Don’t be surprised if at least one of the Big Four broadcast networks is sold or dismantled in the next 24 months.
They are failing business models whose brand value is meaningful mostly to strained local TV station affiliates, many of whom are also fighting to survive.
The Walt Disney Company (DIS), together with its subsidiaries, is a diversified worldwide entertainment company. The Company operates in five segments: Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, Consumer Products and Interactive Media. On September 15, 2009, the Company and the Hearst Corporation (HTV) (Hearst) both contributed their 50% interests in Lifetime Entertainment Services LLC (Lifetime) to A&E Television Networks, LLC [AETN] in exchange for an interest in AETN.
In December 2008, the Company acquired an additional 26% interest in Jetix Europe N.V....
According to a release issue today, Fox, Gannett Broadcasting (GCI), Hearst Television (HTV), NBC, and eight other broadcast giants are launching a joint venture to develop a new national mobile content service.
The tablet dream -- with its inevitable Apple (AAPL) intrigue and drumbeat of Amazon (AMZN)/Apple war -- has rekindled interest in digital publishing, providing hope for magazine and news industries pummeled mercilessly over the last decade. Already Forrester's Sarah Epps is estimating 10 million tablets to be sold within a year, which may be an ambitious number given inevitable customer BluRay/HD-DVD, VHS/Betamax confusion.
There is a lot for media companies and investors to be gleeful about these days. There was a major transaction in the space that is likely to spark additional mega and smaller mergers, and as the chart below indicates, the declining growth rates of one of the major media revenue streams, advertising, bottomed in 1Q09. Barring a double-dip recession, good times...
Comcast (CMCSA) took an unusual step to head off regulatory concerns about its proposed co-ownership of NBC Universal by issuing a memo reiterating its "public interest" media commitments in tandem with the deal's official announcement.
The memo, authored by Comcast executive vice president David Cohen,states the company's commitment to NBCU's broadcast properties which include the NBC TV Network, owned TV stations and affiliated stations. Its commitment to provide over-the-air free television, for now, is not surprising given continuing federal regulation of the business.
Comcast, the largest domestic cable operator, is pursuing a 51% stake in NBCU to build a programming empire by combining both companies’ thriving cable networks.The new NBCU, valued at about $44 billion, will not include Comcast's cable systems.USA, CNBC , MSNBC and SyFy are among the cable...
It could just be posturing, but Vivendi (VIVEF.PK) says it is in no hurry to sell its 20 percent stake in NBC Universal, which would trigger a $30 billion deal to make Comcast (CMSCA) the majority owner. Even if the transaction does not occur, there will be interesting fallout.
Vivendi is in talks to unload its minority stake to the highest bidder. That could be NBCU co-owner General Electric (GE), a third party, or the public (in a stock offering). Vivendi has until 2012...
Don’t be surprised if Comcast (CMCSA) arranges to sell the NBC broadcast network and its TV stations to a third part,y after announcing plans to buy controlling ownership of NBC Universalas early as next week.
When the economic hemorrhaging stops, broadcast TV stations will still be struggling to close the $3 billion-plus gap between their declining advertising revenues and new online or other digital income.
The widening gap will force some stations to go black or to merge with other local media under more liberal cross-ownership deregulation -- a life preserver that could be provided by a new FCC. Surviving broadcasters will have created and mined digital wireless connections between local consumers, marketers and content. Within five years, it is likely that the TV station business as we have known it...
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According to a 
