Daily Marauder

MISC

The Disney film, "The Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience," was a dud at the box office earlier this year; "Jonas," a new Disney Channel comedy, is a ratings disappointment. One of the group’s managers says: "We are transitioning to a slightly older audience." (Iwantmedia 5/26, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/arts/music/25jonas.html  5/25)

MISC

If Hollywood mogul David Geffen ends up acquiring the New York Times, he would convert it into a nonprofit institution, confidantes say. Geffen regards the newspaper as a national treasure meriting preservation into perpetuity. Still, "David would hope the newspaper makes a profit." (Iwantmedia 5/13, http://www.newsweek.com/id/196997  5/13)

Sumner Redstone’s National Amusements has received a first round of bids for its theater chains, with bidders offering enough to help the company pay off its debts. Also: Redstone is being sued by Midway Games creditors over claims the video-game maker was hurt by his stake sale. (Iwantmedia 5/13, http://www.reuters.com/article/americasPrivateEquityNews/idUSTRE54B7ED20090512  5/12)

IMAX and AMC may have some damage control to do here. Bloggers, Diggers and tweeters are passing around a posting by Parks and Recreation co-star Aziz Ansari calling for a boycott of the companies, claiming that the exhibitors are selling an inferior bill of goods. Aziz complains that he paid $5 extra to see Star Trek on an IMAX-branded screen at an AMC multiplex in Burbank, only to discover that the screen size was a fraction of the size of the traditional 76 x 97 feet IMAX screen. The two companies teamed last year to begin offering cheaper co-branded screens in multiple AMC locations. (Cynopsis 5/13)

MISC

Blockbuster, the movie-rental company that was once the only game in town, now finds itself scurrying for market share against a number of competitors on a variety of fronts, including online and in vending machines, according to this report. The once-dominant player in the video space reports its quarterly earnings on Thursday. The Wall Street Journal (5/11)

The new "Star Trek" film, from Viacom’s Paramount Pictures, opened with $72.5 million in ticket sales, the best debut in the 11-movie franchise. The debut may pave the way for still more "Star Trek" films. The media giant is likely to reap additional revenue from spin-off consumer products. (Iwantmedia 5/11, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aNsNjedi7cp4  5/10)

MISC

The new "Star Trek" film from Viacom’s Paramount Pictures is forecast to rake in more than $70 million its opening weekend. A hit could offer new opportunities for merchandising. The studio promoted the film through the Internet, mobile phones and other non-traditional media. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aLesMe8OgzQ8 5/8)