A federal US court has ruled that the FCC’s new rules on indecency were “arbitrary and capricious.” “The 2-1 decision by a panel of judges from the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York found that the FCC’s decisions last year that isolated uses of expletives had violated broadcast indecency standards ‘represents a significant departure’ from previous commission rulings.”
Tag: 06.04.07
Is TV Really Moving To The Web? Really?
“A year has passed since Web video became the mantra of network television, but time has done little to advance negotiations between the Canadian and U.S. players to secure the digital rights. Several complications are muddying the process – and money is the biggest. The U.S. firms want to fetch a premium to give up the Web rights to the highest-rated shows, but Canadian networks aren’t sure they can make the money back through online ads.”
Venice Biennale Eve – Director Quits, Accusations Fly
On the eve of this year’s Venice Biennale, the event’s managing director has quit “amid a welter of snide remarks and angry accusations. Renato Quaglia said he had become exasperated with the exhibition’s curator, the esteemed American art historian and painter Professor Robert Storr. Mr Quaglia said the final straw came when the bill for the festival came in a million euros over budget.”
Ayckbourn To Quit Theatre He Directed For 37 Years
“Sir Alan Ayckbourn is stepping down as artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, after 37 years. Sir Alan is to quit his post next summer but will continue to direct his plays at the venue and will premiere any new work there. The 68-year-old, who suffered a stroke last year, has been artistic director of the theatre since 1971.”
London Olympics Logo Draws Fire
Organizers of the 2012 Olympics in London have unveiled the games’ logo. But critics immediately pounced: “Lord Coe has described this logo as ‘ambitious, interactive and youth-friendly’. I would describe it as hideous. Questions need be answered as to how we have ended up in this situation. Was there an open competition to supply the designs? If so, what on earth do the rejected ones look like! We need to know how much money this exercise has cost, because whatever it was, it’s been a complete waste of money.”
Conductor Sent To Jail
“Robert King, founder and director of the ensemble The King’s Consort and a major figure in the period-instrument movement, has been convicted by a London jury of 14 incidents of indecent assault over an 11-year period and sentenced to almost four years in prison.”
Books For Free? What A Dumb Idea!
This year’s annual BookExpo once again grappled with technology. Tina Brown doesn’t think much of the digital book giveaway. “Giving an author’s book away for nothing on the Web as a way to market books seems a mirage to me. All it does is feed the hungry angles of journalists and bloggers who plunder it without any of the author’s context or nuance and makes the reader feel there is nothing new to learn from the genuine article when it finally limps on its weary way to a book shop.”
Toronto Opera – Wanted: Room To Grow
Toronto’s new opera house has been a hit in its first season. But “at the end of the first season in its new home, the COC has hit its limit of productions and ticket sales. Where to find the extra stage and auditorium time? Summer is out. The National Ballet of Canada, the Four Seasons Centre’s main tenant, also needs the stage for its season. The COC’s general director says that one immediate way to enlarge the COC season would be to run opera in repertory with dance so that there is something happening in the house every night of the week.”