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Now CNBC Knocks Down Comcast Report

By NIKKI FINKE | Thursday October 1, 2009 @ 6:45am PDTTags: Big Media, Deals, Rumors, Studios


Faber cnbc

You and I know that the next best thing to having GE issue a statement on its corporate biz is having its CNBC issue a statement on GE corporate biz. So early this morning, the business channel’s reliable reporter David Faber went on air to deride a struggling Hollywood blog’s “big story” that GE and Comcast had clinched a $35B deal for NBCU. Faber told the cameras: “You can call it a big story, but there may not be much of a story at all at this point. It’s very hard to say where speculation and actual news lies on this. Nonetheless, an entertainment gossip site [Faber laughs] — this is where we are in journalism today — started a great deal of speculation on whether Comcast would buy or take control of NBC Universal. That is not the case.” Faber went on to stress there’s no deal for Comcast to buy GE’s NBCU. “Does it mean there is anything even remotely here and happening? No.” (Faber seemed in agreement with my own coverage last night that this is just more tire-kicking around the Vivendi put option and multiple “What if” scenarios.) Faber’s remarks follow a spokeswoman for Philadelphia-based Comcast emailing media outlets last night, “While we don’t comment on M&A rumors, the report that Comcast has a deal to purchase NBC Universal is inaccurate.” How humiliating for that struggling Hollywood blog, which might fare better to remember that it takes a long time to build a reputation for news accuracy, and just a blink of the eye to lose the trust of readers.

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Time Warner To Make Showbiz Acquisitions

By NIKKI FINKE | Monday September 28, 2009 @ 9:42am PDTTags: Big Media, Rumors, Studios

If you, like me, think Big Media will eventually just consist of Disney, Time Warner, and News Corp as MGM, Viacom/Paramount, and NBC Universal get gobbled up because of consolidation, here’s more evidence: Time Warner Inc, already flush with extra cable cash, will eventually sell the Time Inc magazine unit and could use the … Read More »

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Zucker Orders NBCU: Get Ready For IPO

By NIKKI FINKE | Wednesday September 23, 2009 @ 8:37am PDTTags: Big Media, Moguls, Rumors, Studios

UPDATES As Rumors Swirl & GE Probes, Vivendi See IPO Possibility For 20% NBCU

nbcuni-logoI’ve learned that last week, during a visit to the West Coast, … Read More »

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As Rumors Swirl and GE Probes, Vivendi’s Levy Says IPO Possibility For 20% NBCU

By NIKKI FINKE | Wednesday September 16, 2009 @ 12:01pm PDTTags: Big Media, Deals, Finance, Rumors, Studios

nbc universal bldgIn just the past week, I’ve heard rumor after rumor about what may happen to NBC Universal because of the Vivendi put option coming due. One crazy rumor claimed Viacom and GE would merge Paramount and Universal — just … Read More »

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The Secret Case Of WGA vs Jay Leno: Cleared Unanimously; Offered Apology; UPDATE: But Why The WGA Cover-Up?

By NIKKI FINKE | Monday September 7, 2009 @ 12:34pm PDTTags: Guilds, Labor Relations, Late Night TV, Networks, Rumors, TV, Writers, Writers Strike


Leno strike 100

TUESDAY 12:30AM UPDATE: I’ve learned that both Jay Leno and the Guild investigating panel asked WGAw President Patric Verrone among others to make the final report public, including full transcripts of the hearing. But Verrone et al … Read More »

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CAA EXPANDING SPORTS BIZ: Acquiring Big Agent Henry Thomas’ NBA Practice

By NIKKI FINKE | Saturday July 18, 2009 @ 3:21pm PDTTags: Agents, Other Media, Rumors, Sports

That’s the word from sports media outlets. Henry Thomas is a big deal: he’s #12 on HoopsHype’s agent rankings. He’ll be added to CAA Sports’ basketball division headed by Leon Rose. Thomas is is reportedly taking all his clients with him, bringing the three biggest stars of the NBA’s 2010 free agent class under … Read More »

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Jeff Goldblum Alive & Well In Los Angeles

By NIKKI FINKE | Thursday June 25, 2009 @ 7:42pm PDTTags: Rumors

His publicist is denying crazy web rumors the Law & Order: Criminal Intent star died in New Zealand today. Sounds like the next plot (combined with the circumstances of David Carradine’s death) for the NYPD major crimes series. But I’ve since learned that, every coupla years, a rumor starts on the Internet about … Read More »

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Look Who’s Spreading Big Media Rumors…

By NIKKI FINKE | Tuesday June 16, 2009 @ 12:05pm PDTTags: Media, Rumors

Veteran investor Mario Gabelli is a bonafide media insider and a regular at investment bank Allen & Co’s Sun Valley retreat every July. So others take him seriously when he tells Barron’s readers to buy Viacom because Paramount will merge with Sony Pictures or Universal Pictures or someplace. “We hear … Read More »

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Can Redstone Go To Fiscal Hell And Back?

By NIKKI FINKE | Monday March 30, 2009 @ 6:57pm PDTTags: Rumors

I hear Sumner Redstone is denying those persistent rumors that he’s talking to Peter Chernin about replacing Philippe Dauman as No. 2. “Chernin is from the creative side, and Dauman isn’t,” said a source explaining the whispering. And Sumner has … Read More »

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Rumor About ICM Agent Layoffs Untrue

By NIKKI FINKE | Friday March 27, 2009 @ 4:15pm PDTTags: Agents, Rumors

Two coordinators – inbetween assistants and agents — were let go. No one else.

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Endeavor Finds Itself Rumor Central

By NIKKI FINKE | Thursday March 19, 2009 @ 6:35pm PDTTags: Rumors

Endeavor is busy, busy, busy denying rumors in this pre-merger period. The latest (while I was out of pocket all afternoon) is that wholesale layoffs are starting at the agency tonight with three talent agents getting the ax. The rumor mill has even ID’ed the trio. But Endeavor says it’s not true and only one of … Read More »

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Ridley’s ‘Nottingham’ Gets Cate Blanchett And Name Change And Underway In April

By NIKKI FINKE | Wednesday February 25, 2009 @ 11:56am PSTTags: Rumors

So everybody’s been hating on Imagine/Universal’s Robin Hood project before and after Sienna Miller was shoved out. That’s when the rumors started that it happened because one of the greatest actors of our generation Russell Crowe at 45 was too fat and old for the actioner in comparison. Oh, puh-leeze. … Read More »

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Don’t Believe Those Warner Bros Rumors

By NIKKI FINKE | Thursday January 8, 2009 @ 11:57pm PSTTags: Rumors, Studios

Making the rounds are rumors that Warner Bros president of production Kevin McCormick may be moving to a producing deal because he and boss Jeff Robinov don’t get along. And that Warner Bros execs Lynn Harris and Greg Silverman will take over … Read More »

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Weinstein Company Blames Mystery Man For Spreading “False” Writedown Rumor

By NIKKI FINKE | Tuesday October 28, 2008 @ 2:29pm PDTTags: Rumors

UPDATE: It’s not just that The Weinstein Company is denying today’s buzz in film financing circles that it’s taken a $50 million writedown because of all the movies it’s dumped into 2009. Nah, what’s way more interesting is that … Read More »

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A Reboot Of DC Comics Before Comic-Con?

By NIKKI FINKE | Sunday June 22, 2008 @ 3:57am PDTTags: Advertising, Agents, Big Media, Blogs, Broadway, Celebrity, Comic Books, History, Hollywood, Media, Moguls, Movies, Pellicano, Rumors, Scandal, Sopranos, Studios, Summer Movies, TV, Writers

With Comic-Con fast approaching (July 24-27) and all the Hollywood studios getting ready, I understand that Warner Bros has been nervously monitoring the deteriorating situation at its subsidiary DC Comics. There could be a major shake-up – especially if … Read More »

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Regarding Those ‘Iron Man 2′ Rumors…

By NIKKI FINKE | Wednesday June 11, 2008 @ 11:58am PDTTags: Directors, Movies, Rumors, Studios

I learned this morning that Marvel Studios boss David Maisel very recently put out an offer to Jon Favreau to direct the sequel and that the offer is “definitely” richer than what the helmer received for the original. Even so, the … Read More »

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Let’s Deal With Latest Bunch Of Rumors

By NIKKI FINKE | Friday April 4, 2008 @ 9:54am PDTTags: Agents, Bryan Lourd, CAA, Kevin Huvane, Law, Ovitz, Pellicano, Rumors

That published report claiming CAA partners Bryan Lourd and Kevin Huvane “may file a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Michael Ovitz — charging that, among other things, he hired infamous private eye Anthony Pellicano to spy on them” is bullshit. Seriously, you’d have to know nothing about Hollywood to think anyone at CAA would … Read More »

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Don’t Believe Those New Line Rumors

By NIKKI FINKE | Thursday March 6, 2008 @ 8:28pm PSTTags: Rumors, Studios, TV

wb-new-line-logo.JPGThere are emails all over that the ax came down hard at New Line today. Not true. I can tell you there was a lengthy meeting at Warner Bros today where execs started the process of figuring out what needs to be … Read More »

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Showtime Email Is The Talk Of Hollywood

By NIKKI FINKE | Thursday February 14, 2008 @ 12:31am PSTTags: Cable, Hollywood, Rumors, TV

Everyone is talking about a histrionic email detailing some scandalous behavior inside Showtime that was sent to that company’s personnel by “Anonymous” on Wednesday morning. showtime_logo.gifEven though I’m assured by sources that the content of the email seems true, I haven’t been able … Read More »

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