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 February 3 - 9, 2008 |
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Saturday February 9, 2008 |
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'Ratatouille' Wins
10 Annie Awards Verizon and Disney Treat Winner of Get in and Win With Disney Connection 'High School Musical 2' Sweepstakes Young girls, Disney crazy about Hannah HK Disneyland records double-digit growth WGA Strike Ending Would Open Up Disney Channel TV Production Return of the Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios |
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'Ratatouille' Wins 10 Annie Awards AP - A gourmet rat was the big cheese Friday, winning 10 Annie Awards, which recognize achievements in feature film and television animation. Disney and Pixar's rodent tale "Ratatouille" won the award for best feature production, beating out DreamWorks' insect story "Bee Movie," Sony Pictures' penguin-powered "Surf's Up," Sony Pictures Classics' coming-of-age chronicle "Persepolis" and 20th Century Fox's "The Simpsons Movie." "Ratatouille" went into the ceremony at UCLA's Royce Hall with a leading 13 nominations. Among it awards were best writing and directing for Brad Bird, best voice acting for Ian Holm, best character animation, music, storyboarding, production design and best animated video game. Bird and two writing partners are also up for an Oscar for best original screenplay. "Ratatouille" is the tale of a rat voiced by Patton Oswalt that tries to rise above the trash-nibbling ways of his family and friends. The Annie Awards are presented by The International Animated Film Society. The best-picture winner has gone on to win the Academy Award for animated feature every year but one since the Oscars added the category in 2001. Last year's Annie winner, the Disney-Pixar auto-racing comedy "Cars," lost at the Oscars to the penguin musical "Happy Feet." Other Annie Awards presented Friday included: -Animated Effects: Deborah Carlson, "Surf's Up." -Animated television production: "Creature Comforts America," Aardman Animation. -Animated television production for children: "El Tigre," Nickelodeon. -Directing in an animated TV production: Seth Green, "Robot Chicken Star Wars," ShadowMachine. |
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Verizon and Disney Treat Winner of Get in and Win With Disney
Connection 'High School Musical 2' Sweepstakes FOXBusiness - Verizon and Disney, joined by "High School Musical" star Monique Coleman, will treat a Queens elementary school to a special private engagement today. Coleman's appearance is part of the grand prize in the Verizon Get in and Win With Disney Connection "High School Musical 2" sweepstakes, which was won by a lucky fourth-grade student from Queens. Verizon and Disney teamed to launch the sweepstakes last summer, calling upon "High School Musical 2" fans nationwide to submit entries online at the kids area of the Verizon Central entertainment portal at verizonsurround.com/kids. After hosting an assembly for all third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at the winner's school, Verizon and Disney will treat the entire fourth-grade class to a party complete with food, games and autographs from the celebrated actress, who plays science club member Taylor McKessie in both movies. Disney's "High School Musical" has been seen by 250 million viewers, and "High School Musical 2" ranks as the No. 1 basic cable telecast of all time and thus far has been seen by 179 million viewers around the world. The "High School Musical 2" Sweepstakes was part of a larger relationship between Verizon FiOS and Disney. It kicked off with a special premiere of the highly anticipated sequel to the Disney Channel Original Movie "High School Musical" for FiOS TV's Video-on-Demand users prior to the sequel's worldwide premiere Aug. 17 on the Disney Channel. "Our relationship with Disney is a huge part of why Verizon FiOS is a must-have entertainment service, both online and on TV," said John Wimsatt, senior vice president for Verizon Telecom marketing. "Today we're thrilled to be working with Monique and the Disney team to make a dream come true for our grand-prize winner and classmates. It's going to be a memorable day for everyone involved." Verizon's consumer broadband customers also have access to "High School Musical 2" content in Disney Connection, a premium broadband entertainment destination for kids and families, which offers a wide variety of online Disney content. During the movie's promotion, Disney Connection featured behind-the-scenes video footage, a new HSM2 game and a complete guide to planning a "High School Musical 2" party. Disney Connection is an advertising-free broadband service available to subscribers of Verizon FiOS Internet and High Speed Internet services, among others, as an added benefit to their regular monthly Internet service, at no additional charge. The unique online entertainment destination features full- length episodes of popular Disney Channel shows including "Kim Possible" and "That's So Raven;" a variety of games; and full access to the Disney premium online products Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online and Disney Game Kingdom Online, for no extra fee. Disney Connection is regularly updated with the latest movie previews, music videos, games, trivia, riddles, Disney cartoons and more. For a preview of Disney Connection or to find out if you have access to the service, visit www.DisneyConnection.com. Verizon provides FiOS TV and Internet services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network all the way to customers' homes and businesses. FiOS Internet, available in parts of 17 states, provides downstream (download) connection speeds of up to 50 Mbps (megabits per second), and upstream (upload) connection speeds of up to 20 Mbps.* Verizon FiOS TV offers a broad collection of all-digital programming, including 31 high-definition channels in the New York market and access to more than 10,000 on-demand titles, 60 percent of which are free. The company also offers Verizon High Speed Internet service, based on DSL technology, in 27 states and the District of Columbia. Verizon High Speed Internet provides a fast, affordable broadband connection that includes access to exclusive content and a wide variety of value-added services, all from the Verizon network that over 100 million people worldwide rely on every day. For more information about Verizon FiOS, visit www.verizon.net/fios. For more information about Verizon High Speed Internet, visit www.verizon.net/highspeed. The Verizon Central entertainment portal can be visited at www.verizonsurround.com. * NOTE: actual (throughput) speeds will vary based on factors including computer configuration and network/Internet congestion. Verizon Communications Inc. headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 66 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 235,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com. VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases. |
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Young girls,
Disney crazy about Hannah The Free Lance-Star - Hannah Montana mania is sweeping through the Fredericksburg area. Young girls and their parents have packed area movie theaters since Feb. 1 to watch "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour." The three-dimensional movie is scheduled through Thursday at Marquee Cinemas in Southpoint and Regal Cinemas in Central Park. Most of the shows sold out at Marquee last weekend despite the $15-per-person ticket, said Chris Boggs, general manager at the Spotsylvania County cinema. That's the rate for all people and times. Crowds have thinned since the first weekend, especially during school hours and late at night. Boggs said the tickets went on sale Dec. 1, and many people bought them more than a month ahead. The Walt Disney Co. originally said the film would be in theaters for one week, but later extended it. For good reason. The movie grossed $31.1 million in 683 theaters nationwide during its opening weekend Feb. 1-3, according to Yahoo Movies. The second-place movie, "The Eye," did $12.4 million in 2,436 theaters. Robert Iger, Disney's president and CEO, mentioned Hannah Montana during a conference call with Wall Street analysts this week. Her wild popularity contributed to the company's 9 percent revenue growth in its first quarter. Disney's results beat analyst estimates. Here's a quick primer for people who don't have girls between about 8 and 14. Hannah Montana is a fictional character on the Disney Channel. Miley Cyrus, the 15-year-old daughter of country-music performer Billy Ray Cyrus, is the star. She plays a middle school student who leads a secret double life as the pop queen Hannah Montana. Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana's recent concert tour grossed $36 million. Shows sold out in minutes, and tickets were hawked for thousands of dollars. The movie shows scenes from the concerts. Though nearly double the price of a typical ticket, the movie represents a more-affordable way for area parents to satisfy their Hannah Montana-crazed daughters. "This is as close to the concert as I could get," said Stafford resident Michelle Arrington, who was at the 6 p.m. Wednesday show at Marquee with her daughters: Lillie, 8, and Morgan, 10. Arrington said buying the tickets months in advance gave her something to use as an incentive to get the girls to do their chores. When the big night arrived Wednesday, Lillie was dressed in a Hannah Montana T-shirt. She said she likes "almost everything" about Hannah. Her big sister, Morgan, thinks that Miley Cyrus has cool clothes, a good attitude and a lot of singing and acting talent. "She can act like she's not herself," Morgan said. Michelle Arrington noted that unlike earlier generations of teen stars, Miley Cyrus is a clean-cut, family-loving girl who is a good role model for children. Laura Long, a 10th-grader at Fredericksburg Christian School, agreed. "She's extremely grounded," Long said. "She's had success so young and she knows how to handle it. She's kept her morals." Perhaps as a result of the star's squeaky-clean demeanor, the girls at Marquee this past week have been on their best behavior. Boggs said many have dressed up as Hannah Montana and have arrived 45 minutes ahead of time to get a good seat. Julie Clore, a Stafford resident at the movie Wednesday with her 11-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, was prepared. She brought earplugs to shield herself from the inevitable shrieking. "I've heard her songs so many times," Clore said. "I'm done." But Hannah Montana mania appears far from done. And that's music to Mickey Mouse's ears. |
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HK
Disneyland records double-digit growth
Xinhua News Agency - Hong Kong Disneyland recorded double-digit growth in attendance in the fiscal quarter ending late December, contributing part of the Walt Disney Company's quarterly earnings, the theme park's executive vice president and managing director said Thursday. Inaugurating a traditional Chinese dragon dance featuring Disney classic Mickey Mouse in celebration of the beginning of the Lunar New Year, Bill Ernest said visitor flow had been steady throughout the quarter with prolonged festival celebrations such as Halloween and Christmas. Ernest declined to disclose expected attendance to Hong Kong Disneyland but said he expected more visitors in the coming several days as it was only the first day of the Chinese New Year. "Kung Hei Fat Choy!" he said, citing a local Chinese phrase for best wishes. "The Year of the Mouse is a very special time for Hong Kong Disneyland and Mickey Mouse and we have kicked off the festivities with a specially created dragon procession." The Chinese New Year 2008, or the Lunar New Year, was the year of Mouse,and its first day fell on Feb. 7, 2008 of the solar calendar. Ernest was dressed in the modernized version of a traditional Chinese short robe dotted with full circles and Mickey Mouse images that had been adapted to resemble the Chinese character Fu, or blessings. There were relatively long queues on Thursday at Hong Kong Disneyland, the smallest one of the world's several Disneyland theme parks. The theme park, a joint venture between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the U.S. Walt Disney group, had recorded attendance figures that were lower than expected in the first two years since it was officially opened in September 2005. Officials at the Hong Kong Disneyland had said that it was not putting attendance figures above everything else and that the theme park was expecting help from further expansions to attract visitors. Meanwhile the park also stepped up marketing by offering special events such as prolonged festivities around Halloween and Christmas. It had designed month-long Lunar New Year special offerings running from Jan. 22 through Feb. 24, with seven special days in a row starting from the first day of the Chinese New Year, or Feb. 7. Many visitors from China's mainland said they liked the style of the Hong Kong Disneyland that mixed eastern and western cultures. Ernest said Hong Kong Disneyland would add the major feature of "It's a small world" in addition to at least four other projects. With growth in attendance for the quarter ending Dec. 29, the park contributed part of the sound quarterly corporate earnings announced by the United States-based Walt Disney Company on Tuesday, he said. The Disney group said its earnings per share for the fiscal quarter ended December 29 had increased 29 percent year on year, with improved performance at Hong Kong Disneyland reflecting increased attendance. |
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WGA Strike Ending Would Open Up Disney Channel TV Production Live-PR - A tentative, tightly held agreement between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the major studios will be presented today to thousands of striking writers in New York and Los Angeles in an effort to end the 14-week-old work stoppage. If writers generally consent to the proposed three-year contract, the WGA's East and West Coast boards would probably approve the contract tomorrow, lifting the strike order and paving the way for formal ratification by the membership. That would send writers back to work Monday to resume production on Disney Channel TV shows that have mostly been in reruns since the strike began Nov. 5. But the plot could thicken. Almost none of the WGA's members have seen the details of the agreement between negotiators for the guild and the studio-network association, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), according to both sides. Contract language was being finalized yesterday and leaders on both sides agreed not to discuss the negotiations with the media. The key issue in the strike has been the payment rate for movies and TV shows streamed over the Internet. The writers went on strike largely to ensure such online compensation. They fear being left empty-handed as more TV programs are viewed via the Internet, cellphones, PDAs and other digital devices. Some studio allies have jumped the gun, prematurely declaring an end to the strike. Appearing on CNBC on Thursday, former Disney chief executive Michael Eisner said: "It's over. They made the deal, they shook hands on the deal. It's going on Saturday to the writers in general." Eisner later backtracked during the interview, saying: "Oh, I was giving you a rumor. I hear it's over. I'm going to be in bad shape if it's not." Disney, whose ABC network broadcasts the Oscars, isn't the only party with an urgent need to get this year's show back on track, one Hollywood agent said. Only one nominated movie in the major categories, "Juno," has grossed more than $55 million at the box office; other films could especially benefit from Oscar telecast publicity. "This is all about the Academy Awards, getting the awards back on board," the agent said of this week's push for a settlement. Popular acting auditions and talent search websites such as actinginfo.blogspot.com are gearing up for the food of casting that will take place following the conclusion of the WGA strike. |
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Return of the Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme Park Rangers - The dates for Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios have been set. They are June 6-8, June 13-15, June 20-22 and June 27-29 -- or every Friday-Saturday-Sunday in June with the exception of June 1. Seems like an awfully warm time of year to walk around in capes and costume, but then I'm not as, um, dedicated as others. A few more details on the WDW site: www.disneyworld.com/starwars. |
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Friday February 8, 2008 |
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Lifetime Passes to Hong Kong's First Year of the Mouse Baby Boy
and Baby Girl Disney Is Set to Make a Sherman Brothers Documentary Disney perfects art of family cruising With No Guarantees Yet, WGA Pickets Disney Disney Says Discs of Tron Available on Xbox Live Arcade Soon Phineas and Ferb Delivers Record Ratings for Disney Channel UK |
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Lifetime Passes to Hong Kong's First Year of the Mouse Baby Boy
and Baby Girl
Disney News - To celebrate the auspicious Year of the Mouse, Hong Kong Disneyland today announced it will present lifetime passes to Hong Kong's first newborn baby boy and baby girl in the Year of the Mouse. The passes entitle the children to free admission at Disney's theme parks in Hong Kong, the USA and Paris. The parents and siblings of the children will also receive a 10-year complimentary pass. "Hong Kong Disneyland is the ideal place for children and their families to have fun and enjoy wholesome, magical entertainment," said Mr Bill Ernest, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. "I'm delighted that Hong Kong Disneyland will play a role in the growing up process of the first baby boy and girl born in the Year of the Mouse. They will not only enjoy the immersive experience at Hong Kong Disneyland with their parents and siblings, but can also go beyond Hong Kong and experience first-hand the magic of Disney's other theme parks around the world." The complimentary pass is auspiciously called the "Red Pass" and will be presented to the first "Mouse" babies by Hong Kong Disneyland Ambassador, Jasmine Law. This special "Red Pass" entitles the newborn to free admission at the Hong Kong Disneyland Park; the four parks in Florida: Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom Park; those in California: Disneyland Park, Disney's California Adventure Park as well as the Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris. The parents and siblings of the first 'Mouse' babies will be able to enjoy the same worldwide privileges with their 10-year complimentary passes. |
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Disney Is Set to Make a Sherman Brothers Documentary MovieWeb - Disney has just announced that it will fund and release a dark documentary about the relationship of family musical composers Robert and Richard Sherman (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins). According to Variety, The Boys will be directed and produced by Jeff and Gregg Sherman, sons of Robert and Richard. Ben Stiller's Red Hour and Permut Presentations' David Permut will executive produce the project. Stiller also hopes to use the documentary as the template for a feature biopic that would allow him to play Robert Sherman. The Boys is scheduled to be released later this year. |
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Disney perfects
art of family cruising Atlanta Journal Constitution - Wonder. Two more Disney ships will launch in 2011 and 2012. And while you won't find casinos on any Disney ships, you will find plenty of other facilities and diversions on board for every age group — including grown-ups. That, along with the appeal of the Disney brand, has ensured the cruise line's success.
"I don't think it's fair to say
that Disney invented family cruising, because a lot of cruise
lines made efforts to attract families to their ships starting
in the '90s, but I do think it's fair to say that Disney
reinvigorated the idea of family cruising," said Douglas
Stallings, who edits Fodor's cruise guides. "Disney proved there
is a large market for family cruises. They inspired other large
cruise lines." My children, my wife Mary Lou and I cruised last year on the Wonder. It was memorable and fun for all of us. I couldn't tear Isabelle, 9, away from her science experiments in the Oceaneer Lab. Her masterpiece was a green glob that resembled something from the Disney movie "Flubber." Vinny, 16, spent all of his time in the Aloft nightclub, which is just for teenagers. After the club closed at 1 a.m., the fun didn't stop. Vinny and other teenagers hung around shooting hoops under the lights. For adults, Disney ships offer nightclubs, classes, fitness centers, an adult-only restaurant called Palo, and wine, beer and martini tastings. While the kids played, my wife and I relaxed on our stateroom terrace with some wine and cheese. We also attended a Disney Vacation Club cocktail party (we are DVC timeshare members) and Mary Lou browsed the shops for souvenirs. The Wonder stops at Disney's private island, called Castaway Cay, on its Bahamian cruises. Here too, there is something for everyone - including a teen-only beach, an adults-only beach and a family beach. Vinny and his friends signed up for a couple of teen-only excursions with Disney counselors and headed out for snorkeling, kayaking, banana boat rides, a barbecue lunch and bicycling around the island, while the rest of us snorkeled, lunched and swam with stingrays elsewhere on the island. Castaway Cay also has Scuttles Cove, where kids, supervised by counselors, dig for whalebones, make beach musical instruments and play water relay games. We returned to the ship for a pirate-themed dinner and deck party, which culminated with a spectacular fireworks show, launched from the stern of the ship. We then saw "Pirates of the Caribbean" on a giant movie screen that was attached to one of the ship's smokestacks on the top deck. The screen displayed a pirate flag for the remainder of the evening. For families with young children, Disney's nurseries, Flounder's Reef, take infants as young as 12 weeks old and toddlers up to 3. Some cruise lines keep parents on call to change diapers, but the Flounder's Reef staff takes care of that for you. Disney's Magic and Wonder also have pools with separation filtration systems that allow diapered toddlers to swim. And each stateroom has a bathroom with a bathtub — also relatively uncommon on non-luxury cruise ships. No wonder a survey conducted by BudgetTravelOnline.com rated Disney Cruise Line No. 1 for infants and toddlers, and children 3-7. (It was ranked No. 3 among cruises for kids 8-11, and No. 5 for 12-to-17-year-olds.) There are also scheduled opportunities onboard to meet characters like Mickey and Cinderella, and to attend character breakfasts like the ones that are so popular in Disney parks. Other programs for different age groups include the Oceaneer Club for kids 3 to 7, a playroom designed like Captain Hook's ship, filled with soft, climbable sculptures. Also featured are puppet shows, storytelling and singalongs. Children must be signed in and out by their parents, and they do need to be toilet-trained for this program. The Oceaneer Lab (ages 8 to 12) is an interactive playroom with a giant video wall, music-listening rooms, and flat-screen computers with software. Activities include making TV shows and radio commercials, brainteasers and scientific creations. On Disney Magic, kids also can "take command" of the ship in Ocean Quest, a scaled replica of the bridge. Kids can sign in and out at their parents' discretion. Parents are provided with a pager when dropping off children 12 and under at any of the centers. On Disney Magic, teenagers hang out at the Stack, a teen-only lounge area with a dance floor, Internet cafe, big-screen plasma TV and video games. The ships also offer full-fledged musicals in onboard theaters. This year, a new musical of "Toy Story" will premiere on the Wonder. Disney Cruise spokesman Jason Lasecki says the company plans to keep the show exclusively for its cruise passengers. If you're considering cruising with Disney, here are some tips for getting the most from your trip. • Book early. This allows you to secure the best staterooms and bargains for the peak travel seasons (spring break, summer, Thanksgiving and Christmas). Disney cruises often sell out well in advance. • The best bargain months to cruise are January, the early part of February and end of August, September, October and non-holiday weeks of November and December. • If you have a particular itinerary in mind, book at least 90 days in advance for the best cabin availability and rates. If itinerary isn't important, check cruises that are departing within 30 days to land the best last-minute discounts. • Itineraries vary. Disney Wonder sails from Port Canaveral, Fla., on three- and four-night Bahamian cruises with stops in Nassau and Castaway Cay. The Magic will alternate, departing from Canaveral to St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay on Eastern Caribbean itineraries, and from Canaveral to Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Castaway Cay on Western Caribbean itineraries. Beginning in May, the Magic will have 12 seven-night sailings departing from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera with port calls in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, and two repositioning 15-night cruises through the Panama Canal as the boat travels between Florida and California. • Rates for the Wonder start at $349 a person for three-night cruises, $399 for four nights, while the Magic starts at $649 for seven nights, and can run nearly $2,500 a person for seven-day itineraries in the best rooms on peak holiday weeks. But there are various ways to save money. Disney Vacation Club members can use points toward cruise travel and discounts. Visit online at www.DVC.Disney.go.com or call 800-500-3990. Disney Visa cardholders can use points toward cruises and get a $50 shipboard credit. Some cruise dates have additional discounts for cardholders. Go to DisneyRewards.com or call 800-300-8575. Automobile Club members can save money on cruises at AAA.com/Disney or by calling 877-763-5500. |
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With No
Guarantees Yet, WGA Pickets Disney Conde Nast Portfolio - The Writers Guild leadership had mandated a show of force by the pickets on Thursday, the penultimate day before the guild comes together en masse in downtown Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium on Saturday at 7 p.m. There was some question of whether the twin sets of lawyers drafting (and comparing) the written form of a set of verbal agreements hammered out last weekend by a handful of top players in the conflict would have a final version that was a) complete and b) acceptable to both sides. As the guild triggered a series of calls to get the membership out for the meeting, an estimated 600 pickets turned up at Disney (with a splinter group, as planned, picketing NBC Burbank although other picketing locations had been closed for the day). The casual and seemingly optimistic group were clearly happy to be marching in loose, chatty squads in the shadow of Disney's seven dwarfs. Standing near the center of the rallying point in a cap that said, `Writer' and carrying a picket sign was showrunner (The Shield and The Unit) Shawn Ryan, a member of the negotiating committee. His comments, delivered with an occasional grin as he squinted in the bright sun, seemed to epitomize the feelings of many on the line:
He held off, pending knowing the
details, on venturing an opinion as to whether the membership
would welcome the proffer: For and all the other meetings we've done, we've stayed there until everyone who wants to has had the opportunity to ask their question. WGA West has 10,500 screenwriters who are very well educated, opinionated people, and you put `em all in the same room, it's gonna be interesting. The previous meetings showed a
great deal of unity, and I think this one will too. That doesn't
mean everyone will necessarily agree, but we're like a
family--they can argue a little bit over the dinner table but
still all love each other. |
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Disney Says Discs of Tron Available on Xbox Live Arcade Soon I4U - One of the first My personal favorite mini-game was the light cycles. Disney announced today that it is putting one of the mini-games out on the Xbox Live Arcade on February 13. That’s just in time for geeky Valentine’s Day gift giving. The game is Discs of Tron and has the player facing off against the evil nemesis Sark from the movie. Gameplay has players throwing discs as each other in an attempt to derezz the opposing player. An enhanced mode adds modern graphics to the game and it is rated E by the ESRB. |
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Phineas and Ferb Delivers Record Ratings for Disney Channel UK World Screen News - Disney Channel UK announced that its premiere of the animated comedy series Phineas and Ferb on Friday, February 1, has become the most successful animation launch for the channel in history, ranking number one in its time slot among boys aged 6 to 12. Phineas and Ferb also had a strong showing among the tween set, with the premiere ranking number one in its time slot on February 1 (from 5:45 p.m. to 6 p.m.) among kids across the competitive set and number two across all channels—just behind BBC One’s Neighbors, with an average audience of 244,000 kids and an 11.8-percent share. Phineas and Ferb currently airs at 8:30 a.m. on weekends and every weekday at 4 p.m. on Disney Channel UK. The series debuted in numerous countries worldwide on February 1 and made history with a continued rollout of more than 10 days with original episodes—a first for television. Produced in traditional 2-D animation, Phineas and Ferb is based around two resourceful stepbrothers—Phineas Flynn (Vincent Martella, Everybody Hates Chris) and his stepbrother, Ferb Fletcher (Thomas Sangster, Love Actually)—that set out to conquer boredom and make every day of their 104-day summer holiday count. The brothers dream impossible dreams and somehow make those dreams come true. However, the boys manage to clean up the evidence before their parents get home, much to the annoyance of their older sister, Candace, voiced by High School Musical’s Ashley Tisdale. Phineas and Ferb is from creators Dan Povenmire (Family Guy) and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh (The Simpsons). Jonathan Boseley, the VP of programming at Disney Channel UK, commented: “We are thrilled with these strong premiere figures. Animation is key part of Disney Channel’s DNA and we’re delighted that Phineas and Ferb is already proving to be a huge hit with kids in the U.K. We hope that the imaginative storylines and great range of characters continue to inspire kids to tune in over the next few months.” |
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Thursday February 7, 2008 |
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'Idol'
Attraction Coming to Disney World HK Disneyland reverses downtrend Eli Manning to Disneyland: “I’m going to … the Bahamas” Selena Gomez could be next Disney 'it' girl Tickets On Sale For Spring 2008 Parties Disney Cruise Line Passenger Boarding Time Update Disney MMO Child-Friendly Games Fairytale Vacations at The Walt Disney World Resort A memo to Disney, re: Hannah Montana nonsense Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Second Season Comes to Canada Vitale Returns to Air |
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'Idol'
Attraction Coming to Disney World AP - Disney World is about to get a little pitchy, dawg. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts announced plans Thursday to create a live performance attraction based on "American Idol" at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park — formerly called Disney-MGM Studios — in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Much like the hugely popular Fox singing competition, the as-yet-unnamed attraction — scheduled to open in late 2008 — will allow theme park guests to audition then perform before a live studio audience inside the Hollywood Studios' theater space formerly occupied by the "Doug Live!" and "Superstar Television" attractions. Disney licensed the rights to create the attraction from "Idol" co-producers 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia, despite the fact "American Idol" airs on Fox and Disney owns broadcast competitor ABC. "It is owned by us, so we can extend the brand in the off-air space in the ways that we want to," said Keith Hindle, FremantleMedia's licensing vice president. "We don't see this in any way as a NewsCorp. vs. Disney debate. That's never been part of the discussion, and it's not something that's relevant to us. It's just part of 'American Idol.'" The attraction's details are still being worked out, but it will probably operate something like this: Theme park guests ages 14 and up will be able to audition for a Disney casting producer. Those who pass the test will be selected to appear in one of the park's "Idol" stage shows. Rasulo anticipates six to eight such shows a day. Backstage, the performers will receive hair and makeup touchups from a stylist and singing tips from a vocal coach. Then, the guests will perform on an "Idol"-like set in front of a live audience and three judges. Top audience vote-getters will compete in a grand finale show at the end of each day. Overall daily champs will win a special front-of-the-line pass at a regional audition for the actual "American Idol" show. Hindle says Disney winners won't be given any special treatment during the real audition, just the ability to skip ahead. Because of eligibility differences — namely, the TV show's 16- to 28-year-old age limit — winners may be offered the option of transferring their pass to a friend or family member, but they won't be allowed to sell it. Daily champs too young to audition for the real deal could save the pass until they're old enough to compete, according to Hindle. But will there be enough Fantasias and Sanyayas to keep theme park audiences captivated? "I know that there's enough talent on any given day in our theme parks to keep people entertained," said Rasulo. Beyond the attraction, Hindle says actual "Idol" stars may make appearances throughout the year and merchandise designed by both FremantleMedia and Disney's product divisions especially for the attraction would be available for sale. "It's a very collaborative process," Hindle said. "Disney knows more about live stage productions that we ever will. We know more about our TV show that Disney ever will. Exactly how this will manifest it is something that will be mutually approved by all parties. We're looking to Disney to see how their guests like to be entertained." |
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HK Disneyland
reverses downtrend
Variety Asia - Hong Kong Disneyland, the studio-branded theme park, reversed the recent trend of bad news in the first quarter of Disney's financial year. Park, which opened in October 2005 and missed attendance targets in its first two years, showed "double digit growth" in the October to December period, according to Thomas Staggs, Disney's CFO. "Attendance at Hong Kong Disneyland improved significantly versus prior year as our entertainment offerings during Halloween and the holidays helped to boost attendance from both the local Hong Kong market and Mainland China," he said. Company did not supply data on either visitor numbers, per head spending or hotel occupancy. Improvements are credited as flowing from creation of new promotional events and better relations with the travel trade in Southern China. "Hong Kong obviously showed significant improvement last quarter. We were very bullish about Chinese New Year which basically is this week. There have been horrible winter weather conditions across China, particularly Southern China, and it's possible that could put a bit of a damper on our results around Chinese New Year," Disney CEO Bob Iger said. "(Disney) is engaged in on-going discussion with the HK Government, the majority shareholder of HKDL, on the expansion of the park. It expects that such financing likely would include additional investment by the Company (TWDC)," Park sources in Hong Kong said. |
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Eli Manning to Disneyland: “I’m going to … the Bahamas” LA Times - Super Bowl XLII champ Eli Manning, who said “I’m going to Disneyland” after the big game Sunday night, won’t be heading to the Anaheim theme park anytime soon, preferring a sunny vacation in the Bahamas over a parade with Mickey Mouse. Post-Super Bowl air traffic congestion over Scottsdale, Arizona, forced the New York Giants quarterback to jettison his plans on Monday — which included a parade at Disneyland and an appearance on the “Late Show With David Letterman.” After a ticker-tape parade along New York City’s “Canyon of Heroes” on Tuesday and a rescheduled Letterman appearance on Wednesday, Manning opted for a Bahamas vacation over a Disneyland visit. Disney officials have been told not to expect a Manning appearance within the next two weeks — and even then it might be at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, rather than at Disneyland in California. Immediately after Sunday night’s game, the Super Bowl MVP recorded two television commercials — “I’m going to Disneyland” for West Coast audiences and “I’m going to Disney World” for the East Coast. Contractually, Manning needs to show up at only one of the two theme parks, according to Disney officials. |
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Selena Gomez
could be next Disney 'it' girl Inside Bay Area - Like a lot of TV critics of a certain not-so-callow age, I wasn't exactly on the "High School Musical" train when it left the station. And, similarly, the whole Miley Cyrus-"Hannah Montana" craze just sort of sneaked up on me.
We met up for lunch at the Four Seasons in San Francisco where the "Wizards of Waverly Place" star was all smiles in her tapered black jeans, frilly beige blouse and bronze pumps. Apparently, though, this was a rare sight. "I'm not a real girly girl. I only wear heels when I absolutely have to," said the native of Grand Prairie, Texas. "I love Converse (sneakers), jeans, boy T-shirts and baseball caps." Duly noted. In "Wizards," Gomez, the non girly-girl, plays Alex, one of three siblings in a family of sorcerers. The show, which returns Sunday (8:45 p.m., Disney Channel) with a fresh episode full of magic and comedy, debuted to robust ratings last October and seemingly made Gomez an overnight kid star. The truth is, she has been at this show-biz thing since the age of 7, when she made her debut as one of the singing moppets in "Barney & Friends." "I learned everything from 'Barney,'" Gomez said, picking from a heaping plate of garlic fries. "Stage directions, camera angles... I even learned good manners. Saying 'please' and 'thank you' became a habit." Sure, but did she ever get the urge to try on the big purple dinosaur suit? "No way!" she said. "It was 50 pounds. It weighed more than I did. The guy who wore it was always pouring sweat. I felt so bad for him." At 12, Gomez, now considered over-the-hill for Barney, showed up in Austin for a Disney Channel casting call. Two weeks later, she was on a plane bound for Hollywood to audition for the lead role in a series pilot. Gomez got the part, but the pilot wasn't picked up. Still, Disney liked what they saw and decided to keep her in the "family." Small roles in "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" and "Hannah Montana" filled the void until "Wizards" was given the green light. Now, her career appears set to take off. Gomez has her first lead film role in the upcoming theatrical release, "Another Cinderella Story," and did some voice work for the animated movie, "Horton Hears a Who!" Plans are also in the works for a "Wizards of Waverly Place" TV film. An album? She'd love to do one. Gomez, an only child, is refreshingly sweet-natured and down-to-earth, and you get the feeling that her mother can take some of the credit. Mandy Teefey, a former stage actress, gave birth to Selena at the age of 16. They've had some rough patches, living "paycheck-to-paycheck" at times, but Mom always made sure her daughter never got lost in the stars as she chased her dream. "She has me do my own laundry and help out with the dishes and clean my room," Gomez said. "Before we got to California, she told me, 'You're going to hear the word yes a lot. You're this. You're that. Yes-yes-yes. So I'm the one who's going to tell you no — only because I love who you are now, and I don't want you to change.'" So far, so good. Gomez seems to be a pretty normal kid with a variety of interests. She loves sports — especially basketball (she's a big fan of the San Antonio Spurs), as well as cooking, photography, rock'n' roll and all things British ("I want to go to London so bad."). As for boys, well, that can be a touchy subject. "I'm sorry, but boys my age are sometimes so immature. They give me headaches!" she said, her voice ringing with exasperation. "But I don't need a boy right now anyway. I'm too busy for that. All I want for now are half-crushes." |
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Tickets On
Sale For Spring 2008 Parties
Non-discounted prices (including tax):
Discounted Prices
(including tax): |
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Disney Cruise Line Passenger Boarding Time Update Be sure you aren't left behind by following these suggested travel tips:
As a reminder, all guests of all ages must provide proper citizenship documentation in order to sail on a Disney cruise. |
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Disney MMO
Child-Friendly Games |
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Fairytale Vacations at The Walt Disney World Resort Travelers will receive a $200 Disney Gift Card upon check-in when they book a flight and hotel package for 5 nights or longer to Disney's Deluxe, Deluxe Villa or Moderate Resorts (listed below). Promotion code 200 must be used at the time of booking. Travelers will receive a $100 Disney Gift Card upon check-in when they book a flight and hotel package for 5 nights or longer at Disney's Value Resorts (listed below). Promotion code 100 must be used at the time of booking. The gift card offers are valid for bookings made by March 31, 2008 for travel anytime in 2008. In addition to the Disney Gift
Card, customers who book their vacation package to the Walt
Disney World Resort can play longer for free with reduced prices
on Disney's Magic Your Way Tickets: 6-Day Magic Your Way Ticket with Park Hopper Option at 4-Day price 7-Day Magic Your Way Ticket with Park Hopper Option at 5-Day price 10-Day Magic Your Way Ticket with Park Hopper Option at 7-Day price FOR COMPLETE OFFER DETAILS visit http://www.unitedvacations.com and click on Walt Disney World under "Featured Specials". Consumers: Purchase online at http://www.unitedvacations.com, by calling 888-328-6877 or by contacting a travel agent. Travel Agents: Book United Vacations through VAX VacationAccess at http://www.vaxvacationaccess.com or the VAX VacationAccess technology via Amadeus AgentNet, Sabre Vacations, and Vacation.com AgentNet. As to Disney artwork, logos and properties: Disney. United Vacations' America, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico and Ski programs are operated by The Mark Travel Corporation in Milwaukee, one of the largest vacation companies and operators of private-label brands in the United States. |
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A memo
to Disney, re: Hannah Montana nonsense CNET News - To: Disney executives From: Michelle Meyers, an aggravated mom Re: Your Hannah Montana shenanigans Cut it out. Are you intentionally trying to drive us parents crazy with what seems like the latest ploy to squeeze profit out of your youngest and most passionate consumers? I'm referring to the Hannah
Montana 3D concert movie, which you promoted last week as an
exclusive seven-day theater release. The film subsequently broke
online sales records, sold out in many venues, and sent parents
into a frenzy amid concerns they might not get tickets for their
excited young tweens. Some had to settle for show times during
school hours or well past their kids' bedtimes. Then, with all of the hassles of finding a decent show time fresh in my memory, I learned that you had extended the one-week run indefinitely "due to overwhelming demand," as the movie site reads. I know I sound like one of those early iPhone customers who got peeved when Apple dropped the price of device. But your latest move is akin to Lucasfilm putting out a new Star Wars movie for what was supposed to be a one-week run only to change its mind after that week. The passion for Hannah Montana among some young girls is on par with that of science fiction enthusiasts for the Star Wars series. Perhaps some consumers will be happy about the theater extension. But the whole thing leaves me feeling taken for a fool. Under normal circumstances, the savvy--or even cynical--consumer in me would have been skeptical of the one-week run, and maybe even refused to play into the madness it appears your company created just to boost sales. But hey, when it comes to your kids, parents don't always think straight--but of course you know that. In fact, we have a long tradition of behaving irrationally when it comes to these sort of things, whether it was Cabbage Patch Dolls, Beanie Babies, or some sort of gender-stereotyping Barbie Doll from the 1960s. When I asked one of your representatives last week why the film was just running in theaters for a week, my gut told me the real answer was to fuel DVD sales. But I listened, and even quoted the woman as she recited the half-hearted party line, that the one-week run is meant to be more like a concert event. Now, of course, I wonder if she knew all along the theater release would be extended. Your press release about the extended "engagement" boasts of the "film's record breaking opening weekend performance as the nation's No. 1 film with an astounding three-day tally of $29 million." Gee, I wonder why it did so well? Could the advertised limited one-week run have something to do with it? Mark Zoradi, your president of the motion pictures group, went on to say "Audience reaction for the Disney Digital 3-D presentation of Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert has been so overwhelming that we've decided to extend the film's theatrical run. The extra playing time will give more fans a chance to see their favorite performer in an exciting new way that brings the concert experience to life on the big screen. It will also accommodate those fans who want come and enjoy the experience again." Here I must facetiously thank Zoradi for putting consumers' interests first. When people ask me about why all the mania over Hannah Montana, I explain that not only is the TV show entertaining and the soundtrack, well, catchy anyway--the craze is palatable to parents because Miley Cyrus (who plays Hannah) is relatively down to earth and together. She's sort of the anti-Britney of pop stars. Then, however, I'm reminded like I was Wednesday, of the company behind her popularity, behind the Hannah Montana clothing line my daughter's been modeling, and behind the DVD that has taught her all of Hannah's dance moves. I should know better. And yet I'm still left feeling grossed out...and annoyed. |
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Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Second Season Comes to Canada
AWN - The second season of MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE is coming to Canada on Playhouse Disney Feb. 10 at 9:00 am. Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto and Daisy all join Mickey in this interactive series that invites preschoolers to help solve challenges and overcome obstacles. Each story features a different theme and offers cognitive, social and creative-learning opportunities through a play-along experience. Interactivity is key from start to finish as Mickey speaks directly to preschoolers, asking questions and encouraging them to play games, participate in special phrases or cheers, and solve puzzles to reach a goal. Season two of MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE showcases an original short song performed by Mickey and the gang, plus new dance moves during their signature Hot Dog Song, written and performed by Grammy Award-winning alternative rock band They Might Be Giants. Episodes feature Mickey and friends helping prepare for a dance, building a bird house, and more. The exec producer of MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE is Emmy Award-winning director Rob LaDuca (LILO & STITCH: THE SERIES, JIMMY NEUTRON, BOY GENIUS). Season two features 39 30-minute episodes airing on Playhouse Disney Monday through Sunday at 9:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 6:00 pm. Playhouse Disney is a commercial-free, multiplex channel offered to Family Channel subscribers across Canada. Visit www.playhousedisneycanada.ca for more information. |
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Vitale Returns to Air AP - Say something. Anything. Just do the very thing that made him famous. But Dick Vitale couldn't. Tears welled up in his eyes as he imagined his beloved career crashing to an end. Then the doctor suggested he count to 10. And with the simplest of words, Vitale heard his own voice again for the first time in weeks. ESPN's hyperkinetic college basketball announcer will call his first game in more than two months Wednesday after recovering from throat surgery. It was the cruelest of ailments for the man who yelled his way to becoming a household name. His treatment? A ban on speaking. "There was a moment there I thought I'd never be behind a microphone again," Vitale said Monday on a conference call, sounding a bit subdued but very much like himself. Told he could return to the air in early February, Vitale checked the schedule and found some serendipitous timing: He could make his comeback on the biggest of stages, the Duke-North Carolina game. Vitale wasn't allowed to utter a word between his Dec. 18 surgery and a Jan. 13 doctor's appointment. And when he got the long-awaited go-ahead, he opened his mouth and nothing came out. "I guess I was afraid of what I was going to sound like," he said. "I'd heard rumors that your voice may not sound similar." Viewers might not have noticed anything the last few years, but the 68-year-old Vitale conceded he was "bluffing" his way through games. "I'm going to tell you, every game I was a worried, nervous wreck about what was coming out of my throat," he said. He was always hoarse; his throat was constantly sore. After many a game, he was on the phone with his boss at ESPN, Dan Steir, crying. ESPN is owned by The Walt Disney Co. "That's how really down I was," Vitale said. "I can't go to the game and just enjoy doing the game and be excited about doing the game and not worried about my damn throat." He went to several physicians, who said his problem was caused by acid reflux. Vitale finally got an appointment with Dr. Steven Zeitels of Massachusetts General Hospital, a specialist who has treated Julie Andrews and Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler. Zeitels found ulcers on his left vocal cord and said there was a chance they were cancerous. "That word scares the life out of anyone," Vitale said. The news was good: No cancer. Not speaking wasn't so hard, Vitale insisted, which becomes more believable considering complications from the surgery resulted in bladder problems that distracted him from his original ailment. Vitale communicated by scribbling notes to his wife, who had to try to decipher his "horrendous" handwriting. "I went through so many pens, it was unbelievable," he said. Doctors told him it wasn't a coincidence that somebody who puts so much strain on his vocal cords developed problems. Vitale is working with a voice coach to learn to speak more from his diaphragm. ESPN will adjust his schedule so he won't call doubleheaders or games on back-to-back days. Vitale is conscious of avoiding traps like talking loudly to try to be heard over the din at a noisy restaurant. His doctors will attend Saturday's Georgetown-Louisville game so they can use a device that measures exactly how much of a strain Vitale is putting on his vocal cords. But what's going to happen Wednesday if a player goes soaring in for a dunk in the final seconds to send the game to overtime? "I'm going to be myself," Vitale said. Himself with the volume turned down slightly. "I think I'm going to try to let the microphone do more work," he said. For anybody wondering how Vitale will sound Wednesday, he noted he never was as smooth as a play-by-play guy to begin with. "I've always been raspy," he said. "Heck, Rod Stewart's raspy, and he makes millions of dollars." |
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Wednesday February 6, 2008 |
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Disney's franchises
reap profits How To Build A Disney Franchise New Disney Attraction To Teach Storm Safety Disney's Magic Lifts Market Disney Makes Bears Look Goofy 50 Years Later, a Dream Comes True |
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Disney's franchises reap profits Disney News - Disney's first quarter earnings were announced yesterday. The company had a 9% increase in revenue due to strong consumer product sales, surging cable profits and attendance gains at their theme parks. The biggest leap was seen in Disney's cable networks which had a $125 million increase to $586 million in comparison to the year prior. While ESPN continues to be profitable, Disney Channel's Hannah Montana and High School Musical 2 are credited with this gain. CEO Robert Iger focused on Disney's ability to use a successful brand across all of the company's divisions. The 'Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour' released in theaters this past weekend earned a record $31 million for a Superbowl weekend. The Hannah Montana franchise has also produced a soundtrack that has 8 million copies sold, a sold out concert tour, video games and merchandise line. Iger spoke of the success of 'Pirates of the Caribbean' which had its start as a theme park attraction and Pixar's 'Toy Story' and 'Cars' which continue to produce revenue. 'Toy Story', which was released eight years ago, has annual merchandise sales of $400 million and 'Cars' is more profitable now than it was during its 2006 premiere. The one division that had a downturn was Disney's studios. The 15% fall in profits was a result of disappointing sales of 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End', 'Ratatouille' and 'Jungle Book' on DVD. According to the financial statement, Disney parks had an 11% increase in revenue to $2.8 billion and a 25% increase in operating revenue to $505 million. Disney's Chief Financial Officer Tom Staggs announced that attendance at Disney's domestic theme parks rose, and that both Disney's parks in Paris and Hong Kong had double digit increases in visitors. In an effort to assuage Wall Street's concerns regarding the impact of the economy on Disney's theme parks, Staggs stated "We'll adjust hours, we'll adjust rooms that we make available, we'll adjust the number of entertainment offerings. So that while there's clearly a large fixed cost base in parks, we do have the ability to dial up and down our costs." Laura Martin, an analyst with Soleil Media Metrix, said Disney spent an "inordinate amount of time" on parks because of Wall Street worries. "They did their best to say, at least to date, they haven't seen a slowdown in the parks, bookings were up a little over the next nine months compared to the prior year. They've never done that before." |
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How To Build A Disney
Franchise Forbes - Ever wonder how the Walt Disney Co. goes about building its hit movies and TV shows into huge, multi-platform franchises? Disney President and Chief Executive Bob Iger is here to help. During a conference call Tuesday to discuss the company's first fiscal quarter earnings report, Iger provided a peek at some of the calculations that go on behind the scenes to choose which hits will work as franchises and which won't. Once a TV show or cinematic release scores strong ratings or box office returns, the company gauges "whether we believe that success is leverageable across all of our businesses and in multiple territories and then to what extent we really believe [that] by in investing in that franchise, it can continue to create value over a long period of time," Iger said. The ones that the company is most excited about? That's easy: Hannah Montana, High School Musical, Pirates Of The Caribbean and Baby Einstein. But the recent Disney (nyse: DIS) franchise that Iger believes has the greatest long-term viability may come as a bit of a surprise: the 2006 movie Cars. The film did well at the box office but was widely viewed as a creative step down from previous Pixar features like Toy Story and The Incredibles. So why does Disney think Cars has staying power? "We're selling more merchandise now than in the year that the film was released,'' Iger said."We've clearly struck a nerve." As a result, Disney will be investing more in the Cars franchise. An online virtual world is in the works and it's "a relatively good bet that ultimately they'll be a sequel," he said. Cars is also getting Disney's ultimate vote of confidence in a new franchise: the construction of a theme park attraction. "Cars Land" is scheduled to open at Disney's California Adventure park (next door to Disneyland) in 2012. A smaller Cars-themed attraction opened last year at Disneyland Resort Paris and "I'm fairly certain you'll see more creativity and investment in terms of physical attractions at our parks [related to] that franchise,'' Iger said. Will last year's Pixar hit Ratatouille get the franchise treatment as well? Although the movie was recently nominated for five Academy Awards, "that wouldn't be one we would consider a true franchise in terms of its leverageability across multiple businesses or its ability to drive huge value over a long period of time,'' Iger said. Once Disney begins investing in a new franchise, it begins using the power of its brand name "in many, many places,'' he said, adding that, "we're finding that those many places are many more than we used to see." A prime example? Disney's recent foray into video games. More kids, particularly girls, are getting into gaming and "that plays right into our strategy," Iger said, noting that its brisk business in producing music for its hit Disney Channel shows is finding new opportunities in video games as well. "When you think of High School Musical and Hannah Montana, you suddenly can envision a franchise that is living in more places than just, say, the syndicated world of the past," he said. During the three months that ended Dec. 29, Disney reported net income of $1.25 billion, or 63 cents a share, down 27% from $1.7 billion, or 79 cents a share, during the same period a year earlier when the company's results included gains from the sales of its stakes in E! Entertainment and Us Weekly magazine and other items. Revenue in the quarter rose 9% to $10.45 billion. Disney's financial results in the quarter easily exceeded Wall Street expectations, thanks to robust attendance at its theme parks in the U.S., France and Hong Kong. Contributions from franchises like Hannah Montana and the sequel to High School Musical boosted the performance of its media networks, studio entertainment and consumer products divisions. Iger was asked during the conference call how he expected the timing of the TV broadcast networks' annual upfront presentations to be affected if the Hollywood writers' strike were to be resolved this week. Advertisers "are probably going to demand some kind of [upfront] process in the spring, basically under normal time circumstances,'' he said, adding, "I see us participating fairly aggressively in that process." Iger added that "how we present the schedule and what schedule is presented is still up for discussion." He also suggested that he'd like to see changes in how the upfronts are handled. "Personally, I think the manner that the upfront or the schedule is presented with the bells and whistles on a big stage and a fair amount of hors d'oeuvres feels like a bit of an anachronism to me,'' he said. "But those decisions will be ultimately made by [ABC] in what they feel is right in terms of the best approach of marketing their schedule to advertisers and the press." |
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New Disney
Attraction To Teach Storm Safety WESH - Disney announced its latest theme park addition at a ceremony Wednesday. Slated to debut late this summer in Epcot Center's Innoventions complex, StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes will aim to teach visitors the importance of home safety in a fun, interactive way. "This
groundbreaking exhibit represents a milestone in the disaster
safety movement," Leslie Chapman-Henderson, President and CEO of
the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), said. "It
will save lives and homes by combining fun with education." "This is the most significant initiative that we could have dreamed of," Chapman-Henderson said. "It's been tremendous for us." The attraction will allow visitors to discover what it would feel like to experience severe weather, such as a hurricane. After "the storm," StormStruck will teach guests about weather-related science and cutting-edge technology used to protect homes from a disaster, featuring an exercise in "rebuilding" a home. Chapman-Henderson declined to get more specific, but said the attraction will be "very fast-paced and very fun." During the ceremony, Chapman-Henderson and representatives from other sponsors pointed to Tuesday night's severe thunderstorms in Tennessee and Arkansas as further evidence about the need for disaster preparedness. But as Chapman-Henderson said, the greatest challenge has been getting the message out. "We have never doubted the need for disaster preparedness," Chapman-Henderson said. "And who does it better than Disney when it comes to storytelling?" The sponsors all said they hoped that this attraction will make a difference in people's lives. "Educating homeowners about the simple steps they can take to create a safer and stronger home is what this attraction is all about," said Terry Kingsfather, president of co-sponsor Simpson Strong-Tie. "We're proud to be a part of an effort that can help reduce damage to homes all across America." |
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Disney's Magic Lifts Market FOXBusiness - Wall Street has bounced back from yesterday's plunge thanks to strong earnings from Disney and a better-than-expected productivity report. World Market As of 12:53 p.m. EST, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 40.65 points, or 0.33% to 12305.69, the Standard & Poor’s 500 index gained 5.10 points, or 0.37% to 1341.59 and the Nasdaq Composite Index picked up 10.91 points, or 0.47%, to 2321.64. The consumer-friendly Fox 50 rose 1.80 points, or 0.19%, to 945.75. While the market is still in positive territory, stocks have come back from the highs of the day, when the Dow was more than 120 points in the green. Today, Wall Street received some badly needed positive news about the economy: two media giants beat or met expectations for their quarterly earnings results, an economic report showed productivity held up better than expected at the end of 2007 and U.S. oil supplies rose sharply last week. So far it’s been a tale of two weeks on Wall Street. Last week’s performance was very strong thanks to a Federal Reserve rate cut. The Dow surged more than 530 points -- its best single-week performance in four years. Nearly all of those big gains on the blue-chip index were erased through just the first two trading days of this week, with the Dow losing more than 475 points coming into today’s action. Tuesday's 2.9% loss on the Dow was its worst since February 27, 2007. Today, Wall Street reacted positively to solid earnings from Dow component Disney (DIS: 31.65, +1.58, +5.25%) after yesterday’s closing bell. The entertainment giant showed little signs of an economic slowdown. Not only did it easily beat the street by earning 63 cents a share in the first quarter, Disney’s theme park business posted an 11% jump in revenue. Traders and analysts had feared a slowdown among visitors to Disney’s parks due to new pressures on domestic consumers. The stock hit a new five-week high on the news. Another media giant, Time Warner (TWX: 15.96, +0.56, +3.63%), met Wall Street expectations with a fourth-quarter profit excluding one-time charges of 29 cents a share. Traders are focused on what new CEO Jeff Bewkes will do with its struggling AOL unit. During today's earnings conference call, Bewkes told investors he plans to split AOL's Internet-access unit and is discussing lowering the company's stake in Time Warner Cable (TWC: 23.84, -0.56, -2.29%). Shares of Time Warner have jumped about 4% today. After Microsoft (MSFT: 29.00, -0.07, -0.24%) bid on the Internet search portal Yahoo! (YHOO: 28.98, +0.01, +0.03%) last week, speculation grew that Time Warner might be able to sell AOL to Google (GOOG: 502.83, -3.97, -0.78%) or another company. The biggest decliner on the blue-chip index today has been General Motors (GM: 26.03, -0.44, -1.66%), which has been down more than 2% after an analyst at Bear Stearns (BSC: 84.02, -2.09, -2.42%) downgraded the automaker to underperform. The stock hit a two-week low on the news. Fears that the economy is headed toward, or already is in, a recession were bolstered yesterday by a sharp and unexpected contraction of the U.S. service sector in January. Consumer spending, which is a major part of the U.S. gross domestic product, mostly goes toward service spending. This can include everything from financial services and health care to hotels and retailers. Today the market reacted favorably to an economic productivity and labor costs report which topped expectations. Productivity (amount of output per hour of work) slowed sharply in the fourth quarter, rising just 1.8% and labor costs rose by 2.1% in the period. However, |
"Our
goal is to try to recreate the excitement of those 24 people who
show up on that 'American Idol' stage," Disney Parks chairman
Jay Rasulo told The Associated Press. "We believe many, many
viewers want to know exactly how that feels, and we're going to
try to reproduce that feeling for them."
With
that in mind, I've made it my mission to never again be
blindsided by a'tween TV sensation. And so when the opportunity
arose to chat with Selena Gomez, the adorable 15-year-old who
has been designated as the Disney Channel's next "it" girl, I
said bring it on.