Category: media

“Actually, its official name is the Laff Box, and it was invented by … a broadcast engineer at CBS” named Charles Douglass. His ingenious contraption was a combination of tape loop machine, sampler and keyboard instrument, complete with pedal.

“The single standard will allow the consumer to purchase films to be viewed on any device – a PC, smartphone, X-box, tablet, Blu-ray player, and television.”

“The world’s largest media company will insist films that cost more than about $US100million must demonstrate that their characters can be sold around the world as merchandise. Analysts say the decision is part of a Hollywood-wide trend to safeguard profits and could lead to the production of fewer non-commercial films.”

“Minute to Win It, on NBC on Wednesday nights this summer, is a throwback to old-time game shows like Beat the Clock that were ingenious in their simplicity. It requires no extreme weight loss, no tribal alliances, no consumption of cow eyeballs. Instead it relies on simple challenges using household staples like beach balls, M&Ms, pantyhose, Hula-Hoops, toothbrushes and toilet paper.”

“[New] studios and production companies [are] transforming Budapest into a cinematic hub thanks to its cheap talent, seductive tax breaks and could-be-anywhere architecture.”

“[Led] by current shows like Glee, 30 Rock, and Entourage, TV seems to be in a sort of guest-star golden age.” And it’s not just existing television celebrities like Neil Patrick Harris, Judge Judy or (occasionally) Oprah; it’s movie royalty such as Matt Damon, Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem. Even Al Gore has turned up on 30 Rock. Kevin Fallon offers five theories as to why the A-List is itchin’ to get onto the small screen.

US media companies are “testing a system that will let you watch the movies you buy wherever you are, regardless of formats and other technical hurdles. Like a bank account accessible from all ATMs, your account would follow you, no matter what brand of machine you use.”

“Lord Bragg’s South Bank Show Awards are to continue after he signed a deal with the Sky Arts channel. It was thought January’s awards would be the last after ITV’s flagship arts programme The South Bank Show was axed.”

“Many men like to think themselves impervious to Hollywood’s traditional tearjerkers, but is the newly-released Toy Story 3 a sign that moviemakers are gaining new powers to make them weep? … Indeed, some men who might sneer at the idea of crying during Titanic will readily admit to becoming choked up during Saving Private Ryan or Platoon.”

Minister for Culture, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt: “[T]here are huge numbers of things that need to be changed at the BBC. They need to demonstrate the very constrained financial situation we are now in. … Absolutely. I think [reducing the licence fee is] the discussion that we need to have.”