After only two seasons, the Global/ABC Family series Falcon Beach has been cancelled due to decisions by both it's Canadian and US broadcasters to pull the plug.

The show's production team at Insight Productions tried shopping it around to other Canadian broadcasters after Global Television pulled it from it's lineup because it wasn't reaching a broad enough audience. But late last week, ABC Family dropped it saying it was strong in the 12 to 17 audience but failed to attract older viewers in the 12 to 49 demographic.

On the other hand, the show has been a success for it's international distibutor FremantleMedia. It has been picked up in 115 territories including the UK, Australia and France.

Full Story (Playback Magazine)

Posted by Mike Laverdiere at 2:01 PM | Permalink

Onstage at the National Association of Broacasters (NAB) convention, in Las Vegas this week, Google CEO Eric Schmidt was asked by former NBC Nightly News anchor John Seigenthaler whether the rise of his company meant the decline of conventional TV.

"Google will not replace radio and television," was Schmidt's quick response. But when the suggestion that there is a limited ad revenue base for electronic media, he added "The trick is -- whatever business you're in -- to use the best targeting."

Getting to really know your viewers seems to be the theme at this week's convention.

Sling Media CEO and president Blake Kerkorian declared that "appointment-based viewing is dead." Some broadcasters reluctantly agree with Kerkorian. But some, like Capitol Broadcasting CEO Jim Goodmon, don't believe the "Sling Box model is appropriate or legal." (The Slingbox is a device which allows a user to access their cable or satellite connection at home, via the internet, in any part of the world.)

Google CEO Eric Schmidt has said in the past "Don't bet against the Internet." Some broadcasters seem to be doing just that.

Schmidt answered, "[The Internet] is as big a possible land grab as enjoyed by the founders of television." He then added "But the new model of broadcasting will have to address user empowerment."

Full Story (Playback Magazine)

On the web:
National Association of Broadcasters website
Sling Media

Posted by Mike Laverdiere at 2:33 PM | Permalink

Maria Topalovich, the president and CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television has decided she will step down at the end of April.

Topalovich, whose accomplishments include helping to launch the Genies and the Geminis, in 1980 and 1986 respectively, will not renew her contract when it expires at the end of the month.

"I feel the time is right to pursue my own personal goals," Topalovich, who has been with the Academy for 30-plus years, said in a statement.

Paul Gratton, the Academy chair and Quebec chair Charles Ohayon and founding chair Ron Cohen are beginning their search for a replacement. In the meantime, Gratton will serve in Topalovich's place.

Full Story (CBC)

Posted by Mike Laverdiere at 3:21 PM | Permalink

A new TV version of the classic comic strip adventure Flash Gordon is set to start filming in Vancouver next month and starring in the lead role is Canadian actor, Eric Johnson (Smallville).

The new series promises to update the story of Flash Gordon, who travels in a home-made space ship fighting evil. The original comic book hero was drawn in 1934 by Alex Raymond and has been featured in many newspapers, radio plays, and films.

The series will debut on the SciFi channel in the US in August. Matthew O'Connor, Peter Hume and Tom Rowe will executive produce.

Full Story (BBC)

Posted by Mike Laverdiere at 3:10 PM | Permalink

Britain's PACT, the Producers' Alliance for Cinema and TV, says British TV earned £593 million ($1.34 billion CDN) in 2006, up 20% from 2005.

Hits like Doctor Who, BBC's Strictly Come Dancing (US title: Dancing With The Stars), Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and Shaun the Sheep are among the top-selling shows.

Europe was the top buyer of UK TV accounting for £125 million ($283 million CDN), compared with the 30% jump to £77 million ($174 million CDN) the United States bought.

Sales to Eastern Europe were up 42%, the bigger increase, thanks to new TV channels and a history of British TV being popular in that part of the world.

PACT says that a renewed interest in studio-based programs and gameshows are responsible for the increases.

Full Story (BBC)

Posted by Mike Laverdiere at 2:55 PM | Permalink

Gary Friedrich, the creator of Ghost Rider is suing Marvel Enterprises, Sony Pictures Entertainment and several entities for infringing on his copyrights to the comic book character.

In the 61-page complaint, filed in federal court in Illinois April 4, Friedrich and his company are claiming Marvel and Sony had 21 violations based on the production and marketing of Sony's recent film "Ghost Rider" starring Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes. He claims it is an unauthorized "joint venture and conspiracy to exploit, profit from and utilize" his copyrights that reverted to him from Marvel in 2001.

Friedrich also accuses Marvel of waste for failing "to properly utilize and capitalize" on the Ghost Rider character. He claims that Marvel's attempts to do so have damaged the value of his work by failing short of promoting and protecting the characters and by accepting inadequate royalties from co-defendants.

A Sony spokesman said the studio had no comment on the suit and had not been served with the complaint.

Included in the list of defendants: Relativity Media, Crystal Sky Pictures, Michael De Luca Productions, Hasbro inc and Take-Two Interactive.

Read the full story (Hollywood Reporter/Reuters/Yahoo)

Posted by Mike Laverdiere at 2:31 PM | Permalink