Media Decoder: Quick Reversal for Plan to Rename Canadian Broadcaster

Quick Reversal for Plan to Rename Canadian Broadcaster

OTTAWA â€" After several days of widespread public ridicule and political criticism, the government-owned Radio-Canada on Monday partly backed away from a plan to rename most of its television, radio and online service “ICI,” the French word for “here.”

The new name came from the broadcaster’s longstanding on-air identification â€" “Ici, Radio Canada” â€" and was an attempt to give the French-language TV and radio broadcaster a concise, common name to its various operations.

But the change, particularly the loss of the word “Canada” didn’t sit well with many Canadians â€" French and English speaking alike. Among them was James Moore, the cabinet minister responsible for the $1 billion given to Radio-Canada and its English language counterpart, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, each year.

“Radio-Canada has heard the message loud and clear that the public has been sending us over the past few days,” Hubert T. Lacroix, the president and chief executive of C.B.C./Radio-Canada, said in a statement. “We recognize people’s powerful connection to everything that Radio-Canada stands for.”

Mr. Lacroix said that the ICI rebranding plan, which cost the broadcaster $400,000 to develop, will be modified. The main television and radio networks as well as its primary Web site will now include Radio-Canada along with ICI in their names. The television network, for example, will become ICI Radio-Canada Télé. Secondary services will carry just the ICI prefix. For example, the broadcaster’s less popular radio network that airs mainly music will adopt the name ICI Musique.

At least some of the controversy about the new name will linger.

In March, Radio-Canada launched a lawsuit against the International Channel/Canal International, or ICI, which is licensed to open a new television station in Montreal, which will start broadcasting programs in 17 different languages later this year. Sam Norouzi, the owner of the new station, said that the government broadcaster is challenging the trademark rights to ICI that he obtained last year.

Mr. Norouzi said he was considering legal action of his own against Radio-Canada’s rebranding.

“I think it will create confusion,” he said. “I have a trademark and I would like to have it respected.”

At Universal Theme Park, a V.I.P. Ticket to Ride

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New Executive Producer Named for ‘American Idol’

One of the makers of “American Idol,” FremantleMedia North America, announced a new executive producer on Monday, following reports that two longtime producers of the singing competition had been dismissed.

The new producer, Per Blankens, spent five years at the helm of the Swedish version of “Idol.” He will be among the people charged with reviving the American version on Fox, which has suffered in the ratings, as shows as old as “Idol” tend to do. The 13th season is scheduled to debut in January.

Trish Kinane, a FremantleMedia executive, said she was “very excited about his ideas and vision for keeping ‘Idol’ creatively vibrant.”

“Idol” is produced for Fox by FremantleMedia and another company, 19 Entertainment. 19 is also expected to hire a new executive producer for the show.

Over the weekend, Fox confirmed that Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick would not remain in their executive producer roles on “Idol.” Mr. Lythgoe, who will keep producing “So You Think You Can Dance” for the network, said on Twitter that he’d been fired. He followed up on Monday with a statement that read in part, “I am truly saddened to be leaving a great team of friends and colleagues. However, at the end of the day, the most important thing is to maintain this incredible platform for America’s young talent. This will only happen with the success of the program. If the executives that are now in charge of ‘American Idol’ believe that the ratings will improve with my departure, I have no complaints.”

New Executive Producer Named for ‘American Idol’

One of the makers of “American Idol,” FremantleMedia North America, announced a new executive producer on Monday, following reports that two longtime producers of the singing competition had been dismissed.

The new producer, Per Blankens, spent five years at the helm of the Swedish version of “Idol.” He will be among the people charged with reviving the American version on Fox, which has suffered in the ratings, as shows as old as “Idol” tend to do. The 13th season is scheduled to debut in January.

Trish Kinane, a FremantleMedia executive, said she was “very excited about his ideas and vision for keeping ‘Idol’ creatively vibrant.”

“Idol” is produced for Fox by FremantleMedia and another company, 19 Entertainment. 19 is also expected to hire a new executive producer for the show.

Over the weekend, Fox confirmed that Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick would not remain in their executive producer roles on “Idol.” Mr. Lythgoe, who will keep producing “So You Think You Can Dance” for the network, said on Twitter that he’d been fired. He followed up on Monday with a statement that read in part, “I am truly saddened to be leaving a great team of friends and colleagues. However, at the end of the day, the most important thing is to maintain this incredible platform for America’s young talent. This will only happen with the success of the program. If the executives that are now in charge of ‘American Idol’ believe that the ratings will improve with my departure, I have no complaints.”

Q. and A. With Stuart Elliott

Stuart Elliott, the advertising columnist, answers questions from readers each week. Questions can be sent to stuarte@nytimes.com.

Q. Is the bearded guy who ends every Men’s Wearhouse ad with the line “You’re going to like the way you look â€" I guarantee it” an actor who was chosen for the furry, reassuring tone of his voice, or is he actually connected corporately to the outfit?

A. The guy, dear reader, is George A. Zimmer, who helped found the Men’s Wearhouse clothing chain in 1973 and is now its executive chairman. He is one of many “spokes-C.E.O.s,” senior executives at companies who take part in marketing efforts aimed at the public; others include Frank and Jim Perdue, of Perdue Farms; James Dyson, of Dyson; Lee A. Iacocca, of Chrysler; Victor Kiam, of Remington shavers; August A. Busch III and August A. Busch IV, of Anheuser-Busch; R. David Thomas, ) of Wendy’s; Charles Schwab, of the Charles Schwab Corporation; and Frank Borman, of Eastern Air Lines.

In 2010, Men’s Wearhouse tried to cast Mr. Zimmer in a different role in its commercials, replacing his usual line with remarks like this: “There’s a place men belong. That place is Men’s Wearhouse. I guarantee it.” But those changes did not last long.

Q. Greetings from San Francisco. Thought I’d add a footnote to your item about the Hyundai Sonata driving the wrong way on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. In the film “The Graduate,” Dustin Hoffman’s character, Benjamin Braddock, also drives the wrong way as he heads back to Berkeley.

A. Thanks, dear reader, for sharing your wrong-way anecdote. You wouldn’t by any chance be an aviator named Douglas Corrigan?