Showbiz Sandbox

Movie studios, television networks and record labels still haven't updated their business models to account for video and music streaming services like Netflix and Spotify. Now companies such as Amazon, Google and Apple plan on introducing a whole new group of media subscription services. With premium video-on-demand on the horizon it's no surprise the entertainment industry is concerned about all these disruptive distribution methods. One of the biggest players in the current content licensing wars has been Netflix. Showtime and Starz began pulling shows from the video rental giant, while Fox and Paramount offered up popular series and hit movies. Cable operators have also entered the fray by allowing viewers to watch live television on mobile device apps. The creator of "Mad Men" was embroiled in his own fight with AMC and Lionsgate over the future of the series. In the end, Matthew Weiner was able to reach an agreement on a new contract, though new episodes won't air until 2012. We cover the top showbiz headlines from the past two weeks including Brook Shields on Broadway, John Mellencamp's collaboration with Stephen King, Betty White's new reality series and highlights from CinemaCon in Las Vegas. 'The King's Speech' PG-13 Version Gets Release Date http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kings-speech-pg-13-version-171129 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kings-speech-pg-13-version-171129) Eminem Lawsuit May Raise Pay For Older Artists http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/business/media/28eminem.html?_r=1&hp (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/business/media/28eminem.html?_r=1&hp) Amazon Introduces A Digital Music Locker http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/amazon-introduces-a-digital-music-locker/ (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/amazon-introduces-a-digital-music-locker/) Why Amazon Picked A Fight With The Labels http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2011/03/heres-why-amazon-picked-a-fight-with.... (http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2011/03/heres-why-amazon-picked-a-fight-with-the-labels.html) Streaming May Topple Music Industry Iceberg http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2011/03/streaming-may-topple-music-industry.... (http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2011/03/streaming-may-topple-music-industry-iceberg.html) Juniper Research's Mobile Music Opportunities http://www.juniperresearch.com/reports/mobile_music_opportunities (http://www.juniperresearch.com/reports/mobile_music_opportunities) Talks Stall Between 'Mad Men' Creator Matt Weiner and AMC, Lionsgate http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-mad-men-20110330,0,954.... (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-mad-men-20110330,0,954363.story) Matthew Weiner Talks To Vulture About The 'Mad Men' Deal http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/03/matthew_weiner_interview.html (http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/03/matthew_weiner_interview.html) Matt Weiner, AMC Reach Deal On 'Mad Men' http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/matthew-weiner-signs-long-term-173630 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/matthew-weiner-signs-long-term-173630) No MTV? No Problem. New Channels On Time Warner Cable App http://gigaom.com/video/time-warner-cable-ipad-app-2/ (http://gigaom.com/video/time-warner-cable-ipad-app-2/) Netflix Brings Paramount Films Online In Canada http://gigaom.com/video/netflix-paramount-canada/ (http://gigaom.com/video/netflix-paramount-canada/) Fox and Netflix Expand Pact, Add 'Glee' To Streaming Service http://www.deadline.com/2011/04/fox-and-netflix-expand-pact-add-glee-to.... (http://www.deadline.com/2011/04/fox-and-netflix-expand-pact-add-glee-to-streaming-service/) Miramax In Talks With Netflix, Google, Hulu, For Digital Distribution Deal http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/03/miramax-netflix.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/03/miramax-netflix-googley-hulu-digital-distribution.html)

When Disney's animated film "Mars Needs Moms" flopped at the box office, film industry insiders struggled to pinpoint a possible cause.  Was it the motion-capture animation style?  The lackluster storyline?  Are multiplexes saturated with too animated family films?  Have higher 3D ticket prices caused moviegoers to become more picky?  We are joined by New York Times media reporter Brooks Barnes (http://twitter.com/brooksbarnesnyt) who faults a long list of culprits for the movies failure. Meanwhile, music industry big shots trekked to Austin, Texas last week hoping to find undiscovered artists at the South by Southwest music conference.  However, 13-year-old Rebbecca Black didn't have to attend SxSW to attract attention.  She became the world's latest pop-star in under a week when her much maligned song and music video turned into a viral Internet sensation. Streaming video continues to change the television landscape.  Video streaming service Netflix made the jump into original programming by picking up a television series.  Such a move was aimed at keeping Netflix ahead of an endless assortment of competitors entering the market. We provide coverage and analysis of the week's important entertainment headlines, including Duran Duran's collaboration with David Lynch, Garrison Keillor's pending retirement and the Writers Guild's new contract. Many Culprits In Fall Of A Family Film http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/business/media/15mars.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/business/media/15mars.html) Yellow Submarine Won't Set Sail At Disney http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/03/yellow-submarine-wont.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/03/yellow-submarine-wont-set-sail-at-disney.html) SXSW Organizers Plan To Limit Free Events Next Year http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660306/sxsw-festival.jhtml (http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660306/sxsw-festival.jhtml) Rebecca Black Discusses 'Friday' And Cyberbullying http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-03-17/rebecca-black.... (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-03-17/rebecca-black-friday-and-cyberbullying/) Supreme Court Sides With Eminem In Universal Music Royalty Dispute http://www.freep.com/article/20110321/ENT04/110321060/Eminem-s-side-wins.... (http://www.freep.com/article/20110321/ENT04/110321060/Eminem-s-side-wins-40M-50M-victory-Supreme-Court-lets-royalties-ruling-stand) ABC And NBC Finish Behind Univision http://www.tvlatest.com/article/2193/Ratings%3A+Idol+hits+Wednesday+low.... (http://www.tvlatest.com/article/2193/Ratings%3A+Idol+hits+Wednesday+low,+ABC+and+NBC+finish+behind+Univision) The New York Times Announces Digital Subscription Plan http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/the-times-announces-digital.... (http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/the-times-announces-digital-subscription-plan/) What's Behind the Latest Batch Of Rumors About Charlie Sheen Returning to TV? http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/03/whats_behind_the_latest_batch.html (http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/03/whats_behind_the_latest_batch.html) Kevin Costner Closes Deal To Join 'Superman' http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/kevin-costner-closes-deal-join-168940 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/kevin-costner-closes-deal-join-168940) David Lynch To Direct Duran Duran Live-Streamed Concert http://www.billboard.com/events/duran-duran-taps-david-lynch-to-direct-unstaged.... (http://www.billboard.com/events/duran-duran-taps-david-lynch-to-direct-unstaged-1005072402.story) Cable News Viewership Declines Double Digits In 2010 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cable-news-viewership-declines-double.... (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cable-news-viewership-declines-double-167181) Garrison Keillor, "Prairie Home Companion" Host, To Retire From Radio http://www.hollywoodreporter.