Scalzi Gives Four Reason “Avatar” Can’t Fail
November 12, 2009 || Category: Film News, The Biz In Show Business | 2 Comments
In his weekly column for AMC’s SciFi Scanner blog, best-selling and Hugo-nominated author John Scalzi discusses why the half-billion dollar “Avatar” can’t fail.
Theater Groups Unhappy About “Meatballs” Window
November 11, 2009 || Category: Film News, The Biz In Show Business | 1 Comment
Yesterday we brought you news that Sony’s hit animated movie, “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” would hit home theater via streaming video download in early December.
As news broke, exhibitors expressed their displeasure, citing the home-theater release of the film would be less than three months after “Cloudy” debuted on the big-screen. Exhibitors were upset at Paramount earlier this year for the studio’s decision to rush “G.I. Joe” to DVD and Blu-Ray in a shorter than usual time.
“Cloudy” Will Hit Internet TV First
November 11, 2009 || Category: Film News, The Biz In Show Business | Leave a Comment
In a move that could signal the future of the home theater industry, Sony Pictures will offer consumers the animated hit “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” first on streaming Blu-Ray players and Internet TV, reports the New York Times.
Priced at $24.99, the move is hoped to spark a renewed interest and model for home [...]
Game Sales Could Drop in 2009
November 2, 2009 || Category: Gaming, The Biz In Show Business | 4 Comments
Video game sales could see a drop for 2009 according to USA Today.
Analyst Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities predicts the video game sector will lose seven percent of its sales for the year.
This is significant because until now, video game sales were seen as recession proof.
In May, Pachter says he had hoped for software [...]
Powered by the debut of “Stargate: Universe” and the return of “Sanctuary,” SyFy had its strongest October ever according to the network.
“Syfy jumped to #3 in A25-54 and #4 among A18-49 versus all basic cable entertainment networks - its second best monthly ranking ever in these demos behind December 2002 when Steven Spielberg’s record-setting ‘Taken’ [...]
Hulu To Start Charging As Early As Next Year?
October 28, 2009 || Category: Featured, Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 7 Comments
A couple of weeks ago, we brought you news that Comcast was looking to purchase enough of a stake in on-line site Hulu that it could begin charging users to view content on the popular site.
While the deal between Comcast and NBC/Universal hasn’t gone through yet, it appears that Hulu may be getting ready to [...]
Help Artist Overturn Copyright Lawsuit
October 28, 2009 || Category: Human Interest, Other, The Biz In Show Business | Leave a Comment
Artist John T. Unger is currently battling a lawsuit that seeks to overturn his original copyright.
“My original art has been copied by a manufacturer who is now suing me in federal court to overturn my existing copyrights and continue making knockoffs,” Unger writes on his web site. “I have a strong case, a great lawyer [...]
Paramount Extends Olive Branch to Theater Owners
October 27, 2009 || Category: Film News, The Biz In Show Business | 1 Comment
If you think “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” is making a quick debut on DVD, you’re not alone.
Last week, we reported that theater owners were unhappy with Paramounts’ decision to release “G.I. Joe” and “The Goods” on DVD and Blu Ray a little over three months after their theatrical debut. Theater owners said that [...]
Federal Court Rules in Favor of Ellison in “Star Trek” Lawsuit
October 23, 2009 || Category: TV News, The Biz In Show Business | 5 Comments
Earlier this year, we brought you the story about writer Harlan Ellison’s lawsuit against Paramount Pictures. The suit alleged that Paramount failed to pay for merchandising, publishing and other exploitations of “The City on the Edge of Forever,” an episode he wrote for the original “Star Trek” episode, “City on the Edge of Forever.”
Ellison [...]
Disney Wants Movies To Play Across All Platforms
October 22, 2009 || Category: Featured, Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 3 Comments
The House of Mouse has created waves within the home entertainment industry by beginnng to offer packages that include the DVD and Blu Ray versions of some of their most popular releases.
Now it appears Disney wants to take the next step forward and create digital editions of their movies that could be viewed across multiple [...]
“G.I. Joe,” “Transformers” Help Hasbro’s Bottom Line
October 20, 2009 || Category: Film News, The Biz In Show Business | Leave a Comment
Paramount may not be the only one benefiting from two of this summer’s box-offfice success for “Transfomers: Revenge of the Fallen” and “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.”
Hasbro Toys reports that company earnings are up 9% for the third-quarter, largely thanks to the box-office success of the two tentpole films. Both movies are based on [...]
Paramount Draws Ire Over DVD Release Dates
October 15, 2009 || Category: Film News, The Biz In Show Business | 4 Comments
The window between theatrical release and home-theater release keeps getting smaller. And while that may be a positive for home-theater viewers, theatrical owners aren’t pleased about it.
Paramount is drawing the ire of theatrical owners for its release of “G.I. Joe” and “The Goods” less than three months after they debuted theatrically.
“G.I. Joe” will hit home-theater [...]
“Trek” Highest Money Maker For Series
October 7, 2009 || Category: Film News, The Biz In Show Business | Leave a Comment
This summer’s reboot of “Star Trek” was a huge success both critically and with fans. But it was also a big success where it counts most with Hollywood studios — at the box-office.
The film, when adjusted for inflation, is the highest grossing entry in the long history of the franchise, according to TrekMovie.
The site crunched [...]
Cinemark Looks to Challenge IMAX
October 5, 2009 || Category: Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 1 Comment
The third largest movie chain in America is looking to challenge IMAX for big-screen dominance.
According to USA Today, Cinemark is planning on opening a series of large screen theaters called Cinemax XD in time for the holiday season. The theaters will roll out in selected cities across the country, including San Francisco, Tuscon, Las [...]
Disney, Marvel Merger Faces Major Hurdle Today
September 29, 2009 || Category: The Biz In Show Business | 1 Comment
The proposed merger between Walt Disney and Marvel Comics faces a major hurdle today.
Marvel Entertainment has set today, September 29, as its “record date” for major stockholders before asking them to cast their support towards Marvel’s impending sale to Disney at an upcoming special meeting.
Marvel employees have been assuring fans and stockholders that [...]
Kirby Estate Sends Notices Terminating Copyrights
September 21, 2009 || Category: Film News, The Biz In Show Business | 1 Comment
Captain America, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four…these are just a few of the big names that Jack Kirby helped create during his time at Marvel Comics.
And it was those big names that Kirby’s estate sent out notices terminating copyright to publishers Marvel and Disney, as well as film studios that have made movies and TV [...]
Dick Cook abruptly stepped down as the studio chairman for the Walt Disney Company Friday. The sudden move has send a shockway through not only the House of Mouse but the entire Hollywood community. Many are speculating on why Cook departed and what his leaving could mean to the future slate of Disney [...]
Universal Halts Development
September 18, 2009 || Category: Film News, The Biz In Show Business | 2 Comments
Universal Pictures has decided it will not develop any more movies or projects until 2010 Variety reports.
The studio is putting a freeze on all projects that aren’t currently green lit or in production due to fiscal considerations the trade magazine reports. Universal plans to begin development again when the fiscal year rolls over.
Word began [...]
3-D Movies a Victim of Their Own Success?
September 17, 2009 || Category: Film News, The Biz In Show Business | 6 Comments
Whether you like them or not, 3-D movies are here to stay. The next big thing in Hollywood is proving to be just that with audience and is crediting for helping Hollywood achieve a record breaking summer, according to Variety.
But now some within the Hollywood community are beginning to criticize the new format, [...]
“Vampire Diaries” Stars Arrested
September 14, 2009 || Category: TV News, The Biz In Show Business | 4 Comments
While the “Vampire Diaries’” ratings may be good news for the CW, the latest news about the arrest of several members of the cast members over the weekend may be bad news for the PR department.
Five actresses and one cameraman from the show were arrested over the weekend and after police said the actresses were [...]
Disney To Buy Marvel Comics
August 31, 2009 || Category: Featured, The Biz In Show Business | 8 Comments
According to the Associated Press, the Walt Disney Company will purchase comic book and action hero company Marvel Entertainment for about $4 billion.
If Marvel shareholders approve the deal, they would receive $30 per share in cash and 0.745 shares of Disney for each share of Marvel that they hold.
Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership [...]
Fresh Film, DivX Sign Agreement
August 26, 2009 || Category: Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 1 Comment
If you’ve paid $16 for a digital copy of a movie, wouldn’t it be nice to have the ability to back it up or burn it to a disc to watch on your home theater system?
You may get a chance to do that (legally) for some movies thanks to a new deal between FreshFilm and [...]
Redbox Could Control 30% of Rental Market By 2010
August 26, 2009 || Category: Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 1 Comment
The popular DVD rental kiosks you see in and outside stores are growing. Led by the popular Redbox kiosks, a new study predicts the kiosks could make up to 30% of the rental market by the end of next year.
Currently, Redbox and similar kiosks represent about 19% of the rental retail market. Popular on-line rental [...]
EW’s Fall Preview Issue Features Video Ad
August 20, 2009 || Category: TV News, Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 2 Comments
If you’re a subscriber to “Entertainment Weekly,” you may want to keep your eye out for the Sept. 18 issue.
The annual fall preview issue with have something new–a video ad.
CBS and Pepsi are teaming up to highlight the CBS Monday line-up–including Slice of SciFi favorite, “The Big Bang Theory”–with an ad that will feature a [...]
Is Amazon Looking to Acquire Netflix?
July 15, 2009 || Category: Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 4 Comments
Shares of Netflix stock rose five percent yesterday on indications that Amazon may be looking to acquire the popular movie rental service, according to the Memphis Business Journal.
The paper reported Netflix shares (NASDAQ: NFLX) closed at $42.19 on Monday, up 5.29 percent after trading as high as $42.40 earlier in the day.
Netflix stock has more [...]
HBO, Cinemax Join Comcast for Streaming Shows
July 14, 2009 || Category: TV News, The Biz In Show Business | Leave a Comment
Two of the top pay cable outlets are joining Comcast cable to offer customers streaming versions of their shows and movies according to the Hollywood Reporter.
HBO and Cinemax are joining basic cable outlets TNT, TBS and the pay outlet Starz in offering streaming episodes of their popular shows.
Comcast announced Monday it will be streaming [...]
Comcast, Time-Warner Sign “On Demand” Agreement
June 25, 2009 || Category: Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | Leave a Comment
If you have Comcast, your on-demand choices are about to expand.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, a new deal between Comcast and Time Warner will bring Warner Brothers content to the Comcast on-demand menu. Included in the deal are on-demand showings for popular cable series, “The Closer” and “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.” There will [...]
DVRs Boost Ratings For Some Shows
June 18, 2009 || Category: TV News, The Biz In Show Business | 1 Comment
Backing up what we’ve been saying here on Slice of SciFi for years, the latest figures and ratings for use of DVRs to time-shift shows by up to seven days have seen the ratings rise as much as 30 percent for certain TV shows.
Among those shows that see significant rises in their ratings when you [...]
Digital Switchover Doesn’t Affect Ratings
June 17, 2009 || Category: Technology News, The Biz In Show Business | 1 Comment
The switch from analog to digital television appears to have occurred without many hiccups–at least according to ratings figures from this past weekend.
More than 900 stations shut down their analog signals Friday, causing some unprepared viewers to scramble to update their equipment. Yet the percentage of households using television from Friday to Sunday night was [...]
Most movie franchises are locked into a studio or several studios. But that’s not the case with the “Terminator” franchise. The bankruptcy of Orion Pictures, who produced the original entry in the series, opened up the potential for other studios to buy into the popular franchise and distribute the movie.
The upcoming “Terminator: Salvation” [...]
