CBS acquires 50% of TV Guide Network for $100 million - Los Angeles Times

Recording artist Cee Lo Green hangs out with the Muppets for a 2012 holiday special, "Cee Lo's Magic Moment," which ran on the TV Guide Network. (Erik Kabik / TV Guide Channel) 

CBS Corp. has acquired a 50% stake in the TV Guide Network for about $100 million, giving the big broadcaster a larger toehold in cable television.

CBS said Tuesday it had entered into a joint venture with the independent film and television studio Lionsgate, which owns the other 50% of the channel also known as TVGN.  CBS bought out the stake held by One Equity Partners, an investment arm of JPMorgan Chase & Co. 

The 32-year-old TVGN is widely distributed -- it is available in 80 million homes -- but it has stumbled attempting to create an identity after the conversion to digital channels that made the TV Guide channel's once useful rolling scroll of cable channel program schedules irrelevant. 

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Now cable subscribers can easily navigate an interactive channel guide by tapping a button on their remote controls.

The channel had been on the block for more than a year. Lionsgate and One Equity Partners had hoped to sell the outlet for $350 million.

Lionsgate paid $255 million to acquire the channel four years ago. It later sold 49% to One Equity Partners.

In recent years, the channel acquired rerun rights to shows including HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and Showtime's "Weeds," which Lionsgate produces. It has not achieved success in original programming.

The website TVGuide.com was included in the deal.

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CBS said its new partnership would combine CBS programming, production capabilities and marketing muscle with Lionsgate’s resources in motion pictures and television. CBS, which is controlled by Sumner Redstone, also owns the Showtime premium networks and CBS College Sports Network.

In recent months, CBS has been making strategic alignments with owners of small cable channels. Last month, it took a minority stake in Mark Cuban's music and live events channel AXS. CBS did not extend any cash in that transaction.

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SHOWBIZ: Competition heats up for Top 7 - New Straits Times

WHEN the four judges gave Lazaro Arbos the thumbs-down for his lacklustre performance, he was crest-fallen. Randy Jackson stuck in the knife and twisted it when he said: “Honestly for me, it was your worst performance ever.”

Randy’s candid but harsh remark blasted Lazaro’s heart to pieces.  When host Ryan Seacrest walked over to talk to him, Lazaro turned his face aside to hide his tears.

Across the world, viewers’ sympathy for Lazaro rose like a mighty biblical tide. So when Lazaro was the first to be saved, the producers probably found out that being cruel is definitely not the way to handle contestants with a physical handicap like Lazaro.

Paul Jolley was the second guy to bite the dust after Curtis Finch Jr. the previous week  — in the bottom three, together with Paul and Devin Velez, was Amber Holcomb.

Randy and Nicki Minaj were visibly upset that Amber was one of the three with the lowest number of votes. Before anyone demanded a recount, Amber was rescued and dropped back in the safe house.

If anyone had been keeping score, they would know that the Top 8 comprises five girls and three boys. It is become increasingly clear that this year is quickly turning out to be a season for the girls.

The five girls — in no particular order — are Amber Holcomb, Angie Miller, Candice Glover, Janelle Arthur and Kree Harrison.

Judging by the voting trend in recent weeks, two of the three boys, Devin Velez and Lazaro, are in danger of making an exit in the next two weeks. Only Burnell Taylor has a fighting chance.

Lazaro has, so far, defied the odds. It was obvious that Lazaro was not at his best during the Top 9 performance. Americans are inclined to root for the underdog and Lazaro right now is the most lovable.

When the Top 8 results were announced, Ryan told the whole world that Aubrey Cleland would be joining the Top 10 for their summer tour.

Charlie Askew had to call it a day even though I thought he was the better singer with an original, Sky Blue Diamond. Aubrey is what some people call “eye candy”. Welcome to the real world, folks, and it has nothing to do with fair-play.

I bet a lot of men in the US almost burnt their handphone circuits by casting their votes for Aubrey. That’s outrageous but good work, guys!

The contestants who stood head and shoulders above their peers in a crucial week were Amber, Angie Miller and Candice Glover.

Candice made it through easily with a pulsating, foot-stomping Come Together. It was a week of The Beatles’ big hits and she couldn’t have chosen a better song.  I too was up on my feet and swaying away on an imaginary dance floor.
 

Angie crooned her way to an enviable triumph with her own stylised version of Yesterday.  While Angie was putting her heart and soul into Yesterday, it was obvious that today the whole world loves her.

I was not familiar with She’s Coming Home even though it was a Beatles’ song but Amber sang it so well that I was completely sold. She continues to be that girl who is determined to make it to Top 3 and she has the support of Idol mentor Jimmy Iovine. My voice is probably lost amidst all that applause in the huge singing hall but my hand is raised up high for her too.

Kree Harrison is a strong contender for the Idol crown. With a Little Help From My Friends, she made it clear she isn’t going home just yet. My eyes tell me that Kree has lost a bit of weight since she made it to Top 10. There is nothing like a killer body to draw in the votes. Every bit helps, so they say.

If Devin Velez doesn’t want to make this his last week, he may have to move it up a notch and switch back to his winning formula of singing something in Spanish again. The Long And Winding Road was good for him but Devin needs to inject some oomph into his performance. This is television land and the sight of all the judges with a standing ovation helps in no small way to shift those vital extra votes in Devin’s direction.

Most of us know about Burnell Taylor’s family situation resulting from Hurricane Katrina but people’s memories are short. Burnell is a very talented young man but unless he comes up with a scorching performance, he may be swept away by the waters of discontent.

Like most people, I like Burnell too but frankly his voice is not magnificent. He needs to make the right song choice and make it four aces in a row if he wants to continue standing in the spotlight.

I was happy that Jessica Sanchez, last season’s runner-up, came to perform. She is beginning to reap the harvest after an astonishing year in her life.

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