Filed under: MISC | Tags: Blockbuster, Business, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, Minimal instruction set computer, Movie studio, Providence Equity Partners, United States, Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal reports that Blockbuster‘s first-quarter revenue shrank nearly 20% to $1.12 billion and earnings dropped 39%. Blockbuster said few strong movies were available for rental during the quarter, but big titles, including “Watchmen,” will be out soon. The Wall Street Journal (5/15)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the movie studio controlled by Providence Equity Partners and TPG, is in talks to restructure $3.7 billion in debt. The studio says it aims to stay independent. (Iwantmedia 5/15, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aAkQCXqtlHvg 5/14)
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Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA | Tags: AOL, Click Forensics, Click fraud, Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Lions Gate Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, Viacom
ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Epix — the pay-per-view movie channel created by Viacom, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Lions Gate Entertainment — initially will launch on a subscription-only broadband Web site in May, according to Mark Greenberg, chief executive officer of the joint venture. Greenberg said Epix executives were negotiating distribution deals with cable and satellite providers as well and hoped to bring the channel to television sets in October. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (1/28) , Los Angeles Times (free registration) (1/27)
The Epix channel will provide an outlet for flicks such as ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.’
Pssst. Epix, there already is a subscription-only broadband product on the market. It’s called Netflix and they additionally send you DVD’s if that’s the way you want to watch something. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone…
NBC is attempting to lure younger viewers to Heroes by building a presence on teen-focused virtual site Habbo.com. NBC.com will extend its popular Heroes’ Evolutions offshoot offering fans the ability to interact with a new avatar Hero through a variety of in-game activities. Habbos participating in a weeklong quest will discover their own “special powers” and will be recruited as new heroes. (Cynopsis 1/28)
AOL
will cut its work force by 10 percent today, laying off approximately 700 employees, as a result of the struggling economy and a decrease in advertising revenue, we’ve confirmed with the company. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/28/aol-axing-700-employees 1/28)
17.1% of all clickthroughs on web advertising are the result of click fraud – the act of clicking on a web ad to artificially increase its click-through rate – according to the latest report from Click Forensics class=”snap_preview_icon”> , a company that specializes in monitoring and preventing internet crime. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/27/report-click-fraud-at-record-high 1/27)
In honor of Jackson Pollack’s birthday, Google changed their logo today to the artwork below. If you click on the logo, you will search for Jackson Pollack. Witty.
The preroll unit, one of five being tested by the Pool, a joint effort by marketers and online publishers to determine a standard Web video format, has been gaining currency with marketers but has its limits in terms of creativity and flexibility, according to this article. “On the one hand, you want to standardize for the simplicity of doing business and the ability to do more business,” said Randall Rothenberg, chief executive officer of the Interactive Advertising Bureau. “On the other hand, you have a medium that allows for infinite customization.” BusinessWeek (1/27)
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Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Anne Sweeney, Arts, Hannah Montana, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, MGM, Movies, Philippe Dauman, Viacom
Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman is ending Paramount’s deal with CBS pay channel Showtime to start a rival network with MGM and Lionsgate. His decision is said to be fueled by CBS boss Les Moonves‘ refusal to sweeten an offer on a renewal pact to run Paramount films on Showtime. (http://www.nypost.com/seven/04222008/business/moonves_waning_107560.htm 4/22)
Cable-company executives took a look at the recently announced joint venture by Paramount, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Lions Gate to create a pay-TV movie channel and, according to this article, collectively shrugged their shoulders. Michael Willner, chief executive officer of Insight, said the as-yet-unnamed channel could have a hard time securing carriage agreements: “If they are just another outlet for movies, they will have a tough go.” (The Wall Street Journal 4/22)
Anne Sweeney, president of Disney-ABC Television, is credited with boosting Disney profits with smash-hit multiplatform tween products like Hannah Montana and “High School Musical.” Sweeney is seen to hold the top spot on the list of those who might succeed Disney CEO Bob Iger. (Iwantmedia 4/22, http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/04/14/Disneys-Evolving-Business-Model 5/08)
I am a HUGE Anne Sweeney supporter in part because of her ability to garner the tween marketplace and for her confidence in bringing online streaming video to ABC.com. In case you don’t believe me, I bring you a pic from the bulletin board in my office. I’m thinking of making a T. Only media geeks will get it. . .
Netflix added 3 more (unnamed) set-top partners to its streaming video-to-the TV project, according to CEO Reed Hastings in an earnings call, who join previously-announced LG Electronics. Netflix now offers over 9,000 movies and TV shows for online rental. (Cynopsis 4/22, Reuters 4/21)
Fox Television Stations and distributor Debmar-Mercury are co-producing a six-week preview of The Wendy Williams Show. The daily, 60m entertainment and talk show will be based in New York and surround radio DJ and author Wendy, who will offer advice to the audience and viewers on various life issues as well as dish on celebrity gossip and new events. (Cynopsis 4/22)
CBS’s Entertainment Tonight and The Insider will be the first to entertainment magazine shows to be broadcast in HD beginning this September, reports B&C. (Cynopsis 4/22)
Beginning this week, NBC will flip-flop two of its Thursday night sitcoms as 30 Rock will move into the 930p time slot following The Office, per Variety. Scrubs will move to 830p filling the vacancy left by 30 Rock. (Cynopsis 4/22)
FOX renewed the sci-fi drama Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles for a sophomore season, confirming the series will be back this fall. FOX ordered 13 episodes though the fall season time slot for the series is yet to be determined. (Cynopsis 4/22)
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
(Below) Even for broadcast TV, this is a new low.
Appearing on NBC’s Celebrity Circus series which premieres on June 11 at 930p, are Christopher Knight, Rachel Hunter, Antonio Sabato Jr., Blu Cantrell, Janet Evans and Jason “Wee Man” Acuna. Signed as ringmaster is Joey Fatone, Celebrity Circus, produced by Endemol USA, features celebs performing a variety of circus feats including the high trapeze and fire eating, reports Variety. (Cynopsis 4/22)
TV Guide Network rebranded its ad-supported VOD barker channel as TV Guide Network On Demand, which provides news and behind-the-scenes content to VOD viewers. The service is also planning to roll out original content from next month, including minisodes of “Making News” and a newly ordered comedy series from internet impresarios from Rhett & Link. (Cynopsis 4/22)
Charter has announced a corporate reorganization, primarily at its St. Louis headquarters, to streamline operations and maximize efficiencies as the company looks to bundle services. As part of the move, some executives will be leaving the company, most notably Cathy Fogler, vice president and general manager of video services. (Multichannel News 4/21)
AT&T is introducing its full U-verse package to western Michigan, marking the first time the company has debuted TV, broadband and telephony service at once in a market. Still, Comcast spokesman Patrick Paterno seemed underwhelmed by the news of the competition’s latest move: “We deal with competition all the time. We still feel we offer the best value in TV, high-speed Internet and home phone service.” (MLive.com (Mich.) 4/21)
Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: China, CNN, George W. Bush, Iraq, Jack Cafferty, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, The Wall Street Journal, United States
Chinese Americans protested outside CNN’s offices in Los Angeles on Saturday, calling for the dismissal of commentator Jack Cafferty, due to his recent anti-Chinese remarks. (Iwantmedia 4/21, http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cnn20apr20,0,2778839.story 4/20)
Viacom, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer and Lions Gate said Sunday they would form a joint venture to create a new premium channel and video-on-demand service that will launch in the fall of 2009. The channel, still unnamed, will run movies and series from the companies’ libraries and will be in direct competition with existing pay channels such as HBO, Showtime and Starz. (The Wall Street Journal 4/21, The Washington Post/Reuters 4/20)
President Bush will make a guest appearance on Monday’s “Deal or No Deal” on NBC. Bush taped a video message for “Deal” contestant Capt. Joseph Kobes, a U.S. Army transportation officer who served three tours of duty in Iraq. Kobes named the president as “one of his heroes.” (Iwantmedia 4/21, http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cnn20apr20,0,2778839.story 4/18)
CBS chief Les Moonves paid a surprise visit to CBS News on Friday to support embattled anchor Katie Couric. Moonves told employees that “there are no plans for a change.” That doesn’t mean her status won’t be reviewed if ratings continue to lag, but that won’t happen until after the election. (Iwantmedia 4/21, http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080418/tv_cbs_couric.html 4/18)
Several U.S. television networks are starting to break with tradition by importing international productions to air in the United States. Thanks in part to the Internet, Americans are more “comfortable” with international programming, says CBS Entertainment exec Nina Tassler. (Iwantmedia 4/21, http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984270.html?categoryid=2522&cs=1 4/18)
HBO has acquired an additional 85 theatricals from Disney, which the channel can begin running in 2012. The new deal includes movies such as “Chicago,” “National Treasure” and “Sin City” and follows a previous pact between the two companies for 100 movies. (The Hollywood Reporter 4/20)
Spike TV has acquired the rights to all four “Rambo” movies. The guy net recently picked up the 2008 “Rambo” for $4.5 million from Lions Gate, which it can partner with the previous three it bought from CBS “Rambo: First Blood,” “Rambo: First Blood Part II” and “Rambo III.” (Variety 4/20)
ESPN’s coverage of the 2007-08 NBA season jumped 14%, to 1.2 million homes, according to Nielsen data. During its 70-game schedule, ESPN averaged a 1.3 rating, an 18% increase over the previous season. (Mediaweek 4/18)
