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JOBS PUBLICATIONS BOOKS ORGANIZATIONS NEWS RESOURCES INTERVIEWS PERSON OF THE YEAR SEARCH WWW SEARCH SITE		Media Companies Recent Headlines Time Warner Near Deal with Zucker to Head CNN Los Angeles Times Jeff Zucker, former CEO of NBCUniversal, is said to be in advanced negotiations to become the new head of Time Warner cable news channel CNN. Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes and Turner Broadcasting chief Phil Kent are hoping to have an agreement locked up soon. Time Warner: Bewkes to Stay CEO Through 2017 Associated Press Time Warner has extended the term of CEO Jeff Bewkes for another five years through 2017. Bewkes has "proven visionary when it comes to navigating the digital landscape," said Stephen Bollenbach, the company's lead independent director. Bewkes, 60, has been CEO since 2008. News Corp to Acquire 49 Percent of YES Network Bloomberg News Corp. has agreed to buy 49% of the YES Network, the cable channel that carries New York Yankees baseball games, in a deal that values the pay-TV outlet at about $3 billion. "This is a tremendous opportunity to enhance News Corp.'s portfolio of sports properties." Disney's ESPN Valued at $66 Billion After YES Deal MarketWatch Following news that News Corp. has entered into a deal to acquire a 49% stake in YES Network, home of the New York Yankees, Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Todd Juenger said that ESPN must be worth about $66 billion. Reports said the News Corp. deal values YES at $3 billion. Comcast's NBC Wins November Sweeps Contest Bloomberg Comcast's NBC said it won the November "sweeps" ratings contest, drawing the most prime-time TV viewers in a key age group for advertisers for the first time in nine years. The network averaged a larger audience in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic than rivals CBS, ABC and Fox. CBS, News Corp Mull Merger of Books Businesses Wall Street Journal News Corp., owner of HarperCollins Publishers, is said to have expressed interest to CBS about acquiring its Simon & Schuster book business. The talks came about after the owners of two publishing rivals, Random House and Penguin Group, agreed to merge their books businesses. Time Warner to Invest in Startup Studio for YouTube AllThingsD Time Warner is leading a big round of financing for Maker Studios, a startup that specializes in creating and distributing clips for YouTube. The media giant, via its Time Warner Investments arm, is leading a $40 million round that should close within the next three weeks. Liberty's Malone Sees Sports Costs as Out of Control Los Angeles Times Add Liberty Media chief John Malone to the growing list of people who think sports programming costs are out of control: "We've got runaway sports rights, runaway sports salaries and what is essentially a high tax on a lot of households that don't have a lot of interest in sports." News Corp Former Aides Face Charges of Bribery Independent Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks are to be charged with conspiracy to corrupt public officials, British prosecutors announced. The charges cover Coulson's editorship of the News of the World and Brooks's editorship of the Sun. Police began an inquiry into alleged bribery in June. Disney to Shut Down Online Movie Store, Website Associated Press Disney is shutting down its web movie service, Disney Movies Online, saying the site wasn't keeping up with user demands. In an email to users, the company said the site would be closed as of Dec. 31. The site allowed visitors to buy and rent movies from the Disney library. Time Warner CEO Bewkes Warns of 'Cord Nevers' paidContent Few people are trading in their cable services for digital alternatives, according to Jeff Bewkes. The Time Warner CEO argues that "cord cutting" is overstated. However, he does admit to the emergence of "cord nevers" — young people who never acquire cable in the first place. Lionsgate to Sell TV Guide Website; Yahoo a Suitor Variety Lionsgate is looking to rebrand TV Guide Network in order to distinguish it from the brand's dot-com extension, which the studio is said to be moving closer to unloading. A sale deal could fetch about $20 million for TVGuide.com. Yahoo is reported to be a potential suitor. Hearst Heiress Dies at 85 After Pneumonia Fight San Luis Obispo Tribune Phoebe Hearst Cooke, 85, a former member of the Hearst board of directors and a granddaughter of William Randolph Hearst, died Sunday at Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton, Calif., where she was being treated for pneumonia. "Her accomplishments were considerable." Comcast: NBC Looks Like Big Winner in Prime Time Philadelphia Inquirer NBC is basking in what appears to be its first November prime-time TV sweeps win in nine years. A win would be a big feather in the cap of exec Steve Burke and Comcast, the cable giant that vowed to revive NBC's prime time when it acquired control of NBCUniversal in 2011. News Corp Said to Seek Acquisitions After Scandal New York Times News Corp., which has been on its heels for more than a year because of the phone-hacking scandal in Britain, is looking to make acquisitions again. First up could be a 49% stake in the Yes Network, a purchase that could aid in the formation of a new sports network to take on ESPN. Hearst CEO Bennack In No Hurry for Retirement WWD Frank Bennack Jr. was at the Paley Center in the latest in a series of interviews with media moguls, when the inevitable question of succession came up again. He is 79 now and in his second tour of duty as CEO of Hearst. He has also been sounding like a man on a farewell tour. News Corp's Murdoch Tweets About 'Jewish Media' Salon Late Saturday, Rupert Murdoch took to Twitter to complain about the U.S. media's treatment of the ongoing Gaza crisis. Displaying his typical pro-Israel stance, the News Corp. CEO also managed to play on an anti-Semitic trope. The reaction on Twitter was swift and angry. Disney CEO Iger to Net $17.9 Million in Stock Sale Bloomberg Bob Iger has sold $47.4 million in stock, netting about $17.9 million after factoring in the cost of exercising options on 1 million shares. Disney's CEO sold the shares at an average price of $47.37 each. "He's just diversifying his investments and still has a large portfolio of Disney stock." Viacom Study: Millennials Drive Rethink on Marketing Financial Times The economy is the driving factor shaping the lives of millennials, according to a first of its kind study by Viacom about the generation born between 1982 and 2003. "Being rich, looking good, being famous and driving a nice car do not rank as highly as previous generations." News Corp Expected to Take 49 Percent Stake in YES Reuters News Corp. is expected to announce that it will acquire a 49% stake in the YES Network from the New York Yankees baseball team and its partners, in a deal that would value the channel at $3 billion. The deal is structured to allow News Corp. to eventually acquire control of YES. Viacom CEO Says MTV is Very Healthy, Not Broken Hollywood Reporter Viacom's leadership has reiterated its confidence that the media giant can improve ratings and advertising revenue near-term despite recent challenges at MTV and Nickelodeon. MTV "is not broken," said CEO Philippe Dauman. "It is highly successful. MTV is very healthy." Comcast Rumored to Prep Pink Slips for NBC News Radar Online NBCUniversal may have announced layoffs in its entertainment division on Monday, but the company isn't done cutting jobs, said an insider. Pink slips are believed to be coming to the "Today" show and other news operations. "Staffers are convinced there will be significant job losses." FCC Examines Looser Media Cross-Ownership Rules New York Times The Federal Communications Commission appears to be close to adopting rules that would relax the ban on ownership of both a newspaper and a TV or radio station in large metropolitan media markets. Chief Julius Genachowski has a proposal "to streamline and modernize" the rules. News Corp Close to Acquiring Stake in YES Network New York Times News Corp. is said to be close to acquiring a stake in the YES Network, the New York-based cable channel that broadcasts Yankees baseball and Nets basketball games, among other regional sports. YES would add significant heft to News Corp.'s portfolio of regional sports assets. Time Warner Eyes Investment in Upstart Maker Studios Variety Time Warner is said to be eyeing a minority stake in digital upstart Maker Studios, a key producer of original programming for YouTube. The potential for a tie-up underscores Big Media's growing interest in companies that specialize in original programming for the Google-owned video site. Viacom Says Milennials Are 'Happy' Despite Economy The Drum Viacom has released a study on the Millennial generation, which discovered that not only is this group "happy" but that the impact that technology had in young people's lives was most felt in Egypt during last year's Arab Spring uprising. "This is a very happy group of people." Disney to Adapt Theme-Park Attraction for ABC Show Hollywood Reporter ABC is going on a roller coaster. The Disney-owned network is developing a potential series take on the company's popular Western-themed ride Big Thunder Mountain. Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" attractions have already spawned four hit feature films starring Johnny Depp. NBCUniversal Moves iVillage Into NBC News Digital Broadcasting & Cable NBCUniversal has announced that iVillage will be run as part of its portfolio of digital news operations and that it will be overseen by Vivian Schiller, senior VP and chief digital officer at NBC News. The move is designed to make it easier for NBC News and iVillage to share and create content. Disney Former CEO Eisner Gets Back Into Movies Associated Press Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner is getting back in the movie business. The media company he founded, Tornante Company, will finance films that will be distributed by Comcast's Universal Pictures. The distribution deal is expected to help Tornante raise outside financing. Discovery Eyes Stake in Eurosport Sports Network Wall Street Journal Discovery is said to be planning to pay several hundred million dollars for a minority stake in sports network Eurosport, a unit of French media company TF1. The deal could help Discovery enter new markets by bundling its channels alongside Eurosport on pay-TV services. Chernin Buys Stake in Builder of YouTube Channels Variety The Chernin Group has acquired a stake in Base79, a leading online video network specializing in building channels on YouTube for premium content partners out of the United Kingdom. Chernin has invested $10 million for about 30% of Base79, which has over 500 YouTube channels. News Corp's Murdoch Gleeful at Britain's BBC Debacle Associated Press Few seem to be enjoying the meltdown at the BBC more than Rupert Murdoch — the media chief whose rival British newspapers have been caught up in their own scandal. Murdoch tweeted: "BBC mess gives Cameron opportunity [to] properly reorganize public broadcaster." Disney, Barneys to Unveil 'Electric Holiday' Windows WWD On Wednesday, the flagship store of Barneys New York will unveil its holiday windows done in collaboration with Disney. An animated short titled "Electric Holiday" will be looped on LED tiles that cover the two-story ground-floor facade on the retailer's Madison Avenue side. Comcast Makes Cord-Cutting Offer You Can't Refuse Wall Street Journal Comcast and other cable companies are pricing services in ways that make it less beneficial for customers to "cut the cord" and drop TV service, with discounts close to nil. People are "pretty much forced into buying" both TV and Internet services, said one customer. "It doesn't make sense." NBCUniversal Lays Off 450, Shakes Up 'Today' Show New York Post NBCUniversal is laying off 450 employees in another round of belt-tightening. The pink slips will take place across the board. NBC is also shaking up management at "Today" after the once-dominant morning show fell in the ratings. Veteran Jim Bell "is being carried out on a stretcher." Time Warner Creates Power Struggle at Warner Bros Los Angeles Times Two years ago Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes created an office of the president to inspire three ambitious execs into collegial competition for the top job at Warner Bros., Hollywood's largest film and TV studio. The effort, however, is said to have inspired distrust and disharmony. MGM Eyes IPO with Boost from Success of 'Skyfall' Financial Times James Bond is back with a bang after "Skyfall" scored the highest opening weekend performance by a film in the series. The movie is "breaking records on every continent" and is expected to be used by co-producer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a platform for an initial public offering. Disney to Kick Off New 'Star Wars' Trilogy in 2015 TheWrap Michael Arndt, who won an Academy Award for "Little Miss Sunshine," has been hired to write the screenplay for "Star Wars: Episode VII." The film is slated for release in 2015 and will launch a new trilogy under Disney, which acquired Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion last month. Anschutz Seeks $10 Billion for Entertainment Group New York Post Bidders for Anschutz Entertainment Group should be prepared to open their wallets. The sports and entertainment powerhouse, which put itself up for sale in September, is said to be looking to fetch some $10 billion. The company is described as attractive because of its sports assets. Oprah Winfrey Seeks to Trademark 'Oprah Organics' New York Post Oprah Winfrey appears to be getting into the organic food business. Several applications for "Oprah's Organics" were filed last month with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Organization. The filings are to use the name for products including soups, beverages and snack dips. Martha Stewart Seen as Problem at Her Company New York Times Martha Stewart continues to collect lavish multimillion-dollar compensation and perks while her company teeters under the weight of huge losses, its shares trading for a fraction of their former value. Last week, Stewart's company reported a staggering $50.7 million quarterly loss. Disney CEO: Don't Write Off Broadcast Networks Yet MarketWatch Bob Iger said it would be "premature" to assume that the weakness seen across most of broadcast television so far this season signals the demise of traditional network TV. Increased use of digital video recorders has shifted ratings away from traditional metrics, said Disney's CEO. News Corp May Face Charges Over Bribery Allegations Telegraph News Corp.'s British newspaper publishing arm could face corporate corruption charges over alleged bribery of public officials. The news comes following reports that journalists under investigation over alleged payments to public officials are being pressured to implicate senior execs. Chernin's Media Company Nabs Big Qatar Investment Reuters Peter Chernin, the former News Corp. president who now heads the Chernin Group, has received a "significant" investment from Qatar Holding to invest in media and technology outfits. The Chernin Group is said to have nearly $300 million to expand the media holding company. Weinstein, Clear Channel Prep Sandy Relief Concert Multichannel News Madison Square Garden, Clear Channel and the Weinstein Co. will produce a live concert to provide assistance to those impacted by the superstorm that has devastated the New York tri-state area. "12-12-12" will take place Dec. 12, with artists and ticket pricing to be announced. News Corp Buys Out Disney in ESPN Star Sports IndianTelevision News Corp. has completed its acquisition of ESPN Star Sports, a joint venture company formed 16 years ago with Disney's ESPN to dominate sports broadcasting across Asia. News Corp. in June had announced plans to buy ESPN's stake to become the sole owner of the sports network. CBS Considers Streaming of Shows Still on the Air Wall Street Journal CBS is considering allowing online outlets to stream TV shows currently on the air, said CEO Les Moonves, as the company reported another quarter boosted by digital revenue. "The sky's the limit" in terms of the company's ability to generate more revenue from Netflix, Moonves added. Time Warner Reports Boost from Netflix, Amazon TheWrap Time Warner brought in $100 million from streaming services like Netflix and Amazon in its third quarter, said CEO Jeff Bewkes. So far this year, revenue from digital platforms has topped $250 million, leading to "stabilization" in the industry. "We see greater opportunities." Time Warner Eyes Broadcast, Pay-TV Acquisitions Financial Times Time Warner is eyeing acquisitions of broadcasters and pay-TV networks as it plans investments in markets from Latin America to Germany to expand its $3 billion international TV networks business. "Logical markets for acquisitions would be Brazil and Colombia," said one adviser. Disney Rumored in Acquisition Talks with Hasbro MTV Geek Disney is rumored to be in "serious discussions" to acquire Hasbro, the U.S. toy and game giant. Such a deal would give Disney the rights to Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Dungeons and Dragons. The rumor comes on the heels of Disney's $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm last week. News Corp Takes $67 Million Charge on Scandal Wall Street Journal News Corp. said it took a $67 million charge on its quarterly results related to an investigation into a series of scandals it initiated when the media giant closed its News of the World tabloid. The scandal has led to investigations into phone hacking, bribery, money laundering and more. Viacom Dispute Hurts DirecTV Results in Quarter Reuters DirecTV saw more subscribers than expected cancel in the quarter due to a programming dispute with Viacom that blacked out channels such as Nickelodeon and MTV for nine days in July. DirecTV's 20 million customers had lost 26 Viacom networks in an unprecedented blackout. Time Warner Shook from Hurricane, CNN's Piers Says Daily Mail Piers Morgan: "Nothing quite prepared me for what happened in New York with Hurricane Sandy." Time Warner Center — "one of the biggest, newest and supposedly strongest multi-skyscraper edifices in America" — was "shaking and rattling like a cupboard full of steel skeletons." Hearst to Acquire Database Business in Healthcare Modern Healthcare Hearst has reached an agreement to acquire the care guidelines business of Milliman, a Seattle-based actuarial and consulting firm. Milliman's care-guidelines business provides clinical healthcare databases. The company's products are used in more than 1,200 hospitals. McGraw-Hill in Talks to Sell Education Unit to Apollo Wall Street Journal Apollo Global Management is said to be in exclusive talks to buy the education unit of McGraw-Hill, in a deal that could be worth about $3 billion. The two sides could reach an agreement within a few weeks. The private-equity firm reportedly prevailed over two other bidders. News Corp's Murdoch on Anti-Obama Twitter Drive Bloomberg Rupert Murdoch has increased the volume of his political posts on Twitter in the run-up to Election Day, making him one of the most vocal execs on U.S. politics. News Corp.'s CEO has been reminding his followers that a continued Obama presidency would be disastrous for the economy. FCC Chief Seeks Media-Ownership Vote This Month Multichannel News Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said in July that the agency is on track to issue an order on its media ownership notice of proposed rulemaking by year-end. According to sources, he is expected to circulate an item for a vote on Nov. 30. U.S. Cable Industry to Seek Silicon Valley Pizzazz Reuters The U.S. cable industry, hoping to beat back the emergence of online video, is turning for ideas to Silicon Valley. Leading players from Time Warner Cable to Comcast plan to set up a showpiece research center in the heart of the region. The industry needs to "get re-energized." Hearst Invests in Spooky Cool Social Game Publisher VentureBeat Hearst has made a minority investment in Spooky Cool Labs, a social game studio that just released a "Wizard of Oz" game on Facebook. "We plan on pairing our intellectual property with the expertise of Spooky Cool to build a big presence in this space," said Hearst exec Scott Sassa. Media Giants Signal Sluggish Ads After Superstorm Wall Street Journal CBS, Time Warner, Discovery and News Corp. will report for the September quarter this week. Execs are likely to indicate the expected impact of Hurricane Sandy. The superstorm's total impact on the advertising market could be a revenue loss of about $500 million. NBCUniversal's Sandy Benefit Rakes In $23 Million Associated Press NBC says its benefit concert for Superstorm Sandy victims drew nearly $23 million in donations to the American Red Cross. Friday's telethon included performances by artists native to the areas hardest-hit by Sandy, including New Jersey's Bruce Springsteen and New York's Billy Joel. News Corp: Cozy Texts to Prime Minister Revealed Daily Mail New text messages between Rebekah Brooks and David Cameron have been made public. In one, the former News Corp. exec tells the U.K. prime minister that she will "love working together." The message is among a cache of data submitted to a British inquiry into media ethics. Disney Deal Tightens Hollywood Ties to Silicon Valley San Jose Mercury News Last week's announcement that Disney will buy Lucasfilm for $4 billion has cinched tighter the ties between Hollywood and the Bay Area. As new technologies reshape the entertainment landscape, industry execs see Silicon Valley as a growing force in the future of filmmaking. Hurricane to Cost Media Biz Half a Billion Dollars Adweek The media economy is being dealt a staggering blow by Hurricane Sandy. In disrupting local TV and radio broadcasts and putting a halt to all New York media buying, Monday's storm is likely to cost the media industry as much as half a billion dollars, according to Pivotal Research. Media Mojo Melts: Downer Third Quarter Predicted New York Post After a boffo first half, media companies over the next two weeks will report disappointing results for the third quarter, according to Bernstein Research. A poor summer box office and plummeting TV ratings are among the contributors. Plus: "The Olympics stole ad dollars." Comcast's Universal Pictures Lays Off 25 Staffers Hollywood Reporter Universal Pictures is laying off about 25 employees, or a little more than 1% of its workforce, mostly the studio's home video division. Like the rest of Hollywood, Universal is dealing with an eroding DVD and home video market and the rising costs of movie production and distribution. Disney's Lucasfilm Deal to Help Fund Education Hollywood Reporter By the end of the year, the $4 billion sale of Lucasfilm to Disney should be finalized. And since George Lucas owns 100% of his company, all that money goes to him. After that, Lucas plans to put the bulk of the money into a foundation that will primarily focus on educational issues. Viacom, Disney Donate $3 Million to Sandy Relief CBS News Viacom and Disney are helping with the Hurricane Sandy relief effort. Viacom donated $1 million to the cause, and Disney is giving $2 million. Both companies also have matching donation programs for employees. On Wednesday, News Corp. announced a $1 million donation. Time Warner Donates $1 Million to Hurricane Efforts Business Wire Time Warner and its units including HBO, Time Inc., Turner Broadcasting and Warner Bros. are announcing a minimum commitment of $1 million to aid in Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Said CEO Jeff Bewkes: "Time Warner and its employees have always responded in selfless ways." Media Giants Reopen Offices After Hurricane Sandy Hollywood Reporter Time Warner, NBCUniversal and other media companies have started reopening their New York offices following Hurricane Sandy-related closures, even though staff in most cases had the option of working from home amid questions about the public transportation system. News Corp Donates $1 Million to Help Sandy Victims Forbes News Corp. will donate $1 million to Hurricane Sandy disaster relief efforts. Half will go to the NYC Mayor's Fund and the other half will go to help storm victims in New Jersey. Said CEO Rupert Murdoch: "I sincerely hope many other companies will also be able to provide assistance." Comcast Offers Free Wi-Fi Service After Megastorm CNET News Comcast said it will allow anyone regardless of whether they are a customer or not to access its Xfinity Wi-Fi hot spots in several states hit by megastorm Sandy. The service is typically password-protected and available only to Comcast or its partners' broadband customers. Disney Deal for Lucasfilm to Spur Sibling Rivalries Wall Street Journal Disney's proposed $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm will expand its portfolio to "Star Wars," but risks diluting the 89-year-old entertainment empire's Disney-branded film franchise. Disney's film business will grow to encompass brands including Lucasfilm, Marvel and Pixar. BSkyB: Murdoch Son Keeps Board Seat After Scandal Reuters James Murdoch's seat on the board of pay-TV group BSkyB was opposed by just 5% of shareholders at the company's annual meeting in London. Murdoch, who stepped down as chairman over a phone-hacking scandal at News Corp.'s British newspaper arm, was present at the meeting. Media Disruption in New York Uneven After Sandy Crain's New York For the media-saturated, always-connected New York City, the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy was in some ways stranger than the storm. There were no newspapers on newsstands. Prominent New York-based websites went down. Even radio — normally a sure bet during a disaster — suffered. News Corp Wins Backing for Aussie Media Takeover Dow Jones News Corp. is set to increase its presence in Australia's pay-TV market after Consolidated Media shareholders approved its $2.01 billion takeover bid. The newly acquired assets are to be included, along with News Corp.'s Australian newspaper assets, in the company's publishing arm. Disney to Acquire 'Star Wars' Parent for $4 Billion ABC News Disney has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm in a stock and cash deal valued at $4.05 billion. The transaction "combines a world-class portfolio of content including ‘Star Wars' with Disney's unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms," said Disney chief Bob Iger. News Corp's Shine to Hire Ex-Disney Film Chief Bloomberg Rich Ross, former head of Disney's film studios, has been named CEO of Shine America, a TV production unit of News Corp. overseen by Rupert Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth. Ross rose through the ranks of children's TV programmers Viacom's Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. Media, Advertisers Ready for Surge from Hurricane Associated Press As Hurricane Sandy raged through one of the country's most densely populated regions, it created a surge in online traffic as people sought weather-related news and various forms of online entertainment. On Monday, the Weather Channel's website had its biggest day ever. News Corp CEO Murdoch Tweets About Hurricane Hollywood Reporter News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch late Monday tweeted about Hurricane Sandy as it was about to hit the U.S. East Coast and called the planned Random House-Penguin book merger a "faux merger disaster." "Full moon tonite will intensify storm. East Coast understandably obsessed." Disney Florida Cruise Passengers Rocked by Sandy Bloomberg Guests on Disney cruises reported being rocked as Hurricane Sandy traveled north along the coast of Florida. "The cruise was horrible,” according to one passenger. "Passengers were vomiting in the shops, stairways and theater. Disney, you blew this one!” Comcast, Time Warner Prep for Cable Lines Down Wall Street Journal Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications, the three largest U.S. cable operators, say no storm-based disruptions had been reported. DirecTV, the second largest pay-TV provider, has launched a news channel pulling together live news tracking Sandy’s movement. Media Giants, Broadway Prep for Hurricane Sandy Variety Broadway and most New York venues, media giants from Sony to Viacom and movie theaters closed their doors Sunday as mass transit ground to a halt and a tense city awaited perilous winds and lashing rain from Hurricane Sandy. The strongest winds are expected Monday. Mediaset: Four-Year Prison Sentence for Berlusconi World Screen Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has received a four-year prison sentence by an Italian court for tax fraud related to the acquisition of broadcast rights to U.S. feature films and TV series for Mediaset in the late 1990s. Berlusconi is expected to appeal. Bertelsmann, Pearson to Merge Publishing Houses Financial Times Bertelsmann, the German media company, and Pearson, its U.K. rival, are merging Random House and Penguin, their respective publishing units, in response to the rapidly developing challenges of the e-book revolution. The move is likely to trigger more consolidation. News Corp Expressed Interest in Buying Penguin Wall Street Journal Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. had expressed interest in buying book publisher Penguin, aiming to undermine merger discussions between Penguin and Random House. News Corp. is the parent of HarperCollins, a book publisher whose sales are smaller than Penguin's. Viacom Channels Hard Hit by Audience Drop-Off Wall Street Journal Viacom is grappling with declining audiences at MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. The three account for roughly 50% of Viacom's operating profit. Some in the TV industry say TV viewing is fragmenting among different outlets, such as on-demand and the Internet. Viacom-CBS: Redstone Daughter in Succession Mix Wall Street Journal Sumner Redstone said his daughter, Shari, is in the running to succeed him one day as overseer of Viacom and CBS, flying in the face of conventional wisdom that Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman was assured the role. "It hasn't been decided yet who will be my successor." Time Warner, Redbox to Shorten Movie Rental Wait Los Angeles Times Warner Bros. and Redbox have reached a deal that reduces the wait for new movies available through the retailer's red rental kiosks. The Time Warner-owned studio will make new movies available to Redbox within 28 days of the DVDs and Blu-ray discs going on sale. Comcast: NBCUniversal Broke Even on Olympics Hollywood Reporter Comcast has reported a $120 million third-quarter profit on the London Olympics for its NBCUniversal entertainment arm and confirmed that it broke even on the Summer Games. "We now have more confidence than ever the Olympics can be profitable," said CEO Brian Roberts. Random House, Penguin Mull Publishing Merger Financial Times Bertelsmann and Pearson are in talks about combining their Random House and Penguin publishing divisions to create a global leader in response to the challenges of the e-book business. The talks come as Amazon, Apple and Google redefine the publishing industry. Martha Stewart to Develop Personalities for TV, Digital World Screen Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has teamed up with FremantleMedia to develop content for TV and digital platforms focused on new lifestyle personalities. The two companies will jointly identify personalities to appear in new content covering food, fashion, home and gardening. News Corp CEO Offers Customer Support via Twitter TechCrunch A Wall Street Journal subscriber in Lexington, Ky., used Twitter to submit a complaint about poor delivery service, addressing his gripe to newspaper owner Rupert Murdoch. The News Corp. CEO responded to the complaint via Twitter. The exchange is "pretty amazing." Time Warner CEO Still Searching for Studio Chief Hollywood Reporter Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes appears to be still looking for the right man or woman to run Warner Bros. Bewkes recently met quietly with Sony Corp. of America president Michael Lynton as he seeks to resolve the succession question that has dogged the studio for several years. Comcast Adds CW Network to Xfinity On Demand Broadcasting & Cable Comcast and The CW Network have inked an agreement that will for the first time make the broadcast network's primetime shows available on the video-on-demand platform of a cable systems operator. Subscribers will be able to watch recent episodes of "Gossip Girl" and other series. Viacom Seeks to Toss Out Executive Pay Lawsuit Deadline Viacom has pushed back on a lawsuit that claims chairman Sumner Redstone, CEO Philippe Dauman, COO Thomas Dooley and other board members were overpaid by $36.6 million. "Defendants respectfully request that the court dismiss the complaint," said Viacom's lawyers. Sirius XM CEO to Step Down as Liberty Takes Over Denver Business Mel Karmazin will step down as CEO of Sirius XM Radio and leave its board Feb. 1. Karmazin has said he wouldn't stay on at the satellite-radio company under the control of Liberty Media. "We appreciate the tremendous job Mel has done," said Liberty's John Malone. Scripps Networks Seen Luring Disney, Time Warner Bloomberg Scripps Networks Interactive, the TV home of Paula Deen's mashed potatoes, is poised to lure bids even with the stock at a record high now that the controlling family trust has disbanded. Disney, Time Warner and Comcast are seen by analysts as potential acquirers. Disney Overhauls Disney.com Amid Digital Struggles New York Times Disney has redesigned Disney.com for the third time in five years. The new site, promoted as "cleaner, more elegant," is one way CEO Bob Iger hopes to turn around the company's gaming, mobile and Internet division after 15 consecutive quarters of losses — some $977 million in total. News Corp: We're Not in Talks for Tribune Newspapers Bloomberg Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. has denied it held talks to acquire the Los Angeles Times or Chicago Tribune newspapers once owner Tribune emerges from bankruptcy. Reports that the company is in discussions with Tribune are "wholly inaccurate," said a News Corp. spokeswoman. CBS' Moonves Sees Benefits of TV Channel Shakeout Wall Street Journal CBS CEO Les Moonves says that cable and satellite operators who complain their profits are getting squeezed by rising content costs should eliminate low-rated channels. He also confirmed speculation CBS might be interested in buying Sony's film and TV studios businesses. Disney to Announce 'Surprises' via Social Networks Associated Press Disney has unveiled a new program for 2013 in which guests will encounter surprise weekly themes at the company's parks in Florida and California. Each of the weekly experiences will be announced in the parks and online both on Disney sites and social networks. News Corp's Murdoch Apologizes to Actor Over Tweet Telegraph Rupert Murdoch is apologizing to Hugh Grant after suggesting that the actor had abandoned his baby daughter. The News Corp. boss expressed "regret" at his comments on Twitter after accepting that the "Four and Weddings and a Funeral" star was involved in his child's life. Time Warner Wins Battle Over Rights to Superman Fox News DC Comics will retain its rights to Superman after a judge ruled that the heirs of one of the superhero's co-creators signed away their ability to reclaim copyrights to the Man of Steel roughly 20 years ago. DC Comics owner Warner Bros. has a Superman film reboot planned for next year. Sony PlayStation Store Redo Links Games, Movies Associated Press Sony is revamping its PlayStation Store as it prepares a common storefront across devices from its game console to its web-connected TVs, Blu-ray players and phones. Among other features, the store puts related game and movie franchises together on one page. Comcast Aims to Become The Next Apple, Exec Says Multichannel News Can Comcast, which has a record of relatively poor customer satisfaction, deliver technology and services that are as simple, fun and sexy as Apple's? That's a goal for the No. 1 U.S. cable operator, according to company exec Charlotte Field. "We want to be the next Apple." News Corp: Australia Prominent in Publishing Spinoff Wall Street Journal When News Corp. splits in two next year, the publishing company to emerge will have deep roots in Australia, with not only newspaper assets there but interests in Australian and New Zealand television. The TV assets "most decidedly have better prospects than the newspapers." Disney-ABC Prepares for Zucker to Take Big Media Job Deadline Disney-ABC is said to have launched a search for a top-level producer to run Katie Couric's syndicated daytime talk show. The contingency plan is being put in place amid chatter that "Katie" executive producer Jeff Zucker is being courted for top jobs at Tribune and CNN. News Corp Taps Bank for Sale of IGN Entertainment Dow Jones News Corp. is working with Allen & Co. on an auction to sell its IGN Entertainment group of videogame and entertainment websites, after its initial sale efforts failed to produce a deal. IGN is expected to fetch around $100 million; News Corp. paid $650 million for the assets. CBS Extends CEO Moonves Contract Through 2017 Bloomberg CBS has extended the contract of CEO Les Moonves through June 2017. The new five-year accord, replacing one expiring in 2015, gives Moonves the option to create a production company under CBS and makes him eligible to serve as an executive adviser for an added four years. Disney Sees Promise in Geeks as the New Cool MarketWatch With geeks and their lifestyles emerging as the new totems of coolness, marketers are seeking to jump on the trend, and there is perhaps no better audience than the attendees of New York Comic Con. Companies including Disney are vying for the attention of 115,000 fans. Comcast, Cable Operators Win OK to Encrypt Signals Bloomberg Cable companies led by Comcast have won U.S. permission to encrypt basic services to fight theft and reduce service calls. About 5% of homes near cable lines are said to access service without paying, resulting in almost $5 billion in lost revenue — more than 8% of industry revenues. News Corp's Murdoch Faces Opposition by Funds Telegraph The two largest public pension funds in America have voted to oust Rupert Murdoch as chairman of News Corp., putting pressure on the media chief ahead of a showdown with investors this week. A resolution is calling for News Corp. to split the roles of chairman and CEO. New York to Erect Media Industry Center in Brooklyn Crain's New York A proposed new center for the New York City's media industries has been assigned a home in Brooklyn's Dumbo neighborhood. The Made in NY Media Center, a project touted by mayor Michael Bloomberg, will bring together professionals in the film, gaming and marketing industries. Disney, Stan Lee in Billion-Dollar Fracas Over Marvel Hollywood Reporter Despite years of court losses, the resilient company founded by Stan Lee still claims that it was robbed a decade ago of many of valuable franchises including Fantastic Four, X-Men and Spider-Man. The latest move involves a multibillion-dollar lawsuit against Disney. News Corp to Strengthen Position in Aussie Pay TV Sky News News Corp. is set to strengthen its position in Australian pay TV after regulators said they would oppose any potential acquisition of Consolidated Media by the Seven Group. The ruling has cleared the way for News Corp.'s Australian arm to complete its $2 billion takeover. Liberty Media's Malone to Seek 'Big Brother' for Starz Variety Liberty Media chief John Malone said he sees Starz marrying a big media company after he cuts the pay cable network loose by year end. "Everybody can use a big brother. There are substantial synergies for Starz working together with various potential media partners." Disney Seeks to Track Customers with E-Wristbands Bloomberg Disney has asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission to use electronic wristbands that can track customers' activity at its parks, a feature that may further its plans to tailor guest visits. Disney is looking at new technologies to customize the park experience. Viacom's MTV Poised for Tough Times, Analyst Says Los Angeles Times The ratings woes at Viacom's Nickelodeon have received lots of attention lately, but one media analyst warns that the picture is not that much brighter at MTV. The network's ratings are declining and hit "Jersey Shore" is wrapping up. "MTV is in for a very tough year." Disney Seeks Ruling Website Infringed Movies, TV Bloomberg Disney and other movie and TV studios have asked a federal judge to rule that the file-sharing website Lime Wire and its founder, Mark Gorton, induced people to illegally download their shows and films for free. The companies include Viacom, News Corp. and Time Warner. Comcast Stock Hits New Heights in Big Sports Year NASDAQ Sports on NBC have been the catalyst behind Comcast's surging stock. Each of the company's biggest moves this year has come after a major sports-related event — from the broadcast of the Super Bowl and the London Olympics to the kickoff of fall's Sunday Night Football. Viacom Unveils Ambitious Plan to Rival Disneyland Daily Mail Viacom's Paramount Pictures has unveiled plans for a major new theme park near London to take on Disneyland Paris. The proposed "world-class entertainment destination" would create up to 27,000 jobs and feature live music venues, attractions, theaters, restaurants and hotels. News Corp in Deal to Bring 'Peanuts' to Big Screen Wall Street Journal The animation units of News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox have acquired the feature film rights to "Peanuts," created by the late Charles Schulz. An animated movie resulting from the deal is set for release Nov. 25, 2015 — the 65th anniversary of the debut of the comic strip. Comcast Unveils Astros, Rockets Channel in Houston Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast is launching its 11th sports channel in a partnership with Major League Baseball's Houston Astros and the National Basketball Association's Rockets. The 24-hour Houston channel adds to a rapidly growing multibillion-dollar regional sports network industry. News Corp Braces for More Shareholder Criticism Los Angeles Times At News Corp.'s annual meeting next week in Los Angeles, several shareholders plan to continue to blast the company's governance practices. Some believe News Corp. has not made sufficient reforms, and should appoint an independent chairman to oversee the company. Sony Preps James Bond-Style Ads for Smartphone Campaign Sony plans to debut a James Bond-themed commercial for the launch of its new Xperia smartphone, the official phone of the new James Bond film, "Skyfall." The 30-second Bond-style ad features a man on a mission, driving a speedboat, car and climbing over buildings. Anschutz Seeks $10 Billion for Entertainment Group Reuters Billionaire Phil Anschutz has kicked off the auction of his Anschutz Entertainment Group, with an expectation that the sports and entertainment giant should draw bids in the $10 billion range, higher than previously believed. Assets include the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team. CBS Radio Acquires New York's 101.9 FM for Sports Crain's New York CBS Radio has signed a deal to purchase New York radio station 101.9 FM from Chicago-based Merlin Media for $75 million. By late fall, the station will launch a simulcast of sports radio 66 WFAN AM. "Sports is a very popular format and a huge growth category for our business." Comcast: Twitter a Megaphone for Consumer Gripes Puget Sound Business "When I initially called Comcast, I received an unsympathetic response. But fellow consumers on Twitter heard my complaint, and they amplified it. By Saturday afternoon I had received an apology from Comcast, and I spoke with a rep. Never have I received such a rapid response." Time Warner's Bewkes Eyes TV Exec for Warner Bros New York Post Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes is looking to shake up his $30 billion media empire — and the next move will be naming a new leader for Warner Bros. Entertainment, according to Hollywood sources. Warner Bros. TV chief Bruce Rosenblum is said to be Bewkes's favored choice. News Corp Hacking Victims Can't Get More Evidence Bloomberg News Corp.'s British publishing unit won a court ruling to avoid giving victims of its tabloid phone-hacking scandal swathes of new evidence ahead of a civil trial scheduled to start next year. More than 150 victims wanted the company to give more "generic" proof of wrongdoing. Media Professionals Using Less Traditional Media MediaPost Media professionals are much more likely to be heavy users of digital media — particularly mobile and social — and are much less likely to use traditional media than average consumers, according to a study by the Media Behavior Institute. Print, however, "bucked the trend." News Corp Board Wins Support of Proxy Adviser ISS Reuters News Corp.'s controlling Murdoch family received a major endorsement, and won a symbolic victory, with proxy advisory group Institutional Shareholder Services' recommendation that shareholders vote to re-elect the company's board of directors at its annual meeting. Chernin in Merger Talks with Endemol, Core Media Los Angeles Times Peter Chernin is poised to turn his boutique TV and movie production company into a global powerhouse. The former News Corp. president is in talks to merge his indie entertainment company with two prominent reality TV production firms, Endemol and Core Media Group. Cablevision, Disney in Pact for Multiple Platforms Dow Jones Cablevision plans to launch several services that will allow its customers to access Disney's live and video-on-demand content on TVs, computers, smartphones, tablets and gaming consoles. In total, about 70 services are covered by the broad scope of the new agreement. Warner Bros, Paramount in Home Video, Flixster Deal Reuters Warner Bros.'s home video unit has reached a deal to distribute more than 600 films from Paramount Pictures' film catalog. Paramount also will support the Warner Bros. Flixster movie website by providing new releases and older films for sale in the UltraViolet format. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Chief Birnbaum Steps Down Bloomberg Roger Birnbaum is stepping down as co-chairman and co-CEO of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the movie studio weighing an IPO. Gary Barber will become sole chairman and CEO. MGM is said to be aiming to complete its IPO before the opening of the new James Bond film "Skyfall." News Corp's Murdoch Under Fire from Investors Independent Rupert Murdoch is facing pressure from influential investment firms which are joining together to challenge his dual role as chairman and CEO of News Corp. in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal. New Corp. will hold its annual meeting on Oct. 16 in Los Angeles. Viacom Buys Stake in Social TV Startup Zeebox TechCrunch Viacom, parent of MTV and Comedy Central, is making a strategic investment in Zeebox, joining Comcast, NBC Universal and HBO in supporting the companion app and website for watching TV. Zeebox said it plans to announce more partners in the coming months. Viacom Continues TV Channel Expansion in Asia Hollywood Reporter Viacom continues to push ahead with its plans to make Comedy Central its third major global network brand after MTV and Nickelodeon with a launch in Southeast Asia next month. According to Viacom, Comedy Central is the only global, multi-platform entertainment brand. Disney Unveils Website with Entertainment Focus AllThingsD Disney has unveiled a newly refurbished Disney.com site, aimed at delivering a robust entertainment experience. The new site has been built from the "ground up," keeping in mind delivery to multiple devices, especially increasingly popular tablets and smartphones. News Corp Falls from List of Top 25 Media Earners MediaPost Disney has the biggest quarterly profits of any media company, while longtime No. 2 News Corp. dropped out of the top 25 more profitable media businesses, according to an analysis by SNL Kagan. News Corp. is taking a hit due to restructuring charges from its ailing print unit. Viacom's Redstone Chooses Dauman as Successor New York Times Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman is next in line to take over the Viacom-CBS empire. "Everyone understands, I think, that Philippe will be my successor," said chief Sumner Redstone. But Dauman is facing a huge challenge in reviving Nickelodeon, Viacom's most lucrative cable channel. Time Warner, AT&T Eye Google Deal in Kansas City Wall Street Journal Google received incentives to build its Kansas City high-speed fiber network. Now, Time Warner Cable and AT&T, the incumbent Internet and TV providers in town, are angling to get the same deal. "We're happy to compete with Google, but we'd like an even playing field." AT&T, Sony Debut Official James Bond Smartphone BGR AT&T and Sony have unveiled the Xperia TL smartphone, an Android device that comes preloaded with exclusive content such as wallpapers and ringtones from "Skyfall," the forthcoming James Bond movie. The new device "will be used in the film by 007 himself." News Corp: Murdoch Remarks Reassure Print People Australian Rupert Murdoch's recent speech at an awards ceremony for his Australian newspapers carried a crucial message. Print newspapers, he said, would continue to be part of his company for "many, many years to come." He went on: "Print will be with us for many, many years." Pearson CEO Scardino to Step Down After 16 Years Financial Times Marjorie Scardino, 65, will step down as CEO of Pearson, owner of the Financial Times, after 16 years on Jan. 1, 2013. Her successor, John Fallon, is currently head of the Pearson's international education division. Fallon joined the company in 1997 as head of communications. Disney's Former Online Chief to Oversee Fandango Los Angeles Times Fandango, the online movie ticket company, has named former Disney digital exec Paul Yanover to the new position of president. Yanover will lead the company's overall business strategy, including growing its original content offerings across mobile, TV and the web. Comcast Tops 100 Leading Media Companies List Advertising Age U.S. media revenue for the 100 leading media companies rose 4.0% last year, fueled by growth in digital, according to a report by Advertising Age. The cable-network sector was the second-best performer, at 8.3% growth. Comcast tops the ranking for the fourth year. News Corp Hires Big Guns for Internal Watchdogs Financial Times News Corp. has hired a senior official from the Securities and Exchange Commission and a former federal prosecutor to oversee new compliance teams at its various media divisions. Their job is to elevate any potential "bad news" within the company after the phone-hacking scandal. CBS, News Corp Said to Fund Redo of Inside.com TechCrunch Web entrepreneur Jason Calacanis is said to be resurrecting Inside.com as a "knowledge community" focused on creating videos, apps and more. The new venture reportedly will be backed by the likes of CBS and News Corp. Inside.com originally was a site covering the media. Report: Internet is Second-Largest Media Employer Advertising Age Internet media has become the American media industry's second-largest employment sector, according to an analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. One in six people employed in the U.S. media industry now work for Internet-media businesses. News Corp Proves Surprisingly Resilient to Scandal The Economist Accusations of phone hacking, police bribery and negligence involving Rupert Murdoch's News of the World haven't humbled News Corp.'s share price. To the surprise of skeptics and supporters alike, the media giant is flying high. Its share price has climbed by 53% in the past year. Sony Ties Up with Olympus, Takes 11 Percent Stake Associated Press Sony plans to spend about $640 million for an 11% stake in Olympus, the camera maker and world's largest maker of endoscopes. The two companies will set up a new medical equipment venture together later this year, 51% owned by Sony and the rest by Olympus. Viacom in Talks with Dish About Internet TV Service Bloomberg Dish Network is said to be talking to networks such as Viacom's MTV about offering their channels over the Internet, a service that could shift the economics of the pay-TV industry. In addition to Viacom, the negotiations are believed to involve Univision and Scripps Networks Interactive. Disney Sees Growth Opportunities in Mobile Video Hollywood Reporter Disney sees its biggest growth opportunity for video in the rise of mobile devices like tablets and smartphones, said Anne Sweeney, the company's top media networks exec. What does digital change means for ABC? "It recharacterizes the whole idea of a television network." Forecast: Digital to Drive Media Industry Spending Hollywood Reporter Spending within the U.S. communications industry will grow over the next few years to reach $1.455 trillion in revenue by 2016, according to the new forecast by investment firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson. "Digital's influence is now a constant and significant factor in every sector." News Corp Phone-Hacking Trial Date Set for 2013 Wall Street Journal The trial of former News Corp. employees facing charges including conspiracy to intercept communications has been slated to start nearly a year away, on Sept. 9, 2013. Among those facing charges are former London newspaper editors Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks. Murdoch Backs Down in War with 'Parasite' Google Telegraph News Corp. plans to reverse an earlier decision to stop articles from its Times and Sunday Times newspapers in London from being featured in Google's search listings. The move comes amid fears that the exclusion is limiting their influence and driving down advertising revenues. Time Warner Cable Plots to Take On Game Consoles Bloomberg AT&T, Verizon and Time Warner Cable are said to be gearing up for a push to deliver video games to televisions, a strategy shift that poses a threat to traditional consoles such as the PlayStation, Wii and Xbox. Trials of cloud-gaming services are likely to start later this year. Twitter Eyes Media Bigs Including Chernin for Board AllThingsD Twitter is said to be interviewing a series of well-known media players for its board, as the online social communications service seeks to increase its ties to the entertainment industry. One of the top director candidates is well-regarded Hollywood exec Peter Chernin, formerly of News Corp. News Corp: James Murdoch to Run Fox Networks Wall Street Journal News Corp. plans to give James Murdoch oversight of the Fox Networks Group, which includes the Fox broadcast network and cable channels such as FX. The group doesn't include the Fox News channel. The new role isn't expected to be confirmed until later this year. Time Warner CEO Nixes Selling HBO Online in U.S. Associated Press Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes has shot down the idea of selling HBO online in the U.S. without the TV channel packages it is usually bundled with. However, Bewkes didn't completely rule out a so-called "a la carte" offering of HBO in the future. "It's not the main opportunity now." Disney Says Ads Coming to ESPN's Apple Streams Deadline Video programmers have been eager for technicians to figure out how to present ads to iPad and iPhone users. And they've finally done it. "By the end of this month, you will see advertising on the iOS platform," said Disney CFO Jay Rasulo. Ads are already up on streams of ESPNU. CBS Chief Loves 'Lucy' as New Platforms Emerge Los Angeles Times "I Love Lucy" continues to deliver about $20 million in revenue, according to CBS chief Les Moonves. He stresses the value of CBS' new and old content, particularly as new platforms such as Netflix and Amazon spend heavily. "We're going to get paid more and more and more." Liberty: Sirius XM's Karmazin Could Be Replaced Bloomberg Sirius XM Radio doesn't need Mel Karmazin to succeed, said Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, addressing speculation his company seeks the ouster of the satellite-radio carrier's CEO. While Karmazin has done a "great" job running Sirius, plenty of people could replace him. Universal Wins OK to Buy EMI's Music Business Bloomberg Universal Music has won European Union approval to take over the recorded-music business of EMI, agreeing to sell about a third of assets owned by the firm to cut the combined group's market share. Universal offered concessions over concerns of "excessive market power." Murdoch, Zuckerberg Tie on New Forbes Rich List Deadline Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg is "the biggest loser" on the latest Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans. With the recent decline in his company's stock, Zuckerberg's net worth fell to $9.4 billion, moving him down to No. 36 on the list — tied with News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch. News Corp Investors Keep Pressure on Lawsuit Reuters News Corp. investors have asked a U.S. judge to force the company's board to face a lawsuit over a phone-hacking scandal. Shareholders argue that CEO Rupert Murdoch and the board of directors, including two of his sons, should be held responsible for damage from the scandal. Viacom CEO Excited for Return of 'Ninja Turtles' Hollywood Reporter Count Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman as a fan of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Dauman is plugging the latest incarnation of the franchise, saying that the new series to premiere on Nickelodeon on Sept. 29 is "tremendous and well-executed," and that he is "excited" for it. Comcast Sees Big Deals as a Thing of the Past Wall Street Journal Big cable companies have gotten bigger in recent years by buying smaller operators. But don't expect the trend to continue. "We frankly would rather buy back stock" rather than buy smaller players, said Comcast CFO Michael Angelakis, citing a "disconnect" in valuations. Hearst Tower Hosts Glitzy Bash for Anniversary San Francisco Chronicle Hearst threw a party at its glimmering Manhattan tower to show "Citizen Hearst," a new documentary about the 125-year-old media giant. Jennifer Hudson performed at the anniversary celebration. Sausages were served made from beef raised on the Hearst family ranch. Sony Explores Sale of U.S. Headquarters Building New York Post Sony, which reported a $5.6 billion loss last year, is said to be exploring a sale of its U.S. headquarters at 550 Madison Avenue. The 36-story building, designed by noted architect Philip Johnson, "has considerable value locked in it, given its location, size and iconic design." NBCUniversal Consolidates Ad Sales Under Exec Adweek Less than a year after being tapped to lead NBCUniversal's cable and digital advertising sales, Linda Yaccarino is assuming oversight of the company's broadcast sales business. As president of ad sales for NBCUniversal, Yaccarino will report directly to CEO Steve Burke. News Corp to Unveil Digital Service for New Films The Wrap News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox will allow customers to get their hands on the latest new releases before they hit store shelves. A new home entertainment service, Digital HD, will let fans buy films three weeks before their premieres on DVD, Blu-ray and video-on-demand. Disney Sends 'Desperate Housewives' to Turkey Bloomberg The "Desperate Housewives" of Wisteria Lane have a new address: Istanbul's Gul street. Broadcasters in Turkey, Russia and elsewhere are padding their prime-time schedules with local versions of shows licensed from U.S. studios. The Middle East "has an exploding appetite." Diller, Rudin Forming E-Book Publishing Venture New York Times Film producer Scott Rudin and IAC chief Barry Diller have teamed up to enter the turbulent world of book publishing. Rudin and Frances Coady, a longtime publishing exec, have formed a partnership with Diller in a new venture to publish e-books and eventually physical books. Anschutz Weighs Sale of Concert Promoter AEG Wall Street Journal Anschutz Co. plans to sell Anschutz Entertainment Group, its powerhouse sports-and-entertainment subsidiary whose properties include a piece of the Los Angeles Lakers as well as sports teams, stadiums and music festivals around the world. A sale could be worth several billion dollars. Axel Springer Venture to Buy Polish Web Portal Reuters Ringier Axel Springer, a joint venture between German publisher Axel Springer and Swiss firm Ringier, has won regulatory approval to buy Poland's No.1 web portal Onet.pl. The venture publishes a local edition of Newsweek, but has struggled to establish an online business. News Corp, Google Enter Digital TV, Movie Deal AllThingsD In early 2012, Rupert Murdoch was railing against Google, labeling it the "piracy leader." Now Murdoch's 20th Century Fox has cut a deal to sell and rent its movies and TV shows via the search giant's YouTube and Google Play. Google now has deals with all of the major Hollywood studios. Murdoch, Berlusconi Eye Buy of Italian TV Channel AFP Rupert Murdoch is said to be interested in buying Italian TV channel La7, setting up a potential face-off with his old business rival, former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, whose company signaled it too was looking into a possible purchase. The deadline for offers is Monday. Lachlan Murdoch Settles Aussie Defamation Case Australian Lachlan Murdoch has settled his defamation case against Australia's Fairfax Media out of court for $50,000. Murdoch sued after a column made claims about his use of News Corp.'s corporate jet. Murdoch donated the settlement to the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. Comcast's Roberts Gets One-Year Job Extension Multichannel News Brian Roberts' job as chairman and CEO of Comcast is safe for another year. The media giant has amended his employment agreement for one year to June 30, 2013. Roberts, whose father founded Comcast in 1963, has served as CEO since 2002 and chairman since 2004. Time Warner Cable Plans to Sell Stake in Clearwire Dow Jones Time Warner Cable plans to sell its 7.8% stake in struggling mobile broadband provider Clearwire. Time Warner paid $550 million for the stake in 2008, but the shares are worth only about $73.3 million today. Google sold its stake in Clearwire for a $433.5 million loss in March. Liberty Media Moves Closer to Control of Sirius XM Wall Street Journal John Malone's Liberty Media has converted nearly half of its preferred shares in Sirius XM Radio common stock, taking another step toward outright control of the satellite-radio company. Following the conversion, Liberty owns about 32% of the common stock in Sirius XM. Hearst CEO Bennack Preps Swartz as Successor Financial Times Hearst CEO Frank Bennack is preparing to hand over the reins to COO Steven Swartz, ushering in a new era for the media giant. "Specific dates and movements haven't been set," said Bennack, "but it's clear that they're not far into the future." Also: Bennack has built a media empire. News Corp Film Chief to Exit as Film, TV Units Split Wall Street Journal Tom Rothman, co-chairman and co-CEO of News Corp.'s Fox Filmed Entertainment, plans to step down at year-end, as the media giant announces the separation of its TV and film-production units. Rothman said in an internal email that he plans to seek "new challenges." Time Warner Grows Aggressive Over DVD Piracy GigaOM Warner Bros. is filing a wave of copyright lawsuits across the country against individuals who are using Amazon to sell pirated versions of shows like "True Blood." The Time Warner studio has filed nearly 50 cases against Amazon sellers in the last three months alone. Weinstein's 'Master' Smashes Box-Office Records Associated Press Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master" commanded a huge following in its opening weekend, smashing records on just a handful of U.S. screens. The Weinstein release made $729,745 in five theaters in New York and Los Angeles. The film opens in more cities within weeks. Big Media Finds Digitization Isn't Scary After All Businessweek Hollywood is discovering there is life after the DVD. With the likes of Netflix and Amazon bidding for rights to stream movies on Kindles, iPads and TVs, the studios are enjoying a boomlet that is taking the edge off declining disc sales and rentals. "We are all reinventing ourselves." News Corp Sued by Hugh Grant Over Hacking Bloomberg Hugh Grant, the British actor who told a media-ethics inquiry the press had become "toxic" in its pursuit of celebrity gossip, has sued News Corp.'s U.K. unit over claims its News of the World tabloid hacked his phone. Grant joins dozens of other victims who have sued since February. Viacom-CBS Chief Redstone Working on Book Hollywood Reporter Sumner Redstone has begun work on a second book following his 2001 autobiography, "A Passion to Win." The news comes as the Viacom and CBS executive chairman donates $18 million to Boston University's law school. A new building at the university will be named after him. Time Warner Won't Rule Out Publishing Spin-Off Dow Jones Time Warner won't report any "meaningful" earnings growth for the third quarter, according to CFO John Martin. He added that he wouldn't rule out splitting-off Time Warner's underperforming publishing division, although such plans are not being considered at present. Disney Says Ads Weak; Sees $50 Million Film Loss Associated Press Disney's TV advertising revenue did not rebound as expected after last month's conclusion of the London Olympics that were aired on rival NBC, said CFO Jay Rasulo. Disney also expects to book a $50 million charge for discontinuing a movie that was in the works. NBCUniversal: Rebuilding NBC Remains Priority Broadcasting & Cable Fixing NBC remains NBCUniversal's top priority, said CEO Steve Burke, two years after Comcast acquired control of the company. "We need to make better shows. I look at this as a tremendous opportunity." He added that it is an opportunity "you can't grab in one year." Media CEOs Bullish on Technology Driving Growth Los Angeles Times About half of media CEOs and chief operating officers predict that digital media will increase their companies' revenues and profit margins by at least 10% within the next three years, according to a survey by Ernst & Young. "They see that digital media is where the consumer is." News Corp: Lachlan Murdoch Sues for Defamation Australian Lachlan Murdoch filed a defamation lawsuit against Fairfax Media after a column claimed he neglected his duties as chairman of Australia's Channel Ten by flying in News Corp.'s corporate jet. The column was published in Fairfax's Sydney Morning Herald and the Age newspapers. Viacom's MTV Builds Business in Music Tourism Hollywood Reporter MTV is continuing to build a business around music tourism internationally, announcing that it is taking its "Isle of MTV" franchise beyond Europe to Japan. The Viacom network will produce and film a free concert on Japan's Miyako-Jima island during spring break in March. Viacom's Nickelodeon Said to Suffer More Declines New York Post Nickelodeon, which has been experiencing a ratings and advertising-revenue slide, will continue to see declines through mid-2013, according to Pivotal Research, citing competition and aging programming. Nickelodeon accounts for a huge portion of owner Viacom's ad revenue. Time Warner Cable, Viacom Team Up for Online TV Dow Jones Time Warner Cable is partnering with Viacom to allow the cable giant's customers to access episodes from TV channels like Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and VH1 on demand on the web. Time Warner customers can now log in to Viacom channel websites with their cable IDs. News Corp Names Cheesbrough Technology Officer Dow Jones News Corp. has named Paul Cheesbrough its chief technology officer to oversee the media giant's development of new digital products and its tech strategy. Cheesbrough was most recently chief information officer for News International, the company's U.K. publishing division. News Corp Faces Up to 108 Phone-Hacking Lawsuits Financial Times News Corp's UK newspaper publishing division faces up to 108 lawsuits from phone-hacking victims in the second wave of the civil litigation brought against the defunct News of the World. A further 30 or 40 lawsuits are likely to be issued before the deadline for new claims on Sept. 14. Disney Opens Baby Store, Internet-Based Boutique Los Angeles Business Disney has opened its first Disney Baby Store in Glendale, Calif., and launched a baby boutique online. "We launched the Disney Baby line to address the needs of moms looking for superior baby products." The company already sells a line of baby products through major retailers. Time Warner Studio Eyes Future Though 'Tech Ops' Los Angeles Times Warner Bros. is embracing high tech, including hosting Silicon Valley-style "hackathon" events to spur innovation. The Time Warner film studio's program is seen as unusual in an industry known for its resistance to new technology. "We need to control our own destiny in the digital world." Lions Gate's 'Possession' Tops Weak Movie Weekend Reuters The North American box office hit a slump at the weekend, with top earner "The Possession" taking in less than $10 million in what could be the gloomiest overall haul since the aftermath of the attacks of Sept. 11. "This is one of the worst-grossing weekends of the last 10 years." MGM Studio Said to Seek IPO Before Next Bond Movie Bloomberg MGM, the Hollywood studio that exited bankruptcy in 2010, is said to be seeking to complete an initial stock sale before the October release of its next James Bond film. The studio said in July it submitted a confidential IPO filing to regulators, in a process that lets owners gauge interest. Disney Interactive Lays Off Employees Amid Losses Los Angeles Business Disney has laid off about 50 employees, in a move attributed to a restructuring of the company's interactive division. The unit employs 2,000 people. The cuts follow a fiscal quarter in which the division was the only one of five at Disney to post declining year-over-year revenue. News Corp Stock Hits 52-Week High Despite Scandal Variety News Corp. shares have hit a new 52-week high as Wall Street embraces the company's upcoming split and shrugs off a U.K. hacking scandal that just cut CEO Rupert Murdoch's bonus. "Investors like the more subdued Murdoch of late, who's unlikely to make costly acquisitions." Murdoch to Acquire Australia's Consolidated Media Bloomberg News Corp. has agreed to buy Consolidated Media for $2 billion to boost its stake in Australian pay TV as billionaire Kerry Stokes weighs making a counter-offer. A deal would give CEO Rupert Murdoch full ownership of the Fox Sports network in Australia and half of pay-TV operator Foxtel. Gannett Buys Mobestream Media for Mobile Coupons Washington Business Gannett has acquired Mobestream Media, a Dallas-based company that makes an app allowing users to store existing customer discount cards and join new rewards programs. It also pushes mobile coupons — "a fast-growing segment of the national and local marketing sector." Sony Says Info on 400 Mobile Customers Hacked MarketWatch Servers of a third-party vendor to which Sony Mobile Communications outsources data management has come under cyberattack, resulting in a leak of information on 400 customers in China and Taiwan. Credit-card and bank-account information was not stolen, Sony said. News Corp Picks Board Member with Ties to Wiretaps Bloomberg News Corp., still seeking to move past a hacking scandal at its U.K. newspapers, has nominated to its board former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe — whose administration has been accused of ordering illegal wiretaps of political opponents, journalists and others. Comcast Invests in Private Cloud Computing Firm TechCrunch Nebula, a company that allows businesses to deploy large private cloud computing infrastructures, has raised $25 million in Series B funding led by Comcast Ventures and Highland Capital Partners with other investors, including Kleiner Perkins, participating. News Corp Scandal Hacks Murdoch, Exec Bonuses Financial Review Rupert Murdoch and News Corp.'s next three most-senior execs have forgone a combined $5.6 million in cash bonuses as a result of their "shared responsibility" for the U.K. hacking scandal, the media giant said in a proxy statement filing. News Corp. holds its annual meeting Oct. 16. Media, Tech Tycoons Back Obama Amid Piracy Feud Bloomberg Hollywood and Silicon Valley's like-minded backing of Barack Obama masks a political drama embroiling these two industries: a fight over content piracy. Winning the president's favor could give one side an edge in a legislative battle that might be re-engaged as early as next year. Hollywood's Summer Heads South as Films Fizzle Associated Press Studio execs expected their biggest summer ever this year. But what they got were two colossal blockbusters and plenty of duds, resulting in what may be the lowest summer movie attendance in 20 years. "The audience didn't come out in the numbers expected." News Corp's Australian Media Arm to Cut 65 Jobs Financial Review More redundancies have been announced as News Limited continues the restructuring of its newsrooms throughout Australia. Changes announced on Tuesday are expected to result in the loss of about 65 jobs with half involving sub-editing roles at a central Sydney location. Murdoch Son Expands Australian Radio Interests Reuters Lachlan Murdoch has bought the remaining 50% of Australian radio network DMG Radio Australia he did not already own. Speculation once suggested that he could return to an executive role with News Corp., but Rupert Murdoch has dismissed that as "highly unlikely." Emmis Defeats Bid by Stockholders to Block Vote Bloomberg Emmis, the ninth-biggest U.S. radio station operator, has fended off a bid to block a shareholder vote that could wipe out $34 million in unpaid dividends owed to preferred stockholders. The shareholders claimed that their preferred stock would become worthless. News Corp Digital Future 'Unclear' After Split-Up Fortune The exit of digital chief Jon Miller ahead of News Corp.'s split-up suggests that neither of the two future companies will have much to do with the Internet. CEO Rupert Murdoch's direction "is more unclear than ever," as the Internet grows more powerful as a media distributor. Comcast, Disney Eyeing Levinsohn for 'Big Jobs' Business Insider Yahoo's departed interim CEO Ross Levinsohn is rumored to be under consideration for a "senior role" at Comcast. In addition, Disney and News Corp. are said to be eyeing the exec to be the next CEO of Hulu, if negotiations with current CEO Jason Kilar "don't work out." Liberty Media Increases Stake in Sirius XM Radio Wall Street Journal Liberty Media has raised its stake in satellite-radio operator Sirius XM Radio to 48.8% from 48.1%, according to a regulatory filing. If Liberty gets U.S. blessing to take absolute control, the company will be freed to replace Sirius management and pursue other options. News Corp 'Top Job' Is Not for Murdoch Daughter BBC News Elisabeth Murdoch said she has "absolutely no ambition" to succeed her father Rupert in the "top job" as the head of News Corp. Murdoch runs the TV production firm Shine. She added: "Everyone likes the idea of a soap opera, and it's really not that. The reality is we are a very close family." Viacom Loads Ads on Channels as Viewers Exit Wall Street Journal Fewer people have been tuning into some of Viacom's cable channels, so the company has increased air time for commercials to maintain revenue. Nickelodeon and Comedy Central boosted the amount of ad time they aired in the first half of 2012 by 9% from a year earlier. Martha Admits to 'Big Disconnect' Amid Declines Wall Street Journal Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has posted losses for eight of the past nine years, as the company faces the combined headwinds of an aging brand and a general decline in the magazine industry. Founder Martha Stewart blames her own diminished role for "the big disconnect." Murdoch Daughter Attacks News Corp in Keynote Guardian Tensions within the world's most powerful media family were laid bare during Elisabeth Murdoch's keynote address at the Edinburgh Television Festival. Murdoch set out her own vision of media leadership, criticizing her father's News Corp. for operating with an absence of values. News Corp Chief Digital Officer Miller to Step Down AllThingsD News Corp. has announced that Jon Miller, the company's chief digital officer since 2009, will leave his position in September as the media giant moves toward its planned separation into two companies. Miller will serve as an outside advisor to News Corp. through fall 2013. Disney Brings More Live Content to Comcast Xfinity TechCrunch Disney is getting in on the TV Everywhere game in a big way, by bringing even more of its live kids content online with Comcast's Xfinity TV website. The move will help Disney reach its viewers on new platforms, and offer up new ways for them to access its content online. Sony to Cut 1,000 Jobs to Reduce Costs in Mobile Bloomberg Sony plans to eliminate about 15% of its mobile-phone unit's workforce to reduce costs at a business that trails Apple and Samsung. The reduction of about 1,000 jobs will mainly be in Sweden. The unit's headquarters will move to from Lund to Tokyo, where Sony is based. Time Warner, News Corp Donations Favor Obama New York Times Time Warner, News Corp., Comcast and other major media companies, driven largely by their Hollywood film and TV businesses, have made larger contributions to President Obama than to his rival, former Gov. Mitt Romney, according to a report by the Center for Responsive Politics. Viacom Battles The Situation Over Who Owns 'GTL' Hollywood Reporter MTV owner Viacom has taken on Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino over trademarks to phrases he utters on the hit show "Jersey Shore." Viacom told the trademark board that the series has led to many catchphrases including "gym, tanning, laundry," "grenade" and "smush." Weinstein Targeted in Extortion Scheme by Actor Smoking Gun In an extortion scheme busted up by federal agents, a fledgling actor threatened to kill members of movie producer Harvey Weinstein's family unless the Hollywood titan wired millions to an offshore bank account. Weinstein was one of several business titans allegedly targeted. MGM Poised to Go Public After Bond Film 'Skyfall' Financial Times Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will release "Skyfall," the 23rd James Bond film, in November. The new Bond film could propel an initial public offering of the revered studio, with MGM appointing advisers to explore a return to the public markets two years after it emerged from bankruptcy. News Corp Phone-Hacking Victims to Be Revealed Independent Up to 600 alleged phone-hacking victims of the News of the World are about to be named by prosecutors for the first time, a move likely to heighten investor dissatisfaction with parent News Corp. The list is expected to reveal more well-known actors, pop stars and politicians. Viacom Sued for VH1 Web Post of Photo from TMZ Hollywood Reporter Viacom is being sued for copyright infringement over a photo of actress Demi Moore that appeared on VH1's website. The post appears to be a story that riffed off of a TMZ article. The National Photo Group claims that Viacom copied the image from its client's website. Viacom Overpaid Chairman and CEO, Lawsuit Says Bloomberg Viacom has wrongly overpaid chairman Sumner Redstone, CEO Philippe Dauman and COO Thomas Dooley, shareholder Robert Freedman claims in a lawsuit. "Excessive compensation constitutes disloyalty, waste and is not the product of a valid exercise or business judgment." News Corp to Distribute DreamWorks Animation Firms Associated Press DreamWorks Animation said that its films will be distributed by News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox starting next year. The five-year deal replaces an existing distribution agreement with Viacom's Paramount Pictures. "This deal is an absolute win-win," said CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. Time Warner, LivingSocial Team with General Motors Adweek General Motors has forged a unique multiplatform alliance with fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, the daily deals brand LivingSocial and media giant Time Warner. The automaker aims to generate interest in its 2013 Chevy Malibu, by way of a side trip through women's closets. News Corp Taps MTV Exec for Communications Post Variety News Corp. has named former MTV corporate communications head Nathaniel Brown as VP of corporate affairs and communications. Brown will work with Dan Berger, VP of corporate affairs and communications. The two execs report to Julie Henderson, chief communications officer. News Corp: Murdoch Daughter to Deliver Keynote Independent Elisabeth Murdoch is scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the Edinburgh International Television Festival this week. She is likely to get an altogether different response to that received by her younger brother James, who delivered the event's keynote just three years ago. Comcast's NBC Cuts Target Leno, 'Tonight Show' Deadline A year after NBC employees were greeted with gift boxes on the day the Comcast takeover became official, some of them are getting pink slips. The latest downsizing is at NBC's "The Tonight Show," where 20 staffers lost their jobs and host Jay Leno took a "tremendous" pay cut. Liberty Boosts Sirius XM Stake, Aims for Control Associated Press Liberty Media has boosted its stake in Sirius XM Radio and intends to take control of the satellite radio broadcaster if federal authorities approve. The John Malone-controlled conglomerate bought 94.3 million shares in the past week, raising its stake to 48%. Hulu Owners Consider Future Without CEO Kilar Variety A confidential internal memo regarding the business of Hulu covers many sensitive issues, including a "transition plan" in the event CEO Jason Kilar exits the streaming service. Kilar is due to receive an estimated $100 million from the buyout of co-owner Providence Equity Partners. Hollywood Director's Death Mourned on Twitter E! Online The apparent suicide of "Top Gun" film director Tony Scott has hit Hollywood hard. After hearing of his death, celebrities turned to Twitter to offer their condolences. Ron Howard: "No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day." Elijah Wood: "Awful news about Tony Scott. Rest in peace." News Corp PR Exec Horner Jumps to Warner Bros Hollywood Reporter Jack Horner, a veteran corporate communications exec for News Corp., is said to be jumping to Warner Bros. As VP corporate affairs and communications, Horner has been on the front lines of the phone-hacking scandal at the company's defunct News of the World newspaper. Disney, Marvel Face Culture Clash Amid Success Financial Times Disney's $4 billion purchase of Marvel in 2009 has led to box-office success, such as the mammoth hit "The Avengers" — as well as staff tension from the management style of the unit's CEO, Isaac Perlmutter. Employees claim the Marvel boss makes threatening and racial remarks. News Corp Sued for Hacking by Lawyer in 2007 Affair Bloomberg News Corp. and former private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, who hacked phones for the News of the World tabloid, have been sued in Britain by criminal-defense lawyer Kirsty Brimelow. Newspapers said in 2007 that Brimelow had an affair with U.K. chief prosecutor Ken Macdonald. Comcast Expands Program to Close Digital Divide Chicago Tribune Comcast has expanded a program to help close the digital divide by providing discounted residential broadband Internet access to low-income families. Almost 100,000 total families in the United States, representing 400,000 people, participated in the first year. Apple, Cable Industry in Talks Over TV Set-Top Box Wall Street Journal Apple is said to be in talks with some of the biggest U.S. cable operators about letting consumers use an Apple device as a set-top box for live TV and other content. The talks represent Apple's most ambitious crack at infiltrating the living room after years of trying. Comcast, Time Warner Cable Top U.S. Media Stocks Bloomberg Comcast and Time Warner Cable have soared to the top of S&P 500 media index, thanks in part to one big selling point: They don't do business in Europe. The U.S. cable giants appeal to investors who want to avoid the fallout from Europe's debt crisis and currency fluctuations. News Corp Announces Ethics Oversight Structure Dow Jones News Corp. has unveiled a structure to oversee the company's ethical practices, part of its efforts to address concerns after the phone-hacking scandal at its British newspapers. "The review is not based on any suspicion of wrongdoing by any particular business unit." Redbox Owner Said in Sale Talks with Private Equity New York Post Redbox parent Coinstar, best known for its self-service movie DVD rental kiosks, is said to be holding talks about a potential sale while it also navigates a vending-machine expansion. The company has been in talks with an undisclosed private-equity firm for several months. Electronic Arts Said to Attract Private-Equity Interest New York Post Electronic Arts, maker of the hit video games "SimCity" and "Madden NFL," is said to be quietly exploring a sale. The gamemaker has been approached by private-equity giants KKR and Providence Equity Partners about a potential deal. "It's early days," said a source. Sony Gears Up for Fall Launch of PlayStation Mobile Reuters Sony will roll out its PlayStation Mobile cross-platform gaming service this fall, offering app software and other content across devices like the handheld PlayStation Vita and Xperia smartphones and tablets. The service will be available in nine countries including the United States. Weinstein Company Chief Obtains Restraining Order TMZ The homeless man who threatened to attack singer Sheryl Crow has also threatened to "shoot" Harvey Weinstein, the co-chairman of the Weinstein Co. is said to have claimed. Weinstein has obtained a restraining order, requiring Phil Sparks to stay 300 yards away from him. Getty Images Sold to Carlyle Group for $3.3 Billion Bloomberg Carlyle Group, the world's second-largest private-equity firm, plans to buy photo archive Getty Images for $3.3 billion from Hellman & Friedman. Carlyle will acquire a controlling stake, while the Getty family will roll "substantially all" of their ownership interests into the deal. News Corp's Murdoch Calls for Immigration Overhaul Boston Herald U.S. immigration policies need to be revamped or the nation will lose out economically to more immigrant-friendly countries, said Rupert Murdoch. Mitt Romney should give "illegal Mexicans" a path to citizenship. "They're natural Republicans. They're Catholics. They're family people." Liberty Media Nearing Takeover of Sirius XM Radio Wall Street Journal John Malone's Liberty Media is inching closer to taking control of Sirius XM Radio, raising its stake in the satellite-radio operator to about 48%. If Liberty's stake rises above 50%, it would have clear control of the company, opening the way to a possible spin off. Comcast: Olympics Is 'TV Everywhere' Watershed Multichannel News More than 1.5 million Comcast subscribers accessed 26 million video streams for NBCUniversal's coverage of the London Olympics — a "watershed" event for TV Everywhere, said digital exec Matt Strauss. "Our focus is now taking the success to fall TV and other programming." Disney's Next Blockbuster Could Be an Acquisition TheStreet Disney's next blockbuster may be a near-$10 billion acquisition. Scripps Networks Interactive could be on Disney's radar, according to Citigroup analysts. Adding Scripps' popular cable channels would allow Disney to target the same adult women watching its ABC shows. News Corp to Boost Investment in Digital Learning Associated Press News Corp. plans to boost its investment in Amplify, its entry into the burgeoning field of digital learning, by another $100 million from a year ago to $180 million in the coming fiscal year. "Kids are used to a world of social networks and data aggregation," said News Corp.'s Joel Klein. Viacom Suffers $300 Million Loss Over 'Rock Band' Hollywood Reporter Viacom is suffering a $300 million loss in a Delaware court tied to its 2006 acquisition of Harmonix, the studio that created the Rock Band video games. Although Viacom sold Harmonix in 2010, it is still paying for the decision to buy the game studio at the height of a boom. Comcast's 'Bourne' Tally Drops Due to Olympics Variety While the domestic box office took a hit from the Olympics closing ceremony, Universal's weekend champ "The Bourne Legacy" bore the brunt of Sunday's deflated tally, with revised weekend totals at $38.1 million vs. the studio's originally estimated $40.3 million. Redbox Taps Starbucks Veteran as New President Home Media Redbox is naming Anne Saunders, formerly with Bank of America, Starbucks and AT&T, as its new president. She will take over for Gregg Kaplan, who will remain president and COO of owner Coinstar through March 2013. Kaplan helped launch Redbox in 2002. News Corp Chief Endorses Ryan as 'Almost Perfect' Newsmax Rupert Murdoch is giving his tweet of approval to Mitt Romney's selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate in the U.S. presidential election. "Thank God!" tweeted the News Corp. CEO. "Now we might have a real election on the great issues of the day. Paul Ryan almost perfect choice." Comcast Among Media Giants Likely to Acquire Starz Advertising Age Now that Liberty Media plans to spin off Starz into a separate company, speculation is turning to a possible acquisition of the premium TV network by one of several media powerhouses. Comcast "is the most likely acquirer." Also, News Corp. "could use Starz." CBS Said to Consider Bid for Dick Clark Productions Reuters CBS is said to be mulling a bid for Dick Clark Productions and would join other bidders including "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest, who have until Aug. 31 to make offers. CBS is believed to be in a group of four to six bidders who have moved to a second round of talks. Comcast's 'Bourne' Bumps Batman from No. 1 Spot Associated Press "The Dark Knight Rises" has finally fallen out of first-place at the weekend box office. Jeremy Renner's action tale "The Bourne Legacy" took over as the No. 1 movie with a $40.3 million debut, according to estimates. "Dark Knight" had been the No. 1 movie for three-straight weekends. NBCUniversal Claims Record Olympic Viewership Bloomberg Daytime weekday viewership of the London Olympics has averaged 7.1 million, a 31% jump from 2008 and a record for non-U.S. Summer Games, NBCUniversal said. The audience totaled 212.7 million as of Friday, making it the second-most watched event in U.S. TV history. Comcast CEO Predicts Big Changes in TV's Future Businessweek Television will change more in the next five years than in the last 50, according to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts. Comcast will be able to offer "a suite of products that you subscribe to. And we are going to have many customers that are going to buy those products directly from us." NBCUniversal Eyes Ad Haul for 2014 Winter Olympics Advertising Age Social-media brickbats thrown at NBCUniversal over its London Summer Olympics broadcast aren't likely to have much effect on plans for the 2014 Winter Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi. NBCU already has sold $200 million worth of advertising for the broadcast. News Corp Shares Hit Five-Year High Despite Loss Reuters Shares in News Corp. touched a more than five-year high on Thursday, even as a massive $2.85 billion restructuring charge in the media giant's publishing unit hurt the company's quarterly results. Wall Street expects cable networks and TV to be profit drivers in 2013. Bloomberg, Murdoch Slated for Immigration Forum Politico New York mayor Mike Bloomberg plans to hold forums next week on immigration with former White House chief of staff Bill Daley in Chicago and with Rupert Murdoch in Boston. Murdoch has been critical of both President Obama and Mitt Romney on the issue. News Corp Hacking Scandal Costs Hit $315 Million Bloomberg News Corp. reported a $1.55 billion fourth-quarter loss after writing down the value of publishing assets hurt by the phone-hacking scandal and shrinking advertising revenue. Coping with the scandal's fallout has cost News Corp. about $315 million since it broke in July 2011. Disney Outpaces Media Rivals as Earnings Grow Associated Press Disney's stock is up 35% so far this year, outpacing its media rivals. Analysts believe Disney can offer steady growth because the company has protection against a possible ad slump: The increasing fees it charges distributors of its TV channels like ESPN and ABC. Liberty Media to Eye Sirius XM After Starz Spinoff Reuters John Malone's Liberty Media plans to spin off its premium pay-TV network Starz into a public company in a deal seen as the latest step to taking control of satellite radio company Sirius XM. Separating Starz from Liberty could make it easier to move ahead with a Sirius XM merger. Comcast Scam Leads to Arrests, Search for Others Philadelphia Inquirer Five men have been arrested and police are seeking 18 others in an elaborate scheme to bilk Comcast out of $2.4 million by selling discount cable services. Some 5,795 customers paid $150 to have discounts applied to their cable accounts, giving them premium channels. Disney Eyes Fee Hike for TV Channels, Ads in Apps CNBC Disney CEO Bob Iger said he sees a "strong environment" for raising subscription fees for company's TV channels, which include ESPN. He is also planning a future revenue stream — advertising embedded into Disney's new iPad apps, which the company hopes to roll out this fall. News Corp Journo Arrested in Illegal Payments Probe Telegraph A journalist from the News Corp. tabloid the Sun and a British police officer are being arrested as part of an investigation into corrupt payments, according to Scotland Yard. The police operation, which is running in conjunction with the phone-hacking probe, has seen 43 arrests. Time Warner: Arrest at Ohio 'Dark Knight' Screening TMZ Police in Ohio have arrested a man who allegedly tried to smuggle guns, ammunition and knives into a late-night showing of Warner Bros.'s "The Dark Knight Rises." The manager of the Cleveland-area movie theater became suspicious after the man entered carrying a satchel. Time Warner Eyes ESPN with Bleacher Report Buy MarketWatch After years of neglecting its sports-journalism franchise, Time Warner is trying to compete against the juggernaut known as ESPN. The media giant is poised to pay $175 million to acquire Bleacher Report, the sports news site highlighting the entertainment side of sports. NBCUniversal: Movie Studio Head Meyer to Move Up Los Angeles Times Universal Studios President Ron Meyer will be headed upstairs to parent company NBCUniversal before his time in Hollywood is done. At some point in the next year or two, Meyer will move into an advisory role working with NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke, per a provision in his contract. Liberty Media to Spin Off Cable Programmer Starz Bloomberg Liberty Media plans to spin off Starz to unlock growth opportunities at the cable-programming unit. The John Malone-controlled company has used tracking stocks and financial transactions over the years to pursue tax benefits and make its assets more attractive to shareholders. Comcast CEO Sees Olympics as 'Real Laboratory' SportsBusiness Journal The Olympics are allowing Comcast CEO Brian Roberts to test new technologies and imagine how the media landscape will look in the next decade. "We see these Olympics as a real laboratory." Pay-TV subscribers "can watch a lot more than what's on linear TV." News Corp: Church of England Pulls Investment Telegraph The Church of England has pulled its £1.9 million investment from News Corp. in a protest over its handling of the News of the World phone hacking scandal. The investment is relatively small, but it comes as a significant blow to the media group's standing as an investment vehicle. Time Warner to Acquire Sports Site Bleacher Report Bloomberg Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting is said to be acquiring the Bleacher Report sports website for under $200 million, bolstering its online sports coverage. The deal was approved by the Federal Trade Commission on Aug. 3, according to regulatory documents. News Corp's Murdoch Olympic Meeting Stirs Criticism BBC News A mobile-phone video clip of British culture secretary Jeremy Hunt chatting with Rupert Murdoch at the Olympics suggests the pair are "as close as ever." The video suggests "no contrition" for mistakes after Hunt faced questions over his handling of News Corp.'s BSkyB bid. Time Warner's 'Dark Knight' Rises as News Subsides Bloomberg "The Dark Knight Rises" is the No. 1 film in North America for a third weekend, collecting $36.4 million as news coverage of the shooting at a screening in Colorado abates. The latest Batman film from Warner Bros. missed forecasts on its first weekend after the incident. CBS' Moonves Hailed as 'Super Genius' by Redstone CNBC CBS chief Sumner Redstone is praising CEO Les Moonves as a "super genius" as the company reports a rise in digital dollars and other new revenue streams. Moonves points to the impact of deals with Amazon, Netflix and Hulu. "We continue to increase the ways we get paid." Viacom Preps New Projects to Revive Nickelodeon New York Times Viacom plans to develop a dozen new TV series and movies for its struggling Nickelodeon channel. Ratings softness, mostly at Nickelodeon, led to a 7% drop in domestic advertising revenue in the most recent quarter. "We are aggressively investing to create new hits." Comcast, Time Warner Cable Shift Emphasis from TV Wall Street Journal Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt and Comcast CEO Brian Roberts separately said they see Google's nascent one-gigabit communications network in Kansas City as a "laboratory" for encouraging new Internet services that will drive the adoption of faster broadband tiers. Viacom Says Ad Sales Declined More Than Expected Associated Press MTV parent Viacom said its net income fell 7% in the latest quarter as advertising revenue declined more than expected and its movie releases failed to measure up to last year's. The media giant has been struggling with a ratings decline for key channels, particularly Nickelodeon. CBS Claims Benefits from Change to Business Model Bloomberg CBS is countering a drop in advertising revenue with higher affiliate and subscription fees. The TV network "is benefiting from the steps we've taken to improve our business model," said CEO Les Moonves. Also, CBS is open to offers for its TV stations outside the top U.S. markets. NBC Offers Peek of Future Olympics Business Model Reuters NBC briefly tore down the digital wall protecting its Olympics coverage and permitted consumers without a pay-TV subscription to watch live online a much-anticipated race with U.S. swimmers Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. NBC said it aims to "mix innovation and tradition." News Corp Former Editor Brooks Released on Bail Bloomberg Rebekah Brooks, the former editor of News Corp.'s now-closed U.K. News of the World tabloid, has been released on bail after being charged with unlawfully intercepting voice mails messages to get information for news stories. Brooks was ordered to report to court on Sept. 3. Time Warner to Revive CNN with Engaging Programs Reuters Time Warner is unsatisfied with CNN's low ratings and will seek to turn around the cable news network with programming that is more compelling and stays non-partisan, said CEO Jeff Bewkes. His comments come days after the president of CNN Worldwide said he would step down. Comcast Sues FCC Over Ruling on Tennis Channel Bloomberg Comcast has sued the Federal Communications Commission to block a ruling mandating distribution of the Tennis Channel on its cable systems that it said may cost it hundreds of millions of dollars. The agency had ruled that Comcast improperly discriminated against the channel. Dun & Bradstreet, Hoover's Owner, in Possible Sale Wall Street Journal Dun & Bradstreet, a provider of credit and business data to financial firms and other institutions, is said to be exploring a potential sale of itself. Abraham Lincoln once worked as a reporter for the 171-year-old company. Its assets now include Hoover's and AllBusiness.com. Time Warner Quarterly Results Hit by Publishing Unit CNNMoney Time Warner has reported reduced second-quarter revenue and earnings despite improved results at its television networks. Results continued to lag in the publishing division, which includes Time Inc., as both advertising and subscription revenue fell, cutting profits nearly in half. News Corp's Daily Tablet Newspaper Cuts 50 Jobs Wall Street Journal The Daily, News Corp.'s experiment with a tablet-only daily newspaper, has laid off 50 people, or nearly a third of its staff, about 18 months after its launch. "There is a general tightening of the belt" ahead of News Corp.'s planned split its publishing and entertainment assets. Viacom Eyes Worldwide Export of Comedy Central World Screen Viacom plans to launch Comedy Central in Serbia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Herzegovina and Croatia. The new 24-hour channel will offer programs such as "The Daily Show" and "South Park." Extending the Comedy Central brand around the world "is a top priority." Comcast Expected to Make Changes at Universal New York Post Insiders at Universal Pictures are expecting changes at the 100-year-old studio. Owner Comcast is expected to shake things up, with Universal boss Ron Meyer possibly getting pushed upstairs. DreamWorks Pictures boss Stacey Snider could be in line for the top slot. MGM Buys Out Icahn Stake Ahead of Possible IPO Los Angeles Times Carl Icahn has sold his 25% stake in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the 88-year-old studio behind the James Bond series and the upcoming "Hobbit" trilogy, back to the company for some $590 million. The move could be connected to an upcoming IPO that MGM is planning. News Corp's Murdoch Invited to Olympics by Mayor Evening Standard London mayor Boris Johnson has invited Rupert Murdoch to be his personal guest to watch Brit Rebecca Adlington defend her 800 meter swimming gold medal this Friday. The media tycoon is expected to attend with his wife Wendi Deng and other business leaders. Disney Seen 'At Risk' If Pay TV Goes A La Carte Deadline Disney is "most at risk" if the current pay-TV ecosystem collapses, according to a study from Lazard Capital Markets. The problem for Disney is that its channels aren't popular enough to continue to justify the nearly $8.4 billion a year they currently generate from program fees. News Corp Asks to Keep Hacking Claims Secret Bloomberg News Corp.'s British publishing unit has asked a judge to keep secret a series of claims being made by victims of phone hacking at its News of the World tabloid in preparation for a group trial. The claims outline "activities which we think are unsustainable" if challenged. Martha Stewart: Still Unprofitable After Nine Years Dow Jones Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has retreated from hopes for profitability this year because of its large, heeling publishing arm. The company has been unprofitable for the last nine years, except for a single year in the black in 2007. Revenue is "down a bit from our expectations." I Want Media Among 'Tools for Taming the Media' AllThingsD The daily onslaught of information is both a blessing and a dilemma for anyone with an Internet connection and a few subscriptions. There are any number of individual strategies for dealing with it. Power users Clay Shirky and John Battelle are sharing their go-to media resources. Comcast Sees $1.2 Billion in Olympics Revenue Bloomberg Comcast's NBC Universal will receive about $1.2 billion in total revenue from the Olympics, moving closer to breaking even on the games. "It's better than we thought," said Comcast CEO Brian Roberts. NBC Universal paid about $1.18 billion for rights to the London Olympics. Time Warner's 'Dark Knight' Hurt by Olympics EW "The Dark Knight Rises" has performed below expectations at the box office. "Things looked dire" on Friday, when the film went up against the Olympics opening ceremony and earned $18.1 million — a whopping 76% drop from its first Friday. Still, "Rises" is "an enormous hit." News Corp Chief Reviews Olympics Ceremony UPI Rupert Murdoch has described the Summer Olympics opening ceremony as "surprisingly great, even if a little too politically correct." The News Corp. chief tweeted his review on Saturday, without elaborating. The event was helmed by director Danny Boyle, a "creative genius." Olympics 2012: The Biggest Media Event in History BBC News Could the London Olympics be the biggest media event in history? The 2012 Olympic Games already encompass more journalists, camera crews and other media people, more hours of programming and more digital technology and cable than any previous international event. Viacom Comes Out to Support Same-Sex Marriage MediaPost Viacom has joined with dozens of other entities in filing a court brief expressing opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. "We diligently work towards enhancing our policies that encourage diversity and equality." Thomson Reuters to Buy Online Brand-Protector Dow Jones Thomson Reuters's Intellectual Property & Science business has agreed to acquire MarkMonitor, a provider of online brand-protection products. MarkMonitor's software allows enterprises to defend their brands against illegal distribution and promotion of pirated digital content. Big Media Stocks' Big Run Faces Test This Quarter Reuters Political ads and big checks from cable and digital providers have driven up the stocks of Comcast, Disney, News Corp. and CBS. However, coming results may disappoint. "Earnings numbers need to start moving up, yet we do not see the scope for positive earnings revisions." News Corp Buys Stake in Web Video Player Roku Associated Press News Corp. is taking a stake in Roku and putting senior exec Jon Miller on the board of directors of the Internet video streaming set-top box maker. The media giant's stake, along with that of subsidiary BSkyB, is part of a fifth round of funding for Roku of $45 million. Comcast's Olympics WiFi to Push TV Everywhere Multichannel News Comcast, to promote mobile access to 2012 Olympic Games coverage by its NBCUniversal division, will provide free access to thousands of WiFi hotspots along the East Coast during the event. The free WiFi is available at all of Comcast's "owned and operated" hotspots. Discovery Veteran Liguori to Consult for Carlyle Wall Street Journal Private-equity firm Carlyle Group has added a big name in media, hiring long-time industry exec Peter Liguori as a consultant. Liguori was most recently COO at Discovery, where he helped launch the Oprah Winfrey Network. He previously held several top positions at Fox. News Corp: 'Little Impact' from Hacking Charges Bloomberg The phone-hacking charges against former News Corp. employees will have "very little impact" on the media giant, according to Alex de Groote, an analyst at Panmure Gordon & Co. "The stock market moved a long time ago to discount this, in terms of its valuation of News Corp." Time Warner's 'Dark Knight' Brings New Arrests Associated Press At least three men accused of making threats during or after watching the new Batman movie have been arrested in separate incidents, underscoring moviegoers' anxieties and heightened security in the wake of a deadly mass shooting at a Colorado theater showing the film. Comcast Battles Verizon with $300 Internet Service Bloomberg Comcast, going after consumers willing to pay top dollar for the fastest Internet speeds, has introduced a $299.95-a-month service that it said beats the speediest offering from Verizon's FiOS. The idea, said Comcast, is to target "really advanced digital families." News Corp Former Journos Face Hacking Charges BBC News Eight people, including Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, will face a total of 19 charges relating to phone hacking, according to British prosecutors. The two former News of the World editors are among seven of the now-defunct newspaper's former staff facing charges. Time Warner Taps Academics to Understand Media Crain's New York Time Warner is asking academic researchers to make a pitch for cutting-edge research projects on media usage. The media giant aims to expand on the offerings and data it has been gathering at the Time Warner Medialab, which launched in January at its headquarters. DreamWorks Mulls Cable Channel After Media Deal Reuters DreamWorks Animation is contemplating creating its own cable channel after agreeing to buy Classic Media, adding characters such as "Casper the Friendly Ghost" and "Lassie" to its franchise business. DreamWorks said it will pay $155 million for the rights-holding company. Time Warner Donates to Fund for Shooting Victims Hollywood Reporter Warner Bros., the studio behind "The Dark Knight Rises," is making a "substantial" donation to charities supporting victims of the shooting in Colorado. The studio worked with Colorado's governor to identify a fund that will support victims of the July 20 killing spree. Report: Movie Attendance Plummets to 1995 Level New York Post According to a report from Goldman Sachs, attendance at the movies last year was the lowest since 1995, and per-person attendance fell to a 25-year low — in particular among younger consumers who frequent the cinema most often. Teens "are just becoming more savvy." News Corp, AT&T Test Mobile Education on Tablets Wall Street Journal News Corp. is forming a partnership with AT&T to provide tablet-based learning products for kindergarten through grade 12. The two companies will offer a pilot program this coming school year. News Corp. also announced that its education business will be named Amplify. Time Warner's 'Dark Knight' Opens to $160 Million Los Angeles Times Though the tragic movie theater shooting in Colorado cast a pall on the opening of "The Dark Knight Rises," it didn't seem to keep crowds away. The final installment in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is estimated to have grossed about $162 million in its domestic opening. News Corp: Murdoch Exits Fuel Newspaper Sale Talk Telegraph Rupert Murdoch's resignation from directorships controlling several News Corp. titles has sparked speculation that the company will sell its U.K. newspapers. While analysts do not think that a newspaper sell-off is imminent, the departure does spell the "end of the gravy train." Comcast to Flood Olympics Zone with Coverage Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast plans to unveil the "ultimate viewer's guide" to the Olympics, enabling subscribers to navigate NBC coverage and search by sport or athlete. There will be on-demand clips for each medal-winning event, in addition to other clips, totaling more than 1,000. News Corp's Murdoch Exits Boards of Subsidiaries Telegraph Rupert Murdoch has resigned as a director of a string of News Corp. subsidiaries in the United States and Britain, fuelling speculation that he is preparing a sale of his newspapers. News Corp. is playing down the moves as "nothing more than a corporate housecleaning." News Corp Seeks to Suppress Rebellion Over Murdoch Independent News Corp. has attempted to quell an investor rebellion over Rupert Murdoch's position as chairman and CEO of the media giant. Two of the company's non-executive directors have held talks with leading investors who support a resolution calling on Murdoch to step down. Viacom, DirecTV Resolve Dispute, Ending Blackout Associated Press DirecTV and Viacom have settled a fee dispute that will bring shows featuring Sponge Bob and Jon Stewart back to the satellite-TV service's subscribers. Seventeen Viacom channels had not been accessible on DirecTV since July 10. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Hearst, Time Warner Cable End TV-Station Blackout Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Hearst and Time Warner Cable have reached an agreement in a carriage fee dispute that kept 13 local TV stations off the cable service for the past week. In a statement, Time Warner seemed to suggest Hearst was responsible for the "unnecessary broadcaster blackout." News Corp's Murdoch May Face Shareholder Revolt Telegraph Rupert Murdoch is poised for a showdown at News Corp.'s annual meeting in October, after 18 heavyweight investors signaled their intention to oust him as chairman. The company's plan to split in two presents "a unique opportunity for serious governance reform." Time Warner Has Big Expectations for Batman Movie Wall Street Journal "The Dark Knight Rises," the final film in director Christopher Nolan's popular Batman trilogy, which opens Friday, is on track for one of the biggest opening weekends of all time. The film is in line to earn $170 million to $195 million in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. Viacom Says DirecTV Talks Are Now at 'Impasse' Bloomberg Viacom, owner of MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central, said contract talks with DirecTV have stalled. "I don't see any end to this blackout." DirecTV, meanwhile, claims Viacom "insists that we carry the Epix channel at an additional cost of more than half a billion dollars." Hearst, Time Warner Cable Negotiations Continue Deadline Hearst said its negotiations to resolve the contract dispute over carriage fees with Time Warner Cable "is ripe for settlement." Hearst TV stations in 13 communities went dark on the cable company's systems last week. Time Warner Cable, however, said: "Negotiations are ongoing." News Corp Eyes New Digital Media Investment Fund AllThingsD As News Corp. prepares to break in two, digital chief Jon Miller is said to be in talks with CEO Rupert Murdoch and others at the company about forming a separate investment fund to focus on digital publishing and media. The fund is "in early stages and might not happen." Media Giants See Next 'Jackpot' in U.S. Hispanics Forbes Later this month, News Corp. will launch MundoFox, a national Spanish-language TV channel. Disney and Comcast are also racing to create new offerings for the booming U.S. Hispanic market, which has emerged as the "next media jackpot," with $1 trillion in spending power. Time Warner Website Blocks 'Dark Knight' Comments Associated Press Warner Bros.-owned RottenTomatoes.com suspended user comments on movie reviews of "The Dark Knight Rises" after commenters reacted harshly to negative reviews of the film and made profane and threatening remarks. "The Dark Knight" is a Warner Bros. film. Viacom Suffers Ratings Bloodbath in DirecTV Fight New York Post Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central and other Viacom networks have lost some 2 million viewers in just the first week after DirecTV blacked out the channels in a fee dispute. A Viacom spokesman said: "We anticipated an impact in the ratings. This is not what we want." Time Warner Cable Slams 'Huge' Programmer Fees Dow Jones Time Warner Cable has issued a stern warning to TV programmers, arguing against "huge price increases," as disputes have forced new blackouts. Recently, Time Warner Cable allowed 15 Hearst TV stations to go dark. "Consumers are tired of these disputes. So are we." News Corp Wins $2 Billion Tax Battle in Australia Herald Sun News Corp.'s Australian media arm has won a tax battle with Australia's tax office over $2 billion of currency exchange losses. A federal court found that the office had been excessive in its assessment of the media giant, meaning News Corp. can claim $2 billion in deductions. Disney Shares Hit Record High on Analyst Comment Bloomberg Disney shares rose to an all-time closing high after Bank of America recommended buying the stock because fiscal 2013 profit estimates may be too low. Profit may be driven higher by the company's theme parks, cable networks, and improving film studio and interactive unit. News Corp: Future of Lachlan Murdoch Debated Deadline If Lachlan Murdoch harbors hopes of a return to a senior role at News Corp., his stewardship of Australia's Network Ten may not be helping his cause. The half-year ratings show the combined audience shares for Ten's three networks fell to 19.9%, down from 21.9% in first-half 2011. Disney's ESPN to Pay $80M a Year for Rose Bowl SportsBusinessDaily ESPN is said to have agreed to pay an average of $80 million a year for the Rose Bowl, which could push the price tag for the playoffs media rights as high as $600 million for an all-in package. The new fee represents a 167% jump from the $30 million the network currently pays. Viacom Ends Web Ban for Stewart, Colbert Shows AllThingsD Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are back online. Viacom and DirecTV are still fighting over subscription fees, so it is unclear what prompted the media giant to change its mind about the web ban of its programming it instituted last week, or whether it will apply to other shows as well. Comcast to Bring Scripps Networks Shows Online TechCrunch Comcast wants to make all its content available online, and has been hard at work striking deals with content partners to bring their shows to its Xfinity website, mobile and TV apps. The latest deal, with Scripps Networks, will add more programming to those platforms. Time Warner, Comcast's TV Everywhere a 'Failure' Los Angeles Times The pay-TV industry is divided over how best to implement TV Everywhere, an initiative led by Comcast and Time Warner to let subscribers watch content online from PCs, phones or tablets. "It's simply a mess," said BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield. "A complete failure." Time Warner Cable Paying for Tips About Google GigaOM Time Warner Cable, one of the ISPs providing broadband access in Kansas City, is seeking details on Google's fiber-to-the-home deployment in the city, and is willing to pay for tips. The company is distributing posters saying it will pay $50 for information about Google. Viacom-DirecTV Dispute Boosts Disney Junior Bloomberg DirecTV's 20 million customers, following the loss of Nickelodeon kids' programming because of the satellite-TV provider's dispute with Viacom, will begin receiving the 24-hour Disney Junior channel. Disney Junior will be permanently added to DirecTV's lineup as a basic channel. Disney to Gain on Comcast Sale of Stake in A&E Forbes Comcast, which acquired NBCUniversal last year, has decided to sell its stake in A&E Networks for $3.02 billion. A&E Networks is currently valued at about $19 billion. Given that Disney also has a stake in A&E Networks, the improved valuation bodes well for the entertainment giant. Liberty's Malone Aims to Spin Off Sirius XM Radio Bloomberg John Malone said his effort to take control of Sirius XM Radio will eventually lead to a spinoff of the satellite-radio company. Malone's Liberty Media announced plans six weeks ago to assert control of Sirius after receiving approval from the Federal Communications Commission. News Corp Eyes Media Deals as Board OKs Split Wall Street Journal News Corp.'s board has approved a plan to split the company into two, separating entertainment operations from the publishing business. Without the taint of the newspaper phone-hacking scandal, the entertainment company "may have an easier time doing acquisitions." Vivendi CEO Levy Said to Prepare to Step Down Bloomberg Jean-Bernard Levy, the Vivendi CEO who has failed to answer investor calls for a reorganization to revive a stock trading near a nine-year low, is said to be preparing to step down. The French telecommunications and media giant has been considering an overhaul including asset sales. Sony New President Gets Shareholder Approval Associated Press Sony game division head Kazuo Hirai has won shareholder approval to steer a turnaround at the struggling company as its new president and CEO. But frustrated investors at Sony's annual meeting demanded to know how the company's past glory was going to be revived. Comcast to Pay $800,000 to Resolve FCC Probe Reuters The U.S. Federal Communications Commission said that Comcast would pay $800,000 to resolve an investigation of its broadband-related merger conditions. The FCC began the probe after it was tipped that Comcast was violating a condition of its merger with NBC Universal. NBCUniversal Expects to Lose Money on Olympics Los Angeles Times NBCUniversal is expected to lose money on its coverage of the London Olympics, which begins next month, although the company's sports chief declined to predict how steep the losses could be. One analyst predicted that NBCUniversal could lose more than $100 million. News Corp Expected to Decide on Company Breakup Wall Street Journal News Corp.'s board is set to decide Wednesday whether to proceed with a split into two companies. If the split is approved, News Corp. is expected to announce the restructuring Thursday. News Corp. stock jumped after the company revealed it was considering a split. Viacom Forges Media Split-Off Path for News Corp Wall Street Journal Were News Corp. to split its empire in two, the company would be following the split-off path of fellow media giant Viacom, which in 2005 announced its plan to separate from CBS. Said Viacom chief Sumner Redstone: "Sometimes divorce is better than marriage." Disney May Become the Last Media Conglomerate TheStreet If News Corp. splits up, Disney would remain the only major media conglomerate left intact after a generation of consolidation and M&A. However, the recent asset divestitures carried out by Time Warner and Viacom have not helped their shares outperform Disney's. Comcast Makes Olympic Bet on NBC Sports Network Bloomberg Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said he is confident his $4.38 billion bet on the Olympics will turn a profit. That will depend on how many viewers the rebranded NBC Sports Network can attract. Comcast will use the Olympics to promote the network as a national, 24-hour sports channel. Time Warner Cable Teams Up with a New York Giant NY1 Time Warner Cable has signed up Super Bowl champion Victor Cruz to appear in a national advertising campaign and make appearances at community events. The New York Giants wide receiver will also appear in weekly segments on Time Warner Cable channel NY1. Microsoft Eyes CBS Veteran for Entertainment Post Deadline Microsoft is said to be in talks with former CBS TV exec Nancy Tellem for a high-level post leading its efforts in entertainment. The job is expected to oversee creative and business partnerships, as well as the production of original content across Microsoft platforms. Time Warner Viewers 'Unaware' of TV Everywhere New York Post Manhattan has the world's savviest media market — but only 12% of Time Warner Cable customers in the city know they can access TV shows on the web as part of the "TV Everywhere" initiative, according to Parks Associates. "This lack of awareness is a problem." News Corp Mulls Company Break-Up After Scandal Wall Street Journal News Corp. is considering splitting into two companies, separating its newspaper and book publishing assets from its film and TV businesses. Chief Rupert Murdoch, who once opposed such a move, has "warmed" to the idea. The notion comes in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal. Hearst Chief Dies; Grandson of William Randolph San Francisco Chronicle Hearst chairman George R. Hearst Jr. died Monday at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif., of complications following a stroke. Hearst, 84, was the grandson of media legend William Randolph Hearst, and served for more than 50 years as a Hearst director. Sony Preps 3D Animated Film of Hearst's Popeye Variety Genndy Tartakovsky is attached to develop and direct "Popeye," Sony Pictures Animation's 3D take on the spinach-loving sailor man. The character, which first appeared in the "Thimble Theater" comic strip in 1929, is syndicated by Hearst's King Features Syndicate. Time Warner Morphs Harry Potter Set Into Park Bloomberg The film studios outside London where all eight "Harry Potter" movies were shot have been turned into a production facility and theme park by Time Warner's Warner Bros. "Given how great our experience was making the 'Potter' series, we decided to plant our flag permanently." News Corp's Murdoch Portrayed by Russell Crowe? Evening Standard A film based on "Good Times, Bad Times," the memoir of former Sunday Times editor Harold Evans, will soon be cast. "There has been talk" of Russell Crowe playing Rupert Murdoch with Colin Firth as Harry Evans. The film is seen as "Citizen Kane meets All the President's Men." Disney, Activision to Team for 'Ralph' Video Game Los Angeles Business Disney and Activision Publishing will collaborate to produce a video game that ties in with Disney's "Wreck-It Ralph" movie set for release Nov. 2. The film tells the story of an arcade game character named Ralph. "Wreck-It Ralph" is "perfectly suited for video-game stardom." Liberty Media Wins Nearly $1 Billion from Vivendi Reuters A U.S. federal jury has found that France's Vivendi must pay $954.6 million in damages to Liberty Media in a 2003 breach-of-contract lawsuit. Liberty had accusing Vivendi of fraud in a 2001 agreement in which Liberty swapped stock in USA Network for a stake in Vivendi. Comcast: Supreme Court Eyes Damaged-Class Suit Philadelphia Inquirer The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether 2 million Comcast cable-TV customers in the Philadelphia area should be considered a damaged class in a lawsuit that seeks $875 million from the cable giant and has been wending its way through the courts for almost a decade. News Corp Under Pressure Over 'Lost' iPhone Mirror News Corp. has come under pressure to find and turn over to British police a lost iPhone. The company said it found three of the four Apple smartphones issued to execs including James Murdoch. The phones could contain data of interest in the probe into phone hacking. Comcast: Online Video Stirs Antitrust Concerns Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast has been facing several antitrust issues, as the cable giant appears to display a willingness to push legal limits when pursuing growth. "Online television is getting to the point where it is a real threat to cable companies. It's all about protecting the cable model." Houghton Mifflin Looks Ahead in Bankruptcy Exit Boston Globe Houghton Mifflin Harcourt filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month as part of a deal with creditors to eliminate $3.1 billion in debt. On Friday, the educational book publisher emerged from that process. "We're in the trough," said CEO Linda Zecher. "We're at the bottom." Reuters Buys Business Information Service Zawya Reuters Thomson Reuters has acquired privately held Zawya, an online service supplying business information in the Middle East and North Africa. Zawya has a partnership with Dow Jones Newswires, a competitor of Thomson Reuters, to distribute the news agency's content. Cox Media Acquires Coupon Site Savings.com Tampa Bay Times Cox Target Media, a unit of Atlanta-based Cox Media, has acquired Savings.com. The coupon website will join Cox's Valpak, which mails out millions of the familiar blue envelopes full of localized coupons and deals every month. The two brands will share deals across platforms. BBC Boss Eyed as New CEO of New York Times Guardian Mark Thompson, the BBC's outgoing director general, is said to be in talks with the New York Times about becoming its new CEO. The 54-year-old Briton would be filling the vacancy left after the December firing of Janet Robinson. Thompson is believed to be considering other jobs. Time Warner Sells 'Broke Girls' to Stations, TBS Bloomberg Time Warner's Warner Bros. sold "2 Broke Girls," last season's top-rated new comedy, for rerun on CBS stations and its own TBS cable network. TV networks are locking up rerun rights earlier, in some cases after one season, to ensure they have shows with established audiences. Turner Near Deal to Buy Bleacher Report Site AllThingsD Bleacher Report and Turner, which have been circling each other for months, are edging closer to a deal. Both companies are said to be negotiating exclusively and have agreed on a price: Time Warner's cable network unit is set to pay more than $200 million for the sports site. Playboy Mulling Bid for Dick Clark Productions New York Post Playboy Enterprises is said to be among a number of suitors weighing a bid for Dick Clark Productions. The potential combination, however, is considered a long shot by most observers. A spokeswoman for Playboy said: "We have not expressed an interest in the company." Clear Channel Prowls for Acquisitions Worldwide Wall Street Journal Clear Channel Outdoor is interested in acquisitions worldwide — particularly in China and Latin America — as part of what could be a global shakeout in outdoor advertising. "It is a market that will consolidate over the next few years," said CEO William Eccleshare. Universal Music Inks Deal Over YouTube, Vevo Billboard The National Music Publishers' Association has announced a groundbreaking deal with Universal Music, allowing songwriters and music publishers to share in revenue from music videos. Up until now, music publishers had not shared in the revenue from YouTube and Vevo. Reuters Former Media Boss Tapped by VC Firm Fortune Chris Ahearn has joined FirstMark Capital as a venture partner. Ahearn already is repping the New York-based VC firm on the board of portfolio company NewsCred. Ahearn, a former president of Reuters Media, left the company as part of a reorganization last summer. News Corp May Cut 1,000 Jobs Amid Aussie TV Bid The Age Rupert Murdoch's Australian media arm has announced a major restructuring, which insiders fear could lead to the elimination of 1,000 jobs. The overhaul comes as News Corp. bids $2 billion to take over Consolidated Media Holdings, aiming to dominate Australian pay TV. NBCUniversal's USA Hit by Big Viewer Decline New York Post USA, the winner of the cable-ratings race for six years running and NBCUniversal's "cash cow," has suffered big viewer declines in the first two quarters of 2012. The slump comes as cable networks haggle with advertisers over commercial time for the new TV season. Viacom: Twitter Inspires MTV Series Name Change Variety Viacom's MTV has renamed "Made," its long-running unscripted series, as "Made #DreamBigger" — the first instance of a TV program actually changing its name to incorporate a hashtag. The name change is intended to increase engagement of viewers on Twitter, said MTV. Viacom, Time Warner Head to Cannes Ad Festival Hollywood Reporter Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes is returning to the annual Cannes Lions advertising festival, and Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman is set to attend for the first time, as the two media chieftains look to socialize with ad folks. Dauman will speak at a seminar on millennials and creativity. Disney's ESPN Empties European Movie Theaters Wall St Cheat Sheet European box office totals for major movie studios are struggling due to extremely high TV ratings for ESPN's European soccer championships. Germany saw its last group stage game draw a 74.2% share, leaving "Men in Black 3" with weekend earnings of only $1.6 million. Time Warner Ups Stake in Central European Media World Screen Time Warner has shelled out $89 million to increase its ownership in Central European Media Enterprises to 40%. CME operates TV channels in Central and Eastern Europe reaching around 50 million people. It also controls production and distribution operations. News Corp Denies Claim of Murdoch Secret iPhone Bloomberg News Corp. said top exec James Murdoch didn't hide a "secret" iPhone from the U.K. media-ethics inquiry triggered by rampant phone-hacking at its now-defunct News of the World tabloid. "It is ridiculous to suggest that he keeps, or kept, a 'secret phone.'" Viacom Chief to Sponsor Anti-Bullying Text Line Los Angeles Times An anti-bullying initiative that will enable Los Angeles students to anonymously report threats of violence to school officials via text message is scheduled to be introduced next fall through a charitable $100,000 donation by media mogul Sumner Redstone. CBS Outdoor Ad Division Eyed by Clear Channel Bloomberg Clear Channel Outdoor CEO William Eccleshare said the company will consider buying CBS's billboard division. "We'll look at it. Everyone is going to be looking at it and sizing it up." CBS has been approached by bankers interested in finding buyers for the unit. News Corp's Klein Returns to Education Division Dow Jones News Corp. said its management and standards committee will now report to group general counsel Gerson Zweifach. The move will allow Joel Klein, who previously oversaw the committee, to return to his full-time role as head of the company's education division. News Corp: Police Study Murdoch 'Secret' iPhone Independent Scotland Yard detectives investigating phone hacking at the News of the World are examining the call records of four newly discovered Apple iPhones issued to senior execs at News International. The smartphones include a handset given to top News Corp. exec James Murdoch. Disney's Renewal Features Cars, CEO Horse Race Bloomberg Disney has opened the 12-acre Cars Land attraction in Anaheim, Calif. The addition is seen as a crucial test for theme-parks head Tom Staggs, who is a contender to be named CEO of Disney when Bob Iger relinquishes the title in March 2015. Staggs "has the leg up." CBS Builds $500,000 Screening Room for Moonves Crain's New York Les Moonves spends a lot of time watching TV and movies. So, in an effort to make it even easier for the CEO of CBS to sample his network's wares from the comfort of his home, his company last year built him a personal screening room. Cost to shareholders: $500,000. AT&T, Language Line Bring Translation to Mobiles Washington Post AT&T and Monterey, Calif.-based Language Line Services are rolling out a mobile phone service for business customers and federal employees that allows users to instantly access interpreters for 170 languages. The service will let users get a specialist on the line within seconds. Murdoch's Wife Said to Create a Career of Her Own New York Times As News Corp. faces scrutiny over phone hacking, Wendi Deng Murdoch, the wife of CEO Rupert, has emerged with her own independent career. Mrs. Murdoch's friends describe her as "a world-class networker." The Murdochs are said to "have grown to live largely separate lives." Time Warner to Sell Subscriptions Through Apple MarketWatch Time Warner will begin selling magazine subscriptions through Apple's online store, in a deal that appeared to settle the company's concerns about the tech giant's cut of revenue and customer data. Time Warner had until now balked at Apple's newsstand model. News Corp's Murdoch Toasts 'Dolce Vita' in Rome Daily Mail While David Cameron was preparing for a grilling at the Leveson Inquiry, Rupert Murdoch was "busy sunning himself" in Rome. The News Corp. chief "appeared totally relaxed" as he enjoyed a lunch with wife Wendy Deng, son James and some co-workers at the Hotel de Russie. Disney Preps Streaming Apps for iPhone, iPad The Verge Disney plans to launch three apps for the iPhone and iPad that give users access to programming previously only available on cable. All three apps are free and will offer live streams of Disney content for Comcast subscribers after they verify their Comcast Xfinity TV account. News Corp's Murdoch Sees Biz Growth in Italy Bloomberg Policies put in place by prime minister Mario Monti's government are "encouraging" for companies willing to invest in Italy, according to News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch, speaking at an event in Rome. "The Italian government is working on building new growth." Time Warner, Google Apply for Web Domains CNNMoney The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has received 1,930 proposals for new web domain names — the ".com" part of website addresses. The applicant list includes tech giants such as Google and Apple, as well as media companies including Time Warner. News Corp's Murdoch Owns 'Too Much' Media Press Association Ed Miliband has suggested that Rupert Murdoch should have to sell off some of his media empire. The U.K. Labour leader said his "strong instinct" was that News Corp.'s share of the British market was "too much" as he called for the Leveson Inquiry to look at capping ownership. Viacom Vulnerable to a Blackout, Analyst Says Deadline Bernstein Research analyst Todd Juenger has warned investors that, with the steep ratings declines at Nickelodeon and MTV, "it is no longer inconceivable that a distributor would drop Viacom, or at least engage in a public battle with them over price increases." CBS Growth Outpaces Viacom for Shareholders Wall Street Journal Viacom and CBS split into two companies in 2006, with Viacom expected to be the fastest growing of the two. But CBS has generated a total return for shareholders of 48% against Viacom's 16%. However, CBS remains much more reliant on advertising than Viacom. Sony Weighs Sale of Manhattan Headquarters New York Post Sony, struggling to rebound from a record loss, has been weighing options for its iconic Manhattan skyscraper, including a potential sale. The electronics giant recently held talks about a potential real-estate transaction involving 550 Madison Avenue. Disney 'Swampy' Bet Fights Interactive Losses Bloomberg Disney has lost $1.39 billion in the past five years in its interactive media group, which develops games and website content. The company's new "Where's My Water?," a game featuring Swampy the alligator, is showing promise as Disney's biggest mobile hit so far. Time Warner, Comcast Probed Over Online Video Wall Street Journal The U.S. Justice Department is said to be conducting an antitrust probe into whether cable companies are acting improperly to quash nascent competition from online video. Officials have spoken to Netflix and Hulu, and questioned Comcast and Time Warner Cable. PwC: Media Near 'End of the Digital Beginning' IPTV News A major new forecast from PricewaterhouseCoopers states that the world's entertainment and media companies must reshape and retool as the industry enters a "new normal," with digital embedded in business-as-usual and moving to the heart of media companies worldwide. Viacom Studio Releases Movie App for XBox TheVerge A new Paramount Movies app for the Xbox 360 will allow consumers to stream their purchased UltraViolet movies to Microsoft's console, making it much easier for those movies to get into the living room. Users also have the option of renting from Paramount's website. Comcast, TiVo in E-Commerce Pact with PayPal Bloomberg EBay's PayPal payment service will join with Comcast and TiVo to let television viewers donate money and buy goods from their TV sets via remote control. Users will be able to click on TV commercials to buy advertised goods, make political donations and collect coupons. News Corp's Murdoch Said to Lie Under Oath Associated Press Former U.K. prime minister Gordon Brown has lambasted Rupert Murdoch before Britain's media ethics inquiry, directly contradicting the media mogul's claim that Brown had vowed to "make war" during an abusive phone call. "It didn't happen," said Brown. Viacom to Expand Logo Audience Beyond Gays New York Post Viacom cable network Logo plans to go from gay to "gay-ish." Launched in 2005 and aimed at the LGBT community, Logo is switching focus and adding programs geared for straight women, using Bravo and TLC as a template. A spokesman said: "Gay remains in the DNA." Comcast's Universal Pictures Seeks New COO Reuters Universal Pictures vice chairman Rick Finkelstein, the studio's COO for 12 years, has decided to retire, a move that will allow Comcast to put its imprint on leadership of the studio it acquired in 2009 along with NBC Universal. Universal is now searching for a new COO. Time Warner TV Group Buys Alloy Entertainment Reuters Time Warner's Warner Bros. Television plans to acquire Alloy Entertainment, producer of "Gossip Girl" and other youth-oriented shows. Alloy is owned by an investor group led by Strauss Zelnick, co-founder of Zelnick Media. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Time Warner's Focus on TV to Help Shares Rise Barron's Time Warner shares could rise as much as 25% in the next year as distributors pay more for television content. TV now accounts for nearly 80% of Time Warner's adjusted operating income. According to one analyst: "We think there's significant upside for this stock." Disney Bets $1B on Pixar-Driven Park Revamp Reuters The Disney California Adventure theme park in Anaheim, a dud since it opened in 2001, will unveil the fruits of a five-year, $1 billion renovation this week. The overhauled park underscores the emergence of Pixar chief creative officer John Lasseter as a key force within Disney. DreamWorks 'Madagascar' Lifted by Social Media Bloomberg DreamWorks Animation's "Madagascar 3," which opened this weekend as the top film at U.S. box offices, was buoyed by factors including message traffic on Facebook and Twitter, according to box-office researcher Fizziology. "We see a lot of positive social conversation." Viacom Gives Social Media Boost to Pepsi Ads Mashable Viacom will give Pepsi's "Live for Now" global advertising campaign a digital boost this summer. The media giant's Twitter accounts for MTV, VH1, CMT and Comedy Central will aid in the campaign's mission of "inviting and inspiring" people to live in the moment. News Corp: UK Media Reform Seen from Inquiry Independent Lord Justice Leveson is expected to recommend a new media regulator independent of ministers, Parliament and journalists after his inquiry into the press. A draft blueprint for reform has been drawn up as British prime minister David Cameron faces questions over ties to News Corp. Comcast Said to Mull Bid for News Corp's BSkyB New York Times Comcast is said to be exploring whether BSkyB, the British pay-TV asset partially owned by News Corp., could become available for purchase. But the U.S. cable giant has disputed the report of such an interest, describing it as "complete rubbish; total speculation and inaccurate." Tribune Judge Set to OK Bankruptcy Exit Plan Bloomberg Tribune may learn by July whether it has won the first of two rulings needed to leave bankruptcy, according to lawyers involved in the case. Should the company's reorganization plan be approved by July, Tribune may be able to exit bankruptcy as early as August. Time Warner Mulls Leadership Change at CNN New York Post Time Warner brass is said to be putting together a list of potential candidates to replace CNN Worldwide head Jim Walton, in an effort to end the ratings decline at the flagship news channel. CNN ranks 44th in prime time -- below even Oprah Winfrey's OWN network. Disney Feuds with Redbox, Netflix Over DVDs Los Angeles Times Disney has informed all of its rental partners that it will no longer provide them with DVDs until 28 days after the discs go on sale. So, Redbox is stocking its kiosks — and Netflix its warehouses — by purchasing the discs from stores like Wal-Mart and Target. Netflix at Risk of 'Deal Tax' in Contract with CBS Variety Netflix could be on the hook to carry TV series it doesn't want, such as "CSI: Miami," due to a "put option" that the streaming service agreed to in its contract with CBS. The option forces Netflix to pick up at additional cost the streaming rights to any CBS canceled series. News Corp: Media Panel to Quiz Prime Minister Hollywood Reporter British prime minister David Cameron and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg will give evidence in front of the Leveson Inquiry into U.K. media standards and ethics in London next week, taking the inquiry to the highest political levels. Cameron is due to appear Thursday. Vivendi Mulls Sale of Video Game Giant Activision Bloomberg France's Vivendi is said to be planning to consider a possible sale of its 61% stake in Activision Blizzard, the world's largest video-game publisher. Activision, the maker of the popular "Call of Duty" franchise, has a market value of about $13 billion. CBS: Last.fm Probes Leak of Users' Passwords CBS News CBS-owned music website Last.fm has been investigating a possible leak of user passwords, following recent password breaches at business social network LinkedIn and online dating service eHarmony. "We're asking all users to change their passwords immediately." Media's Future: Mobile Will Dominate Industry Atlantic Analysts have become increasingly bullish on the growth of the mobile space, as tablets and smartphones are poised to outnumber personal computers. "Not having a mobile strategy in place for your brand is a recipe for disruption. The golden age of mobile is here." Tribune Expected to Keep TV, Sell Newspapers Financial Times The divergent futures of the TV and print businesses have led many in the media industry to believe that Tribune will sell its newspaper assets soon after it exits bankruptcy, which is expected later this year. A sale of the company's broadcast assets is seen as less likely. News Corp: Fox News to Absorb Newscore Wire Deadline Newscore, a news service that allows News Corp. worldwide editorial properties to share content and resources, will be absorbed into the day-to-day operations of Fox News. "Newscore will operate more efficiently and effectively inside Fox News," said chief Roger Ailes. Comcast, Time Warner Cable Sued Over Privacy Hollywood Reporter Class-action lawsuits have been launched against Comcast and Time Warner Cable alleging the companies collect Social Security numbers, credit card information and other information from customers and retain the data even after cable service is canceled. Big Media, Mobile Ad Execs to Descend on Cannes Advertising Age The Cannes Lions advertising festival, kicking off June 17, used to be the playground of Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL. This year, Time Warner, Viacom and other media giants plan to get in on the fun. The 2012 fest is also expected see its biggest wave of mobile ad execs. News Corp Buys Out Disney Stake in Asia's ESPN Reuters Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. has bought out Disney's 50% stake in Asian joint venture ESPN Star Sports for an undisclosed amount, the two companies announced, ending a 16-year partnership in the region. ESPN Star operates 28 broadcast networks in 24 Asian countries. Disney's Junk-Food Ban Not Seen as Big Gamble Bloomberg Disney's plan to bar junk-food advertising from children's programming would have cost less than $7.2 million in TV ad revenue if it were in effect last year, according to estimates by Kantar Media. The figure is less than a 10th of 1% of Disney's total annual ad sales. Comcast Shareholders Eye 'Poison-Pill' Defense Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast's independent shareholders have approved a nonbinding resolution that seeks to dismantle the company's poison-pill takeover defense. Takeover defenses are viewed by some shareholders as a "symbol of entrenched management," experts said. Charter CEO, Top Execs to Work From New York St. Louis Business Tom Rutledge, president and CEO of Charter Communications, is among the execs who will work from the St. Louis-based cable company's new New York metro-area office. Several company execs worked at Bethpage, N.Y.-based Cablevision before joining Charter this year. Diller Donates $30 Million to Hollywood Relief Fund Deadline Barry Diller and his family have made a $30 million legacy gift towards the previously announced Motion Picture Television Fund campaign goal of $350 million. "Seems impossible to me to have had success in the industry and not strongly support the MPTF," Diller said. Sony Taps JK Rowling, Hulu to Boost PlayStation Bloomberg Sony, moving to bolster its PlayStation 3 video-game platform, has added movies, TV shows and exclusive games including "Wonderbook: Book of Spells" from "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling. Sony is also extending its PlayStation Network service with videos from Hulu Plus. Disney to Stop Some Junk-Food Ads on Kids' TV Reuters Disney, owner of the ABC broadcast network and a suite of cable channels, will stop accepting some junk-food ads on TV programs, radio shows and websites aimed at children. CEO Bob Iger and first lady Michelle Obama plan to make an announcement Tuesday. Viacom Creates Sales Team for Mobile-Only Ads Adweek Viacom has tapped the Weather Channel's Pete Chelala and its own Deborah Schlessinger-Brett to run a newly created mobile advertising sales team for music and entertainment. The new unit will work on selling both mobile-only and cross-platform advertising. CBS Seeking $6 Billion for Outdoor Ad Business Wall Street Journal Bankers are said to be gauging interest in CBS Outdoor, the media company's outdoor advertising business. Efforts are believed to be preliminary and no deal is imminent. A potential sticking point is the roughly $6 billion price tag that CBS wants for the unit. NBCUniversal to Grant $1.2 Million to Nonprofits Broadcasting & Cable The NBCUniversal Foundation and NBC Owned Television Stations will provide $1.2 million in grants to the top nonprofit organizations in NBC's owned station markets. The initiative, called 21st Century Solutions, will help nonprofits "implementing innovative programs." Viacom Former Chief, Wife Split Up After 14 Years New York Post Tom Freston and his wife, best-selling author Kathy, are separating after 14 years of marriage. But the power couple has no plans to divorce. The Frestons issued a joint statement: "We are moving forward with good will." Freston left Viacom in 2006 with an $85 million package. Tribune: Zucker a Top Candidate in CEO Search New York Post Jeff Zucker, the former NBCUniversal boss, is said to be a leading candidate to run Tribune, which is casting around for candidates to lead the troubled media outfit. Zucker's name is also reported as a favorite of Third Point's Daniel Loeb to run Yahoo as CEO. News Corp's Murdoch Blasts Google on Twitter CNET Rupert Murdoch has hit out at Google over its Street View data collection controversy on his Twitter account. In response, more than a few people tweeted that the News Corp. chief maybe wasn't best placed to talk about privacy: "You're preaching about hacking?" Viacom Former Chieftain Saluted by Paley Center Wall Street Journal / Daily Tom Freston is like "Indiana Jones and Gandhi," said Judy McGrath, speaking at a Paley Center for Media benefit honoring the former Viacom chief. Also: Tom Freston's wife, Kathy, has emailed pals Oprah Winfrey and Arianna Huffington that her marriage is over. Time Warner: Hackers Claim Breach of Network CNET Internet hacking group SwaggSec has claimed to have broken into the networks of Warner Bros. and China Telecom, publishing documents and login credentials purportedly stolen in the breaches. The group taunted Warner Bros. for its "ignorance" of its security vulnerabilities. Lucasfilm Taps Exec as Lucas Plans Retirement EW Lucasfilm has announced that Kathleen Kennedy, the longtime producing partner of Steven Spielberg, is joining the production company as co-chair. Lucas will retain his position as CEO but Kennedy's new role will allow him to "move forward with his retirement plans." Comcast's 'Snow White' Buoyant After 'Battleship' Bloomberg "Snow White and the Huntsman," from Comcast's Universal Pictures, led the U.S. and Canadian box office over the weekend. Universal is looking for a hit after the big-budget "Battleship" bombed. "Battleship" will contribute to a negative second quarter for NBC Universal. Bloomberg LP: Maybe Not Yet Mayor of All Media New York Bloomberg LP's efforts to expand beyond the core business of leasing terminals to financial firms have yet to produce positive results. Bloomberg Television has failed to eat into CNBC's audience; Bloomberg Businessweek is projected to lose $18 million this year. News Corp Could Face 500 Phone-Hacking Claims Wall Street Journal Lawyers for both News Corp. and phone-hacking victims have estimated in court that the media company will ultimately face about 500 civil claims related to illegal voice-mail interception by the now-closed News of the World tabloid. So far, claimants have filed roughly 110 lawsuits. Comcast Annual Meeting Disrupted by Protesters Philadelphia Inquirer About 50 demonstrators disrupted Comcast's annual shareholders meeting, chanting, "We are the 99 percent," and protesting what they contended was the cable giant's use of tax loopholes and its membership in the Washington group American Legislative Exchange Council. Time Warner to Cut Costs via Shared IT Services Wall Street Journal Time Warner CIO Bill Krivoshik said he wants to use shared services across the media company's divisions to reduce the cost of software, email and servers. Krivoshik aims to create common server space, centralize help-desk services and reduce back-office staff. Disney Taps Warner Bros Veteran as Studio Head Hollywood Reporter Alan Horn, who was president of Warner Bros. for 12 years, has been named chairman of Disney Studios. Horn, who succeeds Rich Ross, said Disney CEO Bob Iger has promised him flexibility in the number and type of movies that the studio will make — a possible shift. Viacom to Explore Consumer Product 'Potential' Deadline Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said the company plans to invade retail shelves with licensed merchandise. At Paramount, "for the most part we're going to greenlight films with consumer products potential." A recent investment has "good consumer products for girls." Liberty Media May Replace Sirius CEO in Takeover New York Post John Malone's Liberty Media told regulators it wants to take control of Sirius XM Radio, which could put Liberty CEO Greg Maffei in perfect position to run the satellite broadcaster. That means that current Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin could be headed out the door. News Corp Received 'Congrats' Hunt BSkyB Text Evening Standard Jeremy Hunt sent a congratulatory text message to James Murdoch the day Vince Cable was removed from presiding over News Corp.'s bid to take over BSkyB. The U.K. culture secretary wrote to Murdoch hours before he was put in charge of media competition issues. Time Warner Said to Place Bid for Turkey's ATV Bloomberg Time Warner and Abraaj Capital, a Dubai-based buyout firm, are said to have placed binding bids for the ATV television channel owned by Istanbul-based Calik Holding. A bid from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. reportedly was rejected as uncompetitive. Liberty Media Plans to Take Control of Sirius XM Deadline Liberty Media said it plans to convert enough of its preferred shares in Sirius XM into common shares to give it 32% of the total votes. Then "as soon as practicable" it will nominate and campaign for a slate of directors that would constitute a majority of the board. Sony Rejects Web-Based PlayStation Console Wall Street Journal Sony is said to have considered but ultimately rejected a download-only plan for its next PlayStation videogame console. The company rejected a download-only model largely because Internet connections are too inconsistent around the world, a source said. Viacom, News Corp Prep Web Content for Unilever Marketing Unilever marketing chief Keith Weed said the company is going back to its soap opera past by negotiating content sponsorships with Viacom and News Corp., which will help it connect with consumers online. Unilever will sponsor made-for-the-web women's dramas. News Corp's Murdoch Cancels Annual Summer Party Telegraph News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch has called off his annual summer soirιe in London, an event that in previous years attracted politicos and prominent media types. The decision is seen a vivid illustration of how the media tycoon's fortunes have turned during the past 12 months. Time Warner in Talks to Acquire Bleacher Report Wall Street Journal Time Warner's Turner cable networks division is said to be among the possible buyers of Bleacher Report, the sports-news website. Founded in 2006, Bleacher Report is best known for its user-generated content, but in recent years it has been hiring professional writers. Sony's 'Men' Wins Weekend as Summer Films Fizzle Associated Press Sony's "Men in Black 3" debuted as the No. 1 movie over Memorial Day weekend. Domestic receipts for the four-day weekend will come in well behind last year's record of $276 million. "Some of these summer movies are just not doing the business people had hoped." News Corp Chief 'Had No Deal' with Prime Minister Financial Times Tony Blair denied that he had struck a deal with Rupert Murdoch or anyone else on issues to do with the media during his time as Labour party leader. The former U.K. prime minister told the Leveson inquiry there had been no deal on media cross-ownership. Redbox Owner Expands Kiosks Into Tech Gadgets Puget Sound Business Coinstar, the company best known for its Redbox DVD-rental kiosks, plans to diversify into new kiosk markets, including tech gadgets and even French-press coffee. One thing the kiosks have in common: They are aimed at a lower-income demographic. News Corp Journo Arrested in Tabloid Bribery Probe Telegraph News Corp.'s U.K. bribery scandal has led to the arrest of Clodagh Hartley, a government editor for Rupert Murdoch's Sun tabloid. The 37-year-old journalist was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to corrupt and suspicion of conspiracy to cause misconduct in a public office. Big Media Urge Cable to Speed Up 'TV Everywhere' Deadline Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes and News Corp. COO Chase Carey have urged cable TV leaders to jump on the Internet video bandwagon — even if it means relaxing their grip on the relationship with their customers. "We've just got to do it faster," said Bewkes. Time Warner CEO: 'Shut Down' Unwanted Channels Bloomberg Cable TV suffers from too many networks, according to Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt. The increase in the number of little-watched channels is causing consumer cable bills to rise. "The industry would take cost out of the system if they shut those networks down." Viacom Delays New 'G.I. Joe' Over 3-D, Buzz Online Associated Press Just a month before its June U.S. release, Viacom's Paramount Pictures has delayed the release of "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" by nine months in order to adapt the new movie for 3-D screens. The "G.I. Joe" sequel also suffers from a lack of strong buzz online. Disney Kicks Off Career Expos for Returning Vets Associated Press Disney has launched a series of career expos to help returning veterans transition to civilian life. Even before the launch, Disney said it has hired about 250 of the 1,000 veterans it aims to hire over the next three years. About 1,000 veterans are expected to attend. News Corp Exits Race to Acquire Turkey TV Asset Reuters News Corp. is said to have dropped out of the race to buy ATV television from Turkish group Calik Holding, but Time Warner and other parties remain interested. News Corp., which already owns Fox TV in Turkey, had expressed interest in expanding in the country. Martha Named Non-Executive Chief of Company Associated Press Martha Stewart has been named as non-executive chairman of the lifestyle, media and merchandising company that she created. Stewart rejoined the board of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia last fall at the end of a five-year ban as part her insider-trading settlement. News Corp's BSkyB Wins UK Regulatory Reprieve Bloomberg British Sky Broadcasting no longer has too much control over pay-TV movie rights following rising competition from online services including Netflix, according to a U.K. regulator. The new offerings have loosened BSkyB's dominance over first rights to show films. Comcast Launches Subscriber Voice, Text Service Dow Jones Comcast is introducing a service for subscribers that could undermine the fees cell carriers charge for wireless data packages. The cable giant's "Voice 2go" service allows subscribers to make phone calls and send text messages for free through wireless networks. Media's Future: Social, Viral, Free of Banner Ads CJR / Next Web The main access point for media content has shifted from search to social, according to panelists speaking at I Want Media's "Future of Media" forum. "Social's become the new starting point for media businesses." Also: Some traditional media are facing a "moral issue." Donnelley Acquires Edgar Online for $70.5 Million Bloomberg R.R. Donnelley & Sons, the Chicago-based commercial-printing firm, has agreed to buy Edgar Online in a $70.5 million deal, gaining a website that lets investors view regulatory filings. "This is a natural fit with our growing portfolio of financial disclosure management services." Getty Images Owners Eye $4 Billion in Sale or IPO Financial Times The owners of Getty Images, the world's largest distributor of stock photos, video and other digital content, have retained bankers to examine a possible sale or IPO of the business they took private four years ago. A sale or IPO could value the business at as much as $4 billion. Disney's Marvel Plans 'X-Men' Same-Sex Wedding USA Today Wedding bells are ringing for the X-Men, and Marvel Comics is getting topical with its newest superhero marriage. In "Astonishing X-Men" issue 50, out Wednesday, the openly gay mutant hero Northstar proposes to his longtime boyfriend, with a same-sex wedding due next month. News Corp's Murdoch Denies Exiting Newspapers Reuters Rupert Murdoch has denied news reports that News Corp. is considering spinning off its British newspapers to protect the rest of the company from the phone-hacking scandal. News Corp. is "committed" to newspapers. "Publishing is a core component of our future." Disney's 'Avengers' is Studio's Top-Grossing Film Bloomberg "The Avengers" was the No. 1 movie at theaters in the U.S. and Canada for a third straight weekend, taking in $55.1 million for Disney, and making it the studio's highest-grossing film ever. "The Avengers" is said to be benefiting from positive word of mouth. Time Warner's DC Comics to 'Out' a Superhero New York Post At least one DC Comics character will be ambiguously gay no more. The comic-book world is abuzz after DC co-publisher Dan DiDio announced plans to reintroduce an established character as gay. A previously-straight superhero will become a "prominent" gay character. Viacom: Live TV Viewing Boosts Social Media Use World Screen Social TV and co-viewing trends are on the rise, according to a new study from Viacom. The most common social activities are watching TV with others (85%), searching for supplemental content (61%), and turning to social networks to view clips of shows (58%). Comcast's NBC Climbs Out of Ratings Basement Crain's New York The broadcast TV season ends on Wednesday, but experts are already predicting the winners: Fox in 18- to 49-year-olds, and CBS in total viewers. But there is one surprise: NBC has broken its seven-year losing streak, edging out ABC for the No. 3 spot. News Corp Sued by Murdoch Son-In-Law Staffer Bloomberg Hannah Pawlby, a public-relations exec who works for Rupert Murdoch's son-in-law Matthew Freud, has sued News Corp.'s U.K. unit over phone hacking. Pawlby was a special adviser to former U.K. home secretary Charles Clarke. She later joined Freud Communications. News Corp: Senator Presses FCC for U.S. Probe The Hill Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) has pressed Federal Communications Commission members to investigate possible misconduct by News Corp. in the United States. "There is evidence that News Corp. executives have been involved in misconduct at the highest levels." Viacom, Time Warner Cable Reach iPad Accord Reuters Viacom, parent of MTV and Comedy Central, has settled lawsuits with Time Warner Cable over whether cable subscribers may watch shows on mobile devices such as Apple's iPad. Programs such as "Jersey Shore" and "The Daily Show" will become available over the TWC TV app. Comcast Brings Skype Video Calling to TV Sets Bloomberg Comcast has introduced a service that lets customers make Skype video calls over their TVs, part of a push to add revenue and stem subscriber defections. The feature will cost $9.95 a month for Triple Play users, which get Comcast's Internet, TV and voice services. News Corp Investors Untroubled by UK Woes Financial Times News Corp. investors have paid little attention to the charges against Rebekah Brooks and other company-related controversies. The cable-TV networks that provide 60% of News Corp.'s operating income are growing faster than the costs associated with U.K. investigations. Viacom: Warren Buffett's Berkshire Buys Shares Variety Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has acquired 1.59 million shares in Viacom even as CEO Philippe Dauman sold down his stake in the company, according to regulatory filings. Berkshire's other showbiz forays include investments in DirecTV and Liberty Media. Liberty Media Increases Stake in Live Nation New York Times Liberty Media has increased its investment in Live Nation Entertainment, the concert and ticketing giant that includes Ticketmaster, to 25.6% from about 20%, according to a regulatory filing. Liberty also appears to be in the midst of a takeover of Sirius XM Radio. Sony: Sorkin to Adapt Isaacson's 'Steve Jobs' TheWrap Aaron Sorkin will adapt Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs for Sony, the studio announced. The biography of the late Apple co-founder and CEO ruled the best-seller lists for months. Sorkin won the best adapted screenplay Oscar for "The Social Network." News Corp Aide Brooks Faces Hacking Charge Wall Street Journal U.K. prosecutors said they will charge Rebekah Brooks, the former head of News Corp.'s British newspaper unit, with conspiring to obstruct justice, marking the first charges filed in a criminal investigation into wrongdoing at the U.S. media company's British tabloids. Disney's Touche Could Be the Next Big Thing Motley Fool Disney has developed a technology called Touche, which allows any material, including water, to become touch-screen capable of reacting to touches and gestures. If successful, Touche could make current phone and tablet touch-screen technology seem outdated. Time Warner: New Platforms Help Fight Piracy Guardian Jeff Bewkes, CEO of Time Warner, said he believes that making films available on all platforms early in their runs will reduce piracy, despite the objections of movie-theater owners. The window between theater release and home viewing creates "a gap for piracy." Disney CEO Reaps $26.6 Million in Stock Sale Bloomberg Disney CEO Bob Iger sold $81.6 million in stock after the record box office of "The Avengers" powered company shares to new highs. Iger, who plans to step down as CEO in March 2015, exercised options at a cost of $55 million, suggesting a profit of $26.6 million. News Corp to Buy Stake in Chinese Film Group Hollywood Reporter News Corp. is the latest media conglomerate to strike a deal with a Chinese film company, announcing that it has agreed to buy a 19.9% stake in Bona Film Group. The agreement will help the Chinese film producer and distributor reach a more global audience. Viacom in Rights Deal for 'Godfather' Sequel Bloomberg Proceeds from the new sequel to Mario Puzo's novel "The Godfather" will be put in escrow while Viacom's Paramount Pictures and the late novelist's estate pursue litigation over publishing rights. "An interim agreement allows publication of the novel to go forward." Comcast to Deliver Ads to Commercial Skippers FierceCable Comcast has developed technology that will deliver advertising to cable subscribers who skip commercials in TV shows recorded on a DVR. Customers who hit fast-forward on their remotes will receive an alternate ad displayed in the center of their TV screens. Houghton Mifflin Enters Bankruptcy Process New York Times Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the educational and trade publisher in Boston, has agreed with most of its creditors to eliminate $3.1 billion of debt and enter a prearranged Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. The publisher has struggled financially for years, laden with debt. News Corp: Murdoch Wanted 'Serious' News Hollywood Reporter Rebekah Brooks, the former CEO of News International, told a U.K. media ethics panel that she and News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch had similar views "on the big issues," but still had arguments about various topics. "He wanted more serious issues" in newspapers. Sirius XM CEO Karmazin Likely Out in Takeover TheStreet The recent moves by John Malone's Liberty Media to buy more shares of Sirius XM are expected to lead to an eventual takeover of the satellite broadcaster. CEO Mel Karmazin has said: "I'm not really good at working for somebody. I just could not be a No. 2." NBCUniversal Bashes Diller's Aereo TV Service The Verge NBCUniversal exec Matt Bond: "It makes little sense for cable systems and satellite broadcasters to continue to pay for NBCU content when, with a relatively modest investment, they can simply modify their operations to mirror Aereo's 'individual antenna' scheme." News Corp Profits Increase Despite Scandal New York Times News Corp. said its net income, driven largely by its strong cable TV division, was $937 million in the third quarter. The company has largely appeased investors despite the tumult at its British businesses with a $5 billion stock repurchasing program. Disney CEO Sees Himself as Brand Manager Fortune "In a strange way," said Disney CEO Bob Iger, "I am the brand manager of Disney." Last October, Iger announced that he would step down as CEO in 2015. No decisions have been made yet about his successor. According to observers, the job is "Tom Staggs' to lose." Comcast's NBCU to Freshen Up in New York Variety NBCUniversal will pour $190 million into a two-year initiative to renovate its New York City outposts, including its Rockefeller Center headquarters. CEO Steve Burke announced the plan as construction began on a new commissary. "The food's going to be great." Disney: Digital Revenue Growing in Importance CNBC On the heels of a record-breaking weekend for "The Avengers," Disney reported better-than-expected fiscal second quarter results. CEO Bob Iger said that new digital streams from the likes of Netflix are purely incremental and no signs of cannibalization are seen. News Corp Major Shareholder Sounds Warning Guardian Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the second biggest shareholder in News Corp., has revealed his frustration with the fallout from the phone-hacking scandal and admitted that it is harming the company's reputation beyond publishing. "It is not helping the name of the company." Media Jobs Booming in New York, Study Says New York Post The media industry employs 275,000 people in New York City and generates $80 billion in economic activity, according to a new report by Boston Consulting Group. The city has added 40,000 media jobs over the past decade — about what the rest of the nation has lost. Liberty Media to Raise Sirius XM Stake to 45% Forbes John Malone's Liberty Media plans to boost its holdings of Sirius XM Radio to 45.2%. The announcement comes after Liberty's effort to gain de facto control of the satellite radio operator failed to pass muster with the Federal Communications Commission. Viacom Yanks Beastie Boys Video from YouTube New York Times A previously unreleased clip of the Beastie Boys made during the taping of a Comedy Central show that was posted on YouTube was taken down after Viacom complained it had been posted without permission. Viacom had a "legal obligation" to ask the video be removed. CBS Launches Social TV Platform to 'Connect' Lost Remote CBS.com has launched CBS Connect, a social hub to connect fans with each other and network stars. The site will aggregate content from Twitter and Facebook across all CBS programming. "We want to create the best, ongoing social experience for our shows." News Corp TV Licenses Seen Surviving Scandal Reuters The Federal Communications Commission is highly unlikely to challenge News Corp.'s 27 Fox U.S. TV licenses despite calls from a Washington-based ethics watchdog to do so, according to experts. "It is very, very hard for the FCC to take away a license." Comcast Probe Sought Over Net Neutrality Rules CNET Senator Al Franken says Comcast may be violating Net neutrality rules by exempting its own video service from a usage cap on its broadband network. The Minnesota Democrat wants U.S. regulators to take a closer look at Comcast's new Xfinity video service. FCC Nominees Win Approval After Political Tangle Washington Post The Senate approved two nominees to the Federal Communications Commission after a months-long political tangle over an agency grappling with policies to bolster wireless Internet networks. Republican Ajit Pai and Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel won unanimous approval. Extra! Extra! Paid Content Pays Off for Providers Barron's Microsoft kicked off the good news for paid digital content with its $300 million infusion in Barnes & Noble's Nook e-reader. Then, the New York Times and its digital paywall delivered impressive news. Also, Sirius XM has proved that consumers are still willing to pay. Netflix: The New Arch-Frenemy of Big Media Reuters In week 1 of big media companies reporting quarterly earnings, the most prominent name wasn't CBS, Time Warner, Comcast or Viacom — it was all about Netflix. While Netflix is supplying "found money," it is also seen as a threat to the future of the media giants. News Corp: A 'Cozy Compliance' of the Board New York Times News Corp. shares appear unaffected by the company's phone-hacking scandal. But the primary reason Rupert Murdoch has not been held to account is that the board of News Corp. "has no independence, little influence and no stomach for confronting its chairman." Disney's 'Avengers' Breaks Record for Opening Bloomberg "The Avengers" crushed U.S. box-office records with $200.3 million in ticket sales, opening the summer movie season with a huge win for Disney following the mega-flop "John Carter." The movie surpassed the previous best opening weekend set by "Harry Potter" last year. Comcast Looking to Sell Part of A&E Ownership Associated Press Comcast's NBCUniversal plans to sell part of its 15.8% ownership in A&E Television Networks to the other partners in the joint venture, Disney and Hearst. The deal could be worth about $2 billion. The sale could help NBCUniversal reduce the company's debt. Liberty Media Bid for Sirius XM Control Rejected Forbes The Federal Communication Commission has rejected the request by John Malone's Liberty Media to take control of Sirius XM Radio with its stake of 40%. The FCC noted that Liberty was unable to get "passwords, signatures and other information required" from Sirius. CBS Offers Moonves Post-CEO Production Deal Los Angeles Times CBS chief Les Moonves has nearly three years remaining on his employment contract. After that, he will be entitled to a CBS-financed TV and film production deal. Former News Corp. president Peter Chernin exercised a similar deal when he left Fox in 2009. Scripps Revenues Boosted by Ads, Affiliates Variety Scripps Networks Interactive, parent of Food Network, HGTV and the Travel Channel, said strong advertising and affiliate revenue boosted profit last quarter despite hefty programming costs. The company's lifestyle TV networks enjoy "tremendous popularity." Cablevision to Sell New York's Ziegfeld Theater Reuters Cablevision Systems said it plans to explore strategic alternatives with its Clearview Cinemas movie theater chain, which has 45 theaters in the New York tri-state area including the 1,169-seat, gold-trimmed Ziegfeld Theater in Manhattan. "It is not a strategic asset for us." News Corp: Brooks Slated for Ethics Inquiry Guardian Andy Coulson, David Cameron's former spin doctor, is to appear at the Leveson inquiry next week along with Rebekah Brooks, the former chief exec of News International. Brooks is said to be ready to disclose any text messages and emails between herself and Cameron. Viacom Defends Nickelodeon Deal with Netflix Hollywood Reporter Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman has defended digital licensing deals that his company has struck with the likes of Netflix for its cable networks, particularly Nickelodeon, amid suggestions that they have affected ratings. "We are getting nice revenues through these deals." News Corp Ups Stake in Saudi Prince's Group World Screen News Corp. has purchased newly issued shares in Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal's Rotana Group for $35 million, upping its stake in the Middle Eastern media company to 18.97% from 14.53%. Rotana operates a slate of channels, including Fox, in the Middle East. Viacom Sees Boost from Higher Pay-TV Fees Bloomberg Viacom, owner of the MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central cable channels, has reported fiscal second-quarter earnings that exceeded analysts' estimates on higher fees from pay-TV systems. The lack of ad-sales growth was offset by rising rates from pay-TV operators. Time Warner CEO Says Netflix Affects Ratings Deadline Viacom's Nickelodeon was hurt by its decision to offer some of its shows on Netflix, said Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes. Although there is a role for such online streaming services, if you put a show on "that runs the sprockets off, you're going to erode the value." Viacom's SpongeBob in Crisis as Ratings Fall Wall Street Journal Viewership has plunged for "SpongeBob SquarePants," which Nickelodeon has depended on at times to fill as much as 40% of its airtime. The ratings decline poses a serious challenge; Nickelodeon accounts for about 15% of owner Viacom's operating profit. News Corp: U.S. Senators to Pressure Murdoch Financial Times Two Democratic senators have turned up the pressure on News Corp., reviving questions about whether a scandal at Rupert Murdoch's U.K. newspapers could jump across the Atlantic. The news came as News Corp.'s board voiced unanimous support for Murdoch. Viacom/CBS Chief Redstone Says 'Take Risks' Los Angeles Times The secret to success, according to Viacom/CBS head Sumner Redstone, is to be in control of your destiny. "I've taken some perilous risks," he said at the Milken Institute Global Conference. "But I never took them unless I was confident that the rewards far outweighed the risk." Disney Former Chief to Form Film, TV Company CNBC Michael Eisner, former chairman and CEO of Disney, is said to be trying to raise $800 million for a new film and TV production company. Eisner has been focused on creating digital content through Tornante, a company he founded after leaving Disney in 2005. Martha Stewart Sees Return to Black This Year Dow Jones Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia said it expects to return to profitability this year. The company has been unprofitable for the last nine years except for a single year in the black in 2007. Its large, struggling publishing division is aiming for a turnaround. Time Warner Boosted by 'Big Bang,' 'Sherlock' CNNMoney Time Warner has posted higher first-quarter operating earnings, helped by strong results from its movie and TV studios. The company cites the movie "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" and Warner Bros.'s "The Big Bang Theory" for their contributions to growth. Comcast Profit Rises as NBCUniversal Gains Philadelphia Inquirer Helped by Super Bowl advertising and still-surging demand for Internet services, Comcast has reported a 30% jump in profits and a 22.7% boost in revenue during the first quarter. The effort to rebuild NBCUniversal appears to paying off. "We are off to a great start." Charter Taps Rival Cablevision Exec as New COO St. Louis Post-Dispatch Charter Communications has appointed John Bickham to the position of chief operating officer. Bickham, a 26-year veteran of the cable industry, most recently served as president of Cablevision. "John appreciates what it takes to run operations most effectively." CBS Earnings Increase Thanks to Digital Media Los Angeles Times CBS might be a titan of old media, but its first-quarter earnings were boosted by gains in new media: the digital distribution of its TV programming and the sale of e-books. "The growth in digital is a positive development for us," said CEO Les Moonves. News Corp's Murdoch Not Likely to Step Down CNNMoney Rupert Murdoch isn't expected to give up control of News Corp., despite a British government report that said he is not a fit and proper person to run the company. Said one analyst: "He's not going to leave because someone writes a report and says he's not a nice guy." Sony Video Service Could Hinge on Comcast Variety Sony is pressing pause on plans to launch a rival video service to cable and satellite companies in light of a recent Comcast decision that inflamed net neutrality advocates. "These guys have the pipe and the bandwidth. If they start capping things, it gets difficult." News Corp's Murdoch 'Not Fit,' UK Lawmakers Say BBC News Rupert Murdoch is "not a fit person" to run an international company, according to a report issued by a powerful British parliamentary committee. News Corp.'s chief and his son James showed "willful blindness" to the phone hacking at the News of the World. Time Warner Ups Stake in Central European Media Wall Street Journal Time Warner plans to extend a $300 million loan to Central European Media Enterprises and buy 2 million shares in the TV broadcaster, rounding its stake up to 40%. Billionaire Ronald Lauder, another large investor, will purchase about 9.5 million shares. Viacom, WhoSay Announce Ad Sales Partnership Hollywood Reporter Viacom and WhoSay, an online platform for film, TV, music and sports personalities, have announced that Viacom advertising sales will be the website's sales force. The deal also allows for the creation of original content for Viacom brands, including MTV and VH1. Comcast, Verizon Join Forces in Six New Markets CNET The Comcast and Verizon cross-selling romance has deepened as both offer each other's services in six new U.S. markets. Customers can purchase Comcast's Xfinity in Verizon stores, while Comcast will offer Verizon voice and wireless products through its channels. Time Warner Investments Helps Fund Simulmedia MediaPost Simulmedia, which uses set-top-box data to help advertisers hone in on a target, has received $6 million in funding from its trio of venture-capital investors, which include Time Warner Investments. Simulmedia describes its offering as an ad network for TV. Media Industry Wary of Apps for Watching TV New York Times The technology industry is working on viewing options that could include apps, a move that has the potential to transform cable TV's business model. A model built around TV apps could let viewers use favorite apps on an α la carte basis, thus bypassing cable subscriptions. Viacom, Disney Kids' TV 'Threatened' by Netflix Barron's Netflix is having a direct impact on Viacom and Disney by "attacking" children's television, according to a report by Bernstein Research analyst Todd Juenger. "Kids' networks (not just Nickelodeon) and syndicated shows are getting severely whacked." Disney Taps Twitter to Gauge Summer Movies Financial Times Disney hopes to predict how much money the new movie "The Avengers" will bring in by analyzing Twitter and other social networking sites. Such sites have made it easier to gauge public sentiment. "There's nothing they can do to counteract negative buzz on Twitter." Apple, Movie Studios in Talks to Stream Content Reuters Apple is said to have begun talks earlier this year to stream films owned by Epix, which is backed by three major movie studios, on devices including a long-anticipated TV. The three-year-old Epix was created by Lions Gate, MGM and Viacom's Paramount Pictures. News Corp 'Grand Deal' Denied by Prime Minister BBC News David Cameron said there was "no grand deal" with the Murdochs in return for their newspapers supporting the Conservatives before the 2010 election. The U.K. prime minister told the BBC he made policies because they were "right" for the country, not to suit newspaper owners. News Corp: Regulator Escalates BSkyB Probe Financial Times Rupert Murdoch faces a mounting threat to his media business as U.K. media regulator Ofcom escalates its probe into whether British Sky Broadcasting was a "fit and proper" owner of a broadcasting license from a "monitoring phase" to an "evidence-gathering phase." Chernin Group Acquires Stake in Endemol India Indiantelevision Armed with a $200 million infusion from a Providence Equity Partners-led group of investors, Peter Chernin has made his maiden investment in India. The Chernin Group's Asian media investment arm CA Media has picked up a 49% stake in production house Endemol India. Big-Media Parties Scheduled for Obama Roast Bloomberg The White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday will roast President Obama and serve as a branding and relationship-building exercise for the media companies that are holding parties. Google chief Eric Schmidt and the Hollywood Reporter will co-host a fete. 2012 Media Report Analyzes Industry 'Chaos' BtoB Media is undergoing such a rapid transformation that it borders on "chaos," according to a "2012 State of Media" report from media agency Kelly Scott Madison. The agency sees increasing "market clutter," noting that fewer than 4% of YouTube videos exceed 100,000 views. Disney Unlikely to Name a Studio Chief Soon New York Times Disney CEO Bob Iger is said to have told his senior execs that it could be weeks before he names a replacement for ousted film studio head Rich Ross. The movie industry's difficulties — a dying DVD business, shrinking attendance — makes the job less than desirable. Vivendi Denies Report of a Possible Breakup Reuters Vivendi has denied a Bloomberg report that said the Paris-based company was considering a reorganization that may result in the break-up of Europe's largest telecom and entertainment group. Assertions in the story "are unfounded." Bloomberg said it stands by the report. News Corp's Murdoch: I Was a Cover-Up Victim Associated Press News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch said in a second day of testimony at a media ethics inquiry that his British newspaper company was the victim of a cover up, alleging that he and his son were deliberately kept in the dark about phone hacking. "All I can do is apologize." Viacom Signs Lease to Expand in Times Square New York Times Viacom is expanding its presence in Times Square with one of the largest leases signed in New York City. The company has signed a deal to let it stamp its name on the 54-story skyscraper it occupies at 1515 Broadway and ultimately take over all of the space in the tower. Time Warner Cable Profit Beats on Internet Subs Reuters Time Warner Cable posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, boosted in part by high-speed Internet growth. However, it lost 90,000 video subscribers. The company has placed more emphasis on its Internet business as margins tighten in the traditional TV business. Big Media Writedowns Loom as Cable Sputters Reuters Earnings reports due from Time Warner, Disney and other media giants will be marked by two factors: expensive flops and withering cable network viewership. The lackluster reports come as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube commit to creating more original content. News Corp's Murdoch Denies Seeking Favors Bloomberg Rupert Murdoch told a U.K. media-ethics inquiry that he never sought favors from a prime minister to bolster News Corp.'s interests. The CEO spoke as the company's closeness to prime minister David Cameron's cabinet led to the resignation of a government adviser. SEC Probes Movie Studios' Dealings in China Reuters U.S. regulators have begun a probe of major U.S. movie studios' dealings with China as the companies try to get a greater foothold in one of the world's fastest-growing movie markets. Studios are being asked for information about potential inappropriate payments. MPAA: Hollywood Must Embrace Social Media USA Today Hollywood and the tech industry need to drop swords and embrace, according to Chris Dodd, head of the Motion Picture Association of America. Through Facebook, Twitter and other social media, studios can learn to distinguish themselves from the tech masses. Comcast Distributes Biography to Employees Philadelphia Inquirer "An Incredible Dream," a self-published authorized corporate history, has been released by Comcast. The 424-page, 27-chapter book is being distributed to 100,000 Comcast and NBCUniversal employees and will become an orientation must-read for new hires. News Corp: James Murdoch Says Kept in Dark Reuters James Murdoch blamed subordinates for keeping him in the dark about illegal behavior when he ran News Corp.'s British newspapers. "I wasn't in the business of deciding what to put in the newspapers," he testified at a high-profile U.K. judicial inquiry into media ethics. IAC's Barry Diller Appeals to Senate on Web TV Bloomberg IAC chief Barry Diller, who is challenging cable and broadcast providers by distributing TV via the Internet, has urged U.S. lawmakers to help nurture upstart online video companies. Established players are seeking to "control emerging markets." CBS Names Co-Presidents to Run Film Division Dow Jones CBS has named Wolfgang Hammer and Terry Press co-presidents of CBS Films, as the media company looks to expand its motion picture division. "In Terry and Wolfgang, we are fortunate to have two very skilled executives," said CBS CEO Les Moonves. Thomson Reuters to Sell Health-Care Division Bloomberg Thomson Reuters has agreed to sell its health-care division to Veritas Capital for $1.25 billion as the publisher focuses on its main businesses. The sale will allow the financial news provider to buy assets related to its tax and legal businesses, analysts said. Media CEOs Strive to Keep Up with Tech in Pay Crain's New York In a survey of top-paid CEOs, seven of the top 20 pay packages went to media chieftains, led by CBS' Les Moonves, at $68.4 million. Experts say the numbers have more to do with ego and keeping up Silicon Valley, where Apple CEO Tim Cook pulls in $378 million. Comcast CEO Gets $26.9 Million in Compensation Dow Jones Comcast CEO Brian Roberts received total compensation for 2011 valued at some $26.93 million, down more than 13% from a year earlier. The drop in Roberts' total 2011 pay package was driven by less non-equity incentive compensation. News Corp: Sky News Faces Probe Over Hacking Reuters British media regulator Ofcom has launched an investigation into Sky News, the news channel of Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB, which has admitted hacking into emails to generate stories. Both Rupert and James Murdoch are due to appear before the Leveson inquiry this week. Chernin Group to Build Global Media Company Los Angeles Times Providence Equity Partners has made an investment in the Chernin Group, the movie and TV production company founded by former News Corp. COO Peter Chernin. The Chernin Group will use the cash to look for media investments in the United States and abroad. Disney Film Chief's Departure Sends Aftershocks Los Angeles Times Disney film chief Rich Ross' abrupt departure comes at a time when all entertainment companies are struggling to come to terms with a dying DVD business and declines in movie ticket sales. It also raises doubts about CEO Bob Iger's ability to modernize the studio. Sirius XM Snubs Liberty Media's Takeover Attempt Los Angeles Times Sirius XM Radio has delivered a counterpunch to Liberty Media's hostile takeover attempt in a brief filed with U.S. regulators: "There is no support for the remarkable proposition that a 40% minority interest is sufficient to bestow control of a public company." Sony to Launch Online Photo Sharing Service PC Mag Sony plans to launch an online photo sharing service, PlayMemories Online, this week. The service will initially be available in six countries, including the United States, and will allow users to upload and share photos and videos taken with Sony cameras. Disney Studio Chief Steps Down After Film Flop Reuters Rich Ross, chairman of Disney's movie studio, has stepped down after a two-year stint that included the release of "John Carter," one of the biggest flops in recent Hollywood history. Said Ross: "I no longer believe that the chairman role is the right professional fit for me." Murdoch to Moonves: Big Media Pay Balloons TheWrap Top media and tech execs rewarded themselves with fat salaries, bonuses and stock options in 2011, despite a shaky economy and the full boil of Occupy Wall Street. Disney chief Bob Iger's annual package shot up 12%, while the company's share price stagnated. News Corp Hacking Lawyer Brings Case to U.S. Reuters The News of the World phone-hacking scandal moved closer to the United States after British lawyer Mark Lewis teamed up with two New York lawyers to pursue claims that four of his clients had been hacked by Rupert Murdoch's now-defunct tabloid on American soil. Viacom Eyes 'Skinny Leaderboard' for Tablets MediaPost Viacom is using what it calls a "skinny leaderboard" on the tablet version of sites for key brands like MTV, VH-1 and "The Daily Show." Instead of the standard 728 x 90 leaderboard, the tablet-optimized equivalent is 768 x 50. "The ad unit doesn't get in the way." Disney, Viacom Lose Lawsuit Over Downloads Bloomberg Disney and Viacom's Paramount Pictures are among Hollywood's biggest movie studios that lost a piracy lawsuit in Australia as the country's top court upheld rulings that a local Internet provider wasn't responsible for customers illegally downloading films. Sony Wins Antitrust Approval for EMI Purchase Financial Times A Sony-led consortium will win approval from European regulators for its $2.2 billion purchase of EMI's music publishing business, giving early antitrust approval to one half of a deal to split the independent British music group. The decision will be announced on Thursday. News Corp Phone-Hacking Report Due May 1 Reuters British legislators hope to publish their report on the phone-hacking scandal on May 1. News Corp. is likely to be criticized in the report, raising the possibility that British watchdog Ofcom will force the media giant to cut or sell its stake in pay-TV firm BSkyB. Carlos Slim Eyes Online Gaming Market in Mexico Reuters Carlos Slim plans to enter the online gaming market in his home country of Mexico, offering 600 free titles to some 8 million users of his high-speed broadband for a month, with the aim of charging for the service afterward. Silm ranks as the world's richest man. News Corp: U.S. Lawsuits Possible This Week Deadline U.S. legal action in the News Corp. phone-hacking scandal could come as early as the end of this week, as U.K. lawyer Mark Lewis plans to hold a press conference in Manhattan. Meanwhile, a press conference will be held in London for the new book "Dial M For Murdoch." Time Warner Gets Victory in 'Superman' Fight Los Angeles Times Warner Bros. has won the rights to use what could be damaging documents in its legal fight to hold on to the rights to Superman. The ruling from three appeals judges came as part of the studio's lawsuit against the attorney for the heirs of Superman's creators. Liberty Seeks FCC Recognition on Sirius XM Wall Street Journal Liberty Media said it needs approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to take "de facto" control of Sirius XM Radio. FCC support would remove a potential regulatory obstacle in the way of Liberty raising its stake in Sirius above 50%. Media Heavyweight Investor Crawford to Retire Reuters Gordon Crawford, one of the media industry's most influential investors, is said to be planning to retire by the end of 2012. Among his company's largest holdings are Time Warner, News Corp., Comcast and DirecTV. Crawford believes after 41 years "it's just time" to step away. Sony to Launch Home Network Media Device VentureBeat Sony plans to launch a new networked video recorder and media storage device by the name Nasne. The new gadget will be available in Japan on July 19. The Nasne will enable users to watch and record TV shows and view the same content within a home network. News Corp to Act on Ownership Rule Breach Wall Street Journal News Corp. is expected to disclose it is suspending half the voting rights of its foreign shareholders to deal with an inadvertent breach of U.S. foreign ownership limits. News Corp. discovered that voting stock held by foreign investors has risen above the 25% limit Viacom: Tablets Becoming an Alternative to TV Next Web Tablets are becoming an alternative to television and to other devices for users to watch full-length TV episodes, according to a study by Viacom. However, the tablet "isn't replacing TV." The top genres viewed on tablets, comedy and music, align more with computers. Viacom, Time Warner Seek New Office Space Crain's New York Time Warner, which is searching for 4 million square feet of space, plans to send out proposal requests to landlords this month. Also, Viacom is considering a move from its Times Square offices. Four Times Square, which is being vacated by Conde Nast, may be a good fit. News Corp 'Battles' Set for Movie Adaptation Variety Rupert Murdoch's fierce battles with one of his British editors are to be turned into a feature film that will also reference the phone-hacking scandal. The U.K.-based What's It all About? Productions has acquired the rights to Harold Evans' book "Good Times, Bad Times." CBS Chief Tops Media Pay at $69.9 Million Los Angeles Times Les Moonves vaulted to the top of the media pay ladder in 2011 with a compensation package valued at $69.9 million, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CBS defended its CEO's pay, noting that its stock soared 42% last year. Disney to Co-Produce 'Iron Man 3' in China Hollywood Reporter Disney, its Marvel Studios and Beijing-based DMG Entertainment are teaming up to co-produce "Iron Man 3" in China, in a bid to tap the booming Chinese box office. The collaboration "marks a milestone in the global entertainment landscape." Time Warner Cable Could Mull Dodgers Stake Dow Jones Time Warner Cable would consider buying a stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers new ownership structure, in order to negotiate a broadcast deal for the team's future games and snatch the rights away from News Corp.'s Fox Sports, people familiar with the matter said. Comcast Heads to Trial in Monopoly Charge Bloomberg A 2003 consumer $875 million antitrust lawsuit against Comcast is headed for trial after a federal judge upheld some of the claims: "Because it possessed market power, its decision to target promotional discounts to deter a new entrant may be deemed predatory." News Corp: Report Threatens Grip on BSkyB Reuters A British parliamentary report into the phone-hacking scandal may lead to News Corp. being forced into cutting or selling its stake in BSkyB, having already dropped its bid to buy it outright last year. Parliament's culture committee is expected to be critical of News Corp. CBS's Moonves Won't Join Murdoch on Twitter Hollywood Reporter CBS has begun to embrace social media, which CEO Les Moonves finds "fascinating." So, can we expect to see him on Twitter? "No," he said, adding that corporate PR "wouldn't allow me to do it." However, Moonves admits to enjoying reading Rupert Murdoch's tweets. Comcast 'Error' Brings Adult Content to ABC Colorado Springs Gazette Comcast "sincerely apologized" after a "glitch" caused ABC affiliate KRDO in Colorado Springs, Colo., to briefly air adult movie content. The incident was isolated to Comcast cable customers. "The issue was a result of human error," said a Comcast spokesperson. Forecast: Media Spending to See Digital Boost Forbes Overall communications spending is expected to reach $1.419 trillion by 2015, giving it a compound annual growth rate of 5.7%, according to a new forecast from Veronis Suhler Stevenson. "Digital expenditures have become so large," offsetting declines in traditional media. Music Industry, Online Services Reach a Deal Wall Street Journal Record labels, music publishers and digital music services said they have reached an agreement on proposed royalty rates for a range of online services, potentially making it easier to offer music in new ways. The proposal would create guidelines for new types of services. Sony Unveils 'One Sony' Restructuring Plan Next Web Sony's new management team has laid out its plans to reinvigorate the company's businesses and look for growth in other and new markets. Under the header "One Sony," it will start by laying off 10,000 employees and projects to spend roughly $926 million on restructuring. News Corp Said to Hack Phones on U.S. Soil Independent The British lawyer who helped expose misdeeds inside the News of the World plans to file lawsuits on behalf of clients who claim their phones were hacked while they were on U.S. soil. The clients are believed to be Paul Burrell, David Beckham and Jude Law. Time Warner to Shutter TV Channel in India Reuters Turner Broadcasting has decided to shut its Hindi general entertainment channel Imagine TV in India, citing poor ratings. "Imagine TV has not performed and grown as per our expectations." The company said it remains committed to long-term investment in the country. NBCUniversal 'Still Standing' in China Deal Deadline NBCUniversal International has announced that "Still Standing," its new primetime trivia competition format, has been sold to China's Jiangsu Broadcasting. The deal marks NBCUniversal's first format sale to China and the series will be aired in Mandarin. CBS to Expand 'Green' Marketing Program New York Times CBS is expanding a marketing program that promotes environmental causes to include healthier eating and education. The expansion was announced at an event that was as glitzy as any upfront presentation. CEO Les Moonves was among those in attendance. Time Warner to Accept Bad 'Luck' Write-Down Hollywood Reporter Time Warner will take a write-down in the $30 million to $35 million range for HBO's canceled horse-racing drama "Luck," when it reports its first-quarter financials, analysts predict. The drama, starring Dustin Hoffman, was axed in March after the deaths of three horses. News Corp Objects to Dodgers Bankruptcy Plan Bloomberg News Corp.'s Fox Sports has objected to the Los Angeles Dodgers' bankruptcy reorganization plan, which hinges on a $2 billion sale of the baseball team, over the broadcaster's rights to renegotiate a contract to televise games. "The plan does not contain sufficient information." Disney Enters Animation Partnership in China Associated Press Disney is partnering with China's Culture Ministry and Internet service provider Tencent, to help develop the nation's animation industry by training Chinese animators and helping them develop content. The partnership will require little to no investment on Disney's part. Sony Doubles Red Ink Forecast to Worst Loss Associated Press Sony has more than doubled its projected annual loss to $6.4 billion, its worst red ink ever, due to a massive tax charge. This would be the fourth year of red ink for Sony — a daunting challenge for Kazuo Hirai, who took over as CEO from Howard Stringer this month. Martha Contract Talks Extended Three Months Wall Street Journal Martha Stewart's compensation declined slightly at her namesake company last year, but her contract wasn't negotiated in time to be renewed before it expired on March 31 and she has been given a temporary three-month extension, through June 30. AT&T Agrees to Unload Yellow Pages Stake Dow Jones AT&T plans to sell a majority stake in its Yellow Pages business to private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management for $950 million in cash and debt, shedding one of its legacy businesses as wireless profits boom. "This will allow AT&T to focus on its core businesses." Disney's 'Lion King' Becomes Broadway Ruler Reuters "The Lion King" over the weekend ousted long-standing box-office champ "The Phantom of the Opera" from the top of the list of all-time Broadway box office hits. The Disney musical has generated a cumulative gross of just over $853,800,000 on Broadway. News Corp UK Journos 'Exposed' by Blogger Associated Press The names of staffers at News Corp.'s British newspapers allegedly involved with shady freelance detective Steve Whittamore has been leaked to the Internet. Blogger Guido Fawkes published what he said were more than 1,000 recorded "transactions." Sony to Axe 10,000 Jobs in Turnaround Effort Reuters Sony is said to be cutting 10,000 jobs, about 6% of its global workforce, as new CEO Kazuo Hirai looks to steer the electronics and entertainment giant back to profit after four years in the red. Hirai is expected to discuss plans to revamp Sony's businesses later this week. Disney Unveils Movie Ad in Facebook Game Bloomberg Disney has unveiled the latest commercial for its May 4 movie release "Marvel's The Avengers" inside a game on Facebook. The ad appears in the game "Marvel: Avengers Alliance," which the entertainment company created for the social networking behemoth. Lions Gate's 'Hunger Games' Not Yet Sated USA Today New releases "American Reunion" and "Titanic 3D" couldn't sink "Hunger Games," which claimed the top spot at the box office for the third consecutive weekend, with $33.5 million. "Hunger Games" already ranks as the year's highest-grossing film so far. Viacom Wins Second Round Against YouTube CNET Viacom has won an appeal in its copyright lawsuit against Google's YouTube. The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to a lower court to determine whether YouTube purposely ignored the infringing material that was posted to the site. News Corp Expected to Revive Bid for BSkyB Bloomberg Businessweek James Murdoch's exit from BSkyB looks like a ritual sacrifice to some observers. "News Corp. would like to revive its bid for BSkyB in due course. It is in the interest of News Corp. to have it come across as a transaction as opposed to a Murdoch issue." News Corp: Sky News Authorized Email Hacking Journalism.co.uk Sky News authorized a journalist to access emails "of individuals suspected of criminal activity," insisting police were aware of their actions, the News Corp.-controlled British broadcaster has announced. Sky News "remains focused on maintaining its high standards." Sony CEO to Brief on Business Plan Next Week Reuters Sony will hold a briefing on April 12 to outline its business plan, attended by CEO Kazuo Hirai who recently took the helm. The consumer electronics and entertainment giant is under pressure to turn around its business after forecasting a $2.7 billion loss for the fiscal year. Comcast, Time Warner Near HBO Go-Xbox Deal New York Times Comcast and HBO are said to be close to a deal to bring the HBO Go app to Microsoft's Xbox. The app, which offers all of the Time Warner pay channel's shows and movies, could become available to Comcast's 22.3 million Xfinity subscribers via the Xbox this week. News Corp: Murdochs May Take a Back Seat Media Week James Murdoch's resignation as chairman of BSkyB marks a major change in one of media's most famous families, according to business school specialists. "What we are seeing now is a shift towards the Murdoch family taking a back seat in managing." Disney Interactive Media Lays Off Employees Los Angeles Times Disney's struggling games group has laid off 10 employees. The cuts came in the group's games publishing team, which handles distribution, marketing and franchise management. Disney Interactive reported an operating loss of $28 million in its first quarter. Time Warner Cable CEO's Compensation Falls Reuters Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt received $16.4 million in total compensation in 2011, down 5.7% from a year earlier, regulatory filings showed. Britt's pay fell because of a reduction in non-equity incentive plan compensation. Britt has run the company since 2001. BSkyB Chairman James Murdoch to Step Down Sky News BSkyB chairman James Murdoch is to step down from his position today. Murdoch has decided it is "in the best interests" of the U.K. pay-TV giant for him to resign. The move follows Murdoch's decision in February to leave his role as head of News International. News Corp Shareholder Seeks to Oust Rupert Reuters Rupert Murdoch must step down as chairman so News Corp. can appoint an independent leader, said shareholder Christian Brothers Investment Services. News Corp. is currently dealing with its phone-hacking scandal with a "flawed corporate governance structure." Time Warner CEO Sees Drop in Take-Home Pay Dow Jones Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes earned total compensation in 2011 valued at $25.94 million, down slightly from a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing. Bewkes's 2011 pay ranks behind that of Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman and Disney CEO Bob Iger. Media's Future Seen in Smartphones, Tablets New York Post A panel assembled by the Aspen Institute held a wide-ranging discussion on the Future of Content. The New Yorker's Ken Auletta said that the world appears to be heading to smartphones or smaller tablets. "Everything is gravitating toward that hand-held device." Sirius XM CEO Among 'Most Underpaid' Execs Forbes Mel Karmazin has earned more than $37 million since he took the job in 2004 and stands to clear another $125 million next month with a planned exercise of stock options. Nonetheless, the CEO of Sirius XM Radio said: "I'm one of the most underpaid execs." News Corp: BSkyB Board Shifts Pose Threat Financial Times Two key independent directors at BSkyB are set to step down, which could weaken the board's backing of James Murdoch as chairman of the pay-TV company. New independent directors could undermine the current unanimous support of the younger Murdoch. Murdoch's Star TV Wins Indian Cricket Rights Times of India News Corp.'s Star satellite TV service has won the broadcast and digital rights for international cricket played in India for a period of six years until 2018, covering 96 matches. Bids were also received from other global media groups including Sony. Viacom-CBS Chairman Gets a Hollywood Star Los Angeles Times Sumner Redstone has been etched in entertainment history, receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 88-year-old Redstone at times seemed a little unsteady on his feet during the tribute held on Hollywood Boulevard. "Thank you for this honor," he said. Discovery CEO Sees Pay Jump to $52.4 Million Broadcasting & Cable Discovery CEO David Zaslav's pay rose 23% to $52.4 million in 2011 from the previous year, according to a document filed with U.S. regulators. Zaslav's salary rose nearly 50% to $2.96 million in 2011 from $2 million. His stock awards were flat at $20 million. DirecTV Loses Tribune TV in Carriage Fracas Crain's Chicago Business Tribune's TV programming was pulled from DirecTV after the two failed to reach a deal before a Saturday deadline that would have allowed the satellite distributor to keep carrying the media company's local TV station programming. DirecTV said Tribune acted in "bad faith." Sony Names Lynton CEO of U.S. Entertainment Los Angeles Times Sony studio chief Michael Lynton has been named CEO of Sony of America. The expected move puts all of Sony's entertainment assets under one exec. If Sony wants to sell or spin off those assets, as has been rumored, the grouping could simplify the process. News Corp: Lachlan Murdoch Sells Prime Stake Sydney Morning Herald Lachlan Murdoch has sold his stake in Prime Media, a TV company in Australia, exiting a firm that was his first major entry into the country's media as a private investor. The sale, which came as the Murdochs battled new hacking charges, netted him $22 million. Disney to Release Mobile Social Games in Japan Reuters Disney and Tokyo-based DeNA plan to jointly develop mobile social games, underscoring the push by the media conglomerate to get more of its characters online to promote its businesses and films. Disney and DeNA will initially launch two games in Japan. Murdoch to 'Hit Back Hard' on Piracy Charge CNBC Rupert Murdoch is vowing to "hit back hard" at the latest allegations against News Corp., using Twitter to respond to piracy charges. Murdoch tweeted: "Seems every competitor and enemy piling on with lies and libels. So bad, easy to hit back hard, which preparing." News Corp Mulls Sports Network to Rival ESPN Bloomberg News Corp. is taking steps to start a U.S. sports network on cable TV aimed at challenging Disney's ESPN. While a final decision hasn't been made to move forward, the media giant is considering converting its Fuel action-sports network to the new channel. Comcast, NBCU Pledge to Hire 1,000 Veterans MSNBC Comcast CEO Brian Roberts announced on NBC's "Today" show that his company and NBCUniversal would commit to hire 1,000 veterans as part of a "Hiring our Heroes" campaign. "There's no better youth of today than the people who've been fighting overseas." Disney Brings Films to YouTube, Google Play World Screen Disney is making a selection of movies from its portfolio, including "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," available to rent and watch through Google Play and YouTube in the U.K. Once users rent a film, they will be able to watch it on any device. Disney, News Corp Stocks Hit 52-Week Highs Hollywood Reporter Shares of Disney and News Corp. hit 52-week highs on Tuesday, a day after CBS and Comcast shares had set such highs. News Corp.'s stock had hit a 52-week low in August after the phone-hacking scandal erupted. The company's shares have recovered in recent months. CBS Seen as Big Winner as Auto Sales Surge MarketWatch A surge in auto sales over the next year will mean a boon in advertising for various media, particularly broadcast TV networks and stations, according to Moody's. Among the biggest beneficiaries will be CBS, because much of its revenue comes from ads. News Corp in Australian Pay-TV Piracy Flap Financial Review A "secret unit" within News Corp. is said to have promoted a wave of high-tech piracy in Australia that damaged rivals as the media giant moved to take control of the country's pay-TV industry. News Corp. has categorically denied any involvement in piracy. Bertelsmann Eyes IPO, Investments in Digital Reuters Bertelsmann is looking into taking the company public while preserving the Mohn family's control. Europe's largest media company plans to make investments in businesses that have "a global footing," as well as those that will benefit "from the development of digital media." Magic Johnson Group to Acquire LA Dodgers Associated Press A group led by basketball star Magic Johnson has agreed to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers from Frank McCourt for a record $2 billion. Members of the acquiring group include Guggenheim Partners president Todd Boehly and entertainment industry veteran Peter Guber. Big Media Stocks to Rise Amid 'Golden Time' Deadline Shares of giants including CBS, Discovery, Disney, and News Corp. are poised to hit one-year highs, benefiting from the improving economy and developments within media. This is "a golden time" for the industry, according to RBC Capital Markets analyst David Bank. CBS Sees Payoff from New Revenue Sources Dow Jones CBS will consider raising its shareholder dividend, as its business benefits from a better advertising market and new revenue sources such as digital partnerships, said CEO Les Moonves. "We have plenty of cash, and our balance sheet is as good as it's been." News Corp Said to Recruit Pay-TV Pirate Site BBC News A News Corp. company recruited a pay-TV "pirate" to post hacked details of a rival's secret codes online, according to BBC "Panorama." NDS is said to have funded expansion of the Thoic website and later had it distribute the set-top pay-TV codes of ITV. Disney's Facebook Game Ties In Theme Park Hollywood Reporter Disney, in conjunction with developer Playdom, will launch the first Facebook game with a direct tie-in to one of company's theme parks this April. "Disney Animal Kingdom Explorers" was developed with zoologists to bring authentic animals into the virtual world. Universal to Sell $200M of Music Catalogues Financial Times Universal Music is selling three of its non-core music publishing catalogues, in a deal valued at up to $200 million. One of the assets up for auction is Universal's classical music publishing catalogue, which includes works by the likes of Puccini and Verdi. Lionsgate Expected to Shuffle Its Top Execs New York Post Team Twilight or Team Hunger Games? That's the debate raging inside Lionsgate Entertainment, the "Hunger Games" studio that acquired rival "Twilight" studio Summit Entertainment for $412.5 million in January. Lionsgate is expected to shuffle its executive ranks. Weinstein to Release 'Bully' Without Rating Associated Press The Weinstein Co. is moving past the R rating earned by its documentary "Bully" and plans to release the film unrated. "Bully" will hit theaters March 30 without a rating from the Motion Picture Association of America, meaning some theaters may choose not to show it. Michael's Media Eatery Fixes Cellphone Service New York Post The spotty cellphone service at Michael's, the New York media eatery, has frustrated its patrons for years. So publisher Jason Binn enlisted Gilt Groupe CEO Kevin Ryan's tech team to fix it. "The only thing we still can't fix is mobile phone etiquette at the table." Lions Gate Sets Record with 'Hunger Games' Bloomberg "The Hunger Games," the action thriller from Lions Gate, collected $155 million in weekend sales, a record opening for the company. A marketing blitz included a People magazine collector's edition and ticket giveaways on Yahoo. "This is a movie that will play for a long time." News Corp: Murdoch Son Exits Three Boards Bloomberg James Murdoch has resigned as director from three more boards as he cuts his ties to News Corp.'s scandal-plagued British newspapers. Murdoch has stepped down from Times Newspapers Holdings, Newscorp Investments and News International Publishers. BBC to Make New Claim of Murdoch Misdeeds Telegraph A BBC documentary premiering Monday night alleges that former News Corp. subsidiary NDS broke the law in order to "bring down" a business rival. The documentary, titled "Murdoch's TV Pirates," is "defamatory, false and highly damaging," said News Corp. Viacom Responds to Blog About Muting 'Gay' Moderate Voice Viacom responded to a post on the news-analysis blog Moderate Voice about muting the word "gay" in a CMT network telecast of the film "Groundhog Day." "I say good for them not only for fixing the mistake but also for taking the time to let me know." Lionsgate Boosted by 'Hunger Games,' 'Mad Men' MarketWatch Lionsgate, boosted by the film "The Hunger Games," has become a darling on Wall Street. "Hunger Games," opening Friday, is expected to spawn a lucrative franchise. Plus, the studio's high-profile "Mad Men" returns to TV on Sunday. "We're not a one-trick pony." News Corp's 'Touch' to Have a Global Premiere New York Times "Touch," a new drama from News Corp. starring Kiefer Sutherland, will make its debut this week almost simultaneously in 100 countries and territories, in an effort to attract multinational advertisers and combat online piracy. "The world is moving in this direction." Viacom: Ratings Woes at MTV, Comedy Central New York Post The ratings woes that showed up at Nickelodeon last year have spread to Viacom's other big cable properties, including MTV, Comedy Central and BET, according to new data. At MTV ratings powerhouse "Jersey Shore," Snooki and the gang "are starting to show their age." Comcast, Liberty Invest in Ad Startup Integrate Multichannel News Integrate, a multiplatform ad-optimization and audience analysis startup, closed an $11 million round of equity funding led by Comcast Ventures and Liberty Global. Integrate's technology automates ad serving, tracking and "attribution value" for advertisers. Disney Preps Musical 'Epic Mickey' Video Game Associated Press Disney's sequel to its 2010 "Epic Mickey" not only tapped voice actors to portray its colorful cast, the new video game will also be a musical. The composer and lyricist who wrote the music for the upcoming animated film "Dorothy of Oz" are crafting original tunes. Scripps Networks to Acquire UK Travel Channel Reuters Scripps Networks Interactive plans to acquire the U.K.-based Travel Channel International for $103 million, in an effort to expand its footprint in Europe and Asia. The company distributes the Travel Channel brand across Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific regions. Discovery Oprah Network to Lose $143 Million Bloomberg Oprah Winfrey Network, the cable-TV venture between Discovery and the talk-show host, may lose $142.9 million in 2012 as it struggles to gain viewers, according to researcher SNL Kagan. Discovery challenged the findings: "The report is riddled with inaccuracies." Sony to Name Entertainment Chief in Shake-Up New York Post Sony Pictures boss Michael Lynton is expected to be named to a new position overseeing all of the company's U.S. entertainment businesses. Lynton will be put in charge of recorded music and publishing, TV production and cable operations, sources said. News Corp's Murdoch in Newspaper 'Sale Offer' Telegraph Rupert Murdoch is said to have asked Russian businessman Roman Abramovich whether he would like to buy his troubled British newspaper group, from the Sun to the Times. Abramovich ranks as the 68th richest person in the world. Spokesmen for both men deny the story. Viacom Bundles TV, Digital in Surround Sound Adweek Viacom has been testing an advertising sales offering called Surround Sound that will let brands bundle audience-targeted TV buys with a digital campaign aimed at the same consumer segment that would span online video, display, mobile and email. Liberty Media's QVC Enters China Joint Venture Denver Business Liberty Media's QVC is expanding its TV and online shopping into China through a joint venture with a multimedia retailer owned by Chinese National Radio. The venture will provide merchandise, logistics and other support to the CNR Mall shopping channel. News Corp's Board 'Should Oust' James Murdoch Bloomberg News Corp.'s independent directors should oust James Murdoch from the company's board, said CtW Investment Group, an adviser to union-sponsored pension funds. "The rest of the News Corp. board and BSkyB have not responded to credibility concerns." Yahoo, Alibaba Resume Asset, Stake Sale Talks New York Post Yahoo and Alibaba are said to have resumed informal talks, with Yahoo still aiming to shed part of its stake in Alibaba and other Asian assets. The potential for a deal was thrown into doubt after Alibaba walked away from the bargaining table last month. Disney's 'John Carter' Among Biggest Film Flops Associated Press Disney said it expects to book a loss of $200 million on the 3-D effects-laden "John Carter" in the quarter through March. That ranks it among Hollywood's all-time biggest money-losers. Profits from other movies and disc sales will be "more than wiped out." Time Warner, Fox Could Face Off in Dodger Sale Reuters Time Warner Cable and News Corp.'s Fox sports unit are headed toward what could be a multi-billion dollar showdown over the rights to telecast the Los Angeles Dodgers. The big prize for a media company would be the ability to create a Dodger sports channel. Sony Retool of '21 Jump Street' Leaps to No. 1 Associated Press Audiences headed back to school for the TV update "21 Jump Street," which opened as the No. 1 weekend movie. Rather than doing a straight update of the 1980s TV show, Sony retooled "21 Jump Street" for the big screen as a comedy for the under-25 crowd. Time Warner, Comcast to Start Fighting Piracy CNET Time Warner Cable, Comcast and other Internet service providers said last summer that they would adopt policies to discourage customers from making illegal downloads. Most of the ISPs are said to be on track to kick off "graduated response" programs by July 1. News Corp: Murdoch Son Exits Sotheby's Board Bloomberg James Murdoch will leave the board of auction house Sotheby's, following demands he resign over his role in News Corp.'s British phone-hacking scandal. It is the third influential position he has given up in as many months. "His personal brand has been trashed." Miramax CEO Leaves Amid Change in Direction Associated Press Miramax CEO Mike Lang is stepping down, signaling that the film studio founded by Bob and Harvey Weinstein is heading in a new direction. Lang has aggressively sold rights to the Miramax library of films to digital outlets such as Netflix and Hulu. Disney Pulls In Reins After 'John Carter' Flop Wall Street Journal Disney is keeping a tighter rein on production costs and focusing more on known characters and star power, following the expensive movie flop "John Carter." The company is re-using scenery from 2010's "Alice in Wonderland" for the new movie "Oz The Great and Powerful." News Corp: Newspapers Are Part of Our DNA Australian Newspaper publishing remains a critical part of the DNA of News Corp., despite digital disruption and challenges from the British phone-hacking scandal, according to Chase Carey, the company's No. 2 exec. Spinning off newspaper assets is "not a path we are pursuing." Murdoch Challenges Reading of Hacking Emails Financial Times James Murdoch said he took his share of responsibility for not uncovering wrongdoing at News Corp.'s U.K. newspapers earlier. "However, I have not misled parliament." He and his father, Rupert Murdoch, may be called to give evidence to the Leveson inquiry into press conduct. Disney to Hire 1,000 Veterans as CEO Adds Chair Reuters Disney CEO Bob Iger has added the post of chairman despite objections from a governance group and others about the dual roles. Disney made the announcement after its annual meeting. The company also announced an initiative to hire more than 1,000 returning U.S. veterans. News Corp Gets Big Cash Haul from NDS Sale RBR-TVBR The $5 billion purchase of NDS Group by Cisco Systems is making headlines in the tech world. Little noticed is that News Corp. is making a big return on its NDS investment. NDS partners Permira Advisors and News Corp. will each be paid about $2 billion in cash. Viacom Film Studio in Legal Battle Over 'Godfather' Wall Street Journal The children of "The Godfather" author Mario Puzo have filed a lawsuit seeking ownership of the film based on their father's signature novel, escalating a battle over the family's plans to publish a prequel. Paramount Pictures wants to stop the novel's publication. News Corp in Limbo Amid More Arrests, Inquiries Financial Times After more arrests in the police probe into corrupt behavior in the British press, News Corp. and its businesses are caught between an unrelenting flow of news and a sense of limbo. The developments have heightened investor concerns that the scandal could affect BSkyB. BSkyB: James Murdoch Rumored to Step Down Evening Standard Speculation is growing that BSkyB is lining up deputy chairman Nicholas Ferguson to replace embattled chairman James Murdoch. Ferguson's move to step down as chairman of SVG Capital "clears the way" for him to take the helm at the British pay-TV giant. Wal-Mart, Hollywood Hope to Save DVD Business CNBC Wal-Mart and five of the major Hollywood studios hope to keep alive their dying cash cow – the DVD business. The group has unveiled a service to let consumers access their DVD library from any device through Ultraviolet, the struggling digital locker system. Disney's Disgruntled Investors to Take Aim at Iger New York Post Disney CEO Bob Iger will face criticism of Disney's corporate governance, his pay package and his successor plans at today's annual meeting in Kansas City. Iger will stand before the audience after one of the worst box-office bombs in Disney's history, "John Carter." Viacom to Break News on New Corporate Blog Adweek Viacom, the owner of Comedy Central, MTV, BET, VH1, Nickelodeon and movie studio Paramount, now has a blog. The initial posts are fairly promising by corporate blog standards. "Our goal is to put a spotlight on the creativity and innovation from around the company." News Corp: Rebekah Brooks Among New Arrests Sky News Former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks and her husband Charlie are among six people arrested by U.K. police investigating phone hacking. Police said five men and one woman were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Barnes & Noble Taps Cablevision Veteran for CFO Dow Jones Barnes & Noble named Cablevision veteran Michael Huseby as its new CFO, an appointment expected to help the bookseller as it undergoes a tech-focused transformation. Analysts had called for Barnes & Noble to hire an exec with tech and media experience. Disney's 'John Carter' Disappoints at Box Office Bloomberg Universal Pictures' "The Lorax" was the top film in North America for a second weekend, outdrawing Disney's big-budget "John Carter" — the first major Hollywood disappointment of 2011. "John Carter" didn't appeal to audiences "outside of hardcore sci-fi fans." Time Warner's Czech Dilemma: Buy or Not Buy Wall Street Journal Time Warner holds a 39% stake in Central European Media Enterprises, a TV company with a dominant presence in Romania, the Czech Republic and nearby countries. Next year, the U.S. media giant will have the opportunity to buy the debt-laden company outright. Viacom, CBS Chief Redstone Reinterprets History Wall Street Journal According to securities filings, the "founder" of CBS is Sumner Redstone, the investor who bought control in 2000 — rather than William Paley, the man who built the broadcast network into an American media icon decades ago. Redstone is also the "founder" of Viacom. News Corp: Murdoch Birthday No Reason for Cheer Sydney Morning Herald As Rupert Murdoch prepares to celebrate his 81st birthday this weekend, his "annus horribilis" drags on. The British phone-hacking scandal has fueled the push for News Corp. to spin off its global publishing division. Analysts have put a value of about $6 billion on "Printco." Viacom's Redstone Jokes About Media Attention Wall Street Journal Chief Sumner Redstone, 88, opened Viacom's annual meeting with a joke about the attention he attracted due to reports that the he might skip the gathering. "Reports of my absence have been greatly exaggerated." In other respects, the meeting was uneventful. Comcast Declines to Offer Netflix to Its Customers New York Times Netflix may have hit a snag as it negotiates with cable operators: Comcast said it has no interest in offering Netflix to its subscribers. "We have no plans to offer access to Netflix to our customers through our Xfinity TV service, no matter what device." Media Billionaires on the Move on Forbes List Forbes It's been a great year to be a media billionaire, as long as your name is William Randolph Hearst III, Barry Diller, Patrick McGovern or Sumner Redstone. Certain media tycoons on this year's Forbes list of the world's billionaires fared better than others. Viacom to Make Comedy Central a Global Brand Bloomberg Viacom said it aims to make its Comedy Central channel one of its leading three global brands, along with the Nickelodeon and MTV networks, as the company seeks to lure more TV viewers worldwide. "We're making a big push with Comedy Central." News Corp, Murdoch Probed on PBS 'Frontline' TV Newser PBS plans to air a "Frontline" special, "Murdoch's Scandal," premiering March 27. "An incredibly powerful force," said a unidentified voice in an on-air promo. "The government was so scared of Rupert, he could do anything. Who the hell's gonna trust him now?" Hearst Opens Balducci's Cafι in Headquarters Crain's New York Fabled food store Balducci's has officially returned to New York City after a three-year hiatus. Balducci's Gourmet on the Go Cafι is opening its doors at the Hearst Tower headquarters. The 2,500-square-foot eatery offers prepared meals, soups, salads and sandwiches. Emmis to Appeal Looming Nasdaq Delisting Indianapolis Business Emmis Communications has failed to comply with requirements to remain on the Nasdaq exchange, but the radio-station owner and publisher of Texas Monthly magazine said that it plans another attempt to avoid being delisted from the stock index. Viacom PR Exec McAndrew Joins Cablevision Variety Cablevision has named Kelly McAndrew as VP of corporate communications. McAndrew will guide communications at Cablevision's local media properties, among other duties. She previously served as senior VP of corporate communications at Viacom. Disney's Cash to 'Accelerate Like a Slingshot' Deadline Bernstein Research new media analyst Todd Juenger is positive about Disney. The media giant's ESPN delivers "hard-to-find male viewers who don't fast-forward through commercials." Plus, "we all probably know someone who has a collection of Disney DVDs." News Corp Journalists Said to Attempt Suicide Evening Standard Two journalists at News International have apparently attempted to commit suicide. The reporters appeared to try to take their own lives after the company turned over emails and internal papers to detectives investigating phone hacking and alleged bribery. News Corp's Murdoch Eyes Media Buy in Turkey Dow Jones Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp., which has been linked with a bid for the media assets of Turkish firm Calik Holding, will meet Turkey's prime minister in Ankara on Tuesday. News Corp. is considering a bid for Sabah-ATV, Turkey's No. 2 media group. FCC Asked to Eliminate Media Ownership Rule Bloomberg The U.S. Federal Communications Commission should repeal a rule that bars ownership of a TV station and daily newspaper in the same market, said the Newspaper Association of America. The rule "is a relic" that undermines journalism by preventing investment from broadcasters. Traditional Media Decline Shown in Infographic Next Web When was the last time you bought a print newspaper, a book or a DVD? If you are reading these lines, chances are your media diet is mostly digital. These changes have deep implications for the media industry. A new infographic summarizes the ongoing transformation. Sony Hackers Steal $253M Worth of Music Files Wired News Hackers who breached Sony's networks last year absconded with more than just the personal data of millions of PlayStation users. They also stole 50,000 music files, including Michael Jackson's entire back catalog of published music, as well as previously unreleased tracks. Comcast Bets Big on Sports with NBCUniversal Fortune Comcast believes it can transform NBCUniversal into a multimedia juggernaut that takes advantage of its parent's deep pockets, scale and digital know-how, with sports at the heart of the strategy. "Sports is how we're going to move forward with the rest of the company." Disney Deal Brings Free Kids' TV to YouTube AllThingsD Nearly 70 videos from Disney's Disney Channel, many of them full-length episodes, have gone up on YouTube in the last few days. But neither Google or Disney has said much about them. They are there because of a programming deal the two companies cut last fall. Time Warner-Comcast's 'TV Everywhere' at Risk Wall Street Journal Nearly three years after Time Warner and Comcast kicked off a drive to make cable programming available online for cable subscribers, the idea of TV Everywhere remains mired in holdups. Media execs say the effort risks getting left behind YouTube and Netflix. Carlos Slim Mulls Launch of Netflix-Like Service Bloomberg Carlos Slim's company America Movil is said to be considering starting a Netflix-like online service for movies and TV shows in Mexico. Slim, the world's richest man, maintains holdings in telecommunications, as well as in companies including the New York Times. Viacom Chief to Attend Meeting Amid Questions Wall Street Journal Sumner Redstone, 88, has decided to attend Viacom's annual meeting on Thursday, after resolving a conflict that had been expected to prevent his attendance. Board members dismissed questions about the chairman's health: "I saw him two weeks ago. He's in great shape." News Corp: FBI Investigates Former Russian Unit Wall Street Journal An FBI probe into News Corp. has turned to a former Russian subsidiary, seeking to determine whether a billboard company called News Outdoor Russia paid bribes to local officials to approve sign placements. News Outdoor Russia, sold in July, denies any such acts. Disney Shutters Park Attraction After Blog Protest Reuters Walt Disney World in Florida has shut down a new fat-fighting attraction that drew criticism for its potential to shame overweight children. A blog post by a physician sparked a public outcry over the theme-park exhibit, which featured a villain named "Lead Bottom." Hearst's 125th Gets Empire State Building Tribute WBAL Hearst, which traces its origins to March 4, 1887, is marking 125 years in the news business. A tribute to the media giant is planned in New York on Monday night, when the Empire State Building will be illuminated in "Hearst blue" to mark the anniversary. News Corp: Murdoch May Testify in Media Inquiry Reuters The British judicial inquiry into alleged media abuses is preparing to summon newspaper owners, including Rupert Murdoch, to give public testimony in late April or early May. Murdoch said he had previously indicated he would be happy to cooperate with the inquiry. Viacom's Redstone to Get Star on Hollywood Walk Bloomberg Sumner Redstone won't attend Viacom's annual meeting next Thursday due to an "unavoidable conflict." The chairman of the media giant plans to address the meeting in New York via video. On March 28 he will be presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Disney Rebuffs Criticism of Iger's Take-Home Pay Dow Jones Disney has rejected criticism from a shareholder advisory group opposing its pay practices and the appointment of CEO Bob Iger to the additional role of chairman. Iger's compensation, valued at $31.4 million, is "entirely in line with other media peers." Martha Stewart Eyes iPad Editions, Video Newsletter paidContent As revenues fall, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia plans to focus on digital initiatives at its magazines, including releasing iPad editions of Whole Living and Martha Stewart Weddings by the end of the year. Also, the company is test-launching a daily video newsletter. News Corp Faces Pressure to Oust Murdoch Son Guardian Shareholders plan to step up their campaign to oust James Murdoch from News Corp. following his decision to exit the company's British publishing division and move to New York. Shareholders are said to be drafting resolutions ahead of this year's annual meeting. Murdoch Bested in Bid for Agatha Christie Rights Sky News U.S.-based Acorn Media has acquired a 64% stake in the literary estate of British crime writer Agatha Christie, author of "Murder on the Orient Express." Acorn Media, which distributes U.K. TV content, is said to have seen off a rival bid from News Corp. James Murdoch Steps Down at News International Wall Street Journal James Murdoch is stepping down as executive chairman of News Corp.'s U.K. newspaper unit, a move that comes as he relocates to New York in the role of deputy COO. The change removes the 39-year-old Murdoch from oversight of a unit that has fallen into turmoil. News Corp Weighs Spinoff of Newspaper Publishing Bloomberg News Corp., facing inquiries over hacking and bribery at its British newspapers, has discussed selling or separating its publishing business, said COO Chase Carey. "There certainly is an awareness. We will continue to discuss everything that we think makes sense." Time Warner's Bewkes Talks Up Pay-TV for Tablets MarketWatch Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes has urged media industry execs to move faster to make premium video content available to pay-TV subscribers across tablets and other online video devices. "If we don't offer consumers this kind of experience, they will find it elsewhere." Disney: New View Needed on Declining DVD Sales Home Media Disney, faced with softening retail sales of movies at retail, is emphasizing investment in proprietary franchise titles, said CFO Jay Rasulo. "The melting ice cube of the DVD business should cause everybody to look at the business through a different lense." News Corp CEO Admits to 'Culture of Illegal Payments' Mirror Rupert Murdoch has admitted there had been a "culture of illegal payments" at the Sun, his company's British tabloid. "We have vowed to do everything we can to get to the bottom of prior wrongdoings. We have already emerged a stronger company." Viacom CEO Preaches Cost Containment Gospel Deadline "You'll never see us risk $300M on a single movie, or $200M," said Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman. That also applies to Paramount's new animation unit, which will release a "SpongeBob SquarePants" movie in 2014. The Viacom studio only has about 40 people in the operation. CBS Expects Double-Digit Upfront Price Increases Broadcasting & Cable CBS CEO Les Moonves said he expects advertising prices to rise by double digits during upfront sales for next season. "I think we're in that kind of marketplace. It is wonderful to see the auto companies coming back and they're coming back in force." Comcast Submits Report on NBC Merger Conditions Philadelphia Business Comcast has posted the first of the annual reports it was required to file by the Federal Communications Commission to show it has met the conditions put on its acquisition of NBC Universal. "Our commitments have become part of the company's DNA." Netflix to Look More and More Like a Cable Channel Hollywood Reporter Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said he might consider pitching the streaming service as part of a bundled package of more traditional TV offerings. "The moment of truth" will come when a Netflix subscriber chooses between a cable TV channel or watching Netflix on demand. Time Warner Cable Revives Usage-Based Internet Plan Multichannel News Three years after Time Warner Cable tried to test usage-based broadband billing — and backed off after a furious outcry from customers and elected officials — the company has begun offering an "essentials broadband" plan as a way for consumers to save money. Oscar Ceremony Pushes Idea of Going Out to Movies Wall Street Journal Sunday's Academy Awards broadcast reminded viewers of the fun of going out to the movies. Actor Tom Cruise's introduction to the best-picture award included a pitch for "enjoying a shared experience of being in a theater." Movie attendance hit a 16-year low last year. Wal-Mart to Help Hollywood with Video-Storing Service Wall Street Journal Wal-Mart is on board to help with a movie-industry effort to get people to register their DVDs in an online library called UltraViolet that consumers can access at home or on mobile devices. UltraViolet, announced in January 2011, has been slow getting off the ground. Sony Film Chief Lynton May Rise After CEO's Exit New York Post Sony CEO in-waiting Kazuo Hirai is said to be planning his new management team, and some industry watchers see a few radical corporate shake-ups. Sony Pictures Entertainment boss Michael Lynton may be set for a more senior position inside Sony 2.0. Weinstein's 'Artist' is Big Winner at Academy Awards Los Angeles Times "The Artist," a nearly wordless, black-and-white romance celebrating Hollywood's formative era, won five Academy Awards, including best picture, on Sunday night. The film took home directing honors for Michel Hazanavicius and the lead actor award for Jean Dujardin. Hollywood Cheers Web Deals as Moviegoing Declines New York Times Hollywood is feeling more in control, thanks to several recent online streaming deals. Studios "control their content. And now the web is coming to them." The mood in Hollywood has shifted from, "Our business models are broken" to "something resembling euphoria." Analyst: Old Media Content May Not Be King Online Hollywood Reporter On the web, the argument that content is king "is difficult, if not impossible, to make in the long-run," according to Pivotal Research analyst Brian Wieser. "What is important are infrastructure, platforms and tools controlled by Google, Facebook and others." News Corp Settles Lawsuits, But Dangers Lurk Associated Press Rupert Murdoch's News International has succeeded in settling a first wave of phone hacking lawsuits, but a report that the British newspaper company ordered the deletion of legally sensitive emails in 2009 shows that the scandal isn't dying down anytime soon. Liberty Interactive to Create New Division, Stock Denver Business Liberty Interactive plans to create a new stock ticker and shares for a division called Liberty Ventures. Liberty Interactive will remain the stock for QVC and HSN; Liberty Ventures tracking stock will cover the ownership stakes of firms including Expedia and AOL. Dish Network to Close 500 Blockbuster Stores Denver Post Dish Network plans to shutter 500 Blockbuster stores across the United States within the next six months. "We are closing stores that are not performing well." The move will leave about 1,000 Blockbuster stores, with 150 of those selling Dish services. Bloomberg LP Pulls Ahead of Thomson Reuters Crain's New York The market data and analysis industry has a new leader: Bloomberg LP has finally pulled ahead, with 30.44% market share in 2011 versus longtime rival Thomson Reuters' 30.05%, according to a report released by Burton-Taylor International Consulting. Viacom Film Studio Top Exec Abruptly Departs New York Post Paramount Pictures' new animation business suffered a setback as its president abruptly stepped down after just four months on the job. The Viacom-owned studio said David Stainton, a veteran animation exec who spent 17 years at Disney, was leaving for "personal reasons." Disney Distributes Movies to Chinese Cable TV Los Angeles Times Disney has reached an agreement to distribute Pixar Animation Studios' "Cars 2," Disney's "The Muppets" and other approved films to cable TV viewers in China, broadening the entertainment giant's access in the world's most populous market. News Corp Sued by Cherie Blair Over Hacking Telegraph Cherie Blair is to sue News Corp. and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire over claims that the News of the World hacked her phone. The case is likely to prove uncomfortable for Tony Blair, the former prime minister, who is godfather to Rupert Murdoch's youngest daughter. Viacom: Colbert, Stewart Get 'Suspicious' Mail Fox News The FBI confirmed that agents from its New York office responded to the offices of Viacom after receiving "suspicious mailings." Two letters sent to Viacom were addressed to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Letters were also sent to members of both the House and Senate. Comcast Launches Video Service to Rival Netflix Philadelphia Inquirer With the launch this week of Xfinity Streampix, Comcast is jumping into an increasingly crowded and competitive market for subscription streaming video services and adding to the pressure on Netflix. Streampix will be included in Comcast's triple-play package. News Corp: Lachlan Murdoch Has Left London Bloomberg Lachlan Murdoch, the oldest son of News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, left London before this weekend's release of a Sunday version of the Sun tabloid. Lachlan accompanied his father on the trip in place of younger brother James, who was occupied with other business. Viacom Studio Sues to Prevent More 'Godfather' Reuters Paramount Pictures, the movie studio that controls the rights to "The Godfather," has sued the estate of its creator Mario Puzo, accusing his heirs of wrongfully authorizing new book sequels. The Puzo family wants to publish a book called "The Family Corleone." Disney Faces Quarter-Billion-Dollar Movie 'Fiasco' Daily Beast Disney's new 3-D sci-fi epic "John Carter" is doomed, according to Hollywood insiders, spelling trouble for studio boss Rich Ross. The film, opening March 9, will need to rake in more than $400 million to break even. "It's the kind of movie that causes heads to roll." Youth Shaping Future of Online TV, Movies, Music Associated Press Young people want their music, TV and movies now — even if it means they get these things illegally. A Columbia University survey found that 70% of 18- to 29-year-olds said they had bought, copied or downloaded unauthorized music, TV shows or movies. DreamWorks Seeks to Become 'Disney of China' CNBC DreamWorks Animation has entered a joint venture with two Chinese-owned media companies and the Chinese government. DreamWorks wants to be the definitive family entertainment company — the "Disney of China," according to CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. Sony in Mobile Gaming Push with Handheld Vita Associated Press The PlayStation Vita, already available in Japan, debuts in the United States and Europe on Wednesday. A basic, Wi-Fi version will retail at $250, while one that can access 3G cellular networks will go for $300 plus monthly service fees from AT&T. News Corp Joins Rush to Make Shows for the Web Los Angeles Times News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox has released its first made-for-the-web series, "Wolfpack of Reseda." Increasingly, companies are producing high-quality video for the Internet and major advertisers are demanding Internet content to reach young consumers. Time Warner's HBO Provides Blueprint for Netflix Dow Jones Time Warner's HBO transformed over the years from a pay-TV channel with limited programming into one of TV's premier destinations. The network blazed a trail that looks more than inviting for Netflix. The movie-rental firm is now moving into original scripted series. News Corp: Murdoch Plans Sunday Sun Tabloid Guardian Rupert Murdoch has told journalists at News International that he will launch the Sun on Sunday "very soon." Murdoch reassured staff at his embattled newspaper group by confirming that he will remain in London for "the next several weeks" to show his "unwavering support." Comcast Stems Subscriber Losses in Cable TV Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast said it lost only 17,000 cable-TV subscribers in the fourth quarter. That's compared against a loss of 135,000 subscribers in the same period one year ago. CEO Brian Roberts said the cable division had a "terrific quarter of improving customer metrics." CBS Offers Rosy Ad Forecast from 'Nasty' Politics Los Angeles Times CBS has offered a rosy outlook for its fiscal year, predicting that a bounty of political advertising dollars would flow to its local TV and radio stations. "We're looking forward to a lot of nastiness on both sides" of the presidential race, said CEO Les Moonves. News Corp Hires Ad-Industry Veteran as Exec VP Wall Street Journal News Corp. has hired Hamish McLennan, previously chairman and CEO of advertising firm Y&R, as executive VP in the office of the chairman. In the newly created role, McLennan will work to hatch advertising deals that bundle News Corp.'s portfolio of media assets. Big Media Results 'Less Inspiring,' Analyst Says Deadline Nomura Securities analyst Michael Nathanson has some qualms about the media industry, based recent quarterly reports by the major conglomerates. The companies beat forecasts because they "did a remarkable (and unsustainable) job in reining in expenses." Warren Buffett Buys Into Liberty Media, DirecTV TheWrap Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway increased its exposure to media companies significantly in the fourth quarter, adding a new position in Liberty Media and substantially raising its stake in DirecTV. Berkshire is now one of DirecTV's 10 largest shareholders. News Corp Report Delayed Over James Murdoch Bloomberg U.K. lawmakers probing whether News Corp. covered up phone hacking are at least two months behind schedule with their report, as they debate how critical they can be of top exec James Murdoch. "There is no question of Murdoch escaping criticism completely." DreamWorks Animation in Landmark Deal in China Financial Times Xi Jinping, vice president of China, is scheduled to unveil a joint venture between DreamWorks Animation and two Chinese media groups. The companies will construct a studio in Shanghai to develop film, TV and stage productions for the fast-growing Chinese media market. Sony Under Fire for Whitney Houston Price Hike Guardian Sony Music has come under fire after it increased the price of Whitney Houston's greatest hits album on Apple's iTunes Store by more than 60% just hours after the singer was found dead. Music fans described the move as cynical. Apple and Sony Music declined to comment. Time Warner, Disney Feud Over 'Wizard of Oz' Hollywood Reporter Time Warner film studio Warner Bros., which owns the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz," has quietly filed a trademark registration on "The Great and Powerful Oz." The move comes as Disney is making plans to produce "Oz, the Great and Powerful," starring James Franco. News Corp Consolidates Global Gov't Affairs Associated Press News Corp. has consolidated its global government affairs activities and relocated them to the United States, headed by Michael Regan. The move "will ensure that we have a clear, coordinated focus on legislative and regulatory issues," said top exec James Murdoch. Fox Taps Marketing Exec with Digital Focus Deadline Mary Daily has been named head of worldwide marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Daily will "spearhead the integration of Fox's physical and digital businesses into the future." Daily is a former executive of MTV Networks and Universal Pictures. News Corp: Arrests Revive Newspaper Spinoff Talk Wall Street Journal The weekend arrest of five top journalists at the British tabloid the Sun on suspicion of bribing public officials may revive a Wall Street debate on whether owner News Corp. should spin off its newspaper business. Newspapers "haven't been big contributors to earnings." NBC Universal Looks for Big Payoff on Olympics New York Times With the Summer Games in London five months away, NBC is hoping to avoid a big loss on its $1.18 billion rights fee. So far, sales appear to be off to a strong start. The company said national ad sales are just above $900 million. "We're in extraordinarily good shape." Big Media Buy Back Shares with Cable TV Cash Reuters Big U.S. media companies bought back record amounts of their own shares in the last year, with cash generated by cable TV networks that drew strong viewership and ad dollars. "The focus is on returning cash to shareholders." Acquisitions aren't "on the radar." News Corp: Lachlan to Head Aussie TV Network Dow Jones Lachlan Murdoch, eldest son of News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, has been named chairman of Ten Network Holdings, the Australian TV company. Ten shareholders are expected to be happy with the appointment. "You'd want Lachlan Murdoch on your side." NBCUniversal: Pink Slips Loom Amid Cost Cuts New York Post NBC Entertainment is set to undergo a revamp that will result in scores of pink slips across marketing, promotion and publicity. Also, NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke is said to have met with NBC News and CNBC execs seeking some $10 million in cost savings. Sony Incoming CEO to Make 'Painful' Decisions Bloomberg Sony incoming CEO Kazuo Hirai said he will make "a hard, painful decision" to cut costs in the TV business and supply chain to turn around a company facing a fourth straight annual loss. "We have to make some hard decisions on where there are redundancies." Hearst Raises Holdings in Fitch Ratings to 50% MarketWatch Hearst will raise its holdings in Fitch Ratings to 50% after agreeing to buy an additional 10% stake in the company for $177 million. Hearst said the new investment shows the company's confidence in "Fitch's team and the outlook for the development of its activities." Scripps Eyes Digital Investments, TV Everywhere Knoxville News Sentinel Scripps Networks Interactive posted an increase in quarterly income as a result of ad growth and increasing affiliate fee revenues. The company said its priorities include continued international and digital investments, including possible participation in TV Everywhere. Murdoch Dinner Pivotal in Hacking Scandal Bloomberg Businessweek Rupert Murdoch held a dinner at his London townhouse last May, where the News Corp. chief, surrounded by nine of his confidantes, decided how the company would manage its phone-hacking scandal. His decision may end up preventing his son James from inheriting control. News Corp's Hacking Bill Nearing $200 Million Telegraph Phone hacking at News International has cost Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. nearly $200 million to date, the company said, as it warned it could not predict the final bill. The bill for hacking investigations was "substantially higher" than News Corp. originally expected. Time Warner Urges Focus On Digital Growth Deadline Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, in a conference call with analysts, hammered on his theme that "our best years are ahead of us" — especially due to "TV Everywhere" and business models that promote digital distribution. "We're at the vanguard of the industry." Viacom in Streaming Video Deal with Amazon AFP Amazon announced a licensing agreement with Viacom, building up its arsenal of TV shows as it takes on Netflix. The deal will give Amazon Prime members access to shows from MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, TV Land, Spike, VH1, BET, CMT and Logo. Time Warner Profit Tops Estimates on TV Ads Bloomberg Time Warner, owner of the HBO cable-TV channel, reported fourth-quarter profit that topped analysts' estimates as advertising improved and instituted a new share buyback of $4 billion. Time Warner derives more than 70% of annual operating income from television. Disney Going to 28-Day DVD Rental Window MarketWatch Disney's movie studios will join other studios in demanding that DVD rental firms such as Redbox wait at least 28 days after a title's release before renting it to consumers. DVD sales have deteriorated enough to justify the window, said Disney CEO Bob Iger. News Corp Turns Over Bribery Documents Daily Mail News Corp. has given British authorities emails and financial records that allegedly chart the payment of £100,000 to police contacts. The records are said to show that many of the payments' intended recipients were listed in company records under false names. Disney, Univision Mull Launch of News Channel Wall Street Journal Disney and Univision are in talks to create a new 24-hour cable-news channel that will broadcast in English, in an effort to keep pace with changing demographics among U.S. Hispanics. The new channel would plunge Disney's ABC News into the cable-news wars. Time Warner Invests in Net-Video Startup Conviva Multichannel News Conviva has closed a $15 million round of funding led by Time Warner, whose HBO and Turner Broadcasting use the startup's online-video technology for their "TV Everywhere" services. Conviva said it ensures high-quality video for 1 billion streams per month. Media Acquisitions Driven by 'Enabling Technology' eMedia Vitals Media mergers and acquisitions showed signs of life in 2011, a trend that media bank DeSilva + Phillips expects to continue this year. The single biggest theme from last year's deals is that "enabling technology was a basic value driver in every transaction." Discovery CEO's Party Attracts Media Mavens New York Post Watch out, Allen & Co., Discovery CEO David Zaslav just convened a mogul soiree worthy of Sun Valley. Zaslav's party at his Central Park West apartment attracted the cream of media, Madison Avenue and banking, including Jeff Zucker, Tim Spengler and Aryeh Bourkoff. News Corp: Lachlan 'In the Wings' in Australia Australian Lachlan Murdoch, the eldest son of Rupert Murdoch, is poised to become chairman of News Limited, News Corp.'s Australian media operation, according to a prediction in one of the company's Australian newspapers. Rupert is "keeping the seat warm for Lachlan." Disney's Club Penguin to Launch Print Magazine Guardian Disney's Club Penguin, the virtual world for children, will launch a U.K. print magazine later this week that the company hopes will increase the appeal of its snow-covered Penguin land. Disney said the new magazine will be a test for launching print titles in other countries. Time Warner Standoff May Hike Price at Redbox TheStreet Redbox abandoned Warner Brothers rather than accept a 56-day delay on new movie releases. But if Redbox is forced to pay a higher price to buy the studio's DVDs, will the cost be passed on to the consumer? Redbox said it has not yet "disclosed the impact." Viacom, Amazon Near Subscription Video Deal New York Post Viacom chief Sumner Redstone is expected to approve a subscription video deal with Amazon, in an effort to boost his company's revenue. The two parties are said to be putting the final touches on a pact. Viacom already has streaming agreements with Netflix and Hulu. Disney Unveils Its Own Smartphone in Japan Japan Times Disney and DoCoMo have unveiled smartphones in Japan featuring Disney characters and services targeting families with small children. Users will be able to access special apps and games, including Disney cinema, which feature Disney movies for free. Viacom's Profit Drops 65% as TV Ads Fall Bloomberg Viacom's fiscal first-quarter profit declined 65% as advertisers spent less at the cable-TV unit that includes Nickelodeon and MTV. Nickelodeon's audience shrunk during the holidays; the network contributes about 15% of Viacom's cable-TV ad revenue annually. Sony New CEO Unlikely to Sell Media Assets New York Post Sony's change at the top has triggered sale rumors. But incoming CEO Kazuo Hirai is unlikely to start carving up the company any time soon. Hirai said he plans to "fully leverage" Sony's entertainment assets. CBS is among those to have eyed Sony's media holdings. News Corp Says Hacking Email Was Deleted Wall Street Journal Lawyers for News Corp. said that, during an IT upgrade in early 2011, the company deleted a key email from the inbox of top exec James Murdoch, in which counsel spelled out a plaintiff's claim that phone hacking was widespread at the News of the World tabloid. Comcast to Seek Global Expansion via NBC Philadelphia Inquirer After four decades of snapping up U.S. cable companies, then acquiring NBC Universal in 2011, Comcast is ready to take on the planet. CEO Brian Roberts said he sees "tremendous opportunities" for international expansion, mostly likely via a reenergized NBC Universal. McGraw-Hill Mulls Sale of Education Business Financial Times McGraw-Hill is said to be exploring the possibility of selling its $2.5 billion-plus education business, after its previously announced plan to split the division from its Standard & Poor's arm prompted interest from private equity. The group declines to comment. Sony Taps Hirai as CEO to Succeed Stringer Bloomberg Sony has named Kazuo Hirai as CEO, replacing Howard Stringer, effective April 1. Stringer will become chairman. Hirai, with backgrounds in the music and gaming industries, will head a company whose stock slid by more than half since Stringer took the helm in 2005. Disney Expands In India with UTV Takeover New York Times It's full steam ahead for Mickey Mouse in India. Disney has completed its takeover of Mumbai entertainment conglomerate UTV Software, in a deal valued at about $450 million. The purchase allows Disney to leapfrog into one of the world's most prized growth markets. News Corp: Murdoch Told Hacking Was 'Rife' Independent A key email casting doubt on James Murdoch's assertions that he was never told about the true extent of phone hacking at the News of the World was kept from public disclosure last year while the media heir faced a shareholder revolt over his leadership of BSkyB. Viacom: We're Open to Unbundling Channels Bloomberg Viacom, owner of the Nickelodeon and MTV cable networks, is receptive to unbundling channels and letting consumers choose the ones they want, according to CEO Philippe Dauman. The media conglomerate would offer its channels individually "if the economics were right." Time Warner, Redbox End Deal Over DVDs Bloomberg Coinstar, owner of the Redbox movie-rental kiosks, has ended its agreement to buy Warner Bros. titles directly from the Time Warner studio, rejecting a demand to delay access to DVD and Blu-ray discs for two months. Redbox will get discs from third-party suppliers. News Corp Names Chief of Staff for Murdoch New York Observer Natalie Ravitz, communications director for the New York City department of education, will leave her post to join News Corp. as chief of staff to CEO Rupert Murdoch. Last year, New York schools chancellor Joel Klein left to head up a new education division at the media giant. Big Media Poised to Grow Bigger, Analyst Says Deadline Diversified media remains healthy, even as infotainment power shifts to tech giants such as Google and Apple, said Wells Fargo Securities analyst Marci Ryvicker, in her inaugural report on the sector. "MUST-HAVE content WILL be monetized." Growth may be "significant." News Corp: Third Communications Exec Exits Bloomberg News Corp. said Teri Everett will depart next month, the third communications exec to leave the company since December. She said in a statement that she is "ready for something new," without elaborating. Everett will be replaced by West Coast-based Julie Henderson. Media Giants' TV Units to Show Their Worth Dow Jones Wall Street has forecast stronger results from most media companies after higher ad sales and fights over cable-licensing rights delivered more revenue in the fourth quarter. Content providers have worked hard to protect their margins through online distribution deals. Comcast's Bet on NBCU Begins to Pay Off Financial Times The Comcast-NBC Universal deal, which closed a year ago, has begun to show signs that Comcast has applied the same strategic acumen to its new content assets that helped make it a cable giant. According to NBCU CEO Steve Burke: "Distribution and content work better together." Viacom CEO's Pay Declines Almost by Half Broadcasting & Cable Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman made only $43.1 million in total compensation in 2011, according to new company filings. The previous year, Dauman was one of the nation's top paid executives, pulling in $84.5 million, including a stock award of $31.6 million. Time Warner, News Corp Eye Media in Turkey Reuters News Corp., Time Warner and TPG Capital are said to have placed bids of up to around $1 billion for the ATV-Sabah media unit of Turkey's Calik Holding. ATV-Sabah is one of Turkey's largest media groups. The sale process could be completed in February. News Corp Journos Arrested in Bribery Probe BBC News Four former and current journalists with Britain's Sun tabloid and a police officer arrested over alleged payments made to police by journalists have been released on bail. Sun owner News Corp. said it provided information to the police, in an effort to "drain the swamp." Murdoch's Twitter Use Hailed by Newspapers Australian / New York Times Rupert Murdoch passed his 100th tweet over the weekend, after opening his Twitter account on New Year's Eve. "And he's winning people over," according to his newspaper, the Australian. Also: "There's something refreshing about the directness," said the New York Times. News Corp's Murdoch Quits GlaxoSmithKline Board Reuters James Murdoch, facing scrutiny over his role in the phone hacking scandal at the News of the World, is stepping down from the board of GlaxoSmithKline. Murdoch took the decision to focus on his duties at BSkyB, following his decision to relocate to the United States. Time Warner Cable Profits Despite Cord Cutting MarketWatch Time Warner Cable reported a jump in fourth-quarter profit, offering evidence it can offset viewer "cord cutting" through gains in its broadband service. The company said it still sees robust consumer appetite for traditional cable TV. "Most people like linear networks." Comcast: Strong Demand for Media Technology CNBC Consumer demand for media technology is strong, and small- and medium-sized businesses will be a growth area, according to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts. "It has been one of the most exciting times we have seen. Consumer appetite for new products is very high." Media Giants May 'Wither' Amid Tech Disruption Disruption Big Media must "fundamentally re-think" their business models in order to remain profitable and relevant, writes David Pakman, a partner at venture-capital firm Venrock. "Blustering their way out" of technology disruption with litigation or legislation "is a fool's errand." Time Warner's HBO Go 'Biggest Threat' to Netflix Next Web Netflix said it sees TV Everywhere and similar services as the biggest long-term threat to the company. The film and TV streaming service believes that HBO GO, the leading implementation of TV Everywhere to date, "will become a much more effective competitor." News Corp-Backed Startup Files for Bankruptcy Reuters Beyond Oblivion, a digital music startup backed by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and investment bank Allen & Co. director Stanley Shuman, has filed for bankruptcy protection after spending millions of dollars building a service that never saw the light of day. Time Warner to Open Media Lab in New York New York Times Time Warner is opening a media lab in its New York headquarters, complete with a faux living room and a movie theater, where researchers can analyze how viewers respond to shows and movies. It includes a mock grocery store checkout line for testing magazines. Report: Media Mergers to Rise Amid Tech Boom WorldScreen Mergers and acquisitions in media and entertainment will increase this year, according to PwC, spurred by such factors as the rise of social networks and online games. "The lines between media and technology are blurring as tech companies challenge business models." Viacom's 'Hugo' Tops 2012 Oscar Nominations Bloomberg "Hugo," Martin Scorsese's first 3-D movie, has been nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including best picture and best director, as Hollywood prepares to honor its top 2011 pictures. Best-picture nominations boost box-office and home-video sales for Oscar contenders. Disneys, Cuban Among Bidders for LA Dodgers Los Angeles Times The Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team is said to have received "more than 10" opening bids by this week's deadline. Those involved in groups bidding for the Dodgers include the family of the late Roy Disney, Mark Cuban, Leo Hindery, Magic Johnson and Joe Torre. Time Warner Invests In Social TV Analytics Firm AllThingsD Bluefin Labs has raised $12 million in a new funding round led by Time Warner's investment arm and SoftBank Capital. Bluefin harvests comments TV viewers leave on Twitter and Facebook and then analyzes the data to see what viewers are saying and when. Media Execs 'Cautiously Optimistic' About 2012 BtoB Media execs are "cautiously optimistic" about this year, according to a survey by Jordan, Edmiston Group and Econsultancy. Just 65% anticipate organic growth as a key growth driver in their business. Large companies appear poised to be the most active in mergers and acquisitions. Time Warner Eyes Spielberg for Big-Screen Moses Deadline Steven Spielberg is said to be near a deal with Warner Bros. to direct a new motion picture about Moses, the prophet and recipient of the Ten Commandments. With a working title of "Gods and Kings," the movie is envisioned to offer the "gritty reality of 'Saving Private Ryan.'" Martha Sued by Macy's Over Pact with JC Penney Advertising Age Macy's is suing Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia over a plan to sell Martha Stewart-branded products in J.C. Penney stores. J.C. Penney agreed last month to sell Martha Stewart merchandise as part of a deal to buy a stake in the media maven's company. Comcast to Help Launch Sean Combs Network Broadcasting & Cable Sean "Diddy" Combs, the entertainment impresario, plans to launch a music cable network called Revolt. Former MTV programming chief Andy Schuon is involved. Comcast will provide distribution as part of its commitment to help launch minority owned networks. News Corp to Launch Sports Channel in Brazil Wall Street Journal News Corp. will launch a new, all-sports TV channel in Brazil as part of a planned expansion in Latin America's largest country. The company's Fox Sports unit will officially kick off its Fox Sports Brasil channel Feb. 5. The new channel will have a total of 120 employees. NBCUniversal to Launch Book Publishing Arm Digital Book World NBC News is launching a book publishing arm to capitalize on growth in e-reader and tablet adoption, the decreasing cost of e-book production and a backlog of over 1 million hours of video content. NBC Publishing will produce both enhanced e-books and print-based e-books. Old Media 'Not Cool' in Debate Over Antipiracy New York Times Old media appears to be struggling to keep up with the web in the debate over antipiracy legislation. The Internet community's message is seen as sexier. "Downloading stuff on the Internet for free is cool," said a person close to MTV parent Viacom. "Our message isn't cool." CBS, Universal Music Sites Hit by Anonymous PC Magazine The hacktivist group Anonymous continued its cyber-revenge for the demise of file-sharing site Megaupload with an attack on CBS.com on Sunday morning, taking the site down for about 20 minutes. Also, the primary site for Universal Music was taken offline again. Disney: Steve Jobs Family Absent from Board Reuters Disney shareholders will re-elect directors at the annual meeting in March, but neither Steve Jobs' wife nor a rep from his trust will be on the ballot — even though the trust is the media giant's largest shareholder. Apple has expanded the scope of its products since Jobs' death. News Corp Plans Spanish-Language Network Wall Street Journal News Corp. is teaming up with Colombian TV broadcaster RCN to create a U.S. Spanish-language broadcast network, aiming to take on Univision and Comcast's Telemundo. The new MundoFox reflects a rush by media companies to cash in on the booming U.S. Hispanic population. Time Warner, News Corp Eye Media in Turkey Wall Street Journal News Corp. is said to be considering a bid for Sabah-ATV, Turkey's No. 2 media group. The sale has already drawn interest from bidders including Time Warner and private-equity firm TPG Capital. Sabah-ATV owns the popular Sabah daily newspaper and TV station ATV. News Corp 'Cuts to Chase' Amid Phone Scandal New York Times Chase Carey, Rupert Murdoch's No. 2, has increased his influence at News Corp. while the company struggles to recover from the phone-hacking scandal. Some regard Carey as the emerging face of the company. "He's the Rock of Gibraltar. He's running the business." NBCU: Should Universal Remain in the Portfolio? New York Post Steve Burke, the NBCUniversal chief starting his second year at the media giant, is said to be facing "crunch time," as Hollywood studio Universal continues to underperform. Should Universal be part of the portfolio long term? Some say it is a question that is being asked. Universal Music Site Hacked in Web 'Revenge' New York Post Hacktavists with the group Anonymous have claimed responsibility for taking down at least six prominent websites, including those of the Department of Justice and Universal Music, in retaliation for charges leveled earlier against the content-sharing site Megaupload. Time Warner Cable Streams Live TV to iPhones Engadget After issuing a version of its TWC TV app for Android tablets and phones, Time Warner Cable has made its iOS version, which launched last March on the iPad, compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch. There is no additional charge for the app, which allows for live TV. News Corp Faces FBI Phone Hacking Probe Telegraph News Corp. is facing an FBI investigation into phone hacking in America after its British newspaper unit admitted intercepting the voice mails of actor Jude Law while he was thought to be in the United States. An FBI spokesman said: "We are looking into it." Comcast-NBC Deal Gets a Jab from Bloomberg Los Angeles Times Bloomberg LP has used the upcoming one-year anniversary of the U.S. approval of Comcast's takeover of NBCUniversal to remind regulators that it thinks the cable giant is disrespecting the feds. Bloomberg wants its business channel placed near CNBC on Comcast systems. Media Moguls Eye Obama Donations Over Piracy Deadline Hollywood studio chiefs are said to be drawing a line in the sand with the Obama re-election campaign over the issue of piracy legislation. "God knows how much money we've given to Obama and the Democrats and yet they're not supporting our interests." Google TV Triggers Murdoch Tirade on Twitter Forbes Rupert Murdoch called Google a "piracy leader" on Twitter last week after reportedly viewing a demonstration of Google TV at the Consumer Electronics Show. The Google TV presenter told the News Corp. chief that the service would link to content-pirating websites. News Corp to Pay Damages to Hacking Victims Associated Press News Corp. has agreed to pay damages to 36 high-profile victims of tabloid phone-hacking, including actor Jude Law and soccer player Ashley Cole. In a handful of the settlements whose financial terms were made public, the amounts ran into the tens of thousands of dollars. Disney to Open First Store in China This Fall China Daily Disney is said to be on track to open its first store in China in fall 2012 and plans to open 25 to 40 stores in the most populous country during the next three years. Disney is looking beyond the United States, Europe and other developed markets for new sources of revenue. News Corp Stifled Hacking Story, Editor Says Journalism.co.uk James Harding, editor of the Times of London, told the Leveson inquiry in Britain that the newspaper should have covered his parent company's phone-hacking scandal "harder" and "earlier. However, publisher News International "poured cold water on the story." Disney's Steamboat Ventures Turning to Asia Fortune Steamboat Ventures, the venture capital firm launched in 2000 to invest in tech startups on behalf of Disney, plans to make most of its future investments in Asia. The refocusing has prompted two of Steamboat's three Los Angeles-based partners to leave the firm. Viacom Venture Brings Comedy Central to India Hindu BusinessLine Viacom 18 Media has entered the English general entertainment genre with its new channel, Comedy Central. The network will be the sixth channel in its offerings, which include Nickelodeon, MTV and VH1. Comedy Central will target "those who like light viewing programs." Disney Eyes Social Commerce with DisneyBaby New York Times Disney has unveiled DisneyBaby.com, a website intended both as a product showcase for infant apparel and as a type of community resource center. It's Disney's way of latching onto the "social commerce" bandwagon. The site is sponsored by Huggies diapers. New, Old Media in Battle Over Antipiracy Rules Wall Street Journal On Wednesday, some 10,000 websites — including Wikipedia, Craigslist and Reddit — have pledged to either shut down or turn their home pages black, in protest of proposed antipiracy legislation supported by media giants including News Corp., Viacom and Time Warner. CBS Interactive Former Chief Joins Walmart.com San Francisco Business Neil Ashe has taken the reins at Walmart.com, based in San Bruno, Calif. He will be president and CEO of global e-commerce for the world's largest retailer. Ashe is joining Walmart.com from CBS Interactive, where he was president until December 2010. News Corp Invests in Middle East Media Outlets AFP News Corp. plans to take a minority stake in Dubai-based Moby, which has broadcasting operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan. The deal will allow News Corp. to expand its activities in "one of the most dynamic media businesses in emerging markets anywhere." Bertelsmann Makes Move Into Online Education Financial Times Random House owner Bertelsmann is making a foray into education as anchor-investor in University Ventures, a $100 million fund that aims to form partnerships with universities and vocational schools to offer online study and other types of courses worldwide. Time Warner, Viacom-CBS Chiefs Hit by Hackers New York Times The hacktivist group Anonymous has posted online documents revealing home addresses, phone numbers and other personal data about Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes and Viacom-CBS chief Sumner Redstone, whose companies champion the Stop Online Piracy Act. Clear Channel Hires Exec in Move Beyond Radio Los Angeles Times Radio giant Clear Channel has tapped entertainment industry veteran John Sykes to lead a push into TV, digital and live events. Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman and Sykes have a long history together; the two execs helped launch the groundbreaking MTV in 1981. Murdoch Blasts Obama, Google 'Piracy' in Tweets Los Angeles Times Rupert Murdoch took to Twitter to criticize the Obama administration for its stance against two anti-piracy bills Hollywood is backing. The News Corp. chief also said that "piracy leader" Google "streams movies free, sells advts around them. No wonder pouring millions into lobbying." News Corp Rebrands Newspaper Offices in Sale Reuters News International has put up for sale its former east London home, rebranding it a mixed-use development called Wapping Village. News Corp.'s British newspaper arm flagged the sale after shuttering its News of the World tabloid amid the phone-hacking scandal. Time Warner Invests in Social TV Startup GetGlue FierceCable GetGlue said it has raised $12 million in financing that includes additional funds from previous investor Time Warner. Some 75 U.S. TV networks have used GetGlue to reward fans that check into shows. "We are very excited about this financing and have big plans for 2012." News Corp 'Screwed Up' Myspace, Murdoch Says Telegraph Rupert Murdoch has tweeted that his company "screwed up Myspace in every way possible." It is the first time the News Corp. CEO has tweeted about the social network and his experience of owning Myspace for six difficult years, since joining the microblogging service. Viacom Former Chief Talks of Clash with Redstone Businessweek Tom Freston: "Sumner Redstone fired me in 2006. In retrospect, I should have noticed signals." The former Viacom chief, who was let go for not buying Myspace, added: "Who wouldn't crack a smile when the $580 million deal that cost you your job sells for $35 million?" Time Warner's UltraViolet Films Set for Amazon CNET News Amazon has become the first major retailer to agree to sell films on the UltraViolet platform, and the web's biggest store is believed to be starting with movies from Warner Bros. The Time Warner film studio is one of UV's biggest supporters; Warner reps declined to comment. News Corp Predicts 'Channelization' of the Web Los Angeles Times Jon Miller, chief digital officer for News Corp., has predicted that a major trend of 2012 will be what he called the "channelization" of the web, noting that YouTube is pushing a more programmed approach that resembles TV channels. "Clearly, YouTube is trying to drive that." News Corp Sued by Murdoch Wedding Singer Bloomberg The British pop star who sang at Rupert Murdoch's wedding in 1999, when she was 13 years old, has sued News Corp. over claims its News of the World tabloid later hacked into her voice mails to get stories. The lawsuit by Charlotte Church was made public this week. Viacom Sued Again Over MTV's 'Jersey Shore' Courthouse News A woman celebrating her niece's birthday claims brawling, drunken cast members of "Jersey Shore" gave her a permanent head injury while filming the show for MTV and parent Viacom. It is the 15th lawsuit involving "Jersey Shore" and its cast members in the past two years. Time Warner Meets Resistance for DVD Delay Bloomberg Warner Bros., leading a push to spur movie purchases by delaying the availability of DVD rentals, has met resistance from two of its biggest customers, Blockbuster and Redbox. Netflix is going along with the plan, because it is "not focused on new releases." Comcast Brings Live TV to Subscribers' iPads Ars Technica IPad users who subscribe to Comcast cable TV can now watch it live on their tablets while at home. Comcast has announced its new AnyPlay service that allows cable subscribers to securely stream TV channels to their iPads via their home WiFi networks. Disney Previews ABC Shows in Movie Theaters Bloomberg Disney's ABC network will promote its new series "The River" by showing two full episodes in movie theaters in a bid to lift ratings for the second-place network. "The benefits of making the show available to more viewers outweigh the impact it might have on ratings." Media Acquisitions Likely to Increase in 2012 BtoB Almost 60% of senior execs in the media and marketing industries said they expect to seek an acquisition this year, according to a survey by AdMedia Partners. That figure is up from 40% in last year's survey. However, traditional business media may be "hard to sell." New York City Faces Decline as Media Capital Crain's New York Business New York could lose its media-capital standing as gadgets dominate, according to "Media.NYC.2020," a newly released report by the New York City Economic Development Corp. "NYC can, through collaboration, achieve the best-case scenario for the media industry." Disney Family to Bid for Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles Times Stanley Gold, who runs the investment firm for the family of the late Roy Disney, is said to be in talks about buying the Dodgers. The Disney family would hold the team as a private investment. "They would guard the Dodger name the way they guard the Disney name." News Corp's General Counsel Talks Twitter Financial Times Rupert Murdoch is "deadly serious" about getting to the bottom of the phone-hacking scandal, said News Corp.'s new general counsel Gerson Zweifach, even as he bemoaned his new boss's recent adoption of Twitter. "We'd like to see Twitter disappear." Murdoch Ties to Prime Minister Faces Probe Bloomberg U.K. prime minister David Cameron will be summoned to testify to the Leveson inquiry into media ethics, according to the Times of London newspaper. It is "99.9% certain" that Cameron will be called to answer questions about his relationship with Rupert Murdoch. Discovery Taps Claiborne, NBC Exec for CFO Washington Post Discovery has named Andrew Warren to the post of senior VP and CFO. Since 2007, Warren has been CFO at Liz Claiborne. Before that, he spent 18 years at then-NBC-owner General Electric, where he held a number of posts, including CFO of NBC Universal Television. News Corp: Murdoch Son Lachlan May Return Sydney Morning Herald Speculation is mounting that Lachlan Murdoch is preparing to leave Sydney and resume his position by his father Rupert's side in New York. Rupert and his oldest son are "closer than ever." The phone-hacking scandal "dulled the gleam" of heir apparent James Murdoch. Sony Eyes Games Veteran for New President Japan Times Sony is said to be gearing up to promote executive deputy president Kazuo Hirai to president and let CEO Howard Stringer, concurrently president and chairman, focus on the chairmanship. Hirai is credited with revamping Sony's gaming and TV businesses. Time Warner Circles Newspaper, TV in Turkey Wall Street Journal Calik Holding, a Turkish conglomerate, has put Sabah-ATV, the country's second-largest media group, up for sale. The assets, which include the popular Sabah daily newspaper and TV station ATV, have prompted interest from Time Warner and private-equity fund TPG Capital. Disney Weighs Sale of Touchstone Pictures New York Post Disney boss Bob Iger is weighing the future of Touchstone Pictures — the film label created to house edgier fare — as he looks to boost profits at the company's lagging film unit in an era of declining DVD sales and movie attendance. Options include a possible sale. Lions Gate Near Deal to Buy 'Twilight' Studio Bloomberg "Mad Men" producer Lions Gate Entertainment is said to be near an agreement to buy "Twilight" maker Summit Entertainment for about $700 million. A deal would give Lions Gate the final installment in the "Twilight" vampire movies and library rights to the first four films. Media Chiefs Won't Follow Murdoch to Twitter Los Angeles Times The CEOs of other media conglomerates don't appear eager to follow News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch onto Twitter. Time Warner's Jeff Bewkes, Disney's Bob Iger, Viacom's Sumner Redstone, and CBS' Les Moonves have no plans to start tweeting their random thoughts. Time Warner to Eye Offices Outside New York Hollywood Reporter Time Warner said it will consider new office space not only inside of, but also outside of New York City as the company reviews its current real estate with an eye on cutting costs when current leases expire. "Operating in New York City is extremely expensive." News Corp Seeks Phone-Hacking Settlements Bloomberg News Corp.'s British newspaper unit is close to settling at least 10 lawsuits by prominent victims of phone hacking before the first civil trial over the scandal starts next month. "They're trying to avoid the judge making awards that will set a dangerous precedent." Comcast-Disney Pact a Defense Against Netflix Bloomberg Comcast's new rights agreement with Disney may become the template for how pay-TV companies strike deals with programmers to defend their subscriber base against online rivals. The pact hurts Netflix and Hulu, whose competitive advantage could "erode." Time Warner Units Erect Roadblocks to Netflix AllThingsD / CNET A new deal between Time Warner's Warner Bros. and Netflix, Redbox and Blockbuster will double the "window" for new movies to 56 days. Also: Time Warner's HBO has stopped providing DVDs of its shows to Netflix as competition between the two companies heats up. Liberty Media May Buy Barnes & Noble's Nook TheStreet Liberty Media could be the most likely buyer of Barnes & Noble's Nook business. The bookselling giant announced that it may separate its Nook division from its core business and is currently in talks with partners. "Liberty Media is the most likely buyer hands down." Barnes & Noble: A Buyout Target After Nook Barron's Shares of Barnes & Noble dropped after the company said it is pursuing strategic operations for its Nook business. The book retailer also cut its full-year revenue view for the fiscal year. The activity could make Barnes & Noble a target for acquisition, according to analysts. News Corp Prepares UK Digital News Project Press Gazette News Corp.'s British newspaper arm is preparing a new digital project which is believed to be largely aimed at iPad users and is partly staffed by former employees of the now-shuttered News of the World. The new digital operation has the working title Project 222. Deloitte: Accessibility Drives Media Demand World Screen Deloitte's new "State of the Media Democracy" survey reveals that new platforms have led to increases in U.S. media consumption. Some 11% of people are considering "cutting the cord" because they feel they can watch most of their favorite TV shows online. Comcast, Disney Bring TV to Web, Devices Los Angeles Business Comcast has entered an "unprecedented" distribution deal with Disney to make the media giant's programming available to its video customers on multiple platforms, including TV, computers and smart phones. The deal covers 70 services, including ESPN and ABC. Media Stocks Start New Year With Gains Broadcasting & Cable Miller Tabak + Co. analyst David Joyce has raised hit target stock price for AMC, CBS, Disney and Time Warner. In a research note, Joyce noted that the latest figures show modest growth for the U.S. economy, which should keep the advertising market healthy. News Corp.'s Stock Hits 52-Week High Hollywood Reporter Class A shares of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. on Tuesday set a 52-week high, rising above a previous high set before phone-hacking allegations hit the conglomerate and its stock during the summer. The "hacking issue was overbaked in [the] stock price." Barnes & Noble Seeks to Sell Publishing Unit Wall Street Journal Barnes & Noble has put its Sterling Publishing business up for sale, say people familiar with the situation, signaling a likely end to its decades-long involvement in the publishing of its own books. Barnes & Noble is recasting itself as a technology company. NBCUniversal Drops Office Development Curbed LA Developer Thomas Properties Group is dropping plans for the MetroStudios@Lankershim project, which was supposed to create an NBCUniversal production and office base in Universal City. The project was no longer considered economically viable. AT&T Pays TiVo to Settle Patent Lawsuit CNET AT&T has agreed to pay TiVo at least $215 million to settle a patent infringement lawsuit involving the digital video recorder pioneer. AT&T will pay TiVo more than that minimum amount, should AT&T's DVR subscriber base exceed certain levels. Happy New Media Year: M&A Up 9% in 2011 min Tech and marketing services helped drive mergers and acquisitions in the media sector up 9% in 2011 compared to 2010, representing a deal value of $47 billion, according to investment bank Jordan Edmiston Group. Digital media and services were key growth drivers. Media Bigwigs Gather for New Year's Party Daily Mail Rupert Murdoch, Harvey Weinstein and Martha Stewart all gathered for Russian billionaire Roma Abrhamovich's party, held at his 70-acre St. Barts estate on New Year's Eve. Other guests included: Paul Allen, Russell Simmons, George Lucas and Marc Jacobs. Viacom Tops 2011 Box Office Amid Biz Slump Bloomberg "Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol" was the top North American film over the New Year's weekend, and helped propel Viacom's Paramount Pictures film division to first place for 2011. The victory came as U.S. movie attendance slid 4.2% to a 16-year-low. News Corp Digital Investment Is Shut Down Financial Times A digital music start-up called Beyond Oblivion, which won heavy backing from News Corp., has shut down before it even launched. The collapse — blamed on issues with the major music labels — is another failed digital bet by News Corp., which sold off Myspace at a loss. Murdoch Stirs Speculation by Joining Twitter Telegraph Speculation has begun that Rupert Murdoch may be looking to invest in Twitter, or even acquire it. But his wife, Wendi Deng, has already tweeted on this matter rubbishing the rumors. Still, major News Corp. shareholder Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal recently took a big stake. News Corp Set for Windfall from 'Simpsons' CNBC News Corp. will return so much capital to shareholders, in part funded by syndication money from "The Simpsons," that it will more than make up for any settlement related to phone hacking by its U.K. newspapers, according to analyst David Bank of RBC Capital Markets. Viacom Veteran Helps Vice Become Next MTV Forbes Tom Freston, former Viacom CEO, has helped Vice evolve from a free magazine for the tattoo set into a media company with 800 employees in 34 countries producing video, books, live events and music in partnership with the likes of Google and Time Warner. Sony to Tune Out TV Business Amid Losses New York Post Sony said it will sell its nearly 50% interest in a joint venture that manufactures LCDs to Samsung for $940 million. The electronics giant, which has sunk to third place among TV makers after decades of global dominance, is looking to pare its losses. FCC Media Rules Plan Points to Consolidation Bloomberg The Federal Communications Commission has agreed to propose easing limits on one owner holding a TV station and newspaper in a top 20 U.S. market. Approval of the agency's action may spur acquisitions, making media companies "more profitable." Murdoch Grip on News Corp Under Pressure Guardian News Corp. directors are under pressure from investors to loosen the grip of the Murdoch family after one of America's leading bodies on corporate governance called for an end to the company's dual-class stock structure that reinforces Rupert Murdoch's dominance. News Corp Eyes Attorney as General Counsel Wall Street Journal News Corp. is expected to tap veteran Washington attorney Gerson Zweifach as its next general counsel, filling what is likely to be a sensitive role as the media conglomerate deals with the fallout of the phone-hacking scandal that erupted this summer. Viacom Names PR Exec to International Role Variety Julia Phelps is crossing over from Viacom's corporate office to serve as senior VP of corporate communications for Viacom International. Phelps will oversee communications and media relations for international brands including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and VH1. Disney Positioned for Breakout Year in 2012 CNBC Disney is set for a breakout year in 2012, according to CNBC "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer. "By raising their dividend so dramatically, Disney's management sent a powerful signal." Also, Disney's media network business is in really good shape, he said. News Corp: Officer Arrested in Bribery Probe Wall Street Journal London police have arrested a female police officer on suspicion of bribery, as a probe into alleged wrongdoing tied to News Corp.'s shuttered News of the World tabloid continues to gather momentum. The arrest marks the first of a police officer in the case. Comcast Web Service for Poor 'Needs Work' Philadelphia Inquirer Action United, an activist group of low- and moderate-income residents, said Comcast's discounted Internet program for poor children needs to be improved and more heavily advertised. Some 62% of survey respondents had not heard of the $9.95-a-month service. Time Warner Cable Touts New Carriage Model Wall Street Journal Facing a heated battle with MSG sports network over rising rates, Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt said sports channels should be sold separately from the main cable-TV package of channels: "What was a minor problem is turning into an astronomical problem." Universal Music Bows to File-Sharing Site Veoh San Francisco Chronicle An appeals court has ruled in favor of Veoh in a battle with Universal Music, saying that the file-sharing site had complied with its obligation to remove copyrighted videos as soon as it learned they were posted. Viacom is engaged in a similar suit against YouTube. Sony in Streaming Deal with Amazon Service World Screen Amazon's U.K.-based LoveFilm has scored streaming rights to new and upcoming titles from Sony Pictures Television during the second pay-TV window as of June 2012. LoveFilm members can stream Sony Pictures titles, including "The Social Network," at no extra charge. FCC Expected to Vote on Media Ownership Broadcasting & Cable The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is expected to announce that it has voted to propose scrapping the radio-TV cross-ownership rules, but leave in place radio and TV ownership caps and preserve its attempted loosening of the newspaper-broadcast rules. News Corp CEO Expected at Media Inquiry Financial Times Rupert Murdoch will be invited to give evidence to the Leveson inquiry into news media standards in Britain. Someone familiar with Murdoch's business said no invitation had been received but added that invites for the third phase of the inquiry had not yet been issued. Disney, Liberty Media at Odds Over 'Brave' USA Today Liberty Media's Atlanta Braves baseball team is said to be opposing Disney's effort to register "Brave" as a trademark in conjunction with the release next June of "Brave," a Disney Pixar movie about a princess in Scotland. The Braves cite possible consumer confusion. Comcast Deemed Unfair to Tennis Channel Los Angeles Times A Federal Communications Commission judge ruled that Comcast discriminated against the Tennis Channel by putting it at a competitive disadvantage. The ruling marked the first time an FCC judge found a cable operator violated carriage anti-discrimination rules. News Corp 'Wolverine' Pirate Heads to Prison Associated Press New Yorker Gilberto Sanchez has been sentenced to a year in federal prison for illegally uploading and distributing a copy of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" before the premiere of the 20th Century Fox movie. The judge also imposed a year of computer restrictions. Viacom CEO Answers Employee Questions New York Post Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman and COO Tom Dooley welcomed questions from employees during a town hall meeting before the company holiday party. One staffer asked them to name their favorite celebrity of the moment. Dauman chose Lady Gaga. AT&T Drops $39 Billion Bid to Buy T-Mobile Reuters AT&T has dropped its controversial $39 billion bid for Deutsche Telekom's wireless U.S. unit, bowing to regulatory opposition over the deal that would have made it the largest cellphone operator in the country. According to analysts: "It was definitely a miscalculation." Charter Taps Cablevision Veteran as CEO St. Louis Business Charter has announced that Tom Rutledge will take the helm as its new president and CEO. He will join the cable company immediately. Rutledge abruptly left Cablevision late last week, igniting speculation that he could be planning to join Charter. News Corp Investor Buys Stake in Twitter Associated Press Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the Saudi billionaire and second largest investor in Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., has taken a $300 million stake in Twitter. "We believe that social media will fundamentally change the media industry landscape in the coming years." Time Warner Cable to Offer Users HBO Go Bloomberg Time Warner Cable will offer its customers Time Warner's HBO Go mobile-TV app, following months of negotiations with its former parent. HBO Go, a so-called TV Everywhere product, allows HBO subscribers to watch more than 1,400 old and current programs. Comcast CEO to Pay $500,000 Civil Penalty Reuters Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast, will pay a $500,000 penalty for failing to notify antitrust authorities before acquiring voting securities in the company as part of his compensation package. Roberts violated the notification requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. New York Times Eyes Digital Execs for CEO New York Times Janet Robinson, CEO of the New York Times Co. since 2004, will step down at the end of the month, the company said. The Times, which will begin a search to find a new chief exec, may look for a replacement with strong digital credentials, analysts said. Cablevision Could Be in Play as COO Quits Reuters The surprise resignation of Cablevision COO Tom Rutledge has sparked Wall Street and investor speculation that the Dolan family controlled company could become an acquisition target. Time Warner Cable and Comcast Corp are seen as "the logical partners." Liberty Global Buys German Cable TV System Reuters Liberty Global, the international cable TV company controlled by John Malone, has completed its $4.1 billion deal to buy Germany's third-largest cable-TV system, Kabel Baden-Wurttemberg. Liberty plans to operate the acquisition with another German system it owns. News Corp Pressured to 'Oust' Murdoch Son Telegraph Christian Brothers Investment Services, a powerful investor in News Corp., has called on the media giant's board to "urgently" oust James Murdoch following his admission he was warned in writing in 2008 that hacking was "rife" at the News of the World tabloid. Sony to Launch Handheld Video Game System USA Today Sony will start selling a new handheld video game system, the PlayStation Vita, this Saturday in Japan. The new product won't be available to U.S. consumers until February. According to Sony, consumers want "new kinds of experiences on portable devices." Samsung Hires Content Vet Eun in Media Push AllThingsD Samsung Electronics has hired former AOL and Google exec David Eun to lead a new push to create more media offerings. "He will play a key role in developing a global media strategy and driving new business opportunities to take advantage of Samsung devices." Live Nation Acquires BigChampagne Data Firm Los Angeles Times Live Nation Entertainment has acquired BigChampagne, an online measurement company that provides a window into digital media consumer habits, for an undisclosed amount. Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, has been quietly beefing up its online presence. Martha Cleans Up with Wedding Site Stake Sale Wall Street Journal Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has sold its 40% stake in the online site WeddingWire for $11 million to Catalyst Investors. That is more than double the $5 million the company paid for the stake in 2008. The sale comes days after WeddingWire announced a new investment. Media Giants Aim to Fight Internet 'Criminals' New York Times Time Warner, Viacom, Disney, News Corp. and other big media companies have ratcheted up the pressure on Washington to support legislation to protect online content: "Every day Internet criminals use illegal foreign websites to steal from New York companies." NBC, Sony, Fox Employees Accused of Piracy TorrentFreak TorrentFreak, a website devoted to everything BitTorrent, said it has discovered "pirates" at many major U.S. entertainment companies, including NBC Universal, Sony and Fox. This month, for example, an NBCU employee downloaded the film "Cowboys and Aliens." Sony, Time Warner Court Amazon for Online Bloomberg Studios including Sony and Time Warner's Warner Bros. are said to be in talks to bring Amazon back into their UltraViolet system. Talks center on plans to roll out the shared method for storing and watching films on products such as the Kindle Fire tablet and Blu-ray players. News Corp's Murdoch Denies Reading Email Guardian News Corp. exec James Murdoch has insisted that a 2008 email sent to him about phone hacking at the News of the World went unread. But evidence shows Murdoch replied to the email within minutes of receiving it. Murdoch said he did not read the entire email. CBS Records to Shutter in Shift of Operations Variety CBS Records is being shut down at the end of the year. The small staff of the boutique label arm of CBS Entertainment will be laid off. The 5-year-old label issued soundtrack albums for TV series such as "Hawaii Five-0." None of its music artists had any chart success. 2011 Media Person of the Year Announced I Want Media Who was the leading personality in the media industry in 2011? Who left the most lasting imprint on the business? The "sometimes contentious" winning figure in the 10th annual online contest by I Want Media is known for having created "new hope for old media." News Corp CEO 'Ineffectual' After Scandal Macleans The big impact of the phone-hacking scandal may be that it made News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch look weak for the first time ever. "Murdoch is now perceived very differently." The world has become aware of his "great age, failing hearing and short attention span." Time Warner Sweetens Bid for 'Big Brother' New York Post Time Warner isn't giving up on its $1.4 billion bid for reality-TV giant Endemol, and has submitted an all-cash offer for the company behind such hits as "Big Brother." The new offer, which is the same amount as the original bid, comes ahead of a Tuesday deadline. Viacom Forecast Hit by SpongeBob Decline Hollywood Reporter Credit Suisse cut its advertising revenue growth forecast for Viacom's current quarter from 6% to 3%, citing the ratings weakness at Nickelodeon. Lower viewership in the 2-to-11 demo and a share shift to the Disney Channel are blamed for the kids channel's decline. Movie Audiences Shrink to Post-9/11 Level Associated Press Hollywood's holidays are off to a dreadful start: Fewer people went to the movies the last two weekends than during the box-office hush that followed the Sept. 11 attacks. Domestic revenues tumbled to about $77 million this weekend. "It's unbelievable how bad it is." Media Moguls Still Worry About Internet Video Deadline Media CEOs at this year's UBS media conference embraced Netflix as a "friend." However, they still disagree about whether Internet video will upend traditional media — an issue that is taking on urgency as Apple, Google and Microsoft step up efforts in the arena. Media Companies to 'Cushion Risks' in 2012 MarketWatch Fitch Ratings, the credit agency, has a stable outlook for the U.S. media sector in 2012, noting the financial flexibility of most media companies. "Widespread cord-cutting" is seen as unlikely. Also, tablet adoption "should strengthen" profitability for print publishers. Media Moguls See Digital Deals as Top Issue Bloomberg News Corp. COO Chase Carey said the biggest challenge facing the company is digital-distribution deals with Internet companies such as Netflix and Hulu. "The digital space is incredibly important. Over the next five years, it'll be the No. 1 issue we'll have to navigate." Diller: The Future of Media Content Is Online Success Barry Diller, the media mogul who chairs IAC/InterActive Corp, contends that the ultimate destination of family viewing will be online. Internet video will become like "a la carte television." Also, most big websites will follow the New York Times in charging for content. Murdoch Lobbies Congress to Restrict Internet Huffington Post News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch personally lobbied leaders on Capitol Hill for two measures to combat piracy. Murdoch's media empire is among some 350 corporations that favor of the Stop Online Piracy Act in the House and the Protect IP Act in the Senate. Comcast Elevates Cable Systems Chief Smit Los Angeles Times Comcast has promoted Neil Smit to CEO of the company's revenue engine: Comcast Cable Communications. Smit, who joined Comcast in March 2010, is responsible for all aspects of the company's cable TV and high-speed Internet delivery systems. McGraw-Hill to Cut 550 Jobs in Textbook Unit Reuters McGraw-Hill said it will cut about 550 jobs from its textbook unit as it proceeds to split into two companies. The new McGraw-Hill Education unit will reduce its executive ranks by about 20% and its workforce by about a tenth. The moves will save about $50 million annually. FCC Media-Merger Opponent Copps Resigns Associated Press Michael Copps, a longtime Democrat on the Federal Communications Commission, said he is retiring by year's end. A vocal critic of media consolidation, Copps has been a commissioner since May 2001. He did not give a reason in his public resignation letter. Sony Has No Plan to Split Business Assets Variety Sony of America CFO Rob Wiesenthal said that now is certainly not the time, if there ever was one, for the company to split up its various businesses. Rumors that Sony plans to spin off its entertainment unit in particular do the rounds every few years. News Corp Private Eye Arrested for Hacking Sky News Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire is said to have been arrested as part of the British phone-hacking inquiry. Police said a 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to intercept voice mails. Mulcaire had worked for News Corp.'s now-shuttered News of the World. Martha Stewart Living: JC Penney Buys Stake New York Times J.C. Penney plans to announce that it will buy a 16.6% stake in Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia for about $38.5 million. J.C. Penney will introduce ministores and a revamped online presence dedicated to the Martha Stewart brand beginning in February 2013. Time Warner CEO Says 'Netflix Is Our Friend' Hollywood Reporter "Netflix is our friend," said Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes at an investor conference, drawing laughter. He reiterated that digital distributors are the natural place for "bin collections." Bewkes also expressed confidence in CNN; Piers Morgan has "worked well." Viacom Anticipates Better Ad Growth in 2012 Wall Street Journal Viacom expects to see stronger advertising sales growth in the beginning of 2012, citing less impact from a sharp ratings decline at Nickelodeon. "However imperfect Nielsen is, it's the only game in town," said CEO Philippe Dauman. "So we'll have to deal with it." Time Warner, Comcast to Offer Home Security Los Angeles Times Time Warner Cable, Comcast and other cable companies are using the broadband in their subscribers' homes to branch out into offering home-security systems. The cable industry "is increasingly looking to squeeze more juice out of their relationship with the customer." Media Business Chiefs Brace for Bleak 2012 Reuters Top media execs are bracing for a global economic slowdown in 2012, according to remarks by attendees of the Reuters Global Media Summit last week. Advertising deals and other business partnerships are being re-assessed and reworked. Advertisers are "more cautious." Comcast's Verizon Deal Rivals NBC Acquisition Variety Comcast execs call their multi-billion dollar pact with Verizon inked late last week a transformative event in some ways on the scale of acquiring of NBCUniversal. "This is a deal forever," said CFO Michael Angelakis. "We don't have to invest in building a wireless network." Warner Music Chief Bronfman to Step Down New York Post Long-time Warner Music head Edgar Bronfman Jr., who stepped down as CEO of the record label earlier this year, will also relinquish the chairman's role on Jan. 31. Bronfman will remain on the board of the music giant. Warner didn't name a replacement chairman. Media Person of the Year: Who Should It Be? I Want Media Who was the leading personality in the media industry in 2011? Who left a lasting imprint — for good or ill? Cast your vote in I Want Media's 10th annual online contest to name the "most memorable" media-biz figure. Visitors suggested a colorful group of candidates. Media Elite Powerhouses Honored in Hot List Adweek Adweek has expanded its annual Hot List to track the best print, television and digital properties. Time, The New York Times, CBS, AMC and Facebook are among an "elite class of media powerhouses." CBS boss Les Moonves was named Hottest Revenue Generator. Media Maven Melee Due at UBS Conference New York Post Jeff Bewkes, Reed Hastings and other media top guns slated to speak at the UBS Global Media and Tech conference on Tuesday. UBS chief Aryeh Bourkoff will kick off the event with a bird's-eye view of the media industry, including trends on advertising and video consumption. Time Warner CEO Confident Over Prospects Financial Times Apple and Amazon are no threat to Time Warner's business model, said CEO Jeff Bewkes. Digital platforms are useless without content. "They have to have us on their devices." Rival magazine publishers, he added, have let their readers become "subscribers to Apple." Viacom at Odds with Nielsen Over TV Ratings Wall Street Journal Nielsen said it erred when it reported an overall increase in the number of children watching television this fall, but it continues to be in disagreement with Viacom over the accuracy of its TV ratings for Nickelodeon — a big source of advertising revenue for the media giant. Sony to Offer 'Moneyball' via Digital Download Deadline Sony Pictures plans to make "Moneyball," starring Brad Pitt, available for digital downloading several weeks before the movie is released on DVD and Blu-ray — a longer window than the studio gave to the first two films it offered for streaming. Sony had "liked the results." Time Warner in Push to Put Films on Devices Financial Times Time Warner aims to reverse an industry-wide slump in home entertainment sales with the launch of a digital film service allowing users to watch movies on any device. The company plans to provide consumers with digital copies of movies they already own on DVD for a fee. Disney CEO Bob Iger Increases Stake in Apple TheStreet Disney CEO and newly appointed Apple board member Bob Iger bought $1 million in shares of the iPhone maker this week on the open market, according to a regulatory filing. The move signals Iger's confidence in Apple, which has seen its stock rise 20% year-to-date. News Corp: Analysts See an Upside to Scandal Bloomberg News Corp. options traders are making bullish bets amid speculation COO Chase Carey's increasing influence will spur growth. Carey gained stature in the company after the phone-hacking scandal, which "could be the best thing that ever happened to News Corp. shareholders." Viacom to Launch Youth Cable Channel in India Hollywood Reporter Viacom 18 Media, the joint venture between Viacom and Indian media entity Network18, plans to launch a network called Sonic, described as the "Sci-Fi platform for the Wi-Fi Generation." Sonic, targeting the 10-to-17 age group, will be supplemented with an online community. Thomson Reuters CEO Tom Glocer to Step Down Reuters Thomson Reuters CEO Tom Glocer is stepping down on Jan. 1 following a sharp slump in the share price in the news and information company. He will be replaced by COO James Smith, a veteran Thomson exec. Glocer engineered Reuters' acquisition by Thomson in 2008. Time Warner Won't Spin Off Time Inc, CEO Says Bloomberg Time Inc. new CEO Laura Lang said she isn't aware of any plan to separate the magazine unit from the parent company. "My mission is to push the business forward." Digital media, she added, has altered publishing. "As to my lack of publishing background, I say, 'Define publishing.'" Viacom's Nickelodeon to Pay Back Advertisers New York Post Nickelodeon will have to dole out free airtime to compensate advertisers for an unprecedented ratings shortfall. The home to hit kid shows like "SpongeBob Squarepants" started to experience ratings declines in September. Nickelodeon is cable TV's second-biggest ad generator. Disney Raises Dividend Following Record Profit Bloomberg Disney, owner of ABC and ESPN, increased its annual dividend by 50%, the most in at least 20 years, following record sales and profit. The new 60-cent dividend is up from 40 cents. The media giant is returning cash to investors through stock repurchases as well. Comcast Staffers Sue Over Race Discrimination Chicago Tribune A federal lawsuit has accused Comcast of discriminating against African-American employees of a Chicago facility and its own customers by requiring workers to install defective or bug-infested equipment into residents' homes. Employees claim they were called "ghetto techs." News Corp Wins Dismissal of Shine Buy Lawsuit Bloomberg News Corp. persuaded a judge to throw out an investor lawsuit seeking information about the $675 million purchase of Shine Group, a U.K.-based TV production firm owned by CEO Rupert Murdoch's daughter. Other suits had claimed the deal was motivated by "nepotism." Time Warner Picks Digitas CEO to Run Time Inc Wall Street Journal Time Warner is said to have picked Laura Lang, CEO of the digital-advertising firm Digitas, to run its Time Inc. magazine-publishing division. Lang's hire would put the head of one of the largest digital agencies in charge of the biggest U.S. magazine publisher. Viacom to Let Fans Watch Movies on Facebook Next Web In a move to build excitement for the new "Mission: Impossible" movie, Paramount Pictures has made all previous iterations of the film franchise available for viewing directly from Facebook — by far the largest movie initiative to take place on the social network's platform. News Corp Journos Got Phone-Hacking Lessons Bloomberg Journalists at News Corp.'s now-defunct News of the World tabloid were instructed on how to hack into mobile-phone voice mails by the company's former private investigator, according to the Guardian's Nick Davies, speaking at a U.K. inquiry into press ethics. BSkyB Reelects Murdoch Despite Protest Vote BBC News James Murdoch has been reelected BSkyB chairman, despite a fifth of shareholders voting against the move. A number of key shareholders voted against him at the broadcaster's annual meeting, expressing interest in an independent chairman rather than an exec of News Corp. Sony Increases Sales with Digital 'Bad Teacher' AllThingsD Hollywood is trying to figure out how to get people to buy more movies instead of renting them. Sony might have an answer: Sell the flicks on digital outlets before viewers can rent them anywhere else. Sony found encouraging results doing this with "Bad Teacher" last month. Viacom's Paramount Sued by Partner for Fraud Los Angeles Times Paramount Pictures withheld profit from such hit movies as "Mission: Impossible 3," according to a lawsuit filed by Melrose 2, one of the Viacom studio's key co-financing partners. The suit also contends that Paramount improperly deducted payments made to MTV Networks. Lions Gate Eyes Merger With 'Twilight' Maker Bloomberg Lions Gate, the independent film and TV company, is said to be in merger talks with Summit, the studio behind the "Twilight" vampire movies. The first four "Twilight" films have grossed more than $1 billion in North America. A fifth "Twilight" movie is due out in a year. News Corp: Trade-Off to Sway Coverage Claimed Wall Street Journal At a U.K. inquiry into press ethics, singer Charlotte Church alleged that she waived a fee to perform at the 1999 wedding of News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch because she was told that it would win her favorable coverage in his newspapers. She also said her voice mails were hacked. News Corp Tabloid Moves Into Social Gaming Marketing The U.K. Sun is launching its first social game, Sun Football Legends, offering fans the chance to experience the trials and tribulations of a top soccer player. News International hopes the Facebook-based game will tap into the craze for social games such as Cityville and Farmville. Time Warner, Mediaset Vie for 'Deal or No Deal' Financial Times Mediaset, Silvio Berlusconi's media empire, has put in a joint bid for Endemol, the indebted Dutch TV producer, together with Clessidra, the Italian private equity group. Earlier this month, Time Warner made an approach worth about 1 billion euros for the company. Comcast Elevates Angelakis to Vice Chairman Philadelphia Inquirer Michael Angelakis, the top financial exec at Comcast, has been elevated to vice chairman. Angelakis negotiated the NBC Universal transaction in 2009 and the rights to televise the Olympics from 2014 to 2020. His appointment includes signing bonuses valued at $4.25 million. Disney, YouTube Strike Deal for Movie Rentals CNBC Disney has agreed to rent its movies on YouTube, offering hundreds of films from Disney, Pixar, and DreamWorks Studios on Google's video-sharing site for between $1.99 and $3.99. The move makes YouTube a real contender in the video-on-demand space. Murdoch Son Rejects Aussie Claim of Bribery Sydney Morning Herald Lachlan Murdoch has denied being present when a News Corp. exec allegedly offered an Australian senator "a special relationship" in return for voting against government legislation. The son of News Corp. founder Rupert Murdoch describes the claim as "a fabrication." Tribune Bankruptcy Haunts Small Shareholders Chicago Tribune Up to 35,000 investors, including mom and pop shareholders, are potentially on the hook for money they received in 2007, when Tribune went private. Anyone who benefited from the deal can be found liable for the fraudulent transfer in suits filed on behalf of the debtor's estate. James Murdoch Quits Boards of UK Sun, Times Evening Standard James Murdoch has resigned as a director of the companies that publish the Times, the Sunday Times and the Sun. The surprise move raises questions about News Corp.'s commitment to the troubled U.K. newspaper group. James remains chairman of News International. News Corp Plans Studio Expansion in New York New York Post News Corp. is taking over the former Charles Schwab space on the southern plaza of its headquarters in New York City's Rockefeller Center, where it is expected to build out a 9,000-square-foot studio. The company "had always wanted" the plaza-level space for a studio facility. Murdoch Australian Arm Eyed by Police in Probe Sydney Morning Herald Australian police are investigating allegations by former Sen. Bill O'Chee that a News Corp. exec offered him favorable newspaper coverage and "a special relationship" in return for voting against government legislation. O'Chee made a nine-page statement to police on the matter. Disney Names Skipper to Helm Juggernaut ESPN Los Angeles Times ESPN has a new skipper. Disney has elevated programming and production exec John Skipper to lead its most profitable division, replacing George Bodenheimer, who had run the sports media juggernaut for 13 years. Skipper is a veteran of Rolling Stone and Spin magazines. Time Warner Cable App to Stream Local Stations MediaPost Time Warner Cable is working to add local stations to its iPad streaming app, allowing customers to watch broadcast shows anywhere in their homes. The company is looking to launch the option in New York City soon. "We're moving towards delivering local programming." Time Warner Takeover Bid Rejected by Endemol Hollywood Reporter Creditors of European reality-TV powerhouse Endemol are said to have decided to reject a $1.4 billion bid from Time Warner. Endemol, the company behind such TV hits as "Big Brother" and "Deal or No Deal," thought Time Warner's offer was opportunistic and too low. News Corp's Murdoch Sells Company Shares Financial Times Rupert Murdoch has sold most of his non-voting shares in News Corp. in an estate-planning move that will not reduce his influence over his media company. The sale reverses purchases made in February that were portrayed as a signal of his confidence in the company's future. Slim Buys Minority Stake in El Pais Publisher Bloomberg Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has acquired a minority stake in Prisa, Spain's largest media company, whose shares are down by about 50% this year. Slim also owns shares of New York Times Co. "Like the Times, this is an investment that we think is a great opportunity." Liberty Media May Increase Stake in Sirius XM New York Post Liberty Media is considering doubling down on Sirius XM after saving the satellite-radio company from the brink of bankruptcy two years ago. John Malone's media company is having talks about adding to his sizable stake in Sirius. A full-on acquisition also has been rumored. Liberty Media Plans to Combine Tracking Stocks Forbes Liberty Media plans to combine tracking stocks of its Liberty Starz and Liberty Capital units and increase share buybacks to make the stock more appealing to investors. The move, according to CEO Greg Maffei, will help create "a stronger acquisition currency." News Corp Chief Talks U.S. Immigration Policy Reuters Rupert Murdoch, speaking at a conference on immigration, said the United States should make itself a more attractive country for people to emigrate to, as an important route to economic growth. "We have in our DNA the most entrepreneurship," said the News Corp. CEO. Sony Seeking Turnaround as CEO Nears Exit Businessweek Sony has been trying to adapt to the Internet Age for at least a decade, yet remains an unwieldy manufacturer. Howard Stringer's time as CEO is running out. He is 69 and his latest turnaround plan ends in 2013, at which point heir apparent Kazuo Hirai will probably take over. Disney's Swampy Alligator to Bite Angry Birds Businessweek Where's My Water?, the new mobile game from Disney, stars Swampy, an alligator who lives in a sewer. Disney, inspired by Rovio's success with Angry Birds, hopes to spin a multimillion-dollar franchise out of the Swampy character, including books, toys and a movie. FCC Media Merger Review Power May Be Limited Bloomberg A House panel voted to advance a Republican-sponsored bill to limit concessions the Federal Communications Commission can wrest from companies seeking approvals to merge. The measure would require the FCC to identify a harm to be remedied before adopting rules. News Corp, Police Dispute Phone Hacking Total Wall Street Journal Both News Corp. and British police have disputed the suggestion, made at a public inquiry, that a private investigator's notebook identifies at least 28 employees of News Corp.'s U.K. newspaper unit as people who may have requested illegal voice-mail intercepts. Time Warner Cable, HBO Go Near Deal for Mobile Bloomberg Time Warner Cable expects to agree a deal with HBO "soon" to offer the HBO Go application to subscribers so they can see shows on mobile devices. The two companies are still working through the details, according to Time Warner Cable COO Robert Marcus. Apple Eyes Media, Names Disney CEO to Board Reuters Apple has appointed Disney CEO Bob Iger to its board, in a move to propel its media ambitions. "Apple is going to get more into content distribution over time. That's where it makes sense for someone like Bob Iger to have that relationship with Apple." Sony Mulls Launching Internet Rival to Cable TV Wall Street Journal Sony is said to be considering launching an Internet-based alternative to cable-TV service, posing the latest threat to cable and satellite operators. The company has approached several big media companies to negotiate the rights to offer their TV channels over the web. Disney Bringing 'Newsies' Musical to Broadway Associated Press A new musical based on the 1992 Disney film "Newsies" is coming to Broadway, following a critically acclaimed run at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, N.J. The show is based on the true story of the 1899 newsboy strike against Pulitzer and Hearst newspapers. News Corp: Hedge Fund Takes $1 Billion Stake Telegraph Chris Hohn, one of London's best-known hedge fund managers, amassed an almost $1 billion stake in News Corp. as the company was engulfed by the phone-hacking scandal. Shares in News Corp. tumbled in the third quarter as the scale of hacking emerged. Big Media Earnings Set to 'Decelerate Sharply' Deadline Nomura Equity Research analyst Michael Nathanson said he sees growing industry problems which could cause media earnings to "decelerate sharply." TV producers can't expect to keep generating cash from licensing deals with digital streaming providers such as Netflix and Amazon. Buffett Buys Up Stakes in IBM, Intel, DirecTV CNNMoney Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has disclosed that the billionaire investor bought positions in chipmaker Intel, satellite-TV service DirecTV and old-school tech giant IBM. Berkshire bought 57 million shares of IBM, making it one of the largest investors in the tech giant. Disney Buys Mom-Blogging Site Babble Media AllThingsD Disney has acquired Babble Media, a parenting platform that features several hundred mom bloggers. The media giant declined to provide the purchase price for the start-up, which has won $6 million in funding since it was spun off from Nerve Media several years ago. News Corp: No Phone Hacking at Australia Arm ABC News Limited said a review of its editorial expenses has found no evidence of phone hacking or payments to public officials. The Australian arm of Rupert Murdoch's media empire announced the review in July in response to evidence of phone hacking in the U.K. Murdoch's Son 'Kept in Dark' on Phone Hacking Reuters News Corp.'s James Murdoch was "kept in the dark" about the scale of phone hacking at the News of the World by his subordinates who tried to manage the problem, according to the newspaper's former chief reporter, Neville Thurlbeck. Murdoch's account "seems entirely credible." Houghton Mifflin to Cut Staff, Close Divisions Financial Times Houghton Mifflin is expected to cut about 10% of its 2,200-strong staff in a restructuring that new CEO Linda Zecher, a former Microsoft exec, said would establish a culture of accountability. The "Curious George" book publisher will eliminate its emerging markets division. Liberty Media Said to Eye Barnes & Noble Buy Bloomberg Barnes & Noble said there is "no truth" to speculation that Liberty Media is preparing to buy the U.S. bookstore chain. An analyst for Phoenix Partners Group wrote in a research note that Liberty may be setting up a $1.5 billion credit facility to help fund an acquisition. Viacom Makes 'Cost-Effective' Move to Nasdaq New York Post Viacom said it was lured away from its 40 years on the New York Stock Exchange because listing shares on the Nasdaq is "more cost-effective." Nasdaq's 72-foot-tall billboard in Times Square also is said to be an attraction for the parent of MTV and Comedy Central. Universal, Sony/ATV to Buy EMI for $4.1 Billion Associated Press EMI, the British music company and home of The Beatles and Katy Perry, has been split and sold more than $4 billion. Universal Music will pay $1.9 billion for the recording division; a group led by Sony/ATV made a separate $2.2 billion deal for EMI's publishing division. Disney CEO: Traditional Platforms Are Thriving MarketWatch Traditional media platforms "have held up" in the face of rapidly changing consumer habits, according to Disney CEO Bob Iger. People with digital video recorders tend to watch more television, he said, while online video has created "a new kind of syndication" for TV. Sony CEO: No Plans to Exit, Prepared to 'Fight' Reuters Sony CEO Howard Stringer has vowed to stay on as head of the company, dismissing reports that he will step down next year. Stringer said that he remains keen on leading the once-dominant corporate powerhouse in its battle to reverse losses. "I am fighting." Time Warner Told Endemol Bid Not Turned Down Bloomberg Endemol, the Dutch producer of the "Big Brother" TV shows, is said to have told bidder Time Warner that it plans to reorganize its debt before considering any offer. Endemol did not turn down Time Warner's reported $1.4 billion bid. For now, restructuring "remains a priority." BSkyB Unanimous in Support of James Murdoch Reuters BSkyB's independent directors are said to be unanimous that James Murdoch should continue as chairman of the board. Murdoch had done a "first class job," said the British satellite broadcaster's deputy chairman. There has been no "negative reputational effect." News Corp: We Can't 'Rule Out' Setting the Sun Guardian James Murdoch has refused to rule out shutting down the Sun, the largest-selling U.K. newspaper, if evidence of phone hacking at the News Corp. title emerges. "I don't think we can rule out any corporate reaction," he said during his testimony before a parliamentary inquiry. Viacom Probes 'Inexplicable' Nick Ratings Drop Hollywood Reporter Viacom said it is investigating, together with TV-ratings firm Nielsen, a sudden mid-September ratings drop at kids network Nickelodeon, The decline is "inexplicable," said CEO Philippe Dauman. The firms are probing the "aberration" to "understand and rectify" the situation. Discovery COO to Leave After Oprah Seizes Reins TheWrap Four months after Oprah Winfrey took control of Discovery's most glamorous asset, the Oprah Winfrey Network, COO Peter Liguori has called it quits. Insiders said the marginalization at OWN privately irked him. "He was already out of the day-to-day picture." Time Warner Magazine CEO Search Stirs Rumors New York Post Time Inc.'s foot-dragging when it comes to naming a new CEO to replace Jack Griffin, who was ousted nine months ago, has given rise to rumors. Among them: Time Warner offered the job to someone who rejected it. A spokesman insists that the search is "moving right along." News Corp's News of World Spied on Prince William BBC News A private investigator working for News Corp.'s News of the World said he conducted surveillance on Prince William, Angelina Jolie and Paul McCartney, among others. News Corp. said it was "not able to make any comment" about the work done by private eye Derek Webb. Murdoch Takes Chair at News Corp Australia Unit Sydney Morning Herald Rupert Murdoch will take over as chairman of News Corp.'s Australian newspaper arm after the resignation of John Hartigan, the long-time head of News Limited. The removal of News Corp.'s most senior exec in Australia comes amid a time of turmoil for the company. Martha Stewart Living Taps Chief Revenue Officer Associated Press Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has named Joe Lagani to the newly created position of chief revenue officer. Lagani will lead digital and print advertising sales for its media properties. He most recently served as senior VP of ad sales at NBCUniversal's iVillage. Tribune Bankruptcy Twist Could Benefit Sam Zell Chicago Tribune A bankruptcy court judge's ruling could mean that Tribune chief Sam Zell, who engineered a leveraged buyout of the company, which filed for Chapter 11 about a year later, will recover part of the money he has filed claims for. Zell could seek tens of millions of dollars. News Corp: We Spied on Hacking Victims' Lawyers Wall Street Journal News Corp. admitted that its U.K. newspaper unit ordered surveillance of lawyers for phone-hacking victims of the now-closed News of the World, and called the activity "deeply inappropriate." No one currently working at News Corp. "condoned" the monitoring, the company said. Murdoch Son's Career On the Line Over Hacking Los Angeles Times James Murdoch will return to Parliament on Thursday for more questions about his role in the phone-hacking scandal. He might lose his place as Rupert Murdoch's successor. He could even face criminal charges if investigators determine he was involved in covering up a crime. Comcast Director to Exit Citing Potential Conflict Philadelphia Inquirer Tyco CEO Edward Breen said he will step down from the board of Comcast after serving more than six years. Breen noted Comcast's "emerging presence" in the residential security industry, which is a key market for one of Tyco's spinoffs, the ADT security company. Time Warner Cable Hit with Nationwide Outage CNET News Time Warner Cable's Internet customers nationwide experienced a brief outage Monday morning, the company has confirmed. The issue appears to have been resolved. RCN, another cable Internet provider, also apparently experienced some trouble at around the same time. Viacom Taps Oxygen, NBC Veteran for PR Post Variety Viacom named Kassie Canter exec VP of communications for its entertainment group, overseeing corporate communications for the division, which includes Comedy Central, Spike TV and TV Land. She previously held top communications posts at Oxygen Media and NBC. Time Warner Considers Moving Out of Manhattan Crain's New York Time Warner has reached out to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut officials to see what incentives it could get for moving its Manhattan-based offices. Meanwhile, New York City officials have begun talking with Time Warner to ensure that the media giant does not skip town. Disney, YouTube Enter Online Video Partnership New York Times Disney and YouTube plan to announce a deal to spend a combined $10 million to $15 million on original video series. The shorts will be produced by Disney and distributed on a co-branded channel on both Disney.com and YouTube. The channel will also include amateur video. News Corp: Murdoch Daughter Eyes Bigger Role New York Senior execs believe that Elisabeth Murdoch's husband, London PR exec Matthew Freud, has encouraged negative press coverage against James Murdoch, in an effort to better position his wife to succeed her father as the head of News Corp. The strategy is "fairly transparent." Hearst Grandson John Randolph Hearst Jr Dies San Francisco Chronicle John Randolph Hearst Jr., a trustee of the Hearst family trust, has died at age 77. He also served as a member of the company's board of directors for 44 years. "Bunky" once said that he learned the "power of newspapers" from his grandfather, William Randolph Hearst. Lagardere Names Denis Olivennes CEO of Media Digital TV Europe Lagardθre has named Denis Olivennes as the new CEO of Lagardθre Active, the French conglomerate's media arm. As well as having responsibility for news titles including Paris Match, Olivennes will now be responsible for all of Lagardθre's media activities. Big Media Seek to 'Rewrite' Digital Copyright Act TechCrunch The 1998 U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act helped user-generated websites grow and led to the rise of the likes of Google and YouTube. In the process, it disrupted traditional media business models. Now, media companies are trying to rewrite the act through two new bills. Time Warner Offers 1 Billion Euros for Endemol Financial Times Time Warner has made an approach worth about €1 billion for Endemol, the indebted TV production group behind "Big Brother." An Endemol deal would confirm Time Warner's focus on international expansion, following its acquisition of a stake in European TV producer CME. News Corp Offers 'Speedy' Hacking Settlements Bloomberg News Corp.'s U.K. unit has started a voluntary settlement program for thousands of potential victims of phone hacking by the company's News of the World tabloid, which was shuttered in July. Victims can apply online for "speedy, cost-effective alternative to litigation." Liberty Global Awaits Decisions on Major Deals Denver Business Liberty Global expects regulators in Australia and Germany to make decisions soon about two major deals that John Malone's international cable-TV company has pending. The deals are major pieces of Liberty's strategy to concentrate its growth in affluent parts of Europe. Comcast Center Hit by Occupy Philly Protesters Philadelphia Inquirer Ten protesters were arrested during an Occupy Philly sit-in staged at Comcast Center, the Philadelphia headquarters of Comcast and the city's tallest skyscraper. One protester said the Comcast building was targeted because the company "does not pay property taxes." News Corp: James Murdoch Associate to Exit Los Angeles Times Beryl Cook, a close associate of embattled exec James Murdoch, will step down as chief human resources officer of News Corp. at the end of the month. The move is significant because Cook was seen as a key member of James Murdoch's "shadow government." Media General Shakes Up Operations in Tampa St. Petersburg Times Media General replaced top execs in charge of the Tampa Tribune, Tampa NBC affiliate WFLA and TBO.com as part of a restructuring that eventually will include layoffs. The company hopes to create "a more empowered work force and simplified organizational structure." Sony's Howard Stringer Expected to Step Down New York Post Howard Stringer, chairman and CEO of Sony, may only have two more quarters to weather at the helm of the company before passing the mantle to his successor. Stringer, who took the reins in March 2005, is expected to step down as CEO at the end of the fiscal year in March. News Corp Reveals Extent of Hacking Damage Financial Times News Corp. has begun to spell out the financial cost of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, saying that a $91 million restructuring charge and a $68 million hit to its publishing profits in its latest quarter stemmed primarily from its shutdown in July of the tarnished tabloid. Murdochs in Therapy Over News Corp's Future Vanity Fair CEO Rupert Murdoch's eldest children participated in family counseling over the issue of succession at News Corp. "Together the kids could hold Rupert to account to be a mentor to James and not undermine him." Murdoch briefly proposed that his son should "take a leave." Time Warner Sees $100 Million from Web Video AllThingsD New deals with Netflix and Hulu will generate $100 million in revenue for Time Warner this quarter, the company said. Two deals to license reruns like the CW's "Gossip Girl" will have an immediate impact on earnings. About half of the $100 million will be booked as operating profit. Viacom, Time Warner Cable Revive iPad Fight Variety In a new court filing, Viacom aims to block Time Warner Cable's effort to combine its quest to provide subscribers with access to MTV Networks channels via tablet devices with a claim that one of those networks, CMT, is in violation of its affiliate agreement. Time Warner Gets Lift from Harry Potter Finale CNNMoney Harry Potter's final appearance on the big screen gave Time Warner earnings and revenue the lift they needed, prompting the media giant to raise its outlook for the year. Revenue rose 11% to $7.1 billion, edging past analyst forecasts of just under $7 billion in sales. Comcast: Don't Blame NBC's Losses On Us Bloomberg Comcast said third-quarter profit rose 4.7%, driven by growth in Internet subscriptions and fewer-than-projected TV customer losses. But operating cash flow at the recently acquired NBC Universal dropped 9.3%. "Right now, Comcast is saying, 'You can't pin that on us.'" Sony Heads for Fourth Straight Year in the Red Associated Press Sony reported a $346 million loss for the latest quarter and downgraded its annual earnings forecast to stay in the red for the fourth year straight, battered in part by the poor sales of flat panel TVs. The future of both its TV business and PlayStation game are unclear. News Corp: Sale of Headquarters Building Stalls Bloomberg Beacon Capital Partners is considering alternatives to selling News Corp.'s headquarters in Manhattan after bids came in for less than the target price. News Corp.'s lease expires in 2020, adding risk to a building purchase if the media giant decides not to renew. Media Earnings: Ads & Digital in the Spotlight CNBC Several media conglomerates are set to report earnings this week and next. Wall Street will be closely watching to see whether advertising holds up despite volatile financial markets. Also, will the new deals with Netflix and Hulu start to boost the media giants' bottom lines? Murdoch Son Faces More Heat from Documents Reuters A law firm representing Rupert Murdoch's London tabloids has turned over to the British parliament documents which could embarrass his son James when he returns to testify Nov. 10 before a committee investigating the phone-hacking scandal. News Corp Plans YouTube Video Game Channel Hollywood Reporter As part of YouTube's new investment in entertainment channels, News Corp.-owned IGN has partnered with Elisabeth Murdoch's Shine company Reveille to develop a new slate of broadcast-quality shows aimed at the growing video-game demographic. Time Warner to Trim 'Indulgences,' Headquarters New York Times Time Warner plans to cut back its overhead, said CEO Jeff Bewkes, so that it can continue investing in programming, digital efforts and journalism. Cost reductions are expected to save $500 million annually. The Time Warner Center headquarters is an "indulgence." News Corp to Become Top Religious Publisher Wall Street Journal HarperCollins plans to acquire Thomas Nelson, bolstering its offerings of religious books. The News Corp. unit already owns a leading religious division and the spirituality imprint HarperOne. Christian books will rake in about $1.4 billion in revenue this year. Disney Licenses Older Shows to Amazon Service Bloomberg Disney, owner of the ABC TV network and Disney Channel, will license a limited number of its older TV shows to Amazon's Prime streaming video service. The newly licensed Disney content will be available on more than 300 devices, including Amazon's Kindle Fire. News Corp: Murdoch Gets BSkyB Pay Increase Telegraph Fury over James Murdoch's chairmanship of BSkyB did not stop him accepting a pay increase as the broadcaster took a financial hit for its aborted takeover by News Corp., where he is deputy COO. The increase was revealed in BSkyB's annual report. Viacom Mines Social Media Buzz for Movie Site Digiday Viacom has partnered with research firm Trendrr to launch MovieTracker, a content hub within the year-old movie portal NextMovie.com. MovieTracker culls data from Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and other sources to rank the top 25 movies based on social buzz. Comcast Backs NBC's 'Rock Center' News Show Associated Press NBC News execs said they are encouraged about "Rock Center," the newsmagazine show debuting Monday night, because parent company Comcast strongly backs the project. The first few months are about getting established, and high ratings "aren't an expectation." Blockbuster to Offer Movies Through Facebook Variety Blockbuster plans to make up to 10,000 films available on its Facebook page through a new video-on-demand service that will integrate a variety of social media tools. Among other features, the films will provide "Pop Up Video"-like commentary with filmmakers. Hollywood Eyes Big Delay on New DVD Rentals Bloomberg Hollywood's largest movie studios may seek to increase a delay on DVD rentals to 60 days by services such as Netflix and Redbox. Studios are searching for ways to bolster DVD sales and purchases for online viewing by postponing the availability of new discs for rent. Redbox Ups Price to $1.20, Eyes Film Streaming The Wrap Redbox has announced that its famous $1-night-DVD rental price is being increased to $1.20. The kiosk movie rental chain also said that it will have a film-streaming business plan in place by the end of the year. Redbox attributes the price bump to increased expenses. News Corp: Lachlan Has 'No Plans' to Return Sydney Morning Herald Despite speculation he could return to an executive role at News Corp., Lachlan Murdoch said is happy running his media investments in Australia, with "no plans at all" to move. "My decision to leave News was the second-best decision I've ever made." Viacom Buys Bellator Mixed Martial Arts Group USA Today MTV Networks parent Viacom has bought a majority stake in Bellator Fighting Championships and will start airing the promotion's bouts on Spike TV in 2013. Bellator is the No. 2 promotion in mixed martial arts. Spike is said to be the first channel to embrace the sport. Time Warner Cable Loses 128,000 Subscribers Reuters Time Warner Cable missed Wall Street forecasts, sending the cable company's shares down, as it lost more video customers than expected and lost phone customers for the first time. The No. 2 U.S. cable operator lost 128,000 residential subscribers in the quarter. Disney Buys Ad-Supported TV Network in Russia Dow Jones Disney spent $300 million buying a 49% stake in a Russian TV network from a billionaire investor in a deal blessed by prime minister Vladimir Putin. Disney said it will recreate Seven TV network as a free-to-air Disney Channel supported by advertising. Viacom's Paramount to Lay Off 120 Employees Deadline Paramount Pictures is said to be realigning divisions. Among the moves, former Disney Pictures international head Anthony Marcoly has been hired to replace Paramount international chief Andrew Cripps. Some 120 jobs are expected to be lost in the restructuring. Viacom Promotes Anti-Piracy Push with Muffins Ars Technica To drum up support for its anti-piracy efforts, Viacom distributed to employees a "half muffin" wrapped in a package reading: "Looks like someone stole a chunk." The campaign is meant to remind workers that online infringement "means money out of your pocket." New Corp Investors Fear Exit of Chase Carey Financial Times News Corp. investors don't believe that Rupert Murdoch's children are the best people to take over when he retires. Attempts to push them forward have alienated top execs, such as former COO Peter Chernin. Investors worry that Chernin's successor, Chase Carey, also could leave. Liberty Media Names CFO, Investments Chief Denver Business Christopher Shean has been promoted to CFO of Liberty Media, effective Nov. 1. Shean is now controller for Liberty, parent of the Starz cable network and the Atlanta Braves baseball team and investor in properties including Sirius XM Radio, Live Nation and Barnes & Noble. Time Warner to Make 'Harry Potter' Disappear Wall Street Journal Time Warner appears to be going the Disney route with "Harry Potter." The company will be pulling all eight movies off the shelves at the end of the year. The company is expected to later issue a "special edition" or a DVD with "never before seen" footage. Warner Bros Halts Sale of DVDs to Blockbuster Bloomberg Warner Bros. won't supply its latest DVDs to Dish Network's Blockbuster movie-rental chain after the two sides clashed over a 28-day delay on new-release rentals sought by the studio. The blocked titles include "Horrible Bosses" and "The Green Hornet." News Corp: 'Secret' Hacking Phone Found Independent British police have discovered the existence of a "secret mobile phone" within News International's east London offices that was used in more than 1,000 incidents of illegal hacking. The discovery could not have come at a worse time for the News Corp. subsidiary. Sony Pursues Aaron Sorkin for 'Steve Jobs' Los Angeles Times The producers of Sony's planned movie based on Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs are said to be courting Aaron Sorkin to write the screenplay. The "Moneyball" and "Social Network" writer is "considering the prospect but had made no decisions." Disney Ex-Chief Seeks ABC Return of Sorts Variety Michael Eisner may be returning to ABC -- sorta. The former Disney chief is shopping a comedy series along with "Desperate Housewives" executive producer Jeff Greenstein. The script is said to be inspired by real-life chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. Murdoch Son's Future in Doubt at News Corp Guardian James Murdoch's future at News Corp. looks increasingly precarious as shareholders delivered a damning verdict on his tenure. Some 35% voted against his re-election. CEO Rupert Murdoch's son faces a second grilling in the Parliament next month over phone hacking. Disney to Reveal Political Donations on Website Bloomberg Disney said it will begin disclosing political contributions on its website, joining media rivals like Time Warner and News Corp. in the practice. Starting next year, Disney will post the same information on its website that it is required to report to various U.S. agencies. Comcast No Longer Throttling BitTorrent Traffic Wired Comcast appears to be in compliance with a U.S. Federal Communications Commission decision demanding the ISP stop throttling BitTorrent traffic. According to a new study, Comcast throttled 49% of all BitTorrent traffic in 2008. Last year, the number dropped to 3%. Time Warner Cable Eyes Businesses for Growth Crain's New York Time Warner Cable plans to bring broadband, Internet phone service and high-speed mobile access to the business market. With price-conscious viewers cutting back on cable-TV subscriptions, business services have emerged as the company's newest source of growth. News Corp: Murdochs Survive Annual Meeting Wall Street Journal News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch and his two sons, Lachlan and James, have been re-elected to the company's board, along with other directors, despite what was expected to be a significant protest vote. The company said full voting tallies will be released this week. Clear Channel: Radio is Ripe for Transformation New York Post Private-equity players have been making bets that radio is ripe for transformation, thanks to the increase of interest in mobile and digital music platforms. Clear Channel, headed by Bob Pittman, recently relaunched its iHeartRadio, offering hundreds of stations. PwC Updates Outlook for Media, Entertainment Deadline PricewaterhouseCoopers has amended its annual Global Entertainment & Media Outlook for the first time, citing the economic volatility in global markets. Originally released in June, the update notes that, among other findings, social network advertising is "growing explosively." Tribune Seeks CEO as Bankruptcy Exit Nears New York Post Tribune is close to exiting bankruptcy and has begun the search for a new CEO. Creditors are floating names of potential CEO candidates, including McGraw Hill's Scott Marden, former Dow Jones CEO Rich Zannino and former NBCUniversal exec Mike Pilot. Disney Apologizes After Store Website Crashes Bloomberg Disney apologized to customers after demand for limited editions of its princess dolls priced at $59.50 each crashed the Disney Store website. More than 1,200 Facebook users posted comments when the company acknowledged that the site was "extremely busy." News Corp to Face 'Hopping Mad' Shareholders Variety News Corp. investors are hopping mad and Friday they will get a rare chance to slam CEO Rupert Murdoch in person at the company's annual meeting. Yet, despite all the drama, News Corp.'s stock has remained sturdy and its businesses are performing well. Media Giants Mount Major Anti-Piracy Offensive Los Angeles Times Media giants such as NBCUniversal, CBS and Viacom have launched an education campaign to teach the public about the evils of piracy and prod their employees to support an anti-piracy bill in Washington. "The message is that Internet theft is simply wrong." Tribune Bankruptcy Decision Due 'Within Days' Chicago Tribune The judge in Tribune's bankruptcy proceeding said that he is "literally within days of issuing an opinion" in the nearly three-year-old Chapter 11 case. The judge has been deliberating since July over rival restructuring plans proposed by two warring creditor groups. Viacom to Court: Scrap YouTube Copyright Ruling Associated Press Viacom warned an appeals court panel that there will be greater exploitation of copyright material on the Internet if YouTube is allowed to get away with a business built on "rampant copyright infringement." YouTube "made money on somebody else's property." News Corp Execs Think James Murdoch May Leave Reuters News Corp. senior management is said to be starting to think about what the company might do if top exec James Murdoch stepped aside, amid increasing pressure from the phone-hacking scandal. "His position does appear to be getting weaker." Time Warner's Approach to Video Games Pays Off Los Angeles Times While Disney, News Corp. and Viacom have retrenched from or exited the video-game business after losing money, Time Warner's Warner Bros. studio has prospered by following a different course. It acquired and expanded video-game franchises not tied to individual films. Hearst Opens Beijing Office for Expansion in China Associated Press Hearst is opening an office in Beijing to look for new opportunities in China. The office will be run by Wenning Xing, who is joining Hearst as a managing director. Xing was most recently chief strategy officer of a subsidiary of the People's Daily, China's official newspaper. News Corp: Another Fund Votes Against Murdoch Sacramento Bee Add CalSTRS to the small but growing list of pension funds voting against Rupert Murdoch's re-election to News Corp.'s board of directors. Last week CalPERS, California's other big public pension fund, said it was voting against Murdoch family members. Viacom-YouTube Case Heads to Appellate Court Variety Viacom's lawsuit against YouTube continues, with big legal guns due to argue before a federal appellate court on Tuesday. The case could define the rules of the road for the Internet because it centers on where YouTube's liability lies when users post infringing material. Tribune Former CEO Arrested for Drunken Driving Chicago Tribune Randy Michaels, the former Tribune CEO who was forced out of the company a year ago amid a scandal in the executive suite, was arrested near Cincinnati on drunken driving charges early Friday. Michaels was described by police officers as being "unsteady" on his feet. Gannett Profit Off 1.6% as Ad Sales Keep Dropping MarketWatch Gannett has reported that its third-quarter earnings fell 1.6% as advertising revenue kept falling and fewer political ads hurt broadcast revenue. The publisher of USA Today saw its first-half profit drop due to persistent declines in print ads and circulation. News Corp Investor Group Seeks to Oust Murdoch Reuters Rupert Murdoch's campaign to keep control of News Corp. suffered a fresh blow after another key shareholder group called for his eviction from the board. Hermes Equity Ownership Services issued a rallying cry to investors to eject Murdoch and sons James and Lachlan. Murdoch Faces Teacher Protest at School Summit Associated Press Teachers in San Francisco picketed outside an education conference that features News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch as a keynote speaker, saying they believe he and other business leaders want to profit from reforms. "We don't trust them near our children." News Corp Faces Another Newspaper Scandal Bloomberg News Corp. has denied allegations that the Wall Street Journal Europe inflated circulation and that the resignation of the newspaper's publisher, Andrew Langhoff, was related. A report published by London's Guardian is "replete with untruths and malign interpretations." Comcast Kills Home Video Plan After Backlash EW After drawing boycott threats from theater chains, Universal Pictures has decided that it will no longer release the Ben Stiller-Eddie Murphy film "Tower Heist" for $60 on-demand to parent Comcast digital subscribers just three weeks after the theatrical release. News Corp Defends Board Amid Hacking Criticism Wall Street Journal News Corp. has responded to recent pressure from proxy-advisory firms to overhaul its board in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal, stating in a regulatory filing that directors and senior management are "acting decisively to get to the bottom of what happened." BSkyB Investors Voice Doubts Over Murdoch Son Financial Times Concerns are mounting among top shareholders in British Sky Broadcasting over the chairmanship of James Murdoch amid the phone-hacking scandal. "The issue is whether his presence has become a distraction and whether he can be an effective chairman." Liberty Media Head Ousts Turner as Top Landowner MarketWatch A more than one-million-acre purchase by John Malone has helped him leapfrog past Ted Turner to become America's largest landowner. Malone, majority shareholder of Liberty Media, gobbled up vast swathes of timberland in Maine and New Hampshire this year. Disney Back in Saddle with Depp's 'Lone Ranger' Deadline Disney has reached a new agreement with director Gore Verbinski, actor Johnny Depp and producer Jerry Bruckheimer on "The Lone Ranger," a high-profile film project the studio had dropped over budget concerns. The three principals are said to have made concessions. Time Warner Former PR Chief Joins RLM Finsbury New York Times Ed Adler, a former head of corporate communications at Time Warner, has joined RLM Finsbury as a partner. Adler is the first prominent addition by the public-relations firm since it was formed by the merger this year of Robinson Lerer & Montgomery and the Finsbury Group. News Corp CEO Targeted by Wall Street Protesters New York Daily News Occupy Wall Street protesters plan to head uptown Tuesday to get in the face of some of New York's richest tycoons. The march will visit the homes of five of the city's wealthiest residents, including News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, to protest a state tax on millionaires. Bertelsmann Replaces CEO with 'Energetic' CFO Financial Times Bertelsmann, Europe's largest media company and the owner of Random House, has named CFO Thomas Rabe as its new CEO. He replaces Hartmut Ostrowski, who will step down for "personal reasons." The highly regarded Rabe is described as "energetic and imaginative." Disney Ex-CEO Foundation to Bestow $100K Prize Associated Press Michael Eisner's foundation has established an annual Eisner Prize for Intergenerational Excellence that includes a $100,000 cash award to the individual or non-profit organization it decides is doing the best work to help senior citizens and young people help each other. Comcast Home Video Plan Sparks Theater Backlash Los Angeles Times Universal Pictures' controversial move to offer its upcoming Eddie Murphy-Ben Stiller comedy "Tower Heist" on premium video-on-demand just three weeks after it opens in theaters has prompted a number of theater chains to vow not to play the film at any of their locations. Time Warner, Vivendi to Bid for Polish Broadcaster Reuters Time Warner and Vivendi will likely place the only two binding bids for a controlling stake in Polish broadcaster TVN worth more than $800 million. The stake would give either Time Warner or Vivendi a large foothold in one of the most vibrant media markets in Europe. Disney Eyes CEO Successors as Iger Plans Exit New York Post Bob Iger plans to step down as Disney CEO after his contract runs out in 2015, prompting speculation about a successor and his possible political aspirations. Among the execs in line to fill Iger's shoes: Tom Staggs, Jay Rasulo, Anne Sweeney and George Bodenheimer. News Corp Pressured to Reduce Murdoch Role Sydney Morning Herald News Corp. has attracted the public displeasure of at least five shareholder groups and advisory firms ahead of its annual meeting next week, one of which wants Rupert Murdoch off the board, and all of which have concerns about a board stacked with deferential directors. Sony Acquires 'Steve Jobs' Bio for Feature Film Deadline Sony Pictures has acquired the rights to "Steve Jobs," the forthcoming authorized biography by Walter Isaacson, the former top editor of Time magazine. The studio seems a good fit, having turned the business books "The Social Network" and "Moneyball" into compelling dramas. Disney's Bob Iger to Step Down as CEO in 2015 ABC News Disney has extended CEO Bob Iger's contract through June 2016 and will give him the added role of chairman next year, as part of a succession plan that will include a new chief executive in 2015. Disney's board is taking action now to "provide for a seamless succession." Media Without Tech Envoy After Steve Jobs' Death Bloomberg Steve Jobs' death leaves the media industry without the trusted technology envoy who helped push film, television and music into the digital age. Apple's co-founder relentlessly challenged those businesses to change. "He'd call up and say, 'You guys aren't getting it.'" Disney: Steve Jobs' Death Leaves Void at Media Giant Los Angeles Times Steve Jobs played a powerful behind-the-scenes role at Disney as a board member and its largest individual shareholder. Jobs' "fingerprints [are] on a lot of Disney strategy in adopting digital platforms." With Jobs' death, it is unclear who will fill his board seat. CBS' Simon & Schuster Moves Up Steve Jobs' Bio Wall Street Journal Steve Jobs knew that he was dying weeks before the end, according to a coming biography. Walter Isaacson's book "Steve Jobs" is due out Oct. 24 from CBS' Simon & Schuster. The book's release date was moved up from Nov. 21 after the death of the Apple co-founder. Disney Near Acquisition of Developer Indiagames AllThingsD Disney is said to be close to finalizing the acquisition of Mumbai-based Indiagames, one of India's leading developers and publishers of online and mobile games. The company is being valued at $80 million to $100 million, and Disney already owns roughly half of it. News Corp Investors Call for James Murdoch's Head Independent James Murdoch faced further calls to quit News Corp.'s board after a shareholder activist group said he was causing the company "significant reputational damage." Members of the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum "want a line drawn under the hacking." Disney, Big Media Seen as Ideal Yahoo Suitors CNNMoney While Disney hasn't thrown its name into the ring, Benchmark analyst James Dobson thinks it and its big-media rivals should consider a Yahoo buyout. "The big guys — Apple, Google — aren't interested. It would make more sense for a traditional media company to buy Yahoo." Comcast Tests Early Cable TV Rentals of Movies Los Angeles Times Universal Pictures plans to make its new Eddie Murphy film "Tower Heist" available through video-on-demand to cable TV customers of parent Comcast just three weeks after it debuts in theaters. The convenience will come with a hefty asking price of $59.99. News Corp: New Hacking Victims File Legal Claims Reuters More public figures and crime victims have launched legal claims against News International over charges of phone hacking. Some 60 claimants have now lodged cases, charging that they had their phones hacked to generate stories for the now defunct News of the World. FCC: New Media Sources Result in Info Uncertainty Phoenix Business The transition to the new economics of media will be crucial for journalism, according to U.S. Federal Communications Commission commissioners, speaking at an event in Phoenix. The FCC is "unsure" how to ensure the public gets the information it demands. Apple's Steve Jobs, Co-Founder & Visionary, Dies Reuters Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs, counted among the greatest American CEOs of his generation, has died at age 56, after a years-long and highly public battle with cancer and other health issues. Jobs' death was announced by Apple in a statement late Wednesday. Viacom's Paramount Offers 'Transformers' Streams Advertising Age Paramount Pictures has quietly introduced an online streaming option for "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," taking home viewing straight to consumers without the need for middlemen such as Netflix, Facebook, Vudu, a cable company or a satellite provider. News Corp's Murdoch Challenged on Tax Returns CNNMoney Warren Buffett has a message for Rupert Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal: Sure, I'll release my tax returns, if you do too. Last week, the Journal published an editorial that asked Buffett to disclose his tax returns, taking issue with his plan to hike taxes on the super-rich. Disney Shoos Away 'Angry Birds' with 'Swampy' Reuters A new mobile game featuring Swampy the alligator currently ranks ahead of "Angry Birds" as the top paid app for iPhones and iPads, underscoring the threat that deep-pocketed companies like Disney and Electronic Arts pose for upstarts like Rovio and Zynga. News Corp Among Suitors Weighing Bids for Yahoo New York Times News Corp., the former owner of Myspace, has emerged as one of the most proactive suitors for Yahoo. The media giant has contacted Yahoo and several financial firms, including Silver Lake. Still, China's Alibaba could ultimately take the driver's seat in a deal. Report: Media, Tech M&A Activity Value Increases Direct Marketing News Mergers and acquisition value in the media, tech, marketing and services industries increased 9% to $43.4 billion in the third quarter of 2011 compared with Q2, according to investment bank Petsky Prunier. "Anything that's digital will have greater demand." Nielsen: Global Ad Spending Slows Amid Concerns Bloomberg Advertising spending declined in almost half of the world's most important media markets in the second quarter as economic concerns crimped sales, according to Nielsen. Digital marketing is a relative bright spot compared with more traditional media like newspapers. News Corp Faces New Hacking Drama in Satellite TV Guardian A man once on the payroll of NDS, a leading encryption technology company owned by News Corp. and private equity firm Permira, has been accused of hacking the conditional access cards handed out by satellite TV broadcasters for watching encrypted broadcasts. Murdochs Eyed for Removal from News Corp Board Sydney Morning Herald CEO Rupert Murdoch's sons, James and Lachlan, should be voted off the News Corp. board, along with Dow Jones heiress Natalie Bancroft and others, according to an Australian pension fund group. The group, upset by the phone-hacking scandal, wants "credible" directors. Viacom in Korean Venture for MTV & Nickelodeon Variety Viacom and South Korea's SBS Media Holdings have entered a joint-venture pact involving MTV and Nickelodeon. The deal will produce original Korean-language programming for the channels and for other Viacom-owned platforms within Asia and around the world. CBS Films Chief Exits Post as Movies Disappoint Los Angeles Times Amy Baer is leaving her post as head of CBS' fledgling film unit. The studio's movies did little business at the box office and the collapse of the DVD market meant CBS Films was bringing in less revenue than had been expected. A trio of senior execs will now run the unit. Comcast, Time Warner Cable: 'A La Carte' Unlikely Los Angeles Times While a handful of small cable operators have expressed interest in letting consumers decide what channels they want, the big boys -- including Time Warner Cable and Comcast -- are unlikely to advocate such a move. Both giants are also in the programming business. Disney's ESPN Deals Put Pay-TV Operators at Risk Businessweek As ESPN pays out more for big sports programming deals, the Disney-owned network could pass costs on to cable and satellite operators. They, in turn, could forward the costs on to viewers or even drop the sports channel. Either way, they risk losing subscribers. News Corp: Who Hacked a Competitor's Computers? New York News Corp. U.S. unit News America Marketing has admitted that someone in its office illicitly accessed the password-protected website of rival Floorgraphics. The News America campaign against its competitor "contains many of the same hallmarks" as the British phone-hacking scandal. Media Companies 'Real Winners' of Amazon Tablet CNBC The boost that Amazon's new tablet will have on media companies can't be overlooked -- they stand to cash in on the new platform to read and watch everything from magazines to movies. These affordable devices could change the way people buy and consume content. U.S. Media Business to Reach $1.4 Trillion in 2015 Reuters U.S. communications spending will expand to reach $1.4 trillion by 2015, according to the annual forecast by Veronis Suhler Stevenson. Targeted media such as text messages and product placement in video games will see much growth. Also, mobile will be "a big driver going forward." Thomson Reuters to Merge Divisions, Plan Layoffs Reuters Thomson Reuters has promoted Jim Smith to COO, as the news and information company plans merge its two main divisions, Markets and Professional, following disappointing revenue growth. According to CEO Tom Glocer, the changes will likely lead to management layoffs. Time Warner Mulls Moving New York Headquarters Wall Street Journal Time Warner is said to be eyeing several new possibilities for its headquarters, including moving to the new World Trade Center. Renewing current leases could be very costly. Time Warner moved into the Time Warner Center in New York's Columbus Circle in 2004. News Corp Investors Urged to Drop James Murdoch Guardian Investors in News Corp., Rupert Murdoch's media company, have been urged to vote against the re-election of his son James Murdoch as a director by an influential shareholder group. Pirc cites the younger Murdoch's "close association with the phone-hacking scandal." Viacom's Paramount Eyes Digital in Reorganization Los Angeles Times Paramount Pictures has become the latest Hollywood studio to consolidate many of its distribution operations to reflect the growing importance of new digital platforms. DVD, digital and TV licensing will be merged into a newly created Home Media Distribution division. Disney Launches 'Appmates' Toys for Apple iPad Los Angeles Business Disney's consumer products division will launch a line of children's toys, Appmates, that work with the Apple iPad. The new toy line features miniature "Cars 2" vehicles with sensors that are recognized by an app, allowing the iPad to become "a virtual play mat." World Media Summit Leaders Discuss New Media CRIENGLISH Execs from News Corp., Google, Thomson Reuters and other media giants discussed "the new era of the media industry" at the World Media Summit in Beijing. "It is a question of transition," observed New York Times chief Arthur Sulzberger Jr. "We are still in the media business." Media's Future: Book Says Experimentation is Key Financial Times Media producers must be willing to experiment, according to "The Ascent of Media," by Roger Parry, a new book tracing mankind's journey from clay tablets to Apple's iPad. Consumers will be unforgiving of services that fail to "make media time more productive and enjoyable." News Corp in U.S. Probe Over 'Gangster' Tactics Bloomberg News America Marketing has been asked by U.S. investigators for documents related to the ongoing probe of parent News Corp. The unit's CEO has said that he used lessons gleaned from gangster films to crush rivals. Also: James Murdoch's media adviser has resigned. Martha Rejoins Board as Company Seeks Offers MarketWatch Martha Stewart has rejoined the board of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, seven-and-a-half years after resigning in the wake of insider-trading charges. The struggling company in May hired bankers to explore offers; no strategic move can happen without Stewart's approval. Time Warner Eyes Media Bigwigs for Time Inc CEO Adweek Tom Freston, Wenda Millard, Eileen Naughton and Richard Zannino are said to be among the candidates being considered by Time Warner in the search for a CEO of its Time Inc. magazine division. Given the list, it appears that the company still seems to be focused on outsiders. Google Named Most Desirable Employer in Media Media Week Prospective employees in media and marketing would like to work for Google more than any other company, according to a survey by recruiter Aspire Global Network. The Internet powerhouse was cited for its reputation as a "profitable and continually growing business." News Corp Faces New Charges of Phone Hacking Bloomberg News Corp., publisher of the shuttered News of the World tabloid, was hit last week with claims that reporters hacked into voice mails as late as 2008, a year after a reporter and detective were jailed for the offense. James Murdoch was "in charge, so he's ultimately responsible." Hollywood Sees Shift in Business Model to Internet Los Angeles Times The movie studio business model is poised for its biggest shift in years as Hollywood turns to Internet delivery as the only way to boost home entertainment revenues. According to one Sony exec: "The days of baby steps on the Internet are over. It's critical that we experiment." Disney's 'Lion King' in 3-D Strikes Out 'Moneyball' Bloomberg "The Lion King," Disney's 3-D re-release of its 1994 animated hit, was the No. 1 film in North American theaters for a second weekend, with $22.1 million in ticket sales. The film edged out new releases, including Sony's baseball saga "Moneyball," starring Brad Pitt, at $20.6 million. Comcast Working on iPad TV Streaming Service MacRumors Comcast is said to be working on a television streaming solution for iPads, to compete with Cablevision and Time Warner. The cable giant's product, called AnyPlay, will allow Comcast subscribers to view live TV on their iPad as long as it is connected to the home network. Viacom's MTV Lays Off 100 as CEO Cuts Outlook Reuters MTV Networks has made "isolated changes" at a brand and business unit, laying off less than 100 employees. The pink slips were handed out in an "unfortunate coincidence" as Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman announced that advertising revenue growth would miss targets. News Corp: Legal Action Coming to United States Sky News Lawyers for phone-hacking victims of the News of the World tabloid plan to file lawsuits in the United States against the directors of parent company News Corp. The action represents a significant escalation in the scandal and could threaten the position of CEO Rupert Murdoch. Viacom Lays Off Staffers as Ad Growth Disappoints Adweek Viacom is said to be in the process of company-wide layoffs in its New York offices. The downsizing took place the same day CEO Philippe Dauman told analysts that the company's advertising revenue growth this quarter is expected to miss double-digit targets. Time Warner Eyes Overseas, TV Everywhere Growth Deadline Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes said that in four years he expects to see a doubling of his overseas business that now generates about $2.5 billion a year in revenue. Most of the increase will come as the company's pay-TV networks and shows become more broadly distributed. Sony's Alleged LulzSec Computer Hacker Arrested Fox News The FBI has arrested two alleged members of the hacking collectives LulzSec and Anonymous and secured charges against a third suspect. One of the arrested men, a 23-year-old from Phoenix, was accused of being involved in the hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Time Warner Low-Price Cable Package Cuts ESPN Bloomberg Time Warner Cable plans to expand its roll out of a low-priced package that excludes ESPN. The company will offer it in East Coast markets during the next few weeks; West Coast availability will follow. The cheaper service may help Time Warner Cable stem subscription losses. News Corp: Media Noise Around Scandal 'Surreal' Deadline The "media noise" surrounding News Corp.'s phone-hacking scandal has been "surreal," said company COO Chase Carey. "The truth will come out." He added that there is "nothing we've seen" to support the charge that News of the World hacked phones of 9/11 victims' families. Disney Eyes Synergy for Mobile Game Character Associated Press Disney has launched an animated alligator named Swampy, with the hope that the new character will cross over from mobile games into other business units like movies and merchandise. Swampy is featured in a 99-cent game for the iPhone called "Where's My Water?" Liberty Media Gets OK to Spin Off E-Commerce Denver Business Liberty Media's plan to make its e-commerce division a separate, public company has moved forward after the Delaware Supreme Court upheld the legality of the proposal. The ruling will allow for the creation of a separate Liberty Interactive, which will become the parent of QVC. Bloomberg is America's Wealthiest Media Mogul Hollywood Reporter Bill Gates, with $59 billion, is by far the richest person in America, according to the annual list from Forbes magazine. The first media mogul on the list is Michael Bloomberg, who is No. 12 with $19.5 billion. Others on the list include News Corp's. Rupert Murdoch at $7.4 billion. Time Warner to Create 500 Jobs in Tampa Bay Area Associated Press Time Warner plans to bring 500 jobs to the Tampa, Fla., area. The company will receive $3 million in state and local incentives to open a shared services center that will house human resources and information technology employees. Workers will make "more than $50,000 a year." News Corp U.S. Investigation Expands to Bribery Bloomberg U.S. prosecutors are said to be examining whether News Corp. employees tried to access the voicemails of 9-11 victims, broke antitrust laws and bribed U.K. police for information. Also: Alastair Campbell, the former press chief for Tony Blair, has sued News Corp.'s British unit. Turner: Murdoch is 'Going to Have to Step Down' Bloomberg Ted Turner said News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch will probably have to leave the helm of his media company after the phone-hacking scandal. "This is serious," said the broadcasting exec. "I took responsibility when I ran my company. You never heard me say, 'Well, I didn't know.'" Big Media Actions Thwart Cord-Cutting for Now MarketWatch Big owners of TV networks and studios have taken "intelligent actions" that have thwarted the threat of so-called "cord-cutting" for now, according to Nomura Securities analyst Michael Nathanson. Cord-cutting of cable-TV services is unlikely to be a "significant phenomenon." Disney to Build 'Avatar' Attraction in Theme Parks Reuters Disney will team up with News Corp. and director James Cameron to create an "Avatar" section in its Orlando, Fla., theme park. The attraction will mimic the thriving green landscape depicted in the highest-grossing movie of all time. Disney plans to bring "Avatar" to other locations. Scripps Consolidates Digital Efforts Into Single Group Knoxville News Sentinel E.W. Scripps has consolidated the digital operations of its newspapers and TV stations under a new organization headed by Adam Symson, VP and chief digital officer. "This is the beginning of a process to figure out how we can continue to serve our customers." Facebook, Time Warner Launch Anti-Bullying App Associated Press Facebook and Time Warner have launched an app designed to help prevent bullying among children and young adults. The Facebook app is part of a broader partnership the two companies formed earlier this summer to use their clout to raise awareness about bullying. News Corp to Pay $4.7 Million in Dowler Phone Hack Guardian News Corp.'s U.K. newspaper unit plans to pay about $4.7 million tied to charges that its News of the World tabloid hacked the phone of murdered teenager Milly Dowler in 2002. The payment will be the largest payout by the company tied to phone-hacking allegations. Viacom Seeks $131 Million Payback from Video Gamers Hollywood Reporter Viacom has filed a lawsuit against former stockholders of Harmonix, the studio that created the Rock Band video games, seeking to be repaid some $131 million. Viacom claims it is owed a "refund of a substantial portion of amounts paid" in a big merger that went awry. News Corp Acquires Bossa, Enters Social Gaming Telegraph Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. has moved into social gaming, with the acquisition of startup Bossa Studios through its Shine Group subsidiary, for an undisclosed amount. London-based Bossa will develop social games around Shine's TV shows, such as "The Biggest Loser." Media Exec: Next-Gen News Business Not Yet Built TheWrap Peter Chernin, the former No. 2 exec at News Corp., said he sees Google settling into search leadership and Facebook in a similar role in social media. However, despite efforts by AOL and Yahoo, "the dominant next generation news business" has yet to be built. Media, Tech Bigs Circle Yahoo as Pressure Mounts AllThingsD Yahoo is said to be receiving interest in bids for all or part of the troubled Internet company from the likes of Netscape founder Marc Andreessen and former News Corp. exec Peter Chernin. Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang and chairman Roy Bostock are "receptive" to the interest. News Corp Probe Widens with Former U.S. Employee Bloomberg Prosecutors investigating hacking and bribery allegations at News Corp. are said to be seeking to interview Robert Emmel, a former employee of U.S. unit News America Marketing, who claims knowledge of "widespread illegal activity" at the company. Time Warner Seen as Best Defensive Media Stock MarketWatch Time Warner is "the most defensively-oriented large cap media name," according to Cowen & Co. media analyst Doug Creutz. He rejected the recent assertion of several rival analysts that Disney is the best stock to play during a volatile period for the U.S. economy. News Corp Mulls Digital Channel for 'Simpsons' Los Angeles Times News Corp. has been holding internal talks about how to create additional revenue streams for "The Simpsons," the long-running animated hit series, according to COO Chase Carey. One possibility: a digital channel featuring nothing but Homer and the gang. Time Warner, Cablevision Expand TV Everywhere Variety Cablevision will let subscribers access programming from Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting outside of the home for the first time, in an extension of its TV Everywhere initiative. Shows can now be accessed anywhere via the web and on Apple iPads and iPhones. Viacom Senior Exec Exits Over Alleged Kickbacks Hollywood Reporter Brian Fays, a top VP at MTV Networks, has left the company following an investigation into allegations of a kickback scheme with direct-response sellers involving millions of dollars. Fays allegedly sought kickbacks in cash — sometimes delivered in briefcases. News Corp Shareholders File New Hacking Charge Reuters The board of News Corp. knew more than 10 years ago that two of the company's U.S. subsidiaries, News America Marketing and NDS Group, were illegally hacking rivals' computers, according to a revised lawsuit by shareholders. Or, the board was "deliberately indifferent." Disney Brass Miffed ABC Missed Jackie Exclusive New York Post Disney execs are said to be furious that the exclusive on the embargoed Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis book and tapes from her interviews with Arthur Schlesinger Jr. ran first on NBC, not on ABC, which like the book's publisher, Hyperion, is owned by Disney. Sony Sets Date for PlayStation Vita Global Rollout Reuters Sony will launch its new PlayStation Vita handheld games device on Dec. 17 in Japan, kicking off a global rollout, and insisted it will not reduce the price in the face of discounting by rival Nintendo. Sony has been criticized for setting the PS Vita's price too high. NBC Universal Appoints Exec, Renames Studio Deadline NBC's Universal Media Studios has assembled a new executive team under new executive VP Bela Bajaria. Additionally, the studio is changing its name to Universal Television, reverting to the moniker held by Universal's TV production company. News Corp: James Murdoch Recalled by Parliament Sky News James Murdoch will asked to testify again on phone hacking to a U.K. parliamentary committee. Questions will focus on discrepancies between the News Corp. exec's evidence in July and the evidence given last week by two former News International execs. Viacom's SpongeBob May Harm Children's Brains Bloomberg Children who watch fast-paced cartoons like "SpongeBob SquarePants" on Viacom's Nickelodeon channel perform only half as well on tasks as kids who spend time drawing or watching slower, educational programs, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics. Disney: 9/11 Tribute or a CEO 'Iger for Mayor' Ad? Los Angeles Times In a video memorializing Disney's $5-million contribution to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, the media giant put the focus squarely on its CEO, Bob Iger. Analysts describe the three-minute video as a possible preview to an Iger political campaign. Time Warner Names Exec for Global Real Estate Associated Press Time Warner has named former Citigroup exec Tom Santiago to oversee its recently consolidated real estate and facilities group. At Citigroup, Santiago managed a 35 million-square-foot portfolio across North America and oversaw more than 600 people. Comcast Preps for Policy Fights with Big Hires Politico Comcast has made its third big-name hire of the year, announcing that financial analyst Rebecca Arbogast will become its VP for global public policy. The cable giant's recent Beltway hires suggest that the company anticipates big battles on the policy horizon. News Corp Chief Seeks Ouster; Group Cries Foul Bloomberg News Corp. newspapers in CEO Rupert Murdoch's native Australia are said to be campaigning to oust the prime minister. Also: CtW Investment Group has questioned News Corp.'s board nomination of James Breyer over investments he made alongside Murdoch's wife. Time Warner to Train Viewers for 'TV Everywhere' New York Times A new advertising campaign by Turner Broadcasting calls for TV shows to be streamed online free, but only for cable subscribers. In commercials, Turner stars like Conan O'Brien will explain "TV Everywhere," a concept championed by Turner owner Time Warner. Viacom in Talks to Sell VH1 Channel to Seacrest Hollywood Reporter Viacom is in advanced talks to sell VH1 Soul, a little-watched digital R&B spin-off channel of VH1, to "American Idol" star Ryan Seacrest. Last year Seacrest announced plans to follow in Oprah Winfrey's footsteps and launch a network of his own. McGraw-Hill Plans to Split Into Two Companies Bloomberg McGraw-Hill, challenged by Jana Partners to change its strategy, plans to split into two separate companies focused on global markets and education. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2012 through a spinoff of the education unit to shareholders. Disney Shifts Strategy to Boost DVD Retail Sales Wall Street Journal Disney will combine sales of DVDs with toys, apparel and video games into one group, naming movie-distribution boss Robert Chapek as the new head of consumer products. By tying DVDs to other products, Disney could try to retain retail shelf space for the discs. News Corp Scandal a 'Black Eye,' Murdoch Says Australian Rupert Murdoch has described the phone-hacking scandal as "a major black eye" for News Corp. but remains confident the media giant will "put things right." His comments are contained in the company's annual report. News Corp. will "continue to shape" the future. Viacom Recruits Lady Gaga for 9/11 Campaign MTV MTV owner Viacom has teamed with Lady Gaga, DJ Pauly D and other performers to launch a national day of service campaign that asks: "What will you do to remember?" The campaign aims to inspire Americans to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11. Liberty Media to Spin Off Online, TV Commerce Denver Business Liberty Media may spin off its online and TV commerce division into a freestanding company as soon as Sept. 15 if a Delaware court hearing goes the company's way. Chief John Malone has told investors that Liberty will be active in seeking mergers and acquisitions. NBC Universal Names Banker as Finance Chief Bloomberg NBC Universal has named Morgan Stanley investment banker Stuart Epstein as CFO. Epstein was the global head of media and communications at Morgan Stanley. Epstein played a key role in creating the venture that gave Comcast a 51% stake in NBCU. Disney Consumer Products Chairman Resigns Bloomberg Disney consumer products head Andrew Mooney has resigned to seek a leadership role at another company after running the division for 12 years. The division he leaves, Disney's second smallest ahead of interactive media, has been a steady source of sales and profit growth. Time Warner Bested by Disney Amid Turmoil MarketWatch Investors looking for safety in entertainment and media stocks may find Disney a better bet than Time Warner during a period of market disarray, according to analysts at Needham & Co. Disney is "one of the most defensive" bets. But Time Warner is not. News Corp: Murdoch Son Faces Second Grilling Guardian James Murdoch is likely to be recalled to Parliament to answer fresh questions after two former News of the World execs said on Tuesday they were certain he was told of an explosive email that indicated phone hacking at the newspaper went beyond one rogue reporter. Martha Stewart Living Appoints CFO, TV Execs MarketWatch Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has named former Marvel exec Ken West as its CFO. The company also appointed industry veteran Geoffrey Darby as general manager of its TV unit and Michael Morrison as executive producer of "The Martha Stewart Show." News Corp's Murdoch Knew About Hacking Email Sky News Two former News International execs have told members of Parliament they are certain James Murdoch knew about an email that suggested phone hacking was more widespread than the company had originally admitted. Murdoch had said that he was unaware of the email. Disney's 'Help' Caps Hollywood's Cloudy Summer Bloomberg "The Help" topped the U.S. box office for a third weekend, taking in $19 million for Disney and DreamWorks over the four-day Labor Day holiday, to close out a lackluster summer for Hollywood. Attendance fell 1.4% for the summer season and is down 5.1% year-to-date. News Corp: Murdoch Family Divided in 'Big Row' Guardian As James Murdoch faces the prospect of his evidence to Parliament being called into question on Tuesday, there are growing doubts from inside his family about his suitability for the top position at News Corp. Also: News Corp. has made changes to its board. Media Ripe for M&A as Companies Exit Bankruptcy Reuters Media companies are likely to consolidate, as hundreds of businesses crawling out of bankruptcy hang "for sale" sign on their doors. Charter Communications, Journal Register and Young Broadcasting are among the companies being eyed by bankers. Hollywood Players to Expand New-Media Reach Wall Street Journal Former William Morris agent John Fogelman's new company plans to develop original entertainment, online videos and videogames. Separately, a new Weinstein Co. unit will distribute films via online, video-on-demand and to movie theaters, sometimes simultaneously. Sony CEO Puts Faith in TVs, Tablets for Bounce Back Telegraph Sony has launched its first two tablet computers and has made a convincing case that they may well stand a chance against Apple's iPad. CEO Howard Stringer said it is only a matter of time before TV series are delivered directly to Sony products. News Corp Tabloid Phone-Hacking Panel to Resume Wall Street Journal A parliamentary committee's inquiry into phone hacking at News Corp.'s News of the World tabloid resumes next week with the focus on when top executives of the company's U.K. newspaper unit became aware of the breadth of the problem. Murdoch's 'Tough Guy' & Son-in-Law Under Spotlight Reuters / BusinessWeek The bare-knuckle business tactics of News America Marketing, run by "tough guy" Paul Carlucci, are being eyed by U.S. regulators. Also: Matthew Freud could emerge as a central force in News Corp. if he can steer wife Elisabeth Murdoch through the scandal. Disney Develops Stage Musical on Newspaper Strike Associated Press Disney is developing a new stage version of "Newsies," its 1992 film musical that tells the story of child newspaper sellers in turn-of-the-century New York. The film, starring Christian Bale, did poorly at the box office but has become something of a cult hit. Comcast-NBC Merger OK Maintains Court Oversight Bloomberg Comcast's takeover of NBC Universal has been approved by a federal judge with conditions that will continue court oversight of the deal for two more years. The combined company must report on arbitration actions initiated by online video distributors. Facebook CEO Boots Media Moguls Off Power List New York Post Mark Zuckerberg has topped Vanity Fair's New Establishment list, for the second year in a row. Tech figures including Tim Cook and Jack Dorsey dominated the top 10. This year, old-school media moguls were shunted onto a separate list, "The Powers That Be." Old Media to See Marketing Dollars Shift to Digital MediaPost Businesses will continue to shift marketing dollars away from traditional outlets to more measured and emerging media, according to a report by BIA/Kelsey. By 2015, the bulk of their dollars will be spent in the digital arena -- from mobile to social to online. Time Warner Poised to Lead Summer Box Office Variety 2011 is expected to deliver the biggest summer box office of all time, surpassing 2009's record $4.34 billion take. For the first time ever, the top five films of summer were all sequels, led by Warner Bros.'s "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," at $1.3 billion. Viacom-CBS Chief Redstone to Fight Poverty Hollywood Reporter Sumner Redstone continues to donate and share his wealth. The Global Poverty Project said that the Viacom and CBS chief's foundation has donated $1.5 million to further its mission of eradicating extreme poverty, continuing his recent string of donations. News Corp Staffers Behind Hacking Kept Secret Guardian The names of several News of the World journalists who ordered a private detective to hack into mobile phones will not be publicly disclosed after Scotland Yard intervened to prevent their publication. "The issues of confidentiality are of concern to the police." Sony, Warner Back Flickme Social Movie Startup Associated Press Flickme has launched a library of more than 1,000 movies for rent or purchase with Facebook and Twitter integration. It already has some notable backers: Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. are participating and venture capital firm Sequoia has provided funding. Time Warner's CNN Buys Zite iPad App for News Bloomberg Time Warner's CNN cable news channel has acquired Zite, a free app for Apple's iPad that offers users a personalized news stream, in a deal said to be worth about $25 million. CNN is buying Zite as more viewers get their news on tablets and smartphones. Sony: Movies, Music Will Give Our Tablets Edge Bloomberg Sony is betting its tablet computers will rival Apple's iPad by luring buyers with music and movies, even as the company arrives more than a year late in the market. "Yes, yes, Apple makes an iPad," said CEO Howard Stringer. "But does it make a movie?" AT&T, T-Mobile Merger Block Eyed by Justice Dept Bloomberg AT&T wouldn't have much luck trying to salvage its proposed takeover of T-Mobile USA through negotiation with the U.S. Justice Department, leaving a court fight as its only recourse, lawyers said. The Justice Department filed a lawsuit to block the deal. Lions Gate: Icahn Ends Battle, Agrees to Sell Stake Los Angeles Times Activist investor Carl Icahn has agreed to sell all of his holdings in Lions Gate, ending his bitter, three-year-long battle to take over the film and TV studio and oust its management. The company behind "Mad Men" said it has reached a settlement with Icahn. Disney Former Film Chief Cook Seeks Biz Return Bloomberg Dick Cook, former chairman of Walt Disney Studios, is said to be seeking to raise $625 million in equity financing to make and distribute family oriented films. Cook and his advisers are soliciting investors, including private-equity firms, hedge funds and wealthy individuals. Comcast: NBC Picks 'Today' Exec for Olympics New York Times Nearly three months ago, Comcast agreed to pay $4.38 billion for its NBC Universal subsidiary to carry the four Olympics from 2014 to 2020. On Tuesday, NBC made a critical hire, naming "Today" show executive producer Jim Bell as its top Olympic producer. Media Companies Likely to Battle Ownership Ban Triangle Business Media companies could take a recent appellate court decision to the U.S. Supreme Court after an appeals court restored a long-standing ban on cross-media ownership, according to Kevin Martin, former head of the Federal Communications Commission News Corp: Murdochs Face Questions Under Oath Telegraph Rupert Murdoch and his son, James, are to be questioned about the phone hacking scandal in the U.K. High Court. The proceedings, which will begin in October, could include Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks and be broadcast live to ensure transparency. Viacom: MTV Awards Show Draws Record Viewers Bloomberg MTV's "Video Music Awards" on Sunday attracted 12.4 million viewers, the network's largest audience ever. This year's show, which aired after a new episode of MTV's top-rated "Jersey Shore," generated traffic on social networks, further fueling viewership. CBS Chief's Wife Wields Axe Over Ladies of 'The Talk' New York Post Page Six: The wrath of "Queen" Julie Chen continues as she axes the ladies of CBS gab-fest "The Talk." Chen, who show insiders say warned her co-hosts, "My husband Les Moonves can fire your asses any day," has left execs "essentially neutered." Time Warner Earns Fees from Anonymous Hackers New York Times When members of Anonymous, the infamous hacker group, appear in public, they don a plastic mask of the famous 17th-century English protester Guy Fawkes. Time Warner owns the rights to the image and is paid a licensing fee with the sale of each mask. News Corp Scandal Prompts State to Scrap Project New York Daily News The News Corp. phone hacking scandal has prompted New York state to kill a $27 million contract with Wireless Generation, one of the media giant's subsidiaries. An "incomplete record" about News Corp.'s qualifications was cited as a cause for concern. Disney Factory Eyed in Sweatshop Suicide Charge Guardian Disney's best-selling "Cars" toys are said to be made in a factory in China that uses child labor and forces staff to do three times the amount of overtime allowed by law. One worker reportedly killed herself after being repeatedly shouted at by bosses. Comcast Employees Boost Donations to Obama Yahoo News Comcast staffers donated more money to the Obama Victory Fund, a fund-raising committee for President Obama's re-election campaign and the Democratic National Committee, than employees of any other organization, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. News Corp's Hacker Required to Reveal Names Bloomberg Glenn Mulcaire, the British private detective who hacked voice mails for News Corp., is required to reveal for the first time the names of the employees who directed him. "It will be interesting to see if anybody is named who hasn't yet been arrested." Viacom-CBS Chief's Daughter Seeks Investments AllThingsD A new early stage media investor, Advancit Capital, was co-founded by a boldfaced name: Shari Redstone, daughter of Sumner Redstone, director at CBS and Viacom. The firm "seeks to form long-term partnerships with talented, focused and driven entrepreneurs." Time Warner Eyes Stake in Poland TV Network Bloomberg Shares of TVN, Poland's largest television network, have surged on reports that Time Warner and others are interested in buying a majority stake. The broadcaster's assets include Poland's biggest Internet portal. TVN is said to have met with Time Warner last week. Bloomberg LP to Acquire BNA for $990 Million Crain's New York Bloomberg LP, in a move to strengthen its legal research division and expand coverage of regulatory issues, plans to buy legal data provider Bureau of National Affairs, known as BNA, for $990 million. Bloomberg has been on an expansion tear in recent years. Sony Probes Fraudulent 'Godfather' on YouTube EW A fraudulent account claiming to be Sony Pictures UK uploaded the classic movie "The Godfather" in its entirety on YouTube. Sony quickly worked with Google's video-sharing site to have the account deactivated. Sony said it is "investigating the violation." News Corp 9/11 Hacking Claim in Probe by U.S. Bloomberg The United States is still investigating whether the phones of Sept. 11 victims were hacked by News Corp., relatives of those killed in the terrorist attacks have been told by attorney general Eric Holder. If the charges are proved to be true, there will be "full justice." Martha Stewart Hires Exec Amid Sale Speculation Associated Press Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has named Univision veteran Daniel Taitz as chief administrative officer, general counsel and corporate secretary. The company recently hired Blackstone Advisory Partners to explore opportunities, triggering speculation of a sale. McGraw-Hill Seen Worth 40% More if Broken Up Bloomberg McGraw-Hill, which does everything from selling textbooks to compiling car surveys, may be worth at least 40% more if sold and broken into pieces. By breaking up the company, its shareholders could get about $5 billion more, according to JPMorgan Chase. Time Warner to Subsidize Subscriber TV Device New York Times Time Warner Cable plans to subsidize some purchases of a set-top box called Slingbox that allows users to watch their home TV programming from anywhere. The offer reflects the fact that Internet connectivity, not TV, is becoming the core part of its business. NBCUniversal Diversity Commitment Questioned Los Angeles Times NBCUniversal has come under fire as diversity advocates claim that the company is not honoring promises that helped pave the way for its takeover by Comcast. Among NBC's six new fall series, only one, "The Playboy Club," has a minority in a leading role. Disney Eliminates Marvel Marketing Department Deadline Disney has eliminated Marvel Studios' marketing department, two years after acquiring the movie producer and comic-book publisher, as the company looks for ways to reduce film costs. The department's job "was to keep track of the people doing the real work." News Corp Pay Puts Pressure on Prime Minister Bloomberg Britain's opposition Labour Party has called on Prime Minister David Cameron to say whether he knew that former News of the World tabloid editor Andy Coulson continued to receive payments from News Corp. while he was working as his head of communications. Miramax Taps NBCUniversal Veteran for Digital AllThingsD Miramax has brought on Beth Minehart, a 14-year veteran of NBCUniversal, as its new digital boss. Minehart's last job at NBCU was heading digital for its international arm. Miramax earlier this week announced plans to rent movies via Facebook. McGraw-Hill: Investors Seek Four-Way Breakup New York Times The activist investors pushing for change at McGraw-Hill have unveiled their vision for the media company — break it up into four parts. Jana Partners and the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan are hoping to cleave the publisher into its components. News Corp Faces Threat of 'Powerful Enemies' Forbes Analysts from Needham & Co. have downgraded their recommendation for News Corp. on the grounds that "powerful enemies" of Rupert Murdoch are intent on using the phone-hacking scandal to bring him low. The analysts term the persecution a "witch hunt." Disney: 'Next Gen' Spending Eats Into Profits Orlando Sentinel Disney has cited spending on "NextGen" as one of the reasons its theme-park division posted lower-than-expected profit margins during the company's most recent quarter. "NextGen" has a $1 billion budget, but none of its developments have been installed yet. Comcast CEO Hosts Obama in Martha's Vineyard TV Newser After golf and before his statement on Libya, President Obama on Sunday stopped by the Martha's Vineyard home of Comcast CEO Brian Roberts. The presidential motorcade arrived at the home of Brian and Aileen Roberts at 5:15 p.m., a spokesman said. News Corp IDs Person Who Ordered Hacking Wall Street Journal News Corp. officials have identified the individual at its former News of the World tabloid who commissioned private investigator Glenn Mulcaire to hack into the mobile phone of missing schoolgirl Milly Dowler. The company is yet to release the person's name. Viacom Star Colbert's PAC Is More Than a Gag New York Times Stephen Colbert's political action committee may be a gag on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," but it is spending money as it sees fit, with little disclosure, just like its noncomedic brethren. More than 165,000 fans have signed up, and many of them sending money. Warner Music: Bronfman, Cooper Switch Roles Los Angeles Times A round of post-acquisition musical chairs has left Edgar Bronfman Jr. and Stephen Cooper switching roles at Warner Music. Bronfman is stepping down as CEO two months after the music giant's sale to Access Industries. He will assume the chairmanship from Cooper. Comcast Withdraws Lawsuit Against DirecTV Philadelphia Business Comcast announced on its blog that it has dropped its lawsuit against DirecTV. The cable giant said that the satellite-TV company changed or stopped running the advertisements about a National Football League package that Comcast considered false and misleading. News Corp Hacker Is Ordered to Reveal Names Guardian Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator jailed in 2007 for intercepting voice mails of celebrities while working for News Corp.'s News of the World tabloid, has been ordered by a U.K. court to reveal who told him to hack phones. The names must be revealed by this Friday. Murdoch Quietly Sells Off Ranch in California Telegraph Rupert Murdoch has sold his ranch in Carmel Valley, Calif., because his wife, Wendi, "doesn't see it in her future portfolio." The ranch was sold for $17.8 million. Murdoch said in 2006: "I use the ranch as a retreat to entertain my executive and senior team members." Viacom Eyes Ads in International Expansion RapidTVNews Viacom has named Macky Drese as VP of international sales, indicating the company has designs on expanding its global reach for advertising. The media giant plans to use MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon to help marketers reach youth globally. Disney to Showcase New Wares at D23 Expo Los Angeles Times Marvel superheroes will join Mickey Mouse, Kermit the Frog and new characters from Pixar Animation this weekend for Disney's D23 Expo in Anaheim, Calif. The $47-per-person consumer event will present star-studded panels and TV and film previews. News Corp Execs Mull Exit of James Murdoch Reuters News Corp. is starting to think about what the company might do if James Murdoch stepped aside, according to sources inside and close to the media giant. But chief Rupert Murdoch and senior management insist that such consideration is "absolutely not true." Liberty Media to Buy Stake in Barnes & Noble Associated Press Liberty Media has dropped its $1 billion bid to buy Barnes & Noble and instead will invest $204 million in the bookseller. In May, Liberty offered to buy all of Barnes & Noble, apparently enticed by the potential of the company's Nook electronic reader. Time Warner Sees Publishing Ad Sales Slowing Bloomberg Time Warner's publishing advertising revenue growth has slowed in the past month as economic concerns have mounted, said CEO Jeff Bewkes. "It hasn't turned into a decline, but it isn't growing as strongly headed toward the fall as it was in the spring." News Corp: Middle East Offers Hope to Murdoch National Rupert Murdoch has a staunch supporter in the Saudi billionaire Prince Al Waleed bin Talal and their relationship may spur News Corp. to look to the region for further growth. News Corp. has shown "a lot of interest in the region, and they want to do more." Time Warner Cable Sees Balance Shifting to Web Wall Street Journal Glenn Britt, CEO of Time Warner Cable, said broadband Internet rather than television is becoming the cable operator's "anchor service," after sealing a $3 billion deal to buy Insight Communications. "The relative importance of the video business has declined." Disney Film Studios Chief Seen as Brand Manager Fast Company Rich Ross's title is chairman of Walt Disney Studios, but he is really a brand manager. According to Ross: "If a 10-year-old can't sit through one of our movies, then it should not be Disney-branded." Ross's big-budget film of "The Lone Ranger" is now on hiatus. News Corp Admits Possible Damage from Scandal Deadline News Corp. has admitted that the phone-hacking scandal might harm the company's reputation, despite recently reporting $2.7 billion in profits. In a filing to U.S. authorities, the company said: "These proceedings might impair our ability to conduct our business." Media Giants See Ad Slowdown After Brief Revival Associated Press For the likes of Disney, CBS, NBCUniversal and News Corp., advertising revenue growth — which slumped during the Great Recession — came roaring back in 2010. But now, as the U.S. economy shows signs of another recession, growth is beginning to slow. Coinstar Tests Price Hikes for Redbox DVDs TheStreet Coinstar is following in the footsteps of Netflix, testing price hikes for DVD rentals at its Redbox kiosks. The company is testing a price increase to $1.20 a night from $1. A full-scale rollout of the higher price could boost 2012 earnings by as much as $203 million. Elisabeth Murdoch Makes $214 Million on Shine Sale Los Angeles Times Rupert Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth Murdoch collected $214 million from the sale of her British TV production company, Shine Group, to her father's media company earlier this year. The figure was revealed in a News Corp. filing with U.S. regulators. Lachlan Murdoch Cuts Jobs at Aussie Broadcaster Australian Lachlan Murdoch, interim CEO of Ten Network, a TV and outdoor advertising company in Australia, has announced plans to cut 180 jobs in a cost-saving move. The third-ranked Ten Network has suffered weak ratings. Lachlan also serves as a News Corp. director. Universal, Sony Music to Cut Jobs Amid Changes New York Post Universal Music is laying off 20 employees, while Sony Music is expected to cut jobs in the coming days. The No. 1 and No. 2 music companies, respectively, are likely to eliminate more jobs as they reshuffle their ranks following management changes. News Corp Execs Said Aware of Hacking for Years Bloomberg News of the World execs may have been aware of widespread phone hacking at the U.K. tabloid since 2007, U.K. lawmaker Damian Collins said, citing a letter by former royal reporter Clive Goodman. Hacking was discussed at editorial meetings, Goodman claims. News Corp Inquiries Advance at U.S. Operations Wall Street Journal U.S. authorities have expanded their probe of News Corp., in regards to past allegations of misconduct at the company's divisions. The charges include a supermarket-coupon and advertising unit that settled a lawsuit from a competitor alleging computer hacking. Comcast's Roberts Is Philly's Highest-Paid CEO Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast CEO Brian Roberts comes in at No. 1 on a compensation list of CEOs of public companies in Philadelphia, making $28.16 million in 2010. In a statement, Comcast said Roberts earned his paycheck: "Shareholder return has outpaced its sector." Time Warner Unveils App for Cinemax After HBO Variety Time Warner has launched MAX Go, an app allowing Cinemax subscribers to watch movies on their iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, as well as certain Android devices. The launch follows the success of HBO Go from Time Warner sibling pay channel HBO. Disney Halts 'Lone Ranger' Over Production Costs Deadline Disney has shut down production on "The Lone Ranger," a big-budget period Western motion picture that was to star Johnny Depp as Tonto. Disney pulled the plug "because of the budget," as Hollywood appears to be halting tentpole movies "with more regularity." Relativity Media Deal Opening Film Door to China Los Angeles Times Independent studio Relativity Media said it is investing in SkyLand, a China-based entertainment production company, with two other firms to create TV shows and movies based on the Asian nation's culture for that domestic audience and potentially worldwide. Lions Gate: Icahn Ups Stake in 'Mad Men' Studio Bloomberg Billionaire Carl Icahn resumed purchases of stock in Lions Gate, the film and TV studio that makes "Mad Men," eight months after ending a bid to take over the company. The studio has been in a standoff with Icahn, who ended a $7.50-a-share buyout offer in December. Media Companies: Painful Profits From Web Video Wall Street Journal Media companies are starting to cash in on Internet video. But that new money could be coming at a cost as fewer young people watch traditional television. The battle between the old and new ways of watching TV is putting networks and studios in "a tricky position." Media Giants Talk About Netflix Amid Transition TheStreet Netflix's reach goes way beyond its own subscription services. The Internet streaming media outfit has been the topic of discussion among major media companies during earnings calls in recent weeks, showing how dependent the sector has become on digital. News Corp Shares Bounce Back from Scandal Associated Press News Corp. shares increased sharply after the company reported upbeat quarterly earnings and a stock buyback plan. The gain restored much of the billions of dollars in market value that News Corp. had lost since the phone-hacking scandal exploded in early July. Disney Intern's Boyfriend Facing SEC Charge Los Angeles Times A California man has been charged with insider trading by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which accused him of using confidential information about Disney's planned acquisition of Marvel to reap an illicit $192,500 stock windfall. Sony Probe Sought Over New Bid Laden Movie Los Angeles Times U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) sent a letter to the CIA and the Defense Department asking for a probe into whether the White House granted director Kathryn Bigelow and Sony Pictures access to confidential data for her movie about the capture of Osama bin Laden. News Corp: Murdoch Sees Carey as Successor Reuters Rupert Murdoch acknowledged publicly for the first time that his son James is not the preferred choice to succeed him as News Corp. CEO, at least in the near-term. COO Chase Carey "is my partner and if anything happened to me I'm sure he'll get it immediately." Viacom, Cablevision Settle iPad Streaming Fight Reuters Viacom and Cablevision have resolved a lawsuit over the latter's alleged unauthorized streaming of Viacom programing on devices such as Apple's iPad. "Neither side is conceding its original legal position or will have further comment," they said in a joint statement. Disney Aims to Put TV Shows Behind Pay Wall GigaOM Disney is working out deals with distributors that would allow viewers to watch shows sooner if they log on with a cable ID. The company is in talks to provide "TV Everywhere"-type authentication, which has become widely used by cable networks like HBO and CNN. Lions Gate Plans Early Pay-TV Rentals of Film Bloomberg Lions Gate will offer the Taylor Lautner film "Abduction" on pay TV three months after its Sept. 23 theatrical release for as little as $6.99, undercutting the prices of rivals. "Abduction" will be Lions Gate's first test of so-called premium video-on-demand. Media Giants Buy Back Shares, Wary of M&A Financial Times Big media companies, led by Disney and Time Warner, have authorized a total of $37 billion in buy-backs this year, according to Birinyi Associates. The repurchase programs come as media companies have grown wary of a weak mergers and acquisitions market. Media Bigwigs Set for Paley Powwow on Disruption World Screen Barry Diller, Les Moonves and Anne Sweeney are among the execs set to take part in The Paley Center's International Council next month. The meeting, with the theme Beyond Disruption, will focus on the emergence of new models as technology transforms the media landscape. Disney CEO Eyes Acquisitions Across the World Bloomberg Disney is seeking acquisitions, a year and a half after completing its $4.2 billion takeover of Marvel Entertainment. "We've looked expansively at opportunities across the world to buy new businesses," said CEO Bob Iger. He didn't specify any targets. News Corp: Murdoch to Take Part in Quarterly Call Reuters News Corp. is taking a brave but necessary step in putting Rupert Murdoch on Wednesday's quarterly earnings call for the first time in three quarters. The maverick 80-year-old chief has been known to make off-the-cuff remarks which his aides have had to backtrack from. News Corp Sees Rise from 'Planet of the Apes' Deadline 20th Century Fox's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," produced by former News Corp. president Peter Chernin, opened as the No. 1 movie in theaters this weekend. Also: News Corp.'s FX cable channel has already scooped up the exclusive TV rights to the hit film. Murdoch Heir Delays Joining News Corp Board Wall Street Journal CEO Rupert Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth has shelved plans to join the board of News Corp., as the company attempts to defuse concerns about governance. Also: News Corp. execs aim to use this week's earnings report to steer attention away from the company's scandal. Media Congloms Suffer as Stock Market Tumbles TheWrap The stock market tumbled dramatically on Thursday, hitting all sectors including media. Among the biggest hit: CBS was down 9.33%. According to one media analyst: "There are concerns that spending in ad-driven companies may not be as secure as we'd like it to be." News Corp Scandal Kept Alive by 'Motley Crew' Bloomberg The News Corp. phone-hacking scandal threatened to drop from the headlines several times since it emerged in 2006. Celebrities, led by actor Hugh Grant, kept the pressure on. Also: News Corp.'s cleanup effort has come under fire for its independence and mandate. Viacom: Digital Distribution Important for Media Reuters Viacom, parent of MTV and Comedy Central, has reported a bigger-than-expected increase in quarterly profit on strong growth in cable advertising and licensing of TV shows to sites like Netflix and Hulu. "Digital distribution is going to be important for all media players." Time Warner Tests App to Spur Film Purchases Los Angeles Times Warner Bros. has launched a beta test of Flixster Collections, a new app to organize, display and buy movies online. It is the first time a film studio has developed a computer application intended to promote general home entertainment, instead of just its own titles. News Corp Lawsuits Rise in Phone-Hacking Probe Wall Street Journal News Corp. is facing about 35 privacy-invasion lawsuits against its News of the World, the tabloid at the center of the phone-hacking scandal. That is up from about two dozen in April. The company has set aside about $24.4 million to $32.6 million to cover civil litigation. Time Warner May License Content to Apple, Netflix New York Post Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes has indicated a new willingness to license the company's TV shows and movies to digital outlets as competition pushes up prices. "We have ongoing discussions with all of the digital outlets — Apple, Amazon and Netflix." Liberty Media Near Offer to Acquire Barnes & Noble Wall Street Journal Liberty Media is said to be working to line up financing for its bid to acquire Barnes & Noble. Liberty is moving from the due-diligence phase to finalizing its offer for the bookseller. A Liberty-Barnes & Noble deal could be finalized by the end of August. Time Warner Gets Boost from Hoops, Hangovers CNNMoney Time Warner has posted second-quarter earnings up 14% from last year, as "The Hangover Part II" became the highest-grossing R-rated comedy film of all time. Revenue at the Time Inc. publishing unit rose 3%, as subscriptions and advertising ticked slightly higher. Comcast Helped by NBCU, Internet Subscribers Philadelphia Inquirer Comcast said its second-quarter profit rose 16%, as video-subscriber losses slowed and Internet users increased. The biggest story, however, appeared to be the rebound at Comcast's newly acquired NBCUniversal, where revenue soared 17% to $5.2 billion. CBS Reports Benefits from Digital Distribution Financial Times Deals with digital distributors helped CBS increase its second quarter profits. Revenues from content licensing and distribution were $889 million for the three months ended June 30 — up 21%. CBS is receiving about $200 million from Netflix over two years. News Corp Investor Plans World's Tallest Tower Arab News Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, News Corp.'s most powerful shareholder after the Murdoch family with 7% of the media giant's voting shares, plans to build the world's tallest tower in Saudi Arabia. The mixed-use Kingdom Tower will rise two-thirds of a mile high. Analysis: Are the Media Giants' Days Numbered? Financial Times Today's media conglomerates are looking over their shoulders at the likes of Apple and Google, which James Murdoch said in June were "bigger beasts" than a News Corp. or a Time Warner. New-media giants could soon emerge — some by buying old-media assets. Live Nation Invests in Shopping Website Lockerz Puget Sound Business Social shopping site Lockerz has raised $36 million from existing investors and Live Nation Entertainment. The new round was led by DAG Ventures with participation from seed investor Liberty Media, Liberty CEO Greg Maffei, as well as Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Liberty Media Backs Away from Barnes & Noble New York Post Barnes & Noble head Len Riggio has been in exclusive talks with billionaire media mogul John Malone to sell a 70% stake that would value the bookseller at $1 billion, but those talks have hit a rough patch. "The Barnes deal looks shaky," according to a source. Disney Names Kranhold SVP of Corporate PR PR Week Kathryn Kranhold, former director at Brunswick Group, has been selected by Disney as SVP of corporate communications. Kranhold will be responsible for a variety of communication plans. She will report to Zenia Mucha, Disney EVP of corporate communications. Time Warner Cable Extends CEO Britt Contract MediaPost Time Warner Cable has extended the contract of Glenn Britt that is expected to keep him as CEO through at least the end of 2013. Britt's current deal was scheduled to lapse at the end of next year. The new deal includes provisions for "long-term incentive compensation." Oprah to Receive Honorary Academy Award Los Angeles Times Oprah Winfrey, actor James Earl Jones and pioneering makeup artist Dick Smith have been chosen by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to receive the Governors Awards. Winfrey will be presented with the organization's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Martha Board Return Delayed Until September New York Post Martha Stewart's return to the board of her namesake company has been delayed until late September, and the odds of her becoming chairman again — even though she is the majority stockholder — appear to be fading. Some investors doubt the role is in her "skill set." Big Media Ring Up Sales as Ads Keep Coming Reuters U.S. media conglomerates are set to report quarterly revenue gains on the back of a booming advertising market that shows little sign of retreating. Investors have flocked to media stocks: CBS is up 44%, Viacom is up 22% and Time Warner has climbed 9%. Media Execs See Digital Revenues on the Rise VentureBeat About 94% of media execs expect an increase in digital revenues this year, according to a survey by KPMG. Mobile commerce and other new convergences are expected to have the greatest positive impact. "Media companies are sensing industry momentum." Hollywood Studios Win Ruling Against Zediva Bloomberg The Motion Picture Association of America, representing Hollywood studios, won a ruling halting the operators of the movie-streaming service Zediva from infringing their copyrights. Zediva illegally streams movies without obtaining required licenses, the MPAA said. Martha Blamed for Floundering Company Stock Forbes "Greedy" Martha Stewart is responsible for the crummy stock performance of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, suggests a profile of the media maven in New York magazine. However, the premise and math may be bogus; Stewart's pay package fell by 40% last year. McGraw-Hill Set for Breakup with Investor Boost Wall Street Journal Jana Partners and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan have upped their stake in McGraw-Hill in a move that could lead to a push to break up the company. Wall Streeters want McGraw-Hill to separate its lucrative Standard & Poor's from its struggling education business. Media Giants Ditch Deals for Shareholder Returns Hollywood Reporter Viacom, CBS, Time Warner and Disney are on track to spend more on returning value to shareholders amid strong cash generation and a lack of major acquisitions. Meanwhile, tech powerhouses are facing questions about how they will use their cash war chests. News Corp Investors See Silver Lining in Scandal Associated Press For long-suffering shareholders of News Corp., the phone-hacking scandal could be a blessing in disguise. The controversy is likely to dampen CEO Rupert Murdoch's appetite to orchestrate another "clunker" acquisition, such as Myspace or Dow Jones. Martha Stewart Chief Koppelman to Step Down WWD Charles Koppelman, executive chairman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, will step down by the end of the year, at the latest. A regulatory filing confirmed his employment agreement will end by Dec. 31. His contract had been due to expire Dec. 31, 2012. News Corp: James Murdoch Holds Onto Power Los Angeles Times James Murdoch cleared the first hurdle in his bid to hold onto power in his father Rupert's company, News Corp., when he was retained as head of BSkyB despite questions about his handling of the phone-hacking scandal. "This situation might begin to recede." Disney Wins Copyright Case for Marvel Comics New York Times Disney has won a case over copyright ownership brought by the heirs of Jack Kirby, a co-creator of Fantastic Four and the X-Men. The ruling declares comics and characters created by Kirby — all of which now underlie valuable movie series — were works for hire. Viacom to Rent 'Jackass' Movies on Facebook Los Angeles Business Viacom's Paramount Pictures has made the entire "Jackass" movie catalog available for rent via Facebook. The films can be rented individually and viewed for up to 48 hours. The rentals cost either $2.99 or $3.99 worth of credits on the online social network. BSkyB Board Supports Murdoch as Chairman Financial Times James Murdoch has won the unanimous support of BSkyB directors to remain as chairman of the U.K. satellite broadcaster for the foreseeable future. The board, which resisted calls for a radical personnel change, plans to "keep a watching brief" on "external issues." News Corp Surveys Shareholders on Murdoch Bloomberg News Corp. has surveyed its biggest shareholders on chief Rupert Murdoch's succession and his family's control of the media company. Shareholders were also asked for their views on the independence of News Corp.'s board, its corporate governance and other issues. Time Warner to Relocate Back-Office Functions Atlanta Business Time Warner plans to relocate up to 500 jobs in an effort to help the company operate more efficiently. Atlanta, Tampa, Fla., and Rochester, N.Y. are in the running to house a new facility grouping information technology, human resources and other "shared services." Comcast, NBCU Merger Threatened with Delay Wall Street Journal A federal judge has threatened to hold up court approval of the merger of Comcast and General Electric's former NBCUniversal unit, criticizing the Obama administration's antitrust settlement that allowed the merger. The merger settlement is subject to review by a federal court. Sony Reports $199 Million Loss on Disasters Associated Press Sony sank to a $199 million quarterly loss, hurt by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a massive online security breach and plunging TV prices. The company has lost money for seven straight years in its important TV business, but has vowed to be back in the black. Time Warner Cable Boosted by Internet Growth Bloomberg Time Warner Cable reported profit that beat analysts' estimates after luring more Internet subscribers. The second-largest U.S. cable-TV operator added broadband customers in the second quarter, helping to offset slowing demand for TV subscriptions. Martha: Media Likely to Pass on Company Sale WWD The "strategic exploration" process for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is still in the early days. But if a sale does go down, insiders speculate it will probably happen with a private equity firm, as opposed to a media company. "Publishers would find it difficult to work with her." Martha Stewart Eyes Realignment as Ads Sales Dip MediaPost Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia reported that publishing revenues slipped 3.4% in the second quarter, due to "continued volatility in the print advertising market." The company recently announced plans for a major strategic realignment aiming to expand the business. News Corp: Group Seeks Murdoch Role Change Bloomberg News Corp. should split the roles of chairman and CEO now held by Rupert Murdoch and make other changes, according to the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. A "significant number" of the group's investors who are calling for changes are News Corp. shareholders. Reuters CEO Under Pressure After Restructuring Wall Street Journal The family that controls Thomson Reuters is said to have grown impatient with the company's performance and pressed for a recent shakeup, putting pressure on CEO Tom Glocer. He now oversees the markets division directly, putting him in the line of fire if results don't improve. U.S. Media Companies Seeing Strength in TV Dow Jones Earnings preview: Media companies continue to benefit from higher advertising sales after the major networks and cable operators implemented price hikes. At the same time, the media giants are signing new licensing deals with Internet firms like Netflix and Amazon. Murdoch Former No 2 to Unspool Major Projects Los Angeles Times Peter Chernin, the former News Corp. president, will soon unveil his first big projects: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and "Terra Nova." Chernin, whose name is often mentioned for top jobs at Apple or a traditional media company, was approached last year to join an effort to buy Yahoo. Disney Eyes Bollywood Expansion with UTV Bid Bloomberg Disney has offered to buy the rest of India's UTV Software Communications it doesn't own for as much as $454 million, as the world's biggest media company seeks to expand in Bollywood. UTV makes and distributes movies and produces TV shows for Asia's third-largest economy. Eisner's Topps Buys Facebook Gift Card Provider AllThingsD Topps, the company known for kids' trading cards, is expanding into digital goods with the purchase of GMG Entertainment, the gift card provider for Facebook. Topps was acquired and taken private by Michael Eisner's Tornante Company and Madison Dearborn Partners in 2007. U.S. Media Cross Ownership Eyed for Dismissal Broadcasting & Cable The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has released three more media ownership studies. Among the conclusions: Newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership has a "positive correlation" on local news. One study suggested lifting the cross-ownership ban altogether. News Corp: Heir Apparent Faces New Pressure Wall Street Journal James Murdoch is fending off pressure from U.K. politicians after two former News Corp. execs accused him of misleading a parliamentary panel. Also: James's future as BSkyB chief "largely depends" on how the phone-hacking story unfolds in coming days. Murdoch Sells Off Outdoor Media Businesses Financial Times News Corp. has sold its News Outdoor billboard businesses in Russia and Romania to a group of Russian investors led by VTB Capital, the state investment bank, at a steep discount. The deal completes much of News Corp.'s divestment of its outdoor media business. Viacom's 'Captain America' Shoots Down 'Harry' Reuters Paramount Pictures' "Captain America: The First Avenger" triumphed at the U.S. and Canadian box offices in weekend ticket sales, as the magic faded from the record debut of Warner Bros.'s final "Harry Potter" film. Also: There will be no "Captain America" for Venezuela. Sony, Universal, Platinum Weigh Bids for EMI Reuters Sony Music and Platinum Equity are said to be among the companies and private-equity firms interested in buying EMI. The 114-year-old music company, which represents such artists as Katy Perry, is seen as one of the last remaining attractive assets in the music industry. DreamWorks Animation, Netflix in Streaming Talks Bloomberg DreamWorks Animation is said to be in talks to offer Netflix exclusive streaming rights to its films, replacing a pay-TV accord with HBO. A deal would underscore the growing importance of Internet streaming to studios, which have seen DVD sales tumble. News Corp Scandal Escalates with U.S. Scrutiny Wall Street Journal The U.S. Justice Department is preparing subpoenas as part of a preliminary probe into News Corp. to investigate purported foreign bribery and possible voicemail hacking of Sept. 11 victims. Separately, the FBI has begun an inquiry into the Sept. 11 charge. Murdoch Should Step Down, Economist Says The Economist In its new cover story, The Economist describes Rupert Murdoch as "the last member of a dying breed" and said he "should step down" from running News Corp. "The era of the global mogul is over. Murdoch would do his shareholders a service if he recognized that." Sony Chief Makes Exec Changes in Focus Shift New York Post New Sony Music chief Doug Morris, who took over the top spot on July 1, has pushed out the company's international boss, Richard Sanders, and Sony U.K. head Ged Doherty. The new Sony boss is said to want to broaden the company's focus beyond its U.S. business. Comcast Splits Ad Biz Between WPP, Publicis Advertising Age Following a complex review, the newly merged Comcast-NBC divided its $1.4 billion media duties between Publicis and WPP shops. Dividing the business is a departure from the company's original desire to consolidate the account within one unit. Dish Network to Keep 1,500 Blockbuster Stores Deadline Blockbuster plans to maintain operations of more than 1,500 U.S. stores that would have closed under liquidation, as approved in a bankruptcy court this week. The video rental chain, now owned by Dish Network, once operated more than 4,000 domestic outlets. Redbox President to Depart Amid Fierce Rivalry Seattle Times Redbox president Mitch Lowe plans to leave the movie-rental kiosk firm to "pursue entrepreneurial and other interests." His exit comes amid fierce competition in the home-entertainment market. Redbox owner Coinstar pre-announced disappointing earnings. Apple Mulls Bid for Hulu Online Video Service Bloomberg Apple is said to be considering making a bid for the Hulu online video site. Hulu would give Apple a new subscription service and represent a possible challenge to Netflix. "Part of the ecosystem of Apple's future is to include more video. It's something they are focused on." Corbis Buys Celebrity Photo Biz Splash News Puget Sound Business Corbis, the digital image company owned by Bill Gates, has bought Splash News, the Hollywood-based photo agency. Splash has supplied celebrity images such as Tiger Woods' mistress to tabloids, magazines and gossip and celebrity sites such as TMZ. News Corp: Murdoch Returns to Worries in U.S. Associated Press Rupert Murdoch, emerging relatively unscathed from a British parliamentary hearing on the phone-hacking scandal, has returned to the United States, where his company faces a host of financial and legal challenges. Said S&P: "We see business and reputation risks." News Corp Destiny Seen in Murdoch's Control ABC News A foam pie-slinging parliament hearing, accusations of nepotism, mixed reports of a CEO shake-up and a phone-hacking scandal won't sink News Corp. stock if the market is any indication. Rupert Murdoch's testimony to the U.K. parliament "clearly saved the stock." Murdoch Accosted by Protester at Parliament Sky News A protester who tried to attack Rupert Murdoch as he was questioned by Parliament was identified as comedian Jonnie Marbles. Murdoch's wife Wendi smacked the assailant and son James jumped to his father's defense as a plate of foam was pushed into the media mogul's face. Murdoch Mulls Stepping Down at News Corp Wall Street Journal Rupert Murdoch has considered stepping down as CEO of News Corp. in favor of COO Chase Carey, even before the hacking scandal erupted. Under that scenario, Murdoch would remain chairman. The media chief is due to testify before British Parliament today at 9:30 a.m. ET. News Corp: We Fully Support CEO Murdoch Reuters News Corp. independent directors are fully behind Rupert Murdoch, a board member said, denying a Bloomberg report that suggested the company is considering replacing the embattled CEO. "Suggestions that a plan is being accelerated or implemented are inaccurate." Murdoch Family Loses $1 Billion from Scandal Financial Times The value of the Murdoch family's shareholding in News Corp. has fallen by $1 billion since the firestorm erupted over the hacking at the News of the World. A 4.3% slide in shares on Monday left News Corp.'s market value down 17.4% since the first July 4 report on the scandal. Barnes & Noble Focuses on E-Books to Survive Wall Street Journal As reading moves from physical books to electronic gadgets, Barnes & Noble plans to reinvent itself as a seller of book downloads, reading devices and apps. Today, customers at BarnesandNoble.com snap up three digital books for every one physical book. Comcast, Celtics Deal Includes Network Stake Sports Business Journal The Boston Celtics basketball team is finalizing a lucrative media rights package with Comcast SportsNet New England that will extend its current deal by 20 years with a big jump in its annual rights fee. The deal will also give the team an equity stake in the network. Borders Forced to Liquidate, Close All Stores Wall Street Journal Borders said it would liquidate after the second-largest U.S. bookstore chain failed to receive any offers to save it. The closing of its remaining 399 stores could start as soon as Friday, and the company is expected to go out of business for good by the end of September. Murdoch Biographer Wolff Sees Rupert Exiting Bloomberg Michael Wolff, author of the Rupert Murdoch biography "The Man Who Owns the News," said he expects the media mogul to step down as CEO of News Corp. due to the phone-hacking crisis. "Rupert will be pushed upstairs. This company has to regain its credibility." Also, James is "toast." News Corp Directors Mull Change in Leadership Bloomberg News Corp. independent directors have begun questioning whether a leadership change is needed following the company's response to the phone-hacking scandal, according to sources. Also: News Corp. is worth "at least 50% more" without Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch Hacking Scandal Said to Arrive in U.S. Daily Mail Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. could face charges in America over phone hacking after it was claimed that the News of the World hacked into actor Jude Law's phone while he was in the United States. It is the company's first specific charge of hacking on U.S. soil. BSkyB Directors to Discuss Murdoch's Future Bloomberg BSkyB will discuss the future of chairman James Murdoch with its investors, according to a report in the Sunday Times. The U.K. pay-TV provider's independent directors plan to consult with shareholders about whether Murdoch should continue in his position. Big Media Rivals Weigh In on Murdoch Scandal TheWrap With resignations and arrests occurring daily among News Corp.'s top newspaper execs and former editors, some in Rupert Murdoch's elite circle of fellow multi-billionaires have deemed him kaput. Murdoch is "dead money. He's not going to rise again." Bertelsmann Chief Seeking 'Big' Media Assets Financial Times German media group Bertelsmann is "in a position to strike if we want," said chief Hartmut Ostrowski of the dealmaking ambitions of an empire that spans TV, magazines and books. Bertelsmann would be interested in any "big and attractive asset that's suddenly for sale." Time Warner: 'Harry Potter' Debut Breaks Record Hollywood.com Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" has posted the biggest single-day gross in box-office history with an "almost unimaginable" $92.1 million in its Friday debut. The last of the "Harry Potter" films is expected to break other records. News Corp Moves Closer to Takeover of BSkyB BBC News The U.K. government has said it is "minded to accept" News Corp.'s assurances about the spin-off of Sky News as a condition to approve the company's takeover of British Sky Broadcasting, but will consult on fresh conditions. The consultation will run until July 8. Univision Promotes NBC Veteran Falco to CEO Los Angeles Times Univision has installed veteran TV exec Randy Falco as its new CEO, with the task of steering the Spanish-language media company into the mainstream. Falco spent 30 years at NBC, followed by a two-year stint as CEO of AOL. He joined Univision in January as COO. Sony Names Games CEO After Hacker Attacks Associated Press Still reeling from a series of high-profile hacker attacks, Sony has named Andrew House as the president and group CEO of its video game unit, Sony Computer Entertainment. House joined Sony in 1990 and was instrumental in launching the first PlayStation video game system. Viacom Links Cable Networks to Social Media Chicago Tribune Viacom, which owns MTV and BET, has tackled the multiscreen challenge by closely linking social media feeds with its programs. BET has released an iPhone and iPad app for viewers of its music countdown show "106 & Park," designed to be used during the program. Media Mogulfest Invites Newbies to Sun Valley New York Post Newcomers invited to Allen & Co.'s annual Sun Valley media and tech conference, kicking off July 5, include web phone firm Skype and question-and-answer site Quora. Execs from Netflix, Google, Facebook, Yahoo, AOL and Twitter also are expected to attend. Hollywood Studios Launch Online Piracy Case Financial Times Hollywood film studios, including Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount and 20th Century Fox, are seeking an order forcing BT to block the website Newzbin which, they claim, allows users to unlawfully download films. The case could set a legal precedent in tackling pirate sites. Time Warner in Deal with China's Top Video Site Los Angeles Times Time Warner film studio Warner Bros. has signed a deal with Youku, the leading online video site in China, to stream hundreds of its new and old movies. Youku will stream titles costing between 77 cents and 46 cents; pirated DVDs in China ordinarily cost around $1.50. Viacom, Universal Music Targeted by Hackers Wall Street Journal A computer-hacking group that absorbed the notorious Lulz Security cybergang has released a cache of files purportedly stolen from Viacom and Universal Music, raising the stakes in a string of attacks that has compromised corporate and government sites worldwide. News Corp Buys Up Australian Parenting Sites Guardian News Corp.'s Australian division has acquired a series of parenting and child-related blog sites headed by Kidspot. Company exec John Hartigan said the deal, believed to be worth about $45 million, "makes us the leading player in the highly valuable online parenting market." Sony Slashes Chief's Pay After Hacker Attacks Bloomberg Sony chairman Howard Stringer took a 15% pay cut as the company slashed pay for execs who oversaw a third straight year of losses. The Tokyo-based Sony, recovering from the March 11 earthquake and hacker attacks, lost 30% of its market value this year. Comcast Keeps Meyer at NBC's Universal Studios Bloomberg Universal Studios president Ron Meyer's contract has been renewed through 2015, six months after the maker of the "Fast and the Furious" movies became a unit of Comcast. Meyer will also remain COO. His previous contract was set to expire at the end of 2012. Murdoch: News Corp Must Grow to Rival Google Financial Times News Corp. is not big enough and must grow or fail, according to deputy chief operating officer James Murdoch. The media conglomerate is now in competition with "monolithic brands" such as Google and Apple. "As the competitive set shifts, we're not big enough." Viacom to See Boost from 'Jersey Shore,' Movies Barron's Viacom is a good investment, according to Caris & Company, citing the fourth installment of "Jersey Shore" slated to air beginning in August, along with forthcoming installments of film franchises "Paranormal Activity", "Mission Impossible" and "Star Trek." News Corp Profits to Lift Off with BSkyB Control Variety Earnings at News Corp.'s BSkyB are set to double in five years' time once the company is owned outright by Rupert Murdoch. Enders Analysis predicts the satellite broadcaster's earnings before interest and tax will rise from $1.3 billion in 2010 to $2.7 billion in 2015. News Corp Sees Tablets as 'New Paper Stock' MediaPost News Corp.'s James Murdoch said that his company does not view tablet computers as "the web in your hand." Instead, he said News Corp.'s view is that they are "an incredibly new stock" for newspaper publishers. Tablets will lead to a "revolution in storytelling." Murdoch's Paywall Leap Finds Cannes Converts Bloomberg Online news, video, and music providers are becoming increasingly open to charging for at least part of their content as paywall experiments by pioneers like News Corp.'s London Times show that some customers are willing to pay. "The mood is changing."
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