MTV Will Get 'Real’ For 5 More Seasons
New York — In the largest series order in its history, MTV: Music Television has picked up five more seasons of The Real World and two more runs of The Real World/Road Rules Challenge from Bunim Murray Productions.
The Real World additions will carry the series through its 20th incarnation into 2008, making it the longest-running reality show in the history of cable television, according to the parties. The Real World/Road Rules Challenge will air through 2006.
Currently in its 15th season, The Real World from Philadelphia ranks first on basic cable in its time period, 10 p.m. on Tuesdays, among persons 12 through 34.
The 16th season will begin production in Austin, Texas this quarter.
Skateboard Star Hawk Fuels Up for U.S. Tour
Los Angeles — In a broad-based deal, action sports network Fuelwill be the title sponsor of Tony Hawk’s “Boom Boom Huckjam Tour.”
The tour, featuring leaders in the worlds of skateboarding, BMX and freestyle motorcross, will make stops in 25 cities this summer.
Tour attendees will be able to sample Fuel on TV monitors located on-site at BBHJ Street Corner Village area.
The skateboarding legend and Fuel will produce a behind-the-scenes series tentatively titled On the Road With Tony Hawk, to air on the network in the fourth quarter.
Tour updates will screen on Fuel’s weekly update program, 54321. Fuel will also produce a half-hour tour preview show that will run on FSN owned and affiliated regional sports networks prior to the tour’s arrival in key markets
Good Day for the Roses As HGTV Starts ’05
Knoxville, Tenn. — Home & Garden Television rang in the new year in strong Nielsen fashion.
Led by its live, commercial-free coverage of the 116th Tournament of Roses Parade, the channel averaged a 1.2 household rating and nearly 1.05 million households on New Year’s Day, its best-ever total day performance, according to network officials.
HGTV’s coverage of the Roses Parade scored a 3.1 household average from 11 a.m. (ET) to 1:15 p.m. (ET), which made it the most-watched non-sports basic cable program of the day and the second highest-rated program in HGTV’s history, behind its Jan. 1, 2002 presentation of the Roses parade, which drew a 3.8 household rating.
Carlson Out as CNN Pulls Trigger on 'Crossfire’
New York — Tucker Carlson is out at Cable News Network’s Crossfire and the political debate show will be shuttered soon, according to network officials.
The network told Carlson last Wednesday that it would not renew his contract, but CNN may keep the elements of Crossfire alive as part of political coverage on other network shows.
CNN-U.S. president Jonathan Klein, in discussing Carlson’s departure, said the network wants to refocus on reporting the day’s events in primetime, not discussing them.
Published reports indicated Carlson might resurface as the host of a primetime talk show on MSNBC.
