VIDEOAGE "PAPER CLIPS": A WEEKLY PRESS REVIEW

PROGRAMMING
Don't blink, cause your favorite network may soon switch demos. First, CBS ridded itself of its "geezer network" reputation and now the WB is looking to move beyond its usual tween demographic. Among the new season's offerings meant to appeal to older audiences are Just Legal, starring ex-Miami Vice-er Don Johnson. [The New York Times]
The New York Times

Things are getting more and more competitive over at the Australian installation of Dancing with the Stars. The third season of the Seven network show debuted on Tuesday, with celebrities more prepared than ever, having trained for six weeks prior to their TV debut. The show, which pairs stars up with professional dancers, has been a consistent ratings hit for Seven, and Tuesday night was no exception, bringing in 1.98 million viewers. [Nine/MSN]
Nine/MSN

Prude TV viewers are going to be in for a surprise when BBC4 airs a new documentary exposing the sexual secrets of post-World War II England. Little Kinsey will unveil the findings of the 1949 Mass Observation Project, Britain's first ever sex survey, which quizzed several thousand men and women nationwide about their sexual tastes. [Scotsman]
Scotsman

He had success playing a live-in nanny on Charles in Charge, and now Scott Baio will take a chance at playing a lawyer. Baio has been chosen to replace Henry Winkler in the next season of Fox's Arrested Development. Winkler has left the show to star in his own comedy on CBS, Out of Practice. [E! Online]
E! Online

BUSINESS
In the face of falling ad revenues for its flagship ITV1 station, but a relatively successful first half of 2005, ITV has announced plans to team up with the BBC to launch a free satellite service next year. The plan is considered to be a direct attempt to combat the threat of the increase in pay-TV channels across the U.K. [Reuters]
Reuters

Sick of sitting idly as film studios make big bucks off the film adaptations of its comics, Marvel Enterprises is entering the film business, re-branding itself as Marvel Entertainment. Armed with $525 million in financing, the committed to making films based on 10 of its comic book characters, with the first one scheduled for release in summer 2008. Those characters are Captain America, The Avengers, Nick Fury, Black Panther, Ant-Man, Cloak & Dagger, Dr. Strange, Hawkeye, Power Pack and Shang-Chi. Each will have a budget of up to $165 million, with a rating of PG-13 or less. [Newsday]
Newsday

ADVERTISING
Any other year a blockbuster remake like NBC Universal's King Kong would be an almost guaranteed success, but this year has been tough at the box office and NBC Uni is leaving no demo untouched when it comes to marketing. Promotional partners include Burger King Corp., Nestle, Kellogg Co., Volkswagen of America, JP Morgan Chase, Toshiba and the City of New York. The total estimated promotional value from the partners is $100 million, on top of an expected $30 million-plus in studio spending. [Advertising Age]
Advertising Age

TECHNOLOGY
Malaysia's mobile TV plans seem well under way as Astro All Asia Networks announced plans to move forward from the demo stage to commercial services in the near future. The company is expected to use the new Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) technology standard, now undergoing extensive field trials in Europe, the United States and in other parts of Asia. [The Star Malaysia]
The Star Malaysia

Fans of ITV's Coronation Street will soon be able to get their TV fixes on the go. Clips of Coronation Street are to be made available to watch on mobile phones starting this fall, as part of the commercial broadcaster's plan to expand its programming into new markets. [The London Times]
The London Times

When a network wants to appeal to a younger demo, no place is better than the Internet. At least that's the feeling at Scripps, where the company will launch a 12-part video series on the foodnetwork.com website in order to appeal to younger auds. The clips will come from Good Deal With Dave Lieberman, a Saturday afternoon program by a 20-something host. [Advertising Age]
Advertising Age

Seems the WB network is subscribing to the adage, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Responding to a loss of TV viewer eyeballs in favor of the Internet, the WB is premiering its new sci-fi drama Supernatural for free on Yahoo. The network had a similar promotion last year through AOL for the ill-fated Jack & Bobby. [MEDIAWEEK]
MEDIAWEEK

EXECUTIVE SHUFFLE
Sandra Levy is shaking things up a bit Down Under. The director of ABC Television, Sandra Levy, has left her post in favor of the position as director of development in Channel Nine's programming and creative department. [ABC News]
ABC News

As if network news isn't in enough trouble, the genre has been thrown another curveball. Neal Shapiro, president of NBC Nightly News has announced his resignation, effective Friday. Shapiro will be replaced, at least for now, by Steve Capus, executive producer of NBC Nightly News. [The New York Times]
The New York Times

FILM FESTIVALS
So much for a home court advantage. Italian film The Days of Abandonement, once considered a contender for the the Venice Film Festival's top prize, was booed when it debuted at the Festival. The film brought on laughs at inopportune times as well. On the other hand, U.S. film Romance and Cigarettes, directed by John Turturro and starring James Galdofini, was applauded by critics. [Associated Press]
Associated Press

FILM
Water, the movie set to open the Toronto Film Festival tomorrow, was not an easy film to make. Director Deepa Mehta endured many a hardship: Hindu religious fanatics, objecting to the film about the plight of widows forced into poverty, servitude and even prostitution under ancient traditions, stormed Mehta's film location in India. Mobs burned and then threw her sets in the river. She was told she should be beaten. The government turned on her, withdrawing a film permit. Mehta fled the country before police came to arrest her. [Canoe Network]
Canoe Network

VideoAge and IPTV at MIPCOM:

IPTV, the industry's new window, will be one of the key features of the VideoAge MIPCOM Issue.

IPTV (e.g. FastWeb, Free and PCCW), will be changing the way TV is sold and consumed; and all production and distribution companies should be looking into, thinking about and selling IPTV rights.

Just imagine, DVR, cable TV and Internet all in one large-screen TV set: the ultimate interactive programming, which promises to change the course of TV.

Don't miss this Issue. For more information contact Dom Serafini at dsvideoag@aol.com for more info.

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