| Photo finish as Kodak unloads stake in film
Eastman Kodak Co has transferred its entire stake in Lucky Film Co Ltd, China's largest maker of photographic film, to end the two companies' four-year partnership.
Guangzhou Chengxin Venture and Investment Co took over the 20-percent stake, or 68.4 million shares, for US$37 million and then transferred a five-percent stake in Lucky to an investment company named Hongyu for 67 million yuan (US$9.3 million), Lucky said in a statement to Shanghai Stock Exchange yesterday.
Lucky's parent held a 43.16-percent stake after the transfer, the statement said.
The company's share price plunged 4.98 percent to 14.68 yuan yesterday while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 1.43 percent to 4,320.77.
Kodak invested US$100 million in Lucky in October 2003 believing that big potential existed in the film market in China.
USA's Economic Disaster Tsunami Is Under Way. Ordinary Solutions Won't ...
Bush's presidency, with his rubberstamp Republican and Democratic congresses, was the earthquake. Now we face the economic disaster tsunami produced by the earthquake. The ordinary solutions-- income tax cuts, prime interest rate cuts-- they won't help and could make things worse. Visionary, courageous leadership is essential. There's a story about the economy; Economic Stimulus Is Already Too Late in today's NY Times. . .
A blog about technology from BBC News
Sony is cutting its sales goal for PS3 to 9.5 million units for the year from 11 million. So is PS3 succeeding or not? It depends on how you measure it. In comparison to the Wii, the PlayStation is a failure for Sony. Wii sales are stronger, faster and despite predictions of being short-lived, show staying power. But compared to 360 sales, it may be good news for Sony. Xbox 360 sales are slowing - and worryingly for Microsoft they are slowing during a period of arguably its greatest games line-up. So what does 2008 hold? I don't believe titles like Haze or Metal Gear Solid 4 will shift that many more PS3s. But I do think Blu-ray's impact will begin to bite Microsoft. Few observers believe that HD-DVD will ever be anything more than the second placed finisher in a two horse race.
Retailers promise bigger bargains - and bigger TVs - this shopping ...
Shoppers who missed last year's 32-inch flat-panel television bargains are in for a Black Friday treat: Several retailers are offering low prices this year on even bigger television sets. It's the biggest shopping day of the year, and today's newspaper reflects it. It's stuffed with deals. Larry Levak, Charleston Newspapers' vice president of advertising, said there are 41 inserts totaling 674 pages. They weigh 3 pounds, 11 ounces. There are so many the inserts have been assembled in three thick batches and then placed in the middle of the regular daily paper. Levak said crews began assembling the advertising supplements on Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 and then worked from Saturday through Wednesday to complete the task. The advertisements show that on Friday, Sam's Club is offering a 42-inch Sharp-brand high-definition television for $866.52.
GDC to become invitation only for press in '09
It can be hard if you're a writer who isn't with one of the larger sites like IGN or one of the more popular blogs like Joystiq: E3's going invitation-only last year meant many gaming writers were scrambling for their golden ticket, and the show had a much different feel from previous E3s Ars has attended. Last year the Game Developers Conference picked up the slack in many ways, but with so many stories coming out of the GDC, and so many press members there, were the actual developers able to do their job without being harassed by the press? During our interview with GDC Executive Director Jamil Moledina, we asked this questions, among others. Moledina agreed that the press presence at GDC had been growing. "At GDC '07, there were around 1,000 press passes handed out, which for a 16,000-person show is quite a lot," he told Ars.
NEP Supershooters & Screenworks Build HD Future for WWE(R) On the Air ...
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- One of America's great entertainment stars just got brighter. NEP Supershooters and Screenworks have been working with World Wrestling Entertainment(R) for over a year on creating a new HD experience for fans at home and at WWE events around the country. The NEP Systems Integration team and WWE management joined forces to custom design and build the new High Definition Remote Television Production home for WWE. The two new double expando units dubbed Red and Black were built to specifications as outlined by WWE's Mike Grossman, Duncan Leslie and Marty Pingree. They include a spacious new main production control room equipped with Grass Valley Kalypso switcher, 6 EVS Servers, 11 Sony HD Cams and 2 SRW VTR's along with technical management, video and graphics areas.
China extends ban on animation
Sarft has also increased the daily broadcast ratio to 7:3 for Chinese-made cartoons and foreign product, part of a campaign to "provide a favorable environment for the innovation of China's cartoon industry." Previous restrictions on the denizens of Bikini Bottom and other foreign animated laffers had expanded the output of local content and continuously improved the quality of works, it said. The number of minutes of domestic toons grew 23% last year. As well as following a tight quota system for foreign movies, China introduces regular blackout periods of foreign pics to help boost the domestic industry. Most of the titles are still available in pirate DVD shops, however. Sarft also called for more funding from local broadcasters to buy local product. Last week, China's General Administration of Press and Publications (GAPP) called for a ban on ghosts and monsters, or any other skeins that were there "for the sole purpose of seeking terror and horror," although it said that hugely popular titles such as "Harry Potter" would not be included in this ban, following an online outpouring of grief.
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