PROGRAMMING
A U.S. network's decision to air gruesome, post-accident photos of a dying
Princess Diana have many people once again saying that the paparazzi's gone too
far. [The Times of India]
The Times of India

Still feeling the heat from the Janet Jackson Super Bowl wardrobe
malfunction, and not wanting to further anger the FCC, PBS chose not to make an
uncensored version of the British series "Prime Suspect" available to member stations,
opting instead for edited ones. [New York Times]
The New York Times

CBS's finale of "Survivor: All Stars" ended surprisingly over the weekend
when Amber Brkich walked away with both the million dollar prize and an
engagement ring from boyfriend and competitor, "Boston" Rob Mariano. [Yahoo! News]
Yahoo! News

NBC and Fox are each planning its own reality boxing series, respectively
"The Contender" and "The Next Great Champ," but both claim not to have stolen the
idea from the other. [New York Times]
The New York Times

SATELLITE
Cablevision Systems announced this week that it was filing forms with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to spin off its satellite arm, Rainbow
Media Enterprises. The resulting company will comprise Cablevision's satellite
television venture, VOOM; Rainbow Media's three national cable channels, and
Clearview Cinemas. [Yahoo! News]
Yahoo! News

CABLE
Flag Telecom and the Sea-Me-We 4 line built by a consortium of telephone
companies led by Singapore Telecommunications are planning to build two new
undersea cables under the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea
to connect East Asia with Europe via the Middle East. [New York Times]
The New York Times

ADVERTISING
The value of Internet advertising has come into question over the last few
years, with the rise of such technologies as pop-up blockers, but Yahoo! is
launching a new program, called Consumer Direct, which it says will demonstrate
how much Internet ads actually increase sales. [New York Times]
The New York Times

INDECENCY
In order to keep tabs on the most violent and sexually explicit shows the
networks have to offer, the Washington, D.C.-based Parents Television Council
must watch every show on TV--even the violent and sexually explicit ones. [Yahoo!
News]
Yahoo! News

CONTROVERSY
A Philadelphia police officer was assaulted on the set of MTV's "Real World"
after two off-duty police officers and a friend attempted to gain access to an
after-shoot party. [Yahoo! News]
Yahoo! News

Angry that the Nielsen Media Research System's proposed changes to its
ratings gathering system will undercount blacks and Hispanics, a group calling
itself the "Don't Count Us Out Coalition" plans to protest in Chicago and Los
Angeles. [New York Times]
The New York Times

FILM
Though in the past, many filmmakers would try and divert the movie-going
public from a war by making movies that had nothing to do with war, it seems that
most of this summer's upcoming movies are all about war. [New York Times]
The New York Times

Actresses like "Jersey Girl's" Liv Tyler have been said to be overweight, but
according to her Body Mass Index, she is actually underweight, further
proving to young girls everywhere that Hollywood's body obsession has gone way
overboard. [The Herald]
The Herald

Many documentaries are made for a television audience, but these days, most
docs are released theatrically first, then brought over to the small screen.
[New York Times]
The New York Times

ROAD TO L.A. SCREENINGS
The Park Hyatt is having an Opening Night Wine Tasting in the Garden just off
the Lobby from 5-7pm on May 20th: a great opportunity to kick off this first
day of the L.A. Screenings 2004, getting buyers and sellers together at the
show early and set advance appointments. Meet new clients over excellent wines
from a renowned US distributor Kobrands Wines with various wines from
California, Italy, France, and other regions.
Opening Night Wine Tasting at Park Hyatt May 20

To all L.A. Screenings participants. If you're a buyer and want to be listed
among the 1,000+ top-level TV executives attending the L.A. Screenings, please
send us your name, your organization, country, hotel while in L.A. and date
of arrival/departure. In addition to being listed (without the hotel info),
you'll receive our complimentary exclusive Video Age L.A. Screenings Guides in
your hotel room. If you're a distributor and want to be listed in the Guides, on
the boards in the key hotels and in the daily update flyers, please send us
your date of arrival, name of the hotel and suite number. If you're exhibiting
in the Park Hyatt, the official L.A. Screenings Hotel, the information will be
given to us automatically.
VideoAge L.A. Screenings

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