| Univision Battle With Televisa Places Programs in Jeopardy
A long-running feud between Univision Communications and the Mexican broadcaster that provides most of its programming is headed for a showdown in a federal court in Los Angeles. If Univision loses, it could see many of its prime-time shows yanked. While a dispute over royalty payments is the source of the current dispute, tensions between the two companies date back to bad blood between Univisions former chief, A. Jerrold Perenchio, and the late Emilio Azcarraga Milmo, who felt he got a bad deal in 1992 when the two men negotiated the original contract. If the Mexican company, Grupo Televisa, wins and pulls its programming, Univisions enterprise value could be chopped by more than $1 billion. The lawsuit centers on a program license agreement, or PLA, between Televisa, the dominant broadcaster in Mexico, and L.A.s Univision, the dominant Spanish-language TV network in the U.S.
Commentary: President Bush v. polar bears
A half-century ago, before SUVs doomed the planet, there were only 8,000 to 10,000 polar bears, according to science writer Theo Richel. Much of this increase is due to hunting restrictions that were put in place. And if polar bears, as reported, seem to be losing weight, it may be because increasing populations are competing for the same food supply. Actually, global warming might help in that area. A reduction in ice cover creates a better habitat for seals, which are the bears' main food. Less ice cover means more sunlight producing more phytoplankton, increasing the supply of other food sources. On land, blueberries, which the bears adore, would become more plentiful. Taylor says he's seen bears so full of blueberries they waddle. .
Tom Savini, Legendary Special Effects Make-Up Artist, Actor and ...
MONESSEN, Pa., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Douglas Education Center (DEC), a creative career school located just 30 minutes south of Pittsburgh, is already home to Tom Savini's monstrously successful Special Make-Up Effects Program, which began in 2000 and has graduated hundreds of students from all over the country. DEC offers many other programs besides make-up effects, including graphic design, illustration, cosmetology, and starting in February, Tom Savini's Digital Film Production Program. "Our film students are going to have the opportunity to collaborate with all of these other programs on their productions," said Savini. "They will be surrounded by talented individuals, just like in a professional studio, from the very first day they step on campus." Each student entering the 16-month program receives a video camera and a laptop computer fully equipped with software for all their filmmaking needs.
Ting Tings release first single
The Ting Tings have released their much-anticipated debut single Great DJ. And the duo, who have been billed as a band to watch for 2008, have revealed their surprise at how much buzz has been surrounding their music. Speaking of their new release they said: "We hand-made all our singles so we did a limited copy with only a small amount going out. "It's quite shocking all this coverage we've been getting. Airplay and stuff has been amazing." Although the group are playing down the hype, they are hoping to drum up more support ahead of their album release in May. They said: "We try not to read too much of it because it can give you a really big head. So I think we've got to play shows all this year and show people what we do." .
Zakaridicule: Newsweek Editor Compares Huckabee to Ahmadinejad
He wants constitutional amendments, just to be precise, that would ban abortion and same-sex marriage. JEFFREY TOOBIN: Well, yes. And that is not a particularly out-of-the-mainstream view. I mean, there are a lot of Republicans who want to amend the Constitution in that way, though, there is not a great deal of support outside the right wing of the Republican Party on that. But the way Huckabee expressed himself is really in conflict with about 225 years, that is all of American constitutional history. The Constitution is a document that is supposed to allow all religions to flourish, or people who don't believe in religion to flourish. And, you know, he later backed off that expression. But I mean, it's just an indication. He's a very conservative candidate. FAREED ZAKARIA: It frankly made him sound more like Ahmadinejad of Iran.
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