CBS Innertube: “Love Monkey” Returns; “Lucy” and “Brady Bunch” Could Show Up

Yes, it’s true. Broadband will breathe some life into “Love Monkey” … the show that couldn’t last on the air will reprise on new CBS broadband channel innertube. Episodes will include some that never aired on CBS. The broadband channel promises to be a home for shows that couldn’t last on air; current shows once agreements can be achieved; online supplements to current shows; library content — “I Love Lucy” and the “Brady Bunch” are under consideration; and original content.
Speaking to reporters on a conference call this afternoon, Larry Kramer, president of CBS Digital, called innertube “our entertainment play on the web.” It’s the latest in a series of moves designed to pull CBS into the digital age, all done in less time than it can take to move one series from greenlight to air. Even better, Kramer said the web business is profitable now although some programming may not be.
— They’re talking to affiliates. Kramer said, “We’re enthusiastic about working something out with them and having them participate.” But they launched the channel without having that in place.
— Nancy Tellem, president, CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group, said the network has to deal with rights issues for current non-CBS-owned shows and library shows like “Lucy.”
Update: During the call, Kramer said new advertising would be stripped into web shows although the same advertisers who supported Love Monkey, for instance, might also want to buy ads. A CBS spokeswoman confirmed later for me that the ads would not mirror the TV ad placement and that there will be fewer ads.

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