Cable net FX has made a deal for basic cable television rights to more than a dozen movies released by Universal Pictures this year. With an estimated tab of $100 million, the pact will include 15 movies--although that could change, depending on how each film does at the box office. The negotiated package includes already-released movies like "Jarhead" and "Definitely, Maybe," along with upcoming movies like the next installment of "The Mummy" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." Universal is a unit of General Electric Co., and notes this is the first time its studio has sold this large a bundle of …

Greenspun Media Group will cease publication of its monthly mag Las Vegas Life, but keep the brand alive online and print an annual "Best of" edition. According to Greenspun Media Group President Michael Carr, the move is aimed to "improve efficiencies and remove some redundancies" among the company's nine newspapers and magazines in southern Nevada. The lifestyle, food and culture coverage currently in Las Vegas Life will head for Las Vegas Weekly, VEGAS Magazine and Las Vegas Home and Design. Carr adds that this is not being done as a result of the economic downturn in the economy, but is …

British advertising firm M&C Saatchi says that while it had a good 2007, it expects a more challenging 2008 as U.S. clients pull back on spending. The group posted a 53% bounce in 2007 profit on the back of organic growth and acquisitions. But Chief Executive David Kershaw says that while there are no signs of an economic slowdown in many top markets, the U.S. is looking tougher. "Overall, we remain happy; the outlook remains in line with current expectations," he says. "But America is the area where (we) have seen the consumer pulling back more dramatically and so clients …

Carnival Cruise Lines has picked seven agencies to participate in its U.S. marketing services review, according to consultancy Ark Advisors, which is managing the process. Among the contenders are Havas units Arnold and Euro RSCG in New York; MDC Partners' Kirshenbaum Bond + Partners; Omnicom Group's BBDO; and Interpublic's DraftFCB, McCann Erickson and Deutsch. Carnival executives will visit the shops next month before picking the finalists. The cruise line, with annual media spending of $70 million to $80 million annually, wants to wrap up the review by the end of May, and is looking to consolidate creative and media …

Next month, Spike TV will air the complete "Star Wars" saga over two weekends, the first time all six movies will be shown together on basic cable. Airing Friday, April 4 through Sunday, April 6 and Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 13, the run includes the broadcast premiere of "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith" and basic-cable premieres of "The Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones." The presentation will feature uncut, digitally remastered versions of the films, while viewers will also get a look at special features provided by Lucasfilm, including behind-the-scenes peeks and an exclusive …

Comedy Central has picked up magazine-news show spoof "David Alan Grier's Chocolate News," along with reality-show takeoff "Reality Bites" as the two join "Krod Mandoon" and the "Flaming Sword of Fire" as new offerings on the network. "We are thrilled to be moving ahead with these two totally unique series that bring fresh new concepts and distinctive points of view to Comedy Central that will appeal not only to the channel's core audience, but to fans of David's and fans of the reality craze," says Lauren Corrao, president of original programming and development at the cable channel. "David brings a …

The low-power television industry says it is facing a "death sentence" due to a kink in the government's move to force all broadcasters to shift to digital signals--and its trade group wants the courts to stay the alleged execution. The Community Broadcasters Association, which represents owners of small television stations, is asking the Federal Communications Commission to ban digital set-top converter boxes that are not equipped to receive analog signals, a ploy that could derail the entire transition. Currently, as of Feb. 18, 2009, all full-power television stations in the U.S. will have to stop broadcasting in analog signal--and …

New York-based agency Union has launched an "eco-friendly" unit named Union Green so it can work on customized campaigns in green advertising. And first on its list is to bridge any gaps between a brand's message and its actual practices. "The reality is that even green message advertising created by brands who want to say they are making a difference is far from being green itself," says founder and president Bob Wyatt. The shop starts with a flagship account from the National Wildlife Federation, and is rolling out a campaign for it to urge people to spend more time …