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Australian gambling companies are expected to report modest growth in earnings this reporting season as consumers rein in their discretionary spending and casino operators face tough competition from overseas.
"Gambling is part of discretionary expenditure, so I'm anticipating that gambling expenditure will be down," Morningstar gaming analyst Ross MacMillan said.
Earnings in the gambling sector may grow two or three per cent, but "It's going to be very subdued earnings growth if we see any at all," Mr MacMillan said.
The outlook for the current financial year was expected to be very cautious and limited in detail.
Mr MacMillan anticipated most companies would hold off providing guidance until their annual general meetings when they would have at least three months of performance under the belt.
The big issue for Tatts Group and Tabcorp would be the source of future growth, he said.
Tatts and Tabcorp hold a duopoly over poker machines in Victoria outside of the Crown casino in Melbourne. The Victorian poker machine licence expires in 2012.
Tabcorp was recently awarded a new wagering and betting licence in Victoria, winning it over Tatts. The wagering licence allows Tabcorp to offer wagering on thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing and other sporting events.
Lower gambling expenditure would affect revenues, so gambling companies would have to look at cutting costs, Mr MacMillan said.
He said Tatts would be looking to strip out as many costs as possible from the NSW lottery business it acquired in March 2010.
Tatts also would think carefully about the South Australian lottery business, which is likely to come up for sale in the next 18 months.
Mr MacMillan said the main issue affecting the Tabcorp results would be the recent demerger of its casino operations - now known as Echo Entertainment Group - which would make Tabcorp's accounts "messy".
An issue facing casino operators Crown and Echo was the size of the capital expenditure needed to revamp their casinos so they could compete with big new casino-resorts in Singapore and attract more VIP gamblers (high rollers) from China.
"This is a real issue: whether it (capital expenditure) will continue in the future," Mr MacMillan said.
Fat Prophets gaming analyst Greg Fraser said consumer spending had been weak and was likely to be reflected in gaming results at the "grind end" of the market.
Mr Fraser said he expected a reasonable result from Tatts Group.
Although a larger proportion of Tatts' earnings now came from lotteries, gaming operations were likely to attract attention because that's where uncertainty lay.
"Having missed out on the Victorian wagering licence, it'll be interesting to see what they (Tatts) say about their future now and what their plans might be," Mr Fraser said.
Tabcorp also needed to detail its plans for the new Victorian wagering licence and explain how the company would replace gaming machine earnings once they disappear in 2012, he said.
Among the casino operators, Crown's result was likely to be stronger than that of Echo Entertainment, largely because Crown had spent its money on refurbishments and re-organising its gaming floors sooner and, arguably, more effectively than Echo.
Much of the Star City refurbishment was aimed at non-gaming activities, so the casino's success over the next year should be measured by the increase in visitation numbers.
"In that sense, it's the outlook statement for Echo this time that is perhaps more important than this year's financial result," Mr Fraser said.
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Saturday, August 13, 2011
WWE Wrestling Mixing With Hollywood; Mainstream News Continues, by Greg Tingle - 13th August 2011
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Pro Wrestling Stars Keen On Casino, Gaming And Online Casino Dealings...
Ric Flair aka "The Nature Boy" was the first, but not last, pro wrestler to cash in on his name in the gambling sector. Flair is the front man for tthe Carolina's Education Lottery with his Wooooo tickets, now in their second campaign. Hulk Hogan followed the money trail to gambling with his Hulk-A-Mania slot machine deal with the Dreamseekers Foundation, but you will have to travel to Californian casinos to check out the game. Hogan also has an online slot on the way in a deal inked with Endomol Games UK. The online slot is expected to hit casinos such as PartyCasino before the end of this year. An Andre The Giant online game is also rumoured to be soon released by North Sydney based NextGen Gaming. Kevin "Diesel" Nash even has some game promos on his official website. Media Man is understood to be the first port of call for the scoops relating to wrestling - gaming deals. PartyCasino currently offers the Sumo slot game, but its not a touch on what a Hogan or Flair online slot will be. Punters, the good news is that the online slots can be played for free or for money, but if you don't bet, you can't win (for real) either, but you won't loose money if you play in that fashion either. Many players are trying out the online games for free, before placing down money. You must be 18 years old or over to play the online slot games in most countries.
Clooney hooks up with WWE wrestler Stacy Keibler...
Just a couple of months after George Clooney broke up with Elisabetta Canalis, he has a new girlfriend, Stacy Keibler, 18 years his junior.
The 50-year-old had done well for himself, extremely well, if the general consensus was anything to go by, after all, there is no denying that the Italian, 32 , had a figure to be envied.
But by George! He's only gone and done it again, as these pictures of his latest paramour prove, and Clooney's new girl has an even better figure than Canalis.
Stacy Keibler, an actress and model, has been fighting professionally in the past.
Clooney’s girlfriend, aged 32, was a successful WWE wrestler, famed because her 42 inch legs allowed her to step in and out of the ring with ease and panache.
Keibler, who hails from Maryland, is incredibly proud of her endless pins, she was quoting as saying: 'Anybody can go out and buy boobs, but you're either blessed with attractive legs or you're not.'
But don't let these statistics fool you into thinking that Clooney was merely attracted to Keibler's comely form.
Us Weekly report that Clooney was bedazzled by the leggy blonde's witty banter.
They report a source as saying: 'They like each other's sense of humour.'
The friend added: 'They have been really close for two years, Stacey is a superchill girl, and George has the same personality.'
Hulk's girl Brooke Hogan gets nude in a cage...
Reality TV star Brooke Hogan has left her wrestling legend dad in a knot over raunchy nude photo campaign for animal rights charity PETA.
The exposing black and white snaps of the 23-year-old naked and behind bars left her dad, Hulk Hogan, red-faced when he viewed the pictures at an exhibition yesterday. See the photos here
Wrestling hero Hulk, real name Terry Gene Bollea, jokingly tried to spare his daughter's blushes by covering up the revealing portraits with his hands.
The shots are part of the PETA's Women In Cages exhibition held in Cafeina Lounge, Miami, Florida which the curvy Hogan Knows Best star Brooke supported by going nude.
Moustachioed muscle-man Hulk had been attending the bash on his 58th birthday along with his wife Jennifer McDaniel and the ex-wrestler and his family were treated to a giant cake adorned with his name in silver lettering.
Hulk Hogan's Micro Championship Wrestling
truTV Announces Premiere Dates for Three Compelling New Series
Network Reveals Premieres of New Seasons of Seven Returning Original Series, Plus the Debut of Hit Series Wipeout
truTV – which is coming off another record-setting quarter in reaching young adults – has lined up an extensive programming slate for the end of 2011 that includes three new series, seven returning hits and the network's biggest series acquisition ever.
The new series Bear Swamp Recovery, about a larger-than-life family-owned repo business, is set to debut Aug. 22, followed by the Sept. 14 premiere of Hulk Hogan's MCW, which will take viewers behind the scenes of a new professional wrestling league. truTV's third new series of the fall and winter, the hidden-camera prank series Impractical Jokers, will arrive in December.
On Sept. 2, truTV adds its biggest series acquisition, the popular competition show Wipeout. Seven of truTV's original series are also set to return, including the hits Hardcore Pawn, Lizard Lick Towing, Full Throttle Saloon and Black Gold.
truTV just scored its most-watched second quarter ever in primetime delivery of three key demos: adults 18-49, men 18-34 and men 18-49. The network, which is growing in popularity with younger viewers, increased its delivery of adults 18-34 by 11% and men 18-34 by 7% in the second quarter.
The following is a rundown of truTV's new and returning series for 2011:
New Original Series
Bear Swamp Recovery – New series premiering Monday, Aug. 22, with back-to-back episodes at 10 and 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT)
Bear Swamp, where the business is big but the family is even bigger, follows PJ Vinch, who runs a booming New Jersey repo company with the help of his senior-with-an-attitude father and his teen son. With a repo order in one hand and a slice of pizza in the other, these bulky Sicilians never hesitate to take jobs other companies can't handle, from massive construction equipment to luxury yachts at the Jersey shore to an entire fleet of racecars. They always get the goods, and they never miss a meal. Bear Swamp Recovery comes to truTV from Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment.
Hulk Hogan's MCW – New series premieres Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
Hulk Hogan, one of the legendary stars of pro wrestling, believes you need to start small if you want to win big. Now he's lending his expertise to the new Micro Championship Wrestling, where he gives little wrestlers advice on recruiting, training and mentoring. It's all with the goal of getting the MCW off the ground and into the arena. Hulk Hogan's MCW comes to truTV from Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment.
Impractical Jokers – New series coming in December
Since they were kids, Sal, Murr, Q and Joe have dared one another to do the most ridiculous, humiliating public pranks imaginable. Now, to find out who's best under pressure, they'll compete in unbelievably awkward social experiments – all recorded on camera. The loser must do the most mortifying challenge ever. Impractical Jokers comes to truTV from NorthSouth Productions.
New Acquired Series
Wipeout – Acquired series to air Fridays at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), beginning Sept. 2
truTV has acquired exclusive, off-network cable rights to air this exciting series in which contestants face wildly outrageous barriers, from Big Balls to complex contraptions, for the chance at winning a cash prize. Wipeout, which is also shown in numerous international versions around the globe, ranks among the world's top-rated game shows. The series was recently voted by Entertainment Weekly's readers as "Reality TV's Guiltiest Pleasure."
Returning Series
Lizard Lick Towing – Season 1 returns Monday, Aug. 22, at 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT); Season 2 coming in November
Las Vegas Jailhouse – Season 4 launches Sunday, Sept. 4, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
Operation Repo – Season 9 launches Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT)
Police POV – Season 2 launches in November
Hardcore Pawn – Season 5 coming in November
Black Gold – Season 4 coming in November
Full Throttle Saloon – Season 3 coming in November
About truTV
truTV is television's destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective. Currently seen in 93 million U.S. households, the network is enjoying its best deliveries ever in key demographics. truTV features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can't normally experience. truTV's primetime fan favorites include the original series Hardcore Pawn, All Worked Up, Lizard Lick Towing, Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura, Black Gold, Operation Repo and World's Dumbest… During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name In Session.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
About truTV
truTV is television's destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective. Currently seen in 93 million U.S. households, the network is enjoying its best deliveries ever in key demographics. truTV features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can't normally experience. truTV's primetime fan favorites include the original series Hardcore Pawn, All Worked Up, Lizard Lick Towing, Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura, Black Gold, Operation Repo and World's Dumbest… During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name In Session.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
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Pro Wrestling Stars Keen On Casino, Gaming And Online Casino Dealings...
Ric Flair aka "The Nature Boy" was the first, but not last, pro wrestler to cash in on his name in the gambling sector. Flair is the front man for tthe Carolina's Education Lottery with his Wooooo tickets, now in their second campaign. Hulk Hogan followed the money trail to gambling with his Hulk-A-Mania slot machine deal with the Dreamseekers Foundation, but you will have to travel to Californian casinos to check out the game. Hogan also has an online slot on the way in a deal inked with Endomol Games UK. The online slot is expected to hit casinos such as PartyCasino before the end of this year. An Andre The Giant online game is also rumoured to be soon released by North Sydney based NextGen Gaming. Kevin "Diesel" Nash even has some game promos on his official website. Media Man is understood to be the first port of call for the scoops relating to wrestling - gaming deals. PartyCasino currently offers the Sumo slot game, but its not a touch on what a Hogan or Flair online slot will be. Punters, the good news is that the online slots can be played for free or for money, but if you don't bet, you can't win (for real) either, but you won't loose money if you play in that fashion either. Many players are trying out the online games for free, before placing down money. You must be 18 years old or over to play the online slot games in most countries.
Clooney hooks up with WWE wrestler Stacy Keibler...
Just a couple of months after George Clooney broke up with Elisabetta Canalis, he has a new girlfriend, Stacy Keibler, 18 years his junior.
The 50-year-old had done well for himself, extremely well, if the general consensus was anything to go by, after all, there is no denying that the Italian, 32 , had a figure to be envied.
But by George! He's only gone and done it again, as these pictures of his latest paramour prove, and Clooney's new girl has an even better figure than Canalis.
Stacy Keibler, an actress and model, has been fighting professionally in the past.
Clooney’s girlfriend, aged 32, was a successful WWE wrestler, famed because her 42 inch legs allowed her to step in and out of the ring with ease and panache.
Keibler, who hails from Maryland, is incredibly proud of her endless pins, she was quoting as saying: 'Anybody can go out and buy boobs, but you're either blessed with attractive legs or you're not.'
But don't let these statistics fool you into thinking that Clooney was merely attracted to Keibler's comely form.
Us Weekly report that Clooney was bedazzled by the leggy blonde's witty banter.
They report a source as saying: 'They like each other's sense of humour.'
The friend added: 'They have been really close for two years, Stacey is a superchill girl, and George has the same personality.'
Hulk's girl Brooke Hogan gets nude in a cage...
Reality TV star Brooke Hogan has left her wrestling legend dad in a knot over raunchy nude photo campaign for animal rights charity PETA.
The exposing black and white snaps of the 23-year-old naked and behind bars left her dad, Hulk Hogan, red-faced when he viewed the pictures at an exhibition yesterday. See the photos here
Wrestling hero Hulk, real name Terry Gene Bollea, jokingly tried to spare his daughter's blushes by covering up the revealing portraits with his hands.
The shots are part of the PETA's Women In Cages exhibition held in Cafeina Lounge, Miami, Florida which the curvy Hogan Knows Best star Brooke supported by going nude.
Moustachioed muscle-man Hulk had been attending the bash on his 58th birthday along with his wife Jennifer McDaniel and the ex-wrestler and his family were treated to a giant cake adorned with his name in silver lettering.
Hulk Hogan's Micro Championship Wrestling
truTV Announces Premiere Dates for Three Compelling New Series
Network Reveals Premieres of New Seasons of Seven Returning Original Series, Plus the Debut of Hit Series Wipeout
truTV – which is coming off another record-setting quarter in reaching young adults – has lined up an extensive programming slate for the end of 2011 that includes three new series, seven returning hits and the network's biggest series acquisition ever.
The new series Bear Swamp Recovery, about a larger-than-life family-owned repo business, is set to debut Aug. 22, followed by the Sept. 14 premiere of Hulk Hogan's MCW, which will take viewers behind the scenes of a new professional wrestling league. truTV's third new series of the fall and winter, the hidden-camera prank series Impractical Jokers, will arrive in December.
On Sept. 2, truTV adds its biggest series acquisition, the popular competition show Wipeout. Seven of truTV's original series are also set to return, including the hits Hardcore Pawn, Lizard Lick Towing, Full Throttle Saloon and Black Gold.
truTV just scored its most-watched second quarter ever in primetime delivery of three key demos: adults 18-49, men 18-34 and men 18-49. The network, which is growing in popularity with younger viewers, increased its delivery of adults 18-34 by 11% and men 18-34 by 7% in the second quarter.
The following is a rundown of truTV's new and returning series for 2011:
New Original Series
Bear Swamp Recovery – New series premiering Monday, Aug. 22, with back-to-back episodes at 10 and 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT)
Bear Swamp, where the business is big but the family is even bigger, follows PJ Vinch, who runs a booming New Jersey repo company with the help of his senior-with-an-attitude father and his teen son. With a repo order in one hand and a slice of pizza in the other, these bulky Sicilians never hesitate to take jobs other companies can't handle, from massive construction equipment to luxury yachts at the Jersey shore to an entire fleet of racecars. They always get the goods, and they never miss a meal. Bear Swamp Recovery comes to truTV from Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment.
Hulk Hogan's MCW – New series premieres Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
Hulk Hogan, one of the legendary stars of pro wrestling, believes you need to start small if you want to win big. Now he's lending his expertise to the new Micro Championship Wrestling, where he gives little wrestlers advice on recruiting, training and mentoring. It's all with the goal of getting the MCW off the ground and into the arena. Hulk Hogan's MCW comes to truTV from Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment.
Impractical Jokers – New series coming in December
Since they were kids, Sal, Murr, Q and Joe have dared one another to do the most ridiculous, humiliating public pranks imaginable. Now, to find out who's best under pressure, they'll compete in unbelievably awkward social experiments – all recorded on camera. The loser must do the most mortifying challenge ever. Impractical Jokers comes to truTV from NorthSouth Productions.
New Acquired Series
Wipeout – Acquired series to air Fridays at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), beginning Sept. 2
truTV has acquired exclusive, off-network cable rights to air this exciting series in which contestants face wildly outrageous barriers, from Big Balls to complex contraptions, for the chance at winning a cash prize. Wipeout, which is also shown in numerous international versions around the globe, ranks among the world's top-rated game shows. The series was recently voted by Entertainment Weekly's readers as "Reality TV's Guiltiest Pleasure."
Returning Series
Lizard Lick Towing – Season 1 returns Monday, Aug. 22, at 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT); Season 2 coming in November
Las Vegas Jailhouse – Season 4 launches Sunday, Sept. 4, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
Operation Repo – Season 9 launches Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT)
Police POV – Season 2 launches in November
Hardcore Pawn – Season 5 coming in November
Black Gold – Season 4 coming in November
Full Throttle Saloon – Season 3 coming in November
About truTV
truTV is television's destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective. Currently seen in 93 million U.S. households, the network is enjoying its best deliveries ever in key demographics. truTV features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can't normally experience. truTV's primetime fan favorites include the original series Hardcore Pawn, All Worked Up, Lizard Lick Towing, Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura, Black Gold, Operation Repo and World's Dumbest… During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name In Session.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
About truTV
truTV is television's destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective. Currently seen in 93 million U.S. households, the network is enjoying its best deliveries ever in key demographics. truTV features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can't normally experience. truTV's primetime fan favorites include the original series Hardcore Pawn, All Worked Up, Lizard Lick Towing, Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura, Black Gold, Operation Repo and World's Dumbest… During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name In Session.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
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Friday, August 12, 2011
Media Man News: Marvel; Disney D23, Underbelly, WWE, Australian Casinos, Hulk Hogan, UK Riots, Gaming...by Greg Tingle - 12th August 2012
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Australia could cash-in on casino tourism...
Australia’s concerns on gambling are turning us into a “nanny state’, according to Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) chief executive John Lee who said embracing casinos could assist the industry.
Mr Lee explained Aussies need to drop the outdated view that casinos are just for gambling because it does not represent the fact that they are used for more than just their gaming facilities, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
TTF’s head continued that properties such as the Crown in Melbourne are popular for more than just their pokie machines, with “spas, dining, bars – a while plethora of things people can do”.
With a Euromonitor International survey ranking Crown Casino as the highest Australian attraction and seventeenth most popular worldwide, Mr Lee said Australia should not have to apologise for developing properties that attract international tourists.
"In terms of inbound tourism, the biggest forward market is the Chinese market and they enjoy their food and enjoy a bet - we shouldn't have to apologise for developing the right sort of product to accommodate that," he explained to the newspaper.
Mr Lee was concerned for the long term restrictions of the proposed law that allows gamblers to notify the venue of a maximum loss before playing.
Earlier this year Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson concurred with Mr Lee’s ideas, arguing that casino tourism “is real”.
''Unfortunately, this is a fact of life - high-roller tourism is big-yield tourism,” Mr Ferguson said.
Topping Euromonitor’s list of worldwide attractions was the Great Wall of China followed by Walt Disney World.
Marvel Makes Inaugural Appearance at Disney's D23 Expo!...
NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvel is coming to Anaheim this year to make its historic debut at D23, the ultimate Disney fan event, and we're pulling out all the stops!
On Sunday, August 21, at 10:15 a.m. in the Arena, join us for Marvel: The House of Ideas, an exclusive and unprecedented experience that will take you through the evolution of Marvel from its first comic book in 1939 to its current position as one of the most important creative forces in the world. During this presentation, which will include interactive Q&A segments, you will not only get an inside glimpse of the history of Marvel and its iconic Super Heroes but also discover why Marvel truly is the House of Ideas. This session will be hosted by Joe Quesada, Marvel's Chief Creative Officer and one of the most respected and sought-after writers and artists in the entertainment industry.
"We're thrilled to be a part of the one-of-a-kind show that is Disney's D23," said Quesada.
"Whether attendees are new to the world of Marvel or longtime fans, they're going to love what we've planned for them!"
Also, be sure not to miss Marvel's own President of Production Kevin Feige as he joins some of the top names in film on Saturday, August 20 at 10:30 a.m. at the Walt Disney Studios panel to discuss Marvel Studios' plans for 2012, including the hotly anticipated Marvel's The Avengers!
Tickets to D23 Expo 2011 are available at http://www.D23Expo.com. Admission includes access to all experiences and entertainment at the D23 Expo and can be purchased for single days or for three full days of festivities. Admission is $42 for a one-day adult ticket and $32 for children 3-12. Three-day passes are $121 for adults and $91 for children. Members of D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans will receive a discount on admission as well as early entry to each day of the D23 Expo for themselves and their guests. More details about D23 Expo entertainment, events and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can keep up with all the news by visiting www.D23Expo.com, as well as by following "Disney D23" on Twitter and Facebook.
About D23 Expo 2011
The D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings the entire world of Disney under one roof, providing attendees with unprecedented access to Disney films, television and theme parks. For schedules, live updates, interactive features and tools, polls and much more, check out the D23 Expo mobile app at www.D23mobile.com! To be part of the D23 Expo conversation, make sure to follow @DisneyD23 and tag your tweets with #D23Expo. For questions during the D23 Expo, get answers by sending tweets to @D23Expo.
About D23
The name "D23" pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923, when Walt Disney opened his fledgling studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney's 88-year history. D23 gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication Disney twenty-three; a rich website at www.disney.com/D23; a new collectibles line, the Walt Disney Archives Collection; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year, highlighted by the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, August 19-21, 2011.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing.
Network Nine's Underbelly: Media Buyers Talk Numbers...
Media buyers are going on record saying the upcoming launch of Underbelly Razor on Nine is critical for the network's ongoing success, as Nine comes out of a very average first half.
While Nine's The Block has been pulling in ratings as high as 1.7 million viewers in its final episodes, the rest of the year has not seen stellar results come out of Nine.
Media buyers have said that Underbelly Razor will almost certainly pull in high ratings for Nine, but they have also argued that high ratings are a must, if Nine wants to have a positive second half.
UM chief executive Mat Baxter has high hopes for the show. "It's a very successful franchise, and the drama element has much more sustainability than reality television. However, Nine hasn't had as many runs on the board this year. The Block has been great for Nine, but it's only one program.
"Hopefully Underbelly will give Nine some depth of performance. If the show is successful, it will show consistent performance from Nine. It would be viewed as a critical part of Nine's line-up."
Maxus Melbourne's chief operating officer Mark McCraith said he expects Underbelly Razor to pull in between 1.6 and 1.7 million viewers on average, which would be an impressive result if you take into account the rating dilution caused by the multichannels.
"Nine has been clever about how it is selling advertising on the program. They are not discounting, but they are not overcharging. It's not being sold as high as The Renovators or Masterchef. It has been attractively priced so advertisers can take advantage."
GroupM trading director James Parkinson said: "Undoubtedly Nine are looking for stronger content in the second half than the first half of this year. The Block has been strong, so Underbelly will hopefully be a continuation of this development of strong product."
MediaCom group director Jane Henderson also said Underbelly Razor will be critical for Nine, as the network needs to show that it can deliver beyond The Block.
"Underbelly will help to frame negotiations for next year. If it does well, Nine will be in a good position in terms of forward bookings. Nine realises just how important Underbelly is. Look at what happened in February when Nine didn't kick off with Underbelly as it had planned. It really hurt them, and they've learnt from it."
MEC trading director Seb Rennie said he does not expect the upcoming season to hit the same heights as earlier seasons, but argued that it is only one program and that Nine would be relying on programs other than Underbelly.
The Underbelly franchise has been consistently successful for the network. Season One in 2008 saw an average of 1.273 million viewers, according to OzTAM, while Season Two in 2009 brought an average of 2.189 million viewers and Season Three last year saw an average of 1.821 million viewers.
Underbelly Razor goes to air on Channel Nine on Sunday August 21.
You'll just have to be teased more by TV promos, web and bus advertising before the big night.
CryptoLogic positive...
Online betting games developer CryptoLogic said this morning that total revenue increased to $7m in the second-quarter to end-June (Q1 2011: $6m).
Total expenses held at $6.5m (Q1 2011: $6.5m).
Income before tax was $0.5m (Q1 2011: $0.4m loss).
A Millionaires Club jackpot win of $4.2m was paid in June 2011.
The company had cash of $12m at period end (Q1 2011: $14.5m).
CryptoLogic said it is encouraged by the performance in the quarter and continues to focus on driving revenues further while managing costs tightly to enhance shareholder value.
Greenbrae man charged with insider trading in Disney deal...
A Greenbrae man was charged with insider trading Thursday on allegations he made nearly $200,000 by buying Marvel Entertainment options before the comics publisher was acquired by the Walt Disney Co. in 2009, federal authorities said.
Toby Scammell, 26, secretly exploited his girlfriend, who worked at Disney and had knowledge of the pending Marvel acquisition, and bought $5,465 in Marvel options a few weeks before the deal, the Securities and Exchange Commission said.
Scammell funded half the stake by taking money from his brother's account, the SEC said. Scammell obtained trading authority over the account when his brother, an Army soldier, was deployed to Iraq.
"Marvel's stock price jumped more than 25 percent after the Aug. 31, 2009, public announcement, and Scammell then sold all of his Marvel options," the SEC said. "He didn't reveal his trades or profits to his brother or his girlfriend."
The SEC said Scammell turned a 3,000 percent profit in less than a month.
According to the SEC complaint, Scammell lived with his girlfriend in Los Angeles for a period prior to the Marvel/Disney deal. At the time, his girlfriend was serving an "externship" in Disney's corporate strategy department.
The girlfriend told Scammell she was working on a major deal, but the SEC complaint is unclear on how Scammell allegedly determined that Marvel was the target of the acquisition. Authorities noted that he had access to his girlfriend's Blackberry.
Scammell's lawyer, Miles Ehrlich, said the SEC's case is "riddled with distortions" and "stitched together ... on nothing more than a hunch."
"Here's the reality that the SEC chose not to include in its complaint: Toby testified under oath for four days, and he patiently explained the reasons why he made the $5500 of trades in question," Ehrlich said in a statement. "His reasons and his actions were all corroborated by the contemporaneous documentary and time-stamped computer evidence in this case."
"What the SEC has done here is wrong," he added. "And it's truly a sad day to see how the government can damage the reputation and future of an innocent young person without having real evidence to back up their charges."
The SEC said the investigation is continuing. The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Brock Lesnar Speaks Out – Vince McMahon-WWE...
Brock Lesnar recently spoke about WWE and how it helped his career...
On Vince McMahon and WWE: “These guys, they just don’t have another life. When they go home, they really can’t get out of tune with their on-stage persona. There’s really no time. I think the biggest thing is there’s really no downtime for the human body to recover, and more importantly, for their mind to recover where you’re constantly on the road, and in a program where you can’t get outside to take an outside look at what’s going on — guys resort to all kinds of extracurricular activities.”
On what being with WWE has done for his career: “I’m not stupid — without the WWE, the WWE made me a household name and increased my value tenfold before I even pursued the UFC. Could I be where I am today without the WWE? Probably not. Could I be drawing the same numbers that I’m drawing? Probably not. I brought a lot of fans over, a lot of crossover fans that I brought, just from the general public and WWE fans, I believe.”
Hulk Hogan: 'Hulkamania should stop the riots'...
Hulk Hogan has said that it is time for young people in England to "change direction" after the recent rioting across the country.
The wrestler-turned-reality TV star told BBC Radio 5 Live that the disturbances were "headline news" in the US and that "it's the only thing people are talking about".
Hogan said: "I just heard what's going on in the streets, man, and I thought just maybe Hulkamania should run over there, start dropping legs, start hitting people with big boots and just stop the action.
"Let's rethink, brother, rethink this whole thing and get these kids together and change their thinking in a positive direction and break the cycle of this craziness of where they were raised and where they're at. "
He continued: "Everyone's got a story, which is 'So what?' but what now? That's what needs to be done. Change the direction of the youth over there.
"Everybody wants the kids to get back on track. It doesn't matter if Hulk Hogan's over there, body-slamming all the youth like I did Andre the Giant. But at the end of the day we need to grab these kids, shake 'em and say stop."
Hogan added: "Just regroup - look at yourself in the mirror and say, 'Is this what you want the mirror image of your life to be? Is this what you want your destiny to be?'
"Now it's time to change directions, even if the state has to step in and really focus on getting these kids back on track, brother, but you know what? I will do anything, because I love my UK Hulkamaniacs, brother."
WWE Studios chief Mike Pavone ankles; Vince McMahon: WWE is rethinking film strategy (Variety)
After shepherding the production of eight films, WWE Studios chief Mike Pavone has called it quits.
The exec is ankling the company to "pursue other opportunities," according to a corporate filing. He had headed up the film division since 2009, after replacing former Village Roadshow exec Michael Lake.
Departure follows remarks this week by WWE topper Vince McMahon that the company was looking to rethink its film strategy after recent releases have struggled to find an audience.
Company is narrowing down a list of candidates to replace Pavone.
The Samuel Goldwyn Co. has been distribbing WWE's slate since the company began self-financing its pics in early 2010, after partnering with Fox and Lionsgate in the past.
Its most recent release, the drama "That's What I Am," starring Ed Harris and Amy Madigan, earned just $6,400 from 10 theaters in three days at the box office.
Next up is the comedy "Inside Out," which bows Sept. 9 and stars Triple H, Parker Posey and Michael Rapaport, to be followed by "Family Reunion," "Bending the Rules" and "Barricade." It's also already released "Legendary," "Knucklehead" and Stephen Herek comedy "The Chaperone," all shot in Louisiana.
WWE gives its pics limited theatrical releases in certain markets, using them as promo pushes for launches across homevideo platforms shortly thereafter. Walmart, the company's primary retail partner, has been giving the films prominent displays and shelf space.
The pics WWE produced didn't star its wrestlers but featured them in smaller co-starring roles opposite more established thesps such as Harris, Patricia Clarkson, Danny Glover, Mark Feuerstein, Dennis Farina, Jamie Kennedy and Eric McCormack.
Although WWE Studios generated $4.3 million during the last three months, "I Am What I Am" wound up losing $3.3 million during the second quarter.
Moving forward, WWE is looking to pair up with other production partners for films. It also wants to lower the production budgets on future releases, which currently hover around the $5 million mark.
In May, WWE paired up with Pathe U.K. on the horror film "No One Lives," which stars Luke Evans ("The Three Musketeers," "Immortals"). Ryuhei Kitamura ("Midnight Meat Train") is directing.
Leaning more toward genre fare may be part of WWE's playbook after Pavone's slate of mostly feel-good dramas and family fare didn't appeal to the company's fanbase.
The film division generated $400,000 in profit last year through previous releases and Pavone's first titles.
WWE is hoping to turn to its own films to use as programming on the WWE Network, a TV channel the company hopes to launch within the next 12-18 months.
Company has also been digitizing its vast library of footage, which consists of 100,000 hours, as programming to adapt for the new network when it launches. (Credit: Variety)
WWE To Provide Radio To Listen To Commentators At SummerSlam...
If you’re heading to SummerSlam this weekend at Los Angeles’ STAPLES Center, there’s a new way to take part in the excitement. This Sunday, WWE introduces a revolutionary new radio that allows attendees of the Biggest Party of the Summer – and all pay-per-view events – to listen in on ringside commentary live with the WWE Live Commentary Radio.
If you’ve ever been to a WWE live event or any live sporting event, one major difference from watching the event on television is the lack of play-by-play commentary. The WWE Live Commentary Radio is going to change that, allowing fans in attendance to listen to the SummerSlam television broadcast featuring the likes of WWE Hall of Famers Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jim Ross, as well as Michael Cole, Booker T and Josh Mathews.
The WWE Live Commentary Radio will be available at merchandise stands on the concourse for $15 each. The radios are yours to keep and can be used as a traditional FM radio once the event has ended, and they can be used at future live events where WWE Commentary Radio is available. Supplies are limited so be sure to arrive early! (Credit: WWE)
Facebook UK visits drop to lowest since 2009: Experian Hitwise...
Search tracker company finds Google losing search share to Bing in July
Though social networking site Facebook remains the most popular social networks by UK Internet visits, the share of visits of the site has dropped by nearly 4% in July when compared to June.
According to Internet search tracker Experian Hitwise, Facebook lost its market share of visits to reach 50.14%, its lowest since October 2009.
Experian Hitwise said that Facebook "suffered a significant loss of market share of visits this month dropping from 53.72% to 50.14% of all UK Internet visits to social networks.
"Facebook's dominance of the UK social market hasn't been this low since October 2009, when the network accounted for 50.46% of all visits to the category."
The Internet tracking company also said that YouTube became the fastest moving social network for the fifth consecutive month.
It said, "The search term 'youtube' was also the third biggest after term typed into search engines this month. The most popular search term was 'facebook', while 'ebay' was second."
"YouTube continued its exceptional growth as the fastest moving social network for the fifth consecutive month. One in every 35 visits to a website by UK Internet users now goes to YouTube and the video site now accounts for 22.54% of all visits to social networks, its highest market share of the UK social landscape recorded to date," said the firm.
The firm said that while Google sites maintained their robust lead at 91.04% of searches in July, it lost 0.98% share.
Microsoft Sites reclaimed the number two spot in the search engine rankings list having dropped to third last month for the first time this year. Microsoft Sites, led by the bing search engine, accounted for 3.84% of all UK Internet searches conducted in July 2011.
"Microsoft has recovered from last month's blip to once again become the UK's second most popular search provider," commented Experian Hitwise research director Robin Goad.
"The gains made by Microsoft Sites this month are almost exactly equal to the losses suffered by Google, which means that some of the searches that were being conducted on Google engines last month are now being typed into bing. "
Yahoo Sites increased their market share of visits slightly this month to account for 3% of all UK searches online, said the firm.
Thor And X-Men First Class Tipped To Hammer Home Results...
Thor and X-Men: First Class got great reviews and their awesome, and Captain America: The First Avenger seems set to hit the spot to, but big questions remain about Green Lantern, and the vibe is not particularly good. Green Lantern with Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively is getting very mixed reviews. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has a 23% approval among movie critics, according to the 153 reviews counters. But 72% of the 62,000 plus user reviewers say that they "liked it" with it just premiering in the U.S theaters Friday after a midnight release on late Thursday/early Friday. Comic Book Movie.com indicates are pretty negative on the flick. One reviewer called the movie "inert, artificial and dead on arrival." During the midnight release on Thursday, the film drew $3.35 million in the same region that alike movies that were recently released did; X-Men: First Class brought in $3.37 million on June 2nd, and Thor did $3.25 million on May 5th. X-Men: First Class and Thor both had a budget significantly less than Green Lantern; the former had a budget of $160 million while Thor had exactly half the budget of Green Lantern — $150 million. While the flick will likely end up eventually surpassing its budget, the fact the other comic book movies had much less budget isn’t a great result. Ultimately, X-Men: First Class raked in $55.1 million in its opening weekend while Thor did $65.7 million. With this being the third comic book-based movie released in a month-and-a-half and mixed reviews, will Green Lantern under perform this weekend, or will the hardcore - fanboy type audience that has been largely ripping on it, check it out at the cinema?
Our top picks: Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger looks like a safe bet.
Be it movies, comics or games, we think that Marvel Entertainment leads the pack, followed by DC Comics, with Dark Horse Comics getting a third, based on the positive news leaks and insider tip offs we've been getting.
As Marvel living legend Stan Lee would say, Excelsior!
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Australia could cash-in on casino tourism...
Australia’s concerns on gambling are turning us into a “nanny state’, according to Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) chief executive John Lee who said embracing casinos could assist the industry.
Mr Lee explained Aussies need to drop the outdated view that casinos are just for gambling because it does not represent the fact that they are used for more than just their gaming facilities, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
TTF’s head continued that properties such as the Crown in Melbourne are popular for more than just their pokie machines, with “spas, dining, bars – a while plethora of things people can do”.
With a Euromonitor International survey ranking Crown Casino as the highest Australian attraction and seventeenth most popular worldwide, Mr Lee said Australia should not have to apologise for developing properties that attract international tourists.
"In terms of inbound tourism, the biggest forward market is the Chinese market and they enjoy their food and enjoy a bet - we shouldn't have to apologise for developing the right sort of product to accommodate that," he explained to the newspaper.
Mr Lee was concerned for the long term restrictions of the proposed law that allows gamblers to notify the venue of a maximum loss before playing.
Earlier this year Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson concurred with Mr Lee’s ideas, arguing that casino tourism “is real”.
''Unfortunately, this is a fact of life - high-roller tourism is big-yield tourism,” Mr Ferguson said.
Topping Euromonitor’s list of worldwide attractions was the Great Wall of China followed by Walt Disney World.
Marvel Makes Inaugural Appearance at Disney's D23 Expo!...
NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvel is coming to Anaheim this year to make its historic debut at D23, the ultimate Disney fan event, and we're pulling out all the stops!
On Sunday, August 21, at 10:15 a.m. in the Arena, join us for Marvel: The House of Ideas, an exclusive and unprecedented experience that will take you through the evolution of Marvel from its first comic book in 1939 to its current position as one of the most important creative forces in the world. During this presentation, which will include interactive Q&A segments, you will not only get an inside glimpse of the history of Marvel and its iconic Super Heroes but also discover why Marvel truly is the House of Ideas. This session will be hosted by Joe Quesada, Marvel's Chief Creative Officer and one of the most respected and sought-after writers and artists in the entertainment industry.
"We're thrilled to be a part of the one-of-a-kind show that is Disney's D23," said Quesada.
"Whether attendees are new to the world of Marvel or longtime fans, they're going to love what we've planned for them!"
Also, be sure not to miss Marvel's own President of Production Kevin Feige as he joins some of the top names in film on Saturday, August 20 at 10:30 a.m. at the Walt Disney Studios panel to discuss Marvel Studios' plans for 2012, including the hotly anticipated Marvel's The Avengers!
Tickets to D23 Expo 2011 are available at http://www.D23Expo.com. Admission includes access to all experiences and entertainment at the D23 Expo and can be purchased for single days or for three full days of festivities. Admission is $42 for a one-day adult ticket and $32 for children 3-12. Three-day passes are $121 for adults and $91 for children. Members of D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans will receive a discount on admission as well as early entry to each day of the D23 Expo for themselves and their guests. More details about D23 Expo entertainment, events and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can keep up with all the news by visiting www.D23Expo.com, as well as by following "Disney D23" on Twitter and Facebook.
About D23 Expo 2011
The D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings the entire world of Disney under one roof, providing attendees with unprecedented access to Disney films, television and theme parks. For schedules, live updates, interactive features and tools, polls and much more, check out the D23 Expo mobile app at www.D23mobile.com! To be part of the D23 Expo conversation, make sure to follow @DisneyD23 and tag your tweets with #D23Expo. For questions during the D23 Expo, get answers by sending tweets to @D23Expo.
About D23
The name "D23" pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923, when Walt Disney opened his fledgling studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney's 88-year history. D23 gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication Disney twenty-three; a rich website at www.disney.com/D23; a new collectibles line, the Walt Disney Archives Collection; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year, highlighted by the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, August 19-21, 2011.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing.
Network Nine's Underbelly: Media Buyers Talk Numbers...
Media buyers are going on record saying the upcoming launch of Underbelly Razor on Nine is critical for the network's ongoing success, as Nine comes out of a very average first half.
While Nine's The Block has been pulling in ratings as high as 1.7 million viewers in its final episodes, the rest of the year has not seen stellar results come out of Nine.
Media buyers have said that Underbelly Razor will almost certainly pull in high ratings for Nine, but they have also argued that high ratings are a must, if Nine wants to have a positive second half.
UM chief executive Mat Baxter has high hopes for the show. "It's a very successful franchise, and the drama element has much more sustainability than reality television. However, Nine hasn't had as many runs on the board this year. The Block has been great for Nine, but it's only one program.
"Hopefully Underbelly will give Nine some depth of performance. If the show is successful, it will show consistent performance from Nine. It would be viewed as a critical part of Nine's line-up."
Maxus Melbourne's chief operating officer Mark McCraith said he expects Underbelly Razor to pull in between 1.6 and 1.7 million viewers on average, which would be an impressive result if you take into account the rating dilution caused by the multichannels.
"Nine has been clever about how it is selling advertising on the program. They are not discounting, but they are not overcharging. It's not being sold as high as The Renovators or Masterchef. It has been attractively priced so advertisers can take advantage."
GroupM trading director James Parkinson said: "Undoubtedly Nine are looking for stronger content in the second half than the first half of this year. The Block has been strong, so Underbelly will hopefully be a continuation of this development of strong product."
MediaCom group director Jane Henderson also said Underbelly Razor will be critical for Nine, as the network needs to show that it can deliver beyond The Block.
"Underbelly will help to frame negotiations for next year. If it does well, Nine will be in a good position in terms of forward bookings. Nine realises just how important Underbelly is. Look at what happened in February when Nine didn't kick off with Underbelly as it had planned. It really hurt them, and they've learnt from it."
MEC trading director Seb Rennie said he does not expect the upcoming season to hit the same heights as earlier seasons, but argued that it is only one program and that Nine would be relying on programs other than Underbelly.
The Underbelly franchise has been consistently successful for the network. Season One in 2008 saw an average of 1.273 million viewers, according to OzTAM, while Season Two in 2009 brought an average of 2.189 million viewers and Season Three last year saw an average of 1.821 million viewers.
Underbelly Razor goes to air on Channel Nine on Sunday August 21.
You'll just have to be teased more by TV promos, web and bus advertising before the big night.
CryptoLogic positive...
Online betting games developer CryptoLogic said this morning that total revenue increased to $7m in the second-quarter to end-June (Q1 2011: $6m).
Total expenses held at $6.5m (Q1 2011: $6.5m).
Income before tax was $0.5m (Q1 2011: $0.4m loss).
A Millionaires Club jackpot win of $4.2m was paid in June 2011.
The company had cash of $12m at period end (Q1 2011: $14.5m).
CryptoLogic said it is encouraged by the performance in the quarter and continues to focus on driving revenues further while managing costs tightly to enhance shareholder value.
Greenbrae man charged with insider trading in Disney deal...
A Greenbrae man was charged with insider trading Thursday on allegations he made nearly $200,000 by buying Marvel Entertainment options before the comics publisher was acquired by the Walt Disney Co. in 2009, federal authorities said.
Toby Scammell, 26, secretly exploited his girlfriend, who worked at Disney and had knowledge of the pending Marvel acquisition, and bought $5,465 in Marvel options a few weeks before the deal, the Securities and Exchange Commission said.
Scammell funded half the stake by taking money from his brother's account, the SEC said. Scammell obtained trading authority over the account when his brother, an Army soldier, was deployed to Iraq.
"Marvel's stock price jumped more than 25 percent after the Aug. 31, 2009, public announcement, and Scammell then sold all of his Marvel options," the SEC said. "He didn't reveal his trades or profits to his brother or his girlfriend."
The SEC said Scammell turned a 3,000 percent profit in less than a month.
According to the SEC complaint, Scammell lived with his girlfriend in Los Angeles for a period prior to the Marvel/Disney deal. At the time, his girlfriend was serving an "externship" in Disney's corporate strategy department.
The girlfriend told Scammell she was working on a major deal, but the SEC complaint is unclear on how Scammell allegedly determined that Marvel was the target of the acquisition. Authorities noted that he had access to his girlfriend's Blackberry.
Scammell's lawyer, Miles Ehrlich, said the SEC's case is "riddled with distortions" and "stitched together ... on nothing more than a hunch."
"Here's the reality that the SEC chose not to include in its complaint: Toby testified under oath for four days, and he patiently explained the reasons why he made the $5500 of trades in question," Ehrlich said in a statement. "His reasons and his actions were all corroborated by the contemporaneous documentary and time-stamped computer evidence in this case."
"What the SEC has done here is wrong," he added. "And it's truly a sad day to see how the government can damage the reputation and future of an innocent young person without having real evidence to back up their charges."
The SEC said the investigation is continuing. The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Brock Lesnar Speaks Out – Vince McMahon-WWE...
Brock Lesnar recently spoke about WWE and how it helped his career...
On Vince McMahon and WWE: “These guys, they just don’t have another life. When they go home, they really can’t get out of tune with their on-stage persona. There’s really no time. I think the biggest thing is there’s really no downtime for the human body to recover, and more importantly, for their mind to recover where you’re constantly on the road, and in a program where you can’t get outside to take an outside look at what’s going on — guys resort to all kinds of extracurricular activities.”
On what being with WWE has done for his career: “I’m not stupid — without the WWE, the WWE made me a household name and increased my value tenfold before I even pursued the UFC. Could I be where I am today without the WWE? Probably not. Could I be drawing the same numbers that I’m drawing? Probably not. I brought a lot of fans over, a lot of crossover fans that I brought, just from the general public and WWE fans, I believe.”
Hulk Hogan: 'Hulkamania should stop the riots'...
Hulk Hogan has said that it is time for young people in England to "change direction" after the recent rioting across the country.
The wrestler-turned-reality TV star told BBC Radio 5 Live that the disturbances were "headline news" in the US and that "it's the only thing people are talking about".
Hogan said: "I just heard what's going on in the streets, man, and I thought just maybe Hulkamania should run over there, start dropping legs, start hitting people with big boots and just stop the action.
"Let's rethink, brother, rethink this whole thing and get these kids together and change their thinking in a positive direction and break the cycle of this craziness of where they were raised and where they're at. "
He continued: "Everyone's got a story, which is 'So what?' but what now? That's what needs to be done. Change the direction of the youth over there.
"Everybody wants the kids to get back on track. It doesn't matter if Hulk Hogan's over there, body-slamming all the youth like I did Andre the Giant. But at the end of the day we need to grab these kids, shake 'em and say stop."
Hogan added: "Just regroup - look at yourself in the mirror and say, 'Is this what you want the mirror image of your life to be? Is this what you want your destiny to be?'
"Now it's time to change directions, even if the state has to step in and really focus on getting these kids back on track, brother, but you know what? I will do anything, because I love my UK Hulkamaniacs, brother."
WWE Studios chief Mike Pavone ankles; Vince McMahon: WWE is rethinking film strategy (Variety)
After shepherding the production of eight films, WWE Studios chief Mike Pavone has called it quits.
The exec is ankling the company to "pursue other opportunities," according to a corporate filing. He had headed up the film division since 2009, after replacing former Village Roadshow exec Michael Lake.
Departure follows remarks this week by WWE topper Vince McMahon that the company was looking to rethink its film strategy after recent releases have struggled to find an audience.
Company is narrowing down a list of candidates to replace Pavone.
The Samuel Goldwyn Co. has been distribbing WWE's slate since the company began self-financing its pics in early 2010, after partnering with Fox and Lionsgate in the past.
Its most recent release, the drama "That's What I Am," starring Ed Harris and Amy Madigan, earned just $6,400 from 10 theaters in three days at the box office.
Next up is the comedy "Inside Out," which bows Sept. 9 and stars Triple H, Parker Posey and Michael Rapaport, to be followed by "Family Reunion," "Bending the Rules" and "Barricade." It's also already released "Legendary," "Knucklehead" and Stephen Herek comedy "The Chaperone," all shot in Louisiana.
WWE gives its pics limited theatrical releases in certain markets, using them as promo pushes for launches across homevideo platforms shortly thereafter. Walmart, the company's primary retail partner, has been giving the films prominent displays and shelf space.
The pics WWE produced didn't star its wrestlers but featured them in smaller co-starring roles opposite more established thesps such as Harris, Patricia Clarkson, Danny Glover, Mark Feuerstein, Dennis Farina, Jamie Kennedy and Eric McCormack.
Although WWE Studios generated $4.3 million during the last three months, "I Am What I Am" wound up losing $3.3 million during the second quarter.
Moving forward, WWE is looking to pair up with other production partners for films. It also wants to lower the production budgets on future releases, which currently hover around the $5 million mark.
In May, WWE paired up with Pathe U.K. on the horror film "No One Lives," which stars Luke Evans ("The Three Musketeers," "Immortals"). Ryuhei Kitamura ("Midnight Meat Train") is directing.
Leaning more toward genre fare may be part of WWE's playbook after Pavone's slate of mostly feel-good dramas and family fare didn't appeal to the company's fanbase.
The film division generated $400,000 in profit last year through previous releases and Pavone's first titles.
WWE is hoping to turn to its own films to use as programming on the WWE Network, a TV channel the company hopes to launch within the next 12-18 months.
Company has also been digitizing its vast library of footage, which consists of 100,000 hours, as programming to adapt for the new network when it launches. (Credit: Variety)
WWE To Provide Radio To Listen To Commentators At SummerSlam...
If you’re heading to SummerSlam this weekend at Los Angeles’ STAPLES Center, there’s a new way to take part in the excitement. This Sunday, WWE introduces a revolutionary new radio that allows attendees of the Biggest Party of the Summer – and all pay-per-view events – to listen in on ringside commentary live with the WWE Live Commentary Radio.
If you’ve ever been to a WWE live event or any live sporting event, one major difference from watching the event on television is the lack of play-by-play commentary. The WWE Live Commentary Radio is going to change that, allowing fans in attendance to listen to the SummerSlam television broadcast featuring the likes of WWE Hall of Famers Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jim Ross, as well as Michael Cole, Booker T and Josh Mathews.
The WWE Live Commentary Radio will be available at merchandise stands on the concourse for $15 each. The radios are yours to keep and can be used as a traditional FM radio once the event has ended, and they can be used at future live events where WWE Commentary Radio is available. Supplies are limited so be sure to arrive early! (Credit: WWE)
Facebook UK visits drop to lowest since 2009: Experian Hitwise...
Search tracker company finds Google losing search share to Bing in July
Though social networking site Facebook remains the most popular social networks by UK Internet visits, the share of visits of the site has dropped by nearly 4% in July when compared to June.
According to Internet search tracker Experian Hitwise, Facebook lost its market share of visits to reach 50.14%, its lowest since October 2009.
Experian Hitwise said that Facebook "suffered a significant loss of market share of visits this month dropping from 53.72% to 50.14% of all UK Internet visits to social networks.
"Facebook's dominance of the UK social market hasn't been this low since October 2009, when the network accounted for 50.46% of all visits to the category."
The Internet tracking company also said that YouTube became the fastest moving social network for the fifth consecutive month.
It said, "The search term 'youtube' was also the third biggest after term typed into search engines this month. The most popular search term was 'facebook', while 'ebay' was second."
"YouTube continued its exceptional growth as the fastest moving social network for the fifth consecutive month. One in every 35 visits to a website by UK Internet users now goes to YouTube and the video site now accounts for 22.54% of all visits to social networks, its highest market share of the UK social landscape recorded to date," said the firm.
The firm said that while Google sites maintained their robust lead at 91.04% of searches in July, it lost 0.98% share.
Microsoft Sites reclaimed the number two spot in the search engine rankings list having dropped to third last month for the first time this year. Microsoft Sites, led by the bing search engine, accounted for 3.84% of all UK Internet searches conducted in July 2011.
"Microsoft has recovered from last month's blip to once again become the UK's second most popular search provider," commented Experian Hitwise research director Robin Goad.
"The gains made by Microsoft Sites this month are almost exactly equal to the losses suffered by Google, which means that some of the searches that were being conducted on Google engines last month are now being typed into bing. "
Yahoo Sites increased their market share of visits slightly this month to account for 3% of all UK searches online, said the firm.
Thor And X-Men First Class Tipped To Hammer Home Results...
Thor and X-Men: First Class got great reviews and their awesome, and Captain America: The First Avenger seems set to hit the spot to, but big questions remain about Green Lantern, and the vibe is not particularly good. Green Lantern with Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively is getting very mixed reviews. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has a 23% approval among movie critics, according to the 153 reviews counters. But 72% of the 62,000 plus user reviewers say that they "liked it" with it just premiering in the U.S theaters Friday after a midnight release on late Thursday/early Friday. Comic Book Movie.com indicates are pretty negative on the flick. One reviewer called the movie "inert, artificial and dead on arrival." During the midnight release on Thursday, the film drew $3.35 million in the same region that alike movies that were recently released did; X-Men: First Class brought in $3.37 million on June 2nd, and Thor did $3.25 million on May 5th. X-Men: First Class and Thor both had a budget significantly less than Green Lantern; the former had a budget of $160 million while Thor had exactly half the budget of Green Lantern — $150 million. While the flick will likely end up eventually surpassing its budget, the fact the other comic book movies had much less budget isn’t a great result. Ultimately, X-Men: First Class raked in $55.1 million in its opening weekend while Thor did $65.7 million. With this being the third comic book-based movie released in a month-and-a-half and mixed reviews, will Green Lantern under perform this weekend, or will the hardcore - fanboy type audience that has been largely ripping on it, check it out at the cinema?
Our top picks: Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger looks like a safe bet.
Be it movies, comics or games, we think that Marvel Entertainment leads the pack, followed by DC Comics, with Dark Horse Comics getting a third, based on the positive news leaks and insider tip offs we've been getting.
As Marvel living legend Stan Lee would say, Excelsior!
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Thursday, August 11, 2011
Marvel Wins Rights Over Spiderman, Avengers, Hulk , Iron Man in Lawsuit
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Marvel Wins Rights Over Spiderman, Avengers, Hulk , Iron Man in Lawsuit
A US federal judge ruled that heirs of comic creator Jack Kirby cannot lay any claim to a platoon of Marvel characters viz the Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, the Avengers, X-Men and the Incredible Hulk.
According to Judge Colleen McMahon, Kirby's works were made "for hire," meaning that they are exempt from a provision of copyright law that allows authors and artists to obtain rights to their original creations after a certain passage of time, reports Variety.
She alluded to a statement made by Jack Kirby himself where he stated that he worked at a time when the ownership of all characters he drew vested in the company who assigned the work.
The judge ruled that none of the facts provided by the Kirby heirs "makes so much as a dent in the 'almost irrefutable' presumption that the Kirby Works were works made for hire." She also said that the facts presented did not necessitate any trial.
She said the 1909 copyright law that applies to the case presumed that Marvel was considered the author and owner of Kirby's creations as they were made at Marvel’s behest and expense.
Kirby died in 1994 and he is credited with creating some of the most valuable characters in the Marvel library. The suit focused on the work that he did for Marvel comics from 1958 to 1963.
The judge gave a lot of credence to Stan Lee’s testimony. Lee was the editor at Marvel during that period and he testified that he did not purchase work from artists that was not an assignment from him. He elaborated that he would give a general outline of the plot and characters to the artists which after submission was further edited and dialogues and caption added.
In September 2009, the heirs served 45 notices of termination to Marvel for works published during that time, which also include the Mighty Thor, Iron Man and Nick Fury. In January 2010, Marvel sought a declaration from a federal court that it retained the copyright, and the Kirby heirs then filed for a ruling that their termination notices were valid. (Source Variety).
The ruling comes as a great victory for both Marvel and its parent company,Walt Disney Co. Walt Disney has grand plans to exploit Marvel’s library of characters in projects featuring the characters.
Disney said in a statement, "We are pleased that in this case, the judge has confirmed Marvel's ownership rights."
The Kirby’s lawyer, Marc Toberoff, said that they "respectfully disagree" with the ruling and intend to appeal to the Second Circuit. "Sometimes you have to lose to win," he added.
Thor And X-Men First Class Tipped To Hammer Home Results...
Thor and X-Men: First Class got great reviews and their awesome, and Captain America: The First Avenger seems set to hit the spot to, but big questions remain about Green Lantern, and the vibe is not particularly good. Green Lantern with Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively is getting very mixed reviews. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has a 23% approval among movie critics, according to the 153 reviews counters. But 72% of the 62,000 plus user reviewers say that they "liked it" with it just premiering in the U.S theaters Friday after a midnight release on late Thursday/early Friday. Comic Book Movie.com indicates are pretty negative on the flick. One reviewer called the movie "inert, artificial and dead on arrival." During the midnight release on Thursday, the film drew $3.35 million in the same region that alike movies that were recently released did; X-Men: First Class brought in $3.37 million on June 2nd, and Thor did $3.25 million on May 5th. X-Men: First Class and Thor both had a budget significantly less than Green Lantern; the former had a budget of $160 million while Thor had exactly half the budget of Green Lantern — $150 million. While the flick will likely end up eventually surpassing its budget, the fact the other comic book movies had much less budget isn’t a great result. Ultimately, X-Men: First Class raked in $55.1 million in its opening weekend while Thor did $65.7 million. With this being the third comic book-based movie released in a month-and-a-half and mixed reviews, will Green Lantern under perform this weekend, or will the hardcore - fanboy type audience that has been largely ripping on it, check it out at the cinema?
Our top picks: Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger looks like a safe bet.
Be it movies, comics or games, we think that Marvel Entertainment leads the pack, followed by DC Comics, with Dark Horse Comics getting a third, based on the positive news leaks and insider tip offs we've been getting.
As Marvel living legend Stan Lee would say, Excelsior!
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Marvel Wins Rights Over Spiderman, Avengers, Hulk , Iron Man in Lawsuit
A US federal judge ruled that heirs of comic creator Jack Kirby cannot lay any claim to a platoon of Marvel characters viz the Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, the Avengers, X-Men and the Incredible Hulk.
According to Judge Colleen McMahon, Kirby's works were made "for hire," meaning that they are exempt from a provision of copyright law that allows authors and artists to obtain rights to their original creations after a certain passage of time, reports Variety.
She alluded to a statement made by Jack Kirby himself where he stated that he worked at a time when the ownership of all characters he drew vested in the company who assigned the work.
The judge ruled that none of the facts provided by the Kirby heirs "makes so much as a dent in the 'almost irrefutable' presumption that the Kirby Works were works made for hire." She also said that the facts presented did not necessitate any trial.
She said the 1909 copyright law that applies to the case presumed that Marvel was considered the author and owner of Kirby's creations as they were made at Marvel’s behest and expense.
Kirby died in 1994 and he is credited with creating some of the most valuable characters in the Marvel library. The suit focused on the work that he did for Marvel comics from 1958 to 1963.
The judge gave a lot of credence to Stan Lee’s testimony. Lee was the editor at Marvel during that period and he testified that he did not purchase work from artists that was not an assignment from him. He elaborated that he would give a general outline of the plot and characters to the artists which after submission was further edited and dialogues and caption added.
In September 2009, the heirs served 45 notices of termination to Marvel for works published during that time, which also include the Mighty Thor, Iron Man and Nick Fury. In January 2010, Marvel sought a declaration from a federal court that it retained the copyright, and the Kirby heirs then filed for a ruling that their termination notices were valid. (Source Variety).
The ruling comes as a great victory for both Marvel and its parent company,Walt Disney Co. Walt Disney has grand plans to exploit Marvel’s library of characters in projects featuring the characters.
Disney said in a statement, "We are pleased that in this case, the judge has confirmed Marvel's ownership rights."
The Kirby’s lawyer, Marc Toberoff, said that they "respectfully disagree" with the ruling and intend to appeal to the Second Circuit. "Sometimes you have to lose to win," he added.
Thor And X-Men First Class Tipped To Hammer Home Results...
Thor and X-Men: First Class got great reviews and their awesome, and Captain America: The First Avenger seems set to hit the spot to, but big questions remain about Green Lantern, and the vibe is not particularly good. Green Lantern with Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively is getting very mixed reviews. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has a 23% approval among movie critics, according to the 153 reviews counters. But 72% of the 62,000 plus user reviewers say that they "liked it" with it just premiering in the U.S theaters Friday after a midnight release on late Thursday/early Friday. Comic Book Movie.com indicates are pretty negative on the flick. One reviewer called the movie "inert, artificial and dead on arrival." During the midnight release on Thursday, the film drew $3.35 million in the same region that alike movies that were recently released did; X-Men: First Class brought in $3.37 million on June 2nd, and Thor did $3.25 million on May 5th. X-Men: First Class and Thor both had a budget significantly less than Green Lantern; the former had a budget of $160 million while Thor had exactly half the budget of Green Lantern — $150 million. While the flick will likely end up eventually surpassing its budget, the fact the other comic book movies had much less budget isn’t a great result. Ultimately, X-Men: First Class raked in $55.1 million in its opening weekend while Thor did $65.7 million. With this being the third comic book-based movie released in a month-and-a-half and mixed reviews, will Green Lantern under perform this weekend, or will the hardcore - fanboy type audience that has been largely ripping on it, check it out at the cinema?
Our top picks: Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger looks like a safe bet.
Be it movies, comics or games, we think that Marvel Entertainment leads the pack, followed by DC Comics, with Dark Horse Comics getting a third, based on the positive news leaks and insider tip offs we've been getting.
As Marvel living legend Stan Lee would say, Excelsior!
Official Websites
Marvel Entertainment Marvel Entertainment YouTube.com
DC Comics Warner Bros. Online YouTube.com
Website Network
Media Man Int
Media Man
Media Man News
Media Man Entertainment
Media Man News Media: News Corp Q1
Media Man News Blog
News Corp Q1 2024: Group profitability strong with growth and challenges in Australia
News Corp Q1 2024: Group profitability strong with growth and challenges in Australia - November 11, 2023
By James Manning
News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson has reported financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2023, the first quarter of financial year 2024.
“We had a sterling start to the new fiscal year, with rising revenues and increased profitability despite difficult economic conditions in some of our markets,” Thomson said this morning on the earnings call.
“Our first quarter revenues were slightly higher at $2.5 billion, while our profitability rose 4%, marking the second consecutive quarter of profit growth.
“Our positive performance in the quarter follows the three most profitable years since the creation of the new News Corp.”
News Corp Q1, 2024
https://www.mediaweek.com.au/news-corp-q1-2024-group-profitability-strong-with-growth-and-challenges-in-australia/
(MediaWeek)
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Greg Tingle
MediaWeeks' James Manning with a deep dive and crunching numbers on The Foxtel Group. The likes of MAX (ex HBO), ESPN (now has AEW coming up).and tubi (aka "The Netflix Killer") will certainly disrupt and shake things up. WWE (via WWE Live on BINGE) and UFC (via Main Event) are helping keep audiences. Who will fill the void from WWE since they are going to USA Network. UFC is improving Fight Pass, but FOX likely knows this already. AEW will be running over ESPN for Australia as the Pacific region. 7Plus got some ONE Champion and tubi got some older ONE clips. We hope that BINGE will continue to wow the combat sports audience for a long time to come. Some domino and flow on effects from the US market are likely to be felt in Australia by consumers in the next 3 to 5 months is my estimating. Aussie TV audiences are still spoiled for choice - even with the excess of adds, be it sports betting, insurance, pizzas, coffee and beverage makers or whatever. Advertising still makes much of the commercial business go round and Lachlan Murdoch and associates and News Corp are all too well are of it. You've got to have quality and staple programming to keep the audience hooked for binge sessions by the eyeballs! Back to the number crunching.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Gaming, Airline Stocks Take Hit; U.S. Market Decline, by Greg Tingle - 8th August 2011
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Gaming and airline stocks fell today amid a massive market decline tied to the U.S. debt downgrade and recessionary fears.
Just after 8 a.m. Las Vegas time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 2.17 percent, with stocks sensitive to consumer sentiment...like gaming stocks...particularly hard hit.
MGM Resorts International stock was off 6 percent at $11.90, Las Vegas Sands Corp. was down more than 6 percent at $39.20, Wynn Resorts fell 5 percent to $132.94 and Boyd Gaming Corp. was down more than 8 percent at $6.36.
Two of the larger casino operators in Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment Corp. and Station Casinos LLC, don’t have publicly traded stock.
The stocks of two important airline operators in Las Vegas, Allegiant Travel Co. and Southwest Airlines Co., also fell, 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively.
Even before Standard & Poor’s cut the federal debt rating by a notch on Friday, consumer confidence was declining and that’s terrible news for gaming and other stocks tied to discretionary spending.
That’s because consumers are less likely to book vacations to Las Vegas and other leisure destinations if they see their 401(k) accounts declining and are worried they may be laid off.
Bloomberg last week reported its Consumer Comfort Index – based on phone surveys with consumers – fell to its lowest level in May as consumers were worried about jobs, the declining stock market and political fighting over the U.S. debt ceiling.
Experts are busy analysing the damage to land based casino operators VS online casino operators.
Bwin.Party. Digital Entertainment Shares Dip To Record Low; Online Players Up...
The global economic slump has once again impacted the share price of Bwin.Party, as share prices of the parent company that owns PartyCasino.com World Poker Tour and PartyPoker.com reached a record low less than 48 hours ago.
Bwin.Party share prices dropped as low as 113.8p prior to closing at 116.9p - a 5.7% decline in one day. Experts are investigating what may have caused a sudden decline in the share prices of the gaming giant.
There is an overall downward trend of the market. Bwin also has an increased reliance on Euro-zone troubled markets. Before merger of PartyGaming and Bwin, the latter showed that 11% of its revenue is generated from Greece.
The European Commission’s president Jose Manuel Barroso is warning European governments that the financial troubles of Greece, Portugal and Ireland could spread to Italy and Spain. Italy alone represents 10% of Bwin’s revenues.
Bwin.Party's online arm is business usual. PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com is continuing to run a number of attractive promotions, and the company looks like a safe bet to retain it's #1 position as the world's leading online gambling firm.
PartyPoker Sending Players to Oktoberfest...
Starting this coming Friday, PartyPoker players will be able to take the first step on a possible trip to Germany to join in one of the world’s most famous parties. Through the first week of September, PartyPoker will award 16 packages to the 201-year old Oktoberfest, held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
Beginning at the stroke of midnight on August 12th, PartyPoker will hold a VIP Oktoberfest Race, in which players can try to earn as many PartyPoints as possible at real money tables through August 21st. When the Race period is complete, the top seven points earners will each win Oktoberfest prize packages. In addition to those winners, players who finish from 8th to 25th will receive $250, 26th through 75th place will win $100, and places 76 through 400 will all receive a seat in September’s VIP Oktoberfest and Super Gadget Freeroll.
There will then be a second VIP Oktoberfest Race starting immediately after the first one ends, at midnight on August 22nd, and running through 11:59pm on August 31st. All of the prizes are exactly the same for Race number two.
Those who finish in the top 25 in both races will be gifted a 16 GB Apple iPad2, while anyone who finishes in the top 75 in both races will win a 64 GB iPod Touch.
The VIP Oktoberfest and Super Gadget Freeroll will be held on September 4th at 2:00pm ET. An Oktoberfest prize package will be handed out to the top two finishers in the tournament, while the remainder of the top 30 will receive Apple electronics. Those who round out the top five will win 4 GB Apple iPhones, 6th through 10th will get the 16 GB Apple iPad2, and 11th through 30th will win a 64 GB iPod Touch.
Players are allowed to win a maximum of one Oktoberfest prize package and one Apple electronic gadget.
The Oktoberfest prize package includes two night’s accommodation for two, with breakfast, at the Le Meridien hotel in Munich, dinner and drinks at the Hippodrom Oktoberfest tent, dinner and poker at the Olympic Tower restaurant, access to a reserved area and drinks at the P1 nightclub, daytime activities, all transportation in Munich, VIP hospitality, and $600 spending money. Travel to and from Munich is the responsibility of the winner, which is why the $600 is included.
Keep in mind that, like most of PartyPoker’s promotions, players must opt-in in order to participate. The option to opt-in can be found on players’ PartyPoker account pages. In addition, prizes cannot be transferred or exchanged for cash, so if you win a trip to Germany, you are going or you get nothing. For the rest of the terms and conditions, including how to claim prizes (yes, players must claim their Apple gadget prizes – they are not mailed automatically), visit PartyPoker’s web page.
PartyPoker is currently the third largest online poker room or network in terms of cash game traffic, according to PokerScout.com. With a seven day average of 4,200 cash game players, it is neck-and-neck with the iPoker Network, which has 4,250 cash game players. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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Gaming and airline stocks fell today amid a massive market decline tied to the U.S. debt downgrade and recessionary fears.
Just after 8 a.m. Las Vegas time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 2.17 percent, with stocks sensitive to consumer sentiment...like gaming stocks...particularly hard hit.
MGM Resorts International stock was off 6 percent at $11.90, Las Vegas Sands Corp. was down more than 6 percent at $39.20, Wynn Resorts fell 5 percent to $132.94 and Boyd Gaming Corp. was down more than 8 percent at $6.36.
Two of the larger casino operators in Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment Corp. and Station Casinos LLC, don’t have publicly traded stock.
The stocks of two important airline operators in Las Vegas, Allegiant Travel Co. and Southwest Airlines Co., also fell, 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively.
Even before Standard & Poor’s cut the federal debt rating by a notch on Friday, consumer confidence was declining and that’s terrible news for gaming and other stocks tied to discretionary spending.
That’s because consumers are less likely to book vacations to Las Vegas and other leisure destinations if they see their 401(k) accounts declining and are worried they may be laid off.
Bloomberg last week reported its Consumer Comfort Index – based on phone surveys with consumers – fell to its lowest level in May as consumers were worried about jobs, the declining stock market and political fighting over the U.S. debt ceiling.
Experts are busy analysing the damage to land based casino operators VS online casino operators.
Bwin.Party. Digital Entertainment Shares Dip To Record Low; Online Players Up...
The global economic slump has once again impacted the share price of Bwin.Party, as share prices of the parent company that owns PartyCasino.com World Poker Tour and PartyPoker.com reached a record low less than 48 hours ago.
Bwin.Party share prices dropped as low as 113.8p prior to closing at 116.9p - a 5.7% decline in one day. Experts are investigating what may have caused a sudden decline in the share prices of the gaming giant.
There is an overall downward trend of the market. Bwin also has an increased reliance on Euro-zone troubled markets. Before merger of PartyGaming and Bwin, the latter showed that 11% of its revenue is generated from Greece.
The European Commission’s president Jose Manuel Barroso is warning European governments that the financial troubles of Greece, Portugal and Ireland could spread to Italy and Spain. Italy alone represents 10% of Bwin’s revenues.
Bwin.Party's online arm is business usual. PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com is continuing to run a number of attractive promotions, and the company looks like a safe bet to retain it's #1 position as the world's leading online gambling firm.
PartyPoker Sending Players to Oktoberfest...
Starting this coming Friday, PartyPoker players will be able to take the first step on a possible trip to Germany to join in one of the world’s most famous parties. Through the first week of September, PartyPoker will award 16 packages to the 201-year old Oktoberfest, held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
Beginning at the stroke of midnight on August 12th, PartyPoker will hold a VIP Oktoberfest Race, in which players can try to earn as many PartyPoints as possible at real money tables through August 21st. When the Race period is complete, the top seven points earners will each win Oktoberfest prize packages. In addition to those winners, players who finish from 8th to 25th will receive $250, 26th through 75th place will win $100, and places 76 through 400 will all receive a seat in September’s VIP Oktoberfest and Super Gadget Freeroll.
There will then be a second VIP Oktoberfest Race starting immediately after the first one ends, at midnight on August 22nd, and running through 11:59pm on August 31st. All of the prizes are exactly the same for Race number two.
Those who finish in the top 25 in both races will be gifted a 16 GB Apple iPad2, while anyone who finishes in the top 75 in both races will win a 64 GB iPod Touch.
The VIP Oktoberfest and Super Gadget Freeroll will be held on September 4th at 2:00pm ET. An Oktoberfest prize package will be handed out to the top two finishers in the tournament, while the remainder of the top 30 will receive Apple electronics. Those who round out the top five will win 4 GB Apple iPhones, 6th through 10th will get the 16 GB Apple iPad2, and 11th through 30th will win a 64 GB iPod Touch.
Players are allowed to win a maximum of one Oktoberfest prize package and one Apple electronic gadget.
The Oktoberfest prize package includes two night’s accommodation for two, with breakfast, at the Le Meridien hotel in Munich, dinner and drinks at the Hippodrom Oktoberfest tent, dinner and poker at the Olympic Tower restaurant, access to a reserved area and drinks at the P1 nightclub, daytime activities, all transportation in Munich, VIP hospitality, and $600 spending money. Travel to and from Munich is the responsibility of the winner, which is why the $600 is included.
Keep in mind that, like most of PartyPoker’s promotions, players must opt-in in order to participate. The option to opt-in can be found on players’ PartyPoker account pages. In addition, prizes cannot be transferred or exchanged for cash, so if you win a trip to Germany, you are going or you get nothing. For the rest of the terms and conditions, including how to claim prizes (yes, players must claim their Apple gadget prizes – they are not mailed automatically), visit PartyPoker’s web page.
PartyPoker is currently the third largest online poker room or network in terms of cash game traffic, according to PokerScout.com. With a seven day average of 4,200 cash game players, it is neck-and-neck with the iPoker Network, which has 4,250 cash game players. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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Casino News Media - Media Man: Online Promotions, Land Based Developments, Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment, MGM, Crown Casino VS The Star... - 9th August 2011
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Bwin.Party. Digital Entertainment Shares Dip To Record Low; Online Players Up...
The global economic slump has once again impacted the share price of Bwin.Party, as share prices of the parent company that owns PartyCasino.com World Poker Tour and PartyPoker.com reached a record low less than 48 hours ago.
Bwin.Party share prices dropped as low as 113.8p prior to closing at 116.9p - a 5.7% decline in one day. Experts are investigating what may have caused a sudden decline in the share prices of the gaming giant.
There is an overall downward trend of the market. Bwin also has an increased reliance on Euro-zone troubled markets. Before merger of PartyGaming and Bwin, the latter showed that 11% of its revenue is generated from Greece.
The European Commission’s president Jose Manuel Barroso is warning European governments that the financial troubles of Greece, Portugal and Ireland could spread to Italy and Spain. Italy alone represents 10% of Bwin’s revenues.
Bwin.Party's online arm is business usual. PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com is continuing to run a number of attractive promotions, and the company looks like a safe bet to retain it's #1 position as the world's leading online gambling firm.
Party Poker Sending Players to Oktoberfest...
Starting this coming Friday, PartyPoker players will be able to take the first step on a possible trip to Germany to join in one of the world’s most famous parties. Through the first week of September, PartyPoker will award 16 packages to the 201-year old Oktoberfest, held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
Beginning at the stroke of midnight on August 12th, PartyPoker will hold a VIP Oktoberfest Race, in which players can try to earn as many PartyPoints as possible at real money tables through August 21st. When the Race period is complete, the top seven points earners will each win Oktoberfest prize packages. In addition to those winners, players who finish from 8th to 25th will receive $250, 26th through 75th place will win $100, and places 76 through 400 will all receive a seat in September’s VIP Oktoberfest and Super Gadget Freeroll.
There will then be a second VIP Oktoberfest Race starting immediately after the first one ends, at midnight on August 22nd, and running through 11:59pm on August 31st. All of the prizes are exactly the same for Race number two.
Those who finish in the top 25 in both races will be gifted a 16 GB Apple iPad2, while anyone who finishes in the top 75 in both races will win a 64 GB iPod Touch.
The VIP Oktoberfest and Super Gadget Freeroll will be held on September 4th at 2:00pm ET. An Oktoberfest prize package will be handed out to the top two finishers in the tournament, while the remainder of the top 30 will receive Apple electronics. Those who round out the top five will win 4 GB Apple iPhones, 6th through 10th will get the 16 GB Apple iPad2, and 11th through 30th will win a 64 GB iPod Touch.
Players are allowed to win a maximum of one Oktoberfest prize package and one Apple electronic gadget.
The Oktoberfest prize package includes two night’s accommodation for two, with breakfast, at the Le Meridien hotel in Munich, dinner and drinks at the Hippodrom Oktoberfest tent, dinner and poker at the Olympic Tower restaurant, access to a reserved area and drinks at the P1 nightclub, daytime activities, all transportation in Munich, VIP hospitality, and $600 spending money. Travel to and from Munich is the responsibility of the winner, which is why the $600 is included.
Keep in mind that, like most of PartyPoker’s promotions, players must opt-in in order to participate. The option to opt-in can be found on players’ PartyPoker account pages. In addition, prizes cannot be transferred or exchanged for cash, so if you win a trip to Germany, you are going or you get nothing. For the rest of the terms and conditions, including how to claim prizes (yes, players must claim their Apple gadget prizes – they are not mailed automatically), visit PartyPoker’s web page.
PartyPoker is currently the third largest online poker room or network in terms of cash game traffic, according to PokerScout.com. With a seven day average of 4,200 cash game players, it is neck-and-neck with the iPoker Network, which has 4,250 cash game players. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
$35M renovations to downtown Plaza in Las Vegas nearly done; Hotel reopens Sept. 1...
LAS VEGAS — A roughly $35 million overhaul of the downtown Plaza Las Vegas hotel-casino is ahead of schedule, keeping the property on track for a Sept. 1 reopening, the chief executive of its operator tells The Associated Press.
CEO Tony Santo of Play LV said buying furniture, fixtures, wallpaper and other items at a discount from the shuttered Fontainebleau project on the Las Vegas Strip helped stretch the Plaza’s renovation budget.
“It elevated what we were originally thinking about doing here,” he said.
The Plaza will reopen with a new casino floor, lounges, entertainment and several restaurants, including a steakhouse named for former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.
Santo said he expects the hotel to compete with top hotels downtown, including the Golden Nugget, and others citywide during a time when Sin City is hoping for an overall rebound in tourism and hoteliers are battling one another for gamblers to patronize their properties.
Gambling revenues in downtown Las Vegas have remained essentially flat through the first five months of 2011, ticking up less than 1 percent compared with the first five months of 2010, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The number of visitors citywide went up 4.7 percent over the same period.
The Plaza closed in November as owner Tamares Group started the renovations, opting to make most of its changes all at once rather than keeping open and changing little by little.
“Our existing product was so bad, it wasn’t worth it to struggle and keep it open,” Santo said.
Roughly one month before the reopening, the Plaza’s rooms look like they’re from a completely different hotel, while construction crews have pulled the carpeting, light fixtures and other elements of the casino floor and are starting anew.
“There’s really nothing on the casino floor that hasn’t been touched,” Santo said.
He said the Plaza plans to target typical Sin City customers, including Las Vegas locals and people from the Midwest and West Coast.
He said success will come by convincing gamblers and others that the Plaza has truly changed.
“You have to start somewhere,” he said.
MGM Resorts posts 2Q profit, aided by MGM China...
NEW YORK (AP) — Casino operator MGM Resorts International said Monday it swung to a profit in the second quarter as the company benefited from taking a controlling stake in its China venture. The company's adjusted net loss was narrower than analysts expected as both gambling and hotel room revenue increased.
The positive results, which came after the market closed, were largely overshadowed on a day when the stock market swooned as anxiety overtook investors on the first trading day since Standard & Poor's downgraded American debt. The Dow Jones industrials fell 634.76 points, the worst one-day drop since December 2008.
MGM shares fell 24 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $11.30 in aftermarket trading, after closing the day down nearly 9 percent at $11.54.
Still, MGM's results mark the first two consecutive sequential quarters of operational improvement since the downturn, said CEO Jim Murren in a call with investors.
"This, combined with very positive forward trends that we are currently seeing, leads us to believe that the signs of the recovery" in Las Vegas are consistent, he said. "We are going to see continued improvement as we move into the back half of this year and into 2012."
Net income totaled $3.44 billion, or $6.22 per share during the three months ended June 30. That compares with a net loss of $883.5 million, or $2 per share last year, which included a charge of $1.12 billion for impairment of the company's investment in the CityCenter joint venture.
The latest results benefited from a hefty $3.5 billion gain, or $6.30 per share, related to acquiring a controlling interest in MGM China Holdings Ltd.
MGM China Holdings Ltd. operates a profitable casino in Macau, which is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal. MGM took a controlling 51 percent stake in MGM China Holdings when it went public on the Hong Kong stock exchange in June. Before that it had a 50 percent stake.
That move is "an important step in expanding our global operations and profitability," said Murren in a statement.
Excluding that as well as a 3 cents per share impairment charge, MGM Resorts' net loss totaled 5 cents per share. Analysts expected a loss of 14 cents per share, according to FactSet.
Revenue rose nearly 17 percent to $1.81 billion from $1.55 billion last year. That beat analysts' expectations of $1.58 billion.
Revenue from the company's domestic results totaled $1.5 billion, up 4 percent compared with the prior year quarter as room prices and occupancy rates increased.
Domestically, casino revenue rose 1 percent, including a 4 percent increase in slots revenue.
Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian is a major investor in MGM Resorts International, which is based in Las Vegas. (Credit: Google News, Wires, AP)
Sands China Signs Deal With Hilton, IHG for Cotai Project...
HONG KONG—Sands China Ltd. has signed franchise agreements with Hilton Worldwide and InterContinental Hotels Group PLC. for hotels at the casino operator's $4 billion-plus resort in Macau's Cotai area, Sands said Friday, solidifying plans for the long-delayed expansion project.
Hilton's five-star Conrad is expected to open at the Sands Cotai Central property in the first quarter of 2012 with more than 600 rooms, Las Vegas Sands Corp. unit said in a statement.
A four-star Holiday Inn by InterContinental is also scheduled to open late in first quarter 2012 with more than 1,200 rooms, it added. Dow Jones in March reported Sands China was in talks with the hotelier amid a failed agreement with Shangri-La Asia Ltd.
In July Las Vegas Sands Chief Operating Officer Mike Leven said Sands China plans to launch nearly 2,000 Sheraton-branded hotel rooms at the Cotai property in the third quarter, and that in early 2013 it should open an additional 2,000 rooms under the Sheraton Towers brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.
Construction of the project, which Sands China has said will have 6,000 hotel rooms in total, has been slowed at least in part by government restrictions on how many foreign workers companies in the labor-starved territory can hire.
The number of gaming tables at the resort has been a thorny issue as well since the government imposed a cap on tables until 2013. Mr. Leven last week said Sands Cotai Central will have as many as 530 tables versus the 670 the company was planning previously. (Credit: The Wall Street Journal)
New casino opens on NY Mohawk reservation...
ALBANY, N.Y. — A group of Mohawks has quietly opened a casino on the tribe's reservation along New York's northern border with some 400 electronic gambling machines and plans to expand and host poker games, drawing criticism from tribal leaders responsible for the established casino and bingo hall located nearby.
The Three Feathers Casino operates in a commercial building six miles down Route 37 from the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino, which has electronic slot machines and table games under a state compact. The new venture is separate and has no similar state or federal approvals.
Three Feathers organizers, from the Men's Council of the People of the Way of the Long House, say they established their own gaming commission last year that set regulations. "By no means is anyone looking for any confrontation," spokesman Chaz Kader said, adding that would be negative for everyone on the reservation.
Kader cited economic development efforts and plans to use 20 to 25 percent of revenue to support the Long House, including help for elders in the community, as reasons for opening Three Feathers.
"It's employing over 100 of our local people," he said.
Open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, it began operating July 13, has had incremental increases in customers and had 500 visitors its second Sunday, Kader said. There's no alcohol, but smoking is allowed.
The Akwesasne casino, with some 1,600 Las Vegas-style slot machines and 22 table games including blackjack, craps, roulette and poker, is operated around the clock by the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe under a New York compact that calls for sharing 25 percent of profits from the electronic slot machines with the state. St. Regis tribal officials said the only two "legitimate" gaming properties in Akwesasne are their casino and their Mohawk Bingo Palace, noting regulatory oversight by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Gaming Commission along with the National Indian Gaming Commission.
On a reservation with factions and some history of tensions, including over whether the original casino should have opened in 1999, the new enterprise drew criticism from the tribal government responsible for the first casino and bingo hall, saying their profits already support programs for tribal members.
"The unlicensed gaming facility cannot compare to our legal casinos in terms of safety, gaming integrity and regulatory oversight," St. Regis Tribal Chief Mark Garrow said. In a statement, the St. Regis tribal government said the new casino's suppliers, operators and financiers had not undergone background checks in accordance with the federal law and they are all under investigation.
Men's Council members told KahnawakeNews.Com that their gaming regulations meet or exceed the others and they'd like to see all casinos on Mohawk territory follow them. Kader said the regulations are based on the foundational great law of peace, considered a superseding document to the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Charter, that can apply to other areas and that specifies revenue sharing and doesn't include the state compact.
"As the public becomes more confident with this extra venue, we've seen word of mouth and satisfied gaming players liked what they saw and would be back," Kader said.
According to state gambling officials, Congress in 1988 permitted federally recognized tribes to regulate traditional forms of Indian gaming in conjunction with the federal commission or by themselves. They include bingo, pull tabs, lotto, punch boards, tip jars and certain card games, with all other gaming subject to regulation set under state-tribal compacts.
Kader said the new casino's machines operate "in an electronic bingo environment," where they are operating on a single computer server that has different architecture and software than self-contained slot machines. He said long-term plans include adding more machines and that poker is being discussed and that's likely, but with players betting against each other and not against the house.
Gamblers will get individual financial statements about winnings, but any reporting for tax purposes will be up to them, he said.
Lee Park, spokesman for the Racing & Wagering Board, said there is no compact between the state and the Mohawk group that opened Three Feathers and so it is not under the board's regulatory oversight.
The state board regulates four other Indian casinos, including the Oneidas' Turning Stone in central New York at Verona and three Seneca casinos in western New York at Salamanca, Niagara Falls and Buffalo.
The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council last year stopped sharing Akwesasne Mohawk Casino revenue with the state, claiming the gambling compact provision that gave them exclusive seven-county rights to install and operate slot machines had been violated. Tribe spokesman David Staddon said the case is in mediation.
The Mohawks' outstanding state liability now is $17.7 million from a year of non-payments, said state Budget Division spokesman Morris Peters. The Senecas, who haven't made payments for more than two years, have a state liability of $288.3 million, he said. (Credit: Google News; Wires; AP)
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Bwin.Party. Digital Entertainment Shares Dip To Record Low; Online Players Up...
The global economic slump has once again impacted the share price of Bwin.Party, as share prices of the parent company that owns PartyCasino.com World Poker Tour and PartyPoker.com reached a record low less than 48 hours ago.
Bwin.Party share prices dropped as low as 113.8p prior to closing at 116.9p - a 5.7% decline in one day. Experts are investigating what may have caused a sudden decline in the share prices of the gaming giant.
There is an overall downward trend of the market. Bwin also has an increased reliance on Euro-zone troubled markets. Before merger of PartyGaming and Bwin, the latter showed that 11% of its revenue is generated from Greece.
The European Commission’s president Jose Manuel Barroso is warning European governments that the financial troubles of Greece, Portugal and Ireland could spread to Italy and Spain. Italy alone represents 10% of Bwin’s revenues.
Bwin.Party's online arm is business usual. PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com is continuing to run a number of attractive promotions, and the company looks like a safe bet to retain it's #1 position as the world's leading online gambling firm.
Party Poker Sending Players to Oktoberfest...
Starting this coming Friday, PartyPoker players will be able to take the first step on a possible trip to Germany to join in one of the world’s most famous parties. Through the first week of September, PartyPoker will award 16 packages to the 201-year old Oktoberfest, held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
Beginning at the stroke of midnight on August 12th, PartyPoker will hold a VIP Oktoberfest Race, in which players can try to earn as many PartyPoints as possible at real money tables through August 21st. When the Race period is complete, the top seven points earners will each win Oktoberfest prize packages. In addition to those winners, players who finish from 8th to 25th will receive $250, 26th through 75th place will win $100, and places 76 through 400 will all receive a seat in September’s VIP Oktoberfest and Super Gadget Freeroll.
There will then be a second VIP Oktoberfest Race starting immediately after the first one ends, at midnight on August 22nd, and running through 11:59pm on August 31st. All of the prizes are exactly the same for Race number two.
Those who finish in the top 25 in both races will be gifted a 16 GB Apple iPad2, while anyone who finishes in the top 75 in both races will win a 64 GB iPod Touch.
The VIP Oktoberfest and Super Gadget Freeroll will be held on September 4th at 2:00pm ET. An Oktoberfest prize package will be handed out to the top two finishers in the tournament, while the remainder of the top 30 will receive Apple electronics. Those who round out the top five will win 4 GB Apple iPhones, 6th through 10th will get the 16 GB Apple iPad2, and 11th through 30th will win a 64 GB iPod Touch.
Players are allowed to win a maximum of one Oktoberfest prize package and one Apple electronic gadget.
The Oktoberfest prize package includes two night’s accommodation for two, with breakfast, at the Le Meridien hotel in Munich, dinner and drinks at the Hippodrom Oktoberfest tent, dinner and poker at the Olympic Tower restaurant, access to a reserved area and drinks at the P1 nightclub, daytime activities, all transportation in Munich, VIP hospitality, and $600 spending money. Travel to and from Munich is the responsibility of the winner, which is why the $600 is included.
Keep in mind that, like most of PartyPoker’s promotions, players must opt-in in order to participate. The option to opt-in can be found on players’ PartyPoker account pages. In addition, prizes cannot be transferred or exchanged for cash, so if you win a trip to Germany, you are going or you get nothing. For the rest of the terms and conditions, including how to claim prizes (yes, players must claim their Apple gadget prizes – they are not mailed automatically), visit PartyPoker’s web page.
PartyPoker is currently the third largest online poker room or network in terms of cash game traffic, according to PokerScout.com. With a seven day average of 4,200 cash game players, it is neck-and-neck with the iPoker Network, which has 4,250 cash game players. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
$35M renovations to downtown Plaza in Las Vegas nearly done; Hotel reopens Sept. 1...
LAS VEGAS — A roughly $35 million overhaul of the downtown Plaza Las Vegas hotel-casino is ahead of schedule, keeping the property on track for a Sept. 1 reopening, the chief executive of its operator tells The Associated Press.
CEO Tony Santo of Play LV said buying furniture, fixtures, wallpaper and other items at a discount from the shuttered Fontainebleau project on the Las Vegas Strip helped stretch the Plaza’s renovation budget.
“It elevated what we were originally thinking about doing here,” he said.
The Plaza will reopen with a new casino floor, lounges, entertainment and several restaurants, including a steakhouse named for former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.
Santo said he expects the hotel to compete with top hotels downtown, including the Golden Nugget, and others citywide during a time when Sin City is hoping for an overall rebound in tourism and hoteliers are battling one another for gamblers to patronize their properties.
Gambling revenues in downtown Las Vegas have remained essentially flat through the first five months of 2011, ticking up less than 1 percent compared with the first five months of 2010, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The number of visitors citywide went up 4.7 percent over the same period.
The Plaza closed in November as owner Tamares Group started the renovations, opting to make most of its changes all at once rather than keeping open and changing little by little.
“Our existing product was so bad, it wasn’t worth it to struggle and keep it open,” Santo said.
Roughly one month before the reopening, the Plaza’s rooms look like they’re from a completely different hotel, while construction crews have pulled the carpeting, light fixtures and other elements of the casino floor and are starting anew.
“There’s really nothing on the casino floor that hasn’t been touched,” Santo said.
He said the Plaza plans to target typical Sin City customers, including Las Vegas locals and people from the Midwest and West Coast.
He said success will come by convincing gamblers and others that the Plaza has truly changed.
“You have to start somewhere,” he said.
MGM Resorts posts 2Q profit, aided by MGM China...
NEW YORK (AP) — Casino operator MGM Resorts International said Monday it swung to a profit in the second quarter as the company benefited from taking a controlling stake in its China venture. The company's adjusted net loss was narrower than analysts expected as both gambling and hotel room revenue increased.
The positive results, which came after the market closed, were largely overshadowed on a day when the stock market swooned as anxiety overtook investors on the first trading day since Standard & Poor's downgraded American debt. The Dow Jones industrials fell 634.76 points, the worst one-day drop since December 2008.
MGM shares fell 24 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $11.30 in aftermarket trading, after closing the day down nearly 9 percent at $11.54.
Still, MGM's results mark the first two consecutive sequential quarters of operational improvement since the downturn, said CEO Jim Murren in a call with investors.
"This, combined with very positive forward trends that we are currently seeing, leads us to believe that the signs of the recovery" in Las Vegas are consistent, he said. "We are going to see continued improvement as we move into the back half of this year and into 2012."
Net income totaled $3.44 billion, or $6.22 per share during the three months ended June 30. That compares with a net loss of $883.5 million, or $2 per share last year, which included a charge of $1.12 billion for impairment of the company's investment in the CityCenter joint venture.
The latest results benefited from a hefty $3.5 billion gain, or $6.30 per share, related to acquiring a controlling interest in MGM China Holdings Ltd.
MGM China Holdings Ltd. operates a profitable casino in Macau, which is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal. MGM took a controlling 51 percent stake in MGM China Holdings when it went public on the Hong Kong stock exchange in June. Before that it had a 50 percent stake.
That move is "an important step in expanding our global operations and profitability," said Murren in a statement.
Excluding that as well as a 3 cents per share impairment charge, MGM Resorts' net loss totaled 5 cents per share. Analysts expected a loss of 14 cents per share, according to FactSet.
Revenue rose nearly 17 percent to $1.81 billion from $1.55 billion last year. That beat analysts' expectations of $1.58 billion.
Revenue from the company's domestic results totaled $1.5 billion, up 4 percent compared with the prior year quarter as room prices and occupancy rates increased.
Domestically, casino revenue rose 1 percent, including a 4 percent increase in slots revenue.
Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian is a major investor in MGM Resorts International, which is based in Las Vegas. (Credit: Google News, Wires, AP)
Sands China Signs Deal With Hilton, IHG for Cotai Project...
HONG KONG—Sands China Ltd. has signed franchise agreements with Hilton Worldwide and InterContinental Hotels Group PLC. for hotels at the casino operator's $4 billion-plus resort in Macau's Cotai area, Sands said Friday, solidifying plans for the long-delayed expansion project.
Hilton's five-star Conrad is expected to open at the Sands Cotai Central property in the first quarter of 2012 with more than 600 rooms, Las Vegas Sands Corp. unit said in a statement.
A four-star Holiday Inn by InterContinental is also scheduled to open late in first quarter 2012 with more than 1,200 rooms, it added. Dow Jones in March reported Sands China was in talks with the hotelier amid a failed agreement with Shangri-La Asia Ltd.
In July Las Vegas Sands Chief Operating Officer Mike Leven said Sands China plans to launch nearly 2,000 Sheraton-branded hotel rooms at the Cotai property in the third quarter, and that in early 2013 it should open an additional 2,000 rooms under the Sheraton Towers brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.
Construction of the project, which Sands China has said will have 6,000 hotel rooms in total, has been slowed at least in part by government restrictions on how many foreign workers companies in the labor-starved territory can hire.
The number of gaming tables at the resort has been a thorny issue as well since the government imposed a cap on tables until 2013. Mr. Leven last week said Sands Cotai Central will have as many as 530 tables versus the 670 the company was planning previously. (Credit: The Wall Street Journal)
New casino opens on NY Mohawk reservation...
ALBANY, N.Y. — A group of Mohawks has quietly opened a casino on the tribe's reservation along New York's northern border with some 400 electronic gambling machines and plans to expand and host poker games, drawing criticism from tribal leaders responsible for the established casino and bingo hall located nearby.
The Three Feathers Casino operates in a commercial building six miles down Route 37 from the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino, which has electronic slot machines and table games under a state compact. The new venture is separate and has no similar state or federal approvals.
Three Feathers organizers, from the Men's Council of the People of the Way of the Long House, say they established their own gaming commission last year that set regulations. "By no means is anyone looking for any confrontation," spokesman Chaz Kader said, adding that would be negative for everyone on the reservation.
Kader cited economic development efforts and plans to use 20 to 25 percent of revenue to support the Long House, including help for elders in the community, as reasons for opening Three Feathers.
"It's employing over 100 of our local people," he said.
Open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, it began operating July 13, has had incremental increases in customers and had 500 visitors its second Sunday, Kader said. There's no alcohol, but smoking is allowed.
The Akwesasne casino, with some 1,600 Las Vegas-style slot machines and 22 table games including blackjack, craps, roulette and poker, is operated around the clock by the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe under a New York compact that calls for sharing 25 percent of profits from the electronic slot machines with the state. St. Regis tribal officials said the only two "legitimate" gaming properties in Akwesasne are their casino and their Mohawk Bingo Palace, noting regulatory oversight by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Gaming Commission along with the National Indian Gaming Commission.
On a reservation with factions and some history of tensions, including over whether the original casino should have opened in 1999, the new enterprise drew criticism from the tribal government responsible for the first casino and bingo hall, saying their profits already support programs for tribal members.
"The unlicensed gaming facility cannot compare to our legal casinos in terms of safety, gaming integrity and regulatory oversight," St. Regis Tribal Chief Mark Garrow said. In a statement, the St. Regis tribal government said the new casino's suppliers, operators and financiers had not undergone background checks in accordance with the federal law and they are all under investigation.
Men's Council members told KahnawakeNews.Com that their gaming regulations meet or exceed the others and they'd like to see all casinos on Mohawk territory follow them. Kader said the regulations are based on the foundational great law of peace, considered a superseding document to the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Charter, that can apply to other areas and that specifies revenue sharing and doesn't include the state compact.
"As the public becomes more confident with this extra venue, we've seen word of mouth and satisfied gaming players liked what they saw and would be back," Kader said.
According to state gambling officials, Congress in 1988 permitted federally recognized tribes to regulate traditional forms of Indian gaming in conjunction with the federal commission or by themselves. They include bingo, pull tabs, lotto, punch boards, tip jars and certain card games, with all other gaming subject to regulation set under state-tribal compacts.
Kader said the new casino's machines operate "in an electronic bingo environment," where they are operating on a single computer server that has different architecture and software than self-contained slot machines. He said long-term plans include adding more machines and that poker is being discussed and that's likely, but with players betting against each other and not against the house.
Gamblers will get individual financial statements about winnings, but any reporting for tax purposes will be up to them, he said.
Lee Park, spokesman for the Racing & Wagering Board, said there is no compact between the state and the Mohawk group that opened Three Feathers and so it is not under the board's regulatory oversight.
The state board regulates four other Indian casinos, including the Oneidas' Turning Stone in central New York at Verona and three Seneca casinos in western New York at Salamanca, Niagara Falls and Buffalo.
The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council last year stopped sharing Akwesasne Mohawk Casino revenue with the state, claiming the gambling compact provision that gave them exclusive seven-county rights to install and operate slot machines had been violated. Tribe spokesman David Staddon said the case is in mediation.
The Mohawks' outstanding state liability now is $17.7 million from a year of non-payments, said state Budget Division spokesman Morris Peters. The Senecas, who haven't made payments for more than two years, have a state liability of $288.3 million, he said. (Credit: Google News; Wires; AP)
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Palazzo Versace's fabulous new Fitness & Wellbeing Centre is now open!
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Palazzo Versace’s fabulous new Fitness & Wellbeing Centre is now open!
QUEENSLAND, 4 AUGUST 2011 – The extremely good looking and technologically advanced Fitness & Wellbeing Centre at Palazzo Versace Gold Coast is now officially open! The facility was launched at a gala cocktail event in late July by the fashionably fit Shannan Ponton from Channel 10’s The Biggest Loser. Australia’s first and only fashion branded hotel spent half a million dollars creating the luxury, world class Fitness & Wellbeing Centre which features leading edge Wellness Key System technology by Technogym.
Technogym together with the Wellness Key System is the most sought after exercise equipment around the world and the first of its kind in a luxury hotel in Australia. The exclusive new equipment combined with an array of luxurious member facilities demonstrates that Palazzo Versace is now not only a premiere accommodation and dining destination but also home to a leading health and fitness facility.
Palazzo Versace’s Fitness & Wellbeing Centre is offering a range of bespoke membership levels which have been designed with the total wellbeing experience in mind. Membership level inclusions range from luxe accommodation, deep tissue massages, S.P.A time pampers, poolside Water Salon retreats and personal training sessions, as well as VIP benefits throughout the hotel, such as 10% off food and beverage, 20% off Palazzo Versace S.P.A treatments and access to the hotels steam and sauna facilities. Palazzo Versace is offering numerous membership levels for the Fitness & Wellbeing Centre starting from classic access to platinum membership for the full Palazzo Versace wellness experience.
The new Fitness & Wellbeing Centre will be complimentary to guests of the hotel and adds to Palazzo Versace’s already impressive list of guest amenities. Guests will be able to improve their fitness whilst enjoying the expanded space, which includes stylish parquetry flooring and diamond shape mirrors and is luxuriously appointed in the classic Versace style which the property is famous for.
To book your stay at Palazzo Versace or to enquire about membership at the new Fitness & Wellbeing Centre please call 07 5509 8000 or visit www.palazzoversace.com.au.
-Ends-
Palazzo Versace
In 1998, Sunland Group, a publicly-listed company on the Australian Stock Exchange, together with Gianni Versace SpA had a bold vision to create the world’s first fashion-branded hotel and residence experience. In September 2000, the $300 million Palazzo Versace opened its doors on Australia’s famous Gold Coast and a new luxury address was born.
Palazzo Versace Gold Coast, the world’s first luxury designer hotel, incorporates 200 classically elegant rooms and suites, 72 neighbouring condominiums, three award-winning restaurants and a private marina, all on a historic site in Southern Queensland on the edge of the Gold Coast Broadwater.
Following the success of Palazzo Versace Gold Coast, the two companies signed an exclusive global rollout agreement to develop 15 Palazzo Versace hotels worldwide over the next 30 years.
The second Palazzo Versace development, currently under construction in Dubai and opening in early 2012, is a joint venture development between Sunland Group Limited and Emirates International Holdings. The luxury hotel is located in the Culture Village on the Dubai Creek, and will offer 169 luxury residences ranging from one to six bedrooms, a health spa, restaurant and 217 hotel rooms and suites, all entirely designed by Versace and furnished with an exclusive line of products from the Versace Home Collection. Future Palazzo Versace hotel and residential projects will be located in cities where there is an established property investment market, strong tourism and leisure growth, and an appreciation and demand for international brands and luxury.
2011 Awards:
Best Australian Hotel in Luxury Travel Magazine’s Gold List for the fourth consecutive year
2010 Awards:
Best Luxury Hotel at the World Luxury Hotel Awards
Outstanding Service and Outstanding Luxury awards in HotelClub.com’s reader awards
Australasia’s Leading Hotel and Australasia’s Leading Spa Resort at the World Travel Awards
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Palazzo Versace’s fabulous new Fitness & Wellbeing Centre is now open!
QUEENSLAND, 4 AUGUST 2011 – The extremely good looking and technologically advanced Fitness & Wellbeing Centre at Palazzo Versace Gold Coast is now officially open! The facility was launched at a gala cocktail event in late July by the fashionably fit Shannan Ponton from Channel 10’s The Biggest Loser. Australia’s first and only fashion branded hotel spent half a million dollars creating the luxury, world class Fitness & Wellbeing Centre which features leading edge Wellness Key System technology by Technogym.
Technogym together with the Wellness Key System is the most sought after exercise equipment around the world and the first of its kind in a luxury hotel in Australia. The exclusive new equipment combined with an array of luxurious member facilities demonstrates that Palazzo Versace is now not only a premiere accommodation and dining destination but also home to a leading health and fitness facility.
Palazzo Versace’s Fitness & Wellbeing Centre is offering a range of bespoke membership levels which have been designed with the total wellbeing experience in mind. Membership level inclusions range from luxe accommodation, deep tissue massages, S.P.A time pampers, poolside Water Salon retreats and personal training sessions, as well as VIP benefits throughout the hotel, such as 10% off food and beverage, 20% off Palazzo Versace S.P.A treatments and access to the hotels steam and sauna facilities. Palazzo Versace is offering numerous membership levels for the Fitness & Wellbeing Centre starting from classic access to platinum membership for the full Palazzo Versace wellness experience.
The new Fitness & Wellbeing Centre will be complimentary to guests of the hotel and adds to Palazzo Versace’s already impressive list of guest amenities. Guests will be able to improve their fitness whilst enjoying the expanded space, which includes stylish parquetry flooring and diamond shape mirrors and is luxuriously appointed in the classic Versace style which the property is famous for.
To book your stay at Palazzo Versace or to enquire about membership at the new Fitness & Wellbeing Centre please call 07 5509 8000 or visit www.palazzoversace.com.au.
-Ends-
Palazzo Versace
In 1998, Sunland Group, a publicly-listed company on the Australian Stock Exchange, together with Gianni Versace SpA had a bold vision to create the world’s first fashion-branded hotel and residence experience. In September 2000, the $300 million Palazzo Versace opened its doors on Australia’s famous Gold Coast and a new luxury address was born.
Palazzo Versace Gold Coast, the world’s first luxury designer hotel, incorporates 200 classically elegant rooms and suites, 72 neighbouring condominiums, three award-winning restaurants and a private marina, all on a historic site in Southern Queensland on the edge of the Gold Coast Broadwater.
Following the success of Palazzo Versace Gold Coast, the two companies signed an exclusive global rollout agreement to develop 15 Palazzo Versace hotels worldwide over the next 30 years.
The second Palazzo Versace development, currently under construction in Dubai and opening in early 2012, is a joint venture development between Sunland Group Limited and Emirates International Holdings. The luxury hotel is located in the Culture Village on the Dubai Creek, and will offer 169 luxury residences ranging from one to six bedrooms, a health spa, restaurant and 217 hotel rooms and suites, all entirely designed by Versace and furnished with an exclusive line of products from the Versace Home Collection. Future Palazzo Versace hotel and residential projects will be located in cities where there is an established property investment market, strong tourism and leisure growth, and an appreciation and demand for international brands and luxury.
2011 Awards:
Best Australian Hotel in Luxury Travel Magazine’s Gold List for the fourth consecutive year
2010 Awards:
Best Luxury Hotel at the World Luxury Hotel Awards
Outstanding Service and Outstanding Luxury awards in HotelClub.com’s reader awards
Australasia’s Leading Hotel and Australasia’s Leading Spa Resort at the World Travel Awards
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Palazzo Versace
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Caesars Entertainment wins approval for $500m Vegas project - 9th August 2011
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Caesars Entertainment has won approval for a major new entertainment, retail and dining development – codenamed Project Ling – in Las Vegas.
Clark County commissioners offered its approval to the project – situated between the Imperial Palace and the Flamingo casinos – earlier, with Caesars now hoping to break ground later this month.
When completed – in 2013 - the $500 million complex will include the biggest Ferris wheel in the world.
At 550-foot, the wheel will be larger than the Singapore Flyer and the London Eye.
“This is more of an entertainment experience,” explained Caesars spokesman Gary Thompson, noting Project Ling will offer no central gaming area.
It is hoped the project will create 3,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs.
Caesars Palace Las Vegas Gets World Class Entertainment...
Celine Dion
Celine has always been a pioneer when it comes to creating groundbreaking concert performances and this next adventure promises to be the best ever! Featuring 31 musicians, consisting of orchestra and band, Celine’s new show will include her biggest hits performed with a stunning visual presentation.
Jerry Seinfeld
Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner and entertainment icon Jerry Seinfeld is still a front-runner in the ratings. As a testament to its success in the television landscape, TV Guide's poll of the "Greatest Shows of All Time" listed "Seinfeld" as #1.
Rod Stewart
Legendary rock icon Rod Stewart returns to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for the first 18 concerts of his two-year Las Vegas residency, kicking off on August 24, 2011. Rod Stewart: The Hits. will be a concert celebration featuring a set list of the rock and R&B favorites which have defined Stewart’s unparalleled five-decade-long career.
Luis Miguel
Latin music superstar Luis Miguel will return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in celebration of the 2011 Mexican Independence Day weekend September 15-18 at 9 p.m. The four night engagement is presented jointly by AEG Live and Caesars Palace.
Elton John's Million Dollar Piano
World-renowned singer, songwriter and performer, Elton John will return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace with an all new show, “The Million Dollar Piano,” beginning September 28 for sixteen shows. Elton’s September return will mark the beginning of a three-year residency at The Colosseum and his second as a Caesars Palace headliner.
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, international superstar and the world’s best-selling female country artist of all time returns to the stage and vocal spotlight with a two-year residency at The Colosseum.
Matt Goss
Produced by Robin Antin, creator of The Pussycat Dolls, Goss' show will offer a dynamic blend of musical talent.
Spiegeltent At Caesars Palace
Absinthe
Absinthe is taking Las Vegas by storm, stripside at Caesars Palace. Described by The New York Times as “Cirque channeled through The Rocky Horror Show”, Absinthe is an intoxicating collision of circus, burlesque and vaudeville featuring curious creatures, heavenly bodies and outrageous comedy.
*Media Man public thank you to Caesars Palace management and media unit.
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Caesars Entertainment has won approval for a major new entertainment, retail and dining development – codenamed Project Ling – in Las Vegas.
Clark County commissioners offered its approval to the project – situated between the Imperial Palace and the Flamingo casinos – earlier, with Caesars now hoping to break ground later this month.
When completed – in 2013 - the $500 million complex will include the biggest Ferris wheel in the world.
At 550-foot, the wheel will be larger than the Singapore Flyer and the London Eye.
“This is more of an entertainment experience,” explained Caesars spokesman Gary Thompson, noting Project Ling will offer no central gaming area.
It is hoped the project will create 3,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs.
Caesars Palace Las Vegas Gets World Class Entertainment...
Celine Dion
Celine has always been a pioneer when it comes to creating groundbreaking concert performances and this next adventure promises to be the best ever! Featuring 31 musicians, consisting of orchestra and band, Celine’s new show will include her biggest hits performed with a stunning visual presentation.
Jerry Seinfeld
Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner and entertainment icon Jerry Seinfeld is still a front-runner in the ratings. As a testament to its success in the television landscape, TV Guide's poll of the "Greatest Shows of All Time" listed "Seinfeld" as #1.
Rod Stewart
Legendary rock icon Rod Stewart returns to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for the first 18 concerts of his two-year Las Vegas residency, kicking off on August 24, 2011. Rod Stewart: The Hits. will be a concert celebration featuring a set list of the rock and R&B favorites which have defined Stewart’s unparalleled five-decade-long career.
Luis Miguel
Latin music superstar Luis Miguel will return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in celebration of the 2011 Mexican Independence Day weekend September 15-18 at 9 p.m. The four night engagement is presented jointly by AEG Live and Caesars Palace.
Elton John's Million Dollar Piano
World-renowned singer, songwriter and performer, Elton John will return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace with an all new show, “The Million Dollar Piano,” beginning September 28 for sixteen shows. Elton’s September return will mark the beginning of a three-year residency at The Colosseum and his second as a Caesars Palace headliner.
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, international superstar and the world’s best-selling female country artist of all time returns to the stage and vocal spotlight with a two-year residency at The Colosseum.
Matt Goss
Produced by Robin Antin, creator of The Pussycat Dolls, Goss' show will offer a dynamic blend of musical talent.
Spiegeltent At Caesars Palace
Absinthe
Absinthe is taking Las Vegas by storm, stripside at Caesars Palace. Described by The New York Times as “Cirque channeled through The Rocky Horror Show”, Absinthe is an intoxicating collision of circus, burlesque and vaudeville featuring curious creatures, heavenly bodies and outrageous comedy.
*Media Man public thank you to Caesars Palace management and media unit.
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Monday, August 08, 2011
Spider-Man Marvel News; Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man Poker Probe, Spider-Man Gaming, by Greg Tingle - 8th August 2011
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'Amazing Spider-Man' Sequel Release Set For May 2014...
"The Amazing Spider-Man" has already set the release date for its sequel.
Our friends at Sony Pictures must know something we here at Media Man do not.
The studio announced that "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" will be spinning into US theaters on May 2, 2014, to kick off that year's summer blockbuster season. So far, Sony is the only superhero-producing studio to plan that far ahead, as neither Marvel nor Warner Bros. has announced any of their upcoming comic book adaptations for three years down the road.
In March, "The Amazing Spider-Man" screenwriter James Vanderbilt was hired to pen the sequel. It seems as though Sony is impressed with the drafts he has brought in, considering they green-lit his second "Spider-Man" film 11 months before "The Amazing Spider-Man" hits theaters.
"I think it speaks volumes about our confidence in what we are seeing on the new film and our desire to move quickly on the next installment," a Sony executive told Deadline Hollywood.
The trailer for "The Amazing Spider-Man" premiered on July 20 to mixed responses. One part in particular that had fans doubtful was a scene at the end of the teaser where the camera switches to a first-person, Spidey Vision perspective. But despite the skepticism, Sony seems confident that their reboot of the "Spider-Man" franchise will premiere as a success.
At San Diego Comic-Con, director Marc Webb explained to MTV News that the effect was an attempt to play around with the "experimental process of 3-D." While the movie itself features a lot of realistic stunt work that wasn't accomplished with CG trickery, Webb also explained that he wanted the 3-D element of the movie to be an integral part of it.
"We shot and conceived of this film in 3-D," he said, "and I wanted there to be moments where you really feel and see the world through Spider-Man's eyes. I wanted to get that visceral feeling. In 3-D, I thought there was something about the experiential process, in a big theatrical environment, that was really special that I had seen. I was like, 'If I'm going to do a movie in 3-D, I want to give the audience that experience.'"
Maguire’s poker suit heads to trial...
Hollywood actor Tobey Maguire’s legal battle against the bankrupt trustees of convicted conman Bradley Ruderman is heading to trial in January 2012.
The Spider-Man star is accused of beating Ruderman in a series of unlicensed poker games in California, taking more than $300,000 in winnings from the bankrupt hedge fund manager, who is currently serving time in prison after being convicted of operating a fraudulent Ponzi scheme.
Bankruptcy trustees filed suit against Maguire in June in a bid to recoup money that Ruderman claims to have lost in the illegal games.
The actor has fired back with a countersuit, insisting the card games were never controlled and did not feature a regular roster of celebrities - as initially reported. Maguire also argued that he should not have to hand back any winnings because he lost just as much money to Ruderman.
The case will go before a trial judge at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles on the week of January 30, reports Eonline.com.
Ads and Fees Lift Viacom to a 37% Increase in Profit...
Viacom, the owner of MTV and Paramount Pictures, on Friday reported a 37 percent increase in profits for the quarter that ended in June.
The company’s net earnings of $574 million, or 97 cents a share, were up from $420 million, or 69 cents a share, in the same quarter last year. The company reported revenues of $3.77 billion, up from $3.27 billion.
Like the other major media companies that reported second-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations this week, Viacom credited a sturdy television advertising market, solid revenues from subscriber fees and emerging revenues from digital distributors like Netflix.
“We have always thrived on competition in the distribution arena, and there’s now more competition than there has ever been, and it’s growing,” said Philippe Dauman, the chief executive of Viacom. He added that there was increasing competition for digital distribution in international markets as well as in the United States.
Media companies like Viacom are increasingly accepting online distributors like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu as new bidders for their content — especially for the old content in their libraries that does not compete directly with what is currently on their television channels. Viacom already has licensing deals with Netflix and Hulu, and Mr. Dauman said Friday that discussions were under way with other potential licensees.
“As a result of these new deals, we have set a new higher base for our affiliate revenues this year and we expect to continue to increase those revenues from this higher base at a high single- to low double-digit annual rate every year for the foreseeable future,” Mr. Dauman said on a conference call with analysts.
In the quarter, Viacom’s cable networks had revenues of $2.39 billion, up 16 percent versus the same quarter last year, in large part because of the strength in advertising.
Mr. Dauman singled out several scripted television series for praise, like TV Land’s “Happily Divorced” and VH1’s “Single Ladies,” and he noted that the ratings at MTV had increased year-over-year even though new episodes of “Jersey Shore,” the channel’s biggest show, were not televised in the United States in the quarter. (Both this year and last year, the series skipped the spring quarter.)
Profit growth was up sharply in the cable division, but down in the Paramount filmed entertainment division, largely because of the “timing and mix of theatrical releases,” the company said in its earnings statement. Still, revenues for filmed entertainment were up 13 percent, to $1.4 billion.
Looking ahead, Mr. Dauman acknowledged that Viacom was preparing for an end to its film distribution deal with DreamWorks Animation, which started in 2006 and is expected to end in 2012. Last month, Viacom said it would start its own animation division. “We are proceeding on the operating assumption that we will not be extending the DreamWorks Animation deal beyond next year,” Mr. Dauman said Friday.
Asked about perceived friction with the DreamWorks chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, Mr. Dauman dismissed it: “The relationship is very good,” he said, “and the only issue is what DreamWorks Animation wants to do strategically as this deal expires, and how that fits in with our own strategic objectives.”
As Marvel living legend Stan Lee would say, Excelsior!
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'Amazing Spider-Man' Sequel Release Set For May 2014...
"The Amazing Spider-Man" has already set the release date for its sequel.
Our friends at Sony Pictures must know something we here at Media Man do not.
The studio announced that "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" will be spinning into US theaters on May 2, 2014, to kick off that year's summer blockbuster season. So far, Sony is the only superhero-producing studio to plan that far ahead, as neither Marvel nor Warner Bros. has announced any of their upcoming comic book adaptations for three years down the road.
In March, "The Amazing Spider-Man" screenwriter James Vanderbilt was hired to pen the sequel. It seems as though Sony is impressed with the drafts he has brought in, considering they green-lit his second "Spider-Man" film 11 months before "The Amazing Spider-Man" hits theaters.
"I think it speaks volumes about our confidence in what we are seeing on the new film and our desire to move quickly on the next installment," a Sony executive told Deadline Hollywood.
The trailer for "The Amazing Spider-Man" premiered on July 20 to mixed responses. One part in particular that had fans doubtful was a scene at the end of the teaser where the camera switches to a first-person, Spidey Vision perspective. But despite the skepticism, Sony seems confident that their reboot of the "Spider-Man" franchise will premiere as a success.
At San Diego Comic-Con, director Marc Webb explained to MTV News that the effect was an attempt to play around with the "experimental process of 3-D." While the movie itself features a lot of realistic stunt work that wasn't accomplished with CG trickery, Webb also explained that he wanted the 3-D element of the movie to be an integral part of it.
"We shot and conceived of this film in 3-D," he said, "and I wanted there to be moments where you really feel and see the world through Spider-Man's eyes. I wanted to get that visceral feeling. In 3-D, I thought there was something about the experiential process, in a big theatrical environment, that was really special that I had seen. I was like, 'If I'm going to do a movie in 3-D, I want to give the audience that experience.'"
Maguire’s poker suit heads to trial...
Hollywood actor Tobey Maguire’s legal battle against the bankrupt trustees of convicted conman Bradley Ruderman is heading to trial in January 2012.
The Spider-Man star is accused of beating Ruderman in a series of unlicensed poker games in California, taking more than $300,000 in winnings from the bankrupt hedge fund manager, who is currently serving time in prison after being convicted of operating a fraudulent Ponzi scheme.
Bankruptcy trustees filed suit against Maguire in June in a bid to recoup money that Ruderman claims to have lost in the illegal games.
The actor has fired back with a countersuit, insisting the card games were never controlled and did not feature a regular roster of celebrities - as initially reported. Maguire also argued that he should not have to hand back any winnings because he lost just as much money to Ruderman.
The case will go before a trial judge at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles on the week of January 30, reports Eonline.com.
Ads and Fees Lift Viacom to a 37% Increase in Profit...
Viacom, the owner of MTV and Paramount Pictures, on Friday reported a 37 percent increase in profits for the quarter that ended in June.
The company’s net earnings of $574 million, or 97 cents a share, were up from $420 million, or 69 cents a share, in the same quarter last year. The company reported revenues of $3.77 billion, up from $3.27 billion.
Like the other major media companies that reported second-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations this week, Viacom credited a sturdy television advertising market, solid revenues from subscriber fees and emerging revenues from digital distributors like Netflix.
“We have always thrived on competition in the distribution arena, and there’s now more competition than there has ever been, and it’s growing,” said Philippe Dauman, the chief executive of Viacom. He added that there was increasing competition for digital distribution in international markets as well as in the United States.
Media companies like Viacom are increasingly accepting online distributors like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu as new bidders for their content — especially for the old content in their libraries that does not compete directly with what is currently on their television channels. Viacom already has licensing deals with Netflix and Hulu, and Mr. Dauman said Friday that discussions were under way with other potential licensees.
“As a result of these new deals, we have set a new higher base for our affiliate revenues this year and we expect to continue to increase those revenues from this higher base at a high single- to low double-digit annual rate every year for the foreseeable future,” Mr. Dauman said on a conference call with analysts.
In the quarter, Viacom’s cable networks had revenues of $2.39 billion, up 16 percent versus the same quarter last year, in large part because of the strength in advertising.
Mr. Dauman singled out several scripted television series for praise, like TV Land’s “Happily Divorced” and VH1’s “Single Ladies,” and he noted that the ratings at MTV had increased year-over-year even though new episodes of “Jersey Shore,” the channel’s biggest show, were not televised in the United States in the quarter. (Both this year and last year, the series skipped the spring quarter.)
Profit growth was up sharply in the cable division, but down in the Paramount filmed entertainment division, largely because of the “timing and mix of theatrical releases,” the company said in its earnings statement. Still, revenues for filmed entertainment were up 13 percent, to $1.4 billion.
Looking ahead, Mr. Dauman acknowledged that Viacom was preparing for an end to its film distribution deal with DreamWorks Animation, which started in 2006 and is expected to end in 2012. Last month, Viacom said it would start its own animation division. “We are proceeding on the operating assumption that we will not be extending the DreamWorks Animation deal beyond next year,” Mr. Dauman said Friday.
Asked about perceived friction with the DreamWorks chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, Mr. Dauman dismissed it: “The relationship is very good,” he said, “and the only issue is what DreamWorks Animation wants to do strategically as this deal expires, and how that fits in with our own strategic objectives.”
As Marvel living legend Stan Lee would say, Excelsior!
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