My Network TV bombing

While we're on the TV beat, Ad Age reports that News Corp.'s telenovela-based network is off to such a slow start that ad rates have been cut to pretty much whatever the client is offering. Since launching Sept. 5, the two shows beng aired, "Desire" and "Fashion House," are averaging 439,000 viewers in the 18-49 demographic, which is second-tier cable territory. They're now talking about new shows and more marketing. Also, they want to tap into Fox Interactive Media so that viewers can catch some of the racy action on the Web. Speaking of which...

While My Network TV is just 6 weeks old, it is already under the watchful eye of the decency police. On Oct. 12, the advocacy group the Parents' Television Council encouraged members to write to the Federal Communications Commission to complain about the use of the "s-word" on an episode of "Desire."