World Briefs
The Asian economic meltdown is forcing satcaster TV Shopping Network to restructure and shift its geographic focus.
The two-year-old Sydney based-service said Tuesday the Asian malaise is delaying its expansion plans in Asia and the Middle East, and causing it to lay off 35 of its 505 staffers.
GERMANY
Roland Emmerich's Los Angeles-based Centropolis Entertainment plans to open a post-production company in Cologne. The firm will create the special effects for Centropolis Streamline production "The 13th Floor."
The state of North Rhine Westphalia has reportedly agreed to provide 4 million marks ($2.2 million) in subsidies to the new company.
ITALY
The new board of Italy's pubcaster RAI Tuesday appointed Roberto Zaccaria president, while the sole shareholder of the web, the state-run holding company IRI, appointed Pier Luigi Celli as director general.
Both decisions were widely expected, after the compromise reached last week by Italy's political forces on RAI's top management.
Zaccaria, a former manager of RAI for 16 years, and Celli, also a former exec at RAI, are considered close to center left parties.
MACAU
Macau is expected to get its first satellite television service within the year, according to Xinhua, China's state news agency.
The Macau government has awarded Universe Satellite Television Co. the right to offer six channels. Universe has the rights for 15 years.
Macau, a Portuguese colony of about 500,000 people that will revert to Chinese control in 1999, now has only two channels, one Chinese and one Portuguese, run by the Macau Broadcast and Television Station.
BRAZIL
The Weather Channel Latin America has completed its rollout by launching Portuguese-lingo service O Canal do Tempo in Brazil.
In addition to the channel's six hourly forecasts, the slate will include Brazilian beach reports and boating segments that cover UV indicators, wind direction and velocity, and wave height as well as temperatures.
