Category: media

“Thousands of New Zealanders took to the country’s streets on Monday to protest against possible plans to move production of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit movie overseas.”

“Sony announced on Monday that it is shutting down production of the Walkman. Talk about ending with a whimper: Who knew that portable cassette players were still being made at all? But, please, a little respect. As bulky, cheesy, and crude as they may seem [today] … the Walkman players were a revolutionary product – perhaps the seminal innovation in the popular culture of our time.”

“The world’s largest media company, News Corporation, is threatening to deny coverage of movies starring artists who routinely refuse to give interviews to its outlets, one of its senior journalists has revealed.”

“The organization now finds itself damaged, defanged by court challenges to the F.C.C.’s hard-line position, by its own dwindling finances and by internal troubles that resulted in its accusing a former senior employee of extortion. Meanwhile, the entertainment industry — once so afraid of the council’s wrath that Fox blurred the naked behind of an animated character — is pushing the boundaries of taste with renewed intensity.”

“Overall videogame sales totaled $614 million in September, down 6% from the same period last year, while sales through the first nine months of the year totaled $4.9 billion, down 8% from a year earlier, according to NPD Group.”

“Yes, why does Hollywood hate what it essentially is? Well, the answer is that Hollywood is really two businesses in one: It’s a profit-obsessed industry but it’s also a dream factory.”

“With individual print costs of up to $4,000 for a European subtitled film, and publicity costs running much higher, it’s just not profitable to screen these niche films in many theatres.”

“Broadcasters took a big step toward eliminating free TV shows on the Web after they blocked access to their programming online this month to enforce their demands to be paid.”

“On the internet, the lines between advertising and independent content are blurring. For younger people especially, clever ads can be a source of fun. Some feel a sense of loyalty towards particular brands and quite a few want to make ads.”

“Game shows made us feel inadequate and angry. It’s more comforting to have our own superiority affirmed by someone with the IQ of a dried apricot staggering around Warsaw with a tray of bear meat on his head, or barely pubescent skeletons clawing each other over who gets to wear the least-flattering flamingo costume.”