The source of Universal's confidence: Working Title, Universal's London-based production house run by Tim Bevan, 43, and Eric Fellner, 42.
On the other hand, one might also want to consider that in September, Baidu's music accessibility got slammed by a quadumvirate of Warner Music Group, Vivendi Universal 's Universal Music Group, EMI Group and Sony BMG (half-owned by Sony), which all filed suits against the Chinese e-commerce firm (see: " Bronfman Leads Music Bigs In Baidu Piracy Lawsuit").
Users won't be able to snag music from the best-known names in music, because none of the major music companies, like Vivendi Universal 's Universal Music Group or Warner Music Group, are letting their stuff be used on the service.
The interview with the press-shy founder of Island Records (the label that brought you Bob Marley, U2, Traffic and Cat Stevens and is now part of Vivendi Universal 's giant Universal Music Group) had more than a few uncomfortable pauses.
The merged company's rivals will also have access to Universal's online music content, the EC said.
Until this year, Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Sports and Olympics, has favored withholding coverage of most events until prime-time in the U.S. rather than providing live coverage on NBC Universal's broadcast and cable networks or on the Internet.
Users won't be able to snag music from the best-known names in music, because none of the major music companies, like Vivendi Universal 's (nyse: V - news - people ) Universal Music Group or Warner Music Group (nyse: WMG - news - people ), are letting their stuff be used on the service.
The interview with the press-shy founder of Island Records (the label that brought you Bob Marley, U2, Traffic and Cat Stevens and is now part of Vivendi Universal 's (nyse: V - news - people ) giant Universal Music Group) had more than a few uncomfortable pauses.
"It's so gratifying to show that Tom can open a film, " said Nikki Rocco, Universal's president of domestic distribution.
UMG's catalog is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.).
Many of the bidders appear just to be interested in Universal's cable television business.
To date, his cable group accounts for about 40% of NBC Universal's revenue, compared to NBC's 5%.
Some parents and community leaders like Universal's plan but say the district botched efforts to win over the neighborhood.
HD-DVD had been resting on Universal's shoulders in terms of exclusive studio support.
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"Loudeye recognised they had no right to deliver Universal's music to the MIT service, and MIT acted responsibly by removing the music, " the statement continued.
Universal's sprawling digital music strategy may be more effort than it's worth.
The success story--and the majority of revenue--is NBC Universal's collection of cable assets, which have grown tremendously with Zucker at the company's helm.
Regulators approved Universal's takeover of EMI in September, but said it would have to sell off some of EMI's assets, including Parlophone, to allay competition concerns.
Universal's Public Enemies is opening this weekend against Ice Age.
In its first season the show snagged an Emmy nomination and by its finale was one of the biggest hits on NBC Universal's Bravo network, with 2 million viewers.
"What Universal and the filmmakers did was take this to the next step to satisfy a global audience that is very diverse, " said Nikki Rocco, Universal's president of domestic distribution.
At Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure, if you stay on-site you get a complimentary Express Plus Pass that lets you skip lines for certain rides and attractions.
There was a mini-internet revolt the last time NBC Universal's TV chief started talking about ways to actually turn a profit from Hulu and the search for a balance continues.
ENGADGET: Hulu's subscription service might run $5 for access to select shows
But Universal's Shmuger believes "Evan Almighty" will cross borders.
Thus, Vivendi might claim with a straight face that Universal's pending holiday-season release, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring goofball actor Jim Carrey, could be a clunker, despite the flick's likely built-in audience.
The big strategic problem facing media companies these days is how to move their products online while preserving margins without swapping analogue dollars for digital pennies, as Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal's boss, once put it.
Asked for specific structures that have inspired him, Mr. Payne e-mails 13 photos of old parks, giant industrial pipes, public benches and the whimsically shaped "Seuss Landing" area within Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park.
Hulu is News Corp. (nyse: NWS - news - people ) and NBC Universal's response to the runaway popularity of Google 's (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) YouTube.
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