SATELLITE
The FCC has at least momentarily stopped Rupert Murdoch's News Corp from its attempts to acquire US satellite TV operator, DirecTV.
Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Chernin, president of News Corp, publicly announced his contention that James Murdoch, son of media giant, Rupert, is the best man for the job of president of BSkyB.
The Guardian

Despite lukewarm business in the global communications sector, revenues of satellite services grew by seven percent to $49.8 billion in 2002.
International Herald Tribune

BROADCAST
Though the season is still young, product placement is already running rampant in broadcast television.
Sydney Morning Herald

ITV has been widely criticized for its decision not to show some of the World Cup rugby matches even though the company did promise to air them on ITV1.
The Observer

New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg okayed a major MTV-style makeover for its municipal network, Crosswalks, even green-lighting its name change to NYC TV.
The New York Times

American sitcoms are quickly dying out as reality television continues its unheralded domination of the airwaves.
The Independent

Across Asia, individuals who grew up on farms are heading to the big cities in droves. The reason? Television's power to make people dream bigger.
Newsweek

REGULATIONS
Since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' decision to institute new regulations regarding politicking for Academy Awards, Hollywood bigwigs are changing their Oscar-baiting tactics.
The New York Times

TECHNOLOGY
Increasingly frustrated by network television's tight grasp on advertising dollars, the Magazine Publishers of America, a trade group, has decided to give away TiVos.
The New York Times

According to figures released by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the developing world makes up 46 million of all mobile users in the world.
Hindustan Times

In an effort to garner surfers' attention, advertisers are trying to make web ads as much like TV commercials as possible.
Sydney Morning Herald

An estimated 125,000 homes now get caller ID on their television sets because they receive TV service over DSL lines.
The New York Times

The Recordable DVD is the future of television, says Wired Magazine.
Wired Magazine

FESTIVALS
The talk of MIPCOM was the British government's approval of the $6.3 billion merger of Granada and Carlton Communications.
The New York Times

"Crimson Gold," an Iranian film about social inequality and violence, won the 39th annual Chicago International Film Festival's Gold Hugo Award for best film.
Chicago Tribune

Taiwan and Iran won the top prizes at the eighth annual Pusan International Film Festival, held in Busan.
The Korea Herald

FILM
Britain must wait another ten years to build a National Film Centre that was to be the "envy of Europe" after officials blew their chances for building it this year.
The Observer

This newsletter is also available at www.videoage.org

This free service is directed to international television executives.

To subscribe, please e-mail us at vaieditor@aol.com.

To unsubscribe, please send a reply to this e-mail with "remove" in the subject line.