CHINA has issued draconian new rules restricting the broadcast of online video to state-owned and state-controlled sites. The regulations go into effect on January 31st and major online video companies are waiting to see how tightly the government will crack down on independent video sites. A YouTube spokesman called the developments “a cause for concern.”

JAY LENO is drawing complaints from the WGA about his scripted monologues for The Tonight Show. During Wednesday’s show Leno said he was writing his own monologues. Leno claims Guild West president Patric Verrone gave his personal approval of self-written monologues, while Verrone says otherwise. The Guild now claims Leno is in violation of strike rules and risks being brought before the Strike Rules Compliance Committee.

MOTOROLA will introduce a new dedicated mobile television device at CES. The DH01 will play live TV using the DVBH standard and allow users to pause live broadcasts for up to five minutes. The device will also offer on-demand video and the ability to play content stored on a DVR. The DH01 will officially launch sometime this month.

SAMSUNG and STARZ are teaming up to allow users of the Samsung P2 media device to download content from the Vongo service for mobile viewing. Vongo offers access to 2,500 titles for $9.99 per month. The P2 will join seven other media players with support for Vongo, including players from Archos, Creative and Toshiba.

ALBUM SALES dropped 15% during 2007, falling to 500 million albums after a 2006 total of 588 million. Meanwhile, album downloads jumped 53% to 50 million. DVD unit sales fell 4.5%, the first major decline in the history of the format.

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