Sony Pictures and major cinema operators are locked in a standoff over who will pay for 3-D glasses for “Men in Black 3,” a major summer release a week away from its debut. Sony Corp. (SNE) (SNE)’s film unit and theater executives are in discussions to resolve the dispute over 3-D showings of the movie, scheduled to open on May 25, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity because the talks are private. In recent weeks executives from Regal Entertainment Group (RGC) (RGC), the largest chain, and Cinemark Holdings Inc. (CNK) (CNK), the third biggest, have said they won’t give in. “So far as I know, nothing has changed,” since the comments, John Fithian, president of the National Association of ... Continue reading →

Disney’s Iger Sold $81.6 Million in Stock Near Record (Update 1) By Anthony Palazzo - Sat May 12 04:00:01 GMT 2012 Enlarge image Walt Disney Co. CEO Robert Iger Robert Iger, president and chief executive officer of Walt Disney Co. Robert Iger, president and chief executive officer of Walt Disney Co. Photographer: Peter Foley/Bloomberg Walt Disney Co. (DIS) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger sold $81.6 million in stock after the record-setting box-office performance of “Marvel’s The Avengers” powered the shares to new highs. The sale of 1.8 million shares took place on May 10 at an average price of $45.36, according to a regulatory filing yesterday. Disney closed at a record on May 9, after the company outlined plans for an “Avengers” sequel ... Continue reading →

‘Avengers’ Proves Marvel Exceeds Iger’s $4.2 Billion Cost By Christopher Palmeri - Fri May 11 04:00:01 GMT 2012 Enlarge image ‘Avengers’ Proves Marvel ‘Far Exceeds’ Iger’s $4.2 Billion Cost Zade Rosenthal/Marvel via Bloomberg Scarlett Johansson stars in The Avengers, in this undated photo released on May 3, 2012. Scarlett Johansson stars in The Avengers, in this undated photo released on May 3, 2012. Source: Zade Rosenthal/Marvel via Bloomberg Enlarge image "The Avengers" Zade Rosenthal/Marvel via Bloomberg Jeremy Renner, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson in "The Avengers." Jeremy Renner, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson in "The Avengers." Photographer: Zade Rosenthal/Marvel via Bloomberg Enlarge image Avengers Proves Marvel Far Exceeds Iger's $4.2 Billion Cost Rebecca Naden/PA Wire via AP Images Robert Downey Jr at the 'Marvel Avengers Assemble' European ... Continue reading →

For most of Gossip Girl’s first four seasons, none of the hit show’s glamorous teens carried the most talked-about smartphone of the last five years: Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone. Because of a product placement deal, they could only be seen with phones chosen by Verizon Wireless. Then, this season, shortly after the deal lapsed, several main characters started receiving their “Xoxo, Gossip Girl” texts on Apple’s hit device. The cast’s sudden conversion cost the Cupertino (Calif.)-based iPhone maker nothing. Apple has spent decades strengthening its subtle but powerful grip over Hollywood, and unlike many companies, says it never pays for its products to appear on television or in movies. The company’s gadgets were discussed or shown 891 times on TV in 2011, up from 613 in ... Continue reading →

In his ground-level office on a back street of Las Vegas, Lee Amaitis is worlds away from the 15- story building in London where he served as the second in command at Cantor Fitzgerald LP until 2008. Rather than looking at the Tower of London on the River Thames from his office, he now has a view of men entering and leaving Sheri’s Cabaret, featuring “Hot Fully Nude Girls.’’ The cabaret is part of the Las Vegas scene that Amaitis, who today heads Cantor Entertainment Technology Inc. (CETI) (CETI), thrives in. He shellacs his hair back Gordon Gekko-style and wears the collar of his white shirt wide open. With a swagger typical of a casino high roller, Amaitis says he plans to turn Cantor, one ... Continue reading →

Live Nation Entertainment Inc. (LYV) (LYV), the world’s largest concert promoter, and billionaire Philip Anschutz’s entertainment company will compete to operate London’s Olympic Stadium after the games end in August. Executives at Live Nation, based in Beverly Hills, California, and Los Angeles-based Anschutz Entertainment Group said separately in interviews yesterday they will offer to manage the 80,000-seat venue, which will host the opening and closing Olympic ceremonies. The arena is the U.K.’s third-largest, behind Wembley Stadium and Twickenham Stadium. Live Nation, which operates 200 venues, would fill it with concerts and other events, Chief Executive Officer Michael Rapino said yesterday in a telephone interview. He said the company’s interest will depend on price. “It’s a prestigious stadium,” Rapino said. “We will make a competitive offer. ... Continue reading →

‘Avengers’ Breaks Record With $200.3 Million in Receipts By Michael White and Lisa Abramowicz - Sun May 06 20:48:48 GMT 2012 “Marvel’s The Avengers” crushed U.S. box-office records with $200.3 million in ticket sales, opening the summer movie season with a huge win for Walt Disney Co. (DIS) following the mega-flop “John Carter.” “The Avengers” surpassed the previous best opening weekend of $169.2 million in the U.S. and Canada set by “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” last year, researcher Hollywood.com Box-Office said today in an e-mailed statement. The movie easily exceeded forecasts ranging from $150 million to $170 million. “Two hundred million is a staggering number,” said Jeff Bock, box-office analyst at Exhibitor Relations Co. “This is definitely the kind of momentum ... Continue reading →

Lions Gate Wins Approval for ‘The Hunger Games’ in China By Michael White and Shivaune Field - Fri May 04 20:00:06 GMT 2012 May 4 (Bloomberg) -- Jon Feltheimer, chief executive officer of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., talks about company's plan to release "The Hunger Games" in China. He speaks with Bloomberg's Shivaune Field on May 2 at the Milken Institute 2012 Global Conference in Los Angeles. (Source: Bloomberg) Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (LGF) won approval to release “The Hunger Games” in China, Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer said, gaining access to the world’s third-biggest movie market. “It's hugely important and it’s a growing market,” Feltheimer said in a May 2 interview at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California. “We got approved ... Continue reading →

Dish Says It Will Drop ‘Mad Men’ Network in AMC Dispute By Alex Sherman - Fri May 04 20:51:20 GMT 2012 Dish Network Corp. (DISH), the second-largest U.S. satellite-TV provider, says it will drop AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) channels including AMC, WE tv, IFC and Sundance Channel from all packages, citing poor viewership. Dish, based in Englewood, Colorado, will no longer carry the networks because AMC is demanding a “high renewal cost when compared to their low viewership,” the company said today in an e-mailed statement. AMC broadcasts TV shows including “Mad Men,” “The Walking Dead” and “Breaking Bad.” Dish subscribers can see AMC’s “very limited” programming through outlets including Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc.’s iTunes and Netflix Inc. (NFLX), the satellite-television provider said in the ... Continue reading →

Pimco Housing Bear Kiesel Says It’s Time to Start Buying By John Gittelsohn - Fri May 04 18:33:03 GMT 2012 Enlarge image Pimco’s Housing Bear Kiesel Says Time Is Right to Start Buying Rising rents make housing an attractive purchase for investors compared with the low yields of such alternatives as U.S. Treasury bonds. Rising rents make housing an attractive purchase for investors compared with the low yields of such alternatives as U.S. Treasury bonds. Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg Mark Kiesel, the Pacific Investment Management Co. managing director who sold his home in 2006 when he deemed the market a bubble, says it’s time to buy. “I was one of the most negative on housing,” Kiesel said in a telephone interview. “I finally came to the ... Continue reading →