Poverty has been one of the world's greatest challenges for thousands of years and a Sydney, Australia based artist and bodypainter is the latest to put a spotlight on the issue, with the assistance of her team of teen models that include some champion athletes.
In a most unusual collaboration the world renown artist Eva Rinaldi organised a somewhat spontaneous Sunday arts exhibit and photo shoot at a secret location favored by many of Sydney's more edgy artists. Hint: lots of abandoned trams and a plethora of graffiti art adorn the walls (and floor).
Rinaldi, who is now known the world over as the Australian artist who is campaigning to bodypaint or create a human statue of famed TV queen and philanthropist, Oprah Winfrey, organised the gathering of about a dozen in less that 24 hours, and the end result has already been decided as world class, as are many of her recent expos.
We tracked down Rinaldi for her candid comments on today's most unique happening.
"We are all absolutely delighted with the end result of today's exhibit and photo shoot. We'd been to our favorite little secret location before, but today's result even exceeded my expectations. We were fortunate enough to work with famed photographer Roberto Duran again, and there's no doubt that Roberto's magic with the lends and children helps us all maintain a world class production. I was particularly pleased with both the shots of my son Joseph who is showing displaying his soccer skills as well as our Santa who stumbled across a couple of dogs on the premise who we all thought would make Australian style reindeer. With Christmas and all coming up we thought why not, and now many of our friends and associates can expect early Christmas cards and even customised postcards, and that also includes you Oprah, because I've got a strong feeling your reading our articles and your pending visit to Australia nears. Today was certainly a highlight in our year that included hundreds of exhibits, and we all can't wait to do more, with a return visit to beautiful Bondi Beach coming up in a week or two."
Rinaldi's exhibit today entitled 'Children Help Poverty', went for a marathon 5 hours all told. For the uninitiated some of the elements that go into a happening such as this include talent management, paint preparation, logistics, media, briefing the team and a lot of post and pre production follow-up.
The models and their respective messages painted on their bodies today were: Michelle Bonserio 'Tennis has given me soul' (Martina Navratilova), Kayleb Cantali 'Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong' (Muhammad Ali), Joseph Rinaldi 'God gives us all special gifts' (Ronaldinho), Micky Grujevski 'Music can change the world because it can change people' (Bono), Antonio Bagnato 'All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up' (Pablo Picasso), and 5-year old Tommy Grujevski 'There is a real Santa'.
As you can imagine a great deal of fun and inspiration was had by all, young and old, and the team remains extremely optimistic that the happening will help keep poverty awareness front of mind.
Rinaldi has been a passionate campaigner on issues such as poverty for the better part of a decade, and shows no signs of slowing down as Winfrey and other famed global social and communities are set to hit Sydney shores over the coming months.
Early next month interested persons will have the chance to witness Rinaldi's 'Joy's World' TVS television appearance which also features a song about her desire to paint Winfrey by the talented singer songwriter team of Kat Ferguson and Kay Fallico.
Based on Rinaldi's recent creative arts efforts and results it appears likely that she will continue to achieve her dreams and aspirations, while also giving those of her team and associates a sporting chance.
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31 October 2010
James Packer Plays In Own Charity Poker Tournament, by Greg Tingle - 31st October 2010
G'day punters, casino and media millionaires and billionaires, politicians and one and all. In big Australian casino and poker news, Crown Limited king of the castle, James Packer, is playing in Crown's Joe Hachem - Shane Warne poker tournament. Packer is on a roll as of late in both a business and philanthropic realm, and this will certainly give the living legend more time to practice his poker face, as he continues his reentry into the Australian mainstream media business with the Network Ten deal and such. Media Man and Gambling911 get you a front row seat at the poker table with this special report on 'Our James' and friends...
JP's no doubt learned a few valuable lessons under his late father Kerry Packer over the years. This weekend 'Our James' will have the opportunity to show off a few of his skills in the most unique of circumstances, which should result in a win - win - win - which tends to be typical of the Packer way.
Here's a quick history lesson for you...In one famous casino "raid" on Caesars Palace casino circa 1992, Kerry Packer snatched $US9 million at the baccarat tables. In plan his stack of chips represented US37¢ a share to the casino's listed holding company, Caesar World Inc, and bankers and top brass didn't know if they were coming or going under, if you get the picture.
In a famous tie in to Kerry's casino heist on Caesar's he apparently halved the casino's quarterly earnings. "He (KP) single-handedly, by himself, demolished that trading quarter," Caesar's chairman Henry Gluck would later revel.
Now some two decades later 'Our James' will make an extremely rare showing on the gaming tables at Crown, but shareholders like Media Man and friends need not loose any sleep. JP is a celebrity entrant in the Joe Hachem and Shane Warne charity poker tournament, and the winnings are understood to be "limited", so Crown won't be bankrupted by its own money man or anyone else, not this weekend anyway.
We've learned that under current Victorian legislation, Crown employees (including management) are banned - barred from playing at the casino, and that iron fist extends right up to 'Out James', chairman no less.
Good mate Shane Warne who is known to help raise funds for his own charitable foundation, of which JP is an ambassador...the casino applied for a special exemption from the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation, and we're pleased to report that it was granted.
Packer's also going to say G'day to some folks at Flemington for the Victoria Derby and will be pressing the flesh with many celebs and poker nuts, and a few high rollers, at the Crown felts.
Seats at the charity event put punters back $1000. The first prize is pushed as as a "high rollers package" which includes entry to the 2011 World Series of Poker, return flights, five nights' luxury accommodation and $5000 cash, plus a $1000 JMS Diamonds jewellery voucher. Some Media Man insiders reckon the poker tourney prize might actually be for entrance into the Crown Casino 'Aussie Millions', but time will tell.
In the event that Packer win the tourney, it is understood he will donate any prizes to the Shane Warne Foundation. Good eh.
Warnie and Packer are very tight these days. Early into the new year, Crown is expected to announce a JV with Warnie, with the casino agreeing to a Shane Warne-branded branded poker room. It is not known at this time if Warnie will want out of his existing online poker deals when that happens. At the same time Packer is looking to expand Betfair, and those close to the action say he will even consider b2b deals with the likes of PartyGaming, Virgin, NextGen Gaming or even others, if the deal and legals are right. Old Packer mate Tom Cruise is featured in one of PartyGaming's casino games, so that might be a deciding factor. On the other hand, 888 has had a very mixed player and news media experience in Australia. Also keep in mind that Packer gets on very well with the Virgin king Richard Branson also, so there's a number of possible outcomes. You can rest assured that Media Man and Gambling911 will be close to the action so when the news breaks you will get it pronto.
Well done Crown Casino, Packer, Warnie and all you 'Aussie Gumleaf Mafia' out there. It's a been a huge week, and we're pleased to finish on this high note. And, very soon we will announce the winner, so don't change your dial or website!
Gambling911 Australian News
http://www.gambling911.com/regional-news/australia.html
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Australia
James Packer
Crown Casino
Joe Hachem
Shane Warne
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like the special report? Do you think James should have been allowed to play? Who will win the tourney? Tell us in the forum. If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
Crown Limited Share Price: $8.330
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
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JP's no doubt learned a few valuable lessons under his late father Kerry Packer over the years. This weekend 'Our James' will have the opportunity to show off a few of his skills in the most unique of circumstances, which should result in a win - win - win - which tends to be typical of the Packer way.
Here's a quick history lesson for you...In one famous casino "raid" on Caesars Palace casino circa 1992, Kerry Packer snatched $US9 million at the baccarat tables. In plan his stack of chips represented US37¢ a share to the casino's listed holding company, Caesar World Inc, and bankers and top brass didn't know if they were coming or going under, if you get the picture.
In a famous tie in to Kerry's casino heist on Caesar's he apparently halved the casino's quarterly earnings. "He (KP) single-handedly, by himself, demolished that trading quarter," Caesar's chairman Henry Gluck would later revel.
Now some two decades later 'Our James' will make an extremely rare showing on the gaming tables at Crown, but shareholders like Media Man and friends need not loose any sleep. JP is a celebrity entrant in the Joe Hachem and Shane Warne charity poker tournament, and the winnings are understood to be "limited", so Crown won't be bankrupted by its own money man or anyone else, not this weekend anyway.
We've learned that under current Victorian legislation, Crown employees (including management) are banned - barred from playing at the casino, and that iron fist extends right up to 'Out James', chairman no less.
Good mate Shane Warne who is known to help raise funds for his own charitable foundation, of which JP is an ambassador...the casino applied for a special exemption from the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation, and we're pleased to report that it was granted.
Packer's also going to say G'day to some folks at Flemington for the Victoria Derby and will be pressing the flesh with many celebs and poker nuts, and a few high rollers, at the Crown felts.
Seats at the charity event put punters back $1000. The first prize is pushed as as a "high rollers package" which includes entry to the 2011 World Series of Poker, return flights, five nights' luxury accommodation and $5000 cash, plus a $1000 JMS Diamonds jewellery voucher. Some Media Man insiders reckon the poker tourney prize might actually be for entrance into the Crown Casino 'Aussie Millions', but time will tell.
In the event that Packer win the tourney, it is understood he will donate any prizes to the Shane Warne Foundation. Good eh.
Warnie and Packer are very tight these days. Early into the new year, Crown is expected to announce a JV with Warnie, with the casino agreeing to a Shane Warne-branded branded poker room. It is not known at this time if Warnie will want out of his existing online poker deals when that happens. At the same time Packer is looking to expand Betfair, and those close to the action say he will even consider b2b deals with the likes of PartyGaming, Virgin, NextGen Gaming or even others, if the deal and legals are right. Old Packer mate Tom Cruise is featured in one of PartyGaming's casino games, so that might be a deciding factor. On the other hand, 888 has had a very mixed player and news media experience in Australia. Also keep in mind that Packer gets on very well with the Virgin king Richard Branson also, so there's a number of possible outcomes. You can rest assured that Media Man and Gambling911 will be close to the action so when the news breaks you will get it pronto.
Well done Crown Casino, Packer, Warnie and all you 'Aussie Gumleaf Mafia' out there. It's a been a huge week, and we're pleased to finish on this high note. And, very soon we will announce the winner, so don't change your dial or website!
Gambling911 Australian News
http://www.gambling911.com/regional-news/australia.html
Media Man Profiles
Australia
James Packer
Crown Casino
Joe Hachem
Shane Warne
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like the special report? Do you think James should have been allowed to play? Who will win the tourney? Tell us in the forum. If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
Crown Limited Share Price: $8.330
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
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Casino News Media: PartyCasino Wins Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month' Award
PartyCasino.com Wins Media Man Online Casino Award
PartyCasino.com has been awarded the Media Man and Casino News Media "Online Casino Of The Month".
PartyGaming's igaming suite has grown a custom to winning awards since they first opened for business in 1997.
The competition for the coveted award was intense again this month with massive bids from both WPTCasino.com, Captain Cooks Casino, Virgin Casino, Betfair, PKR and Noble Casino however there can only be one winner... ladies and gentlemen, that's PartyCasino.com
The award follows PartyPoker's EGR Poker Operator Of The Year and PartyGaming also made the shortlist for EGR Operator Of The Year. Recently PartyGaming's PartyPoker.com also won the Casino News Media "Online Poker Website Of The Month".
The Media Man - Casino News Media accolade is based on a combination of elements including user experience, innovation, trustworthiness, customer service, gameplay, affiliate program offerings, newsworthiness and company values.
PartyCasino.com is one of a number of PartyGaming brands.
The most popular PartyCasino.com games of late include Heist, Circus, Rambo, Palladium Slot, The Godfather, Sinatra, Slotbox, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Mission: Impossible, The Terminator, Cleopatra, Sinatra, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man, Monopoly, Resident Evil, Melon Madness, Wheel Of Fortune and Mega Fortune Wheel.
The PartyCasino.com jackpot is currently approaching the $2 million mark. Players can also compete for The Big One and Marvel Hero Jackpot, playing the Marvel super hero themed online slot games.
PartyCasino's most recent game releases include Shaaark! SuperBet, Crocodopolis, Alice's Wonderland, Glamour Puss, Super Cubes, Heist, Palladium Slot and Circus Slot.
PartyGaming CEO Jim Ryan has gone on record advising PartyCasino will soon feature more Hollywood blockbuster themed slots. A few in the know journalists and media agents have been recently tipped off that an all time classic movie adaption will be showcased in the PartyCasino portfolio within 1 month. PartyCasino has the world's most impressive line up of Hollywood themed games, and more are just around the corner.
PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com customers can also benefit from rewards and bonuses via PartyPoints and the Palladium Lounge. Be certain to check out the PartyCasino exclusive "Cash Machine" that is being championed as one of the greatest online casino promos ever.
Media Man, Casino News Media and Global Gaming Directory do have a b2b relationship with PartyGaming, as they do with dozens of other companies in the gaming, igaming, media and entertainment industry.
Websites
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour Casino
Profiles
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour
PartyGaming
PartyCasino.com has been awarded the Media Man and Casino News Media "Online Casino Of The Month".
PartyGaming's igaming suite has grown a custom to winning awards since they first opened for business in 1997.
The competition for the coveted award was intense again this month with massive bids from both WPTCasino.com, Captain Cooks Casino, Virgin Casino, Betfair, PKR and Noble Casino however there can only be one winner... ladies and gentlemen, that's PartyCasino.com
The award follows PartyPoker's EGR Poker Operator Of The Year and PartyGaming also made the shortlist for EGR Operator Of The Year. Recently PartyGaming's PartyPoker.com also won the Casino News Media "Online Poker Website Of The Month".
The Media Man - Casino News Media accolade is based on a combination of elements including user experience, innovation, trustworthiness, customer service, gameplay, affiliate program offerings, newsworthiness and company values.
PartyCasino.com is one of a number of PartyGaming brands.
The most popular PartyCasino.com games of late include Heist, Circus, Rambo, Palladium Slot, The Godfather, Sinatra, Slotbox, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Mission: Impossible, The Terminator, Cleopatra, Sinatra, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man, Monopoly, Resident Evil, Melon Madness, Wheel Of Fortune and Mega Fortune Wheel.
The PartyCasino.com jackpot is currently approaching the $2 million mark. Players can also compete for The Big One and Marvel Hero Jackpot, playing the Marvel super hero themed online slot games.
PartyCasino's most recent game releases include Shaaark! SuperBet, Crocodopolis, Alice's Wonderland, Glamour Puss, Super Cubes, Heist, Palladium Slot and Circus Slot.
PartyGaming CEO Jim Ryan has gone on record advising PartyCasino will soon feature more Hollywood blockbuster themed slots. A few in the know journalists and media agents have been recently tipped off that an all time classic movie adaption will be showcased in the PartyCasino portfolio within 1 month. PartyCasino has the world's most impressive line up of Hollywood themed games, and more are just around the corner.
PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com customers can also benefit from rewards and bonuses via PartyPoints and the Palladium Lounge. Be certain to check out the PartyCasino exclusive "Cash Machine" that is being championed as one of the greatest online casino promos ever.
Media Man, Casino News Media and Global Gaming Directory do have a b2b relationship with PartyGaming, as they do with dozens of other companies in the gaming, igaming, media and entertainment industry.
Websites
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour Casino
Profiles
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30 October 2010
Asia Pacific Casino News: Fiji To Get First Casino, by Greg Tingle - 30th October 2010
G'day punters, casino and media millionaires and billionaires, politicians and one and all. This week we take you a bit further afield than Australian waters. We paddle across to Fiji where talk of the counties first ever casino project is all the rage. Media Man and Gambling911 with this Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka body splashing report...
Fiji's notorious military government called for keen expressions of interest in developing and operating the embattled Pacific nation's first casino.
Tourism Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum advised a casino would help Fiji attract more visitors from the emerging markets of China, India and from Europe, in addition to building on the potentially lucrative US market.
The invitation to gaming companies will be a strong test for international investor confidence in the nation, where the economy has faltered since a military coup in 2006 led by current Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
Sayed-Khaiyum said there were very obvious economic benefits from a casino development, which could create jobs of course, and also help raise additional revenue for the government.
He would not give a timeline for the casino at this time, saying Fiji was looking for reputable international gaming operators to develop a casino that would increase leisure activities in the country.
"At the same time we do not want to harm Fiji's tourism brand, which the government and the people of Fiji have invested so much in," Sayed-Khaiyum said in a statement to the press.
He said laws would be put in place to minimise possible negative social impact from the casino, citing Malaysia and Singapore as countries where such protective mechanisms had been very successfully installed. He did not mention the Australian experience and productivity commission findings into the gambling business, which are questionable in nature we have learned in our own probe over the past months.
Tourism is Fiji's major export earner following a decline in its former economic bread and butter, the sugar industry.
More than 540,000 international visitors, 65% of them from "downunder" in Australia and "Kiwi Land" New Zealand, flocked to the the island nation's white sandy beaches last year, according to official data.
The World Bank this month said Fiji's economy was expected to grow 0.5-1.0% in 2010, only partially recovering from a 3.0% contraction last year.
It said Fiji's public debt, including state-owned enterprises, was about 67% of gross domestic product and government revenues this year were were likely to fall below budget forecasts.
The non-profit organisation International Budget Partnership this week ranked Fiji bottom in a survey of budget transparency covering 94 countries, saying publicly-available information on government accounts was inadequate.
Media Man's bodyguards and Fiji cultural experts Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Adam Yarad and John "Vucan" Seru aka "The Fijian Warrior" are not commenting on the proposed casino development at this time, but we will advise if the situation changes. Ni Sa Moce (Goodbye in Fijian).
Media Man Profiles
Australia
Australian Casinos
Asia Pacific
New Zealand
Fiji
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, do you think Fiji should get a land based casino, or are online casinos enough to service our native friends? Tell us in the forum. If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
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Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
Fiji's notorious military government called for keen expressions of interest in developing and operating the embattled Pacific nation's first casino.
Tourism Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum advised a casino would help Fiji attract more visitors from the emerging markets of China, India and from Europe, in addition to building on the potentially lucrative US market.
The invitation to gaming companies will be a strong test for international investor confidence in the nation, where the economy has faltered since a military coup in 2006 led by current Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
Sayed-Khaiyum said there were very obvious economic benefits from a casino development, which could create jobs of course, and also help raise additional revenue for the government.
He would not give a timeline for the casino at this time, saying Fiji was looking for reputable international gaming operators to develop a casino that would increase leisure activities in the country.
"At the same time we do not want to harm Fiji's tourism brand, which the government and the people of Fiji have invested so much in," Sayed-Khaiyum said in a statement to the press.
He said laws would be put in place to minimise possible negative social impact from the casino, citing Malaysia and Singapore as countries where such protective mechanisms had been very successfully installed. He did not mention the Australian experience and productivity commission findings into the gambling business, which are questionable in nature we have learned in our own probe over the past months.
Tourism is Fiji's major export earner following a decline in its former economic bread and butter, the sugar industry.
More than 540,000 international visitors, 65% of them from "downunder" in Australia and "Kiwi Land" New Zealand, flocked to the the island nation's white sandy beaches last year, according to official data.
The World Bank this month said Fiji's economy was expected to grow 0.5-1.0% in 2010, only partially recovering from a 3.0% contraction last year.
It said Fiji's public debt, including state-owned enterprises, was about 67% of gross domestic product and government revenues this year were were likely to fall below budget forecasts.
The non-profit organisation International Budget Partnership this week ranked Fiji bottom in a survey of budget transparency covering 94 countries, saying publicly-available information on government accounts was inadequate.
Media Man's bodyguards and Fiji cultural experts Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Adam Yarad and John "Vucan" Seru aka "The Fijian Warrior" are not commenting on the proposed casino development at this time, but we will advise if the situation changes. Ni Sa Moce (Goodbye in Fijian).
Media Man Profiles
Australia
Australian Casinos
Asia Pacific
New Zealand
Fiji
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, do you think Fiji should get a land based casino, or are online casinos enough to service our native friends? Tell us in the forum. If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
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Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
29 October 2010
Australian Entertainment And Gambling News, by Greg Tingle - 29th October 2010
Punters, entertainment and celebrity news junkies, casino and media millionaires and billionaires, and one and all. What a huge week it was. Media Man and Gambling911 offer up a weekly entertainment and gambling wrap up Skippy down under style maties....
Crown Casino Aussie Millions Robber Gets Jail...
A mug punter and druggy who robbed an American poker player at knifepoint of his $31,000 grand in winnings as he departed Melbourne's Crown Casino has lost an appeal against his sentence we are pleased to report. Dwayne Johnstone (no relation to The Rock), 34, and a co-accused mug decided to rob Jason Potter after a brain malfunction, when they witnessed him collect his hard earned winnings after leaving the Aussie Millions poker tournament at James Packer's Crown Casino on 21st January 2008. As Potter returned to his hotel, Johnstone nailed him on the cranium, produced a knife with intent to harm, and called for his wallet and its contents. The robbery netted $31,075, but the law caught up with the perpetrators. Johnstone, who had just been released on parole for being a getaway driver in a nasty milk bar robbery, was hitting "ice" (drug) daily and using "mull" (cannabis) at the time of the heist. During his court appeal, his defence team argued his 4-year jail term was way too big because it failed to take into account a brain injury he received from an earlier assault and his depression. They argued it reduced his moral culpability and that he did not get enough credit for pleading guilty to charges of armed robbery, possession of a drug of dependence, and theft. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, determining the sentence was reasonable and the sentencing judge was correct in finding the offence was well planned, coordinated, and not "impulsive". Johnstone has a massive 69 prior convictions, will serve a 2 two years before being eligible for parole. His co-accused, Vhyharn Arumughasamy, of Wheelers Hill, was put in the slammer in 2008 for a minimum 12 months after pleading guilty to armed robbery. Crown Casino 'Aussie Millions' will start again mid January 2011, and we understand security will be stronger than ever, so don't get any funny ideas ok? Gambling911 has a vast array of news from Australian casinos, including a colourful range of crimes that have occurred at Packer's Crown over the years.
Casino Icon James Bond 009 Aston Martin DB Sells Below Expected Price...
As reported earlier in the week, the James Bond DB5 went under the hammer. The car driven by Sean Connery in the 1964 James Bond film "Goldfinger" sold for 2.6 million pounds ($4.1 million) at an auction on Wednesday. The Aston Martin specially outfitted for the world's most famous spy was the star attraction at a classic car auction in London that also saw rocker Rod Stewart's Lamborghini sell for 600,000 pounds ($946,000). Auctioneer Peter Haynes had earlier estimated the Bond supercar could have snatched as much as 3.5 million pounds ($5.5 million), but we thought he was talking things up a bit old chap. Bond's gadget master Q outfitted the car with an ejection seat, machine guns, radar and nail-throwing machine. American broadcaster Jerry Lee, who purchased the car in 1969 for $12,000 sold it to raise money for his charitable foundation. Tally ho then.
Tweeting Celebs Look To Cash In On Online Ads And Promos...
Well, casino and poker nuts, and news media entrepreneurs could have told you there's good money to be made in Tweeting, but now the cat is out of the bag. Aussie celebs are being offered as much as $10 grand for a single tweet endorsing products to their thousands of Twitter followers, say experts. In the US celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, Snoop Dogg and Paris Hilton are understood to be already enjoying large one-off payments to promote brands and products on Twitter, the dash for cash is yet reach its potential down under. Media Man reckons they might well be leaders in the field, and they also think Shane Warne and Max Markson are doing pretty well out of it also. US websites like Sponsored Tweets are also helping to shake up traditional sponsorship models by matching advertisers like Sony and Microsoft directly with the celebrities on their registers for one-off transactions. Lindsay Lohan's profile on Sponsored Tweets says she will tweet for a $US2985.80 fee, while Khloe Kardashian (sister of reality star Kim) will tweet for a slightly lesser $US2,941. For an extra thousand, advertisers can procure the tweeting services of model Holly Madison. Some companies that will pay for the right promos are understood to include Microsoft, Sony, American Airlines, Toyota, and AT&T. Media Man doesn't pay for ads however, as they don't need to, whispered an insider. Payment usually on a per-tweet model. US rules compel celebrities to add the word "ad" or "spon" to paid-for comments, and Shane Warne said non-disclosure by celebrities tweeting about products for cash, amounted to "the same sort of deal as cash for comments". Scott McClellan, executive director of the Australian Association of National Advertisers said social media campaigns would fall under the existing advertising code of ethics in Australia. We have quite a strong statement in the code around being honest and truthful and obviously not misleading person in any way. We believe that abbreviated terms like 'spon' will very rapidly be understood by consumers as being commercial in their nature and people will learn there is a cost associated with accessing the material." He said his biggest concerns were related to children, who would be particularly vulnerable to social media marketing from celebrities. "For children there would be a much greater onus on the advertiser to be clear about the offer they are presenting," he said. U.S gaming powerhouse Gambling911 has found the Twitter medium good for business on a national and international level, as has some of their contributors like Media Man. Some of the strongest gambling Twitter brands on the web include PartyGaming, Virgin, World Poker Tour, Casino News Media, Poker News Daily and World Series of Poker. Media Man Int Twitter: http://twitter.com/mediamanint
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Bruno Star Accused Of Inciting Gay Riot...Not?
Controversial comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has been accused of inciting a riot at a pro-gay marriage rally in America in order to "enhance" the drama in his 2009 film Bruno. Cohen is being sued by a cameraman allegedly assaulted while filming the star at a Proposition 8 rally in Los Angeles in November 2008, claiming he was shoved and threatened after members of the Bruno production crew held up signs advocating against same sex unions to deliberately fire up the crowd! Cameraman Mike Skiff has filed the lawsuit against Cohen, citing alleged assault and battery by the British comic's own production crew, violation of civil rights and inciting a riot. Court documents filed by Mr Skiff - a self-described gay journalist in Los Angeles – allege he was “injured in his health, strength and activity, sustaining injury to his body and shock and injury to his nervous system and person, all of which injuries causes and continue to cause Plaintiff great physical, mental and emotion pain and suffering". Proposition 8 was a proposed legal change to part of the California Constitution to recognise gay marriage. The papers claim Mr Skiff was "shoved, pulled and wrestled in a vicious and blatant attempt to keep him from filming the event" in breach of his "right to go about his business free from violence and intimidation directed at his sexual orientation." Bruno follows the antics of fictional gay Austrian fashion journalist Bruno Gehard, played by Cohen, as he takes his fashion program to America. Mr Skiff alleges the production team incited violence while filming the rally ahead of an important vote on gay marriage in Los Angeles, in order to increase entertainment value for their movie. The lawsuit states: "In order to create dramatic content for its production, Bruno Productions' intent was to promote violent discord between the assembled yes and no factions. In stark contrast with the ‘ultra gay’ Bruno character, members of the crew of Bruno Productions carried ‘Yes On Proposition 8’ signs contrived for the sole purpose of inciting and sparking unrest to enhance the dramatic effect of what they may capture on film." Mr Skiff is seeking $25,000 in damages, medical expenses, and attorney's fees.
Batman 3 Movie News...
The next Batman sequel has a title -The Dark Knight Rises. Distributor Warner Bros confirmed the name for director Christopher Nolan's third adventure about the DC Comics vigilante hero, which follows Batman Begins in 2005 and The Dark Knight in 2008. The Dark Knight Rises is due in theatres July 20, 2012. Ignoring Hollywood's current wave of 3D movies, Nolan is not planning to shoot the film in 3D. Warner Bros had agreed with Nolan's argument that the sequel should resist the 3D craze, the director told the Los Angeles Times' Hero Complex blog, which first reported the title. Nolan would not reveal what villain might appear in The Dark Knight Rises, but he said it would not be the Riddler, one of the key bad guys in the comics and past film and TV Batman tales. Earlier this year, Nolan said he would not resurrect the Joker, the cackling villain played by the late Australian actor Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. Ledger won the supporting-actor Academy Award for the role, a year after he died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. That was no laughing matter.
Avatar To Be Trilogy First Sequel In 4 Years...
James Cameron will start writing the scripts for two Avatar sequels early next year, aiming to land the first one in cinemas four years from now. Executives at 20th Century Fox announced on Wednesday that Cameron has settled on two sequels to the blockbuster hit as his next film projects, with plans to begin production in late 2011. The studio hopes to have the first of the as-yet-untitled sequels in cinemas in December 2014, with the third movie in the franchise following in December 2015. Like the first film, the sequels will be shot in 3D. Cameron will decide whether to shoot the films back-to-back after he completes the scripts for the sequels to his sci-fi sensation. Set on the distant Pandora, Avatar is the biggest modern blockbuster, with $US2.8 billion ($A2.85 billion) at the box office worldwide. "In the second and third films, which will be self-contained stories that also fulfill a greater story arc, we will not back off the throttle of Avatar's visual and emotional horsepower, and will continue to explore its themes and characters, which touched the hearts of audiences in all cultures around the world," Cameron said in a news release. "I'm looking forward to returning to Pandora, a world where our imaginations can run wild." Cameron had been up in the air on what he would do next, telling reporters as recently as last week that he had not decided whether to shoot another film before returning to his Avatar saga. At an event a week ago to show off the technology used to make Avatar, Cameron speculated about how long it might be until the next instalment would hit cinemas. "I made two very effective sequels in my career. One was Aliens, and one was Terminator 2. Aliens came out seven years after the first film. Terminator 2, seven years after the first film. I'm not saying that we're planning on seven years," Cameron said of Avatar. If Cameron meets the 2014 deadline, it will be just five years after Avatar arrived last December. Avatar follows the adventures of a man in alien form (Sam Worthington) who falls for a two metre, blue-skinned native (Zoe Saldana) of the distant moon Pandora, where greedy humans wage war over the land's natural resources. While Avatar was set in the exotic jungles of Pandora, Titanic director Cameron plans to bring his love for deep-sea exploration into the next chapter, setting some of the action in the moon's oceans. He would not reveal plot details. "That's classified," Cameron said. Avatar blended live action with performance-capture, scenes shot on a soundstage with actors in skintight suits covered in sensors that allow digital cameras to record their movements. Visual-effects artists later transformed them into the alien creatures and filled in landscapes and other details. Jon Landau, Cameron's producing partner, said last week that they would only proceed with an Avatar sequel when the script and story were right. "Jim has done a couple of sequels in his career, and both times he's done them, I would argue they lived up to at least what the first movies were," Landau said. The studio was anxious to get back into the Avatar business. "We had no higher priority, and can feel no greater joy, than enabling Jim to continue and expand his vision of the world of Avatar," Fox studio bosses Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman said in a statement.
E Book Heading For Hollywood...
Melbourne writer Max Barry's novel Machine Man, which was published online one page at a time and does not appear in book form until late next year, is to be made into a major Hollywood movie. It will be directed by Darren Aronofsky, who made the Oscar-nominated 2008 film The Wrestler, the cult sci-fi hit Pi and the forthcoming, critically acclaimed sicko-in-a-tutu thriller Black Swan. "I'm absolutely thrilled, because he's a fantastic director who can make a movie that's smart and also popular and good," the 37-year-old Barry, who lives in Kensington, said. "The fear you have with a movie is that it will turn out to be commercial but bad, or good but a commercial failure, but he's a wonderful guy who can make a film that hits both of them." Machine Man was an experiment in publishing that, perhaps understandably, didn't at first meet with the full approval of Barry's US publisher, Vintage, which saw it as potentially undermining sales. (His Australian publisher, Scribe, was quite relaxed about the exercise, seeing it as a form of marketing.) The first page was published on Barry's website on March 18, last year. The last page was published on December 3. "There is something very satisfying about a solid, ninety-word scene," he wrote on his blog early in the exercise. "I think I like this medium. It's like a novel with ADHD." At first, subscription was free, and Barry reached a peak of around 3500 readers. When he began charging — casual visitors could still see some pages free, but not the entire story — his numbers dropped to around 650. At a cost of $US6.95 each, it wasn't exactly enough to keep him well fed but, he said, it helped.
Every page was open to comments from readers, a risky proposition that Barry found exhilarating. In fact, some of the feedback he received informed later entries. Barry is now working on thoroughly rewriting the "rough and ready" online version, which he always considered a first draft, for the print version due late next year. Although he is excited about the deal for Machine Man, which he has known about for six months but which he said he is finally ready to believe, experience has taught him to keep at least a portion of his expectations in check. In 2003, his novel Jennifer Government was optioned by Section Eight, the production company in which Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney were partners. It has never been filmed. His two other published novels, Syrup and Company, have also been optioned by Hollywood but are yet to see the flickering light of day. Still, Barry said he felt this time was different, with a name director attached and a production company — Mandalay — with a proven track record involved. "Realistically, there are so many ways for a movie to fall apart and so few ways for it all to come together," he said. "But this time, I feel like it's got a really good chance." Bloggers out there, don't think just because this guy is getting a movie done you can to. 'Machine Man' is the exception and a one in a million. We here hope the film doesn't disappoint.
Rebel Avatars Spotted In Sydney; News Media Companies Start Probe...
A new mystery has struck Sydney's suburbs, stretching from Bondi Beach out to Marrickville and beyond, which has people from all walks of life wondering where the lovable creatures will strike next. It was film producer / director James Cameron who introduced the world to 'Avatar' in 2009, however sources close to Cameron and News Limited owned 20th Century Fox deny any responsibly for the "rebel" avatar phenom to hit Sydney streets. Marketing and media insiders have noted however that the "knock off" Avatar's have a habit of showing up whenever bodypainter and artist Eva Rinaldi and one or two of her photographic team are around. In this month alone the rebel 'Avatar' creatures have been seen and photographed at Bondi Beach (alongside the graffiti art wall), the Sydney Opera House, Abbotsford and most recently, Marrickville (Skid Row Radio). Judging upon appearance the mysterious Avatar's are neither the work of amateurs, however they are not quite ready to insert right into a Cameron production either. A source who claims to be close to the rebel Avatar's leaked that they are quite likely creations of Sydney based artist Eva Rinaldi, who perhaps not by coincidence has also embarked on a national - international campaign to bodypaint and / or create a human statue of Oprah Winfrey, who is set to hit Australian soil this December. The leak said "I'm pretty sure its Eva Rinaldi behind this publicity stunt - ambush marketing effort of sorts. She's very clever. You will note that there's no branding on her bodypainted creations, unlike the Barvaria beer happening at the World Cup. She seems to have her heart in the right place and its not a blatant brand knock off or anything else that is likely to get her in hot water on the legal front. It's actually very clever and talented work and marketing, and she looks to have created an international marketing and media campaign on a shoestring budget. I'm pretty sure had something to do with the Sydney Opera House 'John Travolta' shenanigans last weekend on the open day also. By plugging into major events she's generating national and worldwide publicity, and I think it may even be assisting the official Tourism Australia and Oprah Winfrey media campaigns also. Her campaign, if its hers of course, is likely to spark a number of copy cat artists, and I think that may have already happened. If one further researches Eva Rinaldi you come across Human Statue Bodyart on the internet, and there's a number of photos, articles and even blog entries that further suggest she is the mastermind behind these Avatar phenoms". Thus far both the official Avatar franchise and the mystery Avatar's have received largely balanced and positive news media coverage. James Cameron's Avatar recently announced that they will be doing a trilogy, and something tells us that Rinaldi and co conspirators are also well aware of that fact. Readers, if you happen to spot any of the rebel Avatar's in your neighborhood please make contact with both local authorities and us immediately. No one has offered any reward money to date, however an anonymous legal eagle did suggest that if the outbreak of the new breed of Avatar's become too much of a problem that reward money may be offered. Rinaldi or her Human Statue Bodyart enterprise is understood to have not entered any marketing or media awards this year, but judging upon her recent efforts we think most certainly that she should throw her colourful hat in the ring. At the time of publication a media leak suggested that Rinaldi and / or the rebel Avatars, will also be covered in suburban Sydney newspaper, Northern District Times, published by the Cumberland Newspaper Group. In the meantime entertainment and media commentators have suggested to enjoy the ride, as its unlikely to last forever, however with that said, Rinaldi and friends are understood to always remain one or two steps ahead of the thought police, adding media tycoon Richard Branson, John Travolta, Nicole Kidman and rock gods KISS to her 'To Do - To Paint' list. Rinaldi if you're out there, and I think you are, I See You!
3-D Movie Genre May Be Getting Old...
That's the question Hollywood executives are asking after a post-Avatar nose dive. Hollywood will continue to push 3-D movies to bolster box-office revenue even if profits aren't what the studios envisioned when "Avatar" ignited widespread enthusiasm for the format. Studios will release at least 26 films in 3-D next year, up from 22 in 2010, according to Hollywood.com Box-Office. 3-D winners include James Cameron's Avatar, the No. 1 film of all time, and Walt Disney Co.'s Toy Story 3. "Jim showed how it can be done well," Bill Mechanic, the former chairman of Twentieth Century Fox and producer of the 2009 3-D release "Coraline," said in an interview. "A lot of it depends on how you use it." For many of this year's releases, the typical $3 to $3.50 surcharge for a ticket to a three-dimensional film more than covered added production costs of $5 million to $20 million per movie, studios say. Still, not all 3-D movies have succeeded, and 2012 may see a smaller number as studios complete projects approved in the glow of "Avatar" and become more selective. "If you get a 10 percent or 15 percent boost in your box office, it's completely worth it," Mechanic said. Execs will discuss the success and the future of 3-D films today at the 3D Entertainment Summit in Los Angeles. Speakers include DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Katzenberg and director M. Night Shyamalan. As they say, I see you!
Lachlan Murdoch Prime Media Group Sells Assets...
Prime Media Group Ltd has sold its non-core outside broadcast assets amid reports its deputy chairman Lachlan Murdoch is in talks to buy half of James Packer's new stake in Ten Network Holdings Ltd. Prime said it had sold OSB Australia to UK-based Gearhouse Broadcast Pty Ltd for $8.5 million in cash and $3 million in instalments between December 2012 and December 2014. OSB Australia provides outside broadcast facilities and services for professional sporting events. Prime will hold a 15 per cent interest in the merged OSB/Gearhouse business, which has extended its agreement with Fox Sports for rugby union coverage through to 2015. "The sale of OSB Australia continues our program of divesting non-core assets to re-focus on maximising earnings from television and radio," Prime chief executive Ian Audsley said in a statement.
Prime in July sold its New Zealand outside broadcast operator, OSB New Zealand, to Sky Television Ltd and also announced the sale of Moonlight Cinema to Amalgamated Holdings Ltd. Prime will incur a $1 million impairment on the sale of OSB, but will avoid $13 million of capital expenditure that is required for OSB Australia. The proceeds of the sale will be used by Prime to pay down debt, which stood at $96 million at the end of June when the company recorded a $54.5 million full-year net loss, a widening of its $45.5 million net loss for the previous financial year. Separately on Thursday, Fairfax reported Mr Murdoch's company Illyria Pty Ltd was likely to buy 50 per cent of Mr Packer's 17.88 per cent stake in Ten acquired last week. Mr Packer's surprise $280 million purchase marked his return to free-to-air television after years of focusing on the gambling sector. The Fairfax reports, citing "a well-placed Murdoch source familiar with the discussions", said Mr Murdoch saw the possible deal as a "turnaround" story. A price had not been agreed upon, the report said. Ten declined to comment, while Prime was being sought for comment. Comment was also being sought from Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd, where Mr Packer is deputy chair. Shares in Prime closed steady at 65 cents, Ten shares dipped almost two per cent to $1.50 - the same price Mr Packer paid for his shares in the broadcaster - and Consolidated Media shares were two cents softer at $3.35.
James Packer Media News...
Ten Network chairman Nick Falloon may be getting ready to leave as media moguls James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch join forces on the network and we ponder could Falloon’s loss end up as Murdoch’s gain? Meanwhile, BHP Billiton moves to squash talk that its PotashCorp bid is set to crash and burn in Ottawa. Elsewhere, as the political offensive against the ASX-SGX merger intensifies investors may be losing faith with the exchange operators and AXA SA seals a heavyweight China deal with the world’s most valuable lender ICBC. With Ten Network Holdings reportedly set to welcome two heavyweight media moguls as its major shareholders the rumour-mill has gone into overdrive with reports that James Packer’s planned overhaul of the network may have claimed its first victim. Unsurprisingly, the unfortunate victim is reportedly the network’s executive chairman Nick Falloon. According to The Australian, Falloon has agreed to relinquish his position after a meeting with Packer. Rumblings that Falloon’s head was on the block took hold pretty much as soon as Packer pulled of his share raid last week and The Australian reports that his departure is yet to be formalised. The news comes as media scion Lachlan Murdoch looks set to take a board seat at the network with confirmation that his Illyria Private Limited was in talks with Packer’s Prime Capital to buy 50 per cent of its 17.88 per cent stake in Ten for around $155 million. The deal between the two moguls is expected to be finalised in a month or so and interestingly there is talk that Murdoch will not only push for a board seat but could possibly be a candidate to become Ten’s chairman. Packer has reportedly set his sights on culling Ten’s planned foray into news and current affairs and return the focus on the low-cost 16 to 39 demographic. While the plans seem to have been broadly welcomed by Ten’s major shareholders there are detractors out there especially analysts who point out that a return to youth-friendly programming could actually end up costing the network more money and with the inception of multi-channel offerings from Seven and Nine cutting into the market the new approach may not be as successful as first thought. Either way its great reading for the the Gambling911 and Media Man loyal following. All we can say is don't bet against Packer.
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*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
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Crown Casino Aussie Millions Robber Gets Jail...
A mug punter and druggy who robbed an American poker player at knifepoint of his $31,000 grand in winnings as he departed Melbourne's Crown Casino has lost an appeal against his sentence we are pleased to report. Dwayne Johnstone (no relation to The Rock), 34, and a co-accused mug decided to rob Jason Potter after a brain malfunction, when they witnessed him collect his hard earned winnings after leaving the Aussie Millions poker tournament at James Packer's Crown Casino on 21st January 2008. As Potter returned to his hotel, Johnstone nailed him on the cranium, produced a knife with intent to harm, and called for his wallet and its contents. The robbery netted $31,075, but the law caught up with the perpetrators. Johnstone, who had just been released on parole for being a getaway driver in a nasty milk bar robbery, was hitting "ice" (drug) daily and using "mull" (cannabis) at the time of the heist. During his court appeal, his defence team argued his 4-year jail term was way too big because it failed to take into account a brain injury he received from an earlier assault and his depression. They argued it reduced his moral culpability and that he did not get enough credit for pleading guilty to charges of armed robbery, possession of a drug of dependence, and theft. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, determining the sentence was reasonable and the sentencing judge was correct in finding the offence was well planned, coordinated, and not "impulsive". Johnstone has a massive 69 prior convictions, will serve a 2 two years before being eligible for parole. His co-accused, Vhyharn Arumughasamy, of Wheelers Hill, was put in the slammer in 2008 for a minimum 12 months after pleading guilty to armed robbery. Crown Casino 'Aussie Millions' will start again mid January 2011, and we understand security will be stronger than ever, so don't get any funny ideas ok? Gambling911 has a vast array of news from Australian casinos, including a colourful range of crimes that have occurred at Packer's Crown over the years.
Casino Icon James Bond 009 Aston Martin DB Sells Below Expected Price...
As reported earlier in the week, the James Bond DB5 went under the hammer. The car driven by Sean Connery in the 1964 James Bond film "Goldfinger" sold for 2.6 million pounds ($4.1 million) at an auction on Wednesday. The Aston Martin specially outfitted for the world's most famous spy was the star attraction at a classic car auction in London that also saw rocker Rod Stewart's Lamborghini sell for 600,000 pounds ($946,000). Auctioneer Peter Haynes had earlier estimated the Bond supercar could have snatched as much as 3.5 million pounds ($5.5 million), but we thought he was talking things up a bit old chap. Bond's gadget master Q outfitted the car with an ejection seat, machine guns, radar and nail-throwing machine. American broadcaster Jerry Lee, who purchased the car in 1969 for $12,000 sold it to raise money for his charitable foundation. Tally ho then.
Tweeting Celebs Look To Cash In On Online Ads And Promos...
Well, casino and poker nuts, and news media entrepreneurs could have told you there's good money to be made in Tweeting, but now the cat is out of the bag. Aussie celebs are being offered as much as $10 grand for a single tweet endorsing products to their thousands of Twitter followers, say experts. In the US celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, Snoop Dogg and Paris Hilton are understood to be already enjoying large one-off payments to promote brands and products on Twitter, the dash for cash is yet reach its potential down under. Media Man reckons they might well be leaders in the field, and they also think Shane Warne and Max Markson are doing pretty well out of it also. US websites like Sponsored Tweets are also helping to shake up traditional sponsorship models by matching advertisers like Sony and Microsoft directly with the celebrities on their registers for one-off transactions. Lindsay Lohan's profile on Sponsored Tweets says she will tweet for a $US2985.80 fee, while Khloe Kardashian (sister of reality star Kim) will tweet for a slightly lesser $US2,941. For an extra thousand, advertisers can procure the tweeting services of model Holly Madison. Some companies that will pay for the right promos are understood to include Microsoft, Sony, American Airlines, Toyota, and AT&T. Media Man doesn't pay for ads however, as they don't need to, whispered an insider. Payment usually on a per-tweet model. US rules compel celebrities to add the word "ad" or "spon" to paid-for comments, and Shane Warne said non-disclosure by celebrities tweeting about products for cash, amounted to "the same sort of deal as cash for comments". Scott McClellan, executive director of the Australian Association of National Advertisers said social media campaigns would fall under the existing advertising code of ethics in Australia. We have quite a strong statement in the code around being honest and truthful and obviously not misleading person in any way. We believe that abbreviated terms like 'spon' will very rapidly be understood by consumers as being commercial in their nature and people will learn there is a cost associated with accessing the material." He said his biggest concerns were related to children, who would be particularly vulnerable to social media marketing from celebrities. "For children there would be a much greater onus on the advertiser to be clear about the offer they are presenting," he said. U.S gaming powerhouse Gambling911 has found the Twitter medium good for business on a national and international level, as has some of their contributors like Media Man. Some of the strongest gambling Twitter brands on the web include PartyGaming, Virgin, World Poker Tour, Casino News Media, Poker News Daily and World Series of Poker. Media Man Int Twitter: http://twitter.com/mediamanint
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Bruno Star Accused Of Inciting Gay Riot...Not?
Controversial comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has been accused of inciting a riot at a pro-gay marriage rally in America in order to "enhance" the drama in his 2009 film Bruno. Cohen is being sued by a cameraman allegedly assaulted while filming the star at a Proposition 8 rally in Los Angeles in November 2008, claiming he was shoved and threatened after members of the Bruno production crew held up signs advocating against same sex unions to deliberately fire up the crowd! Cameraman Mike Skiff has filed the lawsuit against Cohen, citing alleged assault and battery by the British comic's own production crew, violation of civil rights and inciting a riot. Court documents filed by Mr Skiff - a self-described gay journalist in Los Angeles – allege he was “injured in his health, strength and activity, sustaining injury to his body and shock and injury to his nervous system and person, all of which injuries causes and continue to cause Plaintiff great physical, mental and emotion pain and suffering". Proposition 8 was a proposed legal change to part of the California Constitution to recognise gay marriage. The papers claim Mr Skiff was "shoved, pulled and wrestled in a vicious and blatant attempt to keep him from filming the event" in breach of his "right to go about his business free from violence and intimidation directed at his sexual orientation." Bruno follows the antics of fictional gay Austrian fashion journalist Bruno Gehard, played by Cohen, as he takes his fashion program to America. Mr Skiff alleges the production team incited violence while filming the rally ahead of an important vote on gay marriage in Los Angeles, in order to increase entertainment value for their movie. The lawsuit states: "In order to create dramatic content for its production, Bruno Productions' intent was to promote violent discord between the assembled yes and no factions. In stark contrast with the ‘ultra gay’ Bruno character, members of the crew of Bruno Productions carried ‘Yes On Proposition 8’ signs contrived for the sole purpose of inciting and sparking unrest to enhance the dramatic effect of what they may capture on film." Mr Skiff is seeking $25,000 in damages, medical expenses, and attorney's fees.
Batman 3 Movie News...
The next Batman sequel has a title -The Dark Knight Rises. Distributor Warner Bros confirmed the name for director Christopher Nolan's third adventure about the DC Comics vigilante hero, which follows Batman Begins in 2005 and The Dark Knight in 2008. The Dark Knight Rises is due in theatres July 20, 2012. Ignoring Hollywood's current wave of 3D movies, Nolan is not planning to shoot the film in 3D. Warner Bros had agreed with Nolan's argument that the sequel should resist the 3D craze, the director told the Los Angeles Times' Hero Complex blog, which first reported the title. Nolan would not reveal what villain might appear in The Dark Knight Rises, but he said it would not be the Riddler, one of the key bad guys in the comics and past film and TV Batman tales. Earlier this year, Nolan said he would not resurrect the Joker, the cackling villain played by the late Australian actor Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. Ledger won the supporting-actor Academy Award for the role, a year after he died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. That was no laughing matter.
Avatar To Be Trilogy First Sequel In 4 Years...
James Cameron will start writing the scripts for two Avatar sequels early next year, aiming to land the first one in cinemas four years from now. Executives at 20th Century Fox announced on Wednesday that Cameron has settled on two sequels to the blockbuster hit as his next film projects, with plans to begin production in late 2011. The studio hopes to have the first of the as-yet-untitled sequels in cinemas in December 2014, with the third movie in the franchise following in December 2015. Like the first film, the sequels will be shot in 3D. Cameron will decide whether to shoot the films back-to-back after he completes the scripts for the sequels to his sci-fi sensation. Set on the distant Pandora, Avatar is the biggest modern blockbuster, with $US2.8 billion ($A2.85 billion) at the box office worldwide. "In the second and third films, which will be self-contained stories that also fulfill a greater story arc, we will not back off the throttle of Avatar's visual and emotional horsepower, and will continue to explore its themes and characters, which touched the hearts of audiences in all cultures around the world," Cameron said in a news release. "I'm looking forward to returning to Pandora, a world where our imaginations can run wild." Cameron had been up in the air on what he would do next, telling reporters as recently as last week that he had not decided whether to shoot another film before returning to his Avatar saga. At an event a week ago to show off the technology used to make Avatar, Cameron speculated about how long it might be until the next instalment would hit cinemas. "I made two very effective sequels in my career. One was Aliens, and one was Terminator 2. Aliens came out seven years after the first film. Terminator 2, seven years after the first film. I'm not saying that we're planning on seven years," Cameron said of Avatar. If Cameron meets the 2014 deadline, it will be just five years after Avatar arrived last December. Avatar follows the adventures of a man in alien form (Sam Worthington) who falls for a two metre, blue-skinned native (Zoe Saldana) of the distant moon Pandora, where greedy humans wage war over the land's natural resources. While Avatar was set in the exotic jungles of Pandora, Titanic director Cameron plans to bring his love for deep-sea exploration into the next chapter, setting some of the action in the moon's oceans. He would not reveal plot details. "That's classified," Cameron said. Avatar blended live action with performance-capture, scenes shot on a soundstage with actors in skintight suits covered in sensors that allow digital cameras to record their movements. Visual-effects artists later transformed them into the alien creatures and filled in landscapes and other details. Jon Landau, Cameron's producing partner, said last week that they would only proceed with an Avatar sequel when the script and story were right. "Jim has done a couple of sequels in his career, and both times he's done them, I would argue they lived up to at least what the first movies were," Landau said. The studio was anxious to get back into the Avatar business. "We had no higher priority, and can feel no greater joy, than enabling Jim to continue and expand his vision of the world of Avatar," Fox studio bosses Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman said in a statement.
E Book Heading For Hollywood...
Melbourne writer Max Barry's novel Machine Man, which was published online one page at a time and does not appear in book form until late next year, is to be made into a major Hollywood movie. It will be directed by Darren Aronofsky, who made the Oscar-nominated 2008 film The Wrestler, the cult sci-fi hit Pi and the forthcoming, critically acclaimed sicko-in-a-tutu thriller Black Swan. "I'm absolutely thrilled, because he's a fantastic director who can make a movie that's smart and also popular and good," the 37-year-old Barry, who lives in Kensington, said. "The fear you have with a movie is that it will turn out to be commercial but bad, or good but a commercial failure, but he's a wonderful guy who can make a film that hits both of them." Machine Man was an experiment in publishing that, perhaps understandably, didn't at first meet with the full approval of Barry's US publisher, Vintage, which saw it as potentially undermining sales. (His Australian publisher, Scribe, was quite relaxed about the exercise, seeing it as a form of marketing.) The first page was published on Barry's website on March 18, last year. The last page was published on December 3. "There is something very satisfying about a solid, ninety-word scene," he wrote on his blog early in the exercise. "I think I like this medium. It's like a novel with ADHD." At first, subscription was free, and Barry reached a peak of around 3500 readers. When he began charging — casual visitors could still see some pages free, but not the entire story — his numbers dropped to around 650. At a cost of $US6.95 each, it wasn't exactly enough to keep him well fed but, he said, it helped.
Every page was open to comments from readers, a risky proposition that Barry found exhilarating. In fact, some of the feedback he received informed later entries. Barry is now working on thoroughly rewriting the "rough and ready" online version, which he always considered a first draft, for the print version due late next year. Although he is excited about the deal for Machine Man, which he has known about for six months but which he said he is finally ready to believe, experience has taught him to keep at least a portion of his expectations in check. In 2003, his novel Jennifer Government was optioned by Section Eight, the production company in which Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney were partners. It has never been filmed. His two other published novels, Syrup and Company, have also been optioned by Hollywood but are yet to see the flickering light of day. Still, Barry said he felt this time was different, with a name director attached and a production company — Mandalay — with a proven track record involved. "Realistically, there are so many ways for a movie to fall apart and so few ways for it all to come together," he said. "But this time, I feel like it's got a really good chance." Bloggers out there, don't think just because this guy is getting a movie done you can to. 'Machine Man' is the exception and a one in a million. We here hope the film doesn't disappoint.
Rebel Avatars Spotted In Sydney; News Media Companies Start Probe...
A new mystery has struck Sydney's suburbs, stretching from Bondi Beach out to Marrickville and beyond, which has people from all walks of life wondering where the lovable creatures will strike next. It was film producer / director James Cameron who introduced the world to 'Avatar' in 2009, however sources close to Cameron and News Limited owned 20th Century Fox deny any responsibly for the "rebel" avatar phenom to hit Sydney streets. Marketing and media insiders have noted however that the "knock off" Avatar's have a habit of showing up whenever bodypainter and artist Eva Rinaldi and one or two of her photographic team are around. In this month alone the rebel 'Avatar' creatures have been seen and photographed at Bondi Beach (alongside the graffiti art wall), the Sydney Opera House, Abbotsford and most recently, Marrickville (Skid Row Radio). Judging upon appearance the mysterious Avatar's are neither the work of amateurs, however they are not quite ready to insert right into a Cameron production either. A source who claims to be close to the rebel Avatar's leaked that they are quite likely creations of Sydney based artist Eva Rinaldi, who perhaps not by coincidence has also embarked on a national - international campaign to bodypaint and / or create a human statue of Oprah Winfrey, who is set to hit Australian soil this December. The leak said "I'm pretty sure its Eva Rinaldi behind this publicity stunt - ambush marketing effort of sorts. She's very clever. You will note that there's no branding on her bodypainted creations, unlike the Barvaria beer happening at the World Cup. She seems to have her heart in the right place and its not a blatant brand knock off or anything else that is likely to get her in hot water on the legal front. It's actually very clever and talented work and marketing, and she looks to have created an international marketing and media campaign on a shoestring budget. I'm pretty sure had something to do with the Sydney Opera House 'John Travolta' shenanigans last weekend on the open day also. By plugging into major events she's generating national and worldwide publicity, and I think it may even be assisting the official Tourism Australia and Oprah Winfrey media campaigns also. Her campaign, if its hers of course, is likely to spark a number of copy cat artists, and I think that may have already happened. If one further researches Eva Rinaldi you come across Human Statue Bodyart on the internet, and there's a number of photos, articles and even blog entries that further suggest she is the mastermind behind these Avatar phenoms". Thus far both the official Avatar franchise and the mystery Avatar's have received largely balanced and positive news media coverage. James Cameron's Avatar recently announced that they will be doing a trilogy, and something tells us that Rinaldi and co conspirators are also well aware of that fact. Readers, if you happen to spot any of the rebel Avatar's in your neighborhood please make contact with both local authorities and us immediately. No one has offered any reward money to date, however an anonymous legal eagle did suggest that if the outbreak of the new breed of Avatar's become too much of a problem that reward money may be offered. Rinaldi or her Human Statue Bodyart enterprise is understood to have not entered any marketing or media awards this year, but judging upon her recent efforts we think most certainly that she should throw her colourful hat in the ring. At the time of publication a media leak suggested that Rinaldi and / or the rebel Avatars, will also be covered in suburban Sydney newspaper, Northern District Times, published by the Cumberland Newspaper Group. In the meantime entertainment and media commentators have suggested to enjoy the ride, as its unlikely to last forever, however with that said, Rinaldi and friends are understood to always remain one or two steps ahead of the thought police, adding media tycoon Richard Branson, John Travolta, Nicole Kidman and rock gods KISS to her 'To Do - To Paint' list. Rinaldi if you're out there, and I think you are, I See You!
3-D Movie Genre May Be Getting Old...
That's the question Hollywood executives are asking after a post-Avatar nose dive. Hollywood will continue to push 3-D movies to bolster box-office revenue even if profits aren't what the studios envisioned when "Avatar" ignited widespread enthusiasm for the format. Studios will release at least 26 films in 3-D next year, up from 22 in 2010, according to Hollywood.com Box-Office. 3-D winners include James Cameron's Avatar, the No. 1 film of all time, and Walt Disney Co.'s Toy Story 3. "Jim showed how it can be done well," Bill Mechanic, the former chairman of Twentieth Century Fox and producer of the 2009 3-D release "Coraline," said in an interview. "A lot of it depends on how you use it." For many of this year's releases, the typical $3 to $3.50 surcharge for a ticket to a three-dimensional film more than covered added production costs of $5 million to $20 million per movie, studios say. Still, not all 3-D movies have succeeded, and 2012 may see a smaller number as studios complete projects approved in the glow of "Avatar" and become more selective. "If you get a 10 percent or 15 percent boost in your box office, it's completely worth it," Mechanic said. Execs will discuss the success and the future of 3-D films today at the 3D Entertainment Summit in Los Angeles. Speakers include DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Katzenberg and director M. Night Shyamalan. As they say, I see you!
Lachlan Murdoch Prime Media Group Sells Assets...
Prime Media Group Ltd has sold its non-core outside broadcast assets amid reports its deputy chairman Lachlan Murdoch is in talks to buy half of James Packer's new stake in Ten Network Holdings Ltd. Prime said it had sold OSB Australia to UK-based Gearhouse Broadcast Pty Ltd for $8.5 million in cash and $3 million in instalments between December 2012 and December 2014. OSB Australia provides outside broadcast facilities and services for professional sporting events. Prime will hold a 15 per cent interest in the merged OSB/Gearhouse business, which has extended its agreement with Fox Sports for rugby union coverage through to 2015. "The sale of OSB Australia continues our program of divesting non-core assets to re-focus on maximising earnings from television and radio," Prime chief executive Ian Audsley said in a statement.
Prime in July sold its New Zealand outside broadcast operator, OSB New Zealand, to Sky Television Ltd and also announced the sale of Moonlight Cinema to Amalgamated Holdings Ltd. Prime will incur a $1 million impairment on the sale of OSB, but will avoid $13 million of capital expenditure that is required for OSB Australia. The proceeds of the sale will be used by Prime to pay down debt, which stood at $96 million at the end of June when the company recorded a $54.5 million full-year net loss, a widening of its $45.5 million net loss for the previous financial year. Separately on Thursday, Fairfax reported Mr Murdoch's company Illyria Pty Ltd was likely to buy 50 per cent of Mr Packer's 17.88 per cent stake in Ten acquired last week. Mr Packer's surprise $280 million purchase marked his return to free-to-air television after years of focusing on the gambling sector. The Fairfax reports, citing "a well-placed Murdoch source familiar with the discussions", said Mr Murdoch saw the possible deal as a "turnaround" story. A price had not been agreed upon, the report said. Ten declined to comment, while Prime was being sought for comment. Comment was also being sought from Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd, where Mr Packer is deputy chair. Shares in Prime closed steady at 65 cents, Ten shares dipped almost two per cent to $1.50 - the same price Mr Packer paid for his shares in the broadcaster - and Consolidated Media shares were two cents softer at $3.35.
James Packer Media News...
Ten Network chairman Nick Falloon may be getting ready to leave as media moguls James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch join forces on the network and we ponder could Falloon’s loss end up as Murdoch’s gain? Meanwhile, BHP Billiton moves to squash talk that its PotashCorp bid is set to crash and burn in Ottawa. Elsewhere, as the political offensive against the ASX-SGX merger intensifies investors may be losing faith with the exchange operators and AXA SA seals a heavyweight China deal with the world’s most valuable lender ICBC. With Ten Network Holdings reportedly set to welcome two heavyweight media moguls as its major shareholders the rumour-mill has gone into overdrive with reports that James Packer’s planned overhaul of the network may have claimed its first victim. Unsurprisingly, the unfortunate victim is reportedly the network’s executive chairman Nick Falloon. According to The Australian, Falloon has agreed to relinquish his position after a meeting with Packer. Rumblings that Falloon’s head was on the block took hold pretty much as soon as Packer pulled of his share raid last week and The Australian reports that his departure is yet to be formalised. The news comes as media scion Lachlan Murdoch looks set to take a board seat at the network with confirmation that his Illyria Private Limited was in talks with Packer’s Prime Capital to buy 50 per cent of its 17.88 per cent stake in Ten for around $155 million. The deal between the two moguls is expected to be finalised in a month or so and interestingly there is talk that Murdoch will not only push for a board seat but could possibly be a candidate to become Ten’s chairman. Packer has reportedly set his sights on culling Ten’s planned foray into news and current affairs and return the focus on the low-cost 16 to 39 demographic. While the plans seem to have been broadly welcomed by Ten’s major shareholders there are detractors out there especially analysts who point out that a return to youth-friendly programming could actually end up costing the network more money and with the inception of multi-channel offerings from Seven and Nine cutting into the market the new approach may not be as successful as first thought. Either way its great reading for the the Gambling911 and Media Man loyal following. All we can say is don't bet against Packer.
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Australia
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Entertainment News
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like our special entertainment and gambling update today? Tell us in the forum.
If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
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28 October 2010
Casino News Media: PartyGaming Quarterly revenue rise
Casino News Media: PartyGaming Quarterly revenue rise
Websites: PartyCasino.com PartyPoker.com WPT Casino WPT Poker PartyBingo.com
Profiles
PartyGaming PartyCasino PartyPoker World Poker Tour Noble Casino PartyBingo PartyBets Gamebookers Live Dealer PartyCasino Marvel Slots
World's leading listed online gaming operator PartyGaming has announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2010 showing a 9 percent year-on-year increase in total revenues to €85.3 million.
The Gibraltar-based firm operates popular online poker domains PartyPoker.com and World Poker Tour. They also own and operate leading online bingo websites Foxy Bingo, Mirror Bingo, Think Bingo and Cheeky Bingo and revealed that revenues from its casino businesses grew two percent year-on-year to reach €34.9 million.
It's premier online casino brand is PartyCasino.com and they also own and operate Noble Casino, Casino Las Vegas, Swiss Casino, and a number of others.
Although revenues from poker decreased five percent when compared to the same period in 2009 to €29.6 million, PartyGaming revealed that bingo improved by 36% year-on-year to hit €13.1 million while sportsbetting grew by a massive 86% for the three-month period to reach €5.4 million.
“Total revenues were up by nine percent year-on-year with growth in all products except poker despite the impact of having closed our French casino business at the end of June,” said Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer for PartyGaming.
“Excluding our French casino, total revenues would have been up by 12% year-on-year driven by casino growth in other markets, acquisitions and a strong performance in sportsbetting.
“We have been encouraged by the strong start from our nascent French poker network that went live on July 1. A strong performance by PartyPoker.fr in France has been further boosted by the launch of PMU’s poker business in France as well as services for AB Groupe and Aviation Club De France.
“In respect of current trading since the end of September, we have begun to see the normal seasonal upturn in-line with the board’s expectations and we remain confident about the full-year outlook.”
*New PartyCasino.com players get up to $3000 sign up bonus
*Media Man conducts some b2b activities with PartyGaming brands, as they do with dozens of companies in the entertainment, news and gaming sector.
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Websites: PartyCasino.com PartyPoker.com WPT Casino WPT Poker PartyBingo.com
Profiles
PartyGaming PartyCasino PartyPoker World Poker Tour Noble Casino PartyBingo PartyBets Gamebookers Live Dealer PartyCasino Marvel Slots
World's leading listed online gaming operator PartyGaming has announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2010 showing a 9 percent year-on-year increase in total revenues to €85.3 million.
The Gibraltar-based firm operates popular online poker domains PartyPoker.com and World Poker Tour. They also own and operate leading online bingo websites Foxy Bingo, Mirror Bingo, Think Bingo and Cheeky Bingo and revealed that revenues from its casino businesses grew two percent year-on-year to reach €34.9 million.
It's premier online casino brand is PartyCasino.com and they also own and operate Noble Casino, Casino Las Vegas, Swiss Casino, and a number of others.
Although revenues from poker decreased five percent when compared to the same period in 2009 to €29.6 million, PartyGaming revealed that bingo improved by 36% year-on-year to hit €13.1 million while sportsbetting grew by a massive 86% for the three-month period to reach €5.4 million.
“Total revenues were up by nine percent year-on-year with growth in all products except poker despite the impact of having closed our French casino business at the end of June,” said Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer for PartyGaming.
“Excluding our French casino, total revenues would have been up by 12% year-on-year driven by casino growth in other markets, acquisitions and a strong performance in sportsbetting.
“We have been encouraged by the strong start from our nascent French poker network that went live on July 1. A strong performance by PartyPoker.fr in France has been further boosted by the launch of PMU’s poker business in France as well as services for AB Groupe and Aviation Club De France.
“In respect of current trading since the end of September, we have begun to see the normal seasonal upturn in-line with the board’s expectations and we remain confident about the full-year outlook.”
*New PartyCasino.com players get up to $3000 sign up bonus
*Media Man conducts some b2b activities with PartyGaming brands, as they do with dozens of companies in the entertainment, news and gaming sector.
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Aussies, Yanks, Hollywood Betting Arnie Schwarzenegger To Come Back, by Greg Tingle - 27th October 2010
G'day Hollywood, Aussiewood and internet entertainment news tragics. Huge entertainment news for the vast and loyal following today with talk circulating from Bondi Beach to Los Angeles that The Governator - Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger Will Be Back (in the movies). That's right! The rumors and hints have been around for over a year now, with Arnie often seen in public with action hero mate and Gambling911 - Media Man favorite, Sylvester Stallone, and who can forget his awesome performance in The Expendables. Media Man and Gambling911 take on the machines and do the ring around in Hollywood in order to bring you this very special report...
The world is almost begging Arnie to make a full time ish return to the movies. At least that's the buzz down under in Australia and from a growing number of the American public and Hollywood movie executives. Some passionate Arnie fans are even having bets with their mates on if he will return, how soon, and in what movies!
"I'll be back". Yeah, we know, you've heard it before, but this time it's on the cards and looking like a safe bet from all angles. Those close advise he's got the fire in the belly, much like the type Aussie gambling tycoon James Packer got, seeing 'Our James' returning to the television spectrum.
Politically and in a business and all round timing aspect in makes good sense. Let's see, its only next week when California will elect a new governor. Some say it can't happen soon enough. So, in 2 months Arnie will be available for opportunities that take his fancy.
Schwarzenegger, now a great looking 63, doesn't appear to be after the job of U.S President. We mean, who the heck would want that job these days. His bio and CV is world class all the way and sports titles and attributes such as Mr Universe body builder champion, politician, environmental campaigner, movie star and philanthropist.
Hollywood types and political analysts reckon he time is about right for Arnie to lay his cards on the table and make his move - big splash fashion, for the most impact. Long time mate and associate Stallone is understood to be assisting him with strategy (and sourcing the right opportunities).
Veteran Hollywood publicist Howard Bragman was happy to go on record with "People still love Arnold. He can choose whatever he wants. He's got nothing left to prove, all the money in the world and the world of choices available to him".
In his response to the "what next?" question, Schwarzenegger said in well circulated "Tweetcast" last week that he planned to give speeches, write a book or two, and continue fighting for the environment.
Movies? "It depends ... if someone comes with a great script, with a great idea. Will I still have the patience to sit on the set and do a movie for three months or for six months, all of those things? I don't know," he said.
He teased us be announcing that he recently met with Terminator and Avatar director James Cameron, and would make some sort of an announcement soon!!!
The Republican "Governator" is to conclude his lucky 7 years in office with only a 22% popularity rating among Californians. Sounds like the sort of numbers Australia's Senator Stephen Conroy gets for popularity (Not - Borat speak). His star power and money making potential appears not damaged by his time in politics, which included some impressive and not so impressive happenings.
It's been understood that his Austrian birth rules out a go as US president, not that he would want it anymore, but one political analyst Allan Hoffenblum actually sees a possible appointment in the Obama administration, perhaps on an environmental front.
"I think that is a very viable possibility, especially if Obama does badly in the November congressional elections, he may want to reach out to moderate Republicans," Hoffenblum said.
Elective politics is likely not on his horizon, pundits said. The highest Schwarzenegger can go now is the US Senate, but an opening may be two years away, assuming California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein decides to step down.
In an interesting moneymaker, Arnie also features in The Terminator online slot game released by PartyGaming - PartyCasino.com which has being trying to get back into the U.S market for almost as long as Arnold has been in political office in the hotbed of California. Arnold was apparently unable to get legal casino igaming green lighted in CA while in office, but few are willing to put the blame on him.
Schwarzenegger would have no trouble being hired by Hollywood, be it part time, full time or other. He is still fit and resuming action roles would be "like riding a bike", industry leaks whispered.
A Media Man spokesperson said "Its amazing. There has been a massive upswell in support of Arnie returning to Hollywood, namely for his action movie genre many grew up on. The rebirth of Arnie came around the same time word leaked that he would be teaming up with Stallone in The Expendables, and as they say, the rest is history. Another Expendables movie is being planned, more Expendables games, and Arnie is sounding more and more like he wants more of the action. Most of the public and Hollywood want him back in the action too."
Media Man Profiles
Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Terminator
The Expendables
Sylvester Stallone
Hollywood
Politics
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters and movie buffs, what's your view on a return of Arnie to Hollywood? Tell us in the forum. If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun. Oh, we'll be back!
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
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The world is almost begging Arnie to make a full time ish return to the movies. At least that's the buzz down under in Australia and from a growing number of the American public and Hollywood movie executives. Some passionate Arnie fans are even having bets with their mates on if he will return, how soon, and in what movies!
"I'll be back". Yeah, we know, you've heard it before, but this time it's on the cards and looking like a safe bet from all angles. Those close advise he's got the fire in the belly, much like the type Aussie gambling tycoon James Packer got, seeing 'Our James' returning to the television spectrum.
Politically and in a business and all round timing aspect in makes good sense. Let's see, its only next week when California will elect a new governor. Some say it can't happen soon enough. So, in 2 months Arnie will be available for opportunities that take his fancy.
Schwarzenegger, now a great looking 63, doesn't appear to be after the job of U.S President. We mean, who the heck would want that job these days. His bio and CV is world class all the way and sports titles and attributes such as Mr Universe body builder champion, politician, environmental campaigner, movie star and philanthropist.
Hollywood types and political analysts reckon he time is about right for Arnie to lay his cards on the table and make his move - big splash fashion, for the most impact. Long time mate and associate Stallone is understood to be assisting him with strategy (and sourcing the right opportunities).
Veteran Hollywood publicist Howard Bragman was happy to go on record with "People still love Arnold. He can choose whatever he wants. He's got nothing left to prove, all the money in the world and the world of choices available to him".
In his response to the "what next?" question, Schwarzenegger said in well circulated "Tweetcast" last week that he planned to give speeches, write a book or two, and continue fighting for the environment.
Movies? "It depends ... if someone comes with a great script, with a great idea. Will I still have the patience to sit on the set and do a movie for three months or for six months, all of those things? I don't know," he said.
He teased us be announcing that he recently met with Terminator and Avatar director James Cameron, and would make some sort of an announcement soon!!!
The Republican "Governator" is to conclude his lucky 7 years in office with only a 22% popularity rating among Californians. Sounds like the sort of numbers Australia's Senator Stephen Conroy gets for popularity (Not - Borat speak). His star power and money making potential appears not damaged by his time in politics, which included some impressive and not so impressive happenings.
It's been understood that his Austrian birth rules out a go as US president, not that he would want it anymore, but one political analyst Allan Hoffenblum actually sees a possible appointment in the Obama administration, perhaps on an environmental front.
"I think that is a very viable possibility, especially if Obama does badly in the November congressional elections, he may want to reach out to moderate Republicans," Hoffenblum said.
Elective politics is likely not on his horizon, pundits said. The highest Schwarzenegger can go now is the US Senate, but an opening may be two years away, assuming California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein decides to step down.
In an interesting moneymaker, Arnie also features in The Terminator online slot game released by PartyGaming - PartyCasino.com which has being trying to get back into the U.S market for almost as long as Arnold has been in political office in the hotbed of California. Arnold was apparently unable to get legal casino igaming green lighted in CA while in office, but few are willing to put the blame on him.
Schwarzenegger would have no trouble being hired by Hollywood, be it part time, full time or other. He is still fit and resuming action roles would be "like riding a bike", industry leaks whispered.
A Media Man spokesperson said "Its amazing. There has been a massive upswell in support of Arnie returning to Hollywood, namely for his action movie genre many grew up on. The rebirth of Arnie came around the same time word leaked that he would be teaming up with Stallone in The Expendables, and as they say, the rest is history. Another Expendables movie is being planned, more Expendables games, and Arnie is sounding more and more like he wants more of the action. Most of the public and Hollywood want him back in the action too."
Media Man Profiles
Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Terminator
The Expendables
Sylvester Stallone
Hollywood
Politics
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters and movie buffs, what's your view on a return of Arnie to Hollywood? Tell us in the forum. If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun. Oh, we'll be back!
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
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27 October 2010
PartyCasino Wins Media Man Online Casino Of The Month Award, by Greg Tingle
PartyCasino.com Wins Media Man Online Casino Award
PartyCasino.com has been awarded the Media Man and Casino News Media "Online Casino Of The Month".
PartyGaming's igaming suite has grown a custom to winning awards since they first opened for business in 1997.
The competition for the coveted award was intense again this month with massive bids from both WPTCasino.com, Captain Cooks Casino, Virgin Casino, Betfair, PKR and Noble Casino however there can only be one winner... ladies and gentlemen, that's PartyCasino.com
The award follows PartyPoker's EGR Poker Operator Of The Year and PartyGaming also made the shortlist for EGR Operator Of The Year. Recently PartyGaming's PartyPoker.com also won the Casino News Media "Online Poker Website Of The Month".
The Media Man - Casino News Media accolade is based on a combination of elements including user experience, innovation, trustworthiness, customer service, gameplay, affiliate program offerings, newsworthiness and company values.
PartyCasino.com is one of a number of PartyGaming brands.
The most popular PartyCasino.com games of late include Heist, Circus, Rambo, Palladium Slot, The Godfather, Sinatra, Slotbox, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Mission: Impossible, The Terminator, Cleopatra, Sinatra, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man, Monopoly, Resident Evil, Melon Madness, Wheel Of Fortune and Mega Fortune Wheel.
The PartyCasino.com jackpot is currently approaching the $2 million mark. Players can also compete for The Big One and Marvel Hero Jackpot, playing the Marvel super hero themed online slot games.
PartyCasino's most recent game releases include Shaaark! SuperBet, Crocodopolis, Alice's Wonderland, Glamour Puss, Super Cubes, Heist, Palladium Slot and Circus Slot.
PartyGaming CEO Jim Ryan has gone on record advising PartyCasino will soon feature more Hollywood blockbuster themed slots. A few in the know journalists and media agents have been recently tipped off that an all time classic movie adaption will be showcased in the PartyCasino portfolio within 1 month. PartyCasino has the world's most impressive line up of Hollywood themed games, and more are just around the corner.
PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com customers can also benefit from rewards and bonuses via PartyPoints and the Palladium Lounge. Be certain to check out the PartyCasino exclusive "Cash Machine" that is being championed as one of the greatest online casino promos ever.
Media Man, Casino News Media and Global Gaming Directory do have a b2b relationship with PartyGaming, as they do with dozens of other companies in the gaming, igaming, media and entertainment industry.
Websites
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour Casino
Profiles
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour
PartyGaming
PartyCasino.com has been awarded the Media Man and Casino News Media "Online Casino Of The Month".
PartyGaming's igaming suite has grown a custom to winning awards since they first opened for business in 1997.
The competition for the coveted award was intense again this month with massive bids from both WPTCasino.com, Captain Cooks Casino, Virgin Casino, Betfair, PKR and Noble Casino however there can only be one winner... ladies and gentlemen, that's PartyCasino.com
The award follows PartyPoker's EGR Poker Operator Of The Year and PartyGaming also made the shortlist for EGR Operator Of The Year. Recently PartyGaming's PartyPoker.com also won the Casino News Media "Online Poker Website Of The Month".
The Media Man - Casino News Media accolade is based on a combination of elements including user experience, innovation, trustworthiness, customer service, gameplay, affiliate program offerings, newsworthiness and company values.
PartyCasino.com is one of a number of PartyGaming brands.
The most popular PartyCasino.com games of late include Heist, Circus, Rambo, Palladium Slot, The Godfather, Sinatra, Slotbox, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Mission: Impossible, The Terminator, Cleopatra, Sinatra, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man, Monopoly, Resident Evil, Melon Madness, Wheel Of Fortune and Mega Fortune Wheel.
The PartyCasino.com jackpot is currently approaching the $2 million mark. Players can also compete for The Big One and Marvel Hero Jackpot, playing the Marvel super hero themed online slot games.
PartyCasino's most recent game releases include Shaaark! SuperBet, Crocodopolis, Alice's Wonderland, Glamour Puss, Super Cubes, Heist, Palladium Slot and Circus Slot.
PartyGaming CEO Jim Ryan has gone on record advising PartyCasino will soon feature more Hollywood blockbuster themed slots. A few in the know journalists and media agents have been recently tipped off that an all time classic movie adaption will be showcased in the PartyCasino portfolio within 1 month. PartyCasino has the world's most impressive line up of Hollywood themed games, and more are just around the corner.
PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com customers can also benefit from rewards and bonuses via PartyPoints and the Palladium Lounge. Be certain to check out the PartyCasino exclusive "Cash Machine" that is being championed as one of the greatest online casino promos ever.
Media Man, Casino News Media and Global Gaming Directory do have a b2b relationship with PartyGaming, as they do with dozens of other companies in the gaming, igaming, media and entertainment industry.
Websites
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour Casino
Profiles
PartyCasino.com
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PartyGaming
James Bond Casino Icon Aston Martin Sale Today, by Greg Tingle - 27th October 2010
G'day and tally ho punters, casino lovers and haters, and a big hello today to James Bond 007 enthusiasts. The James Bond franchise has long been a favorite with the casino and poker crowd across the globe, and some experts tip that a few casino millionaires and billionaires are considering adding the famous Bond set of wheels to their private collection. Today, finally, the James Bond DB5 Aston Martin goes up for auction in London.. Media Man and Gambling911 now cross to the action with this special report...
James Bond's 1964 Aston Martin DB5, dubbed the "world's most famous car," by auctioneers, is set to go under the hammer in London and is expected to be sold for over £3 million $5 million AUD) today.
The car, which became a sensation following its appearances in the hit 1960s Bond films Goldfinger and Thunderball, is the sole remaining of the two original "007" DB5's made famous on screen with Sean Connery as the secret MI6 agent.
Wednesday's auction marks the first time the distinctive silver-coloured car has been available to the public to purchase.
Its current owner, American radio broadcasting legend Jerry Lee, bought the car from the Aston Martin Factory in 1969 for just $12,000 and it has rarely been seen in public.
The model comes complete with its "Q-Branch" gadgets including machine guns, bullet-proof shield, revolving number plates, tracking device, removable roof panel, oil slick sprayer, nail spreader and smoke screen.
Several of the gadgets are fully operational, although the machine guns are not real.
Most auctioneers were not prepared to guess how much the Aston Martin may be sold for but some whispered figures of up to $3 million pound.
Casino buffs take note...favorite casino games of Bond include Baccarat Chemin de Fer, Texas Hold'em Poker and Roulette.
Media Man and Bond fans...you may be interested to learn that Media Man is the manager and agent for Aussie - Fijian actor - pro wrestler, John "Vulcan" Seru. Johnno played 'Gabor' in James Bond 'The World Is Not Enough'. Seru also featured in an 'Underbelly' episode alongside up and coming Aussie actor, Firass Dirani.
Stay glued to Gambling911 for more on motorsport, including Aussie legend Mark "The Turkey" Webber. Folks, the names' Tingle, Greg Tingle. Putting the "I" in Bond I Beach!
Media Man Profiles
James Bond
Austin Martin
Hollywood
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how much do you think they will get for the car? Tell us in the forum. As always, if you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
James Bond's 1964 Aston Martin DB5, dubbed the "world's most famous car," by auctioneers, is set to go under the hammer in London and is expected to be sold for over £3 million $5 million AUD) today.
The car, which became a sensation following its appearances in the hit 1960s Bond films Goldfinger and Thunderball, is the sole remaining of the two original "007" DB5's made famous on screen with Sean Connery as the secret MI6 agent.
Wednesday's auction marks the first time the distinctive silver-coloured car has been available to the public to purchase.
Its current owner, American radio broadcasting legend Jerry Lee, bought the car from the Aston Martin Factory in 1969 for just $12,000 and it has rarely been seen in public.
The model comes complete with its "Q-Branch" gadgets including machine guns, bullet-proof shield, revolving number plates, tracking device, removable roof panel, oil slick sprayer, nail spreader and smoke screen.
Several of the gadgets are fully operational, although the machine guns are not real.
Most auctioneers were not prepared to guess how much the Aston Martin may be sold for but some whispered figures of up to $3 million pound.
Casino buffs take note...favorite casino games of Bond include Baccarat Chemin de Fer, Texas Hold'em Poker and Roulette.
Media Man and Bond fans...you may be interested to learn that Media Man is the manager and agent for Aussie - Fijian actor - pro wrestler, John "Vulcan" Seru. Johnno played 'Gabor' in James Bond 'The World Is Not Enough'. Seru also featured in an 'Underbelly' episode alongside up and coming Aussie actor, Firass Dirani.
Stay glued to Gambling911 for more on motorsport, including Aussie legend Mark "The Turkey" Webber. Folks, the names' Tingle, Greg Tingle. Putting the "I" in Bond I Beach!
Media Man Profiles
James Bond
Austin Martin
Hollywood
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how much do you think they will get for the car? Tell us in the forum. As always, if you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
26 October 2010
James Packer Network Ten Deal May Link To Online Gaming And Politics, by Greg Tingle - 26th October 2010
G'day punters, casino and media millionaires and billionaires, those who aspire to be, journalists, politicians and one and all. Australian and Asia Pacific gambling and lifestyle king, James Packer, is on top of the world at the moment and riding a wave of a momentum, following his "share raid of the decade" on Network Ten. Australian Communications Minister Sen Stephen Conroy has named packer's move "Very Clever", and Conroy appears to be on the money this time around according to a vast array of commentators both nationally and internationally. Media Man and Gambling911 can now reveal some of the big picture elements of the Network Ten deal, which point to an interactive media plan which sure looks to include online gambling and gaming, which will compliment his already strong Betfair online offering. The Ten connection by all accounts in the missing link that will give Packer the upper hand in media, new media, online gaming, politics and beyond. Read on for our latest "very clever" report...
Australian gambling and lifestyle 'king of the castle', James Packer, is now seen as a top ten global media baron, thanks to his latest Network Ten moves, including his now famous share raid, which in turn provided much needed confidence in the Australian and international news media - television industry.
In addition, since Packer's raid on Ten, both Network Ten and Crown Limited shares have continued on an upward trend, only now just starting to settle.
Media Man business analysts have been monitoring the situation closely, and one is now prepared to go on record with Gambling911 with the following "James Packer has pulled a genius master stoke with his share raid on Network Ten, and his associated follow up maneuvers. There's numerous benefits Packer and his camp. Snatching quality stock at a bargain price, building media power, political clout, and we strongly believe he's now in an ideal position to leap into national and international online casino and online gambling business ventures, which will tie into television, b2b deals and more. It shouldn't be much longer that Betfair will be only basically offering sports betting gambling. Be watching out for online casino games, political betting, even interactive games linked to TV channels like Network Ten and One. Packer appears to have borrowed a few tried and tested tricks from Rupert Murdoch who have done a solid job in controlling much of Australia's and the western worlds news media interests, mainly in print, TV and film, but also interactive gambling which is huge in the UK and other parts of Europe. Expect Packer to move quickly to offer the full suit of online gambling excitement, first in Australian, then UK most likely, followed by Macau... which his land based casinos also perform strongly. Make now mistake, right now is a historic time for Packer... the man so many were ready to write off only a few years ago. Now many insiders believe that the late Kerry Packer would be enormously proud of how James is performing in gambling, media, and even his work - life balance. For the foreseeable future expect for Crown Limited and Network Ten to leap from strenght to strenght, and if you are looking to grab some shares in either or both companies, do it very soon, before they jump either further. Packer is leading the Australian news media business as we head towards 2010."
Network Ten, Nine and Foxtel sources have been leaking some information to MM, and all agree that Packer is on fire at the moment, and are impressed that even Senator Stephen Conroy was prepared to go on record that Packer made a "very clever move".
Packer is currently Australia's 3rd richest man, much the way he's going he may soon be #1.
James Packer is fighting control of Ten Network, but will he get it? Most expects think Yes.
As a famous Media Man once said, "He who owns the press, runs the press". And, the same can be said for Packer's other big business passion - Gambling.
Gambling has been a virtual goldmine for JP. He has a cunning monopoly on casinos in Australia's Melbourne and Perth, and more casinos in downtown Macau, plus more gambling investments in UK... the Aspers connection and the like.
Packer may soon become even more powerful than his late father, Kerry. Sen Stephen Conroy has not commented on Packer's power, only making the "clever" reference.
The television network / s on Packer's radar / agenda will help him offer the ultimate in online and interactive gambling, at least in Australia for a start.
Online gambling, betting and all the rest of the adds ons are a punters dream (or nightmare), depending upon who you ask. Wives, lock up your husbands... just kidding, we think. And you thought the cricket and footy betting odds were too much... just wait for what's in store. You ain't seen nothing yet.
Packer, friends and associates will want to see the Australian and international footy and cricket corruption cleaned up, so as to not be a negative distraction from the master plan.
Politicians need to watch out for the powerhouse Packer. They will become friends or bitten enemies by the look of it, sort of like the GW Bush "You're either with us, or against us"!
A Media Man insider whispered..."Don't worry JP and DG, we're with you. A very happy shareholder we are, and we're upfront about it, not like some in the Australian news media business who are not upfront to say the least."
Packer is set to become the king of media moguls in Australian history, and watch out anyone that dare take him on, Prime Mister, Greens Party hotshots, or otherwise. Would "real life Underbelly" come into effect if need by to see Packer's dreams come true? Ok, forget that for a bit, but take a wild guess if you dare, and then remind yourself of who was JP's dad, and you'll soon enough get the idea.
Could the past 'Murdoch Amendments' in Australian broadcasting law be a clue as to if 'Packer Amendments' may be just around the corner.
A bit of history. Broadcasting in Australia was deregulated in 1992 by the Bob Hawke government and this upset some who jumped up and down about broadcasters' commercial interests VS the public interest.
Packer is looking to boost profits, cut costs, and boost his media and gambling empire. Will he be prepared to see the quality of journalism suffer to help his bottom line? Only time will tell, but entertainment, gambling and sports content and programming seem to be higher on his overall priorities, than winning news coverage awards at this point.
JP is looking to wrestle control of Network Ten and keep growing the gambling - casino, poker and sports betting et al arms of his empire. His gambling arm downunder is understood to bring 'The King' about $4 billion per year. That's power in most folks black book.
In Packer's defense, his has been more than pulling his weight in social endeavors, be it with poker tournament fundraisers, the 'Packer Wacker' ambo support, Victor Chang and friends happenings, Shane Warne Foundation, Salvation Army matters and more.
Having said that, Packer is yet to release the final plan, goals and the like of his Packer Foundation, and it might serve him well to give clarity on the matter.
Erica Packer aka Erica Baxter has also been doing more than her fair share with a number of worthy causes, including everyone's favorite, National Breast Cancer Foundation, but also some lesser known worthy causes on the quite, just as Media Man does from time to time.
Anon sources in both camps both pointed out words to the effect of "The better the businesses perform, the more we can support good causes".
Philanthropy Australia estimates that there are more than 2000 foundations in Australia, giving between $500 million and $1 billion a year.
Packer may be adding to his own wealth, whilst helping numerous causes, but at the same time don't dismiss his contribution to the Australian economy. Jobs, training, the tourism and lifestyle sector, more technology jobs on the way, and so it goes on. Without "whales" like Packer, the economy would further slow, and jobs would be lost. If you need more convincing of Packer's great work, along with mates like Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest, just look up GenerationOne, where they have taken some "down and outters", and turned their lives around. Those close are known to call it the Twiggy - Packer magic, and it works for both social enterprise and commercial endeavors.
Media Man top brass also added "James Packer surprises a few folks with his move back into television, Mind you, he surprised a few with his massive bounce back in the casino and gaming sector in Australia and Macau also, as well as his solid exit strategy from the mayhem Las Vegas. Watch for Packer to also ramp up in the online area, with Betfair maintaining a strong position. More online casino game content to hit Betfairs, and I would be totally surprised to see the likes of a Packer do a deal with other leaders like PartyGaming or Richard Branson's Virgin. Packer is friendly with Tom Cruise, featured in a PartyGaming release, and has also been spotted and photographed with Richard Branson over the years, so nothing is impossible for JP - James Packer at this stage of the game. He appears to have the killer instinct and is virtually unstoppable. You really have to give the devil his due. At the same time he is main tainting his friendship with Network Nine boss David Gyngell, so good on his for taking care of the work - life balance, something many media and gaming tycoons struggle with. Packer is starting to turn into a living legend, and we are not talking that up. The record speaks for itself. For anyone that wants to try to step in Packer's way, its game on.!
Packer also has accelerated plans to offer Australian's a full online casino offering via his 50% owned Betfair, which have noted the success of other online gambling operators servicing down under such as Interestingly, PartyGaming's last year in a b2b type arrangement directed a number of their online poker players to Packer's poker tournament, Aussie Millions. Packer mate, Shane Warne, is also tipped to have a poker room and / or tourney named after him at Crown Casino, and its speculated other deals are on the radar with even some tipping Media Man, Casino News Media, Richard Branson - Virgin b2b and website portals in the mix. PartyGaming and NextGen Gaming are expected to also pitch to Packer and his team on the new media - internet front, and the brands 'Underbelly', 'Kerry Packer' and 'Casino Jack' keep coming up. First Packer is expect to get his Betfair to the next stage of offering a more comprehensive gambling offering, but at the same time the Packer camp is open to the right sort of b2b proposals.
A Media Man spokesperson said "James Packer's latest business plays have been brilliant. It's risk management, brand building, convergent media, relationship leveraging and more all in one. He's also buying entities at the right price, and has a global business model which helps ride out the world's financial storm, while also having an Australian - Asia Pacific focus, which is one of the strongest markets in the world at the moment, away from the chaos of sorts in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. From here on up it should be pretty smooth sailing for Packer and Billionaire Inc. Punters should likely expect some gambling or gaming reality TV shows, as Packer's passion for both having a punt and news media is pretty contagious. Packer is making exciting and smart business moves and has a world class team of advisers around him. He's also spending millions upgrading Crown and Burswood casinos, to help further cement them as the leaders, while Tabcorp tries to chase him with their Star City. Packer once again proves the knockers wrong, and we can't wait to get back down to Crown Casino to congratulate the Packer powers that be in person. From Bondi Beach to Palm Beach, Macau, Perth, the internet, to TV land - the world is his oyster. Watch this space".
Media Man Profiles
Australia
Australian Casinos
Crown Casino
Network Ten
James Packer
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, do you agree with our assessment of the Packer plans re media linked to the internet, online gambling and political power across Australian, then the globe? Keep checking daily for updates. If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
Crown Limited Share Price: $8.450
Network Ten Holdings Limited Price: $1.61
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
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Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
Australian gambling and lifestyle 'king of the castle', James Packer, is now seen as a top ten global media baron, thanks to his latest Network Ten moves, including his now famous share raid, which in turn provided much needed confidence in the Australian and international news media - television industry.
In addition, since Packer's raid on Ten, both Network Ten and Crown Limited shares have continued on an upward trend, only now just starting to settle.
Media Man business analysts have been monitoring the situation closely, and one is now prepared to go on record with Gambling911 with the following "James Packer has pulled a genius master stoke with his share raid on Network Ten, and his associated follow up maneuvers. There's numerous benefits Packer and his camp. Snatching quality stock at a bargain price, building media power, political clout, and we strongly believe he's now in an ideal position to leap into national and international online casino and online gambling business ventures, which will tie into television, b2b deals and more. It shouldn't be much longer that Betfair will be only basically offering sports betting gambling. Be watching out for online casino games, political betting, even interactive games linked to TV channels like Network Ten and One. Packer appears to have borrowed a few tried and tested tricks from Rupert Murdoch who have done a solid job in controlling much of Australia's and the western worlds news media interests, mainly in print, TV and film, but also interactive gambling which is huge in the UK and other parts of Europe. Expect Packer to move quickly to offer the full suit of online gambling excitement, first in Australian, then UK most likely, followed by Macau... which his land based casinos also perform strongly. Make now mistake, right now is a historic time for Packer... the man so many were ready to write off only a few years ago. Now many insiders believe that the late Kerry Packer would be enormously proud of how James is performing in gambling, media, and even his work - life balance. For the foreseeable future expect for Crown Limited and Network Ten to leap from strenght to strenght, and if you are looking to grab some shares in either or both companies, do it very soon, before they jump either further. Packer is leading the Australian news media business as we head towards 2010."
Network Ten, Nine and Foxtel sources have been leaking some information to MM, and all agree that Packer is on fire at the moment, and are impressed that even Senator Stephen Conroy was prepared to go on record that Packer made a "very clever move".
Packer is currently Australia's 3rd richest man, much the way he's going he may soon be #1.
James Packer is fighting control of Ten Network, but will he get it? Most expects think Yes.
As a famous Media Man once said, "He who owns the press, runs the press". And, the same can be said for Packer's other big business passion - Gambling.
Gambling has been a virtual goldmine for JP. He has a cunning monopoly on casinos in Australia's Melbourne and Perth, and more casinos in downtown Macau, plus more gambling investments in UK... the Aspers connection and the like.
Packer may soon become even more powerful than his late father, Kerry. Sen Stephen Conroy has not commented on Packer's power, only making the "clever" reference.
The television network / s on Packer's radar / agenda will help him offer the ultimate in online and interactive gambling, at least in Australia for a start.
Online gambling, betting and all the rest of the adds ons are a punters dream (or nightmare), depending upon who you ask. Wives, lock up your husbands... just kidding, we think. And you thought the cricket and footy betting odds were too much... just wait for what's in store. You ain't seen nothing yet.
Packer, friends and associates will want to see the Australian and international footy and cricket corruption cleaned up, so as to not be a negative distraction from the master plan.
Politicians need to watch out for the powerhouse Packer. They will become friends or bitten enemies by the look of it, sort of like the GW Bush "You're either with us, or against us"!
A Media Man insider whispered..."Don't worry JP and DG, we're with you. A very happy shareholder we are, and we're upfront about it, not like some in the Australian news media business who are not upfront to say the least."
Packer is set to become the king of media moguls in Australian history, and watch out anyone that dare take him on, Prime Mister, Greens Party hotshots, or otherwise. Would "real life Underbelly" come into effect if need by to see Packer's dreams come true? Ok, forget that for a bit, but take a wild guess if you dare, and then remind yourself of who was JP's dad, and you'll soon enough get the idea.
Could the past 'Murdoch Amendments' in Australian broadcasting law be a clue as to if 'Packer Amendments' may be just around the corner.
A bit of history. Broadcasting in Australia was deregulated in 1992 by the Bob Hawke government and this upset some who jumped up and down about broadcasters' commercial interests VS the public interest.
Packer is looking to boost profits, cut costs, and boost his media and gambling empire. Will he be prepared to see the quality of journalism suffer to help his bottom line? Only time will tell, but entertainment, gambling and sports content and programming seem to be higher on his overall priorities, than winning news coverage awards at this point.
JP is looking to wrestle control of Network Ten and keep growing the gambling - casino, poker and sports betting et al arms of his empire. His gambling arm downunder is understood to bring 'The King' about $4 billion per year. That's power in most folks black book.
In Packer's defense, his has been more than pulling his weight in social endeavors, be it with poker tournament fundraisers, the 'Packer Wacker' ambo support, Victor Chang and friends happenings, Shane Warne Foundation, Salvation Army matters and more.
Having said that, Packer is yet to release the final plan, goals and the like of his Packer Foundation, and it might serve him well to give clarity on the matter.
Erica Packer aka Erica Baxter has also been doing more than her fair share with a number of worthy causes, including everyone's favorite, National Breast Cancer Foundation, but also some lesser known worthy causes on the quite, just as Media Man does from time to time.
Anon sources in both camps both pointed out words to the effect of "The better the businesses perform, the more we can support good causes".
Philanthropy Australia estimates that there are more than 2000 foundations in Australia, giving between $500 million and $1 billion a year.
Packer may be adding to his own wealth, whilst helping numerous causes, but at the same time don't dismiss his contribution to the Australian economy. Jobs, training, the tourism and lifestyle sector, more technology jobs on the way, and so it goes on. Without "whales" like Packer, the economy would further slow, and jobs would be lost. If you need more convincing of Packer's great work, along with mates like Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest, just look up GenerationOne, where they have taken some "down and outters", and turned their lives around. Those close are known to call it the Twiggy - Packer magic, and it works for both social enterprise and commercial endeavors.
Media Man top brass also added "James Packer surprises a few folks with his move back into television, Mind you, he surprised a few with his massive bounce back in the casino and gaming sector in Australia and Macau also, as well as his solid exit strategy from the mayhem Las Vegas. Watch for Packer to also ramp up in the online area, with Betfair maintaining a strong position. More online casino game content to hit Betfairs, and I would be totally surprised to see the likes of a Packer do a deal with other leaders like PartyGaming or Richard Branson's Virgin. Packer is friendly with Tom Cruise, featured in a PartyGaming release, and has also been spotted and photographed with Richard Branson over the years, so nothing is impossible for JP - James Packer at this stage of the game. He appears to have the killer instinct and is virtually unstoppable. You really have to give the devil his due. At the same time he is main tainting his friendship with Network Nine boss David Gyngell, so good on his for taking care of the work - life balance, something many media and gaming tycoons struggle with. Packer is starting to turn into a living legend, and we are not talking that up. The record speaks for itself. For anyone that wants to try to step in Packer's way, its game on.!
Packer also has accelerated plans to offer Australian's a full online casino offering via his 50% owned Betfair, which have noted the success of other online gambling operators servicing down under such as Interestingly, PartyGaming's last year in a b2b type arrangement directed a number of their online poker players to Packer's poker tournament, Aussie Millions. Packer mate, Shane Warne, is also tipped to have a poker room and / or tourney named after him at Crown Casino, and its speculated other deals are on the radar with even some tipping Media Man, Casino News Media, Richard Branson - Virgin b2b and website portals in the mix. PartyGaming and NextGen Gaming are expected to also pitch to Packer and his team on the new media - internet front, and the brands 'Underbelly', 'Kerry Packer' and 'Casino Jack' keep coming up. First Packer is expect to get his Betfair to the next stage of offering a more comprehensive gambling offering, but at the same time the Packer camp is open to the right sort of b2b proposals.
A Media Man spokesperson said "James Packer's latest business plays have been brilliant. It's risk management, brand building, convergent media, relationship leveraging and more all in one. He's also buying entities at the right price, and has a global business model which helps ride out the world's financial storm, while also having an Australian - Asia Pacific focus, which is one of the strongest markets in the world at the moment, away from the chaos of sorts in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. From here on up it should be pretty smooth sailing for Packer and Billionaire Inc. Punters should likely expect some gambling or gaming reality TV shows, as Packer's passion for both having a punt and news media is pretty contagious. Packer is making exciting and smart business moves and has a world class team of advisers around him. He's also spending millions upgrading Crown and Burswood casinos, to help further cement them as the leaders, while Tabcorp tries to chase him with their Star City. Packer once again proves the knockers wrong, and we can't wait to get back down to Crown Casino to congratulate the Packer powers that be in person. From Bondi Beach to Palm Beach, Macau, Perth, the internet, to TV land - the world is his oyster. Watch this space".
Media Man Profiles
Australia
Australian Casinos
Crown Casino
Network Ten
James Packer
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, do you agree with our assessment of the Packer plans re media linked to the internet, online gambling and political power across Australian, then the globe? Keep checking daily for updates. If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
Crown Limited Share Price: $8.450
Network Ten Holdings Limited Price: $1.61
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
25 October 2010
James Packer 'Very Clever' TV Raid Says Sen Conroy, by Greg Tingle - 25th October 2010
G'day punters, casino and media billions, those who aspire to be, journalists, politics and one and all. Australian and Asia Pacific gambling and lifestyle king, James Packer, is gaining powerful support in his expanding his empire, with a Network Ten share raid appearing to be a key focus. The move continues to have the attention of the world's casino and media billionaires, and even the Australian Communications Minister Sen Stephen Conroy has been drawn into the excitement, with a rare public comment on friend of sorts, Packer, and no, it didn't take a spot of golf this time around to get the senator to go on record with "Very Clever". Media Man and Gambling911 reach out to you, the loyal and passionate readership with our "very clever" report...
Australian gambling and lifestyle 'king of the castle', James Packer is officially "very clever", at least that's the word from Australian Communications Minister, out friend and yours (satire), Senator Stephen Conroy. The Packer leap sets him up to be one of Australia's, if not the world's, kings of mainstream media. Packer has jumped on (in a smart and friendly fashion) Network Ten in a massive $245 million share raid that also sets him up for next year's AFL broadcast rights, and much more. The move is an exciting return for Packer as one of the Australian media's heavyweights some 4 years after he started selling off his family's famous share in PBL Media, including the main event attraction, the prestigious Nine Network. Analysts now expect the move will spark more maneuvering and "fun and games" in the industry by competitors ahead of key changes to Australian sports broadcast laws, notably the anti-siphoning regime that restricts pay-TV's shadow. Communications Minister, you're friend and ours (satire) Stephen Conroy previously said the purchase of Ten shares was a matter for Packer. Media and gaming insiders have noted its great to see Conroy stop attacking the gaming and media sector, and be balanced and non confrontational once again. Just maybe Conroy may like the fact that Australian television is easier to censors and "filter" than the internet, but that's only speculation.
Ok, we know Packer is a smart cookie and made a "very clever move", but let's dig a little deeper shall we.
'Our James', son of the late gambling and media mogul Kerry Packer, has been named as the mystery buyer of a A$250 million (S$318 million), 18% in Ten Network, one of Australia's 3 major commercial stations. Currently before the famed antitrust watchdog...Woof, Conroy said the investment posed "some issues around competition and concentration".
"But I think James is a very, very savvy businessman and this is a very clever move," Conroy told ABC TV. "I think he's got a foot in all the camps and he likes to have all the bases covered.".
Conroy declined to comment on whether he regarded Packer's stake as constituting a controlling interest in Ten, but said it was "clear... (he) has got more support than just his own holding from all indications." Regulators faced a 'real challenge' in deciding whether or not the move was anti-competitive, he added.
Packer has casino and gaming - gambling - sports betting interests in Australia and Macau but his company Consolidated Media Holdings also holds a 25% stake in pay-TV provider Foxtel and also owns 50% of the Fox Sports cable network. Fox Sports is also tied in with Premier Media Group, where some Media Man top brass once did some work experience. He effectively walked from commercial television 2 years back with the sale of most of his stake in rival Network Nine, an empire founded by his grandfather, Sir Frank Packer, and built up by his late father, Kerry. Packer said he had been lured back to the industry by the surprise success of extra free-to-air channels launched on the new digital spectrum by the major networks, saying he was "happy to be back".
"It's a vote of confidence for free-to-air television," Packer told News Limited - Rupert Murdoch owned The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, in his first public - on the record bit about the Ten share raid. "Multi-channels have surprised everybody with their outstanding success to take advertising dollars from other mediums while pay-TV stays strong."
Since the announcement of Packer's raid on Ten, both Network Ten and Crown Limited shares have continued an upward rise.
Media Man top brass added "James Packer surprises a few folks with his move back into television, Mind you, he surprised a few with his massive bounce back in the casino and gaming sector in Australia and Macau also, as well as his solid exit strategy from the mayhem Las Vegas. Watch for Packer to also ramp up in the online area, with Betfair maintaining a strong position. More online casino game content to hit Betfairs, and I would be totally surprised to see the likes of a Packer do a deal with other leaders like PartyGaming or Richard Branson's Virgin. Packer is friendly with Tom Cruise, featured in a PartyGaming release, and has also been spotted and photographed with Richard Branson over the years, so nothing is impossible for JP - James Packer at this stage of the game. He appears to have the killer instinct and is virtually unstoppable. You really have to give the devil his due. At the same time he is main tainting his friendship with Network Nine boss David Gyngell, so good on his for taking care of the work - life balance, something many media and gaming tycoons struggle with. Packer is starting to turn into a living legend, and we are not talking that up. The record speaks for itself. For anyone that wants to try to step in Packer's way, its game on.!
The Packer camp is expected to make more information available to the press in the coming days, and rest assured Media Man and Gambling911 are onto it.
More details on the Packer - Network Ten Raid...
Packer's Consolidated Media Holdings purchased the 15.6% stake in the network through investment bank UBS, a favorite of JP. A block of some 163.3 million Ten shares was traded in a single transaction at $1.50 a piece, according to the Australian Securities Exchange. Packer mate, David Gyngell, recently purchasing a modest $100,000 or so worth of Crown Limited shares. Numerous in the know sources, leaks et al continued to confirm Packer's company was indeed behind the sale. The move also comes amid heavy speculation Packer is planning to privatise his gaming empire, Crown Limited, in which he has also recently increased his stake, leading by example, say the Packer supporters. Packer and Kerry Stokes began wrestling for Consolidated Media, which holds online and pay television assets in the middle of last year. The move got people talking about Packer moving into position ahead of the next round of AFL television rights that are up for grabs in 2011. They do say the early bird catches the worm, so Packer might be feeling a like a very confident worm as of late.
CMH currently also owns a 25% stake at pay TV operator Foxtel. BBY media analyst Mark McDonnell was prepared to go on record and advised the purchase put Fox Sports into a strategic position for the AFL rights. "It's very interesting, particularly with the AFL rights coming up again next year and, of course, Ten teamed up with Seven and Fox Sports the last time the contract was being renewed. Packer effectively owns Fox Sports and the AFL rights are going to be one of the big stories over the next 12 months." McDonnell said CMH may have also "simply" thought Ten's shares were going for a good price and Packer may have seen potential in the network's future. However he also said every free to air channel wanted the football broadcasting rights and the move positioned Ten into a strong position to again team up with Foxtel. The purchase also coincides with the Gillard Government's review of anti-siphoning laws governing sports broadcasting on Australian television. Both Foxtel and the AFL have been lobbying for changes to the anti-siphoning legislation so pay-TV stations can bid for a minimum of 4 home-and-away matches a week. Packer is surrounded by media and sports on the home front, owning a pad overlooking Bondi Beach, world class pro surfers, favorite of NRL Sydney Roosters, mate Gyngell, the Bondi Rescue (Network Ten inked lads), and much much more. Yeah, Media Man has a pad there too, and Bondi Beach is constantly becoming home to Australia's best entertainment and sporting talent. Warnie, are you here yet mate? Poker in the beach park perhaps or a few slots at Bondi Icebergs Bergs Gaming? Changes to the anti-siphoning legislation could allow the 3 big free-to-air networks to broadcast AFL matches on their digital channels and AFL games on their secondary digital channels. Senator Conroy's spokesman said the anti-siphoning review would be released "shortly". Network Ten declined to comment, while Media Man said "coincidences don't normally happen, be it in gambling, media or the internet business. Packer is smart and clearly his relationship and lines of communication with Sen Conroy are excellent, so you have to give the devil his due."
A number of high profile media and gaming commentators also think its a smart move by Packer ramping up his TV interests, and industry talks says of Packer...fire in the belly, and his passion for news media has certainly bounced back. Insiders also tipped he enjoys seeing the balanced and positive coverage of his Crown Casino empire on Ten News and The 7PM Project, giving him a fair go, when some other Australian media companies choose to go more down the "attack journalism" path. Packer also has plans to offer Australian's a full online casino offering via his 50% owned Betfair, which have noted the success of other online gambling operators servicing down under such as PartyGaming. Interestingly, PartyGaming's PartyPoker last year in a b2b type arrangement directed a number of their online poker players to Packer's poker tournament, Aussie Millions. Packer mate, Shane Warne, is also tipped to have a poker room and / or tourney named after him at Crown Casino, and its speculated other deals are on the radar with even some tipping Media Man, Casino News Media, Richard Branson - Virgin b2b and website portals in the mix. PartyGaming and NextGen Gaming are expected to also pitch to Packer and his team on the new media - internet front, and the brands 'Underbelly', 'Kerry Packer' and 'Casino Jack' keep coming up. Yep, Packer is a busy man and taking on the world and winning by all accounts.
A Media Man spokesperson said "James Packer's latest business plays have been brilliant. It's risk management, brand building, convergent media, relationship leveraging and more all in one. He's also buying entities at the right price, and has a global business model which helps ride out the world's financial storm, while also having an Australian - Asia Pacific focus, which is one of the strongest markets in the world at the moment, away from the chaos of sorts in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. From here on up it should be pretty smooth sailing for Packer and Billionaire Inc. Punters should likely expect some gambling or gaming reality TV shows, as Packer's passion for both having a punt and news media is pretty contagious. Packer is making exciting and smart business moves and has a world class team of advisers around him. He's also spending millions upgrading Crown and Burswood casinos, to help further cement them as the leaders, while Tabcorp tries to chase him with their Star City. Packer once again proves the knockers wrong, and we can't wait to get back down to Crown Casino to congratulate the Packer powers that be in person. From Bondi Beach to Palm Beach, Macau, Perth, the internet, to TV land - the world is his oyster. Watch this space".
Media Man Profiles
Australia
Australian Casinos
Crown Casino
Network Ten
James Packer
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, what's your view on the latest? Keep checking daily for updates. If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
Crown Limited Share Price: $8.530
Network Ten Holdings Limited Price: $1.61
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
Website Network
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Media Man Australia
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Australian gambling and lifestyle 'king of the castle', James Packer is officially "very clever", at least that's the word from Australian Communications Minister, out friend and yours (satire), Senator Stephen Conroy. The Packer leap sets him up to be one of Australia's, if not the world's, kings of mainstream media. Packer has jumped on (in a smart and friendly fashion) Network Ten in a massive $245 million share raid that also sets him up for next year's AFL broadcast rights, and much more. The move is an exciting return for Packer as one of the Australian media's heavyweights some 4 years after he started selling off his family's famous share in PBL Media, including the main event attraction, the prestigious Nine Network. Analysts now expect the move will spark more maneuvering and "fun and games" in the industry by competitors ahead of key changes to Australian sports broadcast laws, notably the anti-siphoning regime that restricts pay-TV's shadow. Communications Minister, you're friend and ours (satire) Stephen Conroy previously said the purchase of Ten shares was a matter for Packer. Media and gaming insiders have noted its great to see Conroy stop attacking the gaming and media sector, and be balanced and non confrontational once again. Just maybe Conroy may like the fact that Australian television is easier to censors and "filter" than the internet, but that's only speculation.
Ok, we know Packer is a smart cookie and made a "very clever move", but let's dig a little deeper shall we.
'Our James', son of the late gambling and media mogul Kerry Packer, has been named as the mystery buyer of a A$250 million (S$318 million), 18% in Ten Network, one of Australia's 3 major commercial stations. Currently before the famed antitrust watchdog...Woof, Conroy said the investment posed "some issues around competition and concentration".
"But I think James is a very, very savvy businessman and this is a very clever move," Conroy told ABC TV. "I think he's got a foot in all the camps and he likes to have all the bases covered.".
Conroy declined to comment on whether he regarded Packer's stake as constituting a controlling interest in Ten, but said it was "clear... (he) has got more support than just his own holding from all indications." Regulators faced a 'real challenge' in deciding whether or not the move was anti-competitive, he added.
Packer has casino and gaming - gambling - sports betting interests in Australia and Macau but his company Consolidated Media Holdings also holds a 25% stake in pay-TV provider Foxtel and also owns 50% of the Fox Sports cable network. Fox Sports is also tied in with Premier Media Group, where some Media Man top brass once did some work experience. He effectively walked from commercial television 2 years back with the sale of most of his stake in rival Network Nine, an empire founded by his grandfather, Sir Frank Packer, and built up by his late father, Kerry. Packer said he had been lured back to the industry by the surprise success of extra free-to-air channels launched on the new digital spectrum by the major networks, saying he was "happy to be back".
"It's a vote of confidence for free-to-air television," Packer told News Limited - Rupert Murdoch owned The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, in his first public - on the record bit about the Ten share raid. "Multi-channels have surprised everybody with their outstanding success to take advertising dollars from other mediums while pay-TV stays strong."
Since the announcement of Packer's raid on Ten, both Network Ten and Crown Limited shares have continued an upward rise.
Media Man top brass added "James Packer surprises a few folks with his move back into television, Mind you, he surprised a few with his massive bounce back in the casino and gaming sector in Australia and Macau also, as well as his solid exit strategy from the mayhem Las Vegas. Watch for Packer to also ramp up in the online area, with Betfair maintaining a strong position. More online casino game content to hit Betfairs, and I would be totally surprised to see the likes of a Packer do a deal with other leaders like PartyGaming or Richard Branson's Virgin. Packer is friendly with Tom Cruise, featured in a PartyGaming release, and has also been spotted and photographed with Richard Branson over the years, so nothing is impossible for JP - James Packer at this stage of the game. He appears to have the killer instinct and is virtually unstoppable. You really have to give the devil his due. At the same time he is main tainting his friendship with Network Nine boss David Gyngell, so good on his for taking care of the work - life balance, something many media and gaming tycoons struggle with. Packer is starting to turn into a living legend, and we are not talking that up. The record speaks for itself. For anyone that wants to try to step in Packer's way, its game on.!
The Packer camp is expected to make more information available to the press in the coming days, and rest assured Media Man and Gambling911 are onto it.
More details on the Packer - Network Ten Raid...
Packer's Consolidated Media Holdings purchased the 15.6% stake in the network through investment bank UBS, a favorite of JP. A block of some 163.3 million Ten shares was traded in a single transaction at $1.50 a piece, according to the Australian Securities Exchange. Packer mate, David Gyngell, recently purchasing a modest $100,000 or so worth of Crown Limited shares. Numerous in the know sources, leaks et al continued to confirm Packer's company was indeed behind the sale. The move also comes amid heavy speculation Packer is planning to privatise his gaming empire, Crown Limited, in which he has also recently increased his stake, leading by example, say the Packer supporters. Packer and Kerry Stokes began wrestling for Consolidated Media, which holds online and pay television assets in the middle of last year. The move got people talking about Packer moving into position ahead of the next round of AFL television rights that are up for grabs in 2011. They do say the early bird catches the worm, so Packer might be feeling a like a very confident worm as of late.
CMH currently also owns a 25% stake at pay TV operator Foxtel. BBY media analyst Mark McDonnell was prepared to go on record and advised the purchase put Fox Sports into a strategic position for the AFL rights. "It's very interesting, particularly with the AFL rights coming up again next year and, of course, Ten teamed up with Seven and Fox Sports the last time the contract was being renewed. Packer effectively owns Fox Sports and the AFL rights are going to be one of the big stories over the next 12 months." McDonnell said CMH may have also "simply" thought Ten's shares were going for a good price and Packer may have seen potential in the network's future. However he also said every free to air channel wanted the football broadcasting rights and the move positioned Ten into a strong position to again team up with Foxtel. The purchase also coincides with the Gillard Government's review of anti-siphoning laws governing sports broadcasting on Australian television. Both Foxtel and the AFL have been lobbying for changes to the anti-siphoning legislation so pay-TV stations can bid for a minimum of 4 home-and-away matches a week. Packer is surrounded by media and sports on the home front, owning a pad overlooking Bondi Beach, world class pro surfers, favorite of NRL Sydney Roosters, mate Gyngell, the Bondi Rescue (Network Ten inked lads), and much much more. Yeah, Media Man has a pad there too, and Bondi Beach is constantly becoming home to Australia's best entertainment and sporting talent. Warnie, are you here yet mate? Poker in the beach park perhaps or a few slots at Bondi Icebergs Bergs Gaming? Changes to the anti-siphoning legislation could allow the 3 big free-to-air networks to broadcast AFL matches on their digital channels and AFL games on their secondary digital channels. Senator Conroy's spokesman said the anti-siphoning review would be released "shortly". Network Ten declined to comment, while Media Man said "coincidences don't normally happen, be it in gambling, media or the internet business. Packer is smart and clearly his relationship and lines of communication with Sen Conroy are excellent, so you have to give the devil his due."
A number of high profile media and gaming commentators also think its a smart move by Packer ramping up his TV interests, and industry talks says of Packer...fire in the belly, and his passion for news media has certainly bounced back. Insiders also tipped he enjoys seeing the balanced and positive coverage of his Crown Casino empire on Ten News and The 7PM Project, giving him a fair go, when some other Australian media companies choose to go more down the "attack journalism" path. Packer also has plans to offer Australian's a full online casino offering via his 50% owned Betfair, which have noted the success of other online gambling operators servicing down under such as PartyGaming. Interestingly, PartyGaming's PartyPoker last year in a b2b type arrangement directed a number of their online poker players to Packer's poker tournament, Aussie Millions. Packer mate, Shane Warne, is also tipped to have a poker room and / or tourney named after him at Crown Casino, and its speculated other deals are on the radar with even some tipping Media Man, Casino News Media, Richard Branson - Virgin b2b and website portals in the mix. PartyGaming and NextGen Gaming are expected to also pitch to Packer and his team on the new media - internet front, and the brands 'Underbelly', 'Kerry Packer' and 'Casino Jack' keep coming up. Yep, Packer is a busy man and taking on the world and winning by all accounts.
A Media Man spokesperson said "James Packer's latest business plays have been brilliant. It's risk management, brand building, convergent media, relationship leveraging and more all in one. He's also buying entities at the right price, and has a global business model which helps ride out the world's financial storm, while also having an Australian - Asia Pacific focus, which is one of the strongest markets in the world at the moment, away from the chaos of sorts in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. From here on up it should be pretty smooth sailing for Packer and Billionaire Inc. Punters should likely expect some gambling or gaming reality TV shows, as Packer's passion for both having a punt and news media is pretty contagious. Packer is making exciting and smart business moves and has a world class team of advisers around him. He's also spending millions upgrading Crown and Burswood casinos, to help further cement them as the leaders, while Tabcorp tries to chase him with their Star City. Packer once again proves the knockers wrong, and we can't wait to get back down to Crown Casino to congratulate the Packer powers that be in person. From Bondi Beach to Palm Beach, Macau, Perth, the internet, to TV land - the world is his oyster. Watch this space".
Media Man Profiles
Australia
Australian Casinos
Crown Casino
Network Ten
James Packer
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, what's your view on the latest? Keep checking daily for updates. If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
Crown Limited Share Price: $8.530
Network Ten Holdings Limited Price: $1.61
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
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