Category: media

BBC ratings down in Britain as other channels pick up viewers. – Variety 01/07/00

Trying to make an original musical in Cuba, a director is redirected when his financing falls through. Instead, he makes a movie about putting together a project he knows will never happen. – New York Times 01/07/00 

• A review of the film. – Christian Science Monitor 01/07/00

Canadian regulatory board tells Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to cut out American movies and reduce its sports coverage. Less hockey and curling they say. More arts and regional programming. “Yikes,” CBC execs say – “We could turn into PBS of the North!” Edict spells financial ruin, broadcaster says. – CBC 01/06/00

• Two issues: Public vs. private TV and Canadian cultural protections. – Washington Post 01/07/00
  
  
• We couldn’t possibly. – Ottawa Citizen 01/07/00
  
  
• The big chill. – Variety 01/07/00

Will pursue initiatives to promote diversity in hiring at the network. ABC expected to follow with its own deal later this week. – Variety 01/06/00 

• Washington Post account 01/06/00

— promises to deliver sound/images/video at much greater rate and clarity than current technology. Solution is software-based, so no hardware upgrades are needed. – Financial Times 01/06/00

Extensive mergers and consolidation in the TV industry last year was only a start. Get ready for some major millennial retooling to come. – Variety 01/05/00 

Plans for a sequel, even a prequel. – Wired 01/05/00

It was a record year at the box office for the movie business. And yet an uncomfortable truth is settling in on Hollywood – technology and a changing economy are causing widespread layoffs throughout the California movie industry. – Variety 01/04/00 

• CAN’T GET HOLLYWOOD INTERESTED in that new film? Independent filmmakers turn to the web where the distribution’s easy – and cheap. New websites offer an alternative distribution outlet for indies, and the idea’s taking off. – New York Times 01/04/00 
  
  
• TOO MANY BAD MOVIES: “We make too many films in Britain,” says Alan Parker, director and chair of the British Film Council. “It’s an odd business in which people call themselves film producers without ever having produced anything.” His solution? Don’t make so many movies in the first place. – The Telegraph (UK) 01/04/00
  
  
• OVER (A)-TROPHIED? Never one to shy away from self congratulation, the movie industry racked up a record number of awards shows in 1999. The movie-meisters handed out 3,182 trophies to themselves at 332 ceremonies. That’s almost one awards show for every day of the year. – Variety 01/04/00

TV’s broadcast networks are finished if they don’t change their ways, says Tim Brooks, co-author of “The Complete Directory of Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows,” the premier television reference work. What’s ahead for the tube… – CBS MarketWatch 01/03/00

Is new and improved 3D technology for films the Next Big Thing? – New York Times 01/02/00