Day: May 12, 2008

KateModern to air series finale next month

Terence Huynh
12 May 2008, 19:24

The sister show to LonelyGirl15, KateModern will air its finale on the social networking site Bebo at the end of June, it was announced today.

The last part will air on June 28, with Bebo promising a "high octane" ending with multiple episodes - similar to the season finale of LonelyGirl15 where 12 episodes were uploaded for 12 hours, one for each hour, as an exclusive deal with MySpace TV

The interactive drama has more than 300 four-minute episodes since it was launched in July last year. The producers EQAL have not ruled out reprising the interactive drama, but hopes to beat the average 1.5 million views each episode.

Bebo has also running two new online drams, Sophia’s Diary and the Big Trip, with more video projects coming soon.

The United Nations has been approached by more than 40 countries have expressed interest in starting nuclear power programs, the Washington Post is reporting.

The interest comes from developing countries, ranging from the Gulf to Latin America. But proliferation experts fear that it could see the building of nuclear arsenals in some countries.

However, some Middle Eastern countries with large stocks of oil or natural gas, like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, appear to be investing in nuclear power over concerns of a future arms race in the nation, the Post said.

The United States, France, UK, China and Russia, all who have nuclear weapons, have signed the Non-Proliferation treaty; with India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea having nuclear weapons but have not signed the treaty.

Low ratings cause BBC moves new Aussie soap

Terence Huynh
12 May 2008, 18:56

British fans have given a thumbs down to the new Australian soap, Out of the Blue; which was launched last month in hope of repeating the same success as it had with Neighbours.

But with less than a month on the air, it has moved to the BBC’s second channel, BBC Two, after viewing numbers have slowly reduced on BBC One.

Out of the Blue, based on the lives of a bunch of 30-something friends in Sydney’s northern beaches, attracted 1.2 million on its premiere, but has dropped to the 700,000 mark. The BBC has also confirmed that it was not axing it, saying it was committed for another six months.

The BBC commissioned 130 episodes of the series from Southern Star. Ten has also picked up the series to air in Australia.

Neighbours, previously BBC One’s golden show, moved to Five after the BBC and FremantleMeda, the distributor, failed to reach a deal. Five also has the rights to Home and Away, broadcast and produced by the Seven Network.

Expect SD Digital FTA - but not on the first day

Terence Huynh
12 May 2008, 17:41

Recently announced, the commercial free-to-air broadcasters will now be able to create new independent standard definition channels. This follows dropping regulations to allow commercial Free-to-air broadcasters will be able to multichannel, but in HD only.

But while he is enthusiastic, Ten’s CEO Grant Blackley has told SMH’s Business Day that don’t get your hopes up as it won’t start on day one.

"We’re capable of launching from January 1 (but) I don’t think any network has said they will physically launch on January 1," he told Jesse Hogan from SMH.

Ten has been more active in its high-definition channel, Ten HD, with a commitment to broadcast more than 50 hours of unique content, meaning different programming from the main channel. Though it would promise more extended or additional supplement programming for some of its reality properties like The Biggest Loser and Big Brother, it has failed to do that.

But really? Do we need a HD version of Big Brother.

Sport has dominated most of its schedule, with live NASCAR coverage and the Indian Premier League, along with the AFL and the previously announced 2010 Commonwealth Games.

A lack of ratings for HD services have made it difficult for the commercial broadcasters to sell advertising, but it is expected to change after OzTAM, who monitors the ratings, will report on HD and the new SD channels by the end of the year.