Comcast beefing up theme park business
Comcast is investing hundreds of millions into theme parks in California and Florida, in an effort to challenge Disney in the tourism business. The Theme Parks and Resorts Unit began when it acquired Universal Orlando Resorts as part of its deal for NBCUniversal in 2011, just as Universal was reaping huge attendance gains from the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.
VAB/WVEC documents public service to Rep. Goodlatte
As broadcast television continues to be under assault from the FCC and Congress, some broadcasters
Hemisphere Media Q4 up 12%
Net revenues for the quarter were $25.9 million, an increase of 12%, compared to net revenues of $23.1 million for Q4 2012. Net revenues for the FY were $86.0 million, an increase of 21%, compared to net revenues of $71.4 million for the same period in 2012. This increase is primarily a result of the inclusion of the net revenues of Cine Latino since the buy in 2013, offset in part by loss of political ad revenue.
Mexico’s FCC reins in Carlos Slim, Televisa
Mexico's Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) unveiled numerous new
Patrick, Prather on the Heartland-Chambers buy
Heartland Media (Oregon TV, LLC Robert Prather, CEO) has acquired three Oregon TV stations and
Disney Interactive cutting 700 jobs
More cuts at Disney: Disney Interactive, video game and digital media division, is cutting some 700 jobs worldwide, the company said Thursday. DI is closing offices in Chicago, New Jersey, Colorado, South Korea and Hyderabad, India. The layoffs represent about 26% of the division's workforce.
Showdown looming for LIN, Cox in CT
Another blackout is looming over failed retransmission consent negotiations. Subscribers of
Newsmax’s Chris Ruddy readying new network
Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax Media, is planning to launch NewsmaxTV in June, a 24-hour cable news channel that will be, he says, a kinder, gentler Fox. “Our goal is to be a little more boomer-oriented, more information-based rather than being vituperative and polarizing,” he told Bloomberg Businessweek.
Wheeler makes his move; NAB, others respond
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s proposal will ask the commissioners to vote 3/31 on a proposal that
ACA praises Wheeler plan to stop retrans “collusion”
The American Cable Association commended FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler for circulating his order that takes a stand against collusive retransmission consent negotiations by separately owned TV stations and “calls upon the full Commission to adopt the proposals so that MVPDs, including independent cable operators, are spared from this practice in upcoming negotiations.”
Comcast begins airing medical marijuana ads (video)
Comcast has begun airing a commercial for MarijuanaDoctors.com that
DirecTV now in talks with Disney, too
DirecTV is in talks with Disney/ABC to license the rights to offer Disney's broadcast and cable channels as
LIN tower buy closes
Kalil & Co. announced the closing on the sale of towers in Savannah, Georgia, from Savannah Towers, LLC to LIN Media. Savannah Towers has no other broadcast interests. The Buyer, LIN Media has two TV stations in the market:
Rosenthal adds Katz Television Group role
Katz Media Group (KMG), a major rep company for radio and television in the US, announced that
Moonves: ABC-Dish deal a good start, but…
CBS Corp. CEO Les Moonves said the agreement Dish Network reached with Disney/ABC this week on