B&C: ABC’s Sales Department Can’t Monetize A 60-Minute Version Of Nightline

By Brian 

ABC is close to signing a multi-year extension to keep Jimmy Kimmel at ABC, B&C reports. What does it mean for Nightline? Well, it signals “the network’s intention to stay with entertainment in the daypart, which continues to be the source of a tug of war between the entertainment and news divisions.”

Last week the Observer reported that ABC News recently shot a 60-minute pilot of Nightline. B&C says that “caused some internal strife at the company. A source close to the network says its sales department had previously told the news department it can’t monetize a 60-minute version of Nightline, ruling out the news program’s expanding beyond its 30-minute slot…”

> Update: 1:09pm: “The idea that a one hour Nightline can’t be monetized is just untrue,” a knowledgeable e-mailer responds. “In addition, the only reason Jimmy Kimmel has higher ratings to brag about this year is because his lead-in — the new Nightline — has even higher ratings. While Kimmel benefits from a strong Nightline lead-in, he does nothing but lose Nightline’s bigger and younger audience from the moment he starts his show…”

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