The 3D rollout may or may not prove to be a boon for home entertainment, but Sony pegs it as the Next Big Thing for the studio parent. At an industry conference, top execs unveiled hardware and content offerings set to hit the market soon in what the company dubbed a "3D world created by Sony." Sony will introduce 3D televisions and Blu-ray Disc players in July, notes The Hollywood Reporter. Already, execs have turned the next "Spider-Man" and "Men in Black" installments into 3D projects. Sony is partnering with Discovery Networks and Imax on a planned 3D …

Bill Goodwyn has been named to the newly created role of president, global distribution, Discovery Communications. He was also was appointed CEO of Discovery Education. In his new role, Goodwyn will lead efforts to secure additional carriage for Discovery's 100-plus global networks, a priority of CEO David Zaslav. Goodwyn previously served as president, domestic distribution and enterprises. Along with the bump upstairs on the distribution side, Goodwyn also was made the top dog at Discovery's education division. Since 2007, Goodwyn has been instrumental in re-launching Discovery's education efforts, overseeing the team that has brought the service's streaming media content …

Advocacy groups concerned about media consolidation and the American Cable Association, concerned about broadcasters' leverage in retransmission consent negotiations, want the FCC to tighten up its rules to break up virtual duopolies, running multiple stations in a market, though the FCC rules limit broadcasters to owning just one, or prevent the formation of new ones. The ACA railed against virtual duopolies last month in an FCC inquiry into whether new rules or procedures are needed to protect small cable operators from being gouged by stations in retrans negotiations. The extent to which virtual duopolies are to be allowed is …

The joint venture formed this spring by networks Fox, NBC and ION Media and nine independent station groups to bring mobile digital TV technology to market has announced its interim management team and given itself a name, Mobile Content Venture. MCV's goal is to launch a national mobile DTV content service using part of its partners' broadcast spectrum, though it has yet to announce any agreements with wireless carriers to put mobile DTV receivers in phones or detail its programming plans. The interim co-general managers announced June 8 by MCV are Erik Moreno, SVP of corporate development from …

NBC is restoring its current department and tapping veteran NBC program executive Vernon Sanders to run it as EVP current programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios. In his new role, Sanders will be responsible for overseeing all currently broadcast scripted programming for the network and studio. Part of the decision to have dedicated current department was NBC's increased volume of new series this year. The network will introduce at least 12 new scripted series next season. Sanders was responsible for such new series as "Undercovers" and "Love Bites" as well as "Parenthood." He also has overseen development for the …

Free video Web site Hulu plans to soon begin charging customers and is looking to expand its content to consumer devices like the Xbox and iPad, according to two sources, as the site's media owners experiment with platforms beyond an ad-supported TV model. They say Hulu, owned by News Corp, General Electric's NBC Universal and Walt Disney Co, was developing a subscription service to be rolled out on multiple devices in the next month or two, reports Reuters. Hulu, which generated an estimated $100 million in advertising revenue last year, will continue to offer newer episodes of shows like …

Fox has sold as much as 80% of its ad inventory for the Super Bowl, according to a source, a signal that advertisers are moving earlier than ever to secure good positions in TV programming that still has the power to secure a broad audience. Such stats such the extent of advertiser fascination with the event. At a time when most video content seems to reach fewer people than ever before, the Super Bowl is reaching more. CBS' telecast of the event this year set a record for broadcast television. It reached an average of 106.5 million people, …

Giving new earnings guidance at the Noble Equity Conference Monday, Gannett Co. executives said the nation's largest newspaper publisher expects to report second-quarter earnings at the high end of Wall Street expectations. It is due, however, primarily to increases in broadcast television and digital operations. Newspaper and other publishing revenue is expected to continue to be down year-over-year -- but also continue the trend towards moderating declines. CFO Gracia Martore told analysts the percentage increase in television advertising revenue should be in the low twenties, with digital up in the "mid-single digits." Martore noted that most analysts' earnings …

SNY, the Mets' cable channel, is in talks with local stations about providing sports reports for their newscasts. The sports channel is talking to both Ch. 11 and Ch. 4 about eventually doing away with their own sportscasters and replacing them with SNY reporters. Ch. 11 is owned by the Chicago-based Tribune Co. and Ch. 4 is owned by NBC. Ch. 11 airs about 25 Mets games each season and already has a substantial relationship with SNY. Ch. 4 owner NBC is in the process of being bought by Comcast -- a part-owner of SNY with Mets …

JCDecaux, the world's second-biggest outdoor advertiser, sees acquisition opportunities in the United States and is still interested in media group CBS' outdoor assets. Another potential opportunity would be rival Clear Channel Outdoor if its private-equity owners decide to sell. "Businesses change hands regularly (in the United States). There will undoubtedly be opportunities," Jean-Francois and Jean-Charles Decaux said in an interview. The duo sensed a global recovery in advertising.