Hollywood movie studios have made a deal to allow downloading and burning of DVDs of their movies. “Four major studios struck a deal with online movie service CinemaNow Inc. to offer more than 100 mainstream titles that can be copied to a disc and played on almost any DVD player or television set. Prices will start at about $9 a movie.”
Tag: 07.19.06
The New TV Scrutiny
“TV is being filtered, analyzed and debated on the Internet like never before, resulting in savvier viewers who feel fully invested in even the smallest of programming decisions. In an attempt to keep up, networks and studios are developing new levels of fan interaction using a variety of digital platforms.”
The New Multi-Platform BBC
The BBC is reorganizing. “The way the BBC makes programmes will be streamlined, with a show’s output across TV, radio, internet and mobiles all considered at the same stage. The changes are part of BBC plans to ensure it survives in the digital age.”
A Conservative, Thinker
“There are plenty of conservative publicists in America now. There are not many conservative thinkers, proper, worthy of the name. Philip Rieff, for all his crotchety obliqueness, was one of them.(By the way, the ratio of philosophers to propagandists is hardly any better n the left.)”
Merrill: Art’s Not A Great Investment
As art prices soar, buying art might look like a great investment. But Merrill Lynch reports oterwise. “While stocks or bonds are almost certain to make investors a profit over five years, art has a high chance of declining in value, the world’s biggest brokerage company said. The probability of losses on small-cap stocks, corporate bonds and long-term treasury bonds is 3 percent or less if they’re held for five years. Art investors have a 17 percent chance of losing money over five years, Merrill said.”
A Venerable Dance Festival Of The World
The American Dance Festival is 73 years old. It’s had the same director for 38 years. “It remains one of the two premier summer dance festivals in the United States, the other being Jacob’s Pillow in the Berkshires. And it has long since broadened its scope to embrace modern — or contemporary, or nonballetic — dance from around the world.”
Investing In Broadway As Advertising Opportunity
The Broadway show “Hot Feet” is closing and its investors will lose their entire $8 million. The show’s backer, Transamerica didn’t get into the show to make money. “Transamerica’s motives were more along the lines of corporate sponsors like Visa, Fidelity Investments and Mercedes-Benz, which make deals with shows so their names can be seen.”
NJ Symphony Struggles To Pay For Instruments, Taps Endowment
The New Jersey Symphony is dipping significantly into its endowment to pay off a deficit. “Paying off the debt for the instruments, which stands at about $12 million, has prevented the orchestra from dealing with an accumulated operating deficit of $4.2 million. The endowment draw and some intricate financial restructuring will reduce the debt payments to $1.1 million a year, from $1.8 million, the orchestra said.”
Neue Gallerie Drops $50 Charge To See Klimts
New York’s Neue Galerie has scrapped plans to charge $50 to view its newly purchased Klimt portrait on a day its doors are normally shut. The Gallerie says the offer was “misread by the public.”