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Saturday, January 21, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
HDNet to relaunch as live entertainment network
NEW YORK (AP) ? Mark Cuban's HDNet is joining forces with sports and entertainment presenter AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media and Hollywood talent firm Creative Artists Agency to rebrand the network.
The relaunched network will be called AXS TV (pronounced "access") and will debut this summer with a slate of live entertainment and lifestyle programming, the companies announced Wednesday. The new network will benefit from the reach of AEG and will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access to concerts, award shows and other pop culture events, they said.
Claiming an inside track to programming that connects the audience with the complete live experience, AXS TV plans to display touring acts from the creation and development of the show, to rehearsals, sound-check and performance, as well as the after-party.
"This is a major step on our way to offering more live programming than any other entertainment and lifestyle network," said Cuban, a billionaire who owns the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. "AXS TV will unquestionably be able to leverage our unique assets to do things no other network will be able to replicate."
AEG president and CEO Timothy J. Leiweke said in a statement, "The ability to give fans the opportunity to experience 'live' in a different way is something we have been looking for a way to do for years."
Some existing programs on HDNet, including "HDNet Fights" and the newsmagazine "Dan Rather Reports," will continue.
As part of its agreement with the joint venture, DISH, the nation's third-largest pay TV provider, will provide a slate of unique music services to its subscribers, and in March it will begin offering a selection of AXS-branded video-on-demand concerts.
DISH will expand its carriage of the rebranded HDNet by offering the channel in its America's Top 120 programming package. AXS TV will continue to be available from HDNet's existing distributors, including DirecTV, Comcast, Verizon, AT&T and other providers. In total, AXS TV is expected to reach more than 35 million North American households.
Ryan Seacrest Media holds an ownership stake in AXS TV, and Ryan Seacrest Productions, an independent entertainment production company, will develop and produce programming for AXS TV. But Ryan Seacrest, whose many on-camera roles include hosting Fox network's "American Idol," is not expected to appear on AXS TV.
Financial terms of the new venture were not disclosed.
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Phoenix transient accused of skinning, eating cat
PHOENIX (AP) ? A transient has been arrested after police say he skinned and ate a cat while camping inside a Phoenix warehouse and music venue.
Authorities say the building's owners reported a burglary after they opened the warehouse Wednesday and heard blaring music.
Police found 24-year-old Russell Christopher Hofstad inside with his face painted and the cat's tail and intestines around his neck.
Hofstad told police he killed the cat because he was hungry. He also said he was going to use its skeleton as party decorations.
He was arrested on suspicion of burglary and animal cruelty.
The Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/xyh0aX) reports Hofstad had been released from jail Jan. 10 and told police he had nowhere to go. He decided to camp in the building because he had attended music events there.
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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com
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Thursday, January 19, 2012
Conviction in death that sent wrong man to prison (AP)
NEW HAVEN, Conn. ? A jury convicted a man Wednesday of the 1986 killing of a mother of four, a crime for which another man served 20 years in prison before being exonerated by new DNA tests.
The New Haven Superior Court jury found 47-year-old Kevin Benefield, formerly of New York City, guilty of murder and felony murder during its second day of deliberations. Both charges carry a penalty of 25 to 60 years in prison. Sentencing is set for March 23.
Jurors found that the former Bronx resident killed 30-year-old Barbara Pelkey, whose nude body was found at a manufacturing company where she worked in her hometown of Wallingford. Authorities said Pelkey was raped.
Another man, Kenneth Ireland, was convicted of killing Pelkey and served 20 years in prison before being released in August 2009 based on new DNA testing that showed he could not have committed the crime. Ireland is seeking $8 million from the state under Connecticut's wrongful incarceration law.
After the verdicts, one of Pelkey's children, Kathryn Davitt, cried as she read a statement by her family saying that Benefield's convictions were not a cause to celebrate.
"Some of the forgotten people affected as a direct result of this crime include our father, Arthur Pelkey Sr., who took his own life as a result of losing his wife to this horrific crime," she said. "The four of us, her children, ... grew up without either parent, missing out on the relationships and stability most people take for granted."
Davitt added, "The death of our mother has destroyed so many lives in the course of 25 years."
Benefield worked at a catering and car business in the same Wallingford building where Pelkey worked, while Ireland worked at a local sandwich shop. Investigators looking into Pelkey's death took a sample of Benefield's saliva in 1986 and ended up submitting it to the state police crime lab in 2009 because of new DNA technology that had been developed. Testing linked Benefield's saliva sample to the killing, police said.
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John Burnside wins TS Eliot poetry prize (AP)
LONDON ? Scottish poet John Burnside has won the TS Eliot Prize for poetry.
The poet picked up the 15,000 pounds ($23,000) for his collection, "Black Cat Bone," at a ceremony in central London on Monday.
Burnside beat out a shortlist of peers, including Britain's poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy and British writer Sean O'Brien.
Gillian Clarke, chair of the judging panel, called Burnside's winning work a "haunting book of great beauty, powered by love, childhood memory, human longing and loneliness."
Burnside, who also has written short stories and memoirs, teaches at the University of St. Andrews and is a former writer in residence at Dundee University.
The prize is awarded annually by the Poetry Book Society to the best collection published in the U.K. and Ireland. The award began in 1993 to celebrate the society's 40th birthday and honor its founding poet.
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Whale wars victory: Japan to release three activist stowaways
The promised release of three activists who boarded a Japanese whaling ship a few days ago signals a victory for behind-the-scenes diplomacy with Australia.
An unscheduled meeting between Japan?s whalers and environmental activists on the high seas seems an unlikely backdrop to an outbreak of d?tente.
Skip to next paragraphBut Australia was quietly celebrating a minor victory for diplomacy on Tuesday after Japan agreed to release three anti-whaling activists who illegally boarded one of its whaling ships over the weekend.?
The trio, all Australian citizens, have been detained on the Shonan Maru 2, which is providing security to the fleet, after clambering aboard early Sunday morning to protest Japan?s annual hunts in the Antarctic.?The International Whaling Commission banned commercial whaling in 1986 but allows Japan to hunt a limited number of whales for ?scientific research.??The fleet left port last month with plans to kill some 900 whales this season.
The incident threatened to cause tension between Australia and Japan, close trade and security partners.?Soon after the men were detained it seemed likely that they would be kept aboard the Shonan Maru 2 and taken to Japan, where they faced a trial and possible imprisonment for trespassing.
By late Monday evening, however, Japan had agreed to release the trio, a move welcomed by Australia?s prime minister, Julia Gillard.
Prime Minister Gillard, who came under immediate pressure at home to secure the activists? release, thanked Japan for its cooperation, but sounded a warning to campaigners thinking of employing similar forms of direct action.
?No one should assume that because an agreement has been reached with?the Japanese government in this instance that individuals will not be charged and convicted in the future,? she said in a statement. ?The best way to stop whaling once and for all is through our court action.
Australia has lodged a legal challenge to the annual whale hunts with the international court of justice in the Hague but a decision is not expected until 2013 at the earliest.
Canberra?s delicate task was to balance an election pledge to end the whale hunts with a public show of respect for maritime law.
The release, which won?t happen until an Australian coastguard boat rendezvouses with the Shona Maru 2 in several days? time, was welcomed by Sea Shepherd?s founder, Paul Watson.
But in an interview with Macquarie Radio, Mr. Watson said: ?If the Australian government would do their job and fulfill their election promises, these things wouldn?t be happening.?
Japan, meanwhile, insisted the decision to release the men did not mean it had gone soft on Sea Shepherd.
The trio are not members of the group ? they belong to another organization called Forest Rescue ? and had not injured any members of the Shonan Maru 2?s crew when they boarded, Japan?s chief cabinet secretary, Osamu Fujimura, told reporters.
?The three activists were not violent during or after they boarded the whaling vessel,? he said. ?There was no evidence that they were part of Sea Shepherd, which has been engaged in obstructing the fleet.?
Japan may have also had in mind the negative international publicity it attracted in 2010, when it prosecuted former Sea Shepherd member Pete Bethune, who had boarded the Shonan Maru 2 to protest the sinking of the group?s high-tech speedboat. Mr. Bethune, who had been carrying a knife, was given a suspended sentence and deported.
Official support for the whaling program was also put under the spotlight last month when it was revealed that the government had used 2.28 billion yen ($30 million) of taxpayer money intended for the tsunami recovery effort to fund this year?s hunt, on top an existing $6 million annual subsidy. The fisheries agency said the use of the fund was justified because one of the towns destroyed in the disaster was a whaling port.
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Giants at 49ers, Ravens at Patriots
Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers is sacked by New York Giants' Michael Boley, center, and Corey Webster, right, during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. The Giants won 37-20. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers is sacked by New York Giants' Michael Boley, center, and Corey Webster, right, during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. The Giants won 37-20. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning reacts during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. The Giants won 37-20. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis (85) celebrates after an NFL divisional playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, in San Francisco. The 49ers won 36-32. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh hugs cornerback Cary Williams during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against Houston Texans in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady signals to his bench during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Denver Broncos Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
That road warrior mentality the New York Giants have embraced is paving their path nicely.
They will need it for one more game when they head to San Francisco next Sunday to play for the NFC championship.
Since making the playoffs as a wild card in 2007, Tom Coughlin's team has emphasized the need to be comfortable on the road. The Giants felt downright at home at Lambeau Field in the postseason for the second straight time, humbling the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers 37-20 Sunday.
Four years ago, they eliminated the Packers 23-20 in overtime on the Lambeau tundra.
"I think we're a dangerous team," Coughlin said. "I like where we are and how we're playing."
Why not? Eli Manning threw for three touchdowns for the second consecutive week, Hakeem Nicks caught two of his scoring throws ? one a 37-yard desperation pass at the end of the first half ? and the Giants (11-7) forced four turnovers from the usually precise Packers and had four sacks.
So it's on to San Francisco, where they lost 27-20 in November. But the Giants also lost to the Packers (15-2) during the regular season.
The 49ers (14-3) won a classic on Saturday, rallying to beat New Orleans 36-32 with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith to Vernon Davis with 9 seconds remaining.
The AFC title game will match the Baltimore Ravens (13-4) and Patriots (14-3) in New England. Two years ago, Baltimore romped at Foxboro 33-14 in the wild-card round.
Baltimore finished off a 9-0 home record with a 20-13 victory Sunday over first-time playoff qualifier Houston.
Ed Reed's interception late in the fourth quarter sealed it, and the Ravens didn't commit a penalty or have a turnover. Lardarius Webb had two picks and Joe Flacco threw for two TDs.
"We have won in New England," Flacco said. "They are one of the teams, like us, that's tough to beat at home. We know how tough it is to go into a place like that, a place like here, and win a football game. So we're going to have to make sure we prepare well all week and bring our 'A' game up there."
New England routed Denver 45-10, silencing Tebowmania as Tom Brady tied an NFL mark with six touchdown passes and set another with five in the first half.
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NFC
In their last meeting, 49ers All-Pro defensive tackle Justin Smith batted down Manning's pass in the closing seconds to preserve a win. That started New York on a downward spiral of four consecutive losses.
But the Giants have found a pass rush and a running game, Manning has maintained his sizzling pace in his best season, and they have gotten healthy. They've won five of six, including two playoff games.
"We went down there earlier this year and we didn't get it done, we fell short," receiver Mario Manningham said. "But I think we're going to go back and watch what we did wrong and just come back and do the right things."
San Francisco has done nearly everything right in a turnaround season under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh. They are extremely efficient with perhaps the best tackling defense in the league led by four All-Pros ? linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, cornerback Carlos Rogers and Smith ? and ball-hawking skills that allowed them to lead the NFL with 38 takeaways.
Same thing on offense, with a league-low 10 turnovers.
"It's a lot better than traveling to Wisconsin. More importantly, we're playing a team we've already faced," Rogers said. "It's not as hard as preparing for another team we haven't faced yet."
The difference in pedigree for the quarterbacks is so large, though, that it could swing the edge to the Giants.
"Guys understand the way to win football games against good teams," Manning said. "Our defense is playing great with pressure and turnovers. Our offense for the most part is protecting the ball and playing smart football. When we have a chance to make a big play we are making them."
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AFC
There's also a seeming mismatch at quarterback in this game. Brady's sensational season, with the second-most yards passing in NFL history behind only what Drew Brees managed in 2011, was somewhat overshadowed by Brees and Aaron Rodgers ? even by Tebow. But he sure took center stage against overmatched Denver.
"We know we have a big test next week," Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis said. "Tom is playing excellent up there, and what they did to the Broncos ... I think they sent a message to whoever was coming up there. So, we've got our hands full and we've got to go up and get ready to play in the AFC championship."
New England rarely has faced a defense as strong as Baltimore's this season, however. Indeed, the Patriots lost to the best defense it opposed, Pittsburgh's.
If the Ravens can keep the game tight behind Lewis, Reed, Terrell Suggs and the staunch D, they'll hope their QB, Joe Flacco, can come up with enough big plays to get them to their first Super Bowl since January 2001. The Patriots have been vulnerable in pass defense, but their prolific offense has offset most problems.
"I always say there is a right way to do things, there is a wrong way to do things and there is just the Ravens' way of doing things," Suggs said. "It wasn't pretty but we're not really a pretty team. We got the W and now it's on to the AFC championship."
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