PROGRAMMING
Chris Noth is back on the beat. The former “Law & Order” star will reprise
his role as Detective Mike Logan on the spin-off series “Law & Order: Criminal
Intent.” He will split duties with Vincent D’Onofrio, whose character,
Detective Robert Goren, will appear on half of the season’s episodes. [E! Online]
E!

Canadian television is shunning shock appeal with new series “Last Chance for
Romance.” Don’t expect greased up men and tiny bikinis in the series, which
host Cheryl Hickey describes as more of a documentary than a reality series.
The show targets couples with relationship woes it attempts to eradicate.
[Google News]
Google News

How will “You’re fired!” sound when uttered with an English accent? U.K.
viewers are about to find out with England’s own version of “The Apprentice” set
to begin airing on BBC2 next week. The business mogul on this version will be
Sir Alan Sugar and 14 contestants will compete for a job with a £100,000
salary. [Financial Times]
Financial Times

Pushing the limits of how much Donald the world can take, ABC will air an
unauthorized TV movie based on the last 25 years of the real estate mogul’s life.
Casting is already underway and producers aim to start shooting as early as
next month. And given the fact that this is unauthorized, expect lawsuits. [E!
Online]
E!

BUSINESS
The desperation is definitely subsiding for the stars of the hit drama
“Desperate Housewives.” Each of the four stars of the suburban soap will receive a
$250,000 bonus for a job well done. The rest of the cast will receive pay hikes
as well. [E! Online]
E!

It doesn’t seem as though Michael Eisner will be hanging up his trademark
Mickey Mouse tie any time soon. According to a new book on the Walt Disney
Company, Eisner still harbors the desire to stay on as chairman of the company after
he steps down as chief executive in September 2006. [The New York Times]
The
New York Times

ADVERTISING
Broadcast Networks are hearing “Ka-Ching” this February. The advertising
dollars are rolling in as a result of four big Sundays, whose big-event
programming include the Super Bowl last Sunday, the Grammy Awards this Sunday, the
Daytona 500 on Feb. 20 and the Academy Awards on Feb. 27. [The New York Times]
The New York Times

TECHNOLOGY
As the U.K. (Ireland and Scotland specifically), moves away from analog TV,
the small Cumbrian village of Caldbeck will become the second place to
experience of the digital revolution. Media watchdog Ofcom announced that they would
be among the first few territories to do the digital switch. The regulator
published a provisional timetable for a region-by-region switch-off of the
existing signal, beginning in the Scottish Borders in 2008 and ending in the Channel
Islands in 2012. [The Guardian]
The Guardian

AWARDS SHOWS
Nominations have been announced for the 25th edition of the Genie Awards,
often viewed as Canada’s version of the Academy Awards. As usual, Quebec cinema
dominated the nominations with the bank-heist docudrama “Le Dernier Tunnel
(The Last Tunnel)” receiving eight nominations. [The Toronto Star]
The Toronto Star

In an effort to shorten the interminable Oscar ceremony, the Academy Awards’
organizers will change the way in which awards are bestowed upon winners. In
some categories, all of the nominees will stand on the stage before the winner
is announced, while in others, the award will be presented to the winner while
sitting in his/her seat. [Google News]
Google News

FILM
Tonight marks the beginning of The Berlin Film Festival. The 55th edition of
the fest will kick off with the film "Man to Man" by French director Regis
Warniger and will feature 343 films from 52 countries. Competition for the Golden
and Silver Bear awards includes nine films from France, five from the U.S.
and three from Germany. [Google News]
Google News

007 may be taking a trip to the Scottish Parliament. As producers prepare to
start shooting the latest James Bond movie, “Casino Royal,” next year, they
are considering converting the £431 million Scottish Parliament building
(designed by Spanish architect Enric Miralles), into a casino. [Google News]
Google News

PRESS RELEASE CLIPS
A&E Television Networks is delving into all things criminal. Starting this
year, AETN will launch a new channel in the U.S.: Crime & Investigation Network.
AETN

The BANFF Television Festival has changed its name and its slogan too. Now
officially called Banff World Television Festival, the fest’s theme will be
“Where great television is born.”
BANFF

CABLEready has sold nearly 132 hours of programming to broadcasters in Korea,
China and Thailand. The company has completed its first deals ever with
Korea’s Joongang Broadcasting and Sun Media.
CABLEready

Nancy Fowler (formerly Bassett) is moving up the ladder at DIC Entertainment.
She has been promoted to the newly created position of president, Worldwide
Consumer Products.
DIC

After reaching an agreement with Swiss sports investor Dr. h.c. Hans-Dieter
Cleven, EM.TV has become the sole shareholder of Switzerland’s sports TV
station, Sport1, and sports online platform, DSF.
EM.TV

In the U.K., Authentic TV, a channel specializing in collectables and
memorabilia, launched on BskyB’s platform, uplinked from satellite services company
GlobeCast’s Brookman’s Park teleport.
GlobeCast

The highlights of Globo TV International’s presence at NATPE 2005 included
the introduction of new telenovelas, “Her Own Destiny” and “Shades of Sin” and
a Brazilian party, which featured previews of both programs, a video message
recording from a telenovela star and the presence of the telenovelas’ stars.
Globo TV

National Geographic Channels International has purchased the international
rights to GRB Entertainment-produced series “3Expeditions to the Edge2,” which
was originally produced for National Geographic Channel in the U.S.
GRB

The New Montreal FilmFest will be unveiled this fall. Held from October
12-23, the fest, known in Canada as Le Festival International de Films de Montreal,
will be held on St. Denis Street in the heart of the Latin Quarter.
New Montreal FilmFest

NBC Universal and Broadmedia Studios have entered into an exclusive,
multi-year licensing agreement for free and basic cable TV rights to a wide selection
of Universal films and TV product in Japan. Broadmedia will be NBC Uni’s
exclusive TV distributor in Japan for those titles.
NBC Universal

Portfolio Entertainment’s Bump!, the first-ever gay and lesbian travel
series, has been commissioned for a second season by Canada’s PrideVision TV. U.S.
station here! TV and French net PinkTV will broadcast the series as well.
Portfolio Entertainment

Sesame Workshop has joined forces with the Harvard Graduate School of
Education to create a course entitled “Informal Learning for Children.” The course
will explore how electronic media can benefit children educationally, and will
focus Sesame Workshop’s model with help from Sesame Workshop executives.
Sesame Workshop

Twentieth Century Fox TV Distribution has signed deals for the fourth season
of reality format “Temptation Island” with VT4 in Belgium and SBS 6 in
Holland.
20th Century Fox

Venevision has become the majority shareholder of FonoLibro, a producer and
distributor of audio-books. The deal was made with the intention of developing
the market for audio-books in the United States, Latin America and Europe.
Venevision

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