Apple Ends iTunes TV Rentals

One year after Apple fought to get bargain-pricing on television shows to for users to rent through it's iTunes store, the company has stopped providing TV to rent altogether.our editor recommends Apple CEO Steve Jobs to Take Another Medical Leave of Absence'Big announcement' expected at Apple event But, if customers miss their favorite programs on television, all is not lost. iTunes will still offer episodes for purchase and, in some show's cases, a "Season Pass" to buy a year's worth of episodes. Apple will also allow users to watch the shows they buy anytime, on any Apple mechanism via their "iTunes in the Cloud" service, reports the Wall Street Journal. STORY: Apple Stock Dips, Company Loses $5.5 Billion Morning After Steve CEO Resignation "iTunes customers have shown they overwhelmingly prefer buying TV shows," Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr told the paper. "iTunes in the Cloud lets customers download and watch their past TV purchases from their iOS devices, Apple TV, Mac or PC allowing them to enjoy their programming whenever and however they choose." STORY: Steve Jobs Resignation: Business, News Cable Networks Set Evening Coverage And, it seems like at least some of the networks are on board with Apple's decision. "After carefully considering the results of the rental trial, it became clear that content ownership is a more attractive long-term value proposition both for iTunes customers and for our business," Fox said in a statement. STORY: Apple Negotiating with China Mobile for iPhone In the last year, ABC and Fox lowered some of their episode prices from $1.99 to 99 cents. Related Topics Apple iTunes

'Suits' Showrunner Departs, Creator Taking Over Duties in Season 2

"Suits" There will be a new showrunner at the helm next year when Suits returns for its second season. Sean Jablonski, who served as showrunner and executive producer for the USA Network series' first season, has departed, with series creator Aaron Korsh taking over day-to-day duties, The Hollywood Reporter confirms. Korsh will also be upped from co-executive producer to an executive producer next year. Jablonski has served in a producing capacity on Nip/Tuck and Law & Order, in addition to Suits. He will not return for the second season. Prior to Suits, Korsh had no showrunning experience when the series launched earlier this summer, having worked on The Deep End, Just Shoot Me, Notes From the Underbelly and Everybody Loves Raymond. A showrunner change was made earlier this year with another USA series, Fairly Legal. Creator Michael Sardo stepped down as showrunner in May, with Pushing Daisies executive producer Peter Ocko tapped as his replacement. USA Network

'Real Housewives' Hits Road For Tour

Bravo today announced The Real Housewives Live Tour, which will feature a panel discussion and audience Q&As with different stars of the network's franchise as they dish about their shows and cast secrets in matinee and evening shows. Three cities are on the list: Atlantic City, Oct. 1; Chicago, Oct. 8; and Atlanta, Oct. 15. "Bravo viewers like to truly engage in the shows they are passionate about," said Ellen Stone, SVP Marketing at the network. We'll see pretty fast if she's right -- a live show is a big leap for a series that doesn't feature actual performances, a la Glee, American Idol or The Voice. Another leap: Tickets start at $49.50 and go up to $170 -- that price gets you the Red Carpet package, which includes an exclusive cocktail reception, a separate entrance and a red carpet walk, premier seating, and limited-edition tour laminate and matching lanyard.

ESPN presses on in three dimensional

For ESPN's X Games in La, the sports network shipped its 2D coverage by utilizing half from the stereoscopic three dimensional feed, effectively cutting production costs for both.These weren't the very best of days for three dimensional TV. On the business call with experts earlier this year, Discovery Communications prexy-Boss David Zaslav stated that three dimensional TV growth continues to be reduced than expected. His statement came only days after AT&T's U-Verse TV service dropped ESPN three dimensional from the funnel selection, stating low customer amounts and expense. A couple of days later, tv-makers Panasonic, Samsung and The new sony introduced they're trying to create a single technological standard for three dimensional glasses hoping that specs that actually work with more sets will remove an impediment to customers using the three dimensional plunge. Clearly, a vital mass has not been arrived at. "The customer ramp-up is exactly what really matters to get real amounts of individuals watching, and clearly which has not moved," concedes ESPN's Phil Orlins, matching producer for ESPN three dimensional. "We'd like it to maneuver in an incredibly rapid pace, because that will (get) probably the most audiences for all of us.Inch Regardless of the setback at AT&T, ESPN is pressing ahead using its three dimensional network, concentrating on enhancing coverage and lowering costs. (The funnel remains transported by Comcast and DirecTV.) One key advance: ESPN's three dimensional and 2D production now appear exactly the same production trucks and cameras, an expense-effective solution some at ESPN have nicknamed "5D" (for 2D plus three dimensional). "Whenever we used to do the National basketball association Finals, there have been two large teams of trucks there, the HD fleet and also the three dimensional trucks," states Jed Drake, senior veep and professional producer for ESPN three dimensional. "This is a very costly proposition." However with "5D" production, states Drake, "We are likely to have the ability to produce more three dimensional since it is less costly than it was once. Ultimately there needs to become more content up in three dimensional. We have got a 24-hour network. It wants new original content." The twin approach is at spot for the net's X Games coverage in La, and will also be employed for the small League World Series coverage beginning August. 18. Combined 2D/three dimensional telecasts were a large a part of James Cameron's pitch to tv stations in April in the NAB Show in Vegas. In the same event, Cameron introduced his new camera gear company, the Cameron Pace Group, that is ESPN's exclusive three dimensional camera rig provider. Drake states the combo of 2D/three dimensional broadcasting will need "potentially some modest compromises" within the 2D telecast, for example slowing down the pace of cutting. Nevertheless, he feels nobody watching a 2D gamecast that's really one eye of the three dimensional feed would have the ability to tell the telecast began in three dimensional. While audiences have not yet been scrambling towards the format, three dimensional sportscasts happen to be growing more polished and complicated. Robot cameras have managed to get possible to achieve more camera positions without gulping up more seats -- a large problem at any major sporting event. Cameron Pace Group continues making more compact, lighter, more flexible rigs to satisfy ESPN's needs. Doug Holmes, lead director for ESPN three dimensional, states that within the first times of three dimensional, equipment was an problem. Wide-position and handheld shots were jeopardized, as were the type of telescopic shots obtainable in a normal HD show. "But once we advanced," he states, "we recognized it's pretty simple to deal with some of these things.Inch Some improvements produced for three dimensional have even managed to get to the 2D side. For instance, three dimensional cameras have to be nearer to the experience than 2D cameras, therefore the high 50-yard-line shots which are a standard feature of football coverage are problematic. To obtain closer, ESPN put a three dimensional camera on the 22-feet mast on the small vehicle that rises and lower the sideline. "Once everybody first viewed it, they are like, 'Why haven't we been carrying this out for a long time?A?Inch states Holmes. "Monday Evening Football" is implementing it as being a reverse-position shot, even without three dimensional. Baseball continues to be something of the new frontier for three dimensional coverage, but ESPN is going to be experimentation in the Little League World Series. "We do not view it like all single camera needs to be considered a three dimensional camera to produce a great three dimensional experience," states Orlins. Some telephoto contacts with many different zoom aren't effective well in three dimensional, he adds, but sometimes individuals shots are crucial. "If your kid bakes an error in right area and it is available crying in a Little League game, seeing his face is really a large a part of that story." But Holmes will be receiving shots which are especially impactful in three dimensional, like the "mid-home" shot originating from a robot camera installed on the backstop above and behind the catcher. "In three dimensional, particularly in just a little League atmosphere, it will likely be incredible." Based on Orlins, some play-by-play announcers, once getting seen their sports in three dimensional, have stated they do not want to return to watching 2D coverage. Plus, viewer feedback on Twitter continues to be extremely positive. "And a lot of it's extravagant," he states. "People seem like it's a game title-changer. You are feeling great concerning the response, but we'd sure enjoy having more scale when it comes to the amount of homes that will be ready to view it.Inch Contact David S. Cohen at david.cohen@variety.com

DLT Entertainment Taps David Rubinsohn as Director of Public TV Sales

Looking to expand the programming it provides public television, DLT Entertainment has hired David Rubinsohn as Director of Public TV Sales, according to an announcement Monday by company president Don Taffner Jr. A former Public TV Association programmer of the year, Rubinsohn will handle station sales, including product form the DLT catalog such as the U.K. sitcoms My Familyand Miranda as well as older series such as Rumpole of the Baileyand Fresh Fields. "He has proven expertise in all areas of public broadcasting with a focus on programming and sales,." Said Taffner. Rubinsohn most recently was Director of Programming and Sales for TJL Productions; and previously served as vp programming and distribution of PBS New York affiliate WNET. DLT, with offices in New York, London and L.A., is a TV producer and distributor. Its past hits include Three's Companyand Too Close For Comfort. It also handles library shows including Benny Hilland Chicken Soup for the Soul. Related Topics

Rapper Large Boi Arrested On Drug Charges In Miami

FIRST Released: August 7, 2011 5:02 PM EDT MIAMI, Fla. -- Grammy-winning OutKast rapper Large Boi continues to be arrested in Miami on charges of unlawfully having drugs, including ecstasy and The blue pill pills. The rapper, whose real title is Antwan Patton, was billed with three counts of having a controlled substance and something count of having drug paraphernalia on Sunday. Based on the Miami-Dade County Corrections website, the 36-year-old Patton seemed to be transporting MDMA, the primary component in Ecstasy. The rapper was reserved on $16,000 bond. Phone and emails were left for Large Bois publicists. Large Boi is better referred to as 1 / 2 of the groundbreaking rap duo OutKast, including Andre 3000. The Atlanta-based group won six Grammys and created six platinum-plus albums, including their Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, which offered over tens of millions of copies. Copyright 2011 by Connected Press. All privileges reserved.These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.