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Regis Philbin headed to Fox Sports? More originals for TBS and TNT.Feb 07, 2013 (Los Angeles Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- After the coffee. Before deleting my Twitter Vine app. The Skinny: I think the producers of "Smash" should watch "Nashville" to learn how to produce a musical drama. I'm even starting to get into country music. Thursday's stories include Time Warner's plans to increase original programming on the Turner networks and CBS's concerns about revealing costumes during Sunday's Grammy Awards. Daily Dose: Satellite broadcaster Dish Network has struck a deal with Fox Sports to carry the latter's San Diego regional cable channel, which is home to the Padres. The deal may put more pressure on cable operator Time Warner Cable to sign its own pact to carry the channel. Time Warner Cable tried to land the Padres for their own network but struck out and now is playing hardball with Fox Sports. Beefing up. Time Warner Chief Executive Jeff Bewkes said the Turner cable channels TNT and TBS will dramatically increase their original programming efforts. The problem for TNT is that as of late it has had more misses than hits on the original front. Earlier this week, the new medical drama "Monday Mornings" premiered to very low ratings. The push comes as Turner prepares to renegotiate deals with pay-TV distributors and will be seeking an increase in fees. Next week, "Southland" returns on TNT so be sure and watch because it's really good. More on TNT and TBS from the Los Angeles Times. Easier said than done. John Malone's Liberty International, the new owner of British pay-TV company Virgin Media, doesn't plan to get into bidding wars with News Corp.'s BSkyB for big sports properties, reports Reuters. Yeah, and Time Warner Cable isn't interested in the sports business. We'll see. Keep it clean. Having just finished airing a Super Bowl that featured a risque performance from Beyonce and an F-bomb from Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, CBS issued a memo to Grammy performers to steer clear of the less-is-more approach to outfits. That doesn't sound like a fun show to me. A look at the memo from Deadline Hollywood. Regis return News Corp.'s Fox Sports is talking with Regis Philbin about hosting a talk show for its national sports channel that is launching later this year. According to Sports Business Daily, the show would be something like "The View" except for men and Philbin would be in the Barbara Walters role. Sports Business Daily also reported that Fox is considering giving Jay Mohr a show as well. My advice to them is to listen to Mohr's radio show first before doing anything hasty. Sports has become the big engine for News Corp. More on that from Forbes and the Los Angeles Times. Inside the Los Angeles Times: Music mogul Clive Davis talks about his new autobiography and what's happening in the music business. Hey Clive, it's not too late to invite me to your big party Saturday. Follow me on Twitter. Some people take this stuff seriously. @JBFlint. ___ (c)2013 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |