Latest news with #BackstagePass
Newsweek
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Scraps Plans To Make Big Change To SmackDown: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. WWE SmackDown is set to continue its three-hour broadcast format on the USA Network for the "foreseeable future," a notable decision given earlier expectations for the show to go back to a shorter length. This news comes via a recent report from WrestleVotes Radio on SportsKeeda's Backstage Pass. The report states that SmackDown will remain a 3-hour show for the foreseeable future. This marks a shift from what was understood to be the original plan. According to the report, originally, the show was agreed upon to move back to 2 hours beginning in June this year [2025]. The continuation of the extended format is reportedly due to the network's positive reception. The primary driver for maintaining the three-hour runtime is attributed to the USA Network's satisfaction with the program's viewership and overall performance. WrestleVotes indicates that the "USA Network has been happy with the performance of the show numbers-wise with the added third hour." SmackDown made its move to the USA Network in October 2024, and the three-hour format has been a consistent feature since its debut on the channel. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation This is a change from the show's traditional two-hour runtime during its many years on other networks, including FOX. The decision to maintain three hours aligns SmackDown's length with WWE's flagship Monday Night RAW, which has also been a three-hour program for over a decade, while NXT typically runs for two hours. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul "Triple H" Levesque speaks at a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las... LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul "Triple H" Levesque speaks at a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. MoreA three-hour weekly show provides WWE with more television time to develop multiple storylines, feature a larger portion of its talent roster, and present longer, more in-depth matches. This can be advantageous for building characters and feuds leading into premium live events. However, longer show lengths can sometimes be a point of discussion among WWE fans regarding pacing and content density. For the USA Network, a successful three-hour block of WWE programming offers a strong anchor in its weekly schedule, likely contributing to consistent viewership and valuable advertising revenue across all three hours. The network's reported happiness with the "numbers" suggests that the extended SmackDown is delivering from a ratings or engagement standpoint. WWE fans can expect Friday nights on USA Network to continue offering an extended dose of SmackDown action. Perhaps, if ratings start to decline, then a change will be made. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Empowering Dreams: The Rise of Indian Gaming Talent
The Indian gaming industry is on the cusp of a revolution—a revolution of innovation, creativity, and creation. It is currently projected to reach $8.36 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.68%. This rapid expansion has created a plethora of opportunities for aspiring game developers, designers, and artists. The global gaming market, valued at over $430 billion, is expected to grow further, reaching $640 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 12%. This is not a fleeting boom focusing just on entertainment, it is a thriving industry that offers promising careers in game development, esports, and beyond. Careers in game development, design, art, and VR/AR development are on the rise, with skills in programming languages like C++, Python, and C# being highly sought after. Achievements of Indian Gaming Talent ● Abhishek Singh, a second-year Bachelor's student in Computer Science & Game Development at Backstage Pass Institute of Gaming, Hyderabad, has already made a mark by publishing his game Paperly: Paper Plane Adventure with Nazara Technologies, achieving over 500,000 downloads and a 4.3 rating on the Google Play Store. ● One of our students recently sold his game for around ₹1 crore — Proof that passion and skill can pay off big, even before you finish your course. ● Another game, Slunkey, was recently published for mobile and PC platforms. ● Since 2013, student games from Backstage Pass have consistently been nominated, won, or selected as runners-up every year at various events, without exception. These students are currently studying at Backstage Pass Institute of Gaming, one of the Top game development colleges in India. With a legacy of nurturing industry-ready talent, Backstage Pass has been at the forefront of India's gaming education since its inception in 2010. The impressive placements and positions held by Backstage Pass alumni serve as a testament to the rigorous training and skill set that the college provides its students. Their success is not limited to India; many alumni are working in leading game companies globally, from Sweden to the United States and the United Kingdom. In fact, it's hard to name a game of any genre where a Backstage Pass student hasn't played a role. Their alumni have contributed to some of the world's most renowned titles, including FIFA 21 , Forza Horizon 4 , Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order , and Sniper . This impressive track record underscores the college's influence in shaping the global gaming landscape. , , , and . This impressive track record underscores the college's influence in shaping the global gaming landscape. Their alumni are currently employed at companies like EA, Zynga, Rockstar Games, Ubisoft, and HitWicket. In fact, there is hardly a well-known gaming company that does not have a Backstage Pass student represented. They are excelling in various fields, from Senior Product Managers to Lead Designers, while owning successful gaming companies and assisting fellow game enthusiasts in carving their own paths. to Lead Designers, while owning successful gaming companies and assisting fellow game enthusiasts in carving their own paths. Notably, one of its alumni works as the Head of the Gaming Division at Sumo Digital in Bangalore, highlighting the institution's ability to equip students with industry-ready skills that propel them to leadership roles in top gaming companies. The Backstage Pass Institute of Gaming and Technology has received an array of prestigious awards, including the Times Education Excellence Award and recognition as one of the Best Education Brands from The Economic Times. and recognition as one of the from The Economic Times. The college's culture of collaboration has led to successful partnerships with other educational institutions, such as St. Francis College for Women, and game companies, such as Kyodia Gameworks Studio, among others. With over 30 educational accolades, Backstage Pass is recognized as one of India's premier gaming colleges, boasting an impressive 80% placement rate in leading game companies. By bridging the gap between passion and profession, Backstage Pass is shaping not only careers but also the future of gaming itself. As the Indian gaming industry continues to grow, institutions like Backstage Pass play a pivotal role in nurturing talent and propelling them toward global success. Follow our Instagram - 'This article is part of the sponsored content programme.'
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joe Dea, Reality TV and Music Video Director, Dies at 71
Joseph 'Joe' Dea, a music video director, reality TV director and four-time Emmy winner, died Sunday of glioblastoma in Alameda, Calif. He was 71. Always an early adopter of cutting-edge visual technology, Dea's fascination with the blend of painting and cinematic technique began at the University of Hartford's Hartford Art School. His first forays into video art in the late 1970s were exhibited at New York's Whitney Museum, The Kitchen and Global Village; later he joined San Francisco's video collective, The Optic Nerve. While in San Francisco, he became a founding member of Videowest, the groundbreaking comedy, music video and alternative news production company. Dea was an integral contributor to Videowest, creating segments for magazine shows like USA's 'TakeOFF' and ABC's 'Backstage Pass,' to OnTV's 'Rock ONTV' and segments for MTV's music news. He conceptualized, designed and directed more than 30 music videos, five of which are included in Rolling Stone Magazine's All-Time Top 100 Videos. Greg Kihn's 'Jeopardy' and 'Happy Man' are on the list along with Krokus' 'Screaming in the Night,' the first heavy metal video to air in prominent rotation on MTV. His 1980 video, the Emmy-winning, 'Two Triple Cheese, Side Order of Fries' for Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, with its visual effects of dancing French fries and flying cheeseburgers cut to energetic rock and roll, earned the video a spot in Rolling Stone Magazine's Music Video Hall of Fame and a place in the permanent collection of New York's Museum of Modern Art. In the late 1980s, Dea moved to Los Angeles, where he directed multiple network, cable and syndicated TV episodes in genres such as documentary, reality, stunts, live music, animation, plus historic and crime dramatic re-creations. His credits on prime-time network specials for NBC and Fox include: 'Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects' and 'The World's Greatest Stunts.' He was the senior director of TLC's long-running hit, 'A Wedding Story.' Dea also appeared on-screen, co-hosting the History Channel's 'What Went Down,' and served as background talent on 'The Young and the Restless.' His work was featured at the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art and the Museum of Neon Art. Dea is survived by his wife Melissa Force, stepdaughter Tamara Miller; stepson Dylan Miller and six step-grandchildren; and sisters Elaine Dea and Maureen Dea. Donations may be made to UCSF Foundation, P.O. Box 45339, San Francisco, CA 94145 in memory of Joseph C. Dea (7001220). Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
