Globes show canceled; new format on tap

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association said Monday that the traditional Golden Globe Awards ceremony has been canceled and will be replaced with a news conference format.

The move came after striking writers threatened to picket the event.

"We are all very disappointed that our traditional awards ceremony will not take place this year and that millions of viewers worldwide will be deprived of seeing many of their favorite stars celebrating 2007's outstanding achievements in motion pictures and television," said Jorge Camara, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. "We take some comfort, however, in knowing that this year's Golden Globe Award recipients will be announced on the date originally scheduled."

The show had been set to air on Sunday.

Faced with a threat by actors to boycott the ceremony rather than cross picket lines, the association and NBC were forced to adopt another approach for the ceremony.

The association will forgo the typical network payment, reported to be $5 million, it receives for the broadcast, said a person close to the show who was not authorized to comment and requested anonymity.

But NBC will have exclusive electronic rights to the show will be able to sell advertising for it, the person said.