Colmes re-ups at Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel has renewed Alan Colmes’ contract as co-host of “Hannity & Colmes” with WABC talk-jock Sean Hannity. The show has been an FNC mainstay since the network launched in 1996.
“Alan’s strong opinions and on-air style has proven successful and has helped contribute to the rise of Fox News,” says Roger Ailes, chairman/CEO of Fox News.
“Hannity & Colmes” (9-10 p.m.) averaged 1.1 million viewers last month – and has been one of the top-five-rated shows in cable news for the last six months.
Compete clause: ‘AH’ goes on Hart attack
Most of the bad blood between “Access Hollywood” and “Entertainment Tonight” – and there is bad blood, believe it – is kept out of public view. But “AH” is now going on the offensive claiming that Paramount, which produces “ET,” moved the show to an earlier timeslot in major markets (including to 7 p.m. on Ch. 2 here) because it can’t compete with “AH.”
“The 7:30 p.m. timeslot is the most important slot for local TV stations because it leads into prime time,” says “AH” executive producer Rob Silverstein. “We dominate in that timeslot in every big market. Our margin of victory is so large, [‘ET’] did the only thing they could do – run.”
“ET” had always aired at 7 p.m. on Ch. 2 – a half-hour before “AH” on Ch. 4 – until it was moved to 7:30 in the wake of Sept. 11 for Ch. 2’s news coverage. Ch. 2 says the “ET” move back to 7 p.m. has “nothing to do” with “AH” or ratings.
“After 9/11, ‘ET’ moved to 7:30 p.m. in New York because WCBS decided to use the 7 o’clock time period for specials covering the tragedy,” says “ET” executive producer Linda Bell Blue.
“Recently, the station decided to move us back to 7, where ‘ET’ is regarded as an ideal companion to news. We’re happy to be back in a time period we’ve long considered to be our ‘home.’
” ‘ET’ continues to rank as the nation’s #1 syndicated newsmagazine, beating ‘Access’ by more than three rating points among homes by as many as two-and-a-half ratings points among key demos.”
“ET” is hosted by Mary Hart and Bob Goen; “AH” is hosted by Pat O’Brien and Nancy O’Dell.
This just in . . .
Monday night’s Sotheby’s auction benefitting the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund raised nearly $4 million for nearly 800 families of Sept. 11 victims. And Steve Leeds’ annual MS “Walk for Wendy” raised $41,000. The walk was held in Ridgewood, N.J. at the Ben Franklin Middle School in late April.
HGTV has added an extra run of “Smart Design,” hosted by Nancy Glass, Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m.