While Aereo — the online service that transmits over-the-air network feeds to subscribers’ computers and mobile devices — is slugging it out with broadcasters in court, the operators of several cable and satellite services are reportedly looking to launch similar products of their own, setting the stage for an all-new TV war. [More]
disney
Broadcasters Want To Fast-Forward To Supreme Court Decision On Aereo
By 10.9.13
When the broadcast networks first sued Aereo over allegations of copyright infringement, the TV-streaming service was only available in the New York City area. In the short time since, it has expanded to Boston, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, and Salt Lake City, with plans to add around 20 more markets in the coming months. In a move that seems intended to preempt this growth, the networks are reportedly asking for their case to get Supreme Court attention ASAP. [More]
Dish Customers, Prepare For Potential ESPN (And ABC, Disney) Blackout
By 9.30.13 — Updated: 10.1.13
UPDATE: As expected, the two parties reached an 11th hour agreement to extend the talks past the Monday deadline. No details were provided about when an actual deal would need to be reached in order to avoid the blackout. [More]
Disney Taking Away Line-Skipping For Disabled Guests Because Some People Are Jerks
By 9.24.13 — Updated: 4.10.14
After it was revealed that some impatient but well-heeled visitors to Disney parks were hiring disabled “tour guides” just to avoid long wait times for rides and other attractions, park operators have revised this straight-to-the-front policy with the hope of making it less attractive to opportunistic jerks. [More]
Petition Claims Disneyland Paris Is A Sad Wasteland Full Of Broken Rides & Reheated Food
By 9.16.13
No matter where a land of Disney, or perhaps a world of Disney exists, the mental image that springs to mind is one of happy cartoon characters, colorful, whirling rides and the sweet laughs of joyous children. But one petition claims Disneyland Paris is more like a ramshackle exercise in enduring a broken-down world sunk into the very the bowels of sadness and microwaved food, and is calling on Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger to fix it. [More]
It’s A Small World, But Apparently Big Enough To Steal 50 Identities To Fund 17 Disney Vacations
By 7.15.13
Upon hearing that a man stands accused of stealing the identities of 50 people in order to finance 17 Disney vacations, one might think it sounds like a tall order to successfully get away with that many crimes… and also? Is going on 17 vacations with Mickey Mouse really necessary? [More]
No Sale For Hulu… For Now
By 7.12.13
In recent months, there have been numerous rumors that companies like Yahoo, DirecTV, and AT&T were interested in buying video-streaming service Hulu, which is currently owned by the unholy trinity of FOX, NBC, and Disney. But today, the trio of owners confirmed they are staying put and will actually pump some more of their own money into the business. [More]
Want To Go To Disney World For The Day? That’ll Be $95. Yes, Just For You. No, That’s Not A Joke.
By 6.3.13
Over the weekend, the anthropomorphic mice-that-be at Disney greedily rubbed their four-fingered hands together and raised prices on tickets to both Disneyland and Disney World, where it will now cost an adult $95 just to step through the gates at the Magic Kingdom. [More]
Guy Using The Last Name “Disney” Caught Giving Stolen Disneyland Tickets To Charity
By 5.23.13 — Updated: 5.24.13
Listen, if you want to go around and tell people, “Yeah, I’m related to Walt Disney,” even if it isn’t true, that’s up to you. But one man allegedly impersonating a Disney heir took that delusion to another level when he, again, allegedly, passed off stolen Disneyland tickets as the real deal. [More]
Printing Error Turns Pixar Kiddie Pool Into Informational Image On Bad Touching
By 5.20.13
What should be a happy photo of a mom hanging out in the yard with her two boys in their cool new Pixar-themed pool is horribly, terribly, tragically transformed into something much darker, all thanks to an apparent error at the printing press that managed to slip through unnoticed. [More]
Dad Not Thrilled With Response When Child Goes Missing On Disney Cruise
By 3.11.13
It’s every parent’s nightmare — you leave your young child in the care of someone else for a few hours, only to return and find your kid has gone AWOL. [More]
Family Suing Disneyland Over Claims Park Employee Was Racist
By 2.7.13
A San Diego family is suing Disneyland, claiming that while their two children were trying to greet an employee dressed up as the White Rabbit from Alice In Wonderland, the worker shunned the young boys because they’re black. The alleged incident went down last August, and the family says they don’t want other children to have the same experience. [More]
New Disney World Visitor Tracking System Raises Privacy Concerns
By 1.9.13
Starting this spring, visitors to Disney World in Florida will be able to take part in a new program called MyMagic+ that allows them, via smart wristbands, to pay for purchases on the fly or reserve a spot in line for a ride. But is this coming at the expense of customer privacy? [More]
How To Make A Toy For Girls: Take Gender-Neutral Toy, Add Fairies And Flowers, Make It Purple
By 12.18.12
As a child, did you ever have one of those magnetic fishing games where plastic fishes’ mouths snap open and shut and you try to snag them with a magnet? I had one, and I enjoyed that toy very much as a little girl. Let me emphasize the “as a little girl” part. One would think that this is a toy that doesn’t need any girling up, but apparently you and I don’t think like a toy company. That’s why the Tinkerbell fishing game exists. It’s the same thing as the primary-colored, gender-neutral fishing game. Except it’s purple and Disney Fairies-branded. Because it’s for girls! [More]
Netflix Woos Disney In Deal To Show New Releases Starting In 2016
By 12.5.12
If a company could crow with glee, we’re willing to bet Netflix would be doing so right about now. The company announced yesterday that it had snapped up a deal with Walt Disney Studios to show films from Disney, Disney, Pixar and Marvel beginning in 2016. To sweeten that deal, starting immediately, older Disney movies like Alice in Wonderland and Pocahontas will be available on Netflix. [More]
Disney Agrees It Shouldn’t Contribute To Destroying The Jungle For Paper To Make ‘The Jungle Book’
By 10.12.12
Leave it to triumphant activists to make the best puns! After Walt Disney pledged it will change its paper purchasing policies for the supplies it gets to make children’s book, including cutting ties with two controversial companies criticized for harming endangered rain forests, a member of the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) put the news this way: “The Jungle Book will no longer be destroying the jungle.” [More]
Sorry, Plus-Size Women: You’re Too Fat To Dress As Fat Disney Character For Halloween
By 10.9.12
I always loved Disney villain Ursula, the portly six-legged sea-witch who swaps the Litte Mermaid’s tail for a pair of legs in return for her lovely singing voice. And you’d think that dressing up as Ursula, or as the inevitable “sexy” Halloween version of Ursula, would be an option for women who are actually shaped like the character. Nope, not so fast! [More]
Did You Buy Disney Or Marvel Vitamins? There Might Be A Refund Waiting For You
By 8.14.12
I prefer to get my vitamins the old-fashioned way (i.e., in the shape of Flintstones characters), but for those of you who prefer your vitamins in the shape of Disney characters or Marvel superheros, the Federal Trade Commission wants you to know you might be due a refund. [More]
