News Round-up

Source Interlink shuts down a "handful" of auto magazines
Anaheim-based Source Interlink Media LLC, part of Bonita Springs, Fla.-based Source Interlink Cos., already has folded a handful of auto enthusiast titles and laid off people.

“We have taken aggressive actions to position our core print assets to withstand the current softness in advertising,” said Greg Mays, chief executive at Source Interlink.

The company saw a 13% decline in advertising revenue at all of its magazines in the worst ad market in more than a decade, according to Mays. Despite the decline in ad sales, there has been no word on the impact of Source's Soap Opera Weekly or Soap Opera Digest.

DAYS' Reynolds visits veterans hospital
This Valentines Day, DAYS OF OUR LIVES star James Reynolds (Abe) put aside his day job to invest time in his other passion, veterans' affairs.

"Those moments they spent working for us and sacrificing for us deserves not only our appreciation, but our complete respect," said Reynolds. He may feel a little more at home at the VA than most actors. The soap star is a military man himself and served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

The actor toured the G.V. Sonny Montgomery VA Medical Center and talked with former soldiers about their lives. Reynolds believes he gets just as much out of the visits as the veterans do. He made the trip to Jackson as Chairman of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the 2009 National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans. The purpose of the week long event is to drum up volunteer support.

"I hope if they are looking for something to do, perhaps come out to the VA and volunteer," said Reynolds.

Analog to Digital: Don't mess with soap fans
Sioux City's four network television stations make the switch to digital Tuesday. Three stations -- ABC affiliate KCAU, CBS affiliate KMEG and FOX affiliate KPTH -- will turn off their analog signals at noon Tuesday. Regular analog broadcasts on the fourth station, NBC affiliate KTIV, will stop at 1:30 p.m.

Why wait 90 minutes longer than the other stations? It allows viewers to watch long-running NBC soap opera DAYS OF OUR LIVES from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in analog.

"I learned years ago you don't mess with soap operas,'' said Jerry Watson, KTIV vice president and general manager.

CORRIE "may be sold off by ITV"
CORONATION STREET may be sold off to an independent production company due to severe cutbacks at ITV, it was claimed today. The Sunday Express reports that the long-running soap may no longer be produced by Granada Television because ITV is struggling to cope with the impact of the recession. It has also been alleged that, as an "interim measure", EMMERDALE may start to be made in Manchester rather than by Yorkshire Television in Leeds in the near future.

An insider told the newspaper: "It's fairly certain that Leeds will be closed and EMMERDALE will be run from Manchester, which is effectively the end of Yorkshire TV."

Steve McDonald is UK's "top soap character"
CORONATION STREET's Steve McDonald has been voted as the nation's favourite soap character in a national newspaper poll.

The Rovers Return owner, played by Simon Gregson, triumphed over long-running EASTENDERS character Dot Cotton (June Brown) and Weatherfield's Blanche Hunt (Maggie Jones) in a survey carried out by The People.

Antonio Sabato Jr. continues shooting his new show in Hawaii
"I'm completely into it," he said from the Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort, where the series began a six-week shoot last month. "I'm open and enjoying the whole process." As co-producer, Sabato has worked on the project for about a year.

The yet-untitled show -- similar to THE BACHELOR, only "classy," he noted -- is set to premiere in May on VH1. And beyond the titillation, it's sure to provide another round of much-needed publicity to potential travelers from the mainland.

"You're going to see a lot of the Big Island," he said. There's snorkeling in the ocean, hiking in the mountains, helicopter tours over the volcano and, of course, whale watching. "That's why we picked this month. This place is magical and that's what we're shooting." Though producers considered other locations, such as Australia and the Bahamas, Sabato pushed for Hawaii. "It's always been my favorite island, and I believe it represents a lot of my personality, a lot of the things I like to do. It's very unique."

Kristen Bell embraces new challenge in her latest film, Fanboys
Of the Fanboys wig and its distinctive bangs, “I designed it myself,” Bell said. The custom-made creation was modeled on her friend, former ONE LIFE TO LIVE actress Krysten Ritter. “I just thought that her hair was so adorable.”

Spandau Ballet (including EASTENDERS star) to re-form 30 years on with hopes of "doing a Take That"
Eighties pop favourites Spandau Ballet are set to re-form, thirty years after they first launched. The group, which dissolved ten years ago after an acrimonious court case, are hoping to follow in the footsteps of Take That and The Police, who have seen huge success following their recent comebacks.

Band members Tony Hadley, Steve Norman, John Keeble and brothers Martin and Gary Kemp once vowed "never to speak to one another again", following a disagreement over royalties worth over £1million. Martin Kemp, 47, who went on to star in EASTENDERS, was the only member to abstain from the arguments in which Hadley, Norman and Keeble claimed that they were owed money by Gary Kemp, 49.

90210's Annalynne Mccord can't wait for Twilight sequel
The actress is hoping producers of New Moon can come to an arrangement with her 90210 bosses and resolve a scheduling conflict, so she can play sexy bloodsucker Heidi, alongside boyfriend Kellan Lutz, in the sequel.

She says, "I haven't gotten a final yes or no yet, so it's still up in the air, but my fingers (are) crossed. I'd love to do it. I'm obsessed with vampires."

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTs continues to struggle to find an audience
Only 3.5 million viewers tuned in on Friday to watch the last episode.