VIDEOAGE "PAPER CLIPS": A WEEKLY PRESS REVIEW

PROGRAMMING
After 36 seasons as a Monday night institution on ABC, Monday Night Football has moved from the terrestrial broadcast network to sister cable network ESPN. The games will air on Disney-owned ESPN for at least eight more years.
The New York Times

The BBC had a lot to celebrate this Christmas. BBC One won the Yuletide ratings war, with long-running soap EastEnders leading the pack. The show attracted a peak audience of 11 million, compared to 9.8 million for Doctor Who. Around 9.8 million also tuned in for ITV1's top-rated show, Coronation Street.
BBC News

In yet another transition from the TV screen to the computer screen, CBS has announced that it will make episodes of sitcoms How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Man available for free on the Yahoo website. The move may represent the beginning of a new TV distribution model. [CBC Arts]
CBC Arts

BUSINESS
Now that its venture into the direct-to-home satellite television business didn't work out quite as planned, the Philippines Long Distance Telephone Co. is looking to regain some of its old glory. The Telco is attempting to buy back Home Cable, the cable TV business it sold to the Lopez Group. But, reportedly, the Lopez group isn't too keen on selling back the company.
The Phillipine Star

The ties that bind Micrsoft and NBC have been snipped. Microsoft has announced that it will no longer be involved in cable TV channel MSNBC. NBC will assume majority control of the channel immediately, with an 82 percent stake, and it will become the sole owner within two years. But the partners will continue their 50-50 ownership of the MSNBC website, which is the most-used news site on the Internet.
The New York Times

TECHNOLOGY
Some of 2005's most popular television series were truly complex, requiring real commitment from viewers to tune in to every episode or risk becoming forever lost. In an effort to keep viewers engaged, the networks use podcasts and episodes on mobile phones to seed discussions on message boards and fan websites, becoming modern-day versions of water-cooler conversations.
The New York Times

CONTROVERSY
After a bit of controversy, tensions seem to have subsided between Israeli broadcaster Keshet and Israeli airline Israir. Israir had threatened the broadcaster with legal action if it aired a television program highlighting a near-miss incident involving an Israir aircraft at New York's Kennedy Airport last year. The threat caused the broadcaster to delay its broadcast of the program, which was part of investigative television series Uvda. Subsequently, Keshet has promised to tell the whole truth and include statements from Israir itself in the report, and the program has been rescheduled.
Globes Newsletters Israel

FILM
King Kong reigned supreme at the U.S. box office this past Christmas weekend. The Universal blockbuster held steady at number one, against the tough competition of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. The film grabbed $33.3 million over the four-day holiday weekend.
E! Online

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