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Facebook has announced that it will be partnering with entertainment brands such as Netflix and Hulu in order to add television and movie-watching capabilities to the social networking website.

The announcement was made by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg at this week’s f8 conference.

The service will allow Facebook users to show off what they are watching in real-time as well as see what that their friends are watching. The aim of this set-up is to draw more people into consuming TV and movies on Facebook.

A personalised Timeline will summarise each user’s watching activities and top shows and movies will be put on display for their friends to see.

Other companies to join forces with Facebook include Flixster, DirecTV, IMDb and Miso.

Source: mashable

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced an Australian first with the commercial release of talking set-top boxes to help people who are vision impaired make the switch to digital-only television.

“For the first time in Australia, vision impaired people will be able to enjoy significantly enhanced benefits of digital television.” Senator Conroy said.

Talking set-top boxes are designed to help the blind or vision impaired to navigate electronic program guides, onscreen menus and settings of their television.

Text-to-speech technology is used to describe programs, menu items and menu layouts, and includes capabilities to change the style of the speech and a ‘key learn’ mode for the remote.

“This kind of technology has been developed in other countries, however, no talking set-top box was available in the Australian market until now,” Senator Conroy said.

“Today’s announcement coincides with Queensland Disability Action Week and marks a significant achievement for the Government and industry to make digital TV accessible to all Australians.”

The Government worked closely with industry in the development of the talking set-top box technology in Australia and recently carried out a trial as part of the Household Assistance Scheme rollout in regional Victoria.

“The talking set-top box trial was designed to test this innovative technology with vision impaired Victorians,” said Senator Conroy. “I am delighted to see this initiative result in the commercial release of a talking set-top box to the broader Australian community.”

The Household Assistance Scheme provides free help for maximum rate pensioners to switch to digital TV, with more than 50,000 eligible households already assisted in regional South Australia, Victoria and Queensland. Following the successful technical trial, the Government is now considering operational and funding requirements to provide talking set-top boxes as part of the Scheme.

“Australia is striding forward in the global migration to digital TV with 82 per cent of households across the nation already converted to digital TV,” Senator Conroy said.

“The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that no-one is left behind in the switch to digital-only television.”

(From a press release)

The nominees and winners from the 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards held in Los Angeles this week.

Name: Johnny Ruffo

Age: 23

Category: Under 25 boys

Audition song: Jay Sean – Do You Remember (Click to watch)

Bootcamp songs: Chris Brown – With You & Lady Gaga – Edge of Glory

Judge House song: Usher – Burn

Musical influences: Usher, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Lady Gaga

Interesting/ unusual fact: Although I’m a dedicated musician, I’m a complete practical joker, I just love to muck around!

–

Singer/dancer Johnny Ruffo has been performing since he was 10. Self-taught, his moves impressed everyone but Mel B at auditions. The other judges, however, saw raw potential during his performance of Jay Sean’s ‘Do You Remember’.

The 23-year-old from Balcatta, Western Australia is a concreter by day but his heart lies with music. “I work in construction so I can fund my dream which is my music.”

He got into the concreting business thanks to his Italian father Pasquale who works in the trade. While he and his mother Jill split when he was very young, their family is still incredibly close.

Prior to The X Factor, Johnny was performing around Perth with electro-pop band Supanova. “It’s good fun. I love it.” A keen songwriter, Johnny has a “bucket load of songs” ready to record. “I try and write about past experiences,” says the single heart throb. “I’ve had long term relationships that have ended well, some have ended badly. You try and draw from those experiences.”

Like his idols Michael Jackson, Usher and Justin Timberlake, he hopes to combine his love for singing and dance. “My dream is to sing and dance in front of the whole world eventually. When I get up on stage, I try and put on a complete show with everything from the singing and dancing to costumes.”

While he loves to move, he realises he can’t get carried away with dancing. “I need to find a good balance where I can dance enough to entertain the crowd but not too much to hinder my vocals.”

Meeting singer/dancer Beyonce during home-town visits was hugely beneficial. “She finds a good balance. If you dance too much your breathing is going to suffer and she does it perfectly. I asked her how she does it. She said it just comes with discipline.”

With Guy Sebastian as his mentor, Johnny has his sights set on winning. “I’d love to win,” he says. “I love music and I want the whole world to know that. Selling records here and internationally would be a dream come true.”

Aside from music, Johnny’s a mad AFL fan and enjoys staying in shape.

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced that over 500,000 households across Southern New South Wales, including Griffith and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, will switch to digital only free-to-air television on 5 June 2012.

Towns covered in the switchover regions include Canberra, Cooma, Dubbo, Eden, Gundagai, Mudgee, Orange, Thredbo, Ulladulla, Wagga Wagga, Wollongong, Griffith and Hay.

“More than 83 per cent of households in southern New South Wales have already converted at least their main TV set to digital, according to the latest Digital Tracker survey,” Senator Conroy said.

“Those remaining households in southern New South Wales yet to make the switch to digital can now make preparations to move to digital before 5 June 2012.

“Analog television signals will be permanently switched off on 5 June 2012. After the switchover, free-to-air television will only be available in digital.

“For most households, conversion will be relatively straightforward. If you have a digital TV you will be able to receive a digital signal. If you want to keep your analog TV, most analog sets will be able to receive digital TV if connected to a set-top box or digital TV recorder.”

With digital TV, southern New South Wales residents will get DVD-quality pictures and CD-quality sound as well as widescreen format. Residents will also have more choice – with 16 TV channels from the ABC, SBS and commercial broadcasters now available – including all the new digital only channels such as ABC2 , ABC24, ABC3, SBS2, ONE HD, Eleven, Go!, Gem, 7Two and 7mate.

“The digital switchover means that people in regional areas will finally have the same number of channels as are available in city centres,” said Senator Conroy.

“For example, viewers in Griffith and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, who have in the past received only two commercial TV stations, can expect to receive the full suite of digital channels from local commercial broadcaster WIN TV at least six months prior to the switchover – in December this year.

“This is an historic outcome for viewers in previously underserved areas of regional Australia like Griffith, and is a direct result of the Gillard Government’s digital switchover program.

“We are proud to be bringing these viewers the same services people in capital cities have enjoyed for many years”.

Senator Conroy said that households in southern New South Wales that do not have adequate reception of terrestrial digital TV services in their area six months before the switchover – 5 December 2011 – will be able to access the government-funded VAST satellite service to receive the full suite of digital TV channels.

The Household Assistance Scheme (HAS) will provide practical help to eligible households in the switchover regions to make the switch to digital TV through the supply and installation of a high definition set top box at no cost to eligible recipients.

This includes households where a person receives the maximum rate of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Service Pension or Income Support Supplement. Eligible pensioners will receive a letter from Centrelink offering them the HAS in early 2012.

“More than 50,000 eligible households across Australia have already been assisted in the set up, installation and demonstration of a high definition set top box free of charge, marking a considerable achievement,” Senator Conroy said.

The Satellite Subsidy Scheme will be available to assist those households that previously relied on community-operated analog ‘self help’ transmitters for their analog TV and who will now receive their digital TV from the VAST satellite service, which carries the full suite of digital television channels, as well as a dedicated news channel that features all commercial news bulletins from regional commercial broadcasters.

82 per cent of Australian households have now converted to digital television, up from only 47 percent of Australian households in 2009.

Southern New South Wales will be the fifth region in Australia to make the successful switch to digital only television, following regional Queensland where analog signals will be turned off on 6 December, 2011. Regional Victoria and South Australia have already made the switch.

Digital switchover will be completed in all parts of Australia by 31 December, 2013.

(From a press release)

Bowls Australia has issued a call to arms to its 800,000-strong participation base to petition the ABC to continue broadcasting the sport beyond this year.

Earlier today (8/9), one of the nation’s most senior politicians, the Hon. Bronwyn Bishop, along with the Federal Member for Higgins, Kelly O’Dwyer MP, launched the national campaign at the Malvern Bowling Club, with the distinct purpose of returning bowls to the box in 2012.

“Getting rid of bowls off the ABC will mean that the ABC won’t be fulfilling its charter in relation to a very important sport in Australia,” Mrs Bishop said.

“The ABC is abandoning between 200,000 and 500,000 viewers who watch bowls each week and has betrayed an important part of our community not served by any other broadcasting outlet.”

Recently the ABC’s head of sport, Justin Holdforth, informed Bowls Australia that the national broadcaster would not be extending its long-term association between the parties.

Mr Holdforth cited a strategic shift to attract a younger audience to bowls’ traditional 5pm timeslot on a Saturday evening, as well as the need to ‘redirect its very limited resources into alternate programming’ as some of the key reasons behind the decision.

Ms O’Dwyer, who also sits on the Bowls Australia board, said the outcry from the bowling community following the ABC’s decision had led to today’s course of action.

“This is to let the bosses at the ABC know that they can’t just decide to give bowls the boot,” Ms O’Dwyer said.

“Hundreds of thousands of Australians play and watch the sport.”

As a result, Bowls Australia is calling on lawn bowls enthusiasts to sign its national petition prior to COB on Thursday, October 27, which will be presented to the House of Representatives later this year.

A copy of the petition can be downloaded via www.bowlsaustralia.com.au or by phoning (03) 9480 7100.

(From a press release)

The Gillard Government’s Household Assistance Scheme (HAS), which is helping eligible households across Australia to convert from analog to digital free-to-air television, today reached a significant milestone with the 50,000th installation taking place in Rockhampton.

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy said the HAS showed the Gillard Government was ensuring all Australians, including the community’s most vulnerable, were able to receive the benefits of digital TV.

“The Gillard Government is committed to ensuring that no-one is left behind in the switch to digital-only free-to-air television,” Senator Conroy said.

“50,000 eligible households across regional South Australia, Victoria and Queensland have so far had a high definition set top box installed free of charge and been shown how to operate it.

“The HAS provides essential support to some of our most vulnerable citizens, and includes all necessary work on cabling and antennas to ensure a crystal clear picture.”

To be eligible for assistance a person must receive the maximum rate of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Service Pension or Income Support Supplement, own a working TV and not already have access to digital TV.

The 50,000th installation was completed by technician Warren Hayden at the home of Mr Sidney Sanderson in Rockhampton.

Mr Sanderson is one of more than 1700 people living in the Capricornia switchover area who have taken advantage of the free help available under the HAS.

Member for Capricornia, Kirsten Livermore MP, attended Mr Sanderson’s home to witness the installation.

“The Gillard Government’s digital switchover program brings particular benefits to people in regional and rural Australia. Viewers in regional Australia will, for the first time, have access to the same number of television channels as people in capital cities,” Ms Livermore said.

“This is a great result for those viewers, many of whom have had limited choice in TV services for years, and shows the Gillard Government is committed to supporting regional Australia.”

The Household Assistance Scheme is available for six months before and one month after the switch to digital-only television across Australia.

Rockhampton makes the switch to digital-only TV on 6 December 2011, when analog signals in the region will be switched off permanently.

(From a press release)

Australians are embracing the move to digital television with an average of 82 per cent of households across the nation already converted to digital TV, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said today.

Darwin has the highest conversion rate so far of 89 per cent at the end of June, with Tasmania next on 86 per cent, Adelaide 85 per cent, northern New South Wales 84 per cent, and southern New South Wales 83 per cent.

The Digital Switchover Taskforce’s Digital Tracker Summary Report for Quarter 2 (April–June 2011) showed the number of households in regional Queensland that have converted had increased to 84 per cent during the quarter, well ahead of the regional Queensland switchover scheduled for 6 December 2011. This was up from just 46 per cent in early 2009.

“With 100 days to go until analog TV signals are turned off forever, regional Queensland is well on track for the switch to digital-only TV,” Senator Conroy said.

“The number of digital-ready households in the Remote Central and Eastern Australia TV licence area – which includes areas of South Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania – has more than doubled since early 2009.

“This is a great result so far but I encourage all those remaining households to make the switch as soon as possible to avoid a last minute rush,” Senator Conroy said.

The Gillard Government’s Household Assistance Scheme (HAS), which is helping eligible households to receive digital free-to-air TV signals, will complete the 50,000th HAS installation at a house in Rockhampton today.

“50,000 eligible households have so far been provided with the installation and demonstration of a high definition set top box free of charge, marking a significant milestone in the life of the scheme,” Senator Conroy said.

To be eligible for assistance under the Household Assistance Scheme a person must receive the maximum rate of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Service Pension or Income Support Supplement, own a working TV and not have access to digital TV.

(From a government press release)

$22.5 million of new NSW film and television production was announced today by Screen NSW.

Two new television series, three telemovies, a feature film and two factual programs are to be made in NSW following the most recent investment decisions by the Screen NSW Board.

“The Government’s investment of $1.66 million in these eight projects will result in production expenditure of $22.5 million in NSW,” said Tania Chambers, Chief Executive of Screen NSW.

“Significant among these projects is Redfern Now, an outstanding drama series written, directed and produced by Indigenous Australians, and the second series of the hugely entertaining and successful television drama Rake.”

Ms Chambers said that the productions will see some of the NSW’s most celebrated creative talent working in the State, including actor Richard Roxburgh, Director Peter Duncan, Producers of the recent ratings phenomenon Go Back to Where You Came From, Bran Nue Dae Director Rachel Perkins, First Australians Producer Darren Dale and leading production company Southern Star.

“This is great news for the NSW economy, with screen productions attracting significant direct investment in our State and jobs for our highly skilled film and television professionals,” Ms Chambers said.

“Coming on top of the recent news that the major international production Paradise Lost has been secured for the State and that The Great Gatsby begins filming in Sydney very soon, the NSW screen industry is sustaining its reputation as Australia’s Number One production destination.”

PROJECTS TO RECEIVE PRODUCTION INVESTMENT FROM SCREEN NSW

MAKE HUMMUS NOT WAR

Factual – Single

Production Company: Yarra Bank Films Pty Ltd

Finance: $45,000

Writer/Director: Trevor Graham

Producers: Trevor Graham and Ned Lander

Synopsis:

A new war has broken out in the Middle East between the usual suspects, but chickpeas, not bullets, are in the front line. This is a culinary war over HUMMUS. It’s a story about who owns the Middle East’s heritage- all of which is subterfuge for a bigger, bloodier picture, riddled with age-old hatreds, land and identity.

FIRST FOOTPRINTS

Factual – Series

Production Company: First Footprints Pty Ltd

Finance: $90,000

Writer: Stephen Kinnane

Producers/Directors: Martin Butler and Bentley Dean

Synopsis:

The untold story of 50,000 years of humanity in Australia before Captain Cook.

Over 50,000 years ago modern humans arrived in Australia, after the first open ocean crossing in history. They encountered Australia’s bizarre megafauna and spread to every corner of this vast and varied continent. They adapted to arid deserts, rainforests and glacial lakes, they survived the worst drought in history and thrived. Rock art, technological innovation, new food sources, songs, dances and trade flourished in the longest living culture on the planet. For the first time this astounding story of adaptability and continuity will be revealed on television.

THE ROCKET

Feature

Production Company: Red Lamp Films Pty Ltd

Finance: $180,000

Writer/Director: Kim Mordaunt

Producer: Sylvia Wilczynski

Synopsis:

A boy who is believed to bring bad luck to everyone around him leads his family and a couple of ragged misfits through Laos to find a new home. After a calamity-filled journey, to prove he’s not cursed he builds a giant rocket to enter the most lucrative but dangerous competition of the year: the Rocket Festival.

REDFERN NOW

TV Drama Series

Production Company: Blackfella Films Pty Ltd

Finance: $470,000

Writers: Michelle Blanchard, Jon Bell, Adrian Wills, Steven McGregor, Danielle MacLean, Jimmy McGovern

Producers: Darren Dale, Miranda Dear

Directors: TBC

Synopsis:

Nestled in the heart of Australia’s most glamorous city lies Australia’s most infamous suburb. Urban slum, Aboriginal icon and centre of black struggle and pride, or real estate goldmine? Depending on your point of view Redfern and The Block signify many different things and inspire both fear and affection. Redfern Now is the first drama series written, directed and produced by Indigenous Australians.

RAKE 2

TV Drama Series

Production Company: Essential Media and Entertainment

Finance: $400,000

Writers: Peter Duncan and Andrew Knight

Producer: Ian Collie

Directors: Peter Duncan, Jess Hobbs and Jeff Walker

Synopsis:

Criminal Barrister Cleaver Greene is reckless, brilliant, self destructive, funny and bloody-minded … and that’s just his personal life.

SUNDOWNER

Telemovie

Production Company: Cordell Jigsaw Productions & Zinc Finger Films

Finance: $85,000

Writer: Reg Cribb

Producers: Michael Cordell, Paul Bennett and Russell Vines

Director: Geoff Bennett

Synopsis:

Sundowner is a tale about two innocent men who become embroiled in one of the most famous heists in Australia’s history. It is a mysterious twenty-year saga about their fight to clear their names over a crime that has never been solved.

DRIPPING IN CHOCOLATE

Telemovie

Applicant: Julie McGauran and Sarah Smith

Production Company: Southern Star Entertainment Pty Ltd

Finance: $240,000

Writers: John Ridley and Sarah Smith

Producers: Julie McGauran and Sarah Smith

Director: TBC

Synopsis:

When Detective Bennett O’Mara finds a chocolate wrapper on a strangled girl it leads him to voluptuous chocolatier Juliana Lovece.  Just as this perceptive woman gets under his hardened skin, he suspects she may be at the centre of an increasing murder count.

MABO

Telemovie

Production Company: Tradewind Films Pty Ltd

Finance: $150,000

Writer: Sue Smith

Producers: Darren Dale and Miranda Dear

Director: Rachel Perkins

Synopsis:

This television drama tells the story of one of Australia’s national heroes: Eddie Koiki Mabo, the Torres Strait Islander who left school at fifteen, yet spearheaded the High Court challenge that once and for all overthrew the fiction of terra nullius.

(From a press release)

New Australian Sign Language (AUSLAN) videos aimed at helping the deaf and hearing impaired community switch from analog to digital only free-to air TV were released today by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.

Releasing the videos as part of Hearing Awareness Week, Senator Conroy said the 16 videos provide practical information such as how to connect a set-top box, how to record digital TV and what government programs are available to assist households make the switch.

Each video has an accompanying fact sheet that includes more technical information.

“The Gillard Government wants to ensure all members of the community receive the information they need about the switch to digital TV which is happening progressively across Australia between 2010 and 2013,” Senator Conroy said.

“It is important all Australians have access to information to assist them in making the switch to digital and in particular members of our community who are deaf or are hearing impaired. Making these new AUSLAN videos is a critical part of achieving that goal.”

“The Digital Switchover will be completed in all parts of Australia by the end of 2013 with the majority of households already having made the switch.”

The Deafness Forum of Australia were partners in producing the videos and DFA Chair, Mr David Brady, said it was encouraging to see the Australian Government meeting the needs of those with hearing loss in this way.

“It’s important that all Australians have clear and concise information on what impact changes to government policy or program implementation might have on their lives. It’s even more important to ensure this material is made available in an accessible way,” Mr Brady said.

“We applaud the Australian Government and its Digital Switchover Taskforce and the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy for this excellent initiative; and encourage other government agencies to follow this excellent model for communicating with those who are deaf or have a hearing impairment.”

The Digital Switchover Taskforce is responsible on behalf of the Australian Government for coordinating and overseeing Australia’s transition from analog to digital television.

(From a press release)