LeslieMoonves
Latest
CBS and Viacom are reportedly exploring a massive media merger
The heads of Viacom and CBS have discussed the prospect of merger, according to Reuters sources. Earlier this month, Viacom CEO Bob Bakish and CBS CEO Leslie Moonves reportedly had an exploratory talk about a potential merger and both companies' boards have scheduled a number of meetings to continue that discussion over the next few weeks.
Showtime plans to follow HBO with cable-free streaming in 2015
Let's say that your premium cable-drama tastes range more toward Homeland or Masters of Sex than they do Game of Thrones or Girls. Good news, then! If you're getting tired of paying for access to the network on top of your monthly TV bill, that could change next year according to Wall Street Journal. On today's earnings call, CBS' chief executive officer Leslie Moonves said that standalone access to Showtime's programming was coming in 2015 "fairly definitively." It's a bit on the wishy-washy side of things, but it gives the outfit a chance to cover its rear should the requisite deals we'd imagine this requires not happen in time. That should sound at least a little familiar considering HBO said something similar not too long ago. Want to simulate pay-TV-less Showtime until then? Well, there's always Dexter and Californication on Netflix. [Image credit: Getty Images for Showtime]
Steve Jobs approached Leslie Moonves about streaming service, CBS exec says
At this point, it'd be more of a shock if Apple wasn't working on a streaming media service. Still, we're surprised to hear that Steve Jobs was personally involved in trying to corral support from the entertainment industry. CBS CEO Leslie Moonves revealed during a talk at the UCLA Entertainment Symposium that he has spoken with the Apple founder directly about providing content to subscription-based video service, but declined the invitation. Moonves was concerned about how signing on to such a service would impact existing revenue streams, including those from competing properties like Hulu. The CEO allegedly told Jobs at one point, "You know more than me about 99 percent of things but I know more about the television business."[Photo credit: David Shankbone]
NFL renews TV deals with CBS, Fox, NBC for nine more years, money reportedly involved
Yeah, the NFL's really great and everything, but you know what would make it even greater? More. Money. Fortunately for Roger Goodell & Co., that's exactly what the league is due to receive, thanks to a slate of TV deals signed last week. The agreements, set to go into effect at the end of the 2013 season, effectively renew the NFL's current agreements with CBS, Fox and NBC, extending the league's TV contracts for a "record-setting" nine extra years. Not surprisingly, the deals will also funnel some extra pocket change through the NFL's coffers -- which will of course be coming from you, if you're subscribing to cable or satellite TV. Currently, the three networks pay a combined $1.94 billion in annual rights fees, but according to the LA Times, the league will now receive an average of $3.1 billion per year, as stipulated under its renewed agreements. In a statement, Commissioner Goodell said the deals underscore his league's "unique commitment to broadcast television," with CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves adding that his network will benefit from the NFL's "terrific, exciting programming," and from the consistently high ratings that "no other franchise delivers." The agreements, which come just a few months after the NFL inked a comparatively lucrative deal with ESPN, will also allow for the league to shift games between CBS and Fox, in order to bring "regional games to wider audiences." Each network, moreover, will air three Super Bowls over the course of the nine-year contract, continuing the rotation currently in place. Tebow past the break for the full PR.
CBS and Hulu in talks about shows on Plus service, says broadcaster's CEO
CBS has been doing a good job testing the waters of its online content -- and has even promised to have HTML5-supported episodes this Fall season. All the while, however, it's remained one of the last broadcast holdouts against offering content to the Hulu empire. Now, CBS chief Les Moonves says new Hulu Plus subscription service has interested the broadcaster enough to open talks with the video service. Don't get your hopes up, though, as discussions won't necessarily lead to anything and it's not necessarily your only option for legally streaming the channel online. Still, feel free to fancy a converged queue of episodes from across the networks. Why, that'd be awesome times awesome. That'd be awesome squared.
CBS promises to sell some TV shows on iTunes for 99 cents
We'd already heard that Apple hoped to bring at least some TV shows down to the 99-cent mark on iTunes in time for the iPad launch, and it looks like CBS is now the first to officially come on board. While a final deal apparently isn't done just yet, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves has flatly told the Financial Times that there "are certain shows that will be sold on Apple for 99 cents" -- not exactly much wiggle room there. Other networks aren't speaking on the record just yet, but the Financial Times has previously reported that some have already agreed to similar terms, and are expected to start selling shows at the lower price -- possibly coinciding with the iPad launch. Update: Peter Kafka at All Things Digital has some more info on this -- sources tell him Moonves was speaking off the cuff, and while CBS is open to a deal with Apple, there's nothing in place quite yet. Unfortunately, no one's going on the record here, so the situation remains hazy -- we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
