SATELLITE
Mitchell Stern, formerly of Fox US, is being prepped to run U.S. satellite TV
company, DirecTV, when News Corp. finally gets approval to purchase control
of its parent company, Hughes Electronics. [Daily Telegraph]
The
Daily Telegraph
EchoStar Communications' recent campaign for its Dish Network satellite
television depicts cable operators as literal pigs. [New York Times]
New
York Times
TV Globo International launched "Planet Brazil, its first program produced
especially for the channel that is specifically dedicated to Brazilians who
live
abroad.
PRODUCTION
Last week, representatives of telenovela production and distribution
companies gathered at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, FL, to discuss the
creation
and organization of an association to promote the telenovela genre worldwide.
Among those who gathered were Helena Bernardi and María Alejandra Moreno
of
Globo TV International, Alejandro Parra of Telefé International and Vladimir
Gessen of Coral International.
Coral International
Paul Marquess, the English producer of such European hits as "The Bill"
and
"Brookside," is bringing his considerable talents to the new crime
series,
"Murder Investigation Team." [Sydney Morning Herald]
Sydney
Morning Herald
BROADCAST
Paris Hilton's star turn in Fox's upcoming reality show, "The Simple Life,"
already has prospective viewers praying she pulls a Jessica Simpson. [Toronto
Star]
Toronto
Star
PROGRAMMING
In response to concerns about program supplier Seven Network's performance,
Prime Television chairman Paul Ramsay announced that the regional broadcaster
has faith in Seven's 2004 programming schedule. [Daily Telegraph]
The
Daily Telegraph
Televised poker has become somewhat of a phenomenon amongst viewers, with the
"World Poker Tour" becoming the Travel Channel's most popular series
ever.
[Dallas News]
Dallas
News
ADVERTISING
As web users get savvier and learn not to click on those annoying banner ads,
advertisers are trying to find more creative ways to appeal to the populace.
[Sydney Morning Herald]
Sydney
Morning Herald
TECHNOLOGY
Seeking to remain competitive in the market, China has announced a
government-funded project to promote an alternative to DVDs. Called EVDs (or
enhanced
versatile discs), they would give Chinese manufacturers a platform to grow and
build on. [Toronto Star]
Toronto
Star
The Web site, BeverlyHillsBookie.com, lets surfers place their bets on which
journalists will land celebrity interviews. [New York Times]
New
York Times
FILM
"Love Actually," the new romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant as a
floppy-haired British prime minister is two and a half hours of fluff. [International
Herald Tribune]
International Herald Tribune
Actors and producers used last Friday's Australian Film Institute Awards as
a
venue to denounce the proposed Australian-United States Free Trade Agreement,
which many feel will chip away at Australian culture. [Sydney Morning Herald]
Sydney
Morning Herald
Robert Downey, Jr.'s portrayal of a man with a deformative skin condition in
"The Singing Detective" might just win him that Oscar that eluded
him through
his talented, but drug-fueled performances in the past. [Daily Mirror]
Daily Mirror
"Japanese Story," an Outback road-trip flick, dominated the Australian
Film
Institute Awards, picking up eight trophies, including best film. [Daily
Telegraph]
The
Daily Telegraph
The Australian film industry is still chugging along, despite the fact that
few of their films are ever viewed by a global audience. [Sydney Morning Herald]
Sydney
Morning Herald
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