Super Fashion Stars - Galleon Entertainment
Super Fashion Stars
13 x 44'
Entertainment - Reality
Galleon Entertainment

Design it, Style it, flaunt it...who will be the next Super Fashion Star? The search for the ultimate fashion team starts here! Exclusive Fashion partner: Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden (IMG Entertainment)

http://www.galleonent.com/
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Being...Fidel Castro - Calt Distribution
Being...Fidel Castro
1 x 90'
Documentary - History
Calt Distribution

Fidel Castro gives us his view of things, through the caustic view of Karl Zero, a French journalist who stands "in the shoes" of famous politicians.

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Dilemma - Banijay International
Dilemma
25'
Entertainment – Game Shows
Banijay International

They think they are ready for anything. But how far will they go to win the game?...

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Band Without Brothers - John Mclean Media
Band Without Brothers
52 x 30'
Factual - Documentary
John Mclean Media

The Last Supper is a rock band hell-bent on breaking the world record for most countries toured by a music group by hitting 100! The series is a true rockumentary drama of cultural exploration.

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Benidorm Bastards - Seven One International
Benidorm Bastards
25'
Format
Seven One International

Rose d'Or Nominee "Benidorm Bastards" is an edgy hidden camera show starring 7 old men and women who are making fun of the younger generation.

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Street Kids of Mumbai - Digital Rights Group
Street Kids of Mumbai
1 x 60'
Factual - Documentary
Digital Rights Group

India is home to the largest number of street children in the world. UNICEF's estimate of 11m is considered to be a conservative figure. 10 - 15,000 children arrive in Mumbai alone every year. This film tells the stories of just a few...

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Obama calls for digital switch delay

US president-elect Barack Obama has asked Congress to consider postponing the switchover to digital television, to give the government time to fix a consumer help programme that ran out of money this week.

The incoming administration is concerned that millions of US viewers will lose access to TV services if the switchover deadline, on February 17, is not moved.

Consumers advocacy group Consumers Union cited flaws in the federal coupon programme that subsidises converter boxes. The programme offers US$40 towards the purchase of a box, which retail for between US$50 and US$80.

However, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration recently announced that funding for the programme had run out.

As a result, the Consumers Union says hundreds of consumers are being added to a waiting list every day. Those who cannot receive subsidies are being told to pay for a box themselves, or sign up for a digital cable or satellite service.

Although a delay is far from certain - given potential opposition from broadcasters, public safety agencies and telecoms companies eager to start using the new airwaves - there was plenty of frustration yesterday with the way the digital TV transition has been managed.

"This economic climate is not the right time to ask consumers to dig deeper into their own pockets to pay for the miscalculation by the federal government," the Consumers Union wrote in a letter to lawmakers this week.

The letter went on to claim that the organisation is concerned about the level of funding for on-the-ground education. It compares the US to the UK, which "is spending close to US$400m to educate a population one-fifth the size of the US about its digital broadcast transition."

According to Nielsen Media Research, around 7.8 million US households, or 6.8%, still have older TV sets, despite a mammoth public marketing and education campaign. These people may see their screens going dark next month.

It is thought that the global financial crisis has also contributed to slower sales of new digital TVs, as well as setting back sales of new cable and satellite TV services that do not require users to acquire special converter boxes.

If the switchover date is delayed it could also stall the introduction of new wireless services. Verizon, AT&T and others are paying the US government US$19bn to acquire the freed-up spectrum, hoping to use it for upcoming high-speed wireless data services.

Jules Grant
9 Jan 2009
© C21 Media 2009


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