Tue Apr 17

[SBS/8:30pm] New Cyberspace Worlds. A booming business has sprung up at the crossroads where virtual worlds and the real world meet. In auctions inside these realms, imaginary real estate and virtual islands are selling for hundreds of thousands of real dollars. Weapons and characters are also being exchanged for money. Millions of ‘gamers’ worldwide spend on average 30 hours a week playing in these boundless realms, creating their own new personalities as players in the game (known as ‘avatars’). The huge business that has sprung up in cyberspace not only means people are capitalising on real estate but have also set up virtual nightclubs and theme parks, charging real money to gain entry. Every day, virtual weapons are auctioned for fortunes on the real E-bay auction site, the avatars of hostile players are imprisoned and people sentenced to death. Ordinary Australians – indeed, average Joes worldwide – can become famous through the characters they play. For example, ‘Never Die’ runs the largest virtual nightclub in cyberspace. In reality, he’s a DJ from Miami but successfully uses his virtual life to promote his music. The economy of these worlds is currently estimated at $US100 million dollars a year and is growing expotentially. And of course, third-world exploitation is never far away, as rich western gamers employ people in developing countries to play while they are asleep to ensure their character advances in the game. Real companies, hiring real people have been set up with the sole purpose of buying virtual real estate to be auctioned for real, huge profits. Meanwhile, computer hackers are stealing these properties and so real law courts now have to establish ownership of non-existent properties. New Cyberspace Worlds is part of SBS’s Future Focus series, six weeks of innovative, insightful and thought-provoking programming dealing with environmental, scientific and social issues critical to our future on this earth, airing from 10 April 2007. Only on SBS.
[SBS/11:25pm] Five Disasters Waiting To Happen – As the world swaps theories on global warming, Five Disasters Waiting to Happen looks at how a group of leading cities are dealing with the reality of climate change. This documentary examines five locations: London, Shanghai, Mumbai, Paris and Tuvalu. All have been identified by experts as vulnerable to the effects of climate change…and all seem to be doing something about it. The major climate threats identified include rising tides in the Thames, heat waves in Paris and erratic monsoons in areas such as Mumbai and Shanghai. (From the UK, in English, French and Mandarin, English subtitles) (Documentary) PG CC WS

[Seven/7:30pm] Dancing with the Stars.
[Seven/9:00pm] All Saints. LIFE’S LITTLE MIRACLES. As Eve and Frank reach a heartbreaking decision, Frank is able to pull the team together and bring about the miraculous saving of a young life. Zoe’s livid when Bart neglects his patient in favour of an extraordinary surgical case. Jack is surprised when he realises his dark past is still affecting his judgement. Starring JOHN HOWARD, JUDITH MCGRATH, CHRIS GABARDI, TAMMY MACINTOSH, MARK PRIESTLEY, ALEXANDRA DAVIES, WIL TRAVAL, CHRIS VANCE, JOLENE ANDERSON, ALLISON CRATCHLEY, VIRGINIA GAY, ANDREW SUPANZ, JOHN WATERS, ALLY FOWLER, MIKE SMITH, PETA SERGEANT, AARON DAVISON and PIP MILLER.
[Seven/12:00am] Mile High. Rpt.

[Ten/7:30pm] All New Simpsons. “Ice Cream Of Marge (With The Light Blue Hair)”
[Ten/8:30pm] NCIS. “Driven”
[Ten/9:30pm] Numb3rs “The Mole”

[Nine/9:35pm] I Shouldn’t Be Alive. Shark Survivor.

[ABC/8:30pm] The Bill. A young boy is in a coma after overdosing on heroin and Kirsten Shaw is arrested against DC Nadir’s protest. CAST: Christine Stephen-Daly, TJ Ramini
[ABC/9:20pm] Foreign Correspondent. International current affairs through Australian eyes from ABC correspondents around the world.
[ABC/10:00pm] Jennifer Byrne Presents Bill Bryson Tonight, Jennifer Byrne introduces us to one of the world’s favourite authors. Bill Bryson has delighted book lovers with hilarious and informative books on travelling, words and science. He most recently travelled back to his childhood with The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. Jennifer and Bill chat about the origins of his love of books and language, the highs and lows of success and the joys of having one of the best jobs you could ever imagine. In Jennifer Byrne Presents Bill Bryson, Bill touches on his “11 Rules for Life”. In order to make the world a better place he considers these rules ought to take force with immediate effect… Following are four of Bill’s 11 Rules for Life… It is no longer permitted to be stupid and slow. You must choose one or the other. People who wear articles of clothing in which the manufacturer’s name or logo is prominently displayed must also wear a badge saying ‘Yes, I am an idiot’. With immediate effect the following are illegal: tofu; low fat cheese; pronouncing etcetera as if it had a “K” in it; saying in any circumstances that you are seeking closure; thinking that if you put a little bit of food that I really don’t want to eat on the end of a fork and wave it in my face it will somehow become attractive to me; and all medical procedures ending in the word “oscopy”. All Americans will appreciate irony and Britons will understand that two ice cubes in a drink is not nearly enough.

[Comedy/8:30pm] Invasion Iowa.