News Round-up

Teens expect more integration says KATEMODERN team
The makers of hugely successful online dramas KATEMODERNand LONELY GIRL 15 have called on production companies to wake up to cross-platform content in order to keep young people watching. Miles Beckett, co-founder and CEO of Eqal, the content company formed by the team behind the web dramas, urged traditional production firms to integrate online with TV during the commissioning process.

"TV producers need to get used to cross-platform content," he said. "Younger audiences expect it now; this is how they want their content."

Lee Hardman, head of Conker Media, a specialist in cross-platform content, agreed that while the trend was growing it doesn't signal the end of TV among young viewers.

"There's still a place for TV in young people's lives," he said. "HOLLYOAKS gets 2m viewers, but 40% of the TV audience also engage with the show online."

HOLLYOAKS' Hannah and Justin to become an item
HOLLYOAKS characters Hannah Ashworth and Justin Burton heading for romance. Actor Chris Fountain, who plays Justin, and Emma Rigby, who portrays Hannah, have revealed they're about to become a couple on the show.

Rigby said: "You can just see the spark between them now. Justin's the character everyone fancies, so all my mates used to say to me 'why can't you get together with him?'"

CORRIE star Alison King has baby girl
The CORONATION STREET actress (who plays troublemaker Carla Connor) and her partner Adam Huckett, a sound technician who works on the set of the soap, welcomed their new arrival today.

A CORRIE spokeswoman said: "Coronation Street actress Alison King has given birth today to a baby girl. She weighed in at 6lbs 7oz. No name has been decided on yet but mum and baby are doing well."

WGA strike: One year later
One year later, the evidence is clear: The WGA strike crippled the film and TV biz at a time when the industry was already caught in the buzzsaw of a radically changing marketplace for Hollywood's wares.

The damage for California from the strike has been estimated at $2.1 billion in lost economic activity, according to a report issued in June by the Milken Institute; according to Jack Kyser, chief economist with the L.A. County Economic Development Corp., there was an estimated $2.5 billion in lost wages for workers in Los Angeles County alone.

Cady McClain pitched Dixie's return story last year
"I actually pitched AMC a story line when they asked me to come back as a ghost. They liked it and went with the first half of what I wrote, which was really great. Here it is in it’s entirety. Hopefully I won’t be pissing anyone off by sharing it! You know, Dixie’s DEAD by PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA PANCAKES, for crying out loud. What ELSE could they do to me??"

90210: Aimee Teegarden reacts to Rhonda putting the moves on Ethan
"It was surprising. I read that they kiss and thought, ‘What are they talking about?’ It was a little weird. I don’t know. I think kissing is totally weird on stage or in front of cameras. I wasn’t quite expecting it so fast. Like, dang, Rhonda gets down to business! She gets the come-hither look in her eyes. It was kind of shocking originally, but then I kind of enjoyed the fact that she becomes so upfront about it, more so than I would be."

Jason Priestley in Brit sci-fi show
Jason Priestley is joining an all-star British cast in a new BBC production of THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS. The Beverly Hills 90210 veteran will appear in the two-parter, adapted from John Wyndham's best-selling post-apocalyptic novel, alongside Joely Richardson, her mother Vanessa Redgrave, Dougray Scott, Brian Cox and Eddie Izzard.

Eric and Tami Taylor: Most romantic couple ever
"The most inspiring and romantic couple ever to grace prime time is the married duo Coach Eric and Tami Taylor on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS These two should be required study for relationship counselors worldwide. They’re sexy, trusting, loyal and true. What’s not to love?"

Mala Bhattacharjee on Cedars Hospital
"GUIDING LIGHT's Phillip carried Coop into Cedars yelling for Rick. Yes, Dr. Death, Rick Bauer. But viewers needn't have feared Phillip's old pal delivering Coop's death blow, the rest of the staff is so inattentive we're surprised Coop didn't die from neglect!"

Y&R's Tonya Lee Williams on her return as Olivia last year
The actress says she is thrilled to be back on the long-running program. “It’s wonderful to be back on the show, the time away has revitalized my passion for the character and I can’t wait to see what the writers have in store for Olivia over the coming year”