Satellite radio on the air in Canada
Canadian satellite radio has hit the airwaves with the launch of XM Radio Canada and Sirius Canada, which are now broadcasting more than 100 new channels across the country.
Sirius Canada, a partnership between the CBC, Standard Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio U.S., launched Thursday, about a week after the launch of its main competitor XM Radio Canada, owned by former Raptors owner John Bitove and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. of the U.S.
To celebrate its launch, Sirius Canada has planned two concerts that will be broadcast live next week and feature buzzworthy Canadian musicians.
Rockers the Trews and singers Feist, Kathleen Edwards and Ron Sexsmith will perform at Toronto's Mod Club Dec. 6, with the concert broadcast on Sirius channels CBC Radio 3 and Iceberg. Les Pistolets Roses, Anik Jean and aKido will perform at Montreal's Spectrum on Dec. 7, with the concert of emerging francophone artists broadcast on Sirius channels Bande Ça part, Energie2 and Rock Velours.
While it is too early to gauge the number of actual subscribers, XM Radio Canada says 4,500 interested people signed up to a database before its launch. Sirius Canada says it has received about 7,000 inquiries.
A brief comparison:
XM Radio Canada
Number of channels: more than 80, eight of which are Canadian-produced.
Monthly subscription cost: $12.99.
Receiver cost: prices start at $79.99 (after rebate).
Run by Canadian Satellite Radio in partnership with XM Radio in the U.S.
Sirius Canada
Number of channels: 100, 10 of which are Canadian produced.
Monthly subscription cost: $14.99.
Receiver cost: prices start at $69.99.
A partnership between the CBC, Standard Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio U.S.
Adoption of satellite radio in the U.S. was slow when XM first introduced its service there four years ago. However, interest has definitely been increasing, with XM estimating it has more than five million subscribers and Sirius calculating it had upwards of 2.1 million in September (Sirius is predicting a dramatic rise in U.S. subscriptions this winter as controversial radio host Howard Stern shifts to satellite radio Jan. 1).
American satellite signals have spilled over into Canadian border regions since the services debuted in the U.S. and a small number of border-dwelling Canadians who wanted to listen purchased receivers from the U.S. However, it wasn't until June of this year, after two years of meetings, consultations and deliberation, that Canada's broadcast regulator finally approved three domestic proposals to launch satellite radio here.
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission decision, with its provision that more Canadian content be added to the proposals, was then approved by the federal government in September.
XM Radio Canada offers 17 categories of programming, including 13 musical genres, news and talk channels, sports stations, stand-up comedy and a children's station. It also offers a channel targeted to truck drivers and has secured a 10-year deal, beginning in 2007, to be the NHL's exclusive satellite radio broadcast partner.
Sirius Canada offers 60 commercial-free music stations, 12 news and information channels, 10 talk, entertainment and specialty channels and a variety of play-by-play sports programming. Though Sirius U.S. may have fewer subscribers, the Canadian version will benefit from its cousin's high profile programming, including Martha Stewart Living Radio, Stephen Van Zandt's Underground Garage, Jimmy Buffet's Radio Margaritaville and Eminem's Shade 45.
Sirius Canada officials have said, however, that shock jock Stern will not be in the company's initial lineup.
Rowan Atkinson Keen On More "Bean"
Rowan Atkinson is planning to reprise his lovable accident-prone nerd for a sequel to Bean.
Moviehole.net reports the British funnyman is currently wrapping his head around the screenplay for a follow-up film to the 1997 comedy.
Despite having found it difficult to whip up a story with his co-writer, Richard Curtis, Atkinson says he's keen on jumping back into Bean.
While the first film saw Americans play host to the bumbling Brit, the next film will see Bean back at home in jolly 'old England, no doubt getting into a heap of trouble back across the pond.
Fans of the character will have to wait however, at least until Atkinson and Curtis get over their writers block.
Woo hoo!
The changes at NBC opens up Tuesday nights for the return of "Scrubs," which will begin its fifth season on Jan. 3.
The network plans to run back-to-back new episodes of the show in January, leading up to the start of the Winter Olympics on Feb. 10.
"Joey" and "The Apprentice" will return following the Olympics, with the former possibly becoming a "Scrubs" companion on Tuesdays.
NBC Has Bad Month, Kicks "Joey"
The good news for Joey is that it won't go up against American Idol on Thursday nights. The bad news for Joey is that won't go up against anybody.
Not for a while, anyway.
With NBC staggering across the November sweeps finish line, the network began December by looking ahead to January, and announcing long-anticipated schedule changes that will find My Name Is Earl and The Office on Thursdays, and Joey and The Apprentice on the bench.
Fox, meanwhile, dealt with its own lowly sweeps results in an NBC-ian way: Avoiding the discussion and starting a new one.
As such, Fox's chief talking point was American Idol. Ending speculation that the blockbuster franchise was on the move--with the results show possibly headed for Thursdays--the network declared Idol was staying put on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The show's first scheduled air date is Jan. 17.
For their parts, CBS, ABC, and UPN had nice Novembers, which each chose to discuss and analyze at length.
According to CBS, it was the most watched network in November among viewers of all ages, as well as 18- to 49-year-old ones. But the matter of which network won the all-important young-adult demographic was open to interpretation. CBS claimed it beat ABC by 16,000 viewers; ABC, choosing to round to the nearest decimal, as is tradition, claimed it tied CBS. In doing so, the formerly spelled-out ABC declared its first such sweeps win in more than five years.
Uncontested were stats that had NBC finishing a distant third in the demo and Fox falling to fourth.
In terms of eyeball pairs, CBS shows averaged 14.6 million for the month, followed by ABC (11.7 million), NBC (9.6 million) and Fox (7.7 million). NBC was the biggest loser--down 11 percent from a year ago.
Among the netlets, UPN said it edged the WB in total viewers (3.7 million to 3.6 million), and in demographically desirable ones aged 18 to 49. As its fall has gone, so has its November: UPN benefited from steady work from America's Next Top Model and Everybody Hates Chris, and improved numbers from Veronica Mars.
NBC will be looking for improved numbers come January. That's when Operation Hide Joey goes into effect.
Starting Jan. 5, Will & Grace will slide into Joey's 8 p.m., Thursday slot. The new sitcom Four Kings will debut at 8:30 p.m. Former Tuesday night residents My Name Is Earl and The Office will hold down the 9-10 p.m. hour, formerly occupied by Donald Trump's Apprentice.
The moves will allow the network, said NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly in a statement that added insult to Joey's injury, to "bring back a block of quality comedy to Thursday nights."
Although Joey seems canceled, it isn't. The sitcom and The Apprentice will return after NBC's Winter Olympics coverage ends in late February, the network promised. The network did not promise to which night the shows will return.
In its second season, Joey is the weakest link in NBC's weak Thursday. The Matt LeBlanc-led Friends spinoff is averaging 7.5 million viewers--off 65 percent from what its storied ancestor averaged in its final year.
During its winter hibernation, Joey will live on via Most Outrageous TV Moments, a clip show featuring "hilarious" outtakes from NBC shows. One outtake not likely to make the cut: Amy Grant's reaction when she finds out Most Outrageous TV Moments is taking up an hour's worth of real estate on Friday nights--and Three Wishes isn't. The inspirational reality series also is not part of NBC's January plans. Or possibly its February, March and April plans. Although previously pegged for a full season run, the show could see its final air date in December.
Julia Roberts Still Hollywood's Top Woman
Julia Roberts is still Tinseltown's leading Pretty Woman, according to trade magazine The Hollywood Reporter's annual 10 Most Powerful Women list. The actress has sheltered from the limelight following the birth of her twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, but remains the only actress who can command a $20 million salary.
The poll marks Roberts' fourth year in first place, but she has Nicole Kidman snapping at her heels and Reese Witherspoon in third place. With Halle Berry slipping off the list, Jennifer Aniston comes in at number 10.
The list, based on movie earnings, awards and visibility, is: 1. Julia Roberts, 2. Nicole Kidman, 3. Reese Witherspoon, 4. Drew Barrymore, 5. Renee Zellweger, 6. Angelina Jolie, 7. Cameron Diaz, 8. Jodie Foster, 9. Charlize Theron, 10. Jennifer Aniston.
Letterman, Winfrey Bury Hatchet
NEW YORK - Oprah Winfrey and David Letterman buried the hatchet Thursday on "The Late Show" and wondered just how their 16-year feud started in the first place.
"Could you tell me please what has transpired?" Winfrey asked Letterman during the show. "I have never for a moment had a feud with you."
It was Winfrey's first guest appearance on "The Late Show" with Letterman, although she twice appeared on his NBC show before the comic moved to CBS in 1993.
While presenting Letterman with a gift, she alluded to his much-maligned joke as an Academy Awards host in 1995 — the awkward "Oprah, Uma. Uma, Oprah" introduction.
The gift, wrapped in purple to coincide with the opening of the Winfrey-produced Broadway musical "The Color Purple," was a signed, framed photograph of herself and Uma Thurman.
"I want you to know, it's really over, whatever you thought was happening," Winfrey said.
Letterman, seeing the photo, responded: "Are you sure it's over?"
Letterman has frequently joked about Winfrey through the years, and he devoted plenty of time this week to hyping the Thursday appearance. In 2003, Winfrey told Time magazine she wouldn't go on his show because she's been "completely uncomfortable" as the target of his jokes.
"I can't thank you enough," Letterman said Thursday. "It means a great deal to me and I'm just very happy you're here."
"Does it really?" asked Winfrey. "I've been hearing for the past week you talking about it, and I didn't know if you were really serious or you were just doing your `Dave thing.'"
But Letterman proved his intentions were earnest, discussing in-depth Winfrey's efforts to lend support to communities in Africa and the good intentions of her syndicated program, "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
"You have meant something to the lives of people," Letterman said. "We're just a TV show."
The approach clearly caught Winfrey off guard, as she repeatedly exclaimed, "I can't believe you're being this serious!"
"What do you want, Tony Danza?" quipped Letterman, alluding to another fellow talk show host who waited in the wings as a "stand-in host."
To cap off his gallant reception of Winfrey, Letterman escorted her during the show taping to the premiere of "The Color Purple," which opened Thursday across the street at the Broadway Theater.
Before walking her out, Letterman said, "I think we'll just pencil you in for the next 16 years."
Affleck, Garner--and Baby
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's new favorite color: Violet.
The shade of purple also happens to be the name of the baby girl born to Garner, E! News has learned. The child made her debut at a Los Angeles hospital after labor was induced Wednesday night, Us Weekly reported Thursday.
"Ben was with her the entire time," a source told the magazine.
The child is the first for both. Affleck, 33, and Garner, 34, wed June 29, almost two months after their expectant news was leaked.
In completing her labor day, Garner beats her prime-time alter ego to the nursery. Sydney Bristow, the Alias secret agent that made Garner a star, also is with child. Producers of the ABC spy series wrote in the pregnancy after Garner's was confirmed.
Alias was canceled last week by ABC. It'll finish its fifth and final season in May, after a previously scheduled eight-week-long maternity leave of sorts starting in January.
TV show or no, Garner's plate is full. In addition to the baby, she has a new movie, Catch and Release, due out next year. It's her first shot at headlining a real-people drama (from Erin Brockovich writer Susannah Grant) as opposed to a fantasy comedy (13 Going on 30) or a superhero adventure (Elektra).
Meanwhile, no bad reviews are good reviews for Father Affleck, who will not appear on the big screen in 2005--the first time that's happened since 1994. While it might seem as if romance, marriage and pregnancy has kept the actor otherwise occupied, he might have as many as three films out next year, including Truth, Justice and the American Way, about the 1959 death of TV Superman George Reeves.
Before marrying Garner, Affleck endured the worst box office and worst publicity of his career. When he wasn't making headlines for his overexposed, and eventually scuttled, engagement to Jennifer Lopez, he was launching dud (Gigli) after dud (Paycheck) after dud (Jersey Girl) after dud (Surviving Christmas).
Affleck and Garner met on the set of 2003's Daredevil--he was the titular hero; she was Elektra. The two began dating in 2004, after Affleck had moved on from Lopez, and after Garner had moved on from Alias costar Michael Vartan and first-husband Scott Foley.