Jay Leno may land on other networks
by Jessica Heslam
DNN Follow-up
Saturday, Apr. 4, 2009
Three Boston TV stations called NBC yesterday and expressed interest in joining the peacock network and taking homeboy’s Jay Leno’s new primetime show if Channel 7 rolls out a 10 p.m. newscast, a source told DNN.
“Jay Leno fans will not be disappointed. Make no mistake, the new Leno show will air at 10 p.m. weeknights in the Boston market on NBC,” John Eck, head of The NBC TV Network, said in a statement.
On Thursday, WHDH-TV announced plans to launch an hourlong, 10 p.m. newscast in September, ditching Leno’s new talk show. NBC quickly threatened to strip Channel 7 of its NBC affiliation if it bumped Leno.
The Andover native is leaving “The Tonight Show” on May 29 and starts his new gig in September. NBC affiliates across the country fear a prime-time Leno lead-in could hurt their late-night news ratings, in part because his audience skews older.
the set of the “The Tonight Show” aren’t happy with WHDH’s decision but are focusing on the show and letting NBC handle the dustup.
“If Boston opens this door, what is going to stop other affiliates from doing the same?” said one source.
Network officials said yesterday that no other NBC stations have said they won’t take Leno. Channel 7 owner Ed Ansin declined comment yesterday.
NBC and WHDH did have conversations yesterday, according to one source.
Ansin’s station stands to lose value if NBC strips WHDH of its network affiliation. By severing his ties with NBC, Ansin would lose ratings and advertising bonanzas such as the Patriot games and the upcoming Olympics.
WHDH (Ch. 7) saying it won’t air Jay Leno’s
new show, three other Boston stations have
expressed interest in teaming up with NBC.
(TV Vid photo)
Unlike the others, we tell you what's really happening.
No comments:
Post a Comment