Vivendi

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Spinal Tap Creators Hope Lawsuit 'Goes to 11'

3 other creators of mockumentary join in lawsuit

(Newser) - Spinal Tap is getting back together ... over a lawsuit. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Rob Reiner have joined Harry Shearer in his lawsuit against entertainment group Vivendi, which acquired the rights to This Is Spinal Tap in 1989, the Guardian reports. The four men created the rock mockumentary together; Reiner...

Spinal Tap Star Sues for $125M
Spinal Tap Star
Sues for $125M

Spinal Tap Star Sues for $125M

Harry Shearer says Vivendi is hiding his profits

(Newser) - One of the makers of This Is Spinal Tap is suing entertainment group Vivendi, claiming the company is hiding millions from those who made the film possible. Harry Shearer—perhaps better known as the guy who voices dozens of Simpsons characters —co-created the 1984 film along with Rob Reiner,...

Comcast's NBC Deal Gets Help With GE-Vivendi Pact

French outfit will sell Universal stake for $5.8B

(Newser) - Comcast’s acquisition of NBC Universal got a little closer to reality tonight with news that NBC’s parent company, General Electric, has a deal to buy the 20% of NBCU owned by France’s Vivendi—a stake that threatened to torpedo the sale to Comcast. GE would pay $5....

Comcast Near $35B Deal for NBC Universal

Cable giant has been in talks with owner of network for weeks

(Newser) - Comcast is near a $35 billion deal to acquire NBC Universal, which encompasses the network, a movie studio, cable channels and more, sources tell the Wrap. Bankers from the cable giant and General Electric, NBCU’s parent company, met Tuesday after Comcast decided to think bigger than a pursuit of...

50 Cent Battles Desert Gangsters in Video Game

Follow-up to 'Bulletproof' has the rapper traveling far and wide

(Newser) - 50 Cent has a new video game coming out in the fall in which he battles international gangsters in desert warfare, MTV News reports. "Blood in the Sand" follows the hop-hop star's “Bulletproof” of 2005, though it's not being pitched as a sequel. Details of the game’s...

Vivendi to Buy Activision
Vivendi to Buy Activision

Vivendi to Buy Activision

Get ready for World of Tony Hawk's Pro Guitar Warcraft

(Newser) - Vivendi, producer of mega-hit World of Warcraft, today announced plans to merge operations with Activision, forming an independent video game behemoth to rival EA. Vivendi will buy 52% of Activision for $1.7 billion and $27.50 per share, the Times reports, a premium on Friday’s $22.15 closing...

Labels Team Up to Bruise iTunes
Labels Team Up to Bruise iTunes

Labels Team Up to Bruise iTunes

Universal leads effort against Apple's control of prices; new store part of plan

(Newser) - Universal Music is acting on industry-wide anger toward iTunes’ policies, teaming with Sony and potentially Warner on a new subscription service that could make music essentially free. Still a prototype, Total Music would charge makers of music players $5 a month, PC World reports; they would then offer unlimited downloads...

Universal's iTunes Deal Hits Sour Note

Major music vendor will pull out of long-term contract with Apple

(Newser) - In the latest volley in the escalating war between the music industry and Apple's iTunes, Universal Music Group will not renew its contract with the online music seller, the New York Times reports. The digital retailer will still feature artists signed by Universal, the largest music company in the world,...

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