Pilot Season: Brittany Snow to Co-Star in NBC's 1600 Penn

It's almost here! The 84th Academy Awards are taking place Sunday. Let's face it: Hollywood's biggest night can be overwhelming, but don't worry! TVGuide.com and TV Guide Network have you covered so you won't miss a single moment.Starting Sunday at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT, you can catch our Academy Awards Preview, featuring interviews with nominees ... Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Ali LandryBradley CooperCameron DiazChris RockChristian BaleColin FirthHalle BerryNatalie PortmanTom CruiseKermit the FrogMiss PiggyChris HarrisonMaria SansoneThe MuppetsTabatha CoffeyCamille Grammer84th Academy AwardsTim KashAcademy Awards Red Carpet With Chris HarrisonAcademy Awards Red Carpet CountdownAcademy Awards Red Carpet Fashion Wrap

Spectrum auction plan moves to Congress

The long-in-the-works proposal in which stations would voluntarily give up their spectrum and put it up for auction for wireless use is poised to finally move forward in Congress. The incentive auction proposal, intended to free up 120 MHz of spectrum, is part of legislation to extend payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits. The auctions are expected to bring in about $15 billion in revenue, part of which will be devoted to building out a public safety network. And broadcasters stand to share in some of the proceeds for giving up their share of the airwaves. Stations initially expressed skepticism over the proposal when it was included in the FCC's National Broadband Plan in 2010, worried that broadcasters would feel compelled to give up their airwaves or that it would diminish the signals of channels in some markets that chose to stay in business. But Gordon Smith, the president and CEO of the National Assn. of Broadcasters, appeared to be satisfied that the legislation contained safeguards. "NAB salutes the tireless efforts of Congress to ensure that local broadcasters have a vibrant and robust future," he said in a statement. The intent of the incentive auctions is to free up space and make it available to wireless providers facing ever-increasing demands from consumers. The legislation does contain provisions for how the FCC can conduct the auctions, such as if it wanted to direct sale to a certain type of bidder. If it wants to place restrictions on them, it will first have to do so through a notice and comment period. FCC chairman Julius Genachowski said that he was "pleased that Congress has recognized the vital importance of freeing up more spectrum for mobile broadband," but said that the legislation "could limit the FCC's ability to maximize the amount and benefits of recovered spectrum." But Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rep. Greg Walden (R-Oregon) said in a statement that "competition should determine winners and losers, not the FCC." Contact Ted Johnson at ted.johnson@variety.com

Berlin: Films get Backup

Backup Media Group, a Paris-based film becoming a consultant and investor, is planning the B Media Global film fund specific at non-French movies. A tax vehicle sourcing high-internet-worth folks France plus debt finance, B Media Global committed to foreign movies, delivering gap finance. The fund invested against films' worldwide sales. Generally, B Media Global will need equity positions on movies inside the millions of to 15 million ($1.3 million to $19.7 million) range, Backup partner Joel Thibout mentioned at Berlin. Incorporated within this are U.S. indie photos allotted at $3 million to $tens of millions of and upper midlevel European films inside the $1.3 million to $19.7 million bracket. Thibout mentioned Backup appeared to be considering the higher over the counter ambitious Latin American films now being made. In France, Backup has typically setup 5% to 10% from the film's budget in completion finance. But investment on films could increase to 40%, according to budget and collateral, Thibout mentioned. "B Media Global isn't like the Sofica schemes we run in France, nevertheless it solutions the identical needs simply because they do for French-being qualified films in France," Thibout mentioned. Introduced in 1985, a Sofica (Societe pour le Financement du Cinema et p l'Audiovisuel) can be a public limited businesses that functions as investment fund to purchase films approved through the CNC, french National Film Center. Unlike Sofica, B Media Global will have a way to possess a position in the film after it's begun production, he added. Itwill start to purchase films within the Cannes Festival. It'll fund around five movies this season, then 10-15 yearly. Other funds already provide gap investment for films but handful of have Backup's physical span. Backup's transfer to foreign film financing can be a logical growth step. Through B Media Export and B Media Kids, the two latest-generation Sofica schemes run by its investment arm B Media Management, Backup already works carefully with Paris-based sales reps, lending for his or her French films against foreign sales revenues. Paris has become an worldwide film production and customers company hub, Thibout mentioned. However, many French sales reps handle as much foreign as French films. B Media Global allows Backup to buy both, undertaking with a film concurrently as sales agents' pick-ups. As national industries be ambitious in Asia and South Usa, there's furthermore an increasing requirement of B Media-style finance plus an ever-bigger volume of films that justify it. "It is really an exciting prospect. If you appraise the worldwide sales prospect from the film, it shouldn't matter be it French or American. B Media Global allows Backup to buy films, whatever their nationality," Thibout mentioned. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Exclusive: 'Young Adult' Blu-ray Hits March 13 And MTV's Got A Clip Now

Remember that awful girl from high school? How you always thought that deep down inside she was a sad, mean-spirited person? How she would eventually might grow up and learn her lesson? Charlize Theron's character in "Young Adult," Mavis Gary, is just like that first part. We can exclusively tell you that starting March 9, you'll be able to enjoy all of the horribleness of Mavis from the comfort of your own home, when "Young Adult" becomes available On Demand and for digital download. Four days later, on March 13, the Blu-ray and DVD will hits stores with exclusive extras, including an audio commentary featuring director Jason Reitman, deleted scenes and a scene deconstruction. Also, we get to bring you an exclusive deleted scene straight from the upcoming Blu-ray and DVD release. Check it out after the jump! In the film, Mavis returns to her hometown to win back the love of her life, the high school sweetheart she let go, Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson). But one minor detail turns Mavis' crusade for a long lost love into something much more sinister: Buddy and his wife (Elizabeth Reaser) recently had a child together and are happily married. This fact doesn't bother Mavis and sets the story of "Young Adult" into motion. Throw in Patton Oswalt as a former high school classmate of Mavis', whom (surprise, surprise) she doesn't remember. For his fourth feature length film, Reitman re-teamed with the Oscar-winning screenwriter, Diablo Cody, for the first time since their 2007 collaboration, "Juno." "Young Adult" opened to a strong critical response for the film and its lead. Theron earned a Golden Globes nomination for her work. What did you think of the "Young Adult" deleted scene? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!