Summary: Major networks used to bemoan the use of DVRs out of fear that audiences would use them to skip over commercials. However, with DVRs in almost half of all US homes, they have begun touting the big audience increases some of their shows get after factoring in time shifted viewing. Scott Collins (http://twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT), a television reporter with the Los Angeles Times, discusses modern-day TV ratings and how the industry is coping as viewing habits change. And if you thought television networks were in trouble, they’ve got nothing on the film industry. If you were to believe folks like film critic David Denby and a recent New York Times article, movies may not even be relevant anymore. Talent agencies aren’t immune from all the changes affecting the industry. Last week the longtime head of ICM Partners, one of the world’s largest ten percenteries, announced he’d be leaving to start a new agency. Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including how a child sex abuse scandal at the BBC, the merger of publishing giants Penguin and Random House, and an Amy Winehouse musical. Argo No Longer Just A Mid-Week Champ http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?columnID=15334&cmin=10&columnpage=3 (http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?columnID=15334&cmin=10&columnpage=3) Foreign Box Office: 'Skyfall' Blasts Off Overseas With Massive $77.7 Million http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/foreign-box-office-skyfall-blasts-383848 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/foreign-box-office-skyfall-blasts-383848) Movies Try to Escape Cultural Irrelevance http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/movies/hollywood-seeks-to-slow-cultural-shift-to-tv.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/movies/hollywood-seeks-to-slow-cultural-shift-to-tv.html) Analysis: DVR Viewing Gives Fall TV Shows A Critical Ratings Boost http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-fall-tv-ratings-20121012,0,1756792.story (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-fall-tv-ratings-20121012,0,1756792.story) Bertelsmann, Pearson to Combine Book Units to Create Trade Publishing Giant Penguin Random House http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bertelsmann-pearson-book-unit-merger-penguin-random-house-383989 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bertelsmann-pearson-book-unit-merger-penguin-random-house-383989) Dohle Addresses Booksellers, Authors and Agents About Merger http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/54545-dohle-addresses-booksellers-authors-and-agents-about-merger.html (http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/54545-dohle-addresses-booksellers-authors-and-agents-about-merger.html) News Corporation Is Said to Bid for Penguin http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/news-corporation-is-said-to-bid-for-penguin/ (http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/news-corporation-is-said-to-bid-for-penguin/) Random House, Penguin May Merge http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/54511-random-house-penguin-may-merge.html (http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/54511-random-house-penguin-may-merge.html) President Obama Scores On The Tonight Show http://www.tvmediainsights.com/2012/10/president-obama-scores-on-the-tonight-show/ (http://www.tvmediainsights.com/2012/10/president-obama-scores-on-the-tonight-show/) New Play About Amy Winehouse to Open in Denmark http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/new-play-about-amy-winehouse-to-open-in-denmark/ (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/new-play-about-amy-winehouse-to-open-in-denmark/) B&N’s E-Ink Devices Go On Sale in U.K. Today http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/devices/article/54543-b-n-s-e-ink-devices-go-on-sale-in-u-k-today.html
