Wal-Mart is boxing out Redbox, imposing strict limits on the number of DVDs any one customer can buy at a time, making it harder for movie-rental kiosks such as Redbox to acquire large numbers of newly released discs. The new rules took effect Feb. 1 and include a five-DVD cap on new releases, mirroring limits placed by Target (TGT) in December. Target's cap remains in effect for one week to several weeks after a movie is released to stores. Redbox and NCR are among the largest U.S. operators of DVD-rental kiosks, which rent movies for about $1 a day …

With Howard Stern's five-year Sirius XM satellite radio deal set to expire in January 2011, there's speculation he could jump to terrestrial or Internet radio. Speaking at an industry meeting, Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin is dubious the company will lose Stern. "In this world of fragmentation, great content prevails. Howard Stern is great content. Having said that, we would like him to stay with us, and we are optimistic that he will continue to do so." Karmazin views Internet radio as a competitor, but isn't too worried by it. "There are a lot of choices for audio content," he …

ABC News content is being added to Hulu on its own dedicated channel. Programming includes "Good Morning America," "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" and "Nightline," as well as select programming from ABC News' digital channel ABC News Now. ABC News joins rivals NBC News and Fox News on the video site, a joint venture of NBC Universal, News Corp. and The Walt Disney Company. Hulu also streams important news events live, like Obama's State of the Union address.

Sports programing, a must-run for U.S. cable operators, could be a battle between Comcast, NBC Universal and the companies' critics as regulators assess the joint venture's impact on consumers. Smaller cable companies fear that Comcast will jack up the fees for its sports channels; they want the same carriage fees Comcast-owned channels, Versus and Golf, get. The worry is costs could rise if professional and college sports played Comcast's Versus off against ESPN in negotiations. The joint venture must be approved by the FCC and the Justice Department's antitrust division. Under the terms of the deal, Comcast would …

It's not just newspapers struggling to find their way in the digital era. Many content companies -- broadcasting, film, music, publishing, and gaming -- are grappling with the same uncertainty. Executives say finding viable business model is their biggest challenge; only 8% are still in favor of play-for-play or micropayment models. A "hybrid" model -- a combination of different models, like ads plus a subscription -- seems to be the next big thing, say researchers, but no one model is emerging as "the one." There is also an aggressive transition to a multiplatform delivery strategy. About 65% of …

Rupert Murdoch said it's up to Fox Broadcasting to make a case that a late-night show hosted by Conan O'Brien can make money. The issue for Fox is getting time in late night from its affiliate stations to carry O'Brien. Currently, the Fox affiliates and the Fox-owned TV stations carry reruns of sitcoms in that hour that have proven highly lucrative. O'Brien walked away from his NBC's "The Tonight Show" gig last month after the network decided to move the show from 11:35 p.m. Murdoch said the programmers at Fox Broadcasting -- Peter Rice and Kevin Reilly need …

Former NBC Entertainment co-chairman Ben Silverman's new studio, Electus, and the distribution arm of Elisabeth Murdoch's Shine Group are teaming up to distribute Electus' content. Electus gives advertisers a say in the development of TV and Web shows. Electus was formed in July with Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp, and its first distribution partnership is with Israel-based Abbot Reif Hameiri Production Company. Electus Distribution will develop that company's programming in the U.S. and Abbot Reif Hameiri will be allowed to sell Electus' content in Israel.

With a little more than a year to go on her contract, CBS News anchor Katie Couric is facing a huge pay cut in her $15 million-a-year salary. The network's "Evening News" was in third place when she came over from the "Today" show in 2006 -- and it hasn't moved. The idea of paying Couric eight figures to anchor a news show in last place does not play well for management. Couric herself tells Harper's Bazaar in an upcoming issue that she sometimes dreams that she's still in school and "forced to take an exam about things I …

Less than two years ago, Hulu.com launched a novel online strategy: showing full TV shows and movies. And it worked. In December people watched more than 1 billion videos on the service -- its best showing ever, according to new data from ComScore Media Metrix. Hulu CEO Jason Kilar said a version of Hulu will always be free, but the company was exploring premium pricing, though he wouldn't give a time frame. Owned by News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox, Disney's ABC and General Electric's NBC Universal, Hulu has more than 220 content partners, including A&E and PBS and the …

Kraft has signed on as an initial sponsor for Univision's launch on YouTube, which includes short- and long-form video from top Univision, TeleFutura and Galavisión shows. It represents the first time Univision programming is being made available anywhere on the Web beyond Univision.com, said Kevin Conroy, president of Univision Interactive Media. Along with access to hit shows from three major Spanish-language networks, the Univision channel will feature Univision.com videos across key content categories. Such programs include Univision's morning show "Despierta América" (Wake-Up America), news magazine "Primer Impacto" (First Impact), weekly drama series "Mujeres Asesinas" (Killer Women).