'Star Trek' return 'irresistible,' says Patrick Stewart at new series premiere

LONDON (Reuters) - Sir Patrick Stewart said returning to “Star Trek” was irresistible as he led a new generation of cast members down the red carpet for the premiere of a series devoted to his much-loved character Jean-Luc Picard.

The 79-year-old British actor had repeatedly refused efforts to lure him back as the starship captain Picard.

But the writers of its latest chapter, “Star Trek: Picard”, helped change his mind to the delight of science fiction fans and his character is due back on screens later this month after a two-decade break.

“I came back because it was irresistible,” Stewart said on the red carpet on Wednesday ahead of a screening at a cinema in London’s Leicester Square.

“I was intrigued and that intrigue grew into something very exciting which is why I’m back.”

But he warned fans that this was a new era for “Star Trek”.

“Everything’s different. Everything. He’s hardly the same man,” he said of Picard.

There was also a question mark over whether the iconic colorful uniforms of the Starship Enterprise crew would return after Stewart said he told writers: “Don’t put me in a uniform.”

The new 10-part series picks up Picard’s life 20 years after the character last appeared in the film set in the 24th century.

A trailer showed a retired Picard living a quiet life running a family vineyard when Dahj, played by Isa Briones, comes to him asking for help and he puts together a crew to return to space.

Quizzed on the red carpet, Briones said that the Star Trek experience had been “crazy”.

“When you first sign on you really don’t know what you’re getting into,” she said.

For co-creator and executive producer Alex Kurtzman, the return of Picard brings a message of hope, reminding viewers of what a great leader can be.

“I think in this moment when so many people are looking and seeing so much division in the world, to be reminded that a great leader can come forward, and bring us back together I think that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

Stewart’s history with Picard dates back to 1987 when he played the character in the TV series “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, as well as in four feature films, the last of which was released in 2002.

Star Trek: Picard will launch on Jan. 24 with new episodes available weekly in the United States on CBS Corp’s CBS.N CBS All Access streaming service and in the UK and 200 other markets on Amazon.com Inc’s (AMZN.O) Prime Video.

CBS All Access has already confirmed that a second season will follow.

Reporting by Reuters Television; writing by Sarah Young; editing by Jonathan Oatis

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3 dead in Los Angeles Halloween party shooting

LOS ANGELES, United States - At least three people were killed and nine others injured in a shooting at a Halloween party in southern Los Angeles late Tuesday, authorities and local media reports said. 

Aerial footage from local TV news channels showed paramedics treating the injured in a yard between a nail salon and a residential home in Long Beach. 

Neighbors said the shooting took place at a Halloween party, according to broadcaster CBS.

The wounded were transported to local hospitals, the Long Beach Fire Department said on Twitter. 

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CBS, Viacom agree to merge into media giant

NEW YORK - After some false starts, CBS and Viacom announced Tuesday they will combine to form the latest media empire in a wave of mergers driven by the need for companies to reformulate themselves for the streaming era.

The new company will have more than $28 billion in revenue and comprise brands such as MTV, Comedy Central and Showtime, as well as Paramount Pictures and publisher Simon & Schuster.

The transaction will bolster their ability to develop original programming that can win subscribers to premium channel, score well with advertisers and resonate with audiences in international markets, the companies said.

The deal recombines 2 entities that were under the same corporate umbrella until they were broken apart in 2006 by Sumner Redstone, chairman emeritus of National Amusements, which holds almost 80 percent of both companies.

The deal comes on the heels of other large transactions in media, including Disney's $71.3 billion acquisition of key assets from Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox, and AT&T's $85 billion purchase of Time Warner.

"I am really excited to see these 2 great companies come together so that they can realize the incredible power of their combined assets," said Shari Redstone, who will chair the new company, ViacomCBS.

"My father once said 'content is king,' and never has that been more true than today," she said in a statement. "We will establish a world-class, multi-platform media organization that is well-positioned for growth in a rapidly transforming industry."

The 2 companies failed in their earlier attempts to pull off a merger, due in part to opposition from former CBS chief executive Les Moonves, who was ousted in September 2018 amid sexual harassment allegations.

Joining forces will allow them to bolster investment in premium entertainment and boost their global reach, with broadcast networks in Britain, Argentina and Australia and content in 45 languages, the companies said in a press release. The deal also should result in $500 million in annual savings.

"The more scale you have, the more clout you have when go to in to negotiate with distributors or even with direct-to-consumers," said Tuna Amobi, analyst at CFRA Research. "It gives them a better chance to compete."

STREAMING ERA 

The traditional media industry is battling to deal with the rise of Netflix, Hulu and other streaming ventures that erode the position of conventional cable packages and broadcasters unveil "over-the-top" options.

CBS itself has launched its "All Access" service which provides on-demand programming for $5.99 per month with limited commercial interruptions or $9.99 per month for ad-free service. 

And Disney in November plans to launch a new "Disney+" service at a starting price of $6.99 monthly that offer its films and television shows as well as the library it acquired through the Fox deal.

Under the all-stock transaction in the latest tie-up, existing CBS shareholders will own 61 percent of the company, while Viacom shareholders will own 39 percent. 

Bob Bakish, chief executive of Viacom, will assume that post in the newly-combined company, while Joe Ianniello, acting chief executive at CBS, will become chairman and CEO of CBS, overseeing CBS-branded assets.

Shares of Viacom fell 5.6 percent to $30.75, while CBS rose 1.4 percent to $48.70. 

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CBS CEO Moonves resigns after sexual misconduct claims

CBS Corp CEO Leslie Moonves resigned from the company, the company said on Sunday, amid fresh allegations of sexual assault and harassment.

CBS also announced a deal to end litigation against controlling shareholder Shari Redstone and National Amusements Inc for control of the broadcaster and media company.

Chief Operating Officer Joe Ianiello will take over as interim CEO as the board searches for a replacement, according to the announcement. The settlements end years of uncertainty over the future of CBS and could potentially open the door future deals.

The announcement comes after 6 more women accused Moonves of sexual assault and harassment in a report published on Sunday in the New Yorker magazine.

National Amusements agreed to avoid pressing for a merger of CBS and Viacom, which is also controlled by National Amusements, for at least two years.

In earlier court filings, NAI had dropped support for a deal before it was sued in May by CBS for control of the company. The settlement does not preclude other parties from suggesting a merger or bringing other potential transactions to the board, one source said.

Moonves, 68, who turned CBS from an aging radio and TV broadcaster into a provider of shows to digital platforms, was expected to reap an estimated $100 million in severance.

But Moonves could end up with nothing pending an investigation into allegations of violence against women conducted by law firms hired by an independent committee of the CBS board of directors.

CBS said it and Moonves will donate $20 million of Moonves' severance to organizations supporting the #MeToo movement.

Five current independent directors and one National Amusement-affiliated director have stepped down from the board of directors and 6 new directors have been elected, the company said.

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CBS leaves accused CEO in place, for now

NEW YORK - US television giant CBS announced Monday that it would select outside lawyers to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct lodged against CEO Leslie Moonves but declined to take further immediate action on his fate.

Moonves, who transformed CBS into a ratings winner after joining the network in 1995, is one of the most powerful American men implicated in the #MeToo era that ignited last year after the career implosion of Harvey Weinstein.

A New Yorker article published Friday revealed allegations from six women who said Leslie Moonves sexually harassed them between the 1980s and late 2000s.

Four described forcible touching or kissing during business meetings, and two said Moonves physically intimidated them or threatened to derail their careers.

"CBS Corporation announced today that its board of directors is in the process of selecting outside counsel to conduct an independent investigation," it said in a statement. "No other action was taken on this matter at today's board meeting."

The board also postponed the corporation's annual meeting of stockholders, which had been scheduled for August 10. No new date or location was announced.

Moonves, 68, acknowledged Friday that "decades ago" he "may have made some women uncomfortable... Those were mistakes, and I regret them immensely."

But he also denied having ever retaliated by harming anyone's career.

His wife, "Big Brother" show host Julie Chen on CBS has come out publicly in his support, as have several women executives at CBS.

Last week, the board of directors issued a preemptive statement before The New Yorker article was published, saying that upon conclusion of its investigation, it would "promptly review the findings and take appropriate action." 

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Clinton, Powell, Albright to guest star in 'Madam Secretary'

LOS ANGELES -- Three former U.S. secretaries of state - Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright - will make guest appearances in October on political television drama "Madam Secretary," broadcaster CBS said on Tuesday.

The three have already filmed their episode, which involves fictional Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord, played by Tea Leoni, turning to her more experienced peers for advice when the series returns for a fifth season on October 7.

“It was a privilege to experience their perspectives and discourse both in and behind the scenes,” Barbara Hall, creator and executive producer of "Madam Secretary," said in a statement.

"Madam Secretary" portrays McCord's efforts to balance delicate diplomatic issues as well as personal stories and her family life.

The show launched in 2014, a year after Clinton stepped down from her post at the State Department after four years. In 2015, the Democrat declared she would run for president in 2016 but was defeated by Republican Donald Trump.

Clinton has appeared briefly on entertainment shows as herself, including a cameo on comedy "Broad City" in 2016 and with "Saturday Night Live" doppelganger Kate McKinnon in 2015.

Madeleine Albright, the first female secretary of state, served under Democratic President Bill Clinton. Colin Powell, secretary of state under Republican President George W. Bush, was the first black man to hold the post.

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CBS, BBC announce global newsgathering tie-up

WASHINGTON - CBS News and the BBC on Thursday announced a new editorial and newsgathering partnership that aims to boost their global strength against rivals such as CNN.

The US and British television news giants will share video, editorial content, and other resources in New York, London, Washington and around the world, according to a joint statement.

"There's never been a more important time for smart, courageous coverage of what's happening in the world," said James Harding, the BBC's director of news and current affairs.

"This new partnership between the BBC and CBS News is designed to bring our audiences -- wherever you live, whatever your point of view -- news that is reliable, original and illuminating. Our ambition is to deliver the best in international reporting on television."

The deal brings together two major television news organizations and comes weeks after US-based NBC finalized a deal to take a 25 percent stake in France-based Euronews to boost its global scale.

CBS News president David Rhodes said his organization "is completely committed to original reporting around the world -- a commitment clearly shared by the BBC."

He added, "There's no better partner to strengthen and extend our global coverage than BBC News."

The two groups sharing of content between CBS News and BBC News will begin immediately and that additional newsgathering elements would be rolled out in the coming months.

BBC News claims to be the largest broadcast news operation in the world with more than 2,000 journalists and 48 newsgathering bureaus, according to its website.

CBS News is part of the large CBS television network with offices around the United States and a handful of overseas locations.

This new partnership replaces the BBC’s current arrangement with Disney-owned ABC News, according to Harding who called that relationship "long and fruitful."

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Trump confers with Asia allies on North Korea nuclear threat

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump is stepping up outreach to allies in Asia to discuss the North Korean nuclear threat and make sure all are "on the same page" if action was needed, a top White House official said on Sunday.

White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said Trump would speak to the leaders of Singapore and Thailand on Sunday, after North Korea test-launched another missile that Washington and Seoul said was unsuccessful but which drew widespread international condemnation.

The telephone calls follow Trump's conversation on Saturday night with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. A week ago, Trump spoke with the presidents of China and Japan on the North Korea issue.

"We need cooperation at some level with as many partners in the area as we can get to make sure that we have our ducks in a row," Priebus told ABC's "This Week."

"So if something does happen in North Korea, that we have everyone in line backing up a plan of action that may need to be put together with our partners in the area,” he said. "We have got to be on the same page."

Priebus said the planned conversations were prompted by the "potential for nuclear and massive destruction in Asia" and eventually in the United States.

The U.S. president, who warned a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible in an interview with Reuters, did not elaborate on any U.S. response to the test. "You'll soon find out," he said Saturday.

Trump has stressed he would not broadcast military options to preserve an element of surprise. His secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, said on Friday all options remained on the table with regard to North Korea.

Pyongyang's missile test came as the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group arrived in waters near the Korean peninsula, where it began exercises with the South Korean navy on Saturday about 12 hours after the failed launch, a South Korean navy official said.

Priebus said Trump was in regular contact with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and that the president had become "very close" to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump, for whom China was a virtual punching bag during the 2016 presidential campaign over trade, told CBS that any trade disputes with the Asian economic giant took a back seat to securing its cooperation on North Korea.

China, the only major ally of North Korea and its largest trading partner, has expressed increasing concern about Pyongyang's pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles in violation of U.N. resolutions. However, it has warned against escalation.

"I think that, frankly, North Korea is maybe more important than trade," Trump said in the "Face the Nation" interview. "Trade is very important. But massive warfare with millions, potentially millions of people being killed? That, as we would say, trumps trade."

Similarly, concerns over human rights in the Philippines, where critics cite extrajudicial killings in Duterte's war on drugs, take a back seat to possible confrontation in Asia.

"There is nothing right now facing this country and facing the region that is a bigger threat than what is happening in North Korea," he said in the ABC interview.

Senator John McCain, a leading Republican on foreign policy, said he did not believe Trump was considering a pre-emptive strike on North Korea. That would put U.S. ally South Korea in immediate danger, he said on CNN's "State of the Union."

"But to say you absolutely rule out that option of course would be foolish. But it has to be the ultimate last option," McCain said.

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Romo expected to trade gridiron for broadcast booth

Quarterback Tony Romo plans to pursue a career in broadcasting even if the Dallas Cowboys release him as expected.

ESPN's Adam Schefter, who is represented by the same agent who represents Romo, broke the story Tuesday. Sports Business Journal connected Romo to CBS as a replacement for the network's top NFL broadcast analyst, Phil Simms.

Romo played only for the Cowboys in his 14-year career.

Offseason speculation centered on Romo joining a new team with QB-needy teams downplaying their interest at last week's owners meetings. The Denver Broncos, Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers were reportedly checking into the potential of adding Romo.

CBS and Romo have not signed the agreement, per Sports Business Journal, but the move is expected to be completed in a matter of days.

Of course, Romo's retirement could become more of a respite from playing football if the Cowboys or another team develop a need unexpectedly.

  
NFL Network reported Romo already discussed bailing out the Cowboys should they need him to return and play in 2017.

Should a playoff-caliber team encounter an emergency at the position, Romo could be enticed to punt the broadcasting plan.

Romo has three seasons remaining on his contract with the Cowboys. On Monday, Romo was given permission to talk to other teams, a signal Dallas wanted to pursue a trade.

Romo has made $127 million in his career, but injuries began taking a toll in recent years.

In 2016, Romo was sidelined in August by a fractured vertebrae and only played one series -- at Philadelphia in the regular season finale -- all season. It was only the latest in a run of major injuries: fractured collarbone (2015), spine (2014), herniated disc (2013).

If Romo files his retirement papers, and the Cowboys designated him a post-June 1 release, they would save $14 million against the 2017 salary cap.

Romo was scheduled to count $24.7 million against the Cowboys' cap in 2017. Instead, his charge would count $10.7 million and $8.9 million in 2018.

The 36-year-old lost his starting job in 2016 after a preseason back injury pushed rookie Dak Prescott into the No. 1 role with the Cowboys. Prescott went on an unexpected run and won Offensive Rookie of the Year, leading the Cowboys to the divisional playoff round where Dallas suffered a last-second loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Romo turns 37 on April 21 and a recent history of back issues likely played a factor in stepping away.

Romo is the all-time leading passer in Cowboys history with 34,183 yards and 248 TD passes.

His career record of 78-49 was overshadowed by failure in the playoffs. Dallas never advanced beyond the divisional playoffs in four appearances with Romo, who passed for 300-plus yards 46 times.

(Editing by Andrew Both)

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Despite overtime finish, Super Bowl draws lower TV ratings

Fox Television's broadcast of Super Bowl LI on Sunday night drew 111.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen data released by the network on Monday, the smallest audience for the National Football League's title game in four years.

The contest included a thrilling finish, with the New England Patriots staging a comeback to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football league's first-ever Super Bowl overtime. The Patriots returned from a 25-point deficit and quarterback Tom Brady, 39, won his record fifth championship.

The Falcons were in control for much of the game, with a 28-3 lead midway through the third quarter. Viewership surged as the Patriots' pushed the game into overtime, peaking at 117.7 million from 10 p.m. to 10:15 p.m ET (0300-0315 GMT).

Without the Patriots' rally, ratings would've been even worse for Fox, which still posted the least-viewed Super Bowl since 2013, when 108.7 million watched the Baltimore Ravens defeat the San Francisco 49ers.

Lady Gaga's halftime show drew 117.5 million viewers.

Last year's Super Bowl drew a 111.9 million viewers to CBS Corp's CBS, while the Patriots' previous title game appearance in 2015 helped Comcast Corp's NBC television draw 114.4 million viewers, the most-watched TV broadcast in U.S. history.

Despite the lower viewership, the brief overtime, in which the Patriots scored a touchdown in their first possession, allowed Fox to add four more commercials. It is not clear how many more ad dollars Fox was able to get; the network was charging $5 million for 30-seconds of airtime during the game. Fox brought in an estimated $509.6 million in ad revenue for the broadcast, according to research firm iSpot.TV.

Advertising took up 23 percent of the broadcast, with 51 minutes and 30 seconds of commercials. That made it the second-most ad-cluttered Super Bowl game, according to ad-tracking firm Kantar Media.

The four-year viewership low comes on the heels of a disappointing NFL season that saw ratings decline 9 percent and another 6 percent through the playoffs leading up to the Super Bowl. The NFL's four U.S. TV partners, Fox, NBC, CBS and Walt Disney Co's ESPN, are collectively paying $5.4 billion per year under their current media rights contracts.

Much of the ratings decline during the season was blamed on the contentious U.S. presidential election drawing interest away, as well as the lackluster quality of play early in the season. Prior to the Nov. 8 election, ratings were down 12 percent, but were only off by 5 percent after, according to analysis by MoffettNathanson.

(Reporting by Tim Baysinger; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Alan Crosby)

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Baton Rouge police officers shot, two reported dead

LOUISIANA, USA - Multiple police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were shot on Sunday morning, a department spokesman said, as the country remains on edge about police and community relations.

Two of the officers have died, Baton Rouge's chief administrative officer told the Advocate Newspaper.

The officers were taken to a local hospital, spokesman Sergeant Don Coppola said the local CBS affiliate, adding he did not know the extent of their injuries. Sheriff's deputies may have also been involved.

While the scene of the shooting was contained, police have still not taken the shooter into custody and warned local residents to stay away from the scene, near Airline Highway.

The reports come a week after a wave of protests against police violence in Baton Rouge and other cities after a 37-year-old father of five was shot and killed at close quarters by law enforcement officers. At one of the demonstrations in Dallas, a gunman opened fire on white officers assigned to the protest, killing five of them.

Telephone video footage carried on a local news station showed police cars arriving at a suburban intersection, and then five shots rang out.

A WFAB reporter at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, where the injured officers were taken, said the flag outside was at half staff.

(Reporting by Lisa Lambert, Ian Simpson, Tim Gardne and Julia Edwards in Washington, editing by David Evans)

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Actor John Stamos arrested on DUI charge in Beverly Hills -media

Actor John Stamos was arrested on Friday for suspected driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Beverley Hills, the southern California city which is home to many Hollywood stars, CBS Los Angeles reported.

Police officials told the broadcaster that Stamos, 51, was arrested around 7:45 p.m. local time and was taken to a nearby hospital.

Reuters could not independently confirm the report. Officials with the Beverley Hills Police Department were not immediately available for comment.

Stamos is best known for his role as Jesse in the 1990s sitcom "Full House," where he played opposite then-child stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

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Stars, presidents join Letterman for final act

NEW YORK -- Hollywood stars Steve Martin and Tina Fey, comedians Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld and a host of U.S. presidents joined the band Foo Fighters on Wednesday to bid farewell to David Letterman as the veteran "Late Show" host signed off for the last time.

The show as expected featured no sit-down guest interviews, relying heavily on clips of Letterman shows going all the way back to his 1980s morning show on NBC, people who attended said.

It opened with old footage of former President Gerald Ford intoning, out of context: "Our long national nightmare is finally over," referring at the time to the Watergate scandal.

In succession, Presidents George H. and George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and finally Barack Obama all repeated Ford's pronouncement verbatim, in joking reference to Letterman's retirement.

A bevy of top names turned up for one of Letterman's signature bits, the nightly Top 10 list, which was entitled "top 10 things I've always wanted to say to Dave." Barbara Walters, Jim Carrey, Peyton Manning, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Alec Baldwin, Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Bill Murray, Fey and Martin took aim.

"I'm just glad your show has been given to another white guy," was Rock's contribution, making reference to Letterman's successor Stephen Colbert, who takes over in September.

Notably absent was longtime rival and former "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno, although Letterman quipped in his monologue "I'll be honest with you - it's beginning to look like I'm not going to get 'The Tonight Show.'"

More of his trademark self-deprecation followed when he observed that he had done more than 6,000 shows, then joked that noted physicist Stephen Hawking had calculated "It works out to about eight minutes of laughter."

The 68-year-old host, famed for his quick wit, sarcasm, offbeat humor, often snarky attitude and silly stunts, hosted top stars and presidents in his final weeks, much as he did during 33 years on late night television at NBC and CBS.

For his swansong, Letterman, who started in television as a weatherman in his native Indianapolis, dropped his edginess and instead thanked his staff, his audience and CBS executives, including president and CEO Les Moonves who was on hand.

Letterman even took a moment to introduce his wife Regina and son Harry as the lights briefly came up in the Ed Sullivan Theater in Manhattan's Times Square district.

The show, which ran long at more than one hour and 15 minutes, ended as Letterman told viewers "thank you and good night," turning the stage over to his favorite band Foo Fighters.

The group performed "Everlong," once said by Letterman to be his favorite, as a montage of clips from his shows played.

"It was a heart-warming and heartfelt goodbye," said Victor King of Los Angeles, who flew in to attend the historic show.

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Nine dead, several injured in Texas biker shooting: reports

WASHINGTON, United States - Nine people were killed and several injured Sunday after a shootout between rival biker gangs in Waco, Texas, local media reported.

Fighting broke out in a restaurant parking lot between three rival groups, with some members using clubs and knives before pulling guns, according to Sergeant W. Patrick Swanton, speaking to CBS affiliate KWTX.

Waco police said on Facebook that no officers were injured in the deadly incident, without immediately providing further details.

The fighting apparently started inside the restaurant, and police were already on scene when the gang members moved to the parking lot in the Central Texas Market shopping complex when shooting broke out.

The fighting escalated from fists and feet to chains and knives before guns were pulled, and several police officers were shot at, according to KWTX.

The television station reported that the area was secured by police after the incident.

The Waco Police Department warned residents to stay away from the area, and said several armed people had been arrested at the scene.

"Please avoid the Central Texas Market Place as the area is NOT safe. Officers are continuing to arrest individuals coming to the scene with weapons," Waco police said on Facebook.

"This is not the time to sight see as we are dealing with very dangerous individuals."

Waco is located in central Texas and has a population of about 129,000 people.

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Back in spotlight, boxers fighting to stay there

LAS VEGAS - Boxing was back in the headlines on Sunday, basking in the buzz generated by Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s win over Manny Pacquiao in a title fight watched ringside by A-listers and high rollers and millions more around the world on pay-per-view.

A smiling Mayweather exited the MGM Grand Garden Arena late Saturday night flashing a $100 million cheque, the first installment of perhaps a $200 million payday from what could be the top grossing prize fight of all-time.

The welterweight showdown between two boxers regarded as the best of their generation, hyped mercilessly as the 'Fight of the Century', failed to live up to those crushing expectations, but it did deliver an entertaining spectacle that had the capacity crowd of entertainment, sporting and business royalty on its feet roaring.

For a night, boxing, a sport many believe was down for the count, was back at the top.

"Many have said that boxing is dead," Peter Nelson, vice president of programming for HBO Sports which shared the pay-per-view rights with rival Showtime, told Reuters. "There's an inflection point where everyone is saying the sport is in decline, and another light shines.

"I think these things are cyclical. There are moments where it looks like there's a moment of pause, and then someone else picks up steam and acquires the fascination of the fans through their charisma in the ring and out of the ring and the sport replenishes itself.

"It's one of the great mysteries of the sport -- how the stars come to be."

Like every sport, boxing is built on stars and personalities and soon the fight game will be without its biggest and most marketable attraction,

The undefeated Mayweather (48-0) declared on Saturday that he will step into the rink just once more in September and then retire, having matched Rocky Marciano's record of 49-0.

Who will fill that void and take over as the sport's next headliner is unclear.

Heavyweights have traditionally commanded the boxing spotlight but there are no Muhammad Alis, Joe Fraziers or Mike Tysons waiting in the wings.

"Only heavyweight fights can be 'Fights of the Century'", former undisputed heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis told Reuters. "This (Mayweather/Pacquiao) is a super fight , a mega super fight, because of the Internet and social media. I'm glad there is a mega fight in boxing.

"When you look at this type of money, boxing is still alive."

Mayweather's departure, if it comes, would be at a time when boxing is starting to lift itself off the canvas.

Battered by years of declining interest and in a battle with Mixed Martial Arts and the UFC for pay-per-view business, boxing has begun to hit back.

The week prior to the Mayweather/Pacquiao megafight, big time boxing returned to New York's Madison Square Garden where Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko defeated Bryant Jennings to match the legendary Joe Louis' mark of 27 world heavyweight championship fights.

More and more fight cards are popping up across the United States, offering another hint of a renaissance, but it is boxing's return to prime time television that will be the key to the sport's long term future in the United States.

Earlier this year major networks NBC Sports and CBS signed multi-year deals with the sport.

"In order to take this sport back to any level, you have to have it on more than eight times a year on HBO and six times a year on Showtime," boxing manager and promoter Shelly Finkel told Reuters. "You got to build a fighter.

"Returning the game to network television is fabulous.

"Is Mayweather-Pacquiao getting people talking about boxing? Definitely, but they will stop talking if there's not a follow-through afterward." (Editing by Gene Cherry)

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Why Roach isn't optimistic of Pacquiao-Floyd fight

MANILA, Philippines – More than ever, boxing promoter Bob Arum is positive that Manny Pacquiao will get to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. sometime in 2015.

The Top Rank Inc. CEO said he had conversations with CBS executive Leslie Moonves who reportedly had talks with his counterparts in HBO regarding the mega bout.

It looks like the TV networks are working it out to make sure that the fight gets done next year.

“I've had a number of meetings with the chairman of the board of CBS, Leslie Moonves and he's reported back to me about his meeting with Mayweather camp,” Arum told ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo.

“We're getting very, very close, I can't reveal anything, I am really optimistic that we'll get this fight done for first 6 months of 2015.”

“The optimism is justified because I'm not talking to some low level guy... I'm talking to the chairman of the board of CBS, whose had conversation with HBO... all signs for me, it's going to be a go.”

But Pacquiao’s coach is not so optimistic.

Freddie Roach said the bout should have happened a couple of years ago.

"I hope it's true, but I don't see it happening. I don't see it," Roach said in ESPN.com. "It's been three to four years. It should have happened by now. What makes it different this time?”

He added that Pacquiao is bound to hurt Chris Algieri this Sunday and this, he believe, will further scare Mayweather.

“If Manny looks good against Algieri, it will make Mayweather say no even more, so I just laugh at all this. Negotiating the money alone won't happen. They'll never agree on the split Mayweather wants. There's a lot of work to be done, and I don't think it's possible," said Roach.

Arum admitted that Mayweather will have to say “yes” for the multimillion-dollar bout to actually happen.

If it doesn’t push through, Arum said he will meet with Pacquiao’s team to discuss their next move.

“I hope the Mayweather fight does happen... that's the fight we've been looking at for 5 years so it's about time that we make it happen. I hope we make it happen for next year, if not I'll meet with Manny, Freddie and Michael and we'll figure out what we're gonna do,” he said.

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Beatles, wedding attract big TV audience to Grammys

LOS ANGELES -- Beatles, robots and a mass wedding drew 28.5 million viewers to the Grammy awards television broadcast on Sunday night, the show's second-largest audience in two decades, CBS Corp's broadcast network CBS said on Monday.

French electronic-music duo Daft Punk, known for their robot-inspired outfits, took home four awards including album and record of the year, and New Zealand's 17-year-old newcomer Lorde won two, including song of the year.

Viewership was up from last year's Grammys, when 28.1 million viewers tuned into the show, and is the second-largest audience for the Grammy telecast since 1993.

The 2012 show attracted 39.9 million viewers, the second-largest Grammy TV audience ever, thanks largely to British singer Adele's six wins and performance comeback after throat surgery and the drowning death of singer Whitney Houston in a bathtub in a Beverly Hills hotel the night before show.

On Sunday night's show, Seattle-based rapper-producer duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis was named best new artist among four wins. The pair presided over the night's most dramatic moment when 33 same-sex and heterosexual couples were married live on air during a performance of their gay rights ode "Same Love." They were joined by Madonna and Queen Latifah on stage.

The 56th annual Grammys also saw a rare performance by the two surviving members of The Beatles, as Paul McCartney on piano and Ringo Starr on drums came together to sing the new song "Queenie Eye."

The reunion came ahead of the Recording Academy's tribute to the 50th anniversary of The Beatles appearing on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in February 1964, credited with launching rock music's British Invasion.

The three-and-a-half-hour show was a hot topic on social media, with 15.2 million Tweets about the Grammys during the East Coast broadcast, a Twitter spokesman said

The most-Tweeted about performance came midway through the show, when alt-rock group Imagine Dragons and rapper Kendrick Lamar came together for a high-octane mash-up of their songs, garnering more than 172,000 Tweets per minute.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Daft Punk, teenage Lorde take top Grammys

LOS ANGELES -- Two unconventional acts, French electronic music DJs Daft Punk and New Zealand teen Lorde, took home the top Grammy awards on Sunday in a night that rewarded robots and newcomers, and recognized marriage equality.

In a first for the Grammys or any big U.S. awards show, 33 couples, both same-sex and straight, were married by singer Queen Latifah, to the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis gay rights anthem, "Same Love." Madonna emerged in a white suit and cowboy hat to conclude the singing ceremony with "Open Your Heart."

The music industry's glamorous gathering also saw the two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, come together for a rare joint performance coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the British group's breakthrough on American television.

The quirky robotic duo, Daft Punk, scored the double win of album of the year for "Random Access Memories," and record of the year with the summer dance hit "Get Lucky," featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers.

Rodgers praised the French DJ duo for creating their electronic music album using live music recorded on to analog tape, calling it "a labor of love."

"The fact that they decided to put this much effort into the music and bringing in musicians, they had this incredible vision and they believed they achieved something greater by doing that," Rodgers said backstage.

Formed in the early 1990s by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Daft Punk were pioneers of the electronic dance music phenomenon that has recently swept the U.S. mainstream pop industry.

It was impossible to know what the two masked musicians thought about their big win because they choose not to speak as part of their act.

Lorde, 17, won the Grammy for song of the year with her breakout hit "Royals," sharing the award for songwriters with Joel Little. They triumphed over the writers behind Katy Perry's "Roar" and Bruno Mars' "Locked Out of Heaven," among others.

"Thank you to everyone who has let this song explode because it has been mental," said Lorde, whose real name is Ella Yelich-O'Connor, known for a gothic aesthetic that goes against the sexy, scantily clad norm of young pop artists.

High drama at the altar

The Recording Academy also anointed Seattle-based rapper-producer newcomers Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with the Grammy for best new artist and three other awards in rap categories.

"Before there was any media, before there was any buzz about us, before there was a story, there was our fans and it spread organically through them," said Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, as he accepted the best new artist award.

With their homage to marriage equality, the duo also presided over the biggest dramatic moment of the night, the ceremony in a cathedral-like setting, an initiative that Queen Latifah hoped would be emulated across the rap genre.

"I hope this is inspiration to all the rappers out there and hip hop artists out there that they can continue to tackle any subjects you want," Queen Latifah, said backstage, before her power to marry in California expires at midnight.

The 56th Grammy Awards, the music industry's top honors handed out by the Recording Academy across 82 categories, also rewarded a crop of newcomers in several genres.

Kacey Musgraves, 25, won best country album with "Same Trailer Different Park," while alt-rockers Imagine Dragons won best rock performance for "Radioactive."

"This last year has kind of just blown up," said Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds, dusted in the red powder from the band's high-octane performance with rapper Kendrick Lamar.

Beatles 50th anniversary

There was also 71-year-old McCartney, who teamed up with former members of grunge rock band Nirvana, including Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, to win best rock song for "Cut Me Some Slack."

"It was magic for me playing with these guys," said McCartney, adding "I found myself in the middle of a Nirvana reunion and I was very happy."

On Monday, the Recording Academy's "The Night that Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles" will pay homage to the Fab Four's February 1964 performances on the "Ed Sullivan Show," which is credited with launching rock music's so-called British Invasion.

With McCartney at the piano and Starr at his drums on Sunday night -- in a surprise reunion - the two played a new song, "Queenie Eye," a catchy tune that hearkened back to the Beatles' trademark hits. It was only the fourth time they had performed together on stage since a 2002 concert to honor the late George Harrison. John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, and son Sean Lennon were in the crowd dancing along on Sunday.

Kicking off the three-and-a-half-hour show, Beyonce and rapper husband Jay Z sang "Drunk in Love," her first public performance since her self-titled album in December, a game-changer in the music industry for its stealth release.

The final performance by Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age, Grohl and Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham hit a sour note as CBS rolled the end credits over the music.

Nine Inch Nails lead Trent Reznor later sent out a tweet with the words "Music's biggest night ... to be disrespected."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

HBO splits up with Golden Boy

MANILA, Philippines – American cable giant HBO is splitting up with Golden Boy Promotions after the promotional firm’s biggest attraction, Floyd Mayweather Jr., signed a multi-year deal with CBS’ Showtime.

ESPN’s Dan Rafael reported that HBO’s relationship with Oscar dela Hoya’s Golden Boy has deteriorated in the past year when the company’s output deal with the cable firm has not been renewed since 2011.

Since 2012, most of Golden Boy’s stars, like as Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, Danny Garcia, Amir Khan, Victor Ortiz, have been fighting on Showtime.

The last straw for HBO was Mayweather’s multi-fight contract with CBS’ Showtime, whose sports division chief is headed by former Golden Boy chief counsel Stephen Espinoza.

"In order to achieve our goal of the best fighters in the most compelling matchups we've decided to focus our efforts and resources on those strategic relationships where we better share common goals and business philosophies," HBO sports division president Ken Hershman said.

Golden Boy chief executive officer Richard Schaefer said he was not surprised by HBO’s announcement, noting that he hasn’t spoken with HBO Sports since November last year.

“It is clear that in the aftermath of the biggest names in the sport, Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez, leaving HBO for Showtime that HBO is obviously upset at [Mayweather adviser] Al Haymon and me, and this is their way of getting back at us,” he said.

The Golden Boy executive added that HBO’s move will hurt the cable company’s subscribers.

"I think it's an ill-advised strategy because the only ones that are getting hurt are the HBO subscribers, which were used to seeing the best fighters on HBO. That will obviously no longer be the case. Having said that, I wish HBO well. They're a terrific company, and life goes on. For us, it's business as usual," Schaefer said.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Andy Rooney Hospitalized Serious Complications After Surgery

"60 Minutes" icon Andy Rooney has been admitted to a hospital after developing "serious complications" following a minor surgery last week ... this according to CBS.

A rep for the network says the 92-year-old is in stable condition ... but wouldn't release any specific details about Andy's condition.

Story developing ...



Source: http://www.tmz.com/2011/10/25/andy-rooney-hospitalized-stable-condition-60-minutes-cbs/#.Tqh9A1sbBog