February 5, 2008

360 Update: Costantini Leaves Time Warner Cable

Costantini headed to Scripps, the Academy Awards will go on, roasting Willie Nelson and other news

By Cable  360 Staff

The Academy Awards will go on despite the writers strike, the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts said this afternoon in Hollywood. Sid Ganis told a luncheon of Oscar nominees that it would be a shame if the strike derailed the awards, The NY Times reported. Apparently writers are divided on the issue, with some urging that picket lines be set up during the Oscars and others saying the awards should be granted an exemption.  [The NY Times]

Veteran Time Warner Cable exec Lynn Costantini is leaving for Scripps Networks as EVP, affiliate sales and marketing. She was SVP and Chief Business Affairs Officer at TW Cable. The chattering classes speculated that Costantini was in line to replace the late Fred Dressler when he retired in 2006. That job went to Melinda Witmer.

Horseracing network TVG said today it renewed its agreement with FSN West and FSN Prime Ticket to exclusively carry live horseracing. The partnership gives TVG additional daily access to seven million homes in the Los Angeles DMA.

Comedy Central will roast and wish happy 75th birthday to Willie Nelson. The birthday roast will tape in Los Angeles April 17 and be seen on Comedy early in June.

Showtime said hit series The Tudors will return March 30.

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