Cdn cable eyes U.S. services
TORONTO (CP) -- Canada's major private broadcasters expressed shock and dismay Thursday after the cable companies applied to directly import and carry 17 U.S. TV channels, including such coveted services as HBO, Showtime, ESPN and Fox News.
The reasons given for the formal application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission were to combat satellite TV piracy and to give a boost to the struggling digital tier of cable services.
"Our research and customer feedback indicate that it's critical to respond to consumer expectations for more choice," says Janet Yale, president of the Canadian Cable Television Association. "We have 700,000 households that are watching them illegally.
But the move was described as a "cynical cash grab in disguise" that would not benefit consumers or the broadcast industry and a major fight was promised.
"We're not going to take this lying down," said Glen O'Farrell, president of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, who confirmed that a counter-submission would be filed soon with the CRTC.
"It strikes so much at the heart of what the Canadian broadcasting system is all about," added Paul Robertson, president of Corus Entertainment. "I think we're all going to have to fight it with everything we've got."
The broadcasters argued that consumers would end up paying more for favourite U.S. shows they already get, such as HBO's The Sopranos, Oz, Sex & the City and Six Feet Under, and further that the industry would be plunged into anarchy.
"Quite frankly cable has been hinting at looking for an excuse to do this for some time," said Peter Miller, vice-president of planning and regulatory affairs for CHUM Television. "The trouble is it didn't make any sense then and it still defies logic now."
Miller said those in the black market will still prefer to steal programming rather than pay even more for Canadian cable, and he doesn't see the CRTC approving the request.
But Yale, speaking from Ottawa, said the customer must come first.
"Consumers. . .are completely comfortable from a behavioural and attitudinal perspective, with bypassing the system. They don't see anything wrong with doing it if we don't give them what they want."
Yale doesn't expect any decision for 12 to 18 months and so feels any discussion now about pricing and royalties is premature. But if approved, it would mean Canadians could watch first-run American shows instead of waiting for domestic telecasts delayed for anywhere from a few days to a year.
HBO's The Sopranos, for example, airs on pay channels like The Movie Network or Movie Central a couple of days after the U.S. telecast, or a year later on CTV.
Sex & the City's sixth season begins on HBO this weekend, but not on Bravo until September.
The cable companies' argument is that piracy and the fate of the diginets takes precedence over fears of increased competition. Launched in the fall of 2001, only about 20 per cent of Canadian TV household have subscribed.
"Services that are on there, many of them are floundering," said Peter Bissonette, president of Shaw Communications. "And they're floundering because they don't have the exposure that we think they will have . . . through more attractive packaging."
Yale said it's not a new technique to bundle new Canadian offerings with attractive U.S. services. It had been done before with the likes of A&E and CNN.
And while fewer Canadians are opting into the illegal satellite market, Louis Audet, president of Cogeco Cable said the industry is still losing $450 million a year in revenues to pirated U.S. dish services.
"The black market has in fact been chilled," he says. "But the fact remains there is a chunk of the Canadian public still in."
Bissonette likened the sellers of pirated services to a residual foot fungus that must be rooted out.
Ian Morrison, spokesman for Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, says his lobby group is not waving the Canadian flag on this issue but he does feel access to U.S. TV is already strong.
"We're not the one with that quote 'Keep the Yankees out' kind of thing," Morrison says. "The cable industry is clearly hurting."
He believes content suppliers like CHUM and Alliance Atlantis want more people to buy their digital services but would also have a problem with the new imported competition for viewers.
"So the CRTC has a kind of Gordian Knot problem, a huge issue to deal with."
The 17 U.S. premium movie, sports and kids' channels that Canadian cable companies want to carry on their digital tiers:
* HBO (Home Box Office and its multiplexes)
* Showtime (and its multiplexes)
* Starz (and multiplexes)
* The Sundance Channel (independent movies)
* Cinemax (HBO's movie service)
* The Movie Channel (Showtime's movie service)
* Lifetime Movies
* Flix
* Fox Regional Sports Net channels
* The NFL Channel
* ESPN
* ESPN2
* Fox News
* FamilyNet
* Noggin
* Nickelodeon Kids
* WAM
Aiken, Studdard Albums Due On Same Day
The sales showdown between "American Idol" singers Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard will continue with the release of their respective albums on the same day, Billboard.com has learned. According to the RCA Music Group, the company has set an Aug. 19 release date for both albums, whose titles are to be determined. RCA Music Group chairman Clive Davis will executive produce both sets.
Aiken's and Studdard's first singles were released on June 10, and debuted this week in the top two spots of The Billboard Hot 100. As previously reported, Aiken's "This Is the Night" (RCA) claimed the No. 1 position with 393,000 copies sold, while Studdard's "Flying Without Wings" (J Records) landed at No. 2 with sales of 286,000 copies.
RCA Music Group director of sales Karen Lieberman tells Billboard.com that releasing the singles and albums simultaneously is part of the company's strategy to continue the momentum of "American Idol's" May 21 second-season finale. The show ended in a close vote, with Studdard defeating Aiken by less than a 1% vote margin.
"We saw the [simultaneous] releases as a way for consumers to vote with their money," Lieberman says. As for the success of Aiken's and Studdard's singles, she adds, "This proves that there's a viable market for the retail single. Consumers have been conditioned not to look for singles at retail, but [Aiken and Studdard's] singles show people will buy the singles if they know they can find them at retail."
Aiken's spokesperson says, "Release dates could change." Studdard's spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.
Rich characters, magical prose elevate 'Phoenix'
By Deirdre Donahue, USA TODAY
A very wise decision, J.K. Rowling, to allow three years to pass before publishing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book in your global sensation of a series. The fever-pitched anticipation, the media frenzy, the pilfered books, the leaked details. The book richly deserves the hype.
All the qualities that marred the fourth book — the loping, uneven pace of a novel that seemed churned out rather than written — have evaporated. Indeed, the faux gothic horror of the fourth has been replaced by a return to the wonderful, textured writing of the three earlier novels. The novel does not have the frankly grisly scenes that were so disturbing in Goblet of Fire.
For whatever reason, whether marriage, a new baby or becoming more comfortable with being enormously wealthy and famous, Rowling has regained the ability to create an enchanting parallel world where witches and wizards live. And we Muggles (ordinary people) can only dream of joining.
Some things remain the same, of course. Harry's Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon are still horribly self-satisfied with their clean house and loathsome son, Dudley, who has evolved from bully to violent thug.
And one of the delights of this fifth book stems from Rowling returning to familiar characters, offering new insights into their psyches. The dotty cat-loving neighbor, Mrs. Figg, takes on a new role, and the reader discovers that Professor Snape has suffered real pain related to the Potter family.
Quite simply, despite the book's length, it is easier to follow because it returns to the shape of the first three novels. It opens on Privet Drive, takes place mainly at Hogwarts School, and closes with the wise but not infallible Professor Dumbledore revealing secrets from Harry's past.
Although Rowling offers up the flying wands, imaginative curses and a dynamic, action-packed conclusion like those of her past books, the novel's real pleasures are the scenes of domesticity within the Weasley family; the comfortable bickering between Harry's best friends, Ron and Hermione; and the small details of how a witch can clean a mansion abandoned for years.
Rather than the overblown hysteria of Goblet, which featured too many scenes with Voldemort, here one can appreciate the introduction of new characters. There are the magical winged horses that can be seen only by those who have seen death firsthand. And there's a strange, pop-eyed female student on the traditional autumn train trip to Hogwarts who proves to be far deeper, braver and more perceptive than anyone thinks.
Phoenix will not frighten the under-9 crowd, but it will confuse them. The coiled serpent of teen sexuality is not unleashed, although Harry, now 15, has romantic problems and Hermione has to explain girls' behavior to the often dim Ron and Harry. Meanwhile, she can't get a handle on why Quidditch matters. It's almost a teen Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus scenario.
But the novel explores significant young adult issues: disillusionment with adults, including one's parents, the profound isolation that almost all teens experience, as well as death and guilt.
Order of the Phoenix allows the reader to savor Rowling's remarkably fertile imagination.
'Hulk' Set for Big-Screen Rampage
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Universal Pictures is looking to make a little green this weekend when it unleashes the fury of director Ang Lee's adaptation of the Marvel Comics property "The Hulk" in a terrifying number of theaters nationwide.
There is no question that the much-anticipated summer blockbuster will top the weekend's charts, but what remains to be seen is how much this hulking feature can generate, considering its darker mood and more adult subject matter.
Starring Australian-born newcomer Eric Bana as Bruce Banner and featuring supporting appearances from Jennifer Connelly, Nick Nolte and Sam Elliott, "Hulk" is looking to attract the hard-core fans of the comic book and the '70s television show along with the important crossover audience needed to fulfill the movie's blockbuster potential.
Rated PG-13, the story of Banner's transformation by way of his inner demons into a huge mutant green monster may be too intense for the youngest moviegoers, however, and therefore may find it a challenge to equal the box office might of the Marvel powerhouse "Spider-Man."
Sony Pictures' record opening last year for the webbed one of $114.8 million is the standard to beat for "Hulk," from screenwriter James Schamus, but the film should have no problem vaulting over 20th Century Fox's $45 million opening of "Daredevil" and is likely to alight somewhere around the $85.5 million May debut of Fox's "X2: X-Men United."
Bowing in 3,661 theaters, the fourth-widest opening after "X2" and the two installments of "Harry Potter," Lee's unique interpretation of the comic book should get people talking, and strong word-of-mouth could propel the movie to some impressive numbers. The massive marketing campaign, complete with a slew of promotional partners, won't hurt either.
Buena Vista Pictures' "Finding Nemo," which crossed the $200 million mark Wednesday, should take hold of the second spot. However, in its fourth week of release, "Nemo" is not expected to generate grosses anywhere near those of "Hulk."
In a counterprogramming move, Warner Bros. Pictures will release "Alex & Emma," starring Kate Hudson -- fresh off the successful "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," which earned Paramount Pictures a sweet $105 million -- and Luke Wilson, the recent co-star of DreamWorks' comedy "Old School."
The film from Franchise Pictures and writer-director Rob Reiner really has only one week to shine because the sequels to "Charlie's Angels," also co-starring Wilson, and "Legally Blonde" follow hot on "Alex & Emma's" heels. Industry observers place the opening of the PG-13-rated story of a writer and a stenographer forced together for a 30-day intensive writing experience at about the $10 million mark.
The Universal releases "2 Fast 2 Furious" and "Bruce Almighty" should fill out the top five. "2 Fast" could close in on the $100 million mark, while "Almighty" is looking to cross $200 million.
The other new wide release of the weekend, Fox's "From Justin to Kelly," is the wild card in the race. After looking like the hottest property out there last year, the "American Idol" duo's buzz has quieted somewhat in the past months -- even if both got plenty of plugs from the second edition of "Idol."
After the musical comedy was postponed a week so as not to face unwanted competition from Paramount's latest "Rugrats" movie, "Rugrats Go Wild," most industry executives place the film in the $5 million range. The stars, original "American Idol" Kelly Clarkson and runner-up Justin Guarini, have recently released albums, and their core fans, mostly female, are likely to show up to see the two dance and sing a la the beach blanket films of the early '60s.
Sony Pictures Classics will have a limited release for "The Legend of Suriyothai," a Thai film from writer-director Chatrichalerm Yukol. Showing in New York and Los Angeles, the R-rated film centered on early Ayotaya history was re-edited by Francis Ford Coppola to bring the length down to 142 minutes from its original 210.
Actress Kate Hudson Pregnant with First Child
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Goldie Hawn is going to be a grandmother.
Her actress daughter, Kate Hudson -- whose latest movie, "Alex and Emma," opens this weekend -- is expecting her first child early next year with rock star husband, Chris Robinson, a spokesman said on Thursday.
The publicist, Brad Cafarelli, declined to give a more exact due date for the baby, who will make a grandmother of Hudson's Oscar-winning mom, Goldie Hawn, the giggly blonde waif of the 1960s TV show "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In."
It's the first child for either Hudson, 24, or Robinson, 36, who were married in December 2000.
The announcement of Hudson's impending motherhood comes as she stars in the Rob Reiner- directed romantic comedy "Alex and Emma," which opens on Friday.
Other film credits include "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," "Dr. T & the Women" and her breakout role as a rock groupie Penny Lane in "Almost Famous."
Robinson, formerly of the Black Crowes, is expected to begin touring again soon with his new band, New Earth Mud.
Spike Lee Stops Viacom Naming TV Station Spike TV
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Film director Spike Lee won a victory against media conglomerate Viacom Inc on Thursday when an appeals court upheld an injunction preventing the company from renaming its TNN cable network "Spike TV."
The five appellate judges of the State Supreme Court ruled that Viacom could appeal in September.
Lee, the 46-year-old director of such films as "Malcolm X," "25th Hour" and "Do the Right Thing" had won a temporary injunction last week stopping the name change. He said he feared he would be erroneously associated with the network.
Viacom wanted to change the name of its cable network to coincide with a programming shift.
The network, which now shows reruns of programs like "Star Trek," "Bay Watch" and "Miami Vice," plans to feature racy animated series such as "Stripperella," featuring the voice of Pamela Anderson, and "The Ren & Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon."
"This case is far from over ... and we still expect to be vindicated ultimately," TNN spokesman Robert Pini said in a statement.
Citing freedom of speech rights and lost revenues associated with the decision, Pini said his company would appeal the ruling. "We firmly believe that we have an absolute right to use the common word 'spike' to name our network," he said.
Elton John to Offload His Baubles Once More
LONDON (Reuters) - Shopaholic pop star Elton John will offload 11 years of collected artworks at an auction of the contents of his London home later this year that is expected to fetch close to $1.7 million.
It will be the second time he has cleared his shelves to make room for more items after he sold the contents of his Windsor home in 1988 in a three-day auction of nearly 2,000 lots of memorabilia, jewelry and works of art.
And it is not just any old junk. With his millions, the flamboyant singer can afford to indulge his love of valuable paintings, furniture and sculptures.
The sale of more than 400 lots from his home in west London's Holland Park suburb includes 19th century Biedermeier chests of drawers, tables and chairs, paintings by Edward Bower and William Larkin, Italian bronzes and Venetian glass.
"I wanted to have the opportunity to display more contemporary work in one of my UK homes. But as my house in Windsor has a very traditional style, the obvious choice was to remodel my Holland Park home," John said of the clearout.
Auction house Sotheby's which is handling the sale on September 30 said on Thursday it expected to raise more than $1.3 million from the sale of a collection built up over the 11 years he has owned the Holland Park house.