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Disney Officially Set to Acquire 21st Century Fox in $52.4 Billion Deal[teaser]The massive merger is now official.[/teaser] After weeks of rumors, Disney has officially announced the purchase of 21st Century Fox. The $52.4 billion deal includes Twentieth Century Fox Film and Television studios, along with cable and international TV properties. With that said, the Fox Broadcasting network and stations, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network will be separated into a new company and will not be part of the agreement. "The acquisition of this stellar collection of businesses from 21st Century Fox reflects the increasing consumer demand for a rich diversity of entertainment experiences that are more compelling, accessible and convenient than ever before," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. "We're honored and grateful that Rupert Murdoch has entrusted us with the future of businesses he spent a lifetime building, and we're excited about this extraordinary opportunity to significantly increase our portfolio of well-loved franchises and branded content to greatly enhance our growing direct-to-consumer offerings. The deal will also substantially expand our international reach, allowing us to offer world-class storytelling and innovative distribution platforms to more consumers in key markets around the world." As part of the deal, Disney will now add Fox's many film and TV properties, including Avatar, The Simpsons, FX Networks, and National Geographic to its own portfolio. Likewise, the agreement will finally let Fox's Marvel film/TV franchises enter Disney's MCU, including the X-Men and Fantastic Four -- allowing Wolverine and The Human Torch to pal around with The Avengers on the big screen for the first time. In addition, Disney is also receiving 21st Century Fox's investment in Hulu, giving Disney the majority stake in the streaming platform, which might bolster the company's plans for its own previously announced digital entertainment services. Finally, Disney will gain Fox's international properties as well, including Star in India and Fox's 39% ownership of Sky across Europe. "We are extremely proud of all that we have built at 21st Century Fox, and I firmly believe that this combination with Disney will unlock even more value for shareholders as the new Disney continues to set the pace in what is an exciting and dynamic industry," said Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of 21st Century Fox. "Furthermore, I'm convinced that this combination, under Bob Iger’s leadership, will be one of the greatest companies in the world. I'm grateful and encouraged that Bob has agreed to stay on, and is committed to succeeding with a combined team that is second to none." Both companies' Boards of Directors have approved the transaction, but the deal is still subject to shareholder approval, clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, merger reviews, regulatory reviews, and customary closing conditions. Source: DisneyPosted Thu Dec 14, 2017 at 07:30 AM PST by: -
MovieZoot Now Streaming Four Early Alfred Hitchcock Films for Free[teaser]The free streaming service has added a collection of early Hitchcock flicks.[/teaser] This week, MovieZoot is streaming four Alfred Hitchcock films from the 1930s for free, offering a look at the director's early days honing his craft as a filmmaker. The collection includes Murder! from 1930, Number 17 from 1932, Secret Agent from 1936, and The Man Who Knew Too Much from 1934 (incorrectly listed as the 1956 version on the company's site). MovieZoot offers a library of free full-length streaming movies uncut, unedited, and without interruptions. The service is available on mobile devices, laptops, or desktop computers. In addition to the four Hitchcock films listed above, the platform features several other classic and contemporary films from directors like Sam Peckinpah, John Huston, Howard Hawkes, Wes Craven, George Cukor, John Carpenter, and more. Some other currently available titles include Breathless, Charade, Diabolique, Little Shop of Horrors, Night of the Living Dead, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Village of the Damned. Here's a full rundown of the recently added Hitchcock films: Murder! (1930) - A juror in a murder trial, after voting to convict, has second thoughts and begins to investigate on his own before the execution. Starring Herbert Marshall, Norah Baring, and Phyllis Konstam. Number 17 (1932) - A gang of thieves gather at a safe house following a robbery, but a detective is on their trail. Starring Leon M. Lion, Anne Grey, and John Stuart. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) - A man and his wife receive a clue to an imminent assassination attempt, only to learn that their daughter has been kidnapped to keep them quiet. Starring Leslie Banks, Edna Best, and Peter Lorre. Secret Agent (1936) - After three British agents are assigned to assassinate a mysterious German spy during World War I, two of them become ambivalent when their duty to the mission conflicts with their consciences. Starring John Gielgud, Madeleine Carroll, and Robert Young. Source: MovieZootPosted Wed Dec 13, 2017 at 08:45 AM PST by: -
Amazon Sets December 13 Launch Date for HDR10+ Streaming on Samsung 4K TVs[teaser]HDR10+ content will be available through Prime Video on select Samsung displays starting December 13.[/teaser] Samsung and Amazon have announced a launch date for HDR10+ streaming support through Prime Video. The first crop of HDR10+ content will be available through Prime Video on 2017 Samsung QLED and UHD TVs starting Wednesday, December 13. Serving as an updated version of the HDR10 open standard for high dynamic range content, HDR10+ uses dynamic metadata to create improved contrast and colors. The initial library of HDR10+ titles will include Amazon original shows like The Grand Tour, The Tick, Bosch, and The Man in the High Castle, along with around 100 other movies and TV shows found on the platform. In addition, the service plans to gradually add more HDR10+ content in the future. Currently, the standard HDR10 format uses static metadata that does not change during playback, offering a fixed picture enhancement across an entire piece of content. This can lead to inconsistent HDR quality in certain scenes, especially if a movie has an overall bright color palette mixed in with a few dimly lit sequences. But with HDR10+, the format is now introducing dynamic metadata which will allow a compatible display to adjust brightness levels on a scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis, producing images that are closer to the director's intent. Likewise, this upgrade makes the new HDR10+ standard more in line with the competing Dolby Vision HDR process, which already incorporates dynamic metadata along with higher specs for max color and brightness performance compared to HDR10. In addition to Samsung and Amazon, Panasonic and 20th Century Fox have also pledged their support for the HDR10+ format. More details on other HDR10+ products and content solutions will likely be announced at CES 2018 which will be held in Las Vegas from January 9-12. Sources: Samsung, SamMobile, EngadgetPosted Tue Dec 12, 2017 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Premieres in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos[teaser]Episode VIII made its theatrical debut using Dolby's premium cinema format.[/teaser] Disney held the world premiere for Star Wars: The Last Jedi this past Saturday, December 9, in Los Angeles. And to help ensure an optimal screening experience for the movie's big debut, the studio opted to team up with Dolby to convert the Shrine Auditorium to support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos cinema technologies. According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, the six month process involved installing a 70 ft. wide by 30 ft. high screen and a Dolby Vision projection system with dual Christie laser projectors, a backup Xenon projector, and a third projection system for use on the red carpet. In addition, the setup also featured 193 speakers for 40 channels of Dolby Atmos audio, including ceiling speakers held by 2,500-pound overhead trusses. The Dolby Vision laser projection system offers support for high dynamic range images with 500-times the contrast ratio of conventional projection systems (1,000,000 to 1!), pure black levels, expanded color gamut capabilities, and twice the brightness (up to 31fL). Meanwhile, Dolby Atmos audio uses object-based mixing and ceiling speakers to create an immersive experience with overhead sound. In addition to the Shrine Auditorium premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, both technologies are used in Dolby Cinema locations worldwide, including more than 80 AMC theaters throughout the US. Click here to see a full list of locations. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is set to hit theaters on December 15. The movie comes from director Rian Johnson and will pick up where Star Wars: The Force Awakens left off, following Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she continues her epic journey with Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in the next chapter of the Star Wars saga. Source: The Hollywood ReporterPosted Mon Dec 11, 2017 at 07:20 AM PST by: -
This Week in Gear: New Philips Roku TVs, Amazon Expands Alexa Control for Fire TV, and More[teaser]We've compiled the latest gear news, including the release of new Roku TVs, Alexa support for new Fire TV apps, and more.[/teaser] From product announcements and streaming app updates to general industry news and recent gear trends, keeping up with the latest tech news can be a daunting task. With that in mind, we're here to offer you a roundup of some of the latest gear and consumer electronics news that you may have missed. For this edition, we're covering the launch of new Philips Roku HDTVs, the expansion of Alexa voice control to more Fire TV apps, the addition of the NBC app to the VIZIO SmartCast TV lineup, and the release of Puro Sound Labs' JuniorJams Headphones. So, without further ado, here's a rundown of some of the latest gear and tech news: Philips Launches New Roku TV Lineup Philips has announced the release of its newest HDTV lineup. The new Philips 4000 Series Roku TV collection includes 40-inch, 43-inch, and 50-inch models. The displays all feature Full HD 1080p resolution and include integrated support for the Roku OS smart TV platform with access to 500,000 movies and TV episodes across thousands of free and paid channels through Roku's intuitive interface. In addition, the set features cross-channel search option and voice search capabilities through a free mobile app for iOS and Android. Here's a rundown of specs per Philips: Aspect ratio: Widescreen(16:9) Contrast ratio (typical): 5000:1 Response time (typical): 9.5 ms Viewing angle: 178º (H) / 178º (V) Display screen type: LED Full HD Display Panel resolution: 1920x1080p Picture enhancement: Dynamic contrast The 40-inch Philips 4000 Series Roku TV is now available from Sam's Club for an MSRP of $349. In addition, the 50-inch model is set to hit Walmart in January for an MSRP of $429. Likewise, a 43-inch model will be available for an MSRP of $379, but a release window has not been announced yet. Source: Philips via Engadget Amazon Expands Fire TV Alexa Voice Control to More Apps Amazon has announced support for Alexa voice control on more apps through the Fire TV. The expanded support now covers apps like Bravo, CBS, Hulu, NBC, SHOWTIME, and Sony PlayStation Vue. With Alex voice support, users can search, control playback, and change channels within an app through voice commands. Voice controls for the Fire TV are available via the Alexa Voice Remote, the Fire TV Remote App, or through a paired Amazon Echo device. Here's a rundown of potential voice commands that customers can now use to access and control their favorite content per Hulu: "Alexa, watch ESPN." "Alexa, go to Bravo." "Alexa, play The Handmaid’s Tale." "Alexa, play Full House." "Alexa, pause." "Alexa, play This is Us." "Alexa, go back 13 seconds." "Alexa, fast forward 2 minutes." "Alexa, go to the beginning." Amazon's latest Fire TV ($70) device offers access to a growing collection of apps (sans YouTube) and Alexa skills. Under the hood, the device is powered by an Amlogic Quad-core 1.5GHz processor and Mali450 MP3 GPU, along with 2GB of memory, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and 8 GB of storage. The player also features a new compact dongle-like design that fits behind a user's TV. In addition, the unit includes support for up to 60fps 4K Ultra HD playback with HDR10 and Dolby Atmos audio. Sources: Amazon Fire TV Blog, Hulu VIZIO Adds NBC App to SmartCast TV Lineup VIZIO has announced the addition of the NBC app to its SmartCast TV platform for P-Series, M-Series, and E Series 4K HDR Displays. As part of the update, the NBC app is now available directly from the display's on-screen interface, along with other apps like Amazon Video, Crackle, FandangoNOW, Hulu, iHeartRadio, Netflix, Pluto TV, Vudu and XUMO. "One of the biggest benefits of the VIZIO SmartCast platform is its rapidly expanding catalog of streaming TV shows and movies, powered by over a thousand TV and mobile apps," said Bill Baxter, SVP of Product Development and Engineering, VIZIO. "VIZIO is continuously expanding the line-up by adding popular favorites, like the NBC app. We're excited to give consumers access to the NBC app on SmartCast TV so they can stream episodes of their favorite hit TV series at any time." The NBC streaming app allows users with an authenticated cable or satellite subscription to browse and stream episodes of their favorite NBC shows right on their VIZIO displays. And with SmartCast TV, customers now have two ways to control streaming content, adding support for on-screen app navigation with the new VIZIO SmartCast remote. Users can also now access settings and a new home screen with content recommendations and a "Discover" section that aggregates trending and popular content from multiple sources all in one place, letting customers browse titles without having to switch between multiple apps. Likewise, customers can use their mobile devices to access and control content and settings as well. Source: VIZIO Puro Sound Labs Releases New JuniorJams Kids' Headphones Puro Sound Labs has announced the release of its new JuniorJams Kids' Headphones lineup. The studio-grade, wireless headphones have been designed with hearing safety in mind. "In designing the JuniorJams we rolled up everything a parent would need and a child would want from a headphone," said Lacey. “Safety, durability, ease of use, cool style and awesome sound, these headphones will keep the front seat and the back seat happy." The JuniorJams Headphones feature Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity with support for the aptX codec and up to 22 hours of battery life. In addition, the device offers an ultra-comfortable protein leather ear cushion, 87% ambient noise isolation, and 85dB volume-limiting technology for hearing safety. The Puro Sound Labs JuniorJams are now on sale for $69.99 in blue, green, purple, and pink. Source: Puro Sound LabsPosted Thu Dec 7, 2017 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Coming Soon to Streaming: 'Stranger Things,' 'Jack Ryan,' 'The Grand Tour,' and More[teaser]Demogorgons, teenage witches, and more are all heading to your favorite streaming devices.[/teaser] Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu have released new trailers or info for several of their upcoming shows and movies, including Stranger Things: Season Three, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Wormwood, Altered Carbon, The Grand Tour: Season Two, and Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. Wormwood (Netflix, December 15) - Directed by boundary-breaking filmmaker Errol Morris, Wormwood explores the limits of knowledge about the past and the lengths we’ll go in our search for the truth through the story of one man’s sixty-year quest to identify the circumstances of his father’s mysterious death. Combining a virtuosic performance by Peter Sarsgaard with Morris’ legendary interview style, Wormwood examines this case from every possible angle, bringing the viewer face-to-face with some of the United States’ darkest secrets. Altered Carbon (Netflix, February 2) - Based on the award-winning novel, Altered Carbon takes place in a future where the human mind can now be digitized and downloaded into a "cortical stack" and placed into new bodies, called sleeves. The series follows Envoy soldier Takeshi Kovacs (Joel Kinnaman), who is brought back to life centuries later to investigate the attempted murder of Laurens Bancroft (James Purefoy), the wealthiest man on Earth. As the investigation progresses, Kovacs comes to learn that his past isn’t nearly as buried as he thought. In addition, Netflix has officially confirmed what we all already assumed: Stranger Things has been renewed for a third season. The show comes from The Duffer Brothers and stars Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, David Harbour as Chief Jim Hopper, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, Joe Keery as Steve Harrington, Dacre Montgomery as Billy, and Sadie Sink as Max. Full details on the new season have not been announced yet, but seasons one and two are now available to stream through Netflix. Likewise, Netflix has announced a 20 episode order for a new series based on the Archie comic book character Sabrina the Teenage Witch. The show comes from Executive Producer/Writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Here's a logline per Netflix: Imagines the origin and adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch as a dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror, the occult and, of course, witchcraft. Tonally in the vein of Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, this adaptation finds Sabrina wrestling to reconcile her dual nature — half-witch, half-mortal — while standing against the evil forces that threaten her, her family and the daylight world humans inhabit. Casting and a release date have not been detailed yet. The Grand Tour: Season Two (Amazon Prime Video, December 8) - Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May return for a new season of the world’s greatest show about three middle-aged men rampaging around the world having unusual adventures, driving amazing cars, and engaging in a constant argument about which of them is the biggest idiot. Although it’s also the only show that combines these things so the ‘greatest’ title is pretty much uncontested. Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (Amazon Prime Video, Coming in 2018) - When CIA analyst Jack Ryan stumbles upon a suspicious series of bank transfers his search for answers pulls him from the safety of his desk job and catapults him into a deadly game of cat and mouse throughout Europe and the Middle East, with a rising terrorist figurehead preparing for a massive attack against the US and her allies. Meanwhile, Amazon has also added 15 Official Selections from the 2017 Sundance Film Festival to its Prime Video lineup via the Amazon Video Direct Film Festival Stars (FFS) program. The collection includes titles like Manifesto starring Cate Blanchett, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Feature Film Prize winner Marjorie Prime, and Special Jury Award for Cinematic Vision Free and Easy. "Amazon Video Direct's Film Festival Stars program accelerates the career of deserving films, elevating cinematic curation into a galvanic connection with audiences who might never have discovered them," said Richard Lorber, President and CEO of Kino Lorber, Inc. "It's an innovative strategy that allows specialty film distributors like us to amplify support for the worthiest films—not only with additional financial backing, but unparalleled outreach only an amazing entity like Amazon can provide. I don't know what genius dreamed this up, but we at Kino Lorber are enthusiastically participating—proud to be populating the Film Festival Stars roster with many of our most important releases." Check out a trailer for Manifesto below. Finally, Hulu has announced that it has licensed the subscription streaming rights to several more shows from The Disney/ABC Television Group, including the exclusive US SVOD rights to Designated Survivor. Designated Survivor stars Kiefer Sutherland as Tom Kirkman, a lower-level cabinet member who is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack on the U.S. Capitol during the State of the Union. In addition to Designated Survivor, Hulu users now have access to all episodes of Revenge, Shadowhunters, Marvel's Agent Carter, Blossom, Cougar Town, The Catch, Perception, and Bunheads. - A current Netflix subscription starts at $11 per month for HD streaming and $14 per month for Ultra HD streaming. - A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $99 per year or $11 per month. Likewise, Prime Instant Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month. - A current Hulu subscription starts at $8 per month with commercials ($6 limited time promotional price now available). In addition, ad-free playback is available for $12 per month. Sources: Netflix (YouTube), Netflix, Amazon (YouTube), Amazon, HuluPosted Thu Dec 7, 2017 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Klipsch Launches RF-7 III & RC-64 III Speakers[teaser]Updated Klipsch Reference speaker models are now available.[/teaser] Klipsch has announced the release of updated versions of two of its flagship Reference speakers. The new models include the RF-7 III Floorstanding Speaker and the RC-64 III Center Channel Speaker. "These speakers have earned the nickname 'fire-breathing monsters' for a reason," said Kerry Geist, product manager at Klipsch Group. "They are the best sounding audiophile speaker at this price point." Both speakers use an all-new titanium compression driver, a 90x90 compressed molded-rubber Tractrix horn, redesigned bifurcated cabinet, and cast basket Cerametallic woofers. Likewise, each unit is finished in a premium, furniture-grade wood veneer Here's a full rundown of specs for the RF-7 III Floorstanding Speaker per Klipsch: - All-New 1 3/4" Titanium Compression Driver- 90x90 Compressed Molded-Rubber Tractrix Horn- Redesigned Bifurcated Cabinet- Dual Tractrix Ports- Dual 10" Cast Basket Cerametallic Woofers- Premium Furniture-Grade Wood Veneers- Assembled in Hope, AR And here's a full rundown of specs for the RC-64 III Center Channel Speaker per Klipsch: - All-New 1 3/4" Titanium Compression Driver- 90x90 Compressed Molded-Rubber Tractrix Horn- 2 1/2 Way Network Crossover Design- Quad 6.5" Cast Basket Cerametallic Woofers- Premium Furniture-Grade Wood Veneers- Assembled in Hope, AR The RF-7 III Floorstanding Speaker is now available for an MSRP of $1.799 each. Meanwhile, the RC-64 III Center Channel Speaker is now available for an MSRP of $1,499 each. In addition to the updated Reference speakers, Klipsch also recently released its new Reference Premiere Designer On-Wall Speaker Series. The collection includes the RP-140D, RP-240D, RP-640D, and RP-440SB. Sources: Klipsch, AVS Forum, TWICEPosted Wed Dec 6, 2017 at 03:20 PM PST by: -
Google Is Removing YouTube from Amazon Devices[teaser]The streaming service will no longer be available through Amazon products.[/teaser] According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Google is set to remove its YouTube app from Amazon's lineup of media players, including the Fire TV. The move comes in response to Amazon's continued refusal to offer Google media devices through its site. Starting January 1, Google plans to block all access to YouTube through the Amazon Fire TV. Likewise, the service has already been removed from Amazon's Echo Show device. The move comes as a result of Amazon's decision to keep Google products like the Chromecast and Google Home smart speaker off of its retail site, and the company's refusal to make its Prime Video app available via Google Cast or Android TV. For its part, Google says that it hopes the two companies can reach an agreement soon. A similar dispute between Amazon and Apple has also been in play over the last few years, but those issues seem to be on the mend. While Apple TV devices are still not available for purchase on Amazon as of press time, the Prime Video app was just added to the Apple TV channel lineup. Amazon's latest Fire TV ($70) device offers access to a growing collection of apps (sans YouTube) and Alexa skills. Under the hood, the device is powered by an Amlogic Quad-core 1.5GHz processor and Mali450 MP3 GPU, along with 2GB of memory, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and 8 GB of storage. The player also features a new compact dongle-like design that fits behind a user's TV. In addition, the unit includes support for up to 60fps 4K Ultra HD playback with HDR10 and Dolby Atmos audio. Meanwhile, Google's latest Chromecast device, the Chromecast Ultra ($69), plugs into a display's HDMI port, allowing users to cast all of their favorite content from thousands of apps (sans Amazon) using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. In addition, the device supports 4K, HDR (high dynamic range) and Dolby Vision content, offering playback support for videos with higher resolution, expanded colors, and enhanced contrast. Sources: The Wall Street Journal, CNETPosted Wed Dec 6, 2017 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Chrome Set to Add HDR Video Playback Support for Android Platform[teaser]The Google web browser will soon add mobile HDR playback support.[/teaser] According to recent updates on the Chromium Gerrit, Google is prepping an HDR (high dynamic range) update for its Chrome browser on the Android platform. Other Android apps that already offer HDR playback through supported devices include Google Play Movies & TV, Netflix, and YouTube. HDR is an advanced display and image mastering technology that offers expanded brightness to improve contrast between dark and light aspects of an image, bringing out deeper black levels and more realistic details in specular highlights -- like the sun reflecting off of an ocean -- in specially graded HDR material on compatible displays. In addition to enhanced contrast and brightness, HDR is also usually coupled with a Wide Color Gamut (WCG), offering a greater range of colors than those found in traditional HD sources. Per the updates on the Chromium Gerrit website, Chrome will soon be able to interpret HDR metadata and color spaces on VP9 encoded videos. An exact launch date or list of supported mobile devices for Chrome HDR playback have not been announced yet. With that said, Android smartphones with some level of HDR support currently include models like the Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Google Pixel, LG V30, LG G6, Sony Xperia XZ1, and Sony Xperia XZ Premium. Meanwhile, current iOS devices with HDR displays include the iPhone X. Outside of Chrome, Vimeo recently announced an update for HDR playback and upload support through the iPhone X, iPad Pro, and Apple TV 4K. Sources: XDA, Engadget, Chromium GerritPosted Wed Dec 6, 2017 at 08:30 AM PST by: -
Cineworld Group Acquires Regal Entertainment Group in $3.6 Billion Deal[teaser]The UK's largest cinema operator is buying one of the top theater chains in the US.[/teaser] Cineworld Group has announced a definitive merger agreement with Regal Entertainment Group. The deal will allow the companies to provide a combined global theater platform. "We are excited to have reached an agreement with Cineworld, at a price that represents a meaningful premium on Regal's unaffected share price for our shareholders. Since becoming a public company, Regal has focused on delivering superior shareholder value, including return of capital in the form of regular and special dividends,” said Amy Miles, CEO of Regal Entertainment Group. "We believe the transaction announced today provides compelling value for our stockholders." As part of the agreement, Regal stockholders will receive $23 for each share of Class A and Class B common stock. Regal Entertainment Group includes theater chains like Regal Cinemas, United Artists Theatres, and Edwards Theatres. The company currently operates 7,315 screens across 561 theaters in 43 states along with Guam, Saipan, American Samoa and the District of Columbia. By merging with Cineworld, Regal is now poised to better compete with rival theater operator AMC Entertainment. "We believe this partnership with Cineworld will enhance Regal's ability to deliver a premium movie-going experience for customers and further build upon our strategy of introducing innovative concepts and premium amenities designed to enhance the value of our theatre assets. The combination of our two great companies, Cineworld’s tremendous success in the UK, as well as other markets they have entered since, and Cineworld's commitment to maintain a strong presence in the US and Knoxville, provide a global platform positioned for continued growth and innovation," Miles concluded. Sources: BusinessWire, VarietyPosted Wed Dec 6, 2017 at 07:45 AM PST by:
