Footy again

Setanta defaulted on their Scottish footy rights so they are now up for grab, three years remain on the contract at roughly £30 million a year. ESPN have bought the old Setanta Premier League rights giving them 46 games for the 09/10 season dropping to 23 for the next three years, not sure how they will be able to sell that to the people paying mainly for the footy.

CC safety

Just received a call from my credit card company querying a number of transactions in the space of an hour.
Out of the 5 suspects only one turned out to be genuine and that from a Canadian DVD retailer who I've used on and off for years. Well over a £1000 was billed to my card so it's been cancelled and the charges froze, I'm being sent some documentation to look at and then sign and a new card should be with me in a week or so.

Never a dull moment in sports tv rights

The Friday deadline passed and the Premier League didn't see the £30million they were owed and so Setanta have been stripped of their rights to next seasons 46 televised games, the likely hood is that despite being viable before entering the PL market it's unlikely they will be able to take that step back as they may default on other sports as new subscribers dry up.
In F1 we see the teams which make F1 watchable pulling out, quite right because when the rule making body and the vested interests who take the top slice of the cash think they are more important than the teams and people providing the spectacle a change is needed. If there is no more movement on the differences between Bernie/Max/FIA and FOTA then who exactly is going to pay the hundreds of millions of pounds to host, broadcast and advertise in F1 as it will be without Toyota, Renault, Maclaren, BMW and Ferrari etc.

So much for my day off.

The boss came around the other day and asked me and another guy to come into work on Friday despite our normal department still on short time, well you are not going to refuse but well even after two weeks you get used to a 3 day weekend:)

Primeval Cancelled?

Reports are coming in that ITV have decided to cancel Primeval after 3 seasons stating a desire to limit high cost scripted drama pre-watershed. Given how well reality TV has done for them in the early evening slots it comes as no surprise a far more expensive and audience limited series is for the chop.
Mind you the loss of two key characters in the third season didn't help matters and ultimately it was decline although rumours of a theatrical project or US funded version still circulate.

Day Off

In the middle of my imposed day off, nice day so that's a bonus.
I spent the week working not in my usual manufacturing part of the company but in the warehouse picking and packing UK orders, quite alarming how much stock the company imports or buys from other UK manufacturers. One other bonus is that I am now working where I park the car thus cutting 5 minutes off the time I get home, it's the little things:)

My SG1 coasters arrived yesterday, no one in so had to collect them and had to google map the post office address, turned out it was about half a mile away as the crow flies but in the vastly expanded Shipley View estate which was my stomping ground as a kid.

Inheritance Trilogy by Christopher Paolini

I've just finished the trilogy of books (one more to come so it won't be a trilogy anymore) written by Christopher Paolini the first of which was made into the movie "Eragon".

Eragon
Eldest
Brisingr

Not surprisingly the books wipe the floor with the movie adaptation as the movie and even though it leaves you hanging at the end (perhaps for a sequel) the short cuts taken in the movie really don't do the books justice.

Flash Forward Trailer

FlashForward promo
by lyly_ford

Looks quite good.

Laid off work tomorrow (Friday), had a change of pace today as I went to the other location and worked in the warehouse/dispatch department, a lot to learn in a short space of time but what pissed me off was leaving the building walking past my card and going to my normal building to clock out then walking back to my car, ok it was only 10 minutes but what a pointless waste of my time:)

Torchwood Trailer (Spoilers of course)

TV News

The new Dr Who companion has been announced.
Karen Gillan a 21 year old Scottish actress has been named as the sidekick to the new Dr played by Matt Smith. She's a cute red head so no problems there but isn't it about time this new version of the classic series followed suit by having either male or even alien companions rather than pretty little things (well apart from Donna).

House starts on SKY1 and SKY1HD this Sunday at 9pm, I've already seen the series but I'll tune in now and again from some of the better episodes and in HD of course.
The first round of bidding for the Virgin media TV channels has ended with reports that BSKYB with a £160 Million offer is way ahead of bids from CH4, Time Warner and NBC/U, interesting whatever happens.

Work Update

There was a meeting at work yesterday where the plant manager spelled out the situation in regards to the order book and short term future. Compared to this time last year the production is down by 20%, the simple answer is to go onto a 4 day week and review the situation on a weekly basis.
It's not ideal but it does mean there will be no compulsory redundancies, for now anyway.

Star Trek

Trekkies Bash New Star Trek Film As 'Fun, Watchable'



I saw the new movie yesterday and strangely enough it was enjoyable but as a fan it cut to many corners or trod on what I consider as Trek for it to be really good, no worries at all about buying it on Blu-ray though and adding it to the collection. A second movie looks on the cards and now they have gotten past the need to set up the crew I am really expecting JJ to create something incredible.

Dollhouse Renewed?

A source indicates that despite low ratings for it's Friday night broadcast Dollhouses DVR and potential DVD sales have secured it a second 13 episode run on FOX.
If it is true then I am quite delighted as the show does have some very good elements and a half season run will mean a tight and arc orientated narrative.

Live Feed Article

Memorabilia and Flu update

Good news as over a week has passed since returning to the country and no signs of the virus, we can all breath and sneeze easier:)
On a slight side note the building next to the manufacturing facilities is being demolished, driving one of the big JCB's and knocking a building down looked like fun:)


A little on the high side price wise with courier shipping but I just had to have the QMX Stargate SG1 coasters, I couldn't afford the scale model of a F302 so I'll make do with something to put my Buffy mug on.

Swine Flu update

A guy at work whose kid returned form Mexico last week is now on paid leave as a passneger on the same fleet has been confirmed with the virus, so far the young lad and the father are fine but the company has to be seen to take steps.
Cue endless rounds of humour at the guys expense the day before and even today after a global company wide memo did the rounds:)

Funny how you suddenly feel a little under the weather when people start talking about viruses and flu or is that just me?

District 9

This looks like the sleeper hit of the summer, low budget docu style movie about an alien presence on Earth and their impact as they settle and are faced with growing issues with the resentment of the humans surrounding them. It's also produced by Peter Jackson so has some muscle behind it.
District 9

BSG

More info is now emerging about the upcoming full series release on DVD and Blu-ray due July 28. I have the mini-series and first season on HD DVD and DVD but restrained myself from buying the second, third and fourth so a full series boxset is just about workable:)

House

After Five decided not to show the fifth season of House (they were expected to push it back to the summer) they chose not to renew so SKY1 have picked up the PAY rights including HD but no info in Free rights so no word on a SKY3 screening at a later date.
On a side note I just bought season4 on DVD for a tenner.

Turn Coat

I've just read the latest Dresden File novel "Turn Coat" which was released the other day.
An enjoyable read but quite a dark novel certainly lacking much of the humour from previous stories but once you read it you will understand why.
The first few chapters can be heard read by Jim on the Butcher Block.

Tricia Helfer 35 today

Tricia adds a year to her age this day, she just keeps getting better and better with guest appearences on Burn Notice and Chuck and the upcoming Warehouse13.

Offical Website of her gorgeousness.