Eat'n Park Offers American Idol Runner-Up Katharine McPhee $100,000 Recording Contract and Smiley Cookies for Life to Sing Jingle
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ENTERTAINMENT, ART, FASHION, TECHNOLOGY
Eat'n Park Offers American Idol Runner-Up Katharine McPhee $100,000 Recording Contract and Smiley Cookies for Life to Sing Jingle
Disney Channel's Musical Sensation HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Sells Over 400k Units on DVD in First Day Becoming This Year's Fastest Selling Television Program on DVD and the Industry's Fastest Selling Television Movie of All Time on DVD
Great American Country Secures Exclusive Rebroadcast Rights to 41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards Gala
Multi-Platinum Rockers Live and American Idol Fan Favorite Chris Daughtry Give Surprise Performance On A.I. Season 5 Finale
Dukes of Hazzard Fans Head for Music City
Ahoy Matey! Pirates Invade LEGOLAND(R) California
Family Theme Park Opens All-New Area June 21
Award-Winning International-Selling Pop Artist Eamon Set to Release 2nd album 'Life is Good' August 1st!!
Debut Single '(How Could You) Bring Him Home' Impacts Radio June 26th
MOBILE STREAMS SIGNS DEAL WITH SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT TO MOBILIZE “THE DA VINCI CODE” FOR GLOBAL WIRELESS DISTRIBUTION
MTV Heats Up Thursday Nights With New Line-Up, Beginning June 15th
New Season Of 'Making the Band 3' at 9PM ET/PT, 'Run's House' at 9:30PM ET/PT, 'Pimp My Ride' at 10PM ET/PT
Beastie Boys' First-Ever Concert Music DVD Will Be Released on DVD July 25, 2006 From THINKFilm
The Groundbreaking Film Shot by Fans, for Fans
AWESOME; I F*CKIN' SHOT THAT! a.k.a. Awesome; I ... Shot That!
Summer Sizzles on Nickelodeon with Savory Slate of New Movies, Specials, Series and Nicktoon Marathons
Friday Night TV Movie Treats Based on Danny Phantom, The X's, Avatar, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius and The Fairly OddParents - along with Mega-Hit Flicks Rugrats in Paris and Kangaroo Jack - to Premiere, June-August
Dual Series Kappa Mikey and Shuriken Launch August 20
Multimedia News Release - The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil
Director - Dominic Champagne, Music Directors - Sir George Martin & Giles Martin :Press Conference Featuring Sneak Preview Performance Held Today at The Mirage in Las Vegas'Looking for Stars' Winner Gets Key Role in Revolution Studios' Sci-Fi Thriller 'Next' Starring Nicolas Cage and Julianne Moore
Starz' 14-Episode Talent Search Micro-Series 'Looking for Stars' to Premiere Monday, June 19 at 8:50 p.m. (ET/PT)
Universal Studios Home Entertainment Announces: Exclusive Free Movie Ticket to See the Upcoming Action-Packed-Ride
'The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift' Inside
Blue Man Group Launches New Album Live at The Venetian - Las Vegas in June
New Solomon Says Computer Game Lets Families Crown Their Own 'King of Bible Trivia' : Zany New Title from Digital Praise and Cloud 9 Games Puts Players to the Test, Matching Wits With King Solomon in TV Game Show FormatFrom 'A Star Is Born' to 'Popeye' - DRAMA.TV and TOON.TV Launch on the Web Without Commercials, Downloads, Subscriptions, or Waiting
The Future of Online Entertainment Has Arrived
Utherverse Corporation Announces Today That It Has Launched a 3D Virtual Overlay to the Internet, and Has Invited the Public to Try It for Free
16x9 Inc. Introduces TurtleX for Lightweight DV CamcordersJADOO POWER TO PARTICIPATE AT 34TH ANNUAL
COWEN TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
Panel To Discuss Portable Fuel Cells: Are They Ready To Market Now?
Dixie Chicks, Pretenders, David Gilmour and Rob Thomas Headline XM Satellite Radio's New Season of Exclusive Music Programming
Summer Schedule Also Includes New Original XM Series 'OFFSTAGE,' Featuring Celebrated Artists Behind the Mic as DJ
Quick-start, Long-play Internet Television Arrives with Zattoo P2P IPTV
Zattoo to Stream World Cup Soccer as Part of Swiss Channel Lineup in June 2006; Free Offering to be Expanded to 60 Major Channels in July 2006
Dinosaur Duels Come to the Nintendo DS(TM) as Majesco Entertainment Ships 'Dino Master'
The Monkey Goes Mobile!: GOSUB 60 Inks Deal with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group to Release Curious George Games for Wireless
DIGITAL FOCI INTRODUCES PICTURE PORTER
Picture Porter Digital Photo Album Securely Saves Photos on the Road
Digital Photo Album Securely Saves Photos on the Roadon 20GB & 40GB Portable Hard Drives without Heavy Laptop
Keep on Snapping Photos - Never Run Out of Memory Card Space Again
Gemplus and Actimagine to Collaborate on Rich Multimedia Content on Multimedia SIM
AT&T and Disney-Pixar Bring 'Cars' Excitement to Summer Movie-Goers Through Latest Tie-In Promotion :Co-Branded Site Invites Consumers to Download Audio Tracks and 'Cars' Characters, Linking Consumers to Best AT&T Deals and Bundle Offers for Maximum SavingsOne Hundred Million Mobile VOIP Users in 2011
Walt Disney Internet Group and Shanda to Bring Disney Content to China's Online Game Market
DIGITAL FOCI INTRODUCES MEDIA BUDDY
Media Buddy Digital Photo Storage Securely Saves Photos on the Road
Digital Photo Storage Securely Saves Photos on the Roadon 30GB to 80GB Portable Hard Drives–
DIGITAL FOCI ANNOUNCES MEMORY CARD TRAVEL CASE
Holds All Types of Memory Cards
Unique Smart Stackable Design Organizes up to 8 Memory Cards of Any Type
'Familias, Aqui y Alla,' Latinoamerica Television's Newest TV Program
- SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) today reaffirmed its guidance of more than 6.2 million subscribers by year-end 2006, representing an 87% increase over the company's subscriber base at the end of 2005.
Rediscovered Pickford Films to Bow at Academy’s Pickford Center
Spike TV Highlights - July 2006
SPORTS AND AUTOSOakland and Dodger Baseball
Uniroyal Tire Launches 'Driving Value Home' Campaign to Address Gas Costs
Simple Tips Can Help Save Money on Gas This Summer & Up to $900 Annually
Memorial Day Travelers Can Save 38 Percent Of Their Gas Bill With Six Simple Economy Tips
Hollywood Poker Raises $30,000 For 4th Annual Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend
Curt Schilling Enters a World of Fantasy During Red Sox-Yankees Series June 5, 6, 7
Rock & Republic Revs Into the 90th Anniversary of Indianapolis 500
Golf Legend Fred Couples to Endorse ECCO Golf Shoes
Kangaroo TV available in Formula One as early as 2006 - Kangaroo Media Inc. and Formula One Management announce an exclusive agreement to offer the Kangaroo TV service at all FIA Formula One World Championship(TM) events worldwide
DODFox Movie Channel Salutes the USO on Memorial Day
America Supports You: Spouse Career Expo Planned for Capital Region
General Urges Americans to Pause to Observe Memorial Day
America Supports You: National Memoral Day Parade Salutes Veterans
DoD Office of Inspector General Issues BRAC Notification Regarding Naval Air Station Oceana
NEWS AND NEWS IN SPANISH
NEW SPACE OBSERVATIONS POISED TO SAVE LIVES FROM FLOODS, LANDSLIDES
NASA SET TO WELCOME EUROPEAN SPACE STATION COMPONENT
VATICAN NEWS
- Peter: School of Faith Is Not a Triumphal March
- Prayers for the Pope's Apostolic Trip to Poland
- Warsaw, First Stop on Benedict XVI's Trip to Poland
- Notice
Familias, Aquí y Allá, el nuevo programa de Latinoamerica Television en los E.E.U.U.
LOVE(TM) dos Beatles(TM) no Cirque du Soleil(R)
Diretor - Dominic Champagne, Diretores Musicais - Sir George Martin & Giles Martin
Directivos de BellSouth Forman Parte de la Lista de Hispanos Más Importantes en Tecnología y Negocios
Paulino Barros y Carlos Muñiz fueron reconocidos por su liderazgo y extraordinaria labor en el campo de la tecnología
Gemplus y Actimagine colaboran mediante su amplio contenido multimedia con Multimedia SIM
Mainland China and Taiwan's Exports of Broadband Products to Top 54 Million Units Worth US$2 Billion in 2006 - up 55 Percent From 2005
Over Three-Quarters of All U.S. Adults - An Estimated 172 million - Go Online
Sixty-Seven Percent of Small Business Owners Are Planning a Summer Break, But Many Will Continue Working While Vacationing, According to the OPEN from American Express(SM) 2006 Semi-Annual Monitor
Small Business Expert Offers Tips for a More Relaxing Escape
Severe hurricane season means gas prices could hit US$3.50 per gallon in the U.S. or C$1.30 per litre in Canada this summer, according to CIBC World Markets report
- Oil prices expected to hit new record highs later this year -
_____________________________________________
ENTERTAINMENT, ART, FASHION, TECHNOLOGY
Eat'n Park Offers American Idol Runner-Up Katharine McPhee $100,000 Recording Contract and Smiley Cookies for Life to Sing Jingle
The voice people might be hearing on Eat'n Park's new summer commercial should be familiar. If the chain's $100,000 deal is accepted, it will be the voice of Katharine McPhee, American Idol's first runner-up from Fox TV's hotly contested singing competition.
Eat'n Park, one of the country's leading family restaurant chains, is offering McPhee not only a $100,000 recording contract, but also is sweetening the deal by throwing in a lifetime supply of Smiley cookies, the dining chain's popular treat, sold in its restaurants and online at http://www.eatnpark.com/ .
"We're excited about the prospect of pairing Eat'n Park with one of America's hottest young singers," said Kevin O'Connell, senior vice president, Marketing, Eat'n Park. "Katharine's All-American sound and work ethic fit perfectly with the Eat'n Park family dining experience, so we're excited about offering her the opportunity to lend her trademark voice to our brand."
The new jingle will be unveiled later this summer in coordination with the 20th anniversary of the Smiley cookie. Eat'n Park is working on its new sound with singer/songwriter Bob Corbin. Corbin is famous for several #1 pop and country hits, including "Can't Keep a Good Man Down" and "Fire in the Night," for super group Alabama and more recently, for his work with the Povertyneck Hillbillies.
Eat'n Park Restaurants, founded in 1949 as a family carhop, is an award- winning family restaurant chain with 77 locations in three states and is a member of the Eat'n Park Hospitality Group, a leading, regional multi-concept foodservice company.
Other brands operated by the Group include, Park Classic Diner, a retro-eatery reminiscent of the company's roots, Six Penn Kitchen, an upscale American Bistro, Parkhurst Dining Services, a provider of contract-dining services to businesses, universities, and cultural centers; and CURA Hospitality, which offers contract dining and management services for senior living communities. Across its dining brands, the Eat'n Park Hospitality Group employs more than 8,000 team members in seven northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. http://www.eatnpark.com/
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060518/CLTH051LOGO-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060518/CLTH051-b
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Eat'n Park Restaurants
Web site: http://www.eatnpark.com/
Disney Channel's Musical Sensation HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Sells Over 400k Units on DVD in First Day Becoming This Year's Fastest Selling Television Program on DVD and the Industry's Fastest Selling Television Movie of All Time on DVD
On its first day of availability, the smash hit Disney Channel Original Movie HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, sold over 400,000 units on DVD in North America, it was announced today by Bob Chapek, president of Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE). The highest-rated original programming in the history of Disney Channel, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL has become the fastest selling television program on DVD for the home entertainment industry this year and the industry's fastest selling television movie of all time on DVD.
"The success of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL on DVD continues the phenomenon of the franchise. With the triple-platinum selling soundtrack at the top of the charts and the television program the highest rated in the history of Disney Channel, we are delighted that this release has set a new benchmark within our strong lineup of television properties," commented Chapek on the announcement
The debut DVD release of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL ENCORE EDITION also contains bonus features including a "Learn the Moves" feature led by Emmy Award-winning director and choreographer Kenny Ortega (XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony), a never-before-seen music video, "I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," the rousing music video "We're All In This Together," and a Behind-The-Scenes feature providing viewers a glimpse at the making of the movie.
About Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Walt Disney Home Entertainment is distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc., a recognized industry leader. A subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios, Buena Vista Home Entertainment Inc. is the marketing, sales and distribution company for all Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista DVDs.
Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Web site: http://www.bvhepublicity.com/
Great American Country Secures Exclusive Rebroadcast Rights to 41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards Gala
Television network Great American Country (GAC) has secured the exclusive rights to televise encore presentations of the 41st Annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards that aired live from Las Vegas this evening on the CBS television network. The ceremony annually honors country music's top artists as well as the industry's hottest emerging talent.
GAC will air the first encore presentation of the awards show on June 7 at 9 p.m. ET. Additional air dates will be set for later in the year.
GAC will be the only network to rebroadcast the show, hosted by Reba McEntire, with scheduled performances by Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride and Brad Paisley.
"This partnership builds on the strong relationship we embarked upon in 2005, which was the first year that GAC had the rebroadcast rights to the Academy of Country Music Awards," said Bob Romeo, executive director of the Academy of Country Music.
GAC's extensive coverage of events surrounding the 2006 Academy of Country Music Awards included an exclusive live pre-awards telecast prior to tonight's awards show, a rebroadcast of last year's ACM 40th Anniversary Celebration, as well as several other Academy related programs aired throughout the month of May.
The ability to share the Academy of Country Music Awards program with GAC viewers represents a key programming strategy for the network. The annual program is one of the most popular among country music fans, and is well respected by country music artists and their labels.
"GAC is committed to connecting passionate country music fans with the artists they appreciate and admire," said Sarah Trahern, senior vice president of programming for Great American Country. "The encore presentation of last year's Academy of Country Music Awards program on GAC drew a sizeable audience of viewers who either missed the CBS broadcast, or who wanted to watch the program again. As the leader in country music television programming, GAC is the natural place the fans expect to find such high quality shows."
GAC's exclusive encore presentation of the 41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards premieres June 7 at 9 p.m. ET.
About the Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 with a mission to support, promote and enhance the advancement of the country music industry worldwide. The Academy, which is comprised of more than 4,000 professional members and more than 35,000 associate members, is headquartered in Burbank, Calif. For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and the Academy of Country Music, please visit www.acmcountry.com.
About Great American Country
Great American Country is America's main street for the widest variety of country music, its artists and the lifestyles they influence. In addition to country music videos, GAC features original programming, special musical performances and live concerts, and is the exclusive television home of the Grand Ole Opry. GAC is available in more than 40 million households.
GAC is owned by Scripps Networks, the leading developer of lifestyle-oriented content for television and the Internet, including Home & Garden Television (HGTV), Food Network, DIY Network and FINE LIVING. Scripps Networks is based in Knoxville, Tenn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta and Nashville, and is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE:SSP) , a diverse media concern with interests in newspaper publishing, broadcast television, national television networks and interactive media. Scripps operates 21 daily newspapers, 10 broadcast TV stations, Scripps Howard News Service, United Media and Shopzilla.com.
Source: Great American Country
CONTACT: Lee Hall, Great American Country, +1-865-560-3853,
Web site: http://www.acmcountry.com/
Multi-Platinum Rockers Live and American Idol Fan Favorite Chris Daughtry Give Surprise Performance On A.I. Season 5 Finale
Perform Duet of Live's Current Single 'Mystery' Featured On Their New Studio Album Songs From Black Mountain
Songs From Black Mountain - Available Now for Digital Download - Hits Stores June 6th
Live from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. the American Idol 5 season finale blew fans away with a surprise collaboration between the multi-Platinum rock band Live and Idol fan favorite Chris Daughtry. As a huge fan of Live, Daughtry asked the band to join him on stage for the season finale in a surprise performance of Live's current single "Mystery" from their new album Songs From Black Mountain. Available now digitally for download, Songs From Black Mountain will hit stores June 6th.
American Idol viewers may remember the controversy earlier in the season when Daughtry performed a strikingly similar rendition of Live's 2001 cover of the Johnny Cash classic "I Walk the Line." As the criticism grew, Live lead singer Ed Kowalczyk praised Daughtry saying, "I thought he did a great job with the song. There's no doubt he's a talented performer and I hope he goes far." Lending further support, Kowalczyk contacted Daughtry directly and a mentorship was born.
Live's illustrious career has seen the band sell more than 20 million records. In their 15 years together they have had two Billboard Top 200 #1 albums -- Throwing Copper and Secret Samadhi. Five #1 singles including, "I Alone," "Lightning Crashes" and "Selling the Drama" as well as nine Top 10 singles.
Wrapping up a U.S. tour this month, Live will begin a headline tour of Europe in June followed by a tour of the U.S. and Canada in July with dates to be announced shortly.
Web site: http://www.epicrecords.com/
Dukes of Hazzard Fans Head for Music City
On June 3 and 4, tens of thousands of "good ol' boys and girls" from all over America and the world will gather in Nashville, TN for CMT DukesFest 2006, the annual reunion for "Dukes of Hazzard" fans of all ages.
"It is by far the largest gathering of fans for any television show ever," says Ben Jones, the former Georgia congressman who played the sidekick mechanic "Cooter" on the show. "Last year we drew about 40,000 folks to Bristol Motor Speedway and we could possibly top that this year because our entire cast is coming for the first time ever."
Jones, who along with his wife Alma produce CMT DukesFest, says the event is geared for families. "Kids 10 and under are admitted free, and we'll have a special play area for the youngsters. They are our biggest fans. It's really cool because they think 'The Dukes' is a brand new show."
This year's event will feature a parade of more than 100 "General Lees" (the 1969 Dodge Charger which has become a cultural icon in the NASCAR world), a demolition derby, the "world's fastest lawnmower race," two days of bluegrass and country music on two stages, as well as appearances and autograph sessions by the entire cast. The stars appearing include: John Schneider (Bo), Tom Wopat (Luke), Catherine Bach (Daisy), James Best (Rosco P. Coltrane), Sonny Shroyer (Enos) and Rick Hurst (Cletus). In addition to appearances both days, the entire cast will perform on the main stage for a special show Saturday night.
The festivities will conclude Sunday afternoon with the Hazzard County Stunt Team recreating the very first jump of the General Lee, originally filmed in Covington, Georgia in October of 1978.
Advance tickets for the two-day event are $30, and one-day passes are $20. Weekend passes are $35 at the gate and $25 for the day. Children 10 and under are free, as well as military service men and women with proper ID.
The gates open at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available at the gate at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds and Music City Motorplex. Advance tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets and Cooter's Place in Nashville. For more information call Cooter's Place at (615) 872-8358, or visit http://www.cootersplace.com/.
ABOUT DUKESFEST
DukesFest was established by Ben "Cooter" Jones in 2001. Originally held in Sperryville, VA, unprecedented success forced the event to move to Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway in Bristol, TN in 2004. Since its inception, DukesFest has played host to more than 75,000 enthusiasts and has become the annual gathering for "Dukes of Hazzard" lovers.
ABOUT CMT
CMT, America's No. 1 country music network, carries original programming, specials, live concerts and events, as well as a mix of videos by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, including world premiere exclusive videos. Founded March 6, 1983, CMT, owned and operated by MTV Networks, reaches more than 82.5 million households in the United States. Go to country music's biggest web site at http://www.cmt.com/.
Source: DukesFest
Web site: http://www.cootersplace.com/
http://www.cmt.com/
Ahoy Matey! Pirates Invade LEGOLAND(R) California
Family Theme Park Opens All-New Area June 21
Shiver me timbers! LEGOLAND(R) California opens the largest expansion in Park history, Pirate Shores on June 21, 2006. Pirate Shores represents a $10 million investment and features four new attractions based on water play.
Pirate Shores, the Park's seventh themed block, contains rides and water play structures every buccaneer and landlubber will enjoy. With the opening of Pirate Shores, LEGOLAND California has added 13 new attractions in the last 2 1/2 years.
The cornerstone of the new area is the adventurous ride Splash Battle. On Splash Battle, families board pirate ships and cruise through pirate-infested waters equipped with their very own water cannons. Each pirate-ship vehicle carries four passengers on an exciting high-seas journey through twists, turns and magnificent scenes including exploding volcanoes, roving bands of pirates and a scary sail-through skull. Riders taking this voyage are destined to get wet as both they and ride spectators are armed to the teeth with water cannons to take their best watery shot at one another.
Treasure Falls introduces young guests to a traditional mini-flume log ride. Even pirates need a vacation and this water attraction allows guests to see how hard-working buccaneers spend their leisure time. Each log-shaped ride vehicle transports two adults and two children through a swashbuckling adventure featuring two daring drops. Riders will plunge nearly 12 feet past pirates relaxing in a thermal spa or lounging in their beach chairs amidst a tropical jungle.
Pirate Shores includes two new play areas where guests can soak up some fun playing in and with water. Swabbies Deck is designed for younger guests with pop-up water jets, water fountains, and squirt cannons. Soak-N-Sail takes water play to a new level with hundreds of gallons of water coursing through more than 60 interactive features. The play structure is modeled after a shipwrecked pirate vessel with a mast measuring 38 feet tall. Soak-N-Sail's central feature is a giant bucket poised to pour more than 300 gallons of water on eager guests.
Throughout Pirate Shores, more than 150 detailed LEGO(R) models abound including a lively pirate band providing festive sea shanties, a group of renegade mice raiding provisions and a spectacular sinking galleon. Guests can test their mettle at games that challenge their pirating skills. LEGOLAND California invites all guests to come aboard and experience Pirate Shores ... if ye dare!
LEGOLAND(R) California is a 128-acre interactive theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of two and 12. Just like with LEGO(R) play materials, kids are the ones who create the action at the Park. They drive, pedal, squirt, climb, jump, steer, pull, click, build and program their way through more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. There are three other LEGOLAND Parks in the world -- LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND Windsor outside of London and LEGOLAND Deutschland near Gunzburg, Germany. For the most current information, log on to www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO.
Source: LEGOLAND(R) California
Web site: http://www.legoland.com/
Award-Winning International-Selling Pop Artist Eamon Set to Release 2nd album 'Life is Good' August 1st!!
Debut Single '(How Could You) Bring Him Home' Impacts Radio June 26th
Jive/Zomba recording artist Eamon readies himself to release his 2nd album "Life is Good" due in stores August 1st. He has been known for his combination of raw Hip-Hop and smooth Doo-Wop and is what he calls "Ho-Op." Eamon's hit debut 2003 single "F**k It (I Don't Want You Back)" served as an anthem for anyone who has ever been done wrong by a lover. It was the #1 Best selling single in the U.S. on the Hot Single Sales Charts for 9 weeks and #1 on the Hot R&B Single Sales Charts!! Radio-wise it peaked at #5 on the Top 40 Rhythm chart, #9 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart and #16 on the Hot 100 Airplay charts!! Internationally he reached both Gold and Platinum success in major territories including the UK, Australia and Germany. With this international success, he won the Festival Bar Award for Most Successful International Artist of the Year in 2004!!
His new single "How Could You (Bring Him Home)," is the first from his upcoming album and is due to impact radio June 26th. The track, produced by Happy Perez (Frankie J), reveals a softer side of the singer unbeknownst to listeners on "F**k It." Eamon gives heart-felt testimony on "How Could You," which deals with the pain of betrayal. He says the song was a perfect fit for him. Says Eamon, "I think it's a perfect follow up [to 'F**k It'] and the people [Jud Mahoney, Nina Woodford, Zach Charlton, and James Earp] who wrote it for me hit it right on the head. I couldn't have [written] it any better." The video is directed by Lenny Bass and should hit the video channels around the same time in June.
A 22-year-old singer/songwriter from Staten Island N.Y., Eamon has been recording since the age of 9, performing with his father's Doo-Wop group. He recorded this album with the help from producers Milk Dee -- who produced a large part of the debut album, including the hit "F*ck It (I Don't Want You Back)" and Anthony Acid, who has worked with Ghostface Killa. Eamon takes a lighter approach to the subject of relationships this time around. Eamon says, "My delivery [on this album] is more mature, more the view of a young adult." He adds, "My goal is for as many people to hear my music as possible. I want people to enjoy my music and know that I'm here to stay. Life is good, I'm having fun. I want everybody to feel the same way when they hear this record."
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING EAMON VISIT HIS WEBSITE AT http://www.eamonmusic.com/
Source: Jive Records
MOBILE STREAMS SIGNS DEAL WITH SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT TO MOBILIZE “THE DA VINCI CODE” FOR GLOBAL WIRELESS DISTRIBUTION
“Vuesia” Technology Platform Powers Global Mobile Distribution of “The Da Vinci Code”
Mobile Streams Inc., the global mobile media specialist, announced today a worldwide deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) to mobilize the blockbuster motion picture “The Da Vinci Code,” starring Tom Hanks.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mobile Streams, utilizing its proprietary Vuesia technology, has formatted content masters of “The Da Vinci Code” into ‘mobile ready’ video, audio and graphic formats. The clips are approximately two minutes each and offer mobile users glimpses into “The Da Vinci Code” story.
Mobile Streams’ mobile content delivery platform, Vuesia, transcoded, or “mobilized” the masters in order to meet the specifications of 13 European carriers including; Vodafone Global, 3 UK and 3 Italy. Once the assets had been created, Vuesia automatically delivered them to each carrier in their preferred delivery specification, enabling more rapid subscriber access.
“Imagine the thrilling adventures of Dr. Langdon on your mobile phone!” said Simon Buckingham, CEO of Mobile Streams, “We are excited to partner with Sony Pictures to distribute ‘The Da Vinci Code’ to mobile users around the world.”
Chris Rovtar, Senior Vice President of Mobile Streams who manages the SPE relationship, said: “The Da Vinci Code was a great opportunity to showcase the responsiveness of our Vuesia platform as SONY required a quick turnaround to meet the tight demands of their international carrier partners. We produced over 450 mobile content assets of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ utilizing our Vuesia content management platform within just a few days.”
“Mobile distribution is an essential element of our overall Global marketing strategy for ‘The Da Vinci Code’,” said Tony Beswick, VP Operations & Technology Worldwide Product Fulfillment at Sony Pictures, “After careful due diligence, we selected Mobile Streams as our global mobile media service provider. We are very impressed by the Vuesia mobile management solution and with the company’s quick response and extensive global distribution channels.”
Following the success of “The Da Vinci Code” project, Mobile Streams and SPE are exploring the mobilization of many more Sony assets.
“The Da Vinci Code” film starring Tom Hanks is based on the massively successful book by controversial novelist Dan Brown. “The Da Vinci Code” has sold more than 30 million copies and is available in 40 languages around the world. The movie “The Da Vinci Code,” directed by Ron Howard, premiered domestically on May 19, 2006.
About Mobile Streams
Mobile Streams is a leading provider of music, comedy, sport and entertainment content to handsets and other wireless devices, whose mobile expertise and distribution platform, “Vuesia,” is used globally by some of the world's largest media groups and mobile phone networks including Vodafone, and 3 in the UK, America Movil, Movistar & TIM in Latin America, Fido & Rogers in Canada and Dobson in the US.
“Vuesia” is Mobile Streams’ full service enterprise mobile media management solution. “Vuesia” facilitates content ingestion, management, delivery, billing and reporting.
The Company creates, licenses and delivers quality content to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and consumers in the form of ringtones, graphics, video clips and other products. It has developed relationships with both content owners and MNOs which enable it to act as an intermediary, providing an end-to-end service encompassing a broad range of elements from content licensing to content production, account management and channel management.
Mobile Streams has subsidiaries in Germany, US, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Colombia and has approximately 100 employees.
For more information please go to www.mobilestreams.com
About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.
Learn more about “The Da Vinci Code” movie or purchase ringtones and wallpaper at: www.SoDarktheConofMan.com
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MTV Heats Up Thursday Nights With New Line-Up, Beginning June 15th
New Season Of 'Making the Band 3' at 9PM ET/PT, 'Run's House' at 9:30PM ET/PT, 'Pimp My Ride' at 10PM ET/PT
MTV announced today that it will introduce a new programming block for Thursday nights which will premiere on Thursday, June 15th. The new line-up will feature the return of some of MTV's hugely successful and highly anticipated series: "Making The Band 3", "Run's House" and "Pimp My Ride". In addition, MTV will close out the premiere of the new block with a one-hour "Yo Momma" special at 10:30pm. Beginning on Thursday, June 22nd viewers will see an encore airing of Jamie Kennedy's "Blowin' Up" in the 10:30pm slot. All shows on the new Thursday night line-up will feature multi-platform elements that will drive fans between MTV, MTV.com, MTV On Demand and MTV Overdrive.
"Making The Band 3: Season 3"
Thursdays at 9:00pm ET/PT
Now in its third season, the series continues to chronicle Sean "Diddy" Combs applying his "golden touch" as he works with the five girls he chose to be in his all new girl pop group. This season, watch as Aubrey, Aundrea, Wanita, Dawn and Shannon get used to being in the band, learn to work together, record their first album, prepare to go on tour and live in a brand new loft in New York City's Soho. Diddy is guaranteed to put a whole bunch of new challenges to keep his elite group of ladies in line.
To get fans up to speed on all the happenings from last season there will be a 5 1/2 hour marathon on Saturday, June 10th beginning at 2:00pm. During the marathon viewers will be able to get, simultaneously, on MTV Overdrive, a preview of the new season, "Diddy Knows Best" segments, which will feature Diddy's best quotes and show descriptions. MTV On Demand will feature profiles of all 5 members of the band.
MTV Overdrive will also offer weekly deleted scenes/extended-play clips, as well as cast video playlists.
In addition, wireless will feature deleted scenes, cast bios, trailer for upcoming season, "Diddy Knows Best" segments and ringtones on mobile.mtv.com
"Run's House"
Thursday at 9:30pm ET/PT
On "Run's House," Rev Run (Joey Simmons) of Run DMC must balance producing music and running a sneaker company while raising five spirited children ages 9-22. The series captures the real-life drama and antics of the Simmons family which includes Run's ever-patient wife Justine; Vanessa, 22, a Ford model and aspiring actress; Angela, 18, a straight A student and promising fashion designer; JoJo, 16, a talented rapper who loves music and girls; Diggy, 11, star of the basketball team and an aspiring rapper; and Russell, Jr., 9, the mischievous little brother.
To get viewers prepared for an all new season there will be a "Run's House" marathon on Father's Day, June 18th beginning at 12:00pm ET.
MTV Overdrive will feature Q&A's, extended scenes, room tours and video playlists. Full Episodes with extra scenes will be available On Demand starting July 7th. On wireless fans can access playlists at the ringtones boutique on MTV.com, enjoy extended scenes and room tours. Also, as both mobile video segments and as text messages, viewers will be able to text in to receive Run's words of wisdom on their mobile phones. In addition, Overdrive and MTV On Demand will play an original Diggy and JoJo music video.
"Pimp My Ride"
Thursday at 10:00pm ET/PT
"Pimp My Ride," returns for an all-new season, with an all-new garage. Once again, rap superstar and car enthusiast Xzibit and car customization specialist Mad Mike take aim on the biggest clunkers on the road. Joining them for this new season, and giving a new spin on car customization, is GAS - Galpin Auto Sports. Taking car customization to the next level, together Xzibit, Mad Mike and the crew at GAS create unheard of pimped out masterpieces.
In anticipation of the new season, MTV will schedule two 4-hour blocks of "Pimp My Ride" episodes, each block airing on consecutive Sundays in June, for a total of 8 hours of programming. The first block airs on June 4th from 5:00pm - 9:00pm. The second block airs on June 11th from 10:00am - 2:00pm.
MTV.com lends its support to "Pimp My Ride" by launching the Pimp My Ride/Lincoln Mark LT Sweepstakes. Each week MTV.com users will come to the "Pimp My Ride" website and vote for one item featured on that week's episode to be added to the Mark LT. The following week, Overdrive will feature a package showing the installation of the part that was voted on that week. At the end of the season the Mark LT will be given away to one lucky winner!
Overdrive will also offer viewers access to a segment of outtakes and deleted scenes. Full episodes will be available on MTV On Demand starting July 7th.
In addition, fans with mobile devices will be able to access features including the "Pimp My Ride" trailer, weekly outtakes from current season, "best of" clips from previous seasons and "Pimp My Ride" graphics available as downloadable wallpapers on mobile.mtv.com.
Lincoln is a brand of the Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., which manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees and 108 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands also include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 95 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
Source: MTV
Beastie Boys' First-Ever Concert Music DVD Will Be Released on DVD July 25, 2006 From THINKFilm
The Groundbreaking Film Shot by Fans, for Fans
AWESOME; I F*CKIN' SHOT THAT! a.k.a. Awesome; I ... Shot That!
The first-ever Beastie Boys concert music DVD and 2006 Sundance Film Festival smash hit Awesome; I F*ckin' Shot That! debuts July 25, 2006 from THINKFilm. Directed by band member Adam Yauch (credited as his nom-de-film Nathanial Hornblower), the groundbreaking music DVD from the iconic multi-platinum band, whose top-of-the charts success spans 20 years, is the first of its kind in the music DVD genre: a feature-length film shot by fans for fans. Available for $29.99 SRP, the DVD has a pre-order date of June 29, 2006.
On October 9, 2004 in Madison Square Gardens in New York City, The Beastie Boys handed out 50 cameras to audience members at their sold-out performance. These 50 different, passionate perspectives, shot from the point-of-view of the audience, take the viewer deep inside the world of a live Beastie Boys show, prismatically and kinetically capturing the experience of a live musical performance like no other film.
"One of the things that we love about this film is the fact it is so edgy and thoroughly modern," says Jeff Sackman, President THINKFilm. "We believe that this DVD will give anyone who loves music a reason to remember why it is they love concerts."
"There are an incredible amount of innovative features on this DVD," says Marc Hirshberg, SVP THINKFilm. "Yauch is a recognized innovator, and his dogged determination to push the boundaries of the medium really takes the DVD to an entirely different level. This DVD experience is going to blow even the biggest Beastie Boys fan away."
"The DVD has given us a great opportunity to present the footage that didn't make it into the final cut of the film," said Yauch, chief electro-mechanical engineer at Oscilloscope Laboratories. "It's been interesting to build grids of outtake footage, and watch the way the different perspectives play out simultaneously."
Loaded with over 2.5 Hours of Special Features including:
* Full-length Alternate Angle of Multi-Cam Grids -- Watch the film from
the perspective of the 6 HD cameras that also captured the concert
* A Cappella Vocal Tracks -- Listen to the complete concert with the
sound from MCA, Adrock and Mike D's mic's only
* Special "Hidden Detours" Feature -- Watch the film with the option of
taking detours throughout the concert with some of the camera operators
* Band Commentary
* Oh yeah, and the movie trailer with the cool Hollywood voice-over
* Short Film "A Day in the Life Of Nathanial Hornblower," starring
comedian David Cross (Arrested Development)
* World Tour Intros and Shout Outs
* Plus, more surprises ...
The first white rap group of any significance, the Beastie Boys' musical career spans two decades with overwhelming commercial success.
Most recently, the band released "Solid Gold Hits" in November 2005 from Capitol Records. Adam Yauch (a.k.a. Nathanial Hornblower a.k.a. MCA of the Beastie Boys) is fresh off a retrospective of his music videos at New York's American Museum of the Moving Image. He is also a past recipient of the Video Vanguard lifetime achievement honor at the MTV Video Music Awards.
BASICS
DVD: $29.99 SRP
Street Date: July 25, 2006
Running Time: Approx. 88 mins.
Genre: Documentary/Concert Music DVD
Rating: R for language
5.1 Dolby Digital Surround/ 2.0 Stereo
16:9 Anamorphic
Language: English
Closed Captioned
Official Website: awesomeishotthat.com
THINKFilm is a privately held distribution company now in its fifth year of operation, boasting four Academy Award(R) nominations and a win with BORN INTO BROTHELS in 2005. Other highlights include the comedy THE ARISTOCRATS, the recent Academy Award(R) nominated MURDERBALL and the Edward Norton/Evan Rachel Wood pic DOWN IN THE VALLEY currently in theatres. Upcoming releases include the Samuel L. Jackson/Bob Saget comedy spoof FARCE OF THE PENGUINS, currently in production; Gael Garcia Bernal/William Hurt thriller, THE KING; the Amy Sedaris/Stephen Colbert/Paul Dinello comedy, STRANGERS WITH CANDY; the highly acclaimed Ryan Gosling drama, HALF NELSON. For more information, please visit thinkfilmcompany.com.
Source: THINKFilm
Web site: http://www.thinkfilmcompany.com/
http://awesomeishotthat.com/
Summer Sizzles on Nickelodeon with Savory Slate of New Movies, Specials, Series and Nicktoon Marathons
Friday Night TV Movie Treats Based on Danny Phantom, The X's, Avatar, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius and The Fairly OddParents - along with Mega-Hit Flicks Rugrats in Paris and Kangaroo Jack - to Premiere, June-August
Dual Series Kappa Mikey and Shuriken Launch August 20
As temperatures soar, Nickelodeon will break out a brisk, bountiful blend of all-new TV movies and series, feature-film blockbusters and daily Nicktoon marathons to spice kids' viewing during their favorite season.
The kid network serves up must-see Friday night movie treats June 9-August 4 (8 p.m. ET/PT), unreeling hot new animated telefilms based on the hit series Danny Phantom, The X's, Avatar and Jimmy Neutron/The Fairly OddParents (crossover), along with Nick network debuts of the theatrical mega-hits Rugrats in Paris and Kangaroo Jack -- and more. A full array of riveting, rollicking adventures and red-letter events will dot the Friday movie-scape.
First up among the original offerings, Danny Phantom/"Reality Trip" (June 9) will propel kids to the edge of their seat when an escaped evil ringmaster with ghostly minions reveals phantom-fighting teen Danny's secret identity. Then, Truman's a turncoat and family menace in The X's/"Truman X, Supervillain" (June 16), after the wayward tween is recruited as an evil agent of SNAFU. The Fury of the Avatar (July 14) finds Aang and the Avatar gang traversing the deadly Serpent's Pass into Ba Sing Se just as a colossal fire nation invention aims to destroy the Great Wall there. An amazing friendship blooms between erstwhile rivals Jimmy Neutron and Timmy Turner in the Jimmy/Timmy Power Hour III: "The Jerkinators" (July 21), as the tween leads of The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius and The Fairly OddParents join forces to battle old foes and an evil new one bent on stealing Jimmy's brains and Timmy's magic.
Whisking kids on adventures to Australia and France on June 23 and 30, Nickelodeon premieres big-screen blockbusters Kangaroo Jack and Rugrats in Paris: The Movie and segues to England and Italy for What a Girl Wants starring Amanda Bynes (July 7) and Sabrina Goes to Rome (August 4).
The heat is on with dual series premieres on Sunday, August 20: Fish-out- of-water anime action comedy Kappa Mikey (11 a.m. ET/PT), which launched on the Nicktoons Network in February, chronicles the madcap adventures of once- struggling American actor Mikey Simon as he adjusts to his new role as the biggest anime star Japan has even seen. And Shuriken School (11:30 a.m. ET/PT) is a crazy place in fictional Tokirohama where Eizan and his pals learn how to melt into the walls, fly over rooftops and disappear in a cloud of smoke.
In addition, a June-August slate replete with Sunday episode premieres is on tap for Romeo (7 p.m. ET/PT) and Just for Kicks (8:30 p.m. ET/PT), including respective season finales on July 16 and August 6, amid Saturday- Sunday TEENick lineups also featuring favorite episodes of the live-action hits Drake & Josh, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, Unfabulous and Zoey 101.
Cool afternoon marathons of animated hits breeze onto the airwaves every weekday in June-August from noon-3 p.m. (ET/PT). Absorbing back-to-back episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants fill the bill on Mondays. The Fairly OddParents wreak Tuesday magic and mayhem. Wednesdays spotlight brainiac Jimmy Neutron's captivating quest for the ultimate invention in The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius. Danny Phantom tackles ghosts and high school hurdles on Thursdays. And rotating episodes of Nicktoon hit series flavor Fridays.
Following are details of Nickelodeon's summer programming highlights (all times ET/PT):
Nick Friday Movie Premieres (8 p.m.):
Danny Phantom/"Reality Trip" - (June 9) - School's out and Danny has nothing on his mind except a relaxing, fun and ghost-free summer vacation. But his dream is destroyed when Freakshow, a villainous ringmaster with ghostly minions, escapes from jail, reveals Danny's secret identity to the entire world and kidnaps his family. On the run Danny must rely on his powers to stay free and fulfill Freakshow's ransom demands. With Tucker and Sam by his side, he travels cross-country to track down three deadly reality gems. As the sun sets in the west, Danny's enemies close in on him, and Freakshow forces the hands of time closer to the fate of doom.
The X's/"Truman X: Supervillain" (June 16): When Truman hotdogs on a mission and blows up the X-Jet, his parents punish him by selling all his spy stuff at a garage sale. The livid, rebellious tween falls into the clutches of Glowface, who convinces him to become a nefarious agent of SNAFU. Naturally Truman first assignment is to destroy The X's!
Kangaroo Jack (June 23): Two childhood friends, a New York hairstylist and a would-be musician get caught up with the mob and are forced to deliver $50,000 to Australia. But things go haywire when the money is lost to a wild kangaroo. This 2003 comic caper starring Jerry O'Connell and Anthony Anderson makes its Nick network premiere. (Repeats July 28)
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (June 30): Wishes come true and love makes its way into the hearts of those young and old when the world's favorite animated babies venture to the City of Lights, where Chuckie's dad starts dating again -- and the red-headed worry-wort Rugrat finds a new mommy. When Tommy's dad, inventor Stu Pickles is summoned to Reptarland, an amazing new amusement park in Paris, the whole Rugrats gang tags along, and their adventure turns out to be more than glamour, fashion and smelly cheese. Chuckie learns that when it comes to princesses and potential mommies, things are not always what they seem. This 2000 box-office smash from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies makes its Nick network premiere.
What a Girl Wants (July 7): Free-spirited American teenager Daphne Reynolds (Amanda Bynes) travels to England to find her father, a wealthy aristocratic politician (Colin Firth) in this 2003 big-screen comic adventure. Daphne then must struggle with a snobby half-sister and with following the social obligations expected of her while maintaining her own identity.
The Fury of the Avatar (July 14): The kids must cross the deadly Serpent's Pass into Ba Sing Se with a family of refugees, just as Aang discovers a colossal fire nation invention heading there and threatening to destroy the great wall that protects the city from invasion.
Jimmy/Timmy Power Hour III: The Jerkinators (July 21): After animated tween heroes Jimmy Neutron (The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius) and Timmy Turner (The Fairly OddParents) bicker again over the affections of Cindy, the erstwhile rivals join forces in this crossover TV movie to defeat Jimmy's old foe, Eustace Strytch, and an amazing friendship blooms. The power pair travel to Dimmsdale and take on Timmy's nemesis, the Negachin, and then conjure up a new villain with the help of Cosmo and Wanda. Ticked off when Jimmy and Timmy abandon him at the Dimmsdale Mall, their odd creation turns utterly evil and schemes to steal Jimmy's brains and Timmy's magic!
Sabrina Goes to Rome (August 4): Sabrina (Melissa Joan Hart) spends an amazing summer in Rome, where she sets out to unlock the secrets of her ancestor's locket. Along the way she meets new friends and finds love, all while attempting to hide her knack for magic.
Season Finales:
Romeo!: "Ro Trip" (Sunday, July 16, 7 p.m.): Romeo is ecstatic when Joe Blanchard says he's sending his A&R guy to catch the band's next gig at Club Scrape. But the guy is a no-show, and when Ro calls Joe for an explanation, it's all bad news. Not only is the A&R rep not coming, but Blanchard will be unavailable for six months unless Ro and the gang can make it to L.A. in the next 48 hours. Undaunted, Ro, Louis and Gary head for L.A. After an adventurous road trip with lots of brotherly bonding, they arrive, and Ro gets his meeting with Joe, who has a gig for him to perform as JoJo's opening act at the Greek Theatre. But there's a soul-searching catch: it's a solo job.
Just for Kicks: "The Longest Yarn" (Sunday, August 6, 8:30 p.m.): When a surprised Lauren finds Chris at her first knitting class, the duo ditches the lesson for a day at the Empire State Building. To cap off a great time, Chris buys Lauren a knit scarf -- which mom Kate mistakes for her daughter's handiwork. A guilt-ridden Lauren finally tells Kate the truth and is reminded of their "no boyfriend" agreement. Yet Chris's in-person declaration that he respects Kate's rules and hopes to be able to hang out with Lauren one day turns the tide. Meanwhile, Freddie hurts her knee at practice and Dr. Atwood forces her to stay off the field.
Nickelodeon, in its 27th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than ten consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) .
Web site: http://www.nick.com/
Multimedia News Release - The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil
Director - Dominic Champagne, Music Directors - Sir George Martin & Giles Martin
Press Conference Featuring Sneak Preview Performance Held Today at The Mirage in Las Vegas
Media from around the world experienced the first 'sneak preview' of the latest Cirque du Soleil show, LOVE, a co- production with Apple Corps Ltd., which celebrates the musical legacy of The Beatles. A press conference was held today in the custom-built theatre at The Mirage in Las Vegas.
Music Directors Sir George Martin and his son Giles Martin have been working with the entire archive of Beatles recordings to create the musical component for LOVE. They were present at the press conference today to describe their unprecedented approach to the music for a stage production. "I think we will achieve a real sense of drama with the music, the audience will feel as though they are actually in the theatre with the band. People are going to be knocked out by what they are hearing!," said Giles Martin.
Using the master tapes at Abbey Road Studios, Sir George and Giles have created a unique soundscape of Beatles music for LOVE. "We wanted to make sure there are enough good, solid hit songs in the show, but we don't want it to be a catalog of 'best of's'," said Sir George Martin. "We also wanted to put in some interesting and not well-known Beatles music and use fragments of songs. The show will be a unique and magical experience."
Dominic Champagne, who directed and wrote the original concept for the show, explained his vision for LOVE. "I wanted to create a Beatles experience rather than a Beatles story, taking the audience on an emotional journey rather than a chronological one," said Dominic Champagne.
LOVE brings the magic of Cirque du Soleil together with the spirit and passion of The Beatles to create a vivid, intimate and powerful entertainment experience. It captures the essence of love that John, Paul, George and Ringo inspired during their astonishing adventure together.
LOVE evokes the exuberant and irreverent spirit of The Beatles. "When we embarked on this extraordinary adventure in 2002," said Gilles Ste-Croix, Show Concept Creator and Director of Creation, "we set out to create a timeless, three-dimensional evocation of The Beatles music. Drawn from the poetry of the lyrics, we developed a preliminary concept that explored the content of the songs in a series of scenes inhabited by real and imaginary people." The international cast of 60 channels a raw, youthful energy underscored by aerial performance, extreme sports and urban, freestyle dance.
LOVE will be presented in a custom-built theatre at The Mirage featuring 360 degree seating and advanced high definition video projections with 100- foot digital, moving images. The panoramic surround sound system will envelop the audience who will experience The Beatles music like never before ...
Apple Corps Ltd. is planning to release The LOVE album through EMI Music later this year.
Preview performances for LOVE begin June 2. The Gala Premiere will be held Friday, June 30, 2006. LOVE will be presented exclusively at The Mirage in Las Vegas. This joint artistic venture marks the first time that The Beatles company, Apple Corps Ltd., has agreed to a major theatrical partnership. The project was born out of a personal friendship and mutual admiration between the late George Harrison and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte.
Inspiration: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr.
Cirque du Soleil Creative Team:
Guy Laliberte - Guide, Show Concept Creator
Dominic Champagne - Director and Writer, Show Concept Creator
Gilles Ste-Croix - Director of Creation, Show Concept Creator
Chantal Tremblay - Associate Director of Creation
Jean Rabasse - Theatre and Set Designer
Philippe Guillotel - Costume Designer
Jonathan Deans - Sound Designer
Yves Aucoin - Lighting Designer
Francis Laporte - Video Projection Designer
Hansel Cereza and Dave St-Pierre - Choreographers
Guy St-Amour - Acrobatic & Rigging Designer
Daniel Cola - Acrobatic Performance Designer
Nathalie Gagne - Make-up Designer
Patricia Ruel - Props Designer
Michael Curry - Puppet Designer
Guest Creators:
Andre Simard - Aerial Acrobatic Designer
Alexis Martin - Dramaturge Consultant
Francois Perusse - Comic Audio-clips Designer
For Apple Corps Ltd.:
Sir George Martin - Music Director
Giles Martin - Music Director
Neil Aspinall - Executive Producer
TICKET PRICES:
*$150, $125, $99, $69
All preview performances* will be discounted 25 percent.
*Preview performances for LOVE begin June 2 and run through June 29. During these performances, the creative team is in the very final stages of production. The audience's reaction and participation is an important step in this process. The artistic direction of LOVE reserves the right to interrupt the performance to make adjustments as necessary.
SHOW SCHEDULE:
Preview performances will be presented nightly at 7:00pm. In addition, there will be 10:30pm performances on limited dates. Please consult the most current show schedule at www.cirquedusoleil.com. Schedule is subject to change without notice.
Following the preview period, LOVE will be performed Thursday through Monday with no shows on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Beginning July 1, there will be two shows nightly at 7:30pm & 10:30pm.
TO RESERVE TICKETS:
By phone: 702 792 7777 or 800 963 9634
Online: www.cirquedusoleil.com, www.thebeatles.com or www.mirage.com.
In person: At the LOVE box office at The Mirage or any of the MGM MIRAGE box offices in Las Vegas.
Ownership of the trademarks: Apple Corps Limited for The Beatles (word and design), Cirque du Soleil for Cirque du Soleil (word and design) and The Cirque Apple Creation Partnership for LOVE (word and design).Trademarks used under license.
Video: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/kirvindoak/24405
Source: Cirque du Soleil
Web site: http://www.thebeatles.com/
Web site: http://www.mirage.com/
Web site: http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/
'Looking for Stars' Winner Gets Key Role in Revolution Studios' Sci-Fi Thriller 'Next' Starring Nicolas Cage and Julianne Moore
Starz' 14-Episode Talent Search Micro-Series 'Looking for Stars' to Premiere Monday, June 19 at 8:50 p.m. (ET/PT)
A speaking role in Revolution Studios' upcoming action adventure movie "Next," starring Nicolas Cage and Julianne Moore, is the grand prize for the one talented winner of Starz' original reality micro-series "Looking for Stars," Starz Entertainment Group (SEG) and Revolution Studios announced today. The series will follow nearly two-hundred contestants from their first auditions through the appearance of the winner on the film set. "Looking for Stars" will premiere at 8:50 p.m. (ET/PT) Monday, June 19 on Starz, and continue through September.
The 14-episode micro-series is the first reality show of its kind: each episode is just 10-minutes long. It continues SEG's commitment to creating unconventional programming that provides entertainment on the Starz premium channel but is also perfectly suited for VOD, the Internet and portable players that are becoming increasingly popular.
Thousands of aspiring actors responded to Starz' casting call in January and vied for the 300 audition spots for the chance to be in a major motion picture. Auditions were held in New York, Las Vegas, Orlando and Kansas City, with only eight semi-finalists getting tickets to the finals in Hollywood. Original MTV VJ Alan Hunter and two local industry pros did the judging in each city. In the final, Hunter is joined by actor/director Melanie Mayron ("thirtysomething" and "The Baby-Sitters Club") and Revolution Studios executive Brad Sexton, who will make the ultimate decision of who will be cast in a speaking role* in "Next."
"In each city we were met by a multitude of diverse and unique individuals, many with talent, some just looking for a chance to realize their 15 minutes of fame," said Hunter. "Truly though this is the chance of a lifetime for the winner. To call it anything else would be to underestimate the power of this show."
The regional industry professionals who joined Hunter for the initial auditions for "Looking for Stars" include: Gawker.com editor Jessica Coen and Fox 5 reporter Naamua Delaney in New York City; KVBC News entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs, and former actor and Las Vegas Connection reporter Bart Torres in Las Vegas; sisters and co-owners of the Actors Info. Booth, Inc. Lisa and Laura Bunbury in Orlando; and actor/comedian Tidy Dillard, and The Agency talent agency owner Janis Kliethermes in Kansas City.
Revolution Studios' science fiction action thriller "Next" stars Academy Award(R) winner Nicolas Cage and Academy Award(R) nominee Julianne Moore, as well as Jessica Biel and is being directed by Lee Tamahori. It will be released domestically by Columbia Pictures in 2007.
Cage plays a man with the unique ability to see future events and affect their outcome. Relentlessly pursued by the FBI, which is seeking to use his abilities to prevent a global terrorist threat, he is ultimately faced with the daunting choice of saving the world or the woman he loves.
"Looking for Stars" is SEG's first foray into original serialized short-form programming and is sponsored by SEG in association with Revolution Studios. Encore episodes will air on Starz on the Sunday following each original episode and on Starz Edge on the Saturday following each original episode at 8:50 p.m. (ET/PT), plus it will be available to view on Starz On Demand and available for download on the new Vongo service. For more information visit the "Looking for Stars" webpage at www.starz.com/lookingforstars.
About Starz Entertainment Group
Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. SEG offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz(R) and Encore(R) brands with approximately 14.6 million and 26.4 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment Group airs more than 1,000 movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HDTV, Starz On Demand and Vongo(SM). Starz Entertainment Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation that is attributed to Liberty Capital Group, www.starz.com.
About Revolution Studios
Revolution Studios was formed by Joe Roth in May 2000, to independently produce and finance films in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Starz Entertainment Group and Fox Entertainment Group. In its fifth year of operations, Revolution Studios has released over thirty films, including "America's Sweethearts," "Black Hawk Down," "XXX," "Anger Management," "Daddy Day Care," "Hellboy," "13 Going on 30," "White Chicks," "The Forgotten," "Christmas with the Kranks," "Are We There Yet?" and "Rent."
* Appearance in film subject to final editing as determined by
Revolution Studios.
Source: Starz Entertainment Group LLC
Universal Studios Home Entertainment Announces: Exclusive Free Movie Ticket to See the Upcoming Action-Packed-Ride
'The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift' Inside
'The Fast and the Furious Franchise Collection' DVD
Two Supercharged Street Racing Films Combine for One Incredible Edge-of-Your Seat Ride on June 6, 2006
Start your engines for the summer and hang onto your seats for a nitro-boosted adrenaline rush with "The Fast and the Furious Franchise Collection" DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment on June 6, 2006. Just in time for action fans eagerly awaiting the national theatrical release of this summer's hot new film, "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," on June 16 from Universal Pictures, this special three-disc set includes a FREE movie ticket to see the upcoming film and an exclusive behind-the-scenes look. The DVD also includes the original smash hits "The Fast and The Furious" and "2 Fast 2 Furious" with all new deleted scenes from both films and a never-before-seen alternate ending from "The Fast and the Furious."
An extraordinary compilation ideal for fans of the edgy, fast-paced action, non-stop excitement and revved up car culture that has captured the imagination of audiences since the first film took the country by storm, The Fast and The Furious Franchise Collection is priced at $ 29.98 SRP.
ALL-NEW TURBO CHARGED BONUS MATERIALS
"The Fast and the Furious Franchise Collection" DVD is jam-packed bonus materials sure to appeal to fans of the franchise and provides the perfect way to get into the racing groove before seeing the new film.
* Peek Performance - An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at "The Fast And
The Furious: Tokyo Drift"
* Hot Off The Street - All-new extended scenes from "The Fast And The
Furious"
* More Than Furious - Never-before-seen alternate ending for "The Fast
And The Furious"
* Furious Afterburners - All New Extended Scenes from "2 Fast 2 Furious"
* Furious To The End - Original deleted and extended scenes from "The
Fast And The Furious" with optional commentary from director Rob Cohen.
The film that started the franchise, "The Fast and The Furious" stars Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto, a gang leader suspected of a string of multimillion-dollar truck hijackings, and Paul Walker as Brian O'Conner, an undercover cop infiltrating Los Angeles' street racing circuit in hopes of taking down Toretto. However, O'Conner doesn't count on falling for Toretto's sexy sister Mia (Jordana Brewster) in this suspenseful, road-ripping ride directed by Rob Cohen ("XXX") that features lightening-fast street racing scenes as custom machines careen through Los Angeles at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.
Paul Walker returns in "2 Fast 2 Furious" directed by veteran director John Singleton ("Four Brothers," "Boys in the 'Hood") in which O'Conner, stripped of his badge, relocates to Miami and takes on the local street racing circuit in an effort to jumpstart his career. Co-starring Tyrese Gibson ("Flight of the Phoenix"), Eva Mendes ("Hitch") and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges ("Crash"), "2 Fast 2 Furious" picks up the mayhem with more candy colored muscle cars and even higher speed chases than its predecessor, as O'Conner screeches down Miami streets in pursuit of a money-laundering drug lord. Featuring supercharged cars, jaw-dropping stunts and non-stop chases, "2 Fast 2 Furious" combines high-octane action with edge-of-your-seat suspense.
A perfect way to get into the groove for summer's escapist mode and to enjoy this summer's must-see hit, "The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift," the roar of the engines are beckoning on June 6 with the release of "The Fast and the Furious Franchise Collection."
SYNOPSIS
Inspired by a magazine article about real life street racers in Los Angeles, "The Fast and The Furious" and "2 Fast 2 Furious" centers on undercover police officer and speed demon Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker). The films feature fast women and faster cars hurtling down big city passageways in some of the most high-velocity racing sequences ever filmed as O'Conner's renegade exploits in the edgy and illicit world of street racing bring him face to face with dangerous speed freaks and alluring auto molls, tempting him to cross the line between cop and criminal.
CAST & FILMMAKERS
"The Fast and The Furious"
Director: Rob Cohen
Written By: Gary Scott Thompson, Erik Bergquist, David Ayer
Produced By: Neal H. Moritz
Director of Photography: Ericson Core
Production Designer: Waldemar Kalinowski
Edited By: Peter Honess
Costume Designer: Sanja Milkovic Hays
Original Music By: BT, Edsel Dope, Faith Evans, Irv Gotti, Hoobastank,
Edward Kowalczyk, J. Atkins, Saliva, Brian Tyler
Cast: Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Rick
Yune, Chad Lindberg
CAST & FILMMAKERS
"2 Fast 2 Furious"
Director: John Singleton
Written By: Gary Scott Thompson, Michael Brandt, Derek Haas
Produced By: Neal H. Moritz
Director of Photography: Matthew F. Leonetti
Production Designer: Keith Brian Burns
Edited By: Bruce Cannon, Dallas Puett
Costume Designer: Sanja Milkovic Hays
Original Music By: David Banner, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, David Arnold
Cast: Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Eva Mendes, Cole Hauser, Chris
"Ludacris" Bridges, Devon Aoki, James Remar
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD
Street Date: June 6, 2006
Copyright: 2006 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $29.98
Selection Number: 30381
Running Time: Films 3 hours, 25 minutes; Bonus Disc 42 minutes
Layers: DVD-9, DVD-5
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen (2:35:1)
Rating: Pg-13
Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround; DTS 5.1 Surround;
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround; French Dolby Digital
5.1 Surround; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles;
Dolby Digital 2.0
For artwork or screeners, please log on to our Web site at www.ushepublicity.com or fax your request to Universal Studios Home Entertainment Publicity at (818) 866-0226.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and Entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.
Blue Man Group Launches New Album Live at The Venetian - Las Vegas in June
Blue Man Group Records will release Live at The Venetian -- Las Vegas in June 2006, with the single and video for "Rods and Cones" available in advance of the full album. Inspired by music industry advancements in distribution, the critically acclaimed Blue Man Group will digitally release the new live recording of their ongoing Las Vegas production at The Venetian(R) Resort Hotel Casino on iTunes. Video and audio podcasts will also be available.
The digital distribution offers instant availability -- downloading the Vegas experience will be as easy as the click of a button. "As the music industry business model changes, we are excited about the expanding opportunities that online distribution provides," said Blue Man Group Records Sr. General Manager Seth Freed.
The Blue Man Group production at The Venetian in Las Vegas showcases the wildly popular Blue Man Group combining music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to create a totally unique form of entertainment -- designed for maximum emotional impact. According to Blue Man Group co-founder Chris Wink, "Our trademark has become the party atmosphere the show creates in its own quirky and wonderful way." Blue Man Group co-founders Wink, Matt Goldman, and Phil Stanton realized how the combination of the new custom-built theatre and state-of-the-art sound system at The Venetian present the Blue Men and band on a whole new performance level, and the goal of this recording is to offer the exuberant Blue Man Las Vegas experience to an audience beyond the Vegas strip.
Although Blue Man Group is best known for their crowd pleasing theatrical shows currently playing in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, London, Berlin and Toronto, they have also launched two full albums and scored various film and television projects. Live at The Venetian -- Las Vegas is their latest foray into the recording industry.
The Blue Man Group debut album, Audio, was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Pop Instrumental category in 2001, and has subsequently been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. The Complex, Blue Man Group's full fledged rock album, was released in 2003 and features collaborations with Dan the Automator, Tracy Bonham, Esthero, Josh Haden, Dave Matthews, Gavin Rossdale and others. Blue Man Group's The Complex Rock Tour reached nearly 100 cities across the United States and Canada. In 2004, Blue Man Group won critical praise for its first television score, providing the dramatic sound for Fox's "The Jury," as well as Intel's Pentium 3, Pentium 4, and Centrino television advertisements. Furthering their initiative into film scoring, Blue Man Group collaborated on the John Powell score of the 20th Century Fox 2005 hit animated motion picture and DVD, Robots. A new rock concert tour from Blue Man Group hits the road September 2006.
As the company grows, it remains true to its vision of providing exciting experiences in a variety of media, appealing to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds. More information can be found at http://www.blueman.com/ .
Source: Blue Man Group Records
New Solomon Says Computer Game Lets Families Crown Their Own 'King of Bible Trivia'
Zany New Title from Digital Praise and Cloud 9 Games Puts Players to the Test, Matching Wits With King Solomon in TV Game Show Format
Cloud 9 Games, Inc. and publisher Digital Praise Inc., a leader in Christian themed, family-friendly entertainment software, today announced the retail availability of Solomon Says Bible Trivia: Volume One - Anything Goes, an exciting, wacky new computer game that lets players of all ages test their mettle in Bible trivia. A refreshingly original combination of entertainment and education, Solomon Says, developed by Cloud 9 Games of Austin, Texas, puts players in the middle of a game show where knowledge is "king" -- and winning is just a laugh away.
Solomon Says Bible Trivia: Volume One - Anything Goes is ideal for individuals, families, church groups or parties. Players have to be quick: points are earned not just for right answers, but also for fast responses. Hosted by King Solomon himself, Solomon Says includes over 500 Bible trivia questions. Three degrees of difficulty -- easy, medium and hard -- allow players of all ages and knowledge to play at their appropriate level. Players can also use the Solomon Slam Daddy Point Multiplier to double, triple, even quadruple points earned (or lost) on a question, allowing scores to change rapidly.
Adding to the fun is the game's support for Digital Praise's Dance Praise dance pad, enabling players to learn about the Bible using their whole body instead of just their fingers. Individual players -- or players representing their team -- must press the buzzer first by stomping on the appropriate dance pad arrow before their opponents do. The dance pad interface is a wonderful enhancement for use at parties or youth group gatherings.
"Solomon Says is a totally charming way to learn about the Bible. Scripture has never been so much fun," said Curtis Ratica, president of Cloud 9 Games, the developer of the product. "There has never been a game like this on the market before. Its appeal among families, youth groups and Bible study groups lies in its disarmingly humorous style. Before you're even aware of it, you're laughing, scoring points and most importantly, increasing your knowledge of the people, facts, and teachings of the Bible."
Five Categories
Solomon Says lets one, two, or three players or teams of players to compete. Each player chooses an onscreen character with accompanying voice that provides silly commentary as the game unfolds. As players improve their knowledge and raise their game scores, additional characters are revealed to provide a new spark to the ongoing fun.
Actual trivia questions are built around five major categories -- Anything Goes, Food & Wine, Signs & Wonders, Old Testament, and New Testament. As soon as a question is asked, players have to answer quickly to score maximum points. In multi-player format, players must hit their buzzer key first to earn the right to answer the question.
"Solomon Says" is presented in a retro TV game show format with sound effects, music and crowd noises. King Solomon, as the MC, keeps the action both lively and hilarious.
"Solomon Says Volume One - Anything Goes is a natural for Digital Praise because it makes learning about the Bible fun. The freshness of the game is what makes it so appealing," said Tom Bean, president and CEO of Digital Praise. "Win or lose, the format of Solomon Says ensures everyone has a great time."
Pricing, Availability
Solomon Says Volume One - Anything Goes, produced by Cloud 9 Games and published by Digital Praise, is priced at $24.95. The game, suitable for both Windows (98 and later) and Macintosh (OS X) computers, is now available. Later this year, Cloud 9 Games and Digital Praise anticipate releasing additional versions of Solomon Says, including one appropriate for children aged 5 to 8 that features animals of the Bible. For more about Solomon Says, visit http://www.digitalpraise.com/ .
About Cloud 9 Games, Inc.:
Cloud 9 Games, Inc. strives to become one of the world's premiere Christian game developers, bringing quality software entertainment for people of all ages to enjoy. Its first title, "Solomon Says - Anything Goes Bible Trivia," is a hilarious PC game that tests Bible knowledge while providing an entertaining way to learn more about Bible scripture. Future plans include a range of mainstream console games as well as more computer games. More information can be found at http://www.cloud9games.com/ .
About Digital Praise Inc.:
Digital Praise is an independent developer and publisher of family- friendly entertainment software for personal computers. The company produces and publishes faith-based and mainstream titles for families looking to enjoy interactive entertainment software with principled character-building themes and "just good clean fun." Digital Praise products have achieved top recognition from leading children's gaming and advocacy groups including Parent's Choice, iParenting Media, the National Parenting Center, The Dove Foundation, Dr. Toy and Plain Games. For more information, visit http://www.digitalpraise.com/ .
Solomon Says is a trademark of Cloud 9 Games. Digital Praise is a trademark of Digital Praise, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
Source: Digital Praise Inc.
Web site: http://www.digitalpraise.com/
http://www.cloud9games.com/
From 'A Star Is Born' to 'Popeye' - DRAMA.TV and TOON.TV Launch on the Web Without Commercials, Downloads, Subscriptions, or Waiting
Corporate media giants are not the only contenders putting vintage and original programs on the quickly evolving content-driven Internet. Jacques Rosas and Eric Steding, New York City-based design, production and programming entrepreneurs, are launching classic films, TV series and cartoons at new entertainment websites/channels DRAMA.TV and TOON.TV under the banner of SHOPSTUDIOS.TV. The sites -- stop, pause and resume streaming content with no time or memory-consuming downloads -- are completely free without commercials, subscriptions or sign-up.
"We are in the midst of a content boom that is opening up an entire new world of free access to film and TV content on the Internet," said Jacques Rosas, CEO of Shop Studios Network. "This is an intensely creative time where the capacity to put together media content from huge film and TV libraries is now a reality for small entrepreneurial companies. We think of ourselves as a web lab that is upending the old definition of a network, while also allowing us to experiment with new types of original programming."
Current SHOPSTUDIOS.TV channels include DRAMA.TV, which features classic films such as "A Star Is Born" (starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March) and "The Perils of Pauline" (starring Betty Hutton) and the classic TV series "Bonanza," and TOON.TV, which has the popular animated "Popeye" series and classic Mel-O-Toon cartoons.
Rosas, with partner Eric Steding, will be adding new movies and TV shows on a weekly basis. News reports with Rosas as on-air host and producer are in the works for two of SHOPSTUDIOS.TV's other channels, WEBISODE.TV and ALLGOODNEWS.TV, already up and running.
Also in development is FOODREVIEW.TV which will feature restaurant reviews, recipes and food product announcements. Rosas and Steding are planning shopping destinations on the SHOPSTUDIOS.TV network that will sell gifts, furniture, fashion, food, linens and kitchen and bath accessories. The concept is a virtual mall experience -- after watching classic films users can browse through a shopping section much like they would after attending a movie house in their local mall. They plan to keep the network free of advertising.
Jacques Rosas and Eric Steding are partners in Shop Studios Network, their film, video, design and production company founded in 1997 with studios in midtown Manhattan. They are world famous for their expertise in new product launches with an array of Fortune 500 companies relying on them to put their products in the best light for coverage by national magazines, newspapers and television shows, with clients including Proctor and Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Starbucks, Sony, General Electric, Viacom, Colgate Palmolive, Coach and Home Depot, among others. The company is also known globally for the design of major exhibitions for the United Nations, UNICEF and the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Web site: http://www.shopstudios.tv/
The Future of Online Entertainment Has Arrived
Utherverse Corporation Announces Today That It Has Launched a 3D Virtual Overlay to the Internet, and Has Invited the Public to Try It for Free
Utherverse, Inc., a NextGen web entertainment company, announced today that it is giving away a software package online, that provides users with free access to an adult-oriented world. Rather than surfing around the web to go from one site to another, users customize their own animated character "avatar" which they use to explore this commercial-free universe.
Just as the Internet's success largely began with adult entertainment, the first of many intended 3D cities is RedLightCenter .com, which opened in May, 2006. Patterned after the famous Red Light District in Amsterdam, RedLightCenter .com is a community of open minded adults who are real people from across the globe. Although Utherverse operates the software, all the businesses that populate the city are independently owned and operated.
"We are excited to be offering some of the most unique business opportunities since the early days of the Internet," said Brian Shuster, CEO of Utherverse, Inc., and considered to be one of the founding fathers of adult entertainment on the web. "Utherverse is joining forces with entrepreneurs from every conceivable area, which is allowing us to continue to expand our offerings to users. Companies are already realizing that getting a good location within RedLightCenter .com is the equivalent of grabbing a great domain name 15 years ago."
Ray Schwartz, President of Utherverse, Inc., said, "This is the Internet's most incredible social experience for adults. Women and men can live out any of their fantasies in a completely safe and empowering environment. After all, who wouldn't want to be able to socialize with beautiful real people who are there to have a great time, without having to put yourself together or fight traffic."
ABOUT REDLIGHTCENTER .COM:
RedLightCenter .com is the world's most sophisticated and advanced adult virtual reality universe. More than ten-thousand users already use the free software regularly to meet each other, chat, dance and party within virtual nightclubs, hotels, and even a brothel.
Just like a real city, RedLightCenter .com offers users a wide range of virtual reality attractions such as live shows in theaters, live bands in concert halls, erotic story readings, movies, shopping, art galleries and a host of other events.
For more information, please see http://www.redlightcenter/ .com
16x9 Inc. Introduces TurtleX for Lightweight DV Camcorders
16x9 Inc. introduces TurtleX from Easyrig, the new portable camera support designed especially for DV and HDV camcorders weighing up to 10 lbs (3kg).
Employing an overhead support arm, back support bar and hip belt, the ergonomically designed TurtleX transfers static load from the arms and shoulder muscles down to the hips, where it is more easily supported. The system also provides lightweight camcorders with extra stability for steadier shots, while at the same time offering the speed and mobility of a handheld camera.
The TurtleX new integral backpack features a segmented cushioned interior for carrying and protecting the camera, batteries and all necessary accessories. Roomy exterior pockets provide additional storage space for extra equipment such as microphones.
Assembly and breakdown of the TurtleX is fast and hassle free. The lightweight support arm simply detaches and folds for easy storage in the system backpack.
TurtleX is available exclusively in the U.S. through 16x9 Inc. For a limited time, 16x9 Inc. is offering the TurtleX at the special introductory price of $1175.00 (Suggested U.S. List Price is $1385). For further information, contact 16x9 Inc., 28314 Constellation Rd., Valencia, CA 91355
JADOO POWER TO PARTICIPATE AT 34TH ANNUAL
COWEN TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
Panel To Discuss Portable Fuel Cells: Are They Ready To Market Now?
Jadoo Power Systems Inc. (Jadoo) www.jadoopower.com, the leading supplier of portable fuel cell power systems, announced today that Larry Bawden, Chief Executive Officer and President, will participate on a discussion panel at the 34th Annual Cowen Technology Conference on May 31, 2006 at 11:00am EST. This event will be held at the New York Palace Hotel in New York City, 455 Madison Avenue.
The Cowen Technology Conference will assemble more than 200 of the most dynamic technology companies focused on topics, such as: “Rebalancing the US Energy Portfolio,” “Offshore Outsourcing,” and “Investment Opportunities in Alternative Energy.”
Jadoo Power -- Leader in Portable Fuel Cell Shipments
As the leader in fuel cell shipments to the portable market for over two years, Jadoo plans to answer questions on the challenges of bringing commercialized fuel cell technology to market and delivering modular, mission-critical “off-grid” power solutions to various markets, such as First Responders, Portable Office users, and Professional Broadcasters.
About Jadoo Power Systems
www.jadoopower.com
Jadoo Power Systems, Inc. is a market-focused company that develops and sells next-generation, portable energy storage and power generation products. Jadoo is financed by Mohr Davidow Ventures, Venrock Associates and Sinclair Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
For more information about Jadoo Power Systems, please contact:
Jadoo Power Systems, 181 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom, CA 956030
Dixie Chicks, Pretenders, David Gilmour and Rob Thomas Headline XM Satellite Radio's New Season of Exclusive Music Programming
Summer Schedule Also Includes New Original XM Series 'OFFSTAGE,' Featuring Celebrated Artists Behind the Mic as DJ
Just in time for summer, XM Satellite Radio announced today the Dixie Chicks, Pretenders, David Gilmour and Rob Thomas will be among the artists featured during the new season of XM's original music programming, along with many other celebrated stars of rock, pop, country, hip-hop and classical music. Beginning in June, XM music fans will hear fresh installments of the popular original XM series "Artist Confidential" and "Artist 2 Artist," as well as "Offstage," the latest addition to XM's original programming lineup.
The Dixie Chicks' episode of "Artist Confidential" premieres Monday, June 19 at 9 pm ET on XM's country hits channel, Highway 16 (XM 16), and fans of The Pretenders can catch their "Artist Confidential" episode on Monday, August 7 at 6 pm ET on The 80s channel (XM 8). Encore broadcasts of both episodes will air on additional XM channels during the summer.
Hosted by XM's George Taylor Morris, "Artist Confidential" features live performances and candid, one-on-one interviews with celebrated artists who reveal rare insights on their lives and art before an audience of fans and friends at XM's state-of-the-art Performance Theaters in Washington, D.C. and New York City. The summer season of "Artist Confidential" also will feature Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, The Cars, The Doobie Brothers, INXS, Steven Stills of Crosby, Stills and Nash, and the first-ever "Artist Confidential" to be broadcast in 5.1 surround sound, featuring Alan Parsons.
In addition to "Artist Confidential," XM will premiere a new installment of "Artist 2 Artist," the original bi-monthly XM series in which emerging stars interview their personal music legends about their life as an artist. The new episode features rising pop star Anna Nalick interviewing Rob Thomas and will premiere Monday, July 10 at 6 p.m. ET on Flight 26 (XM 26), XM's commercial-free channel for pop hits from the 90s.
Also premiering this summer is XM's newest original music series, "Offstage." Each month "Offstage" hands over the microphone and XM's vast music library to a well-known artist to play the music they want and speak their mind. A new episode of "Offstage" will premiere each month, with encores airing throughout the following weeks. To kick off this new series Joe Elliot and Phil Collen of Def Leppard will serve as the first "Offstage" hosts on XM's dedicated 80's hard rock channel, Boneyard (XM 41) premiering Monday, June 5 at 7 p.m. ET.
Future episodes of "Offstage" will be hosted by a variety of rock and hip- hop icons, including Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Ray Davies of The Kinks, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Greg Allman, Joe Walsh of The Eagles, and others.
Complete scheduling information for XM's original music programming, including air dates, times and channels for the summer seasons of "Artist Confidential," "Artist 2 Artist," and "Offstage" is available online at http://www.xmradio.com/exclusivemusic.
About XM Satellite Radio
XM (NASDAQ:XMSR) is America's number one satellite radio service with more than 6.5 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM's 2006 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: the most commercial-free music channels, sports, talk, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.
XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan and Volkswagen/Audi, is available in more than 140 different vehicle models for 2006. XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com/.
Web site: http://www.xmradio.com/
Quick-start, Long-play Internet Television Arrives with Zattoo P2P IPTV
Zattoo to Stream World Cup Soccer as Part of Swiss Channel Lineup in June 2006; Free Offering to be Expanded to 60 Major Channels in July 2006
To date, television on the Internet hasn't been like television at all; video streams tend to skip, stutter and break, image quality is low, and very little content is live. That's about to change. Making its worldwide debut at Streaming Media East in New York City, Zattoo today unveiled a groundbreaking new peer-to-peer IPTV service that makes live, quick-start, long-play Internet Television a reality for broadband users, broadcasters, content owners and advertisers.
The first Zattoo P2P IPTV broadcasts begin in Switzerland with the availability of every action-packed minute of the 2006 soccer world championship (known globally as the FIFA World Cup(TM)), streamed live to Swiss viewers starting with the first match in June and culminating with the championship match on July 9, 2006.
"Advances in broadband, video compression, and multicast streaming technology are rapidly lowering the technical hurdles for Internet and television to merge on a PC. However, there is still the matter of cost. Our streaming network solves that problem by reducing broadcasters' costs by a factor of ten, making it compelling for them to switch to our technology and broaden their service offering," said Sugih Jamin, CTO and co-founder of Zattoo. "Also, Zattoo's proprietary P2P streaming technology ensures a video delivery and smoothness that has until now been impossible to achieve."
Developed by leading researchers and software engineers from University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), Zattoo offers a DRM-secure, commercial peer-to-peer network optimized for streaming video that is uniquely capable of serving the needs of consumers, broadcasters, content owners and advertisers.
-- Consumers are able to watch an array of major television channels in
one browser, find specialty content often not available elsewhere and
achieve portability and privacy unique to the personal computer
-- Broadcasters achieve improved targeting with a 10X increase in audience
scalability and vastly reduced streaming infrastructure costs
-- Content owners are assured against piracy because no part of the
encrypted video stream is stored on the network, and because Zattoo's
P2P technology allows for geographic targeting of users
-- Advertisers benefit from Zattoo's closed-loop model, which combines the
best attributes of web-based (banner and targeted-text) advertising
methods with the proven effectiveness of TV-style video spots
"End users are tired of islands of content. They want a single place to go where they can switch channels as easily as pressing channel up and down on their current TV remote," said Beat Knecht, CEO and co-founder of Zattoo. "Zattoo offers such a single point of access to the widest variety of content, delivered with the highest possible quality and reliability. Users may watch news at work, educational programs at school, or movies in the privacy of their room, all without set top box, as long as they have broadband access."
Consumers
Zattoo addresses the unique demands and offers specific benefits to all four types of television viewers: loyals, passive absorbers, active selectors and ad-hoc surfers.
-- Loyals always tune in to the same channel or show, and want a simple,
reliable way to access their favorite content
-- Passive absorbers expect to find something interesting whenever they
tune in, and do not like having to make choices every few minutes;
often, they engage in "media-multitasking," where they switch on the
fly between TV watching and writing email or other online activities
-- Active selectors invest time in finding out what they want to watch, so
their implied valuation of the content is higher; active selectors
therefore expect a high-quality viewing experience
-- Ad-hoc surfers enjoy a wide variety of content, frequently switch
channels in search of something "more interesting," valuing variety of
content and channel-switching speed
Broadcasters
Zattoo provides six specific benefits to broadcasters: increased stickiness, improved targeting, archive leverage, cost-effectiveness, better scalability and greater reliability.
-- Zattoo enriches the user experience by integrating compelling
multimedia elements, thus making the Zattoo experience stickier than
traditional TV
-- With the flexibility of Zattoo, broadcasters will improve targeting of
content because they will have no limitation on the number of channels
they can build
-- Zattoo also allows for the creation of special archive channels,
opening the opportunity to leverage large archives of content popular
with particular audiences
-- Zattoo increases cost-effectiveness by shifting network and server
costs to viewers with peer-to-peer technology; every user re-transmits
the stream to one (or more) other user
-- Broadcasters will achieve greater scalability because every new user
added to the network will be partially served by peer viewers and will
also act as a second-tier server for other peers; the cost of adding
new viewers will remain consistently low no matter how many new viewers
join a stream
-- With every peer serving partial streams, delivery becomes more reliable
because when a peer-serving a stream goes down, another peer watching
the same stream can take over his place and serve that stream to
whomever the first peer was serving
Content owners
Zattoo provides a completely legal, DRM-secure platform from which content owners may reach users without fear of piracy because Zattoo ensures that:
-- Streams are protected by encryption
-- Streams cannot be copied as no copy of the stream is stored on the
network
-- Streams cannot be retransmitted as sources would not be authenticated
Advertisers
Zattoo enables advertisers to leverage the most successful Web-based advertising methods in combination with the best attributes of broadcast television "spots" by supporting banner ads, targeted text ads and video clips. There are three major benefits with using these formats:
-- Each method provides a known and understood value proposition
-- Advertisers understand the inherent strengths and weaknesses of each
and can make an educated investment to reach specific audiences
-- Existing advertisements can be sourced from ad specialists and
integrated without modification, leveraging de facto industry standards
Following the June 2006 launch, Zattoo will unveil its P2P IPTV offerings throughout Europe and eventually also in Asia. Later, events such as sports, fashion, or music will be streamed in North America based on the proven success in Europe.
About Zattoo:
Zattoo acquires, transports and presents quick-start, long-play streaming video in one browser for all channels for broadband users anywhere. Zattoo is the only provider of P2P IPTV that provides users with diverse and desired content of the highest possible video quality in one browser, while dramatically reducing cost and increasing reach for broadcasters, and enabling advertisers to leverage the best aspects of both web-based and traditional television advertising methods. Zattoo partners with broadcasters and advertisers to serve consumers with a wide selection of content from various sources in one, easy-to-use web interface. Zattoo is built around a state-of- the-art peer-to-peer streaming platform developed by leading technologists at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Zattoo is based in San Francisco, CA, and maintains offices in Ann Arbor, MI and Zurich, Switzerland.
Web site: http://www.zattoo.com/
Dinosaur Duels Come to the Nintendo DS(TM) as Majesco Entertainment Ships 'Dino Master'
Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ:COOL) , an innovative provider of digital entertainment products and content with a focus on video game publishing for portable systems, today announced it has shipped Dino Master for the Nintendo DS(TM).
"Dino Master offers gamers the ability to unearth fossils, reassemble them and pit their finds against either other in battle," said Ken Gold, vice president of Marketing. "It is the ideal game for dinosaur fans and handheld gamers looking for great value."
Majesco's new Dino Master drops players into the role of Dave the Digger as he hunts for the best dinosaur fossils in 35 locations around the globe. Once the fossils are excavated, players can bring them back to the laboratory to rebuild them for battle against the computer or a friend via wireless link. Dino Master includes 100 real species of dinosaurs that have different fighting techniques for use in the ultimate prehistoric battle.
Developed by Create Office for the Nintendo DS and rated 'E' for Everyone, Dino Master is now available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $19.99. Additional information about the company's product line-up can be found online at
http://www.majescoentertainment.com/.
.About Majesco Entertainment Company
Headquartered in Edison, NJ, Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ:COOL) is an innovative provider of digital entertainment products and content, with a focus on publishing videogames for leading portable systems such as the PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, Nintendo DS(TM) and Game Boy(R) Advance. Current product line highlights include Age of Empires: The Age of Kings(R) for the Nintendo DS(TM), Guilty Gear Judgment for the PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system and JAWS(TM) Unleashed, as well as digital entertainment products like Frogger(R) TV Arcade. Majesco now offers Game Boy(R) Advance Video versions of the beloved DreamWorks Animation movies Shrek, Shrek 2 and Shark Tale. More information about Majesco can be found online at http://www.majescoentertainment.com/.
Source: Majesco Entertainment Company
Web site: http://www.majescogames.com
The Monkey Goes Mobile!: GOSUB 60 Inks Deal with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group to Release Curious George Games for Wireless
GOSUB 60, creator and global publisher of mobile entertainment, announced it has signed a deal with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group to develop Curious George titles for the cell phone.
The mobile space is not the only frontier that George is poised to discover, as hot on the heels of his successful big screen debut, Curious George swings onto television. Imagine Entertainment, WGBH Boston, and Universal Studios Home Entertainment Family Productions, with the support of Curious George publisher Houghton Mifflin, are bringing the insatiably curious monkey to PBS KIDS, beginning Labor Day, Monday, September 4 (check local listings).
"Universal is excited to have this property go wireless," said Jeremy Laws, Senior Vice President of Universal Mobile Entertainment. "We're launching a slate of Curious George initiatives this year, including the feature film, animated series, toys, apparel, and DVDs. Reaching our customer in the mobile space is key to achieving full market penetration and keeping the brand top-of-mind. We're pleased to be partnering with GOSUB 60, not only for their strong carrier relationships and proven ability to create best-of-class products, but also because they really understand the Curious George brand."
Josh Hartwell, CEO of GS60, notes, "We couldn't ask for a better character than Curious George to leap into what we believe is the next big mobile market: children's entertainment. Just as we recognized early on the demand for casual games and published Solitaire Deluxe(TM) to huge success, so, too, do we see the children's market poised to take off. With Curious George appealing strongly to both the Mommy-Customer and Child-User, we anticipate a tremendous opportunity to publish great titles for the pass-back market."
Analyst group IDC reports that Electronic Babysitting products are "a potentially strong value proposition for wireless" and "developing wireless content and applications aimed at young children and their parents is a natural progression of the evolution of wireless."
The agreement between Universal Studios Consumer Products Group and GS60 is a multi-product, multi-year arrangement covering all mobile applications. The first title slated for release is "Curious George's Day Out," an activity center with nine mini-games, available on U.S. carriers beginning October 1, 2006. Prices will vary, with subscriptions beginning at $2.99 and unlimited use downloads at $5.99.
About the Curious George television series
Imagine Entertainment, WGBH Boston and Universal Studios Home Entertainment Family Productions (USHEFP) are producing an animated Curious George preschool television series based on the literary classic. The series airs Monday through Friday on PBS KIDS starting September 4, 2006. Curious George will use George's insatiable curiosity as a way of acquainting preschoolers with key concepts in math, science and engineering. The series will encourage inquiry and curiosity, promote hands-on exploration, and show parents and caregivers how to support children's science and math-related play. George's memorable (mis-)adventures - from dismantling clocks to rounding up errant bunnies - will offer a perfect vehicle for motivating kids to expand their own investigations of the world. William H. Macy will narrate the series.
About Universal Studios Consumer Products Group
Universal Studios Consumer Products Group (USCPG) is responsible for global licensing and retail strategies as well as building brand recognition of the extensive catalogue of NBC Universal properties. Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is a unit of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80 percent owned by General Electric and 20 percent owned by Vivendi.
About GOSUB 60
GOSUB 60 focuses on "Gateway" games: familiar software delivered with the high-quality and intuitive controls necessary to turn wireless callers into wireless game-players.
GS60's titles are available on Cingular, Sprint, Alltel, Nextel and dozens of other carriers in more than 20 countries.
Web site: http://gosub60.com/
DIGITAL FOCI INTRODUCES PICTURE PORTER
Picture Porter Digital Photo Album Securely Saves Photos on the Road
Digital Photo Album Securely Saves Photos on the Roadon 20GB & 40GB Portable Hard Drives without Heavy Laptop
Keep on Snapping Photos - Never Run Out of Memory Card Space Again
Digital Foci, Inc. (www.digitalfoci.com) introduced today Picture Porter portable digital photo album with hard drive and card reader that lets you instantly and securely save and view digital photos and video on a hard drive wherever you go, so you can keep snapping away and not worry about running out of memory card space.
Especially valuable for vacations, trade shows, special events, parties, and for pro photographers who take and show a large number of photos, Picture Porter saves photos on its compact portable hard drive, so you don’t have to bring heavy laptops on the road. Picture Porter takes the worry out of losing precious photos stored on easily damaged memory cards. Its built-in memory card slots let you copy and archive photos directly from any digital camera card, without the need of cumbersome cabling. With Picture Porters’ compact 20GB and 40GB hard drive versions, you’ll virtually never run out of memory card space on the road again.
Portable Digital Photo Album
With its high-capacity hard drive, you can now carry your collection of digital photos and video with you all the time right in your pocket and view them anywhere you go on Picture Porter’s bright 2" color LCD screen. With Picture Porter, you can rotate, zoom, pan your pictures, view EXIF information, and play picture slideshows for friends. You can even connect Picture Porter to a TV and share your photos and music with family and friends on a big screen in the comfort of your living room.
Works with All Media Formats
Picture Porter works with all media card formats, including CF I/II, MD, SM, MMC, SD Card, miniSD, xD-Picture Card, Memory Stick, MS PRO, MS Duo, and MS PRO Duo, so you can copy and save your precious pictures directly from any digital camera memory card. You can also make yourself copies of photos taken from friend’s and family member’s digital cameras by quickly inserting their cards into Picture Porter for instant archival of special picture moments.
MP3 Player & Data Bridge
Picture Porter is also perfect as a portable MP3 and video player -- keep your entire content collection in one place for easy access. Bi-directional data transfer lets you copy files directly from any memory card to the Picture Porter hard drive and vice versa. In addition, you can easily transfer files to and from your computer and between computers with different operating systems through its high-speed USB 2 connection.
Picture Porter Features:
1. Photo and video player
2. MP3 music player
3. Archives files
4. Color LCD screen for viewing pictures and videos
5. Bi-directional data transfer that allows direct transfer to and from memory cards
6. Output to TV
7. Directly reads & writes from memory cards
8. Memory card format support of CF I/II, MD, SM, MMC, SD Card, miniSD, Memory Stick, MS PRO, MS Duo, and MS PRO Duo, and xD-Picture Card
9. Image format support of JPEG, Tiff, BMP, RAW
10. Music format support of MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV
11. Video format support of MPEG1, MPEG4, and DivX 5.x
12. Includes Ulead Video Toolbox 2 to edit video clips, create slideshows and convert video files
13. Transfers files between multiple computers running different operating systems
Compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems, Picture Porter is compact and light-weight weighing only 8.6 oz (with hard drive and battery included) with dimensions of 5.2" (L) x 2.8" (W) x 1.2" (H). It comes in 2 stylish colors: frosted white and graphite and 2 storage capacities: 20GB and 40GB. Picture Porter comes complete with Ulead management software (normally a $70 value), USB cable, video/audio cable, earphones, AC adapter, Lithium-Ion battery for 3.5 hours of video and 7.5 hours of music, remote control, carrying case, and user’s guide. It is available immediately at Digital Foci’s online store at www.digitalfoci.com starting at $359.
For more information, see the site: www.digitalfoci.com.
About Digital Foci
Digital Foci helps consumers manage and enjoy their digital content collection easily. The company enhances people’s lives by allowing them to seamlessly move digital photos, video, and music from one place to another. With Digital Foci products, consumers are able to enjoy any of their digital content on any device without ever worrying about format compatibility. Digital Foci products include digital picture frames, photo displays, storage devices, and card readers for transfer, storage, and management optimized for any setting where you choose to enjoy your digital content.
Digital Foci (pronounced "foe-sigh") is the plural form of the word "focus" and symbolizes the many distinct points where light and sound converge and diverge. It is at these digital focus points, or foci, where you view and share your digital pictures, watch your digital video, listen to your digital music, and access your digital files.
* RAW Image Formats Supported :
Canon: 1Ds Mark-II, 1Ds, 1D-II, 1D, 20D, 10D, 300D (Digital Rebel, Kiss Digital), D30, Power Shot G1/G2/G3/G5
1Ds Mark-II, 1Ds, 1D-II, 1D, 20D, 10D, 300D (Digital Rebel, Kiss Digital), D30, Power Shot G1/G2/G3/G5Nikon: D100, D70, D1X, D1H, D1
D100, D70, D1X, D1H, D1Kodak: DSC Pro SLR/c, DSC Pro SLR/n, DSC Pro 14n
DSC Pro SLR/c, DSC Pro SLR/n, DSC Pro 14nFujifilm: S2 Pro
S2 ProOlympus: E-1
E-1Minolta: A1, A2, DYNAX D7
A1, A2, DYNAX D7Pentax: istDS
istDSGemplus and Actimagine to Collaborate on Rich Multimedia Content on Multimedia SIM
Actimagine announced today its collaboration with Gemplus to develop video content on high density Multimedia SIM cards. Introduced at the last 3GSM, Actimagine and Gemplus then demonstrated how a full-length movie could be stored and played back from a 128MB SIM card.
The Gemplus Multimedia SIM brings value to mobile operators and to their customers by improving and facilitating use of multimedia, notably allowing management of mobile services directly from the SIM card as well as storage and management of all multimedia contents and personal data on the SIM. 128MB and 256MB SIM cards are available.
Actimagine's codec, Mobiclip, offers the best video quality on mobile handsets. Full-length movies, video clips and other contents, playing up to 30 frames per second, can be now stored on 128MB and 256MB SIM cards offered by Gemplus.
Already adopted by major manufacturers and content publishers, Mobiclip, while displaying full screen, high quality video, uses little CPU power thus substantially extending the battery life of the mobile handsets. The extended battery lifetime provided by Actimagine's power-efficient video codec avoids the trade-off between communication and multimedia usage of the phone itself. Users can now enjoy contents for several hours and still give and receive phone calls. Contents can be pre-loaded on the SIM card or downloaded / streamed over the air, depending on their size.
" [...] the combination of Mobiclip and Gemplus' Multimedia SIM creates significant business opportunities for mobile carriers. Bringing to the market very high quality video will help carriers increase their subscribers' base, data traffic and ARPU through content sales, promotional activity and market segmentation." says André PAGNAC, Actimagine's CEO.
About Actimagine
Actimagine pushes the boundaries of video on mobile. Actimagine licenses Mobiclip(TM), its new patented power-efficient software video codec. Mobiclip delivers better video quality while reducing power consumption. It has already been endorsed by major content studios to deliver full-length, full-screen, 30 frames per second movies on 128MB. With Mobiclip, standard batteries allow more than 7 hours of video playback. Actimagine's Headquarter is located in Paris, France. The company has overseas branches in Tokyo and Singapore. Customer references include Nintendo Co., Ltd, Sony Pictures Digital or Fisher Price.
www.actimagine.com
www.mobiclip.com
Source: Actimagine
AT&T and Disney-Pixar Bring 'Cars' Excitement to Summer Movie-Goers Through Latest Tie-In Promotion :Co-Branded Site Invites Consumers to Download Audio Tracks and 'Cars' Characters, Linking Consumers to Best AT&T Deals and Bundle Offers for Maximum Savings
:Revving up its entertainment platform, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced a marketing relationship with Disney-Pixar to jointly promote the June 9 theatrical release of Disney- Pixar's "Cars." The animated movie, featuring a cast of comedic and offbeat automobiles, gives consumers more opportunities for interacting with the most anticipated family movie stars of the summer.
"Cars" is a fast-paced comedy adventure set inside the world of automobiles. Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson), a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. En route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town's offbeat characters - including Doc Hudson (a 1951 Hudson Hornet with a mysterious past, voiced by Paul Newman), Sally (a snazzy 2002 Porsche, voiced by Bonnie Hunt), and Mater (a rusty, but trusty, tow truck, voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) - who help him realize that there are more important things than trophies, fame and sponsorship.
"The animation team behind 'Cars' knows how to propel its movie characters into the pop-culture landscape so that the names and personalities instantly capture the attention of a very wide consumer base," said Scott Helbing, chief marketing officer, AT&T Consumer. "Also, by creatively linking our brand and products to the fresh, fun characters of this movie, we're helping to strengthen our position as a communications and entertainment company."
Under the marketing relationship, AT&T will call attention to current AT&T offers, when purchased online and when bundled, for AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet, local and long distance, Cingular Wireless and AT&T | DISH Network services through a dynamic co-branded site, which are available at http://att.com/cars .
Visitors to the site have the chance to race the movie's car characters down a stretch of highway reminiscent of Route 66 while dodging obstacles including mud slicks, rolling tires, construction barriers and other cars. Players are also required to manage their car's performance to account for simulated losses in tire pressure and gas consumption correlating with higher speeds. The number and type of obstacles and the frequency of required pit stops increase through three difficulty tiers.
Site visitors can also customize rock, country, jazz and Latin-inspired tunes for downloading in a special audio lab created for AT&T by Disney. Visitors can also download "Cars" desktop graphics.
AT&T will promote the "Cars" campaign with mass media radio, direct mail and broadcast support - including Pixar-animated television ads that tout AT&T High Speed Internet and AT&T bundles - as well as with online and retail communications.
"We are very excited to continue our winning relationship with AT&T, which began with the highly successful campaign for 'The Incredibles,'" said Brett Dicker, executive vice president of Buena Vista Pictures. "We believe that AT&T's original and inventive marketing campaign will help us to introduce the exciting world of 'Cars' to new audiences everywhere."
The "Cars" relationship is driven by AT&T's brand promise to deliver its customers' entertainment passions - whether film, music, sports or gaming - and builds on a growing portfolio of movie sponsorships that has included Disney-Pixar's "The Incredibles" and 20th Century Fox' "Fantastic Four."
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. is one of the world's largest telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high speed DSL Internet, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with 55.8 million wireless customers. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at http://www.att.com/ .
Subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. provide products and services under the AT&T brand.
Source: AT&T Inc.
Web site: http://www.att.com/
http://att.com/cars
One Hundred Million Mobile VOIP Users in 2011
As more consumers carry their iPods with them everywhere, they are hoping Apple will add WiFi and VOIP for the killer converged mobile entertainment device, according to a new study from ON World.
"The PC industry has found an ideal services model and this is the 'real time Internet,'" says Mareca Hatler, ON World's Director of Research. "Services such as VOIP, video, music, radio, news and instant messaging coupled with mobile devices such as a WiFi enabled iPod, and the ubiquity of broadband will result in 100 million consumer mobile VOIP users in 2011."
ON World interviewed 100 key technology influencers in several consumer markets as well as electronics retailers and discovered that 35 percent were interested in VOIP combined with mobile entertainment devices.
Convergence becomes Collision
"Convergence between the PC and Telecom industries has been the 'mantra' for the last several years. Skype, Google, device makers such as Apple, and municipal mesh infrastructure providers such as Tropos are creating the 'real time Internet' without them," says Hatler.
The PC industry will ship more than two times as many mobile VOIP devices per year as the Telecom industry in 2011.
Real-Time Internet Services
WiFi enabled mobile entertainment devices will make up 36 percent of all mobile VOIP devices sold in 2011. This will be driven by the popularity of Apple's iPod as well as products such as Nokia's Internet Tablet 2006 bundled with GoogleTalk.
These Mobile VOIP devices need infrastructure and Skype provides this with its 100 million PCs using their peer-to-peer telecommunications platform. Peer-to-peer technology not only takes advantage of efficient Internet routing, it saves Skype billions of dollars of infrastructure investment.
ON World predicts that by 2011 Skype will have 25 percent of the world's VOIP users and $1.2 billion in voice service revenues.
Mobile WiFi Landscape
Over the next five years, the PC industry will drive the consumer Mobile VOIP market with its growing "real-time Internet" telecommunications network of services, devices, and infrastructure.
About ON World:
ON World Inc. is the leader in emerging wireless research. Our market intelligence and information services are sold to Fortune 1000 companies, service providers, venture capitalists, and startups worldwide. See: http://www.onworld.com/.
Source: ON World
Web site: http://onworld.com/mobileVOIP/consumerrpt.htm
Web site: http://www.onworld.com/
Walt Disney Internet Group and Shanda to Bring Disney Content to China's Online Game Market
Shanda to Develop and Distribute First Disney-Branded Online Casual Game for
China, Based on Popular Disney Characters
-- Walt Disney Internet Group and Shanda Interactive Entertainment (NASDAQ:SNDA) announced today that the two companies have entered into an agreement to bring Disney's premier branded entertainment content to China's online game industry via Shanda's online game operating platform. The agreement calls for Shanda to develop, distribute and operate an online casual game based on the magical worlds of Disney and featuring some of Disney's most popular animated characters.
The game, which will be developed for a broader demographic than traditional online games, as well as China's burgeoning segment of female online gamers, will be available in China for open beta in the spring of 2007.
"The market for online games in China is large and growing, and it was important for us to find the right partner. We're pleased to have found that in Shanda," said Mark Handler, executive vice president and managing director, International, Walt Disney Internet Group. "Disney's rich content library, combined with Shanda's capabilities as a leading online game operator, will bring a new, unique and fun experience for the online game consumer. We actively look to bring more of our content to the online interactive entertainment market in China."
"The Disney brand and its lineup of animated characters are already popular in China, and through this agreement we bring this well-known content to China's online game community in the form of an exciting new casual game. We remain firmly committed to providing our users with new and compelling entertainment content that will keep their online experience fresh and enjoyable, and we believe the addition of Disney's wholesome content will further broaden our user demographic, thus making a significant contribution to the implementation of our home strategy," Tianqiao Chen, Chairman and CEO of Shanda, commented. "We look forward to a successful collaboration with the Walt Disney Internet Group and are excited about bringing Disney's content to China's online game community."
The agreement with Shanda marks Disney's entrance into China's online game market.
"China is a priority for the entire company, and this announcement is part of our strategy to expand our presence here. We have a huge competitive advantage, thanks to the strength of the Disney brand, which is embraced and sought-after around the world," said Stanley Cheung, managing director, The Walt Disney Company (China). "The combination of Shanda's strong capability in developing and operating online games with Disney's expertise in providing compelling content breaks new ground in China, as this will be yet another way for consumers to interact with and experience the magic of Disney," Cheung added.
Shanda Interactive Entertainment Limited is an interactive entertainment company and one of the largest operators of online games in China, currently operating twelve online games, including seven MMORPGs and five casual games. In the first quarter of 2006, total peak concurrent users for all Shanda games in commercial service was 2.45 million and peak concurrent users for Shanda's casual games, which have broader user demographics including more female users than traditional massive multiplayer role-playing games, was 1.56 million.
About Walt Disney Internet Group
Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) provides strategic leadership, business execution support and a world-class technology platform for all the Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) Internet properties, including category leaders ESPN.com and ABCNEWS.com, and directly operates Disney.com worldwide, FamilyFun.com, Movies.com and Disney Mobile. A market leader in developing and distributing entertainment and informational content to new platforms, WDIG is committed to creating and delivering products for broadband distribution, including: ABC News On Demand, a subscription video news service that offers the Internet's first 24-hour, live Internet-only news channel and top ABC News programs for on demand viewing; Disney Connection; and WDIG Motion, a proprietary video technology for broadband users. Through relationships with some of the world's largest wireless carriers, WDIG distributes content and services to wireless users under the Disney brand. Additionally, WDIG has led the way in developing interactive content for televised programming through its Enhanced TV service.
In the Asia Pacific region, Disney.com has well-established, localized Internet sites in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong and Australia. WDIG launched its first broadband content service in Japan in 2003 with NTT FLET's broadband network, reaching more than 7.9 million subscribers. In June 2005, it launched its first broadband service in Taiwan with Chungwa Telecom's HiNet ADSL, the country's leading broadband provider, with more than 3.5 million subscribers. WDIG has mobile content distribution in 13 markets in the Asia Pacific region, including Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, China, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Macau. In this region, more than 695 million mobile consumers (nearly 100 percent) have access to Disney-branded mobile content.
Steve Wadsworth is president of WDIG, which is headquartered in North Hollywood, Calif. and has operations in Budapest, London, Munich, New York, Orlando, Fla., Prague, Seattle, Shanghai and Tokyo.
The Walt Disney Company in China
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with four business segments: consumer products, media networks, parks and resorts and studio entertainment. Entering China in 1930s, The Walt Disney Company (China) now has offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou and employs more than 100 cast members. Today, The Walt Disney Company is one of the most active and largest foreign entertainment companies in China with diversified business in consumer products, publishing, mobile content, online content, television and family entertainment programs.
About Shanda Interactive Entertainment
Shanda Interactive Entertainment Limited (NASDAQ:SNDA) is a leading interactive entertainment media company in China. Shanda offers a portfolio of diversified entertainment content including some of the most popular massively multi-player and casual online games in China, along with online chess and board games, a network PC game platform and a variety of cartoons, literary and music content. Shanda's interactive entertainment platform attracts a large and loyal user base. Each user can interact with thousands of others and enjoy the interactive entertainment content that Shanda provides. Interaction enriches your lifeSource: Shanda Interactive Entertainment; Walt Disney Internet Group
Web site: http://www.snda.com/
http://shandaentertainment.com/
DIGITAL FOCI INTRODUCES MEDIA BUDDY
Media Buddy Digital Photo Storage Securely Saves Photos on the Road
Digital Photo Storage Securely Saves Photos on the Roadon 30GB to 80GB Portable Hard Drives–
Lower Cost Alternative to Digital Foci Picture Porter
Digital Foci, Inc.
(http://www.digitalfoci.com) introduced today Media Buddy portable digital photo storage with hard drive and card reader that lets you instantly and securely save digital photos on a hard drive wherever you go, so you can keep snapping away and not worry about running out of memory card space.
Media Buddy is the traveler’s essential digital camera companion. Its built-in memory card slots let you copy and store photos directly from any digital camera card, without the need of cumbersome cabling. A lower cost alternative to Digital Foci’s Picture Porter, Media Buddy is priced starting at only $219. Both Media Buddy and Picture Porter save photos on their portable hard drives, so you don’t have to bring heavy laptops on the road, but Media Buddy provides a lower price by offering a backlit LCD for text-only use, instead of the Picture Porter’s 2" color LCD screen for viewing photos
Portable Digital Photo Storage
With Media Buddy’s 30GB to 80GB hard drive versions, you’ll virtually never run out of memory card space on the road again. Media Buddy frees up expensive memory card space and lets you reuse your memory card to keep snapping photos. Just insert the memory card from your digital camera into Media Buddy and download images into its built-in hard drive. The backlit text-based LCD screen lets users view file information and operation status, including copy progress and confirmation. You can select to save a specific folder or file from your card, or you can copy the entire contents of your memory card with the convenient one-touch Auto Copy button with no computer needed. A unique folder name is automatically created to indicate media card type and copy sequence per card type to keep you organized. When you get home, simply connect Media Buddy to your computer to retrieve your saved pictures.
Works with All Media Formats
Media Buddy works with all media card formats, including CF I/II, MD, SM, xD-Picture Card, MMC, SD Card, miniSD, Memory Stick, MS PRO, MS Duo, and MS PRO Duo, so you can copy and save your precious pictures directly from any digital camera memory card. You can also make copies of photos taken from friend’s and family member’s digital cameras by quickly inserting their cards into Media Buddy for instant archival of special picture moments.
External Hard Drive, Data Bridge & MP3 Player
When connected to your computer, Media Buddy functions as an external hard drive. Use Media Buddy to back up and archive digital images, digital music and important files from you computer through its high-speed USB 2 connection. Since Media buddy is compatible with both Windows and Mac, you can also easily transfer files between computers with the different operating systems. In addition, Media Buddy is perfect as a portable MP3 player for listening to your favorite MP3 songs on the go.
Media Buddy Features:
One-touch operation for copying pictures directly from your digital camera memory card without the need of a computer
Backlit text-based LCD screen for viewing file information and operation status
Reads directly from memory cards
Memory card format support of CF I/II, MD, SM, MMC, SD Card, Memory Stick, MS PRO, MS Duo, MS PRO Duo, and xD-Picture Card (and miniSD with adapter)
Shows copy progress and copy confirmation
On screen menu includes browse, single file copy, and delete feature
Attractive brushed anodized aluminum casing
External hard drive for backing up your computer
High-speed USB 2.0 computer interface
Compatible with both PC and Mac
Transfers files between multiple computers running different operating systems
MP3 music player
Includes Ulead Photo Explorer to edit, enhance, and organize your photos
Built-in Lithium Ion rechargeable battery
Media Buddy weighs 11 oz. (with hard drive and battery included) with dimensions of 5.8" (L) x 3.4" (W) x 1" (H). It comes in 3 stylish colors: Powder Blue, Arctic Silver, and Pearl Gray and 4 storage capacities: 30GB, 40GB, 60GB, and 80GB. Media Buddy comes complete with Ulead Photo Explorer image management software (normally a $30 value), USB cable, earphones, AC adapter, Lithium-Ion battery, carrying case, resource disk, and user’s guide. It is available immediately at Digital Foci’s online store at www.digitalfoci.com starting at $219.95. For more information, see the website: www.digitalfoci.com.
About Digital Foci
Digital Foci helps consumers manage and enjoy their digital content collection easily. The company enhances people’s lives by allowing them to seamlessly move digital photos, video, and music from one place to another. With Digital Foci products, consumers are able to enjoy any of their digital content on any device without ever worrying about format compatibility. Digital Foci products include digital picture frames, photo displays, storage devices, and card readers for transfer, storage, and management optimized for any setting where you choose to enjoy your digital content.
Digital Foci (pronounced "foe-sigh") is the plural form of the word "focus" and symbolizes the many distinct points where light and sound converge and diverge. It is at these digital focus points, or foci, where you view and share your digital pictures, watch your digital video, listen to your digital music, and access your digital files.
DIGITAL FOCI ANNOUNCES MEMORY CARD TRAVEL CASE
Holds All Types of Memory Cards
Unique Smart Stackable Design Organizes up to 8 Memory Cards of Any Type
Digital Foci, Inc. (www.digitalfoci.com), a leading provider of digital photo albums, digital frames and accessories, introduced today the Memory Card Travel Case, which organizes and protects all important digital flash memory cards in one place. The Digital Foci Memory Card Travel Case is the only case you will ever need on vacation or for business travel to protect your important cards. Elegant as well as durable, the case features a sturdy silver brushed aluminum shell with hard rubberdized lining providing maximum protection and accessibility for those tiny easy-to-lose memory cards.
, Inc. (), a leading provider of digital photo albums, digital frames and accessories, introduced today the which organizes and protects all important digital flash memory cards in one place. The Digital Foci Memory Card Travel Case is the only case you will ever need on vacation or for business travel to protect your important cards. Elegant as well as durable, the case features a sturdy silver brushed aluminum shell with hard rubberdized lining providing maximum protection and accessibility for those tiny easy-to-lose memory cards.Memory cards are now used in almost every electronic product today, including digital and video cameras, MP3 Players, PDAs, and even cellphones. Since each device uses a different type of card, you need to have a travel case that will fit multiple cards formats. The Digital Foci Memory Card Travel Case fits all types of memory cards: CompactFlash I/II, MD, SM, MMC, SD, miniSD, MS, MS PRO, MS Duo, and xD card. Its unique multi-format design allows travelers to stack up to 8 different memory cards. The case’s molded hard rubber lining protects these memory cards by keeping them snugly in place.
Digital Foci Memory Card Travel Case Features:
Smart stackable slots let you hold as many as 8 memory cards
Holds all different memory card types
Molded hard rubber lining
Sturdy brushed aluminum shell
Priced at $19.95, the Digital Foci Memory Card Travel Case is available immediately online at: www.digitalfoci.com.
'Familias, Aqui y Alla,' Latinoamerica Television's Newest TV Program
Latinoamerica Television, a leading Latin American television network in the U.S., will launch a new TV program addressing the issue of migration from a very different perspective.
The migration phenomenon has been present throughout history. In past decades, more than 20 million Latin Americans have crossed national, social and cultural borders in hopes of making their dreams and ambitions a reality, with the U.S. the destination for nearly three quarters of them. This mass exodus has not only had an impact on social and economic structures, but has destabilized the traditional family core.
Within the framework of this mounting movement, Latinoamerica Television takes you up close and personal to show you the lives of those enduring the experience. It is a journey that covers the experiences of several families, showing us a variety of social circumstances that reveal the diverse perspectives of a situation that is common to many: the distance between loved ones.
Thus is born "Familias, aqui y alla," a program with the distinct purpose of showing the many faces of migration, emphasizing testimonials given with feeling and emotions. Through a journalistic documentary style, we are able to reach out to the hearts of ten Latin American families.
"Familias, aqui y alla" tells the story of families who have remained in their countries and suffer terribly from the departure of one of their own, bringing into focus for the first time a little-known reality: how relatives and friends of those who emigrate live.
Joined by a group of experts in the field, director Valentin Rodriguez Bausero has created a two-hour examination of assorted individual realities with a focus on the social, cultural and emotional factors of each case.
From a distinct perspective on the migration issue, Latinoamerica Television invites you to meet the families of those who have emigrated. This time, the central characters are families who suffer from the departure of loved ones and long for their return. How did they endure their leaving? What are their fondest feelings? How are they able to carry on day after day? What expectations do the families have?
Latinoamerica Television's "Familias, aqui y alla" will premier on the DIRECTV PARA TODOS station 430 in the United States -- a way of growing closer, sharing stories that belong to all of Latin America ... to all of us. They are stories about families.
Rebroadcast: May 29, 1 A.M and 2 P.M.
Latinoamerica Television has broadcast to a million homes since January 10 through DIRECTV PARA TODOS and other cable systems in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Latin America. Its programming is combined with that of prestigious media from throughout the region, such as the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile's Canal 13, Brazil's Rede Global, Canal 12 in Uruguay, and Channel 4 Telefuturo, Paraguay, among others.
For more information, visit http://www.latele.tv/ or call +011-5982-208-33- 63, ext. 214, or email info@latele.tv .
Source: Latinoamerica Television
Web site: http://www.latele.tv/
-- SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) today reaffirmed its guidance of more than 6.2 million subscribers by year-end 2006, representing an 87% increase over the company's subscriber base at the end of 2005.
The company continues to expect to add more than 2.8 million net subscribers during the year. "We continue to experience dramatic growth and strong demand for our service across our retail and automotive OEM channels," said Mel Karmazin, CEO of SIRIUS. "This supports our expectation that we will capture the majority of retail satellite radio net additions in 2006." According to The NPD Group*, SIRIUS achieved 54% retail market share in April 2006, compared to 38% retail market share in April 2005. For 2006 year-to-date, SIRIUS has achieved 58% retail market share, compared to 40% retail market share through April 2005. Also according to The NPD Group*, SIRIUS achieved 55% year-over-year retail unit growth in April 2006 and a 120% increase year-to-date. SIRIUS' first quarter of positive free cash flow, after capital expenditures, could be reached as early as the fourth quarter of 2006, and the company continues to expect to generate positive free cash flow for the full- year 2007. *Source: "The NPD Group. POS retailer information does not include sales from Wal-Mart, Clubs, and direct sales." About SIRIUS SIRIUS delivers more than 125 channels of the best programming in all of radio. SIRIUS is the original and only home of 100% commercial free music channels in satellite radio, offering 67 music channels available nationwide. SIRIUS also delivers 61 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data.
The company continues to expect to add more than 2.8 million net subscribers during the year. "We continue to experience dramatic growth and strong demand for our service across our retail and automotive OEM channels," said Mel Karmazin, CEO of SIRIUS. "This supports our expectation that we will capture the majority of retail satellite radio net additions in 2006." According to The NPD Group*, SIRIUS achieved 54% retail market share in April 2006, compared to 38% retail market share in April 2005. For 2006 year-to-date, SIRIUS has achieved 58% retail market share, compared to 40% retail market share through April 2005. Also according to The NPD Group*, SIRIUS achieved 55% year-over-year retail unit growth in April 2006 and a 120% increase year-to-date. SIRIUS' first quarter of positive free cash flow, after capital expenditures, could be reached as early as the fourth quarter of 2006, and the company continues to expect to generate positive free cash flow for the full- year 2007. *Source: "The NPD Group. POS retailer information does not include sales from Wal-Mart, Clubs, and direct sales." About SIRIUS SIRIUS delivers more than 125 channels of the best programming in all of radio. SIRIUS is the original and only home of 100% commercial free music channels in satellite radio, offering 67 music channels available nationwide. SIRIUS also delivers 61 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data.IRIUS is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, NBA and NHL and broadcasts live play-by-play games of the NFL, NBA and NHL. All SIRIUS programming is available for a monthly subscription fee of only $12.95. SIRIUS products for the car, truck, home, RV and boat are available in more than 25,000 retail locations, including Best Buy, Circuit City, Crutchfield, Costco, Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, RadioShack and at shop.sirius.com. SIRIUS radios are offered in vehicles from Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep(R), Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Scion, Toyota, Porsche, Volkswagen and Volvo. Hertz also offers SIRIUS in its rental cars at major locations around the country. Click on http://www.sirius.com to listen to SIRIUS live, or to purchase a SIRIUS radio and subscription.
Rediscovered Pickford Films to Bow at Academy’s Pickford Center
Two recently rediscovered and restored silent films starring Oscar®-winning actress Mary Pickford, “Sparrows” (1926) and “Behind the Scenes” (1914), will unspool as part of the Academy of Motion Picture of Sciences’ “Lost and Found” film series on June 14 and 28, respectively, at 7:30 p.m. in the Linwood Dunn Theater at the Academy’s Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study in Hollywood.
Arguably the most famous woman of the early 20th century, Pickford appeared in an estimated 205 features and short films, ran her own production company, co-founded United Artists, and was a founding member of the Academy.
Restored by the Library of Congress, “Sparrows,” Pickford’s penultimate silent film, will receive its West Coast premiere. The film’s stylized set design and atmospheric cinematography illustrate the growing influence of German expressionist cinema on American filmmakers in the 1920s. The feature will be preceded by the newly restored “Sparrows” trailer and outtakes.
In “Behind the Scenes,” Pickford stars as Dolly Lane, a successful stage actress who abandons her career to wed a handsome farmer and soon discovers that love does not curb her desire for the stage. Director James Kirkwood, who worked with Pickford on nine features, portrays Lane’s husband.
The film’s only known existing nitrate print with original tints was acquired from a private donor in the 1970s for $850 by James Card, the former curator of the motion picture collection at George Eastman House. This screening of a restored print, which utilized those original elements, will make the film accessible to an audience for the first time in many years.
“Behind the Scenes” will be preceded by a Technicolor test of Mary Pickford from the set of “The Black Pirate” (1926) and two rarely screened Pickford shorts, “ The Mirror” and “When the Cat’s Away,” both from 1911, along with the only surviving reel from her 1914 feature “A Good Little Devil,” directed by Edwin S. Porter.
All films will be accompanied with live music performed by Michael Mortilla.
“Lost and Found” is a series of periodic screenings designed to showcase archival prints that have been recently rediscovered or restored from new materials that improve the presentational quality of previous available versions.
In some instances, the films may be incomplete or damaged, making access unlikely through more traditional venues. The series serves as a rare opportunity to access “lost” films, and will bring to light some of film preservation’s more notable success stories.
The Academy’s Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study was dedicated in honor of the legendary actress in 2002. In addition to the 286-seat Dunn Theater, the building houses several Academy departments, including the offices and collections of the Academy Film Archive and the Science and Technology Council.
Tickets to “Lost and Found” are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid I.D. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Linwood Dunn Theater is located at the Academy’s Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study at 1313 North Vine Street in Hollywood. For information, please call (310) 247-3600.
Spike TV Highlights - July 2006
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ORIGINAL SERIES PREMIERES
- THE DUDESONS
Premieres Thursday, July 6 (10:00-10:30 PM, ET/PT). Encores Saturdays (12:30 - 1:00 AM, ET/PT).
Spike TV introduces America to the international sensation, THE DUDESONS, a huge hit for the past four years on Finnish TV. This extreme stunt comedy comes to Spike TV with eight episodes and features the wild antics of four loveable, yet lunatic childhood best friends who live life to the fullest in the desolate Arctic Circle. Despite broken bones, countless trips to the hospital and near death experiences, THE DUDESONS continue to perform the craziest and most dangerous stunts imaginable. From perilous car and motorcycle jumps to indoor bonfires to being a human dartboard, life holds no limits and there are no rules in these inventive comedic skits.
- RAISING THE ROOFS
Premieres Thursday, July 6 (10:30-11:00 PM, ET/PT). Encores Saturdays (1:00 - 1:30 AM, ET/PT).
RAISING THE ROOFS is an unscripted comedy series that stars working actor Michael Roof, Jr., and his prank-pulling, beer-swilling, over-the-top, back- country family. Michael Jr. was born and raised in a small town of Dunnellon, Florida, with a population of 2,000, where his extended family still resides. In search of fame and fortune, he moved to Hollywood and has landed a number of supporting roles in films such as The Dukes of Hazzard and Black Hawk Down. RAISING THE ROOFS explores what happens when his family -- his father, Michael Sr. and Uncle Stevie -- pack their bags and their pet pig, and take on the bright lights and big city of Los Angeles for an open ended visit. Can these small town, larger-than-life characters adapt to big city life? And more importantly, will Michael Jr.'s career survive the family's visit?
SPECIAL EVENTS/MARATHONS
- THE FOUR FATHERS OF ACTION - JULY 4TH MOVIE MARATHON
Telecasts Monday, July 3 and Tuesday July 4 (9:00 AM - 7:00 PM, ET/PT)
Celebrate the birth of the nation with the Four Fathers of Action - Jean Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, Chuck Norris, and Bruce Lee. The complete schedule is as follows:
Monday, July 3
9:00 - 11:00 AM, ET/PT
BRUCE LEE: FIST OF FURY (1972, Action/Drama)
A young man seeks vengeance for the death of his teacher. Starring Bruce Lee.
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, ET/PT
BRUCE LEE: GAME OF DEATH (1978, Action/Drama)
A martial arts movie star must fake his death to find the people who are trying to kill him. Starring Bruce Lee.
1:00 - 3:00 PM, ET/PT
BLOODSPORT (1988, Drama, TV-14)
Based on a true story, this martial arts adventure takes place behind the Hong Kong walls for the secret competition that settles the World Championship of the sport. While Frank Dux is trying not to be knocked down inside the ring, government agents try to track him down outside the ring. Starring Jean- Claude Van Damme.
3:00 - 5:00 PM, ET/PT
DOUBLE IMPACT (1991, Action)
Two twins separated by the death of their parents are reunited to get revenge. Starring Jean Claude Van Damme.
5:00 - 7:00 PM, ET/PT
WAKE OF DEATH (2004, Action)
After his wife is brutally murdered, an ex-cop wages war against the Chinese triads. Starring Jean Claude Van Damme.
Tuesday, July 4
9:00 - 11:00 AM, ET/PT
THE DELTA FORCE (1986, Action)
An American jetliner, on an Athens-Rome-New York flight, is hijacked by Palestinian terrorists, diverting the plane to Beirut. The passengers, mostly Americans, are the hostages of the "New World Revolutionary Organization". The Pentagon sends in the Delta Force, a special commando unit equipped with the latest weapon technology and specially trained for this kind of situation. Starring Chuck Norris.
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, ET/PT
THE HITMAN (1991, Action)
A detective goes undercover to investigate a mob ring in Seattle. Starring Chuck Norris and Michael Parks.
1:00 - 3:00 PM, ET/PT
OUT FOR JUSTICE (1991, Action)
A strong-willed police detective seeks revenge when his partner is killed by a psycho from his old neighborhood. Starring Steven Seagal and William Forsythe.
3:00 - 5:00 PM, ET/PT
OUT OF REACH (2004, Action)
A former government agent working on a wildlife refuge finds himself back in action when he discovers that a girl he's sponsoring in an international foster care program is actually being victimized by a human trafficking ring. Starring Steven Seagal and Nick
Brimble.
5:00 - 7:00 PM, ET/PT
TODAY YOU DIE (2005, Action/Drama)
A former thief who is trying to go straight seeks vengeance on those who framed him. Starring Steven Seagal.
- IRRESISTIBLE WOMEN DAY
Leading up to the premiere of SPIKE'S MOST IRRESISTIBLE WOMEN 2006 (working title), Spike presents a day of programming full of the world's most beautiful women on Sunday, July 23. The schedule is as follows:
2:30 - 3:30 PM, ET/PT
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY SWIMSUIT SPECIAL
Join SI Swimsuit model Melissa Keller and comedian Jake Johannsen as they lead a tour of some of the most beautiful locations across the U.S. and provide a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the 40th edition of SI's most popular issue. Some of the models featured in "Sports Illustrated's 40th Anniversary Swimsuit Special" include Marisa Miller, Bridget Hall and last year's SI cover model Petra Nemcova.
3:30 - 4:30 PM, ET/PT
SPIKE'S MOST IRRESISTIBLE WOMEN 2005
Spike TV takes a look at 10 of the most irresistible women in the world including nontraditional categories such as Most Irresistible Rock Chic, Most Irresistible Heroine and Most Irresistible Bombshell. Men including Jamie Foxx and Jeremy Piven comment on what makes the women who made the list so Irresistible.
4:30 - 7:00 PM
FATAL ATTRACTION (1987, Drama/Thriller)
A married man's one night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family. Starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close.
- SPIKE'S MOST IRRESISTIBLE WOMEN 2006 (working title)
Premieres Monday, July 24 (10:00 - 11:00 PM, ET/PT). Encores Monday, July 24 (3:00 - 4:00 AM, ET/PT), Saturday, July 29 (10:00 - 11:00 AM, ET/PT) and Sunday, July 30 (3:00 - 4:00 AM, ET/PT).
Spike TV takes a look at the most irresistible women in the world from a guy's perspective.
- UFC: ALL ACCESS - TITO ORTIZ (working title)
Premieres Monday, July 3 (10:00 - 10:30 PM, ET/PT). Encores Wednesday, July 5
(1:00 - 1:30 AM) and Saturday, July 8 (10:30 - 11:00 AM, ET/PT).
The show will feature Light Heavyweight and "The Ultimate Fighter 3" coach Tito Ortiz and takes a behind the scenes look at his training regimen. UFC Octagon Girl Rachelle Leah is the host.
- UFC61 COUNTDOWN (working title)
Premieres Monday, July 3 (10:30 - 11:30 PM). Encores Tuesday, July 4 (1:00 - 2:00 AM, ET/PT) and Saturday, July 8 (6:00 - 7:00 PM, ET/PT).
This special will preview the upcoming UFC 61 Pay Per View event.
ORIGINAL SERIES
- BLADE: THE SERIES
New episodes premiere Wednesdays (10:00 - 11:00 PM, ET/PT). Encores Wednesdays (11:00 PM - Midnight, ET/PT), Sundays (2:00 - 3:00 AM, ET/PT) and Mondays (10:00 - 11:00 PM, ET/PT). Catch up on all of the action with the BLADE: THE SERIES midseason marathon on Sunday, July 30 (1:00 - 7:00 PM, ET/PT).
Spike TV's first original scripted drama, BLADE: THE SERIES stars Kirk "Sticky" Jones (Over There, The Shield) as the title character who is half- man, half-vampire and employs his extraordinary powers in a crusade to save mankind from the demonic creatures who walk the night. Set in Detroit, Blade investigates the vampire house of Chthon. Along the way he forms an uneasy alliance with Krista Starr, portrayed by costar Jill Wagner (Punk'd¸ Monk), a former military veteran who becomes entrenched in the world of vampires while investigating the murder of her twin brother.
- CARPOCALYPSE: CIVIL WAR - SEASON 2
New episodes premiere Saturdays (8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT); encores Sundays (1:00 - 2:00 PM, ET/PT).
Ringleaders Don Nerone and Chuck Rush are still in charge for the outrageous second season of Carpocalypse. Demolition derby racing returns with even bigger and crazier events, but this season season one Southerners are pitted against newcomers from the North. Half the races will take place in Bithlo, Florida; the other half will happen on northern turf in Buffalo, NY, rekindling a generations-old rivalry that's sure to be interesting.
- DISORDERLY CONDUCT: VIDEO ON PATROL
New episodes premiere Saturdays (9:00 - 10:00 PM, ET/PT).
Spike TV takes you for a ride in this adrenaline-packed series with all new outrageous video footage pulled from precincts across the country.
- TNA WRESTLING: iMPACT! (TV-14)
New episodes premiere Thursdays (11:00 PM - Midnight, ET/PT); encores Saturdays (11:00 PM - Midnight, ET/PT).
The new wrestling alternative, "TNA: iMPACT!" delivers a distinct brand of high-risk, athletic entertainment. Viewers are drawn in by TNA's philosophy of less talk and more action and the technically advance six-sided ring. TNA's roster integrates well-known wrestling superstars like Sting, Christian Cage, Jeff Jarrett, and Team 3D with the world's best up-and-coming talent, such as AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, and Monty Brown.
- SPIKE'S MOST AMAZING VIDEOS - NEW ORIGINAL EPISODES (TV-14)
New episodes premiere Saturdays (7:00 - 8:00 PM, ET/PT) as part of Slammin' Saturday Night.
Featuring rescues, shootouts, and explosions, Spike's Most Amazing Videos delivers a combination of real and rare footage for some of the most heart- pounding and unbelievable moments ever captured on film. Hosted by Stacey Keach.
- UFC UNLEASHED
Telecasts Thursdays (9:00 - 10:00 PM, ET/PT).
This one-hour series features the greatest moments from the UFC(R)'s vast library of fight footage. The show includes classic bouts never before seen on television except on pay-per-view.
- MXC (TV-14)
Telecasts Monday-Wednesday (1:00-1:30 AM, ET/PT), Fridays (1:00 - 1:30 AM, ET/PT) and Saturdays (10:00 - 11:30 AM, ET/PT).
Spike TV's acclaimed original comedic series, is described as a wacky combination of "Fear Factor," "Jackass," "Iron Chef," with a touch of "Mystery Science Theater 3000." Using the actual footage from one of the most popular primetime Japanese reality game shows, Takeshi's Castle, MXC is re-written to create an entirely new comedic storyline. The series is not dubbed and there is not a single trace of literal translation from the original show.
- GAME HEAD (TV-14)
New episodes premiere Saturdays (12:00 - 12:30 AM, ET/PT).
Spike TV presents a weekly showcase on the world of video games.
MOVIE PREMIERES
- BLOWN AWAY (1994, Action/Thriller)
Premieres Thursday, July 13 (1:30 - 4:00 AM, ET/PT)
An escaped Irish political prisoner and explosives expert terrorizes the city of Boston. A bomb squad expert and former friend of the mad bomber has to stop his vengeful rampage before his family and the whole city are...Blown Away. Starring Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones
- FIGHT CLUB (1999, Drama/Thriller)
Premieres Sunday, July 16 (9:00 PM -Midnight, ET/PT) with LIMITED COMMERCIAL INTERRUPTION
A lonely, isolated thirty-something young professional seeks an escape from his mundane existence with the help of a devious soap salesman. They find their release from the prison of reality through underground fight clubs, where men can be what the world now denies them. Their boxing matches and harmless pranks soon lead to an out-of-control spiral towards oblivion. Starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt.
- CHINATOWN (1974, Mystery/Thriller)
Premieres Thursday, July 20 (1:30 - 4:00 AM, ET/PT)
A private detective, investigating an adultery case, stumbles on to a scheme of murder that has something to do with water. Starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Huston.
- NAKED GUN 33-1/3: THE FINAL INSULT (1994, Comedy/Action)
Premieres Saturday, July 22 (4:00 - 6:00 PM, ET/PT)
Frank Drebin is persuaded out of retirement to go undercover in a state prison. There, he is to find out what top terrorist, Rocco, has planned for when he escapes. Starring George Kennedy, Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, and O.J. Simpson.
World Television Premiere!
- EYE SEE YOU (2002, Drama/Thriller)
Premieres Sunday, July 30 (9:00 - 11:30 PM, ET/PT).
Stallone plays a cop who comes undone after witnessing a brutal scene on the job. He checks into a rehab clinic that specializes in treating law enforcement officials. Soon, he finds that his fellow patients are being murdered one by one. Starring Sylvester Stallone.
ACQUIRED SERIES
- THE SHIELD
Episodes of Season 3 premiere Fridays (10:00 - 11:00 PM, ET/PT). Episodes also telecast Sundays (Midnight - 1:00 AM, ET/PT and 1:00 - 2:00 AM, ET/PT) and Mondays (11:00 PM - Midnight, ET/PT).
The story of in inner-city Los Angeles police precinct where some of the cops aren't above breaking the rules or working against their associates to both keep the streets safe and their self-interests intact. Starring Emmy Award(R) winner Michael Chiklis and Catherine Dent.
- CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (TV-PG)
Telecasts Monday - Friday (7:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT), Monday - Friday (Midnight - 1:00 AM, ET/PT), Mondays and Fridays (9:00 - 10:00 PM, ET/PT).
CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION revolves around a team of forensic Crime Scene Investigators in the Las Vegas police department's Criminalistics Bureau. By relentlessly analyzing every detail at the scene of a crime, no matter how seemingly irrelevant or grotesque in nature, the team has science and experience on their side to solve the case. The series stars William Petersen, Marg Helgenberger, Gary Dourdan, George Eads, Jorja Fox and Paul Guilfoyle.
- THE THREE STOOGES (TV-PG)
Telecasts Saturdays and Sundays (9:00 - 10:00 AM, ET/PT) and Sundays (3:00 - 4:00 AM, ET/PT).
Larry, Moe and Curly are on Spike TV, showcasing their extremely physical and sometimes controversial brand of slapstick humor that made them one of the most
famous comedy troupes in history.
WEEKEND PROGRAMMING
- WEEKEND POWERBLOCK
Spike TV puts sexy car enthusiast Courtney Hansen in the driver's seat as host of the network's "Power Block" lineup, a weekend (Saturdays Noon - 2:00 PM, ET/PT and Sundays 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, ET/PT) two-hour block of auto related programming. Saturdays in July, Spike TV debuts new episodes of MUSCLECAR and EXTREME 4X4.
Saturdays
Noon - 12:30 PM, ET/PT
HORSEPOWER TV
Host Joe Elmore and tech expert Mike Galley work out of their to-die-for performance garage sharing speed secrets on how to transform everyday cars into road burners and how to get the most out of them on the street and at the strip. This series captures the performance lifestyle taking viewers to America's best events, rallies and races.
12:30 - 1:00 PM, ET/PT
MUSCLE CAR
Celebrating America's love affair with these fabled '60's and 70's era muscle cars, the series focuses on finding, restoring and modifying iconic Detroit iron like the Pontiac GTO, the Hemi Cuba, the Boss Mustang and the Chevelle SS.
1:00 - 1:30 PM, ET/PT
XTREME 4X4
Hosted by Ian Johnson and Jessi Combs, this series features hardcore 4x4 build-ups and off-road truck projects, plus extreme action events - rock crawling, desert racing, sand drags, mud racing, and trail riding adventure.
1:30 - 2:00 PM, ET/PT
TRUCKS!
This how-to/new vehicle series addresses the light truck market with special emphasis on pickups and sport utility vehicles. From the wildest jet drag trucks and monster trucks to the world's most radical 4x4 rock crawlers and customs, each episode takes viewers step-by-step modifying, customizing, restoring and testing classic and sport trucks, off-roaders and race trucks.
Sundays
11:00 - 11:30 AM, ET/PT
HORSEPOWER TV
11:30 AM - Noon, ET/PT
MUSCLE CAR
Noon - 12:30 PM, ET/PT
XTREME 4X4
12:30 - 1:00 PM, ET/PT
TRUCKS!
- FILMS OF FURY - JET LI JULY
Saturdays in July, Spike TV features a different high-flying, hard- hitting, action-packed martial arts movie. Beginning Saturday, July 8, FILMS OF FURY celebrates Jet Li. The schedule is as follows:
Saturday, July 1
Premiere!
2:00 - 4:00 PM, ET/PT and 2:00 - 4:00 AM, ET/PT
SHAOLIN SOCCER (2001, Action/Comedy)
A young Shaolin follower reunites with his discouraged brothers to form a soccer team using their martial art skills to their advantage. Starring Stephen Chow.
Saturday, July 8
2:00 - 4:00 PM, ET/PT and 2:00 - 4:00 AM, ET/PT
JET LI'S THE ENFORCER (1995, Action)
An undercover cop is forced to take part in a crime in order to gain the trust of a gang he is infiltrating. Starring Jet Li.
Saturday, July 15
2:00 - 4:00 PM, ET/PT and 2:00 - 4:00 AM, ET/PT
FIST OF LEGEND (1994, Action/Drama, TV-14)
In 1937, a Chinese martial artist returns to Shanghai to find his teacher dead and his school harassed by the Japanese. Starring Jet Li.
Saturday, July 22
2:00 - 4:00 PM, ET/PT and 2:00 - 4:00 AM, ET/PT
TWIN WARRIORS (1993, Action, TV-14)
The story of two misfit monks who grew up together in their Shaolin temple but then find themselves taking decidedly different paths. Starring Jet Li.
Saturday, July 29
2:00 - 4:00 PM, ET/PT and 2:00 - 4:00 AM, ET/PT
LEGEND OF THE SWORDSMAN (1991, Action/Fantasy)
Jet Li stars as Ling, a student from the Blue Mountain school of martial arts, who, along with fellow students, finds himself embroiled in a country- wide political war with the Highlander clan in the forefront of the battle.
SUNDAY SPECIALS
Sunday, July 2
2:00 - 3:00 PM, ET/PT
WHEN STUNTS GO BAD
3:00 - 4:00 PM, ET/PT
WHEN STUNTS GO BAD 2
4:00 - 5:00 PM, ET/PT
VIDEO JUSTICE: CRIME CAUGHT ON TAPE 1
5:00 - 6:00 PM, ET/PT
VIDEO JUSTICE: CRIME CAUGHT ON TAPE 2
6:00 - 7:00 PM, ET/PT
SHOCKING MOMENTS CAUGHT ON TAPE 1
7:00 - 8:00 PM, ET/PT
SHOCKING MOMENTS CAUGHT ON TAPE 2
8:00 - 9:00 PM, ET/PT
SHOCKING MOMENTS CAUGHT ON TAPE 3
Sunday, July 9
4:00 - 7:00 PM, ET/PT
DISORDERLY CONDUCT: VIDEO ON PATROL MARATHON
Sunday, July 16
3:00 - 5:00 PM, ET/PT
IRON MONKEY (1993, Action/Comedy)
A doctor fights the corrupt authorities as a masked Robin Hood hero, even while another martial artist/doctor is forced to hunt for him. Starring Rongguang Yu.
5:00 - 7:00 PM, ET/PT
SHAOLIN SOCCER (2001, Action/Comedy)
Source: Spike TV
SPORTS & AUTOS
Oakland and Dodger Baseball
Oakland 2, Chi. White Sox 3 at U.S. Cellular Field
Oakland Record: (22-24)
Chi. White Sox Record: (31-15)
Winning pitcher - Mark Buehrle (6-2)
Losing pitcher - Dan Haren (4-4)
SV - Bobby Jenks (13)
Colorado 1, Los Angeles 7 at Dodger Stadium
Colorado Record: (25-22)
Los Angeles Record: (27-20)
Winning pitcher - Aaron Sele (3-0)
Losing pitcher - Aaron Cook (5-4)
Uniroyal Tire Launches 'Driving Value Home' Campaign to Address Gas Costs
Simple Tips Can Help Save Money on Gas This Summer & Up to $900 Annually
-- With gas prices at an all-time high and the summer travel season kicking off, Uniroyal Tire has teamed up with money saving expert Stephanie Nelson to educate consumers on simple steps they can take to reduce their gas costs. By following a few simple steps, consumers can significantly reduce gas costs for their summer vacation and can save as much as $900 in annual gas costs per vehicle.
The Uniroyal "Driving Value Home" campaign will kick off prior to Memorial Day weekend and will continue through the summer with media interviews, in- market appearances by Nelson and practical advice provided on the Uniroyal Web site, www.uniroyal.com.
"My primary focus over the years has been helping families save on their grocery bills, but I am thrilled to be working with Uniroyal on this automotive-related campaign," Nelson says. "Gas costs have become such a major factor in the family budget. We want to help people save on gas and put their savings into more important things for their families."
Here are some of the key tips in the Uniroyal "Driving Value Home" campaign:
- Check the inflation pressure of your tires. Research conducted by
Uniroyal tells us that most Americans are driving around on under
inflated tires. You need to check your tire inflation pressure once a
month and adjust accordingly. The proper inflation pressure can be
found in the owner's manual or on the placard usually on the doorjamb.
The pressure indicated on the tire sidewall is the maximum pressure
allowed, not what is recommended for your vehicle. This simple step can
save up to 9 cents per gallon. "Making sure tires are properly inflated
is one of the easiest and most important maintenance procedures drivers
can do," says Uniroyal Brand Director Kaz Holley. "Properly inflated
tires not only contribute to greater fuel efficiency, but also last
longer and perform better."
- Another big factor is proper wheel alignment. Making sure your vehicle
is properly aligned can save as much as 15 cents per gallon. Your local
Uniroyal dealer can assess your vehicle's wheel alignment.
- Replacing clogged air filters is a biggie! A clean filter versus one
that is severely clogged can mean savings as much as 29 cents per
gallon. Air filters also keep impurities in the air from damaging
internal engine components.
- Research also shows that a poorly tuned engine can greatly increase
fuel consumption. Following the recommended maintenance schedule in
your vehicle's owner's manual may save as much as 12 cents per Gallon,
help the car run better and contribute to a longer life.
In addition to these auto maintenance tips, Nelson advises motorists to shop around for gas by checking out independent Web sites, such as GasBuddy.com or GasPriceWatch.com, to find the stations with the lowest prices in your area. Research shows that gas prices vary as much as 16 cents per gallon in a typical market.
Using cruise control when driving on the highway maintains a constant speed and reduces fuel consumption -- as much as 17 cents per gallon for people who do half of their daily driving on the highway, according to Nelson.
Nelson says that following all of these tips could add up to $900 in annual gas savings on a popular sedan driven an average number of miles.
"Even for families who are doing some of these things right but need to take half of these recommended actions, that is $900 a year for the typical two-car family," Nelson says. "That's money that could go toward their children's college fund, a family vacation or even meeting critical monthly expenses."
According to Holley, "The 'Driving Value Home' campaign is a logical extension of Uniroyal's mission to provide good quality, affordable tires to American drivers. Record gas prices are putting extreme financial pressure on individuals and families across the nation." Through this campaign, Nelson will be doing media interviews across the nation and conducting consumer clinics at Uniroyal dealer locations. Nelson notes, "We're trying to help people save at the pump so they can spend money on the more important things in life that they value."
Uniroyal Tire is one of the world's leading tire brands for passenger and commercial cars, pick-ups, light trucks, mini vans and sport utility vehicles. Dating back to 1892, Uniroyal Tire has developed a reputation for providing high-quality, affordable tires including its Tiger Paw(R) and Laredo(R) tire series. Uniroyal(R) tires offer just the right combination of dependability, traction and grip in almost every weather condition, and come with one of the industry's leading warranties. Visit Uniroyal Tire online at: www.uniroyal.com.
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Trade Commission, N.C. Department of Commerce, Car Care Council, GasBuddy.com and GasPriceWatch.com. Estimates based on 2006 Toyota Camry with 18.5 gallon gas tank and gas mileage 24 city/33 highway. Savings based on average cost of unleaded gasoline $2.90 per gallon (4/24/06) and 15,000 miles driven annually.
Source: Uniroyal Tire
Web site: http://www.uniroyal.com/
http://www.gasbuddy.com/
http://www.gaspricewatch.com/
Memorial Day Travelers Can Save 38 Percent Of Their Gas Bill With Six Simple Economy Tips
* Gas prices this Memorial Day weekend are 34 percent higher than a year ago * Ford Motor Company tests show consumer habits have a larger impact on their fuel bill, costing consumers up to 38 percent of their fuel economy * Based on test results, consumers can save up to $1,056 annually, simply by improving driver habits and vehicle maintenance
According to AAA, gasoline prices are a record $2.93 nationally, 34 percent higher than a year ago. However, Ford Motor Company tests show consumers can recoup almost 40 percent of their possible fuel economy by using six painless fuel economy tips.
These tests show that inefficient driver habits alone can sap up to 21 percent of possible fuel economy. In addition, inefficient driver habits and vehicle maintenance can rob consumers of up to 38 percent of their possible fuel economy.
According to AAA, an estimated 31.4 million Americans will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of the summer vacation season. With so many travelers on the road this weekend, and countless more family road trips coming this summer, these simple tips can have a profound impact on both the family pocketbook and the national fuel consumption.
"There is a direct correlation between fuel economy and the driver's behavior and vehicle care," says Ford Hybrid Vehicle Engineer Stephen Hunter. "These tests illustrate just how much control the driver has over his or her fuel bill."
For the test, Ford evaluated two pair of vehicles over the course of 500 miles. The first test used two V-6 Ford Fusions, prepped identically, and concurrently driven over the same 500-mile route. The only variable was driver behavior, including the three most common habits that lead to decreased fuel economy: excessive idling, aggressive driving, and excessive air conditioning use. The efficient driver achieved a 21 percent increase in fuel economy over the inefficient driver -- from 26 mpg to 31.5 mpg, saving almost $10.00 over a 500 mile drive.
The second test used two four-wheel drive Ford Escape Hybrids. For evaluation, the drivers employed the same efficient and inefficient behaviors as with the Fusion test, driving concurrently over a 500-mile route. However, one vehicle was prepped to illustrate the three biggest vehicle care habits that impact fuel economy: incorrect tire pressure, dirty air filter, and an increased wind drag. Here, the efficient driver realized a 38 percent increase in fuel economy over the inefficient driver -- from 20.24 mpg to 27.88 mpg - saving more than $20.00 over 500 miles.
"This fuel economy test shows how much impact the consumers can have on their own fuel economy," says Hunter. "Although the amount of impact will differ on every vehicle, these six tips will benefit every driver, and every vehicle. And, if you extend that fuel economy over a full year, your gas savings can be significant."
Using the Fusion test results, a driver covering 500 miles a week for a year could save $523.64 in gas over the course of a year just by modifying driving style (total fuel cost multiplied by 52 weeks per year). Using the Escape Hybrid test results, improving driver habits and vehicle maintenance could save $1,056.12 per year.
For more fuel saving tips and statistics, consumers can go to http://www.drivingskillsforlife.com/ , and click on the Eco-Driving module.
Web site: http://www.ford.com/
http://www.drivingskillsforlife.com/
Hollywood Poker Raises $30,000 For 4th Annual Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend
HollywoodPoker.com, where the stars come to play, raised $30,000 for the 4th Annual Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend with 100% of the money benefiting four Austin, TX children charities. The Austin, TX event was held May 4-7, 2006. New to this year's event was the HollywoodPoker.com Texas Hold 'em Celebrity Challenge, helping the organization raise over $300,000 during the entire weekend. Quaid, who has called upon his friends at Hollywood Poker in the past to help raise money for the victims of Katrina, knew they would come through for him at this worthy event.
An elated Quaid said, "The Hollywood Poker event was a blast, we had so many people turn out, it was amazing. Next year we'll make it even bigger!"
More than 900 people attended the poker event where Brett Cullen ("The West Wing") was the highest placing celebrity in the tournament. Other celebrity participants for the weekend include Dennis Quaid, Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine), Topher Grace (In Good Company), Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac), Zac Efron ("Summerland"), Richard Schiff ("The West Wing"), Robert Loggia (Wild Seven), Rex Linn ("CSI: Miami"), Gordon Clapp ("NYPD Blue"), Gregory Itzin ("24"), Don Felder (The Eagles), Kyle Massey ("That's So Raven"), Otis Thorpe (NBA Player) and many others. Quaid was the big winner for the golf tournament.
About Dennis Quaid Weekend
The Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend presented by H-E-B was founded in 2003. This year's edition took place May 4-7, 2006, with over thirty Hollywood stars participating. All expenses of the Quaid Weekend are fully underwritten by sponsors, which allows 100% of the gross proceeds generated from the sale of event tickets and participant slots to directly benefit the following non- profit organizations: Any Baby Can, Austin Children's Shelter, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas; and the International Hospital for Children. While on location, nearly 20 years ago, filming the Big Easy in New Orleans, Dennis Quaid fell ill and was sent to the doctor who founded the International Hospital for Children, where he learned about the organization's role in servicing the need for children's medical care and assistance in third world countries; he has supported them ever since. The Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend was formed for the purpose of supporting both International and Austin, TX local children and is held every year in Austin, TX. The weekend raised approximately $340,000. Over $700,000 has been raised since 2003.
About HollywoodPoker.com
Hollywood Poker (http://www.hollywoodpoker.com/ ) is where the "Stars come to Play!" Our mission is to provide players with world-class, secure online poker entertainment with access to exclusive celebrity games. Hollywood Poker delivers the most technologically advanced online poker games, regular tournaments with huge prize pools, the industry's most professional and responsive player support team and vibrant and exciting game rooms and community message boards. At Hollywood Poker every player gets the star treatment. A membership to this exclusive club includes access to host your
own online tournaments, three weekly celebrity events, and several chances to win a free spot in the World Series of Poker.
Source: HollywoodPoker.com
Web site: http://www.hollywoodpoker.com/
Curt Schilling Enters a World of Fantasy During Red Sox-Yankees Series June 5, 6, 7
World Series MVP Debuts in the Virtual World of EverQuest(R) II As an Evil Villain and Helps to Raise Money for ALS Association
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online video games industry, today announced that Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling is about to debut in his favorite online video game, EverQuest(R) II, as an epically awesome, loot-dropping virtual bad guy who battles unwary players. And it's all for a good cause.
Schilling's video game character will reside within the online world of EverQuest II (EQII) for three days during the Yankees vs. Red Sox baseball series June 5, 6 and 7, 2006 at Yankee Stadium. During this time, anyone can register for and log into EverQuest II at www.battleals.com to challenge the evil Schilling character, appropriately named "Curt Schilling."
Every time a player defeats the virtual Schilling character, Sony Online Entertainment, creators of EverQuest II, will make a donation of $5 dollars (up to a maximum of $10,000) to the ALS Association, which assists patients with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. After the three-day baseball series, Curt's character will remain within the game as a high-powered enemy that characters will have to face later in the game. At the launch of the campaign on June 5th, Schilling's 10-year-old son, Gehrig (named after the legendary Yankee first baseman), will be one of the first to battle his virtual dad in-game.
In addition, SOE will encourage its hundreds of thousands of EQII players to type /ALS within the game in order to donate money to Curt's charity of choice, the ALS Association. This program will run for the entire three-day series and will give the SOE player community a chance to help with this worthy cause.
"ALS is about as devastating a disease as you can imagine," says Schilling. "It's relentless, ruthless, and devastates entire families as one member slowly perishes. With video games exploding in popularity, I can't think of a better place to reach the masses to raise awareness."
ALS is no stranger to baseball; it's more commonly known as Lou Gehrig disease, named after the New York Yankees infielder whose Hall of Fame career was cut short by the degenerative nerve disease. Lou Gehrig played in 2,130 consecutive games before ALS stopped him, a feat matched only by Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. Curt Schilling and wife Shonda have been involved in the fight against ALS for more than a decade. Shonda serves on the board of directors of ALS Association's (ALSA) Greater Philadelphia and Arizona Chapters and advocates for ALS patients with members of Congress.
Schilling may be one of today's top athletes in professional baseball, but off the field he spends time playing with his son in the award-winning Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) video game EverQuest II -- a fully realized 3D fantasy world of mythical creatures, magic spells, majestic landscapes, and fierce dragons -- since the game's creation.
EverQuest II offers players a huge online world where thousands of players come together for shared adventure and community. This online game sets the standard for graphical realism, as players are immersed in the game's exciting locales and dangerous lands. EverQuest II has a powerful epic storyline and gives players the potential to be hero or villain in a world that never ends.
"I enjoy the anonymity and the ability to interact on a personal level with people I wouldn't normally meet or know," Schilling said. "That, and the game is a riot. There's no end to it, the world is enormous, the possibilities are endless, and above all else, it's a place to go and relax amongst friends. What I can't get enough of is your ability to interact with real live people. The game's about teamwork, and knowing the right way to pick and play your class properly in such a way that it complements a group. That's why EverQuest has stayed so popular."
The 39-year-old baseball superstar has been a long time fan of SOE games, even contributing game reviews of expansion packs to gaming magazines, and is an avid web communicator, feeling this is the best way to connect with the video game fans.
About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest(R), EverQuest(R) II, Champions of Norrath(R), Untold Legends(TM), and PlanetSide(R), as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies(TM), SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development. SOE is owned by Sony Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.
SOE, the SOE logo, EverQuest and PlanetSide are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC. Untold Legends is a trademark of Sony Online Entertainment LLC. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.
Web site: http://www.battleals.com/
Rock & Republic Revs Into the 90th Anniversary of Indianapolis 500
Rock & Republic is pleased to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the Indy Racing League's elite Vision Racing. As the primary sponsor of car # 90 driven by standout rookie Townsend Bell in the 90th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, Rock & Republic's premium/luxe lifestyle edge brings an added cache to the greatest spectacle in auto racing. In addition to the #90 car, Rock & Republic branding will also dominate the Vision Racing #2 car driven by Tomas Sheckter and #20 car driven by Ed Carpenter.
Defining the meaning of the edgy rock 'n roll style, Rock & Republic is known for it's cutting-edge fashion and appeal to A-list celebrities. Along with Vision Racing, Rock & Republic plans on bringing that same Hollywood appeal to the Brickyard. Michael Ball wanted to set a precedent in the global fashion arena by being the first premium/luxe lifestyle brand to foray into the world of professional motor sports. This was an optimal partnership because the drivers are a prime reflection of Rock & Republic's core customers -- young, hip, edgy and cool.
Michael Ball was introduced to Tony George, the CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the owner of Vision Racing when he was on the racetrack. The two visionaries bonded and the result was an instant partnership. Both entities have garnered widespread acclaim in their respective areas of competition -- R&R as dominant player in the premium/luxe lifestyle market and Vision Racing as a leader in motor sports. The Rock & Republic sponsorship of Vision Racing's efforts is not just for fans who are passionate about racing, but for all individuals who command respect by being the best of the best. This collaboration elevates the demographics of the IRL audience to a wider appeal.
As the founder, chief designer and brand visionary of world renowned lifestyle brand Rock & Republic, Michael Ball believes in success through distinction. He possesses a passionate appreciation for all things sexy, sophisticated and exciting -- all of which are attributes of the dynamic world of auto racing. His innate business sense combined with his lifelong passion for fast cars fueled this natural extension of the Rock & Republic empire into the world of premium auto racing.
As a candidate for the JPMorgan Chase "Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year," Townsend Bell will be competing in his first Indianapolis 500 mile race and is excited about his new opportunity with Rock & Republic and Vision Racing. "We've developed a good friendship with Rock & Republic and obviously an exciting program in a short time," Bell reflected. "Rock & Republic is the ultimate brand in fashion and it's cool to have some attitude on the car."
As stated by Rock & Republic CEO and Head Designer Michael Ball, "What's cooler than an Indy car doing 200+ miles an hour around the Indianapolis motor speedway ... nothing."
Source: Rock & Republic
Golf Legend Fred Couples to Endorse ECCO Golf Shoes
Renowned Danish shoemaker ECCO announces the addition of Fred Couples to the growing list of international Tour stars that prefer the comfort, technology and style advantages of ECCO golf shoes.
As part of this multi-year endorsement agreement, Couples, 46, will wear ECCO golf shoes exclusively during all golf activities and be prominently featured in ECCO promotions.
"Feeling good is key to my game, and no one makes more comfortable golf shoes than ECCO," says Couples. "They also look great and fit perfectly with my style."
Currently No. 24 on the Official World Golf Ranking, career highlights for the 1992 Masters champion include 15 PGA Tour wins, five Ryder Cup competitions and five international tournament victories. In 2005, Couples recorded four top-10s, including a runner-up finish at The Memorial Tournament. He placed No. 38 on the PGA TOUR money list, earning more than $1.8 million in 22 events.
"Fred's fashion sense, tremendous playing record and worldwide appeal make him the perfect addition to our roster of staff players," says Jesper Thuen, Sponsorship and Event Manager, ECCO Golf.
Providing unequaled comfort and performance, all ECCO golf shoes are made using a direct-injection process unique to ECCO in the golf industry. Each model features water- and weather-resistant leather and extra cushion provided by PU-injected midsoles for superior shock absorption.
ECCO's Spring/Summer 2006 men's golf collection features four completely new styles alongside several returning favorites. Worn in competition by international Tours stars Colin Montgomerie, Thomas Bjorn, Aaron Baddeley and Thongchai Jaidee, the collection continues ECCO's 40-plus-year reputation for strikingly comfortable and fashionable shoes. Available in dynamic colors and inspired adaptations of traditional solid and two-tone saddle designs, ECCO men's golf shoes retail for $140 to $400.
About ECCO
ECCO Sko A/S is an international group founded in 1963 by Karl Toosbuy in Denmark. Today, ECCO is a global player in the dress and casual footwear industry, with direct subsidiaries in Europe, the Far East and North America, and partners worldwide. ECCO has more than 10,000 employees worldwide. ECCO USA, Inc. is based in Londonderry, New Hampshire. For more information: http://www.eccousa.com/, (800) 886-3226.
Source: ECCO
Web site: http://www.eccousa.com/
Kangaroo TV available in Formula One as early as 2006 - Kangaroo Media Inc. and Formula One Management announce an exclusive agreement to offer the Kangaroo TV service at all FIA Formula One World Championship(TM) events worldwide
Kangaroo Media Inc. and Formula One Management Limited announced today that they have entered into a six-year licence agreement to provide fans at all Formula One(TM) events with access to live race video, audio and data on Kangaroo Media's unique Kangaroo TV(TM) hand-held device.
The Kangaroo TV service represents a new direction in the way that F1 fans in the stands view races. It combines the race telecast with live in-car camera and audio channels, creating the ultimate spectator experience. Fans can follow their favourite drivers around the track on the Kangaroo TV screen, receive race telemetry and timing data, and listen to live driver and team communications, all from a device in the palm of their hands.
The Kangaroo TV service for Formula One is expected to debut on a limited basis at the 2006 U.S. Grand Prix, which will be held on July 2 at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Kangaroo is working closely with F1(TM) Teams and Formula One Management to help activate the program and rapidly build awareness among Formula One fans. The Kangaroo TV service will be the exclusive hand-held video and data service of its kind offered at Formula One events worldwide.
According to Bernie Ecclestone, of Formula One Management, "this is as good as it gets to catch all of the action. Kangaroo TV is a perfect fit with F1 as both are about technology and performance. This will provide a truly enhanced at-race experience."
"Being associated with this well-recognized global brand takes our product and our company to another level," said Alain Charette, Executive VP of Corporate Development who was instrumental in putting in place this unique agreement on behalf of Kangaroo Media. "We look forward to building a close and lasting relationship with Mr. Ecclestone and Formula One Management providing fans a new and enhanced way to live the F1 excitement at the circuit."
"The agreement with Formula One Management is a significant milestone for Kangaroo as we could not have asked for a better international and upscale brand to initiate our development outside of North America." said Marc Arseneau, President and CEO of Kangaroo Media and creator of the Kangaroo TV concept. "The financing we announced on March 22 was instrumental in enabling us to finalise this agreement and launch quickly; I believe this is the beginning of a remarkable endeavour for the Formula One fans, the F1 partners and for our shareholders."
The parties have contractually agreed not to disclose specific commercial terms pertaining to this agreement, as it could jeopardise competitive advantage to both companies. The agreement is subject to normal and usual commercial terms and conditions including reasonable guaranties, performance, breach and termination provisions.
About Kangaroo Media Inc.
Kangaroo Media Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Kangaroo TV and Kangaroo TV Europe Limited, gives fans the superstar experience by letting them create their own live-action sporting event. The agreement with Formula One is the third that Kangaroo Media has reached with motorsport properties, following its initial launch with Champ Car in 2003 and a highly successful rollout in NASCAR this year with partner Sprint Nextel, introducing the new NASCAR NEXTEL FanView device.
Kangaroo Media's unique, proprietary, patented and fan-tested technology delivers video, audio and data in real-time to each fan's hand-held Kangaroo TV device. Kangaroo Media, headquartered near Montreal, Canada, is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange TSX (www.tsx.com) as KTV. For more information, visit www.kangaroo.tv .
(The TSX does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.)
Source: KANGAROO MEDIA INC.
DOD
Fox Movie Channel Salutes the USO on Memorial Day
Fox Movie Channel announces that it will salute the United Service Organizations (USO) on Memorial Day, May 29. During an all day marathon of 20th Century Fox films honoring the men and women of the armed forces the network will air USO public service announcements.
The USO is a home away from home for the military, and operates more than 120 centers around the world, providing free e-mail and Internet access, international phone cards, libraries and travel assistance to U.S. military personnel and their families.
Chuck Saftler, General Manager of Fox Movie Channel and Executive Vice President of FX, commented "Fox Movie Channel is pleased to be working with the USO again after the great success of our VJ Day Remembrance last year. The network is proud to salute the work of the USO in assisting the men, women and families of our armed services. The USO PSAs will air with some of the finest films produced by 20th Century Fox studio dealing with the efforts of our men and women in uniform."
"Our fighting men and women inspired the creation of these classic Fox movies. In turn, these public service announcements from the USO inspire us to lend support to our men and women of the armed forces currently sacrificing for our country," added Adam Lewinson, Vice President of Programming for Fox Movie Channel.
"The USO is extremely grateful for the Fox Movie Channel's Memorial Day salute to the USO and its tribute to American service members," said USO president and CEO Edward A. Powell. "Memorial Day gives all Americans the chance to think about those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. Since 1941, the USO has reminded those serving far from home that the country supports them."
Fox Movie Channel is the only network presenting movies and original series for viewers who want to know everything about how Hollywood movies are made today. Exclusively airing 20th Century Fox films ranging from contemporary blockbusters to great titles from the studio's legendary library, movies are shown uncut, uninterrupted, commercial-free, and in their original theatrical form.
Fox Movie Channel's expanding slate of original programming explores the moviemaking process from script to screen. From behind-the-scenes interviews to unique red carpet coverage, unprecedented access allows Hollywood professionals to share the secrets of their craft with its viewers. Please visit our website at http://www.foxmoviechannel.com/ for more information.
About the USO: For 65 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO is supported by World Partners AT&T, Inc., BAE SYSTEMS, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Military Channel, S&K Sales Company and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Other corporate donors, including the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-0600), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO. For more information on the USO, please visit our Web site at http://www.uso.org/.
FOX MOVIE CHANNEL
Salute To The USO
May 29, 2006
Schedule
6:00AM ET AMERICAN GUERRILLA IN THE PHILIPPINES (1950)
8:00AM ET BACK DOOR TO HELL (1965) (Lbx)
9:30AM ET THE PURPLE HEART (1944)
11:30AM ET D-DAY THE SIXTH OF JUNE (1956) (Lbx)
1:30PM ET BACK DOOR TO HELL (1965)
3:00PM ET THE PURPLE HEART (1944)
5:00PM ET D-DAY THE SIXTH OF JUNE (1956) (Lbx)
7:00PM ET PATTON (1970) (Lbx)
10:00PM ET TORA! TORA! TORA! (1970) (Lbx)
12:30AM ET PATTON (1970) (Lbx)
3:30AM TORA! TORA! TORA! (1970) (Lbx)
Synopses
AMERICAN GUERRILLA IN THE PHILIPPINES (1950)
The story of American resistance to the Japanese after the fall of the Philippines during World War II. Starring Tyrone Power, Micheline Presle and Tom Ewell. Directed by Fritz Lang.
BACK DOOR TO HELL (1965) (Lbx)
American soldiers are stationed in the Philippines in the days before World War II. Starring Jack Nicholson, Jimmie Rogers and John Hackett. Directed by Monte Hellman.
THE PURPLE HEART (1944)
A tale of the courage and survival of several American servicemen captured by the Japanese and tried as war criminals. Starring Richard Conte, Dana Andrews and Farley Granger. Directed by Lewis Milestone.
D-DAY THE SIXTH OF JUNE (1956) (Lbx)
Before the Normandy invasion, a solider looks back on a love affair. Starring Robert Taylor, Richard Todd and Dana Wynter. Directed by Henry Koster.
PATTON (1970) (Lbx)
Oscar(R)-winning dramatization of the life and career of controversial General George S. Patton. Starring George C. Scott and Karl Malden. Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner.
TORA! TORA! TORA! (1970) (Lbx)
The events leading to the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor are dramatized with historical accuracy. Starring Martin Balsam, Jason Robards and Joseph Cotton. Directed by Richard Fleischer.
Source: USO
Web site: http://www.uso.org/
http://www.foxmoviechannel.com/
America Supports You: Spouse Career Expo Planned for Capital Region
The United Service Organizations of Metropolitan Washington and Joint Employment Transition Services will present their first Military Spouse Career Expo at the Sosa Recreation Center at Fort Belvoir, Va., June 17, USO officials announced. USO of Metropolitan Washington is a member of "America Supports You," a Defense Department program to showcase the nation's corporate and grassroots support to servicemembers and their families.
The expo is designed to empower military spouses through information, motivation and skill development leading to sound career choices. It will include presentations on federal jobs, self-employment and alternative careers, officials said. Debbie Kloppel, a military spouse who is founder and chief executive officer of Military Spouse Corporate Career Network, and Victoria Parnham, chief executive officer of the Virtual Business Owners Network, will be keynote speakers. The day also will include a "mini" job fair, including national and local employers, information on home-based businesses, and representatives from the Small Business Administration. Lunch is included. Attendance is free to any military spouse, but registration is required. To learn more about the expo, go to the USO of Metropolitan Washington's Web site at www.USOMetroDC.org. (Based on a release from USO Metropolitan Washington.)
General Urges Americans to Pause to Observe Memorial Day
A general assigned to the military Joint Staff urged the American public to take time this upcoming weekend to recognize Memorial Day and remember the men and women in uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. "I'd ask each of us in our own way, maybe public and maybe private, to take a few moments to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for America and for the oppressed around the world," said Army Brig. Gen. Carter Ham, deputy director of regional operations for the Joint Staff, told reporters at a Pentagon briefing yesterday. "From Concord and Yorktown to the streets of Baghdad, in the Philippines, in the mountains of Afghanistan, our nation's armed forces have always been there when they were needed," Ham said. "And today, we're honored by the service and sacrifice of so many of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines and their families. "Let's show them this Memorial Day how proud we are of them and how thankful we are," Ham said. "And let's never forget those who gave their all for our country."
A wide array of events around the country, from solemn ceremonies to parades to picnics, will commemorate Memorial Day. A universal observance will be the National Moment of Remembrance, at 3 p.m., local time, on Monday, May 29. The event, established by Congress, gives Americans the opportunity to come together for a single minute as an act of national unity to honor those who gave their lives in the country's service. Another major event will take place at Arlington National Cemetery, where Memorial Day was first observed, on May 30, 1868. Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed that first "Decoration Day" observation, as it was called, and flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington.
The name was changed to Memorial Day in 1882, and the day came to honor servicemembers of all wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday, held the last Monday in May. This year, as Arlington National Cemetery marks its 138th Memorial Day observation, honor guard members from every service will join soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Regiment "The Old Guard" tomorrow afternoon in placing a small American flag at all 220,000-plus gravesites. The flags will remain through the weekend, honoring the fallen during the May 29 ceremony in Arlington's Memorial Amphitheater and the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Elsewhere in the nation's capital, wreath-laying ceremonies are planned May 29 at the Navy Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. The National Memorial Day parade, also on May 29, will feature about 600 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guard members, as well as veterans units from all 50 states. This year, the parade is billed as an "America Supports You" program event. America Supports You is a Defense Department program that spotlights public and corporate support for the men and women serving in the U.S. armed forces.
A free Memorial Day concert on the U.S. Capitol grounds on May 28 will feature actors Joe Mantegna, Gary Sinise and Charles Durning and other guest artists, along with the National Symphony Orchestra. Chicago will host one of the country's biggest Memorial Day parades May 27, along with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Gen. John Logan Memorial. The Windy City's annual parade has grown steadily since its first, in 1871, with more than 10,000 participants in recent years, including bands, floats, military groups and veterans organizations, city officials said. This year, the parade will recognize the 20th anniversary of Chicago's Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Parade, held in June 1986, and the 230th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Elsewhere around the country, national cemeteries will host Memorial Day observances, and communities large and small will commemorate the day with a full range of events. Many will include active- and reserve-component troops. For example, Air Force aircraft will perform flyovers in more than 80 community commemorations, from small town parades like Sharon, Pa., to the annual Memorial Day ceremony in Honolulu.
America Supports You: National Memoral Day Parade Salutes Veterans
More than 600 servicemembers representing the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Army National Guard veterans of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom will take part in the National Memorial Day Parade here May 29. The parade is the first "national" public event in which recently deployed servicemembers will be welcomed home, according to event organizers. Patriotic activities such as the National Memorial Day Parade are one way Americans can show their support for men and women in uniform, said Roxie T. Merritt, spokeswoman for the Defense Department's "America Supports You" program, which highlights the support of the American people for members of the armed forces and their families. "Making troops aware of that support is an important contribution to the morale of our military members," she added. The one-mile parade, which begins at noon, will cover a route mainly down Constitution Ave. in the nation's capital.
Besides paying tribute to veterans from past and present campaigns, the parade will tribute honor active duty military personnel and all those who have died defending the United States. Notable veterans from World War I through Desert Storm will serve as grand marshals alongside grand marshal Gary Sinise, the Emmy Award-winning actor and film director who is often noted for his efforts in raising awareness about the sacrifices made by members of the military and paying homage to their work. Hundreds of veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the battles in Grenada and Somalia, and the Gulf War will also march in the parade, along with representatives from countries such as the United Kingdom, France and Canada. The National Memorial Day Parade is organized by a coalition of military, veteran and civic groups in association with the World War II Veterans Committee, the White House Commission Remembrance, and America Supports You. For more information on the parade, visit www.nationalmemorialdayparade.com
DoD Office of Inspector General Issues BRAC Notification Regarding Naval Air Station Oceana
DoD Office of Inspector General Issues BRAC Notification Regarding Naval Air Station Oceana _ The Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) has notified the President and Congress of its findings that the Commonwealth of Virginia and the municipal governments of Virginia Beach, Va. and Chesapeake, Va. have not met all the requirements of the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) law regarding Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana. The DoD OIG review was part of the BRAC-directed process to potentially re-align Navy East Coast Master Jet Base functions.
The 2005 BRAC law required the DoD OIG to certify to the President and Congress by June 1, 2006, whether specified actions had been taken by commonwealth and municipal governments by the end of March 2006. The 2005 BRAC law specified six actions required by the commonwealth of Virginia and municipal governments. Among them was the enactment of "state and local legislation and ordinances to establish a program to condemn and purchase all the incompatible use property located within the Accident Potential Zone 1 for NAS Oceana," known as BRAC criterion 2. In the report the DoD OIG found "the commonwealth of Virginia and the city of Virginia Beach took significant actions to address the criterion; however, the actions did not satisfy BRAC criterion 2." The state of Florida, in accordance with the 2005 BRAC law, now has the opportunity to meet conditions that would allow the realignment from NAS Oceana, Va. to Cecil Field, Fla., of "all of the Navy F/A-18 strike fighter wings, aviation operations and support schools, maintenance support, training and any other additional support activities the Navy deems necessary and appropriate to support the operations of the Master Jet Base." Florida would be required to complete actions specified in the 2005 BRAC law by December 31, 2006.
The DoD OIG certification on whether or not those actions have been completed would be due to the President and oversight committees of Congress by June 1, 2007. "The Department of Defense Report on the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission's Report Recommendation #193 Regarding Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia" is posted at http://www.dodig.mil/Audit/reports/FY06/06-091.pdf [http://www.dodig.mil/Audit/reports/FY06/06-091.pdf] as report number D-2006-091.
NEWS
NEW SPACE OBSERVATIONS POISED TO SAVE LIVES FROM FLOODS, LANDSLIDES
Using NASA's advanced Earth-observing satellites, scientists have discovered a new opportunity to build early detection systems that might protect thousands from floods and landslides. This potential breakthrough in disaster monitoring and warning links satellite observations of soil type, vegetation and land slope with observations of rainfall, rivers and topography. "Flood and landslides are the most widespread natural hazards on Earth, responsible for thousands of deaths and billions of dollars in property damage every year," said Bob Adler, project scientist for the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., and lead scientist of one of four projects that share a similar focus. "Between 1985 and 2000 over 300,000 people lost their lives to flooding and their associated landslides. Currently, no system exists at either a regional or a global scale to monitor rainfall conditions that may trigger these disasters." "Our use of space as a vantage point to better understand floods and landslides will enable agencies and other public officials charged with doing so to actually apply what we're learning in ways that will make a tangible difference in a lot of lives all over the world," said Yang Hong, a research scientist at Goddard and lead scientist of one of the research projects. The research used data from several NASA satellites -- the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, Aqua, the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, QuikSCAT and Earth Observing-1 -- and NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental satellites. The havoc of landslides and floods is felt most acutely in parts of the world without extensive flood and rainfall monitoring ground networks. Scientists approached the study of how satellite remote sensing can be applied to create flood and landslide detection from several angles.
Space-based remote sensing allows scientists to look at the whole earth from above, improving their understanding of how Earth's system components behave and interact with each other. Robert Brakenridge and his colleagues at Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., are using satellite microwave sensors to estimate water discharge from rivers by measuring almost daily changes in river widths. "This month much of New England suffered from its worst flooding since 1936, causing governors in several states to declare states of emergency," said Brakenridge. "Satellite observations can be absolutely essential in lessening the severity on the local economies and possible injuries in such future occurrences if they can be galvanized to create more reliable warning systems." Kwabena Asante, a senior scientist at U.S. Geological Survey in Sioux Falls, S.D., led research that puts forward an innovative method of mapping floods around the globe using a combination of data from NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission. This new development could offer a practical solution to the significant challenge of creating cost-effective early warning systems particularly needed in data scarce, rural areas. Researchers are presenting findings today during the American Geophysical Union meeting in Baltimore, Md. For information, images, and research abstracts from today's news briefing, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/springagu_2006.html
NASA SET TO WELCOME EUROPEAN SPACE STATION COMPONENT
The European Space Agency's research laboratory, designated Columbus, will arrive at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30. There it will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. NASA will hold a series of media events from May 31 to June 2 in conjunction with the lab's arrival. Columbus is being flown to Kennedy from its manufacturer in Germany. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Media activities for the lab's arrival include the following (all times are EDT): May 31: Photo opportunity from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Shuttle Landing Facility, featuring the opening of the aircraft and the offloading of Columbus. June 1: Photo opportunity from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. at the Space Station Processing Facility, featuring Columbus being lifted into the cargo element work stand. . June 2: NASA will welcome Columbus during a ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Space Station Processing Facility. The ceremony participants are: -- William Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Space Operations -- Alan Thirkettle, International Space Station program manager, European Space Agency -- Jim Kennedy, director, Kennedy Space Center -- Russell Romanella, director, International Space Station and Payloads Processing
VATICAN NEWS
- Peter: School of Faith Is Not a Triumphal March
- Prayers for the Pope's Apostolic Trip to Poland
- Warsaw, First Stop on Benedict XVI's Trip to Poland
- Notice
PETER: SCHOOL OF FAITH IS NOT A TRIUMPHAL MARCH
- In his general audience today, Benedict XVI continued his catechesis dedicated to the personality of the Apostles, focussing again on the figure of Peter. The audience was held in St. Peter's Square and attended by 35,000 people.
The Pope began by recalling the miracles of the loaves and the fishes, which Christ later interpreted "not in the sense of regality over Israeli, in the way the crowd had hoped, but in the sense of the giving of self. ... Jesus announced the cross, and with the cross the Eucharistic bread: His absolutely new way of being king."
"We can understand that these words of the Master, as all His behavior, were difficult for people to accept, even for the disciples," said the Holy Father. Peter's faith, he added, "was still a nascent faith, a developing faith. It would acquire true fullness only through his experience of the events of Easter. Yet it was already faith, open to a greater reality, above all because it was not faith in something, but faith in Someone: in Him, in Christ."
The Holy Father went on: "Nonetheless, Peter's impetuous generosity did not safeguard him from the risks of human weakness. ... The moment came in which even he gave in to fear and crumbled. He betrayed the Master. The school of faith is not a triumphal march but a road beset with suffering and with love, with trials and with faithfulness, to be renewed day after day.
"Peter, who had promised absolute faithfulness, knew the bitterness and humiliation of denial; the proud man learns the cost of humility at his own expense. ... When the mask finally fell and he understood the truth in his weak believing-sinner's heart, he burst into liberating tears of penance, after which he was ready for his mission."
One day, on the shores of Lake Tiberias, "that mission was entrusted to him by the Risen Jesus," as St. John recounts. The dialogue between Peter and Jesus, the Pope observed, "contains a very significant play of verbs. In Greek, the verb 'fileo' expresses the love of friendship, tender but not total, while the verb 'agapao' means unreserved, complete and unconditional love. The first time, Jesus asks Peter: 'Simon, do you love Me? (agapas-me?).'
"Prior to his experience of betrayal, the Apostle would certainly have replied: 'I love You (agapo-se).' Now that he has known the bitter sadness of infidelity, the drama of his own weakness, he simply says: 'Lord, I love you (filo-se),' in other words, 'I love you with my poor love.' ... Simon had understood that his poor love, the only one of which he was capable, was enough for Jesus. ... We could almost say that Jesus had adapted Himself to Peter, rather than Peter to Jesus."
Pope Benedict continued: "It was precisely this divine adaptation that gave hope to the disciple. ... From that day, Peter followed the Master with a specific awareness of his own frailty. But this knowledge did not discourage him; he knew he could count on the presence of the Risen One at his side."
He concluded: "From the ingenuous enthusiasm of the outset, passing through the painful experience of denial and the tears of conversion, Peter came to trust himself to the Jesus Who had adapted Himself to his own poor capacity to love. It was a long journey that made him a reliable witness, because constantly open to the action of the Spirit in Jesus. Peter would describe himself as 'a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed'."
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PRAYERS FOR THE POPE'S APOSTOLIC TRIP TO POLAND
At the end of today's general audience, held in St. Peter's Square, the Pope mentioned his forthcoming apostolic trip to Poland, "homeland of the beloved John Paul II." There, he said, "I will visit the places of his life and of his priestly and episcopal ministry."
After giving thanks to God for "the opportunity of fulfilling a desire I have long held in my heart," the Holy Father invited those present "to accompany me with your prayers on this apostolic trip which I undertake with great hope, and which I entrust to the Virgin Mary, so venerated in Poland. May she guide my steps that I may confirm the beloved Catholic community of Poland in the faith, encouraging it to face the challenges of the present time with incisive evangelical action."
"May Mary," he concluded, "ensure that the entire nation is granted a renewed springtime of faith and civil progress, while conserving the memory of my great predecessor."
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WARSAW, FIRST STOP ON BENEDICT XVI'S TRIP TO POLAND
Tomorrow, Thursday, Benedict XVI will leave the Vatican on an apostolic trip to Poland, the second of his pontificate following last August's visit to Germany. In Poland, from May 25 to 28, he will visit Warsaw, Czestochowa, Krakow, Wadowice, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, and Auschwitz.
The Holy Father will depart from Rome's Fiumicino airport at 8.40 a.m., arriving in Warsaw at 11 a.m. Following the welcome ceremony at Warsaw's Okecie airport, he will travel by popemobile to the city's cathedral of St. John - which John Paul II visited five times - where he will hold a meeting with clergy.
Following lunch at the archbishop's palace of Miodowa, Benedict XVI will go to the apostolic nunciature. At 5.45 p.m. he is due to pay a courtesy visit to the president of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, in the presidential palace.
Leaving the presidential palace at 6.45 p.m., he will travel to the Lutheran church of the Most Holy Trinity where he is due to meet with delegates of the seven Churches form the Polish Ecumenical Council - established in 1946 by the Lutheran pastor, Zygmunt Mitchelis - and with representatives of other religions.
The Lutheran church of the Most Holy Trinity was built in 1781 in a poor area on the outskirts of Warsaw. In 1939, during the Second World War, its wooden dome was destroyed, to be replaced some years later with a steel one. However, the communist authorities prohibited the use of the church as a place of worship and banned the placement of a cross atop the dome. The building was used as a concert hall. At the end on the Stalinist era, in 1956, the evangelical community was able to recoup its church.
Following the ecumenical meeting, the Pope will return to the apostolic nunciature, where he will spend the night.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
The Holy Father:
- Appointed Fr. Hugo Manuel Salaberry S.J., president of the Higher Council of Catholic Education, as bishop of Azul (area 64,210, population 469,000, Catholics 418,000, priests 71, permanent deacons 21, religious 120), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in San Andres de Giles, Argentina in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1985. He succeeds Bishop Emilio Bianchi di Carcano, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
- Appointed Bishop Diomedes Espinal de Leon, auxiliary of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, as bishop of Mao-Monte Cristi (area 4,841, population 400,000, Catholics 385,000, priests 35, permanent deacons 6, religious 78), Dominican Republic. He succeeds Bishop Jeronimo Tomas Abreu Herrera, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
- Appointed Bishop Roberto Rodriguez of Villa Maria, Argentina, as bishop of La Rioja (area 92,100, population 313,365, Catholics 278,895, priests 37, religious 67), Argentina.
- Appointed Msgr. Oscar Vicente Ojea, pastor of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Buenos Aires, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Buenos Aires (area 203, population 2,763,000, Catholics 2,530,000, priests 868, permanent deacons 4, religious 2,340), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in Buenos Aires in 1946 and ordained a priest in 1972.
- Appointed Fr. Broderick Sonsuaco Pabillo S.D.B., of the clergy of the apostolic vicariate of Puerto Princesa, Philippines, pastor of the parish of St. Ezekiel Moreno in Puerto Princesa City, as auxiliary of Manila (area 117, population 2,993,000, Catholics 2,719,781, priests 482, permanent deacons 2, religious 1,138), Philippines. The bishop-elect was born in Victoria City, Philippines in 1955 and ordained a priest in 1982.
- Appointed Fr. Peter Stumpf S.D.B., pastor and dean of Rakovnik, as auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of Maribor (area 7,418, population 824,855, Catholics 702,916, priests 397, permanent deacons 4, religious 229), Slovenia. The bishop-elect was born in Beltinci, Slovenia in 1962, and ordained a priest in 1990
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NOTICE
- As previously advised, there will be no VIS service tomorrow, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord and a holiday in the Vatican. VIS will resume on Friday, May 26.
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Familias, Aquí y Allá, el nuevo programa de Latinoamerica Television en los E.E.U.U.
Latinoamérica Televisión, un canal líder de la televisión latinoamericana en Estados Unidos, lanzará un nuevo programa que aborda el tema migratorio desde una perspectiva muy diferente.
Los fenómenos migratorios han estado presentes a lo largo de toda la historia. En las últimas décadas, más de 20 millones de latinos han traspasado las fronteras nacionales, sociales y culturales, en pos de cumplir sus sueños y sus aspiraciones, siendo Estados Unidos el receptor de las tres cuartas partes de los migrantes de toda la región. Este éxodo masivo ha generado repercusiones no sólo en lo que a estructuras socioeconómicas refiere, sino que ha desestabilizado el núcleo familiar convencional.
En el marco de este creciente fenómeno, Latinoamérica Televisión te cuenta de forma íntima cómo lo viven los protagonistas. Un camino que recorre experiencias de familias y que nos introduce en los más variados contextos de vida, exponiendo diversos puntos de vista de una situación común a muchos; la distancia entre seres queridos.
Así nace "Familias, Aquí y Allá:" un programa que no tiene más intención que poner de manifiesto las distintas caras de la migración, haciendo un especial énfasis en las palabras dichas desde el sentimiento y la emoción. A través de un estilo periodístico-documental logramos llegar directo al corazón de diez familias de origen latino.
"Familias, Aquí y Allá": trata de familias que comparten el haberse quedado en su país y que sufren en carne propia la partida de alguno de los suyos, enfocando por primera vez una realidad poco conocida: como viven los familiares y amigos de aquellos que emigraron.
De la mano del conductor Valentín Rodríguez Bausero y junto a un panel de calificados especialistas en el tema, analizaremos durante 2 horas, las más variadas realidades de manera individual, teniendo en cuenta el enfoque social, cultural y emocional de cada caso.
Inaugurando una perspectiva distinta desde donde abordar el fenómeno migratorio, LATINOAMERICA TELEVISION te propone conocer a las familias de quienes emigraron. Esta vez los protagonistas de la historia son aquellos que sufren la ida y añoran el regreso de sus seres más queridos ¿Cómo vivieron la partida? ¿Qué sentimientos subyacen? ¿Cómo sobrellevan el día a día? ¿Cuáles son las expectativas familiares?
Domingo 28 de mayo, 8 p.m. LATINOAMERICA TELEVISIÓN, a través del canal 430 de DIRECTV PARA TODOS en los Estados Unidos, estrena; Familias, Aquí y Allá. Una manera de acercarnos, de encontrarnos y de compartir historias que son de toda Latinoamérica ... son de todos nosotros. Son historias de familia.
Repeticiones 29 de mayo 1 a.m. y 2 p.m
Latinoamérica Televisión emite desde el pasado 10 de enero para un millón de hogares a través de Directv Para Todos y otros sistemas de cable en los territorios de Estados Unidos, Puerto Rico y toda América Latina. Su programación está integrada con los contenidos de prestigiosos medios del continente como Canal 13 de Chile de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Rede Globo de Brasil, Canal 12 de Uruguay, Canal 4 Telefuturo de Paraguay entre otros.
LOVE(TM) dos Beatles(TM) no Cirque du Soleil(R)
Diretor - Dominic Champagne, Diretores Musicais - Sir George Martin & Giles Martin
Mídia do mundo todo viu pela primeira vez uma apresentação da mais recente produção do Cirque du Soleil, LOVE, em parceria com a Apple Corps Ltd., que homenageia a herança musical dos Beatles. Uma press conference foi realizada hoje no teatro construído customizado no Mirage em Las Vegas.
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Os diretores musicais Sir George Martin e seu filho Giles Martin trabalham com o acervo completo das gravações dos Beatles para criarem o componente musical para LOVE. Eles estavam presentes na press conference de hoje para descreverem a sua abordagem sem precedentes das músicas para uma produção no palco. "Acho que conseguiremos transmitir uma sensação verdadeiramente dramática com a música, o público vai sentir como se realmente estivesse dentro do teatro com a banda. As pessoas vão ficar mesmo surpresas com o que vão ouvir!", disse Giles Martin.
Usando as fitas master nos estúdios de Abbey Road, Sir George e Giles criaram um fundo musical exclusivo para o LOVE. "Queríamos ter certeza de que há músicas boas e de sucesso no show, mas não queríamos que fosse um catálogo das 'melhores'", disse Sir George Martin. "Queríamos também acrescentar algumas músicas interessantes e não tão conhecidas dos Beatles e usar fragmentos de músicas. O show será uma experiência mágica sem igual".
Dominic Champagne, que dirigiu e escreveu o conceito original para o show, explicou sua visão para LOVE. "Eu quis criar uma experiência dos Beatles ao invés de uma estória dos Beatles, levando o público em uma jornada emocional ao invés de uma jornada cronológica", disse Dominic Champagne.
LOVE reunirá a mágica do Cirque du Soleil com o espírito e a paixão dos Beatles para criar uma experiência de entretenimento brilhante, profunda e poderosa. O show captura a essência do amor que John, Paul, George e Ringo inspiraram durante a sua extraordinária aventura juntos.
LOVE relembra o espírito exuberante e irreverente dos Beatles. "Quando embarcamos nesta aventura extraordinária em 2002", disse Gilles Ste-Croix, criador do conceito do show e diretor de criação, "queríamos criar uma evocação tridimensional da música dos Beatles sem qualquer ligação com o tempo. Inspirados na poesia das letras, desenvolvemos um conceito preliminar que explorou o conteúdo das músicas em uma série de cenas com a participação de pessoas reais e imaginárias". Um elenco internacional de 60 artistas canaliza energia jovem e pura acentuada por performance no espaço, esportes radicais e dança urbana com estilo livre.
LOVE será apresentado em um teatro construído customizado no Mirage com assentos de 360 graus e projeções de vídeo de alta definição com imagens digitais móveis de 30 metros. O sistema de som 'surround' panorâmico vai envolver o público que apreciará as músicas dos Beatles como nunca antes...
A Apple Corps Ltd. pretende lançar o álbum The LOVE através da EMI Music no final deste ano.
Os espetáculos de pré-lançamento de LOVE começarão no dia 2 de junho. A première de gala será realizada na sexta-feira, 30 de junho de 2006. LOVE será apresentado exclusivamente no Mirage em Las Vegas. Este empreendimento artístico conjunto marca a primeira vez que a empresa dos Beatles, a Apple Corps Ltd., concordou com uma parceria teatral importante. O projeto nasceu de uma amizade pessoal e admiração mútua entre o falecido George Harrison e o fundador do Cirque du Soleil Guy Laliberte.
Inspiração: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr.
Equipe de Criação do Cirque du Soleil:
Guy Laliberte - Orientador, Criador do Conceito do Show
Dominic Champagne - Diretor e Redator, Criador do
Conceito do Show
Gilles Ste-Croix - Diretor de Criação, Criador do
Conceito do Show
Chantal Tremblay - Diretor Associado de Criação
Jean Rabasse - Designer de Cenário e do Teatro
Philippe Guillotel - Designer de Roupas
Jonathan Deans - Designer de Som
Yves Aucoin - Designer de Iluminação
Francis Laporte - Designer de Projeção de Vídeo
Hansel Cereza e Dave St-Pierre - Coreógrafos
Guy St-Amour - Designer de Acrobacia e Içamento
Daniel Cola - Designer de Performances Acrobáticas
Nathalie Gagne - Designer de Maquilagem
Patricia Ruel - Designer de Acessórios
Michael Curry - Designer de Bonecos
Criadores Convidados:
Andre Simard - Designer de Acrobacia no Espaço
Alexis Martin - Consultor Dramaturgo
Francois Perusse - Designer de Audioclipes Cômicos
Representando a Apple Corps Ltd.:
Sir George Martin - Diretor Musical
Giles Martin - Diretor Musical
Neil Aspinall - Produtor Executivo
Preços dos Ingressos:
*US$150, US$125, US$99, US$69
Todos os espetáculos de pré-lançamento* terão um desconto de 25 por cento.
*Os espetáculos de pré-lançamento para LOVE começarão no dia 2 de junho e irão até 29 de junho. Durante esses espetáculos, a equipe de criação está nos estágios realmente finais da produção. A reação e participação do público são etapas importantes neste processo. A direção artística de LOVE se reserva o direito de interromper o espetáculo para fazer ajustes quando necessário.
HORÁRIO DO SHOW:
Os espetáculos de pré-lançamento serão apresentados todas as noites às 19 horas. Haverá também espetáculos às 22h30 em datas limitadas. Favor consultar a programação mais atual dos shows no http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/. A programação está sujeita a mudança sem aviso prévio.
Após o período de pré-lançamento, LOVE será apresentado de quinta a segunda sem show nas terças e quartas. A partir de 1o de julho, haverá dois shows por noite às 19h30 e 22h30.
Online: http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/, http://www.thebeatles.com/ ou http://www.mirage.com/.
Pessoalmente: Na bilheteria do LOVE no Mirage ou em qualquer bilheteria do MGM MIRAGE em Las Vegas.
Propriedade das marcas comerciais: Apple Corps Limited para The Beatles (letra e design), Cirque du Soleil para Cirque du Soleil (letra e design) e The Cirque Apple Creation Partnership for LOVE (letra e design). Marcas comerciais usadas com licença.
Directivos de BellSouth Forman Parte de la Lista de Hispanos Más Importantes en Tecnología y Negocios
Paulino Barros y Carlos Muñiz fueron reconocidos por su liderazgo y extraordinaria labor en el campo de la tecnología
BellSouth (NYSE:BLS) anunció hoy que Paulino R. Barros Jr., director de producto y mercados de ventas al detal y Carlos Muñiz, vicepresidente senior de redes para operaciones en la región Atlántica, fueron seleccionados para la prestigiosa nominación de los 100 Hispanos Más Importantes en Tecnología y Negocios para 2006. La lista anual es recopilada y publicada por la revista Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology.
Según la publicación, los homenajeados en esta lista anual incluyen muchos de los directivos, gerentes e investigadores hispanos de la nación con mayores logros alcanzados en el sector, el gobierno y la academia. Estos son mujeres y hombres que han demostrado liderazgo en un frente muy amplio, además de en el lugar de trabajo, en sus comunidades. HE&IT reconoce las contribuciones realizadas diariamente por los miles de hispanos en trabajos relacionados con la tecnología. El evento que rendirá homenaje a los 100 Hispanos Más Importantes se realizará el viernes, 15 de septiembre de 2006, durante la Minorities in Research Science Conference (Conferencia de Minorías en las Ciencias Investigativas) en Baltimore, Maryland.
Acerca de BellSouth Corporation
BellSouth Corporation es una empresa de comunicaciones de calibre Fortune 500 con sede en Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth tiene control compartido y un 40 por ciento de participación en Cingular Wireless, el proveedor de servicios móviles de voz y datos más grande de la nación con 55.8 millones de clientes.
BellSouth, con el respaldo de su galardonado servicio al cliente, ofrece el paquete de servicios de voz y datos más completo e innovador disponible en el mercado. A través de BellSouth Answers(R), los clientes de los sectores residencial y de empresas pequeñas pueden unir en paquete su servicio local y de larga distancia con el acceso a Internet de discado o de DSL de alta velocidad, televisión vía satélite y servicio de Cingular(R) Wireless. En el sector empresarial, BellSouth ofrece soluciones de interconexión de redes de voz y datos locales y de larga distancia confiables y seguras. BellSouth también ofrece servicios de publicidad de directorio impresa y en línea a través de The Real Yellow Pages(R) y YELLOWPAGES.COM(TM) de BellSouth.
BellSouth considera que fomentar un ambiente de integración y la diversidad son factores decisivos para mantener una ventaja competitiva en el mercado global actual. Mayor información acerca de BellSouth se puede encontrar en http://www.bellsouth.com/ .
Acerca de Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology magazine
La revista Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology es una de las publicaciones más antiguas y de mayor prestigio del sector. Por más de 20 años, Career Communications Group ha sido un líder global en la producción de conferencias y programas de alcance comunitario incluyendo The Black Engineer of the Year Awards, National Women of Color Technology Awards, Minorities in Research and Science Conference, Black Family Technology Awareness Week, La Familia Technology Week y Native American Technology Journey. CCG también es la editora de las revistas US Black Engineer & Information Technology, Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology, Women of Color and Science Spectrum. Para mayor información sobre la conferencia y la lista de los homenajeados, visite, http://www.ccgmag.com/.
Source: BellSouth Corporation
Gemplus y Actimagine colaboran mediante su amplio contenido multimedia con Multimedia SIM
Actimagine ha anunciado hoy su colaboración con Gemplus destinada a desarrollar contenidos de vídeo de alta densidad para tarjetas Multimedia SIM. Durante la última edición de 3GSM, Actimagine y Gemplus demostraron cómo almacenar y reproducir películas de larga duración usando tarjetas SIM de 128MB.
La tarjeta Multimedia SIM de Gemplus renfuerza el valor añadido a los operadores móviles y a sus clientes gracias a la mejora y a la disponibilidad de archivos multimedia, permitiendo una gestión de los servicios móviles directamente vía la tarjeta SIM, además de permitir almacenar y gestionar todo el contenido multimedia y los datos personales de la SIM. En la actualidad están disponibles tarjetas de 128MB y 256MB SIM.
El codificador de Actimagine, Mobiclip, ofrece la mejor calidad de vídeo disponible en el mercado actualmente sobre terminales móviles. Películas de larga duración, vídeo clips y otro tipo de contenido disponiendo de una resolucion de hasta 30 fotogramas por segundo, se pueden almacenar en las tarjetas de 128MB y 256MB SIM de Gemplus.
Adoptado por los principales fabricantes y editores de contenido, Mobiclip dispone de una pantalla completa y vídeo de alta calidad, utiliza poca potencia de la CPU, además de aumentar de forma considerable la vida de la pilas en los terminales móviles. El aumento de la vida de las pilas gracias a los codificadores de vídeo de bajo consumo de Actimagine evitan el reparto entre las comunicaciones y la utilización multimedia de los teléfonos. Los usuarios podrán disfrutar de varias horas de utilización, realizando y recibiendo llamadas. Previamente, se pueden cargar contenidos en la tarjeta SUM asi como descargarlos o mejorarlos de forma directa, dependiendo de su tamaño.
" [...] la combinación de Mobiclip y Multimedia SIM de Gemplus crea importantes oportunidades empresariales para los operadores móviles. Disponer de una alta calidad de vídeo en el mercado elevado facilitará a los operadores a aumentar su base de suscriptores, el tráfico de datos y su ARPU a través de las ventas de contenido, de actividades promocionales y de segmentación de mercado," afirmó André PAGNAC, consejero delegado de Actimagine.
Actimagine avanza en el area de vídeo en móviles. Actimagine ha patentado Mobiclip(TM), su nueva tecnología de reducido consumo de software de codificación de vídeo. Mobiclip proporciona una mejor calidad de vídeo, al mismo tiempo que reduce el consumo. Mobiclip ha recibido la aceptación y el respaldo de los principales estudios de contenido para proporcionar películas de longitud completa, pantalla completa a 30 fotogramas por segundo en 128MB. Gracias a Mobiclip, las pilas estándares permiten más de 7 horas de reproducción de vídeo.La sede de Actimagine está en París (Francia). La compañía dispone de filiales en el extranjero, con sedes en Tokio y Singapur. Entre los clientes de referencia se encuentran Nintendo Co., Ltd, Sony Pictures Digital o Fisher Price.
Mobiclip(TM), su nueva tecnología de reducido consumo de software de codificación de vídeo. Mobiclip proporciona una mejor calidad de vídeo, al mismo tiempo que reduce el consumo. Mobiclip ha recibido la aceptación y el respaldo de los principales estudios de contenido para proporcionar películas de longitud completa, pantalla completa a 30 fotogramas por segundo en 128MB. Gracias a Mobiclip, las pilas estándares permiten más de 7 horas de reproducción de vídeo.La sede de Actimagine está en París (Francia). La compañía dispone de filiales en el extranjero, con sedes en Tokio y Singapur. Entre los clientes de referencia se encuentran Nintendo Co., Ltd, Sony Pictures Digital o Fisher Price.www.actimagine.com - www.mobiclip.com
Mainland China and Taiwan's Exports of Broadband Products to Top 54 Million Units Worth US$2 Billion in 2006 - up 55 Percent From 2005
Global Sources' (NASDAQ:GSOL) China Sourcing Report: Broadband Communication shows mainland China and Taiwan are expected to export over 54 million broadband communication products in 2006 worth over US$2 billion -- up 55 percent year- on-year.
Mainland China is expected to ship 22.3 million units in 2006, while Taiwan is projected to export 31.8 million units.
Report publisher, Mark Saunderson, said: "Broadband device manufacturing in mainland China and Taiwan relies heavily on exports. In 2006, sales of broadband products are expected to reach about US$2.4 billion, with exports accounting for at least 85 percent, or more than US$2 billion."
Despite growing demand, manufacturers say export prices will fall in 2006.
Among Taiwan makers, 64 percent expect prices to fall between 10 and 20 percent. Among mainland China makers, 84 percent said prices will remain stable or drop by up to 5 percent in the months ahead.
The survey also shows:
-- Taipei and Hsinchu are the main manufacturing hubs in Taiwan
-- Shenzhen and Dongguan are the key production centers in mainland
China
-- Taiwan makers are developing voice and multimedia over DSL/cable
products, while Mainland suppliers are focusing on faster speed and
extended transmission distances
-- Makers serve brands and customers worldwide including Dell,
Fujitsu, Italy Telecom, LG, Linksys, Lucent, Siemens and Thomson
China Sourcing Report: Broadband Communication examines manufacturing, technology and pricing trends for cable and digital subscriber line (DSL) modems, gateways, routers, optical networking equipment and related products. It profiles 27 leading suppliers in mainland China and Taiwan, with specifications for 72 best-selling export products.
Global Sources' China Sourcing Reports provide proprietary market information from extensive factory visits and in-person interviews with China manufacturers. They help buyers make better-informed purchasing decisions.
China Sourcing Reports are part of Global Sources' sourcing and product information services, which include Global Sources trade magazines, Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com/ ), Global Sources Direct ( http://www.globalsourcesdirect.com/ ) and the China Sourcing Fairs ( http://www.chinasourcingfair.com/ ). For more information, visit http://www.corporate.globalsources.com/ .
About Global Sources
Global Sources is a leading business-to-business (B2B) media company and a primary facilitator of two-way trade with Greater China. It provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers.
The company helps its community of more than 484,000 active buyers to source more profitably from complex, overseas supply markets. With the goal of providing as many effective ways as possible to advertise, market and sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in 230 countries.
The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing services in the industries it serves. Suppliers using its four primary channels -- online marketplaces, magazines, trade shows and direct online sales -- are supported by advertising creative, education programs and online content management applications.
Global Sources delivers information on 1.6 million products and more than 130,000 suppliers annually through 10 leading online marketplaces and nine monthly magazines, more than 100 sourcing research reports, and 14 trade shows including six China Sourcing Fairs. Suppliers receive more than 6.6 million sales leads annually from buyers through Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com/ ) alone. Global Sources Direct is the company's new initiative that helps suppliers sell online.
In mainland China, Global Sources has a 25-year track record and 1,400 team members in 44 locations. Its services are backed by 35 years experience as a trade magazine publisher, 14 years as an organizer of trade shows, and 10 years as an online marketplace operator.
Web sites: http://www.globalsources.com
http://www.globalsourcesdirect.com
http://www.chinasourcingfair.com
http://www.corporate.globalsources.com
http://www.globalsources.com/astj/broadbandcommunication
Over Three-Quarters of All U.S. Adults - An Estimated 172 million - Go Online
-- According to the latest Harris Poll, the number of adults who are online at home, in the office, at school, library or other locations continues to grow at a steady rate. In the past year, the number of online users has reached an estimated 172 million(1), a five percent increase.
In research among 2,032 U.S. adults surveyed by telephone in February and April 2006, Harris Interactive(R) found that 77 percent of adults are now online, up from 74 percent in February/April 2005, 66 percent in the spring of 2002, 64 percent in 2001 and 57 percent in spring of 2000. When Harris Interactive first began to track Internet use in 1995, only nine percent of adults reported they went online.
Internet access increases at home and at work
The proportion of adults who are now online at home has risen to 70 percent, up from 66 percent in 2005 and 55 percent in the spring of 2002. The percentage of those online at work has not really changed (35% now, 36% in 2005) yet is still up from 30 percent in the spring of 2002. Adults who are online at a location other than their home or work also remains steady at 22 percent (21% in 2005, 19% in the spring of 2002).
The demographic profile of Internet users in the United States looks like the country as a whole
As Internet penetration rises, the demographic profile of Internet users continues to look more like that of the nation as a whole. It is still true that more young than older people, and more affluent than low-income people, are online. However, eight percent of those online are now age 65 or over (compared to 16% of all adults who are 65 or over), 39 percent of those online (compared to 47% of all adults) did not go to college and 14 percent have incomes of less than $25,000 (compared to 19% of all adults).
TABLE 1
ONLINE FROM HOME, WORK OR OTHER LOCATION - TRENDS 1995-2006
"At home, do you personally use a computer to access the Internet/World Wide
Web?"
"At work, do you personally use a computer to access the Internet/World Wide
Web?"
"At another location, do you personally use a computer to access the
Internet/World Wide Web?" "Excluding email, how many hours per week, on average, do you typically spend
on the Internet or World Wide Web?"
Base: All adults
Online Adults
Average
(Mean)
Hours
Online Online at Per Week
Online at Other Spent
Total at Home Work Location Online
% % % %
2006
February/April 77 70 35 22 9
2005
February/April 74 66 36 21 9
2004
June/ August 73 65 34 17 8
2003
October/December 69 61 31 16 9
2002
November/December 67 57 28 18 7
February/March 66 55 30 19 8
2001
September/October 64 52 28 19 7
March/April 64 53 27 20 7
2000
October/November 63 49 29 17 7
April/May 57 45 24 15 7
1999
December 56 46 N/A N/A 7
1998
January/February 35 22 22 N/A N/A
1997
May/June 30 16 18 N/A N/A
1996
June/September 19 16 16 N/A N/A
1995
September/November 9 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Note: N/A means "not asked"
TABLE 2
PC AND INTERNET USE - TRENDS 1995-2006
"Do you personally use a computer at home, work or another location?"
"At home, do you personally use a computer to access the Internet/World Wide
Web?"
"At work, do you personally use a computer to access the Internet/World Wide
Web?"
"At another location, do you personally use a computer to access the
Internet/World Wide Web?"
Base: All adults
Proportion of All Adults (from Percent of
work, home, school or other location) Computer
Users Who Are
Use PC Are Online Online
% % %
2006
February/April 81 77 95
2005
February/April 79 74 94
2004
June/ August 78 73 93
2003
October/December 75 69 92
2002
November/December 74 67 92
February/March 74 66 90
2001
September/October 73 64 88
March/April 72 64 89
2000
October/November 74 63 85
April/May 69 57 83
1999
December 69 56 81
June/July 65 48 74
January/February 63 41 65
1998
January/February 63 35 56
1997
May/June 61 30 49
1996
June/September 54 19 35
1995
September/November 50* 9 18
Notes:
1. All samples of 2,000 or more adults, conducted by telephone.
2. "Are Online" includes all adults who use Internet from home, office,
school, library or other location.
* Estimated from other sources.
TABLE 3
PROFILE OF ONLINE POPULATION
(February-April 2006)
"At home, do you personally use a computer to Access the Internet/World Wide
Web?"
"At work, do you personally use a computer to access the Internet/World Wide
Web?"
"At another location, do you personally use a computer to access the
Internet/World Wide Web?"
Base: All adults
Total U.S.
Adult Total U.S. Adult Percentage Point
Online Population* Difference
Population
% % %
AGE
18 - 29 24 21 +3
30 - 39 22 18 +4
40 - 49 22 20 +2
50+ 30 37 -7
50 - 64 22 22 0
65+ 8 16 -8
SEX
Men 49 48 +1
Women 51 52 -1
RACE/ETHNICITY
White 76 75 +1
Black 10 11 -1
Hispanic 13 13 0
EDUCATION
High school or less 39 47 -8
Some college 30 27 +3
College graduate (or 30 25 +5
postgraduate)
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Less than $25,000 14 19 -5
$25,000 to less than
$50,000 23 24 -1
$50,000 and over 52 44 +8
* Based on data from the March 2005 U.S. Current Population Survey
TABLE 4
ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF ADULTS WHO ARE ONLINE (IN MILLIONS)
"At home, do you personally use a computer to Access the Internet/World Wide
Web?"
"At work, do you personally use a computer to access the Internet/World Wide
Web?"
"At another location, do you personally use a computer to access the
Internet/World Wide Web?"
Base: All adults
In Millions
2006
February/April 172*
2005
February/April 163
2004
June/August 156
2003
October/December 146
2002
November/December 140
February/March 137
2001
September/October 127
March/April 126
2000
October/November 121
April/May 114
1999
December 113
1998
January/February 70
1997
May/June 59
1996
June/September 33
1995
September/November 17.5
* Based on July 2005 U.S. Census estimate released January 2006
(223,000,000 total adults aged 18 or over)
Methodology
The Harris Poll(R) was conducted by telephone within the United States between February 2006 (February 7 and 13, 2006) and April 2006 (April 4 and 10, 2006) among 2,032 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, number of adults in the household, number of phone lines in the household were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.
All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting.
With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.
With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 2,032 adults one could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- 2 percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
J23283 & J23845
About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive, the 13th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, provides clients with research-driven insights and strategic advice to help them make more confident decisions, leading to measurable and enduring improvements in performance.
Widely known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering online market research methods, Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States (www.harrisinteractive.com), Europe (www.harrisinteractive.com/europe), and Asia offices and is supported by its a wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris (www.novatris.com) in Paris and an independent global network of affiliate market research companies. Harris Interactive is headquartered in Rochester, New York, and Europe operations are based in London.
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to participate in online surveys, go to www.harrispollonline.com. EOE M/F/D/V
The Harris Poll(R) #41, May 24, 2006
By David Krane, Vice President of Harris Interactive(R) Public Policy Research.
(1) Based on July 2005 U.S. Census estimate released January 2006
(223,000,000 total U.S. adults aged 18 or over).
Sixty-Seven Percent of Small Business Owners Are Planning a Summer Break, But Many Will Continue Working While Vacationing, According to the OPEN from American Express(SM) 2006 Semi-Annual Monitor
Small Business Expert Offers Tips for a More Relaxing Escape
Two-thirds of small business owners (67%) are planning to take at least one full week of vacation this summer, according to the OPEN from American Express(SM) 2006 Semi-Annual Monitor. But out of sight does not mean out of mind for the more than half (54%) of respondents who plan to check in with their businesses at least once a day while on holiday. Conversely, 25% of business owners say they will not check in at all while on vacation.
What causes vacation anxiety among business owners? A growing number (46%, up from 42% in 2005) say they fear that an important client or customer will receive inadequate service while others are at the helm. Respondents also say they worry about missing an important new business opportunity while away (31%), judgment calls their staff might make (26%) and who will manage the business in their absence (21%).
"Business owners tend to take on all or most of the responsibility for running their firms," says Susan Sobbott, president, OPEN from American Express. "Given their concerns about the state of their companies while they are away, many find it impossible to truly disengage from their business during a vacation."
Vacation Plans and Concerns Vary by Region, Gender and Size of Business
On average, 31% of small business owners say they will mix business with pleasure to save time and money -- down from 34% in 2005 -- according to the OPEN(SM) 2006 Semi-Annual Monitor. When compared to men, a much higher percentage of women respondents say they plan to combine work with vacation -- 38%, versus 27%. Smaller firms are more likely to combine business and pleasure than those that generate more than $200,000 (35% versus 30%, respectively).
Business owners in the West are much more likely to take a weeklong break than their counterparts in the North Central states (73% versus 56%). More women (72%) than men (64%) will do the same.
Owners of firms that generate greater than $200,000 in annual revenue are more likely to treat themselves to at least one week of vacation this summer (70%), versus those whose businesses generate less than $200,000 in annual revenue (64%).
For a Smoother Escape, Plan Ahead
Alice Bredin, small business advisor to OPEN, offers tips to help them find peace of mind while they are away.
* Give Key Clients or Customers a "Heads Up": Do not let your lengthy
absence come as a surprise to clients. When possible, give them a minimum
of two to three weeks' notice. Identify your stand-ins, and communicate
your confidence in their ability to help clients should a problem arise.
Also consider letting clients know how they can reach you when a genuine
emergency arises. It is important that they feel tended to while you are
away.
* Do Worst-Case Planning: Create a list of possible scenarios on current
projects, and brief internal staff or colleagues. What are the chief
concerns for each client? Advance planning can help ensure that clients
will be speaking with someone who understands their concerns should a
problem arise.
* Schedule Breaks During Business Downtimes: Consider planning some time
away this summer when your business may be slowest -- or the least hectic.
If your business is seasonal, try vacationing during the off-season.
"When even a traditional vacation is out of the question, it is still important for business owners to reward themselves this summer," adds Bredin, who suggests several alternatives for even the busiest business owners:
* Learn Something New: If you cannot take off for an extended period,
consider enrolling in a continuing education course as a low-cost and
effective way to break from a work routine. Learning something new takes
concentration, leaving your mind little energy to wander back to the
office. Focus on activities that require participation, like cooking or
learning to play a musical instrument.
* Become a Tourist in Your Hometown: Look into the exhibits that are
currently showing at a local museum. Invite a friend or loved one for a
tour, visit a nearby historic landmark or check out a ballgame at the new
stadium. Then splurge at a restaurant you have been anxious to try.
* Take a Day Trip: For a quick recharge, get out of town for just a day.
A brief escape with a change of scenery can do wonders, says Bredin.
Plus, you will think twice about sneaking back to the office or shop if it
requires you to drive for a couple of hours to get there.
Survey Methodology
The OPEN from American Express Semi-Annual Monitor, released each spring and fall, is based on a nationally representative sample of 618 small business owners/managers of companies with fewer than 100 employees. The survey was conducted via telephone by International Communications Research (ICR) from April 4-21, 2006. The poll has a margin of error of +3.9%.
About OPEN from American Express(SM)
OPEN(SM) is the American Express team dedicated exclusively to the success of small business owners and their companies. OPEN supports business owners with unparalleled service. With tailored products and services, the team delivers purchasing power, flexibility, control and rewards to help customers run their business. Specifically, business owner customers can leverage an enhanced set of products, tools, services and savings, including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working capital, robust online account management capabilities and savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners. To obtain more information about OPEN, visit OPEN.com, or call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply for a card or loan. Terms and conditions apply.
American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.
Source: American Express
Web site: http://www.americanexpress.com/
Severe hurricane season means gas prices could hit US$3.50 per gallon in the U.S. or C$1.30 per litre in Canada this summer, according to CIBC World Markets report
- Oil prices expected to hit new record highs later this year -
Gas prices could hit US$3.50 per gallon or C$1.30 per litre this summer, according to a CIBC World Markets report issued today, entitled Drilling in Troubled Waters. Another severe hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico this year, as forecast by the U.S. Weather Service, will likely severely hamper oil production in the Gulf and drive crude prices to record highs.
"Echoing 2005, stormy weather is likely to mean further pain for motorists at the gas pumps during the coming driving season," notes Jeff Rubin, Chief Economist and Chief Strategist, CIBC World Markets. "The resulting drag on disposable income is expected to contribute to slower performance from the economy in the second half of the year."
At today's retail prices, crude oil costs account for about 60 per cent of the retail price of a gallon of gasoline, up from just 47 per cent two years ago. With crude oil prices forecasted to increase by 10 per cent through the fall, combined with decreased production capacity and already lower than average inventories, the average nationwide retail price of gasoline is expected to increase to US$3.50 a gallon in the U.S. and C$1.30 per litre in Canada.
"With the potential loss of as much as 750,000 barrels per day of production from storms this season, we will see West Texas Intermediate (WTI) easily top its recent peak," adds Mr. Rubin. "We expect WTI to average US$78 per barrel by the fourth quarter of 2006."
Last year, hurricanes adversely hampered oil production in two ways. First, they led to huge production setbacks for new fields and construction delays for newly planned projects. Second, existing production was shut down, as was much of the industry's service infrastructure along the Gulf coast.
Domestic oil production in the U.S. will likely continue to struggle, as sea temperature anomalies are expected to lead to a severe 2006 hurricane season. The steady warming of sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico since the 1970s is highly correlated with an over-doubling in the storm intensity of hurricanes over that period. Ahead of the June 1 start of hurricane season, temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico and tropical Atlantic are again well above normal, heightening the risk of production outages.
The report predicts that U.S. production will decline from about the current level of 7.3 million barrels per day to about 6.0 million barrels per day by 2010. While U.S. dependency on foreign oil is expected to grow, Canada is alone among its current suppliers as a country in a position to significantly increase oil exports to the U.S. marketplace, largely as a result of Canadian oil sands production.
The complete CIBC World Markets report, Drilling in Troubled Waters, is available at http://research.cibcwm.com/economic_public/download/occ_rep_58.pdf.
CIBC World Markets is the wholesale banking arm of CIBC, providing a range of integrated credit and capital markets products, investment banking, and merchant banking to clients in key financial markets in North America and around the world. We deliver innovative full capital solutions to growth-oriented companies and are active in all capital markets. We offer advisory expertise across a wide range of industries and provide top-ranked research for our corporate, government and institutional investor clients.
Source: CIBC World Markets
