Media Notes

DAILY VARIETY’s Michael Schneider reports NBC has renewed “Friday Night Lights” for a second season. The net did not confirm the renewal, instead waiting to announce it during Monday’s upfront presentation in N.Y., but it “is expected to order a full 22 episodes.” The show this season averaged a 2.3/6 Nielsen rating and 6.1 million viewers (DAILY VARIETY, 5/11).

MERCHANT UPDATE: HBO’s Larry Merchant said he and the net have “been at an impasse for six months” over a new contract. Merchant: “They asked me to fill a different role and I told them I wasn’t interested. Discussions really never moved until this past week and there’s some change in their position.” His current deal expires in June (Long Beach PRESS-TELEGRAM, 5/11).

NEW KING OF MIAMI? In Miami, Barry Jackson reports WAXY-AM outrated WQAM-AM “in nearly every day-part in the key demographic groups” for the first time during the January 11-April 4 Arbitron ratings period. While WQAM has regained Dolphins radio rights from WAXY, Jackson notes since the ratings period “did not cover any of the Dolphins’ season, it’s clear that [WAXY] will remain a formidable competitor to WQAM” (MIAMI HERALD, 5/11).