TV NEWS ON FEBRUARY 1

http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2013/02/natpe-2013-updates-includes-metv-update.html Yesterday we gave you a list of shows being offered in syndication for Fall 2013 (including should-be big ratings players Modern Family and The Middle), today we will round up the major news from NATPE 2013. CBS Television Distribution has now sold Hot in Cleveland to TV stations in 92% of the United States for a September 2014 launch. The hit TV Land sitcom is now cleared in 47 of the top 50 markets. The latest round of clearances includes stations from the Allbritton Communications, Granite Broadcasting, Raycom Media, Post-Newsweek Stations, Gray Television and Grant Communications groups. Onto MeTV, Weigel Broadcasting Co. and Nielsen have reached an agreement to begin national television audience measurement of The MeTV Network effective spring 2013. Since the launch of MeTV, distribution has grown rapidly, reaching or meeting Nielsen's policies for reporting as a national TV network. Currently, the MeTV Network serves 141 affiliates, clears 87% of the country and can be found in 28 of the top 30 markets in the U.S. Stay tuned for a full network rating report this spring, as currently only a little more than a handful of affiliates subscribe to ratings. And sticking with digital over the air networks, another one is coming this spring. Fox Television Stations and Weigel Broadcasting (who also owns MeTV and is a partner with MGM for ThisTV) are partnering on Movies!, a film-themed subchannel launching in 17 Fox-owned markets this spring. Movies! will be available on Fox digital channels in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Houston, Detroit, Phoenix, Tampa, Minneapolis, Orlando, Austin, Memphis and Ocala. Movies! will join networks like Antenna TV, MeTV, ThisTV, Bounce TV, Cozi TV and RTV in this space.