Direct TV Dish

ABC Family has started producing pilot for drama Perfect 10 and this show follows previous pilot approvals for comedies 10 Things I Hate About You and Ruby and The Rockets. Perfect 10 is created and written by Holly Sorenson, which follows three teen gymnasts, with distinct physical traits and backgrounds, training for a shot at the Olympics. Kate Juergens, executive vice president of original series programming and development of ABC Family said “We loved this millennial drama and its compelling characters right way, We’re excited to be working with both Holly and the SuperDelicious, and adding Perfect 10 to ABC Family’s existing slate of pilots.”

ESPN Deportes will launch the network’s latest news and commentary program Juego Cruzado. This program will feature a core group of panelists from some of the leading Spanish-language newspapers including La Opinion, Milenio, El Nuevo Herald and El Diario La Prensa. Two additional newspapers from Dallas and Puerto Rico will be joining in February 2009.

“Sports news and commentary is truly one of the elements that sets us apart from the pack and adding Juego Cruzado to the mix will further strengthen our leadership position in sports news and information,” said Chris Calcinari, vice president, production and operations, ESPN Deportes and ESPN International. “We are honored to partner with such reputable newspapers and journalists to bring our viewers a show that will be unpredictable, topical and full of hard-hitting opinion and debate.”

Fox Soccer Channel has announced the three-game telecast schedule for the Major League Soccer Playoffs, which will conclude the channel’s 35-match MLS Saturday on FSC package for the 2008 season. Live playoff coverage kicks off with Real Salt Lake hosting Chivas USA in the first leg of their Western Conference Semifinal showdown on Saturday, November 1, beginning with a half-hour pregame show at 5:30 p.m. ET. The second leg of this match-up will also air exclusively during MLS Saturday on FSC, starting at 10:00 p.m. ET on November 8.

Fox Soccer Channel’s MLS Playoff coverage culminates with either the Eastern or Western Conference Championship match on Saturday, November 15; participating teams and start time will be determined at the conclusion of the conference semifinal round. Fox Soccer Channel’s lead commentator, Max Bretos, will handle play-by-play action for all MLS Saturday on FSC playoff telecasts, alongside color analyst and former MLS and U.S. men’s national team standout Christopher Sullivan. Todd Grisham will host the pregame, postgame and halftime shows, while Mark Rogondino and Christian Miles will report from the sidelines in Sandy, Utah and Carson, Calif., respectively. Brian Dunseth will serve as sideline reporter for Conference Championship coverage.

Nickelodeon to premiere mud-soaked adventure overseas “iGo to Japan,” on Saturday, November 8 at 8-9:30 p.m. ET. It’s a wild and rollicking trip for the teen travelers, who must parachute from a possum-filled cargo plane, outwit conniving rivals, jump the language barrier - and race the clock to arrive in time to compete for the ultimate Internet prize: Best Comedy Web Show in the world. Marjorie Cohn, Executive Vice President, Development and Original Programming of Nickelodeon said “iGo to Japan gives fans more of everything they love about iCarly. It’s a big, broad, hilarious romp - loaded with suspense and mess like only Dan Schneider can deliver.”

Elizabeth Porter, senior vice president, specials and talent of Comedy Central has announced that they reached an agreement with comedian Jo Koy to produce a one-hour stand-up special program. Executive produced by Jo Koy and Dakota Pictures Troy Miller and Tracey Baird, the stand-up special will tape on November 6 at the New York Comedy Festival and will air in the first quarter of 2009. Jo Koy’s one-hour Comedy Central Original Stand-up special will be executive produced by Jo Koy and Dakota Pictures’ Miller and Baird.

“We’ve been tracking Jo Koy for a while and we saw him crush on Carlos Mencia’s ‘Punisher’ tour,” said Porter. “He’s a young guy with a really inclusive voice — it’s going to be great to put him out front in such a big way.”

The leading satellite TV provider in the country DIRECTV has launched local high-definition broadcast in the Colorado Springs- Pueblo,
Colorado area. KOAA/NBC, KKTV/CBS and KXRM/FOX are the new local HD broadcast available in these area. DIRECTV now offers local HD in 103 cities, representing nearly 85 percent of U.S. TV households. The satcaster also plans to provide local HD broadcast channels in more than 121 cities, representing approximately 88 percent of U.S. TV households.

ESPN has obtained broadcast rights of Stanford 20/20 cricket matches in USA on November 1st and the 2009 Stanford 20/20 Regional Tournament in April. ESPN reached an agreement to bring live television coverage of the historic 20/20 for $20 Million event in the Caribbean and Pacific Rim, live broadband coverage in the U.S. on ESPN360.com – the signature broadband sports television network, and taped coverage on U.S. television. The Regional tournament will have live television coverage in the Caribbean and live broadband coverage in the U.S. ESPN’s Cricinfo.com will provide ball-by-ball coverage of each match.

“We are very pleased to expand ESPN’s coverage of cricket in the Western Hemisphere with the Super Series 20/20 for $20 Million event and the Stanford Regional Tournament.” said Tim Bunnell, senior vice president, programming, ESPN International. “ESPN is committed to serving global sports fans by delivering the biggest and best events across our media platforms. We want to play a key role in the expansion of the 20/20 format.”

Spike TV to premiere “SCREAM 2008″ on Tuesday, October 21, 9:00 PM, ET, the two program will feature the third annual “SCREAM” event in which legendary filmmaker George Lucas made a rare appearance. This also includes musical performances by Grammy Award-winning band Smashing Pumpkins and up-and-coming pop sensation Kerli. This program will also bring featured appearances by the industry’s biggest stars including Kate Beckinsale, Kristen Bell, Rosario Dawson, the cast of “Dexter,” Jon Favreau, the cast of “Hellboy 2: The Golden Army,” Samuel L. Jackson, Milla Jovovich, Stan Lee, Gary Oldman, the Osbournes, Seth Rogen, Winona Ryder, Kevin Smith and Liv Tyler, among many others.

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have the support of the creative community behind the fantasy, science fiction, horror and comic book genres,” said senior vice president of event production for Spike TV and SCREAM 2008 executive producer Casey Patterson. “We’re thrilled to honor the unbelievably imaginative films, television and comics of the year and beyond, from the twisted to the fantastical. This is what makes SCREAM an experience like no other for the most passionate fan base in the world.”

BET Networks has announced marketing partnerships with Nike, MySpace Music, Comcast, Toyota, Alltel Wireless and Fox Searchlight. All these sponsors will be featured in creative, compelling marketing executions surrounding the third annual show, which will tape at Atlanta’s Civic Center on Saturday, October 18 and air on BET Thursday, October 23 at 8:00 p.m. BET Networks has partnered with Nike on a first-of-its-kind, limited edition Nike and BET Air Force 1 sneaker. As the official “kicks” of the BET HIP HOP AWARDS ‘08, this exclusive product will be aligned with the world’s hottest hip-hop artists, whose careers have been built and nurtured by the BET brand. The sneaker will be a new type of crushed patent leather never done before by the company — with only 250 pairs being made and not for sale in stores.

Qwest Communications has launched a new generation of interactive retail kiosks that allow consumers to experience first-hand how the intersection of these technologies can simplify their lives. Qwest has unveiled 11 new interactive kiosks in shopping centers in Colorado, Iowa, North Dakota, Washington and Arizona, with plans to open 31 additional locations across the company’s 14-state region. Qwest small-business products include DIRECTV service, including voice services, Qwest high-speed and fiber-optic Internet services and Verizon Wireless service. At the kiosks customers can experience how combining services like Qwest High-Speed Internet and DIRECT TV service available through Qwest, provides access to DIRECTV on Demand with more than 4,000 programming titles, and enables customers to share photos, music and videos by sending them from their home computers to their big-screen TVs.

“Qwest offers a product set that provides the means to connect people to what’s most important in their lives, at home and on the go,” said Jim Vogel, vice president at Qwest. “The new Qwest kiosks provide a setting to show consumers how the right mix of products and services available through Qwest – high-speed Internet, Verizon Wireless, video and voice – can work together to benefit them in ways they never imagined.”