BSkyB to produce stand alone VOD service

LONDON -- The uber competitive BSkyB would be to launch its very own on-demand service because it tries to mind off competition with Netflix and impending U.K. wise TV service YouView. Announcing the move because it revealed six monthly figures that demonstrated a downturn in the amount of new pay TV customers, the paybox's Boss Jeremy Darroch stated the initiative would offer "an exceptionalInch new option to the 13 million U.K. homes that don't buy pay TV. He added: "This cool product launch will develop our early leadership in multi-platform distribution. "It'll let us make our expertise and purchase of content and technology work even harder, stretching our choices for ongoing growth." BSkyB's when needed offer will bow within the first half of the season. Sky Movies is going to be available from the beginning, with sport and entertainment added later around. Customers will have the ability to select from a number of prices options, including limitless monthly pay-as-you-go access. This marks a substantial departure from BSkyB's traditional subscription-based business design. Darroch stated: "Alongside the ongoing development of our satellite platform, this is a different way for all of us to achieve to customers, but might not want the entire Sky service." Netflix has off and away to a powerful begin in the U.K. and also the much-postponed YouView, whose backers range from the BBC and BT, is anticipated to bow late early in the year. BSkyB's six-monthly figures demonstrated the satcaster added 40,000 new TV clients within the second quarter to 12 ,. 31 -- missing analysts' predictions of 58,000 and lower around the 140,000 internet additions within the same period this year. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Mark Webber set for 'Arranged Marriage'

Mark Webber will star in indie romantic comedy "The Arranged Marriage of Moonbeam" from Here Now Prods. and Metaphoric Films. Project was announced Thursday, with producers aiming to start production in the late spring. Metamorphic's Teresa Zales will produce with Matt Sprague. Mollie Engelhart and Tim Ryan penned the script. Engelhart will direct and exec produce with Webber. The Makepeace Brothers will also appear, with additional cast announcements to come. Here Now is headed by Webber, Engelhart and Ryan. Its first pic, "The Ed of Love," is in the dramatic competition at Sundance. "After finishing 'The End of Love' with Mark, and getting it ready for Sundance, we knew we had to jump right in to another project," Engelhart said. Story follows Janie Grace, originally named "Moonbeam" by her hippie parents, as she lives her life as a straitlaced young lawyer. When the latest in her string of disastrous relationships crashes and burns, Moonbeam's free-love, hippie family decides to arrange her marriage. Bernard Edwards Jr. has signed on to score the film. Webber is repped by Innovative Artists. His attorney is Ira Schreck at Schreck, Rose Dapello Adams and Hurwitz. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

The X Factor Finalists Astro and Chris Rene Score Record Deals

Astro, Chris Rene Despite their failure to win the $5 million recording contract, The X Factor contestants Brian "Astro" Bradley and Chris Rene are cashing in.Both performers have inked deals with Epic Records, according to separate reports by Entertainment Weekly and MTV.The pairing isn't exactly a surprising one: Epic Chairman L.A. Reid was their X Factor mentor.Check out the rest of today's newsAstro, 15, made it to the final four on the singing competition, before being sent home. Chris Rene, 29, was voted off immediately following Astro.Even before Astro was signed to Epic, he spoke to us about his big plans for the future. Check out the interview:

Starz preps 'Magic City' premiere

Upcoming Starz period drama ''Magic City'' has been given an April 6 premiere date by the cabler. Starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan as a Miami hotelier in debt with the mob, ''Magic City'' is exec produced by Mitch Glazer and Geyer Kosniski. Sister network Encore also announced that original, four-part miniseries ''The Crimson Petal and the White,'' with Romola Garai (''The Hour''), Gillian ODowd and Gillian Anderson, will air March 6 and 7 with two parts each night. Shirley Henderson and Richard E. Grant co-star in the book adaptation set in a Victorian-era London brothel. Lucinda Coxon wrote the adaptation, directed by Marc Munden. FremantleMedia Enterprises is handling worldwide distribution of ''Crimson'' outside the U.K. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Alcatraz Stars Rock the Jailhouse for Premiere Party

Jorge Garcia The Rock was rockin' since the cast and producers of Alcatraz broke into San Francisco's most infamous prison on Wednesday evening for premiere party. It absolutely was an especially memorable evening for stars Jorge Garcia, Sarah Manley and Jeffrey Pierce, who returned for the island after filming part of the pilot on location. "It's exciting!" Garcia told TV Guide Magazine. "We started shooting this factor this past year, it is therefore kind of awesome to experience a year anniversary round the Rock." "It feels complete, we must be around,Inch added Manley.For Pierce, his theif character Jack Sylvain appears inside the pilot since the first former Alcatraz prisoner to return after fifty years, but there might be more to his story afterwards episodes. "What will be fascinating in regards to the show might be the gradually considered why they're doing what they're doing," Pierce teases. "This is the secret surprise inside the Cracker Jack box. You'll find apt to be plenty of twists and turns, I guarantee it."The show isn't wasting whenever with people large details, plus a stunning reveal about Parminder Nagra's character backstory within the finish in the second hour. "Nobody is extremely simply because they appear," Nagra teases, watching that her relationship with Mike Neill's character formerly is "something to educate yourself regarding further." Added Manley: "I appear like I am unsure something. Incorporated ride here, one of the authors emerged in my opinion and mentioned 'just delay until the truth is what continues.AInchThroughout the party, the cast dined inside the mess hall, posed for photos inside the bath and introduced the screening in cell block D. The particular-existence Alcatraz rangers even trained Garcia the best way to open the cell entrance doors before acquiring him inside for just about any handful of photos. "OK, you'll be able to open it up up up now!" jeered Garcia. Even though production has moved north to Vancouver, Garcia hints the possibility revisit Alcatraz remains available. "You'll find several things this city has that are very signature for the look," states Garcia. "It may be fun to showcase that every once in awhile.InchAlcatraz premieres Monday, The month of the month of january 16 at 8/7c on Fox.Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Ready For Horrible Bosses 2?

New Line has hired the writersHorrible Bosses might possibly not have been a vital favourite this past year, however it certainly aroused the interest of audiences, generating an unexpected $209 million worldwide. What exactly would be the most likely not-so-horrible bosses at New Line doing now? Searching to create a follow up, obviously!The initial step lower that road continues to be taken, using the professionals securing in Bosses authors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein to begin kicking around suggestions for a follow-as much as the storyline of three employees likely to kill their awful administrators. And also the studio types may also be digging in to the coffers for enough cash to tempt stars Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day to charge roles.Also prone to return is director Seth Gordon, who introduced the initial set for around $35 million and is viewed as a vital area of the film's success.Daley (who's a normal upon us forensic Television show Bones) and Goldstein, a telly writing stalwart, happen to be sought after lately. Additionally to Bosses, they have also done Steve Carell comedy Burt Wonderstone and also have been turning out a follow up to 'toon hit Cloudy Having A Possibility Of Meatballs.The large question for just about any Bosses follow up is how the plot goes this time around, especially because the tales of antagonistic monsters Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey and, particularly Colin Farrell ended pretty nicely within the original. Possibly they might switch the main focus and also have Sudeikis, Bateman and Day because the dreadful companies this time around, attempting to stop new employees offing them?