MGM Will Offer Its Films on iTunes

This article is about MGM offering its films on Itunes now. The deal was announced on Wednesday , and builds the iTunes catalog to more than 500 movies. They are offering movies like "Mad Max", "Rocky," and will add other movies to iTunes in coming weeks.
Apple's online store began offering movie downloads in September. The company started the feature initially with films from Walt Disney, but they have also signed deals with other major studios since then. Some of them include Paramount Pictures and Lionsgate Entertainment. The only one that is missing from iTunes are films from Sony Pictures, Universal Studios and Warner Brothers which have already started distributing movies to other services such as Wal-mart Stores and Amazon.com.
iTunes still regins as the world's most popular online movie store with more than two million movies sold.
Most movies on iTunes ar 9.99 to download. The exception is to older movies which are 4.99 to download.

I think that this is a great idea. I also think that Sony, WB, and the other companies that have not jumped on the bandwagon need to. Not only is this good for Apple it is also advertising for the other companies that is giving permission to download them onto I-Pods. I have an I-pod and love to download all kinds of movies on there. It is very convenient and it saves a lot of time instead of downloading them and using the program to convert it onto your I-pod. More and more people are getting video I-pods now because they offer so many great things to watch. I think that having one with movies on it is great to watch on planes and car rides. As far as offering movies, I think that the other major companies that need to do so. Then there will definitely be some competition. They almost have everything on iTunes except show for the much younger audiences. I am sure within the next year they might have some on there.

this article can be found here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/technology/12itunes.html

Radio Host Is Suspended Over Racial Remarks

This article is about radio host Don Imus. He was suspended for two weeks yesterday after the outcry over his racially disparaging remarks about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team. NBC news which does a simulcast broadcast of Mr. Imus's radio program was the first to act in susupending him. They called his comments racist and abhorrent. NBC also served a notice yesterday that the would not tolerate insensitive remarks in the future. Mr. Imus had promised to change the tenor, or tone of the show and had agreed that the suspension was appropriate. NBC stated that their future relationship with Imus is his contingent on his ability to live up to his word.

Mr. Imus also said he wanted to try to see id they'll forgive me and if there is something that can be established here that I can do to begin to build something positive out of this. Mr. Al Sharpton came on his show yesterday and and called for Mr. Imus to be fired, threatening to initiate a boycott of sponsors, and demanding that the FCC take action agains him and radio stations that carry his program. The “Imus in the Morning” program is popular in New York, where it reaches about a half million listeners on the radio station WFAN. Mr. Imus is an employee of CBS, but WFAN is the only CBS station to carry the program.
His suspension will not begin on Monday because Mr. Imus had scheduled a telethon to benefit research into a cure for sudden infant death syndrome and neither outlet wanted to hurt that cause.
Mr. Imus has been known for showing a pattern of racially charged remarks. He also stated in his apology that his remarks was an attempt at humor that had failed miserably.

My opinion on this guy is that he is a jerk. I personally didn't know who he was until this whole thing came undone. My father, and I were watching the news together yesterday, and he knew this guy before he even came on the news. My dad said he is a jerk that needed to be fired 10 years ago. My thoughts are if you are going to say something like that then you better have a good reason for saying it. To me he sounds like a racist pig who just wanted attention. However even though he does charity for cancer organzations that still doens't give him the power or even leverage to say something like that. Now I truly understand Al Sharpton's point of view, but I don't think that there was any reason at all for him to be caught in the mix. I can honestly say now that I really understand in broadcasting that everything you say is very important and critical, and needs to be dealt with like that. I also think that the two week suspension is not going to do anything for him. His track record is not that great and this has not been the first time that he has said something like this.
What does this say about our media? That some guy on a radio broadcasting show can get on there and not get fired. I think that NBC should have zero tolerance for that kind of garbage. It could be as easy as saying if you say those things then you are fired. Hopefully this will be the last time he says something like that. There is no need to bring race or color in to this situation. We are all the same thing which is human beings. I don't know why he feels like he needs to resort to being racist. One day soon, I am sure he will get his.

You can read the article here :
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/10/business/media/10imus.html?_r=1&ref=media&oref=slogin

And Now, a Commercial Break That Doesn’t Seem Like One

This article is about making commericals better on ABC. Their goal is to encourage viewers to stick around rather than getting up for a snack, or stop watching altogether. The recently had a meeting to show some of their ideas and ways to hold the auidence the best that they can. They want to bring the audiences right to the commercial so they dont feel they have gone into the commercial said Mr. Michael Shaw the president for sales and marketing at ABC.
His theory is the more commericals that are being seen the more value you are to the advertisers.
If ABC changes how they show, and present commercials breaks during big shows like Lost, and Desperate Housewives, and Grey's Anatomy they get more viewers, and more people that will like to advertise and have their commercials on there. CW is selling commercials that resemble programs with the sponsor's products incorporated into the plots.
On cable tv such as VH1 they are putting snippets and spots ina way that it is intended to lead the viewers through the commerical pods to the moment the show came back.
Without change they don't know how long television can be sustainable as an adverstising medium said Andrew Jung senior director for advertising and media services and the Kellogg Company. The bottom line is that they need a way to attract the viewers and make them want to watch commericals!


My opinion on this whole subject is I hate commercials. I am going to say Thank God for DVR's because without them then; I would have to be forced to watch commercials. Now all you have to do is click on one button and it goes to the show and no commercials. I know that back in the day you would fast forward it which took so much time. I am happy that we have DVR's now. I am thinking that in order for people to be intreseted in these commercials they better catch the viewers eye somehow. Like they said in the article maybe if they put famous celebrity's in the commericals like Patrick Dempesy then more people would watch. I personally would. I also know that a lot of my friends, and I watch a ton of TV and commercials are such a pain and sometimes we tape the show just so we don't have to sit through commercials. They better start thinking of good ideas, and ways to advertise or they are going to be hurting bad in the advertising and commercial area. What does that mean for people who want to advertise things. When I am forced to sit through a show; I see the same advertisment at least four times and that bugs the crap out of me. So the solution is to think of a better more appealing way or they are going to lose viewers altogther.
This article can be found:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/21/business/media/21adco.html

1,000 Journalists Killed in 10 Years While Reporting

This article is about journalists that have been killed while reporting the news over the past 10 years. The victims are men mostly and are more likely to be shot and killed while investigating local issues instead of reporting from the battlefield. Since 2000 the annual tool has increased with 147 dying in 2005 followed by 167 fatalities last year. The three deadliest countries were Iraq, Russia, and Colombia. They think that killing a reporter is risk free. Most of the murders have never been prosecuted. The way I see it is what kind of message is that sending to people who want to become reporters? it seems to me that people who take these tasks head on like going to different part of the country really need to consider going before they leave. Another thing I don't understand is why do they only act that way over there? How come that stuff doesn't happen as much over here in the USA? How does this look on us? I think that it is crazy to think of that many people dying just because they were a reporter. Just think closely what kind of society do we live in today? It is just sad and depressing. That is all .

the article can be found here
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/07/world/07safety.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Microsoft Attacks Google on Copyright

This article is about Microsoft and they are going to take a blistering attack on rival Google. They argued that web search leader took a cavalier approach to copyright protection. Associate general counsel of Microsoft Thomas Rubin argues that Google's move into new media markets has come at the expense of publishers of book, videos and software. Rubin also argues that companies create no content of their own, and make money solely on the backs of other people's content, are ranking in billions through advertising revenue and IPOs. Google takes the position that everything may be freely copied unless the copyright owner notifies Google and tells them to stop. He also invoked criticism that Google has faced since its acquisition of YouTube, which has come under fire from media companies for allowing copyright infringement of professionally produces video. David Drummond Google's senior vice president for corporate said in response that Google worked with more than 10,000 publishing partners to make books searchable online and recently added the BBC and YouTube, and NBA as video partners.

I think that if there is no consent or form saying that you have permission to use something then it should not be taken from.Copyright infringement is starting to become a huge deal especially when it comes to websites such as YouTube, and things of that nature. I think that Google should have some kind of documentation showing that they did have permission and didn't just steal or take something. The whole copyright thing as a whole to me is starting to get out of hand. I can understand the major broadcasting companies trying to keep what rightfully belongs to them, but still even then people don't care and do things anyways. I also think that the laws for copyright need to become more enforced so maybe then it will stop happening as often.

More on this article can be found here
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/06/business/media/06speech.html?_r=1&ref=media&oref=slogin

MySpace: A way to Promote Yourself and Your Music???

This article is about a singer named Tila Nguyen who became famous last year for having 1.7 million friends on myspace. She is now trying to break into the mainstream music industry with her song I love you that is produced by rapper Lil Jon. They are trying to find out what the social networking and the music sales and see if they both have anything to do with each other. They are also trying to see if it will help boost her popularity. Myspace is known for so many bands posting their music, and trying to be known and become famous. Ms. Tequila has rejected many offers by record companies, and hopes to get famous by myspace alone. They are a few things that make them nervous with trying it out because it has never been done before. Now they will get to know her and her music. The only difference with her is that she does not have a history as a recording artist online that matches her popularity as a personality online. They are reluctant, but hope that everything works out just fine.


I think that Myspace is very addictive. I have one, and I am on it constantly. There are so many different things that you can do on there. Some things are like searching music, looking at new pictures, leaving comments, bulletins. Although I must say that everyone thinks just because they post their band they are going to become famous in 2 weeks. I know of one band that I read in a recent article of Rolling Stone did that and now they are known worldwide. The band is named Panic! At the Disco! I love them. Even though they said it hasn't been done the band said part of their fame came from myspace. I am just saying that because she is popular by her looks, and personality does not mean that she is also going to win them over when it comes to music. Myspace is for friends, and people to communicate easier and quicker. It is also used for music but not to really put yourself out there like some people tend to do. All I am saying is that not everyone can be a star overnight. Myspace is not the way to go about doing it, but if that is the way she wants it then what does she have to lose? Myspace has also become a huge deal in the media. People use it for everything it seems like. Advertising things, bands, jobs anything and everything you can imagine. It is a shame that we are all looking on myspace now for entertainment value and for many other purposes.

link is found here:http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/26/technology/26tequila.html

JetBlue Begins Reimbursing Stranded Passengers

This article is about Jet Blue and how they left tons of passengers stranded at the JFK airport in New York this past week. Mr. David Neelman chief executive was humiliated and mortified by the issues. They have agreed to send everyone either a free flight in place of the inconvenience or just give them free flyer miles. Mr. Neelman has promised to get better management and train more staff to qualify and perform crucial functions, and buy equipment needed to avoid stranding passengers or delaying them. They have agreed to certain things. There are other things that can not be helped in any way such as weather, air traffic control, and maintenance problems. In the case of departures that are delayed one to two hours, for example, passengers would get $25 off a future flight.For a delay of two to four hours, the passenger would receive $50 off a future flight. With delays of more than six hours, passengers would be entitled to a free round-trip flight. Jet Blue canceled more than 1,000 flights during the last week. Mostly after Wednesday when the ice storm hit. Today Neelman says that they will be tracking crew on every canceled flight so they can easily redirect to another flight. The airlines inability to locate and assign new flights to a huge number of problems and is what caused the main delays.

I think that Jet Blue is way too cheap and for that reason I don't fly them. You know there is something wrong when they charge one way ticket's to New York for 72 dollars. That just doesn't make sense to me. I also thought when they first came out that they were too goo to be true. I knew there was always something fishy with that airline. I think that they are trying way to hard to compete with other airline and in the process they are ruining their rep. All I know is that they better get their act together unless they want to go out of business. I would rather pay more many for a flight I know that will get me to my destination rather than taking a cheap one and being stranded.

More on this article is here http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/20/business/20jetblue.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=business