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WHY NOW? Baffling Resurgence Of Rumor About MGM-Lionsgate Merger Talks

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Wednesday June 23, 2010 @ 6:00pm PDTTags: Carl Icahn, Lionsgate, Lionsgate Finance, Lionsgate MGM Merger, MGM, Moguls, Rumors, Spyglass, Studios

lionsgate_logoI’m being told there’s really nothing new with these explanatary conversations. And, anyway, Lionsgate can’t do any kind of deal with MGM unless the studio management brokers some settlement with 32% shareholder Carl Icahn, who has made it clear he won’t approve any big buys by the studio right now. Strange that this is coming on the heels of reports that Spyglass is in the lead to run MGM. (Spyglass Beating Summit To Run MGM?)

Lionsgate management attempted a lowball bid of $1.3B-$1.4B during the MGM auction and then dropped out in March. MgmlogosmallThat’s the last time Lionsgate defied Icahn’s warning not to do any major deals. Among other customary conditions, Icahn’s offer has tightened the reins on Lionsgate not to “enter into any material transaction outside of the ordinary course of business (including any acquisition of assets over $100 million, and any issuance of securities other than upon the exercise of currently outstanding options)”. Though buying MGM would make Lionsgate a bigger player in Hollywood, such an acquisition would add tremendous debt to the studio. And if they gave stock to a seller, then it would dilute Icahn’s stake. Carl wouldn’t be happy about that.

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Rupert And James Murdoch “Shocked” By BSkyB Rebellion: Who Gets The Profits?

By TIM ADLER in London | Tuesday June 15, 2010 @ 3:18am PDTTags: Big Media, Finance, Foreign, Rumors, Satellite, TV

murdochbribe.JPG

UPDATES BSkyB Still Rejects News Corp’s Increased Offer But Both Agree to Keep Negotiating & Proceed With Regulatory Process … Read More »

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Fox Scheduling Rumors: ‘Idol’ On the Move? ‘Lone Star’ With ‘House’ On Monday? ‘Glee’ Part of All-Comedy Tuesday? Stay Tuned

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday May 14, 2010 @ 4:53pm PDTTags: Networks, Rumors, TV, TV Scheduling, TV Shows
Nellie Andreeva

foxlogo.thumbnailHere we go again. A rumor, which is making the rounds today, has Fox’s American Idol switching its Tuesday 8 PM/Wednesday 9 PM broadcast pattern to Wednesday 9 PM/Thursday 9 PM next season. While Idol could finally be on the move … Read More »

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Will Jamie Foxx Do More Than Mentor ‘Idol’?

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday May 11, 2010 @ 7:34pm PDTTags: Actors, Music, Rumors, TV, TV Shows
Nellie Andreeva

Jamie Foxx is mentoring the Top Four contestants on American Idol tonight amidst persistent chatter that he is being considered for the soon-to-be-vacated judge’s chair of Simon Cowell. Jamie_Foxx_American_IdolThe Foxx rumor first surfaced in January when the actor/R&B singer was quoted … Read More »

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Bob Berney Flies To Cannes Amid Rumors; More Insight Into Why He Exited Apparition

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday May 11, 2010 @ 9:31am PDTTags: Distribution, Finance, Indie, Moguls, Rumors, Studios
Mike Fleming

UPDATE: The rumors keep flying about where Bob Berney will land. Deadline has already posted Team Harvey’s denial that the ex-Apparitions chief is headed to the Weinsteins. At least not yet. (Berney Exit Blindsides Apparition) Now the latest chatter is that Berney … Read More »

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UPDATE: Berney Exit Blindsides Apparition

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Monday May 10, 2010 @ 9:01pm PDTTags: Indie, Moguls, Movies, Rumors, Studios
Mike Fleming


apparition_logo

UPDATE: Insiders are denying the rumor that Bob Berney is going to work with Harvey and Bob Weinstein. I’m told there haven’t been any talks — yet.  Meanwhile, I’ve learned that Berney has the ability to take key staffers with him wherever he’s … Read More »

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Sony Pushes Back ‘Green Hornet’ Release By Three Weeks For 3D Enhancements

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Thursday April 22, 2010 @ 3:53pm PDTTags: 3D, Comic Books, Movies, Rumors, Studios
Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: Green Hornet is moving its release date from December 22nd to Martin Luther King Weekend, which is January 14, 2011, so it can be converted into 3D. green-hornetSony is using the term “3D enhancements”. (Because no visual effects on the film … Read More »

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Trio In the Running for NBC’s ‘Beach Lane’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday April 16, 2010 @ 9:22am PDTTags: Actors, Networks, Rumors, TV Casting, TV Pilots
Nellie Andreeva

UPDATE FRIDAY PM: Rumor is Michael Landes also tested for the role.

EXCLUSIVE: Comedian Nick Thune, True Blood’s Michael McMillian and John Forest, are in contention to replace Patton Oswalt on NBC’s comedy pilot Beach Lane. The three are screen testing with star Matthew Broderick. Beach Lane stars Broderick as a celebrity … Read More »

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Whedon To Direct Marvel’s ‘The Avengers’

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday April 13, 2010 @ 1:25pm PDTTags: Comic Books, Directors, Movies, Rumors, Studios
Mike Fleming

joss whedonI’m told Marvel Studios is in final negotiations for Buffy the Vampire Slayer series architect Joss Whedon to direct Marvel Studios’ The Avengers. That’s the fast-tracked film that would amount to an all-star team of Marvel superheros, including Iron … Read More »

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Akiva Goldsman’s To Haunt ‘Paranormal Activity 2′ – But Not As Director

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday March 16, 2010 @ 1:08pm PDTTags: Directors, Movies, Rumors, Studios
Mike Fleming

Hollywood PalladiumDon’t believe the rumors. Akiva Goldsman won’t be directing Paranormal Activity 2, but he has boarded the project. Goldsman became executive producer and is helping to flesh out the sequel story with the producing team of Oren … Read More »

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Ed Helms Will Have 2nd ‘Hangover’ Before ‘Central Intelligence’

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Friday March 12, 2010 @ 8:26am PSTTags: Comedy, Movies, Rumors, Studios
Mike Fleming

Universal won’t start production this spring on Central Intelligence, the comedy that had The Office‘s Ed Helms starring and Dean Parisot directing. Rumors raced yesterday that the film was scrapped. Insiders insist that isn’t so. I’ve learned the comedy won’t likely come before Helms reprises in The Hangover sequel, giving … Read More »

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Knocking Down DC Comics Rumors…

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Friday February 12, 2010 @ 1:18pm PSTTags: Comic Books, Rumors

I’m assured there is no truth to the Internet rumors circulating that Barbara Marcus will be the next publisher of DC Comics. A bigtime kid books publisher, Marcus is pals with DC Entertainment president after they launched the licensing partnership between Scholastic and Warner Bros for the Harry Potter films.

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“Not A Chance” Of ‘Watchmen’ Film Sequel

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday February 4, 2010 @ 7:10am PSTTags: Comic Books, Movies, Rumors, Studios

watchmenThe Internet is filling up with chatter here and here about how Dan DiDio, the SVP/Executive Editor for DC Comics, is determined to push not only a sequel to the Watchmen graphic novel, but a multiple prequel comic book … Read More »

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Oscar Campaign Badmouthing Has Begun!

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Tuesday December 15, 2009 @ 2:20pm PSTTags: Awards, Movies, Oscars, Rumors


hollywood awards

2ND UPDATE: I love awards season because my email and voicemail get filled with negative campaigning about all the Academy Awards hopefuls. (Such holiday cheer is out here!) Over the years, I’ve reported on the studio badmouthing of heavyweight … Read More »

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Anne Hathaway Wanted For ‘Spider-Man 4′

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Wednesday November 18, 2009 @ 5:03pm PSTTags: Actors, Comic Books, Movies, Rumors


anne hathaway spidey

Black_CatEXCLUSIVE: You know I’m insecure about my geek bonafides which I’ve been trying to improve in recent years. (Heck, I grew up never reading a single comic book.) … Read More »

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SAG Internet Rumors Ridiculously Wrong!

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Saturday October 3, 2009 @ 1:15pm PDTTags: Rumors, SAG

SAG_logoI can confirm that there is NO truth to that ridiculously wrong Internet report that newly elected SAG president Ken Howard has undergone back surgery and has already handed over his office at 5757 Wilshire Blvd to newly elected Secretary-Treasurer (and fellow … Read More »

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Now Brian Roberts Sends Note To Troops

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Friday October 2, 2009 @ 5:48pm PDTTags: Big Media, Cable, Rumors

Message from Brian Roberts

comcast_logoYou have probably seen the news reports that speculate about Comcast’s interest in buying NBC Universal. As you know, we’ve had a long-standing policy not to comment on these types of stories. We have not commented about this

… Read More »

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On Huffington Post’s Media Page Right Now

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday October 1, 2009 @ 9:22am PDTTags: Big Media, Deals, Rumors


comcast bs

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Jeff Zucker Sends Memo To NBCU Staff

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday October 1, 2009 @ 6:59am PDTTags: Moguls, Rumors, Studios

From: Jeff Zucker (NBC Universal)
Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 8:50 AM
To: NBC Universal Employee Communications (NBC Universal)
Subject: Note Regarding NBCU

zucker1_1By now, you have probably seen or heard stories regarding the ownership of NBC Universal, most recently a flurry of stories

… Read More »

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