MEDIA NEWS & RESOURCES	HOME · ABOUT · CONTACT · PRESS · LEGAL

JOBS PUBLICATIONS BOOKS ORGANIZATIONS NEWS RESOURCES INTERVIEWS PERSON OF THE YEAR SEARCH WWW SEARCH SITE		Media Companies Recent Headlines Time Warner Cable Mulls Web Billing Change Bloomberg Time Warner Cable is considering billing broadband Internet customers by usage, said CEO Glenn Britt. Such a service may affect companies like Netflix that require consumers to use large amounts of bandwith. Heavy Netflix users may find themselves paying more. Comcast to Use NBC Cash to Buy More of Unit Bloomberg Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said the cable company plans to use cash generated by NBC Universal to buy the rest of that unit from General Electric, rather than on other acquisitions. Comcast has no plans for acquisitions, CFO Michael Angelakis said last month. News Corp Exec Joins Victims of Phone Hacking Independent Rebekah Brooks, CEO of News Corp.'s British newspaper publishing arm, has learned that her mobile phone was hacked more than 20 times by a private investigator employed by the News of the World. The hacking occurred while she was editor of the Sun, a sibling paper. Time Warner: Charlie Sheen Loses Lawsuit Round Reuters A judge has sent Charlie Sheen's lawsuit against Warner Bros. to arbitration, in a ruling that denies the actor an open court hearing over his firing from hit sitcom "Two and a Half Men." The ruling was seen as a victory for the Time Warner studio behind the sitcom. NBCUniversal Enters Superhero Biz with Guardian Los Angeles Times NBCUniversal has entered a venture with Guardian Media Entertainment, parent of the Guardian Project, a new franchise of superheroes created by Stan Lee in partnership with the National Hockey League. The venture may develop TV series and more. Media Chiefs: Cable Is Relevant In Online World CNET News Big media chiefs took to the stage at the Cable Show to make their case for how they plan to keep cable services relevant to consumers. "We need to embrace all of the screens," said Glenn Britt, CEO of Time Warner Cable. "There's no such thing as a TV anymore." Time Warner to Offer On-Demand Movies in China Reuters Warner Bros. Entertainment plans to start distributing on-demand movies in China, through an agreement with China's YOU On Demand. Warner Bros. will be the first studio to offer films in China via this method and will have the potential to reach 200 million cable households. News Corp, Regulators Complete Talks on BSkyB Telegraph Negotiations between News Corp. and U.K. regulators on the media giant's proposed bid to take over British Sky Broadcasting closed on Friday. Sources close to the situation said the next announcement from the government could come within days. Bertelsmann to Shut Down Book Club Division Financial Times Bertelsmann plans to close its Direct Group division, once the core of its media empire, ending three years of restructuring. The remaining businesses of Direct Group, a book club and direct marketing business, will be absorbed into corporate headquarters. Murdoch, Wife Invest in Chinese Video Website paidContent Rupert and Wendi Deng Murdoch may benefit from the planned $200 million Nasdaq floatation of Xunlei, a Chinese online content distributor. The Murdochs made a $29.4 million third-round investment in the company in April. It is not a News Corp. investment. Media to See Growth in Digital as Print Declines USA Today Advances in digital entertainment and advertising helped push U.S. media spending in 2010 to $433 billion, up 3% from 2009, according to a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers. Content from consumers will spur growth, creating "new opportunities and new business models." Media Congloms Lack Sizzle of Digital Upstarts Variety The stocks of media giants like Disney, News Corp. and Viacom aren't enjoying the same "wow" factor on Wall Street as online upstarts like LinkedIn and Groupon. "The traditional media companies do have digital distribution businesses, but they're treated like stepchildren." 'Future of Media' Remains Unclear After Panel Adweek The New York Times, the Huffington Post, the New York Observer, Gawker, Newsweek/Daily Beast, and Facebook all walk onto a stage. But the obvious question—What is the future of media?—was never asked. Also: The panel was like a celebration. Plus: The best brief quotes. Time Warner Names Chief Information Officer Associated Press Time Warner has named Bill Krivoshik as senior VP and chief information officer. Krivoshik will oversee the corporate information technology group at the media giant. He previously served as CIO at Marsh & McLennan and chief technology officer at Thomson Financial. Comcast to Sell Skype Box for Video Calling Associated Press Comcast plans to bring Skype calls to TV sets later this year. Subscribers will be able to rent a kit from Comcast that includes a webcam and an adapter that plugs into the TV. A new cable box remote will include a keyboard on the back, for typing chat messages. Time Warner Cable to Buy NewWave Systems Associated Press Time Warner Cable has agreed to acquire cable systems serving about 70,000 video subscribers from NewWave Communications for $260 million. The deal also includes 42,000 high-speed data subscribers. The customers are located in Kentucky and western Tennessee. News Corp Chief Calls for Free Trade in China Film Business Asia News Corp. head Rupert Murdoch used his keynote speech at the Shanghai International Film Festival to call for freer trade in China: "The promise of investment is not being fully realized because of market access. It creates incentives for people to steal." Time Warner Studio Cuts Jobs as DVDs Decline Los Angeles Times Warner Bros. Entertainment has laid off 50 employees, joining a number of other Hollywood studios to make cutbacks in their home entertainment units in response to a steep fall off in DVD sales. Disney, Lionsgate and 20th Century Fox are making cuts as well. Viacom's Nickelodeon Makes Move in Education New York Times Nickelodeon plans to introduce a line of Team Umizoomi Preschool Math Kits based on the Nick Jr. show of the same name. The new kits, at $20 each, will be sold by the Viacom children's channel at Toys "R" Us and online. "It's a true marriage of content and product." News Corp Sends Lawyers to Fix U.K. Scandal Independent Rupert Murdoch has sent a team of external U.S. lawyers to Britain to investigate the extent of phone hacking at the News of the World tabloid. The move suggests growing tensions between News Corp.'s corporate leaders in New York and the company's London management. Sony: Three Arrests Made Over Cyber-Attacks Bloomberg Police in Spain have arrested three suspected members of the hacking group Anonymous, which has taken credit for carrying out cyber-attacks on Sony and others. But the arrests may have "little impact" in slowing the group because many of the accused hackers are minors. Comcast's $4.4B Olympian Bid a Bold Online Bet Associated Press NBC lost more than $200 million the last time it showed the Olympics. So, people scoffed when the network bid $4.4 billion for the U.S. rights to carry the games through 2020. But Internet video and opportunities under new owner Comcast could make the Olympics profitable. Time Warner's Former CEO Talks AOL-HuffPo Forbes Don't expect former Time Warner CEO Gerald Levin to call up Tim Armstrong with advice on AOL's buyout of the Huffington Post. Levin, however, said he sees "delicious ironies" in AOL's decision to buy HuffPo — "a journalistic vehicle for the new age." News Corp Seeking Acquisitions in Education Financial Times Joel Klein, the head of News Corp.'s new education division, has drawn up plans for "significant" acquisitions in the school data and interactive content development areas, but ruled out acquiring a traditional publisher. Deals are likely "in the next few months." Live Nation Concert Outfit Mulls Going Private New York Post Live Nation's Irving Azoff and the company's biggest shareholder, Liberty Media boss John Malone, are considering taking the concert powerhouse private just 18 months after merging with Ticketmaster. The talks involving Azoff and Malone are at an early stage. 'Future of Media' Remains Unclear After Panel Adweek The New York Times, the Huffington Post, the New York Observer, Gawker, Newsweek/Daily Beast, and Facebook all walk onto a stage. But the obvious question—What is the future of media?—was never asked. Also: The panel was like a celebration. Plus: The best brief quotes. Time Warner Former Chiefs Reunite for Start-Up GigaOm Former AOL CEO Steve Case and former Time Warner CEO Jerry Levin, who together presided over one of the worst mergers in corporate history, plan to reunite to help spur innovation in health and wellness. Levin is launching a strategic initiative called StartUp Health. News Corp Hires Execs for New Education Push Bloomberg News Corp. has hired two public-school officials to help run its new education division: Kristen Kane, former COO of the New York City Department of Education, and Peter Gorman, superintendent of schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district in North Carolina. Disney Chief's $55 Million Pay Package Revealed Daily Mail Disney boss Bob Iger took home $54,917,238 last year to lead the pay table for America's CEOs. The average pay for top U.S. CEOs was $12 million last year, benefiting from a 28% median hike from 2009, according to a survey by Governance Metrics International. Viacom Studio Teams With Twitter for 'Super 8' Wall Street Journal Paramount Pictures has made an eleventh-hour social-media push to promote "Super 8," its sci-fi thriller opening Friday. The campaign combines cryptic Twitter messages with old-fashioned sneak previews in an attempt to lure younger, tech-savvy movie-goers. News Corp General Counsel Exits After 15 Years Los Angeles Times Lawrence "Lon" Jacobs, general counsel of News Corp., is leaving the company after 15 years. Jacobs is said to have played a key role in several major media deals over the years, including News Corp.'s acquisitions of the Wall Street Journal and MySpace. Comcast In Talks to Sell NBC G4 Cable Channel Wall Street Journal Comcast's NBCUniversal is in early-stage discussions to sell a controlling interest in its G4 cable channel to professional mixed martial arts promotion company Ultimate Fighting Championship. The UFC is also in talks with other networks for a possible deal. Borders Bookstores Circled by Private Equity Wall Street Journal Private-equity firm Najafi is said to be among those in discussions to buy Borders out of bankruptcy proceedings. Najafi, a boutique Phoenix-based firm, is competing with Los Angeles-based Gores Group to purchase the beleaguered bookstore chain. FCC Backs Away From Aiding Media in Report Wall Street Journal On Thursday, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission will release its long-awaited report on the "Future of Media." The document is said to suggest that the Internal Revenue Service consider helping struggling media companies get an easier path to becoming non-profits. Comcast Scores Win for NBC Olympics Rights Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast has locked up the Olympics' U.S. broadcast rights through 2020 by agreeing to pay $4.4 billion for four Olympic Games to be aired via broadcast and cable, giving a boost to its NBC networks. The Olympics lost more than $200 million for NBC in 2010. Study: Minority Youth Have Big Media Appetite USA Today Minority children spend an average of 13 hours a day using mobile devices, computers, TVs and other media — about 4½ hours more than white kids, says a report from Northwestern University. Among 8- to 18-year-olds, Asian Americans logged the most media use. Comcast Expands Into Home Security Business Reuters Comcast has added home security to its package of services for homes where it already delivers cable TV, broadband and phone. The package includes cameras, movement sensors, police and fire alarm protection as well as features like remote thermostat and light control. Time Warner in Talks to Acquire OK! Magazine Sky News Time Warner has offered between $30 million and $35 million to buy the American edition of OK!, the celebrity news magazine owned by Richard Desmond. OK!, which is reported to be losing money, would fit neatly into Time Warner's stable of magazines, including People. News Corp's Australian Adds 'Freemium' Model Australian News Corp. will begin charging for online access to its newspaper the Australian in October, with a "freemium" model. An online pay model will be added to the paper's Aussie tabloid siblings, including the Herald Sun and the Daily Telegraph, in the following months. Disney to Cut Up to 250 Studio Jobs Globally Los Angeles Times Walt Disney Studios plans to cut as much as 5% of its worldwide workforce as early as next week. The reductions are expected to hit hardest in distribution, reflecting fundamental changes in the movie business. The industry has been hit hard by falling DVD sales. Viacom Chief's Daughter Sells Theater Chain Dow Jones Shari Redstone and two partners have sold Russian movie-theater chain Rising Star Media to Russia's largest movie theater operator. The sale comes as investors are increasingly optimistic about the movie business in emerging markets like Russia, unlike the United States. NBCUniversal to Acquire Stake in Theme Park Los Angeles Times NBCUniversal has agreed to pay private equity firm Blackstone Group $1 billion to acquire its 50% stake in the Orlando, Fla., theme parks, giving the media giant full control of the venture. Comcast-controlled NBCU already owns the Los Angeles-based Universal Studios. FCC to Release Report on 'Future of Media' Broadcasting & Cable The U.S. Federal Communications Commission this week is scheduled to release a report on the future of media — unrelated to the similarly titled annual I Want Media panel discussion. The report will focus on "the impact of technology on the information needs of communities." News Corp Weighs Myspace Partnerships Wall Street Journal News Corp. is moving toward a deal for Myspace, with a strategic partnership appearing more likely than a straight sale. The lack of a bidder willing to buy the struggling social network at a high price has increased the odds that News Corp. will keep a stake in the site. Apple Sour Over AP Obituary for CEO Jobs New York Post Apple is said to be furious to learn that Associated Press reporters have been calling top Hollywood studio and record-label execs for quotes to refresh their obituary on CEO Steve Jobs, who has been on medical leave for months. "It seemed a little ill-timed and macabre." Viacom Veteran Writes Tell-All on Early MTV New York Post While former colleague Judy McGrath, who recently stepped down as CEO of MTV Networks, is taking some time to contemplate the future, former MTV International president Bill Roedy has written a book, "What Makes Business Rock," exploring the global expansion of MTV. Disney Ruling Clears Dish's Starz Giveaway Denver Business Dish Network can keep giving away access to Starz movie channels for the time being after a federal judge rejected a Disney movie studio request to halt the satellite broadcaster's promotion. Disney and Starz separately sued Dish Network over the promotion in May. Comcast Ready to Pitch for Olympic TV Rights Philadelphia Inquirer Top media execs will travel to Switzerland this week in the hunt to obtain the U.S. TV rights to the 2014 and 2016 Olympic Games — one of the biggest prizes in sports entertainment. Insiders think new NBCUniversal owner Comcast holds the key to what ultimately happens. News Corp Closes In on Full Control of BSkyB Financial Times News Corp. and regulators have agreed in principle a deal to remove the final obstacles to a bid by Rupert Murdoch's group for control of British Sky Broadcasting. Final merger clearance will come well after the anniversary of News Corp.'s first approach in June 2010. Viacom Praises Snooki at Investor Conference Hollywood Reporter Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman has once again given a shoutout to "Jersey Shore." Series star Snooki "managed to get busted in Florence," he said. "You can't buy [that kind of] publicity." And while the hit MTV show has its critics, "every advertiser wants to be on" it. CBS Chief: Networks Have Little Faith in Hulu Variety CBS boss Les Moonves said that he believes two of three network partners backing the video website Hulu "would back out if they could," without specifying who. Hulu "gives away the family jewels for free" in reference to shows and "we don't believe in it." Disney Plans Video Site to Rival Netflix, Hulu CNET News Disney chief Bob Iger said his company has plans to rebuild the Disney.com website as an online video service. "Because of its brand strength, it has the ability to be a destination. We believe we have an opportunity to deliver content directly to consumers." Sony Probes Claim Hackers Struck Yet Again Associated Press Sony has been hit by a second massive data breach, hackers claim, another potential embarrassment for a company that is struggling to restore its image following the loss of millions of credit card numbers. "They were asking for it," the hackers said. News Corp to Decide on MySpace in Two Weeks Bloomberg News Corp. will make a decision about the potential sale of its MySpace social network in two weeks, said company digital head Jonathan Miller. News Corp. has said it is searching for a way to respond to MySpace's loss in market share to Facebook. Time Warner Sees Opportunity in Broadband Only Dow Jones Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt said his company has an opportunity to win more broadband-only customers as broadband replaces TV as the cable industry's anchor product. "Broadband is becoming more and more central to people's lives." Sony PlayStation Restored in U.S., Europe, Asia Associated Press Sony is fully restoring its PlayStation Network in the U.S., Europe and parts of Asia after hackers stole customer data and sent services offline in April. The attack cost Sony $173 million, used to cover identity theft insurance, customer support and other purposes. Martha's Company 'Unlikely' to Fetch $1 Billion Wall Street Journal Martha Stewart Living, which recently put up a "for sale" sign, was once valued at about $1 billion. The company now has a market value of just under $280 million. Analysts said Martha's lucrative licensing business has been shackled to unprofitable media assets. Liberty Media Looks at Books on Barnes & Noble Wall Street Journal Liberty Media has begun studying Barnes & Noble's financial books as its effort to acquire the bookseller moves ahead. Liberty's assessment of Barnes & Noble's financial data is expected to take a few weeks. There are currently no negotiations on price or other areas. Borders Bookstores Attract Gores as Bidder Wall Street Journal Private-equity firm Gores Group is in discussions to purchase more than half of Borders' remaining stores out of bankruptcy, in a deal that would keep the bookstore chain operating as a going concern. Borders filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February. AT&T, Comcast Seek to Limit Internet Streaming TheWrap AT&T has joined competing ISPs Comcast and Charter in putting a limit on the amount of data its customers can use each month. With Netflix and Hulu threatening their subscription-cable business, AT&T, Comcast and Charter no longer want to aid the competition. Sony, AT&T: Next Targets of PBS Site Hacker? Washington Post A group known as LulzSec is taking credit for hacking into the PBS "News Hour" website and posting fake news stories. Sony and AT&T are said to be LulzSec's next targets. But it doesn't seem the group will stop there: "We're hard at work. Multiple targets." Survey: Consumers Find Less Value in Media Denver Business With so many entertainment options available now, consumers are finding less value from media products, according to a survey by PR giant Edelman. Also, an overwhelming majority are unhappy with the industry's move to charge for services over the Internet. News Corp to Hold Forum on Education Reform Hollywood Reporter News Corp. and not-for-profit the College Board will work together to make education reform a top issue in the 2012 presidential campaign with an event giving Republican candidates the opportunity to outline their vision for improving U.S. education. Disney Former Chief Eisner Eyes Sale of Topps Wall Street Journal Michael Eisner, the former head of Disney, is said to be looking to sell Topps, the firm famous for its baseball and football trading cards, not to mention Bazooka Joe bubble gum. The company denies it is on the market. But it likely would draw some interest. Time Warner Has Record-Breaking 'Hangover' Bloomberg / NYT "The Hangover Part II" was the top film in North America this weekend, generating $86.5 million for Warner Bros., and making it the best debut ever for a comedy. Also: Hollywood is worrying as 3-D films, such as Disney's new "Pirates of the Caribbean," fizzle. Viacom Defends Big Pay for Company Execs Los Angeles Times The three highest paid execs in media last year worked for Viacom and CBS. Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman led the way with $84.5 million. Viacom defended the packages, saying the compensation reflected "the achievement of double-digit growth." Comcast to Buy Stake in Two Universal Parks TheWrap Comcast intends to buy Blackstone Group's 50% stake in its two Orlando theme parks. The owner of NBC Universal is expected to pay between $1 billion to $1.5 billion to become the full owner of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Martha Preps Company Sale as Value Drops Bloomberg Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is "undergoing a slow death that is a result of management failing to make a transition to the next generation," according to investment professionals. "A sale is a quick way out." The Martha Stewart brand "is still an asset." Comcast, NBC Merge Venture-Capital Units Philadelphia Business Comcast has combined Comcast Interactive Capital, its venture-capital unit, with the Peacock Equity Fund, NBCUniversal's venture-capital unit. The new Comcast Ventures will invest in all stages of businesses that represent the "next generation" of media. Media Are the Next 'Social' Frontiers, Zuck Says Bloomberg Music, TV shows and books will be among the next products to become "social" through Facebook, said CEO Mark Zuckerberg. These "media experiences" probably will follow the path of computer games, which have been transformed by the Facebook platform, he said. Viacom Chief Awarded Pay Boost for Birthday Bloomberg Viacom has increased its quarterly dividend by 67% to 25 cents a share, boosting the yearly payment to chairman Sumner Redstone's family company to $41 million. "Viacom is in excellent shape financially," said CEO Philippe Dauman. Redstone turns 88 on Friday. Disney Drops Navy Seal Trademark Application Associated Press Disney has withdrawn its application to trademark the phrase "SEAL Team 6," the elite unit that killed Osama bin Laden, after the Navy moved to protect its rights and the media giant endured a wave of criticism. Disney is still interested in producing a SEAL TV show. Time Warner Turns to Flixster for Cloud Content Hollywood Reporter Time Warner will in the coming months outline its strategy for cloud-based content storage, and the recently acquired Flixster will play a key role as the consumer interface, said CFO John Martin. Digital is expected to help counter weakness in DVD sales. Comcast Tests Tech Used by Web Video Rivals Wall Street Journal Comcast will start testing a new way to deliver its TV channels, co-opting the same technology standard that upstart Internet rivals have used to challenge pay-TV business models. The switch aims to deliver live TV service to any Internet-connected device. Martha Stewart: Is Her Media Company for Sale? MarketWatch Martha Stewart Omnimedia has hired advisory firm Blackstone Group to field offers of partnerships or investments, "as well as exploring other opportunities." Also, the company has named Oxygen Media co-founder Lisa Gersh as its new president and COO. News Corp Chief Signals Push Into Education Financial Times Rupert Murdoch, speaking at the e-G8 conference in Paris, signaled that News Corp. will make a significant push into education technology. Last fall, the media giant hired former New York schools chancellor Joel Klein and invested in education tech firm Wireless Generation. Comcast Warns of More Exec Changes at NBC Hollywood Reporter Comcast CFO Michael Angelakis said NBCUniversal's cable networks are a "stellar" business that will bring in "well over" $3 billion this year. While the executive turnover at NBC doesn't worry him, some additional staff changes could come, he signaled. Liberty Media May Face Fight for Barnes & Noble Los Angeles Business Takeover financier Ron Burkle may be positioning himself to fight John Malone for control of Barnes & Noble. Burkle and his Yucaipa American Management fund have spent $11.1 million buying 603,000 Barnes & Noble shares at nearly $18.49 each. Time Warner Invests In Social Gaming Startup TechCrunch CrowdStar, a startup best known for producing social games for Facebook, has raised $23 million in funding led by Time Warner Investments and Intel Capital. CrowdStar said it sees opportunities to partner with media and entertainment brands for in-game marketing. Media Moguls Murdoch, Redstone Don't Heir Plans Variety News Corp. founder Rupert Murdoch just hit 80. Viacom and CBS chief Sumner Redstone turns 88 this Friday. Neither has publicly laid out succession plans. Wall Street watchers wonder what will happen when the two empire builders leave the scene. Media's Future Explored by Facebook, HuffPost I Want Media David Carr, Edward Felsenthal, Saul Hansell and Vadim Lavrusik will be among the participants in "The Future of Media: 2011," a panel discussion from I Want Media. The free, non-profit Internet Week New York forum aims to explore the key issues reshaping traditional media. Viacom, MTV to Expand Partnership with Netflix WebProNews Netflix is expanding its existing partnership with Viacom and MTV Networks, bringing more episodes of "Jersey Shore" and other TV shows to its on-demand service. Netflix fans will be able to watch Nickelodeon's "Yo Gabba Gabba" instantly for the first time. Comcast Brings More Content to Xfinity TV App Philadelphia Business Comcast's Xfinity TV app allows subscribers to its digital cable-TV service to have on-demand content streamed to their iPhone and iPod touch. In the past three months, Comcast has nearly doubled the amount of content that can be streamed to almost 6,000 hours. Disney to Open More 'Interactive' Retail Stores Associated Press Disney plans to open more than 40 "interactive concept" stores this year, bringing the total number of such stores to 60 by the end of 2011. The stores seek to give kids special attractions, such as a "magic mirror" that features short movie clips of Disney princesses. Liberty: Barnes & Noble Can Drive Digital Sales Bloomberg Liberty Media, making the case for its bid to acquire Barnes & Noble, said it sees value in the retailer's stores because they can help drive sales of digital products such as electronic books for the Nook reading device. "The stores and the devices work together." Sony Takes Big Hit From Tsunami, Hacker Attack Associated Press Sony is expecting an annual loss of $3.2 billion, reversing its earlier projection of a return to profit, as the electronics giant struggles with production disruptions from Japan's tsunami and a hacker attack on its PlayStation Network online gaming service. Sony Stumbles: Did CEO Stringer's Makeover Fail? Reuters Sony reportedly killed a tablet PC in development that would have predated the Apple iPad by a decade. Former staffers insist that Sony suffers from an innovation-killing bureaucracy and CEO Howard Stringer, 69, is running out of time to reinvent the company. News Corp: Jude Law Joins Phone Hacking Suits Reuters Film star Jude Law will sue the News of the World over allegations of phone hacking next year in a case which could involve senior management at the News Corp.-owned tabloid. Several public figures are suing over charges of eavesdropping on voicemails. Time Warner CEO Talks Profits, Kutcher, Magazines Hollywood Reporter CEO Jeff Bewkes, speaking at Time Warner's annual meeting on Friday, said he has "very high expectations" for the addition of Ashton Kutcher to the Warner Bros.-produced "Two and a Half Men." Also, Bewkes expects a "strong" CEO will be named at Time Inc. later this year. Liberty Media Eyes E-Books in Barnes & Noble Bid Wall Street Journal John Malone has bet big on cable networks, home-shopping and satellite TV. Now, with a bid for Barnes & Noble, the Liberty Media chief is rolling the dice on e-books. Malone sees the book chain as an opportunity to play in what may be a large growth opportunity for e-books. Big Media Rips Into 'Corporate Imperialist' Google Ars Technica The knives are out for Google chairman Eric Schmidt. Within hours of his comments regarding Internet blacklists, major U.S. rights holders attempted to brand Google as an arrogant company bent on ruining American creativity and thinking itself above the law. News Corp Abuses Its Power, Former VP Says Guardian Al Gore has lashed out at News Corp., accusing it of "an abuse of power" by forcing his liberal Current TV service off of Sky Italia for hiring left-leaning commentator Keith Olbermann. "News Corp. uses its power to shut down voices that disagree with Rupert Murdoch." Murdoch to Give 'Avatar' Treatment to 'Titanic' Associated Press "Titanic" is coming back to theaters in 3-D. 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures have announced that James Cameron's Oscar-winning film will be re-released in April next year, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Titanic setting sail. Liberty Media Bids for Barnes & Noble, E-Books Wall Street Journal Liberty Media, owner of QVC and investor in Expedia and Sirius XM Radio, has made an offer to acquire Barnes & Noble for $1.02 billion. Also: Barnes & Noble is expected to unveil a new e-reader, as the bookseller continues to battle Apple and Amazon.com. Disney's Big Bet on Games Not Yet Paying Off Los Angeles Times Disney's $563 million investment in game developer Playdom has racked up losses, frustrating analysts who have expected the company to move faster to stop the red ink. The losses come as the life cycle of social media games gets shorter and shorter. Disney Mulls Creating Navy SEALs TV Series Fox Business Disney is said to be planning to develop a TV series based on the Navy SEALs team that killed Osama bin Laden, without focusing on the deadly mission that made these men famous. The company applied to trademark "Seal Team 6" shortly after Osama's death. Sony CEO Says No Online Network Is Secure Bloomberg The hacker attack that crippled Sony's online entertainment service and exposed more than 100 million customer accounts was a mere "hiccup" in the company's Internet strategy, according to CEO Howard Stringer. "Nobody's system is 100 percent secure." Time Warner Cable Invests In TV Ad-Tech Firm TechCrunch BlackArrow, a provider of advertising solutions for "new television platforms," has announced a strategic investment by Time Warner Cable. The new capital will be used for the deployment of BlackArrow's Advanced Advertising System to programmers. Disney Mulls Marketing with ESPN Olympics Bid SportsBusiness Journal In an attempt to sweeten its Olympic bid next month, ESPN is mulling the idea of supplementing its TV rights offer with a marketing deal from parent company Disney. A Disney sponsorship could marry the Olympic rings with Disney's immense global entertainment assets. Viacom Star Seeks Political 'Megaphone of Cash' CBS News Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert has filed paperwork with the U.S. Federal Elections Commission seeking a "media exemption" to start a political action committee. Viacom has expressed concern over his plans. "I hate my parent company!" Colbert joked. News Corp to Reveal Political Giving on Website Associated Press The directors of News Corp., owner of Fox News Channel, have quietly put in place a policy to disclose corporate political donations on the company's website. The decision was made April 12, according to a notice posted without fanfare by the company. Disney to Trademark Osama-Killing Navy Team KTLA Disney has filed to trademark "Seal Team 6," the name of the counterterrorism team responsible for killing Osama bin Laden. The company filed for the trademark the day after news of bin Laden's death broke. The application covers toys and other products. Time Warner Gives More Cash to Ad Researcher Multichannel News Simulmedia has completed a $9.25 million round of new financing from existing investors Time Warner, Avalon Ventures and Union Square Ventures. The firm uses viewing data from U.S. set-top boxes to provide analysis of the effectiveness of ad campaigns. Sony Begins Restoring PlayStation After Breach Reuters Sony said it had begun restoration of its PlayStation Network games service on Sunday, almost a month after a massive security breach of the network forced the company to shut it down. Gamers and security experts had criticized Sony for its handling of the incident. Murdoch Son Cleared In Aussie Phone Lawsuit Sydney Morning Herald Lachlan Murdoch and James Packer have succeeded in having a $244 million lawsuit over the collapse of Australian phone company One.Tel thrown out of court. The case sought damages from the former directors over One.Tel's abandonment of a $132 million rights issue. Comcast Offers Assistance to Pirate Bay Website TorrentFreak Following suggestions that Comcast was blocking traffic to The Pirate Bay, "the world's most resilient bittorrent site," the U.S. cable giant and Internet service provider stepped up and said that it wasn't — and even offered to "work directly with them" to resolve the issue. Disney to Pay $3 Million In Online Privacy Charge Los Angeles Times Disney has agreed to pay $3 million to settle U.S. Federal Trade Commission charges that online virtual worlds once operated by its Playdom games division violated rules designed to protect the safety and privacy of children younger than 13 on the Internet. Time Warner Hires ABC Veteran as Creative Officer Los Angeles Times Former ABC marketing chief Mike Benson has landed at Time Warner as chief creative officer of the media giant's in-house advertising agency. Benson will work with advertisers to develop marketing campaigns across various Time Warner platforms. Lime Wire to Pay Major Record Labels $105 Million Reuters The operators of LimeWire have agreed to pay 13 record companies $105 million, ending a federal trial over copyright infringement damages owed by the once popular but now defunct file-sharing service. The settlement ends nearly five years of litigation. U.S. Media Use Starts Before Age 1, Study Says ClickZ News Most American children are media consumers by the time they are 1 year old, according to a study by Ipsos market research. By age 11, more than half of kids have their own mobile phones. Media consumption "will make kids more responsive to advertising." Comcast Hires FCC Commissioner as Lobbyist Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast plans to fill one of its top lobbying positions with Meredith Attwell Baker, a U.S. Federal Communications Commission official who voted in January to approve its $30 billion merger with NBCUniversal. Also: Comcast's annual meeting Wednesday lasted 35 minutes. Time Warner Downplays Premium VOD Fears Hollywood Reporter Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes and other media bosses spoke at a conference on the early release of films in homes via the new premium video-on-demand window. Premium VOD may help reinforce interest in legal forms of viewing theatrical releases, Bewkes argued. Warner Music 'Devastated' by File Sharing Sites Bloomberg Warner Music CEO Edgar Bronfman told a federal jury weighing damages caused by Lime Wire's copyright infringement that the effect on his business was "devastating." The drop in revenue caused by peer-to-peer music sharing services led to fewer recordings, he said. News Corp Ups Stake In Arabic Media Group Forbes News Corp. has increased its stake in Rotana Group, the Arabic music producer and broadcaster owned by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, to 14.5% from 9.1%. News Corp. spent $35 million on the new stake. Rotana owns the leading record label in the Middle East. Fox Replaces Two Affiliates Over Fee Dispute Los Angeles Times News Corp.'s Fox Broadcasting, which is pushing an aggressive new plan to be paid for its programming from its broadcast affiliates, dropped two small market stations after new deals couldn't reached. The dropped stations are WTVW in Evansville, Ill., and KTRV-TV in Boise, Idaho. Disney: ESPN Continues to Pay Off for Company MarketWatch Disney generally disappointed Wall Street in its latest earnings statement — but ESPN proved to be an oasis in the desert. The broadcasting division came through handsomely. Theme parks and consumer products took a hit partly because of the effects of the Japan earthquake. Media Back on Center Stage as Deals Pick Up Financial Times The media industry is said to be viewed by private equity as "two distinct worlds" — traditional and digital. Only the latter is considered to be hot property. "Newspaper and magazine publishing have all but been written off. These assets are perceived as dying." Comcast to Rebrand Regional Sports Networks Philadelphia Inquirer NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol has said that Comcast's regional sports networks "all across the country will begin to be referred to something like 'NBC Sports Philadelphia,' 'NBC Sports Chicago,' etc. That will give viewers a much better sense of who we are wherever they go." Sony Says PlayStation Blog Attacked in Revenge Bloomberg Sony, struggling to restore online entertainment services after a record theft of user data, said its PlayStation blog has been partially disrupted after it was attacked by hackers. Sony boosted the blog's security system following attacks on the site last month. News Corp CEO Murdoch Cited in Obama Speech Daily Caller President Obama has quoted News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch in a speech on immigration reform. Murdoch is an "immigrant himself," Obama said. "I don't know if you're familiar with his views, but let's just say he doesn't have an Obama bumper sticker on his car." News Corp: Formula One Bid May Be Blocked Guardian News Corp. won't be able to take over Formula One auto racing by buying out the sport's shareholders because private-equity firm CVC has first refusal on any stakes for sale. Some believe News Corp. is using the possible bid as a front to secure investors for a takeover of BSkyB. Warner Music Buyout May See Revised Bid Bloomberg Private-equity billionaires Tom and Alec Gores are said to be mulling a revised bid for Warner Music, challenging the company's agreement to be acquired by former director Len Blavatnik. The moves come as record companies face shrinking revenue and piracy. Viacom CEO, Media Titans Top Salary Ranks New York Post CEOs of S&P 500 companies in 2010 had average pay packages of $9 million, up a healthy 24% compared to the previous year — and media company execs were especially well compensated, according to a new report. Six of the top 10 earners were media titans. Liberty Media: Cable Has Broadband Monopoly Deadline Liberty Media chief John Malone is probably getting an earful from his pals in the cable industry after he made a comment that is sure to haunt both him and them. Talking to Wall Street analysts, Malone said that "cable is pretty much a monopoly now" in broadband. Comcast, Novatel to Offer 'Intelligent' Hot Spot NewsFactor Comcast and Novatel Wireless have teamed to produce an "intelligent" hot spot that will help boost the cable giant's broadband offering. The pocket-sized router can connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices up to 30 feet away, including tablets, laptops and e-readers. Time Warner, CBS Say Netflix May Help TV Wall Street Journal Media chiefs are shifting their public stance toward Netflix and are now trying to convince investors that the video streaming service will expand their business rather than destroy it. Companies including Time Warner and CBS are now doling out praise for Netflix. Netflix Makes Plans to Be Worldwide Service Financial Times Netflix is working on a push into Latin America and is close to announcing deals with the continent's biggest broadcasters to begin streaming content online in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico. "Our long-term goal is to have a worldwide service." Hollywood Bets on Summer Sequels for Growth Businessweek Hollywood will roll out big-budget movies almost weekly this summer in an effort to erase a $500 million box-office deficit so far in 2011. Box-office success is crucial because studios depend more on theater attendance since consumers are buying fewer DVDs. Viacom Creates TV Channel to 'Blink' at Women Bloomberg Viacom is teaming up with "Big Brother" producer Endemol to start a television channel aimed at women and making its debut in Poland this summer. The channel, called Viacom Blink!, will offer Endemol-distributed shows such as "Hot in Cleveland." MTV Head Exits as Viacom Chief Takes Control New York Post With the departure of longtime MTV Networks head Judy McGrath, Viacom chief Philippe Dauman is seizing the opportunity to solidify his grip on the company's profit center. One source said the rebuilt corporate structure would be renamed Viacom Networks. Sony CEO Apologizes on Blog for Network Attack Reuters In a post on Sony's PlayStation blog, Sony CEO Howard Stringer apologized to users for the massive Internet security breach and launched a $1 million identity theft insurance policy. "I know this has been a frustrating time for all of you," Stringer admitted. IAC's Diller Says He Was a 'Failure' in Deal Making Bloomberg Barry Diller, chairman of IAC/InterActiveCorp, said it was "a failure" on his part not to find more ways to invest the company's cash when he was CEO. Diller said he stepped down as CEO in part because he decided he wasn't the best person to seek new opportunities. News Corp Buys Hearst's Videogame News Sites AFP News Corp. has announced the acquisition of Hearst's UGO, expanding its reach over online videogame news. News Corp. unit IGN will operate UGO properties such as UGO.com. Hearst will become a shareholder of IGN and be an "active participant" in the business. Time Warner CEO Discusses Threat from Netflix Associated Press Jeff Bewkes: "Even though people seem to like the Netflix service, evidenced by the number of subs, it hasn't led to very many Netflix subs cutting the cord. And looking forward, it's hard to see how subscription VOD becomes a replacement for multi-channel TV." News Corp: MySpace Erases Company's Gains Los Angeles Times News Corp. can't get MySpace off the books fast enough. Losses at the struggling social network nearly erased the strong gains recorded by the media company's television group. The unit that includes MySpace has reported an operating loss of $165 million. Time Warner Acquires Flixster, Rotten Tomatoes Bloomberg Time Warner's Warner Bros. division is said to be paying about $80 million for the Flixster movie app and related Rotten Tomatoes website. The acquisition is intended to give Time Warner customers a place to store the digital movies or TV shows they buy or rent. Comcast to Invest $300 Million in NBCUniversal Associated Press Comcast will spend an extra $300 million this year on NBCUniversal, mostly to pay for new prime-time shows in a turnaround effort at NBC. Some $200 million will be spent mainly on new NBC shows to fill the 10 p.m. slot that was briefly occupied by Jay Leno. Sony Blames 'Anonymous' for Major Data Theft Reuters Sony blames Internet vigilante group Anonymous for allowing a hacker to gain access to personal data of 100 million video-game users. The accusation came in a letter to Congress and prompted renewed complaints about the company's "inadequate" disclosure. News Corp 'Watch' Website Launched by Group Politico Liberal group Media Matters for America has announced the launch of a new website, News Corp Watch, with a full-page advertisement in the International Herald Tribune. The site is a "vital resource for investors and others interested in the company's activities." CBS Unit Blamed for 'Phenomenon' of Piracy Ars Technica Alki David, the film entrepreneur behind sites like FilmOn, has made good on his threat announced last year in a YouTube video that he intended to sue CNET and its owner, CBS, for providing hundreds of millions of downloads of peer-to-peer software. Time Warner Advised to Spin Off 'Pricey' HBO Forbes Time Warner, which has already spun off Time Warner Cable and AOL, should do the same for HBO, according to BTIG analyst Richard Greenfield. With Netflix expected to surpass HBO subscribers by year-end, fears are building that HBO may be "too expensive." Comcast's NBCU Worth 'North of $40 Billion' Bloomberg Comcast, for the first time since its takeover of NBCUniversal, has released a detailed outline of NBC's financials. "A lot of analysts gave NBCU a stale valuation," said Wunderlich Securities analyst Matthew Harrigan. "It's worth well north of $40 billion at this point." News Corp Finds Partner for Potential F1 Bid BBC News News Corp. and an Italian investment firm linked to Ferrari are working on a possible bid to take control of Formula 1. "Exor and News Corp. will approach minority partners and key stakeholders in the sport," according to a joint statement from Exor and News Corp. Disney Sues Dish Network Over Free Starz Offer Reuters Satellite TV provider Dish Network has been sued by Disney and Starz Entertainment for giving away popular movies, including "Disney's "Toy Story 3" and "Alice in Wonderland." Disney filed a copyright suit against Dish, while Starz is suing Dish for breach of contract. Media Giants See Red-Hot Market for TV Ads Reuters Money is streaming back into television advertising, according to the most recent earnings reports by the likes of Viacom and Discovery. "For an established media, it's kind of remarkable." Unlike TV, radio and newspapers have yet to show they can win back advertisers. Time Warner Bullish on DVDs as Sales Drop Home Media Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes remains bullish on physical media, notably Blu-ray Disc and 3D movies. "DVDs will get better and better because they will have high-def and all the extra stuff." Some analysts, however, are more skeptical as DVD sales continue to fall. News Corp Plagued by Illegal Activity, Ad Says Guardian Media Matters for America, the liberal group and frequent critic of Fox News, has run a full-page advertisement in the International Herald Tribune that pours scorn on News Corp. The ad calls on heir apparent James Murdoch to make changes or risk becoming a "global pariah." Dish Network Names Exec to Run Blockbuster Denver Business Dish Network has named long-time exec Michael Kelly to run its newly acquired Blockbuster video business. The once-dominant movie rental chain remains attractive to movie studios as an alternative to Netflix, according to Dish Network CEO Charlie Ergen. Sony CEO Under Fire After More Hacker Theft Reuters Sony CEO Howard Stringer faced harsh criticism of his leadership after the company revealed hackers may have stolen the data of another 25 million accounts in a second massive security breach. "The current CEO should step down after the hacker problems." Viacom Takes Final Shot at YouTube in Briefs paidContent What is likely to be final set of briefs in the Viacom-YouTube appeal has been filed, and the argument is becoming more focused. Viacom insisted that YouTube should have taken additional measures to protect copyright, including the installation of a software filter. News Corp CEO Successor Depends on Timing CNBC Rupert Murdoch, 80, will leave some very big shoes to fill whenever he leaves his post as CEO of News Corp. COO Chase Carey is expected to be more disciplined in terms of his use of capital. "It's too soon to say what we should expect from James Murdoch." Viacom Chief's Pet Project Becomes MTV Series Variety MTV has announced the launch of an unscripted series, "The Electric Barbarellas," about an all-girl pop band, which Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone was reportedly so enamored with that he ordered the network to create a reality show around them despite staff objections. Sony, Time Warner Mull Bids for UK TV Producer Telegraph Sony may consider a bid of about $1 billion for All3Media Worldwide, a U.K. television production company. Time Warner may also bid for All3Media. Both Sony and Time Warner's interest are said to be still very early stage. Also, NBC Universal "could take a look." Charter Seeks to Sell California Cable Systems Bloomberg Charter, the cable-TV operator that emerged from bankruptcy in 2009, is said to have hired Citigroup and Goldman Sachs to sell its southern California systems. The auction for the assets, which could fetch as much as $2 billion, is believed to be in the very early stages. News Corp Buys Hearst's UGO for Game Spin-Off AllThingsD News Corp., which is getting ready to part with Myspace, is now prepping a move for another one of its web properties. The company plans to spin out its IGN.com dudes-and-games site, and is bulking up in advance by acquiring Hearst's dudes-and-games-centric UGO.com. Comcast to Push for Synergy at NBCUniversal Wall Street Journal Steve Burke, CEO of Comcast's NBCUniversal, is promoting "synergy," in an effort to pump up interest in the company's diverse group of franchises. He calls the strategy "Project Symphony." To get people's attention, according to Burke, "you have to take this approach." News Corp's F1 Takeover Chances Near 'Zero' Mirror Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. has a "close to zero" chance of buying Formula One and talk of a takeover is being driven by the media and advisers seeking to make money, according to the sport's leader, Bernie Ecclestone. "A lot of balls are in the air," he added. CBS, Time Warner Name Exec to Oversee CW Wall Street Journal CBS and Time Warner have named former Disney exec Mark Pedowitz to run their CW broadcast network, a move that cleaves together the channel's split management as its longtime creative chief departs. Dawn Ostroff has been slated to leave her post for months. Media Giants Likely to See Better Bottom Lines Dow Jones Time Warner, Disney, News Corp., CBS and other media companies are likely to keep riding the wave of increased advertising revenue as they report their most recent quarter of earnings, according to analysts. Many still are pushing to increase subscription businesses. Viacom Profit Fueled by MTV's 'Jersey Shore' Bloomberg Viacom's second-quarter profit climbed 53% as shows such as "Jersey Shore" added viewers. "Viacom currently sits at an operating sweet spot," said Davenport & Co. analyst Michael Morris. "Viacom's ad growth and strong position into the upfront remain underappreciated." News Corp Headquarters Tower May Be Sold New York Post The 45-story tower at 1211 Sixth Avenue in New York City, also known as the News Corp. Building for its largest tenant, is said to be in preliminary discussions about options including a sale or a recapitalization by its Boston-based owner, Beacon Capital Partners. NBCUniversal Eyes Takeover of Theme Parks Wall Street Journal Comcast-controlled NBCUniversal is said to be moving forward with discussions to acquire Blackstone Group's stake in the Universal Orlando theme parks. A deal is seen as "likely" and would consolidate the entertainment giant's control of the Florida mega-attractions. Time Warner Extends Olive Branch to Netflix Hollywood Reporter Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes has extended olive branches of sorts to Netflix and theater operators concerned about the company's participation in a premium video-on-demand partnership with DirecTV. "Netflix is subscription television. So, welcome, brother!" News Corp Set to Become Biggest UK Advertiser Media Week If News Corp. succeeds in taking over British Sky Broadcasting, the move would create the biggest advertising powerhouse in the United Kingdom. Chief Rupert Murdoch stands to become the leader of the U.K.'s largest advertising group, ahead of Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Disney Sees New Preteen Franchise in 'Lemonade' Wall Street Journal The fictional band Lemonade Mouth, created for a Disney TV movie, has a hit song on the charts and Disney's mouth is watering over the possibility of a new preteen franchise. The two-hour "Lemonade Mouth" movie garnered 13.5 million viewers in its first two airings. Time Warner's HBOGo Seeks Affiliate Expansion Multichannel News Time Warner's HBO may be near adding two more large affiliates for its "TV Everywhere" services. Charter Communications has begun sending e-mail invitations to a small number of subscribers to participate in a beta trial, while Time Warner Cable said it is in "active discussions." Comcast Eyes Movies Within Weeks of Theaters Bloomberg Comcast is in talks with Hollywood movie studios to show some films on demand six to eight weeks after their theatrical release. The cable TV giant would like to offer on-demand rentals following a similar move by DirecTV, which has started offering films for $29.99 after 60 days. Fox, Paramount, Disney Hold Out on YouTube Deal The Wrap A divide has opened among Hollywood's major studios over whether to join YouTube's initiative to rent movies on demand, which is holding up the launch of the service. Fox and Paramount have both confirmed that their intention is to "not move forward with any deal at this time." Martha Advised to Take Her Company Private TheDeal Observers believe Martha Stewart will soon steal page from Hugh Hefner's playbook and, like Playboy Enterprises, take her namesake company private. Some insist that Stewart, who controls 50% of her company's outstanding shares, would be a fool not to go private. Media Giants' CEO Pay Seen as Out of Whack Deadline Nearly half of the compensation packages disclosed so far for 2010 by Time Warner, Viacom, Disney and other media giants show a "startling degree of hero-worship." Directors are paying their top dogs sums that far exceed the pay for other top company execs. Comcast Hopes Fall Schedule Will Revive NBC Philadelphia Inquirer When Comcast bought NBCUniversal in January for $13.8 billion, it got the worst prime-time lineup on network TV, the perennial loser that is NBC. The network, said to be losing $500 million a year, ranks in some cities at seventh place, "behind three or four cable networks." News Corp Poised to Win Approval for BSkyB Financial Times Investors and analysts expect U.K. culture secretary Jeremy Hunt to give merger clearance to News Corp.'s proposed bid for British Sky Broadcasting, setting off fevered speculation about how a price will be set. Sky News could be spun off as a new and independent company. Sony Ex-Chief Ohga Dies; Led Push Into CDs Reuters Former Sony president and chairman Norio Ohga, who gave up a career as an opera singer to join the fledgling consumer electronics maker in the 1950s and later led its expansion into movies and video games, died on Saturday, the company said. He was 81. Hearst Former Senior Exec Jones Dies at 85 Connecticut Post Gordon Jones Jr., a former director and senior exec of Hearst, died last week at his home in New Canaan, Conn., after a long illness. He was 85. Jones, who retired from Hearst in 1995, was instrumental in building the company's book and business publishing businesses. News Corp, Time Warner Cable In Sports Fight Los Angeles Times News Corp.'s Fox is in hot water with Major League Baseball for lending struggling Dodgers owner Frank McCourt money to meet the team's payroll. Fox's motivation was not just to help McCourt, but also to keep Time Warner Cable from getting too cozy with the owner. Viacom Stock Hits Highest Price in Five Years Hollywood Reporter Shares of Viacom hit their highest price in more than five years on Wednesday as Wall Street analysts continue to be bullish on the company and its stock. "Viacom currently sits at an operating sweet spot," said Davenport & Co. analyst Michael Morris. News Corp Takes on Google for Ad Revenue Marketing Week News Corp.'s British newspaper arm aims to redefine its largely print-based business model as it looks to compete with multiplatform media giants, including Google, for ad revenues. Chief Rebekah Brooks has launched an internal review dubbed "Changing the Game." Comcast to Provide Coverage for NBC Station Philadelphia Inquirer A Comcast regional sports network will assume sports coverage for an NBC TV station in northern California, the first case of the cable giant's content replacing a report at an NBC affiliate. NBCUniversal will examine whether similar synergies exist in other markets. News Corp Explores Formula One Takeover Bid Sky News News Corp. is in the early stages of exploring a potential takeover bid for Formula One motor racing. The media group had held talks with Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim about forming a consortium. Formula One is currently owned by CVC Capital Partners. Cuban Seeks Sale of Movie Theaters, Distributor Bloomberg Billionaire Mark Cuban has put his Landmark Theatres and Magnolia Pictures up for sale, saying entertainment companies are attracting "huge valuations." Cuban is "just testing the waters," he said. "We won't sell unless the offer is very, very compelling." Comcast Extends Hockey Rights for $2 Billion Bloomberg Comcast's NBC and Versus networks have retained the U.S. broadcast rights for National Hockey League games in a 10-year contract that people familiar with the deal said was worth $2 billion. The NHL describes the agreement as its "most significant media deal." Big Media Stocks May Be Overvalued, Analyst Says Deadline Media stocks are up 24.4% over the last six months, outperforming the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500. But investors may be disappointed by upcoming news about advertising sales and other issues, according to Nomura Securities analyst Michael Nathanson. Sony's Obama Fund-Raiser to Draw Heavyweights Variety On Thursday, President Obama will trek to Sony Pictures in Culver City for a backlot rally with a capacity of 3,000 and Jamie Foxx on the bill as a "special guest." A second dinner will follow with guests expected to include Michael Lynton and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Disney to Supply Films for Amazon's UK Lovefilm Bloomberg Disney has agreed to supply films online to U.K. customers of Lovefilm, the Amazon.com-owned company that operates a subscription-based movie-rental service in Europe. Lovefilm will add more than 50 Disney titles to U.K. subscribers paying $9.74 and up per month. Viacom-AP Poll: Social Networks Used for Study Associated Press Young people use social media like Facebook and Twitter for more than staying in touch with their friends; they're also a means to make school and career connections, according to poll by Viacom and the Associated Press. The Internet has a "big effect" on education. Dish Network to Keep 600 Blockbuster Stores Open Dallas Morning News Blockbuster's new owner, Dish Network, really does plan to keep the movie rental chain in business. About 600 Blockbuster stores make up a list of leases that the No. 2 satellite TV provider said it will assume. However, another 1,000 stores may be closing soon. Time Warner Plans 'Mega' App for Movies, TV CNBC Warner Brothers is working on an app that aims to become the ultimate destination for buying digital home entertainment. The "Digital Everywhere" app, coming this summer, will let users access their libraries of digital movies and TV shows via a variety of devices. Warner Music Group Said to Narrow Suitor List Bloomberg Warner Music Group, the music company that put itself up for sale in January, is said to have narrowed the list of bidders to three: Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Cos., Len Blavatnik's Access Industries Holdings, and billionaire brothers Tom and Alec Gores. CBS Boss Sees Pay Increase After Recovery Dow Jones CBS chief Les Moonves received compensation for 2010 valued at about $57.7 million, up by about a third from the previous year. The pay day comes after Moonves steered CBS through a period of steep revenue declines and job cuts, only to rebound last year. News Corp Chief's Son-in-Law Buys PR Firm Telegraph Matthew Freud has bought back Freud Communications, the U.K.-based public relations agency, after selling a majority stake to Publicis Groupe six years ago. Freud is married to Elisabeth Murdoch, who recently sold her TV production firm Shine to News Corp. FCC Chief Discusses $100,000 Prize for App ABC7News The Federal Communications Commission has announced that there is now a $100,000 prize to anyone who can develop an app to help bridge the digital divide. It will connect government and members of the underserved population across America. News Corp Offers $33 Million to Hacking Victims Bloomberg More than 20 celebrities and politicians are suing Rupert Murdoch's News of the World over the U.K. newspaper's phone hacking scandal. News Corp.'s British newspaper publishing unit is said to have set up a fund of as much as $33 million to compensate victims. Comcast Eyes Sports Deals to Build Up Cable TV Wall Street Journal Less than three months after Comcast took control of NBCUniversal, NBCU's new CEO, Steve Burke, is angling for sports deals and pushing a big shift in how the company would use them. His first big push is a play for rights to the Pac-12 college sports conference. DirecTV's $30 Movie Rentals to Start Next Week Variety Warner Bros., Sony, Universal and 20th Century Fox are moving forward with plans to provide movies for a premium video-on-demand service through DirecTV. The service, offering rentals for $30 about 60 days after theatrical release, should be unveiled next week. CBS Names Rousso as Chief Technology Officer Associated Press CBS has appointed Doug Rousso to its new chief technology officer post. Starting Monday, Rousso will oversee technology for the company and report to CFO Joseph Ianniello. His most recent position was with business management software firm CA Technologies. Warner Music Group Decides to Sell Itself Whole Wall Street Journal Warner Music Group has decided to pursue a sale of the whole company, rather than entertain offers for parts of the business, and could reach an agreement within weeks. Several bidders submitted second-round offers last week in an auction of the company. News Corp Eyes Murdoch's Daughter for Board Bloomberg Elisabeth Murdoch, the 42-year-old daughter of News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, is expected to be named to the company's board. A week ago News Corp. completed the purchase of Elisabeth's U.K.-based Shine Group, to expand its global television operations. Viacom Film Studio May Be Favored for Theaters Financial Times Viacom's Paramount Pictures has come out against the premium "on-demand" movie window favored by Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox. Movie-theater owners have said they would give more of their screens to summer films from studios not involved in the scheme. CBS Boss Moonves Talks Ads, Couric and Hulu CNBC CBS chief Les Moonves, appearing at the National Association of Broadcasters convention, declined to weigh in on the Charlie Sheen controversy. But he did comment on talk that Katie Couric may leave the network. "It's too soon to say how this will turn out." NBCUniversal's Telemundo President to Retire Los Angeles Times Telemundo president Don Browne is stepping down, clearing the way for his new bosses at NBCUniversal to make sweeping changes to the Spanish-language television operation. NBCUniversal said it would announce a new Telemundo president "in the coming months." Media Won't Be Hard Hit by Disaster in Japan Associated Press Moody's Investors Service said the recent Japanese earthquake is likely to cut into the revenue of North American media companies, but not deeply enough to affect credit ratings. The firm added that supply-chain problems and manufacturing disruptions could cut into advertising. Hulu TV Website May Hurt Owners' Business Los Angeles Times Hulu has reached a dizzying level of popularity by offering free online access to episodes of hit TV programs. But Hulu's media owners — the corporate parents of ABC, Fox and NBC — fear they may be encouraging consumers to drop cable and satellite TV services. Hearst, Burnett Enter Media Production Venture Dow Jones Hearst plans to form a joint venture with reality-TV producer Mark Burnett to help cross-market its magazines and other brands on TV and through new and emerging platforms. The venture will have Hearst acquire a substantial interest in Burnett's existing business. Time Warner Eyes Move of World Headquarters Wall Street Journal Time Warner is said to be considering moving its headquarters to Manhattan's far West Side as real estate firm Related Cos has pitched this as a way in which the media giant could save money. Time Warner moved into its current offices less than 10 years ago. Viacom's Dauman Is America's Top-Paid CEO TheWrap The New York Times released its annual ranking of the top 200 CEO salaries, revealing that the median chief-executive pay for top 200 corporations increased 12%. Coming in at No. 1 was Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman, who earned $84.5 million in just nine months. Cablevision Warned by Viacom Over iPad App Dow Jones Viacom said Friday that Cablevision lacks the rights to show its popular cable channels on the cable operator's new live TV iPad app. The position comes after Viacom plunged into a legal fight with Cablevision counterpart Time Warner Cable on Thursday over a similar app. Survey: Media Time Increasing on Various Screens New York Times Americans are spending about 20% more time consuming radio, television and the Internet than they were a decade ago, according to a survey by measurement firms Arbitron and Edison Media Research. The jump speaks to the increasing ubiquity of smartphones. Martha Can Return to Her 'Declining' Company Crain's New York Martha Stewart will be allowed to return to running her company this summer after a five-year ban expires as part of the settlement of her 2003 insider-trading case. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has taken a pounding, seeing revenues plummet. "It's a declining business." Big Media, Tech Names Back Boutique Bank Financial Times Eric Schmidt, Sean Parker, Peter Chernin, Terry Semel and other big names from the media and technology sectors have invested in Raine, a merchant bank started by two former Wall Street dealmakers and Ari Emanuel, head of the William Morris Endeavor talent agency. Media Disruption to Accelerate, Analyst Says Tribeca Film New web-based platforms will allow content creators to grow and prosper without the traditional media gatekeepers, writes BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield. "Could Huffington Post start its own web-based cable network? Imagine if Charlie Sheen got funding to do a web series." News Corp: How It Became Lost in Myspace Reuters News Corp.'s acquisition of the now-floundering Myspace has become the latest example of what can happen when a traditional media company imposes its will on a start-up. Under News Corp., Myspace became "too concerned with revenue and traffic targets." Time Warner Cable, Viacom in iPad Dispute Los Angeles Times Time Warner Cable has asked a federal court to rule that it is within its rights to stream Viacom's cable channels over the iPad. Viacom quickly countered with a filing seeking an injunction preventing Time Warner Cable from putting its channels back on the iPad app. Disney's ESPN Offers TV on iPad, iPhone Bloomberg ESPN has begun allowing owners of Apple's iPad and iPhone who subscribe to a pay-TV service to watch its channels live on their devices. ESPN, the most-watched U.S. sports channel, plans to start inserting commercials into the video streams in August. News Corp's Sky Brings TV to iPhone, iPad Bloomberg Sky Deutschland, the German pay-TV operator run by News Corp., is making its programs available on mobile phones and laptop computers. The 12 euro-a-month package is said to be the first time a content provider has created a "seamless" flat-fee service for all devices. FCC Relaunches Site with More Social Media Web Pro News The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has unveiled a beta of a redesigned website, its first major update in 10 years, featuring more social media tools. Site visitors can easily connect with the FCC's Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube channel. Disney Eyes TV Channel in China Amid Growth Los Angeles Times When it opens in five years, the $3.7-billion Shanghai Disneyland theme park will serve as a launching pad for the media giant's ambitions in the region. Launching a Disney Channel in China is "something that we would love to be able to do," said CEO Bob Iger. Martha's Pay Cut Nearly In Half as Stock Drops Hollywood Reporter Martha Stewart's compensation as founder and chief editorial, media and content officer at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia was $5.9 million in 2010 — a 40% drop. The decline is reflective of the company's stock price, which was cut in half in the past 11 months. Sony CEO, Websites Targeted by Hacker Group VentureBeat A hacking group has targeted Sony websites to take revenge against the company for suing a hacker known as GeoHot. An offshoot of the group has also begun targeting Sony execs, including CEO Howard Stringer, by exposing their private information. Viacom Former CEO Recalls Failed MySpace Deal CNBC Tom Freston, who helped create MTV, is now investing in a niche online media company called Vice. Fired by MTV owner Viacom for failing to buy the now-floundering MySpace, Freston said he is "still waiting for Sumner Redstone to send him a thank-you note." CBS Stock Favored Amid New Revenue Streams MarketWatch Even after run-ups of more 30% so far this year and 76% over the past 12 months, analysts still see upside in the shares of CBS, thanks to a favorable advertising environment and the media company's ability to make the most of new revenue streams. Disney Shakes Up Digital Sales Leadership Adweek Disney is shaking up its digital sales leadership, as the company brings in industry veteran Dave Dickman to serve as its new senior VP, Disney Online Media Sales and Marketing. Dickman was most recently senior VP of sales for Warner Bros. Digital Media. Discovery CEO Awarded $42.6 Million in Pay Los Angeles Times David Zaslav, CEO of TLC parent Discovery Communications, was awarded a compensation package valued at $42.6 million in 2010 -- more than triple his compensation for the previous year. Discovery's shares have increased by nearly 20% this year. News Corp Closes $670M Acquisition of Shine Associated Press News Corp. on Tuesday completed its buyout of Shine Group, the U.K. TV production company founded by the daughter of CEO Rupert Murdoch. The all-cash deal, valued at about $670 million, will bring Elisabeth Murdoch back to News Corp. Hollywood Sues Zediva Online Movie Streamer Bloomberg The Motion Picture Association of America has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Zediva.com, the movie-streaming service. Zediva illegally streams movies without obtaining required licenses from Hollywood movie studios, according to the MPAA. DreamWorks' Katzenberg Joins Zynga Board New York Times DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg has joined the board of Zynga, one of the largest gaming companies on the web, driven by the success of games like FarmVille and CityVille. Zynga's games attract 275 million users every month on Facebook. Viacom Lawsuit Gets Response from Google Hollywood Reporter Google has filed its brief to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in the closely-watched $1 billion lawsuit brought by Viacom over alleged copyright infringement on YouTube. Said Google: "Plaintiffs themselves used YouTube to advance their own businesses." Time Warner Cable Adds Channels to iPad App Dow Jones Time Warner Cable has added 17 new cable TV channels — including ESPN News, QVC and CSPAN — to its controversial live TV iPad app, and said it plans to add seven more, including three channels owned by its former parent company, Time Warner. Cablevision Launches iPad App to Watch TV Reuters Cablevision plans to launch an app for its customers to watch television on their iPads at home. The move comes after Time Warner Cable launched its own TV iPad app, which sparked controversy and attracted several cease-and-desist notices. Comcast Chief Pay Rises Amid NBC Takeover Bloomberg Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast, received 14% more in compensation last year, earning $31.1 million as he led the takeover of NBC Universal. Stephen Burke, CEO of NBC Universal, took home than Roberts for the second consecutive year, earning $34.7 million. New Corp to Form Fox Hispanic Media Division New York Times News Corp. plans to expand its presence in media aimed at Spanish-speaking consumers. Fox International Channels and Fox Global Networks are forming a new division, Fox Hispanic Media, composed of two existing cable channels and the new Nat Geo Mundo. Dish, Icahn Among Bidders for Blockbuster Wall Street Journal Dish Network and billionaire investor Carl Icahn are among the bidders that have submitted offers for Blockbuster ahead of a bankruptcy court auction set for Monday. Other companies and private-equity firms have also considered bids for the movie-rental chain. CBS Exec: Couric Leaving News Anchor Post Associated Press Katie Couric plans to leave her anchor post at "CBS Evening News" less than five years after becoming the first woman to solely helm a network TV evening newscast. A network exec, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported the move Sunday night. Media Giants Plan Home Movie Rentals for $30 Variety Time Warner, Sony, NBC Universal and News Corp plan to start a service called Home Premiere, offering two- or three-day movie rentals through DirecTV for $30. The news "went off like a bomb" among theater owners, who see the venture as "misguided." Time Warner Cable Drops Networks from App Bloomberg Time Warner Cable plans to pull 12 networks from News Corp., Viacom and Discovery Communications off of its streaming-TV iPad app after the companies complained that such use was not authorized. The yanked channels include MTV, Comedy Central, FX and TLC. Cablevision App Delayed Amid Rights Debate Dow Jones Cablevision said it is waiting for Apple's approval of the cable company's live TV iPad application, delaying its launch. A similar app offered by Time Warner Cable has exposed a dispute over content rights between cable companies and their network partners. Live Nation Makes Bid for Warner Music Group New York Post Irving Azoff's concert company, Live Nation, has made a bid for Warner Music Group, according to two sources. The company is understood to be most interested in buying the recorded music business of Warner, the No. 3 record company in the United States. Jordan Edmiston: Consumer M&A Deals Soar Folio Mergers and acquisitions in b-to-b media fell dramatically in the first quarter of 2011, down to four deals compared to 13 in the first quarter last year, according to a report from Jordan Edmiston Group. Consumer magazine M&A saw an uptick with seven deals. Hearst Move Positions Swartz as Next CEO New York Post Hearst Corp. put in play a succession plan when it tapped its newspaper chief Steve Swartz to become COO. The move suggests Swartz has nosed out Hearst entertainment head Scott Sassa as heir apparent to succeed 78-year-old Frank Bennack Jr. as CEO. News Corp Eyes Murdoch Son as Successor Bloomberg James Murdoch, son of News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch, has moved a step closer to succeeding his 80-year-old father with his promotion to deputy COO. According to one analyst: "It's part of the overall family plan to have James mostly in charge." Fox Sends Cease-and-Desist to Time Warner Bloomberg News Corp.'s Fox Networks Group has told Time Warner Cable to stop streaming cable channels including FX to its pay-TV subscribers' iPads, saying such use is not authorized. The cease-and-desist letter may be a precursor to a lawsuit filed by Fox. News Corp Names Murdoch Son Deputy COO Hollywood Reporter News Corp. has promoted James Murdoch to the post of deputy COO and chairman and CEO, international. The son of News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch will remain directly responsible for company operations in Europe and Asia, but will relocate to New York. Time Warner CEO Pay Rises Amid Recovery Bloomberg Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes received 2010 compensation valued at $26.3 million, a 34% increase from the previous year, based on government reporting requirements. Several media execs are seeing their incomes rise along with the economic recovery. AOL-Time Warner: Are We Ready for a Sequel? MarketWatch Media execs and bankers are starting to return to the old conversation about marrying content and distribution. "Eventually, the new dogs will take the next big bite. ... Imagine Google grabbing the New York Times, or Facebook buying its own entertainment arm." Media Piracy Described as 'American Problem' Home Media Piracy remains "the single biggest threat we face as an industry," said Chris Dodd, the new CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, in his inaugural state of the industry speech. "Movie theft is not just a Hollywood problem. It is an American problem." Movie Industry Decline Attributed to Stinkers Los Angeles Times With movie theater attendance in the United States and Canada down a whopping 20% so far this year, cinema operators and studio chiefs surprisingly agree on at least one cause: The movies haven't been very good. "It all boils down to the quality of the movies." Time Warner Media Exec Jumps to Facebook Wall Street Journal Facebook has hired Mark D'Arcy, president of Time Warner's Global Media Group, as director of global creative solutions to help boost the appeal of the social networking service's advertising offerings. D'Arcy will begin in the newly created role in early May. News Corp Approaches Vevo About Myspace Bloomberg News Corp. is said to be in talks to hand over control of Myspace to Vevo, the online music website partly owned by the world's biggest record companies. Vevo, which offers advertising-supported music videos, could draw on Myspace's music assets. Viacom, Netflix Sign Streaming Deal for Canada Bloomberg Netflix has reached a multiyear agreement with Viacom's Paramount Pictures for exclusive rights to first-run films in Canada for TV and computer viewing. The five-year accord will add more than 350 movies to Netflix's streaming service in Canada. Bertelsmann, Back on M&A Path, Sees Growth Reuters Europe's biggest media group Bertelsmann said it had the financial muscle to look at acquisitions again after reducing its debt, and would look at Warner Music and possibly EMI. "Financially speaking, Bertelsmann is ready to invest again." Time Warner Studio Expands Facebook Rentals TheWrap After a successful run renting "The Dark Knight" over Facebook, Warner Bros. has decided to offer five more movies over the social network. The Time Warner-owned studio will add two "Harry Potter" movies, "Inception," "Life as We Know It" and "Yogi Bear." Warner Bros Eyes Social Movie Website Flixster AllThingsD Warner Bros. appears to be the frontrunner in talks to acquire Flixster, the popular social movie website whose brands include Rotten Tomatoes. Yahoo has dropped out of the bidding due to price concerns. Rotten Tomatoes was once owned by News Corp. Weinstein Expands Into Video Game Business New York Post The Weinstein Co., known for its arty, award-winning films, plans to move into the video game business. The company, which will develop video games based on its "Scream" and "Spy Kids" movie franchises, sees gaming as a lucrative sideline. Time Warner Ordered to Name Illegal File-Sharers Legal Times A federal judge has ordered Time Warner Cable to identify about 250 subscribers accused of illegally downloading movies, despite the company's protests. Three film production firms alleged users violated copyright laws by sharing movies on BitTorrent. Disney: Jobs Reelected to Board Despite Protest San Jose Business Steve Jobs won reelection as a director of Disney despite questioning by a pair of advisory firms about his frequent absence from board meetings. The Apple CEO was elected at Disney's annual meeting, held in Salt Lake City, along with 12 other nominees. News Corp: Media Biz in India a 'Sleeping Tiger' AFP News Corp. exec James Murdoch, speaking at a media conference in Mumbai, called India's media industry a "sleeping tiger waiting to be awakened," as a report by KPMG forecast the sector would double its revenues to nearly $30 billion by 2015. Media's Top Jobs: Women Hold Fewer Than Third Bloomberg Women represent less than one third of the main decision makers at news companies worldwide as gender inequality leaves top management and governance dominated by males, according to a report by the International Women's Media Foundation. News Corp: More Lawsuits Over Phone Hacking Bloomberg David Mills, the former husband of U.K. lawmaker Tessa Jowell, and jockey Kieren Fallon have sued News Corp.'s British newspaper unit over the phone hacking scandal at the News of the World. Actor Jude Law has filed a related lawsuit against the Metropolitan Police. NBCUniversal Names Top Execs of New Division Broadcasting & Cable NBCUniversal has promoted Cameron Blanchard and Tony Cardinale to executive vice presidents of the company's newly created entertainment & digital networks and integrated media division. Margaret Lazo was also appointed as an EVP at the group. Sony, BMG May Team on Deal for Warner Music New York Post BMG Rights Management, a joint venture between Bertelsmann and private-equity firm KKR, is talking to Sony about teaming on a deal to acquire Warner Music Group. Both companies are among the bidders for the No. 3 music label, run by Edgar Bronfman Jr. Murdoch Under Pressure to Name Successor Campden FB Rupert Murdoch, who recently turned 80, is being pushed to name a successor after a News Corp. shareholder filed a lawsuit accusing the media empire of nepotism. Murdoch is "playing the succession issue close to his chest, which could hurt the company." News Corp Exec Carey's Rallying Cry: Pay Up Los Angeles Times News Corp. president Chase Carey — a likely successor to CEO Rupert Murdoch — has moved fast to secure new revenue streams while pulling the media giant back from placing costly bets in digital. "If Carey's efforts have a common theme, it's Everyone Pays." Disney: Jobs Reelection to Board Questioned Los Angeles Times Institutional Shareholder Services has raised questions about the decision to recommend the return of Steve Jobs to Disney's board of directors. Jobs has attended fewer than 75% of Disney's board and committee meetings in three of the last four years. Viacom, Disney CEOs See Salaries Swell in 2010 TheWrap As media companies shook off the economic downturn, compensation packages for moguls began to swell. Disney's Bob Iger saw his salary increase 30% in 2010. Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman and CBS chief Les Moonves more than doubled their take home pay. Comcast CEO, Foursquare Founders Honored Mirror Awards Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and Foursquare co-founders Dennis Crowley and Naveen Selvadurai will be recognized at the annual Mirror Awards in June. The awards are sponsored by Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Liberty Global to Buy German Cable Network Associated Press Liberty Global, chaired by John Malone, has agreed to buy the No. 3 German cable-television provider for $4.48 billion. The deal for Kabel BW Erste Beteiligungs GmbH, or KBW, furthers Liberty Global's efforts to concentrate its business in northwestern Europe. AT&T/T-Mobile Deal: More Bad News for Media Wall Street Journal Wireless phone companies are among the heaviest advertisers in the country. And when they merge, that typically is a sour dash of news for TV broadcasters, newspaper publishers and other media outlets dependent on advertising. Fewer companies equals fewer ads. Media Stocks Seen as Safe Haven for Investors CNBC Analysts continue to issue upbeat reports about Time Warner, Viacom and other media giants, despite the unrest in the Middle East and the crisis in Japan. Media companies "have a strong track record of passing along their cost increases to consumers." 'Dying' Industries: DVD Rentals, Newspapers Nashville Business DVD rentals, record stores and newspaper publishing are among the top 10 "dying" industries, according to a report by market research firm IBISWorld. Nonetheless, "firms that protect their strength in certain segments can reap rewards" as the sole survivors. News Corp Takeover: Too Much Media Power? Daily Mail An overwhelming majority of Britons oppose News Corp.'s deal to take over U.K. satellite broadcaster BSkyB, according to a survey conducted by YouGov. Almost 64% of respondents said the merger would give News Corp. too much power over the media. Time Warner, Comcast Balk at Sale of Sportsnet Wall Street Journal Time Warner Cable and Comcast are said to be unlikely to allow the owners of the New York Mets to sell part of their stake in the jointly owned Sportsnet New York regional cable channel. The stance could complicate the team owners' efforts to sell a minority stake. CBS' Showtime Responds to Threat from Netflix Crain's New York By midyear, early seasons of Showtime's original series "Californication" and "Dexter" will no longer be available for streaming on Netflix, according to an insider. "We're more conscious of the competition now," said Showtime CEO Matthew Blank. Viacom: Paramount Film to Debut on BitTorrent Fast Company The premiere of "The Tunnel," a new thriller from Paramount Pictures, won't be in a movie theater. The film will be released for peer-to-peer distribution on BitTorrent — the same tech platform used by pirates. The movie will have a simultaneous release on DVD. Disney Temporarily Suspends Tokyo Operations Los Angeles Times Disney, nearly a week after closing its two theme parks in Tokyo in the wake of Japan's earthquake, said it has temporarily suspended administrative and store operations in the city. "Our top priority is the wellbeing of our employees and their families." NBCUniversal: Parks May Take $1.55 Billion Bite Bloomberg NBCUniversal may need to pay as much as $1.55 billion to buy the 50% stake in two Universal Studios theme parks that partner Blackstone is seeking to sell. Analysts value the property at $2.3 billion to $3.1 billion. "There aren't that many buyers out there." News Corp's 'American Idol' Still Big Moneymaker Forbes In 2010, "American Idol" raked in $7.11 million for the Fox network every half hour, landing the show at the top of Forbes' list of TV's Biggest Moneymakers. Far behind "Idol" was "Two and a Half Men," with $2.89 million in ad revenue for CBS per show. Media's Most Profitable Sector: Cable Operators RBR Ernst & Young's Global Media and Entertainment unit has found that cable operators were the most profitable out of 10 media sectors. Cable operators ranked first at 39%; interactive media, 36%; cable networks, 33%; satellite TV, 27%; publishing, 20%. Time Warner Cable's New TV iPad App Crashes Hollywood Reporter Time Warner Cable's new iPad app allowing users to watch TV was so popular that it crashed the day of its launch. The app -- which is the first from a cable company to offer live streaming on the iPad -- was the most-downloaded in the iTunes store Tuesday. Disney Nabs Yahoo News Exec for Web Redo AllThingsD Yahoo News head Mark Walker has left the Internet giant for Disney, where he will lead a major overhaul of Disney.com. Walker's job will be to find a new direction for the flagship site, including adding original programming and more personalization. News Corp May Enter Social Gaming Business Dow Jones News Corp. plans to use its entertainment brands as an entry point to building its own social gaming business until the acquisitions market cools off, according to digital chief Jon Miller. "Social gaming has a business model. It's going to be present for a long time." Murdoch, News Corp Sued in 'Nepotism' Charge Bloomberg Rupert Murdoch and his News Corp. have been sued over claims he is causing the company to pay about $675 million for "nepotism" in its purchase of his daughter's U.K.-based TV production firm Shine. "The transaction makes little or no business sense." Viacom Shareholders Eyeing Pay of Top Execs Hollywood Reporter Viacom shareholders will get to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of key company execs, including chief Sumner Redstone and CEO Philippe Dauman, starting this year. Viacom will "continue to invest in our content pipeline," Dauman said. News Corp Starts to Decide Future of MySpace Bloomberg News Corp. has started a process to decide on the future of MySpace "in earnest," said digital chief Jon Miller. "We're trying to strategically figure out what to do" with the website. News Corp. is considering options after MySpace was surpassed by Facebook in users. Big Media Stocks Drop Amid Japan Concerns Hollywood Reporter U.S. stock markets, including big media stocks, closed lower on Tuesday amid concerns about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. News Corp. and CBS shares were down 3.9% each in early trading before narrowing their losses. Netflix was one of the rare gainers. Murdoch Son Upbeat on Prospects of 3D TV Financial Times Making television in 3D has caused big problems for News Corp., but the time is coming when audiences will want all big events to be recorded in the new medium, according to exec James Murdoch. "Customers will not want big events that are not in 3D at some point." Time Warner Cable iPad App Riles Up Networks Adweek TV rights holders have unleashed their legal eagles, warning Time Warner Cable that its new distribution scheme is for the birds. Network legal reps are calling for an immediate halt to a new service that allows subscribers to stream video content to iPads. NBCUniversal: Blackstone May Sell Park Stakes Bloomberg Blackstone, the private equity firm, has offered to sell its 50% stake in two Universal Studios theme parks back to NBCUniversal, triggering the possible divestment of both partners' stakes. The move "could result in a wide range of potential ownership outcomes." Media Piracy Seen as 'Global Pricing Problem' Ars Technica A major new report concludes that media piracy can't be stopped through Internet disconnections or tougher criminal penalties. Piracy of movies, music, video games and software is "a global pricing problem" that be solved only by changing the price. Murdoch Jr to Open Abu Dhabi Media Summit National James Murdoch, who will jointly open the Abu Dhabi Media Summit, kicking off Tuesday, has strong ties to the Middle East, a region set to play a vital role in News Corp.'s further growth. Through BSkyB, Murdoch Jr. may soon control half of News Corp.'s revenue. News Corp, Comcast, Tackled by NFL Lockout CNBC Losing the NFL season could eliminate $3 billion in advertising revenue from the four U.S. broadcast networks. Fox has the most at stake — this year its Sunday package generated nearly a billion dollars from ads. Plus, TV networks paid $4 billion for the rights. Viacom Names Armstrong Head of Digital Sales Media Week MTV owner Viacom has promoted MTV Network's Australia and New Zealand digital chief Tom Armstrong to the position of VP of digital sales for Viacom Brand Solutions International. Armstrong will manage ad sales across more than 400 digital properties. Disney Ex-Chief Eisner Joins Diller's IAC Board Wall Street Journal Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner is teaming up with an old running buddy: Barry Diller. Eisner has joined the board of IAC/InterActiveCorp, the Internet company in which Diller now owns a significant voting stake. Eisner served as Disney CEO for about 20 years. Time Warner Cable Launches Live TV iPad App Associated Press Time Warner Cable has launched a free iPad app that plays live TV, becoming the first cable company to do so. The app will only work for people who subscribe to both video and Internet service from the cable company. Even then, it will only work in the home. AMC Entertainment Unveiling Plans for IPO Los Angeles Times AMC Entertainment, the nation's second largest movie theater chain, is hoping the third time is the charm. The Kansas City, Mo.-based theater operator said it would proceed with plans announced last July to raise up to $450 million in an initial public offering of stock. Time Warner Cable Launches Live TV iPad App Associated Press Time Warner Cable has launched a free iPad app that plays live TV, becoming the first cable company to do so. The app will only work for people who subscribe to both video and Internet service from the cable company. Even then, it will only work in the home. News Corp Deal for BSkyB Stirs Media Wrath Dow Jones An alliance of U.K. media groups opposed to News Corp.'s takeover of BSkyB will launch a lobbying campaign to urge the government to refer the takeover to the competition commission. The alliance includes the Guardian, the Telegraph and Trinity Mirror. Martha Is a Grandma - But Don't Call Her That E! Online Martha Stewart added yet another title to her empire last week, as the domestic diva became a first-time grandmother to a baby girl born to her only daughter, Alexis, via a gestational carrier. Stewart will continue to be called "Martha," not grandma, said Alexis. Napster Creator Mulling Bid for Warner Music AllThingsD Napster creator Sean Parker is considering putting his money into a consortium bidding on Warner Music, which put itself on the block earlier this year. Parker isn't part of the formal bid, but is aligned with a group led by investors Ron Burkle and Doug Teitelbaum. News Corp Chief Murdoch Marks 80th Birthday Ninemsn As Rupert Murdoch marks his 80th birthday Friday, he is on the cusp of one of his media empire's biggest deals. The proposed takeover of U.K. satellite TV operator BSkyB could cement News Corp.'s move away from relying on the cyclical advertising market. Warner Bros in $100 Million Lawsuit by Sheen TMZ Charlie Sheen has filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. and "Two and a Half Men" creator Chuck Lorre, demanding to be paid for the eight scrapped episodes of the sitcom, as well as on behalf of the cast and crew, for $100 million plus punitive damages. FCC Chairman Genachowski May Step Down The Hill The Julius Genachowski era may be approaching an end at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. The agency's chairman is under consideration to replace Gary Locke as secretary of Commerce, according to tech-industry sources and prominent Democrats. Comcast Picks Official to Head Lobbying Office Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast has hired Kyle McSlarrow, head of the cable industry's trade group, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, to lead its lobbying and government-affairs office in Washington, a 40-employee unit on Capitol Hill that now includes NBC Universal. Sony Taps Possible Successor to CEO Stringer Reuters Sony is promoting Kazuo Hirai as the head of its consumer products unit, the company's biggest division, and CEO Howard Stringer said the exec was in the lead to be his successor. The announcement is seen as "a sign that Sony has exited the crisis mode." Warner Bros-Facebook Film Deal Eyed by Sony CNET News Sony Pictures is "looking into" new web distribution methods similar to the one announced by rival Warner Bros. with Facebook, according to studio digital exec John Calkins. Distributing films through Facebook is a "great first step" in testing social networks to sell films. Viacom Faces 'Real World' Suit from 'Hot Mess' Bloomberg Viacom must face a $5 million lawsuit brought by a makeup artist who appeared on MTV's "The Real World" because she may have been intoxicated when she signed away her rights to sue, a judge has ruled. In the episodes, cast members referred to her as a "hot mess." Disney CEO Sees Facebook as Youth Influencer Home Media Social networks, video games and portable media are taking a bite out of DVD business, said Disney CEO Bob Iger, speaking on "The Charlie Rose Show." Young audiences' entertainment choices, he added, now are likely to be influenced by their friends on Facebook. Time Warner to Take a Hit from Charlie Sheen Los Angeles Times In the long run, Warner Bros. has the most to lose financially if "Two and a Half Men" is finished as a TV series. The Time Warner-owned studio stands to lose tens of millions of dollars if the episodes it was expecting to make under contract with CBS are never produced. CBS, Fox Execs Predict Blockbuster Ad Sales Reuters TV execs are banking on a white-hot season for advertising sales, saying strong demand from automakers and telecommunications companies could drive prices up at least 10%. "We will see double-digit price growth," said Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman. News Corp Shine Deal Is 'Unrelated' to Murdoch Dow Jones News Corp.'s deal to acquire Shine Group is unrelated to CEO Rupert Murdoch's family ties to the U.K.-based TV production company, said COO Chase Carey. "That had nothing to do with it." Shine is "probably the most successful independent production company." Time Warner Defends Rollout of TV Everywhere Variety Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes has defended the pace of rollout of his brainchild, TV Everywhere, saying distributors covering 70% of the country are now offering some form of the service that allows subscribers to access TV programming on multiple devices. Comcast: Video-On-Demand Can Battle Netflix MarketWatch Comcast Cable president Neil Smit said that the company is confident that it can effectively compete with streaming video service Netflix through the deployment of video-on-demand offerings. Comcast has not seen signs of so-called "cord-cutting." News Corp Chief Murdoch Is '80, Going on 18' Guardian Rupert Murdoch turns 80 on Friday. Those who work for him talk about a man reluctant to discuss his age. "I had lunch with him recently," said former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie. "He was going on about the iPad this and Internet that. I think he's 80 going on 18." NBC Universal International Chief Smith to Exit C21 Media NBC Universal International president Peter Smith is leaving the company following its acquisition by Comcast earlier this year. Smith has been with NBCU for more than two decades. He took up the top job at its international division in 2006. New Corp-Backed Music Service Wins Funding Guardian Beyond Oblivion, the online music marketplace partly owned by News Corp., has secured $77 million in additional investment ahead of its worldwide launch later this year. The fledgling company plans to unveil its cloud-based, "liberated music" marketplace in September. BSkyB Investor Seeks Higher Bid from Murdoch Reuters News Corp. should pay about $17.91 billion to buy out satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting, according to Fidelity Investments, which holds a 3% stake in Sky. The price would be a "fair value." News Corp.'s proposed bid is $12.7 billion. News Corp Takeover of BSkyB Will Be Costly Bloomberg News Corp.'s shareholders have lost $25 billion since Rupert Murdoch offered 14.6 times Dow Jones & Co.'s profit to buy the Wall Street Journal. Now, the billionaire is poised to spend as much as 17 times earnings to take control of British Sky Broadcasting. Time Warner Raises Stake in Czech Media Reuters Time Warner has bought 3.12 million shares in Central European Media Enterprises, raising its minority holding in the central European broadcaster to nearly 31%. CME owns television stations in six central and eastern European countries. Disney Acquires Gaming Engine Start-Up Fast Company Disney has acquired the HTML5 gaming engine start-up Rocketpack, based in Helsinki. The company calls itself an "integrated solution for plugin-free browser game development." The acquisition is speculated to be in the $10 to $20 million range. News Corp Wins OK for Takeover of BSkyB Dow Jones The U.K. government has approved News Corp.'s proposed takeover of British Sky Broadcasting after the media giant agreed to spin off its 24-hour news channel, Sky News, into a separate company to avoid a prolonged regulatory investigation. Viacom Shares May 'Hurt' from MTV 'Skins' Hollywood Reporter By airing the racy "Skins," MTV is hurting Viacom's corporate brand and costing the company money, and it is time for shareholders to demand that execs do their fiduciary duty and yank the show off the air. So says the Parents Television Council. News Corp: First Carbon-Neutral Media Giant My Fox 9 News Corp. has become the first carbon-neutral global media company, it says. The media giant reached net zero carbon emissions through a variety of initiatives. "We made a bold commitment to embed the values of energy efficiency into all of our businesses." Disney, Creditors Protest Sale of Blockbuster Bloomberg Blockbuster's proposed sale benefits a group of lenders at the expense of all other creditors, said objectors including Disney, Universal Studios and Yahoo. The objections set up a fight over how the cash-strapped movie-rental chain should end its bankruptcy. MPAA Names Former Senator Dodd as Leader Los Angeles Times U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, the onetime Democratic presidential candidate, will become Hollywood's chief lobbyist as the movie industry faces stiff challenges from online entertainment, social networks and piracy. Dodd aspires to "elevate the industry." Comcast 'Well-Positioned' in Consumer Squeeze Bloomberg Consumer pressure from high unemployment and rising prices can be used as a strategy to pick stocks, according to UBS. Comcast and Google are among the companies "well-positioned" in this environment; the New York Times is "poorly positioned." Hearst Launching Manilla for Paperless Bills CNET News Hearst is unveiling Manilla, a new company focused on the digital management of household bills and accounts. The service, which delivers alerts and handles payments, is part of a digital initiative run by George Kliavkoff, who will serve as Manilla CEO. Sony's Facebook Film Is 'Unfriended' at Oscars Digital Trends As expected, "The King's Speech," from Weinstein Co., was named best picture at the Academy Awards on Sunday night, beating out "The Social Network" and a slew of other nominees. Sony's "The Social Network," nominated for eight Oscars, took home three. Diller's Vanity Fair Oscar Bash Lures Media Bigs Deadline Barry Diller hosted a Saturday afternoon lawn luncheon at his Beverly Hills estate in honor of Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter. The gathering of some 300 A-list guests included the likes of Rupert Murdoch, Arianna Huffington, Oprah Winfrey and Anderson Cooper. Lionsgate Weighs Spin-Off of Digital, TV Assets New York Post Lionsgate Entertainment is said to be considering a spin-off of several digital assets, including its video ad network, Break Media. The potential spin-off could also house Lionsgate's share of pay-TV service EPIX, its TV Guide and TVGuide.com assets and FearNet. News Corp Quietly Buys Social Game Publisher Los Angeles Times News Corp. quietly acquired social game publisher Making Fun, a year-old San Francisco company, in November but never announced it publicly. The media giant "recognized that gaming is very important as a form of media," said Making Fun exec John Welch. Comcast CEO Roberts Has No Fear of Web Video Wall Street Journal Comcast has no plans of launching its own Internet-based video service for cable non-subscribers, said CEO Brian Roberts. "Where we can add value is taking our existing customers and giving them full access to all content online because they're subscribers." Weinstein's 'Speech' Expected to Beat 'Social' Bloomberg "The King's Speech" has eclipsed "The Social Network" as the favorite to win the top Oscar when the Academy Awards are announced Sunday. The Weinstein Co. movie has an 81% chance of capturing the best-picture Oscar, according to odds-maker Intrade.com. News Corp Nearing Takeover Deal for BSkyB Financial Times News Corp. is close to an agreement with U.K. regulators addressing concerns about its bid to acquire total ownership of British Sky Broadcasting. A deal could include hiving off its satellite news channel Sky News and come as soon as next week. Comcast, Al-Jazeera Confirm TV Carriage Talks Philadelphia Inquirer Al-Jazeera exec Al Antsey met with Comcast execs this week, seeking a major U.S. platform for the 24-hour, Qatar-based news channel. "We had a very fruitful meeting," he said. Comcast declined to comment on programming negotiations or discussions. Viacom, Disney Lose Internet Piracy Lawsuit Bloomberg Viacom, Disney and other Hollywood movie giants have lost a piracy lawsuit in Australia as an appeals court upheld a ruling that local Internet provider iiNet wasn't responsible for customers illegally downloading films. The ISP "did not authorize" infringement. Time Warner Considers Making Fewer Movies Bloomberg Time Warner is said to be considering reducing further the number of movies it makes to focus on big-budget pictures. The maker of the "Harry Potter" and "Dark Knight" films hasn't decided how to allocate cutbacks among studios at the Warner Bros. film unit. NBCUniversal Studio to Pressure Blockbuster Los Angeles Times Universal Pictures has become the third movie studio to submit a filing in Blockbuster's bankruptcy court case claiming that it is owed millions of dollars in unpaid fees. The disputes threaten to deprive Blockbuster of new DVDs as it continues to seek a buyer. News Corp Chief Script 'Murdoch' Surfaces Forbes An unproduced screenplay by British screenwriter Jesse Armstrong has been making the rounds in Hollywood, earning praise from producers but failing to find one willing to make it. "Murdoch" is described as a family drama about the chairman of News Corp. Comcast CEO Named to Obama Jobs Council Washington Post President Obama has named Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and venture capitalist John Doerr to his council on jobs and competitiveness, highlighting the administration's emphasis on tech and media firms to help shape economic policy. Disney Acquires Social Network Togetherville TechCrunch Disney has acquired Togetherville, a social network for kids 10 years of age or younger, for an undisclosed amount. Togetherville mimics the experience of social networking sites like Facebook, but in an age-appropriate and parent-monitored environment. Time Warner Eyes Contenders for Time Inc CEO New York Post Two names are said to have surfaced as possible replacements for ousted Time Inc. CEO Jack Griffin: Eileen Naughton, former president of Time magazine, now at Google, and Jack Haire, former executive VP in charge of Time and Fortune, now CEO of Parade. Disney Employee Gets 'Mickey Mouse' Sentence New York Daily News Bonnie Hoxie, a former Disney public-relations assistant who schemed with her boyfriend to sell the company's financial data, has been sentenced to four months of home confinement. She had faced up to 10 months in prison. Hoxie claimed she was "blindsided by love." News Corp CEO's Son Heads Aussie TV Network C21Media Australia's Ten Network has fired CEO Grant Blackley and named Lachlan Murdoch as interim replacement. Rupert Murdoch's son holds a significant stake in the broadcaster. The move might give Lachlan greater influence at News Corp., which he left in 2005. Virgin Mulls Launch of Service to Rival Groupon Financial Times Virgin is exploring the launch of a "daily deals" service to rival Groupon, LivingSocial and Google. A former Virgin exec has approached Richard Branson's U.K. group about using its brand to enter the white-hot but crowded market for e-mailed, limited-time coupons. News Corp to Buy Murdoch Daughter's TV Firm Wall Street Journal News Corp. has agreed to acquire U.K. television-production company Shine Group for $673 million. Shine was founded by News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch's daughter, Elisabeth, who is expected to join News Corp.'s board following completion of the deal. Murdoch in Waiting: Ambitious, Intense, Swears New York Times James Murdoch, 38, is seen as heir apparent at News Corp., as his father Rupert nears 80. Colleagues say James understands the future of media. He is described as "intensity wrapped around energy," "swears if he needs to," and "shows no sign of liking journalists." Time Warner CEO Leadership Decisions Eyed Wall Street Journal Jeff Bewkes, CEO of Time Warner, may deserve a measure of blame for the void at the top of the media giant's magazines division. If ousted Time Inc. chief Jack Griffin did not "mesh" with company culture, could Bewkes have anticipated this before hiring him? Comcast is Seeking to 'Destroy' Writers Guild Variety The Writers Guild of America West has blasted Comcast over opposition to its efforts to unionize shows at the cable and media giant's entertainment group. Board members Chip Johannessen and Patric Verrone have accused Comcast of attempting to "destroy" the guild. Blockbuster Agrees to Sell Itself for $290 Million Bloomberg Blockbuster, the bankrupt movie rental chain, has agreed to sell itself to a group of debtholders for $290 million in a stalking horse bid that is subject to better offers. The final sale approval hearing will probably be held before April 20. Viacom spun off Blockbuster in 2004. Warner Music Seeking Sale Offers for Company Financial Times Warner Music, one of the world's top music companies, has asked for preliminary bids for its music publishing company or for the entire group. Management is widely believed to be hoping for a bid that would provide Warner with the funds to bid for EMI. Time Warner Ousts Magazines CEO Jack Griffin Reuters Time Inc. chief Jack Griffin has been ousted fewer than six months into his job, after Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes decided his leadership style "did not mesh" with the company. Management feared that "demoralized" execs at Time Inc. "could soon leave." Disney Plans Premium Video-on-Demand Service New York Post Disney is set to begin testing a premium video-on-demand service that would make movies available to viewers at home shortly after they appear in theaters. The move underscores the pressure on Disney as online streaming services like Netflix grow in popularity. Sony Launches Music-Streaming Service in U.S. CNN Sony plans to leverage its role as a top television and video game console manufacturer to promote a new music-streaming service, Music Unlimited, powered by Qriocity. Like Napster, Rhapsody, MOG and Rdio, Sony's streaming plan costs $10 a month. Comcast to Launch 24-Hour Xfinity 3D Channel Reuters Comcast will launch a 24-hour 3D television channel next week focusing on music, sports, movies and original programming. The debut of the new Xfinity 3D channel is the latest in a series of 3D programming initiatives offered by providers such as ESPN and 3net. Viacom Hires Top Global Antipiracy Executive Hollywood Reporter Daniel Mandil, the MPAA's top antipiracy exec and a key player in its efforts to fight global movie theft and counterfeiting, is leaving the organization for a big job at Viacom. Mandil has accepted a position overseeing Viacom's litigation efforts. Disney Hikes DVD Prices for Netflix, Redbox Los Angeles Times Disney has quietly decided to raise its prices on new DVDs for Redbox and Netflix, amid calls from Wall Street to choke off the supply of new releases to discount movie rental services. Other studios have refused to supply DVDs until 28 days after their release. Redbox Develops Subscription Film Streaming Bloomberg Coinstar's Redbox film-rental division is working to develop a subscription streaming service, setting up potential competition with Netflix and Hulu. The company is closing in on a choice of an online partner, according to CEO Paul Davis. Comcast, Cablevision: Mixed Signals on Pay TV Dow Jones Comcast and Cablevision are sending mixed signals about the strength of a crucial source of revenue for the media industry. Pay television showed unprecedented subscriber declines last year, but cable execs say they see no signs of such a trend taking hold. News Corp CEO Murdoch Acquires More Shares Associated Press News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch has bought more shares in the company he controls -- $48.2 million worth. The company reiterated a statement issued last week about his earlier purchases, saying they are "a sign of his belief in the future of the company." Time Warner Feels Impact of Sheen Train Wreck CNBC Charlie Sheen's rehab shooting hiatus from "Two and a Half Men" comes with its costs, not to mention a hassle for broadcaster CBS and producer Warner Bros. The Time Warner studio could end up losing up to $10 million in incremental profits from lost episodes. MGM, CBS Veterans Seek Media Acquisitions Los Angeles Times Former MGM chief Harry Sloan and onetime CBS and Sony Pictures senior exec Jeff Sagansky are looking to raise at least $175 million to hunt for media and entertainment acquisitions. Their new Global Eagle Acquisition Corp. is planning an initial public offering. Media: Biggest Sector in Corporate Defaults Wall Street Journal A third of all large corporations that defaulted on their debt in 2010 were media or entertainment companies, according to a report by Standard & Poor's. Even as the economy rebounds, many media and entertainment companies are still on "less-than-stable ground." PwC: Pricy Films, TV Shows Contribute to Piracy Bloomberg Movies and television shows may be priced too high to deter piracy, according to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers. People who admit to stealing say they are unwilling to pay more than $3 for films and $1 for TV shows. Also, thieves say they are unlikely to stop. Viacom Announces Sale of $500 Million in Debt Los Angeles Times Viacom has sold $500 million in new corporate bonds to raise money to buy back some of its higher-interest debt. The company, controlled by billionaire Sumner Redstone, has been on a tear this past year. Viacom's stock price has risen more than 50%. News Corp: Murdoch Jr to Address Ad Festival Australian James Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corp. for Europe, Asia and the Middle East, will join WPP chief Martin Sorrell on the main stage at the Cannes Lions international advertising festival, June 19 to 24, for a discussion about media development and creativity. Time Warner Plans Regional Sports Networks Bloomberg Time Warner Cable has entered a 20-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for rights to distribute all locally available games. Time Warner Cable will introduce two regional sports networks in HD, including the first U.S. Spanish-language regional sports network. Viacom, Disney Circle Thomas the Tank Engine Bloomberg Power Rangers owner Haim Saban and former Disney CEO Michael Eisner are considering bidding for Apax Partners' HIT Entertainment, the owner of Thomas the Tank Engine. Disney, Viacom, Hasbro and Mattel have also expressed interest in the company. News Corp Chief Signals His Belief in Company Dow Jones Rupert Murdoch has acquired nearly $20.2 million worth of nonvoting stock in in News Corp., marking his largest acquisition of stock in his media empire in years. A spokeswoman for News Corp. said the acquisition is "a sign of his belief in the company." Blockbuster Eyed for Buyout by Icahn, Monarch Bloomberg Billionaire Carl Icahn and Monarch Alternative Capital are said to be targeting Blockbuster, the bankrupt movie-rental company, in a possible buyout for less than $300 million. Blockbuster plans to close 110 underperforming stores by the end of this quarter. Dish Surges on Speculation of Buyout by AT&T TheStreet Dish Network shares jumped on Thursday after Credit Suisse issued a research note discussing AT&T's possible interest in buying the satellite company. AT&T may be looking for ways "to increase customer loyalty and expand its U-verse TV and Internet services." News Corp Pays $125 Million to Settle Lawsuit Bloomberg News Corp. unit News America Marketing will pay $125 million to Insignia Systems to settle a lawsuit claiming it disparaged its rival and broke antitrust law while attempting to dominate U.S. in-store advertising. The settlement doesn't include an admission of liability. Sony, Discovery, IMAX to Launch 3D Channel New York Post Sony, Discovery and IMAX are launching the first 24-hour 3D channel this Sunday. The channel, called 3net, just struck its first carriage deal with DirecTV. Sony and Discovery hope it will grab viewers and advertisers in the same way HDTV did a few years ago. Disney's ABC Still Subject of Sale Rumors Dow Jones Disney's fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 54%, led by strong gains at its media networks, including ESPN. Meanwhile, Disney's ABC broadcast network, which has been the subject of sale speculation, posted a decline in advertising revenue due to weak ratings. News Corp Closing In on Shine Television Guardian Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is closing in on the takeover of his daughter Elisabeth's Shine Television, the London-based production company. Key meetings are due in the coming days to consider the buyout. The takeover could come as soon as next week. Liberty Media, Live Nation 'Prowl' for Deals Bloomberg Concert promoter Live Nation is looking at possible acquisitions with John Malone's Liberty Media, its largest shareholder. "We're on the prowl together," said Live Nation chief Irving Azoff. The company is also considering investing in web-ticketing startups. Murdoch's Mother Celebrates 102nd Birthday Sydney Morning Herald Elisabeth Murdoch has celebrated her 102nd birthday in Melbourne, in an event attended by about 500 guests including some of her children and grandchildren. Her famous son, News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch, was absent. Rupert will turn 80 in March. Time Warner Mulls Sale of British Magazines Telegraph Time Warner is said to be reviewing its strategic options for IPC Media, the U.K.-based subsidiary of magazine publisher Time Inc., which could lead to the sale of part of the business. However, a Time Warner spokesman says: "There is no plan for action at IPC." News Corp Seeks Sale, Merger for MySpace Wall Street Journal News Corp. has hired Allen & Co. to advise on "opportunities" for MySpace. The media giant's early talks to sell the struggling website have focused on deals in which News Corp. would retain a stake. MySpace could be "combined with another site." AOL to Buy Huffington Post for $315 Million New York Times The Huffington Post has been acquired by AOL for $315 million, in a deal that will allow AOL to greatly expand its news gathering and content creation. Arianna Huffington will take control of all AOL editorial content, making her a public face of the company. Viacom's Hulu Deal Stirs Discontent in Cable Dow Jones Viacom's offering of "The Daily Show" and "Colbert Report" for free on Hulu is a boon for fans. But it doesn't sit well with the major cable and satellite companies that pay steep affiliate fees for Viacom programming. They see such deals as "problematic." Comcast Taps PR Exec as Flacks Swap Jobs TheWrap Adam Miller, public-relations strategist at Abernathy MacGregor, has been named head of corporate affairs at Comcast's NBCUniversal. Big-media flacks are swapping jobs as their companies fight the message that business models are "mortally challenged." Disney Looks Into Cradle for New Customers New York Times Disney seeks to introduce mothers and newborns to products while they are in the hospital. More than 200,000 Disney-branded baby bodysuits will be given away by May. But critics say: "This is taking advantage of families at an extremely vulnerable time." Time Warner Former CEO Backs Health Startup GigaOM Gerald Levin, the former Time Warner CEO best known for the disastrous AOL merger, has made a return to the Internet as an investor in OrganizedWisdom, a health information startup. The firm, he said, will "open avenues of sharing information." Viacom's Ad Sales Boosted by 'Jersey Shore' Adweek Viacom's cable networks group has gone from wow to JWoww as U.S. advertising sales rose 10% in the final three months of 2010. Thanks in large part to the success of MTV's mega-hit "Jersey Shore," Viacom enjoyed a significant lift in ad sales. News Corp Former CEO Joins Pandora Board San Francisco Business Pandora Media, the Internet radio business, has added two directors: Peter Chernin, former president and CEO of News Corp., who now runs the Chernin Group and Chernin Entertainment; and Barry McCarthy, former CFO of movie-by-mail firm Netflix. News Corp, Disney, NBC Biz Models Bashed Financial Times Hulu CEO Jason Kilar criticized the television business model of News Corp., Disney and NBC Universal, the three owners of his online video service. In a blog post, Kilar said "traditional TV has too many ads," while Hulu's advertising is "2-times as effective." Viacom, Hulu In Deal to Restore 'Daily Show' Bloomberg Hulu reached a deal with Viacom to restore "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" to the video site after an 11-month absence and adds other Comedy Central and MTV shows. "Jersey Shore" will play on the $7.99-a-month Hulu Plus 21 days after episodes first air. Time Warner Eyes Moves with Netflix, Redbox Dow Jones Time Warner may charge low-cost DVD rental services Netflix and Redbox more for access to its content. The company is also planning a premium video-on-demand offering allowing consumers to watch movies at home 60 days after theatrical release. Media Dealmakers Summit: 'The Web Is Dead' Folio Panelists at Thursday's DeSilva + Phillips Media Dealmakers Summit said the torch has passed to the "app Internet." George Colony, CEO of Forrester Research, said tablets and e-readers represent the future of media. "We think the web is dead." Comcast Assembles Team to Take On ESPN Advertising Age With its acquisition of NBC Universal complete, Comcast plans to use the combined companies' sports assets to take on ESPN. Cable veteran Mark Lazarus has been named president of the NBC Sports Cable Group, among several other executive appointments. News Corp Puts Ailing MySpace on the Block AFP News Corp. said it was exploring a sale or other "strategic options" for MySpace, the ailing social network which has been eclipsed by Facebook. "It could be a sale. It could be a new investor coming into it." News Corp. has received "a lot of interest." Time Warner Ex-Chief Parsons Finally Gets EMI Variety It took 11 years, but Dick Parsons finally has EMI. The British music label is being taken over by its biggest lender, Citigroup, where the former Time Warner chief now serves as non-executive chairman. Parsons once sought a deal with EMI in his days at Time Warner. Time Warner Cable to Buy Internet Site Host Dow Jones Time Warner Cable plans to acquire NaviSite, a provider of outsourced Internet site hosting, for about $230 million in a deal meant to boost the cable giant's commercial services business. The business is "one in which we continue to see great opportunity." News Corp Taps Former AOL Exec for Tech Associated Press News Corp. says it has hired a former AOL exec to help develop new digital products. John McKinley will serve as chief technology officer and president of technology. He will report to News Corp. digital head Jon Miller, whom he worked with previously at AOL. News Corp, Time Warner to See Boost in Ads Reuters Cable network advertising growth and threats from Netflix and Hulu will dominate investor attention when News Corp. and Time Warner begin the earnings season for big media on Wednesday. The ad rebound coincides with fresh threats from online video services. Comcast, Time Warner Eye Online Streaming Philadelphia Business Comcast and Time Warner are entering a long-term agreement to make many shows and movies from stations and networks operated by Time Warner's TBS subsidiary available online and on-demand to Comcast's digital cable customers shortly after broadcast. Disney, CBS, Viacom Start 2011 With Gains Hollywood Reporter The new year is off to a good start for several big media stocks, as they outpace the broader market. Disney, CBS and Viacom are the top industry stock picks for 2011, analysts say. All three companies hit their highest levels in several years over the past month. NBC Universal's Burke Sheds Comcast Title Los Angeles Times NBC Universal new CEO Steve Burke is resigning as Comcast's COO but will remain an executive VP of the cable giant. Burke became NBCU CEO after Comcast's takeover closed on Friday. Burke is relinquishing the COO role to focus on NBCU. News Corp Investors 'Restless' Over Scandal Guardian News Corp. investors are "growing restless" over the phone-hacking scandal at the company's U.K. News of the World tabloid and the possible impact it could have on the proposed BSkyB takeover deal. A News Corp. board meeting is believed to be set for Wednesday. Disney CEO Iger Sees Jump in Compensation Los Angeles Times Disney chief Bob Iger is commanding a 35% jump in salary and bonuses for 2010, rewarding his "exceptional performance" in the face of a slow-recovering U.S. economy. Iger's pay is up to nearly $16.3 million, up from $12 million a year earlier. Comcast Takeover Dubs Firm NBCUniversal CNNMoney Comcast is officially completing its deal to take over NBC Universal. The new venture, now known as NBCUniversal, is 51% owned by Comcast and 49% owned by General Electric. Comcast will manage the company. The deal values NBCUniversal at $30 billion. CBS May Lose Millions with Sheen in Rehab Los Angeles Times Charlie Sheen is entering a rehabilitation center, forcing CBS and Warner Bros. Television to halt production of the actor's "Two and a Half Men." With each episode worth some $3 million in syndication, television's most-watched sitcom tops $1 billion in value. Disney: 'Inept' Inside Trader Heads to Prison Associated Press Yonni Sebbag, a California man who pleaded guilty in a scheme to sell confidential Disney earnings data, is being sentenced to 27 months in prison. The judge rejected defense arguments that he deserved a break because the scheme was so inept. Media Mergers, Acquisitions See Digital Boost Variety Media companies are poised to go shopping in 2011, says a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Social media, video games and international ventures are ripe for deals. "As media content becomes increasingly interactive, look for business models to shift." News Corp in Battle to Expand Media Empire Financial Times A new police investigation into the phone-hacking scandal at News Corp.'s News of the World tabloid in London could jeopardize the media giant's plan to take over British Sky Broadcasting. News Corp.'s past "tabloid tactics" pose "unpredictable risks." Comcast Seeks Synergies at NBC Universal Associated Press Comcast bosses, speaking at an NBC Universal employee gathering, say they are looking for opportunities for synergy. All employees are receiving Comcast shares, passes to Universal theme parks, and a "Big Idea Book" in which they are to record their own. CBS Stock Hit as Sheen is Hospitalized Again CNBC CBS stock took a hit amid reports that Charlie Sheen, star of "Two and a Half Men," was hospitalized with "severe abdominal pains" after reportedly partying with an adult-film performer. Sheen is the lead actor in U.S. television's No. 1-rated sitcom. Media Giants Still Struggling to Prosper Online Dow Jones The advertising rebound is likely to drive the fourth-quarter results of Time Warner, News Corp., CBS and other media giants, analysts say. Media companies are continuing to wrestle with how to make money online as more content is streamed through digital platforms. News Corp, Disney Mull Yanking Hulu Content Wall Street Journal Fox owner News Corp. and ABC owner Disney are contemplating pulling some free content from Hulu, the online television service. Also, Hulu management is discussing recasting the site as an "online cable operator" that sends content to subscribers. Comcast's Plans for NBC News Still Unclear USA Today What will Comcast do with its new clout in the news industry? COO Steve Burke says he is prepared to make investments to reinvigorate NBC's local news operations. Also, some NBC stations plan to forge external partnerships with hyperlocal news providers. News Corp's Murdoch Cancels Trip to Davos Guardian Rupert Murdoch is cancelling his visit to the to the World Economic Forum in order to personally lead talks with U.K. regulators, in an effort to get News Corp.'s buyout of BSkyB approved by offering guarantees to safeguard Sky News's independence. Viacom Studio Leads in Oscar Nominations Reuters Viacom's Paramount Pictures is garnering 20 Oscar nominations, leading Hollywood's studios in Academy Award nods, which could help boost nominees' box office and DVD sales. The studio's "True Grit" and "The Fighter" won 17 nominations. Time Warner to Face More Rivalry in Netflix Deadline Netflix exec Ted Sarandos says that the company is poised to try to outbid HBO for Warner Bros. films that currently go to the cable channel. "We will be an aggressive bidder for that programming." HBO's current deal with Time Warner goes until 2014. Liberty Media's Malone Buys Maine Forest Bangor Daily News Liberty Media chief John Malone is buying up nearly 1 million acres of forestland in Maine. Malone has emerged as one of the country's largest individual private landowners in recent years. "My interest in land conservation is well known," he says. Disney Restructures Interactive Media Unit Bloomberg Disney's money-losing interactive media unit is beginning a restructuring as new leaders John Pleasants and James Pitaro seek to turn a profit. Disney shouldn't be in the interactive business "if we're not going to be able to make money," says CEO Bob Iger. Disney Loses Top PR Exec to 'Enemy' Netflix Los Angeles Times Disney's No. 2 communications exec is jumping to a company viewed by many in the media industry as Enemy No. 1. Jonathan Friedland, senior VP of corporate communications at Disney, is taking a new job at Netflix as VP of global corporate communications. Nielsen Wins $1.6B in Private Equity-Led IPO Bloomberg Nielsen, the media ratings company owned by Blackstone, Carlyle, KKR and Thomas H. Lee Partners, is raising about $1.6 billion in the first private equity-backed IPO of 2011. Nielsen sold 71.4 million shares at $23 after offering them at $20 to $22 each. Martha Wants Back on Media Company Board New York Post Martha Stewart is plotting a return to the board of the company she founded in the second half of this year, ending a five-year exile as part of her settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission over insider-trading charges. Media Industry Execs Optimistic, Acquisitive BtoB Media industry execs are optimistic coming out of the economic downturn, as 82% identify "organic growth" as the primary growth driver in the next 12 to 24 months, according to a new survey from the Jordan, Edmiston Group and Econsultancy. News Corp's Murdoch Seeks Family Reunion Daily Beast Rupert Murdoch turns 80 in March, and News Corp. sources say his goal is to find a way to return his children Elisabeth and Lachlan to the company and divide up the empire between them and their brother, James, who remains the heir apparent. Murdoch Son Talks The Daily, Paywalls, Google TechCrunch James Murdoch, CEO of News Corp., Europe and Asia, touches on a variety of media topics during an interview at the DLD Conference in Munich. "The Daily is going to be a very exciting digital publication, which should be launching in the next few weeks." Weinstein's 'King's Speech' Leads Oscar Race Variety The Weinstein Co.'s "The King's Speech" leads the race for the 83rd Academy Awards with 12 nominations, including best picture, directing, original screenplay and actor for Colin Firth. Nine films will be competing for the top prize at this year's Oscars. Nielsen, Demand Media IPOs Due Wednesday Hollywood Reporter Media measurement giant Nielsen and Internet media firm Demand Media are expected to set the final price for their respective IPOs on Tuesday, then start trading Wednesday. "If they do well, it will be a positive sign for the IPO market." News Corp Buyout of BSkyB Delayed by UK Associated Press News Corp. is getting more time from the U.K. government to avoid a full competition inquiry into its bid to take control of satellite TV service British Sky Broadcasting. News Corp. is being allowed to make further concessions to avoid such a move. CBS, Viacom: Media Content Winners in 2011 TheStreet CBS and Viacom are expected to have the highest returns on invested capital among the major media and entertainment stocks in 2011, says a report by Needham Insights analyst Laura Martin. Both companies are "generating enormous amounts of free cash flow." Viacom CEO Dauman's Pay More Than Doubles Loa Angeles Times Viacom's top three execs received a compensation of $165 million in fiscal 2010, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. CEO Philippe Dauman was awarded salary, stock and benefits totaling $84.5 million -- up from $34 million in 2009. News Corp's Murdoch Among Bigwigs in Davos Independent Some 2,500 of "the most important people in the world" will descend on Davos, Switzerland, this week for the annual World Economic Forum. The meeting of global political and business elites is expected to include Rupert Murdoch, Bill Gates, Larry Page and Bono. Comcast Targeted FCC Commish to Win NBC Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast knew months ago that success in acquiring NBC Universal rested with Mignon Clyburn, the sole African American on the Federal Communications Commission. Comcast courted her with plans and promises regarding diversity, an issue important to her. Vivendi: Messier, Bronfman Convicted in Court AFP A French court is handing media giant Vivendi's ex-boss Jean-Marie Messier a three-year suspended jail term over a scandal that nearly brought down the company in 2002. Edgar Bronfman Jr. is getting a 15-month suspended sentence for insider trading. News Corp's BSkyB Expected to Buy WiFi Firm Media Week UK Satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting is expected to announce a deal to buy The Cloud, an operator of WiFi hotspots, later this week. A deal could give Sky's 2.8 million broadband customers fast WiFi connections at 22,000 hotspots across Europe. Sony, Record Labels to Rival Apple's iTunes Bloomberg Sony and the world's major record labels are starting a music streaming service in the United States this quarter that will challenge Apple's iTunes. The service, Music Unlimited, has more than 6 million songs and will give the labels more control over revenue. Time Warner Circling Media Assets in Turkey Bloomberg Time Warner is looking into buying the assets of Dogan Yayin, Turkey's biggest media group, should the price and political climate be right, according to CEO Jeff Bewkes. Shares of the Turkish media company rose after the publication of his remarks. Warner Music Hires Goldman Seeking Buyers New York Times Warner Music, one of the four major record companies, is hiring Goldman Sachs to seek potential buyers, a process that will play out as it explores acquiring beleaguered British music giant EMI. Suitors including Kohlberg Kravis Roberts are eyeing Warner. Sony: Shakeup Buzz Surrounds CEO Stringer New York Post Rumors of a shake-up at Sony are roiling the movie world. Michael Lynton, co-chair of Sony Pictures Entertainment, will take a bigger role in the company over the coming years, a source says. "This is about a succession plan for CEO Howard Stringer." Viacom Taps Bakish to Lead Int'l Operations Associated Press Viacom is naming MTV Networks International head Robert Bakish to the new post of president and CEO of Viacom International Media Networks. Bakish will oversee Viacom TV channels — including MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central — outside the United States. News Corp Mulls Sale of BSkyB's Sky News Financial Times News Corp. says it might be prepared to make a concession to avoid a lengthy U.K. government regulatory review of its bid to take full control of British Sky Broadcasting. One option is to separate Sky News, the satellite news channel, from BSkyB. Comcast-NBCU to Introduce New Chief Burke TV Newser "NBC Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams will interview the new CEO of NBC Universal, Steve Burke, in a company town-hall meeting Jan. 27. Comcast is expected to finalize the mega-merger the following day. The town hall will be streamed on the employee intranet. Disney Shutters Console Video Game Studio Los Angeles Times Disney Interactive Studios is closing its Vancouver-based Propaganda Games, the studio behind "Tron: Evolution" and other console games. Disney chief Bob Iger notes that the games business is shifting away from consoles toward social and mobile games. Comcast-NBCU Merger OK'd With Conditions Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast's proposed $30 billion deal for NBC Universal is getting a thumbs-up from U.S. regulators, but it comes with provisions aiming to protect consumers and online rivals. One condition strips Comcast of its management rights at the Internet site Hulu. Disney: Steve Jobs Expected to Stay on Board Dow Jones Steve Jobs is expected to remain on the board of Disney despite the health issues that prompted him to take a medical leave as CEO of Apple. Jobs, who is also retaining his board seat at Apple, continues to be Disney's largest shareholder. Hearst CEO Bennack Honored by Paley Center Broadcasting & Cable The Paley Center for Media will honor Hearst CEO Frank Bennack at its annual gala in New York. The event will celebrate Bennack's 20th year as Paley chairman and commemorate the dedication of the center's main theater in New York as the Bennack Theater. Sony Said to Unveil New Portable PlayStation Bloomberg Sony plans to unveil a PlayStation Portable handheld game device on Jan. 27, followed by a game-playing smartphone in February. Sony will also outline a strategy to use its networked entertainment services to share games, movies and music among multiple platforms. News Corp: Prince William May Say 'I Do' in 3-D Bloomberg When Prince William and Kate Middleton exchange vows in Westminster Abbey on April 29, some royal watchers may be tearing up from behind 3-D glasses. British Sky Broadcasting is negotiating to shoot the wedding in 3-D and transmitting it to cinemas. Comcast-NBC Near Approval by Regulators New York Post U.S. regulators are close to signing off on Comcast's acquisition of NBC Universal, sources say. Comcast is expecting to hear from the feds as soon as today. Regulators spent the weekend making last-minute revisions to an order approving the deal. Viacom Exports MTV, 'Jersey Shore' to Israel World Screen MTV Israel marks the 64th localized version of the programming service, which will launch as a Hebrew-language channel targeting 16- to 34-year-olds. MTV Israel will air international music programming, as well as entertainment series including "Jersey Shore." Univision Names Former AOL Chief as COO TechCrunch Randy Falco, former chairman and CEO of AOL, is joining Univision as executive VP and COO. Falco will oversee all revenue-driving functions for the Spanish-language media company. Falco is also a former president and COO of NBC Universal Television. Comcast Invests in Documentary Site SnagFilms Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast's investment arm, Comcast Interactive Capital, is part of a group investing $10 million in SnagFilms, which distributes advertising-supported documentaries. The company streams over websites including AOL, Hulu and the Starbucks Digital Network. Apple's Jobs Takes Medical Leave of Absence TechCrunch Apple CEO Steve Jobs plans to take a medical leave of absence, according to a release issued by the company. "I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions," he says in a memo. "My family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy." Sony's 'Social Network' Tops Golden Globes Bloomberg "The Social Network," the story of the rise of Facebook, is the winner of four Golden Globes, including best drama, in a prelude to next month's Academy Awards. "For younger people, Mark Zuckerberg is a rock star," says Scott Rudin, the film's producer. Time Warner Cable, Sinclair Avoid TV Blackout Associated Press About 4 million of Time Warner Cable's customers will no longer have to worry about losing one of their network television stations. Just hours before a midnight deadline, the company announced it has reached a deal in principle with Sinclair over fees. Comcast-NBC Deal Expected to Close Jan 28 TheWrap The Comcast-NBC Universal merger is poised to go to the Federal Communications Commission for final approval this week, with a final close of the deal to create a new media giant due Jan. 28. The Justice Department is expected to quickly approve the deal. Disney's 'Tap Tap' Crosses 6 Million Downloads Associated Press Disney's newly restructured mobile game division briefly knocked the popular "Angry Birds" off its perch atop iTunes' free app store over the holidays in a sign that its purchase of game-maker Tapulous appears to be paying dividends. Redbox Parent Plunges on Earnings Warning Los Angeles Times Shares in Coinstar, the parent company of $1-per-night DVD rental kiosk company Redbox, are down after it disclosed that fourth-quarter results would be lower than expected. The reason: It signed deals with studios agreeing to a 28-day delay on renting new movies. Comcast-NBC Conditions Worry Big Media Wall Street Journal Disney, News Corp. and others are voicing concerns over a possible U.S. condition on Comcast's proposed deal to acquire NBC Universal that would require offering programming to other online services. They fear the rule could have unknown consequences. News Corp in Talks to Buy Murdoch's Shine Telegraph Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is said to be among the suitors in talks to acquire the Shine Group, his daughter Elisabeth Murdoch's London-based film and television production company. Shine in 2008 acquired Reveille, the U.S. producer of "The Office." Sony Near Deal with U.S. Spotify Music Service New York Post Spotify, the popular European music service, is said to be days away from signing a deal with Sony Music in the United States. The company has had trouble nailing down a U.S. launch date in the after struggling to secure deals with major record labels. Viacom, CBS Kick Off 2011 with Big Gains Hollywood Reporter Viacom, CBS and Disney shares in recent days hit 52-week highs and price levels not seen in years, as investors gain new comfort in economic and advertising outlooks. Plus, "over-the-top video will not be that disabling to business models." CBS May Face Profit Threat from Pandora Forbes Radio remains one of the larger profit drivers at CBS. However, new digital media competitors could shake the company's position in the years ahead. For example, Internet radio service Pandora is pushing aggressively into the drive-time radio market. Sony Closes CD Plant Amid Media Changes CNET News Sony plans to shut down its CD-manufacturing plant in Pitman, N.J., laying off about 300 employees. The entertainment company says it is making the move "in light of the current economic environment and challenges facing the physical media industry." Disney Plans Expansion in Interactive Retail Reuters Disney is taking its new interactive retail format to more markets, riding on the success of its recently renovated stores in locations including New York. The company plans to open 25 new and remodeled stores across North America and Europe in 2011. Bertelsmann Exec Exits to Advise KKR Buys Wall Street Journal Richard Sarnoff, one of the key architects of the proposed Google books settlement, is leaving his posts at Bertelsmann to become a senior adviser at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Sarnoff will help KKR with new investments, particularly in media. WikiLeaks Has 'Insurance' Files on Murdoch Australian WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange claims to have "insurance" files on News Corp. and chief Rupert Murdoch. Assange is threatening to release the files if "something happens" to him. Says Assange: "If I can be indicted, other journalists can, too." News Corp May Shutter MySpace by June Bloomberg MySpace is firing about 500 employees amid reports that owner News Corp. is preparing the website for a possible sale. News Corp. will most likely shut down MySpace by June "unless we see a remarkable turnaround," according to Evercore analyst Alan Gould. Comcast-NBC Faces Web-Video Conditions Bloomberg Comcast may have to provide television programs to online competitors and won't be allowed to interfere with subscribers' web traffic to satisfy U.S. regulators vetting its planned acquisition of NBC Universal, according to people familiar with the deal. Comcast Seeks Swift Approval of NBC Deal Bloomberg Comcast CEO Brian Roberts is asking two Federal Communications Commission members for the agency's prompt approval of the cable giant's purchase of NBC Universal. The FCC is yet to set a deadline as its members mull possible requirements for the deal. Time Warner, Comcast Lower Cable Pricing Philadelphia Inquirer As more cable subscribers cut the cord, Comcast and Time Warner Cable are offering lower prices for no-frills cable-television packages in some areas of the country. The poor economy -- not the Internet -- is largely to blame for cord cutting, says Comcast. Disney's ABC Eyes Marvel Comics for Shows Bloomberg Disney's ABC is looking to tap characters from its Marvel comic-book franchise for television shows, building from an initial list that includes the Hulk and AKA Jessica Jones. Disney completed its $4 billion purchase of Spider-Man owner Marvel a year ago. News Corp, Apple Chiefs to Unveil iPad Paper Yahoo News Rupert Murdoch is said to be planning to unveil News Corp.'s much-anticipated iPad newspaper onstage with Apple CEO Steve Jobs. The two media moguls will appear together at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, with a launch date expected Jan. 19. News Corp Tablet Newspaper Elicits 'Oohs' CNBC A prototype of News Corp.'s new iPad-only newspaper drew oohs and ahhs from execs at a dinner held during the Consumer Electronics Show. Rupert Murdoch stood up and raised a glass, saying it is more important than ever for News Corp. to work with tech. Sony Seeks Oscar Nods for 'Social Network' New York Post Sony is spending an estimated $55 million on its Academy Awards front-runner, "The Social Network," ranging from the usual pre-Oscar nomination ads in Hollywood trade magazines to the unusual move of re-releasing the film to theaters ahead of its DVD debut. Comcast, NBC Round Up Support for Merger Politico The Comcast-NBC Universal merger may be near the finish line, but that isn't deterring the companies from reaching out to scores of politicians. Lobbyists are making the rounds on Capitol Hill, collecting signatures from 48 Democrats and 50 Republicans. Playboy to Go Private in Hefner-Led Buyout Bloomberg Playboy Enterprises says it has entered into an agreement with Icon Acquisition Holdings, a limited partnership controlled by Hugh Hefner, to take the company private for $6.15 a share. The price represents an 18.3% premium over the closing price Jan. 7. Martha Stewart CFO Turner to Exit Company TheStreet Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is announcing that the company's chief financial officer, Kelli Turner, will step down from her post. Turner plans to join a private company "in the near future," according to a press release from the company. Nielsen Seeking $1.7 Billion in Company IPO Wall Street Journal This week marks the start of the year's first IPO investor road shows in the U.S., and among the companies wooing investors, a biggie is expected: Nielsen. The consumer-analytics company is said to be aiming to raise as much as $1.7 billion in its IPO. Disney, Yahoo in Deal Talks for Internet TV Wall Street Journal Disney is said to be discussing making video from some of its television networks available on sets embedded with Yahoo's Internet-TV software. Such new offerings would propel Yahoo into a broader battle to use the Internet to bring premium content to digital TVs. Time Warner CEO Bullish on Tech's Impact CNBC Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes is bullish on the new tablets and smartphones screens. More screens mean more opportunities for viewers to watch Time Warner's shows or read Time Inc. magazines. "If you have more engagement, you get more revenue." Sony Aims for No 2 Spot in Tablet Devices Reuters Sony aims to slide in behind Apple as the world's second-largest maker of tablet devices by 2012, says senior exec Kunimasa Suzuki, adding that a PlayStation phone is also a potential opportunity. Sony will have to come up with features "that are totally unexpected." News Corp to Reorganize Fox as Chief Exits Los Angeles Times Tony Vinciquerra, the exec who oversaw the business operations of News Corp.'s profit engine, is stepping down, triggering a reorganization of the Fox television unit. His departure consolidates the power of News Corp. president Chase Carey. Samsung Teams With Comcast, Time Warner AllThingsD Samsung is announcing partnerships with Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Hulu. Comcast's offering includes a new television interface that is "more like a website." Time Warner Cable customers will be able to access their cable subscriptions on Samsung Smart TVs. EchoStar Buys Assets of Streaming Company Denver Business EchoStar subsidiary EchoStar Advanced Technologies is acquiring the assets of Move Networks, a movie-streaming technology company that put itself for sale last summer. "TV providers are increasingly demanding quality video delivery over Internet connections." News Corp Preps Launch of iPad-Only Paper Variety As Rupert Murdoch prepares to bow his new iPad-only newspaper, the Daily, for which he has hired a staff of nearly 100, News Corp.'s MySpace division could pinkslip as many as 500 workers. The Daily is expected to debut before the end of January. Disney Interactive Hires Former Yahoo Exec Hollywood Reporter Brooke Chaffin is joining Disney Interactive Media Group as senior VP of Women and Family. Chaffin takes on the newly created role overseeing women and family focused experiences for Disney Online. She will report to group co-president Jimmy Pitaro. Sony Preps 3-D Channel with Discovery, IMAX Reuters Sony is reaffirming its commitment to 3-D, announcing plans to launch a 24-hour 3-D television channel in partnership with Discovery and IMAX this year. "2011 begins the next phase of our 3-D strategy, a year in which 3-D becomes personal," says CEO Howard Stringer. Music Sales Shrink as CDs Continue to Dwindle Bloomberg U.S. music sales fell 2.4% last year as more consumers abandoned CDs and increased spending online. Consumers bought 1.51 billion albums, singles, music videos and digital tracks in 2010, down from 1.55 billion in 2009. Album sales in nearly every genre declined. Comcast to Offer Live TV Streaming on Tablets Dow Jones Comcast says it will enable streaming of live and on-demand content later this year on Apple's iPad and tablets powered by Google's Android operating system. Users will be able to watch on-demand content anywhere with a wireless connection. Time Warner, U.S. Funds Eye Media in Turkey Reuters Time Warner and two U.S. private equity funds are said to be on a shortlist of potential buyers for assets belonging to Dogan Yayin, Turkey's biggest media group. Dogan Yayin is also preparing to sell its flagship Hurriyet daily newspaper separately. Viacom Sold Video-Game Firm Harmonix for $50 Los Angeles Times Viacom sold "Rock Band" video-game maker Harmonix for virtually nothing in exchange for a big tax benefit and offloading its liabilities. Sources confirm the sale price was just $50. However, Viacom received a 2010 tax benefit of about $50 million. News Corp to Pay Klein Base Salary of $2 Million Associated Press Joel Klein, the former New York City school chancellor, will receive a $2 million yearly salary and a cash signing bonus of $1 million from News Corp., where he has been hired as a senior adviser and board member, according to a regulatory filing. Weinsteins Acquire 25% of Malone's Starz Media Los Angeles Times Bob and Harvey Weinstein's independent film studio has agreed to acquire 25% of Starz Media, the home entertainment division of mogul John Malone's Liberty Media, for an undisclosed sum. Starz Digital Media will handle online downloads and streaming. ABC 'NYPD Blue' FCC Indecency Fine Dropped Bloomberg ABC's $1.2 million fine for showing a partially nude woman in a 2003 episode of "NYPD Blue" was struck down by a federal appeals court because the U.S. government's policy against broadcast indecency was too vague. Media companies had challenged the policy. Media Industry Insiders Make Predictions for 2011 Los Angeles Times Industry sources predict that Apple will unveil its own TV set and Netflix will buy the Starz channel. Also, CBS will move to gobble up Sony Pictures. Plus, "American Idol" ratings will take a huge hit, and Katie Couric will re-up with the "CBS Evening News." Comcast-NBC Merger Vote Is Unlikely This Week Broadcasting & Cable Comcast's deal to take over NBC Universal is unlikely to get voted on by the Federal Communications Commission until at least next week, since all five of the agency's commissioners are scheduled to head to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Viacom, CBS: Chief Redstone Cuts Voting Stakes Dow Jones Media mogul Sumner Redstone's privately held firm, National Amusements, trimmed its voting stakes in Viacom and CBS late last year. Redstone converted voting shares to nonvoting shares in order to keep his voting power in both companies below 80%. News Corp On Track to Sell MySpace by Mid-Year CNBC News Corp. may be preparing to lay off about half its 1,100 staff at MySpace, with termination notices to be distributed around mid-January. The move aims to streamline the website to lure a potential buyer, with News Corp. on track to complete a sale by mid-year. Media M&A Rises in 2010, Led by Mobile, Online min Media M&A comes into 2011 rebounding sharply in 2010, according to Jordan, Edmiston Group. The investment bank counts 845 transactions valued at $43.3 billion for the year. Not surprisingly, mobile, media, marketing services and online media drove the charge. CBS, Viacom Shares Lead Media Giants in 2010 Hollywood Reporter Amid an economic and advertising recovery, 2010 was a good year for most big media and entertainment stocks, whose gains in most cases were in the double-digit percentage range and often outperformed the broad-based S&P 500 stock index. News Corp BSkyB Report Submitted to Officials Bloomberg British regulator Ofcom submitted its findings on the plan by News Corp. to buy British Sky Broadcasting Group to U.K. officials, who must now rule on whether the proposal warrants more antitrust study. A decision is expected by the end of January. News Corp BSkyB Buyout May Face Scrutiny Guardian Ofcom, Britain's media regulator, is expected to recommend that Rupert Murdoch's bid to buy control of British Sky Broadcasting should be subject to a further six-month inquiry. At issue is whether Murdoch will have a disproportionate influence over the British media. Comcast 'Should Provide' Program Contracts Bloomberg Advocacy groups want the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to demand program contracts from Comcast before voting on the company's merger with NBC Universal. The contracts could reveal whether Comcast restricts online competitors. Time Warner Cable May Lose Sinclair Stations Bloomberg Time Warner Cable, locked in a dispute over fees with Sinclair Broadcast Group, is rejecting a proposal by the TV-station operator, leading to a possible blackout after Dec. 31. A blackout would affect 33 stations reaching more than 5 million cable customers. Viacom Shows 'True Grit' in Box Office Performance TheStreet Viacom shares are inching up after Paramount's "True Grit" saw a better-than-expected performance at the box office, coming in as the No. 2 movie this weekend. Disney shares dropped after the company's "Tron: Legacy" delivered weak results in its second weekend. Time Warner Cable Refuses to Expose Porn Pirates CNET Time Warner Cable is refusing to turn over customers accused in a lawsuit by Larry Flynt Publishing of pirating one of the company's adult films, "This Ain't Avatar XXX," according to Flynt's attorney. "If you're a pirate in these times, TWC is the ISP to have." Hollywood: 3-D Movies Keep Box-Office Sales High Los Angeles Times Total movie ticket sales in North America are projected to end the year slightly below last year's record of $10.6 billion. The number of movie tickets sold this year will drop between 4% and 6% from last year. The difference is the higher price for 3-D movies. Book Publishers See Their Gatekeeper Role Shrink Los Angeles Times Writers are bypassing the traditional route to bookstore shelves and self-publishing their works online. By selling directly to readers, authors get a larger slice of the sale price. Says one author: "Ultimately, the new gatekeepers will be the readers." Nielsen Plans IPO in Within Weeks, Sources Say CNBC Nielsen, the media company that made an initial public offering filing last June, is gunning for a January offering, according to people familiar with matter. A road show may start as early as the week of Jan. 10, with pricing that could come a couple weeks later. News Corp's BSkyB Deal Needs Probe, Poll Says Telegraph News Corp.'s plan to buy British Sky Broadcasting should be subject to an independent investigation, according to a poll by ICM. The survey, conducted for an alliance of media organizations, finds that 63% believe that there should be a probe into the bid. Viacom Sells 'Rock Band' Game Maker Harmonix Boston Globe Viacom, stung by collapsing sales of video games, is selling Harmonix to a private investment firm for an undisclosed amount. The sale illustrates the stunning decline of Harmonix's "Rock Band" games, where players play imitation musical instruments. Comcast-NBC Must Sell Content to Online Rivals Philadelphia Inquirer The U.S. Federal Communications Commission says it plans to impose conditions on Comcast's proposed deal to take control of NBC Universal. Among the conditions is one that would force Comcast to sell NBCU content to new online competitors. News Corp's 'Avatar' is 2010's Most-Pirated Film Hollywood Reporter "Avatar," the Oscar-winning mega-blockbuster, was downloaded from torrent websites 16,580,000 times this year, according to TorrentFreak. Nonetheless, the film grossed nearly $2.8 billion at the worldwide box office to become the highest-grossing movie ever. Comcast Says NBC Deal Won't Close Until 2011 Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast no longer expects to close on its proposed joint venture with NBC Universal this year. NBCU head Jeff Zucker is distributing a holiday greetings memo to employees saying that the companies expect a "green light" for the deal in January. News Corp Sells Fox Mobile to Investment Firm AllThingsD News Corp. is selling its Fox Mobile Group unit to Jesta Group, an investor firm. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal is the latest in a series of online divestitures for News Corp., which has sold a number of properties, including Rotten Tomatoes. Viacom Turns MTV 'Jersey Shore' Into Franchise New York Post Viacom's MTV says that "Jersey Shore" star Paul "DJ Pauly D" Delvecchio has signed a series option deal with the network. "He's distinguished himself as the fun-loving, well-coiffed and dependable guy." "Jersey Shore" is MTV's most-watched series ever. Disney: Death in Store for One of 'Fantastic Four' Associated Press The Fantastic Four is about to become a trio. One of the members of the Marvel Comics superheroes will die in an issue to be released next month. The issue will be wrapped in a black polybag designed to keep snoops from finding out and spilling the news. Murdoch Son in Private Meeting with UK Official Guardian Rupert Murdoch's links to the U.K.'s Conservative party are under scrutiny after it emerged that culture secretary Jeremy Hunt held a private meeting with the tycoon's son, James, shortly after News Corp. made an offer to take full control of BSkyB. Viacom: MTV Ratings Post Largest Gain in Decade TheStreet Viacom's MTV network ended 2010 with the its largest year-over-year ratings gain since 1999, marking its fourth consecutive quarter of growth. The ratings gains were driven by its reality series programming. "Jersey Shore" is MTV's most-watched series ever. Murdoch 'War' Strips Brit Official of Media Power Telegraph Business secretary Vince Cable, a key member of Britain's cabinet, is being stripped of his role in judging media takeovers after reported comments that he had declared "war" on Rupert Murdoch. News Corp. says it is "shocked and dismayed" by the remark. Sony Unveils Online Music Service to Rival iTunes Associated Press Sony is launching a music streaming service, "Music Unlimited," in a bid to break Apple's dominance in online music. The new subscription service will give users access to about 6 million songs, which can be streamed across Sony's Internet-connected devices. Activision Game to Set Entertainment Biz Record New York Post Activision Blizzard's "Call of Duty: Black Ops" video game is racking up $1 billion in sales after just 42 days on the market. The sales record puts the game in the running to become among the biggest entertainment releases in history, whether in movies, books or video games. News Corp Wins EU Approval of BSkyB Bid BBC News The European Commission is approving News Corp.'s takeover bid for U.K. satellite broadcaster BSkyB, ruling that it would not "significantly impede" competition in Europe. A separate investigation by U.K. media regulator Ofcom is continuing. Viacom in Lawsuit by Creators of 'Rock Band' Gamasutra Former shareholders of "Rock Band" developer Harmonix are filing a lawsuit against owner Viacom, accusing the media giant of manipulating costs to avoid a potentially giant earn-out payment. The ex-shareholders group includes Harmonix's founders. Murdoch's iBlunders Mount as The Daily Nears Mediaweek News Corp. is said to have a "prolonged history of failure" regarding its online business endeavors -- Delphi, MySpace, PageSix.com and others. Soon, News Corp. will unveil The Daily, a subscription newspaper for tablet devices. Will The Daily succeed? News Corp Set to Win OK for BSkyB Takeover Reuters News Corp. is said to be poised to win unconditional European Union regulatory clearance to acquire full control of dominant British pay-TV group BSkyB. The EU is expected to say this week that the deal does not have any significant anticompetitive impact. Comcast-NBC Deal to Create Minority Networks Reuters Comcast will offer new programing for African and Asian Americans if it is allowed to buy a majority stake in NBC Universal, the company says in new agreements with civil-rights groups. The move comes as Comcast awaits U.S. regulatory approval of the deal. Disney Online Head Exits Amid Group Shakeup Los Angeles Times Paul Yanover, the exec overseeing Disney.com and other websites at the media giant, is the latest casualty in the ongoing management shakeup at Disney Interactive. New co-chiefs John Pleasants and Jimmy Pitaro took over the group in October. Google, Miramax Talks Spark Digital Dreams New York Post Talks between Google and Miramax over a digital-rights deal has some Hollywood insiders seeing green for funding-starved independent studios. Netflix, Hulu and Google as new distribution channels would be "a healthy and much welcomed addition." Disney CEO's Pay Package Eyed by Union Los Angeles Times The labor union for workers at the Disneyland Resort hotels is seeking to more closely align compensation to performance at parent Disney, holding out CEO Bob Iger for scrutiny. Iger's pay increases "do not seem to align with the company's mediocre performance." Comcast to Add African-American Networks Philadelphia Inquirer Seeking to neutralize opposition to its proposed merger with NBC Universal, Comcast says it will add four cable networks owned by African Americans over the next eight years, as well as a new English-language channel aimed at Asian Americans. Sinclair Said to Cancel Talks with Time Warner Associated Press Time Warner Cable says that Sinclair Broadcasting backed away from arbitration in a dispute over how much it should pay to offer the broadcast group's programming. But Sinclair claims Time Warner made arbitration impossible by setting unreasonable conditions. Media Execs See More Mergers, Acquisitions BtoB Media execs expect mergers and acquisition activity to increase in 2011, says a survey by AdMedia Partners. The expectations for a boost in M&A activity appear to be predicated on financial growth. Some 97% percent respondents expect the economy to be stronger. Comcast, NBC Meet Over Merger Conditions Variety Comcast and NBC Universal execs are meeting with federal regulators to push back against calls from competitors and advocacy groups that conditions be imposed on their proposed merger, including restrictions on their Internet video efforts. News Corp Bid for BSkyB Raises Concerns Financial Times Ofcom, the U.K. communications regulator, is said to have found "potentially material public interest issues" in News Corp.'s proposed bid for British Sky Broadcasting. Its officials are likely to sit down with the two sides in a meeting over the next two or three days. Time Warner In DVD Deal with Blockbuster Bloomberg Blockbuster Express is entering a licensing agreement with Time Warner's Warner Bros. that gives the studio 28 days to sell new releases before they are placed in kiosks. The company already has 28-day agreements with NBC Universal and 20th Century Fox. NBC Universal Syfy Channel to Make Movies Associated Press Syfy, the NBC Universal cable channel behind such series as "Warehouse 13" and the "Ghost Hunters" reality shows, is getting into the movie business. The channel will join with Universal Pictures to release films in a joint venture to be called Syfy Films. Facebook, Time Warner in Partnership Talks AllThingsD Facebook and Time Warner are in talks about using the social networking giant's login system to "authenticate" cable subscribers who want to watch online video from cable channels. Facebook is said to be trying to woo several New York-based media companies. Comcast Surges as NBC Acquisition Nears TheStreet Comcast shares hit a 52-week high after analyst Craig Moffett of Bernstein Research upgraded the company in anticipation of the acquisition of NBC Universal, which he expects to be finalized in 2011. "It is time to start thinking of Comcast as Comcast-NBCU." Time Warner Cable Ups CFO to President Dow Jones Time Warner Cable is promoting CFO Robert Marcus to the roles of president and COO. Current operating chief Landel Hobbs is leaving the company. The No. 2 U.S. cable operator has seen better results lately, helped in part by growth in advertising. Scripps Networks Eyes British Cable Stake Wall Street Journal Scripps Networks Interactive is close to a deal to buy 50% of UKTV, a major British cable operator. Scripps, whose cable channels include the Food Network and Travel Channel, recently entered exclusive talks with Virgin Media to buy its half ownership in UKTV. Viacom Raises Concerns About Comcast-NBC Los Angeles Times Viacom is raising concerns with the Federal Communications Commission about the merger between Comcast and NBC Universal. Viacom fears that Comcast will have "increased incentive and ability to impede competition by favoring its own content." Comcast Tests Combo Internet-Cable Device Wall Street Journal Comcast is testing a new service, known internally as "Xcalibur," that knits together television and the Internet. Content flows through a set-top box that combines features of the web with those of a DVR. The service is seen as a response to cord cutting. News Corp Eyes More Deals in Education Tech Wall Street Journal News Corp. is said to be interested in making other acquisitions and investments in technologies related to American education, following its recent buy of software maker Wireless Generation. News Corp. could use new areas of growth, analysts say. NBC Universal Denies Report of Studio Sale New York Times NBC Universal's Universal Studios is denying a report that it is in talks to sell Focus Features to Alec and Tom Gores, independent investors who have interests in the entertainment industry. Still, there have been flirtations about a potential sale, sources say. Time Warner Views Netflix as a Fading Star New York Times Media companies that license their movies and TV shows to Netflix argue that the company is overhyped and vow to charge much more to for their content. "Once you put it on Netflix," says Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, "you really can't sell it anywhere else." Viacom Pals Back Appeal of YouTube Decision Hollywood Reporter Viacom is lining up friends in its copyright battle with YouTube. A wide range of organizations, from Microsoft to the National Football League, are filing briefs in support of the media giant's appeal of its claims in the $1 billion lawsuit that were shot down this summer. News Corp Turns Up in WikiLeaks Documents Daily Beast News Corp. and other media companies are referenced in some of the secret cables released by WikiLeaks. A May 2009 missive says that an unnamed Saudi met "with one of Rupert Murdoch's sons on a deal to publish an Arabic-language Wall Street Journal." Comcast-NBC Deal Held Up by Internet Issues Los Angeles Times U.S. regulators reviewing the proposed merger of Comcast and NBC Universal are worried about what the combination means for the online world. Online video "is an emerging market and if someone gained power really early, it could stifle it." CBS Top Shareholder Cuts Stake in Company Reuters Investment firm AllianceBernstein, CBS's top outside shareholder, is selling off most of its holdings in the broadcast television and radio company. The firm declines to comment on the move. CBS shares are up almost 28% amid a rebound in advertising. NBC Universal's Zucker Eyeing Private Equity Wall Street Journal Jeff Zucker is said to have received several offers to move into private equity. But NBC Universal's exiting boss says he hasn't decided what he will do next in his career, adding that he is interested in journalism, producing, sports and digital media. "I'm available." News Corp Too 'Identified' with Newspapers Forbes The problem with News Corp.'s stock price? "We're overly identified with publishing," says COO Chase Carey, noting that more than 50% of the media giant's profits are from cable TV. "Our future is being driven by big, broad content platform channel businesses." Disney, Netflix in Deal for Streaming TV Reruns CNET Netflix is entering a licensing agreement with one of the biggest Hollywood studios that will allow the web's top video rental store to stream TV shows from the Disney Channel and ABC. Shows that will be available include "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives." News Corp Satellite TV Office Shuttered in Iran Fox News Iran has shut down an office of satellite TV channel Farsi1, co-owned by News Corp., and arrested at least four employees for "anti-revolutionary" activity. Farsi1, launched in summer 2009, airs soaps and sitcoms targeting a 100 million-strong audience in Iran. Sony Exec Defects to Universal in Shake-Up Financial Times Barry Weiss, a top exec with Sony Music, is defecting to Universal Music, setting the stage for a big shake-up in the record business. The news sparked speculation about succession to Sony Music CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, who plans to leave in March. CBS Chief Moonves Wary of Google TV, Hulu Mediaweek CBS CEO Les Moonves says Google TV is not going to get his content "for zero dollars" and his plan is to approach the product cautiously. "I'm not sure what it is." Also, CBS has famously stayed away from Hulu: "Who knows what the future of Hulu is?" Time Warner Mulls Offering HBO Outside Cable New York Post Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes says that HBO, his company's premium cable network, could be offered outside traditional cable channel packages if another model makes sense as the TV industry evolves. HBO is already working on apps for tablet devices. Viacom CEO Admits Love for Snooki, 'Jersey' Hollywood Reporter Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman says that while he loves every contributor to his company's renaissance at MTV, Comedy Central and other networks, he particularly likes "Jersey Shore. Asked which show is his favorite, Dauman says "Jersey Shore." "I love Snooki." CBS Forecasts 'Healthy' Gain in Broadcast Ads Broadcasting & Cable CBS' chief researcher David Poltrack says that network television advertising revenues are up 6.2% in 2010, up from his previous forecast of 5%. "Overall the networks are in good shape on the audience deficiency front," through the first seven weeks of the season. Media Moguls Address Wall Street Before Holidays Hollywood Reporter In a Wall Street holiday season tradition, top media execs will gather at Manhattan's Grand Hyatt hotel Monday through Wednesday to discuss the state of their companies and the outlook for 2011 at the annual UBS Global Media and Communications Conference. Comcast Bid for NBC Universal Wins Extension Philadelphia Inquirer The first anniversary of Comcast's and General Electric's proposed joint venture for NBC Universal passed Friday with the two companies saying they will wait 90 days more to close the transaction as federal agencies in Washington continue their scrutiny of the megadeal. Viacom, 'Dora' Actress End Dispute Over Pay Associated Press Teenage actress Caitlin Sanchez has dropped her claim that Nickelodeon massively underpaid her for lending her voice to the plucky cartoon heroine of "Dora the Explorer," and the network says she will do some more work on the pioneering children's show. Disney's 'Tangled' Bests Time Warner's 'Harry' Los Angeles Times A lazy post-Thanksgiving weekend was good for "Tangled." Disney's 3-D animated Rapunzel tale landed atop the box office as it declined more slowly than Time Warner's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 1," last weekend's No. 1 film. Time Warner Invests In Media Check-In App Maker TechCrunch Time Warner is said to be among the new investors in AdaptiveBlue, the developer of social recommendations app GetGlue. The app allows users to check-in to their favorite shows, music, movies and books, and see what their friends are enjoying in real time. News Corp Exec Talks iPad Newspaper, Paywalls Bloomberg News Corp. digital chief Jon Miller says the "total economics have improved" at the Times of London since the newspaper put its online content behind a paywall in early July. Also: The company's iPad-only news publication may be unveiled next quarter. Sony's Stringer Approached for BBC Chairman Telegraph Howard Stringer, the Welsh-born chairman, president and CEO of Sony, has been approached to succeed Michael Lyons as chairman of the BBC. Stringer is said to have "no plans to step down from his current role" and remains "committed to Sony." Martha Stock Sinks Amid 'Thousands' of Rivals Los Angeles Times Martha Stewart's company lost $14 million in 2009 and her TV ratings on the Hallmark Channel are abysmal. "There are thousands of young Martha Stewarts out there with blogs," notes Jezebel editor Jessica Coen. They do what Martha does "for much less cost." Time Warner: Media Biz Will Rely on Devices Reuters Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes envisions a future where people will get all their entertainment needs on every device, like smart phones, tablets and computers. The future of the media business, he says, clearly lies on "more and more devices, not less." News Corp Offers to Address BSkyB Issues Telegraph The European Commission is extending the deadline to review News Corp.'s bid to take over BSkyB after the company offered concessions. News Corp. may have provided assurances that it would not merge the editorial functions of its media outlets. Disney Ad Planning, Buying Goes Into Review Advertising Age Disney is beginning a review for media planning and buying duties on its movies, theme parks and parts of its consumer products and Disney Channel businesses. The duties have been handled by Publicis Groupe's Starcom since 2001. Viacom to Appeal in YouTube Copyright Suit Wall Street Journal Viacom says a new wave of digital piracy could threaten the media business unless courts overturn its defeat in a copyright-infringement lawsuit against Google's YouTube. "It is extremely destructive if the precedent is set in the wrong way." Media Companies to Look Beyond App Stores Reuters Media companies are starting to eye strategies for standing out from the pack in the overcrowded app stores run by Apple and Google. "The biggest struggle with the apps stores is that there are just so many apps," says Disney TV chief Anne Sweeney. Media's Best Apps Include NY Post, BBC News New York Times The New York Post and BBC News rank among the best media apps for the Apple iPad, according to New York Times media columnist David Carr. The Post's app allows users to make their own tabloid cover -- "a useless but totally seductive utility." Time Warner's Bewkes Skeptical of Netflix Plan Financial Times Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes questions whether Netflix's current business model of paying top dollar for rights to stream movies and television shows over the Internet is sustainable in the long-term. According to Bewkes, "the math doesn't work." Disney Meeting Sparks Rumors at ABC News New York Post A Disney board meeting in New York led by Bob Iger is setting the ABC News staff into a flurry with whispers that management may finally decide who will replace David Westin as ABC News president. The job is expected to go to an outsider. Media M&A Recovery Seen as Asset Prices Rise Reuters Higher valuations demanded by sellers of media assets are a sign that mergers and acquisitions could start to recover, execs say. According to WPP chief exec Martin Sorrell: "A lot of people are interested in selling assets before the end of the year." News Corp Mulls 3D Coverage of Royal Wedding Hollywood Reporter Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB wants to add an extra dimension to the April 29 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The satcaster is considering broadcasting the signal to British cinemas and 3D TV-enabled homes as a way of generating standout coverage. Viacom's Next 'Jackass' Set for Release Online Associated Press Paramount Pictures and MTV Films plan to release "Jackass 3.5" in weekly online installments, with a subsequent feature-length film released digitally. The footage will feature surplus stunts from the recently released film "Jackass 3D." News Corp Open to Sale of MySpace After Redo Reuters News Corp. is open to a sale of beleaguered MySpace after a relaunch of the former social network, says COO Chase Carey. A successful revamp could pave the way for a sale. "If there's something there that makes sense you ought to think about it." FCC to Set Broadband Regulation Framework New York Times Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, will issue a proposal forbidding ISPs from blocking content. The proposal also will allow broadband providers to charge consumers different rates for different levels of service. Disney TV Chief Talks with Google About ABC Reuters Disney and Google are in talks that would allow ABC's online shows to be viewed on Google TV, but the two remain far apart on piracy concerns, according to Disney TV chief Anne Sweeney. "It's fair to say there's conversation with Google." Fox Sues Woman to Stop Film, TV Script Leaks Hollywood Reporter News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox is filing a lawsuit alleging roughly $15 million in damages against a self-described struggling New York screenwriter who is said to have posted roughly 100 movie and television scripts on her personal website. Time Warner CEO Lunch with Zucker Stirs Talk New York Post Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal's exiting CEO, recently lunched with Time Warner boss Jeff Bewkes, sparking rumors of a possible move to CNN. But the lunch was not about securing a new post, according to execs familiar with the conversation. Sony to Seek President as Successor to Stringer Bloomberg Sony is said to be planning to look for a new president who could eventually succeed chairman and CEO Howard Stringer. The choice of the next president may herald a new emphasis on electronics after a decades-long expansion into media. News Corp: BSkyB Forms Arabic News Channel Sky News The U.K.'s British Sky Broadcasting is entering a joint venture with Abu Dhabi Media to launch an Arabic-language news channel for viewers in the Middle East and North Africa. The venture will also offer a "video-rich website and mobile applications." NBC, China's Xinhua Enter TV News Partnership Xinhua NBC and China's Xinhua News Agency plan to team up in international television news gathering and production. Today's media outlets are shouldering greater responsibilities, requiring such joint efforts, says NBC News head Steve Capus. CBS, MySpace Veterans Eyed for Board of MGM Los Angeles Times Fredric Reynolds, a former CFO of CBS, and Jason Hirschhorn, a former co-president of MySpace, will become independent directors of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer when the troubled film studio exits bankruptcy, which is expected to occur next month. Media Asset Boost Expected by Private Equity Financial Times Private equity groups expect to boost investments in media in 2011, says consultancy Grant Thornton. Digital media will be the most targeted, while music, consumer publishing and television are "least" attractive. "Business models are shaking out." Murdoch Son Buys Stake in Aussie Broadcaster Wall Street Journal Lachlan Murdoch is buying half of James Packer's 17.9% stake in Ten Network Holdings for $126.8 million, giving him about 8.9% of the Australian broadcaster. Rupert Murdoch's eldest son remains a nonexecutive director of News Corp. News Corp to Buy Education Tech Company Reuters News Corp. plans to acquire 90% of Wireless Generation, a privately-held Brooklyn-based education technology firm, for about $360 million to expand its presence into the education market. Wireless Generation will become a News Corp. unit. Time Warner to Offer Cable Guy Appointments Bloomberg Time Warner Cable is set to try a new pitch for customers: No more waiting for the cable guy. The cable operator will set a specific service appointment time for customers who pay $189.95 a month for its new premium "Signature Home" package. Comcast May Have Broken Law, Senator Says Reuters Senator Al Franken, a critic of Comcast's proposed takeover of NBC Universal, wants the Justice Department to investigate whether the cable giant engaged in "illegal collaboration." Franken is a former performer on NBC's "Saturday Night Live." Time Warner's 'Harry Potter' to Best 'Star Wars' Box Office Mojo "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1" opened this weekend with $125 million in domestic ticket sales, a record for the series. Within 10 days, the "Harry Potter" franchise total should surpass "Star Wars," and there is still one more movie to go. Disney Unveils 'Darker' Mickey for Video Game Los Angeles Times "Epic Mickey," a new Disney video game for the Nintendo Wii, features dark undertones that the company hopes will intrigue teenagers and adults. The game is garnering buzz for appearing to offer an edgier version of company mascot Mickey Mouse. News Corp Deal Opposed by Church of England Associated Press The Church of England is joining opponents of News Corp.'s bid to buy full control of satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting. With News Corp. in full control, "here would always be the potential for the exercise of subtle editorial influence." Murdoch Website is Hacked by Iranian Group Radio Free Europe The website of Iranian satellite channel Farsi1, co-owned by News Corp., is said to have been hacked by a group called the Iranian Cyber Army. Officials in Iran have accused Farsi1 of being part of the West's cultural invasion against Islam. Comcast's NBC Announcement Irks Regulators New York Times Comcast's announcement of its planned management lineup for the post-merger NBC Universal is said to be displeasing U.S. regulators. "For a deal this large, and one that hasn't been approved, Comcast's behavior is presumptuous and arrogant." Time Warner Seeks Successor to 'Harry Potter' Bloomberg Warner Bros., releasing its seventh "Harry Potter" movie this weekend, faces the task of finding a replacement for the multi-billion dollar franchise. "The Green Lantern," perhaps? The Time Warner film studio is unlikely to find "one obvious successor." News Corp, Apple Chief Talk Tablet 'Newspaper' WWD News Corp.'s "newspaper" for tablet devices is due out in beta near Christmas, staffed by 100 journalists and video producers, striving for a "tabloid sensibility with a broadsheet intelligence." Apple chief Steve Jobs is a "major fan" of the project. Disney Checks In with Gowalla for Custom Trips Associated Press Visitors to Disney's theme parks can now use their smart phones not just to "check in" to the resorts, but earn digital versions of the parks' popular pins and go on custom-designed tours, as part of a new partnership between the company and Gowalla. Comcast Taps 'Smart' Execs for NBC Universal New York Times Comcast is officially unveiling the management of the post-merger NBC Universal. As expected, Bob Greenblatt will run NBC Entertainment. "We've developed a structure that organizes the company in the smartest way possible," says new boss Steve Burke. Freedom Eyes Sale of Newspapers, TV Stations Associated Press Freedom Communications, the owner of the Orange County Register, is considering offers to buy its 100 newspapers and eight TV stations. The company, which declines to name the potential buyers, emerged from bankruptcy in April. Big Media Support Bill Against Piracy Websites Reuters U.S. officials will get new powers to go after foreign "rogue" websites that sell pirated music, movies and books under a bill passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The measure has the backing of companies including Disney and Time Warner. Time Warner CEO: Media Mogul Era Is Over Hollywood Reporter The era of media moguls is over, says Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes. Nowadays, big companies are the stars, and firms from the traditional and new media worlds act on the same stage. "We're not moguls anymore. We're reasonable people." Viacom Turns to Foreign Markets for Growth Financial Times Viacom is planning a push into television programming in emerging markets to lessen its dependence on U.S. revenues. About "96% of the world's eyeballs are outside the U.S., so it's a great opportunity for us," says CEO Philippe Dauman. Comcast Preps NBC's Future After Merger Deadline Comcast's new NBC Universal boss Steve Burke is preparing to finalize his new organizational structure, with three execs having major roles. Meanwhile, exiting NBC exec Jeff Zucker is said to be sobbing at mini town-hall meetings with employees. Murdoch: Block News Corp and We'll Leave Telegraph James Murdoch is warning the U.K. government that if it blocks News Corp.'s bid for full control of BSkyB, the media giant could take future investments to more "welcoming" countries abroad. "The government needs to assess the benefits." Time Warner Probes 'Harry Potter' Web Leak Dow Jones Warner Bros. is investigating how the first 36 minutes of the newest "Harry Potter" film came to be posted on the Internet just days ahead of the movie's worldwide theatrical debut. The studio insists the early release wasn't a promotional gambit. Murdoch 'Excited' About Tablets, Education Fox Business News Corp.'s coming digital newspaper for tablet computers and education initiative are among the company's "most exciting" projects, says chief Rupert Murdoch, in an interview on Fox Business Network. "We feel education needs to be modernized." Cablevision Eyes Spinoff of Cable Channels Bloomberg Cablevision, the New York-area cable-television provider, is exploring a spinoff of its Rainbow unit, which includes cable channels Sundance, IFC and AMC, the broadcaster of "Mad Men." The unit would be spun off as a "tax-free pro rata distribution." News Corp Tests Premium DVD Kiosk Rentals Dow Jones Blockbuster Express DVD rental kiosks will get new releases from News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox 28 days after their initial release. The two companies plan to test a premium rental offer allowing customers to rent new titles without the delay. Time Warner Mulls Remake of 'Wizard of Oz' Deadline Warner Bros is in early talks with "Back to the Future" director Robert Zemeckis to do a live-action remake of the "The Wizard of Oz" using the original script from the 1939 film classic. The Time Warner studio owns the rights to the "Oz" screenplay. News Corp Eyes Online-Classroom Business New York At News Corp., outgoing New York City schools chancellor Joel Klein is expected to look for ways to build an individualized online-classroom business. "What you're going to see in educational software is going to be game-changing," Klein says. Viacom, Discovery Among 'Hottest' In Media Reuters The three hottest media companies on Wall Street are Discovery Communications, Scripps Networks Interactive and Viacom. Their stocks are up 25% or more this year. Not one of them owns a broadcast network; rather they're home to cable channels. Liberty Media CEO Tops List of Highest Paid Wall Street Journal Liberty Media's Gregory Maffei is the highest-paid U.S. CEO, taking home $87.1 million last year, says a study by the Wall Street Journal. Yahoo's Carol Bartz comes in at No. 4; CBS's Les Moonves lands at No. 5; Viacom's Philippe Dauman is No. 6. Clear Channel Taps Media Veteran as Adviser New York Times Bob Pittman, a former top exec with Time Warner and MTV, is joining Clear Channel in the new role of chairman of media and entertainment platforms. Pittman will help Clear Channel develop its digital strategy as radio stations face new Internet rivals. Comcast Hires Two Veteran Execs for NBC Los Angeles Times Comcast COO Steve Burke is putting the finishing touches on his management team to take over NBC Universal and has tapped Robert Greenblatt and Ted Harbert to lead the NBC broadcast network. An announcement is expected this week. Time Warner, Sinclair In TV-Station Standoff Columbus Dispatch Sinclair is threatening to pull several of local TV stations off Time Warner Cable if a new retransmission deal isn't reached by the end of the year. This kind of conflict could escalate as broadcasters look to recoup some of the cost of the recent switch to digital. Disney Encourages Sales of Digital Movies Los Angeles Times Disney is quietly launching Disney Movies Online, which lets consumers buy or rent digital versions of Disney and Pixar films. Disney also is partnering with Wal-Mart to offer a free "digital copy" of the movie "Toy Story 3" with the purchase of the video. News Corp-Yahoo Merger Talk Sparks Buzz SAI A Yahoo merger with News Corp. is seen as more likely than Yahoo-AOL. One source close to News Corp says the company is monitoring the situation, noting that digital head Jon Miller and "chief Yahoo" Jerry Yang have a good working relationship. Disney to Investigate Leak Behind Share Dip Associated Press Disney is investigating the early release of its fourth-quarter earnings, which showed an unexpected decline, after shares fell 5% before a press release was scheduled to go out. A Disney employee recently tried to sell the early release of quarterly results. News Corp Gadfly Wins Lunch with Murdoch AFP Media Matters for America, a persistent critic of Rupert Murdoch, says it has paid $86,000 to win a charity auction to have lunch with the News Corp. chief. The non-profit group's mission is to "correct conservative misinformation in the U.S. media." Viacom Pumped by 'Jersey,' Eyes Harmonix Sale Reuters Viacom's quarterly profit is up, thanks to a surge at its cable networks like MTV and its popular hit show "Jersey Shore." U.S. advertising revenue is up 8%. The company also says it is selling the "Rock Band" music videogame developer Harmonix. Comcast-NBC Universal Proposes Exec Lineup TheWrap The new executive configuration of NBC Universal under new owner Comcast reportedly will have a half-dozen division heads reporting directly to new boss Steve Burke. Among the key execs: Bob Greenblatt, Bonnie Hammer and Lauren Zalaznick. News Corp Rivals Questioned by EU Regulators Bloomberg European regulators are asking TV companies whether News Corp.'s proposed acquisition of BSkyB would limit their access to viewers and raise advertising prices. News Corp. could use cash from BSkyB "to feed their newspapers," analysts say. News Corp, Hearst Making Major Exec Moves New York Times New York City schools chancellor Joel Klein is stepping down to join News Corp. as an executive VP, charged with pursuing "entrepreneurial ventures." He will be replaced by Cathie Black, who is leaving her longtime post overseeing Hearst's magazine division. Quadrangle's Media Pow-Wow Gets Underway Wall Street Journal Media moguls and financiers are gathering at New York's Plaza Hotel for Foursquare, the annual invitation-only media conference held by private-equity firm Quadrangle. At Wednesday's "pitch panel," startups will be grilled by old-time media execs. Viacom: 'The Situation' Looks Good for Quarter Barron's Viacom will report fourth-quarter 2010 results before the market opens on Thursday. On the heels of yet another successful run for MTV's "Jersey Shore," the tone of Thursday's call is expected to be incredibly bullish, as cable-TV ratings continue to improve. Disney Opens High-Tech Flagship Store In NYC CNBC Disney CEO Bob Iger is cutting the ribbon on the company's new flagship store in Times Square. The 22,000 square-foot storefront aims to take Disney's retail stores in a new high-tech direction, with mobile checkouts and a 65-foot high animated billboard. Time Warner Former CEO Returns to Media Biz Hollywood Reporter Gerald Levin, who once brokered controversial megadeals as CEO of Time Warner, will become a senior adviser to the on-demand service Oasis TV, then chairman after a round of financing closes. Levin exited Time Warner in 2002 after the debacle with AOL. News Corp Blames Politicians for TV Blackout Bloomberg News Corp. COO Chase Carey, who oversaw Fox's talks with Cablevision during a two-week blackout, says government officials who want to keep more TV channels from going dark should stop meddling. "This process would have been resolved more quickly." Comcast-NBC Critics Say TV Viewers Will Pay Reuters Comcast's deal to take over NBC Universal will cost consumers $2.4 billion in higher television bills over nine years, says a study commissioned by the American Cable Association. Comcast, however, dismisses the report as a "flawed economic analysis." Sony: Jacko's 'Breaking News' Breaks Online MTV Michael Jackson addresses his conflicts with the news media in the first release from his new album, "Michael," due out from Sony on Dec. 14. A full stream of the biting, never-before-heard track, "Breaking News," is available on the late pop icon's website. Time Warner to Buy Harry Potter Film Studios Bloomberg Time Warner plans to buy the U.K. studios where the Harry Potter films were made, according to a report citing Warner Bros. CEO Barry Meyer. Warner Bros. will spend $161.8 million to buy and redevelop Leavesden Studios including a Harry Potter set tour for visitors. Sony Looks to Apps to Offset Movie Costs Financial Times Hollywood studios are turning to mobile apps and online games to increase the effectiveness of their movie marketing campaigns, thus creating a new revenue stream. Sony's new movie "The Green Hornet" is launching a free game that can be upgraded for a small fee. Disney CEO Turns Slump Into a Springboard Wall Street Journal Disney boss Bob Iger is boosting investments in new technology and other areas. The new home-video release of "Toy Story 3" unveils Keychest, which gives buyers of Disney films on DVD or Blu-ray disc access to an online streaming version. News Corp Ex to Launch Media Firm In Asia Wall Street Journal A venture led by former News Corp. president Peter Chernin is expected to announce the launch of CA Media, a Hong Kong-based media start-up, in a move that shows the growing importance of the region and its audiences to American companies. Murdoch Son Aims to Become Media Mogul Sydney Morning Herald Lachlan Murdoch returned to Australia five years ago, expressing a desire to get out of the media scrum in New York. But his move to take on half of James Packer's stake in the Ten Network shows he is determined to be his very own media mogul. Murdoch Near Launch of Tablet 'Newspaper' SmartCompany Rupert Murdoch says News Corp. plans to start a daily U.S. "newspaper" in six weeks' time that will only be available on tablet computers. "The Daily" will charge $1 a week and is aiming for 800,000 subscribers. The paper will "campaign on various issues." Diller Sells Nearly Entire Stake In Live Nation Associated Press Barry Diller, the media mogul who helped orchestrate the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, is selling almost all his shares in the combined entity to Liberty Media. John Malone, who controls Liberty, replaced Diller temporarily as chairman last month. Disney In Deal to Build Shanghai Disneyland Los Angeles Times Disney is entering an agreement with a Shanghai government company to build a theme park in the commercial capital of China. The park, which is expected to cover 1½ square miles and open by 2014, will be Disney's fourth outside the United States. Viacom, Disney In TV War for Preschoolers Wall Street Journal Disney is positioning itself as an alternative to Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. channel, emphasizing storytelling over learning. In February, Disney will launch Disney Junior, a 10-hour block of daytime programming on the Disney Channel aimed at preschoolers. News Corp Bid Sparks Rumors of Asset Sale Guardian A U.K. regulatory probe of News Corp.'s proposed bid to take over British Sky Broadcasting is triggering speculation that the media company could be forced to offload some of its assets to win approval for the deal. "Offering to sell Sky News might turn the tables." Media Sector Wrings Hands on Outlook for 2011 Reuters Time Warner and News Corp. are beating quarterly earnings expectations but could be hard pressed to sustain their momentum in advertising in 2011. "The economy has stabilized but it's growing at a snail's pace and advertising will reflect that." No Murdoch? Cable TV Helps Boost News Corp CNBC Rupert Murdoch didn't come on News Corp.'s earnings call for the first time in years, which means no dramatic statements about the future of subscription models or tablets like the iPad. Cable networks continue to drive News Corp.'s operating income. Time Warner Plans Premium Video on Demand Bloomberg Time Warner is near agreements with television distributors to make movies available on-demand for viewing at home soon after they run in theaters. Hollywood studios are searching for ways to generate additional revenue as DVD sales decline. Disney to Sell TV Stations Amid ABC Rumors Broadcasting & Cable Disney plans to sell ABC television stations WJRT in Flint, Mich., and WTVG in Toledo, Ohio, back to former owner SJL Broadcasting. The company says it has "no plans" to sell any more stations. Speculation continues that Disney might spin off ABC. News Corp Takeover of BSkyB May Face Delay Bloomberg U.K. business secretary Vince Cable is calling for a review of News Corp.'s proposed takeover of British Sky Broadcasting, potentially delaying the deal. Cable wants regulator Ofcom to investigate "the public interest consideration of media plurality." Time Warner: We're on Track for 'Strong Year' CNNMoney Time Warner is reporting earnings that topped Wall Street expectations and raising its outlook for 2010, helped by a boost in advertising revenue. The company "strategy of focusing on high-quality branded content continues to pay off," says CEO Jeff Bewkes. News Corp Seeks to Make Its Biggest Acquisition Bloomberg News Corp. is asking the European Union to approve its proposed takeover of pay-TV provider British Sky Broadcasting in what would be the company's biggest acquisition. News Corp. is formally notifying EU antitrust regulators about its proposal. NBC Universal Eyes Older 'AlphaBoomers' for Ads Mediaweek NBC Universal wants advertisers to know that when it comes to consumer spending based on what they see in television ads, the 55-64 demo is just as important as the 18-34 group. The older "AlphaBoomers" account for "$2 trillion in annual spending." Media Giants: Ad Rebound Plays Well for Now Reuters After an impressive run in big media stocks -- most are up between 20% and 40% in the past year -- concerns are spreading that an advertising recovery that looked so promising only a few months ago could stall out. "People are still nervous about 2011." News Corp Swaps Online Ad Network for Stake Dow Jones News Corp. is taking a minority stake in the Rubicon Project, a web advertising firm, in exchange for its online ad group Fox Audience Network. Rubicon is also announcing an $18 million round of funding, putting the total raised by the firm at $60 million. Disney Studio to Merge TV Distribution, Digital Los Angeles Times Walt Disney Studios is shaking up its distribution group in a move that brings television sales together with DVDs and digital for the first time. There will be an unspecified number of layoffs along with the shift as execs take new positions and evaluate staffing needs. NBC Universal Exiting Chief Roasted by Peers Hollywood Reporter Katie Couric, Alec Baldwin and Brian Williams were among those paying tribute to outgoing NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker at the Center for Communication's annual luncheon in New York. And they did so with jokes about failed NBC prime time programs. News Corp Options Bulls Boosting Their Bets Bloomberg News Corp. option trades hit a four-month high Friday as investors boosted wagers that the media giant will rally after this week's earnings report. News Corp. reached agreements late last week with Cablevision and Dish Network in disputes over carriage fees. Viacom Mulls Returning Video Content to Hulu Wall Street Journal Philippe Dauman says he paid his way through college in part by playing poker. Now the Viacom CEO is making bets in an arena with high stakes for the media business: putting traditional content on the web -- including a possible return to the video site Hulu. Traditional Media Dead In 10 Years, Survey Says 24/7 Wall St Most Americans say traditional media as we currently know it will no longer exist in 10 years, according to a new survey on U.S. media by 24/7 Wall St and Harris Interactive. Both print media and television are rapidly being surpassed by online providers. Time Warner Adds Investment Expert to Board Hollywood Reporter Time Warner is adding investment expert Paul Wachter to its board, bringing its size to 13 members. Wachter is the founder and CEO of investment advisory firm Main Street Advisors, which provides financial advice to high net worth individuals. News Corp Ties to UK Prime Minister Disclosed Daily Mail Rupert Murdoch was the first senior figure to visit David Cameron in Downing Street after the Conservative Party leader became prime minister in May, according to a new government disclosure. The News Corp. chief was invited for a "general meeting." Big Media May See Ad Recovery Continue Dow Jones Time Warner, News Corp., CBS and other media giants are expected to post quarterly results in the coming weeks that are close to year-earlier figures, as advertising continues to improve. Ad growth is likely to be especially stout at cable-TV networks. Media, Tech Firms to Form Digital Registry Reuters Disney, Comcast, Sony and other media and tech companies are announcing the launch of an Entertainment Identifier Registry to track movies, television shows and other assets. The registry aims to make it easier to search the revenue of an asset. Miramax Eyes Ex-News Corp Exec for CEO TheWrap Mike Lang, a leading business-development exec who recently left News Corp., is set to be named CEO of the newly purchased Miramax. At News Corp., Lang played a key role in acquisitions and partnerships, including MySpace and Hulu. News Corp Inks Cameron for 'Avatar' Sequels Variety James Cameron is entering a deal with 20th Century Fox to direct a sequel and three-quel to "Avatar." The two films will be the director's next projects. "Avatar," released by Fox last December, is the top-grossing film of all time, with a global haul of $2.8 billion. Time Warner's 'Hobbit' Stays In New Zealand New Zealand Herald Filming of "The Hobbit" will stay in New Zealand after an agreement is reached between the government and Time Warner studio execs at a crisis meeting. New Zealand will offset $10 million of Warner Bros. marketing costs as part of a strategic partnership. Disney In Lawsuit by ESPN Zoners Over Pay Baltimore Sun Employees of a former ESPN Zone sports bar in Baltimore are suing owner Disney for suddenly closing the business in June. The workers are seeking wages they say they were owned for being thrown fired without the required notice: "We are not disposable." Murdoch Baptism Gathers Family In Australia Sydney Morning Herald The Murdoch clan gathered in Sydney for the for the baptism of 6-month-old Aerin Elisabeth, the latest Murdoch scion, daughter of Lachlan and his wife Sarah. The Murdochs, including News Corp. chief Rupert, jetted in from all corners of the globe. Martha Stewart Execs Exit In Reorganization Bloomberg Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is replacing its heads of marketing, broadcast sales and digital-advertising sales with new executive VP Sally Preston. The company is trying to revive sales growth after two straight years of falling revenue. Media's Next Titans: Apple, Google, Facebook Wired Apple, Google, Facebook and Amazon are on their way to becoming the news, entertainment and communications networks of the 21st century, writes Fred Vogelstein, a contributing editor at Wired. "They will control access to the largest audiences." Internet Blamed for Crisis In Movie-Making Biz Reuters Filmmaking is in a state of crisis that has left many directors struggling even to survive, according to attendees at the Tokyo International Film Festival. "The Internet is changing peoples' habits and so everything is in flux," says director Neil Jordan. Facebook Movie Already Among 'Most Pirated' Hollywood Reporter Typically, films just released on DVD and Blu-ray become fodder for pirates on torrent websites. But last week films still in theaters leaked online have become popular grabs. According to TorrentFreak, "The Social Network" tops the piracy "hot list." Apple Rumored to Consider Acquisition of Sony Reuters Shares of Sony are up as traders cite media reports speculating that the electronics maker could be a potential acquisition target of Apple. Sony says it has no comment. Some analysts are skeptical: "A hostile takeover will probably not succeed." Microsoft Exec Sees Post-PC World of Devices Reuters Ray Ozzie, Microsoft's departing software chief, asks in a memo on his personal blog for the company to move on from its roots in computers to imagine a "post-PC world." All sorts of wireless devices and "connected companions" are coming. Google CEO Makes Verbal Gaffe In CNN Interview AllThingsD Google CEO Eric Schmidt, appearing on CNN, says that people who don't like Google's Street View cars taking pictures of their homes and businesses "can just move." The gaffe comes as Google admits to mistakenly collecting private data. News Corp's Troops to Fight Film PR Blockade Sydney Morning Herald News Corp. is said to be threatening to deny news coverage of movies whose stars refuse to give interviews to its various media outlets. News Corp.'s different arms are "working together to push back" against increasingly "powerful" publicists. Time Warner's 'Hobbit' Sparks Nationwide Rally New Zealand Herald Fans are scheduled to mobilize across New Zealand to support keeping the filming of Warner Bros.' "The Hobbit" in the country. The studio is considering film locations outside of New Zealand after actors' unions threatened a boycott over contracts. Viacom: Who Needs MySpace? We Have 'Jersey' New York Times MTV is enjoying a renaissance thanks to hits like "Jersey Shore." "We were the company that didn't get MySpace," says CEO Judy McGrath, referring to parent Viacom's failed bid for the now-withering social network. "I don't think about that anymore." Sony Kills Cassette Walkman on iPod's Birthday Gizmodo Sony says it will stop manufacturing the cassette Walkman after 30 years in production. In a poetic twist, the news comes on the ninth birthday of the Apple iPod. The portable music player became a part of our lives, largely because of the Walkman. Murdoch Bashes Bloggers, Bloviators In Speech Media Week News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch, delivering the Margaret Thatcher Lecture to the Center for Policy Studies in London: "It would certainly serve the interests of the powerful" if professional journalists were replaced "by bloggers and bloviators." News Corp Admits Defeat with Digital Newsstand Dow Jones News Corp. is shelving its "Project Alesia" venture to create a digital newsstand that would have enabled publishers to generate subscription revenue from the web. The initiative failed to attract a "critical mass" of publishers willing to participate. Tribune Eyes Former News Corp Exec for Chief Wall Street Journal Tribune on Friday is expected to file a bankruptcy-exit plan that has support from its leading creditors. The creditors are said to be sounding out candidates to run the company post-bankruptcy, including former News Corp. president Peter Chernin. Murdoch Son Rises Amid Talk of CEO Succession Bloomberg News Corp's. board is considering James Murdoch as a successor to his father, though directors may be hesitant to promote him if he is not deemed ready. Says James: "Learning from my father has been the greatest advantage I've had in life." News Corp Dumps Plan for News Aggregator Campaign News Corp.'s plan to launch an aggregated digital news platform for its titles and those of rival publishers, known as Project Alesia, is being shelved, due to running costs. Speculation that publishing rivals resisted participating is said to be unfounded. Time Warner, DeGeneres Pact for More Projects Deadline Talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres is expanding her relationship with Warner Bros. Television, in a new deal that spans the company. DeGeneres will develop and produce network and cable shows, reality series and possible social media projects. Comcast Takeover of NBC Eyed In Cable Fracas TheWrap Fox's spat with Cablevision could wind up having repercussions for Comcast's takeover deal for NBC Universal. "Comcast/NBCU would take similar action against non-Comcast broadband subscribers in the event of a dispute," rivals warn. Viacom Hires Top Lawyer for YouTube Appeal Hollywood Reporter Viacom suffered a major defeat this year when a judge ruled that YouTube qualified for "safe harbor" from claims of copyright infringement. So the media giant is hiring esteemed appellate lawyer Theodore Olson for the second round of the battle. Starbucks Rolls Out In-Store Media Network MSNBC Starbucks is using its free in-store Wi-Fi to give away premium content via the new Starbucks Digital Network, now launching at the coffee chain's outlets, with Yahoo. Content providers include the Wall Street Journal, Nickelodeon and Apple's iTunes. News Corp Takes On Ticketmaster with Foxtix Australian News Corp. is launching a ticketing service in Australia called Foxtix, which aims to take on the country's biggest players, including Ticketmaster. Foxtix will work with News Corp.'s MySpace and Australian newspapers for "special offers and benefits." Comcast 'Buying Favors' for NBC Takeover Bloomberg Comcast is increasing its political giving by more than half as the cable giant seeks U.S. regulatory approval to buy NBC Universal. Comcast's political contributions have increased in recent months to $1.1 million. "That's buying political favors," critics say. Disney Former CEO Unveils Facebook Game New York Times Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner is unveiling a new Facebook game called FameTown in which players will be virtual aspiring actors trying to make it big. FameTown is the latest effort by Hollywood to capitalize on the popularity of social games. Fox Mulls Remake of Cult Film 'Rocky Horror' Deadline "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy is reportedly being courted by Fox 2000 to direct a remake of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," the 1975 cult classic which still runs in midnight shows. Former News Corp. president Peter Chernin is named as co-producer. News Corp Makes Succession Plans for Murdoch Financial Times Rupert Murdoch, 79, says he has no intention of retiring. "But I assure you if anything happened to me very adequate planning has been made. When my health gives out I will get out of the way, but not before, unless the board decides to remove me." NBC's Zucker Optimistic In Final Earnings Report Wall Street Journal NBC Universal, which General Electric is in the process of selling to Comcast, is posting "OK" quarterly earnings. Outgoing CEO Jeff Zucker, in his likely final earnings memo to employees, says that the company "is really in a terrific place right now." Liberty Chief Malone Replaces Diller at Live Nation Los Angeles Business Live Nation says Barry Diller has stepped down as chairman and John Malone will serve as interim chief. The resignation follows a contentious conference during which investors criticized the music company's efforts to overcome slumping ticket sales. Viacom's MTV 'Jackass' a Bigger Gross Out In 3D New York Times Ten years after the series debuted on MTV, "Jackass" is grossing out more people than ever. Paramount Pictures' "Jackass 3D" opened in theaters this weekend at No. 1, raking in $50 million -- the highest for any movie since July's "Inception." News Corp Approached About Yahoo Stake Hollywood Reporter As Yahoo shareholders cheer a possible sale of the company, private-equity players are said to have approached News Corp. as a potential strategic partner. News Corp. could roll some or all of its digital business into Yahoo in return for a stake. Murdoch Decries 'Ongoing War Against Jews' Haaretz Rupert Murdoch sees an "ongoing war against the Jews" and demands an end to efforts to isolate Israel, in remarks accepting an award from the Anti-Defamation League. The most "virulent" anti-Semitism seems to "come from the left," Murdoch says. NBC Universal, Google Abort TV Ad-Sales Pact Adweek NBC Universal and Google are discontinuing their advertising sales partnership begun in 2008. The split deprives Google's TV ad sales unit of one of its major alliances. NBCU is said to have concluded that there was little value derived from the partnership. Sony Unveils Google-Powered High-Def TV Sets WorldScreen Sony is rolling out a new line of high-definition television sets that feature built-in Google TV, allowing users to watch HDTV, access apps and browse the web, creating a "new entertainment category." Users can watch a show and go online at the same time. Time Warner, Rivals Eye Media Assets In Turkey Financial Times Time Warner is among several companies interested in the assets of Dogan Yayin, Turkey's biggest media group. Dogan already has a partnership with Time Warner's CNN. Another possible investor, News Corp., has backed out due to price concerns. Viacom Names Discovery Exec as Tech Officer Associated Press Viacom is naming David Kline as senior VP of technology and chief information officer of the media company and of its MTV Networks. Kline previously was an executive VP and CIO at Discovery Communications. He will start at Viacom Nov. 1. News Corp Donations Prompt Investor Backlash Telegraph U.K. fund manager F&C plans to vote against the re-election of News Corp. audit committee head Rod Eddington, in a protest of U.S. political donations made by the company. "There is no evidence of a political contributions policy at News Corp." Murdoch Son Leads Media Business '40 Under 40' Hollywood Reporter Marc Andreessen, Mark Zuckerberg and Evan Williams and other techies lead Fortune magazine's "40 Under 40" list of rising stars in business. The list's top media figure is James Murdoch, who is poised to "sit atop the most powerful media group." Media Funds: Big Names No Longer Nab Investors TheWrap Steve Rattner's Quadrangle Group, Guy Hand's Terra Firma and Bono's Elevation Partners are said to be unlikely to raise new funds. In some quarters of the private-equity industry, that is an admission of defeat. "It was hubris on their part." Redbox to Expand Test of Video Game Rentals Variety Redbox, already in a position of power in film rentals, is deepening its move into video games, expanding its test of game rentals to thousands of its U.S. self-service kiosks. Rentals will cost $2 per day, versus the company's $1 per day rate for DVDs. Media, Tech Bigwigs to Gather at Paley Center World Screen Jeff Bewkes, Philippe Dauman and Rupert Murdoch are among the figures scheduled to take part in the Paley Center for Media's International Council in New York next month. Top-level media and tech execs will discuss industry challenges and opportunities. News Corp Slows BSkyB Bid to Avoid Challenge Bloomberg News Corp.'s delay in notifying the European Union about a planned takeover of British Sky Broadcasting suggests it is seeking to avoid a U.K. government challenge, lawyers say. "An intervention could lead to the deal being blocked, even if the EU approves it." Comcast, Time Warner Cable Invest In Startup Reuters Comcast and Time Warner Cable are among the backers of BNI Video, a tech startup offering software to help cable and satellite companies add functions like search and social networking to TV services. Viewers are increasingly demanding such features. NBC's Zucker Set for Media Industry Roast Hollywood Reporter The Center for Communication will honor Jeff Zucker, the outgoing NBC Universal president and CEO, during its 30th annual award luncheon on Nov. 1. The luncheon, set for Manhattan's Pierre Hotel, is traditionally a roast for a big name from the media world. Tribune Sees Progress In Resolving Bankruptcy Los Angeles Times Tribune says it has reached a settlement with a group of senior lenders, bringing it closer to ending its nearly two-year-old bankruptcy. But several key junior creditor groups, including "litigious" Aurelius Capital Management, are not part of the agreement. News Corp Block Urged by UK Media Rivals BBC News Several rival media groups are jointly urging the U.K. government to consider blocking Rupert Murdoch's attempt to take full control of BSkyB. They argue in a letter to U.K. business secretary Vince Cable that the move could reduce diversity in the industry. Lions Gate Makes Surprise Merger Offer to MGM Los Angeles Times "Mad Men" studio Lions Gate is making another merger proposal to lenders of MGM, potentially upsetting the legendary film studio's proposed bankruptcy plan. Lions Gate's proposal would give MGM lenders a 55% stake in the merged company. Media Rules 'Don't Make Sense' In Digital Age Wall Street Journal U.S. media ownership rules don't make much sense in the digital age, but good luck trying to change them, say three former Federal Communications Commission chairmen. The rules are "incoherent" and "rooted in a market that is decades gone." Comcast-NBC Merger May Face U.S. Arbitration Bloomberg Comcast may be required to accept arbitration in disputes over programming sales in order to win U.S. regulatory approval of its merger with NBC. Arbitration could help cable companies and satellite rivals such as DirecTV negotiate with Comcast for programs. News Corp Channel Stirs Unrest In Middle East Daily Beast Farsi1, a Persian-language satellite channel partly owned by News Corp., offers Fox favorite like "24" and dubbed telenovelas, and has quickly become the most watched in Iran. Government figures decry it as "a tool of the cultural onslaught" of the West. MGM Fails to Reach Sale, Eyes Bankruptcy Dow Jones Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is asking lenders to approve a bankruptcy plan that would pare its $4 billion debt and turn over management to the founders of Spyglass Entertainment. The movie studio put itself up for sale several months ago but failed to garner suitable bids. Viacom Sued by 'Dora the Explorer' Actress DailyFinance Nickelodeon owner Viacom "took advantage" of 14-year-old actress Caitlin Sanchez, the voice of the hit kid's cartoon, "Dora the Explorer," and pressured her parents into signing "an unconscionable contract," cheating her out of millions, a lawsuit claims. Murdoch: U.S. Schools Should Emulate 'Idol' Wall Street Journal The United States is home to more than 2,000 "dysfunctional" high schools, says News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch, in an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal. "The system is failing our children. We have tougher standards on 'American Idol.'" Lachlan Named Deputy Chair of Media Firm Australian Lachlan Murdoch is being appointed deputy chairman of Prime Media, an Australian television and radio company. His investment group Illyria bought a stake in Prime Media last year. Murdoch's appointment will serve to "enhance the business." Murdoch Says U.S. Middle Class Is Imperiled Bloomberg News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch is calling for an overhaul of the U.S. education system to preserve the middle class. Public schools can be "failure factories," he says at a Media Institute awards dinner. "We have tougher standards on 'American Idol.'" Time Warner CEO: TV Poised for Big Change Fox News Jeff Bewkes, CEO of Time Warner: "We're at the dawn of a big change when all television programming goes on the Internet, and you can watch your favorite network not just on the big screen but on the small screen." All networks will be "on demand" in your living room. Universal Studios Tests Premium DVD Rentals Dow Jones NCR is entering its first studio distribution deal, agreeing to wait 28 days after Universal Studios' movies go on sale before renting them out at Blockbuster Express kiosks. It will also work with Universal to test premium-priced rentals for new releases. Sony Tests Four-Week DVD Window With Netflix Los Angeles Times Sony Pictures, signaling that it may be willing to change when it makes movies available to Netflix, will hold back several of its DVDs from the rental service until 28 days after they go on sale. Sony previously hasn't favored withholding new DVDs from rental outlets. Time Warner CEO Sees Partner In Google TV Wall Street Journal Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes says he is turning to Google as an ally in his push to bring cable shows to users across various devices. He also predicts a "massive amount of competition" for Netflix and Hulu. Says Bewkes: "The programming will trump the interface." CBS Chief: Technology Boosts Broadcast TV Daily Texan CBS chief Les Moonves says television is not being hurt by new technology, with the exception of the evening news. "Hulu, Google TV ... They will not replace our business." However, "there is nothing that Katie Couric is saying that everybody doesn't know already." Time Warner CEO Says No to Social Networks Telegraph Jeff Bewkes, CEO of Time Warner, describes social networks, such as Facebook, as "natural content partners." However, he sees no value in owning them, because media companies should "stick to what they know." Time Warner previously owned British-born Bebo. News Corp Headquarters Treated for Bedbugs Wall Street Journal News Corp.'s New York City offices, at 1211 Avenue of the Americas, are to be treated for bedbugs. A spokeswoman traces the suspected outbreak to a staff member at Barron's, the company's weekly financial newspaper. A bedbug-sniffing dog "did signal concerns." NBC Universal Invests In Targeted TV Ad Firm Wall Street Journal NBC Universal plans to announce a "small" investment in Invidi Technologies, which targets advertisements to set-top boxes based on the geographic location. The promise of the technology is big: allowing advertisers to show multiple ads during the same commercial slot. Comcast, NBC: Regulators Seeking More Info Associated Press The Federal Communications Commission is requesting additional data from Comcast and NBC Universal, as it reviews the cable operator's plan to take over the media company. The combination is raising concerns among satellite companies and other subscription video providers. Time Warner Names Media Journo to PR Post Variety Richard Siklos, a veteran media scribe, is joining Time Warner as VP in corporate affairs handling external communications and advising on media strategy. Siklos will report to Gary Ginsberg, a former top aide to Rupert Murdoch who joined Time Warner last spring. Comcast Hires PR Veteran as Strategic Adviser Reuters Comcast, the cable operator taking over NBC Universal, is hiring well-known public relations exec Adam Miller as a senior adviser. Miller previously served as president of Abernathy MacGregor Group, where he advised media clients including Viacom, Sony and CBS. Disney Names Co-Chiefs of Interactive Media Bloomberg Disney is naming Yahoo media head James Pitaro and former Playdom CEO John Pleasants as co-presidents of interactive media in a restructuring of the company's digital operations. The pair replace Steve Wadsworth, a 17-year Disney division head who left in September. News Corp Accused of Making GOP a 'Division' New York Times The Republican Party has become "a division" of News Corp., says the Democratic National Committee. The group is making the assertion following the revelation that the media giant donated $1 million to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is working to elect Republicans. Sony's 'Social Network' Finds Lots of Friends Reuters The Facebook movie, "The Social Network," found millions of friends in theaters during the weekend, taking in $23 million and earning the No. 1 spot at box offices. "It's a terrific start for a terrific film," says an exec with the film's studio, Sony's Columbia Pictures. Viacom's MTV Sells College Media Network Associated Press MTV Networks says it has sold the College Media Network, a content management software platform for college newspapers, to a private investment firm. MTV's mtvU bought the network in 2006. The name of the private investment firm is not being disclosed. Sony's 'Social Network' Not a Hit at Facebook San Francisco Chronicle "The Social Network," the new David Fincher movie about Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, opens nationwide this weekend, and is expected to be a monster hit for Sony. Facebook, however, says in a statement that the new film is a work of "fiction." Viacom Loses MTV Content Duo, Names CFO New York Post MTV programming exec Tony DiSanto and series development VP Liz Gateley are leaving the network to form a production company called DiGa, setting up shop at Ben Silverman's Electus. Meanwhile, parent Viacom is naming James Barge as the company's new CFO. News Corp: BSkyB Poised to Snatch 'Mad Men' Guardian U.K. fans of the drama "Mad Men" will have to pay to watch the series starting next year, with satellite broadcaster BSkyB understood to have offered significantly more than the BBC currently pays in an audacious swoop to snatch the acclaimed series. Murdoch 'Pounced On' During Immigration Talk Politico Rupert Murdoch's appearance before a House Judiciary Committee panel to urge an immigration policy overhaul prompted Democrats to "pounce" on the News Corp. chief. "We are not anti-immigrant on Fox News," Murdoch says. "I have no trouble in supporting what I'm saying." Time Warner, Vivendi End 'Ellen' Music Lawsuit Bloomberg Vivendi and Time Warner ended a lawsuit that alleged Time Warner played Vivendi music labels' songs without permission while producing Ellen DeGeneres's talk show. No reason was given for the termination. Time Warner had argued that it had an "implied" license. Viacom Studio Cuts 53 Jobs as DVD Sales Drop TheWrap Paramount Pictures plans to eliminate 53 jobs in areas including home entertainment and digital production as consumers reduce their spending on DVDs. The job cuts will represent about 2% of the Los Angeles-based Viacom movie studio's 2,600 employees. Time Warner, Icahn Mull New Proposal for MGM New York Post Time Warner and Carl Icahn are said to be expressing renewed interest in floundering movie studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Time Warner is reportedly willing to raise its offer to $1.7 billion from $1.5 billion. Meanwhile, Icahn is believed to be buying more of the studio's debt. NBC Universal Exec In Talks with Viacom, MTV Deadline Lauren Zalaznick, the exec who oversees Bravo and Oxygen, is said to be taking "exploratory" meetings with rival Viacom, in an effort to make Comcast and NBC Universal believe she is being considered for a top job at MTV. However, such "maneuvering" could "backfire." Murdoch, Bloomberg to Testify on Immigration TheStreet.com News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch and New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg are due to testify at a House Subcommittee hearing Thursday on immigration reform. Says Murdoch: "I think we can show to the public the benefits of having immigrants and the jobs that go with them." Time Warner Chief Sees No End In Sight for TV Financial Times The suggestion that value will shift from media owners to technology groups is a "false premise," says Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes. "There's no reason why their growth should come at the expense of the content industry." Consumers still "love" traditional television. NBC Universal: NBC Valued at Negative $600M Hollywood Reporter USA Network is the most valuable part of NBC Universal at $11.7 billion, but the NBC network is worth a "negative $600 million," says Wunderlich Securities analyst Matthew Harrigan. "NBC has to regain its high-end aura." Cable networks make up 78% of NBCU's valuation. Disney, Muslim Worker Agree on Scarf Substitute Associated Press Disney is allowing a Muslim employee at its Southern California park to wear a specially designed headscarf after initially objecting to her religious head covering. Disney says it worked with Noor Abdallah, 22, to design a covering to meet her religious needs. Disney: Guilty Plea in Securities Fraud Scheme Los Angeles Times The boyfriend of an assistant to Disney PR head Zenia Mucha is pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud in an insider trading scheme. Yonni Sebbag admits he tried to sell earnings data to investment firms before they were made public. Pay-TV Industry Suffers First Subscriber Decline Dow Jones The subscription television industry -- including cable and satellite -- suffered its first-ever drop in subscribers in the second quarter, according to SNL Kagan. The stumble comes as new options for online video entertainment are proliferating, offering potentially cheaper alternatives. Media Giants Playing Partisan Money Game Politico News Corp. made news last week for its $1 million gift to the Republican Governors Association. But Time Warner, Viacom, Disney and other media companies are also making political donations, in attempts to have a say in the regulations that affect their bottom lines. Big Media Struggle to Adapt as DVDs Decline Dow Jones With advertising back in growth mode, declines in DVD sales are emerging as the entertainment industry's immediate concern in its struggle to adapt to the rise of digital media. DVD purchasing "is disappearing," as content is readily available via new platforms. Time Warner Puts Faith in 'TV Everywhere' New York Times When all videos are on all screens, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes expects his company's brands like HBO, TBS and TNT to stand out. "The financial support for television is higher than it’s ever been. That's something that gets missed in the excitement of covering the Internet." Sony's Bet on Sticking With Internet Shows New York Times Sony continues to pour money into Crackle.com, ordering Web shows that cost up to $1 million each. Analysts point out that Crackle, a video site aimed at young males, could become the primary entertainment channel for Sony's fast-growing PlayStation Network. Comcast-NBC Deal In Hands of Regulators UPI Comcast's bid to acquire control of NBC Universal is in the hands of U.S. regulators now that the public comment period for the transaction has ended. Comcast exec David Cohen says in a blog post that rivals are seeking conditions on the deal in an effort to "hamper us." Time Warner Cable Set to Drop ESPN, ABC Orange County Register ABC and ESPN could disappear from Time Warner Cable on Sept. 2 if the organizations fail to reach an agreement on the rates the cable provider will pay to carry the programming offered on those networks. Both sides are continuing to try to influence public opinion. NBC Universal Mulls Takeover of UK's ITV Bloomberg NBC Universal is interested in a takeover of ITV, the U.K.'s biggest commercial broadcaster, according to a report citing speculation by unidentified dealers. A spokeswoman for NBC says company policy is to never comment on reports about mergers and acquisitions. Viacom Exec Heads to Murdoch's 'Newspaper' AllThingsD News Corp. is hiring Greg Clayman, who runs digital distribution for Viacom, to oversee the business operations of Rupert Murdoch's so-called digital "newspaper" project. The forthcoming subscription-based service will be designed for mobile platforms and tablets. Time Warner to Expand 'TV Everywhere' Broadcasting & Cable Verizon will be making more programming from Time Warner available online in on-demand fashion, as it continues to promote the media giant's "TV Everywhere" initiative to let viewers watch cable programming they're already paying for on their PCs or laptops. Disney, Time Warner Cable Talks Escalate New York Post Negotiations between Disney and Time Warner Cable over continued carriage of ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels are intensifying as both companies gird for battle. ESPN boss George Bodenheimer was told to cut short his vacation and get back to the bargaining table. Comcast-NBC Deal Eyed by Cable-TV Group Bloomberg Comcast should be barred from packaging NBC stations with popular cable channels when selling programming to video providers, according to the American Cable Association. The industry group wants regulators to restrict Comcast's planned purchase of NBC Universal. Disney Online Breaks Traffic Record in July BusinessWire Disney Online hit a record-breaking 36 million unique visitors in July, according to comScore, due in part to increased traffic to areas on games, movies and the Disney Channel. Among Disney virtual worlds, Club Penguin continues to be the most popular on the web. News Corp Eyes Paywalls for British Tabloids Financial Times News Corp.'s British newspaper publishing arm is said to be planning to add online paywalls the News of the World in October, with the Sun to follow soon after. The papers will be the first U.K. tabloids to charge for online content, providing a test case for the "popular" press online. Disney Bans Muslim Employee's Head Scarf Los Angeles Times A Muslim woman who works as a hostess at a Disney-owned restaurant is filing a discrimination complaint, saying the media giant has repeatedly sent her home without pay for refusing to remove her headscarf at work. Disney says it has offered her "a backstage role." Time Warner Boosted by Exceptional 'Inception' Barron's Caris & Co. is raising its profit view of Time Warner due to the surprise worldwide success of the Warner Bros. Chris Nolan film "Inception," which has become the sleeper hit of the summer. The brokerage sees "Inception" as ideal for a new film franchise. News Corp Defends $1 Million Political Gift Washington Post News Corp.'s $1 million donation to the Republican Governors Association is triggering swift criticism from Democrats. A spokesperson for the media giant insists: "It's patently false that a corporate donation would have any bearing on our news-gathering activities." Viacom Chemical Spill Shutters Times Square MSNBC Several blocks of New York's Times Square were closed down over the weekend, creating chaos in the packed tourist district, after an accidental hazardous materials spill in the Viacom building. A machine malfunctioned, spilling gallons of hydrogen peroxide on the 54th floor. CBS, Reliance to Launch Channels In India Times of India CBS and Reliance Broadcast Network plan to launch television channels in India. Three English channels will start broadcasting in October and the venture will have programming rights across India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Pakistan. News Corp Donates $1 Million to Republicans Bloomberg News Corp. is donating $1 million to the Republican Governors Association. The media giant opposes proposed federal rule changes that would weaken the position of its Fox network in negotiations with cable companies. Governors may have a stake in the issue. Media Giants: Cable Networks Are Cash Cows MarketWatch Cable networks are the biggest cash cows at Time Warner, Disney, Viacom and other media conglomerates -- a trend that will only become magnified in the years to come, analysts say. "Affiliate fees have good growth characteristics and good visibility going forward." Time Warner to Block Netflix from HBO Films Bloomberg Netflix's drive to offer its subscribers movies from the big Hollywood studios may hit a wall with HBO. Time Warner's pay-television channel says it is unlikely to make a deal with Netflix. By building a market for online delivery, Netflix is "clearly taking aim at HBO." Nielsen Expects to Raise $2 Billion In IPO Reuters Nielsen plans to raise up to $2.01 billion through an initial public offering, more than the $1.75 billion it was originally aiming for. The world's largest television and consumer measurement company was taken private in a $10 billion deal in 2006 by six private equity firms. News Corp Mulls News App Business Model WebProNews News Corp. is said to be considering the development of a for-pay app-only news publication. The media giant could invest up to $40 million in the venture. However, it may be a while before tablet devices are in everyone's hands or even reach the status of mobile phones. Time Warner HQ Tackles Bed Bug Problem Dow Jones Time Warner says it has tackled a small outbreak of bed bugs at the media giant's headquarters in New York City. The bed bugs were only found in a "small part" of Time Warner's corporate offices. "The problem was treated by professionals and is no longer an issue." Disney Accused of Spying on Website Users CNET A new lawsuit alleges that several well-known websites -- including those owned by Disney, Warner Bros. Records and Demand Media -- broke the law by secretly tracking the online movements of their users, including children. Users "were followed without their knowledge." News Corp Plans National Digital 'Newspaper' Los Angeles Times News Corp. plans to launch a national digital news offering to be distributed as paid content for tablet computers such as Apple's iPad and mobile phones. The publication will offer short, snappy stories and operate under the auspices of the company's New York Post. Comcast, Verizon Look to Tablet Computers Wall Street Journal Comcast, Verizon, Time Warner Cable and other major subscription-television providers are developing tablet-computer apps that offer TV shows and movies to their subscribers. "We're essentially putting cable TV on any device that can function as a TV in the home." Big Media Silent on Google-Verizon Proposal New York Times Big media companies like Comcast and News Corp. are silent on a proposal by Google and Verizon that critics say could let Internet access providers chip away at openness -- perhaps because they stand to gain from a less open Internet. Barry Diller calls the proposal "a sham." News Corp's MySpace Redo Eyes Facebook Associated Press MySpace is unveiling a revamped home page that looks a little like its more popular rival, Facebook. MySpace head Mike Jones says the change is in preparation for a major overhaul coming this fall that aims to make the social network more relevant to 13- to 34-year-olds. CBS' TV.com Service Mirrors Foursquare Hollywood Reporter CBS' digital division is testing TV.com Relay, a service that transplants Foursquare's user check-ins and badge rewards from brick-and-mortar venues to television shows. Users can check in on a particular program and make new friends chatting about favorite shows. Viacom Appeals YouTube Copyright Ruling Bloomberg Viacom is appealing a court ruling that YouTube didn't infringe the media giant's copyrights. The ruling is "fundamentally flawed." MTV's owner sued Google's video-sharing website for $1 billion in 2007 for unauthorized use of clips from programs such as "The Daily Show." Murdoch's BSkyB Bid Growing More Costly Bloomberg Rupert Murdoch's bid for the rest of BSkyB has become $700 million more expensive after the pound's 6% gain against the dollar. The bid for control of the U.K. pay-TV operator is now valued at $12.2 billion. The increase could limit News Corp.'s ability to raise its offer. Murdoch Claims to Own 'Sky' in 'Skype' Name Independent Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB is fighting a legal battle with Skype, claiming it owns the "Sky" in the "Skype" name. As the Internet telecommunications pioneer plans to go public, Skype reveals that its applications "in respect of the Skype name are being opposed by BSkyB." Disney Declines to Address Talk of ABC Sale Los Angeles Times ESPN's World Cup soccer coverage and hit films like "Toy Story 3" helped buoy Disney's bottom line in the third quarter. But CEO Bob Iger declines to address questions about whether he is weighing a potential sale of ABC. "I don't have anything new to add," he says. Comcast Spends Multimillions on NBC Takeover Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast is spending tens of millions of dollars on lawyers, accountants, lobbyists and bankers to gain approval of its $30 billion takeover of NBC Universal. The uncertainty surround the deal is taking a toll, as the cable giant returns modest gains to shareholders. News Corp Eyes Sequels to Cameron's 'Avatar' Hollywood Reporter Deals for an "Avatar" sequel -- or two -- are being worked on, says creator James Cameron. He is currently focused on finishing his "Avatar" novel. News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch has said that his company's Fox studio is eyeing a continuation of the top-grossing film. Media to Outpace U.S. Economy Through 2014 Bloomberg Spending on media and communications will increase faster than the U.S. economy through 2014 as consumers recover from the recession and shift more attention to the Internet and mobile devices, says a new forecast from private-equity firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson. Netflix, Epix Enter Deal for Streaming Movies AllThingsD Startup pay-TV channel Epix is entering a deal to give Netflix exclusive online rights to films from its three equity partners -- Viacom's Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The deal may make Netflix more competitive with cable television. Comcast, Blockbuster to Test DVDs-By-Mail Dow Jones Comcast and Blockbuster are testing a DVDs-by-mail service that gives the nation's largest cable provider's subscribers discounts to the movie-rental giant's movies and television shows. The test is seen helping cash-strapped Blockbuster tout its stores and services. AT&T to Expand TV Service to Mobile Devices Bloomberg AT&T is expanding its U-verse television service to let customers watch some television shows on Apple's iPhone and BlackBerry Torch mobile devices. Only customers with higher-priced U-verse packages will be able to watch the programs on a smartphone. News Corp Pulls Back from China TV Market Reuters News Corp. plans to sell control of its three Chinese television channels to a fund backed by Shanghai Media Group. The move could mark the beginning of a wind down for News Corp. in China's tightly controlled media market, which has proved frustrating to Western media. Comcast: FCC Readies Net Neutrality Trap New York Post The Federal Communication Commission is said to be zeroing in on making Comcast promise it would never slow certain types of Internet traffic as a possible condition of the cable giant's pending acquisition of NBC Universal. The issue is one of "growing importance." Viacom, Google Team Up for 'Fred' Movie AllThingsD Lucas Cruikshank, a Nebraska teenager better known to nearly 2 million YouTube viewers as "Fred," is getting his own TV movie on Nickelodeon. The kids' cable channel is owned by Viacom, which is continuing to fight with YouTube owner Google over a copyright lawsuit. News Corp Looks to Sell Off Interests in Mobile New Media Age News Corp. confirms it is trying to offload its mobile businesses, collectively known as Fox Mobile Group, after stating it is a loss-making venture. The planned sell-off includes the ringtone outfit Jamba, which News Corp. bought for an estimated $388 million in 2008. Viacom: Advertisers Scramble for MTV's 'Jersey' Los Angeles Times Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman says last week's return of MTV's "Jersey Shore" for a second season will be a big boost to the company's bottom line. "There were some issues when 'Jersey Shore's' first season launched. Now we have advertisers scrambling to get on it." Media Moguls Pledge to Give Away Fortunes Reuters Mike Bloomberg, Barry Diller and Ted Turner are among the billionaires pledging to give away at least 50% of their wealth to charity in a campaign led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates. The Giving Pledge effort aims to persuade billionaires to give away most of their fortunes. Hollywood: Kids Willing to Pay for Content Hollywood Reporter Optimism is spreading in Hollywood regarding a willingness to pay for digital content among young consumers. Youthful attitudes toward downloading unlicensed content is said to be "significantly" improving. Youngsters are "paying for content instead of stealing it." Media Bounce Back on Ads Despite Outlook Reuters Media conglomerates including News Corp. Time Warner and CBS are posting strong quarterly results, riding a recovery in advertising sales and several quarters of cost cuts. The results are sending media shares higher even as analysts pointed to an uncertain economic outlook. Murdoch Warns of Fragile Western Economy Sydney Morning Herald Rupert Murdoch says the Apple iPad is a "real game changer" in media and could bring young people back to reading newspapers. Also, the U.K. Times paywall is still in "very early days." Regarding the world economy: "I can't help but think it's fragile in the western world." News Corp Not Giving Up on MySpace Yet AllThingsD Rupert Murdoch is reaffirming his company's interest in overhauling MySpace, even though the social network is still losing money. "We will see it out for some time yet." Mobile, though, is another story. News Corp. is looking to sell its Jamba mobile phone content provider. Viacom Profit Boosted by MTV's 'Jersey Shore' Bloomberg Viacom is reporting an increase of profit of 52% as cable-television advertising sales climbs. Cable-TV ad sales are increasing after viewership bounced back earlier in the year at Viacom's flagship MTV network, with programs like the hit reality show "Jersey Shore." Time Warner to Buy 'Real Housewives' Studio Telegraph Warner Bros. plans to buy the British television production firm Shed Media, maker of such programs as "Supernanny," for around 100 million pounds to boost its presence in the key U.K. market. Shed Media U.S. productions include "Real Housewives of New York City." Time Warner: Advertising is Coming Back CNNMoney Time Warner is posting a better-than-expected quarterly profit on a surge in revenue -- its highest rate of increase in two years. "Demand is coming back" in advertising, analysts say. Nonetheless, revenue at Time Warner's Time Inc. publishing division is virtually unchanged. CBS to Sell TV Stations, Launch Websites RBR CBS boss Les Moonves says he is interested in selling some of the company's smaller-market radio and television stations. Meanwhile, CBS plans to boost its local media business online, launching destination websites that will "leverage the power" of company assets. Viacom Plans 3-D Motion Picture of Bieber Associated Press Viacom's Paramount Pictures and MTV Films are signing Justin Bieber to appear in a feature film about his life and career. The yet-to-be-titled motion picture, set for release in early 2011, will feature 3-D footage from the 16-year-old pop star's concert tour. Murdoch Sees New Online Business Model Australian Rupert Murdoch predicts Apple will sell more than 40 million iPads by 2012 as he outlines plans to put content on more tablet devices. Also, News Corp.'s paid content strategy will be a success, he says. "We are witnessing the start of a new business model for the Internet." News Corp Cuts Exec Pay as Stock Struggles Bloomberg News Corp. is shifting compensation for top execs, including chief Rupert Murdoch, to more performance-based bonuses as its stock trails the market. News Corp.'s stock has dropped 16% in the past five years. COO Chase Carey is seeing his annual salary cut in half. Viacom Sells Xfire Service as Staffers Depart CNET Viacom-owned game chat and discovery service Xfire is being sold to Titan Gaming for an undisclosed amount. An Xfire staffer is posting a note online saying that "most of the team is leaving." Xfire was originally sold to Viacom in 2006 for $102 million. Time Warner Backs Ad Optimization Startup BtoB Time Warner Investments is among the new backers of AdMeld, which provides tools for publishers to analyze the performance of their display ad inventory appearing in ad networks and exchanges. The new investment brings AdMeld's total financing to $30 million. Comcast-NBC Merger Conditions Are Urged Associated Press Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., head of the House Commerce subcommittee on communications, wants U.S. regulators to attach conditions on Comcast's takeover of NBC Universal. Among them: Comcast should be barred from moving free online programming to TV Everywhere. News Corp Eyes Bids for Texas Sports Teams Dallas Morning News News Corp. is said to be interested in bidding on the Texas Rangers baseball team. The media giant also is among the bidders for the Texas Stars hockey team. Most Stars games are seen on Fox Sports Southwest. Fox Sports "would like control over the product." Viacom Kills 'Anchorman' Over Foreign Forces Wall Street Journal Viacom's Paramount Pictures canceled the planned sequel to the hit 2004 film "Anchorman," fearing the comedy's uniquely American brand of humor wouldn't play internationally. "The economics of the business have changed," says "Anchorman" director Adam McKay. Time Warner's Turner to Open Office in Dubai National Turner Broadcasting System, parent of CNN and Cartoon Network, plans to open an office in Dubai this year and may start a production center as it aims to boost production of Arabic-language content. The company also will launch a Cartoon Network Arabic channel. Disney's ABC Family Guy 'Super-Unprepared' USA Today Paul Lee, head of the ABC Family cable network, is being named programming chief for ABC. The former BBC exec takes over for Steve McPherson, who exited last week. Lee says he is "super-unprepared" to discuss strategy, but has no plans for immediate changes. NBC Chief Hopeful as Comcast Buyout Nears Wall Street Journal Comcast is rumored to be considering replacing NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker when it wins U.S. approval to take over the media company. "Nobody is entitled to any job," Zucker admits. However, he believes that "things are going incredibly well, and I'm excited to continue." Big Media: Are the 'Rah-Rah Days' All Gone? Reuters Time Warner, Viacom, News Corp. and other media giants are expected to report revenue increases over the next two weeks. However, media companies are unlikely return to their former valuations, analysts say. "It is not clear if we will ever have the rah-rah days again." News Corp Plans Digital News Game Changer CNBC / FT News Corp. is developing a subscription digital news venture that is to be available via devices like the Apple iPad. Also: A subscription news aggregation service is due to launch later this year with content from the New York Post, Dow Jones and external news partners. Disney Sells Miramax to Tutor Investor Group Los Angeles Times Disney plans to sell Miramax Films to an investor group led by Los Angeles construction magnate Ron Tutor for more than $660 million, putting the future of the movie company behind "Pulp Fiction" and "Shakespeare in Love" into the hands of a Hollywood outsider. CBS Staffer Alleges Abuse by Chief Redstone Daily Beast Karen O'Rourke Zatorski, CBS VP of corporate relations, claims that chief Sumner Redstone verbally abused her and displayed a violent temper. Though Zatorski has not yet filed a lawsuit, she has lodged a complaint with CBS, which is investigating the matter. News Corp Creates Social Network for Games VentureBeat News Corp.'s IGN website for game fans is creating MyIGN, a social network for gamers. Although its corporate sibling is MySpace, IGN developed the social network in-house. "We created it because gamers are not currently served by social networks." Murdoch's BSkyB Acquires HBO TV Catalogue Guardian Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB is buying the rights to the entire programming catalogue of Time Warner's HBO, which includes a huge range of American shows, from "The Sopranos" to "True Blood." The deal also gives the British satellite-TV firm access to forthcoming HBO shows. Viacom-CBS Chief Facing Another Firestorm Daily Beast / Post Sumner Redstone reportedly forced CBS' Showtime cable network, which he controls, to put a "young, unqualified brunette" on the payroll. The "erratic" Redstone may impact Viacom and CBS stocks. Also: A former employee is threatening to sue for harassment CBS Boss Moonves is Fodder for 'The Talk' Entertainment Weekly Julie Chen, wife of CBS boss Les Moonves, will star on three CBS shows: hosting "Big Brother," anchoring "The Early Show" and now co-hosting "The Talk." Chen is expected to chat about her relationship with Moonves on the new "The View"-like daytime talk show. Disney Acquires Playdom in $763 Million Deal New York Times Disney is becoming Hollywood's leader in the social game business by acquiring Playdom in a deal worth some $763.2 million. Playdom is a tech startup that makes simple online games and is growing by exploiting rapidly expanding social networks like Facebook. Comcast Profit Slips on NBC Universal Costs Reuters Comcast is reporting a nearly 9% decline in quarterly profit as it absorbs expenses related to its highly anticipated acquisition of NBC Universal. The No. 1 U.S. cable operator hopes to close the deal for a majority stake in NBC Universal by late this year. Media, Tech Titans Top Best-Paid CEOs Wall Street Journal Oracle's Larry Ellison tops a list of the best-paid execs of public companies during the past decade, receiving $1.84 billion, according to an analysis of CEO pay. Coming in at No. 2 is IAC/InterActive's Barry Diller, at $1.14 billion. "I'm not defensive about it," Diller says. Time Warner Studio Sets $1 Billion Record Deadline Warner Bros. has become the only film studio in history to surpass $1 billion at the domestic box office for 10 years in a row, the company says. The studio passed the billion-dollar mark on the heels of the current "blockbuster success" of Christopher Nolan's "Inception." Viacom Chief Gave Stock to Rock Singer Hollywood Reporter Viacom chief Sumner Redstone gave the lead singer of the girl band Electric Barbarellas some of his own company stock as a personal gift, according to a regulatory filing. Heather Naylor, the 29-year-old singer, sold about $100,000 worth of Viacom stock in March. Time Warner Exec's Parody Site Jabs Media Associated Press John Perry, a business development exec for Time Warner's Warner Bros., is the creator of the fictional Manka Bros. Studios -- "the world's largest media company." Perry's parody website skewers the media business, with its "all sorts of bad decisions." News Corp to Relaunch 'Younger' MySpace AFP News Corp. plans to relaunch MySpace, the social network that has been eclipsed by Facebook. The site will "go younger, go youthful," says News Corp. digital head Jon Miller, and put a premium on "creativity and self-expression; a little more rock and roll." Viacom Chief's Girl-Band is a Go at MTV Hollywood Reporter An MTV reality show about an aspiring girl band favored by Viacom chief Sumner Redstone remains in development despite objections by some at the network. Redstone associates admit that his voice-mail flap makes them wonder if the 87-year-old mogul is "losing his grip." Disney in Talks to Buy Social Game Startup Los Angeles Times Disney is in discussions to acquire Playdom, one of the largest makers of online social games, in which people play games together on social networks such as Facebook. The main sticking point is price -- discussed amounts ranging from $400 million to $750 million. Liberty Media Shutters Indie Film Studio Los Angeles Times Overture Films, the 3-year-old independent movie studio owned by John Malone's Liberty Media, is shutting down after failing to fetch an adequate price from interested buyers. The studio's marketing and distribution operations will be taken over by Relativity Media. Tribune Aims to Leave Bankruptcy, Old Ways Wall Street Journal CEO Randy Michaels wants to remake Tribune -- reducing duplication in newspaper reporting, launching a local TV newscast that has no anchors. "There's too much infrastructure," he says. Michaels adds: "I don't believe the economics of a paywall are going to work." Media Stocks With Big Upside Indentified TheStreet Some big-media stocks are poised to be blockbusters. Analysts are "increasingly optimistic" about Time Warner. And a possible sale of Disney's ABC would be "positive," with proceeds from a transaction likely going to video games, "the fastest growing segment in media." Media Holdouts: Some Refuse to Go Online Economist As media companies scramble to create iPad apps or fret about online paywalls, a few "analogue holdouts" -- Discovery, the Beatles, Harry Potter -- still refuse to distribute digitally. But holding back content, some observers say, "is not the best strategy for combating piracy." Media Tablets to Sell 11 Million This Year InformationWeek Some 11 million media tablets are expected to ship by year end, according to ABI Research. The firm is revising its earlier forecast of 4 million shipments "based both on the broader availability of the Apple iPad and on the delayed introduction of competing products." 'Old Media' Has Paying Users in Congress AOL News U.S. elected representatives spend $1.2 million a month on news subscriptions. The New York Times is favored over the Washington Post; The Week magazine has more subscribers than Time; Politco, the agenda-setting political newspaper, is "surprisingly missing." Viacom Responds to Chief Redstone Gaffe PR Week Viacom's corporate communications team says it aims to minimize the fallout of chief Sumner Redstone's voice-mail gaffe by "making sure people appreciate Mr. Redstone's accomplishments." The new season of MTV's "Jersey Shore" may "take the spotlight" off the "oops moment." Comcast May Be Forced to Sell NBC Stations Bloomberg Comcast may have to sell some NBC television stations or agree to have independent arbitration settle pricing disputes to get U.S. government approval for buying NBC Universal, analysts say. Comcast's power in key markets is "absolutely going to be a major concern." News Corp Unit Settles Brangelina Lawsuit Bloomberg Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have settled a lawsuit against News Corp. U.K. newspaper News of the World over stories that said the couple planned to separate. News Corp. admits the stories were false and agrees to pay undisclosed damages to the couple's charity. Viacom 'Shocked' Over Redstone Phone Flap New York Post In the aftermath of Viacom chief Sumner Redstone's voice-mail controversy, company insiders are said to be "shocked" that the supposed object of the media bigwig's attention, songstress Heather Naylor, was showered with stock options when she was an assistant at MTV. Comcast-NBC to Be Fourth Largest in Media New York Post Comcast, General Electric and NBC Universal claim in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission that their new joint venture entity won't dominate the television market, saying it will rank fourth among media companies in terms of advertising and affiliate revenue. CBS Discusses Ending Couric 'Experiment' New York CBS is said to have considered buying out the remainder of Katie Couric's contract as anchor of the network's troubled evening-news broadcast and putting in someone new this fall. NBC CEO Jeff Zucker reportedly would "welcome Couric's return when she is available." News Corp Ex Chernin Backs iPad 'Magazine' AllThingsD A new "social magazine" for the Apple iPad called Flipboard is securing $10.5 million in funding from the likes of the investment company of former News Corp. exec Peter Chernin. Flipboard pulls in data from Twitter and Facebook to make a personalized "magazine." Jobs Tops Google Chiefs in 'Media Power' WorldScreen Apple chief Steve Jobs comes in at the No. 1 position on the MediaGuardian 100 annual list of the most powerful people in media, bumping Google's Sergey Brin and Larry Page down to No. 2. Jobs is credited for changing media consumption with the new iPad device. Murdoch Brings 'Idol' Concept to Newspaper Sun Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid the Sun is launching an "American Idol"-like contest for aspiring writers. Youngsters age 16 to 21 can compete in the "Column Idol" contest to have a one-shot column published in the Sun. Participants don't need "any journalism experience." Redstone on 'Witch Hunt' Over Leak at MTV Daily Beast Viacom chief Sumner Redstone is said to have phoned a reporter with the Daily Beast seeking the identity of the anonymous source behind the story of his supposed fondness for an all-girl rock band. Redstone says that he thinks the source is a "young male" exec at MTV. Media, Marketing M&A Positioned to 'Heat Up' Advertising Age Eager buyers and full private-equity coffers are said to be stirring merger-and-acquisition interest in media and marketing services. "The deal volume and transaction volume might actually increase in the second half," says John Prunier of investment bank Petsky Prunier. Internet Media Leads Mergers, Acquisitions Radio Ink Internet media was the highest-volume segment of the media industry in terms of mergers and acquisitions in the first half of 2010, according to Berkery Noyes Investment Bankers. Google was, perhaps unsurprisingly, the most active buyer, with 11 acquisitions. Media, Tech Giants Preparing Digital Format Bloomberg Microsoft, Sony, Viacom and more than 50 other companies are close to approving an online service, called UltraViolet, where consumers can buy and access movies and television shows through smartphones, tablet computers, game consoles and other platforms. DVD, Blu-ray U.S. Sales Continue to Decline Los Angeles Times U.S. home entertainment revenue dropped 3.3% in the first half of the year to $8.8 billion, says a report from the Digital Entertainment Group. Sales of the "Avatar" DVD were a rare "bright spot." Digital download gains failed to make up for the continuing drop in DVD sales. Disney Slams Time Warner with New Website Wall Street Journal Disney has started a website, I Have Choices, slamming Time Warner Cable over the company's tactics in renegotiating a contract to carry ESPN, the Disney Channel and some ABC stations. Time Warner Cable insists: "Customers don't seem to be that concerned." Murdoch in Venture for Arabic News Channel National Saudi Prince Alwaleed plans to launch a 24-hour Arabic-language news channel in partnership with Rupert Murdoch's Fox network. The channel will be an "alternative" to the likes of Al Jazeera. Both Murdoch and Prince Alwaleed hold stakes in each other's companies. Media M&A 'Heating Up' in Mobile, Online Folio After the media market largely dried up last year, 2010 is proving to be much more active, according to industry investment bankers Jordan, Edmiston Group. Mobile media and technology sector transactions are up 188%; b-to-c online media deals are jumping 64%. Viacom's MTV Networks in Video Ad Deal ClickZ MTV is entering a deal with Warner Music that will give the Viacom unit rights to sell advertising around thousands of music videos. MTV exec Van Toffler says the deal "offers advertisers one-stop shopping for the most comprehensive source of music programming." News Corp: Will People Pay for Web News? New Media Age People are happy to pay for quality journalism -- but not online, according to a new survey by YouGov. Some 83% of people say they won't pay for online content at all. The survey comes as News Corp. erects online paywalls for its Times newspapers in London. Disney Opens Interactive-Tech Disney Store Los Angeles Business Disney is opening the first of its revamped Disney Store locations in Montebello, Calif. The outlet is heavily reliant on interactive technology. Among the features is an interactive castle, which has a "magic mirror" in which a Disney princess appears to tell a children's story. Hearst Preps for Digital Future with Hires Wall Street Journal CEO Frank Bennack Jr. is said to be impatient to shake up Hearst and prepare for a digital future, naming new and younger heads for the company's newspaper, entertainment and now its magazine businesses in the past two years. "We want to go faster," he says. News Corp Loses Faith in Beliefnet, Sells Site Hollywood Reporter News Corp. is selling Beliefnet, a spirituality website it purchased three years ago, for an undisclosed amount to BN Media, an entity that includes the investors behind an online service for nonprofits. The site says it is taking "the difficult step of cutting a number of jobs." Murdoch Global Assets Facing Heat, Disposal WaPo / Dow Jones Farsi1, a satellite television station in Iran co-owned by Rupert Murdoch, is upsetting the Islamic republic's clerics and state TV execs for airing "corrupt Western culture." Also: Murdoch is being forced to dispose of his Fiji Times newspaper as Fiji cracks down on local media. News Corp, Disney Eye Immigration Reform Associated Press The CEOs of several major corporations, including Disney and News Corp., are joining New York mayor Michael Bloomberg to form a coalition advocating for immigration reform. "It's critical for continued economic growth," says Disney chief Bob Iger. Media Moguls Top Salary List of NYC Execs Crain's New York Tim Armstrong, Philippe Dauman, Mel Karmazin and Les Moonves are among the media bosses that top a new ranking of New York City's 100 best-paid execs. But one investor advisor describes the link between pay and performance at their companies as "horrible." Big Media Lose $1.5B on Social Networking Guardian The media industry has now lost $1.5 billion on investments in the social networking craze after AOL sold Bebo last week for a fraction of the price it paid for the business two years ago. Investments by media companies in MySpace and other sites have "soured." Murdoch Predicts Millions of Tablet Devices BusinessWeek Within five years there will be "hundreds of millions" of Apple iPad-like devices in the world, predicts News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch, speaking at the New York Forum. "This is a huge new market." Such devices will have the ability "to present all forms of media to all people." Traditional Media Sites Losing to Web Rivals min Traffic to traditional media websites (up 5% in 2009) is not growing as fast as their web-only counterparts (up 10%), according to a study by Wetpaint. Among the reasons cited: Endemic web companies are "faster" at embracing new content discovery techniques. Media Merger Talk Heating Up for Summer Hollywood Reporter Recent deals suggest a renewed willingness of big media players to explore mergers and acquisitions. Investment bank Allen & Co.'s annual media mogul gathering in Sun Valley, Idaho, kicking off just after the Fourth of July, is expected to heat up summer deal speculation. 'Mad Men,' James Bond Studios Mull Merger Los Angeles Times Lions Gate, the embattled studio under siege from dissident investor Carl Icahn, is said to be holding merger talks with beleaguered Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. A merger would result in a powerful independent studio with a library of thousands of movies and television shows. Liberty Spin-Offs May Signal Urge to Merge New York Post Wall Street is expecting Liberty Media chief John Malone to go shopping soon, and this time sources believe HSN is in the cross hairs. Some analysts believe Malone's plan is to merge QVC with its rival HSN, something he tried unsuccessfully to accomplish back in 2007. Comcast-NBC Universal Merger Draws Critics Los Angeles Times The proposed Comcast-NBC Universal merger is being heavily criticized by media rivals Bloomberg, DirecTV and Dish Network, as well as some consumer advocacy groups. The groups are filing comments with the Federal Communications Commission to block the deal. Tribune Rival Aims to Block License Transfer Wall Street Journal Neil Ellis, the owner of the Manchester Journal Inquirer, a small Connecticut newspaper, is trying to prevent Tribune from obtaining licenses the media giant needs to operate two television stations it owns in the Hartford area, where it also publishes the Hartford Courant. Disney's New Franchise: 'Phineas and Ferb' Los Angeles Times Disney is giving its offbeat "Phineas and Ferb" cartoon the full marketing treatment, with a new line of merchandise and a movie in the works. "Within the next 18 months, this will be one of the biggest properties we've ever had," says Disney Channel exec Gary Marsh. FCC: Do Media Ownership Limits Make Sense? Associated Press As the U.S. Federal Communications Commission kicks off its latest review of media ownership rules, the agency faces calls by media owners to pare the limits because traditional media are no longer the almighty players that they were. "These rules need to fall away." Time Warner Eyes Bid for UK's Shed Media BBC News Time Warner is in talks to buy the British television production firm Shed Media, behind shows such as "Supernanny." Time Warner wants to add Shed to its London-based production business following successful global rollout of some of its U.S. shows, such as "Gossip Girl." CBS, Reliance to Launch Indian TV Channels Times of India CBS plans to enter a joint venture with India's Reliance Broadcast Network to launch television channels in India. The venture will initially broadcast English language entertainment channels and will explore Hindi and regional language channels in the next phase. Murdoch May Bundle BSkyB, Times Website Int'l Herald Tribune What is Rupert Murdoch's plan for his proposed takeover of BSkyB? As his Times of London newspaper starts charging for its website, bundling the service with a satellite television subscription might lure consumers, analysts say. "There must be ways of linking the two businesses." NBC Affiliates to Support Sale to Comcast Wall Street Journal Independent NBC stations expect to support Comcast's proposed takeover of NBC Universal after the cable giant agrees to measures intended to protect their interests. Conditions include not to bypass local stations by taking the NBC signal straight to cable. Liberty Media to Split Off Capital and Starz Reuters Liberty Media, the media firm controlled by John Malone, plans to spin-off two units, investment arm Liberty Capital and pay television and Hollywood studio unit Liberty Starz. The split will help the company to "better pursue strategic objectives, including acquisitions." Media CFOs Say Digital Will Eventually Deliver Hollywood Reporter A report on digital media says businesses tied to the Internet and mobile-device distribution eventually will throw off impressive revenue despite slow progress so far. Ernst & Young surveyed CFOs from 75 media and entertainment companies on the subject. Diller: Google Nearing 'Absolute Dictatorship' Bloomberg Barry Diller, chairman and CEO of IAC/InterActiveCorp, says that his Ask.com search site is overshadowed by market leader Google, and that he would be "up for consolidation" if he found the right partner. "Google is getting to a point of absolute dictatorship." FCC Advances Google-Backed Broadband Plan Bloomberg The Federal Communications Commission is advancing a plan supported by Google, eBay and Amazon to regulate Internet service providers over the opposition of carriers led by AT&T. "We are not talking, even remotely, about regulating the Internet," says commissioner Michael Copps. Time Warner: Tech Giants Eye TV Everywhere MediaPost Microsoft and Google are working on the interface for the Time Warner-led TV Everywhere project, says Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes. With TV Everywhere due to arrive in 50 million homes by next year, the only question is "which search function you want to use." Sony Chief Stringer 'Overpaid' at $4.5 Million Bloomberg Sony chief Howard Stringer was paid $4.5 million in salary last year as Japanese regulators start forcing employers to disclose compensation packages. "It doesn't make sense to get paid this much while your company is losing money," says one Tokyo investor. News Corp: Sky Sports News Goes Pay-Only Financial Times News Corp.'s strategy to extract maximum revenue from its content continues as the company reveals plans to make its U.K. sports news channel only available to pay-TV customers. Sky Sports News has been accessible to U.K. viewers for the past eight years on Freeview. Murdoch Summer Party Lures Prime Minister Guardian The "rich and powerful" showed up at Rupert Murdoch's summer party for his British newspaper publishing arm. U.K. prime minister David Cameron "drank bubbly from a tall champagne glass while journalists gossiped about Rupert's new super-short Action Man-style haircut." New York City Aims to Help Media Sector Wall Street Journal The Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Columbia University and the City of New York plan to open a lab that aims to stimulate the local media industry. The NYC Media Lab is the latest step by the Bloomberg administration to boost the city's media sector. Sony Plans 3-D, Motion-Controlled Games MSNBC Video game enthusiasts will soon be able to play a host of games that are not only motion controlled but also displayed in eye-popping 3-D, Sony execs say. New technologies in the PlayStation 3 games will offer fans "the closest thing to being in the game itself." News Corp: James Murdoch at Epicenter Evening Standard BSkyB boss James Murdoch's hold on News Corp. could be strengthened with a company takeover of the U.K. satellite television provider. "Suddenly, the empire looks a lot more streamlined -- with James at its epicenter. He has come an awful long way, very quickly." Comcast's Web-Slowdown Accord OK'd Bloomberg Comcast has won final approval of a $16 million settlement of consumers' claims that it delayed some file transfers over its high-speed Internet service. The accord is said to be the first to have an Internet service provider paying to resolve so-called data-bias charges. Viacom: Redbox Helps Us 'Make Money' Los Angeles Times Paramount Pictures plans to provide its movies to the Redbox $1-per-night kiosk rental service on the same day they go on sale. The Viacom studio is making the move after experimenting with delays of DVDs to Redbox. "There hasn't been a cannibalization of sales." CBS Boss Les Moonves Has Digital Fears Hollywood Reporter The advertising market is back, but it is still not where it was, says CBS boss Les Moonves. His biggest fear, he adds, is that viewers will watch the hit show "CSI" online without the firm getting fully paid for it. Also: "We are not looking for any major acquisitions." News Corp: Higher Offer May Win BSkyB Telegraph BSkyB is rejecting a proposal by 39% owner News Corp. to buy the rest of the U.K. satellite broadcaster with a $11.5 billion offer that it says "deeply undervalues" the company. However, BSkyB says that a takeover by the media giant might be possible with a higher bid. Hollywood Box-Office Futures Trading OK'd Los Angeles Times Despite opposition from Hollywood studios, U.S. regulators are approving an investment vehicle that will allow traders to bet on the ticket sales that a movie generates during its opening weekend. Studios fear the practice could hurt how movies perform in theaters. Disney to Swim Among New-Media 'Fish' Hollywood Reporter Disney CEO Bob Iger says he sees a clear migration of consumers to digital media. Therefore, "we have to be where the fish are." In describing the Disney deals for the iPhone and other digital ventures, Iger admits his team had to "put our current business at some risk." Murdoch in Bold Digital Journalism Moves Hollywood Reporter News Corp. is unveiling multiple digital media initiatives, including the acquisition of Hearst's Skiff e-reading platform and an investment in Steven Brill and Gordon Crovitz's Journalism Online venture. Also, Jon Housman is being named head of digital journalism initiatives. News Corp, Disney Seek World Cup Wins Reuters News Corp. and Disney are making big bets on the growing popularity of soccer in the United States, thanks in part to a more diverse population. Disney's ABC and ESPN have the U.S. rights to live coverage; News Corp. is offering a new Fox Soccer Plus premium channel. Disney Staffer Allowed Bail on Fraud Charge Reuters Former Disney employee Bonnie Hoxie, charged in an insider trading scheme with her boyfriend, is being allowed to go free on $50,000 bail in New York. "It's early in the case," her lawyer says. "The allegations are just allegations. They're subject to verification." Viacom to Pay Dividend Amid Ad Rebound Bloomberg Viacom will start paying a dividend for the first time and buy back as much as $4 billion in stock as the advertising market recovers. It is the first time the company will pay a dividend to investors since chief Sumner Redstone split Viacom and CBS at the beginning of 2006. Media's Future is Now Available on Video I Want Media A video of "The Future of Media: 2010," a panel discussion from I Want Media, is now available. The Internet Week forum features commentary from media execs at Google, Yahoo and AOL, as well as web publishers Dan Abrams, Arianna Huffington and Jonathan Geller. Media: U.S. Forecast for Slow Growth Financial Times China will overtake Japan as the world's second largest media market by 2015 while the United States will confront the slowest growing media market in the world, according to PwC's newly released forecast. Digital media will expand to one-third of all media spending. Sony Takes Crackle Video Site Worldwide New Media Age Sony Pictures Entertainment is launching its multi-platform video portal Crackle in the U.K., featuring ad-funded short- and long-form television shows and movies. Crackle, which first launched in the U.S. in 2007, is being "replicating around the world," Sony says. Comcast-NBC Universal Merger Attacked Los Angeles Times Criticisms and charges flew during a field hearing held Monday by the House Judiciary Committee in Los Angeles to review the proposed Comcast-NBC Universal merger. Rep. Maxine Waters of Los Angeles dropped a bomb by hinting that Comcast had tried to buy her support. Viacom Issues Gag Order on Employees Village Voice Viacom send a letter to employees on Friday detailing company rules governing staffers' personal blogs, outside jobs and talking to the press. Employees of MTV, BET and Paramount Pictures "may not criticize, ridicule or make any negative statement concerning Viacom." Comcast-NBC: Heat From Ex-FCC Chief? Los Angeles Times Comcast's proposed takeover of NBC Universal will be probed in a hearing Monday in Los Angeles. Among those possibly testifying: Kevin Martin, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, whose appearance could be damaging to the deal. Viacom Boss May Drive Out MTV's McGrath Daily Beast Viacom chief Sumner Redstone is said to be forcing MTV to produce a reality show about the Electric Barbarellas, a "sexy but talentless" all-girl band. Tensions are so heated that sources say it could lead to CEO Judy McGrath leaving MTV, either by resignation or firing. Producer: Big Media is Devaluing Content Los Angeles Times Big media's rush to exploit new media platforms could ultimately end up cheapening content, says veteran television producer Marshall Herskovitz. The networks are "devaluing content" by throwing TV shows online. "The advertising model for new media isn't there." Disney: Too Early to Write Off New Media Dow Jones Disney CEO Bob Iger says it is too early to discount the ability of media companies to drive revenue from emerging new media platforms, like the online video site Hulu. There is "value" in being on new platforms first, he says, adding that it makes brands more relevant. Comcast-NBC Universal Hearing on Monday Los Angeles Times The witness list for the House Judiciary Committee's hearing to be held Monday in Los Angeles about the Comcast-NBC Universal deal is likely to include a mix of industry execs and academics, many of whom will raise concerns about the combination of the two giants. Media Executives Gush Over Apple iPad Wall Street Journal Unprovoked testimonials for the Apple iPad flowed freely from media leaders at the All Things Digital conference. Rupert Murdoch describes Apple's Steve Jobs as the best CEO in America. "The iPad is a beautiful, beautiful device. All of the media in the world can go on it." Nielsen Files to Raise $1.75 Billion in IPO Bloomberg Nielsen, the television-audience rating company, is filing to raise as much as $1.75 billion in a U.S. initial public offering. The market-research company is going public four years after it was acquired by a group of six leveraged buyout firms for $10.2 billion. Disney to Sell Movie Tickets via Facebook New York Times Disney has created what it believes is a first-of-its-kind app allowing Facebook users to buy tickets to "Toy Story 3" without leaving the social networking site and while, at the same time, prodding their friends to come along. The app could transform how Hollywood sells movie tickets. Time Warner Cable: A 'Pirate Sanctuary' Ars Technica Lawyers suing thousands of peer-to-peer users are unhappy with Time Warner Cable's unwillingness to process subscriber subpoenas in a timely manner. Time Warner Cable appears to be seeking to "garner public support and possibly gain more subscribers." NBC Boss Zucker Eyes $30M+ Exit Deal New York Post General Electric is said to have finalized details of Jeff Zucker's exit deal from NBC Universal. Zucker will leave "a couple of months" after Comcast closes its agreement to acquire a 51% stake in the media giant with an exit package of "roughly $30 million to $40 million." Icahn Promises Proxy Fight for Lions Gate Los Angeles Times Delivering on his threat to seize control of Lions Gate, Carl Icahn says he will launch a proxy war against the studio. The activist investor, currently the company's second-largest shareholder, has been waging a battle against studio management for more than a year. Vivendi Former CEO Messier in Big Mess BBC News Jean-Marie Messier, the former CEO of French media giant Vivendi Universal, is appearing in court today on fraud charges. Prosecutors claim he misled the stock market, manipulated share prices and misused company money. Messier faces up to five years in prison. Time Warner to Reinvent Under Bewkes Financial Times Time Warner is set to report the highest earnings growth of its industry peers and to return more capital to shareholders than any large U.S. media company. CEO Jeff Bewkes doesn't hide his disdain for deal-driven empire-building. "We're trying to make money," he says. Comcast Poised to Recreate Time Warner Barron's With its planned acquisition of NBC Universal, Comcast is "essentially recreating" the old Time Warner, which just got rid of both AOL and its cable arm, says BTIG analyst Richard Greenfield. NBC could "distract management" from its focus on the core cable business. Media Stocks Hope for Summer Recovery Hollywood Reporter Media conglomerate stocks are tumbling off the 52-week highs they set in the past two months, but most are entering the summer season slightly ahead of their 2009 closes. Time Warner is up more than its peers; News Corp. shares are running behind their 2009 finish. CBS to Form TV Joint Venture in India Economic Times CBS is forming a joint venture with India's Reliance Media World to launch a network of English and Hindi TV channels. The venture, which will start operations in January, will launch movie channels as well as regional entertainment channels, but won't enter the news space. Media Devices Eyed to Help Rescue Industry IDG News "Old media" seeing their revenue imperiled by the Internet's freewheeling ways are finding hope in the Apple iPad and other new media-friendly devices. The iPad may be the first of "tens of millions" portable media-consumption devices due out in the coming years. Time Warner CEO: Digital Is Good for Media Hollywood Reporter Overall, Time Warner's businesses are not hurting badly from piracy, according to CEO Jeff Bewkes. "Film and TV and magazines aren't the music business." TW's pure content focus is helping on the financial front as "content is going up" in the digital age, he argues. Viacom Names Dooley Second in Command Bloomberg Viacom is promoting CFO Thomas Dooley to the new post of COO, making him second in command behind CEO Philippe Dauman. Dooley will help set strategic priorities for the owner of MTV and Paramount Pictures. He will continue as CFO until a successor is found. Disney Seen Unlikely to Find Buyer for ABC Reuters Wall Street has long seen sense in Disney selling or spinning off ABC, the low-rated TV network and the one piece that does not seem to fit well with the entire entertainment empire. But the problem is finding a buyer, analysts say. "ABC would be very hard to divest." News Corp to Sell Beliefnet, Digital Assets AllThingsD Beliefnet, the spirituality site bought by News Corp. in late 2007, is being shopped around for sale, according to several sources. The media giant is also said to be considering selling off Jamba/Jamster, a mobile content provider now called Fox Mobile Group. Time Warner Says No Time Inc Sale This Year Dow Jones Time Warner is ruling out a sale of the company's magazine unit, Time Inc., in 2010 as the recovering economy promises to provide clues about the future of the business. When asked about the prospect of a Time Inc. sale, CEO Jeff Bewkes says: "Not this year." Disney's 'Alice' Rakes In $1 Billion Worldwide AP Disney says its remake of "Alice in Wonderland," by director Tim Burton, hit $1 billion in box office receipts worldwide. The movie ranks as the third most popular film that is not a sequel, after "Titanic" and "Avatar." The 3-D movie had the biggest March opening in history. Time Warner's 'Sex' to Best Disney's 'Prince' LA Times Disney's big-screen video game adaptation "Prince of Persia," starring Jake Gyllenhaal, isn't expected to open in first or even second place over the lucrative Memorial Day holiday weekend. "Sex and the City 2," the romantic comedy sequel, is forecast to rule the box office. Yahoo, eBay: End Viacom's YouTube Lawsuit Bloomberg Yahoo, eBay, Facebook and IAC/InterActiveCorp are urging a judge to dismiss Viacom's copyright-infringement lawsuit against Google's YouTube video-sharing site. The four Internet companies say Viacom's suit could "retard the development of the Internet and e-commerce." Viacom, CBS Not for Sale, Redstone Says Reuters CBS chief Sumner Redstone says he has no interest in selling the network or its sibling company, Viacom. "I will never, N-E-V-E-R, sell Viacom or CBS." Speculation is heating up that broadcasters are ripe for acquisition in light of Comcast's planned takeover of NBC. Big Media to Apple: We Want Adobe Flash NY Post Time Warner, NBC Universal and other large media companies are said to have told Apple they won't retool their extensive video libraries to accommodate the iPad, arguing that such a reformatting would be expensive and not worth it because Flash dominates the Web. Media's Future Eyed by Google, HuffPost I Want Media Arianna Huffington, Dan Abrams, Cindi Leive and a genuine "boy genius" will be among the participants in "The Future of Media: 2010," a panel discussion from I Want Media. The free Internet Week forum aims to explore the key issues that are reshaping traditional media. Veronis to Exit Veronis Suhler Stevenson MediaPost John Veronis is leaving Veronis Suhler Stevenson, the influential media industry private equity firm he co-founded with John Suhler. Jeffrey Stevenson, who joined the firm in 1982, will continue to serve as the managing partner of VSS and its sponsored funds. Hulu Eyed in Comcast-NBC Merger Deal B&C Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, is seeking strong conditions on any Comcast-NBC Universal merger, including that it divest its stake in the online video site Hulu within a year and apply program access rules to web video. Disney Staffer Fraud Fuels ABC Sale Talk Dow Jones An administrative assistant to Disney's head of communications and her boyfriend are being arrested for trying to sell advance access to the company's earnings reports. The twosome allegedly claims that Disney is in talks to sell ABC. Disney describes the claim as false. FCC to Study Media Ownership, Internet NY Times The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will begin soliciting public comments as part of its required review of media ownership rules. The agency also is seeking opinion on the impact of the Internet on the use of television and radio, as well as access to news. Comcast-NBC Merger Deal Probed by FCC LA Times The Federal Communications Commission is questioning Comcast and NBC Universal as part of its review of the companies' proposed merger. Of particular interest is how they decide what content goes on what platform. The video site Hulu is among the items being probed. Emmis to Be Taken Private by Its CEO Dow Jones Emmis Communications will be taken private as a company formed by its executive chairman Jeff Smulyan acquires it in a deal valuing the radio-station owner at about $90 million. The acquisition still needs to be approved by Emmis shareholders and regulators. Murdoch Cuts Price of Centre Island Home Newsday Rupert Murdoch is getting more serious about selling his waterfront estate on Centre Island in Nassau County, chopping the price for a second time by more than $2 million. The estate first hit the market in 2007, listed for $14.8 million. The current asking price is $10.5 million. News Corp Unveils Pay-For Times Websites Times News Corp. is launching paid-for websites for the Times of London and the Sunday Times. Starting in June, readers must pay 1 pound ($1.44) per day or 2 pounds per week for both titles. Also: Articles on the sites will not appear in searches by Google and other search engines. Disney Ends Miramax Talks With Weinsteins Wall St Journal Disney is said to be formally terminating negotiations with Harvey and Bob Weinstein to buy back Miramax Films, due to the "complex structure" of the acquisition. The end of the talks could pave the way for another bid by billionaire brothers Tom and Alec Gores. Google Offered Viacom $600M for Content CNET In 2006, Google offered nearly $600 million in guaranteed revenue if Viacom licensed its TV shows and films to YouTube. But Viacom wanted $700 million. News of Google's offer is revealed in newly released documents in the Viacom-YouTube copyright lawsuit. Time Warner: Drop 'Time' from Its Name? H'wood Reporter At Time Warner's annual meeting on Friday, the loudest applause came after CEO Jeff Bewkes reminded attendees that the company has dropped "AOL" from its moniker. One shareholder suggested that "Time" be dropped as well, changing the media giant's name yet again. Viacom-YouTube Feud Reveals Nasty Talk Ars Technica YouTube employees sneered at rights holders as "copyright bastards" and "a-holes" in newly released court documents from the ongoing Viacom-YouTube copyright battle. Former Viacom CEO Tom Freston wrote in an e-mail: "If we get UTube ... I wanna run it." Murdoch: Secret Talks with Prime Minister Mirror David Cameron, the newly elected U.K. prime minister, held "secret talks" with News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch at No 10 Downing Street last Tuesday. Political observers suggest that Cameron may pay back Murdoch for his newspapers' support during the election. Disney's Miramax Sale Not on the Rocks AP Ron Burkle and partners the Weinstein brothers are denying reports that talks to buy Disney's Miramax Films division are on the rocks. Discussions are being slowed, sources say, mainly because of problems securing the Weinstein brothers as the company's managers. Time Warner Preps Movie Shortcut to TV Wall St Journal Time Warner Cable is in talks with Hollywood studios about a "home theater on demand" service that would send movies to people's living-room TVs just 30 days after films hit the multiplex. Consumers would be allowed to watch a movie at home for about $20 to $30 a pop. Comcast-NBC Merger: A 'Killer Asteroid' B&C An effort by the activist group Free Press to stop the proposed Comcast-NBC Universal merger is producing an flood of complaints to the Federal Communications Commission. The group created a video comparing the deal to a killer asteroid headed for Earth. Murdoch Son Slams Google Over Internet Evening Standard Google recognizes it has not done enough to help media owners and publishers protect their intellectual property, says News Corp. exec James Murdoch, responding to news that his company has been in talks with the Internet giant. Google's "approach needs to change." Barnes & Noble to Move Away from Books Wall St Journal Barnes & Noble, the leading U.S. bookstore chain, plans to evolve into a different kind of retailer in the coming years, selling more nonbook items like puzzles and games. The move is in response to the rise of e-books. Some question whether bookstores will disappear. Time Warner's Cable Outlets Drive Profit Bloomberg Time Warner's biggest cable channels, TBS and TNT, are spending more on original TV series and paying for marquee names like Conan O'Brien to drive ratings at the unit that now accounts for most of the company's profit. TBS and TNT are increasing program spending by 26%. Yahoo Former CEO Semel Eyed for MGM Wall St Journal Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's creditors are holding talks with a handful of Hollywood execs about running the debt-laden film studio in exchange for an equity stake. Those having discussions include onetime Yahoo chief Terry Semel and former News Corp. exec Peter Chernin. Murdoch Lacks Allies for Digital Crusade AllThingsD Rupert Murdoch is due to announce details of a long-planned digital news subscription service within the next few weeks. However, News Corp. reportedly has yet to sign any external partners on to the venture. Still, the company is said to be in "late stage" talks with Gannett. Old Media Entering Deals With Foursquare Mediaweek The Wall Street Journal, CBSNews.com and Time Out New York are among the growing number of media outlets entering partnerships with Foursquare, the location-based social network. Foursquare is seen as "a major place where people will consume actionable content." Media Moguls Talk New-Media Monetization World Screen Comcast's Brian Roberts, Time Warner's Jeff Bewkes and CBS's Les Moonves are among the media CEOs weighing in on new-media business models at this week's Cable Show in Los Angeles. "Content is everything," asserts Moonves. "Wireless is useless if you're hitless." Media Execs Giddy Over Prospects for iPad H'wood Reporter Many media execs are said to be downright giddy about the Apple iPad's role as a device for media consumption. "Importantly, we make money on it." Execs foresee consumers having a tablet computer in every room. "The iPad will be your server. Why do you need cable TV?" Sony Considers Developing iPad Rival Tablet Bloomberg Sony says it is mulling the development of a tablet computer to compete with Apple's iPad, though it wants more evidence consumers will buy them. "The iPad has created a new opportunity." For now, Sony plans to keep investing in its Reader line of devices for digital books. NBC Universal's 'Robin Hood' Eyes Media AFP If Robin Hood was alive today he would aim his arrows at big media, says "Robin Hood" actor Russell Crowe at the Cannes Film Festival. "He would be looking at the monopolization of media as the greatest enemy." The new "Robin Hood" film is a production of NBC Universal. Disney's Club Penguin Misses Profit Goals NY Times Club Penguin, the online community acquired by Disney in 2007, has failed to meet profit targets that were tied to $350 million in payouts to the website's creators. Club Penguin, where members pay $5.95 a month to dress penguin characters and play games, "is stumbling." Time Warner CEO Sidesteps Magazine Talk CNBC Advertising is on the upswing for Time Warner's television and magazine businesses, says CEO Jeff Bewkes. While sidestepping the question of whether Time Warner would sell off its magazines, Bewkes talks up the division's strengths. Time on the iPad "comes to life." Saban Buys Power Rangers, Eyes Newsweek Wall St Journal Media investor Haim Saban has bought back the rights to the Power Rangers children's franchise from their current home, Disney, and plans to bring them to Viacom's Nickelodeon. Also: Saban says he will "take a serious look" at Newsweek magazine, which is up for sale. Comcast 'Won't Comcast-ize' NBC Universal Dow Jones NBC will receive "more love" if Comcast wins regulatory approval to take over NBC Universal, says Comcast CEO Brian Roberts in an industry interview session with former News Corp. COO Peter Chernin. "At the end of the day, broadcast is going to have another revenue stream." News Corp Ex Chernin Builds Media Venture NY Times Peter Chernin, the subject of much speculation since his departure from News Corp., appears to be building his own ambitious media enterprise. His firm is expected to meld original content with cutting-edge technologies that use the Web and other digital delivery platforms. Time Warner Supports Ending Saturday Mail Bloomberg Time Warner says it supports the U.S. Postal Service’s proposal to eliminate Saturday mail delivery to save money. A "healthy" service is needed to deliver the company's more than 20 magazines, although Time magazine would have to shift its production schedule. Disney Plans Exporting Channels to Korea AP Disney plans to launch two Korean-language channels in South Korea in a joint venture with SK Telecom. The venture plans to launch Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney Channel aimed at children and families there in spring 2011, pending approval from Korean regulators. Viacom Backed by Rivals Against YouTube H'wood Reporter NBC Universal, Warner Bros. and Disney are joining performing rights associations in supporting Viacom's $1 billion copyright lawsuit against YouTube. They argue that Viacom's attempt to hold the Google-owned video-sharing service liable is "an important copyright case." 'TV Everywhere' Faces Industry Resistance LA Times A year after Time Warner's Jeff Bewkes introduced "TV Everywhere," allowing paying consumers to view shows on any device, his plan is facing resistance. Disney, NBC and News Corp. champion an alternative, Hulu. Critics see the plan as an effort to wipe out free online TV. Media Giants Mull Payouts as Ads Rebound Bloomberg News Corp., CBS and Viacom are weighing dividend increases or share buybacks as the advertising rebound spurs cash flow. News Corp. and Viacom may increase payouts to investors by August. "Investors in the media world would continue to prefer a return of capital." Murdoch 'Seeks Revenge' for Biography Guardian Michael Wolff claims that the New York Post's Page Six column published items about his affair as revenge for the unfavorable portrayal of News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch in his book, "The Man Who Owns the News." Says Wolff: "If he feels threatened he will do anything." News Corp Exec Salaries 'Quite Obscene' LA Times While most CEOs of U.S. companies saw their compensation fall in 2009, top execs of media companies continued to rake it in. So says a study by the Los Angeles Times, following a similar report last week in the New York Times. "The move to digital doesn't bode well." Time Warner Only Potential Buyer of MGM Variety Access Industries is dropping out of the bidding for beleaguered film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, leaving only Time Warner as a potential buyer. Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes says that an acquisition of MGM "could make good sense" at the right price. Liberty Chief: FCC Favors Internet Giants Dow Jones The Federal Communications Commission appears to be acting in the interests of major Internet companies in taking a more aggressive stance on Internet regulation, according to cable pioneer John Malone. "I'm not enough of a prophet to figure out where this is all going." FCC Paves Way to Bypass Movie Theaters LA Times U.S. regulators have granted a waiver to the Hollywood studios that clears the way for them to show first-run movies in the home shortly after -- or even during -- their release in theaters. The "selectable output control" technology is expected to help stop illicit recording. Comcast Eyes Sale of NBC Station in LA Wall St Journal Comcast plans to sell one of NBC Universal's three Los Angeles television stations to win regulatory approval for its proposed acquisition of the media broadcaster. The NBC station that Comcast proposes selling is likely to be KWHY, an independent Spanish-language station. Cablevision Yanks Ads from Village Voice NY Post Cablevision pulled some $1 million in advertising from the Village Voice after the alternative weekly newspaper published an "inappropriate" quip about the cable giant's chairman, James Dolan. Cablevision says: "Who the hell wouldn't pull their ads after they read that?" News Corp Plans Prequel to 'Planet of Apes' H'wood Reporter News Corp. film studio 20th Century Fox plans to release "Rise of the Apes" in summer 2011, a prequel to "Planet of the Apes," incorporating digital effects developed for the company's box-office smash "Avatar." Former News Corp. president Peter Chernin will co-produce. Viacom, News Corp Ex-Execs Eyed for MGM Bloomberg Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's creditors, unsatisfied with proposals to buy or restructure the debt-laden film studio, have contacted execs who may be willing to run it. Former News Corp. head Peter Chernin and ex-Viacom exec Jonathan Dolgen met with lenders in recent weeks. Netflix, Redbox Expected to Kill Blockbuster Bloomberg Blockbuster bonds are trading at prices that indicate its restructuring efforts will eventually fail and the video rental chain will go out of business, investors and analysts say. "It will cease to exist by 2013." Netflix and Redbox are taking Blockbuster's business. Media Stocks Peak as Investors Turn Away Reuters CBS, Time Warner and News Corp. are reporting stronger quarterly results, but a sell-off in their shares suggests that investors have already priced in the advertising recovery. "None of the media companies are paragons of enormous value," says one investor. CBS Said to Overpay Moonves $28 Million Bloomberg If CEOs were paid according to shareholder return, CBS' Les Moonves would take a $28 million pay cut under a model developed by pay expert Graef Crystal. Google's Eric Schmidt would get more than a $17 million raise. Schmidt is described as a "bargain" CEO. Time Warner CEO Sees Possible CBS Deal NY Times Time Warner's CNN could partner with CBS News or another broadcast network in the next 12 months, says CEO Jeff Bewkes. "It's no secret we've talked to other news organizations." He adds that Time Warner does not "have any desire to own a broadcast network." Comcast-NBC 'Won't Hurt' Internet Video Bloomberg A merged Comcast and NBC Universal will have numerous public benefits and won't harm Internet video distribution, the companies claim in a report submitted to U.S. regulators. Comcast-NBC "lacks an incentive to block Web services from accessing programming." NBC Universal CEO Mulls Future in Politics Daily Beast NBC Universal boss Jeff Zucker says he is interested in running for political office after he eventually steps down from atop the Peacock network. "Being a senator would interest me." Zucker may laying the groundwork for his exit from NBCU after the Comcast-NBC deal closes. Media Mogul Saban Eyes Brand Management LA Times Haim Saban is committing $500 million to acquire leading entertainment and consumer names: "As media and consumer options become increasingly fragmented, our thesis is that properties that resonate with consumers today will only become more meaningful." News Corp Eyes MySpace, Internet Content Dow Jones News Corp. "made some big mistakes" with MySpace, but more traffic is expected by the end of the year, says chief Rupert Murdoch. He adds that the company will hold a press conference in three to four weeks for a "big announcement" about charging for online news content. Disney: 1.5 Million ABC TV Episodes on iPad Bloomberg Disney says owners of Apple's iPad have played more than 1.5 million episodes of ABC television shows since the device went on sale. More than 400,000 copies of the free ABC player have been downloaded since April 3. Disney is also an investor in the Hulu video site. Time Warner Claims Record Quarterly Profit CNNMoney Time Warner is reporting its highest quarterly profit in company history, easily beating Wall Street's forecasts. "The advertising recovery benefited both Turner and Time Inc," says CEO Jeff Bewkes. Time Inc., however, saw sales slip, despite a rise in ads and subscriptions. Old Media Valued Higher Than Internet Giants Wall St Journal Juiced by a bounce-back in advertising, shares of "old media" companies are enjoying a renaissance. Discovery is trading at 23 times forecast 2010 earnings -- higher than even Google. Nonetheless, the long-term threats to the media world haven't gone away. "Caution is in order." Disney Shares Skyrocket as Ad Sales Recover Bloomberg Disney, the world's biggest media company and owner of ESPN and ABC, saw its shares rise to an almost 10-year high after Viacom and other rivals reported a rebound in advertising. "Comments that advertisers are opening up their wallets" are pushing up media valuations. Time Warner Makeover Enters 'Next Chapter' Multichannel News Time Warner's corporate makeover is entering the next chapter, as investments in the company's basic cable networks benefit from a rebound in advertising. An upside is seen at TBS in recruiting Conan O'Brien -- ad revenue in the late-night time slot could double. Murdoch's Fox Accused of Violating Copyrights TorrentFreak Fox News is said to be violating the copyrights of a photographer, even after owner Rupert Murdoch declared war against Google and others he believes are infringing on his company's work. Fox News is "exploiting" the work of Flickr user "Orvatli" without permission. Viacom, MTV Boost Security After Bomb Scare LA Times After the attempted bombing in New York's Times Square, police are stepping up patrols around studios in Hollywood. Sites linked to Comedy Central's "South Park" are getting extra protection. "We continue to be vigilant when it comes to the MTV location." Canwest to Poised to Sell TV Biz, Newspapers Canoe The breakup of Canadian media giant Canwest Global is coming closer, with Shaw Communications saying it will buy the television business for $2 billion and Torstar bidding for its newspapers. Canwest is struggling under $4 billion in debt from aggressive expansion. Pearson Sells IDC Data Business for $3.4 Billion Bloomberg Warburg Pincus and Silver Lake plan to buy Pearson's Interactive Data Corp., a provider of financial market data and services, for $3.4 billion, in the biggest private-equity deal this year. "The price signals a re-entry of private equity into the media sector." Obama Jokes: I Can't Save Media Industry WaPo / DB President Obama gave the media industry some heart-quickening teasing at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, saying he won't be able to bail out their businesses: "I'm not a miracle worker." Also: Obama's puns were contributed by writers from "The Daily Show." Media Chiefs Continue to Get Big Paydays NY Times Despite tough times in the media business, many of the people at the top continue to enjoy big paydays. CBS boss Les Moonves doubled his pay package last year to almost $43 million. Big compensation figures are seen as "one of the difficulties in the whole business model." Viacom TV Series Eyed in NYC Bomb Scare NY Daily News An Islamic group that warned Comedy Central's "South Park" of retaliation for lampooning the Prophet Muhammed is denying involvement in the Times Square bomb plot. The SUV containing the explosives was parked next to the headquarters of Comedy Central owner Viacom. Disney's 'Iron Man 2' to Battle Online Pirates WSJ / CNET "Iron Man 2" had a strong international debut this weekend and is hoped to give Disney its biggest film franchise since "Pirates of the Caribbean." Also: Scores of pirated copies of "Iron Man 2" are already available online ahead of the summer film's U.S. premiere this weekend. Media Mogul Saban 'Helped' with Disney Deal TheWrap Media billionaire and Clinton pal Haim Saban used political influence to help complete his sale of Fox Family Channel to Disney in 2001, according to a profile in this week's New Yorker. Saban's lawyers have already threatened legal action if the piece is "disparaging." U.S. Media Spending Rises Over 35 Years H'wood Reporter Over the past 35 years, U.S. media spending rose at a compound annual growth rate of 8.1%, second only to the services sector, says a new database from private-equity firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson. Also, a key industry growth driver has been digital-based media. Time Warner Ex-Boss Trashed Over Google Atlanta JC CNN founder Ted Turner has ridiculed Time Warner execs for selling the company's stake in Google too soon and for not selling CNNfn to Rupert Murdoch. "I said to [former CEO] Dick Parsons, 'We ought to hang onto that Google stock.' He said, 'That company's a bunch of bull---.'" Murdoch's 'Ink' Biz Slammed by Media Rival Bloomberg Viacom chief Sumner Redstone, taking aim at media rival Rupert Murdoch, has chastised the News Corp. boss for investing in newspapers, saying the "ink" industry will be dead in two years. "He lives in ink, and I live in movies and television. Ink is going to go away." News Corp: 'Too Complicated' to Sell Fuel LA Times Late last year, News Corp. tried to sell its Fuel TV cable channel to Viacom. The rationale was that the extreme sports channel for young guys might make a better fit within Viacom's youth-centric MTV universe. But after months of haggling, News Corp. has decided not to sell. Big Media May Benefit From Ad Recovery DJ / WSJ News Corp., Time Warner, Viacom and other major media conglomerates are expected to post better quarterly results in the coming weeks as the advertising market improves. Also: Advertisers are poised to boost spending on commercials for the coming television season. Murdoch's Saudi Pal Mulls News Channel Bloomberg Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal plans to sell a stake in Middle East media company Rotana to the public within two years. Rotana in February agreed to sell a stake to News Corp. for $70 million. Alwaleed also may start a regional news channel to compete with Al-Jazeera. Murdoch Eyes NYT's Readers, Advertisers Reuters / Post The Wall Street Journal is unveiling its highly anticipated New York edition, deeply cutting the cost of a full-page ad and throwing in a full-page ad in sibling New York Post as a bonus. Also: News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch is throwing a bash to celebrate the launch. Viacom Offices Boosts Security After Threat Post / Fox Police have tightened security at Comedy Central's offices in response to the "South Park" episode featuring the Prophet Mohammed in a bear suit. Also: The 20-year-old student who suggested a threat against "South Park's" creators says: "If you kill us, then we kill you." Time Warner Near Deal with Conan O'Brien Deadline Conan O'Brien is becoming a Time Warner man all the way. His company, Conaco Productions, is said to be finalizing a major production deal with Warner Bros. Television, now that it is producing his new late-night talk show for TBS. Conaco had been based at NBC. News Corp Exec Writes About Alcoholism Daily Beast David Yelland, a onetime senior VP of News Corp., writes about alcoholism in a new book, "The Truth About Leo." The ex-editor of the New York Post and London Sun writes: "One morning I had breakfast with Rupert having dressed in blackout over last night's clothes." Nielsen to Begin Hiring Bankers for IPO Financial Times Nielsen, the world's largest TV and consumer measurement company, will begin auditioning bankers next month for one of the largest U.S. initial public offerings in recent years. Nielsen's private equity owners hope the offering will value the company at up to $21 billion. News Corp Heir Apparent in Office Fracas Guardian James Murdoch, News Corp.'s heir apparent, caused a "media sensation" by storming into the office of Simon Kelner, editor of the U.K. Independent newspaper, and berating him for running a promotional ad assuring readers: "Rupert Murdoch won't decide this election. You will." Viacom Censors 'South Park' After Threat LA Times Comedy Central bleeped out all references to the prophet Muhammad in "South Park" after a threat from a radical Muslim group. The incident provides the latest example that media giants still struggle to balance free speech with safety concerns and religious sensitivities. Time Warner, CBS in March Madness Deal Fox Business Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting and CBS have inked a $10.8 billion, 14-year deal to televise NCAA's March Madness basketball tournament beginning in 2011. The deal means that for the first time, all games will be televised live across four national networks. Viacom Censors 'South Park' After Threat LA Times Comedy Central bleeped out all references to the prophet Muhammad in "South Park" after a threat from a radical Muslim group. The incident provides the latest example that media giants still struggle to balance free speech with safety concerns and religious sensitivities. Time Warner, CBS in March Madness Deal Fox Business Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting and CBS have inked a $10.8 billion, 14-year deal to televise NCAA's March Madness basketball tournament beginning in 2011. The deal means that for the first time, all games will be televised live across four national networks. Studios, Redbox End Lawsuits in DVD Deal CNBC 20th Century Fox and Universal Studios have struck a distribution deal with Redbox, agreeing to wait 28 days before offering new DVD releases for rental from the company's $1-a-day kiosks. The deal should protect the studios' business of selling new releases on DVD. Bernstein Media Analyst Nathanson Exits Bloomberg Nomura Holdings, Japan's biggest brokerage, is said to have hired Sanford Bernstein analyst Michael Nathanson as head of U.S. media and telecommunications equity research. Nathanson is the top-ranked entertainment industry analyst in Institutional Investor's 2009 survey. News Corp Invests in Digital Music Startup CNET News Corp. is acquiring a small stake in music startup Beyond Oblivion, which plans to enable consumer electronics makers to preload music on handhelds, computers and other gadgets. With MySpace Music, News Corp. already has a significant position in digital music. Time Warner Invests in TV-Marketing Firm NewTeeVee Simulmedia, a marketing firm founded by former AOL exec Dave Morgan, has raised $8 million in financing led by Time Warner. Simulmedia uses anonymous viewing data and a proprietary predictive technology to help television programmers build audiences. Disney Close to Sale of Miramax Film Studio Bloomberg Disney is said to be close to an agreement to sell its Miramax film studio to billionaire Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Cos. for $625 million. The deal may be completed in 48 hours. Burkle is working with Miramax founders Bob and Harvey Weinstein, who won't hold an equity stake. Sony to Air Baseball Games on PlayStation 3 Bloomberg Sony, maker of the PlayStation 3 video game console, plans to stream live Major League Baseball games over the Internet to its machines to expand its online offerings. The company is preparing an update for the console software to enable streaming on existing machines. Disney Hires Digital Pro as Marketing Chief TheWrap Disney is naming MT Carney as the new head of marketing for its film studio. Carney co-founded Naked Communications, a New York City-based media planning firm. Its clients have included Coca-Cola, Kraft, Johnson & Johnson, Google, Microsoft and Nokia. Viacom, Disney Feel Impact of Volcano CNBC Viacom's and Disney's film studios are moving the premiere of "Iron Man 2" from London to Los Angeles, due to disrupted travel schedules caused by the volcano in Iceland. The film's debut in international theaters will be uninterrupted, however, thanks to digital distribution. Time Warner Buys Game Studio Turbine Financial Times Warner Bros. is acquiring online gaming studio Turbine, in an effort to spread its social networking and micro-payments technology across its video games and home video business. Turbine is the group behind the hit online game based on Warner's "Lord of the Rings." Disney to Sell ABC? Who Would Buy It? MarketWatch Is Disney quietly shopping ABC or, at least, the news division? "The reality in the broadcast media today is that network television properties are assets of diminishing promise. Cable is where it's at. On its own, ABC is not regarded as an attractive takeover candidate." News Corp Buys Game Firm Irata Labs LA Times News Corp. is acquiring Irata Labs, a San Francisco developer that builds games and other apps for social networks. Irata is best known for creating Spymaster, an espionage game on Twitter. It is believed to be the first game to use the microblogging platform. Microsoft, Chernin Mull Xbox TV Channel Bloomberg Microsoft and former News Corp. president Peter Chernin are said to have discussed creating a television channel for users of the Xbox video-game console. The channel would be owned jointly by Chernin and Microsoft, and would offer reruns and original shows. News Corp Mulls Spinoff of Digital Ad Unit AllThingsD While there have been reports that News Corp. is selling its advertising unit, Fox Audience Network, the company has actually been in talks with about spinning it off and selling only a 20% to 30% chunk of it. The worry: If Google dominates that business, "it's game over." Martha Stewart Coming to Video Games Barron's Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is teaming up with video-game firm Majesco Entertainment to develop and produce interactive electronic games based on Martha's "expansive portfolio of lifestyle content." Women are "increasingly engaged in social gaming," Stewart says. Viacom Staff YouTube Uploads 'Irrelevant' Dow Jones Viacom admits that its employees uploaded company content on YouTube for promotional purposes during a period of alleged copyright violations, but says that the act was irrelevant to its case. "YouTube and Google did nothing because they didn't want to know." Media Consumption Increasing, Study Says Guardian People are watching more television, reading more news, playing more video games, and spending more time updating their social networking profiles than they were six months ago, says a U.K. survey by KPMG. But spending has plunged as consumers expect free access. Disney Near Deal With Weinsteins for Miramax Bloomberg Disney is said to be near an agreement to sell its Miramax film unit in a deal that would put Bob and Harvey Weinstein back in charge of the studio they founded. The Weinsteins, who are working with Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Cos., entered into exclusive talks with Disney on Friday. Viacom CEO Extends Contract, Gets a Raise NY Post Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman, after guiding the media company through a turbulent 2009, has received a 40% raise, to $3.5 million, according to papers filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The news comes a day after he inked a five-year contract extension. CBS Boss Doubles Pay From Previous Year LA Times CBS's not-so-undercover boss, Les Moonves, was awarded a compensation package of $43.2 million for 2009, according to regulatory filings. Moonves' package for 2009 was more than double what he was awarded in 2008 when the company's stock dropped precipitously. Time Warner Downgraded on Weaker Growth AP Morgan Stanley has downgraded shares of Time Warner, saying the factors that could boost growth at the media giant are largely over. Time Warner completed a major restructuring over the past 18 months. As such, any more lift to the stock from such efforts "has passed." Disney to Shutter Music Label, Lay Off 25 Tennessean Disney plans to close its Nashville-based Lyric Street Records label, the latest casualty of a music business hit hard by declining album sales and a fast-changing digital landscape. Lyric Street, which opened in 1997, is home to such major country music acts as Rascal Flatts. Viacom's YouTube Attack 'Threatens' Internet KC infoZine The Electronic Frontier Foundation and other nonprofit groups want a federal judge to reject copyright claims made in lawsuits against YouTube. Plaintiffs in those lawsuits are pushing for legal rulings that would undermine federal law and throttle free speech online. Liberty Media Eyes Cable Asset Buys in Europe BusinessWeek In January, John Malone's Liberty Global bought Germany's No. 2 cable operator, Unitymedia GmbH. The company says it is now looking for more European assets. The race is for dominance in newer digital technologies for both on-demand TV and Internet access. Time Warner Nabs Conan Ahead of Murdoch Bloomberg Conan O'Brien, the ousted host of NBC's "Tonight Show," will join Time Warner's TBS, shunning News Corp.'s Fox network as pay television challenges the broadcast networks' late-night dominance. "Conan is a great talent and we wish him every success," Fox says. Murdochs Break New Baby News on Twitter Sydney Morning Herald Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch have given birth to third child, Aerin Elisabeth Murdoch. The news was released by a family friend via Twitter on Monday night. The youngest addition to the Murdoch empire took her second name from her paternal great-grandmother. Disney: Is a Sale of ABC on the Horizon? Daily Beast With Disney CEO Bob Iger garnering praise for his stewardship of the company, sources say he will now focus directly on ABC. Despite Iger's insistence that he doesn't feel a need to sell the network, such a move remains a possibility. "There's no growth at ABC." Time Warner Weighs MGM Bid Structures Reuters Time Warner is evaluating possible new structures to its bid for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, as the auction for the studio drags on. A meeting with MGM's advisors is expected to be sought to talk about ways that the media giant could move forward in the bidding process. Comcast COO Highest Paid Company Exec Reuters Comcast COO Stephen Burke was the highest paid exec at the No. 1 U.S. cable company last year, topping even CEO Brian Roberts. Burke, a former Disney exec, took on extra responsibilities in 2009 as the manager to oversee the integration of NBC Universal into Comcast. FCC Headquarters Evacuated in Bomb Threat TV B'cast The headquarters of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission was evacuated Wednesday morning due to a bomb threat. Speculation sped through various Twitter feeds, though nothing initially appeared on the FCC's Web site nor its own Twitter page. Comcast Ruling May Impact Broadband Plan Reuters The Obama administration's plan to expand broadband could be impacted by a court ruling that limited the Federal Communications Commission's authority to regulate network providers, says FCC general counsel Austin Schlick. "We are assessing the implications." Murdoch: Google to Stop Getting Free News MarketWatch News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch says he expects online content aggregators such as Google will soon halt the practice of posting content produced by others without paying to do so. "We're going to stop Google and others from taking our content" and using it for free. Comcast Wins in Case on FCC Net Neutrality Bloomberg Federal regulators lacked authority to censure Comcast for interfering with subscribers' Internet traffic, a U.S. court says. The ruling is a setback for the likes of Google and Amazon.com, which want "net neutrality" rules to keep Internet providers from limiting Web traffic. Disney Receives Three Bids for Miramax LA Times Disney has received three bids for the specialty label Miramax Films, and now has to decide whether to sell the asset or hold on to it. Among the three: supermarket magnate Ron Burkle and his Yucaipa Cos. in association with Miramax founders Bob and Harvey Weinstein. Fox, Sony Reach DVD Pacts with Blockbuster Bloomberg Blockbuster has reached new deals with 20th Century Fox and Sony's film studio to get rental copies of DVDs on the same day they become available for sale. An accord last month with Warner Bros. also offers the company earlier access to DVDs than rival Netflix. Liberty Chief Malone to Exit DirecTV Board TheStreet Media tycoon John Malone is resigning from the board of directors of DirecTV. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission mandated the change be made by Liberty Media, where Malone is chairman, as a result of its acquisition of DirecTV from News Corp. in February 2008. News Corp in Talks to Sell Radio Assets Moscow Times News Corp. plans to sell its Russian radio stations to Vitaly Bogdanov, a senator from the Kursk region. The stations include Nashe Radio Moscow, Best FM, Ultra and Nashe Radio St. Petersburg. News Corp. announced plans to unload all of its Russian assets in 2008. Media Stocks Off to Good Start in 2010 H'wood Reporter Shares of media conglomerates are up across the board for the first three months of 2010, except for a minimal decline at CBS, and most outperformed the S&P 500 stock index. But some analysts warn that media stocks will have a tough time continuing their momentum. Media M&A Activity Shows Signs of Life BtoB The mergers and acquisitions market in media continued its modest recovery in the first quarter, according to tabulations by media investment bank Jordan, Edmiston Group. Driving some of the transaction volume were publishing companies shedding most of their titles. Media Rebuild Web Sites for Apple iPad TechNewsDaily Media companies are already changing the way they build their Web sites to accommodate Apple's iPad. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal are changing their content layout to better fit the iPad screen; CBS is working on an iPad-friendly version of its video site. Murdoch Is Facing New Antitrust Claims Bloomberg News Corp.'s $500 million settlement of Valassis Communications' unfair competition complaints has stirred Floorgraphics, a former rival in the supermarket promotions business, to try to reopen a closed case to take another crack at its charge of anticompetitive behavior. Comcast-NBC Deal Eyed by Five States Bloomberg At least five states are involved in the U.S. antitrust review of Comcast's plan to acquire NBC Universal. The involvement of New York, California, Florida, Oregon and Washington shows a level of interest and unease with the transaction, according to antitrust observers. Murdoch Web Exec Exits as Deals Drop FT Jeremy Philips, one of Rupert Murdoch's most senior Internet execs, is leaving News Corp. "to focus on new entrepreneurial ventures." His exit highlights the media giant's reduced appetite for digital deal-making. News Corp. bought MySpace during Philips's tenure. Movie Downloaders Hit with Lawsuits H'wood Reporter More than 20,000 movie torrent downloaders have been sued in the past few weeks in U.S. federal court for copyright infringement. The lawsuits were filed by the U.S. Copyright Group, a venture working on behalf of an ad hoc coalition of independent film producers. Disney: 'HS Musical' Franchise Not Done Multichannel Disney plans to wring more money out of its lucrative "High School Musical" franchise by producing a new Disney Channel original movie focusing on alum Sharpay Evans, "Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure." Disney is also preparing a "High School Musical 4" movie for 2011. Media Giants' Results Driven by Cable H'wood Reporter Cable is still king when it comes to driving the revenue of the major media conglomerates, and the degree to which they do will become clear as they report first-quarter earnings in a few weeks. News Corp.'s cable channels "have a lot of room left to grow," says COO Chase Carey. Time Warner Says YES to Web Growth AP The Yankees' YES Network has expanded its Internet reach to include Time Warner Cable. The network will start streaming telecasts to Time Warner viewers who receive YES in the team's home territory, adding to deals with Verizon FiOS and Cablevision. Murdoch Names Actors as Godparents M&C Jordan's Queen Rania hosted a three-day tour of her country following the baptism of Rupert Murdoch's daughters Grace and Chloe. Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman become godparents to the Murdoch youngsters at the ceremony. Time Warner CEO Bewkes' Pay Fell in 2009 MarketWatch Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes's total compensation fell 9.5% to $19.6 million in 2009 as the value of his stock and option awards declined, although his performance-based bonus jumped 59%. Bewkes had refused an increase in his salary due to the economic downturn. Viacom: 'Easy Pickings' for Big Media Rivals Barron's Viacom could become a takeout candidate should chief Sumner Redstone "not live forever," according to an analysis in Barron's. With a market value of $20 billion and highly coveted assets, Viacom "would be easy pickings for News Corp., Comcast or Time Warner." Sony Blocks Beyonce's Page on YouTube E! Online Sony Music is said to have blocked all music video content on pop star Beyonce's YouTube page. The action followed a copyright infringement case involving the singer-actress's label. Beyonce's videos remain available on Vevo, the music video site co-owned by Sony. News Corp's 'Avatar' Most Pirated Film Ever Barron's "Avatar" is not only the highest-grossing movie of all time, it is also the most pirated film in history, according to director James Cameron. "Imagine how much we would have made if we weren't the most pirated film." "Avatar" will be available on Apple iTunes in May. Viacom Chief Dauman Upbeat on Media Biz Boston Globe Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman says he sees "three waves of change" transforming media businesses as they look to adapt and innovate: "global, technological and millennial." Media companies should study the habits of the millennials: "They grew up with the Internet." Disney Ex-Chief Eisner: Big Media Will End WorldScreen The era of total control by big media companies is "probably going to end," says Michael Eisner, founder of the digital firm Tornante Company. "Those that do compelling stories will find [their] way. There will also be the lower, horrible stuff. And probably more of that." NBC Gets Financing for Merger with Comcast Philly Business NBC Universal says it has reached agreements to receive $9.1 billion of financing and a $750 million credit facility to provide the financing needed to form the company's planned joint venture with Comcast. The deal still must win the approval of U.S. regulators. Time Warner Appears to Lead Bids for MGM Dow Jones Time Warner appears to be the lead bidder for struggling Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which said it has received several offers from suitors wanting to acquire it or keep it operating as a standalone company. Time Warner has offered $1.5 billion to acquire the studio. Lions Gate, Icahn Trade Barbs; Shares Rise Reuters Lions Gate and investor Carl Icahn are engaging in heated exchanges after the movie studio rejected his hostile bid. The company's shares are up, and analysts say that is because an acquisition of the studio, home to the "Saw" films and "Mad Men" TV series, is more likely. News Corp Unveils Pay Mobile Video Service GigaOm News Corp.'s Fox Mobile is launching a mobile video service called Bitbop, which will deliver on-demand television shows and movies to consumers' smartphones for $10 per month. At launch, the "Hulu-like" service will include content from Fox, NBC Universal and Discovery. Blockbuster Seen Slowly 'Bleeding to Death' CNNMoney Blockbuster is in trouble with nearly $1 billion in debt, and its latest fixes -- such as a new on-demand video service via T-Mobile smartphones -- might not be enough to keep it afloat, analysts say. Blockbuster is "bleeding to death," and "they're putting on a lot of Band-Aids." Murdoch Wealth Nearly Doubles in Year BRW News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch is the wealthiest business executive in Australia, according to the annual ranking by BRW, an Australian business magazine. Murdoch's share wealth almost doubled in the past year to nearly $6 billion from about $3.4 billion a year earlier. U.S. Media Ownership Restrictions Eased AP A U.S. federal court has at least temporarily lifted government rules that block owning a newspaper and a broadcast television station in the same market. The decision is "appropriate given the economic upheaval affecting the viability of many newspapers and broadcast stations." News Corp to Sell Fox Audience Network TechCrunch Fox Audience Network, the advertising arm for News Corp. digital, is said to be for sale. The entity, which also powers many third-party Web sites, is the eighth largest U.S. online ad network. News Corp. has sold off digital assets such as Rotten Tomatoes and Photobucket. Time Warner Bids $1.5B to Acquire MGM LA Times Time Warner has submitted a $1.5 billion offer for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, joining two other known bidders, independent studio Lions Gate and industrialist Len Blavatnik's Access Industries. Still, the debt-laden MGM could wind up opting for prepackaged bankruptcy. Sony to Make 3D Film of Hearst's 'Popeye' Variety Producer Avi Arad, who teamed with Sony to turn Spider-Man into a powerhouse film franchise, now plans to bring "Popeye" back to the big screen. The iconic comic sailor man, owned by Hearst's King Features Syndicate, will be given a 3D, all-CGI film treatment. Murdoch Daughter Avoids Succession Talk Guardian Elisabeth Murdoch, the head of U.K. production house Shine and scion of 79-year-old Rupert, dismisses talk of succession at News Corp. as "inappropriate." She and her siblings will "work very closely together but whether that means in executive roles, I don't know." Blockbuster to Get Rentals Before Netflix Bloomberg Blockbuster has reached a deal with Time Warner allowing it to offer Warner Bros. film titles earlier than Netflix and Redbox. DVDs will be available for rental the day they go on sale, giving Blockbuster a 28-day head start over its two movie-rental rivals. Malone Sees Pay-TV Industry Consolidation Bloomberg Media billionaire John Malone says fee disputes between U.S. broadcasters and cable-television operators will force companies to combine to gain negotiating clout: "The smaller distributors are going to be pretty powerless to protect themselves from getting creamed." Time Warner Eyes MGM as Deadline Passes LA Times While bids for the troubled Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio were due Friday, front-runner Time Warner was still mulling an offer late in the afternoon and it was unclear if, and when, the media company was going to bid. MGM may be forced to extend the deadline for final bids. Lions Gate: Carl Icahn Makes a Hostile Bid LA Times Carl Icahn, the activist investor, launched a hostile $6-a-share takeover bid Friday for Lions Gate Entertainment, ratcheting up his pressure on Hollywood's biggest independent studio to change its strategy. However, "he's certainly not going to get the company at this price." Viacom Seen at Disadvantage in YouTube Case eWeek While a judge weighs arguments from Viacom and YouTube in their closely watched copyright case, legal experts say Google's video site may have the advantage. "Most judges have positive thoughts about YouTube." Plus: "Judges are reluctant to take down Google." Disney: Cyrus Says 'Bye to Hannah Montana Parade Disney's $1 billion Hannah Montana franchise encompasses a television show, records, concert tours, books and other merchandise. Miley Cyrus is now marking her final season as the character. "I hate being thought of as a product," she says. "I am not a doll." News Corp Sees 3D TV Channel for Europe Dow Jones British Sky Broadcasting, the U.K.'s biggest pay-television provider, will launch the first 3D TV channel in Europe on April 3, with a soccer match. News Corp. holds a controlling stake in BSkyB. Rupert Murdoch's son James serves as BSkyB chairman. Murdoch's No 2 Sent to Sky Deutschland FT Chase Carey, Rupert Murdoch's right hand man at News Corp., is poised to be parachuted into the group's struggling German pay-television company Sky Deutschland as its new chairman. "This is a move that could be seen as rescuing James Murdoch from a tricky situation." Time Warner Considers Bid for MGM Studio Bloomberg Time Warner is said to be considering a bid of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion for the debt-laden Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio. An offer at that price range may not be enough to win over MGM's creditors, however. Time Warner is among a dwindling number of possible buyers. Comcast-NBC Merger Seeks Public Comment Reuters The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is calling for public comment on the proposed merger between cable giant Comcast and broadcaster NBC Universal, with a May 3 deadline. The FCC action is just one part of a regulatory process for the $30 billion union. Universal Music to Cut CD Prices for Sales Billboard Universal Music could rewrite U.S. music pricing when it tests a new pricing structure, which is designed to get single CDs in stores at $10 or below. Beginning in the second quarter, the company's single CDs will have suggested list prices of $10, $9, $8, $7 and $6. Barnes & Noble Names Web Chief CEO AP Barnes & Noble is naming William Lynch as the new CEO of the world's largest book retailer. He succeeds Steve Riggio, who will remain vice chairman. Lynch joined the company in February as head of Barnes & Noble.com. He also helped develop the B&N's eBook Reader. Disney's Miramax Attracts Mesa as Bidder Reuters Mesa Global, an investment banking firm co-founded by former CAA exec Mark Patricof, is emerging as a potential bidder for Disney's Miramax film unit ahead of an offer deadline on Friday. Platinum Equity Partners and Weinstein Co. are also expected to bid for Miramax. Liberty Media, Elliott Drop Bids for MGM Bloomberg Liberty Media and hedge fund Elliott Management have decided not to bid for debt-laden Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The thinning field of potential buyers is lessening the chance of a bidding war. Time Warner, Lions Gate and Access Industries are mulling second-round bids. Apple Founder Set for TV 'iCon' Sendup San Jose Business Cable channel Epix and studio Media Rights Capital are working on a satirical television show about Apple CEO Steve Jobs. The show, called "iCon," has hired Newsweek contributor Dan Lyons as a writer. Lyons authored the Secret Diary of Steve Jobs blog. Sony Sees Blog as Witherspoon Vehicle Deadline Sony's Columbia Pictures is developing "The Pioneer Woman" as a potential star vehicle for Reese Witherspoon. The studio has acquired the rights to thepioneerwoman.com, a blog by Ree Drummond that detailed her transformation from "city girl to ranch wife." Viacom-YouTube Secrets to Be Exposed AP A legal dispute over copyright law pitting Viacom against YouTube is about to get dirtier as a federal judge is due to release documents Thursday that will expose the two company's secrets. Each side will likely be pointing to things that the other might find embarrassing. Murdoch Arab Foray Seen as Trojan Horse ME Online The recent tie-up between Arab media giant Rotana and "pro-Israel" News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch is being viewed with suspicion in parts of the Arab world. Murdoch's "strident" news outlets, such as Fox News, are often accused of an anti-Arab, pro-Israel bias. News Corp: 'Avatar' DVD Due on Earth Day Bloomberg "Avatar," the world's highest-grossing film, will be released on Blu-ray and DVD April 22 in the United States and Canada, News Corp. says. The home-video release of "Avatar," which follows the nature-loving inhabitants of a distant moon, coincides with Earth Day. MySpace Is Not for Sale, News Corp Says Barron's News Corp. is denying reports that it wants to sell or spin-off MySpace, the now-declining social network. Investment bank CODE Advisors is said to be "out pitching" MySpace to potential investors. The company says: "News Corp. is committed to MySpace and is not seeking a buyer." Disney's 'Alice' Sparks Debate Over DVDs AP Disney's plan to quickly release the hit "Alice in Wonderland" on DVD is sparking a debate between Hollywood studios and movie theaters over how quickly films move from the big screen to people's living rooms. Cinema operators worry other studios will follow Disney's lead. Media Giants: 'Video Store Just Moved In' Bloomberg Time Warner, News Corp., Comcast and other major film studios and cable giants are teaming up for a $30 million marketing effort to tout on-demand movie rentals as DVD sales decline. Ads, with the theme "The Video Store Just Moved In," will run on television, in print and online. Blockbuster: Bankruptcy Is a Possibility Dallas Business Blockbuster says it may have to file for Chapter 11 if unable to generate enough cash flow to meet or restructure its debts. The movie rental chain attributes its weakened operations to increasing competition. Blockbuster says it intends to expand its digital offerings. CBS Lawsuit Over Redstone Is Dismissed Reuters CBS has won dismissal of a lawsuit over allegations that it took an impairment charge in October 2008 timed for the personal benefit of chairman Sumner Redstone. The lawsuit alleged that the company and senior execs "artificially inflated CBS's goodwill value." FCC's Internet Plan May Chill Investment NY Post The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is unveiling its long-awaited plan to bring broadband to 90% of the United States by 2020. But some critics worry the effort could stifle investment in broadband technology. "It will cap Internet growth and restrict Internet trade." Sony, Jackson Estate in $250 Million Deal Wall St Journal Michael Jackson has set a music-industry record, thanks to a new deal between his estate and Sony valued at some $250 million. The deal, touted as the most lucrative recording contract ever, will involve a mix of previously unreleased songs and new packages of familiar ones. Traditional Media Declining, Report Says RTT Traditional news gathering suffered severe losses in 2009, according to the new "State of the Media" report by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism. Advertising revenues from newspapers fell 26%, local television 22%, magazines 17%, network TV 8%. Media Content Dollars Shifting to Access CNBC U.S. consumers are shifting their media dollars. Instead of buying physical objects -- DVDs, books and magazines -- they're spending on access -- cable and Internet. The average American household now spends $98 monthly on media, and 77% of that goes to access. U.S. to Propose Major Broadband Policy NY Times The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is submitting a 10-year plan to establish high-speed Internet as the nation's dominant means of communication. The move is likely to upset television broadcasters, who already oppose turning over spectrum for mobile service use. Murdoch to Net $400 Million from 'Avatar' Bloomberg News Corp. is expected earn about $400 million from James Cameron's "Avatar" once the world's top-grossing film is also released on pay television and DVD. News Corp.'s share amounts to almost half of the company's average quarterly operating profit in the past year. Disney Cuts 450 Jobs in Studio Shutdown LA Times Disney says it is closing director Robert Zemeckis' ImageMovers Digital studio, a producer of motion-capture animation technology, based in Northern California: "Given today's economic realities, we need to find alternative ways to bring creative content to audiences." News Corp Deal Rumored in Satellite TV Times Shares in BSkyB are up amid rumors that News Corp. could take the British satellite broadcaster private. Traders speculate that News Corp. is on the lookout for assets to buy. Analysts are skeptical, however. "This rumor comes around about once a year." Lions Gate Rejects 'Coercive' Icahn Offer LA Business Lions Gate, owner of the TV Guide cable channel, is rejecting Carl Icahn's unsolicited bid to increase his stake to become the company's controlling shareholder, calling the offer "coercive." Its board is also adopting a poison pill to discourage further efforts by the activist investor. News Corp: Rupe's 79th Stirs Questions The Age News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch celebrated his 79th birthday on Thursday, raising questions about succession plans at the media giant. But analysts say investors need not worry about an unforeseen departure: James Murdoch is "coming through in a dynastic sense." Murdoch: All Media Will Go on Devices Fox Business All media, from books to movies, are going to go on the Apple iPad or similar forthcoming tablet devices, predicts Rupert Murdoch. Gadgets "will get better and better." If you touch a newspaper photo, it will become a video. "These sort of things are going to happen." Media Need Multiple Platforms, Execs Say AAP Multiple platforms and revenue streams will be key for media industry players hoping to survive and thrive in the fast-changing digital world, say media execs at the Bloomberg BusinessWeek 2010 Media Summit. "The brand has to transcend all of the different platforms." Disney CEO May Consider Spin-Off of ABC Reuters Disney is keeping its options open for dealing with ABC and its struggling news division, including a spin-off, according to CEO Bob Iger. "There are no guarantees in terms of what will remain part of our company and what will not," he said at Disney's shareholders meeting. Facebook Exec to Join Board of Disney LA Business Disney, which held its annual meeting on Wednesday in San Antonio, named Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg to its board of directors. The move gives Disney access to a major name in social networking, which will likely play a larger role in the company's future marketing efforts. News Corp May Sell MySpace, Source Says Mergermarket News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch resists letting go of MySpace because such a move would be seen as capitulating in the social media market, says a source familiar with the company. However, "the business has a price tag, so its fate will also depend on an attractive offer." Murdoch Jr Digs In Over Battle with Google Times / Reuters James Murdoch, at the Abu Dhabi Media Summit, reiterated the threat made by his father to yank content from Google: We "may have to withdraw access." Also: News Corp. will add online pay walls to its British newspapers "within the next few weeks to months." News Corp Exec: Pay, Free Will Co-Exist Guardian Jon Miller, head of digital media at News Corp., says that dual revenue streams are likely to co-exist as media try ways of making money online. "The choice between pay wall or free is not mutually exclusive. They can co-exist based on quality of content and geography." Time Warner: Digital Offers Opportunity Dow Jones Consumer use of Time Warner's television programming, films and even magazines has increased thanks to the Internet, says Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes. "Digital distribution is fueling this continued growth. Sustainable economic models are clearly emerging." News Corp Site Blocked in Middle East Times / Beehive City Rupert Murdoch, in a speech at the Abu Dhabi Media Summit, is calling on the Middle East to open its markets to foreigners and reject media censorship. Online access to parts of Murdoch's U.K. Sun newspaper is blocked in the region because it contains "prohibited content." Viacom Says Stewart May Return to Hulu Bloomberg Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" may return to Hulu if the video site's business model changes, according to Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman. "On the current economic model for Hulu there's just not much in it for us to continue at this time." CBS Expects Double-Digit Gains in 2010 Dow Jones CBS chief Les Moonves says that based on recent strength in the advertising market, he expects pricing to be up by a double-digit percentage rate in this year's upfront market for the new fall programming season. "I've never seen a scatter market this strong." Time Warner Seeks to Block TV Blackouts Bloomberg Time Warner Cable plans to ask U.S. regulators to block broadcasters from cutting signals during fee disputes, aiming to avoid disruptions such as Disney's blackout of the Academy Awards. Time Warner Cable is set to negotiate fees with Disney when their deal ends in August. Sony to Stream HD Movies on PlayStation San Francisco Business Sony has a deal to sell and rent high-definition movies from six major studios on its PlayStation Network. Titles that will be available include films currently playing in theaters, such as Fox's "Fantastic Mr. Fox," Disney Pixar's "Up" and Universal's "Inglourious Basterds." Time Warner May Remake 'Wizard of Oz' Los Angeles Times Fresh off Disney's massive success with Tim Burton's updating of "Alice in Wonderland," Warner Bros. is looking into a remake of another childhood classic. A possible new film treatment of "The Wizard of Oz" would refurbish the property with special effects and 3-D.
	HOME · ABOUT · CONTACT · PRESS · LEGAL  Copyright © 2000-2011 I Want Media Inc. All rights reserved.