latimes.com - Entertainment business

Former chief negotiator Nick Counter dies

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 18:20:34 -0800

Walmart, Target slash online prices of popular DVDs

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The retailers will charge $10 for top-selling new releases. The moves come as Redbox, which operates $1-a-night DVD rental kiosks, reported soaring revenue and profit.

An unprecedented round of online price cutting for DVDs started Thursday that could provide a much needed boost for the beleaguered home entertainment industry.

CBS swings to third-quarter profit of $207.6 million

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Strong rerun syndication sales of its television shows and an uptick in network TV advertising boost the broadcaster's results.

There's a glimmer in the CBS eye.

Activision posts profit despite small drop in video game sales

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Quarterly earnings are $15 million, or 1 cent a share, compared with a loss of 8 cents a share in the year-earlier period. Revenue declines 1% to $703 million.

Activision Blizzard Inc., the world's largest video game company, posted a third-quarter profit, but sales slipped slightly as consumers continued to keep close tabs on spending.

Oprah Winfrey Network names Lisa Erspamer as creative chief

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Erspamer's edge over predecessors is experience working directly with the demanding Winfrey. She is currently co-executive producer of Winfrey's daytime talk show.

The highly anticipated but delayed OWN: the Oprah Winfrey Network will soon have a chief creative executive.

Networks preparing to battle cable and maybe their own affiliates over retransmission consent

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:28:22 -0800

IATSE and AFI settle labor dispute

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:29:54 -0800

ABC's 'V' lands with big bang

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 10:40:51 -0800

The miniseries, which will run through November and then return in March, came in second to CBS's juggernaut "NCIS" in viewers.

Viacom posts 15% jump in profit in third quarter

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The media company earns $463 million, compared with $401 million a year earlier, helped by stronger results from Paramount Pictures. Revenue slips 3% to $3.3 billion.

Cost cutting, coupled with stronger results from Paramount Pictures, paid off in the third quarter as Viacom Inc. posted a 15% jump in profit despite lower advertising and home video sales.

Raleigh Studios is expanding into Eastern Europe

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The company is set to open nine sound stages totaling 180,907 square feet on the outskirts of Budapest, Hungary, this spring to take advantage of the country's low-cost labor and film tax credits.

Raleigh Studios is building a new studio complex, but you won't be able to get there on the 101.