France bans Baby TV cable channels
PARIS, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- French television authorities say they've banned programming aimed at toddlers and babies as possibly hurtful to small children's development.
The issue arose earlier this year with the advent in France of two U.S. channels, BabyFirstTV and Baby TV, which feature programming geared to children under 3 years old. On Wednesday, the French High Audiovisual Council ruled to ban such programming in order to "protect children under 3 from the effects of television," The Times of London reported.
In issuing the ruling, the council quoted health experts' warnings that interaction with other people is crucial to early child development, the newspaper said.
"Television viewing hurts the development of children under 3 years old and poses a certain number of risks, encouraging passivity, slow language acquisition, over-excitedness, troubles with sleep and concentration as well as dependence on screens," the ruling said.
Guy Oranim, chief executive of BabyFirstTV, said he "respectfully objects" to the council's ruling, contending the channel is meant to be watched together by parents and babies, not used as a baby-sitter.
Jaclyn Smith in at Kmart, Martha out?
CHICAGO, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. retailer Kmart has signed a deal with former "Charlie's Angels" star Jaclyn Smith to launch a new bed and bath product line, the company says.
Smith has been associated with Kmart since 1985 but the move to give her product line a splashy launch now, as the discount retailer is facing the end of its current promotional contract with TV lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, is raising eyebrows about Stewart's future with the company, Crain's Chicago Business reported Wednesday.
Kmart, owned by Sears Holdings Corp. of suburban Chicago, has seen Stewart craft sponsorship deals with other retailers such as Macy's and Wal-Mart, and with the end of her Kmart contract coming in 2010, the company may be angling to line up Smith as Stewart's replacement, analysts said.
"Kmart has to do something," retail consultant Howard Davidowitz told Crain's. "They're losing their No. 1 icon and their signature brand."
Sears Holdings Chairman Edward Lampert has said that Stewart's contract, which guarantees minimum royalty fees from Kmart, has become too pricey, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
'Naked Cowboy' signs reality show deal
NEW YORK, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The "Naked Cowboy," a New York City street busker who performs in undies and a 10-gallon hat, says he's signed a television development deal.
The Cowboy, real name Robert Burck, says he'll star in an upcoming "reality show" where he will judge the talents of street performers such as himself in an "American Idol"-style competition, the New York Post reported Wednesday.
"I want to see people like me, the real deal," the Naked Cowboy told the Post. "I'm looking for character more than anything. You could be the greatest musician in the world, but if you stand in jeans and a T-shirt next to me, no one will notice you."
The newspaper said the Cowboy's deal is with Bischoff Hervey Entertainment, the company responsible for such shows as VH1's "Scott Baio is 45 ... and Single" and the upcoming "Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling," set to air on Country Music Television.
Report: 50 Cent hampering house fire probe
NEW YORK, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. rapper 50 Cent isn't cooperating with an investigation of a suspicious May 30 fire at his New York home, sources say.
The New York Post, citing unnamed sources, reported Wednesday that Suffolk County, N.Y., authorities are frustrated with 50 Cent's lack of cooperation in their investigation of the fire at his multimillion-dollar Long Island home, which sent ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins, 32, and the rapper's 11-year-son Marquise to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
Suffolk County authorities have not been able to meet with 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, since the fire because he has erected a legal wall of attorneys, sources told the newspaper. Investigators, however, have reportedly met twice with Tompkins, who has claimed she was feuding with Jackson about her living in the Dix Hills neighborhood mansion.
The fast-moving blaze tore quickly through the home, firefighters said. Jackson was in Louisiana filming a movie at the time of the fire, the Post reported.
