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Disney Sweetens Fox Offer to $71.3 Billion
The Walt Disney Co. June 20 announced it signed an amended acquisition agreement with 21st Century Fox, agreeing to pay $71.3 billion for 20th Century Fox Film, which includes British satellite TV operator Sky Plc., and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, among other properties. The $38 per share in cash and stock offer ups Disney’s … Continue reading “Disney Sweetens Fox Offer to $71.3 Billion”
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AMC Theatres Launching Movie Ticket Subscription Service
NEWS ANALYSIS — AMC Theatres is getting into the movie ticket subscription service just in time for the summer box office — and striking a potentially fatal blow to MoviePass. The nation’s largest exhibitor June 20 announced that beginning June 26, it is bowing AMC Stubs A-List, which gives subscribers access to screenings and movie … Continue reading “AMC Theatres Launching Movie Ticket Subscription Service”
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Departed Turner CEO John Martin Was a Friend of Home Entertainment
NEWS ANALYSIS – Lost in the rapid-fire of events at the closure of AT&T’s $85 billion purchase of Time Warner was the departure of John Martin, CEO of Turner. AT&T Entertainment CEO John Stankey, who became CEO of renamed WarnerMedia, replacing retiring CEO Jeff Bewkes (at former Time Warner), made the announcement June 15 in … Continue reading “Departed Turner CEO John Martin Was a Friend of Home Entertainment”
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Warner Mines Gold in Digital Sales of TV Shows
The surging popularity of Netflix and other subscription streaming services like Hulu, with their emphasis on episodic programming, has decimated the TV DVD business. In May, CBS Interactive shut down the long-running TVShowsOnDVD.com website 13 years after it was launched, near the time TV DVD reached its peak with an annual consumer spend estimated at … Continue reading “Warner Mines Gold in Digital Sales of TV Shows”
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AT&T Set to Bow ‘Very Skinny’ TV Bundle This Week
Fresh off its $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner, AT&T this week will formally launch an online TV service free to its unlimited wireless subscribers; $15 monthly on any other platform. Dubbed “AT&T Watch TV,” the service differs significantly from $35 monthly DirecTV Now since programming is limited to Turner (TBS, TNT, CNN, Cartoon Network) … Continue reading “AT&T Set to Bow ‘Very Skinny’ TV Bundle This Week”
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‘Black Panther’ Tops DVD and Blu-ray Sales for May
Marvel Studios’ Black Panther was the top title for the month of May in terms of combined Blu-ray Disc and DVD units sold according to the NPD Group’s VideoScan tracking. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Black Panther was released on disc May 15 and spent its first three weeks atop the weekly VideoScan … Continue reading “‘Black Panther’ Tops DVD and Blu-ray Sales for May”
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AT&T Boss Sends Mixed Messages Following Time Warner Acquisition Close
NEWS ANALYSIS — Following consummation of AT&T’s $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson sent out a staff memo welcoming Time Warner — which includes Warner Bros., Turner and HBO — to the fold. “As different as our businesses are, I think you’ll find we have a lot in common,” Stephenson said, … Continue reading “AT&T Boss Sends Mixed Messages Following Time Warner Acquisition Close”
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‘Wrinkle in Time’ Bumps ‘Black Panther’ From Top of Disc Sales Charts
After three weeks in the top spot, Marvel’s Black Panther was overtaken on the national home video sales charts by another Walt Disney Studios release, A Wrinkle in Time, the week ended June 9. A family fantasy based on the popular novel of the same name, A Wrinkle in Time debuted at No. 1 on … Continue reading “‘Wrinkle in Time’ Bumps ‘Black Panther’ From Top of Disc Sales Charts”
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Docurama Adds Cargo Film & Releasing Content, Support and a Subscription Fee
Cinedigm’s ad-supported Docurama over-the-top video service June 14 announced a programming and marketing partnership with Cargo Film & Releasing. The company signed a pact with David Piperni, founder of New York-based Cargo, which specializes in acquiring non-fiction features. Under the agreement, Piperni will be responsible for acquiring programming for Docurama, and curating the channel’s content … Continue reading “Docurama Adds Cargo Film & Releasing Content, Support and a Subscription Fee”
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Global OTT Video Subs to Top 265 Million by 2022
Spearheaded by Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, the number of global households with an over-the-top video service subscription will exceed 265 million by 2022, according to new data from Parks Associates. The research firm contends OTT video use is being driven by increasing household adoption of connected media devices such as smart TVs, tablets and … Continue reading “Global OTT Video Subs to Top 265 Million by 2022”
