SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                (AMENDMENT NO. 1)

                      Metromedia International Group, Inc.
                      ------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                          Common Stock, $0.01 par value
                          -----------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    591689104
                                    ---------
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                December 31, 2005
                                -----------------
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the following box to designate the rule pursuant to which the Schedule is
filed:

   [   ]   Rule 13d-1(b)
   [ X ]   Rule 13d-1(c)
   [   ]   Rule 13d-1(d)


*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).



CUSIP NO. 591689104

   1.    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS. I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
         (ENTITIES ONLY)
         D. E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C.
         01-0577802

   2.    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
         (A)       [ ]
         (B)       [ ]

   3.    SEC USE ONLY

   4.    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
         Delaware

NUMBER OF                 5.    SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY                    -0-
OWNED BY
EACH                      6.    SHARED VOTING POWER
REPORTING                       6,654,000
PERSON WITH
                          7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                -0-

                          8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                6,654,000

   9.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
         6,654,000

   10.   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
         (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [ ]

   11.   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
         7.1%

   12.   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
         OO




CUSIP NO. 591689104

   1.    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS. I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
         (ENTITIES ONLY)
         D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.
         13-3695715

   2.    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
         (A)       [ ]
         (B)       [ ]

   3.    SEC USE ONLY

   4.    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
         Delaware

NUMBER OF                 5.    SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY                    -0-
OWNED BY
EACH                      6.    SHARED VOTING POWER
REPORTING                       6,654,000
PERSON WITH
                          7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                -0-

                          8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                6,654,000

   9.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
         6,654,000

   10.   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
         (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [ ]

   11.   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
         7.1%

   12.   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
         IA, PN



CUSIP NO. 591689104

   1.    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
         I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
         D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.
         13-3799946

   2.    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
         (A)       [ ]
         (B)       [ ]

   3.    SEC USE ONLY

   4.    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
         Delaware

NUMBER OF                 5.    SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY                    -0-
OWNED BY
EACH                      6.    SHARED VOTING POWER
REPORTING                       6,654,000
PERSON WITH
                          7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                -0-

                          8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                6,654,000

   9.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
         6,654,000

   10.   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
         (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [ ]

   11.   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
         7.1%

   12.   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
         OO



CUSIP NO. 591689104

      1.   NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
           I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
           David E. Shaw

      2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
           (A)     [ ]
           (B)     [ ]

      3.   SEC USE ONLY

      4.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
           United States

NUMBER OF                5.     SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY                    -0-
OWNED BY
EACH                     6.     SHARED VOTING POWER
REPORTING                       6,654,000
PERSON WITH
                         7.     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                -0-

                         8.     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                6,654,000

      9.   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
           6,654,000

      10.  CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
           (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [ ]

      11.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
           7.1%

      12.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
           IN



ITEM 1.
     (A) NAME OF ISSUER:
         Metromedia International Group, Inc.


     (B) ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:
         8000 Tower Point Drive
         Charlotte, North Carolina  28227


ITEM 2.
     (A) NAME OF PERSON FILING:
         D. E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C.
         D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.
         D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.
         David E. Shaw


     (B) ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE:
         The business address for each reporting person is:
         120 W. 45th Street, Tower 45, 39th Floor
         New York, NY 10036


     (C) CITIZENSHIP:
         D. E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C. is a limited liability company
         organized under the laws of the state of Delaware.
         D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. is a limited partnership organized under the
         laws of the state of Delaware.
         D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C. is a limited liability company organized under
         the laws of the state of Delaware.
         David E. Shaw is a citizen of the United States of America.


     (D) TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:
         Common Stock, $0.01 par value


     (E) CUSIP NUMBER:
         591689104



ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(b) OR 13d-2(b) OR (c),
CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:

Not applicable

ITEM 4.  OWNERSHIP

As of December 31, 2005:

(a) Amount beneficially owned:
D. E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C.:                         6,654,000 shares
D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:                                        6,654,000 shares
D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.:                                      6,654,000 shares
David E. Shaw:                                                 6,654,000 shares


(b) Percent of class:
    D. E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C.:                     7.1%
    D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:                                    7.1%
    D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.:                                  7.1%
    David E. Shaw:                                             7.1%


(c) Number of shares to which the person has:
    (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
         D.E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C.:                 -0- shares
         D.E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:                                -0- shares
         D.E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.:                              -0- shares
         David E. Shaw:                                        -0- shares

    (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
          D. E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C.:               6,654,000 shares
          D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:                              6,654,000 shares
          D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.:                            6,654,000 shares
          David E. Shaw:                                       6,654,000 shares


    (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
           D. E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C.:              -0- shares
           D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:                             -0- shares
           D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.:                           -0- shares
           David E. Shaw:                                      -0- shares

    (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
          D. E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C.:               6,654,000 shares
          D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:                              6,654,000 shares
          D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.:                            6,654,000 shares
          David E. Shaw:                                       6,654,000 shares


David E. Shaw does not own any shares directly. By virtue of David E. Shaw's
position as President and sole shareholder of D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc., which is
the general partner of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P., which in turn is the investment
adviser of D. E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C., and by virtue of
David E. Shaw's position as President and sole shareholder of
D. E. Shaw & Co. II, Inc., which is the managing member of
D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C., which in turn is the managing member of
D. E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C., David E. Shaw may be deemed to have the
shared power to vote or direct the vote of, and the shared power to dispose or
direct the disposition of, the 6,654,000 shares as described above constituting
7.1% of the outstanding shares and, therefore, David E. Shaw may be deemed to be
the beneficial owner of such shares. David E. Shaw disclaims beneficial
ownership of such 6,654,000 shares.

ITEM 5.        OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
Not Applicable

ITEM 6.        OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON
Not Applicable

ITEM 7.        IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
               ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING
               COMPANY OR CONTROL PERSON
Not Applicable

ITEM 8.        IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
Not Applicable

ITEM 9.        NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
Not Applicable

ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION

By signing below, each of D. E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C.,
D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P., D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C., and David E. Shaw certify
that, to the best of such reporting person's knowledge and belief, the
securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose
of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a
participant in any transaction having such purposes or effect.



SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of their knowledge and belief, the
undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct. Powers of Attorney, dated February 24, 2004, granted by
David E. Shaw in favor of Eric Wepsic, are attached hereto.

Dated: February 13, 2006


                                     D. E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C.

                                     By:  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C., as
                                             managing member

                                             By: /s/Eric Wepsic
                                                -------------------
                                                  Eric Wepsic
                                                  Managing Director



                                     D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.

                                     By: /s/Eric Wepsic
                                        -------------------
                                           Eric Wepsic
                                           Managing Director



                                     D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.

                                     By: /s/Eric Wepsic
                                        -------------------
                                           Eric Wepsic
                                           Managing Director



                                     David E. Shaw

                                     By: /s/Eric Wepsic
                                        -------------------
                                           Eric Wepsic
                                           Attorney-in-Fact for David E. Shaw



                                    EXHIBIT 1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               FOR CERTAIN FILINGS
                    UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


I, David E. Shaw, hereby make, constitute and appoint each of:


         Anne Dinning,

         Julius Gaudio,

         Lou Salkind,

         Stuart Steckler, and

         Eric Wepsic,

acting individually, as my agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power of
substitution, for the purpose of, from time to time, executing in my name and/or
my capacity as President of D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc. (acting for itself or as the
general partner of D. E. Shaw & Co., L. P. and general partner or managing
member of other entities, any which in turn may be acting for itself or other
entities) all documents, certificates, instruments, statement, other filings,
and amendments to the forgoing (collectively, "documents") determined by such
person to be necessary or appropriate to comply with ownership or control-person
reporting requirements imposed by any United States or non-United States
governmental or regulatory authority, including without limitation Forms 3, 4,
5, 13D, 13F, and 13G required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission; and delivering, furnishing or filing any such documents with the
appropriate governmental or regulatory authority. Any such determination shall
be conclusively evidenced by such person's execution, delivery, furnishing,
and/or filing of the applicable document.

This power of attorney shall be valid from the date hereof and replaces the
power granted on February 5, 2001, which is hereby cancelled.

IN WITNESS HEREOF, I have executed this instrument as of the date set forth
below.

Date: February 24, 2004

DAVID E. SHAW, as President of
D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc.
/s/David E. Shaw
New York, New York




                                    EXHIBIT 2

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               FOR CERTAIN FILINGS
                    UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


I, David E. Shaw, hereby make, constitute and appoint each of:

         Anne Dinning,

         Julius Gaudio,

         Lou Salkind,

         Stuart Steckler, and

         Eric Wepsic,

acting individually, as my agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power of
substitution, for the purpose of, from time to time, executing in my name and/or
my capacity as President of D. E. Shaw & Co. II, Inc. (acting for itself and as
the managing member of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C., which in turn may be acting for
itself or as the managing member of other companies) all documents,
certificates, instruments, statement, other filings and amendments to the
forgoing (collectively, "documents") determined by such person to be necessary
or appropriate to comply with ownership or control-person reporting requirements
imposed by any United States or non-United States governmental or regulatory
authority, including without limitation Forms 3, 4, 5, 13D, 13F and 13G required
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and delivering,
furnishing or filing any such documents with the appropriate governmental or
regulatory authority. Any such determination shall be conclusively evidenced by
such person's execution and delivery, furnishing or filing of the applicable
document.

This power of attorney shall be valid from the date hereof and replaces the
power granted on February 5, 2001, which is hereby cancelled.

IN WITNESS HEREOF, I have executed this instrument as of the date set forth
below.

Date:  February 24, 2004

DAVID E. SHAW, as President of
D. E. Shaw & Co. II, Inc.
/s/David E. Shaw
New York, New York