The LA Times is reporting that the two-night, four-episode premiere of this season (season six) of “24” is being released today on DVD (suggested retail price: $14.99). Or, the episodes are available via iTunes for $8. In addition to the reasons for the fast DVD release outlined in the LA Times article, there is some killer insight for Fox by having the two-channel distribution taking place simultaneously.

Technorati Tags: 24, itunes

As I speculated while live-blogging from the Macworld keynote last week, it is very apparent that Apple Computers Inc. and Apple Corps are about to give peace a chance as the demo of the iPhone featured Beatles music and a cover shot of the Abbey Road album*. According to the rumor mill, a deal has been struck that will make Beatles music available via iTunes by Valentines Day (all you need is love). Still my advice: Go buy the CDs and burn them to your computer.

*Amazon.com affiliate store link.

Technorati Tags: apple, itunes

Brad has some tips for new watchers of 24, including one that I haven’t heard: that the timeframe for the show is today+8 years. I like his suggestions, but here are some I would add:

1. The timeframe of the show may be today + 8 years, but that doesn’t apply to any car or technology that may be covered by a product placement deal. For example, all cars and cell-phones are very much today. Also, check out all those Apple monitors this season — they’ll look like antiques in 8 years. A couple of years ago, Cisco firewall software (not from the future) showed up on several episodes.

2. I agree with Brad that anyone in the show can die (that was proven Monday night). However, Jack Bauer and Chloe are fairly exempt from that rule — however, Chloe is the lesser exempt of the two.

3. Keeping up with the number of people Jack Bauer kills each episode is a cottage industry (Warning: if you haven’t seen Hour 4 of season 6, that link includes a spoiler).

4. If you really want to add a new dimension of enjoyment to watching 24, follow along as Dave Barry live blogs each episode, including commercials.

5. It’s better, however, if you record each episode (or wait until the season comes out on DVD) and watch the entire season in a 24-hour period. (I haven’t done this myself.)

Technorati Tags: 24

• The magazine industry’s short tail got bit in ‘06 | MediaPost Publications
  2006 was a rough year for four of the top five magazine publishers–as measured by total ad pages. All the big names (except Conde Nast) experienced modest or substantial declines.
  (tags: magazines magazine-industry)
• B2B media M&A to stay hot in 2007 | BtoBOnline.com
  Quote: “The b-to-b media M&A marketplace has been going gangbusters for more than two years now—and the party shows no signs of slowing down in 2007.”
  (tags: magazines B2B)
• Are in-flight magazines a good place for B2B advertisers? | BtoBOnline.com
  Quote: “C- level executives these days are paying much closer attention to in-flight magazines. ‘They may not be a must-read but they correlate with executives’ business travel.’ (Rex observation: As much as I love magazines, I use flights as a time to re
  (tags: magazines B2B)
• Boys and girls use social sites differently | New York Times
  Older teenage girls are far more likely than younger girls, or boys of any age, to use social-networking sites like MySpace or Facebook, according to a recent study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
  (tags: social+media socialmedia)
• Blog wields power in restaurant world | USATODAY.com
  The ascendancy of Eater.com is yet another example of the transformation in how news is disseminated in a blog-driven world.
  (tags: blogging social+media)
• Random notes on blogging | Hugh MacLeod
  What he said.
  (tags: blogging)
• Media blogs: when to publish secrets | Stephen Baker [Blogspotting]
  One thing I’ve learned in two years as an MSM blogger. When we publish behind-the-scenes accounts of how our media sausages are made, the posts get picked up, read, commented.
  (tags: magazines media blogging)
• Why reporters blog | David Carr, New York Times
  Must reading on the topic of MSM blogging: “For those of you who don’t have a blog yet, think of one as a large yellow Labrador: friendly, fun, not all that bright, but constantly demanding your attention.”
  (tags: media newspapers blogging)
• The Lessons of T Shirts to Marketers | Blog Maverick
  I have no idea what the point of this post is, however, I agree with everything it says: “Without exception, the response to T Shirts being thrown into the audience (of an NBA game) exceeds the response to actual game action for all but the most exciting
  (tags: marketing)
• What do dogs get better PR? | Adweek
  Quote “In a Gallup poll on attitudes toward pets, 70 percent of respondents characterized themselves as dog people, while 20 percent described themselves as cat people.”