ACTIVISION AND MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT EXPAND ALLIANCE AND EXTEND INTERACTIVE RIGHTS FOR SPIDER-MAN AND X-MEN FRANCHISES
Deal Extends Relationship Through 2017
Santa Monica, C.A. and New York, N.Y. – November 11, 2005 – Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) and Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) jointly announced today that the companies have expanded their long-term, broad-based strategic alliance by signing a multi-year extension to their current video game licensing agreements for the Spider-Man™ and X-Men™ franchises through 2017. This agreement replaces all previous agreements between the companies. Under the terms of the agreement, Activision has extended its exclusive worldwide publishing rights to two of Marvel’s most renowned comic book properties for interactive entertainment software products for console, PC and handheld platforms. The original agreements were set to expire in 2009. Activision’s Spider-Man and the X-Men video games rank among the company’s most successful franchises, having sold more than 25 million units across all platforms to date.
"This announcement further underscores the strength of our relationship with Marvel and reinforces our leadership position in the superhero genre,” states Mike Griffith, President and CEO, Activision Publishing, Inc. “Spider-Man and the X-Men are two of the most popular entertainment franchises today and some of the most coveted characters in interactive entertainment. This agreement will allow us to continue developing exceptional games based on these legendary characters well into the future.”
Tim Rothwell, Worldwide President, Consumer Media Group, Marvel Entertainment, added, "The interactive entertainment category continues to be one of Marvel's key strategic categories. Expanding our partnership with Activision, a leader in the video game industry, further ensures that our characters will continue to be among the elite and dominant interactive franchises for the next decade and beyond."
Bruno Maglione, President, Marvel International, commented, "Activision is one of a handful of players who can truly execute worldwide in this business. Spider-Man and X-Men are major global franchises. Because of this, it is always critical for us to partner with companies committed to maximizing success internationally. Activision’s results on a worldwide scale with these brands demonstrated to us that they can and will continue to do that."
Friday, November 11, 2005
Threshold Moved from Friday Death Slot, CBS Offers Episodes on Streaming Video
CBS.COM TO STREAM DIFFERENT EPISODES OF "THRESHOLD" TO ACCOMMODATE NEW TIME PERIOD
To accommodate the new time period change for THRESHOLD, CBS.com, the official website of the CBS Television Network, will stream different episodes of the new suspense drama from Nov. 9-11 and Nov. 16-18. The initial offering, episode three of THRESHOLD titled "Blood of the Children" (oad 9/23/05), was available during a three-day window on CBS.com from Nov. 2-4. The second episode, titled "The Order" (oad 10/21), will be available for streaming from Nov. 9-11, while the episode titled "Revelations" (oad 11/4) will be available from Nov. 16-18.
The following are the revised storyline descriptions for the THRESHOLD episodes to be featured on CBS.com:
"The Order" (oad 10/21) (Nov. 9-11) -- Molly investigates a security leak that could put the entire Threshold plan in jeopardy, while the Red Team investigates a possible infection of the local food supply affecting the residents in a small New England town. Norberto Barba directed the episode written by Anne McGrail.
"Revelations" (oad 11/4) (Nov. 16-18) -- Molly and Cavennaugh encounter some bizarre happenings when they head to the hometown of a missing Big Horn crew member to investigate the disappearance of a Threshold field agent. Tom Wright directed the episode written by Amy Berg and Andrew Colville.
THRESHOLD moves to its new time period, Tuesdays (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT), beginning Nov. 22 on the CBS Television Network.
On the web: CBS's Threshold
To accommodate the new time period change for THRESHOLD, CBS.com, the official website of the CBS Television Network, will stream different episodes of the new suspense drama from Nov. 9-11 and Nov. 16-18. The initial offering, episode three of THRESHOLD titled "Blood of the Children" (oad 9/23/05), was available during a three-day window on CBS.com from Nov. 2-4. The second episode, titled "The Order" (oad 10/21), will be available for streaming from Nov. 9-11, while the episode titled "Revelations" (oad 11/4) will be available from Nov. 16-18.
The following are the revised storyline descriptions for the THRESHOLD episodes to be featured on CBS.com:
"The Order" (oad 10/21) (Nov. 9-11) -- Molly investigates a security leak that could put the entire Threshold plan in jeopardy, while the Red Team investigates a possible infection of the local food supply affecting the residents in a small New England town. Norberto Barba directed the episode written by Anne McGrail.
"Revelations" (oad 11/4) (Nov. 16-18) -- Molly and Cavennaugh encounter some bizarre happenings when they head to the hometown of a missing Big Horn crew member to investigate the disappearance of a Threshold field agent. Tom Wright directed the episode written by Amy Berg and Andrew Colville.
THRESHOLD moves to its new time period, Tuesdays (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT), beginning Nov. 22 on the CBS Television Network.
On the web: CBS's Threshold
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
More Jobs for Disney?
The recent ABC/Apple agreement regarding television episodes being made available on iTunes for download led to speculation that negotiations between Steve Jobs and Disney had been becoming friendly again. Many argued that it might even lead to a new Pixar/Disney partnership.
Well, it looks like the speculation is true. Pixar and Disney are indeed in negotiations for a new deal. With the initial financial success of Chicken Little Disney proved that they may not need Pixar to produce their digital movies. Pixar, on the other hand, has likely had difficulty finding a new distributor for their films. Remember that in the last negotiations between the two companies Pixar was demanding "100% of the box office take on future films, a modest distribution fee and the lion's share of ancilliary revenue." Not exactly the best beginning bargaining position for new distributors.
Now if Disney and Pixar team up again, does that mean that I can dream of Disney reopening their hand drawn animation division? I mean Pixar is a great digital company...Lilo and Stitch was awesome...Computer Animation isn't any less expensive than hand drawn...
Please Disney! Please!
Well, it looks like the speculation is true. Pixar and Disney are indeed in negotiations for a new deal. With the initial financial success of Chicken Little Disney proved that they may not need Pixar to produce their digital movies. Pixar, on the other hand, has likely had difficulty finding a new distributor for their films. Remember that in the last negotiations between the two companies Pixar was demanding "100% of the box office take on future films, a modest distribution fee and the lion's share of ancilliary revenue." Not exactly the best beginning bargaining position for new distributors.
Now if Disney and Pixar team up again, does that mean that I can dream of Disney reopening their hand drawn animation division? I mean Pixar is a great digital company...Lilo and Stitch was awesome...Computer Animation isn't any less expensive than hand drawn...
Please Disney! Please!
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Sean Bean is Dreamy, and He's Starring in Sharpe's Challenge
Photo by Norman Jean RaySean Bean, Boromir in Lord of the Rings and 006 in Goldeneye, will be reprising his role as Richard Sharpe in the upcoming BBC miniseries Sharpe's Challenge. My wife and I spent a good deal of this past summer captivated by Bean's portrayal of the adventures of Richard Sharpe during the Napoleonic era. Bean showed a wide range of acting ability and has become one of my favorite British imports to the United States. In fact, I have become sick of seeing him portrayed as a villain in American cinema and look forward to him donning the green garb of the Epic soldier once more.
The new Sharpe is being filmed for ITV and began filming on November 5th of this year.
Oi! I'ma Mario! I'ma Gonna Basha Your Head In, Ya Scouser!
Nintendo does its part to tend to the next generation of Hooligan. If only they would combine Super Mario Strikers with Super Smash Brothers.
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