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rupert murdoch-related stories

Olbermann, O'Reilly told to end personal feud, which just creates another feud

Keith Olbermann hiding behind Bill O'Reilly's giant puppet headIt seems the never-ending feud between Keith Olbermann and Bill O'Reilly has become a kangaroo boxing match. The worst thing you can do is get in the middle of it.

That's exactly what the parent owners of Fox News and MSNBC tried to do when they arranged a "cease-fire" between them and their top-tier shows' "lieutenants."

The cease-fire, however, didn't last long. It's another case of the ol' Rufus T. Firefly conundrum for peace. Either side might be willing to do whatever it takes to end this war, but they've already paid two months' rent on the battlefield.

Continue reading Olbermann, O'Reilly told to end personal feud, which just creates another feud

Would you pay to watch Bill O'Reilly online?

FoxRupert Murdoch thinks so. In fact, he's betting that folks will pay to watch all of his television properties on their respective websites.

A friend of mine once suggested something like this. Basically, news would be free, but premium content online would come at a cost. Sort of like how stock quotes are delayed 20 minutes unless you pay a premium to see the prices instantly. And those with extreme political opinions, like sports fans, would pay any price to see their favorite commentators/players do their thing.

Continue reading Would you pay to watch Bill O'Reilly online?

Will 24's greener measures affect the show?

Jack Bauer, played by Kiefer Sutherland, on Fox's 24Fox's charge to make 24 a completely green show is admirable.

It's not only expensive and harder to do than one might think, but it also flies in the face of 24's core audience. Of course, that's not its boldest effect. These days, pissing off the right wing is more "in" than Twittering about your Snuggie.

The boldest move is the effect these new measures could have on the body of the show in ways you may not expect. You might even see Jack Bauer tie a guy to a chair and hook up his nipples to a car battery to get him to admit he doesn't put his plastics and newspapers in separate recycling bins.

Continue reading Will 24's greener measures affect the show?

StrikeTV.com coming in 2008

Man, if the writer's were enormous rats, I bet this strike would be over much more quickly!As the last few hours of our scripted entertainment disappear like canned foods in a fallout shelter, any new entertainment on the horizon is good news (unless, of course, you're talking about ABC's Duel or the prospect of a Tonight Show that rises and falls on Jay Leno's wit alone).

Today's offer of putrefied pond water to us thirsty masses is StrikeTV.com. Wired.com is reporting that after the holidays, the striking writers will use the site to post "videos and other media supporting the strike." It's not much and, when you get right down to it, it's less "entertainment" than "snarky rhetoric," but hey, it's something.

Continue reading StrikeTV.com coming in 2008

UK Virgin Media customers may lose Lost

Dominic Monaghan, LostLost fans in the UK could soon have more to complain about than slow plot development. A halt in Virgin Media's deal renewal with British Sky Broadcasting might prevent Virgin Media customers from getting the Sky One channel, which airs Lost.

If the Virgin Media group and Sky cannot agree on a renewal price, Virgin subscribers will lose access to popular shows like 24, Lost, and The Simpsons, when the current deal ends on March 1. This means that viewers would be cut off from the show midseason. To make matters worse, customers would pay the same amount for less programming should the channels be cut.

On the plus side, a deal between the two companies has already been made for Virgin Media to offer the first two seasons of Lost on demand. Customers also have the option of subscribing to Sky's television service.

Continue reading UK Virgin Media customers may lose Lost

Could OJ's book still go public?

oj simpsonCiting sources close to OJ Simpson, Time is reporting that certain publication rights from his book, If I Did It, Here's How it Happened, could revert back to him before next Christmas. That means the book may still see the light of day, somewhere. Several European publishers have expressed an interest in the book, a "fictional" account of how Simpson would have committed the murders he was accused of had he actually done it. If the book ever gets published, here or abroad, Simpson is welcome to use this hypothetical blurb, written in the spirit of the book, based on what I would have said had I actually read it:

Continue reading Could OJ's book still go public?

O.J. book, TV interview cancelled by News Corp. - UPDATE

OJ Mug shotWho says Rupert Murdoch isn't a sweetheart?

According to the Associated Press (by way of ESPN), the hue and cry over If I Did It, Here's How It Happened has led News Corp. chairman to cancel both the book and TV special planned for next week. In both the book and special, O.J. Simpson would describe how "in theory" he would have killed Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman in 1994. "In theory," by the way, is Latin for "I got away with it and now I can unburden myself for profit, suckers."

Continue reading O.J. book, TV interview cancelled by News Corp. - UPDATE

FOX discovers the internet

fox logoI suspected that Rupert Murdoch was bluffing when he said he didn't think there was a future for video on the internet. According to the Wall Street Journal, FOX just inked a six-year deal with its 187 affiliates to play reruns on the internet. The agreement allows FOX to make 60% of its schedule available online the morning after it airs.

It's not yet clear how FOX will distribute the online video or how much it will cost and it probably will cost something because the deal gives the affiliates a 12.5% cut of the profits.

Rupert Murdoch doesn't see the benefit of online video

While ABC, NBC, and CBS have been quick to offer up shows on their websites and in iTunes, FOX has been mysteriously silent about the whole online video craze. It's surprising, since FOX tends to take more chances and be more cutting-edge than its competitors. Now we know why. Rupert Murdoch recently told Newsweek he's not convinced that putting television shows online is a good idea (I think NBC would disagree).

Said Murdoch, "We're not knocked out by iPod so far. We've talked to them, to Google and others. But how many people really want to get video on a tiny screen when they already have TiVo or a similar service from their cable company or DirecTV?"

Continue reading Rupert Murdoch doesn't see the benefit of online video

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