“The prospect of a merger between BBC Worldwide [the public broadcaster’s commercial arm] and Channel 4 has become less likely after the government backed away from proposals to merge the two organizations in whole or part. A public corporation, funded by advertising, Channel 4 has found it increasingly difficult to meet its public service obligations.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
Meanwhile, Channel Four Posts Its Archives Online
In July, “Channel 4 is to become the first UK broadcaster to put its back catalogue online completely free of charge.” Among the shows to be available on demand are Queer As Folk, Father Ted, Shameless and Da Ali G Show.
Rift Breaks Out Between Neil LaBute And His Home Theater
The playwright-screenwriter “has called New York’s MCC Theater his creative home for close to seven years. But … MCC said it has canceled its much-awaited production of LaBute’s latest play, The Break of Noon. On top of that, a representative for LaBute told The [L.A.] Times today that she is uncertain if he will remain the company’s playwright-in-residence.”
The People Have Spoken At Chicago Opera Theatre
“The results from Chicago are in: From Apr. 15-June 15, presumed opera-lovers have paid $1 per vote to choose which of three operas they’d like to see performed during the Chicago Opera Theater’s 2011 season. The winner is …” an operetta (but not the sort you might think).
Daniele Gatti Succeeds Franz Welser-Möst At Zurich Opera House
The conductor has already held “the posts of music director of the Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna and guest conductor of the Royal Opera House … He is also music director of L’Orchestre National de France and, until this year, principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.” He begins his three-year term next January.
Metz Opera House Considers Dissolving Its Ballet
Authorities in the northwest French city have announced a plan to close the 12-dancer company in two years. “The Opéra-théâtre de Metz … is one of the last in France that maintains a ballet [troupe] dedicated solely to accompany the operas or operettas in its repertoire.”
A £6 Tax To Pay For British Broadband
“A charge of 50p per month is to be levied on all landline telephone bills to subsidise the Government’s plan to bring broadband internet access, and faster download speeds, to every home [urban and rural] in the country by 2012.”
Wichita Symphony Selects New Music Director
“Daniel Hege, who has close ties to Kansas and led the Wichita Symphony in its season-ending performances in April, will become the orchestra’s music director and conductor beginning in the 2010-2011 season. Andrew Sewell, the orchestra’s current music director, will continue to conduct the orchestra next season.”
Banksy’s Latest Surprise: A Show In An Actual Museum (!)
He had announced a big guerrilla art piece for his hometown, Bristol; his fans had expected something near the Clifton Bridge or in an empty Woolworth’s. Instead, he took over the City Museum and Art Gallery, replacing much of the collection on display with 100 of his own works.
Riots And Firearms: The Mayhem Caused By Bruno
In making his latest documentary-by-ambush, Sacha Baron Cohen – in character as a flamboyantly queeny fashion designer – was threatened with guns “when Bruno danced around [a Deep South] campsite naked … In one scene Bruno sparks a riot at a cage fighting contest when the competitors start kissing. In another scene Bruno appears on an American chat show, telling the studio audience that he adopted his baby in Africa by swapping him for an iPod.”