The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

Universal to set up panel to probe Philippine payment reports

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 06:15 AM PST

TOKYO, Jan 7 — Japan's Universal Entertainment Corp said today it would set up a panel of independent experts to investigate media reports about millions of dollars in payments made in relation to its casino project on Manila Bay.

The logo of the Universal Entertainment Corp. is seen at the company's headquarters in Tokyo November 30, 2012. — Reuters pic

Universal, majority owned by founder Kazuo Okada and his son through a family trust, said in a statement the panel of lawyers and other experts would investigate issues raised in articles by Reuters, the Asahi newspaper and others about the payments.

Universal said that while it has operated in a lawful and rational manner in pursuing the project, it believes an objective examination by a third-party panel would help put investors and other stakeholders at ease.

In early December Universal announced that it had filed a libel suit against Reuters in Tokyo for its reporting on US$40 million (RM122 million) in payments by Universal to Rodolfo Soriano, a former consultant to the Philippine gaming authority, in 2010.

Earlier today in a separate statement, Universal said it was considering legal action against the Asahi newspaper, which reported about issues with the Philippine casino project and the payments in late December. No one at the Asahi could be immediately reached for comment.

Universal has sued three former employees claiming they made US$15 million of the payments without authorization. Two of those employees have filed rebuttals to the Tokyo District Court, both saying they were following orders in directing the payments.

The payments are now the subject of investigations in the Philippines and the United States, where the company is licensed by the gaming regulator in Nevada. — Reuters

Netflix to carry ‘Revolution’, other Warner Bros shows

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 05:23 AM PST

LOS ANGELES, Jan 7 — Netflix Inc will carry previous seasons of some popular shows produced by Time Warner Inc's Warner Bros. Television as it braces for stiffer competition from new video-streaming rivals.

Netflix is looking to bolster content by striking deals with Hollywood studios and launching its own shows as it competes with cable networks and a slew of new video-streaming rivals. — AFP pic

Netflix said its US subscribers will be able to watch "Revolution," a drama set in a post-apocalyptic America, miniseries "Political Animals," starring Sigourney Weaver, and Western mystery series "Longmire," among other shows.

The video-streaming site will also carry "The Following," a highly anticipated drama series starring Kevin Bacon as a former FBI agent on the trail of a serial killer, which premieres Jan. 21 on the Fox network.

Netflix is looking to bolster content by striking deals with Hollywood studios and launching its own shows as it competes with cable networks and a slew of new video-streaming rivals.

Coinstar Inc's Redbox launched an instant video- streaming service last month, while Amazon.com Inc's Prime, Hulu Plus and HBO Go are all in the race for more home entertainment dollars.

HBO, another unit of Time Warner, has just extended its deal with Universal Pictures for rights to the studio's movies through 2022, allowing the cable network to keep them away from Netflix.

Netflix, which started its streaming business with mostly older films, has been moving to add more original programming and produces TV shows such as "Lilyhammer" and the upcoming "House of Cards".

Today's agreement covers a current slate of eight Warner Bros shows as well as potential future shows. Further details of the deal were not disclosed. —Reuters

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Isnin, 7 Januari 2013

The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

0 ulasan:

Catat Ulasan