Media decoder: the United States heads: the voice of the Netherlands (nytimes)

After "American Idol," "The Sing-off," "The America Got Talent" and "X-Factor," entry can anyone lead to yet another way to singers compete on TV?

NBC and one of the producers of reality more success in the enterprise, Mark Burnett ("survivor," "Apprentice"), apparently not think. They are team on a format called "Voice of America", a variation on a hit in the Netherlands, as Mr. Burnett said show would air coming in the spring.

The different aspects of this show both relate how hearings will be held and that will most of the Elimination of the singers. Paul Telegdy, who heads the Department of NBC, reality program said the network has a "Eureka moment" when she saw in the "Voice of Holland" version "a point so simple format, we simply do".

This point: the hearings are blind.

A group of four coaches, including Mr. Burnett said would be artists well known music, listening to singers see them and only decide on the basis of their voice coach wants add to their team. Each coach will be assembling a team through blind auditions. (Coaches will press on a button if they like the talent; if more than one coach expressed interest, singer gets to choose the coach that he or she wants to).

In a second phase, the coaches themselves will eliminate the team per week. Mr. Burnett said that each of the cars will work on performing styles and even the appearance of their team members.

In the final phase, the few remaining candidates an equal number of each coach, participate, until every coach a candidate nomination. The audience will vote on the ultimate winner.

Price, a contract for registration will come with an agreement which also involves the winner career coach. "The coaches have real skin in the game", Mr. Burnett said, "these coaches are really going to win."

Coaches will be "recognizable names", said Mr. Burnett, but none has been selected yet. He said that he had already been searching talents for potential candidates.

NBC made an agreement to buy led by John de mol, Dutch production company whose reality earlier creations have included many international versions of "Big Brother" show. NBC said ratings for the Dutch TV market where the "voice of Holland" has become the most popular talent contest in the country.

Media decoder: superordinateur I.B.M. "Watson" with challenge "Jeopardy" stars (nytimes)

A supercomputer I.B.M. system named after founding the company, Thomas j. Watson SR., is almost ready for television test: an episode of questioning on the quiz show "Jeopardy."

I.B.M. and producers of "Jeopardy" will announce Tuesday that the computer, "Watson," will have to face two actors more success in the story "Jeopardy", Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, three episodes will be aired on February 14, 15 and 16, 2011.

I.B.M., "Watson" is a test of artificial intelligence. It scientists have been talking to the "Jeopardy" Man vs. machine match-up for the greater part of two years. "If the program beats humans, the area of artificial intelligence that made a leap forward," John Markoff of the New York Times wrote in April 2009.

In a press release, companies said that the format of "Jeopardy" was "the ultimate challenge" for "Watson" because "indices of the game involves analysis subtle sense, irony, puzzles and other complexities in which human beings humans Excel and computers are traditionally not."

I.B.M. and producers have agreed that a million dollars will be on the line. If "Watson" WINS, the money will be donated to charities. If a human wins half of the money will be given.

The producers of "Danger" said computer qualified for the show by passing the same test as human candidates. Recently "Watson" has been playing saving games with old human candidates for practice. I.B.M. will share some highlights of these games on their website in the coming weeks.

The match-ups "Jeopardy" supercomputer is on television since almost 50 years, are an opportunity to draw attention. It is an endorsement of sorts for format - as Harry Friedman, executive producer of the show, in a news release, "we are delighted that Jeopardy!" is regarded as a point of reference for the ultimate knowledge. »

Media decoder: Jimmy Kimmel Extends run on ABC (nytimes)

After one year turbulent late-night, at least at NBC television stability will be reign at ABC, where Jimmy Kimmel has agreed to extend his contract for at least two years.

Mr. Kimmel has seen grow odds on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in the past year, unusual for host of late night, because the field has become so crowded and late-night shows are mostly being poorly by competition from reading performances recorded on digital video recorders.

The financial details of the contract not disclosed, but Mr. Kimmel clearly until an issue related to salary. Jay Leno issuing "Today", whose salary was settled in the range of approximately 25 million dollars per year, often makes the point that it still does not "Silver Dave." Refers to what CBS star David Letterman made equally to 31 million dollars per year.

A requested if it is now "Silver Dave", said Mr. Kimmel: "Yes, Dave Coulier."