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January 21, 2008
360AM: HBO Goes Broadband
HBO's Gift To Green Bay, Writers Could Resume Talks, David Simon Writes and other news
By Cable 360 Staff
Cable360AM — News briefing for Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 21 »
This is an abbreviated version of 360AM, as our staff observes Martin Luther King Day. Good morning.
In an unintentionally ironic move, Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will be the first test markets for a major New York City gift—Internet distribution of HBO content, The NY Post reports today. The service, to be called HBO on Broadband, will be free to HBO subscribers who receive the premium cable network from cable operators; others will have to pay, the paper says. HBO on Broadband will be rolled out Tues. [The NY Post]
Writers might sit down with Hollywood studios as early as this week, an AP story picked up by The NY Times says. The agreement by directors last week, where studios conceded that directors would be able to “participate financially” in emerging digital media products, put pressure on the writers to return to the negotiating table. The chief of the Motion Picture Association, Dan Glickman, went so far as to say the directors deal should be “a template” for the writers, a Reuters story in The NY Times says. [The NYT-AP] [The NYT-Reuters]
The Wire creator David Simon, who’s refused to conduct interviews owing to the writers strike, broke his silence Sunday, penning an op-ed for The Washington Post to explain his view of newspapers. The Wire's final season features a portrayal of a decaying Baltimore newspaper. Simon, who worked for The Baltimore Sun, wonders whether “the news itself [is] still valuable to anyone? In any format, through any medium — isn't an understanding of the events of the day still a salable commodity? Or were we kidding ourselves? Was a newspaper a viable entity only so long as it had classifieds, comics and the latest sports scores?” [The Washington Post] [The NY Times’ David Carr responds to the Simon piece.]
Briefly Noted
Suzanne Pleshette, known best for her role as Emily, the intelligent and sexy wife of Dr Robert Hartley, played by Bob Newhart, has died of lung cancer, aged 70. The Bob Newhart Show and its successor, Newhart, can be seen on American Life TV. [The NY Times]
Lachlan Murdoch, a son of Rupert Murdoch, has joined Aussie gaming biggie James Packer to make a $3 billion bid for publishing company Consolidate Media Holdings. It would be Lachlan’s first major move since leaving Rupert’s business 3 years ago. [The NY Times]
Actor Kiefer Sutherland has been released after spending 48 days in jail on a drunken driving charge, an AP story carried by The NY Times says. [The NY Times]
How are soap operas continuing to churn out love triangles and other mayhem in the midst of the writer’s strike? With writing by network execs, producers, secretaries and apparently scabs, The NY Times reports. [The NY Times]
[Friday's 360AM]
[Friday's PM Update]
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