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Singapore TV
Channel Fined For Gay Content
A Singapore television station has been fined for
airing a show that featured a gay couple and their baby in a way
that "promotes a gay lifestyle," the city-state's media regulator
said.
The Media Development Authority fined MediaCorp TV Channel 5 some
15,000 Singapore dollars, it said in a statement on its website.
The station aired an episode of a home and decor series called Find
and Design that featured a gay couple wanting to transform their
game room into a new nursery for their adopted baby.
The authority said the episode contained scenes of the gay couple
with their baby and the presenter's congratulations and
acknowledgment of them as a family unit "in a way which normalises
their gay lifestyle and unconventional family setup".
The episode was in breach of rules on free-to-air television
programming, which disallows content that promotes, justifies or
glamourises gay lifestyles, the statement said.
Earlier this month, the authority fined a Singapore cable television
operator, StarHub Cable Vision 10,000 Singapore dollars for airing a
commercial that showed two lesbians kissing.
Under Singapore law, gay sex is deemed "an act of gross indecency"
punishable by a maximum of two years in jail.
Despite the official ban on gay sex, there have been few
prosecutions. But authorities have banned gay festivals and censored
gay films, saying homosexuality should not be advocated as a
lifestyle choice.
22:46
April
24 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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BBC Drama
Monologues
Bob Hoskins, Rhys Ifans and Sheila Hancock are to
star in BBC One’s The Last Word, a series of comedy drama
monologues.
The series is made up of three 30-minute episodes,
each of which focuses on someone who is about to kill or be killed.
Hoskins will play an assassin in A Bit of Private Business, while
Hancock plays a dying woman waiting to receive drugs to take her own
life in Before I Call You In.
In the third film, entitled Six Days One June, Ifans will take on
the role of a farmer who is trying to find ways of freeing himself
from his dominating mother.
The dramas have been written by Hugo Blick, who will also produce
and direct them.
Executive producers are Henry Normal and Lindsay Hughes for Baby Cow
and Simon Wilson for the BBC.
The series will transmit later this year.
17:00
April
24 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Blake's 7 -
Series Remake
A remake of the popular British sci-fi series Blake's
7 is currently being planned for Sky One.
A six-part series is being developed by Blake 7
Productions and could be broadcast next year.
The original programmes ran on the BBC from 1978 to
1981 and were created by Terry Nation. The series is set in the
future and is cantered around Roj Blake as he leads a band of
reluctant rebels against the totalitarian Federation.
The Federation controls the citizens by a number of methods,
including mass surveillance and brainwashing.
10:04
April
24 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
Reader Comment
Oh dear, a Blake's 7 remake on BBC 1 is one thing
but on Sky One? And bit's only six episodes which suggests to me
that maybe they aren't sure about it.
Irby Wan Kenobi
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A Series For
Being Human
Six more episodes of the one-off drama Being Human
have been commissioned by BBC Three controller Danny Cohen..
The series follows a successful pilot about a
flat share between a human, a werewolf and a vampire broadcast
earlier this year.
Filming for the series, which will once again be written by Toby
Whithouse, will start later this year for transmission in 2009.
BBC Wales head of drama Julie Gardner, who was one of the show's
executive producers, said: "BBC drama is always looking for diverse
and surprising pieces, and Being Human hit the spot with its
irreverence and wit."
Cohen added: "Of all our recent drama experiments on BBC3, Being
Human struck the most powerful chord with the audience. At its heart
is a bold and adventurous concept and I'm looking forward to seeing
how this is realised across a series."
09:49
April
24 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Jennifer Lopez
Series
Jennifer Lopez is to appear in a docu-series which
she will co-create, co-produce and star in for The Learning Channel.
Angela Shapiro-Mathes, The Learning Channel's
president, said: "Jennifer is unbelievably passionate about life and
will be an incredible role model for our audience."
Lopez said: "I'm looking forward to sharing this exciting journey
together."
09:20
April
24 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Val Doonican Rocks
Pauline McLynn narrates an affectionate portrait of
popular Irish entertainer Val Doonican for BBC Two on Monday, May 5.
Doonican is as famous for his props such as cardigans
and rocking chair as for his easy-listening style.
From 1964-1986 he led the BBC One ratings, his
particular brand of laid-back entertainment surviving the
revolutionary 60s, IRA campaigns and a variety of changing musical
styles.
The hour-long programme Includes interviews with Rolf
Harris, John Williams, Gerry Anderson and Gloria Hunniford.
08:11
April
24 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Digital Switchover
Digital UK, the body established to co-ordinate
digital switchover, has published a report on the experiences of
25,000 households in Whitehaven, Cumbria.
In a two stage switchover in October and November
2007, four analogue channels were replaced with around 20 Freeview
channels.
In the Whitehaven switchover, analogue BBC Two was
switched off first on October 17 and the remaining channels on
November 14, following a four week transition period.
Digital UK said there were mixed feelings on the
merits of the two stage process as viewers had to toggle between
digital and analogue. The body is now reviewing the role and
duration of the transition process.
Some viewers express disappointment that they were
unable to receive more than 20 Freeview channels after digital
switchover.
This will be the case for the 10% of the UK's
households that will not be able to receive all three of Freeview's
commercial multiplexes.
David Scott, Chief Executive of Digital UK, said:
“This first switchover showed that the approach to informing and
supporting the public through switchover was effective. People knew
what was happening and where to turn for help when they needed it.
I’m enormously grateful to everyone in the local community who
helped ensure the switch went smoothly.
“We’ll now take on board what we’ve learned and
refine our approach as the switchover programme gathers pace across
the country over the next few years. This is a momentous change for
UK broadcasting, but one we will make as simple and straightforward
as possible for viewers."
The next switchover will be for viewers served by
the Selkirk transmitter group in the Border TV region, which will go
fully digital from November 6 this year. It will be followed by 14
switchovers affecting 4.6 million households during 2009, with the
rest of the UK switching to digital TV by the end of 2012.
07:45
April
24 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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