Shipments of LCD flat-panel TVs will fall this year from the year before, the first such decline since the popularity of such TVs took off in 2006, according to a research firm. Get the full story »
Filed under: Entertainment
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Blockbuster kiosks to test early rentals for $2.99
The company that runs Blockbuster Express kiosks is testing whether people will pay more to rent DVDs and Blu-ray discs of new movies 28 days before they are available from other vending machines. Get the full story »
Oprah’s new network searches for subscriber fees
The Oprah Winfrey cable network, set to launch in a few weeks, is still trying to line-up subscriber fees from cable and satellite operators, David Zaslav, chief executive of the network’s part-owner Discovery Communications Inc., said Monday.
The new network — which is a 50-50 joint venture between Discovery and Winfrey, is set to replace Discovery Health network in about 80 million homes on Jan 1. Discovery Health, which is not widely watched, receives no per-household subscription fee in the “majority of cases,” said Zaslav during remarks at the UBS Global Media and Communications conference in Manhattan. Get the full story »
Oprah picks Dickens novels for Book Club
Talk queen Oprah Winfrey will announce her latest book selection on her show today, and her choice, according to the Orlando Sentinel, is actually two books: “A Tale of Two Cities” and “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens.
In September, Winfrey chose Jonathan Franzen’s book “Freedom” as the first selection for the 25th and final season of her talk show. She announced that month that despite rumors, her famed book club would continue. “I will have book selections coming all season long and when I move over to OWN, my new network, the book club is coming with me,” she told her audience.
Dec. 1, 2010 at 10:41 a.m.
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Filed under: Books, Chicago executives, Entertainment, Media Oprah to announce next Book Club pick Monday
(Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Oprah Winfrey plans another pick for her popular book club.
Harpo Productions said Tuesday that current Oprah’s Book Club author Jonathan Franzen will appear on Monday’s episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Winfrey chose Franzen’s latest book “Freedom” in September as the first selection for the 25th and final season of her talk show.
On that same episode, Winfrey will announce her next book club pick. The new selection comes about 11 weeks after Winfrey chose “Freedom.” Since 2008, she has averaged one or two selections a year. Winfrey’s book club choices have vaulted to the best-seller list and given authors instant fame. Get the full story »
Netflix partner vows to fight Comcast fees
Netflix network partner Level 3 Communications said it will resist efforts by Comcast to force it to pay fees for delivering online movies to Comcast customers. Get the full story »
Kardashian sisters want out of debit card deal
(Andy Kropa/Getty Images)
The Kardashian sisters are seeking to cut ties with a venture that sold prepaid debit cards under their name after coming under attack for the card’s high fees.
The card, which launched last month, was aimed at young adults, the same group that watches the sisters’ hit cable TV show “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”
An attorney for the sisters sent a letter Monday to parties affiliated with the card demanding they stop using the names and images of the three sisters. Get the full story »
Nov. 26, 2010 at 1:31 p.m.
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Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Entertainment, Government, Internet, Video PR firm settles FTC suit over iTunes game reviews
The Federal Trade Commission said Friday that it has settled charges that a California public-relations firm posted fake video game reviews on Apple Inc.’s iTunes Store.
According to an FTC complaint, employees of California-based Reverb Communications Inc. allegedly engaged in deceptive online advertising by having paid employees and company managers pose as consumers and write glowing video game reviews of clients’ games. Get the full story »
NBA average ticket prices down 2 years in a row
Most of the National Basketball Association’s 30 teams either kept their average ticket prices unchanged or reduced them this year as the weak U.S. economy continued to affect North American professional sports leagues.
The average ticket price went down 2.5 percent to $48.08, a year after it fell 2.8 percent to mark the first decline in eight years, according to Team Marketing Report, which compiles such data for all the major North American sports leagues. Get the full story »
Axl Rose sues Activision over ‘Guitar Hero’
Welcome to the courtroom, Activision.
Guns N’ Roses lead singer Axl Rose is suing video game maker Activision Blizzard Inc. for $20 million over the company’s use of the song “Welcome to the Jungle” in the game “Guitar Hero III.” Get the full story »
Casino giant Harrah’s changes name to Caesars
Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., the world’s largest casino company, has changed its name to Caesars Entertainment Corp. Harrah’s will continue to be one of the company’s brands, along with Caesars, Horseshoe, Total Rewards, and World Series of Poker. Get the full story »
eMusic widens library, changes pricing
Digital music subscription club eMusic is launching a new pricing plan. It charges more for new music but adds tunes from major labels in an effort to broaden its appeal.
In the past, the site focused on indie labels and offered discounts on tracks for members committed to spending at least $6.49 a month. Get the full story »
Harrah’s cancels its initial public offering
Harrah’s Entertainment, which operates two casinos in Illinois, canceled its initial public offering, citing market conditions.
The casino operator was expected to price the offering on Thursday and begin trading on the Nasdaq this week. Harrah’s had said it would raise as much as $531 million for casino projects and to help with its heavy debt burden. Get the full story »
Injuries from toys rising, product safety agency reports
Bloomberg News | The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that injuries involving toys rose 7.6 percent last year, requiring more than 180,000 emergency room visits for kids younger than 15.
