Entertainment

Earnings: Sony Quarterly Revs Down 6.5 Percent; Games Revs Fall But Higher Profits Seen - 0 Comments
Posted By Joseph Weisenthal - Wed 14 May 2008 04:15 AM PST

Another characteristically all-over-the-map earnings announcement from Sony (NYSE: SNE), which reported quarterly revenue of $19.5 billion, a decline of 6.5 percent. Operating loss narrowed to $47 million and net income,…

Nintendo Launches Online Distribution Channel WiiWare - 0 Comments
Posted By James Quintana Pearce - Tue 13 May 2008 05:13 PM PST

Nintendo has launched a new channel for games distribution—WiiWare. Games are downloaded over the internet by redeeming WiiPoints, which can be purchased at the Wii Shop Channel or at retail…

@ ABC Upfront: Kimmel: ‘ABC Is The Worst Date Ever’; Research Take Center Stage - 0 Comments
Posted By David Kaplan - Tue 13 May 2008 02:05 PM PST

I’m seated in a makeshift press room on the second floor of ABC’s corporate headquarters, as the audience of marketers and media buyers gather a few blocks away at Avery…

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Earnings: Electronic Arts Revs Up Strong; Net Income Passes Estimates - 0 Comments
Posted By Joseph Weisenthal - Tue 13 May 2008 01:02 PM PST

With a hostile bid for Take-Two still out there, video game maker Electronic Arts (NSDQ: ERTS) has reported quarterly revenue of $1.12 billion, an 84 percent rise from $613 million…

Ad Industry Roundup: DVRs; Online Ad Prices; Starcom MediaVest; Platform-A - 0 Comments
Posted By David Kaplan - Tue 13 May 2008 06:55 AM PST

-- DVR viewers watch online ads, but don’t pay attention: Google-owned DoubleClick’s research arm, Performics, recently completed a survey of DVR owners that acknowledges wide ad-skipping. But the study makes…

10-Q Watch: RealNetworks Lays Out Risks Of Rhapsody America - 0 Comments
Posted By Staci D. Kramer - Tue 13 May 2008 05:28 AM PST

RealNetworks’ (NSDQ: RNWK) 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31 should be required reading for anyone going into a complex JV or the online music business. Line by line, it…

Clear Channel Expands Online Activities, May Include Pandora: Report - 0 Comments
Posted By Staci D. Kramer - Mon 12 May 2008 11:39 PM PST

While the effort to take Clear Channel (NYSE: CCU) private hangs in the balance, the radio network has an online expansion wave in the works—possibly including customized radio. Billboard reports…

Broadband Content Bits: Microsoft; Oprah-XM; Complex Media; Few Get Their TV Online: Poll - 0 Comments
Posted By Amanda Natividad - Mon 12 May 2008 09:04 PM PST

-- Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) launches video on Messenger Users will now be able to watch video clips with their network of friends while chatting via Windows Live Messenger, reports Reuters.…

@ NBC Upfront Video: Conan O’Brien Takes The Stage - 1 Comment
Posted By David Kaplan - Mon 12 May 2008 05:45 PM PST

Conan O’Brien took the stage to introduce the NBC Upfront and reminisce about how times have changed over the course of his 15-year tenure with the company, including his looking…

Bigfoot Networks Raises $8.75 Million Second Round To Kill Gaming Lag - 2 Comments
Posted By Joseph Weisenthal - Mon 12 May 2008 11:15 AM PST

Bigfoot Networks, a company that offers a special gaming card that combats lag in multiplayer online games, has raised an $8.75 million second round from North Bridge Venture Partners, Palomar…

ESPN Acquires Cable And ‘Expansive’ Digital Rights For Tennis’ US Open - 0 Comments
Posted By Staci D. Kramer - Mon 12 May 2008 08:09 AM PST

The US Open moves to ESPN (NYSE: DIS) in 2009, giving the Disney sports unit bragging rights for the tennis Grand Slam: US Open, Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.…

Sony Trademarking ‘Qore’ For Online Games Mag; Future Involved? - 0 Comments
Posted By Robert Andrews - Mon 12 May 2008 03:08 AM PST

Sony (NYSE: SNE) is planning to launch its own online PS3/PSP games magazine, filling a gap in official online news for its consoles. Sony Computer Entertainment America last week applied…

Broadband Content Bits: SNL Political; Entertainment Rights; MTVN;; CSG-National Lampoon - 0 Comments
Posted By Amanda Natividad - Sun 11 May 2008 05:41 PM PST

-- NBCU launches Saturday Night Live politics minisite: SNL still doesn’t have a real contender for Obama impressions but it does have ”SNL Politics”, newly launched with all the usual…

Video Interview: Jeff Price, President, SI Digital, Time Inc - 0 Comments
Posted By Rafat Ali - Sun 11 May 2008 11:28 AM PST

At our recently concluded EconSM conference in LA, I did a short video interview with one of our speakers, Jeff Price, the president of SI Digital, the digital sports media…

Earnings: Activision FY08, Revs Up 92 Percent, Income Quadruples - 0 Comments
Posted By James Quintana Pearce - Thu 08 May 2008 02:47 PM PST

Activision (NSDQ: ATVI) has reported its full year results, as well as its results for the first three months of this year. For the 12 months ending March 31st net…

RealNetworks’s Games Spinoff: Its Recent Games History, in Links - 0 Comments
Posted By Rafat Ali - Thu 08 May 2008 01:41 PM PST

Some chronological links about the history of RealNetworks’ (NSDQ: RNWK) games business, which it has been building over the last two years: -- RealNetworks Doesn’t Buy Scrabulous; Launches Own Version…

RealNetworks To Spin Off Its Game Business; May Do An IPO Of The New Company - 1 Comment
Posted By Rafat Ali - Thu 08 May 2008 01:23 PM PST

Here’s a shocker: RealNetworks (NSDQ: RNWK) is finally doing the rationalization of its business lines: it will separate its global casual games business into an independent company and distribute…

Updated: Earnings: RNWK Q1 Rev Up 14 Percent; Earnings Beat Estimate: Music Up 12 Percent - 0 Comments
Posted By Staci D. Kramer - Thu 08 May 2008 01:23 PM PST

RealNetworks (NSDQ: RNWK) is playing two this afternoon—announcing Q1 earnings and the spinoff of its casual games business. Revenue rose 14 percent to $147.6 million, compared with $129.5 million in…

@ MTV Upfront: Jon Stewart On The Big Ad Show: ‘I Thought We Don’t Do These Anymore’ - 0 Comments
Posted By David Kaplan - Thu 08 May 2008 01:06 PM PST

MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA) is bringing out as many diverse stars as possible for what is nevertheless considered a more scaled down upfront presentation this year. Justin Timberlake, Samuel…

@ Needham Digital Media Con: Interview: David Pakman, CEO, eMusic: ‘Adults Still Buy Music’ - 0 Comments
Posted By Joseph Weisenthal - Thu 08 May 2008 11:19 AM PST

For a while there, eMusic was notable as the online music retailer that didn’t have DRM, but that differentiator is pretty much gone. During a panel on the ‘long tail’…

Microsoft Tries For Residual Buzz With Online Video Contest - 0 Comments
Posted By David Kaplan - Thu 08 May 2008 09:21 AM PST

With Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) getting its most positive presentation from the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) ads starring comedian John Hodgman as the hapless “PC,” the company is going the user-gen route…

Earnings: WMG Revs Up 2 Percent; Loss Deepens; Digital Up 47.6 Percent; Dividend Cancelled - 0 Comments
Posted By Joseph Weisenthal - Thu 08 May 2008 04:22 AM PST

Another challenging quarter for Warner Music Group (NYSE: WMG), which has suspended its dividend in the name of “financial flexibility.” The label announced quarterly revenue of $800 million, up 2…

Entertainment Ad Net Giant Realm Gets $2 Million Funding, Closes First Round With $5.5 Million - 0 Comments
Posted By David Kaplan - Wed 07 May 2008 09:01 PM PST

Video game vertical ad net GiantRealm has raised $2 million from Softbank for a total first round of $5.5 million, the company says. This latest infusion comes about two months…

NBC Pulls The Curtain Up On Virtual Women’s Network; Plans Hyper-local Content Center In NYC - 0 Comments
Posted By David Kaplan - Wed 07 May 2008 11:33 AM PST

NBC Universal (NYSE: GE) has finally launched Women@NBCU, its long-anticipated virtual female-targeted content and ad network. Also as expected (by us, at least), Lauren Zalaznick has been promoted to president,…

Studios Cut Off Talks With SAG; Digital Still A Sticking Point - 0 Comments
Posted By Rafat Ali - Tue 06 May 2008 11:52 PM PST

More posturing from both sides: the Hollywood producers, led by its association AMPTP, has broken off contract talks with the Screen Actors Guild, calling its demands for higher residuals from…