CHAIRMAN MAOSE “Entertainment giant Walt Disney on Monday said it had not yet reached an agreement with the Chinese government to build its first mainland China theme park in Shanghai. A spokeswoman was responding to questions about a report that it was expected to open a 10-square-kilometre (6.2-square-mile) site near Shanghai’s Pudong airport as early as 2012. ‘We have a continuing dialogue with the government about all aspects of our business, including theme parks, but there is no announcement and no deal,’ Disney spokeswoman Alannah Hall-Smith said.”

DISNEY PREPARES A NEW YOUNG GIRL TO BE PIMPED “Disney is in the process of grooming a possible successor to cash cow ‘Hannah Montana’ star Miley Cyrus. Fifteen-year-old Texan, Demi Lovato will release her first solo album on Disney’s Hollywood Records label this fall. The company hopes that by then Lovato will already be a household name in the tween world, thanks to a multimedia blitz that is aggressive even by Disney standards, writes today’s Wall Street Journal. For Disney, there are few more crucial tasks than finding and developing talent that appeals to 8- to 12-year-olds and perpetuating the pipeline of clean-cut Disney Channel stars whose talents can translate across multiple platforms …”

SICK IN MANY SENSES OF THE WORD “At its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, [Apple] announced a new 3G version of the iPhone in a push to target mainstream consumers. But a strong undercurrent at the event focused on the emaciated appearance of co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs. While Jobs looked especially gaunt in his trademark black turtleneck and faded jeans, other Apple executives spent more time on the stage during his keynote address — a notable move for an executive who typically spends much of his speech rallying the Mac faithful and introducing many products himself. This created a dilemma of sorts for those of us in the business and technology press, but it is also not the first time his appearance has caused concern. In 2004, Jobs successfully battled pancreatic cancer, and since then, there has been occasional speculation about his health after one of his public appearances. … Henry Blodget at Silicon Alley Insider apologized upfront for bringing up the personal subject, before wondering if Jobs has had a recurrence of the cancer that he successfully fought but kept hidden from investors until after his surgery.”

NEVER LEAVE HOME. EVER. “Netflix, which pioneered the business of offering DVD movie rentals by mail, is now offering its 8.2 million subscribers an option to watch movies easily on their televisions without involving the post office. Working with a small Silicon Valley company, Netflix will begin marketing a $99 device on Tuesday that will allow customers to play thousands of movies and shows on their televisions instantly, for no charge beyond their normal subscription fee.”

That ridiculous and toxic “cool spotting” Web site we told you about earlier is already being made a mockery of using the very tools it provides. Though the site signed a deal giving exclusive sponsorship rights to Pepsi, Coca-Cola Classic is apparently the preferred soft drink of famous cool people. Ha!

NY BEATS LA YET AGAIN “ABC’s ‘Ugly Betty’ is about to get a make-over that has nothing to do with Betty’s bushy eyebrows or shiny braces. The production is planning to pack its designer bags and leave Los Angeles for the Big Apple, where the fictional Mode magazine where Betty works as an assistant to an emotionally needy editor is supposed to be based. Cast and crew members learned of the move at a meeting Monday … About two-thirds of the show’s 150 crew members … are expected to lose their jobs. … Two weeks ago, New York’s governor signed into law a bill that tripled the amount of the state’s film tax credit. Feature films, television series, pilots, and TV movies and miniseries that complete at least 75% of their stage work at a qualified production facility are eligible for a 35% refundable tax credit.”

Perez Hilton, the roly-poly gossip/celebrity/whatever, will soon release a branded clothing and accessories line.

Ranging in price from $1.75 to $46, the goods will include everything from lip gloss to flip-flops and be sold at America’s favorite hub of suburban gloom: Hot Topic.

Pick up a t-shirt and let the world know you think it’s funny when people draw sperm on women’s faces.

SPEND MONEY TO MAKE MONEY “NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric Co, plans to say next week that the entry price for a 2009 Super Bowl 30-second ad will be $3 million, the Wall Street Journal said on Tuesday. The $3 million mark has never been the starting price for a commercial at the Super Bowl, though individual slots have sold for that much before, the report said. Prices to buy a 30-second spot for the 2008 Super Bowl averaged $2.7 million …”

THE BUSINESS OF AVOIDING PEOPLE “Apple is expected to announce Thursday that it has struck a deal with a wide array of major and mini studios to offer many new releases for purchase at its iTunes Store, says The Hollywood Reporter. The move would see a slate of top-shelf films offered day-and-date with home video releases, which could cannibalize DVD sales.”

FOX NEWS GROWS STRONGER “Tribune Co has reached agreement in principle to sell Newsday to News Corp for about $580 million in what would be a joint venture, according to a source familiar with the matter. Under the terms of a deal, Newsday would be part of a joint venture with News Corp’s New York Post and other News Corp assets, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. News Corp would own most of the company and Tribune would keep a stake of less than 5 percent.”

Remember when a person had to go to a theater to see a movie? Nor do I! And who would want to recall such degraded living? (You had to sit next to STRANGERS!) If you’re like me — an erect biped — these days you’re using Netflix and thanking God for finally creating a world in which you don’t have to see others—a good, clean world. But aren’t you getting tired of leaving your couch and checking your mail? Of course you are. And right on time, there’s this:

[Blockbuster] is developing a set-top device for streaming films directly to TV sets and is expected to announce the offering sometime this month.

Blockbuster declined comment, but a spokeswoman for the company said: “We’re talking to numerous companies and vendors about products, services, alliances and initiatives that can help us achieve our mission to transform Blockbuster into a company that provides access to media content across multiple channels … ”
…
Delivering movies to TV might be the most audacious attempt yet that Blockbuster is making to reinvent its brand as digital delivery weakens the viability of its retail footprint. But by offering a home-based alternative to its stores, Blockbuster risks cannibalizing its core brick-and-mortar business in the hope that its brand will be a force online.

Audacious cannibals, indeed.

Considering the unpredictability of Hollywood release schedules, it was presumptuous of us to assume, based on one week of data, that the film industry was in recession. But now it’s been three weeks, and movie executives are becoming less and less arrogant with every failure.

Last week’s holdover, “21” trumped George Clooney’s “Leatherheads” at the box office this weekend with an estimated $15.1 million in ticket sales. “Leatherheads” opened to a soft $13.5 million, just edging out Jodie Foster-starrer “Nim’s Island” for No. 2.

Nikki Rocco, Universal’s president of domestic distribution, said she was “disappointed with the result” for “Leatherheads,” a $58-million production … “What really upsets me is the level of overall business.”
…
… overall business was down from the same period in 2007 for the third straight weekend.

CELL PHONES OFF!!!!!!! “A group of investors … have partnered to bring the luxury cinema circuit Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas to the US. Spending $200 million to build 50 theaters, the complexes will set tickets at an estimated $35 per. … Each complex will feature theaters boasting 40 reclining armchair seats with footrests, digital projection and the capability to screen 2-D and 3-D movies, as well as a lounge and bar serving cocktails and appetizers, a concierge service and valet parking … “

Contrary to many Americans, Hollywood executives remain unconcerned with the impending recession everyone’s talking about. No, not all of the fat cats have saved wisely and prepared for the worst, they just know that, no matter how expensive diapers, milk and gasoline gets, their customers will always be willing to shell out $12 of perfectly good money to see things explode. Because that’s what people do when they’re poor and sad, say the slaphappy execs:

“When times are bad, our business seems to buck the trend,” says Dan Glickman, president of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). “The movies are great therapy. It’s a lot cheaper than a psychiatrist.”

And that it is! But no matter how many movies I see I can’t seem to forget that homeless people amble past the steps of Congress every day. Am I watching the wrong ones?

Because unity, love and understanding is bad news for a bottom line that demands competition amongst segregated markets, The Wall Street Journal absolutely hated the enlightening, heartfelt, unprecedented speech Senator Barack Obama gave yesterday.

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