Programming

A new batch of shows including NBC The Baby Borrowers, The N's Student Body and A&E's Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal are once again raising the issue of exploitation.

Allbritton Communications' ABC affil WJLA Washington, D.C., is replacing its Local Point TV multicast channel with programming from Retro Television Network, which supplies way-off-network programming to more than 70 stations

The Debmar-Mercury syndicated game posts year-to-year ratings increases among women 18-49, women 25-54 and adults 25-54.

The cop procedural averages a 1.7 rating in 18-49s following its move from Fridays, in a swapout with the fast-fading Swingtown.

When the new season begins in September, Thursday night will again be the most fought-over, and NBC will be fighting hard to regain the lead it held for 20 years until its tumble earlier this decade. But it will likely be for naught, predict media researchers. ABC will be No. 1 in viewers 18-49, largely on the strength of Grey's Anatomy, with CBS No. 2.

The latest push into the living room aims to let consumers pay for just the channels they want and also receive free, advertising-supported video services, pay-per-view services and YouTube-like user generated videos. But they must solve problems including the complexity of hooking up these devices, lack of content and relatively high prices, with some devices costing well past $500.