VIDEOAGE "PAPER CLIPS": A WEEKLY PRESS REVIEW

PROGRAMMING
The summer season has unofficially kicked off and in the U.S. that means the start of a reality TV season. Reality shows are a summertime no-brainer: they are cheaper to produce than scripted shows and bring in more viewers that repeats. But the true sign of success for a reality series is whether it makes it to into the regular season, which many do.
The New York Times

And speaking of reality television, Wednesday night, Canadians will be introduced to their very own cat-fighting crew of supermodel wannabes on Canada's Next Top Model. The show, which is based on the American version, will the flagship series' stylist Jay Manuel (a Toronto native) as a guest judge.
The Toronto Star

Superior spellers are finally getting their (well-deserved) day in the sun. For the first time ever, this year's National Spelling Bee will air in primetime on one of the U.S. networks. The competition will head from ESPN to ABC.
The Boston Globe

BUSINESS
Changes (may be) afoot at Disney. As a result of a decline in DVD sales and an increase in movie production costs, the studio is contemplating layoffs, possibly as soon as July. Disney has already scaled back production in the Miramax division and is expected to cut production at its sibling, Touchstone Pictures.
The New York Times

In other Disney news... on Wednesday, the studio will announce a deal with Internet-based movie site CinemaNow to make movies available via computer download. CinemaNow will sell the films for $19.95 and will allow consumers to transfer them to a computer-compatible portable device running Windows Media software. Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox and MGM recently began selling first-run and older titles on Movielink, a PC-only download service jointly owned by five Hollywood studios. Sony and Lionsgate have previously begun selling films on CinemaNow, which is partly owned by Lionsgate, Microsoft Corp., Cisco Systems Inc. and Blockbuster Inc.
USA Today

TECHNOLOGY
Looks like yet another cellular operator in South Africa will bring TV into the palms of its users hands. Vodacom has received a license from the Independent Communications Authority of SA to test video broadcasting handheld technology. Vodacom will offer subscribers who try out the new technology the opportunity to view the 2006 World Cup free of charge.
Business Day

As MTV approaches its 25th birthday, it is focusing its attention on the smallest of screens. While MTV Europe has been successfully repurposing TV clips for mobile use for about a year now, the company is beginning to tailor pilots and series to the small 3-minute mobile format.
The New York Times

ADVERTISING
A new hour-long drama series -- which the AMC cable net is considering acquiring -- harks back to the days of yore. The series takes place in the 1960s at a fictional advertising company called Sterling Cooper. And in keeping with the retro theme, if picked up, each episode may be sponsored by a single advertiser -- as was commonplace in the 1960s.
The New York Times

LICENSING
Videogamers and Lost fans alike can look forward to 2007, when Canadian company Ubisoft Montreal will release a videogame based on the hit series. Ubisoft has announced a licensing agreement with Touchstone Television for a game that can be played on home and portable consoles and PCs.
The Montreal Gazette

CONTROVERSY
A battle is getting underway on account of upcoming European Commission hearings that could loosen that continent's restrictions on product placement. The debate pits commercial broadcasters against consumer groups that are seizing the opportunity to press for an outright ban on junk food advertising. Joining the fray are high-tech companies that are concerned with proposed changes that extend regulation beyond television to online media.
International Herald Tribune

FILM
And the Palme D'Or goes to . . . Ken Loach. The British director was awarded the Cannes Film Festival's top prize for his film The Wind that Shakes the Barley, about Ireland's struggle for independence.. Loach has said the film, which describes the early days of the IRA in the 1920s from an Irish perspective, is also a critique of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
BBC News

For X-Men: The Last Stand, the third time's a charm. The third installment of the Marvel Comic-cum-movie franchise's opening was the highest weekend opener this year, and its Friday haul of $45.5 million was the second biggest single day gross ever. The entire Memorial Day weekend brought in a four-day estimate of $120.1 million at the North American box office, leading the movie to outperform The Da Vinci Code.
E! Online

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