VIDEOAGE "PAPER CLIPS": A WEEKLY PRESS REVIEW

PROGRAMMING
Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey takes care of attracting female viewers to the medical drama, but now ABC is looking to capture the male audience as well. The show has been tapped to follow the Super Bowl XL on February 5. [Reuters]
Reuters

If you're looking for quality BBC programming, look no further than your iPod. The U.K.'s public broadcaster reportedly plans to make its programs available via video iPods just seven days after airing on television. But here's the clincher, the videos will be free to download! As Brits already pay a licensing fee to access BBC programs, the pubcaster argues an additional fee would be redundant. [The Independent]
The Independent

In another milestone move for TV on the Internet, NBC Nightly News will soon be available in its entirety on the Web. While segments of various networks' news programs have been available on the Internet for a while now, NBC is the first to bring an entire 30-minute telecast to the Web. The show will air on MSNBC.com. [Advertising Age]
Advertising Age

BUSINESS
Star Wars mastermind George Lucas has opened a digital animation studio in Singapore. It is there he will develop Clone Wars, a TV series based on his hit film franchise. The project will likely be completed next year. [The Star Malaysia]
The Star Malaysia

Sprint Nextel is expected to announce a deal with MSOs Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications, to sell wireless services in addition to the television programming, broadband service and digital phone lines they already offer. By adding cellular service to their bundles of products, the cablers hope to compete with regional Bell companies, which are starting to break into the television market. [The New York Times]
The New York Times

As it prepares to split in two, things are looking very good for media conglom Viacom. The company reported third-quarter profits of $708.5 million, with ad revenues up 17 percent in the cable networks unit and 7 percent in the TV unit. Operating income for the the cable networks -- one of the units that will be run by Tom Freston post-split -- was up 11 percent to $682 million. At the TV division, which includes broadcast networks CBS and UPN, the stations group and Paramount Television, ad revenues were up by 7 percent but overall operating income dropped 19 percent. [Advertising Age]
Advertising Age

TECHNOLOGY
Just two weeks after hitting the market in the U.S, Apple's video iPods are soaring past expectations. With 1 million downloads sold in the first 19 days following its debut, some experts are expecting the demand to outpace supply. [Business Week]
Business Week

EXECUTIVE SHUFFLE
Media strategist Michael Wolf (a partner at consultancy McKinsey & Company) has been appointed president and COO of MTV Networks. Wolf is expected to lead MTVN through a rapidly changing media environment. [The New York Times]
The New York Times

CONTROVERSY
Looking to enter the Canadian pay-TV game, Allarco Entertainment and Spotlight Television have each asked Canada's regulatory body, the CRTC, to regulate who can show Hollywood movies. The two broadcaster have asked the CRTC to prevent Hollywood studios from having exclusive deals with Canada's incumbent pay-TV operators, Corus Entertainment and Astral Media. Not surprisingly, the two incumbents objected, saying that they are facing stiffer competition due to DVDs, Internet downloads and the new video iPod. [The Star Malaysia]
The Star Malaysia

It may be a result of the success of The Passion of the Christ, or maybe Sony is just experiencing a leap of faith. A high-profile DVD, Left Behind: World at War, is the third in a series about the biblical end of days. But Sony's launch signals the first time a major studio has significantly backed evangelical entertainment, and the move is being disputed across the industry. [The New York Times]
The New York Times

FILM
It seems almost impossible, but Malaysian moviemakers lose 80 percent of their revenue due to piracy. Yes, that's 80 percent...no need to read that last line again. The Malaysian Film Producers Association has urged its Government to crack down on pirated materials, which are easily available across the country. The association is expected to forward a memorandum on action against piracy to the Arts, Culture and Heritage Ministry next week. [The Star Malaysia]
The Star Malaysia

It's a controversial topic and it was a controversial evening when, minutes into the premiere of Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price in New York, director Robert Greenwald, said he spotted a Wal-Mart consultant attempting to record the film. He immediately asked the accused party to leave. A confrontation ensued in the lobby. [The New York Times]
The New York Times

EN NOVIEMBRE VIDEOAGE HABLA DE TELENOVELAS

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If you answered YES to any of the above questions, then VideoAge's November issue is for you.
Bonus distribution:
Asia TV Forum -- Singapore
Jornadas ATVC -- Buenos Aires
Spain TV Expo -- Miami
World Congress of History Producers -- Rome
iEmmys -- New York
MEB '05 -- Beirut

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