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International Entertainment News

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Special Events Oklahoma Set for TV Production

Special Events Oklahoma Set for TV Production

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Special Events Oklahoma is making its strategic alliances with the Oklahoma Convention and Visitor's Bureau and Visage Production, Inc. This joint-venture will allow Carolyn Williams to expand her current capabilities with the launching of the magazine as well as a local Oklahoma based television-based show, "Special Events Oklahoma" to give visibility to the people, places and topics of interests in event planning. Mike Carrier is President of the Oklahoma Convention and Visitors Bureau and believes the timing is perfect for this venture.

Ms. Williams shares, "It appears that we have a visibility issue and I believe that through these joint ventures, we can give everyone more access to resources."

The television show, "Special Events Oklahoma" is co-written and co-produced by Ms. Williams and Annette D. Colbert-Beavers. It highlights locations, resources and ideas to make even the most modest of budgets a hit with the viewers.

Taping is to begin later this month. Most sponsors of the television show are local and there is a buzz generated that the show could with good viewership ratings enter the Cable Network market as well.

"It's a matter of timing and consistency," shares Annette Colbert-Beavers as both companies are hoping this venture spins off to many others.

    Special Events Oklahoma LLC    Attn:  Carolyn Williams    6009 Northwest Expressway    Oklahoma City, OK  73132    (405) 722-1820  

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Source: Special Events Oklahoma

CONTACT: Carolyn Williams of Special Events Oklahoma, +1-405-722-1820

Web site: http://www.visageproduction.net/


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

Miramax Films Statement

Miramax Films Statement

NEW YORK, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- We are saddened to learn that the National Federation of the Blind plans to protest the film BLINDNESS. Miramax Films and filmmaker Fernando Meirelles have worked diligently to preserve the intent and resonance of the acclaimed book by Nobel prize winning author, Jose Saramago, that is a courageous parable about the triumph of the human spirit when civilization breaks down.

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Source: Miramax Films

CONTACT: Emily Bear of Miramax, +1-917-606-5500, emily.bear@miramax.com

Web site: http://www.miramax.com/


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

National Federation of the Blind Condemns and Deplores the Movie Blindness

National Federation of the Blind Condemns and Deplores the Movie Blindness

Protests Planned Across America on Opening Day

BALTIMORE, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Federation of the Blind, the nation's oldest and largest organization of blind people, today announced its strong objections to the forthcoming Miramax film release Blindness and announced that its members would protest at cinemas across the nation when the movie opens on October 3. The film is based on a novel by Portuguese author Jose Saramago, in which the inhabitants of an unnamed city suddenly go blind. Fearing that the mysterious blindness is contagious, the government quarantines the blinded citizens in an abandoned asylum, where moral, social, and hygienic standards quickly deteriorate and the blind extort valuables, food, and sex from one another. Only one woman, played in the film by Julianne Moore, remains able to see, feigning blindness to remain with her husband. She is portrayed as physically, mentally, and morally superior to the others because she still has her sight.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "The National Federation of the Blind condemns and deplores this film, which will do substantial harm to the blind of America and the world. Blind people in this film are portrayed as incompetent, filthy, vicious, and depraved. They are unable to do even the simplest things like dressing, bathing, and finding the bathroom. The truth is that blind people regularly do all of the same things that sighted people do. Blind people are a cross-section of society, and as such we represent the broad range of human capacities and characteristics. We are not helpless children or immoral, degenerate monsters; we are teachers, lawyers, mechanics, plumbers, computer programmers, and social workers. We go to church, volunteer our time for worthy causes, raise children, operate businesses, and engage in recreational activities, just like everyone else. Portraying the blind on movie screens across America as little better than animals will reinforce the unfounded fears, misconceptions, and stereotypes in the general public about blindness. It will exacerbate the unemployment rate among the blind, which is already higher than 70 percent because of public misconceptions about the capabilities of blind people. It will reinforce false public notions that blind children are ineducable, that blind adults are unemployable, and that all blind people are socially undesirable. Blindness has been played for laughs in the past on the movie screen, but this film does something worse: it makes the blind objects not of mere ridicule but of fear and loathing. For Miramax and its parent company, the Walt Disney Company, to portray the blind in this manner, even as alleged allegory or so-called social commentary, is outrageous and reprehensible-and it is a lie."

About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.

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Source: National Federation of the Blind

CONTACT: Chris Danielsen, Public Relations Specialist, National
Federation of the Blind, +1-410-659-9314, ext 2330, +1-410-262-1281 (Cell),
cdanielsen@nfb.org

Web Site: http://www.nfb.org/


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

New DIDO Album Safe Trip Home Offered as iTunes Pre-Order

New DIDO Album Safe Trip Home Offered as iTunes Pre-Order

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning today, Dido's new album Safe Trip Home is available for digital pre-order from the iTunes(R) Store (www.itunes.com). Customers who pre-order the album from iTunes will instantly receive Dido's new single, "Don't Believe In Love."

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080930/NY36138 )

Two digital versions are available through iTunes: a standard and a deluxe which features bonus content. The deluxe version contains three bonus tracks "For One Day," "Summer" and a remixed version of "Northern Skies," a video for "Don't Believe In Love," digital liner notes, plus the exclusive preorders only track "The Day Before The Day 5/4."

On November 4, Arista Records will release Safe Trip Home. Recorded in Los Angeles and London, Safe Trip Home is produced by Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Kayne West, Rufus Wainwright, Eels) Ark -- the new production company founded by Rollo Armstrong (Faithless) and Dido.

The third album from the London-born singer-songwriter with the cracked-crystal voice, Safe Trip Home includes smoldering, soulful songs that feature Dido playing guitar, piano, bells and the trusty recorder she toured Europe with as a prodigious pupil of London's Guildhall School of Music. She's even responsible for some of the album's drums (most notably on the sumptuously melancholy "Quiet Times."). The record also includes "Grafton Street," a song Dido co-wrote with Brian Eno.

Safe Trip Home follows the global, chart-topping success of Dido's two previous albums: No Angel and Life for Rent.

   DELUXE VERSION   1. "Don't Believe In Love"   2. "Quiet Times"   3. "Never Want To Say It's Love"   4. "Grafton Street"   5. "It Comes And It Goes"   6. "Look No Further"   7. "Us 2 Little Gods"   8. "The Day Before The Day"   9. "Let's Do The Things We Normally Do"   10. "Burnin Love"   11. "Northern Skies"   BONUS CONTENT   12. "For One Day" (bonus track)   13. "Summer" (bonus track)   14. "Northern Skies" (Rollo version) (bonus track)   15. "The Day Before The Day 5/4" (Alternate Version) *   16. "Don't Believe In Love"  (video track)   17. Digital Booklet - Safe Trip Home     STANDARD VERSION   1. "Don't Believe In Love"   2. "Quiet Times"   3. "Never Want To Say It's Love"   4. "Grafton Street"   5. "It Comes And It Goes"   6. "Look No Further"   7. "Us 2 Little Gods"   8. "The Day Before The Day"   9. "Let's Do The Things We Normally Do"   10. "Burnin Love"   11. "Northern Skies"   12. Digital Booklet - Safe Trip Home    * available for a limited time only  

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Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080930/NY36138
AP PhotoExpress Network, PRN12
PR Newswire Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com/

Source: Arista Records

CONTACT: Tom Muzquiz, +1-310-449-2638, Tom.Muzquiz@sonybmg.com, of RCA
Music Group for Arista Records


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

CN8, The Comcast Network to Offer Live Bipartisan Coverage of Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates, as Well as Election Night

CN8, The Comcast Network to Offer Live Bipartisan Coverage of Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates, as Well as Election Night

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CN8, The Comcast Network announced today its most expansive election coverage package to date, including live airings of the presidential and vice presidential debates, pre- and post-Election Night specials and live Election Night reporting and analysis of the presidential, federal and state races.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010815/PHW029LOGO )

As part of its "America's Next President" programming, CN8 has aired extensive coverage of the 2008 election. The coverage has spanned many of the network's original programs and will continue to be prominently featured on "It's Your Call," "Roll Call TV," "Voice of Reason," and "Art Fennell Reports."

"The 2008 election looks to be a watershed event, and CN8 has led election coverage since before the primaries, and will continue to do so through the debates, Election Night itself and the inauguration," said Jon Gorchow, vice president and general manager of CN8, The Comcast Network. "By televising these historic events -- as well as making them available online and ON DEMAND -- we're expressing our commitment to top-notch political coverage. It's more important than ever to be informed and CN8 will help our viewers do so through this live, expanded lineup."

CN8's "America's Next President" debate and Election Night coverage follows:

Vice Presidential Debate Thursday, Oct. 2 (9-11 PM)

CN8 brings viewers live coverage of the highly-anticipated Biden/Palin debate from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. CN8 Political Director Lynn Doyle will host an expert panel immediately following what is expected to be a heated discussion. Viewers who miss the initial airing may catch the re-air on Friday, Oct. 3 from 8-10 a.m.

Presidential Debate Tuesday, Oct. 7 (9-11 PM)

CN8 will air the second "town meeting" style McCain/Obama debate live from Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., with Lynn Doyle leading post-coverage analysis and discussion. The debate re-airs on Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 8-10 a.m.

Presidential Debate Wednesday, Oct. 15 (9-11 PM)

The third presidential debate will air live on CN8 from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., followed by CN8 in-studio expert analysis and discussion pertaining to topics such as the economy and domestic policy. The final debate re-airs on Thursday, Oct. 16 from 8-10 a.m.

"Roll Call TV" Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 4 (11:30 AM)

"Roll Call TV with Robert Traynham" features a special Election Day episode live from CN8's Washington, D.C. studio. Roll Call reporters will join host Traynham in studio to preview the historic day's activity, including state-by-state numbers and predictions. The special will re-air at 7:30 p.m. Election Night.

Election Night 2008 Tuesday, Nov. 4 (8 PM-TBD)

CN8 Political Director Lynn Doyle and Reporter Kevin Walsh will co-host the network's live coverage and analysis of the presidential election, featuring a team of political reporters and experts including Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief Robert Traynham, CN8 Director of Business and Consumer News Mary Caraccioli and CN8 Host Steve Adubato. Programming will feature live reports from McCain and Obama campaign headquarters, as well as special coverage of leading federal, state and local races throughout CN8's Maine to Virginia footprint.

CN8's Philadelphia studio will serve as the command center for Election Night programming, with additional support from CN8 studios in Washington, D.C.; Boston; Union, N.J.; and field reports from various campaign headquarters and key battleground states. CN8 will remain on the air until the final vote is cast and the race has been called. Election Night programming will re-air on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to noon, with pre-emptive breaking news updates throughout the day.

CN8 Election Night, countdown and debate coverage will be made available through Comcast Digital Cable's ON DEMAND service, allowing customers access to these exclusive broadcasts and historic events at a time that best meets their schedules. CN8's live coverage will also stream concurrently via the network's award-winning Web site at http://www.cn8.tv/.

CN8, The Comcast Network

CN8, The Comcast Network provides more than 9 million Comcast cable viewers with a unique brand of live, interactive television delivered over its own fiber-optic network to 12 states and 20 television markets stretching from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. CN8 was founded in 1996 and has quickly grown to become the nation's leading regional cable network, airing more than 90 hours a week of original programming from its six studios in the Baltimore, Boston, Delaware, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. areas. CN8 provides in-depth coverage and analysis of special events and important news that broadcast networks often ignore. Since its inception, CN8 has delivered on its mission to continually reshape and revolutionize regional television and its relevance to local, regional and national viewers. CN8 is a member of The White House Correspondents' Association and its programming and hosts have been honored by the industry with 71 Emmy Awards.

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Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010815/PHW029LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: CN8, The Comcast Network

CONTACT: Amy Norcini of CN8, The Comcast Network, +1-215-286-4576

Web site: http://www.cn8.tv/
http://www.comcast.com/


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

Music Legends Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young Perform, Speak Out on HDNet in 'CSNY: Deja Vu'

Music Legends Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young Perform, Speak Out on HDNet in 'CSNY: Deja Vu'

Documentary/concert reveals a legendary band that is as political as ever

DALLAS, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- WHAT: "CSNY: Deja Vu," premiering on HDNet Sunday, October 5 at 8:00 p.m. ET, is a documentary shot during the band's "Freedom of Speech" Tour. The film features music legends Crosby, Stills Nash and Young as they crisscross North America on their latest tour. Echoes of Vietnam-era, anti-war sentiment abound as the band connects with today's audiences.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO)

Interspersed with clips of both current and past concerts and interviews with these outspoken musicians, reporter Mike Cerre (who was previously embedded with the troops in Iraq) is allowed to trail Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young on the tour to capture their thoughts and feelings in addition to their great performance.

Witness candid talk from both musicians and concert-goers about the meaning of the music that inspired a generation, the introduction of Neil Young's most recent album (and focal point of the tour) Living with War, and the mission to document those "against this war and the government behind it."

   WHEN:  Sunday, October 5 at 8:00 p.m. ET on HDNet.    About HDNet  

HDNet (http://www.hd.net/) provides viewers with the best in original comedy, drama, news, sports and music programming.

HDNet is your exclusive, high definition home for popular, critically acclaimed original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather and "NASA on HDNet" (presenting live shuttle launches through 2010). HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, the NASCAR Camping World Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup re-broadcasts, boxing and premiere Mixed Martial Arts from "HDNet Fights;" behind-the-scenes sports news with "Inside the NHL" and "Inside MMA;" groundbreaking music programming with the HDNet Concert Series featuring leading artists and bands including Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, Black Eyed Peas and more; and entertaining and irreverent lifestyle programming including "Deadline!," "Art Mann Presents," and "Get Out!" HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning programs such as the Emmy Award winning "Arrested Development," "The Black Donnellys," "Dead Like Me," "Smallville" and the hit series "Torchwood."

HDNet Movies features a wide selection of major studio theatrical releases -- all uncut, unedited, and appearing in their original aspect ratio so that HDNet Movies viewers get the best possible home theater experience.

Only HDNet Movies' exclusive Sneak Previews bring feature films to viewers before they premiere in theaters! Some of the HDNet Movies Sneak Previews have included the Academy Award nominated "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," Toronto Film Festival nominee "The War Within," and "Bubble," the first of six movies by acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and produced exclusively for HDNet Films. Other featured films include "Cashback," written and produced by Sean Ellis, "Broken English," from Zoe Cassavetes, starring Gena Rowlands, Parker Posey, Drea de Matteo and Griffin Dunne, the critically acclaimed "Redacted" directed by Brian De Palma, "Flawless," starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore, "Quid Pro Quo," starring Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga, "Finding Amanda," starring Matthew Broderick and Brittany Snow, "Red," starring Brian Cox and most recently "Humboldt County," starring Fairuza Balk, Peter Bogdanovich and Frances Conroy. Upcoming Sneak Previews include "Special," starring Michael Rapaport, "Great Buck Howard," starring Colin Hanks, John Malkovich and Tom Hanks, "Harlem Aria," starring Damon Wayans.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit http://www.hd.net/.

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Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: HDNet

CONTACT: Colette Carey of HDNet, +1-303-542-5576, ccarey@hd.net

Web site: http://www.hd.net/


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

Fox Sports en Espanol together with the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana Presents Art in the Park

Fox Sports en Espanol together with the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana Presents Art in the Park

Seven-Month Concert Series Kicks off on Oct. 3rd to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

MIAMI, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Fox Sports en Espanol alongside the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana is proud to present Art in the Park, a concert series event that highlights the best of Latino art and music in Coral Gables. These events are held during the first Friday of the month from October 2008 through April 2009 in conjunction with Gables Gallery Night Walks.

Art in the Park, which starts off with a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, will feature local Latin jazz musicians such as David Fernandez, Conjunto Progreso and Suenalo. Attendees will also enjoy a happy hour ambience alongside a cigar lounge. The park will be lined with canopy style tents which will showcase the paintings, photography, crafts, fine jewelry and live painting demonstrations of Miami's hottest up-and-coming artists.

"Fox Sports en Espanol is proud to be affiliated with Art in the Park because we believe in the importance of giving back to the community and unifying families, friends and communities through the powerful medium that is art," said Raul de Quesada, Sr. Vice President and Assistant General Manager for Fox Sports International. "It is an absolute pleasure to contribute to an event that allows our Hispanic community to come together in celebration of our heritage, and enjoy great art and music."

Art in the Park invites the entire family to come out and enjoy an evening of fun. The night also offers a Kids Art Village where children can create culturally-themed artwork under the direction of renowned artist Marcy Grosso. Participation is free and children will receive refreshments, and balloons. Face painting will also be available for children under the age of six.

"We are happy to support an initiative that provides a fun environment for all families to enjoy, and it is a pleasure to join forces with an organization such as Fox Sports en Espanol which also recognizes the value of caring for our community," stated Ricardo Gonzalez, president of the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana.

Miami's Who's Who Gather to Kick-Off the Series

For the first time ever, Fox Sports en Espanol will host a V.I.P. event to commemorate the launch of the Art in the Park series. The exclusive cocktail reception will take place at Old Spanish Village where Miami's upscale crowd will celebrate the beginning of a great cultural event. Guests will include local sports celebrities as well as Miami's elite in prelude to the cultural enjoyment to come.

Also joining the Art in the Park series is the United States Postal Service (USPS), as they will unveil of the Latin Jazz stamp on stage during the launch event. With the issuance of this Latin Jazz stamp, the USPS is celebrating the rich Latino musical heritage of the United States of America. The stamp, designed by Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, Arizona, conveys the multicultural aspects of the music, its percussive and improvisational nature, and its rhythmic complexity.

"It's very exciting to see so many different organizations coming together as a community to celebrate the Hispanic culture, its music and its art," said Don Slesnick, Mayor of Coral Gables. "It is an honor to be amongst such a talented people and I am really looking forward to the upcoming series of events."

The first of the seven-month series will start on Friday, October 3rd at 7 p.m. at the Ponce Circle Park. Admission to the public is free and open to the entire family. For more details, contact 305-644-8888 or visit http://www.artintheparkconcerts.com/.

About Kiwanis Club of Little Havana

The Kiwanis Club of Little Havana is a non-profit service organization established in 1975 with projects and programs of great impact to the community, most especially the underserved children. For over 30 years, the Club has trained over 4,000 leaguers in a Basketball league and has provided a summer full of activities to more than 1,000 children at the annual sports camp. School supplies have been distributed to nearly 60,000 students in low income elementary schools and the scholarship program has graduated 200 scholars, currently with 55 in full four-year scholarships. During the holiday season, the distribution of toys and bicycles have touched the lives of more than 75,000 children and the "adoption" of families has fulfilled the need and wishes of 350 disadvantaged families. The Club has built playgrounds at city parks and initiated after-school tutoring along with family literacy programs. It organizes holiday meals for the elderly and donates to other charitable organizations, it helps feed the homeless, cure ill children and assist the most vulnerable members of our community. The Club is better known for organizing the events of Carnaval Miami and world renowned Calle Ocho along with Art in the Park; events that provide the funds necessary to carry on community projects.

ART IN THE PARK offers the most original musical mix-'em-ups with a seven- month series of concerts and a fusion of art. Following October's event, Art in the Park will continue on Friday, November 7, and December 5, 2008 returning in 2009 on January 2, February 6, March 6, as well as the kick-off of Carnaval on the Mile, ending the series on April 3.

About Fox Sports en Espanol

Fox Sports en Espanol features more than 1,500 hours of live, exclusive sports programming in Spanish and, with few exceptions, English SAP each year, including InterLiga(TM), the Copa Santander Libertadores, the Copa Nissan Sudamericana, and the FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournaments; the Major League Baseball regular season, League Championship Series, All-Star Game and World Series; and premier combat sports including championship boxing from Mexico and the U.S., Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) and kickboxing. The channel reaches more than 14.4 million cable and satellite households in the country, of which 4.6 million are U.S. Hispanic Households. Fox Sports en Espanol is distributed by Fox Cable Networks Group and operated by Fox Pan American Sports LLC, an international sports programming and production entity jointly owned by HM Capital Partners, LLC and News Corporation's (NYSE:NWS) Fox Sports International. For more information, visit Fox Sports en Espanol online at foxsportsla.msn.com.

Source: Fox Sports en Espanol

CONTACT: Jennifer Serna, Fox Sports en Espanol, +1-310-444-8736,
jennifer.serna@fox.com; or Priscilla Polonio, The Jeffrey Group,
+1-305-860-1000, ext. 181, ppolonio@jeffreygroup.com, for Fox Sports en
Espanol

Web site: http://www.artintheparkconcerts.com/


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

Out of the Blue Entertainment Obtains the Option of Judith L. Pearson's Second Book, The Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America's Greatest Female Spy

Out of the Blue Entertainment Obtains the Option of Judith L. Pearson's Second Book, The Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America's Greatest Female Spy

CULVER CITY, Calif., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Out of the Blue Entertainment announced today that the company will develop a film project based on author Judith L. Pearson's second book, The Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America's Greatest Female Spy. The book is based on the story of Virginia Hall, an American woman whose remarkable activities as a spy in World War II France had never been told.

Because of Virginia Hall's courage and tenacity in foiling the Nazi war machine, thousands of American lives were undoubtedly saved. Most remarkable of all, Hall carried out her underground work and eluded Nazi capture despite a debilitating handicap. Virginia Hall had an artificial left leg. To the Germans, she was "the lady with a limp;" to the Allies, she was a savior.

"We are looking forward to creating the film version of this amazing story of a courageous woman who fought hard to help bring down the evil of the Third Reich," said Nancy Ganis of Out of the Blue Entertainment. "The odds were impossible. Her spirit was indomitable...."

Sid and Nancy Ganis founded Out of the Blue Entertainment.

Judith L. Pearson is a highly regarded author and public speaker who presents to organizations and corporations on the theme of women's courage and courage in the workplace. Visit her web site at http://www.judithlpearson.com/.

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FCMN Contact:

Source: Out of the Blue Entertainment

CONTACT: Jeanna Zelin, +1-480-298-0928, jeanna@zelincomm.com, for Out of
the Blue Entertainment

Web Site: http://www.judithlpearson.com/


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

More Cable TV Choice for Consumers in Bellingham, Mass.

More Cable TV Choice for Consumers in Bellingham, Mass.

Thousands More Consumers, Small Businesses now can Order Verizon's FiOS TV, the Only TV Service Delivered over the Nation's Most Advanced Fiber-Optic Network Straight to Consumers

New FiOS TV Residential Customers Eligible for a Free High-Def DVR for 12 Months and Free Month of HBO and Cinemax

BELLINGHAM, Mass., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning today, consumers and small businesses in Bellingham have more choice in cable TV providers now that Verizon has introduced FiOS TV, making a broad range of programming choices and superior picture quality available to thousands more Bay Staters.

Bellingham is among 80 Massachusetts communities (see list below) where the company's new television service is offered - the only TV service delivered over the nation's most advanced all-fiber network directly connecting to millions of individual homes and businesses.

Recently, Verizon announced that it has added 75 more channels, including 55 more high-definition (HD) channels, to its FiOS TV lineup in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. As a result, FiOS TV now offers more than 400 channels - including 85 HD channels, more than any local cable TV company, including Comcast.

Verizon is currently negotiating with several other communities in Massachusetts to obtain additional franchises. For more information on the Verizon franchise process in the state, visit www.verizon.com/ma.

"FiOS TV gives consumers in Bellingham an outstanding, superior alternative for their video entertainment," said Donna Cupelo, Verizon region president for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. "Customers in Bellingham who liked what FiOS did for their Internet connection will love what it does for their TV. We've harnessed the vast capacity of our advanced fiber-optic network to deliver a revolutionary, new entertainment experience."

Massachusetts residents who are FiOS TV-eligible now have the option to trim their monthly bills by bundling FiOS TV service, FiOS Internet service and the Verizon Freedom Essentials unlimited calling plan, for as little as $99.99 a month. They also can add a Verizon Wireless calling plan for a Grand Slam of communications and entertainment services.

In addition, new residential customers who subscribe to FiOS TV by Oct. 31 will receive their choice of a year's free use of either an HD digital video recorder (DVR) or an HD Home Media DVR. Verizon is also offering new FiOS TV customers, or existing customers who upgrade to a bundled package, one free month of HBO and Cinemax, which includes the latest hit movies, documentaries and original programming from more than 25 premium channels and access to hundreds of titles on video on demand (VOD). New customers who take advantage of this offer will save between $200 and $260 the first year, depending upon the DVR customers choose.

Bellingham consumers can check online at www.verizon.com/fios for more information or to request that Verizon contact them when FiOS services become available. Customers also can call their local Verizon sales office or 888-GET-FiOS (888-438-3467).

Small and medium-sized businesses interested in business-grade FiOS services can visit www.verizon.com/bizfiostv to see online rebate offers of up to $409 depending on the services selected, or call 877-FiOS-BIZ (877-346-7249) for more information.

   FiOS TV Service Highlights   FiOS TV service highlights include:   --  More than 400 all-digital channels grouped by genres such as       entertainment, sports, news, shopping, movies and family, making it       easy for audiences to find their favorite programming.    --  A total of 85 HD channels for Massachusetts customers, with       extraordinary clarity and theater-quality sound.  The company plans to       offer all available major HD programming by year-end.    --  An industry-leading library of more than 11,000 video-on-demand (VOD)       titles each month, 70 percent of which are free. In addition, the VOD       library includes an increasing number of HD titles, and Verizon plans       to offer 1,000 HD VOD titles per month by year-end.    --  An easy-to-use interactive media guide that integrates HD programming,       VOD content and the optional digital video recorder along with       broadcast television into a seamless user experience.    --  Set-top boxes ranging from a standard-definition box to the Home Media       DVR, featuring a multi-room DVR that enables up to three simultaneous       viewings of recorded programs without requiring customers to set up a       complex home network or buy extra equipment.  The recorder is bundled       with Media Manager, which lets customers easily access photos and       music from their personal computer and play them on their       entertainment center where they look and sound the best.    --  FiOS TV Widgets, a free interactive feature that provides local       weather and traffic information.   

Programming choices for Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Russian and other multicultural audiences are available in every market, making FiOS TV an outlet for emerging and independent networks to showcase their diverse programming.

FiOS TV is designed to be a formidable competitor to cable and satellite. Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, the largest of its kind in the country, is currently under construction in more than half the states where the company offers landline communications services, including almost 100 Massachusetts communities.

The network brings the power and capacity of fiber optics directly into people's homes and has industry-leading quality and reliability. Fiber delivers amazingly sharp pictures and sound, and has the capacity to transmit a wide array of high-definition programming that is so clear and intense it seems to leap from the TV screen. It also delivers Internet download speeds of up to 50 Mbps* (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 20 Mbps as well as high-quality voice services.

(More information about FiOS TV and fiber optics is available in Verizon's online News Center at www.verizon.com/news.)

The value of FiOS TV extends to the installation and customer support. Specially trained Verizon technicians will install the service and acquaint subscribers with FiOS TV features and services. Verizon is waiving the installation fee for up to three existing TV outlets, and there is no charge to install a needed optical network terminal at the subscriber's home. Charges for other installation services, such as additional outlets, may apply. Verizon provides 24 x 7 technical assistance by phone from its Fiber Solutions Centers in Providence, R.I., and other cities.

[In Massachusetts, FiOS TV is available in Abington, Acton, Andover, Arlington, Ashland, Bellingham, Bedford, Belmont, Boxborough, Boxford, Braintree, Burlington, Canton, Dedham, Dunstable, Framingham, Franklin, Georgetown, Hamilton, Hingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Ipswich, Lakeville, Lawrence, Lincoln, Littleton, Lexington, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Marion, Marlborough, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Medfield, Medway, Melrose, Methuen, Middleborough, Millbury, Nahant, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norfolk, North Andover, North Reading, Northborough, Norwood, Plymouth, Reading, Rochester, Rockland, Rowley, Sherborn, Southborough, Stoneham, Stoughton, Stow, Sudbury, Sutton, Swampscott, Taunton, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Wareham, Wayland, Wellesley, Wenham, West Newbury, Westborough, Westwood, Wilmington, Winchester and Woburn. FiOS TV also is available in parts of New York, New Jersey, California, Delaware, Texas, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington.]

* NOTE: Actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) , headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 69 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 228,600 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Verizon

CONTACT: Ellen Cummings, +1-508-624-2219, ellen.m.cummings@verizon.com,
or Phil Santoro, +1-617-743-4760, philip.g.santoro@verizon.com, both of
Verizon

Web Site: http://www.verizon.com/
http://www.verizon.com/bizfiostv
http://www.verizon.com/fios
http://www.verizon.com/ma
http://www.verizon.com/news

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/094251.html


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY Poll Finds White Evangelicals Under 30 Less Supportive of McCain Than Their Parents

RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY Poll Finds White Evangelicals Under 30 Less Supportive of McCain Than Their Parents

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to a new poll for the PBS news program RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY, conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research Inc., although white evangelical Christians have voted overwhelmingly Republican for the last 20 years, younger evangelicals are less supportive of John McCain than evangelicals over 30.

The September survey found that almost three-quarters (71 percent) of white evangelicals say they support McCain for president, compared to 23 percent who support Barack Obama. But the margin closes to 62-30 percent among white evangelicals ages 18-29. Younger white evangelical women are much less favorable toward Sarah Palin than their mothers, with only 46 percent of them rating her "warmly," compared to 65 percent of evangelical women over 30.

The survey also found generational differences on key social issues. A majority of younger white evangelicals (58 percent) support some form of legal recognition for civil unions or marriage for same-sex couples. Older evangelicals remain strongly opposed. At the same time, young evangelicals are as solidly pro-life on abortion as older evangelicals.

"While political pundits have been talking a lot about the significance of younger evangelicals this election cycle, there has been very little solid data targeting them. This survey gives us a clearer picture of what they really think," said RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY managing editor Kim Lawton.

The nationwide survey of 1400 adults, including an oversample of 400 evangelical Christians, ages 18-29, was conducted September 4-21, 2008. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent for the total survey sample, +/- 4.1 percent for white evangelical Christians, and +/- 5.5 percent for white evangelical Christians ages 18-29.

The survey results are part of a larger national survey of attitudes about religion and America's role in the world to be released in October. It will be the basis of a two-part RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY series broadcast on PBS stations beginning the weekend of October 24 (check local listings for broadcast date and time).

For more on the survey, go to the RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY Web site: (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week1204/survey.html). Additional coverage of faith and politics online is available at One Nation (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/blog.html).

RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY, a production of Thirteen/WNET New York, is the only national television news program devoted entirely to the news of religion, spirituality, and ethics. Now in its twelfth season, it is distributed to PBS stations nationwide. Funding is provided by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. with additional support from the Henry Luce Foundation, Mutual of America, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and individual supporters. Executive editor and host is Bob Abernethy; executive producer is Arnold Labaton; Thirteen/WNET executive-in-charge is Stephen Segaller.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly

CONTACT: Mary Schultz of Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, +1-202-216-2394,
schultzm@religionethics.org

Web Site: http://www.pbs.org/


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

Point.360 to Acquire the Assets of CenterStaging Musical Productions, Inc.

Point.360 to Acquire the Assets of CenterStaging Musical Productions, Inc.

BURBANK, Calif., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Point.360 (NASDAQ:PTSX) , a leading provider of integrated media management services, today announced that it has entered an agreement to acquire the assets of CenterStaging Musical Productions, Inc., which agreement is subject to approval in CenterStaging's pending Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. CenterStaging is one of the largest independent providers of production rehearsal and support services for live musical performances and television events.

Haig S. Bagerdjian, the Company's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer said: "CenterStaging's customers include recording artists, television networks, production companies and studios that use the space and expertise of CenterStaging in the same manner as owners of content use the talent and facilities of Point.360 to service their masters. The potential acquisition will bring us approximately $7 million of new revenue opportunities, new customers in a new segment of the entertainment industry and the opportunity to cross-sell the services of Point.360 and CenterStaging."

The Company stated that CenterStaging is primarily engaged in (i) providing production and support services for live musical performances and major televised award shows such as the Academy Awards and the GRAMMY Awards and other televised shows and events, such as the Super Bowl halftime show and presidential inaugurations; (ii) renting its studio facilities to musicians for rehearsal, production and recording; and (iii) renting musical instruments and related equipment for use at its studios and other venues.

The purchase of assets is expected to be completed in the quarter ended December 31, 2008 and is subject to the United States Bankruptcy Court approval and an opportunity for other parties to overbid for CenterStaging's assets. Point.360's obligations under the agreement are conditioned upon the negotiation of real and personal property leases, the settlement of certain tax obligations, approval of the bankruptcy court and other matters. There can be no assurance that the transaction contemplated by the purchase agreement will be approved by the bankruptcy court or that the conditions to closing will be met.

About Point.360

Point.360 (PTSX) is a value add service organization specializing in content creation, manipulation and distribution processes integrating complex technologies to solve problems in the life cycle of Rich Media. With six locations in greater Los Angeles, Point.360 performs high and standard definition audio and video post production, creates virtual effects and archives and distributes physical and electronic Rich Media content worldwide, serving studios, independent producers, advertising agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations and governmental agencies. Point.360 provides the services necessary to edit, master, reformat and archive clients' audio and video content, including television programming, feature films and movie trailers.

Point.360's interconnected facilities provide service coverage to all major U.S. media centers. Clients include major motion pictures studios, advertising agencies and corporations.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in Point.360 press releases may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, without limitation (i) statements concerning the Company's projected revenues, earnings, cash flow and EBITDA; (ii) statements of the Company's management relating to the planned focus on internal growth and acquisitions; (iii) statements concerning reduction of facilities and actions to streamline operations; (iv) statements on actions being taken to reduce costs and improve customer service and (v) statements regarding new business and new acquisitions. Such statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievement of Point.360 to be materially different from those expected or anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Please also refer to the risk factors described in the Company's SEC filings, including its annual reports on Form 10-K. Such statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expected or anticipated in the forward- looking statements. In addition to the factors described in the Company's SEC filings, including its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, its registration statement on Form S-1 and Form 10-K, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed herein; (a) lower than expected net sales, operating income and earnings; (b) less than expected growth; (c) actions of competitors including business combinations, technological breakthroughs, new product offerings and marketing promotional successes; (d) the risk that anticipated new business may not occur or be delayed; (e) the risk of inefficiencies that could arise due to top level management changes and (f) general economic and political conditions that adversely impact the Company's customers' willingness or ability to purchase or pay for services from the Company. The Company has no responsibility to update forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: asteel@point360.com

Source: Point.360

CONTACT: Alan Steel, Executive Vice President of Point.360,
+1-818-565-1444

Web site: http://www.point360.com/


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

PBS KIDS(R) and PBS KIDS GO!(sm) Explore Halloween's Tricks and Treats

PBS KIDS(R) and PBS KIDS GO!(sm) Explore Halloween's Tricks and Treats

On October 31, New Episodes from MARTHA SPEAKS, SUPER WHY, WORDWORLD and CYBERCHASE Help Kids Learn Some Things Aren't As Scary As They Think

To Prepare for the Long Holiday Season Ahead, SID THE SCIENCE KID Discovers Tricks to Stay Healthy and Enjoy Treats in Moderation

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! invite kids on a Halloween adventure exploring fears on Halloween day and preparing for the holiday season ahead with healthy findings from SID THE SCIENCE KID. On October 31, kids can join their favorite character role models including Martha from the new literacy-based series MARTHA SPEAKS as well as friends from SUPER WHY, WORDWORLD, CYBERCHASE, ARTHUR and MAYA & MIGUEL as they embark on adventures that help them discover that some of the things they think are scary aren't really so scary after all.

In addition, to help guide families through their eating and activity choices and behaviors during the holiday season, from October 20 through October 24, SID THE SCIENCE KID helps kids discover what can happen when you eat too many sweets or don't brush your teeth as well as the importance of washing hands and staying active. Parents can follow along with corresponding activities on pbskids.org and PBS Parents (pbsparents.org) to help their families make smart healthy choices during Halloween and year-round.

"Halloween is a time of excitement and sometimes anxiety for young children - often fueled by sugar and for many, fears," said Lesli Rotenberg, SVP Children's Media, PBS. "Our characters are great role models to guide children as they explore their fears and help them make healthy choices."

Early elementary school kids can extend the fun at pbskidsgo.org/video, where they can watch streaming video of Halloween-themed episodes and clips from ARTHUR, CYBERCHASE, MARTHA SPEAKS, FETCH! WITH RUFF RUFFMAN, MAYA & MIGUEL, ANIMALIA, DESIGN SQUAD and more. Preschoolers and their parents can write their own silly stories about Halloween at Dot's Story Factory (pbskids.org/storyfactory) and find Halloween-themed games, crafts, masks, costume ideas, recipes, e-cards and more at pbskids.org/halloween.

PBS Parents (pbsparents.org) will feature healthy Halloween treats that families can make and enjoy together as well as information on keeping kids safe during trick-or-treating, costume ideas and Halloween book recommendations. In addition, parents can find resources for hosting a Halloween party, having a neighborhood costume parade, creating a haunted house and trick-or-treating for charity.

SID THE SCIENCE KID - Health-themed episodes October 20-24 (check local listings):

"A Brush with Teeth" - October 20 (NEW) - Sid wonders, "Do you really have to brush your teeth every single day?" At school, Sid discovers that our mouths are filled with different kinds of teeth that do lots of different jobs -- like chewing our food. So it's really important to keep our teeth healthy by brushing them every day.

"I Want Cake" - October 21 (NEW) - Sid declares that he shall only eat Birthday cake for every meal! Sid and his friends discover that only eating cake would make their bodies feel terrible. Then they explore and learn that the best way to stay healthy is by eating nutritious food.

"The Big Sneeze" - October 22 (NEW) - Sid's parents tell him to wash his hands to keep away germs. But Sid can't see any germs on his hands, so why should he wash them? Sid and his friends learn that germs are so small that you can't see them. And they discover that a great way to stay healthy and keep germs away is by washing their hands with soap and water.

"Must See TV" (NEW) - October 23 - Sid decides to sit and watch television all weekend long. There's just one problem with his plan: sitting around and not moving would make his body feel terrible. At school Sid and his friends learn that exercising is a really fun way to stay healthy. And it makes your body feel great!

"Sid's Health Day" (NEW) - October 24 - Sid wonders, "What is the best way to always stay healthy?" At school, Sid and his friends discover that there are lots of ways to stay healthy: washing hands to avoid germs, eating nutritious foods, brushing teeth and exercising!

   HALLOWEEN DAY, October 31 (check local listings)    On PBS KIDS, for preschoolers:    MARTHA SPEAKS - "Martha Gets Spooked / Martha Changes Her Luck" (NEW)  

Martha Gets Spooked - Is someone fixing up the haunted house? If not, who ordered those flowers? Was it the ghost of Mrs. Parkington's Great-Aunt Martha? Whoever or whatever it was, Martha has to go in there to protect Helen, before it's too late!

Martha Changes Her Luck - Uh-oh. Martha walked under a ladder - and broke a mirror - so now she thinks she's jinxed. And she's worried her bad luck is rubbing off on everybody else. Helen tries to explain that all the accidents are just coincidence, but things just keep getting worse.

SUPER WHY - "The Ghost Who Was Afraid of Halloween" (NEW)

It's Halloween in Storybrook Village and Pig is so frightened, he won't go trick-or-treating with his friends! The Super Readers pay a storybook visit to Little Ghost, who's a bit of a scaredy cat himself, to teach him there's more to Halloween than meets the eye.

WORDWORLD - "A Kooky Spooky Halloween / Sheep's Halloween Costume" (NEW)

A Kooky Spooky Halloween - The WordFriends get their share of scares the night before Halloween, when Pig sleepwalks and everyone thinks he's a ghost!

Sheep's Halloween Costume - It's Halloween - Sheep's favorite day of the year. Sheep likes nothing more than to dress up, so she always goes out of her way to make herself a special costume. But what will she do when her WordFriends need pieces of her costume for their own costumes?

On PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school children:

CYBERCHASE - "Spheres of Fears" (NEW, premieres October 27 with an encore presentation on October 31)

In his latest and possibly maddest scheme ever, Hacker traps Digit and the kids in one of the dreaded Spheres of Fears, a mini-galaxy of orbs populated by eerie creatures called Creepers, where they must use the properties of circles to reverse Hacker's chaos in the nick of time.

ARTHUR - "What Scared Sue Ellen? / Clarissa is Cracked"

What Scared Sue Ellen? - Sue Ellen isn't afraid of anything until she takes the short cut through the woods. From that point everything appears to scare her. Arthur and the other boys accompany Sue Ellen through the woods to locate her monsters.

Clarissa is Cracked - Grandma Thora gives her favorite doll, Clarissa, to D.W. for a week. D.W. treats the antique doll like her other toys, but loving Clarissa more. Unfortunately, D.W.'s attention proves fatal to Clarissa when the doll breaks. D.W. and her family find a doll doctor to repair Grandma Thora's treasured toy before she's returned.

MAYA & MIGUEL - "La Calavera"

When Maya wants to add some oomph to her presentation about Mexico for school, she consults her Abuela Elena, who allows her to borrow a prized possession: a calavera, or skull made of sugar, that is used in the yearly Day of the Dead celebration.

About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO!

In response to the increased number of children facing risks from childhood obesity, PBS KIDS kicked off a children's health initiative to strengthen existing health-related resources and build a cohesive framework for public media to encourage kids and families to make healthier lifestyle choices. The initiative kicked off with the convening of PBS KIDS' Public Media Council on Children's Health in early 2008 and was followed by a virtual summer road trip to health utilizing character role models, resources and content for families and educators. Building long term partnerships with organizations that share a similar mission, such as Produce for Kids, is one of the many examples of PBS KIDS' community-based activities to encourage healthy lifestyles.

PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offers all children - from every walk of life - the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and outreach content. Like its programming counterpart, PBS resources - including PBS KIDS online (pbskids.org), PBS KIDS GO! online (pbskidsgo.org), PBS Parents (pbsparents.org), PBS Teachers (pbsteachers.org), PBS KIDS Raising Readers and literacy events across the country - leverage the full spectrum of media and technology advancements as well as community to build knowledge, critical thinking, imagination and curiosity. Guiding children towards empowerment for success in school and in life, only PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! have earned the unanimous endorsement of parents, children, industry leaders and teachers. PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's 356 public television stations, serving more than 65 million people each week and reaching 99% of American homes.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: PBS

CONTACT: Jill Corderman, +1-703-739-5788, jcorderman@pbs.org, or Jake
Landis, +1-703-739-5362, jwlandis@pbs.org, both of PBS KIDS; or Alison Grand
of Grand Communications, +1-212-584-1133, alison@grandcommunications.com, for
PBS

Web Site: http://www.pbs.org/


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

Time Warner Cable North Texas Offers Free Preview Weekend of BYU Television

Time Warner Cable North Texas Offers Free Preview Weekend of BYU Television

Free Preview available on Time Warner Cable Channel 960 this Weekend

IRVING, Texas, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Time Warner Cable North Texas announced today that it will offer a free preview of BYU Television from October 4-5, 2008 on digital channel 960 of its North Texas lineup.

BYU Television carries programming from Brigham Young University and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This weekend, BYU Television is carrying live broadcasts of the semi-annual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

"We know that many of our customers are interested in seeing BYU's programming this weekend and we're pleased to be able to offer this free preview in time for the general conference," said Gary Underwood, Time Warner Cable's vice president of communications in North Texas.

A complete listing of programming on BYU Television is available at byutv.org or by calling 1-866-662-9888.

About Time Warner Cable North Texas

Time Warner Cable brings the best in technology, innovation and entertainment to the North Texas community. With Digital Home Phone, Internet and television, Time Warner Cable North Texas now offers more digital and bundling options for its customers. Plus, Time Warner Cable delivers full-time, local customer service and technical support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information, visit http://www.timewarnercable.com/dallas or call 972-PICK TWC (972-742-5892).

About BYU Television

BYU Television is an international programming service for alumni and friends of Brigham Young University, members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and others interested in educational, values-oriented, and religiously-based programming. The programs aired on BYU Television come from the three campuses of BYU, the LDS Church, Bonneville International, and other independent producers and distributors. Program offerings include BYU sports, musical and dramatic performances, BYU lectures and devotionals, documentaries, the semi-annual general conference of the LDS Church, and "Music and the Spoken Word." BYU Television was created in January 2000 and was first carried throughout the United States on the Dish Satellite Network. Subsequently, DirecTV and numerous cable operators have offered BYU Television to their subscribers. With over 6,000,000 church members and 300,000 BYU alumni living in the United States, the appeal of BYU Television is broad and far-reaching.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Time Warner Cable North Texas

CONTACT: Gary Underwood of Time Warner Cable North Texas,
+1-972-830-3822, gary.underwood@twcable.com

Web site: http://www.timewarnercable.com/dallas


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

Daddy Yankee 'The Big Boss' Performs Exclusively for Terra's Original Entertainment Program 'En Privado'

Daddy Yankee 'The Big Boss' Performs Exclusively for Terra's Original Entertainment Program 'En Privado'

The US Navy Joins Terra.com by Sponsoring En Privado, an Exclusive Bilingual In-Studio Performance and Interview Series with Today's Hottest Names in the Music World

MIAMI, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Terra USA, the largest original digital content producer for U.S. Hispanics, presents En Privado with Daddy Yankee available at www.terraenprivado.com. Fans of Daddy Yankee will have the opportunity to watch and listen to the special performance of some of Yankee's latest hits, such as: Llamado de Emergencia, Somos de Calle, Temblor and Pose. Terra users will be able to enjoy an exclusive interview, behind the scenes footage, photo galleries, additional artists videos and much more.

With this special performance by Daddy Yankee, Terra USA also welcomes the US Navy to its family of partners. "It is the first time the US Navy joins Terra to present En Privado, our newest original content entertainment program. We are very excited to partner with them and we hope this is the first of many projects we will work with the US Navy", said Angel Sepulveda, Executive Director of Programming for Terra USA.

Accentmarketing, the U.S. Navy's Hispanic agency of record, negotiated this unique opportunity for the Navy. "The U.S. Navy is committed to the Hispanic community and is thrilled to sponsor Terra.com's En Privado. Both Terra.com and urban music are the perfect combination for us to reach our target. We feel that it will draw a lot of traffic to our site ELNAVY.com where young Latinos can explore the opportunities the U.S. Navy has to offer", added E. Michelle Lee, Navy Recruiting Command Diversity Advertising Manager.

Daddy Yankee is one the best selling artists of the last three years. Yankee's last musical venture, El Cartel: The Big Boss, was the biggest selling album of 2007 and was named Album of the Year at the 2008 Billboard Awards, topping over one million copies sold worldwide. "This CD's major influence is urban music but we mixed it up and let it evolve by adding music from 'el barrio'. We came up with fresh ideas", said Daddy Yankee. His movie, Talento de Barrio, where he makes his acting debut and serves as Executive Producer, hits theatres in the United States this fall.

About Terra USA

Terra Networks USA is the largest original digital content producer for U.S. Hispanics. Its portal, Terra.com, includes 29 channels in Spanish featuring News, Music, Entertainment, Sports and Terra TV as well as community areas, blogs and services reaching the broadest audience in the U.S. Hispanic market according to comScore, Media Metrix and Neilsen/Net Ratings. Terra is part of Terra Networks S.A., a leading global Internet group operating portals in the U.S., Latin America and Spain and the #1 Internet access provider in Latin America and Spain.

About the U.S. Navy

For more information on the U.S. Navy please visit: www.elnavy.com

Source: Terra Networks USA

CONTACT: Lina Baena, of C-Com Group, Inc, +1-305-447-4015 Ext: 3517,
Fax: +1-305-305-447-4515, for Terra Networks USA

Web site: http://www.terraenprivado.com/
http://www.elnavy.com/


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

V.P. Debate Special: Psychic Source to Profile Candidates on Live Webcast, Oct. 2 at 7pm EDT

V.P. Debate Special: Psychic Source to Profile Candidates on Live Webcast, Oct. 2 at 7pm EDT

Nation's oldest, most respected psychic service to give viewers a look Inside the hearts and minds of McCain, Obama, veep candidates

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday evening, the media's usual lineup of pundits will take a back seat to a different breed of political commentator: The advisors of Psychic Source! On October 2 at 7pm EDT, prior to the vice-presidential debate, the psychics of the nation's most respected psychic service will bring their talents to bear on the presidential election in a live webcast at http://www.psychicsource.com/tv/ .

Join Moira, Paige, and other stars of the Psychic Source service as they examine what the stars and the fates have in store for Barack Obama, John McCain, Sarah Palin, and Joe Biden. Learn which candidates have the best compatibility with their running mates...and who has the best relationship with his would-be First Lady! Whose astrological chart gives them the best chance of making it to the White House? Who might have an unexpected twist of fate in store before the November election?

The vice-presidential debate will air immediately after the Psychic Source webcast. Who has better celestial energy going under the network spotlights: Sarah Palin or Joe Biden? The clairvoyants and numerologists of Psychic Source will provide viewers with fun and surprising insights, beginning at 7pm EDT on October 2. Tune in to http://www.psychicsource.com/tv/ .

About Psychic Source:

Founded in 1989, Psychic Source is the nation's oldest and most respected psychic service. Psychic Source's advisors are experts in astrology, numerology, tarot cards, clairvoyance, and many other psychic disciplines. Psychic Source believes in its community of authentic Psychics and stands behind the authentic psychic readings they deliver to clients.

Note to producers, editors and journalists:

Psychic Source personalities are available for interviews! If you'd like to interview a Psychic Source advisor about the presidential election before or after Thursday evening's webcast, please contact Leza Raffel or David Powell at (215) 884-6499.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Psychic Source

CONTACT: Leza Raffel or David Powell, +1-215-884-6499, both for Psychic
Source

Web site: http://www.psychicsource.com/tv


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

'Hairspray' / 'Chicago' Producers and Long Time Casting Director to Be Honored at Casting Society of America's 24th Annual Artios Awards(R)

'Hairspray' / 'Chicago' Producers and Long Time Casting Director to Be Honored at Casting Society of America's 24th Annual Artios Awards(R)

Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, and Casting Director Mali Finn to be Special Honorees at Annual Award Ceremony on November 10, 2008

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Casting Society of America will fete their own on November 10, 2008, at the 24th Annual Artios Awards(R). The award ceremony will be held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel. The reception will commence at 5:45 p.m. Presented yearly for outstanding achievement in casting, awards are given on the criteria of originality, creativity and contribution of casting to the overall quality of a project. The term "Artios" is from the ancient Greek word meaning "perfectly fitted."

Each year, in addition to the awards presented to casting directors for their achievements in Theater, Television and Film casting, the Casting Society of America also recognizes Industry notables with a Career Achievement Award and bestows the Hoyt Bowers Award on one of its own. This year, the Career Achievement Award will be presented to Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, and the Hoyt Bowers Award will be presented to the late Mali Finn.

History of the Artios Awards

In October of 1985, the Casting Society of America presented the first awards for excellence in casting at an Artios Awards luncheon where seven CSA members were honored in four different casting categories.

Three years later, the first Artios for theatrical production was presented (to Johnson-Liff Casting) in an added New York ceremony. Today, members are honored in different casting theatrical categories in simultaneous events held in Los Angeles and New York.

About CSA

The Casting Society of America is the premier organization of casting directors in film, television, and theater, and is committed to establishing a standard of professionalism in the industry; enhancing the stature of the profession; freely exchanging information and ideas among members; providing opportunities to honor outstanding achievements of its members; and providing members with professional support. CSA members set the level of professionalism in casting on which the entertainment industry has come to rely.

With more than 425 members, the Casting Society of America has representation not only in the United States, but also in Canada, England and Australia. For more information, or to become a member, visit http://www.castingsociety.com/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Casting Society of America

CONTACT: Dave Linden, +1-323-841-3400, dave@thelindengroup.com, for
Casting Society of America

Web site: http://www.castingsociety.com/


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

Motion Picture Studios File Lawsuit Against Realnetworks

Motion Picture Studios File Lawsuit Against Realnetworks

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nation's top movie companies filed a lawsuit today asking a federal court to stop RealNetworks Inc. from distributing the company's RealDVD software which allows movies to be copied illegally. In their complaint and motion for a temporary restraining order, the studios said that RealNetworks' RealDVD violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) because its software illegally bypasses the copyright protection built into DVDs that protect movies against theft.

"RealNetworks' RealDVD should be called StealDVD," explained Greg Goeckner, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). "RealNetworks knows its product violates the law and undermines the hard-won trust that has been growing between America's movie makers and the technology community. The major motion picture studios have been making major investments in technologies that allow people to access entertainment in a variety of new and legal ways. This includes online video-on-demand, download-to-own, as well as legitimate digital copies for storage and use on computers and portable devices that are increasingly being made available on or with DVDs. Our industry will continue on this path because it gives consumers greater choices than ever. However, we will vigorously defend our right to stop companies from bringing products to market that mislead consumers and clearly violate the law."

The Content Scramble System (CSS) built into DVDs prevents the unauthorized reproduction and distribution of copyrighted material released in DVD format. The RealDVD software illegally circumvents this copyright protection system. Among other things, the RealDVD software enables users to engage in an illegal practice known as "rent, rip and return," whereby a person rents a DVD from a legitimate business like Blockbuster or Netflix, uses the RealDVD software to make multiple permanent illegal copies of the movie, and returns the DVD, only to rent another popular title and make permanent copies of it, repeating the cycle of theft over and over again without ever making a purchase. On its own Web site, RealNetworks acknowledges that this behavior is illegal and that its software could be used in that manner.

Motion pictures and television programs require substantial investments of money, time, effort and creativity by hundreds or often thousands of people, which must be recouped through many individual exhibitions, sales and broadcasts of the works. DVD sales are a major source of revenues that enable the studios to invest in and develop the wide range of entertainment options available to consumers. The RealDVD software would enable massive theft of creative content that would have a direct, negative impact on the delivery of movies, television shows and other entertainment to consumers through the home entertainment and digital distribution markets.

The lawsuit, filed today in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles asks for damages and injunctive relief against RealNetworks Inc. for violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's (DMCA) circumvention provisions. The DMCA prohibits the manufacturing or trafficking of any technology or product, service or device that is designed for the purpose of circumventing measures that effectively protect copyrighted titles. In manufacturing and selling RealDVD, RealNetworks Inc., a CSS licensee, has attempted to leverage its license improperly by making a product that permits users to circumvent the protections of CSS. Such a product was never intended to be authorized by the CSS license.

The worldwide motion picture industry, including foreign and domestic producers, distributors, theaters, video stores and pay-per-view operators lose more than $18 billion annually as a result of movie theft. More than $7 billion in losses are attributed to illegal Internet distributions, while $11 billion is the result of illegal copying and bootlegging.

About the MPAA

The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) serves as the voice and advocate of the American motion picture, home video and television industries from its offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Its members include: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Paramount Pictures; Sony Pictures Entertainment; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; Universal City Studios LLLP; and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Motion Picture Association of America

CONTACT: Seth Oster or Elizabeth Kaltman, both of MPAA - Los Angeles,
+1-818-995-6600


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights Short Film Competition Draws Over 315,000 Votes

Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights Short Film Competition Draws Over 315,000 Votes

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- After only two weeks of public online voting, a staggering 315,000 votes were cast to select the winner of Universal Studios Hollywood's first horror short-film competition, timed to coincide with the theme park's annual Halloween Horror Nights special event beginning October 3 and running continuously on weekends through November 1.

Winner of the competition is William C. Howard of Fort Worth, Texas, who will receive a $1,000 cash prize and an invitation to appear at Universal Studios Hollywood on October 3, where his film, "The Prank," will be screened at the annual Eyegore Awards ceremony that marks the kickoff of the theme park's Halloween Horror Nights event. The Eyegore Awards, which honor achievement in the world of horror, is attended by celebrities, industry executives and media.

Filmmakers were invited to submit material conforming to the theme "Live Your Worst Nightmare," with a running time of 90-seconds to three minutes. Of the 50 films submitted, 10 were selected as finalists by celebrity judges Don Mancini (director, "Child's Play"), Bill Moseley (actor, "House of 1,000 Corpses") and Corey Feldman (actor, "The Lost Boys"). The 10 finalist films were posted on Universal's Halloween Horror Nights site (http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/Nightmares) and voting was open to the public. "The Prank" and the other nine finalists films will remain posted for viewing throughout the month of October.

Issuing a dare to "Live Your Worst Nightmare," Universal Studios Hollywood has ratcheted up the intensity level to present a new "Halloween Horror Nights" for 2008. This year's event will pair Hollywood's top entertainment scenic and special effects artists with a cast of thousands to create terrifying new experiences including a bloodcurdling new "Nightmare on Elm Street" maze, all contributing to Southern California's most intense Halloween experience.

"Halloween Horror Nights" begins on Friday, October 3 and will extend over an expanded 13-night run concluding Saturday, November 1. Tickets to "Halloween Horror Nights" are on sale now at http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/.

"Halloween Horror Nights" will continue on consecutive weekends beginning on Friday, October 3 through Saturday, November 1. Event dates are: October 3-4, 10-11, 17-19, 24-26, 30-31 and November 1. The event will begin nightly at 7:00 p.m.; closing hours vary by night throughout the event. Tickets to "Halloween Horror Nights" are $54 and are available for purchase online at http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/.

"Halloween Horror Nights" tickets will also be sold in advance at Ralphs(R), Food 4 Less(R) and Hot Topic(R) where consumers can save up to $20 off a ticket with the purchase of any Coca-Cola product. Guests can save up to $20 with any Coke can or special coupon from Jack in the Box(R) restaurants.

Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A., is a unit of Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of Universal Studios, a part of NBC Universal. NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May of 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Universal Studios Hollywood

CONTACT: Domestic, Audrey Eig, +1-818-622-2962, audrey.eig@nbcuni.com,
or International|online, Debbie Park, +1-818-622-9504,
deborah.park@nbcuni.com, both of Universal Studios Hollywood

Web site: http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/Nightmares
http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

CAIR Asks IRS to Probe Group Behind Swing State Anti-Muslim DVDs

CAIR Asks IRS to Probe Group Behind Swing State Anti-Muslim DVDs

Muslim organization urges possible stripping of Clarion Fund's tax-exempt status

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today said it has asked the IRS to investigate whether the non-profit organization behind distribution of an anti-Muslim film to 28 million homes in presidential election swing states has violated laws governing its tax-exempt status.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is urging the IRS to find out if the Clarion Fund, a shadowy non-profit group distributing DVDs of "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West," is being "operated exclusively for the exempt purpose of educating 'Americans about issues of national security'" as it claims.

In a letter to Steven T. Miller, commissioner of the IRS's Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division, CAIR wrote in part:

"[I]ndependent observers have suggested that the distribution of the DVD was an obvious attempt by the Clarion Fund to participate in campaign activities and intervene in the 2008 presidential election."

The letter quoted the editorial page editor of the Palm Beach Post, who wrote: "Last week, an ad for John McCain came with The Post. But it wasn't labeled as an ad for John McCain...Distribution of the DVD, whose producers say it will 'change the way you look at the world,' was timed with the post-Labor Day start of presidential election season. About 95 percent of the papers that contained the DVD are in Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and New Hampshire..."

CAIR asked the IRS, if evidence of wrongdoing is uncovered, to consider stripping the Clarion Fund of its tax-exempt status, tax funds it spent on prohibited activities and impose an injunction on further political expenditures.

"A non-profit group's tax-exempt status should not be misused to promote political candidates or to influence the outcome of an election," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad.

Awad noted that even those involved in the production and promotion of "Obsession" are now having second thoughts about backing what the vast majority of commentators are calling anti-Muslim "propaganda."

The Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET), a pro-Israel think tank, pulled out of "The Obsession Project" after CAIR filed an FEC complaint seeking an investigation of the Clarion Fund's possible violations of election laws.

SEE: EMET Pulls Out of Involvement with "Obsession Project" (JTA) http://blogs.jta.org/politics/2008/09/29/2084/emet-pulls-out-of-involvement-wi th-obsession-project/

SEE ALSO: CAIR Asks FEC to Probe Anti-Muslim DVDs Sent to Swing States http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=25495&&name=n&&currPage=1&&A ctive=1

Dr. Khaleel Mohammed, a Muslim interviewee for "Obsession," now calls the production a "vile piece of propaganda." In a statement sent to the www.obsessionwithhate.com website, Dr. Mohammed said: "Sadly, it would seem that I have allowed myself to be used."

The "Obsession with Hate" site was launched recently by the Hate Hurts America Multifaith Community Coalition (HHA), a group of religious and civic organizations seeking to challenge hate speech in our society. HHA's site offers a point-by-point rebuttal to propagandistic claims made in the film, as well as a list of newspapers that delivered the film's DVD as an insert, a sampling of bigoted statements made by anti-Muslim figures interviewed for "Obsession," and examples of the overwhelmingly negative media coverage of the Clarion Fund's controversial campaign to influence voters.

A recent article in the St. Petersburg Times revealed ties between the film's distributors and the Israel-based group Aish HaTorah. The newspaper's investigative report stated: "Clarion's address, according to Manhattan directory assistance, is the same address as Aish

HaTorah International, a fundraising arm of Aish HaTorah. The Clarion Fund and Aish HaTorah International are also connected to a group called HonestReporting, which produced Obsession. Honest­Reporting's 2006 tax return uses the same address."

SEE: Senders of Islam Movie 'Obsession' Tied to Jewish Charity http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/article827910.ece

Those interviewed in "Obsession" constitute a veritable who's who of Muslim-bashers. Speakers include Walid Shoebat, who once told a Missouri newspaper that he sees "many parallels between the Antichrist and Islam" and "Islam is not the religion of God -- Islam is the devil." (Springfield News-Leader, 9/24/07)

Others interviewed in the film include Nonie Darwish, a self-styled "former Moslem" who wrote that "Islam is cruel, anti-women, anti-religious freedom and anti-personal freedom in general," and Daniel Pipes, who warned a Jewish convention of the "true dangers" posed by "the presence, and increased stature, and affluence, and enfranchisement of American Muslims." (American Jewish Congress, 10/21/2001)

Another "Obsession" interviewee, Brigitte Gabriel, told the Australian Jewish News: "Every practising Muslim is a radical Muslim." She also

claimed that "Islamo-fascism is a politically-correct word...it's the vehicle for Islam...Islam is the problem."

   SEE: The World According to Brigitte Gabriel (Australian Jewish News)   http://www.ajn.com.au/news/news.asp?pgID=3403   

When asked whether Americans should "resist Muslims who want to seek political office in this nation," Gabriel said:

"Absolutely. If a Muslim who has -- who is - a practicing Muslim who believes the word of the Koran to be the word of Allah, who abides by Islam, who goes to mosque and prays every Friday, who prays five times a day -- this practicing Muslim, who believes in the teachings of the Koran, cannot be a loyal citizen to the United States of America."

   SEE: 'Obsession' Stars Have Lectured at U.S. Military Colleges   http://www.israelenews.com/view.asp?ID=3168   

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations

CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR National Communications Director,
+1-202-488-8787, +1-202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, or Amina Rubin, CAIR
Communications Coordinator, +1-202-488-8787, arubin@cair.com


Profile: International Entertainment

International Entertainment News

Tickets@Phone(TM) Digital Ticket Delivery Technology From Tickets.com to be Offered for all Events at the New BOK Center Arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tickets@Phone(TM) Digital Ticket Delivery Technology From Tickets.com to be Offered for all Events at the New BOK Center Arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma

COSTA MESA, Calif., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Tickets.com, a leading worldwide provider of integrated ticketing solutions, announced that their digital delivery system Tickets@Phone(TM) is now a ticket transaction option for all events at the newly opened BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Earlier this year, Tickets.com signed an exclusive, multi-year ticketing services agreement with the venue, which is owned by the City of Tulsa and managed by SMG. The 19,199-seat arena officially opened on September 6th. In addition to premiere entertainment engagements, the state-of-the-art facility will host major sports events and is the new home of the Arena Football League 2 Tulsa Talons and the Central Hockey League Tulsa Oilers.

Tickets@Phone(TM) is an innovative feature launched by Tickets.com in 2006 that is increasingly in demand given the explosive growth in the mobile marketplace. Under the partnership between Tickets.com and the BOK Center, Tickets@Phone(TM) will deliver barcoded tickets directly to customers' mobile phones when they purchase admission online through the arena's Web site (http://www.bokcenter.com/) or directly through Tickets.com (the technology is not available for transactions at the box office, kiosks or other physical locations). The day of the event, customers simply present their phones for quick and efficient scanned entry into the venue. Digital ticketing via Tickets@Phone enhances security, reduces operational costs and is a completely paperless, green technology.

"It's a thrill to be working with the BOK team on the launch of their outstanding venue," said Brian Roberts, vice president of sales, Tickets.com. "Having the opportunity to integrate leading edge technologies such as Tickets@Phone(TM) into the suite of services we provide meets our goal of helping them to have optimal control over their ticketing operations and to offer their patrons the best experience possible. This type of collaboration is also an ideal fit with our company's overall mission of being at the technological forefront of the ticketing industry."

In addition to Tickets@Phone(TM), the BOK Center will utilize additional Tickets.com technologies including Access Control and Tickets@Home(R) to further provide patrons with convenient online ticket printing, delivery, management, faster gate entry and other customer service benefits. Among the upcoming highlights from the venue's opening season are concerts by Neil Diamond, Eagles, Metallica and Carrie Underwood, as well as sports events including the Oklahoma debut of the new NBA team Oklahoma City Thunder at their October 13 pre-season game against The Houston Rockets.

"Breakthrough technologies like Tickets@Phone(TM) are just one reason we chose Tickets.com as our ticketing services provider," said John Bolton, general manager of the BOK Center. "Their commitment to technological innovation and customer service is totally compatible with ours. We're confident that ticketing operations will run smoothly, thereby allowing us maximum time to concentrate on creating the ultimate consumer experience."

About Tickets.com

Tickets.com is a leading provider of fully integrated event ticketing solutions and services for thousands of top arts, entertainment, and sports organizations worldwide. Delivering the latest in ticketing technology, Tickets.com offers the advanced ProVenue(R) ticketing platform, which serves the core of a comprehensive suite of integrated features, products, and services that help clients enhance ticket sales, marketing efforts, and overall customer experience. A privately held subsidiary of MLB Advanced Media, LP, since 2005, Tickets.com is headquartered in Costa Mesa, CA, and has regional offices across the U.S. and around the world. The company also sells tickets directly to consumers at http://www.tickets.com/.

    Chaeli Walker    Tickets.com    (714) 327-5400    cwalker@tickets.com  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Tickets.com

CONTACT: Chaeli Walker of Tickets.com, +1-714-327-5400,
cwalker@tickets.com

Web site: http://www.tickets.com/
http://www.bokcenter.com/


Profile: International Entertainment