U.S. Extends TV’s Analog Transition The U.S. switch from analog to digital television got a little easier for some broadcast stations, when the regulatory agency, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), approved new rules this month. The new regulations were enacted to help ease the transition towards the February 17, 2009 deadline, at which time all broadcasting in the U.S. will be exclusively digital. Under the revised rules, broadcasters will be permitted to make a phased transition into digital (rather than forced to make an abrupt change at the deadline) and phase-out their analog service gradually. The FCC said the aim of the new regulations is to minimize disruptions and “dead air” come 2009. In addition, to lighten the financial burden of purchasing a digital television, the government will provide $40 coupons to those with analog sets. Congress created the deadline in 2005 in order to streamline TV into one transmission medium and to open up public airwaves for the use of firefighters and the police. Despite recent FCC attempts at smoothing the transition, many believe that the change to digital will be a rocky one. The IOC Doesn’t Get An IOU from Japan Tokyo officials received a warning from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), after making inappropriate comments to Brazilian Olympic chief Carlos Arthur Nuzman. Leaders of Tokyo, one of the seven hopefuls for the bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, questioned the motives behind Rio de Janiero’s decision to compete for the games, in light of the fact that it will host the 2014 World Cup. The comments, issued by a Japanese diplomat, were ruled by the IOC to be in violation of the bidding rules, and Japan was given a slap on the wrist. The IOC is showing its stricter side in an attempt to root out the corruption that has marred the bidding process in years past. They are cracking down on bidder conduct since the controversy surrounding the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, when a number of IOC officials were forced to resign for accepting bribes. The Tokyo leaders took the reprimand in stride, commenting that they did not consider their remarks socially unacceptable and that their Olympic bid will proceed according to plan. In effect, the Japanese Olympic leaders do not feel that they owe anything to the IOC. Has Sundance Sold Out? Sundance Film Festival has been under the microscope for its commercialization in recent years. London paper The Observerran an article in early January examining the vastly increased studio presence at the traditionally indie event and questioning whether the festival has “lost its soul.” The festival, which was founded in 1978 by a film graduate named Sterling Van Wagenen, has met with criticism for eschewing its earnest routes and becoming instead a playground for the stars. Sundance, held in Park City Utah, this year on Jan.17-27, began as a humble celebration of classic American films and a competition for movies made outside the Hollywood system. Robert Redford, the husband of Van Wagenen’s cousin, signed on early to help the struggling festival find its stride. Over the years Sundance provided unknown filmmakers with funding and helped them gain recognition. But as the festival gained momentum, discovering directors like Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh, Hollywood began seeping in. Today the festival’s 52,000 attendees make up a who’s who of A-list celebrities, party-hopping and snagging gift-bag give-aways (called swag). Although festival officials insist that the emphasis of Sundance is still on helping the little guy, The Observer and other critics can’t help but be skeptical about the commercial tenor set by the omnipresence of studios and sponsors. Famous Quotes “I think I’d like to leave.” Why? “I’d like to spend a little time being a wife, a mother and a grandmother.” And what will you do the rest of the day? The late Roger King to one of his assistants, as told by Inside Edition’s Deborah Norville at King’s eulogy. JA N U A R Y 2 0 0 8 (Continued from Page 4)
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