Disney (NYSE: DIS) says it has reached an “agreement in principle” with Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) “that recognizes the fair value of ABC7 with deal points that we expect to finalize with Cablevision.” Translation: Cablevision subs are watching the Oscars after all. The agreement—which Cablevision didn’t even mention in its terse…

Last-minute dramatics this afternoon as the next “deadline” approaches for Disney (NYSE: DIS) and Cablevision: tonight’s Academy Awards. Disney says it’s sent a new proposal and the ball is in the cable operator’s court. But Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) is playing a different game: calling on “CEO Bob Iger to immediately…

Midnight update: Get ready for some impromptu Oscar parties at New York-area households with Verizon FiOS or satellite: Disney (NYSE: DIS) and Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) couldn’t find a way over a two-year impasse by 12:01 a.m. this morning—WABC is blacked out for the operator’s 3.1 million households. Time Warner Cable…

If I’m already fatigued by the extended PR volley between Disney and Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) over retransmission fees, just imagine how Cablevision subs counting on WABC for the Academy Awards Sunday night or the latest twist in Lost feel. Since Disney went public with the dispute over retrans fees late…

It’s not the end of online access to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert but next week tracking them down may be a little less convenient for those used to watching on Hulu. Viacom (NYSE: VIA) is removing Comedy Central from the ad-supported video portal at 11:59 p.m. March 9 after…

During last month’s earnings call, *Disney* CEO Bob Iger couldn’t have been clearer about his willingness to shut off access to distributors unwilling to pay retrans fees. “We’re pretty resolute,” Iger told analysts—and by extension, cable and satellite operators. Just three weeks later, Disney (NYSE: DIS) is trying to show…

Unlike some of the major newsroom cuts of recent years, David Westin isn’t reenacting the layoff scene from Broadcast News at ABC (NYSE: DIS) News. The president of ABC News is trying to avoid that—and worse—by planning a different kind of future for the Disney news network and an environment…

Beijing-based ad network Yoyi Media has raised first round led by Disney’s Steamboat Ventures and Gobi Partners. Online advertising is still expected to grow at a rapid pace throughout Asia. Three-year-old Yoyi expects to capitalize on that growth. The company plans to build up its ad platforms and refine its…

ABC (NYSE: DIS) News is planning a major restructuring of its operations that will likely leave it with “substantially fewer people on staff,” according to an e-mail sent to employees this afternoon by ABC News President David Westin. Westin calls it a “fundamental transformation” that will “ensure that ABC News…

It’s no secret that Disney (NYSE: DIS) would like to get another crack at the Olympics and plans to bid for rights to the 2014 and 2016 games.The last time ABC had rights to the Olympics was 1988—before e-mail was ubiquitous, broadband was even a possibility and ESPN was a…

Telegraph.co.uk’s sources have been promising the paper Hulu’s imminent UK launch for so long now that, now it’s reporting “further delays” to the U.S. VOD site’s ambitions here, we’re barely inclined to mention it - but anyway… Despite claiming in August that Hulu was in “most advanced discussions” to land…

Fox and Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) narrowly averted retrans Armageddon on New Years Eve. Will Disney (NYSE: DIS) and ABC manage the same feat during the search for retransmission fees for the network and its affiliates? “We’re pretty resolute,” CEO Bob Iger told analysts during the Disney FYQ1 call, serving…

Bob Iger wasn’t on stage for the iPad launch last month, but the Disney CEO just gave a demo spiel Steve Jobs, the company’s largest shareholder, would applaud about a “really compelling” device that could be a game changer. Volunteering and replying to analyst questions about how Disney plans to…

		EPS*	Rev. vs QQ408	Net Inc. vs QQ408
Disney	Release		Flat	Flat

* vs. Analysts' Estimates: Beat Met Missed

Scrapbooking site Scrapblog has raised another $2.5 million from Disney’s Steamboat Ventures, the company tells us. Scrapblog lets users choose from various themes that they can use as backdrops for their photos; the scrapbooks can either be shared online or printed. This is a competitive market, which has generated quite…

At the tres civilized Pierre in Manhattan this morning where the 8th Annual Media Dealmakers Summit kicked off with Disney’s Kevin Mayer. A lot of talk about the recent Marvel (NYSE: DIS) acquisition, a very big bet by Disney, but inevitably the question of Hulu and pay models came up.…

Veteran Disney (NYSE: DIS) lobbyist Preston Padden isn’t retiring until 2011 but he’s already handing off to a new government relations chief. Richard Bates takes over as SVP-U.S. Government Relations effective immediately, while Padden, who will assist with the transition, switches to the strategic planning group until he leaves next…

ESPN (NYSE: DIS) has acquired Vistas Unlimited, Inc., which will help it go even more virtual on both the programming and advertising fronts. The Plano, Texas-based technology proffers virtual insertion technology that can be used to overlay advertising or graphics into live coverage of sports, notably baseball, golf, basketball, hockey…

Microsoft’s Xbox Live internet service, which recently lost one of its trump cards when rivals Sony (NYSE: SNE) and Nintendo matched its partnership with Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX), may soon fire back with a new content deal of its own. Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) “has held in-depth discussions” with Walt Disney Co.…

With the television industry buzzing over the possibilities of bringing 3D HD pictures to the living room as it heads to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, cable sports giant ESPN (NYSE: DIS) has gotten a jump on the field by announcing that it will launch a…