Filed under: MISC | Tags: Arts, Entertainment, Hollywood, Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Miramax Films, movie, Walt Disney Company
Film flops threaten to leave Disney in last place at the box office among its Hollywood peers for the second-straight year, as movies featuring television stars Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers disappoint. Also: Indie filmmakers fear Disney will dump its Miramax Films unit. (Iwantmedia 5/18, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aXbZJx0NdNz4 5/18)
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Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Anne Thomopoulos, Jonas Brothers, Madea Goes to Jail, NBC Universal, Tyler Perry, United States, us, Veronis Suhler Stevenson
“Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience” debuted at No. 2 in U.S. movie theaters this weekend, bested by “Tyler Perry‘s Madea Goes to Jail,” which held the top spot for the second straight week, surprising analysts. Perry’s film is a hit among audiences “Hollywood ignores.” (Iwantmedia 3/2, http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-03-01-boxoffice01_N.htm 3/1)
Broadcast networks are facing a deep advertising recession that is hitting both them and their local stations, while cable rivals are propped up by subscriber fees. NBC Universal boss Jeff Zucker warns that broadcast TV is “in danger of becoming” like the newspaper industry. (Iwantmedia 3/2, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/business/media/28network.html?_r=1 2/28)
Former HBO head Chris Albrecht has brought in Tom Fontana to write a 12-episode historical drama – The Borgias – for the US audience and abroad, reports Variety. Based on the notorious Borgia clan, known for numerous dastardly deeds and terror across Europe, dating back to the 15th century, the production of The Borgias will be shot in Europe beginning this fall. Albrecht has teamed up with another former HBO exec, Anne Thomopoulos who will serve as Exec Producer on the project. Albrecht and Thomopoulos were brought into the project by Helion topper Steven Bawol and Atlantique CEO Takis Candilis. (Cynopsis 3/2)
Viacom, Lionsgate and MGM plan to premiere Epix, a new premium television service, on the Internet in May, followed by a launch as a cable-TV channel in October. The service will run movies about nine months after they first appear in theaters — earlier than other premium channels. (Iwantmedia 3/2, http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2009-03-01-viacom-lionsgate-mgm-epix-channel_N.htm 3/1)
PricewaterhouseCoopers is issuing a report gauging how the economic downturn will affect media business fundamentals. Companies are expected to continue to divest non-core assets. Veronis Suhler Stevenson is forecasting spending on media to drop 0.4% in 2009. (Iwantmedia 3/2, http://www.thedeal.com/dealscape/2009/02/reports_illustrate_medias_decl.php 2/27)
General Electric is slashing its quarterly dividend by nearly 68%, a move expected to save about $9 billion a year. The parent of NBC Universal has been paying a regular dividend for more than 100 years. Shares of GE have fallen nearly 70% since mid-September. (Iwantmedia 3/2, http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/GE-slashes-quarterly-dividend-save/story.aspx?guid=%7B618EAEEE%2DE61D%2D4522%2DA8B3%2D21D8DE89E8FE%7D 2/27)
Sumner Redstone is entering a deal with bankers to restructure his family company’s huge debt. The agreement still requires that the $1.46 billion debt be paid by the end of next year. (Iwantmedia 3/2, http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-redstone28-2009feb28,0,7540054.story 2/28)
Time Warner is developing an initiative dubbed TV Everywhere that will allow viewers to watch networks such as CNN, Cartoon Network and TNT online — as long as they can prove they subscribe to cable, satellite or a telecom TV service. “If you want to watch your favorite TV network or shows through broadband on any device — PCs or mobile — you can do it as long as you subscribe to any multichannel provider,” said Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, adding that TV Everywhere could be ready for testing sometime this year. “It’s a natural extension of the existing model.” Advertising Age (3/2) , TVWeek.com (3/1)
Univision has undergone layoffs of 6% of its staff base, resulting in the loss of approximately 300 staff positions. While Univision is not reporting the specific of those cuts, they have said it reaches across all areas including the television network, affiliated stations, radio and in the company’s corporate offices. (Cynopsis 3/2)
Heading into the upfront selling season, NBC Universal’s Bravo cable network is hoping that the value of its upscale, educated, trendy and engaged audience will translate into value in the marketplace. The network has been a bright spot for NBCU, and first-quarter ad sales are 20% ahead of last year. TVWeek.com (3/1)
Scripps Interactive’s Food Network experienced a 44% increase in online revenue in January, as recipe lovers search out just the right ingredients at FoodNetwork.com and Recipezaar.com. “Being in tune with the consumer palette allows us to think smartly about what people are thinking about on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis,” said Deanna Brown, president of Scripps Networks Interactive. Advertising Age (3/2)
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Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Cox Communications, Jonas Brothers, NBC Universal, Rogers Cable, Television, Television program, Time Warner Cable, Warner Bros.
The Jonas Brothers are tearing up the tween scene and are poised to become a nine-figure franchise for Disney. The boy band could become “the next billion-dollar brand,” say industry marketers. The Jonsas are the subject of Disney movies, albums, books and TV shows. (Iwantmedia 8/15, http://www.portfolio.com/culture-lifestyle/culture-inc/2008/08/14/The-Jonas-Brothers-Phenomenon 8/14)
With just a month before new television shows begin airing for the fall season, pilots are taking file-sharing networks by storm. More than 10 episodes of highly anticipated shows, including J.J. Abrams’ Fox sci-fi drama “Fringe,” have leaked online before their debut air dates. (Iwantmedia 8/15, http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/08/leaked-tv-pilot.html 8/14)
Fringe
NBC Universal, taking advantage of its ability to attract 168 million viewers to its Olympics coverage, sold an additional $10 million in advertising space between Monday and Wednesday of this week, according to this report. NBC has scheduled six to seven commercial pods per hour during the games, compared with an average of five for prime time. Advertising Age (8/14)
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution has made 85 movies available to the video-on-demand platforms of cable providers such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Charter and Rogers Cable. The offering — which involves classic titles such as “Casablanca,” “Blade Runner” and “Rebel Without a Cause” — is in honor of the 85th anniversary of Warner Bros. Entertainment. Broadcasting & Cable (8/14)
Percy Miller, also known as rapper Master P, has announced plans to launch a new cable network in 2009 called Better Black Television that will target blacks and Hispanics. “I believe that there is a market in our community for a new diverse network that provides a new brand of superior programming that caters to all aspects of television, from reality to original programming,” Miller said. Yahoo!/Reuters/The Hollywood Reporter (8/15)
Harbinger Capital Management informed the government Thursday that it had acquired 11.45 million of Cablevision’s Class A shares, a 4.9% stake that makes it the company’s fifth-largest stockholder, according to this report. The article goes on to say that it is unclear exactly what Harbinger plans to do with its newfound power, but one observer with knowledge of the situation believes it’s unlikely the company would launch a proxy fight. In reaction to the investment, Cablevision said: “We welcome all investors and are focused on enhancing value for all shareholders.” The Wall Street Journal (free content) (8/15)
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Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Camp Rock, Demi Lovato, Disney, Disney Channel, High School Musical, Jonas Brothers, Television, Television movie
Hard on the success of its Jonas Brothers-starring “Camp Rock” made-for-TV movie, Disney Channel has announced plans for a sequel, which is expected to go into production next year. The original, featuring the increasingly omnipresent brothers as well as Demi Lovato, attracted 8.9 million viewers in its premiere Friday night. (Reuters/The Hollywood Reporter 6/24)
MTV, which has not accepted political advertising since the channel was launched in 1981, will now run national ads from political candidates, their campaign committees and nationally recognized political parties. The move is effective immediately and leaves Lifetime as the only high-profile cable network that still does not take political advertising. (TVWeek.com 6/24)
MSNBC has created MSNBC Films, a company that will fund feature-length documentaries and effectively double — from three to six — the number of documentaries that the cable news network televises each year. First up will be “Dear Zachary,” the true story of a man killed by his pregnant girlfriend. (The Hollywood Reporter 6/24)
Sports memorabilia expert Donald Frangipani is filing a defamation lawsuit against HBO and those associated with its “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” program for a segment that accused him of participating in a forgery ring. Bryant Gumbel is named as a defendant. (Iwantmedia 6/25, http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSN2438145420080624 6/24)
Shares of most major media companies finished lower with the broader market on Tuesday, following signs that soaring fuel costs are taking a toll on corporate profits. Time Warner lost 2 cents to $14.60; Disney slipped 17 cents to $32.22; New York Times Co. fell 17 cents to $15.60. Iwantmedia 6/25, (http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080624/media_companies_closing_glance.html 6/24)
Cablevision is beefing up its on-demand offerings with Versus on Demand and Golf on Demand as free services to its iO digital-TV customers. Both Versus and Golf Channel are owned by Comcast. (Multichannel News 6/24)
Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Arts, Camp Rock, Disney Channel, High School Musical, Jonas Brothers, Movies, Studios, Television
George Carlin, the man behind the Seven Words You Can Never Say on TV comedy routine, died of heart failure yesterday at the age of 71, reports the AP. He went to the hospital yesterday afternoon complaining of chest pains, and passed away later on that evening. (Cynopsis 6/23)
With 8.9 million viewers, Disney Channel’s “Camp Rock” made-for-TV movie was the most-watched program last Friday night. The movie’s premiere, which stars The Jonas Brothers, even outperformed the debut of Disney Channel’s original “High School Musical.” (TVWeek.com 6/21)
You know you’ve made it into the public zeitgeist when you’re the subject of a question on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” as AMC’s series “Mad Men” recently was. But the show, set in a 1960s-era Madison Avenue advertising agency, has done that one better: Running from Tuesday until September, the Science, Industry and Business Library within the New York Public Library will stage an exhibition about the ad men — and women — of that era. (The New York Times 6/23)
HBO will bring “In Treatment” back for a second season. Production of the new season of the series, which stars Gabriel Byrne and Dianne Wiest, is scheduled to begin in New York this fall, and new episodes are scheduled for 2009. (Broadcasting & Cable 6/20)
Former “NBC Nightly News” anchor Tom Brokaw is being chosen to temporarily take over the moderator duties on “Meet the Press” left vacant by Tim Russert’s death. The veteran journalist will lead the Sunday morning news program through the U.S. presidential election. (Iwantmedia 6/23, http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b143723_tom_brokaw_named_temporary_press.html 6/22)
Tim Russert (left) and Tom Brokaw (right)
Bravo’s season two premiere of Flipping Out last Tuesday (10p) drew in 511,000 A18-49 viewers and 672,000 total viewers. (Cynopsis 6/23)
The NFL Network, which has been striving to become a cable TV powerhouse, with limited success because of the lack of a major carriage deal, is in talks with ESPN about a joint venture that would give the network distribution on most systems across the country, according to these reports. The talks have gone on for some time now and have reportedly now reached a high level — all the way up to NFL Network boss Steven Bornstein, who once ran ESPN, and Disney chief Bob Iger. (New York Post 6/21, CNNMoney.com/Associated Press 6/20)
Late Friday, ABC announced it is appealing the FCC’s ruling and fines that center on a 2003 episode of NYPD Blue that, according to the FCC, violated indecency policies. (Cynopsis 6/23)
Disney execs including CEO Bob Iger are touting “the Disney Difference” to convince investors that the company’s products and brand make it less of a cyclical media business and more like a consumer goods company, similar to Nike or Coca-Cola. So far, the campaign is proving “a hard sell.” (Iwantmedia 6/23, http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSN2240180220080623 6/23)
In a high-profile victory for cable companies, the FCC ruled late last week that Verizon Communications could no longer contact customers who were in the process of switching phone service to other providers. Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks filed a complaint with the FCC, arguing that the practice was illegal. (The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires 6/23)
