BRANSON TAKES SPACE TOUR TO U.S. TV - 16th January 2010

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has landed a new reality TV series, documenting his efforts to make space tourism a reality.

Branson unveiled his VSS Enterprise spacecraft last month (9th December) with plans to launch the first Virgin Galactic flights in 2011.

National Geographic Channel's four-episode Virgin Galactic series will follow the billionaire mogul and engineer Burt Rutan's efforts to send 50,000 people into space over a 10-year period.

The series is Branson's second foray into TV in recent months. Reality series Fly Girls, about flight attendants on his Virgin America Airline, is currently in production for U.S. network CW.

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PartyCasino: The Top Ten Online Slot Games, by Greg Tingle - December 2009

The top ten online slot games by PartyCasino.com for the month of December 2009 are:

Rambo

Tarzan

Cleopatra

Mission: Impossible

Monopoly

Sinatra

Call Of Duty 4

Top Gun

Thor

The Hulk

The runner up online slot games are:

Resident Evil

Spider-Man

Mega Fortune Wheel

Ramesses Riches

Bejeweled

PartyCasino.com offers unique promotions and player rewards which are widely regarded as the best in the industry. Players can enjoy rewards and bonuses with PartyPoints and the Palladium Lounge, both of which have generous rewards year round and are popular with both new and experienced players, so whether a casino virgin or VIP old hand at the games, there's something for you.

PartyGaming is the parent company of PartyCasino, established in 1997, and is the most successful online company in the world, listed on the London Stock Exchange and winner of numerous EGR Awards, in addition to Casino News Media and Media Man awards and commendations.

Players from most countries can access PartyCasino and PartyPoker. PartyCasino is ranked by many authorities as being the superior online casino for Australia, Europe and South America.

PartyCasino is hopeful of accepting paid American players in 2010, however PartyGaming made a successful purchase of the World Poker Tour late this year allowing players to become more familiar with PartyGaming products and services the world over.

Most games can be played for free or played for money and are available in a range of multi language and multi currency options. PartyGaming's call centre is open around the clock 24/7/365.

Jackpot offerings include Gold Mega Jackpot, Marvel Hero Jackpot and Super Hero Jackpot.

Major innovations at PartyCasino.com include Live Dealer and Single Wallet, and 2010 will see "Avatar" like technologies arrive.

Latest games include the Call Of Duty 4 slot and Melon Madness jackpot slot. 2010 will deliver more Hollywood themed classics, and rumors suggest to be on the lookout for games including pro wrestling also, be it Andre The Giant, Hulk Hogan or Ric Flair. Wrestling Legend Hulk Hogan actually purchased the rights to use the name "Hulk" from Marvel Comics in the 80's, but that's another story. Certainly Party do have positive history in wrestling, Hollywood and Marvel Comics circles. This is evidenced in the public domain not only by The Hulk slot game, but also by Stallone's Rambo slot, Tom Cruise's Top Gun slot and Schwarzenegger's The Terminator. Terminator Salvation features Australia's Sam Worthington, and insiders predict more Terminator games may be on the way.

PartyGaming is licensed and regulated by the Government of Gibraltar, with offices around the world, and have been at the leading edge of innovation, customer service and all round excellence for over a decade. Players and partners alike can be assured they are in safe hands at PartyGaming.

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Virgin Games: Virgin Bingo Gets Endemol Branded Games - 12th December 2009

Virgin Games bingo arm, Virgin Bingo, has just released the following branded games:

Deal or No Deal, Golden Balls, Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother.

Play or free or play for money at Virgin Games.

*Sorry, no U.S or Australian players.

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It's the characters behind the cards who draw a full house, by Joe Hachem - 21st November 2009

There is a quote I love which says, "Sports do not build character. They reveal it." Think about what makes a truly great sports star. Is it a perfect record of runs or world record-breaking times? Or, at the end of the day, as with so much else in life, does it come down to personality.

Great talent can make a champion, but great charisma is what truly makes a star. The greatest sporting heroes, those who have won a spot in the hearts and minds of the nation that lasts well beyond their time actively competing, are those who have a charm that extends past the finish line.

Muhammad Ali, Don Bradman, Tiger Woods and my good mate Shane Warne are all personalities that you cannot ignore. Whether it's a quiet calm, a fiery competitive spirit, the larrikin or the all-round good guy, we relate to their public persona, we see them as our friends, our representatives, or if they're playing for the other side, our villains.

These characters are the true stars because they make a sport great to watch as their personality helps to weave the rich tapestry of the sporting stories. Tournament poker is no different: there are great technical players and internet wunderkinds who have won millions and achieved huge success, but the players I love to watch, and play against, are the real characters.

There are the jokers who try to put their opponents off with a comic aside; the brooding, aggressive players who hide behind their hoods and try to get the whole table on tilt; and the old school gentlemen of the sport who can charm their way through any hand.

These characters and their richly varied style of play are what make watching tournament poker exciting and elevate it beyond just a game of cards. I truly believe that to be a success in poker, and to help grow the popularity of the sport, a competitor needs to be a personality, not just a player, which is why my last test for the contestants of The Poker Star was all about finding who had that charisma.

But charisma is a hard thing to test. How do you define character, or map out charm? In the modern sporting world, great personalities are revealed and delivered to every fan's lounge room by the ever growing media machine, so what better way to test how the contestants would perform than by throwing them right into the deep end with a full-on media conference.

I knew putting my final three contestants in front of a media pack with no warning would be overwhelming and intimidating but I also knew it was essential that whoever I chose as The Poker Star could keep their calm and handle themselves in that situation. My memories from the first few days of winning the World Series of Poker are filled with flash bulbs and cameras, as I ran the press and PR trail and had to do my best to represent my own sport.

The Poker Star winner will hopefully one day need to do the same, and I'm proud to say I now know they will handle it with charm and ease. Because the person I've chosen has revealed throughout the show that they are not just a great sportsperson, but a truly great character.

Until next week, pass the sugar! (Credit: Joe Hachem, Fairfax, Google News)

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Cash Machine Opens At PartyCasino - Industry Leading Gold Mega Jackpot Still Waiting To Be Won!

The Cash Machine Opens At PartyCasino.com - Points Mean Dollars!

Industry Leading Gold Mega Jackpot Still Waiting To Be Won!

Gibraltar – 6th November 2009 – The ATM will soon open at PartyCasino.com as the ‘Cash Machine’ promotion runs from 00.00ET on 9th November to 23.59ET on the 6th December. This promo is programmed to pay out unlimited cash to customers!

To get unlimited cash, a player has to earn 10 or more PartyPoints on at least 10 days during the promotional period. At the end of the promotion PartyCasino.com will look at the PartyPoints collected on a player’s 10 highest days and give them $1 for every point earned on the lowest of those days.

Example: If a player earns the following points on their 10 highest points days:

Three days at 100 points per day
Five days at 175 points per day
Two days at 150 points per day

The player’s lowest points total in this period is 100, which means $100 will be deposited into their PartyAccount at the end of the promotion. This is an OPT-IN promotion and a customer can opt-in at any point during the period, PartyCasino.com will use all the points earned since 9th November to calculate the prize at the end of the promotional period. There are 28 qualifying days, and the cash machine prize is only limited by the number of points a player earns. If a player’s lowest day’s points total is 1,000 points, PartyCasino.com will give you $1,000. What is won is up to the player – there are no limits at this ATM!

For more information see: PartyCasino.com

A PartyCasino.com spokesman said: "The ATM will open for business on the 9th November and ready to payout! What is great about this exciting promotion is that every new day gives players the chance to top their current lowest total and increase the cash prize.”

“The Gold Mega Jackpot at PartyCasino.com is currently approaching a staggering $4.6 million, the biggest jackpot in the industry by quite some way! Gold Mega Jackpot games are: The Godfather, Mega Fortune Wheel, Super Joker, Super Mystic, Super Fortune Wheel and Super Star!”

PartyCasino.com now offers over 130 games, including 93 slots, and pays out easily over $10 million EVERY DAY to players. The world’s largest online casino continues to expand rapidly.

Recent popular additions include Resident Evil, The Naked Gun, High Noon and Bejeweled. Other new additions such as Tarzan and Multi-Hand BlackJack Pro were developed in house by PartyGaming’s specialist unit ‘The Games Studio.’

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UFC 104: Machida vs. Rua Card Finalized

The UFC’s return to Southern California is complete as the UFC has officially confirmed the 9 remaining bouts on the card.

UFC 104 will feature a light heavyweight title bout between undefeated champion Lyoto Machida and former Pride middleweight Grand Prix champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Heavyweights Cain Valasquez will also be taking on former IFL standout Ben Rothwell in the co-main event.

The remaining bouts that have been made official by the UFC are:

Josh Neer vs. Gleison Tibau
Joe Stevenson vs. Spencer Fisher
Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida
Antoni Hardonk vs. Pat Berry
Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen
Jorge Rivera vs. Rob Kimmons
Ryan Bader vs. Eric “Red” Schafer
Kyle Kingsbury vs. Razak Al-Hassan
Stefan Struve vs. Chase Gormley

UFC 104 will take place in the home of the 2008-2009 world champion Los Angeles Lakers, STAPLES Center, on October 24th.

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The Apprentice - Network Nine Australia

The Apprentice screens on Mondays at 9.30pm on Network Nine Australia.

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Tiffany Michelle Gives the Inside Scoop on Amazing Race, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 16th September 2009

On September 27th, the 15th installment of the CBS reality franchise “Amazing Race” will kick off at 8:00pm ET. Appearing will be professional poker players Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho, the last women standing in the 2008 and 2007 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Events, respectively. Michelle sat down with Poker News Daily to preview the season.

Poker News Daily: Congratulations on appearing on “Amazing Race.” Tell us how the opportunity came up.

Michelle: Maria Ho and I have been friends for a while and bonded even more recently. There was lots of talk of us doing a reality television show. We agreed that if we did anything, it’d be “Amazing Race.” We thought we’d be an interesting team. With the competition and challenge of the show, it’d be right up our alley. We could take our poker playing background and use it on “Amazing Race.” We had a chance to go through the casting process and were in Las Vegas playing tournaments when we got the call. It was definitely hard to head back to the tables during the WSOP knowing we’d be traveling the world soon.

PND: Had you watched previous seasons of “Amazing Race”?

Michelle: I hadn’t seen a full season, but saw the show on different occasions. It looked challenging and was out of my league. I think it looked fun.

PND: The cast features Harlem Globetrotters and a former Miss America. Talk about the competition that you’ll face on “Amazing Race.”

Michelle: We were surprised to learn that we were the only all-female team this season. We felt pressure to represent women and knew that no all-female team had ever won “Amazing Race.” We thought that our competition consisted of young, big, athletic people. That was going to be our weakness, but we knew that the race tests your mental and physical skills.

PND: Past seasons of “Amazing Race” have included stops in the four corners of the globe. Talk about being able to travel the world.

Michelle: It was a very life-changing experience. I live a wonderful and blessed life. I get to travel and stay in nice hotels. We have a life of luxury and don’t have to sweat it out. It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done, mentally and emotionally. I came home and had a whole new appreciation for my life. I feel like I’m so full after the experience.

PND: Talk about your relationship with Maria Ho.

Michelle: I wouldn’t have done “Amazing Race” without her. You have to trust and feel comfortable with your partner. I was excited to share this experience with her. We travel together on the poker circuit already. We’re 10 times closer now.

PND: Is there anything you can take away from Annie Duke’s appearance on “Celebrity Apprentice” that could have helped you on “Amazing Race”?

Michelle: “Celebrity Apprentice” is a different format than “Amazing Race.” You’re competing against different people on your own. On the race, you have a team. There’s not that direct competition and you have the opportunity to work together in a group. We wanted to represent poker well after what happened between Annie and Joan Rivers. We wanted to come off the best that we could. We wanted to play a clean game and give poker players a good name. Also for us, we’re controversial and wanted to show people a different side.

PND: You’re hosting a Hollywood premier of “Amazing Race” that will likely include Tammy and Victor, who won last season’s installment of the reality show. Did they provide any advice before you set out?

Michelle: We got to go to a Labor Day barbeque at Victor’s house. A lot of people who were on “Amazing Race” were there and you felt like a big family. These people know exactly what you went through. Within a few minutes of being there, I felt like I had known them forever. It’s wonderful being a part of something special.

PND: What preparations did you make before the show began filming?

Michelle: I ran out and bought running shoes. I got my cardio up because I knew there was a lot of running involved. Also, we learned how to drive a stick shift. Maria was much better than I was at that, so she was responsible. We watched past episodes and talked about them. We prepped for the unknown as much as we could. I got my butt in the gym and got in touch with the outdoors.

PND: You mentioned in a blog entry before you left that poker will always be around, but doing “Amazing Race” was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Was it hard walking away from this year’s WSOP Main Event to film?

Michelle: There wasn’t even a doubt in my mind that I wanted to do the show. What I did last year in the Main Event was amazing. As hopeful as I could be to repeat that, I was happy with that punctuation. The Main Event comes around every year and poker is always there. Not only was this an amazing challenge, but it was also an opportunity to be a part of an Emmy Award winning show. To get to do it with someone else sounded like a fun time. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Reality TV star Jade Goody dies in her sleep - 23rd March 2009

Controversial British reality TV star Jade Goody has died after a battle with cervical cancer.

Her agent Max Clifford confirmed the 27-year-old mother of two had died in her sleep yesterday - Mother's Day in Britain - at her home in Upshire, Essex.

Mr Clifford said Goody's mother Jackiey Budden had telephoned him shortly after 3am (2pm AEDT) to tell him: "My beautiful girl has gone.''

"It's just very sad,'' Clifford told Sky News.

"We got very close and I've got a lot of respect and admiration for the girl. She was a 27-year-old girl facing up to cervical cancer.''

Goody's distraught mother appeared briefly outside Goody's home with family friend Kevin Adams to tell reporters her daughter had died.

"Jade died today and family and friends would like this privacy, at last, for this morning. Thank you,'' Ms Budden, who was still dressed in long, striped pyjama bottoms, said.

Ms Budden, Mr Adams and Goody's husband, 21-year-old model Jack Tweed, had been at the star's side when she died.

Her two sons Freddie, four, and Bobby, five, had been staying with their father, Jeff Brazier.

A funeral is expected to be held in about 10 days.

Goody was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2008 but the disease spread to her liver, groin and bowel and she was told it was terminal in February.

She had been treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital in west London but wanted to die at home with her family.

She wanted "to spend all the time she had got left" with her husband and sons.

Goody shot to fame in 2002 during the UK Big Brother 3 series.

She gained wider publicity in the preceding months through her public battle with cancer and televised wedding to Mr Tweed.

She was paid a reported £700,000 ($1.4 million) by OK! magazine to cover the event, all of which she stipulated was to be passed on to her sons.

"She died as she lived, in the public eye,'' Her agent Mr Clifford said.

"This was her way of doing things for her children.''

Goody has reportedly organised all the details for her funeral, requesting she be buried in her £3500 ivory silk wedding dress.

Read more on Jade Goody's death at The Sun.

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Poker, d'oh - Fairfax - 17th March 2009

Making money in commercial TV is always a bit of a gamble. Especially for a network whose parent company is playing Russian roulette with its bankers. So good luck to Ten's Nick Falloon. Talk is he's replacing Big Brother not with just a cooking show but a new reality concept: live poker. And we were looking forward to repeats of The Simpsons.

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Annie Duke Breaks Down Celebrity Apprentice, by Annie Duke - Poker News Daily - 15th February 2009

Well, the Celebrity Apprentice cat is out of the bag now. The cast has been announced and, yes, I am part of it. Okay, so what would make me do this show? I mean I have tried to avoid reality TV. Over the years, I have had a few offers to do a reality show about my poker life with four kids. My answer is always that I won’t put my kids on TV, so they quietly go away. I really value my private life and protecting the privacy of my kids. So then why on Earth would I agree to do this show?

Here is how it went: My manager called and told me that he had a meeting for me with the Celebrity Apprentice people. I was not happy about it because I wasn’t really interested in being on a reality show. We had had this argument before about “Dancing with the Stars.” He kept saying he wanted to pitch me for it. I kept saying a) I am not a big enough celebrity by any stretch of the imagination and b) I can’t dance.

My boyfriend teases me when I dance and imitates me (making sure I never ever dance in his presence, by the way). Joe is an amazingly good dancer, made more amazing by the fact that he is a 200+ pound burly dude with crazy long curly hair who doesn’t look like he could dance his way out of a paper bag. Yet, he used to break dance for money on the streets of Boston as a kid and got his first job in Hollywood as a dancer. I once even had the pleasure of witnessing a dance-off between Joe and Jeff Donovan (the star of the show “Burn Notice”). That was pretty awesome and really too close to call. It has to go down as one of the funniest dance-offs I have ever seen because both of them were doing some kick ass dancing while trying to be funnier at it than the other one. Imagine doing some popping and locking while essentially miming going down on each other in the middle of a club. It was pretty hilarious. Okay, I have really digressed.

The point is I was not interested in Dancing with the Stars. OMG that would be humiliating. And I was not interested in Celebrity Apprentice either, particularly since I can be, shall we say, snarky and I didn’t really want that to be seen in all its glory on national television. But, then I went in for the meeting and, not having watched the previous season, was shocked to find out that the cast had raised $1 million for charity during the run of the show. I thought to myself that I have to do this show because that is a lot of money for charity and would be really good for Ante Up for Africa. You see, I didn’t know the show was for charity and now I realized it would be hard for me to say no.

To be honest, it is a game. I mean a game. And we all know I love a good game. This was a pretty cool game that involved managing your opponents, raising money for charity, and doing some pretty cool marketing tasks. It seemed to me that maybe I was pretty well-suited for that particular type of game since I play one for a living, one that also involves managing your opponents. I also do marketing work for Ultimate Bet and have raised $2 million with Don Cheadle and Norman Epstein for Ante Up for Africa in the last two years.

Game. Charity. Cool.

So I decided I should do it. I got the last season on DVD and started studying the tapes madly… you know, because that is what I do. If I am going to agree to a competition, I am going to make sure I analyze how the game is played and come in super prepared knowing exactly what people did right the last season and what people did wrong. I am going to have a good handle on it and get all of my ducks in a row money raising-wise and all that. I analyzed the whole last season and starting working a formula for how much money I needed to raise and what the highest percentage part of the tasks was to do to make sure you didn’t get fired, but also got noticed and impressed Donald Trump. I was obsessed for the couple of weeks before doing the show.

So, of course, I cannot tell you anything about how it all turned out, right? That annoys me because I want to talk about the game because I LOVE talking about games. You are going to have to watch to see how I do and whether my preparation pays off. The thing is that, well, I am direct. That is a nice way to put it: direct. The thing I was most worried about going into the game was that my fellow players would not really get my interpersonal style. When people first meet me, they sometimes come away with the impression that I am a jerk. To be fair, I can be a jerk, particularly if I think someone is saying something stupid. I suffer fools very poorly and I have to remember to work on that more. I was really concerned because even though this is an individual game, you still have to have your teammates like you so they don’t throw you under the bus and I am just not good at making nice nice and pretending that I can deal with everyone. It probably comes from doing a job my whole adult life where you only have to answer to yourself. Oh, and I have stupidly high expectations of people.

With all of that going on in my head, knowing that I had analyzed the hell out of last season, but also knowing that I might have some issues with my teammates liking me, I headed off to New York to try my hand at the game. March 1st, everyone. That is when you can start seeing how I do! (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Ramsay rumour a reality, by John Lethlean - The Age - 18th November 2008

SPURRED by Hilton's announcement of securing a Michelin-starred chef for its new hotel (Espresso, November 11), Crown last week finally let the Ramsay genie out of the bottle, confirming the worst-kept secret in Melbourne: that Gordon Ramsay Holdings would open at the complex in 2010.

Crown has confirmed what Ramsay told Espresso in April: that his Melbourne restaurant would be a Maze - his "bistro" brand - rather than a super-exclusive Gordon Ramsay signature restaurant.

The real news is that Maze will go into the forthcoming third Crown hotel - in Clarendon Street - rather than Crown central in Whiteman Street. Chef Jason Atherton, one of Ramsay's senior lieutenants along with Mark Askew, Angela Hartnett and Mark Sargeant, runs Maze, in London's Mayfair.

Maze does tasting portions rather than entrees and mains; the food embraces Asian flavours, but it's also worth noting that Atherton was the first British chef to complete a stage at El Bulli.

Ramsay told us this year he would be investing in a Melbourne restaurant rather than merely licensing his consultancy, as is the case in Tokyo and Dubai. He also suggested that he'd want to bring one of the many Australians working in his empire in to a Maze Melbourne kitchen as chef.

It has been suggested, but not confirmed, that the opening of Maze Melbourne might provide the platform for a reality television series. "I wouldn't just drop a chef in there that doesn't know me, that doesn't know the group, doesn't know the ethics, just on the back of a TV (program)," Ramsay told us in April.

"We have currently just over 45 Aussies working in the kitchens across London, New York and LA; talented, I mean really talented. So the idea would be to look at a potential search and put them through the mill ... I'm excited about Melbourne but I don't want just to do it for the sake of doing it."

(Credit: The Age)

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Fox TV, Burnett spin casino game, By Michael Schneider - Variety - 14th October 2008

'Rouletter' to be shot in South America

Mark Burnett and Fox Television Studios have teamed to launch a TV series based on an old casino game.

"Rouletter" takes a traditional Roulette wheel and replaces the numbers with letters. Contestants then place bets in order to form words, "Scrabble" style, within a specific time frame.

The initial pilot will be shot in South America, where Fox TV Studios is already producing several projects (including the Chris McQuarrie-produced "Persons Unknown" and the Annabella Sciorra starrer "Mental"), and then be sold to territories around the globe.

Producers in various territories will be able to ship in contestants to the South America shoot site in order to do their own pilots. Burnett, who owns a studio in Asia, plans to do the same thing on that continent as well.

"I like trying things that I think will translate globally," Burnett said. "It's a global village, and I've probably produced more foreign stuff than most other producers. I'm not intimidated by producers being in other countries. By producing ('Rouletter') in South America, it made sense to do this together with Fox TV Studios."

Fox TV Studios president Emiliano Calemzuk said he plans to first sell "Rouletter" to Latin American networks but has already received interest from channels all over the globe.

"I thought it was the perfect time to do this, a new take on successful shows like 'Wheel of Fortune,' " Calemzuk said. "And Mark thought it was a great idea to make a big pilot."

Burnett and David Russo are the show's creators and will exec produce; the Collective's Reza Izad and Al Hassas will also exec produce. In addition, FTVS and exec producer Matthew Gaven will produce the initial pilot episode.

Burnett said he sees a bigger business in "Rouletter" beyond just TV, including licensing the game to casinos. The show has applied for a patent on its unique letter-based Roulette wheel.

Beyond "Rouletter," Burnett's international expansion has included a new edition of "The Contender," now being shot in Singapore. Burnett's other upcoming skeins include CBS' "Jingles," MTV's "Star Maker" and TNT's "Wedding Day."

Fox TV Studios skeins include "Burn Notice" and "Saving Grace," as well as the alternative series "Talkshow With Spike Feresten" and "The Girls Next Door."

(Credit: Variety)

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Richard Branson and his children to star in reality TV show - The Daily Mirror - 9th October 2008

Tycoon Richard Branson and his children are to star in a reality TV show as they try to break a world record.

Branson, 58, medic daughter Holly, 26, and adventurer son Sam, 23, will be filmed battling stormy seas. They will try to cross the Atlantic in the fastest time ever in a mono-hull boat.

He said: "Strange thing for a father to wish for his kids to experience - but at least we'll be in it together."

The 60-minute show, The Bransons: Come Hell or High Water will be later this year.

(Credit: The Daily Mirror)

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Fox hits Virgin territory, By Josef Adalian - Variety - 31st March 2004

Fox has a message for Virgin CEO Richard Branson: You're hired!

Net has greenlit production on "Branson's Big Adventure" (working title) an hour long reality skein in which the colorful billionaire will search for "an extraordinary individual who has the right stuff to follow in his footsteps," according to Fox reality topper Mike Darnell.

While the comparison to NBC's runaway hit "The Apprentice" is obvious, Fox execs said their skein isn't a clone of Mark Burnett's creation.

"This isn't about selling a glass of lemonade," Darnell said, a reference to the first challenge in "The Apprentice."

Skein, which will tape over six weeks, will have Branson taking a group of young would-be billionaires on a whirlwind tour of the world. As they jet around the globe, they'll relive some of Branson's own colorful business and personal adventures -- and face the same sort of business dilemmas Branson faced on his path to wealth.

"We're talking about epic storytelling here," Fox Entertainment prexy Gail Berman told Daily Variety. "If we were looking for someone to show younger people how to do it with adventure and flair, (Branson) is the guy to do it."
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"He will undoubtedly have many life lessons to share," Berman said.

Branson will eliminate one of the contestants each week, leaving them on an airport tarmac as the remaining players set off on their next mission. Execs are keeping mum about the final payoff and how the winner will be selected.

"In six weeks, these people will experience challenges and adventures beyond their wildest imagination," Darnell said. "It's not about business acumen. It's really about finding someone to follow in his footsteps. It's about judgment and morality and loyalty tests that don't have anything to do with how many sweaters you can sell.

"Without getting into the rules, the motivations and everything else about the show is different (than 'The Apprentice,' " Darnell added. "And Richard will be extraordinarily involved, more so than you've seen in other shows."

As for how "Branson's Big Adventure" wraps, Darnell said simply: "It's a big big ending. I'm not going any further."

Skein joins "The Apprentice" and ABC's upcoming Mark Cuban starrer "The Benefactor" in giving billionaires a reality showcase.

Lori Levin-Hyams, Laura Fuest and Tod Dahlke created the skein and will exec produce along with Branson.

Levin-Hyams said Branson was actually approached about appearing on a future installment of NBC's "The Apprentice." Indeed, Branson's private island was the final stop on the latest installment of "Today's" annual "Where in the World Is Matt Lauer?" stunt.

"But we thought, Why should we do what someone else has done when we can do something fun and different and unlike anything else?" she said. "And Fox is the perfect match in terms of brands. We think alike, we walk alike, we talk alike."

While the show is still taking shape, it's a safe bet contestants will have to engage in some of the daredevil style adventures for which Branson is known. CEO has made around-the-world trips in hot air balloons and set speed records for crossing oceans.

On the business side, after founding the Virgin Records label, Branson expanded the brand exponentially. He created the "megastore" retailing concept, along with Virgin lines of book and software publishing, travel, theaters, financial services and, in 1984, Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Skein was put together by Rebel Entertainment Partners.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Richard Branson

Virgin

Reality TV

Grey Goose Entertainment and Sundance Channel Announce Talent Pairings for Fourth Season of 'Iconoclasts' Premiering October 16 at 10 PM ET/PT

NEW YORK, Aug. 18 Iconoclasts-Season-4

Produced By Sundance Channel And Grey Goose Entertainment

An @radical.media Production, Fourth Season To Feature: Archbishop Desmond Tutu + Sir Richard Branson; Stella McCartney + Edward Ruscha; Tony Hawk + Jon Favreau; Bill Maher + Clive Davis; Venus Williams + Wyclef Jean; Cameron Diaz + Cameron Sinclair

'One of the best documentary series on television.' - Whitney Matheson, USA Today, October 24, 2007

'In any case, they are not sitting in a TV Studio, under TV lights, falling back on their professional personalities. The result seems at once more casual and more fabulous -like peeking over a fence at the Saturday afternoon party.' - Los Angeles Times, October 21, 2007

NEW YORK, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Sundance Channel and Grey Goose Entertainment today unveiled the six pairings set to appear during the fourth season of the Sundance Channel original television series "Iconoclasts." Each hour-long episode of the six-part series features two leading innovators from different fields who come together to discuss their passions and creative processes. "Iconoclasts" debuts Thursday, October 16, 2008, at 10 PM ET/PT and is executive produced by Robert Redford.


"Iconoclasts" is produced by @radical.media and directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky (the filmmakers behind Metallica: Some Kind of Monster).

Participants for Season Four are: Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson; fashion designer Stella McCartney and artist Edward Ruscha; skateboarder Tony Hawk and filmmaker/actor Jon Favreau; political humorist Bill Maher and music industry executive Clive Davis; tennis champion Venus Williams and musician/producer Wyclef Jean; and actress Cameron Diaz and architect Cameron Sinclair.

"We are very excited about the pairings in this season of 'Iconoclasts'" said Laura Michalchyshyn, Sundance Channel GM. "Each 'Iconoclast' has made significant impact in their respective fields and watching them share their worlds with those that inspire them makes each episode entertaining and engrossing."

"Iconoclasts" pairs two leading creative innovators from different fields including film, sports, architecture, fashion, food, music, and business. Unlike an ordinary interview program, "Iconoclasts" captures the essence of these headline-makers through the eyes of the creative visionaries who respect and admire them the most. The "Iconoclasts" visit each other's worlds to explore their creative process, their inspirations and their passions. Each pair provides viewers with an inside glimpse into the inspiration and motivation that made these iconoclasts who they are today and offers insight into the real people behind the public personae.

Season one of "Iconoclasts" featured: actor Samuel L. Jackson and basketball legend Bill Russell, fashion designer Tom Ford and artist Jeff Koons, chef Mario Batali and musician Michael Stipe, producer Brian Grazer and CEO Sumner Redstone, actress Renee Zellweger and news correspondent Christiane Amanpour, and actor and environmentalist Robert Redford and actor and philanthropist Paul Newman.

Season two featured: Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton; dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and chef Alice Waters; filmmaker Quentin Tarantino and singer/songwriter Fiona Apple; actress Isabella Rossellini and inventor Dean Kamen; music great Paul Simon and producer Lorne Michaels; and comedian Dave Chappelle and poet Maya Angelou.

Season three featured: actor/filmmaker Sean Penn and author/adventurer Jon Krakauer; singer/songwriter Alicia Keys and actress Ruby Dee; actor Mike Myers and physician, author, and philosopher Dr. Deepak Chopra; entrepreneur Howard Schultz and writer/producer Norman Lear; musician/Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center Wynton Marsalis and chef John Besh; and former U.S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and actress and humanitarian Ashley Judd.

"Iconoclasts" is executive produced by Robert Redford; Jon Kamen, Frank Scherma and Justin Wilkes of @radical.media; Monsell Darville of Grey Goose Entertainment; and Laura Michalchyshyn, Lynne Kirby and Kirk Iwanowski of Sundance Channel; and co-executive produced by Sidney Beaumont and Joe Berlinger. The series producers are Rachel Dawson and Christine Walters. Supervising Producer for Sundance Channel is Mala Chapple.

Current broadcast schedule (subject to change) is as follows:

Archbishop Desmond Tutu + Sir Richard Branson (Oct. 16 at 10 PM ET/PT)

Stella McCartney + Edward Ruscha + (Oct. 23 at 10 PM ET/PT)

Tony Hawk + Jon Favreau (Oct. 30 at 10 PM ET/PT)

Bill Maher + Clive Davis (Nov. 6 at 10 PM ET/PT)

Venus Williams + Wyclef Jean (Nov. 13 at 10 PM ET/PT)

Cameron Diaz + Cameron Sinclair (Nov. 20 at 10 PM ET/PT)

SUBJECT BIOGRAPHIES

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

In 1979, Anglican priest and Bishop of Lesotho Desmond Mpilo Tutu became the first black General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches. He spoke strongly and fearlessly against the evil of apartheid, calling on the international community to impose economic sanctions against South Africa towards a non-violent change. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 and was elected the first black Anglican bishop of Johannesburg. In 1986 he was installed as Archbishop of Cape Town, and he continued to be untiring in his denunciation of apartheid. In 1994, after the end of Apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela as the first President of a free South Africa, Archbishop Tutu was appointed Chairman of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to investigate apartheid-era crimes. His policy of forgiveness and reconciliation has become an international example of conflict resolution, and a trusted method of post-conflict reconstruction. He continues to pursue an active international ministry for peace.


Sir Richard Branson

Sir Richard Branson is the founder and president of Virgin Group, one of the world's most recognized and respected brands. The Virgin Group has expanded into air and ground travel, telecommunications, financial services, health, space travel and clean energy. In 1999, Branson was awarded a knighthood for "services to entrepreneurship." In an effort to develop new approaches to social and environmental issues through business and social sector partnerships, Branson founded the not-for-profit foundation Virgin Unite. Beginning in September 2006, he committed future proceeds from the Virgin Group's transportation interests to investment into renewable energy initiatives. He also announced a $25 million prize for a viable technology that achieves net removal of anthropogenic, atmospheric greenhouse gases. Recently, he joined Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel and Desmond Tutu to form The Elders, a group of independent leaders seeking sustainable solutions to global humanitarian issues. In December 2007, Branson was recognized by UNCA as Citizen of the Year.


Stella McCartney

Born and raised in London, Stella McCartney graduated from Central St Martins in 1995. Her signature style of sharp tailoring, natural confidence and sexy femininity has made her one of the world's top fashion designers. After an acclaimed tenure as Creative Director of Chloe in Paris, McCartney launched her own fashion house, showing her first collection in Paris in October 2001. She now operates stores in eight cities worldwide; in addition to ready-to-wear, her collections include accessories, eyewear, fragrance, and the critically lauded sports performance line "adidas by Stella McCartney," launched in 2004. In 2007, she introduced the world's first luxury organic skincare line, CARE by Stella McCartney; this was followed in Spring 2008 by a lingerie line and a limited edition travel collection with LeSportsac. A lifelong vegetarian, McCartney does not use any leather or fur in her designs. She has received numerous awards recognizing her achievements in fashion and social awareness


Edward Ruscha

Born in 1937 in Omaha, Nebraska, Edward Ruscha was raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 1956, he moved to Los Angeles to attend the Chouinard Art Institute, and had his first solo exhibition in 1963 at the Ferus Gallery. He continues to live and work in Los Angeles, and is represented by Gagosian Gallery. Ruscha has consistently combined the cityscape of his adopted hometown with vernacular language to communicate a particular urban experience. His work encompasses painting, drawing, photography and artist's books, and he has been the subject of numerous museum retrospectives that have traveled internationally. In 2001, he was elected to The American Academy of Arts and Letters and in 2005 he represented the United States at the 51st Venice Biennale. Ruscha's paintings and drawings are currently the subject of a 13 volume catalogue raisonne, the first volume of which was published in 2003. A major painting retrospective will open at the Hayward Gallery, London in 2009.


Tony Hawk

Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk has dazzled fans with his physical skill and artistry since he turned pro at age 14. Hawk's talents have brought skateboarding unprecedented mainstream attention and respect, which has helped legitimize all action sports. Now 40 and still skating professionally, Hawk invented more than 80 tricks and is best known for his "900" (two and a half spins above a 12-foot-high halfpipe), which existed only in theory until he landed it at the 1999 X-Games. He has written three books, including the bestselling autobiography, "HAWK: Occupation Skateboarder," and has released a series of hit video games. The Tony Hawk video game series is now one of the best-selling franchises of all time, with more than 30 million units sold worldwide. In recent years Hawk has expanded his licensing, media and event businesses into some of the biggest brands in action sports. He is an active participant in the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and his non-profit charity, the Tony Hawk Foundation, has awarded over $2.3 million to help finance over 390 public skateparks in low-income areas nationwide.


Jon Favreau

Eleven years after establishing himself with the acclaimed hipster comedy, Swingers, Jon Favreau continues to challenge himself with a variety of eclectic projects highlighting his strengths as an actor, writer and director. As a director, Favreau most recently released Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr. As an actor, he is currently filming I Love You, Man; he next appears in Four Christmases, opening in late 2008. His directing credits include the intergalactic adventure Zathura and the 2003 holiday classic Elf, starring Will Ferrell. In 2001, he made his feature directorial debut with Made; he also wrote and co-starred with Vince Vaughn and Sean "Puffy" Combs. Favreau conceived and hosted the Emmy(TM)-nominated IFC series "Dinner For Five," which premiered in 2001. His acting credits include The Break Up; the title role in the Rocky Marciano biopic Marciano; Wimbledon; Daredevil; Love and Sex; The Replacements; Very Bad Things; Deep Impact; Rudy; "Friends"; and "The Sopranos," playing himself.


Bill Maher

For the last 15 years, Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television. First on "Politically Incorrect" (Comedy Central, ABC, 1993-2002), and for the last six years on HBO's "Real Time," Maher's combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs have garnered him 21 Emmy nominations. And in October of 2008, this same combination will be on display in the movies when Maher's uproarious and unprecedented swipe at organized religion, "Religulous," directed by Larry Charles ("Borat") hits theaters.


Clive Davis

As the record industry's most innovative, outspoken and influential executive, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Clive Davis has had a profound effect on the world of music. As the president of Columbia Records from 1967-1973, he was directly responsible for signing artists including Janis Joplin, Santana, Laura Nyro, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Aerosmith. Davis strengthened Columbia's catalog in all fields of recorded music, playing a key role in the careers of Simon & Garfunkel, Sly & The Family Stone, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. In 1974, he founded Arista Records, where he launched the recording careers of Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow and Patti Smith. In 2000, Davis formed J Records, enjoying the first of many successes with Alicia Keys' Grammy(R)-winning debut. Davis' triumph at J led to his joining the BMG Record Group in 2003. A longtime humanitarian activist, Davis has spearheaded the donation of millions of dollars to AIDS charities since 1985 and in 2003 he endowed the first ever degree awarded program in contemporary music establishing the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music at NYU's Tisch School.


Venus Williams

At the tender age of 14, Venus Williams became a professional athlete, taking the world of tennis by storm. Fiercely determined and wielding an impressive physical prowess, she spent the next decade rising to the top-ranked position and winning numerous championships, including the U.S. Open, Wimbledon and doubles at the Australian Open and French Open, as well as two Olympic Gold medals. In July 2008, she won her fifth Wimbledon Championship in a riveting match against her sister Serena Williams, joining the handful of legendary women's singles tennis champions who have won five or more Wimbledon Championships. Known for her distinctive style, Williams earned a degree in Fashion Design from The Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale. Now 28, she is a successful entrepreneur with her own line of sneakers, clothing and accessories, "EleVen"; and an interior design firm, V Starr Interiors. She is the subject of a new coffee-table book, "Venus," with images by world-renowned avant-garde photographer, Koto Bolofo.

Wyclef Jean

Haitian-born Wyclef Jean is a Grammy Award-winning musician/producer and social activist. A founding member of the pioneering hip-hop group Fugees and prolific solo artist, Jean has effortlessly crossed genres, generations and geographic boundaries as a musical goodwill ambassador and a diplomat for positive cultural evolution. His sixth and latest studio solo album is "Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant." His albums with the Fugees include the platinum-selling 1996 classic "The Score," which reached the #1 slots on Billboard's Top 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums charts and earned two Grammy Awards. Much in demand as a producer, writer and performer, he has collaborated with artists including Bono, Carlos Santana, Whitney Houston and Shakira. In 2005, Jean created the non-profit foundation Yele Haiti to provide aid and assistance to his native Haiti. The charity links with existing groups and/or starts programs relating to hunger, education, youth rehabilitation, AIDS treatment and prevention, and sustainable development.


Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz made her feature film debut at age 21 in the hit 1994 comedy The Mask. She has since appeared in over 30 feature films, emerging as one of the most talented actresses of her generation and winning numerous awards. She has given critically acclaimed performances in a wide range of films, including My Best Friend's Wedding, There's Something About Mary, Being John Malkovich, Any Given Sunday, Charlie's Angels, Shrek, Vanilla Sky, Gangs of New York, The Holiday, In Her Shoes and, most recently, What Happens in Vegas. She also produced a 10-episode worldwide adventure series, entitled Trippin for MTV. Diaz is a committed environmentalist and has been trained to deliver Al Gore's presentation on climate change, a grass-roots efforts to raise awareness around the world. She has been a guest lecturer on environmentally friendly building at Stanford University as part of a popular MTVU program. A longtime supporter of the Environmental Media Association, she has filmed public service announcements about the importance of conserving energy.


Cameron Sinclair

Cameron Sinclair is the co-founder and 'eternal optimist' for Architecture for Humanity, a charitable organization founded to develop architectural and design solutions to humanitarian crises and provide pro-bono design services to communities in need. The organization has completed over one hundred projects in seventeen countries ranging from schools, health clinics, affordable housing and long term sustainable reconstruction. Most recently they have been rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina and developed HIV/AIDS outreach centers throughout Africa. Named by Fortune Magazine as one of seven people changing the world for the better he was the recipient of the TED prize in 2006, was recently selected a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and is the recipient of Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum's the 2008 Smithsonian National Design Awards for Design Patron Award. As a result of the TED Prize he and Architecture for Humanity co-founder Kate Stohr launched the Open Architecture Network, the world's first open source community dedicated to improving living conditions through innovative and sustainable design. Sinclair and Stohr also compiled a compendium on socially conscious design titled "Design Like You Give A Damn".


Sundance Channel

Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel is the television destination for independent-minded viewers seeking something different. Bold, uncompromising and irreverent, Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries, and original programs, all unedited and commercial free. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC. Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of encouraging artistic freedom of expression. Sundance Channel's website address is www.sundancechannel.com.


Rainbow Media Holdings LLC

Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world's most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Sundance Channel, Lifeskool, sportskool, and VOOM HD Networks. Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading distribution company for independent film; IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; and IFC Center, a three screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York's Greenwich Village. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company; and 11 Penn TV, a company that manages Rainbow Media's NYC studios and post-production facilities.


Grey Goose Entertainment

Founded in April 2005, Grey Goose Entertainment is dedicated to producing original and unique content for television, music and film. Each innovative project reflects the spirit of GREY GOOSE Vodka and celebrates the interests of the consumer. Season one of "Iconoclasts" was the first production from Grey Goose Entertainment. In addition to season one and season two of "Iconoclasts" Grey Goose Entertainment supports THE ARTISTS DEN, an innovative enterprise that curates the best new music from around the globe, which it showcases in unique and intimate venues.


@radical.media

@radical.media is a diverse global production company which has produced numerous award-winning feature films and television programs including the Academy Award(R)-winning "Fog of War," the Grammy Award winning "Concert For George," "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" winner of the Independent Spirit Award and Jay-Z's "Fade To Black." Additionally, the company produced the first and second season of the critically acclaimed television series "Iconoclasts" on the Sundance Channel, "The Gamekillers" and "Nike Battlegrounds" on MTV, "Fast Cars and Superstars" on ABC and the Emmy winning-series "Ten Days That Unexpectedly Changed America" for the History Channel.


For more information go to www.sundancechannel.com/iconoclasts

Media Man Australia Profiles

Social and Community Entrepreneurs

Businesses get reality check, by Shannan Bowen - The Daily Tar Heel - 7th Feb 2005

'Entrepreneurs' to follow locals

If you’ve ever dreamed of being an entrepreneur, you might want to watch the late-night reality television show co-created by a UNC alumnus.

Although “Entrepreneurs” has been compared with Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice,” Co-writer and Executive Producer Omar McCallop says it’s not an ordinary reality show.

“Reality for the sake of reality has run its course,” said McCallop, who graduated in 1998 with degrees in political science and marketing. “There should be a dual purpose.”

That purpose brought almost 300 people from 127 charitable organizations Friday to the Angus Barn in Raleigh to kick off the Unity ’05 campaign — a project built by the show’s contestants to unite businesses in an effort to raise $1 billion for charities worldwide.

The local reality show, filmed mostly in Raleigh and other Triangle locations, features contestants who tackle various tasks while building an actual business called EventsLeader from the ground up. The business will launch in May as an online source for worldwide events and entertainment.

Raleigh real estate tycoon and entrepreneur Bob Winstead, the host and co-writer of the show, donated $250 million of EventsLeader’s inventory to the Unity ’05 campaign. Charities and nonprofits who sign with Unity ’05 will have a free one-year membership with EventsLeader to give their businesses or charities coverage and advertisement.

The idea for the show began when Winstead approached McCallop with the idea of filming the process of building a business.

It was Winstead’s chance to give back to the community and McCallop’s chance to write what he calls a “conscience reality” show meant to educate while entertaining.

“The show began as a standpoint of imagining if you can watch Bill Gates build his company,” said McCallop, who has been writing television shows for five years.

He and Winstead hosted auditions for the show last summer, choosing 16 final contestants who began the process of building EventsLeader.

“I’ve learned so much I did not know,” contestant Gina Smudski said as she picked up registration forms for Unity ’05 at the kickoff luncheon. “I use it daily with my own business.”

Smudski, who owns The Women’s Shoppe of North Carolina, a prosthetic hair shop in Cary, said she has learned how to write a business plan and create a logo, among other things, by taking part in the reality show.

“It has been phenomenal,” she said. “I have a feeling that at least 50 percent of the people here signed up today (for Unity ’05).”

Contestant Kory Bailey, a 2001 UNC graduate and former wide-receiver for UNC’s football team, also emphasized the importance of learning about starting a business and partnering with charities.

“I had no idea the sheer magnitude of nonprofits until this experience,” said Bailey, a member of HC Bar Group LLC and part owner of three Chapel Hill businesses — Avalon night club, Carolina Blue Bar and W.B. Yeats Irish Pub. “We’re hoping this starts here in North Carolina and has a bowling-ball effect.”

Bailey said he has worked with charities before such as World Aids Day and Dance Marathon.

“It important to do things for these nonprofits,” he said. “It’s important for businesses to step up.”

McCallop said contestants and viewers should take away knowledge of starting up a business, but the winner will be the one to fully execute the lessons learned.

“Being an entrepreneur is in the blood,” he said. “It’s not about college, it’s about desire and drive.”

The ultimate “entrepreneur” will win his or her choice of a business with $75,000 in start-up capital, a corporate condo and car, or $50,000 cash.

“Entrepreneurs” will air in the state on FOX 50 at 12:30 a.m. on Fridays starting Feb. 19.

Contact the Features Editor at features@unc.edu

Website

Entrepreneurs - The Reality Show

Media Man Australia Profiles

Entrepreneurs - The Reality Show

Bob Winstead

Reality TV

Big Brother bet outrage, by Garth Montgomery - The Daily Telegraph - 11th June 2008

Big Brother's makers may sack a producer after a large bet was placed on Brigitte being evicted more than 24 hours before she was thrown out.

Endemol Southern Star is conducting an internal investigation with a view to sacking the producer.

"We are taking these allegations very seriously and an internal crew investigation is under way," a statement said.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Big Brother

Online Betting

Gaming

Reality TV

VMTV launches gaming channel - 2nd July 2008

Virgin Media Television has launched a fully interactive gaming channel in collaboration with Two Way Media.

Channel Jackpot is now available on digital TV, via interactive television, and online. It will sit in the entertainment section of the Virgin TV EPG at channel 154, immediately alongside Challenge and Challenge+1.

After midnight, Virgin1 and Bravo 2 will also carry daily simulcasts of Challenge Jackpot, meaning it will be available to Freeview and Sky homes. It is also available at www.challengejackpot.com

Two Way Media will produce all of Challenge Jackpot's live output and all of the transactional elements will be run by Two Way Gaming, a subsidiary of Two Way Media.

The channel will carry at least eight hours of live studio games every day. At launch, the flagship slot will be Roulette Nation, but this will be joined later by other casino-style games.

Outside the live broadcast hours, viewers will be able to play along with a range of automated games that will include Get Set Roulette, Face Up Hold 'Em and Hot Shot Keno.

VMTV managing director Jonathan Webb said: "Challenge Jackpot is the first step in reinventing Challenge for the twenty-first century. We want this new channel to continue the values of fun and excitement that have long been synonymous with Challenge – but also to take the relationship with our viewers to the next level of interactivity."

Media Man Australia Profiles

Virgin Games

Virgin Casino

Virgin Poker

Virgin Media

Richard Branson

Poker and Casino News

Media Companies

Television

Reality TV

Reality Television is a genre of television programming which presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and features ordinary people instead of professional actors. Although the genre has existed in some form or another since the early years of television, the term reality television is most commonly used to describe programs of this genre produced since 2000. Documentaries and nonfictional programming such as news and sports shows are usually not classified as reality shows.

Reality television covers a wide range of programming formats, from game or quiz shows which resemble the frantic, often demeaning shows produced in Japan in the 1980s and 1990s (a modern example is Gaki no tsukai), to surveillance- or voyeurism-focused productions such as Big Brother (TV series).

Such shows frequently portray a modified and highly influenced form of reality, with participants put in exotic locations or abnormal situations, sometimes coached to act in certain ways by off-screen handlers, and with events on screen sometimes manipulated through editing and other post-production techniques. (Credit: Wikipedia)

Media Man Australia Profiles

Reality TV

Television

Corey Worthington gatecrashes Big Brother party - The Daily Telegraph - 5th May 2008

Party kid Corey Worthington gatecrashed Big Brother last night - with a new guardian in tow.

The boy everyone loves to hate entered the house wearing his trademark yellow sunglasses and agreed to follow all of Big Brother's rules including a secret mission.

Too young to run for the prizemoney, Corey, who will act as an intruder, said he hoped to show Australia he is not just a rule-breaking party boy.

Corey section: Naked Twister, Slap Corey the game and more

"I want to show people how I really act. I hope to show I am different, I actually am," he said. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a bit of fun."

The oldest contestant, Nanna Terri, will go back into the house as Corey's guardian.

In-depth: Big Brother '08 including galleries, blogs and gossip

Media Man Australia Profiles

Big Brother

Reality TV

Oh, Brother, so it's confirmed - Corey set for house - The Advertiser - 1st May 2008

TV'S worst-kept secret has been confirmed - serial party pest Corey Worthington will appear on this year's Big Brother.

While it's still unclear what his role will be, Corey is currently in lockdown at Dreamworld and his special mission will be revealed on this Sunday's edition of BB.

Meanwhile, word is we haven't seen the last of booted housemate grandmother Terri.

Not only has she been given the power to make Nobbi live in substandard conditions in the complex's Kombi van, Big Brother is also planning to hand her a special mission - but will she accept?

Whether you like him or not, party boy Worthington just won't go away.

Next week, he will release a cover of the classic Beastie Boys teen anthem, Fight for Your Right (to Party).

The track was released in 1986, years before Worthington was born.

He will release the single as a disc, along with digital and online versions.

Since January, when he became either the most loved or hated party boy, Worthington hasn't stopped fielding offers for work, according to his manager Max Markson.

"The interest has not stopped," Markson told Confidential yesterday.

- with the Herald Sun

Media Man Australia Profiles

Big Brother

Network Ten

Television

Reality TV

Shock jock shock: Big Brother's not so big - The Sydney Morning Herald - 29th April 2008

This year's new-look Big Brother appears unlikely to return the TV show to its glory days, with the launch ratings the worst in its history.

An average of 1.511 million Australians tuned in to watch Big Brother's new hosts, the shock jocks Kyle and Jackie O, reveal the first 14 housemates during a drawn-out, two-hour launch.

The audience for the Ten Network show peaked at 1.91 million.

But while it beat its competitors in most timeslots - except its second half hour when it lost out to Border Security - Big Brother's latest launch was the least watched in the show's eight-year history.

The previous lowest ratings for a Big Brother launch were last year, when the first show pulled in 1.548 million viewers.

The show's most watched launch was in 2003, when it attracted 2.225 million viewers.

Last night, in its third half hour, Big Brother also lost some of its audience to the ABC's Australian Story feature on the late Network Ten newsreader Charmaine Dragun.

The story of the newsreader's battle with depression drew more than 1.1 million viewers to the ABC.

Despite the ratings, Ten said it was "thrilled" with Big Brother because the show had launched on a Monday, not on a Sunday as in the past four years.

"We're thrilled to be pulling those numbers on a Monday and against stiff competition," a Ten spokeswoman said.

Viewers have gradually tuned out of the show since it began in 2001.

In a bid to halt its decline, Big Brother's producers have this year promised a different program.

Some of the changes include: housemates being forced to spend the first night in the backyard and the eviction of one housemate by sunrise, in the first of many "snap" evictions.

For the first time contestants will be accommodated in a far from luxurious house, with no rewards room and a tiny pool.

This year's series will also see housemates sleep in one giant bed and there will be no kitchen, with food to be served on a conveyor belt.

The contestants include a one-metre tall belly dancer, a 52-year-old grandmother and a self-declared young male virgin with a high-pitched voice.

Three more contestants will be revealed on Sunday, while party punk Corey Worthington will later feature as an intruder.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Big Brother

Television

Reality TV

Big Brother housemates revealed, by Shannon Molloy - The Sydney Morning Herald - 28th April 2008

This year's Big Brother housemates have been billed as the most diverse and colourful group yet, with a former religious sect member and dwarf belly dancer making up the ranks.

1. Saxon - SA
Saxon, 22, is heavily tattooed and physically imposing. Since spotting a UFO in the skies over Adelaide a couple of years ago, he has been on a mission to prove that aliens exist.

2. Rory - VIC
While being anti-religion, 21-year-old Rory has his own traditional views and opinions. He grew up in a poor suburb that he calls "the ghetto" and lists his favourite book as FHM Magazine.

3. Rima - VIC
Standing at just one metre tall, Rima is a small package with a big personality. The 25-year-old was born in Melbourne of Lebanese parents, works as a belly dancer and has been married for one year.

4. Renee - NSW
As an abattoir worker and rugby league enthusiast, this 22-year-old tom boy is a country girl at heart and very animated. She is also from the same town as fellow housemate Dixie.

5. Bianca - QLD
This 18-year-old Italian princess is passionate about the works of Plato and Shakespeare and believes her voluptuous body is both an asset and a curse. She rarely goes on dates and says men usually run in the opposite direction when she starts talking.

6. Alice - VIC
Meet the first vet to ever enter the Big Brother house - Dr Alice. The 24-year-old is a high achiever with a private school education, but insists she was a scholarship student who fought hard to keep her place.

7. Travis - NSW
With a high-pitched and squeaky voice, it's easy to stereotype 20-year-old Travis. But don't be fooled - this flamboyant and excitable virgin insists he is all about the ladies. He is staunchly religious and anti-drugs.

8. Rebecca - WA
This 22-year-old promotions model and waitress is comfortable in her own skin, but has a bizarre germ phobia and refuses to ever go barefoot. She even wears thongs in the shower.

9. Nobbi - VIC
This self-described insane attention seeker was born in Japan, and says he is always skating on thin ice. He has only been in love once and was heartbroken, so the 21-year-old remains happily single.

10. Dixie - NSW
Dixie is a uni student and mental health worker, as well as Big Brother's first Aboriginal housemate. The 21-year-old says her commitment issues means she has never had a real boyfriend.

11. David - NSW
Raised as a member of the Exclusive Brethren, David says he "escaped" the religious sect at 19-years-old. Before then, he had never eaten in a restaurant or kissed a girl. These days, the 32-year-old works as a fire fighter and is obsessed with celebrity gossip.

12. Brigitte - ACT
A self-confessed drama queen and wanna-be Paris Hilton, 20-year-old Brigitte describes her hobbies as shopping and "dressing up". One of her biggest fears is being seen on national television without make-up on.

13. Ben - WA
Ben, 19, is easily frustrated and prone to bouts of road rage. As a law student, he is often considered by friends as the voice of reason.

14. Terri - NSW
As Big Brother's oldest-ever housemate, 52-year-old Terri shouldn't be mistaken for a sweet Nanna. This Pauline Hanson fan is passionate and political, and finds the younger generation frustrating.

Three more housemates will be revealed this Sunday night.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Big Brother

Reality TV

Lights fade on foxy model reality show, By Eva Tejszerski - St George & Sutherland Shire Leader - 29th April 2008

THE tears, tantrums and drama queen moments came to a close this month when a bunch of young women packed their bags and farewelled Sutherland Shire.

For nine weeks, they lived under the same roof in a multimillion-dollar mansion in Burraneer while filming Australia's Next Top Model.

Following a nationwide audition tour last year, 13 hopefuls aged 16 to 21 were selected to live together and star in the fourth season of the series. The series, which premiered last week on Fox 8, follows the girls as they set out to prove they have what it takes to make it in the cutthroat world of modelling.

The claws came out on the catwalk as the model wannabes competed for a chance to be the next Elle Macpherson.

But a Foxtel spokeswoman said all of the mini-fashionistas were "very well behaved" during the shoot.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Australia's Next Top Model

Foxtel

Reality TV

New Gladiators 'soft' - The Daily Telegraph - 2nd April 2008

THE star of the original Gladiators was Vulcan, and the man himself has a message for the current crop - you're soft.

The new version was a winner for Channel 7, pulling 1.8 million viewers.

But Vulcan, real name John Seru, isn't a fan.

"They were soft compared to us," said Seru, 44.

"I should have been there to show them how it should be done because I'm still the man."

We propose a showdown.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Gladiators

John "Vulcan" Seru

Reality TV

Television

Swearing a hassle for Australian, US TV, By Stefanie Balogh in New York - The Daily Telegraph - 22nd March 2008

Jane Fonda has done it, so has Bono, Nicole Richie and Cher. They have all uttered obscenities on live US TV, causing complaint switchboards to go into meltdown with calls from outraged and offended viewers.

The appropriateness of using colourful language on TV has suddenly re-emerged as a hot-button issue in the US and Australia. With programs such as Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and Underbelly - which both feature a generous use of swear words - riding high in the ratings, Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has called for a parliamentary inquiry into the matter.

It was the regularity with which chef Gordon Ramsay dropped four-letter words during a recent episode that prompted the call for a parliamentary review, with Channel 9 receiving 60 complaints from viewers since moving the show to the relatively early timeslot of 8.30pm.

In the US, the tolerance usually extended to the occasional swear word during a live broadcast (a so-called "fleeting expletive") is destined to become a thing of the past.

America's federal regulator, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has decided to muscle up on free-to-air radio and TV networks and has adopted a zero tolerance approach to inadvertent foul language on live shows.

The regulator's teeth were sharpened by President George W. Bush's attempts to act on a chorus of concerns from family, religious and advocacy groups that believe American culture is becoming coarser.

The stand-off over fleeting expletives between the big four US TV networks and the FCC is headed for a showdown in the US Supreme Court, America's highest court.

This week the court agreed to hear the case in October and a decision is expected mid-2009. It is the first time in 30 years the US Supreme Court has tangled with a broadcast obscenity issue.

The test case is more than a dispute over four-letter words, and goes to the heart of the US Constitution's First Amendment on free speech. The ruling will determine whether the US Government still has the right to police public airwaves and protect the ears of children, even if it borders on censorship. The FCC's rules on fleeting expletives do not apply to the new world of media platforms, including cable TV and the internet.

The US TV networks are arguing against any nanny state-type ban on accidental swear words, arguing the rule curtails true artistic and creative expression during live broadcasts and, more importantly, violates free speech.

The US Supreme Court case is an appeal by the FCC after it was rebuked over its policy reversal in a lower federal appeals court in New York last year.

The last time the US Supreme Court heard a case on broadcast obscenities was in 1978 when comedian George Carlin delivered a 12-minute midday monologue on the seven words you couldn't say on TV. He said them all repeatedly and the FCC stepped in with a policy against profanity.

The FCC defines indecent speech as "language that, in context, depicts or describes sexual or excretory activities or organs in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium."

In its 30-year-old ruling the US Supreme Court warned the FCC not to take punitive action against TV and radio stations that inadvertently broadcast the odd swear word. A fleeting expletive was seen as a necessary evil to protect free speech.

But then along came U2 frontman Bono. During the 2003 Golden Globe awards, the rock star expressed his delight on stage for winning best original song, declaring the moment to be "really, really, f. . .ing brilliant". The FCC was deluged by outraged viewer complaints.

A year later it was the so-called "Nipplegate", when singer Janet Jackson's right breast was briefly exposed thanks to a wardrobe malfunction during the high-rating half-time entertainment at the Super Bowl. CBS was fined $550,000 but is appealing the ruling. The culture war over indecency in the US had begun.

The FCC toughened up and reversed its policy on fleeting expletives, spelling out that any swearing between 6am and 10pm, when children were most likely to be watching, would no longer be tolerated.

One of the most recent slip-ups in US broadcasting occurred in February when veteran actress and political activist Jane Fonda uttered the highly inflammatory C-word during a live broadcast of NBC's Today Show in which she was discussing her role in Eve Ensler's groundbreaking play The Vagina Monologues. It caused a furore and both Fonda and the network apologised.

The landmark broadcasting obscenities case now before the US Supreme Court relates to two old incidents at the Billboard Music Awards. In 2002, Cher took to the stage to receive an artist achievement award and took a swipe at her critics. "F. . . 'em", the singer said of her detractors.

The following year, airheaded celebrities Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie proved their vacuous worth. The stars of reality TV program The Simple Life were presenting an award and Richie pondered aloud about the title of the show.

"Why do they even call it The Simple Life?" Richie mused. "Have you ever tried to get cow s. . . out of a Prada purse? It's not so f. . .ing simple."

In 2006, the regulator ruled the remarks were graphic and shocking because children would have been watching the broadcasts.

It reprimanded broadcaster Fox (a News Corp company and the parent company of News Ltd Australia, publisher of The Daily Telegraph) but did not issue fines because the incidents occurred before the FCC's policy reversal.

Fox, supported by ABC, CBS and NBC, challenged the policy and took their case to the Second US Circuit of Appeals in New York last year and won.

The court slapped down the FCC and determined it was applying its policy in an "arbitrary and capricious" manner and had gone too far in reprimanding Fox. The court also said it was "sceptical the commission can provide reasoned explanation for its fleeting expletives regime."

Instead of reworking its guidelines, the FCC and the Bush Administration decided to test the waters with an appeal to the Supreme Court. They have the backing of groups such as the Parents Television Council who argues the New York decision gives TV networks the green light to broadcast "the F-word and S-word in front of children at any time of the day".

FCC chairman Kevin Martin welcomed the US Supreme Court's decision this week to revisit the obscenity issue after 30 years, saying: "The Commission, Congress and most importantly parents understand that protecting our children is our greatest responsibility.

"I continue to believe we have an obligation then to enforce laws restricting indecent language on television and radio when children are in the audience."

FCC Commissioner Deborah Tate says a US Supreme Court decision will "give broadcasters clarity regarding the use of profanity, even fleeting profanity, on the public airwaves, at times when children are most likely to be in the audience".

The networks, too, are happy for a ruling on the guidelines.

Fox spokesman Scott Grogin says a higher court determination will give networks the chance to argue that the FCC's expanded enforcement of the indecency law is "unconstitutional in today's diverse media where parents have access to a variety of tools to monitor their children's television viewing".

Media Man Australia Profiles

Reality TV

Television

Big Brother saboteurs rock the vote, by Asher Moses - The Sydney Morning Herald - 7th November 2007

Big Brother likes to call the shots, so he could be in for a nasty surprise after agreeing to throw part of the audition process for the 2008 series open to an online vote.

Following flagging ratings for this year's outing and criticisms the show had become tired and predictable, Big Brother's producers have promised to give viewers more control over who goes into the house next year.

Would-be housemates have been invited to submit a 90-second audition clip on the Big Brother website.

The submissions will be put to an online vote from next month with the top three guaranteed a spot in the house and the top 50 guaranteed to go through to the second round of auditions. The remaining housemates will be chosen by the producers, Endemol Southern Star (ESS).

"The view is that we'll probably attract that bigger and wider pool of people who might not be able to get somewhere to do an audition but they can certainly get online to do it," Ten's head of digital media, Damian Smith, said.

But Big Brother fans are already plotting ways they could rig the voting system to ensure their favourite gets into the house.

Members of the Behind Big Brother fan community are in the process of deciding which of them will be the guinea pig.

"Someone here must be foolish enough to want to be a Big Brother Housemate?" wrote forum member Warren_Oates.

"This place has thousands of members. If we all voted for the same person we should be able to stack the voting system."

Mr Smith said people would need to register an account on the Big Brother website in order to vote and only one vote would count per registered user. However, it's not clear whether there will be anything stopping someone from registering multiple accounts.

"We're doing everything possible to ensure that the voting is legitimate," Mr Smith said.

He said the online vote would be final one but the show's producers would still have veto power because Ten and ESS owed the other housemates a "duty of care". They had to "make sure that [the selected] people are capable of doing the housemate thing".

Ten recently created its own channel on YouTube to promote certain shows but Mr Smith said the Big Brother '08 audition process would be done exclusively through bigbrother.com.

In another attempt at renewal, Big Brother institution Gretel Killeen was dumped as the show's host last week in favour of radio personalities Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Big Brother

Kyle Sandilands

Reality TV