Category: media

The network will program cheap game shows and reality shows to save money. “Doing away with scripted programming at 8 p.m. would deal a blow to the thousands of actors, writers, producers and talent agents who have long enjoyed the fat paychecks that come from feeding the broadcast networks’ voracious appetite for new dramas and sitcoms.”

“At a time when public broadcasting is facing constant challenges to its federal funding, PBS producers are seeking to sweeten the deal for corporate underwriters, offering new ways to up the value of their sponsorships. The result is that commercial backers of public television — whose support used to be noted with just a discreet mention after a program — have a higher profile than ever.”

“If last month’s Federal Communications Commission public hearings on media consolidation were any indication, Americans have had enough of distant corporate bodies controlling their access to information and entertainment. As it stands, six companies own 90 percent of the media holdings in the United States.”

“The operator of a Russian Web site that sells music cheaply went on a media offensive to deny accusations that it violates copyrights on songs by major artists… AllofMP3.com typically charges under $1 for an entire album and just cents per track.” The squabble could serve as an important battle in a U.S. effort to force Russia to crack down on intellectual property violations.

Why doesn’t public radio attract more diverse audiences? Tavis Smiley says that “too often the networks and stations are going for the same look and sound, even if they have people of color in front of the camera or the microphone.”

Jan Swafford considers the mix – it’s not just about number of scores or technical chops…

“Fascinating details of the fall TV ratings from Nielsen Media now provide evidence that Canadian taste differs from American taste when it comes to the increasingly complex game of switching channels.”

Flamboyant Canadian theatre producer Garth Drabinsky is going into TV. He’s making a new show “focused on what Drabinsky calls ‘a national search for young Canadians who share a passion for the performing arts and are blessed with a combination of talents in the disciplines of acting, singing and dance’.”

The Hollywood Awards have “become the first mandatory stop on the flashbulb-and-red-carpet-lined moving sidewalk of self-congratulation that is the awards season. Primarily seen as a publicity vehicle for late-year releases, the awards show and its promoters have lately made pretensions to Oscar oracling.”

“The federal lawsuits alleged massive infringement by Grouper Networks Inc. and Bolt Inc. for permitting users to post without authorization hundreds of music videos from such popular artists as Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Black Eyed Peas. The sites have made “token, ineffective” steps to stem the infringement, Universal said.”