Entertainment

WASHINGTON -- October 15, 2009 – The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday reported bipartisan legislation that will give fair compensation to musical artists while protecting songwriters. The bill reported by the Committee responds to concerns from smaller commercial and noncommercial stations by providing a flat annual royalty option for unlimited use of music.

Introduced in February by Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the Performance Rights Act will end an exemption that benefits traditional, over-the-air broadcasters that are not required to pay recording artists for use of their work. Webcasters, satellite radio providers, and cable companies are required under current law to pay compensation to artists.    » read more »

October 2, 2009 -- SANTA FE -- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today announced that two major motion picture projects and a third season of a popular television series are preparing to shoot in New Mexico during the coming months.

“Despite the economy and despite competition from many other states New Mexico’s film industry is still strong,” said Governor Richardson. “We are known around the world for our highly skilled and experienced crew base, our growing base of support businesses and facilities, and of course, our unparalleled locations and climate. Add to that the strong support for the industry from local communities and we are at the top of the list when productions are choosing locations."

The projects are:    » read more »

Heavy metal icon to perform before a sold-out crowd at Blizzard Entertainment’s epic gaming festival

IRVINE, CA, August 11, 2009 -- Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, will headline the closing concert at this year’s BlizzCon®, which will take place August 21-22 at the Anaheim Convention Center. While tickets to the convention sold out in minutes, a live Pay Per View event will be available on DIRECTV and via Internet stream.    » read more »

Udall: Digital Television Transition Just Three Days Away; Senator Reminds New Mexico Consumers DTV change happens this week

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M. today reminded New Mexico TV consumers that this Friday, June 12, is the day the United States will transition to digital television (DTV). On that day, all full power television stations will stop broadcasting in analog signal and begin broadcasting on digital airwaves. Consumers using antennas or “rabbit ears” to watch free, over-the-air television must obtain a digital converter box or risk losing reception after the transition occurs. Consumers who subscribe to cable or satellite TV, or those with a converter box for their analog TV will continue to receive television signal.    » read more »

Only One Week Left to Prepare for the June 12 National Switch to Digital Television

June 5, 2009 --
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke today urged Americans who rely on over-the-air broadcasting – typically those who use older televisions with “rabbit ears” or a rooftop antenna – to take immediate action so that at least one television in their household continues working when the nationwide switch to digital television occurs one week from today. The transition to digital will free up airwaves for broadband and enhanced emergency communications for our police officers, firefighters and other first responders.

Consumers who have TV sets with digital tuners or that are connected to cable, satellite or another pay TV service do not need to act.    » read more »

Rockefeller Calls for a Permanent Solution

June 2, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, commended the deal reached between Comcast Cable and West Virginia Public Broadcasting (PBS) as an important first step to allow Comcast subscribers to continue receiving West Virginia PBS at no additional charge for two years. Senator Rockefeller strongly pushed for such a solution, and is urging further discussions for a permanent solution.    » read more »

TAIPEI, Taiwan - June 02, 2009 - Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) today introduced the N-Stream™ Wireless LAN WCN1320™ chip, the industry's first dual-band 802.11n standards-based wireless local-area networking (WLAN ) solution with 4x4 multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology.

Offering performance of 600 Mbps, the new chip is designed to enable users to distribute multiple simultaneous streams of high-definition video, voice and data throughout the home, without the hassle and cost of installing cables or the interference and range problems of previous wireless technologies.

Qualcomm's N-Stream WLAN solution is being demonstrated this week at Computex Taipei and at Connections 2009 in Santa Clara.    » read more »

Oregon is in the middle of a record year for film and video - best in over 15 years

June 1, 2009 -- (Salem) - Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski today met with film and television producers, representing three companies currently employing hundreds of Oregonians, to highlight the state’s thriving film industry. In the first six months of 2009, productions have invested more than $40 million in Oregon, representing the largest investment in any full year in the past 15 years.    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Standing next to an antique 1951 John Deere Model A tractor on the South Lawn of the State Capitol, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon today signed HB 93 & 216, a bill to make tractor parades in Missouri legal. Gov. Nixon was joined at the signing by bill sponsor state Rep. Mike Thomson of Maryville; by state Sen. Frank Barnitz of Lake Spring, who handled the bill in the Senate; by Jon Hagler, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture; and by Col. James Keathley, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.    » read more »

April 28, 2009 -- Oklahoma City -- Surrounded by fans of internationally celebrated rock band The Flaming Lips, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today signed an executive order proclaiming the group’s song, “Do You Realize??,” the official rock song of Oklahoma. The action took place at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.

The recognition comes after an online vote held late last year. In that statewide contest, the Flaming Lips’ song, from the 2002 compact disc “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,” drew 51 percent of more than 21,000 votes cast.    » read more »

Kentucky Native Joins Sierra Club to Ask Obama Administration to End the Destruction

March 4, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. Film star Ashley Judd has teamed up with the Sierra Club to help stop mountaintop removal coal mining. With a new personal letter, video and online “take-action,” Ashley Judd is asking the Obama Administration to step in and protect the mountains, streams and people of Appalachia.

“I grew up in Eastern Kentucky, and like so many Appalachians, just seeing our beautiful mountains and valleys tells me I am home,” says Judd in the letter. “Our mountains are our heritage and our legacy to future generations. But big coal companies are using explosives to literally blow the tops off the mountains, extract the coal and destroy Appalachia.”    » read more »

Three Cases Link Terrorists to Piracy Profits

March 3, 2009 -- Organized crime increasingly is involved in the piracy of feature films, with syndicates active along the entire supply chain from manufacture to street sales of pirated movies, according to a new RAND Corporation report.

While crime syndicates have added piracy to criminal portfolios that include drugs, money laundering, extortion and human smuggling, the profits from film piracy also have been used on occasion to support the activities of terrorist groups, according to researchers.    » read more »

Electric Entertainment & TNT’s hit Television Series “Leverage” to Shoot In Oregon

February 26, 2009 -- (Salem) – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced that Electric Entertainment and TNT will relocate the hit television series, “Leverage” to Oregon, creating long-term job opportunities and higher than average wages with benefits for Oregonians hired as cast and crew. The series represents a direct investment of millions of dollars and ensures that Oregon is in for a record year in film and television production.    » read more »

"Dancing with the Stars the Results Show," Premieres Tuesday, March 17

Sunday, February 08, 2009 - An all new cast of celebrities hits the dance floor on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" with the highly anticipated two-hour season premiere, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009 (8:00-10:02 p.m., ET) on ABC. Season Eight introduces us to 13 new stars, including the youngest competitor to date, an NFL legend, a computer icon, a female rapper, three music artists and a "Wildboy."

Highlights:
- Three Real Life Couples Compete
- Bottom Two Couples "Dance Off"
- Macy's Stars of Dance Returns
- Ballroom Kids Competition Returns    » read more »

Redwood City, Calif., July 23, 2008 -- What do you do when you are the doctor and someone comes into your hospital with butterflies in their stomach, water on the knee, and a frog in the throat? Operate of course!

From EA's casual games site Pogo.com comes OPERATION Mania (TM) - a new twist on the classic OPERATION board game from Hasbro. Become an expert surgeon as you admit, diagnose and treat patients with the zaniest ailments in healthcare history. Play as Dr. Humerus who is an up and coming surgeon as he builds his reputation and is called in to save the day at five different hospitals in fun and wacky locations.    » read more »