20th Century Fox

Netflix Reboots “Arrested Development” with an Exclusive Streaming Deal

Peter Kafka in Media on November 18, 2011 at 6:49 pm PT

More fresh content for Reed Hastings, this time via a cult comedy that’s been off the air for five years.

Hulu's "Modern Family" Problem

Peter Kafka in Media on October 13, 2010 at 12:18 pm PT

“Modern Family” used to be available on Hulu, and then it went away. Now the hit show is back–but not all the way. It’s a digital rights mess that is all too common, and it’s a particular problem for the video site.

Netflix Adds Another Studio: Sony Agrees to 28-Day DVD "Window"

Peter Kafka in Media on October 6, 2010 at 9:35 am PT

More movement from Netflix as it transitions from discs to digital: A distribution deal with Sony that reduces its access to DVDs in exchange for lower fees and more rights to stream movies to your home.

The Facebook Movie Is a Money Maker for Twitter

Peter Kafka in Media on July 16, 2010 at 6:46 am PT

You won’t see ads for the upcoming Facebook movie on Facebook. But you can see them on Twitter: “The Social Network,” Sony’s Mark Zuckerberg-inspired drama, is currently a “Promoted Trend.” Clever.

James Cameron Won’t Watch “Avatar” on a Phone. But if You Want To….

Peter Kafka in Media on June 28, 2010 at 8:30 am PT

The director says watching movies on a phone removes the “sanctity in the film-watching experience.” Hope no one shows him the promotional material for T-Mobile’s newest Android handset.

Warner and Redbox Settle Up; Consumers Will Wait to Watch

Peter Kafka in Media on February 16, 2010 at 1:19 pm PT

Redbox, which looked like a major problem for Hollywood a few months ago, may be a little more palatable after all. Now Redbox renters, like Netflix subscribers, will have to wait a month to watch their favorite new movies.

Wal-Mart, Target Limiting Redbox DVD Purchases

Eric Savitz, Blogger and Columnist, Barron's, Tech Trader Daily in News on February 3, 2010 at 2:11 pm PT

Coinstar faces a new challenge to the Redbox workaround. As Business Week reports, first Target and now Wal-Mart have imposed strict limits on the number of DVDs any one customer can buy at one time.

Project Alesia: News Corp.'s Roman Battle Cry–Does That Cast Googlers as the Gauls? (Plus Video!)

Kara Swisher in News on December 23, 2009 at 11:23 am PT

While Internet companies such as Google use baked goods as names for their key strategic initiatives–recent ones related to its Android mobile operating system were called Donut and Eclair, for example–aggressive media giant News Corp. is definitely not going for sweetness in its unusual selection of a code name for its high-profile digital content effort. That would be Project Alesia, a moniker that comes from a vicious siege in ancient times widely considered to be one of the more decisive battles in history. And that is apparently what top News Corp. execs think is the best way to describe their plans for stopping the decimation of premium content in the digital age and transforming their business to take advantage of new means of distribution.

Louie Swisher Hearts Redbox–But Hollywood Not So Much

Kara Swisher in News on August 31, 2009 at 3:10 pm PT

If you want to get Hollywood movie studio types irked, mention Google. And if you want them steamed, bringing up Netflix will usually work. But if you want to see the tops of their heads blow off, Redbox is just the ticket. Except not to their movies, it seems, if the major movie studio execs have their way in an ever-growing legal battle with the DVD-rental kiosk company. A typical consumer named Louie Swisher, though, begs to differ.

DVD Kiosk War Heats Up; Redbox Sues 20th Century Fox

Eric Savitz, Blogger and Columnist, Barron's, Tech Trader Daily in News on August 12, 2009 at 1:41 pm PT

The battle for control of the DVD rental business continues to heat up. Redbox, the Coinstar unit which operates more than 15,000 DVD rental kiosks around the country, today announced that it has filed suit against 20th Century Fox over new proposed distribution terms which would prevent Redbox from renting the studio’s DVDs to consumers until at least 30 days after they are released to the public.