disney

Report: Disney buys 'green' newsletter Ideal Bite

I guess this is what Disney would consider edgy: the company has reportedly acquired Ideal Bite, a "sassy" eco-focused e-mail newsletter that explicitly states it's "not for readers under age 18." The price was about $15 million, PaidContent reported. That's a lot smaller than Club Penguin, which Disney acquired for $350 million last year.

Ideal Bite is small even as far as e-mail lists go--it's no DailyCandy--but its demographic was likely of interest to a buyer like Disney. The site's median household income is $82,000, press materials state; the median … Read more

Touring Disney World the unconventional way

EPCOT CENTER, Fla.--Ah, lawyers.

I was sitting inside a small dome, antsy to get going on the special Segway tour of this famous theme park that I had arranged. But before they would let me or any of the others on the tour head out and ride around on our gyroscopic human transporters, we had to sit through more than half an hour of tedious, but entirely practical, training.

As our instructors told us how to get on and how to get off, how to speed up and how to slow down and so many other crucial things, I … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 743: Fablessly 'splensive pigeons

Today's show is a bit of a tongue-twister. Really, the entire show. We just can't get the words out. And in other news, the whole Internet hates Metallica. Again. We find out the truth about Microsoft's Xbox 360 recall, how Disney totally gets the Internet for music but not so much for movies, how much Google engineers make, and how pigeons can solve the U.S. broadband Internet problem. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 743

Buzz Out Loud San Francisco Meetup! June 12, 2008. http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/780695

Metallica to bloggers: don’t … Read more

Behind the curtain at Disney World's Cirque show

ORLANDO, Fla.--If you've seen the Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas shows Ka, Love or O, you've probably been led to expect that every one of the company's performances is full of wonderful technical achievements.

The truth is that it doesn't take that much technology to make a great Cirque show, as the folks who put together La Nouba, the Cirque's show here, explained to me Tuesday.

When it launched in late 1998, La Nouba was just the third permanent Cirque show, after Mystere and O. But it was the first to get its own … Read more

Disney movies: Coming to a Web browser near you

Disney has begun showing full-length movies online, beginning with Finding Nemo, the studio said Tuesday.

It's the first time Disney has done so, and it's notable as such, but don't confuse the move with a full-on YouTubization of the company. Each movie will only be available for a few days after they air on ABC's Saturday-night TV show Wonderful World of Disney. Finding Nemo, for example, can be watched online through June 13, Disney said.

It's free, but don't expect a full-immersion cinema experience.

The movies are available through a "watch now" … Read more

Music industry woes not felt by Disney Records

LOS ANGELES--Only the mouse appears to thrive in a music sector pulverized by digital technology.

As the top four recording companies continue to see CD sales shrink and as they scurry to find profitable business models in the digital age, Walt Disney Records has grown 40 percent from last year according to Matt Fitz-Henry, the label's director of New Media.

Fitz-Henry, who spoke at a panel session at the iHollywood Conference on Monday, said that it's no secret how the company has found success in such a gloomy environment.

"What everybody in the music business is now … Read more

The 404 117: Where Molly Wood won't extract properly

With Jeff back in the studio, we sit down for a lengthy chat about New Orleans, our trip to the sun, why Disney stomps all over Sublime, Walmart's own Geek Squad, iPhone gaming, and other sleazeball topics you've come to expect from the 404. EPISODE 117 Download today's podcast

Gorillas, meerkats and Mickey get Road Trip 2008 going

ANIMAL KINGDOM, Fla.--And so it begins.

For the third year in a row, I've set out for a lengthy journey through one of the United States' major geographic regions. It's time for Road Trip 2008, several thousand miles of traveling the American South.

Last year it was the Southwest, and in 2006 it was the Pacific Northwest.

And since I've started this trip in Orlando, there's only one way to really begin: total immersion in Disney World.

That's why at about 9 p.m. Sunday--after checking into my hotel and getting situated, I jumped … Read more

The 404 115: Where it ain't no lie, baby BYE BYE BYE

F'realsies this time, we say a final farewell to our fallen comrade Randall Bennett on his last official day at CNET. He takes the reigns as guest host and gives his two cents on the homeless world cup, Craigslist disasters, the deportation of America's valedictorians, canine sexual assault, and (surprise surprise) DISNEY MOVIES. EPISODE 115 Download today's podcast

Disney World preparation 2.0

SAN FRANCISCO--It's hard for me to believe, but in only three days, I'll be hopping on a plane and heading east for the beginning of Road Trip 2008, my journey through the American South to write about and photograph many of the region's most interesting destinations.

One of the very first stops will be Disney World, in Orlando, Fla., and over the last few days, I've noticed that there are at least a couple of new applications that can help people like me get ready for the total immersion experience that is a visit to Florida'… Read more