TV survey reveals Brits prefer docs

TV Nation 2010, a survey on television viewing habits commissioned by Radio Times and SeeSaw.com, shows that those polled preferred the documentary genre over films, sitcoms and UK drama. The broadcaster that ranked the best was BBC1, followed by ITV1 and BBC2 and Channel 4 tied for third place. David Attenborough was named most trusted presenter, followed by Stephen Fry.

BET changes perception of NASCAR with new docu-series

BET's new docu-series Changing Lanes looks for diversity in NASCAR, the second largest sport in America, as it searches for the next great minority or female race car driver. ESPN.com talks to Max Siegel, the man behind the series and the owner of the NASCAR Revolution Racing team. The series is a production of BET Networks, NASCAR, NASCAR Media Group, 10 x 10 Entertainment and The 909 Group.

Real-life drama in reality TV

CNN tackles the topic of how reality TV producers handle the real-life drama that can take place in their stars' lives, as seen with Fantasia Barrino of VH1's Fantasia For Real. Barrino was recently in the news for an overdose, and it remains to be seen how producers World of Wonder and VH1 will handle the situation.

Shearer's "Big Uneasy" hits theaters for one night only

The LA Times recommends The Big Uneasy, a new doc from comedian/radio host Harry Shearer that asks tough questions about what went wrong when Hurricane Katrina slammed New Orleans. The film plays in theaters across the U.S. for one night only, on August 30.

'X-Factor' Auto-tune controversy a sign of how far show has come

Recently fans of X Factor took to their Twitter and Facebook accounts to decry the use of the voice-altering technology, Auto-Tune, on the show's singing contestants. The Guardian weighs in on the matter, reading the controversy as unsurprising and is more amused that some British MPs have added their two cents on the uproar.

Spike Lee talks HBO doc ahead of its premiere

The L.A. Times and Spike Lee discuss his urgent new HBO doc, If God is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise, the sequel to When the Levees Broke, premiering on August 23. The doc goes beyond examining the rebuilding of New Orleans, beginning with the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl victory and incorporating the effects of the BP oil spill.

Seven moves to three channels with male network 7mate

The male demographic will have a new channel to watch in Australia, with the news that broadcaster Seven will launch a new digital channel called 7mate. The HD channel will kick off on September 25 with coverage of the Australian Football League Grand Final. The channel will carry non-fiction fare like Jersey Shore, Pawn Stars, Gene Simmons' Family Jewels and Life After People. The target demo is males aged 16 to 49.

Online platforms put power in DIY filmmakers' hands

The Guardian profiles the exploding online video space, with sites like Vimeo, YouTube, VBS.TV, Current and VJ Movement giving documentary filmmakers, amateur filmmakers and journalists a new platform to tap into an increasingly large audience.

Hulu pursues an IPO

Online video platform Hulu is pursuing a public offering that could value the company at more than $2 billion, according to a report in Monday's New York Times. Hulu executives have been in talks with investment bankers with the aim of going public sometime in the autumn. The site, one of the biggest competitors in the online video space, is a joint venture between News Corporation, the Walt Disney Company, NBC Universal and private equity firm Providence Equity Partners though it has yet to turn a profit, the Times reports. It will unveil a $9.99 per month subscription service in the coming months.

NPR blogger hypothesizes best DVD releases tend to be docs

According to NPR blogger Glenn McDonald, over the past few years the best DVDs to hit the shelves weekly, from his perspective, are independent documentaries. In saying so he writes a love letter to documentarians - admittedly full of generalizations, but praise nonetheless.

CBC's 'Queen Elizabeth in 3D' to premiere in the fall

Canadian broadcaster CBC will be debuting a 3D documentary about the Queen in the fall, titled Queen Elizabeth in 3D, and is already rolling out test launches of the project. The Canadian-produced doc features archival footage as well as new material shot in Canada and at Buckingham Palace. The first test launch involved sending out 3D glasses across the country to ensure the doc will be properly calibrated for its September 20 premiere.

Controversy over doc star's funding of ABC doc

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Australian millionaire Dick Smith and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) are facing accusations that his funding of 10% of the doc Dick Smith's Population Puzzle, in which he appears, undermines the independence of the national broadcaster. The ABC approved the funding model on the condition that it received final editorial approval.

Virgin Media to sell UKTV stake

Virgin Media is looking to get out of the TV content business with the news that it is selling its share of cable company UKTV, which owns channels Blighty, Good Food, Really, Yesterday and more. Virgin Media has put its 50% stake up for sale, priced at approximately £350 million.

OLN's 'Mantracker' hired by British Army

Canadian reality TV show Mantracker, which airs on the Outdoor Life Network, has gained the interest of the British Army. The series follows "mantracker" Terry Grant as he hunts down two contestants with his tracking skills, and those skills piqued the interest of the British military. Grant taught the 7th Armoured Brigade how to use tracking techniques in order to find improvised explosive devices when the soldiers are deployed to Afghanistan.

Hollywood production designer, Robert Boyle, dies

Alfred Hitchcock collaborator and production designer, Robert F. Boyle, has passed away at the age of 100, of natural causes. Best known for the design of films such as The Birds, North by Northwest and Norman Jewison's Fiddler on the Roof, Boyle was also the subject of Daniel Raim's Oscar-nominated 2000 doc short The Man on Lincoln's Nose. Boyle is also one of the subjects of Raim's new documentary, Something's Gonna Live, about four notable production designers of a certain era and their legacy.

Venice Film Festival announces line-up

The Venice Film Festival, running from September 1-11, has announced its line-up. Documentaries selected for the Horizons program, spotlighting new trends in world cinema, include UK-Ghana copro The Nine Muses from director John Akomfrah; Italian doc Il Capo from director Yuri Ancarani; UK-France doc K.364 A Journey by Train from Douglas Gordon; Spanish doc Guest from Jose Luis Geurin and Chinese doc Xifang Qu Ci Bu Yuan (Reconstructing Faith) from Wenhai Huang. Patrick Keiller's Robinson in Ruins, narrated by Vanessa Redgrave, also made the cut.

Reality stars drive up cost of production

Reality TV was once seen as a cheap way to produce programming for networks, by casting unknowns and keeping production costs low. In this New York Times piece, networks and reality producers expand on the growing costs associated with popular reality TV casts and how to keep the dollars in check.

Predictions for Richard Desmond's new Five

The Guardian weighs on the recent announcement that Richard Desmond has taken over Five, what it means, and what it expects Desmond will do with the network.

G4 becomes 4G during Sprint promotion

The New York Times reports that the Comcast-owned G4 channel has agreed to switch its name for a week to 4G in co-ordination with an advertising campaign for Sprint Nextel's wireless Internet service. The name change, which affects logos and shows, begins on July 26. The marketing move brings attention to the male-skewing network, which caters to the demo that Sprint is hoping to target.

"Britain's Got Talent" contestant sues Simon Cowell

The Guardian is reporting that Emma Amelia Pearl Czikai, is suing Simon Cowell for close to £2.5 million, alleging she was humiliated and degraded during an appearance on ITV's Britain's Got Talent.