Tag Archives: twx

Lions Gate hopes streaming video odds are ever in its favor

Lions Gate Entertainment (LGF), the studio behind the “Hunger Games” movies, has jumped on the direct-to-consumer streaming video bandwagon. Lions Gate announced Monday that it has partnered with Tribeca Enterprises to launch a subscription video-on-demand service called Tribeca Short List. Launching in the first half of 2015, the service will offer “a prestigious selection of Lions Gate and Tribeca titles as well as critically acclaimed films drawn from around the world,” the companies said in a press release. The news follows announcements last week of over-the-top Internet video services from CBS (CBS) and Time Warner’s (TWX) HBO. Some analysts said that the moves could mark the beginning of unbundling cable-TV programming. If so, viewers soon could pay for the channels they want a la carte and not hundreds of channels they don’t watch. Lions Gate and Tribeca did not announce pricing for their new service. The companies also were coy…

HBO to combat Netflix with rival streaming video service

Time Warner’s (TWX) HBO will be available next year as a stand-alone Internet video service, a company executive announced Wednesday. Users will no longer need to subscribe to cable or other pay-TV services to get HBO, the home of such popular shows as “Game of Thrones,” “True Detective” and “Veep.” HBO CEO Richard Plepler made the announcement at a Time Warner investor meeting. He noted the 10 million broadband-only homes in the U.S. as a reason for the move. “That is a large and growing opportunity that should no longer be left untapped. It is time to remove all barriers to those who want HBO,” he said. “So, in 2015, we will launch a stand-alone, over-the-top, HBO service in the United States. “We will work with our current partners and we will explore models with new partners. All in, there are 80 million homes that do not have…

Holiday video game sales outlook not looking so hot

Video game sales this holiday season could disappoint because of a weak lineup of new game software and mixed reviews for some recent titles, Pacific Crest Securities said Thursday. In a report on specialty retailer GameStop (GME), Pacific Crest analyst Evan Wilson said the outlook for this Christmas is “looking increasingly challenged.” While industry consensus is for physical software sales to begin to rebound in GameStop’s January quarter (fiscal Q4), “that looks less and less likely,” Wilson said. Wall Street estimates call for 5% to 10% growth in sales of new software at GameStop. But Wilson is targeting 4% growth. The fourth quarter already has been hurt by delays that have pushed major games into next year. Those games include “Battlefield Hardline” from Electronic Arts (EA) “Evolve” from Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) and “Batman: Arkham Knight” from Time Warner’s (TWX) Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Meanwhile, new fall games aren’t inspiring…