Top Stories

ALVISO: AT&T has agreed to pay TiVo a total of at least $215 million through June 2018 to settle pending patent litigation relating to digital video recorder technology. AT&T will make an initial payment of $51 million, followed by recurring quarterly guaranteed payments through June 2018 totaling $164 million, which together …

NEW YORK: The sixth edition of Deloitte’s State of the Media Democracy survey reveals that the introduction of new platforms has led to increases in American media consumption. In 2009 just 28 percent of Americans reported streaming a movie, today that number has increased to 42 percent. The number of …

LOS GATOS: Netflix members streamed more than 2 billion hours of TV shows and movies in the fourth quarter of 2011. The service has amassed more than 20 million streaming members globally, aided by last year’s global expansion. In 2011 Netflix also added to its content offerings by signing new …

PHILADELPHIA/BURBANK: Comcast Corporation has signed a ten-year multiplatform distribution deal with The Walt Disney Company to deliver content from ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel and other networks through its Xfinity service. The agreement brings Comcast’s Xfinity TV customers Disney’s sports, news and entertainment content to watch on their TV, online and …

NEW YORK: Ben Silverman’s Electus has hired John Pollak, a former Shine International exec, to serve as president of its newly formed distribution arm, while Chris Philip expands his remit with oversight for a new global scripted production initiative. As the president of Electus International, Pollak oversees the international strategy …

LOS ANGELES: Paul Davidge, who has been running the day-to-day operations of Relativity Media’s international department, is taking on the role of COO for the international sales division of Exclusive Media Group. Davidge will be responsible for the day-to-day operational management oversight of Exclusive Media’s international sales, marketing and distribution …

LOS ANGELES: Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and We Bought a Zoo are to make their commercial television premieres on FX. FX picked up the films alongside The Sitter, Puss in Boots, Real Steel, Immortals, Paranormal Activity 3 and A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas. The …

NEW YORK: Despite the increasing number of media platforms, television maintains its stronghold as the most popular device, with 290 million Americans and 114.7 households owning at least one set, according to Nielsen’s new report on media usage. The State of the Media: Consumer Usage Report also shows that 145 …

SANTA MONICA/VANCOUVER: Lionsgate has sold the first season of Thunderbird Films’ crime drama Endgame to Hulu, where it debuts today. The Canadian series premiered in March 2011. The show, produced by Thunderbird Films in association with Front Street Pictures, stars Shawn Doyle and was created by Avrum Jacobson. Lionsgate has …

LAS VEGAS: Yahoo! is to serve as the exclusive online broadcast home for Tom Hanks’ new animated series Electric City, marking the company’s foray into original scripted programming. The show is from Playtone, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s film and TV production company, and Reliance Entertainment. Electric City, which will debut …