Financial Archives - Page 359 of 360

Redbox Ups Disney Legal Challenge

Redbox is doubling down on its legal fight with The Walt Disney Co. The kiosk vendor Jan. 26 filed litigation against Disney companies, including Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Lucasfilm, and Disney-owned “Movies Anywhere” digital movie service. The suit – filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles – alleges Disney is trying to eliminate third-party … Continue reading “Redbox Ups Disney Legal Challenge”
MoviePass Acquires Indie Crime Drama ‘American Animals’

Subscription theatrical ticket service MoviePass acquired the rights (with The Orchard) to art crime drama, American Animals, for $3 million at the Sundance Film Festival. The acquisition was done through MoviePass Ventures, the upstart subsidiary launched at Sundance to co-acquire movies and distribute through multiple channels, including packaged media, on-demand and streaming. “I made this … Continue reading “MoviePass Acquires Indie Crime Drama ‘American Animals’”
Vice Chairman: Lionsgate ‘Very Interested’ in Third-Party Merger

Lionsgate is shopping – itself. With AT&T’s $85.4 billion acquisition of Time Warner in regulatory limbo, and Walt Disney’s $52.4 billion acquisition of select 21st Century Fox assets, including 20th Century Fox, pending, big media mergers are on the mind of Michael Burns, vice chairman of Lionsgate. With a $7 billion market cap, Burns says … Continue reading “Vice Chairman: Lionsgate ‘Very Interested’ in Third-Party Merger”
Roku Challenges Amazon, Google With Branded NOW TV Streaming Stick in the U.K.

NOW TV, the standalone subscription streaming service operated by U.K. satellite operator Sky, Jan. 25 announced the launch of a branded streaming stick – manufactured by Roku. Available in February, the £14.99 ($21) plug-and-play stick comes with a remote featuring voice-activated search technology, in addition to pausing live TV on premium channels, including Sky Sports, … Continue reading “Roku Challenges Amazon, Google With Branded NOW TV Streaming Stick in the U.K.”
Universal Upped 2017 Home Entertainment Revenue

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Jan. 24 reported fiscal 2017 revenue of more than $1.32 billion, which was up about 5% from revenue of $1.25 billion in 2016. The studio said fourth-quarter revenue declined 20% to $377 million from revenue of $471 million in the previous-year period. Home Entertainment Q4 revenue decreases reflected the success of … Continue reading “Universal Upped 2017 Home Entertainment Revenue”
Comcast Lost 186,000 Video Subs in 2017

Comcast Cable Jan. 24 reported a loss of 38,000 video subscribers in the fourth quarter, ended Dec. 31, 2017. The nation’s largest pay-TV operators lost 186,000 video subscribers last year as consumers increasingly move toward Web-based home entertainment distribution options. Comcast ended the year with 21.3 million video subs. Meanwhile, Comcast added 350,000 high-speed Internet … Continue reading “Comcast Lost 186,000 Video Subs in 2017”
Chinese Internet Giant Baidu Wants to be Like Netflix

Netflix is the world’s biggest subscription streaming video force. China is the largest (government controlled) untapped SVOD market. After failing to launch standalone service, Netflix last April inked a content license agreement with iQIYI, a Chinese streaming video unit of Baidu, for programing, including “Stranger Things” and “House of Cards,” among others. Now, the multinational … Continue reading “Chinese Internet Giant Baidu Wants to be Like Netflix”
U.K. Regulator Rules Against Fox/Sky Merger

Rupert Murdoch’s quest to acquire outright control of British satellite operator Sky Jan. 23 suffered a setback after a government regulator found the $15 billion acquisition by 21st Century Fox would not be in the public interest. Fox currently owns 39% of Sky. Following referral from the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and … Continue reading “U.K. Regulator Rules Against Fox/Sky Merger”
Starz Going to Canada

Starz, the premium pay-TV platform owned by Lionsgate, is launching its streaming app in Canada through Bell Media. It marks the first expansion for Starz within Canada following Lionsgate’s $4.4 billion acquisition in 2016. Bell will also distribute the first pay window of Lionsgate’s future theatrical releases in Canada. The multifaceted agreement is aimed at … Continue reading “Starz Going to Canada”
Verizon Eyes 5G Future as Fios TV Ups Sub Losses

Verizon Jan. 23 announced it plans to roll out 5G wireless functionality in upwards of five major cities in the second half of this year – the first wireless carrier to do so. The technology should dramatically increase streaming video speeds, with 5G download speeds up to 10 gigabits-per-second compared to one gigabit-per-second for 4G … Continue reading “Verizon Eyes 5G Future as Fios TV Ups Sub Losses”