Today the number two Cable Provider Comcast Corporation buys NBC Universal for $30 billion.
The deal gives Comcast 51% controlling stake of NBC Universal which includes NBC television Network, a percentage of Telemundo Network(Spanish Language Broadcaster),NBC, Telemundo owned and operated television stations. In addition the deal includes USA Network, Universal Studios and Theme Parks and the newly acquired Weather Channel.
GE will sell its interest in NBC Universal to Comcast; in turn Vivendi which owns a 20% stake in NBC Universal will sell its stake GE and GE will transfer NBC Universal to Comcast.
Comcast will use $6.5 billion in cash. And take $7.3 billion in assets by selling Versus sports network; Golf Channel and E! Entertainment Television.
The deal ending 23 year corporate marriage between GE and NBC which came about in merger in 1986.
The parents of “Balloon Boy” admits guilt on Friday in phony call to 9-1-1 reporting their 6-year-old son was in runaway balloon to create publicity for a potential reality television show.
Richard and Mayumi Heene were in at Larimer County Courthouse in Ft. Collins. Heene pleaded guilty to a felony count of falsely influencing the sheriff on the 50 mile manhunt for their son Falcon in the skies over Northern Colorado.
Mayumi Heene plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of knowingly filing a false report with emergency services . Mrs Heene has cooperated with law enforcement which led to lesser charges.
Richard Heene could serve 90 days in Jail, probation and fines. Mayumi could receive 60 days in jail possibly in a work release program and probation.
If the Heenes’ did not take the plea bargain Richard would have faced two to six years in prison and fines of a half million dollars. Mayumi would face up to six month in jail and $750 in fines.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will sign an Environmental Exemption that will allow construction of a new football stadium in the City of Industry. The exemption would nullify a lawsuit by the projects neighbors in Walnut a town just east of Industry and the site based on the the project environmental impact report.
The project will provide 6,700 new jobs (mostly construction) $21 million in tax revenue and over $750 million in economic activity.
Saturday Night Live was at it again, this time it was the awarding the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday to President Barack Obama.
I’m just waiting for CNN to fact check SNL again for the accuracy. What funny is that the satire is true Obama won because he was not former President George W. Bush.
They say Art Imitates life well; The art work President Obama and Mrs Obama chose for the White House defines the President. The piece by California Artist Ed Ruscha entitled “I think …I’ll. It’s about indecision. How ironic that this art piece his hanging the White House.
Art immatates Life President Obama's Choice of Art Work Defines the President to a T
This was one of 12 pieces hailed by the New York Times as a Bold and Modern White House.
Changes are in the air in Hollywood. Nikki Finke reports a shake up At Universal Studios President and COO Ronald Meyer has replaced Marc Shmuger and David Linde as the Co-Chairman of Universal Pictures. They were replace by Adam Fogelson and Donna Langley as Co-Chair. They began immediately.
Fogelson will report to Meyer, Langely will report to Fogleson. Folgelson will overseer the motion picture group which includes theatrical, home entertainment, licensing, hr, finance and communications. Langley will focus on Production.
Over at Walt Disney Company, changes at Walt Disney Studios and it’s Miramax Films subsidiary. Robert Iger,Chairman and CEO announced on Monday Rich Ross as Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios effective Monday. Rich Ross was President of Disney Channel Worldwide.
Ross replaces Dick Cook as the Walt Disney Studios. Cook resigns after five at the helm of the the studio division. It also ends a nearly 40 year career at Disney for Cook .
While at Disney’s Miramax Films division Keri Putnam President of Production and Peter Lawson Vice President of Acquisitions are leaving soon.
