Cable Television

Everyone knew that 2007 was a breakout year for big, noisy cable shows, so it wasn't necessarily surprising that the Showtimes and FXs of the world mopped up nominations for the 65th annual Golden Globes on Thursday. It was, however, remarkable that broadcasters -- which as recently as a year ago were talking about a programming renaissance -- saw their series often reduced to asterisks or also-rans in the Globes derby.

A few years ago, it looked like Court TV was all about courtrooms, FX Network was for tough guys, and AMC ran only movies. In the coming months, however, cable TV viewers will start to see things change. Court TV will become TruTV. FX ads will explain "There is no box" its shows fit into. And AMC will launch its third original scripted program.

"Robert De Niro" wasn't kidding. As impersonated by Josh Robert Thompson, he warned in the opening minutes of his live TV call-in talk show "Dining With De Niro" that he only wanted to talk about food -- "manly" foods like beef. He discouraged viewers who wanted to discuss "feminine" foods like cupcakes or muffins. Many of his callers were not having it. One caller blurted out an anti-Semitic obscenity.

Time Warner Inc. President Jeff Bewkes said the gap between the theatrical release of movies and their appearance on DVD or cable television would continue to narrow. "The windows won't collapse; they will evolve," Bewkes, who was promoted to president last month, said at a media conference in Phoenix. New York-based Time Warner owns Warner Bros., the largest film studio.

Hollywood is abuzz over "Bubble." It's not that Steven Soderbergh's new art house movie is expected to break any box office records when it opens Friday. A low-budget murder mystery set in a doll factory and made with non-actors, it's hardly blockbuster material.

A simmering battle between the cable TV industry and major phone companies is about to boil over. Cable operators plan to start running ads today that accuse AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and other major phone carriers of lying to the public and elected officials as the companies use their networks to roll out new television services.

Live from Hacienda Heights, on public access television, we now bring you "\o7Thee\f7 Mr. Richard Duran Show." (Cue intro music.) Three cameras swing around to Richard Duran, the host, who is looking sharp in a tuxedo. "Mr. Duran," as he is known, bends his right knee and dips into a classic lean-back pachuco pose before screaming: "San Gabriel Valley! We're back with a vengeance! That's right!" The audience, seated in two rows of metal folding chairs, breaks into cheers and applause.

Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable operator, has reached a deal with IFC Entertainment to show selected independent movies at the same time the releases hit theaters. Philadelphia-based Comcast said indie films from "IFC in Theaters" would be shown through its on-demand service, which stores movies, TV shows and other videos for subscribers with digital set-top boxes to watch at any time. The offerings, priced at $5.99 each, will be launched nationwide March 22.

IN the early '90s, according to Bruce Springsteen, there were "57 channels (and nothin' on)." Now, according to Nielsen Media Research, there are 96 channels in the average U.S. home. And though they may have plenty on, the average person watches only 15 of them. As the number of niche and boutique channels mushrooms, people are watching more TV than ever before, said Brad Adgate, research director for the New York-based media service company Horizon Media, who is familiar with the study.

Time Warner Cable said it was in talks with the production units of ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox to create a "Hits channel" that would allow viewers to watch instant reruns of the most popular TV programs. The top-rated shows would be available on the proposed channel immediately after their first broadcast or the day after, a spokesman said. He declined to confirm a report in the New York Times that said the monthly subscription fee for access to 20 top-ranked programs would be about $10.