Study: TV king in U.S.

New York — The Chinese watch half as much television each day as Americans do, but they are more likely to catch video on computer or mobile phones.

That’s among the findings of a study issued Wednesday by the Nielsen Co., which surveyed some 27,000 online consumers in 55 countries this March. The report offered hints about how technology is used in different parts of the world.

It’s much more common for people in Asian countries to view video on cell phones than it is for those in the United States and Europe, the study showed. The Chinese are 51 percent more likely to watch mobile video than people elsewhere in the world, while Americans are 55 percent less likely, the study said.

A far greater percentage of Americans than Chinese have an extensive number of cable television channels in their homes, said Matt O’Grady, a senior vice president at Nielsen.

“It’s forcing them to have another access point,” O’Grady said.

Americans, on average, watched five hours and four minutes of TV each day in March, behind only Serbia and Macedonia, Nielsen said. The average Chinese resident watched two hours, 36 minutes of TV each day, the study said. Thailand, at 2:11, had the fewest hours of TV watching.

’30 Rock’ actor speaks up for organ donation

New York — Actor Grizz Chapman of NBC’s “30 Rock” is serving as an advocate for organ donation, just a month after undergoing a kidney transplant.

Spokeswoman Anne Finn says Chapman will speak today at New York’s Montefiore Medical Center at an event observing National Minority Organ Donor Awareness Day. Chapman received his new kidney at that facility.

Chapman was diagnosed with high blood pressure a decade ago. He learned several years later that he was suffering from kidney disease. Until his transplant, he was on dialysis three times a week.

He and Kevin Brown, as the character Dot Com, appear as the two-man entourage for a hapless comedian played by Tracy Morgan on the “30 Rock” sitcom.

Streisand named 2011 Person of the Year

New York — Barbra Streisand will be honored as the 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year.

The Recording Academy and the MusiCares Foundation said Wednesday that Streisand will receive the award Feb. 11 at a dinner and concert in Los Angeles.

The annual gala is among the festivities that will lead up to the 53rd annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 13. The awards show will air on CBS.

The 68-year-old Streisand has won eight Grammy Awards. She is being honored for her creative accomplishments and philanthropic work.

MusiCares was established by The Recording Academy in 1989. It helps people in the music industry during times of need.

James Taylor and Aretha Franklin are among those who have been previously honored with the award.

Salahi to auction off infamous red sari

Washington — Michaele Salahi is going to auction off the red sari she wore when she and her husband allegedly crashed a White House state dinner last November.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Salahi said she plans to put the dress up for bid around the time the scandal is addressed in “The Real Housewives of D.C.”

There’s no airdate yet for the episode. Salahi said the auction proceeds will go to victims of the Haitian earthquake and people with multiple sclerosis.

Salahi is one of five women starring in the series that premieres tonight on Bravo.

Much of the first episode features the other four housewives criticizing Salahi behind her back for being too skinny and allegedly not paying her bills.

Salahi said watching the episode hurt for “a minute,” but she got over it.

Penn, Wright’s divorce finalized

San Rafael, Calif. — There won’t be an encore for Sean Penn and Robin Wright’s marriage — court records show the couple are officially divorced.

A judgment ending their 14-year marriage was entered July 22 in Marin County, which is in the Bay Area. The filing was first reported Wednesday by People.com.

The couple’s marriage has been an on-again, off-again affair. Wright filed for divorce last August, the third time the couple petitioned to either separate or divorce.

The filings show Penn and Wright will share custody of their 16-year-old son. They also have a 19-year-old daughter.

Requests for comment e-mailed to the actors’ publicists were not immediately returned.

Details of any financial settlement the ex-couple entered were not filed with the court.

Library to honor Martin for gift of ideas

New York — Steve Martin has been recognized in New York as a literary lion.

The actor-author-playwright was among five Library Lions announced Wednesday by the New York Public Library. Also cited were actor-author Ethan Hawke, authors Malcolm Gladwell and Zadie Smith and New York Public Library President Paul LeClerc.

The winners were chosen based on “their contributions to the world of ideas.” They will be honored Nov. 1 at a black-tie gala.