CNN has acquired the Twitter account @CNNbrk, which has nearly a million followers. While the Twitter account updated followers with breaking news, the account was not run by the news network, but rather James Cox. Cox, who has no affiliation with the network, recently sold the Twitter account to CNN for an undisclosed amount of money.
Nadya Suleman, better known as "Octomom," is in talks for a reality TV show. The show, to be produced by the British wing of the Eyeworks production company, will create documentary's around the lives of her children, following them until they are 18. While Eyeworks and Suleman are still in negotiations, analysts are skeptical as to whether or not networks will be interested in a show, as public opinion of Ms. Suleman is rather low.
South Korea has adopted a "three strikes" rule for Internet users caught infringing copyright. The new policy affects both users and websites who host content, noting that the government can shut down websites and order the disconnection of a users Internet access. The move makes South Korea, one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world, one of the first to adopt stringent rules against copyright pirates.
The Wall Street Journal, which has always made online users pay for full coverage, recently launched a free iPhone application. The iPhone application includes the Journal's full content, Barron's, and AllThingsD, as well as audio and video from the WSJ. The iPhone application comes in addition to the WSJ's BlackBerry app, which launched last summer.
This summer Oxygen will begin airing "Dance Your Ass Off." Hosted by Marissa Jaret Winokur, the show will feature overweight contestants attempting to shed pounds by pairing up with professional dancers preparing for weekly stage performances. Essentially, the show is a cross breeding of Dancing With the Stars and The Biggest Loser.
Shelly Palmer is a consultant and the host of MediaBytes with Shelly Palmer a daily show featuring news you can use about technology, media & entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group LLC and the author of Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV (2008, York House Press) and the upcoming, Get Digital: Reinventing Yourself and Your Career for the 21st Century Economy (2009, Lake House Press). Shelly is also President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NY (the organization that bestows the coveted Emmy Awards). You can join the MediaBytes mailing list here. Shelly can be reached at shelly@palmer.net For information about Get Digital Classes, visit www.shellypalmer.com/seminars