AMC adds indies to U.S. film fare
KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 2 (UPI) -- The second-largest U.S. theater chain, AMC Theatres, plans to start showing independent films at 72 of its cinemas nationwide.
AMC Select Venues will show the usual blockbusters but will also set aside screens for independent films and low-budget documentaries, The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
The move coincides with the Hollywood trend toward specialty film divisions within the major studios.
Four of the movies nominated for best picture at this year's Academy Awards -- including the winner, "Crash" -- were "specialized" films, the Times noted.
AMC Chief Executive Peter Brown said AMC Select is part of a plan to lure people away from the Internet, TV and iPods and to movie theaters.
"We are constantly thinking about how we can get more people to come to the theaters," Brown said. "This is realizing the promise of the megaplex -- we are broadening out the depth and breadth of the (movies) available."
ESPN scores 10 Sports Emmys
NEW YORK, May 2 (UPI) -- ESPN Networks racked up 10 trophies and Bob Costas won his 18th Emmy at the 27th annual Sports Emmy Awards in New York.
ESPN and ESPN2 each took four Emmys during the ceremony at the Time Warner Center Monday night while ESPN Classic and ESPN.com scored one each, The Hollywood Reporter said Tuesday.
HBO won six awards, including the outstanding sports journalism trophy for a "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel" episode examining racism in soccer.
Fox Sports won five awards and TNT got two while CBS, NBC and USA Network each took one.
ABC "Monday Night Football" veteran John Madden closed out his "MNF" career with the Emmy for outstanding studio analyst. He and Al Michaels have moved to NBC's "Sunday Night Football."
Fox's Joe Buck won the play-by-play Emmy and Fox's NASCAR coverage was crowned the best live sports series.
HBO/NBC sportscaster Bob Costas was named best studio host for his 18th career Emmy and Olympics producer/filmmaker Bud Greenspan was given a lifetime achievement award.
Houston rapper Big Hawk slain
HOUSTON, May 2 (UPI) -- Texas rapper Big Hawk, who rose to fame as member of Screwed Up Click, was shot to death outside a friend's house in Houston.
The rapper, whose real name was Jonathon Hawkins, was shot several times as he got out of his car around 10:30 p.m. Monday, AllHipHop.com reported Tuesday.
There were no witnesses, the Web site said.
Hawkins released his solo album, "Under Hawk's Wings" on Dead End Records in 2000 and had recorded with Lil' Flip, Lil' KeKe, Big Moe and was featured on the Lil' Troy hit "Wanna Be A Baller."
His younger brother and fellow Screwed Up Click member, Patrick Lamont Hawkin, aka Fat Pat, was shot to death in 1998.
Apple and labels reach iTunes accord
CUPERTINO, Calif., May 2 (UPI) -- The largest seller of digital music in the United States will not be raising its prices any time soon.
Apple Computer Monday announced it had renewed its contracts with the four largest recording labels, which will keep the cost of a single download at its iTunes Music Store at 99 cents apiece, MTV.com reported.
Universal, Warner Music, EMI and Sony BMG had been holding out for a variable pricing method -- charging more for new songs and less for older ones, MTV.com said.
About 80 percent of U.S. music downloaders get their songs from iTunes.
