The Hollywood Reporter - Business

Autodesk wraps Softimage buy

By Carolyn Giardina — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:01:00 EST

Autodesk has completed its purchase of 3-D computer graphics software developer Softimage from Avid Technology for $35 million.

Mark Shapiro joins Live Nation board

By Chris M. Walsh, Billboard — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:42:00 EST

Mark Shapiro, president and CEO of Six Flags, Inc., has joined Live Nation's board of directors.

Canada's A&B Sound files for bankruptcy

By Robert Thompson, Billboard — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:34:00 EST

Vancouver-based A&B Sound, once a retail fixture in Western Canada, has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Hulu predicted to catch YouTube next year

By Antony Bruno, Billboard — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:38:00 EST

As Universal Music Group continues to ponder launching a Hulu-like site for music videos, Screen Digest analyst Arash Amel released a prediction that could add momentum to the idea.

CCTV expects to weather downturn

By Jonathan Landreth — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:40:00 EST

BEIJING -- China Central Television on Tuesday hosted its annual auction for primetime advertising spots in 2009, with participants saying it is set to weather a post-Olympics softening and the global economic downturn just fine.

BSkyB plans to raise $900 million

By Mimi Turner — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:32:00 EST

BSkyB on Tuesday announced plans to raise 600 million pounds ($900 million) in a bond issue, leading to speculation that the U.K. satcaster was poised to announce an acquisition financed by debt.

No guarantee on SAG talks

By Andrew Salomon, Back Stage — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:29:00 EST

Representatives for SAG and the AMPTP will meet officially on Thursday for the first time since midsummer -- but it's not at all certain that they will negotiate.

New Sony unit has eyes overseas

By Carl DiOrio — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:30:00 EST

LOS ANGELES -- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on Tuesday will announce the formation of a new business unit, charged with the acquisition of international content.

India's UTV cutting costs in broadcasting

Reuters — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:48:00 EST

MUMBAI -- UTV Software Communications has done "a very sharp review" of its investment plans over the past 60 days and took steps to cut costs in its broadcasting division, it said in a statement on Monday.

Agents of change at Innovative

By Kimberly Nordyke — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

Innovative Artists has undergone the most significant overhaul in the agency's 26-year history. Chief among the changes is the formation of an 11-person executive committee.

Blu-ray earns high marks from consumers

By Carl DiOrio — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:05:00 EST

Blu-ray Disc's prospects appear bright despite slower-than-expected sales attributed in part to the down economy.

Video game industry expects to thrive

Reuters — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:30:00 EST

Video game sales are expected to be strong this year and in 2009, despite the economic troubles that have hurt some retail stores that sell the games.

Vivendi likes recession-proof games

By Georg Szalai — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:53:00 EST

Vivendi is optimistic that its video game business can hold up during a recession, CFO Philippe Capron said Thursday after the company's latest earnings report.

Dividends go the way of the dinosaur

By Georg Szalai — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:43:00 EST

Sometimes it pays dividends not to pay a dividend.

Premiere results worse than feared

By Scott Roxborough — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:23:00 EST

Premiere booked an 89 million euros ($111 million) loss in the third quarter and saw revenue dip 3% to 245 million euros ($305 million), figures even worse than most analysts had expected.

New home, fewer jobs at ProSieben

By Scott Roxborough — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:19:00 EST

To cuts costs, European broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 is folding together its sales and marketing operations and moving flagship channel Sat.1 from prime real estate in Berlin to join sister channels Pro7 and Kabel 1 in a low cost suburb outside of Munich.

Revenue, profits slide at Jetix

By Mimi Turner — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:15:00 EST

Pan-European kids channels group Jetix revealed a 44% drop in net profit on Thursday to 21 million euros ($26 million) for the 12 months ending Sept. 30 on revenue down 18% to 136 million euros ($171 million).

Relativity files suit against Citigroup

By Leslie Simmons — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:48:00 EST

A legal battle has erupted between Ryan Kavanaugh's Relativity Media and banker Citigroup Global Markets over a multi-million-dollar financing deal to invest in films produced or acquired by Sony Pictures.

Berman out, though industry still has ally

By Paul Bond — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:07:00 EST

A congressional subcommittee instrumental in determining copyright law will disappear in January, alleviating fears that it might have been headed by someone hostile to Hollywood.

AFTRA extends video-game agreement

By Leslie Simmons — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:21:00 EST

AFTRA has reached an agreement with video-game employers to extend its interactive-media contract for one year.

Canwest to cut 5% of its work force

By Etan Vlessing — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:06:00 EST

TORONTO -- CanWest Global Communications Corp., Canada's largest media company, on Wednesday announced plans to cut 560 jobs, or 5% of its workforce, as it cuts operating costs amid a deteriorating advertising market.

AMC unloads Mexico's Cinemex

By John Hecht — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:37:00 EST

Theater chain operator AMC Entertainment has reached an agreement to sell its subsidiary, Mexico City-based exhibitor Cinemex, to Entretenimiento GM de Mexico for $315 million.

RDF in $78 mil buyout bid

By Mimi Turner — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:47:00 EST

The board of “Wife Swap” producer RDF Media confirmed Wednesday it had received a 52 million pounds ($78 million) all-cash buyout offer from a consortium including its own management and media entrepreneur John de Mol’s investment vehicle Cyrte.

Economy grinch may pinch Blu-ray

By Carl DiOrio — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:02:00 EST

Executives hoping that the weak consumer embrace of high-definition discs will strengthen during the holiday season thanks to clarity on format and hardware issues suddenly face this rude awakening: It's the economy, stupid.

Mediaset reports slight profit drop

By Eric J. Lyman — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:31:00 EST

Profits for Italian broadcast giant Mediaset contracted slightly over the first nine months of the year, the company reported Tuesday, though revenue improved.