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ABC INTRODUCES NEW TV SERIES EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE

Startling new program crosses video program with online game

BURBANK, CA, Sept 10, 2009 -- ABC today announced it was introducing “Cajun Capers”, a new detective series, exclusively online at ABC.com. The new series, starring Kiefer Sutherland in the lead role as detective Dave Robicheaux will premier on September 24. ABC has kept this program tightly under wraps. Inside sources say the new series will feature interactive capabilities such as the ability for viewers to follow separate characters and participate in solving fictional crimes.

“ABC.com was an early pioneer in online distribution of video content,” said Stephen McPherson, President of ABC Entertainment Group, “but this just takes us to a whole new level.”

The show is based on the popular Dave Robicheaux series of novels by New York Times best-selling author James Lee Burke. Kiefer Sutherland (“24”) plays Dave Robicheaux, a rugged, street smart ex-New Orleans cop who battles both villains and his own demons. Online viewers will have the option of watching the program on ABC.com as the story unfolds, or they can register for free and enjoy unique interactive capabilities with multiple camera angles. Registered users can choose to follow one character or another as if the viewer were right there in the story. For example, in the first episode, Robicheaux is separated from an adopted El Salvadoran refugee girl, played by Carey Mulligan (“An Education” and “The Greatest”). Registered users can choose to follow one or the other character to see how the story develops from that character’s perspective. “It’s as much a video game as it is a video program,” said McPherson.

Why distribute the program exclusively online? “ABC has enjoyed increasing viewership online,” explains McPherson, “and broadband has finally achieved critical mass for us. This gives us an opportunity to engage viewers in a completely unprecedented way.”

ABC.com promises the programming will have limited commercial interruption. Major sponsors, reported to include Verizon and Coca-Cola, will also receive product integration within the storyline.

Jeff Kaplan, lead designer on “World of Warcraft”, Blizzard Entertainment’s popular video game, is executive producer, along with Howard Gordon (“24”) and Kiefer Sutherland. “Cajun Capers” is a production of Real Time Productions and Imagine Television in association with ABC Entertainment.


Could happen….

What's next?

One man’s crystal ball is as cloudy as the next guy’s. No one knows what the future will bring. Life has a funny (and sometimes not so funny) way of being full of surprises. So take these predictions for what they are: one person’s guess.

A free-falling economy feeds on itself. Reduction in consumer spending begets layoffs in the retail sector which reduce consumer spending further. Manufacturing grinds to a halt as inventories build up, resulting in more layoffs in the manufacturing sector. Stock prices fall and money flows out of the market into safe havens such as cash and treasury securities. Companies cut expenses to protect their profit margins by – you guessed it – more layoffs. In the midst of a free fall, it seems like there will never be an end.

But it does end eventually. Business moves in cycles. Unemployment is a little over 7% right now. It will probably climb higher. Yet even if it climbs to 10% or more, still approximately 90% of people are employed. And those who survive the layoffs have needs. They have growing families. They need food, clothing, and shelter. They have birthdays and anniversaries and other special occasions to celebrate. They may have businesses that they’re trying to grow. And they have incentives to spend and invest because prices on everything are lower and interest rates are low. So they’ll spend and invest.

Then inventories will deplete and manufacturers will start producing again. They’ll hire more workers. Those workers will have a pent up demand from having put their lives on hold, and they’ll spend. Then money that has been sitting in safe havens will begin to pour back into the stock market and stock prices will rise. And companies will have more confidence and will begin hiring again. Retailers will see their sales increase and will hire more employees. And all this hiring will increase the flow of money in the economy and the good times will return….

That is, until the government f*cks it up again. Stimulus spending will kick in and pour too much money into the market just when we don’t need it, causing a high rate of inflation. Then higher taxes will go into effect to reduce the deficit. History does not ever repeat itself exactly; but you can always count on government action to distort the economy and screw things up.

It was not my intention here to rail about government ineptitude. I am not ordinarily cynical or pessimistic by nature, in fact quite the opposite. Rather, my intention is to offer advice to those many unfortunate people who are affected by layoffs.

Don’t wait. Don’t wait for the economy to come back. Don’t wait for the government or a recruiter or anyone else to rescue you. Use the opportunity to take stock of who you are, of where you are and where you want to be. Then make a plan to get there. Take charge of your own life.

We are living in an age of individual empowerment. Individual bloggers have scooped established news organizations. New companies are starting up faster than ever and are getting a seat at the table of global marketing organizations. Perhaps we have hit an important turning point. Maybe it turns out that companies that are “too big to fail” are just too big, period. The only thing that really matters is a great idea. And you don’t need a global footprint to come up with one.

Business cycles are a way of cleaning out the old to make way for the new. There are great opportunities in the midst of all this carnage, but you’ll need faith, courage, fortitude, and passion to find your way to it. Small is beautiful. Power to the people.

Best wishes to all.