Murdoch may be key to Apples plan to offer 99 cent digital rentals of TV shows

Apple plans a six-month trial of 99-cent rentals for each episode of a TV show. The digital downloads would be viewable on the iPad, above, and other devices. (Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press / January 26, 2010)

Executives of the media baron’s News Corp. are said to be split over whether to go along with the plan. NBC, CBS and Single episodes of such popular shows as “Glee” or “Lie to Me” are available to purchase for as much as $3.99 at Apple’s iTunes store. Some executives of News Corp., which owns the Fox network, worry that offering 99-cent episode rentals will cut into lucrative DVD sales and pull viewers away from watching network TV, thereby eroding a $20-billion advertising market, these people said.Time Warner are opposed, while Disney is in favor. LA Times

How to react when Social Media Attacks Your Brand

Social media disasters occur for a number of reasons, the first being that your company probably messed up. It may not have been intentional, but something, somewhere down the line, went wrong enough for someone to complain and it was enough for others to vocalize that complaint en masse. One mistake is all it takes for social media to turn against your brand.

TOY STORY 3 The first animated film to gross $1 Billion

Woody and Buzz are the gifts that just keep giving.

TOY STORY 3 has recently crossed the $1 billion mark, Disney announced Friday. That makes the sequel the first animated film to reach that milestone.

It’s more good news for a studio that’s having a very, very good year at the box office. In addition to Toy Story 3, Disney’s 3D fantasy film Alice in Wonderland also took in $1 billion. DVD Town

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Google plans pay per view films

Google’s YouTube video site is in negotiations with Hollywood’s leading movie studios to launch a global pay-per-view video service by the end of 2010, putting it head-to-head with Apple in the race to dominate the digital distribution of film and television content.

Google has been pitching to the studios on the international appeal of a streaming, on-demand movie service pegged to the world’s most popular search engine and YouTube, according to several people with knowledge of the situation.  FT.com

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Time Warner Cable says Disney is the problem

With less than a week to go before their programming contract expires, the rhetoric between Walt Disney Co. and Time Warner Cable is starting to heat up.

At issue are fees that Time Warner, the nation’s second-largest cable operator and the dominant pay-TV company in Los Angeles, pays Disney to carry its various networks and channels, including KABC-TV here as well as ESPN, ABC Family and Disney Channel. LA Times

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Ten Best Websites For Free Audio Books

Busy times call for some workarounds. One of the distinct advantages of audio books over its more physical form is that it saves time. Audio books take away a sliver of fun from the enjoyment of a book, but if the voiceover is well done, it makes up for it.

With the explosion of personal media players like iPods and even mobile phones which can carry media files, even a routine walk can be turned into an education.  Make Use Of

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Studios sue to stop advertising on pirate web sites

Warner Bros. and the Walt Disney Co. have teamed up in a new legal effort to choke off the air supply of various web sites that post and index links to pirated movies.

The two studios are suing Triton Media, alleged to have provided advertising consulting and referrals for nine websites identified as “one-stop-shops” for infringing works.  Reuters

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Get some outside help from a P.R. firm

I’ve changed my mind. I think it’s time we get some outside help from a P.R. firm that knows how to promote our brand. I need to stop trying to do everything myself and start surrounding myself with experienced professionals. I have had several discussions with my business adviser to make sure that I find the right firm for our company.  NY Times

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Google to compete with Skype

Google on Wednesday moved into direct competition with Skype, the internet telephony service, as it unveiled a feature that will enable its Gmail users to call landlines and mobile phones from their e-mail inbox.

The new feature broadens Google’s growing array of communication products and creates a potent rival to Skype, which is preparing for an initial public offering. Financial Times

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Low budget film producer accused of running Ponzi scheme

The Film producer allegedly promised his more than 150 investors returns of 18% to 35% within one year on loans made to his production company for four low-budget films, including the 2005 action drama “Confessions of a Pit Fighter,” starring Armand Assante and Flavor Flav, and the 2008 thriller “Hotel California,” starring model Tyson Beckford.  LA Times

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