BRIEFS

Cable World, July 21, 2003

WAY TO GO, HBO AND CABLE

HBO received a record-breaking 109 Emmy nominations. Its Six Feet Under led the pack with 16 nominations, beating The West Wing's 15 noms for NBC, which earned 77 in total. The Sopranos, with 13 nods, is competing for best drama series, while Sex and the City and Curb Your Enthusiasm are in the running for best comedy. Kudos to cable overall for a record 199 prime-time nods across 19 networks. Winners are announced Sept. 21.

NEW NET ODDS STILL LONG

Cable systems will add on average three to five digital channels and one to two analog channels in 2003, according to the Jack Myers Report. Other findings in its 17th annual operator survey: 36% of systems will add six or more digital networks; 10% don't expect to add any channels this year; and 68% are now passing through HD signals. Discovery, Turner, ESPN and Fox cable nets also contribute most to system revenues.

'COUNTDOWN' TO RUSH

Talk radio host and avid football fan Rush Limbaugh joins ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown on Sept. 7. Certain to keep things lively, he will deliver a weekly commentary live from an adjoining set or via satellite, contributing his perspective as "the voice of the fan" during the pregame show. He will also have three formal challenges each week to interrupt proceedings with an impromptu debate.

'QUEER EYE' A SMASH

Bravo's gay-meets-straight makeover hit Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is the highest-rated show in the network's history. Its July 15 debut attracted 1.64 million viewers and a 1.61 household rating, propelling Bravo to No. 2 on basic cable for the 10 p.m. slot from its usual perch at No. 38. Major hype on parent NBC also helped it set network records in total viewership and key demos. Boy Meets Boy, its gay dating show, premieres July 29.

MSNBC PLANS EMBEDS

In preparation for the 2004 presidential election, MSNBC will assign a digital camera-toting reporter to each Democratic candidate. Four NBC News staffers and five new hires have been tapped as the so-called "embeds" covering the election for MSNBC, as its president Erik Sorenson calls the team. Separately, Jesse Ventura's upcoming MSNBC show, scheduled to launch by early fall, will reportedly let the first-time TV host judge, rather than moderate, his guests' competing viewpoints.