When your network needs more viewers, why not go directly to the ratings source and ask viewers in Nielsen TV panels to give you a boost? That's what Oprah Winfrey apparently did in tweeting for her still struggling OWN cable network. One major problem: Such activity is strictly prohibited by Nielsen. Winfrey quickly apologized for the mishap.

Electronic program guides have always been a TV marketing tool of sort, giving us shorthand for a channel's real identity. (Hey, in the old days -- and even today -- TV Guide was a huge marketing tool for the networks, specifically because of its program guide). Now, quicker program changes -- as well as infomercials (or paid programming with titles) -- are all part of EPG fodder. Executives of Rovi Corp. might tell you that EPGs can be the center of everything, the home page of the modern entertainment consumer.

Is entertainment getting cheaper? Yes, at least for theatrical films. You can blame some over-promised technology falling flat. But the decrease may be temporary.

It's official: Fox TV will have fewer shows with characters looking for lies. The series "House" is ending after eight years and 177 episodes -- including such head-scratching moves as a jealous Dr. Gregory House crashing his car into a former girlfriend's living room. "Everybody lies" is the constant refrain from the complex and infuriating character.

Should Facebook look more like a TV network, say CBS? Maybe it should consider doing so, if it thinks getting into the creative business is a key to growth.

You have lingering complaints about the Super Bowl? A bad throw or two? One or two dropped footballs, just fingers away? An errant halftime finger?

I'm super-exhausted. A plethora of contests, activities, mobile apps and social media pleadings before this year's' Super Bowl abounded, because major consumer marketers insisted that I had these offline entertainment needs.

Sift all the TV advertising news in one big pot. Hmmm... spicy. Viacom revealed a suddenly soft scatter market in the middle of the fourth quarter. Then one forecaster said the 2012 upfront marketplace starting this spring will be up a strong 8% in the price per thousand viewers.

Too many wannabe sports networks for the average viewer? There might be some confusion -- especially when they seem to belong to the same company.

It's all about "business" at Fox's "X-Factor," according to outgoing judge Paula Abdul, who didn't elaborate further. Does this "business" come down to what advertisers want? Last year, major sponsors paid a premium to be associated with the much-anticipated show. Its guaranteed rating of 6 to 7 for the 18-49 audience seemed reasonable, considering that the similar "Idol" was still rocketing along at 8-plus ratings. But "X-Factor" actually delivered a bit under a 4 rating.