Audio Video News

A "land rush" of "big-ticket deals" is about to sweep through the TV broadcasting industry in the wake of a <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov/">Federal Communications Commission</A> decision on August 5 to lift the limit on station ownership by any one broadcaster. Commissioners voted 4-1 for the change. Feeling the heat from satellite services and cable systems, broadcasters have been applying heavy pressure on the FCC to change the rules, established in the 1930s, that limit station ownership to one per company in any single geographic area. The rules were originally intended to ensure diversity of programming and editorial content.

Early last week, <A HREF="http://www.valley-media.com">Valley Media</A>'s <A HREF="http://www.schwann.com">Schwann Publications</A> announced that they are introducing a new publication, <I>Schwann DVD Advance</I>. The company says the first issue of the bimonthly publication, dated September/October 1999, will list more than 3500 DVDs, sport an initial circulation of 10,000, and be available in retail stories and by subscription.

Last week, the <A HREF="http://www.homepna.org">Home Phoneline Networking Alliance</A> (HomePNA) announced that new technology proposed earlier in March by <A HREF="http://www.lucent.com">Lucent</A> and Epigram (now a subsidiary of <A HREF="http://www.broadcom.com">Broadcom</A>) is now the basis for the 2.0 standard for 10 Megabit/second home networking technology.

Astute observers have long predicted that the computer industry would beat consumer-electronics manufacturers to the finish line in the race for affordable high-definition television. That prediction could prove correct, if a recent press release from Austin,Texas- based <A HREF="http://www.hdtv.net/">TeVCA Technologies</A> is to be trusted.

Stanley Kubrick's last film, <I>Eyes Wide Shut</I>, is too risqu&#233; for tender American sensibilities. Apparently, that is the position of executives at <A HREF="http://www.warnerbros.com/">Warner Bros.</A>, who contrived to have digitally generated human figures inserted into an orgy scene in the controversial adult drama starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

Last week, <A HREF="http://www.variety.com/"><I>Variety</I></A> reported that, in celebration of its 75th anniversary, MGM intends to re-release several James Bond classics spanning the last 37 years. The company says it will release 19 of its Bond films as special editions on DVD and VHS in three installments beginning on October 19 of this year, culminating with the DVD release of the newest Bond film, <I>The World is Not Enough</I>, by the end of 2000. The new film, staring Pierce Brosnan as Bond once again, is slated to hit theaters November 19, 1999, in time for the holiday season.

M<I>uhammad Ali, George Foreman, James Brown, B.B. King, Norman Mailer, George Plimpton, Spike Lee, The Crusaders, The Spinners. Directed by Leon Gast. Aspect ratio: 16:9 enhanced widescreen, 1.33:1 pan&scan. Dolby Digital. 94 minutes. 1997. PolyGram 440 045 847-2. Rated PG. $29.99.</I>