2011年6月10日星期五

Michael Jackson concert insurers refused to pay (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - the insurers of ill-fated Michael Jackson "This Is It" concert comeback London asked a judge to set aside a $ 17.5 million policy taken by the promoters, saying that they were never told that the singer takes powerful medication.

Insurers Lloyds of London filed a suit against the company AEG Live and Jackson in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday, apply to a judge to resolve the insurance dispute nearly two years after the death of the singer "Thriller".

Jackson, 50, died in Los Angeles on June 25 after the rehearsals for the next series of 50 concerts in London. Authorities said he died of a massive dose of anesthetic propofol and a cocktail of other sedatives and analgesics.

Personal physician of Jackson is scheduled to stand trial in September on charges of giving the singer a lethal dose of propofol for sleep aid.

The insurance policy was purchased to cover the cancellation or postponement of the London concerts in the case of death, accident or illness of Jackson.

The prosecution argued that AEG, who hired doctor Jackson Dr. Conrad Murray, did not disclose medical history of the singer to the insurers "including, but not limited to, its prescription apparent drug and/or drug addiction".

States other trial that AEG or Jackson or his company knew, but did not disclose that Jackson took propofol, an anesthetic is usually restricted to hospital use before surgery.

He added that attempts to resolve the dispute with AEG Live outside the courts failed. "Underwriters therefore require that policy declared null and void."

AEG Live, which is private, did not return calls for comment Tuesday.

(Statement by Jill Serjeant, mounting by Christine Kearney)


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Katie Couric signs an agreement to talk about the ABC show (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Katie Couric has signed an agreement with television ABC to host and produce his own talk show daytime syndication from September 2012, ABC said Monday.

Couric, 54, will also contribute to other ABC News programs from this summer, the anchoring of specials and contributing to interviews, Disney/ABC Television Group said in a statement.

The daytime show is still without a title, but will be produced by Jeff Zucker - Couric old boss from his days as host of morning top rated show for the NBC "today".

Couric told ABC News in an interview that she hoped that the show is fun and smart and a place where "you can go to give the sense of a very complicated world.".

"Intelligent conversation, those two words that I want to aspire to and also fun conversation, said Couric."

"We will run the full range of all serious stories, such as a new cancer drug, or which are ongoing with the deficit and try to explain that people can really understand it, dealing with children and technology and this technology is doing to our brains and possibility to socialize, bullying children."culture, fun, popular stories. ?

Couric, known as "The American Sweetheart", ended a period of five years may 19 as anchor of rival network "cbs Evening News". On his appointment in 2006, she was the first woman to serve as a news anchor solo U.S. network evening.

The new daytime series will be based in New York. Eight ABC affiliates have eliminated their locations of 3 hours for the new show in September 2012, said of the CBA.

Couric, one of most known on the American television personalities came to the CBS evening news show in 2006 in a blaze of publicity. But despite winning several awards - and famous interviewer one stumbling Sarah Palin in 2008 – she never managed to lift the newsletter from third place in the ratings with NBC and ABC rival war.

Anne Sweeney, President of the Disney/ABC Television Group, called Couric "one of the emblematic figures of television".

"We look forward to have Katie to join the best News team in the business and work with it to create a dynamic and successful franchise talk-show," Sweeney added in a statement Monday.

(Statement by Jill Serjeant, mounting by Christine Kearney)


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Nintendo Wii U underwhelms investors (Reuters)

By Liana b. Baker and Isabel Reynolds Liana b. Baker and Isabel Reynolds - Wed Jun 8, 4: 53 am and

LOS ANGELES, Jun (Reuters) - the launch of the console Wii from Nintendo Co. Ltd. next generation did not at the investor concerns that the firm is missing shift social networking games market, sending its shares plummeting to a minimum of five years.

U Wii, complete with a new touch screen controller, is aimed at the reconquest of rivals such as the Xbox from Microsoft Corp. hardcore players and won early praise from critics of the industry at its launch at E3 videogame expo Tuesday.

But Nintendo shares closed 5.7% at Japan on Wednesday, reaching levels not seen since before the original Wii was launched to rave reviews late 2006.

Investors saying they were worried about Nintendo remained too focused on equipment, such as the market shifts more and more to a battlefield on the software, with games played on networks Internet linking millions of players.

"Even if some experts seem like new device, I expected Nintendo to move more in the business of social networking," said Mitsuo Shimizu, Deputy General Manager at Cosmo Securities in Tokyo.

"This is a warning to investors that the company should revise its commercial strategy and move more aggressively in the operations of social game."

The President of Nintendo Satoru Iwata dismissed questions about lack of the new console to focus on the capabilities of network and said that success sets has always been social.

"Is not that we are negative on the network, but if we ignore clients that bind their game consoles to the Internet, contrary to our strategy of expansion of the market for games," he told journalists at a round table. "We're simply not to reduce our own market."

Critics of the industry in early reviews praised innovation incorporated by separate devices, larger than the Apple Inc. iPhone, but smaller than the iPad.

The new controller has camera and video-call capability, more an array of buttons and functions that could encourage the players who play more and more intensely.

"Nintendo is before curve for once, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said." He can do everything that can make a Tablet and could ask people, why my iPad 2 does this kind of game too? ?

Nintendo keeps head in game equipment, but it is difficult to win users of Microsoft and Sony Corp. after the disappointing introduction of 3DS portable device.

Executive Gaming hopes that the new Wii can jumpstart an industry of $ 65 billion video games - surpassing Hollywood in size - still struggling to recover from the recession.

The entire console is still in development, but it is scheduled for sale between April and December 2012.

Investors are waiting for more details on the specifications and prices, but some believe that he could move to $299, or about the same as an Xbox with a Kinect motion detection system.

"The controller is a breakthrough," said analyst Sterne Agee Arvind Bhatia. "Overall, Wii U looks good, but I must say that I was not found."

It is far from how the Wii has the industry by storm, control of the movement of players accustomed to joysticks of game with the mouse. If his last gadget can win a notoriously finicky market remains to be seen.

Although it cannot repeat the first Wii bonanza, the new Nintendo device, however, put pressure on traditional console rivals like Microsoft and Sony to come with the new systems.

"It is intelligent to a number of reasons." "There are two levels of interface, touchscreen buttons for several types of core and casual players," said Ricardo Torres, editor in Chief for the games popular site GameSpot. "They have a lot of games core gamers care about."

"It is like a sandbox for developers." It is for them to decide the experience that works best. ?

But any game risk of manufacturers of console drowning in a flood of game-capable phones. In 2010, the deliveries of these smart phones were more than 1 billion units compared to only about 50 million of home and portable devices of nearly $ 40 million game consoles, according to iSuppli firm research.

"Their nearly universal presence gives them the potential to become a viable competitive threat," said iSuppli.

STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT

The new console is the first Nintendo device supporting graphics high definition and will wear a microprocessor or a brain of International Business Machines Corp. and graphics processors from Advanced Micro Devices Inc..

But it was the controller who stole the spotlight Tuesday.

His works 6.2 inches touch screen as a second display and can show the same images on the TV screen or provide players with additional information, giving them a step ahead of competitors.

U of the Wii controller can also be used to make voice calls and run old Nintendo Games. It has capacity of motion sensor and works in collaboration with the existing Wii controllers.

The device also acts as a stand-alone gaming gadget. It may, for example, running a game on a touch screen, while someone else watches TV. But it works only in a Wii U console wireless connection.

The initial game line-up suggests that Nintendo is trying to woo hardcore gamers into the fold, with gunmen first popular person as Ghost Recon of Ubisoft Entertainment SA, Sega Aliens and battle field 3 of Electronic Arts Inc. on slate.

"There are so many developers already responding to the creation of new games for the video game system that we propose with Wii U," Iwata said. "It can satisfy all tastes with deeper gameplay actions."

At least nine months on the market, Nintendo may still make changes and slate of game is likely to change.

This week, Sony announced its intention to start selling a device games handheld, 3D-enabled for $299 - that critics immediately judged too expensive.

(Other reports by Tim Kelly and Antoni Slodkowski Tokyo;) (Editing by Edwin Chan, Joseph Radford and Lincoln day)


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Kinect of Microsoft to control the TV, YouTube, games (Reuters)

By Liana b. Baker Liana b. Baker - Mon Jun 6, 6: 50 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp seeks to develop his device for the detection of movement of the popular Kinect at the heart of its game console Xbox, plans unveiled Monday to allow users to control live television feeds, search YouTube and play games of action with voice commands.

Beatings, announced at the annual video game show E3 in Los Angeles, should help the software giant more ambitions to make his gaming device a vital hub of media in the living room.

Microsoft said it will give users access to live television via the Xbox programming at the United States in the next year, following live TV services it already provides in Britain, the France and the Australia.

Xbox users will also be able to access Hulu, Netflix, search Internet and watch videos from YouTube on the system, all controllable through the Kinect, Microsoft said, presenting a challenge to the dominance TV cable.

In addition, Microsoft has excited hardcore gamers in an event before exposure showing off the coast of the upcoming versions of action games with new features Kinect-activated, such as Assembly of firearms and weapons using controls of votes for the upcoming shooter of the game "mass effect 3" or "Of Tom Clancy Ghost Recon Future Soldier" Ubisoft next year.

Analysts were initially sceptical that basic players would migrate to the Kinect, attracted mainly newcomers with his simple dance, animals, and on the theme of sports games.

"The concept of playing a game of base without a controller is difficult," said analyst Wedbush Securities Michael Pachter. "A controller makes sense for most of the shares." It is awkward when you combine Kinect and a controller. "But this is a beginning for Microsoft."

In addition, the company announced a few new Kinect games, including a title on the theme of Star Wars and "Disneyland adventure", a partnership with Walt Disney Co. It also said "Halo 4" version the most recent of his blockbuster fighting game, published next year.

SUCCESS OF THE KINECT

The Kinect has sold 10 million units, since it launched last fall and become a faster consumer sale of the software giant never.

The device that connects to the console Xbox business, allows players control movements on the screen with gestures and voice commands. It is in competition with the latest version of the system of the Nintendo Wii and the Sony Corp. PlayStation move device.

Microsoft announced the new convention advance Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) this week, marquee event the videogame company that attracts more than 45 000 types of industry, journalists and analysts.

The Conference this year, from 7 to 9 June, running at the time as the industry tries to cope with the rapid growth of online gaming and mobile. It is also expected to attempts to return of two weight heavy videogame based in Japan, Sony and Nintendo featured.

Later Monday, Sony should reveal more details about its new portable games device, while Nintendo will launch the first new game video home console Tuesday.

Microsoft sharing rose 0.4% to $24.01 on the Nasdaq.


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Apple, Google cloud can help to curb online piracy: U.S. (Reuters)

Brussels (Reuters) - Services developed by Apple Inc. and Google for people to store photos, music and online data can do more to combat online piracy that the regulations may, a U.S. official said Wednesday.

Victoria Espinel, the U.S. intellectual property enforcement Coordinator, said innovation of enterprises is often more effective than the application of the law or other rules, which are sometimes applied inappropriately.

"The Government of the United States did not need to choose winners and losers and the last thing that we should think about doing is wasting the Internet with the inappropriate regulation", she said the world copyright Summit in Brussels.

"So that the Internet to be as productive and compelling as possible, we need to have a participation enables companies that interact with and benefit from trade Internet," she said.

Amazon, Google and Apple have announced music and other services that are downloadable from the "cloud" - a form of computer where the software and data are stored on the servers that users can access with smartphones or PC via the Internet.

These innovations give those companies an advantage in the development of more secure systems.

"If it is possible to construct it so that it cannot be compromised, it may have to reduce piracy by giving value to consumers - the ability to own forever and access almost everywhere - which can be obtained with illegal copies," said Espinel.

"The flexibility of the cloud can help stimulate the development of serious legal alternatives."

Apple unveiled Monday it services remotely, giving it an advance rivals Google and Amazon, which has recently moved storage of music and streaming.

Espinel said that she was already working closely with large companies to develop more security for online pharmacies and hold meetings with Google, GoDaddy, Microsoft, MasterCard, Yahoo!, American Express, eNom, PayPal, Discover and Visa.

Espinel said she would have met with officials of the European Commission to exchange views on intellectual property rights.

Last month, the Executive of the European Union set out proposals for the revision of the legal framework for intellectual property rights in the bloc of 27 countries. They will need approval from the countries of the European Parliament and the EU.

(Edited by David Cowell)


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UFC in talks to buy the game channel G4 of NBCU: report (Reuters)

Bangalore (Reuters) - Comcast Corp NBCUniversal is in talks to sell a majority stake in its cable G4 channel promotion society professional mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Wall Street Journal reported citing sources.

The paper said the talks between the two companies are early stages and that UFC was also in discussions with other networks for an agreement possible.

Comcast and UFC were not immediately available for comment.

(Statement by Himank Sharma in Bangalore, mounting by Bernard Orr)


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Cablevision Commission approves derived from CMA (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - the Board of cable from New York Cablevision Systems Corp. company approved a spin off of its cable networks, AMC Networks Inc. Unit.

The company said that, in the spin-off, the founder of Cablevision Charles Dolan suite will become Executive Chairman of CMA, which includes the CMA, WETV and the IFC among its networks. Dolan, whose family control Cablevision, will continue as Chairman of Cablevision. CMA was formerly Rainbow Media.

Cablevision said above current leader of Rainbow, Josh Sapan lead AMC CEO and President.

(Reported by Yinka Adegoke, editing by Andre Grenon)


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Disney to foot over studio 250 employees (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Walt Disney Studios is set to cut between 200 and 250 posts next week, less than 5% of its strong workforce of 5,000 worldwide.

The majority of the cuts will be in distribution, marketing and production may be affected thereby.

Decline in revenues from home entertainment Division has been cited as one of the causes (consumers are coming to buy movies for rental), and piracy.

But the organizational changes are also factors, such as combining national and international distribution divisions and the growing dependence of Disney, DreamWorks, Marvel and Pixar to fill the film pipeline.


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Disney to cut 200 jobs studio: source (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co will reduce approximately 200 positions to his unit of film studio, according to a person familiar with the case, it reduces the emphasis on the distribution of entertainment home of DVD.

Should cuts, forming just less than 5 percent of its workforce, will be announced internally next week, according to the person, who cannot be named because the decision was not made public.

The film studio has been realigning its distribution in the past 18 months and increases his intake of films from Marvel and Steven Spielberg DreamWorks Studios.

DVD sales fell to the United States last year as consumers more use on-demand by other digital outlets and cable TV services for watching movies at home.

News of job cuts was for the first time by Bloomberg.

(Reported by Yinka Adegoke.) (Editing by Gary Hill)


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2011年6月9日星期四

Comcast to offer security home package (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Comcast Corp is addition of home security to its package of services for homes where he already provides cable television, broadband and phone.

The largest U.S. cable provider sees technology security and management technology of the home as another way to enter new markets and strengthen its relations with existing clients.

The new security package includes cameras, motion sensors, police and fire protection, and management functions of the House as the thermostat of distance and control of light that can be customized by the Subscriber. The service will cost approximately $39.99 per month, which the company said is competitive with existing security companies such as ADT, the market leader.

Comcast hopes to broadband integrated features that allow the client to manage the service on the same site Xfinity that they manage their video, broadband and telephone services, will give the cable company a competitive advantage in security specialists.

Head of Comcast of new businesses, Mitch Bowling, said the company will be initially not be updating Xfinity home security in its package of services, but it can do in the future.

Comcast is rolling the marketing and service in seven cities before going fully national.

(Reporting by Yinka Adegoke, editing by Bernard Orr)


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NBC WINS TV rights for the games until 2020 (Reuters)

BERLIN (Reuters) - beat NBC Universal rivals FOX and ESPN to secure U.S. rights to broadcast four Olympic Games in 2014 to 2020 in a deal of $ 4.38 billion Tuesday.

"It was very strategically important to have a long relationship and four games more and not only two.". It was a large part of our strategy, Brian Roberts, President and CEO of Comcast said in a telephone conference.

"The depth of coverage and access to U.S. consumers ever be greater", he said.

NBC Universal, which is controlled by Comcast Corp. and released every summer Olympic Games since 1988 and each winter since 2002 Edition, also has the rights until the 2012 Summer Games in London.

He has acquired the rights for all platforms, including free-to-air television, television by subscription, internet and mobile TV, the IOC said.

The winter of 2014 that Sochi, Russia and Rio de Janeiro, will be held at the Olympic Games was chosen to host the 2016 Summer Games.

LIVE COVERAGE

"We will make every event available, on a platform or another, live," NBC sports chief Mark Lazarus said.

The broadcaster has been criticized for using tape-delay to show Olympics on the first time also events recently that games Olympics 2008 Beijing and Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The hosts for the summer and winter 2018 and 2020 editions have not yet to be chosen.

"The numbers entered, but I'll you dire that we have been époustouflés by the presentation, the passion that this (NBC) team for the games.". It was very impressive, the Chief negotiator of the IOC, Richard Carrion said on the call.

"What was clear was the submission complete four-games, this is what put us on the line," he said.

Carrion said that NBC would pay just over $ 2 billion to the United States of the broadcasting rights for the games of 2014-2016 and about 2.38 billion for the next two games package.

He said that the breakdown by games would be 775 million for 2014, 1.226 billion for 2016, 963 million dollars for the 2018 games and 1.418 billion for 2020 Olympic Games.

While the rival broadcasters offers were not out, responsible for close to the IOC said offers ESPN and FOX have each well below levels 2 billion and $ 4 billion for a set of two or four games.

IOC Chief Jacques Rogge said Olympic pedigree of NBC has been instrumental in the decision.

"I can say that Olympic Games really are in the DNA of their (NBC)." We have received three excellent offers. Ultimately we were more impressed by NBCU, that not only has a track record for the retransmission of matches which speaks for itself, but also has a clear and innovative vision where he wants to take the distribution of the games by 2020, "he says.

The United States TV rights agreement is the largest source of revenue for the IOC, and it is the first auction since 2003 when NBC paid about $ 2 billion for the rights to the Olympic Games of 2010 and 2012.

President of Fox Sports Media Group David Hill said: "congratulate us NBC/Comcast and would like to thank President Rogge... for giving us the opportunity to participate in the process, showing how FOX Sports produce games, provide wide distribution, the largest marketing platform ever and an economic package believes us to be good for the IOC and News Corp.".

ESPN said in turn that they had offered as much money that they thought they had a sense for such a product.

"We made a disciplined offer which would have brought tremendous value for the Olympic Games and would have been profitable for our company."

"To go far would not have made sense of the business for us." We put our best foot forward with a compelling offer that included the enthusiastic participation of all considerable property of The Walt Disney Company. ?

MAJOR SHAKE-UP

NBC received the rights weeks after a major shake-up of its sports service.

NBC Sports Group Chairman Dick Ebersol, the Chief Architect in the construction of the Olympic brand of NBC, resigned in late may in a clash with Comcast Roberts and new NBC Universal Chief Executive Steve Burke.

Ebersol had overseen eight bids, and some have speculated that his departure could dent chances of NBC in negotiations with the IOC.

However, when the three sliding candidates envelopes with their bids in a plexiglas Tuesday box at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, he was again NBC who emerged victorious.

NBC aired a total of 12 Olympic Games, but this will be the first in its new majority owner, Comcast Corp., the largest U.S. cable television company.

"Featuring the most great athletes of the world greatest sport scene and strengthen the universal Olympic values of respect, friendship and excellence, requires significant measures of resources and skills," said the United States Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun.

"Anyone who has seen Olympic programming from NBC Universal knows that they have the skills, and today they have renewed their commitment."

(Additional reporting by Paul Thomasch New York and Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina)

(Written by Karolos Grohmann;) Editing by Ken Ferris and Clare Fallon. (Question or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)


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New class of tops "X - Men" at the Box-Office worldwide (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - the fifth film in the series 'X - Men' takes no. 1 spot at the Box-Office worldwide after having sold approximately 120 million of notes, distributor 20th Century Fox said Sunday.

"X-Men: first class," a revival of the franchise of Marvel comics, is open to no. 1 across the United States and the Canada with $ 56 million - fulfill the expectations of the studio, although some analysts were predicting a start of $ 60 million.

His international tally of 64 million of the 74 markets included approximately 30 debuts No. 1, including Great Britain (9 million), France ($7.7 million), Mexico ($5.3 million) and Brazil ($4 million).

"X-Men" was the No. 2 pick, behind "Pirates of the Caribbean: on Stranger tides" with $ 69.4 million.

Will even if the opening in North America has been significantly lower than that most of the earlier films in the "X - Men" franchise, all but guarantees it there have more films around the exploits of a stable of mutant superheroes.

"We have successfully launched a new chapter in this franchise," said Chris Aronson, senior vice President for domestic distribution in the News Corp. Unit.

"X-Men: first class," which reportedly cost about $ 160 million to do before tax credits, is a prequel dealing with years of training future superheroes. Critics and fans, has welcomed the new direction.

Instead of hiring talents of a list, Fox went with British Director acclaimed critic Matthew Vaughn ("Kick-Ass") and actors James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. The distribution also includes nominated recent Oscar Jennifer Lawrence, actress "Mad Men" January Jones and Kevin Bacon.

McAvoy and Fassbender played the roles of lead by Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen in "X - Men" of the years 2000 and two suites. A spin-off of 2009 "X - Men Origins: Wolverine," featuring Hugh Jackman in the title role, opened to 85 million in North America. Jackman has a cameo in the film.

"HANGOVER" STILL RAGING

As the only new release in the North American top 10 "X – Men: First Class" pushed the rest of the films a lower place in the ranking.

Champion of the end of last week, "the hangover: part II," reported 32.4 million, taking his total of 10 days to 186.9 million. Sizzling comedy is well ahead of the pace of its 2009 predecessor, who won $ 105 million at the same time and ends with $ 277 million.

"kung fu Panda 2" followed with $ 24.3 million in its second week end and "Pirates of the Caribbean" introduced in $ 18 million in its third weekend.

With a total respective 100.4 million and $ 190.3 million, they left behind their predecessors. The first cartoon "kung fu Panda" had earned $ 117 million at the same time its term and the third "Pirates" had accrued $ 253 million.

But the last adventure of high seas from Johnny Depp is doing much better overseas with sales to date of $ 600 million.

"Bridesmaids," the only nonsequel in the top five, rounded out the top with $ 12.1 million in its fourth weekend. Cattail acclaimed comedy has earned 107.3 million to date.

"Hangover: part II" was published by Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc. "kung fu Panda 2" was produced by DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. and distributed by Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc.. "."

"Pirates of the Caribbean: on the tides of the Stranger" was published by Walt Disney Co. "Bridesmaids" are released by Universal Pictures, a unit of NBC Universal, which is controlled by Comcast Corp..

(Reported by Dean Goodman.) (Editing by John O'Callaghan and Bill Trott)


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Ratings for MTV Movie Award in the fall for the second year (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - number of viewers for the MTV Movie Awards fell for the second year that the show offered once more a raw mix of celebrities on the list has and X-rated humor.

Live two hour dissemination attracted 4.5 million viewers Sunday night, from 4.6 million last year, MTV said in a statement. Viewership peaked at 7.1 million in 2002 and is now as low as $ 3.0 million in 2008.

F bombs and naughty humour proliferated as the third film "twilight" has won first prizes, like his predecessors, made the previous years.

Presenter Justin Timberlake rammed the breasts of his "Friends with benefits" partner Mila Kunis, who responded by grabbing his crotch. Hunk "Twilight" Robert Pattinson in a lip-lock with partner Taylor Lautner.

Host Jason Sudeikis leads a joke on actress Selena Gomez mortifiée teen oral sex, while the "jackass" daredevil stars were part of a segment of homoerotic references to Donald Trump.

Beautiful same South Reese Witherspoon received on the Act on the mouth potty as she accepted a lifetime achievement award.

(Reported by Dean Goodman.) (Editing by Jill Serjeant)


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Senate Committee submits to the auction of TV waves (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - a Senate Committee supported giving U.S. communications regulators power to auction some waves currently used by television and move their mobile broadband use.

The authority of the auction is seen as key to a plan of the Federal Communications Commission to free up additional waves to meet the demand for wireless services booming.

Incentive auctions, some product would be where broadcasters go give up spectrum, font part of a Bill to build a network of public safety throughout the country which was approved in a vote of 21-4 by the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday.

Some 25 million already Americans watch video on smartphones and tablet computers such as Apple Inc. iPad, 120 times more request put the spectrum than the older phones.

The FCC hopes to reallocate 120 megahertz of spectrum by voluntary auction of television.

Broadcasters have been wary of the FCC plan, concerned about unintended consequences, might have on their TV signals and the 46 million viewers who still rely on live TV.

"As the process progresses, NAB will work with policymakers to ensure that broadcasters are able to follow the promise of free and local digital television has made tens of millions of television viewers," the National Association of broadcasters President and CEO Gordon Smith said in a statement.

The Bill supported by the Committee on Wednesday would offset not only those who give their spectrum, but would also cover the costs of broadcasters who hold their on-air but are "repackaged" to clear large contiguous blocks of spectrum considered best for mobile broadband use.

"This legislation takes the first essential steps to address critical shortage the nation of spectrum licensed and sets the course for future dynamic wireless, said RHOD Shaw, Executive Director of the Coalition of High Tech spectrum, which includes the Apple, Nokia, Cisco, and Qualcomm.".

PUBLIC SAFETY NETWORK

The Bill would use proceeds from the auction has not cancelled for broadcasters to assist in the financing, construction and maintenance of a network of public safety broadband wireless broadband. All money, after flying over would reduce the US budget deficit.

Chairman of the Committee of the Senate trade John Rockefeller, said the Act was a necessary step in the fulfilment of a key 9/11 recommendation for a wireless network that allows firefighters, police and other first responders to communicate easily from the Commission.

He urged legislators to act quickly so that legislation can be signed into law in advance the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 by diverted airliners.

The Bill allocates the so-called D block, a swath 10-megahertz of spectrum coveted by the companies wireless and security groups, a network of public safety by a non-profit corporation with a Board legislative, regulatory, public safety and industry representatives.

The FCC would create standards allowing officials from public safety to lease capacity on a secondary wireless companies base when the waves are not in use. These funds would help maintain the network.

Rockefeller, stated that he would have conversations immediately on the planning of a vote by the full Senate. "I urge my colleagues in the House to also go ahead with this Bill."

Bill will probably see more severe scrutiny on the floor of the Senate and could the Sub resistance control Republican House of representatives where the leaders have said it would be preferable for sale at auction the d block wireless companies to build a network of public safety.

A previous effort to auction block d for commercial use shared with public safety groups failed.

(Reported by Melvin Jasmin.) (Editing by Tim Dobbyn)


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In the swift, TV networks win ad talks big price rises (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - ABC, NBC and CBS are on the summary of sales of advanced TV advertising, winning price almost double digit increases in all areas in one of the periods on record sales.

Although Fox has already been polished off the coast of its sales, the other three major networks broadcast can finish their agreements by Thursday, according to industry sources. CBS should emerge with the largest increases for its prime-time shows, with rates of 14% and 15% a year, the sources said there.

High prices have been largely planned this year upfront - so named because the dealmaking is completed months before the fall season TV gets underway - on larger marketing budgets corporate and resumed advertising executive.

Still, there are doubts, that networks could get rid double increases in numbers, a rarity even before the recession. The US economy is still on foot tricky and plans of the automotive industry marketing was equalised by disorders of the Japan.

NBC, controlled by Comcast Corp., a harder tone, because it had ratings below last season and revision of its schedule for 2011-2012 with a dozen of new shows, not proven. He nevertheless managed to win increases in prices of almost 9%, sources said, in part by playing his new team leadership and their recovery efforts.

ABC of Walt Disney Co, which has also announced major changes to the first calendar of the next season, has written business 10% to 12% over last year, based on the rates for each thousand spectators.

Supported by a number of popular shows, including "ncis" and "two and a Half Men" and a stable calendar for 2011-2012, CBS fired at the higher price rises in the initial period. In most transactions, CBS Corp. broadcast network won increases from 14 to 15 percent, sources said.

All three networks are almost completed the negotiations in which will remain as an exceptionally fast initial. Then the market last year completed at approximately the same amount of time - less than a month - the process extended throughout the summer in 2009.

All of Fox helped the tone, its sales of premium time of finishing the week last at a price of 10 to 11 percent above a year ago. A division of News Corp. Fox runs an hour less than prime-time shows every night of the week, meaning that it is less trade agreements to seal that his three rivals.

All four networks unveiled their hours of prime time for 2011-2012 at the beginning of last month, the preview more of three dozens of new TV shows to advertisers, affiliates and before critics for negotiations. They sell approximately 75 per cent of their commercial time for the new season of the original market.

ABC, CBS and NBC declined to discuss details of their negotiations.

(Reported by Paul Thomasch; editing by Andre Grenon)


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Sienna Miller phone-hacking settles claim (Reuters)

London (Reuters) - the private life of Sienna Miller movie star and harassment against the news across alleged worldwide telephone hacking by its journalists had been settled for damages of £ 100,000 Tuesday.

Miller, the friend on and off its Hollywood Jude Law star colleague, was one of the major claimants and News Corporation of trying Rupert Murdoch on reporters to allegations to the tabloid listened illegally voice messages for the scoops.

Old actress in 29 years last month accepted the damage with an unconditional recognition of responsibility.

His lawyer David Sherborne said High Court in London, in 2005 and 2006, it the subject of many articles which contained "intrusive and private information", said the Press Association.

Damages and legal costs, Miller, who was not in court for the hearing, obtained an injunction preventing any more unlawful accessing its voicemail and the publication of his personal information.

Order provided for disclosure of information on the extent of the snooping activities and specifically allows him to return to the Court in the light of any new material.

(Reported by Michael Holden.) (Editing by Stefano Ambrogi)


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Lady Gaga leads U.S. pop chart despite sales slide (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Lady Gaga has led the graph of U.S. pop album for a second week on Wednesday, but inevitably suffered a decrease in mammoth since its opening round sale was strengthened by the promotion of 99 percent of the Amazon.com.

"Born the way" sold 174,000 copies during the week ending June 5, according to Nielsen SoundScan - off the coast of 84 per cent of its spectacular tally first week of 1.1 million copies. End of last week, prognosticators had planned a second round of approximately 200,000 copies.

Count of the first week of the album - the largest in six years - has been exceptionally strengthened by likely hundreds of thousands of sales generated by decision of the AmazonMP3 to sell the digital version of the series for 99 cents on two different days.

In any event, it is not unusual for big albums of slides in the second week to suffer. Entry no. 2 last week, "This Is Country Music of Brad Paisley" has seen sales 65 per cent of the fall to 53 000 as the album fell four places to no. 6.

View of the drop of Gaga, "Adele 21" will probably be reclaiming his throne the week next to a tenth non-consecutive week. English pop singer bounced a place no. 2 with 121,000 units - only 4% drop.

All of Adele has yet to leave the three top positions on the chart since its debut 15 weeks ago. It is still too early to say how Adele or Gaga will sell this week.

The first top belonged to Death Cab for Codes and "keys Cutie", which began at no. 3 with 102 000. It is the follow-up to the No. 1 2008 "Narrow stairs" album, which sold 144 000 since its inception.

Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam arrived at no. 4 after selling 71,000 copies of his bare bones "Ukulele Songs" exit solo. Previously, it ranks on its own with the original band "Into the wild", which made its debut and no. 11 culminated in 2007 with a start of 39,000.

"my morning Jacket Circuital" rock group bowed No. 5, with 55 000. This is the best week of sale and mapping most high set for the group, whose previous high water mark came up with the bow of the "evil Urges" at number 9 with 49 000 three years ago.

The final debut in the top 10 with the kind permission of "The darkness of the Flogging Molly speed", launch the number 9 with 25 000. Its last release of studio, "2008 float," made its debut and reached No. 4 with 48 000.

For the rest of the top 10, "Now 38" slipped a no. 7 (39 000), a no. 8 (33 000) increased "my kinda Jason aldean Party" and "Glee, music: season 2, Volume Six" dropped six No. 10 (25 000).

Overall sales were $ 5.5 million units, down 17% from the previous week and up 7% from the week of 2010 comparable sales (5.2 million). Sales of the album of the year to day rest 131.4 million, + 1% compared to the same total at this time last year.

High debut next week will come from "Dirty Work"All 6 & 7,"All Time Low of Tech N9ne" and country veteran Ronnie Dunn eponymous first solo album. Industry sources indicate that the two former may sell about 50,000 copies by the end of the week, on 12 June while Dunn can move 45,000 or so.

Other albums looking for an entry 20 top possible are "Suck On And See of Arctic Monkeys" and "Mirrorball of Def Leppard."


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2011年6月4日星期六

Apple ensures licence contracts prior to iCloud unveiling (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Just days in advance its opening scheduled service iCloud, Apple was able to license agreements fixing of all four major record labels and music publishers.

In fact, he has probably done more: by agreeing to pay the big publishers cut of 12 percent of the iCloud income, it may set a new, plu digital standard payment for publishers, whose share of the income of a digital service is generally about 10% or less.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs and other frameworks provide details on iCloud service in a keynote presentation on June 6 annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco company.

Universal Music Group was the final major label to overcome function iCloud, according to sources familiar with the situation. Apple has agreed to pay the large houses of disks approximately 58% of income, his departure from Apple with about 30 per cent.

Sources say Universal and Sony Music Entertainment asked for 60% of income, but they suggest now that a last-minute compromise was reached to accommodate 12 per cent royalty rate paid to publishers.

Apple does not yet reach agreements with labels and independent publishers. Sources say that it will offer the same rate of 12% is paying major publishers indie publishers. However, Apple began negotiations with independent labels by offering them only a cup of 53 per cent of income. Some indie-label executives say that they're pushing on Apple for a higher cut.

During this time, Google is still negotiating with the major labels and publishers for its Beta cloud music service, which was unveiled on 11 may at the Conference Google I/o in San Francisco's. One of the obstacles to these discussions was the fact that Universal and Sony Music Entertainment were seeking income of 60 per cent cut, while Google has agreed to pay a share of 12 per cent of the income of large publishers and keep a 30 per cent for himself, according to the sources. Universal and Sony, these sources say, wanted publishers to receive a smaller share.

Is no all the industry observers agree that the majors are a play to reduce the share of the publishers. "Today, the majors want to obtain 80 percent of the income in the new digital agreements coming their way, so I'm guessing that the majors are attempting to reduce the share of Google and Apple," said a source familiar with the situation.

Although Google has offered major record companies and publishers like revenue cuts such as Apple, it does not perform almost the same effect of leverage with them. Shop of Apple's iTunes represented approximately 33% of the income of recorded music U.S. in 2010 (Billboard, May 14).

Disagreement on the splitting of income was not the only obstacle in the talks of Google, with some sources, noting that differences persist also on the progress and the requirements that the search giant is more active in the fight against music piracy.

Apple, Google and Amazon, which, like Google, launched a music service of cloud base without label and Publisher deals, want to offer services of scan-and-game-style locker, whereby they would analyze the libraries of digital music users and match, songs, services have licenses for in a centralized server, rather than require all users to download their music to a record of storage based on a cloud. The amount each pay service for individual tracks music rights holders depends on use, with payment is divided pro rata by actual parts.

(Edited by Chris Michaud)


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Telmex does not rivals fair service: Minister (Reuters)

MEXICO City (Reuters) - Telmex gives rivals disservice when they access the telephone network of the company, a key question keep fixed line giant win a TV license, a Government Minister, said Wednesday.

Ministry of communications of the Mexico rejected last week, a Telmex bid to enter the market of national television, saying that the giant telephone company controlled by Carlos Slim does not requests for fair play with competitors meet.

Rival phone claim Telmex, which provides 70% of the Mexico residential telephone lines, abandoned the appeals of their clients and otherwise given substandard service, said Communications and Transport Minister Dionisio Perez-Jacome.

"It y had signs of interrupted telephone traffic", he told local radio, noting that investigations are underway and that Telmex has not always quickly responded to regulatory agencies.

The Mexico competition authority has slapped a $ 1 billion fine Slim mobile phone giant America Movil, in April for market abuse and still has his empire in its sights.

The Federal Competition Commission condemned a peso 91.5 million ($7.8 million) fine Telmex Wednesday to deny JWG, a unit of Telefonica SA the Spain, the right to interconnect its lines in seven months between 2007 and 2008.

Telmex has promised to challenge the decision of TV of the Department, in the Court while he tries to convince the Department of communications that it has complied with key conditions.

Slim may be long, appeal and the result is far from certain.

Perez Jacome said that Telmex measured against the requirements of the agreement of Convergence - a decree of 5 years that define the benchmarks, that the company must meet before it can penetrate into the television sector.

Proposed Convergence agreement telephone services "efficient operation of interconnection and interoperability based on non-discriminatory rates" before Telmex would get a green light to offer television.

"I return to the theme of the interconnection of quality and quality services offering", said Perez Jacome. "There are many complaints existing as (Telmex) did not comply with these points."

Telmex may request a pay television licence, once that it has respected the prescribed manner, said Perez Jacome.

Telmex shares sank earlier this week that investors digest the implications of the decision that will keep the company to enter the market "triple play" which would bundle phone, television and Internet services.

The stock was decreased by 1.6% to 10.18 pesos on the Mexican Exchange Wednesday and fell by 3.1% to $17.31 in New York.

(Reported by Luis Rojas Mena and Patrick Rucker; editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Andre Grenon)


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New York Times names Abramson first Chief Editor of woman (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - the New York Times named Jill Abramson as Executive Editor of his first wife, involving the control of a newspaper most respected worldwide as the industry struggles to keep advertisers and readers.

Abramson, 57, will lead the times press room, in a new era for documents when a generation of readers prefer more news from online sources such as Twitter, Facebook and a multitude of Web sites.

Currently Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Abramson will succeed Bill Keller, 62, who became a writer for the New York Times Magazine and newspaper opinion article from Sunday.

Assistant Editor and Washington Bureau Chief Dean Baquet will become editor-in-Chief.

The two appointments are entered into force on 6 September, the Commander of the New York Times, said Thursday.

It has was widely expected that Abramson and Baquet, 54, will increase in the ranks and that one of them would assume the highest post editorial in the journal.

In the spring of last year, Abramson left his post for five months working on the book digital strategy. The foreign editor of three publishers - bucket, Susan Chira and editor Larry Ingrassia business - take turns serving as editor in Chief in his absence.

As many newspapers, the New York Times tries to reverse a long decline in print advertising revenue, a piece of the base of his business. Total revenues fell by 3.6% to 566.5 million in the first quarter, mainly on the decline of 7.5% of revenue from print advertising. This reflects similar problems to other publishers of U.S. newspapers in recent years.

The company has introduced various ways to pay for stories and other content for nytimes.com to try to get readers to pay for its content.

Abramson has worked as an investigative journalist and covered Washington. She joined the times in 1997 by the Wall Street Journal, now owned by News Corp. Rupert Murdoch once, she became Chief of bureau in Washington in 2000.

When Abramson moved to New York in 2003 to take the role of managing editor, she has a tattoo a subway line of the city of token on his right shoulder, according to the New York magazine.

"I grew up here and I have hesitated (a way to show) I am a girl from New York back in New York,"she told the magazine in September 2010."."

Bucket joined the Times in March 2007, after having served as editor in Chief of the Los Angeles Times where he came to blows of management of the Tribune Co on budget cuts.

Bucket begins with time in 1990 as a metropolitan reporter. He won a Pulitzer Prize, most distinguished of the nation for the report log, while working at the Chicago Tribune.

Times Co Chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr. said he accepted the decision Keller with "mixed emotions", and said Abramson was the best person to fill the role.

"Bill came to me several weeks ago and told me that he felt that the time has come for him to resign the role of the editor in Chief," Sulzberger said in a statement.

Keller was appointed editor in 2003 to replace Howell Raines, who was ousted during one of the biggest scandals ever to hit the press room - the discovery that reporter Jayson Blair was plagiarism and fabrication of stories.

"I wanted to go forward when the Newsroom felt secure and strong in its journalism to its future," Keller said in a statement.

(Edited by Robert MacMillan)


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