Nothing but Net for Disney! Fox News benches Morris and Rove.
After the coffee. Before getting a better agent.
The Skinny: I’ve been watching the old movie “The Music of Chance.†Man, James Spader killed it in that flick. Anyway, Wednesday’s headlines include Disney’s big deal with Netflix, Ryan Seacrest buys a marketing firm and the New York Post’s subway death photo causes a stir.
Daily Dose: RLTV, the network aimed at the over-50 demographic is officially on Time Warner Cable. In Los Angeles, RLTV can be found on Channel 200. Fear not, that doesn’t mean you have to be 200 to watch. And no jokes about the channel scoring TV rights to checkers and solitaire.
Nothing but net. Walt Disney Co. signed an exclusive contract to sell its theatrical movies to Netflix, the popular online entertainment company. For Netflix, having Disney content, which includes future Pixar, LucasFilms and Marvel movies, is a big step forward in its efforts to compete with pay TV channels such as HBO and Showtime. The deal is also a loss for Starz, the pay channel that has been carrying Disney movies. More news and analysis of the Netflix-Disney pact from the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal and CNET.
Seacrest in. “American Idol†host, radio personality and media entrepreneur Ryan Seacrest has bought a majority stake in Civic Entertainment Group. Advertising Age says the marketing firm has billings of about $40 million and clients have included cable networks ESPN, CNN and HBO.
Act natural. It’s no secret that there’s not a lot of reality in most reality shows. But Discovery’s “Amish Mafia†may have to start applying for a SAG card, notes Variety columnist Brian Lowry. “The proliferation of such fare has led to a spreading gray area between fact and fiction. As evidence, consider the extraordinary disclaimer affixed to next week’s premiere of the Discovery series ‘Amish Mafia,’ which states the show contains dramatic reenactments ‘based on eyewitness accounts, testimonials and the legend of the Amish Mafia,’ †Lowry says.
Benched. Given their performances during election season, Fox News has benched Karl Rove and Dick Morris. According to New York magazine, anyone who wants to book those two on a show needs to get special permission from network brass.
Picture perfect? The New York Post captured a tragic moment of a man about to be run over by a subway train. While the photo is compelling, it is also generating a fair amount of controversy. New York Times columnist David Carr writes: “Within its four corners, the Post cover treatment neatly embodies everything people hate and suspect about the news media business: Not only are journalists bystanders, moral and ethical eunuchs who don’t intervene when danger or evil presents itself, but perhaps they secretly root for its culmination.â€
Once again I’m left off this list. The Hollywood Reporter has come out with its annual most powerful women in showbiz issue. The top two spots are held by TV executives -- Disney’s Anne Sweeney and NBCUniversal’s Bonnie Hammer.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: Todd Martens offers a preview of the Grammy nominations.
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