PROGRAMMING
Prompting a sense of déja vu, ABC Sports has apologized for the flashing of
flesh surrounding a football game. This time, the network is repenting for
"Desperate Housewives" star Nicolette Sheridan's indecent exposure during a
commercial segment on "Monday Night Football." [E! Online News]
E! Online

It seems that suddenly reality doesn't necessarily equal riches. The U.S.
networks are seeing ratings drop for their reality series, which many blame on
the over-saturation of copycat shows. [E! Online News]
E! Online

All eyes down under are peeled, as the winner of the "Australian Idol"
competition will be announced this Sunday. Thousands of contestants have been
narrowed down to two: Anthony Callea and Casey Donovan. [Google News]
Google News

Looks like yet another U.K. copycat will reach U.S. TV viewers. Fox
Broadcasting Company has ordered six scripts of a U.S. version of English soap
"EastEnders," on the air in the U.K since 1985. [Google News]
Google News

LEGAL
Guy Cloutier, a well-known Quebec TV producer has pleaded guilty to a number
of charges, including sexual assault, indecent assault and having sex with a
minor. [Google News]
Google News

Another day of testimony, another day of insults. After downplaying his
friendship with Michael Ovitz, Disney chief Michael Eisner took to the stand
accusing the former Disney president of needing daily oversight. [The New York Times]
The New York Times

BUSINESS
Blockbuster, the world's largest film rental chain, is showing interest in
buying Hollywood Entertainment. The acquisition is being estimated at $1
billion. [The London Times]
The London Times

"The Korea Wave," an expression used to describe the popularity of Korean
entertainment abroad, seems to have hit Japan. Korea's Hyundai Home Shopping Co.
has formed a strategic alliance with Japan's Dinos, a home-shopping network
affiliated with Fuji TV. [The Korea Herald]
The Korea Herald

TECHONOLOGY
SBC Communications, a U.S. regional telephone giant, is set to pay $400
million for Microsoft software to deliver TV programming over high-speed data
lines. The deal is a milestone for Microsoft which has spent an estimated $20
billion trying to break into the TV business. [The New York Times]
The New York Times

American Airlines is taking in-flight entertainment to the next level,
installing VoD on its flights. The company will begin with a three-month test in
four domestic markets. [The New York Times]
The New York Times

OBITUARY
Canadian comic John Morgan, best known for popular CBC comedy show "Royal
Canadian Air Farce," has died at the age of 74. [Google News]
Google News

FILM
Popular cartoon characters Woody and Buzz Lightyear will be back in the
theaters for "Toy Story 3." The third installment of the Disney mega-hit should
have a different flavor, with Pixar now permanently out of the picture. [E!
Online News]
E! Online

India's "Veer Zaara" attempts to capture the emotions of a real love affair,
while exploring Indian-Pakistani relations. [The Times of India]
The Times of India

"The Incredibles" won the battle of the animated movies at this weekend's
box-office, beating Tom Hanks's "Polar Express." [E! Online News]
E! Online

Don Corleone is being resurrected. After the death of scribe Mario Puzo, a
new author takes a shot at yet another sequel to the book that sparked a classic
movie trilogy. [CNN.com]
CNN

PRESS RELEASE CLIPS
Alhurra Television will deliver the U.S. National Basketball Association
(NBA) to hoop fans in 22 countries across the Middle East.
Alhurra TV

Animation Factory, a leading image-content website for business and consumer
users, has unveiled its newest custom animation product: 3D animated video
image backgrounds.
Animation Factory

Comcast Spotlight has deployed a new demographic profiling system to enhance
its ability to sell spot advertising. SRC, a leading systems integrator of
proprietary software and technology, will be developing the system.
Comcast Spotlight

TV viewers in Finland will be able to get a dose of "Desperate Housewives,"
"Pirates of the Carribean" and "Freaky Friday," among other animated and
live-action series and movies, as BVITV has concluded a free TV agreement with the
Scandanavian country's Channel Four.
BVITV

BVITV has also announced its first pay TV agreement in Russia, with
broadcaster NTV Plus . The deal includes licensing of first-run, re-run and library
features.
BVITV

E! Networks continues its expansion into Western Europe. The company will
launch two localized channels in Belgium with Telenet and Be TV (formerly Canal
Plus).
E!

EM.TV has signed three new licensees for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
The Munich-based company penned deals with Van Dillen Asiatex GmbH (home
textiles), Beheim International Brands (leather goods) and Fotoverlag HUBER
(photographic publishing).
EM.TV

FremantleMedia has sold theatrical rights for "Baywatch" to Dreamworks. The
seven-figure deal sees the film version of the internationally-popular swimsuit
saga hitting theaters in 2006.
FremantleMedia

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced celebrity
presenters for the 32nd International Emmy Awards to be held on November 22 in
New York. Presenters include Harry Belafonte, Lenny Kravitz, Jeremy Piven and
Carson Kressley, among others.
International Emmys

MTV Networks will reach the 100-channel mark with its February launch of MTV
Base in Africa. MTV is the first global media company to achieve so many
channels.
MTV Networks

NATPE will honor President of Lifetime Entertainment Carole Black, "Will &
Grace" director James Burrows and "Law and Order" creator Dick Wolf with the
coveted Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award at the 2005 Conference and Exhibition in
Las Vegas.
NATPE

Porchlight Entertainment has inked a deal with Amberwood Entertainment, to
handle merchandising rights in the U.S. for "The Secret World Of Benjamin Bear."
Porchlight will also handle the U.S. TV and video sales of the series.
Porchlight

"Takalani Sesame," the South African version of "Sesame Street," has launched
a national call-to-action with "talk to me...." The multi-media campaign
promotes communication between adults and kids on the subject of HIV and AIDS.
Sesame Workshop

TLN Telelatino will celebrate 20 years of broadcasting on November 29th. The
company will mark this important anniversary with a series of specials.
TLN

Former "TLC" band members T-Boz and Chilli will look to replace the now
deceased third member of their band on a new "dramality" series on UPN called "RU
The Girl with T-Boz and Chilli."
UPN

Worldlink, a fast-growing media sales firm, has signed an exclusive agreement
to provide infomercial and direct response spot advertising for Nueva
Vidavision, a new programming service for satellite and cable distribution aimed at
the U.S. Hispanic population.
WorldLink

NATPE Message from VideoAge:

New Hotel: New Challenges
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NEW NATPE

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