Coda

Starz, Showtime Show ITV

Washington — Starz Entertainment and Showtime Networks are set to show off interactive TV applications for cable operators at next month's Cable Show here.

Both premium programmers will demo applications based on CableLabs' Enhanced Binary Interchange Format (EBIF), a lightweight specification for ITV designed to run on virtually any digital cable set-top currently in use.

Cable operators have coalesced around EBIF as the foundation for mass deployment of standard interactive features, driven in large part by Canoe Ventures, the advanced-ad company formed by six MSOs.

Now, more programmers are stepping up to take advantage of the momentum behind EBIF.

Starz's EBIF application will feature a “mini-guide” that links its linear channel to the Starz on-demand section on a cable system. The demo will be part of the 17th annual CableNet showcase, sponsored by CableLabs and the National Cable & Telecommunications Association.

The concept with the Starz mini-guide is to deliver an experience similar to Time Warner Cable's Start Over service: If viewers tune to a Starz channel in the middle of a movie and that movie is on VOD, they would receive a prompt giving them the option of watching the program from the beginning.

Meanwhile, Showtime has created an EBIF version of an ITV marketing app, developed by interactive-services firm Itaas, to let cable customers sample free episodes of original series such as Weeds and The Tudors, and then instantly order the premium channel with a few clicks of the remote.

Showtime has offered a version of the subscriber-acquisition ITV application on Dish Network but has done only limited cable rollouts, such as with Time Warner Cable's Oceanic division (an app developed with ActiveVideo Networks).

With EBIF becoming widely deployed, Showtime expects to achieve much broader distribution. The programmer plans to roll out the EBIF application across the entire footprint of one major operator in the third quarter of 2009. — Todd Spangler

Cable Lawyer Kerry Gets Commerce Nod

Washington — The National Cable & Telecommunications Association could be seeing a familiar face at the Commerce Department as it makes its case for getting access to billions in broadband spectrum funds.

Veteran cable-industry lawyer Cameron Kerry has been nominated by President Obama to become general counsel of the Commerce Department. Kerry, younger brother of Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), has defended the cable industry in federal and state court, as well as before the FCC on issues ranging from rate regulation and franchising to FCC license and rulemaking issues.

At stake is $7.2 billion in economic-stimulus grant money that is being divvied up by the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Agriculture Department's rural-utilities grant program, with an assist from the FCC. — John Eggerton

N.J. Sues Verizon Over FiOS Marketing

Trenton, N.J. —New Jersey's attorney general has sued Verizon Communications, alleging the telco engaged in “deceptive and misleading” marketing, sales, billing and customer-service practices related to its FiOS services.

The state, through its Division of Consumer Affairs, charged that Verizon failed to provide advertised promotional gifts when consumers signed up for FiOS service. New Jersey also alleged that Verizon charged subscribers higher prices for service than were quoted in door-to-door solicitations and ads, and charged activation fees after consumers were told that such charges would be waived.

Verizon New Jersey president Dennis Bone said in a statement: “We believe that the issues raised by the attorney general today are related primarily to the start-up of the FiOS business nearly two years ago in New Jersey and have been largely addressed. We will continue to work with the attorney general to resolve any remaining concerns and to ensure that our customers are fully satisfied.” — Todd Spangler

Tinseltown Tales, Take Two

New York — Fans of movie history and Tinseltown lore will be seeing double, as HBO and Turner Classic Movies both announced projects centered around the film business.

The planned HBO miniseries, titled A Ribbon of Dreams, will mark the return of award-winning The Sopranos creator David Chase to the network.

The HBO/Paramount Pictures/Chase Films-produced series will take place circa 1913 and follow the unlikely partnership between a college-educated mechanical engineer and a cowboy with a violent past, who, for a time, serve as motion-picture power brokers. They begin as employees of pioneering film director D.W. Griffith, and then cross career paths with Hollywood legends such as John Ford, John Wayne, Bette Davis and Billy Wilder.

Chase will write and executive-produce the miniseries. Former Sopranos co-executive producer and current Paramount Pictures chairman and CEO Brad Grey will co-produce the series.

“For seven years, David Chase dazzled and entertained the world with The Sopranos,” said HBO co-president Richard Plepler in a statement. “He's a remarkable talent and we're very excited to be working with both David and Brad again.”

Meanwhile, TCM will aspire to tell the true story of the film industry via a 10-part documentary that will screen next year.

The vintage-movie service, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, will co-produce Moguls and Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood, with Bill Haber's Ostar Productions. The series will present a personal history of Tinseltown, detailing the personalities, collaborations and conflicts that shaped the industry.

“Our story will span more than 100 years of inventiveness and entertainment,” said Emmy Award-winner Jon Wilkman, who will write and produce.

Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TCM, TBS and TNT, described the series as “an epic project that promises to be a landmark event for TCM.” — Mike Reynolds and R. Thomas Umstead

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