LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Post-apocalyptic action movie “The Hunger Games” opened with a staggering $155 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices, the highest domestic opening for a movie that isn’t a sequel, and established what may become one of Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster franchises.

Internationally, the Lions Gate Entertainment (LGF.N: Quote, Profile, Research) drama about an oppressive society’s teen death match added $59.3 million from 67 markets for a global haul of $214.3 million.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Post-apocalyptic action movie “The Hunger Games” opened with a staggering $155 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices, beating Hollywood’s lofty expectations and making history as the third-highest domestic film opening.

Internationally, the Lions Gate Entertainment drama about an oppressive society’s teen death match added $59.3 million from 67 markets for a global haul of $214.3 million.

March 23 (Reuters) – A confluence of factors ranging
from a robust advertising market to the growing importance of
retransmission fees and more funding for deals, is setting the
stage for a new wave of television station mergers over the next
12-24 months.

Newport Television, a group of 56 stations owned by buyout
shop Providence Equity Partners, is the latest company to hit
the auction block. Citing sources familiar with the matter,
Reuters reported exclusively on Friday that Providence had
retained Moelis & Company to “explore strategic alternatives,”
including a possible sale of the company.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Providence Equity Partners is shopping Newport Television, the group of 56 television stations it acquired in 2008, to potential buyers, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

According to the sources, the private equity firm has retained Moelis & Co to “explore strategic alternatives,” including a possible sale of the company. One of these sources described the process as in its “real early stages” and said it was premature to talk about bidders or valuation.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – HBO’s award-winning fantasy drama “Game of Thrones” has earned a new crown: the largest first-week DVD sales among any series in the cable network’s history.

Season one DVD sales reached about 350,000 units in the first seven days following its March 6 release, the network said on Thursday. That pace ranks ahead of other popular HBO series including “The Sopranos,” “Sex and the City” and “True Blood.”

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – HBO’s award-winning fantasy drama “Game of Thrones” has earned a new crown: the largest first-week DVD sales among any series in the cable network’s history.

Season one DVD sales reached about 350,000 units in the first seven days following its March 6 release, the network said on Thursday. That pace ranks ahead of other popular HBO series including “The Sopranos,” “Sex and the City” and “True Blood.”

LOST ANGELES (Reuters) – HBO’s award-winning fantasy drama “Game of Thrones” has earned a new crown: the largest first-week DVD sales among any series in the cable network’s history.

Season one DVD sales reached about 350,000 units in the first seven days following its March 6 release, the network said on Thursday. That pace ranks ahead of other popular HBO series including “The Sopranos,” “Sex and the City” and “True Blood.”

KANSAS CITY (Reuters) – Walt Disney Co Chief Executive Bob Iger added the post of chairman on Tuesday despite objections from a governance group and state treasurer about the dual roles.

Disney made the announcement after a board meeting that followed its annual shareholder meeting in Kansas City, where Iger and nine other directors won re-election.

By Lisa Richwine

(Reuters) – Walt Disney Co. shareholders reelected 10 members of the Disney board during the company’s annual shareholder meeting despite opposition from shareholder groups who had recommended a vote against four board members

Institutional Shareholder Services and the treasurer for the state of Connecticut raised objections after the board announced on October 7 that it would combine the roles of chairman and chief executive, elevating CEO Robert Iger to the dual roles.