Warner Bros. Hopes TMZ Will Be Web2TV Hit; Sells Syndie Show To Fox O&O's

Time Warner grabbed the pre-NATPE spotlight with the announcement of a syndicated entertainment news show based on oh-so-hot TMZ.com, the AOL-Telepictures JV that launched in late 2005. The company hopes to also grab a brass ring that has been elusive for years: a web2tv success. (The TV show was in the JV’s long-term plans; the online success may have pushed up the timing.)The half-hour daily strip already has been sold by TW’s Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution to the Fox O&Os, which should give it presence in NYC, LA and Chicago for a planned fall 2007 premiere; Fox has 35 stations in its O&O group and recently rolled out a MyFox format for its local sites. It’s a multi-year deal. Among the selling points — a proven internet brand and promises of a broadband-broadcast combo. Release. Some details:
— Among the online elements being promised: exclusive TMZ content; a branded TMZ module for station front pages; full integration into the station’s site; updates 24/7.
— For broadcast, TMZ for TV plans to provide a 254/7 newsfeed with branded reports and unedited footage the stations can use.
— Plans calls for a show as edgy and timely as the site. Words being tossed around include “irreverent” and “young skewing.”
— No host/hosts yet for the LA-based show but TMZ.com managing editor Harvey Levin is not likely.
— The series is being produced by Harvey Levin Productions, Inc. and paraMedia, inc. with Telepictures.
Variety: “The new Warners strip will be targeted to “a younger-skewing, more balanced audience and will air on Fox in very good time periods,” said Warner Bros. Domestic TV prexy Ken Werner. Deals will be cash-plus-barter, in a typical 5½-1½ split, meaning the studio will retain three 30 seconds and local stations get eleven 30-second spots.” (No mention of broadband ads that I can see.)
B&C: “It will feature video segments, investigative news reports, exclusive citizen video and other TMZ elements related to topical entertainment stories. Werner says the most newsworthy stories on the Website may be held back to break simultaneously with the TV show.”
Related:
TMZ.com May Add A TV Newsmagazine Show

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