International Business News - DIS http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said Tuesday its members ratified a three-year contract with Hollywood studios, but a rival actors union that campaigned against the deal said it wasn't ready to settle. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080709/actors-union-ratifies-deal-with-hollywood-studios.htm Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:36:43 EDT You wouldn't necessarily know it from last week, but Nielsen Media Research says TV viewership is on the rise. The company said Tuesday that the average American watched 127 1/4 hours of television in May, or the equivalent of more than five full days. That's up from 121 hours and 48 minutes in May 2007. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/nielsen-tv-viewing-up-overall-but-not-last-week.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:58:59 EDT Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen Media Research for June 30-July 6. Listings include the week's ranking, with viewership for the week and season-to-date rankings in parentheses. An "X" in parentheses denotes a one-time-only presentation. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/top-20-prime-time-shows-in-nielsen-ratings.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:57:49 EDT Shares of General Electric Co. led midday gainers on the Dow Jones industrial average Tuesday. The blue chip index rose 31.34 points to 11,263.30, as the index made a small recovery after reaching its lowest level in almost two years during Monday's trading. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/midday-leaders-laggards-djia.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:13:53 EDT Most major media companies' shares declined modestly with the broader market Tuesday morning as media and technology leaders convened at Allen & Co. investment bank's annual retreat in Sun Valley, Idaho. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/opening-glance-media-companies-shares-decline.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:45:21 EDT Barack Obama's plan to accept the Democratic presidential nomination at a Denver outdoor stadium instead of the arena in which his party's convention will be held sent the television networks scrambling Monday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/stadium-speech-by-obama-sends-networks-scrambling.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:15:15 EDT The producer of the hit reality series "Survivor" and "The Apprentice" has been sued in Los Angeles by his former business partner. Conrad Riggs filed the lawsuit against Mark Burnett on Monday. Riggs claims he is owed more than $70 million for his contributions to their joint efforts. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/survivor-producer-sued-by-ex-partner-for-70m.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:59:51 EDT A Lehman Brothers analyst downgraded the entertainment industry Monday and slashed forecasts for its five major companies, saying digital downloads of movies and TV shows posed a huge threat to profits from DVD sales that the companies rely on. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/digital-threat-prompts-movie-industry-downgrade.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:53:21 EDT Will Smith owned the Fourth of July again at the box office. His superhero tale "Hancock" pulled in $62.6 million to join past Smith hits that opened as the No. 1 movie over the holiday weekend. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/smith-rules-holiday-with-62m-hancock-debut.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:56:50 EDT Major media companies' stocks fell with the broader market Monday after a Federal Reserve official said the financial and housing markets could still get worse. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/closing-glance-media-companies-shares-fall.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:20:00 EDT Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann are reuniting on television on NBC's Sunday night NFL coverage. The network announced Monday that it had hired Patrick, hoping the recapture the chemistry that hooked viewers to ESPN's "SportsCenter" during the pair's run from 1992-97. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/patrick-olbermann-reunite-on-nbcs-nfl-show.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:05:22 EDT Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Monday on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/ge-gm-yahoo-app-pharma-among-big-movers.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:22:47 EDT The top prize at the main event of the World Series of Poker will be $9.12 million this year, and 666 players will get some piece of a $64.3 million prize pool, tournament officials said Sunday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/world-series-of-poker-crown-worth-9-12m.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:07:32 EDT Among the premarket stories for Monday, July 7, from AP Financial News: NEW YORK (AP)--The growth of digital content distribution poses a threat to Walt Disney Co.'s film and TV divisions, while the company's theme parks could see weaker attendance, a Lehman Brothers analyst said Monday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/premarket-roundup-walt-disney-marshall-ilsley.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:35:54 EDT Shares of Walt Disney Co. declined Monday after a Lehman Brothers analyst downgraded the stock, saying the company is threatened by the growth of digital content distribution and potential weakness at its theme parks. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/ahead-of-the-bell-lehman-downgrades-disney.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:27:14 EDT Pharmaceutical shares were front and center in premarket trading Monday as U.S. markets appeared headed for a mixed open following the holiday weekend. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/premarket-movers-pharma-stocks-lead-mixed-session.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:53:05 EDT Will Smith's box-office superpowers remain intact. Smith's "Hancock"--the story of a boozing, foul-mouthed superhero who dresses like a street bum--led the Fourth of July weekend with a $66 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/87073-premiere-hancock-la.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080706/smiths-hancock-bounds-66m-opening-weekend.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080706/smiths-hancock-bounds-66m-opening-weekend.htm Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:24:58 EDT Hollywood's fighting cartoon panda is a hit in the furry animal's home country. The American animated movie "Kung Fu Panda" has made nearly $16 million at the Chinese box office as of Wednesday, according to its distributors. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080703/kung-fu-panda-gains-chinese-box-office-milestone.htm Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:39:22 EDT It's good to be king--at least for two weeks. NBC is virtually assured of winning the prime time TV ratings race when it airs the Summer Olympics in Beijing starting Aug. 8. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080703/market-spotlight-broadcasters-and-the-olympics.htm Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:11:48 EDT Jerry Herman, eyes welling with tears, could hardly believe what he was hearing as he watched the new animated blockbuster "WALL-E." The composer of the Tony-winning musical "Hello, Dolly!" had licensed songs from the 1964 show to Pixar--The Walt Disney Co.'s computer animation arm--but he had no idea that his music and lyrics would factor so prominently in the story line of the sci-fi robot romance. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080703/wall-e-robot-romance-inspired-by-hello-dolly.htm Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:05:16 EDT