first series is a partnership with Red Bull that will be selected from online submissions to IFC’s Media Lab. Red Bull will be featured in the series in some form. In the future, Media Lab Studios will select short films to be turned into scripted series with six to eight episodes.
BBC3 will soon transmit its content to TV and the web simultaneously as part of a re-branding that will focus on interactivity. The channel’s young demographic will also find user-generated clips added to its peak line-up. BBC3 aims to let its users move seamlessly between TV, the web and mobile broadcasting without missing a show.