Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
News Corp.’s Fox Broadcasting is said to have sold all but one of the 63 30-second commercials that it plans to run during the Super Bowl on Feb. 3. The Super Bowl is described as the “last bastion of mass marketing, with incredible reach.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/business/media/11adco.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin 1/11)
CBS will see growth in 2008 in “every single division,” says chief Les Moonves. “We haven’t seen any evidence” of an economic downturn, he adds. Also, while the Hollywood writers strike “is bothering me a great deal,” Moonves says, it likely will be over “in the next few months.” (http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN1021842020080111 1/10)
Weinstein Co., the movie studio run by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, is entering an interim deal with the Writers Guild of America. The agreement mirrors the pact that the union signed last week with United Artists, the independent company headed by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner. (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-fi-weinstein11jan11,1,6253882.story?ctrack=4&cset=true 1/11)
Hollywood A-list actors are becoming involved in trying to end the Writers Guild strike. George Clooney is volunteering to set up a “mediation panel” including himself and other industry bigwigs; Tom Hanks is urging an end to the walkout in an effort to “save” the Academy Awards. (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/exclusive-george-clooney-offers-to-set-up-strike-mediation-panel 1/10)
Time Warner, News Corp. and cable companies are among sector players getting some early Wall Street support in the new year. Time Warner is called the “best idea” for the entertainment industry in 2008; News Corp. “continues to invest in its growth assets.” (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/features/columns/street_talk/e3iba4068e544a5fb6c613efe083685802e 1/11)
Time Warner is arranging $2 billion in three-year, unsecured financing to repay debt that will be coming due, according to a regulatory filing. The proceeds will primarily go to repay short-term loans. The company may also use the money to make acquisitions. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aQWxHWUQ8uFY 1/10)
Leave a Comment so far
Leave a comment
