Save 10 Things I Hate About You

Wow… are we going from bad to worse?

The former president of ABC Family, Paul Lee, was recently promoted to President of ABC after Steve McPherson stepped down last month.

Well, now Disney has announced Lee’s replacement, Michael Riley, formerly of Radio Disney. Disney describes him as a “Respected television and radio executive” but I really don’t know if he’s up to the task of running the continually under-preforming and under-promoted ABC Family channel.

But only time will tell. Disney’s official press release follows:

MICHAEL RILEY NAMED PRESIDENT, ABC FAMILY

Burbank, California, Monday, August 30, 2010 . . . Respected television and radio executive Michael Riley has been named president, ABC Family, it was announced today by Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks & president, Disney/ABC Television Group, to whom he will report.

In this new position, Riley will have oversight of ABC Family’s original programming and acquisitions, franchise management, marketing, sales and operations, and be responsible for the overall strategic and creative direction for the channel.

In making the announcement, Sweeney stated, "Michael’s talent and drive are eclipsed only by the enthusiasm and passion he brings to every opportunity. I’m confident his unique set of skills and experience will help us further ABC Family’s amazing momentum."�

Riley added, "I am extremely proud to have been part of a great team at Radio Disney and very much look forward to joining the incredibly passionate and inventive team at ABC Family. Their success over the past few years has been exceptional, driven by innovative storytelling, unique characters and iconic branding, and I’m honored to be given the opportunity to help build this amazing Millennial brand."�

Coming off its most watched year ever in 2009 and pacing at record levels in 2010, over the past seven years ABC Family has grown its Prime audience by impressive margins, increasing by 76% in Total Viewers (1.4 million vs. 797,000), by 70% in A18-49 (627,000 vs. 368,000) and by 78% in W18-49 (409,000 vs. 230,000). Among the net’s core younger demo sets, the net’s Prime delivery has more than doubled over the past seven years: +115% in A18-34 (348,000 vs. 162,000), +122% in W18-34 (238,000 vs. 107,000), +115% in V12-34 (584,000 vs. 271,000) and +124% in F12-34 (413,000 vs. 184,000).

Prior to this announcement, Riley served as senior vice president and general manager, Radio Disney, where he oversaw the strategic management of the Radio Disney network and its portfolio of 36 owned radio stations, leading them to record ratings through original multi-platform content achievements. He joined The Walt Disney Company in April 2008. An announcement regarding a new general manager for Radio Disney will be made in the near future.

Previously Riley was senior vice president and general manager, Turner Broadcasting System, Europe, Middle East and Africa. In this post he was responsible for developing the CNN commercial strategy and the overall brand strategy for the entertainment channels Cartoon Network, Boomerang, TCM, TNT and Adult Swim in Germany, Northern Europe, Middle East and Africa. Other key responsibilities included the management of advertising sales, marketing and interactive commerce functions, as well as supporting the company’s programming development and acquisition strategy.

From 2004-06 he was vice president and general manager, Turner Broadcasting System France, with responsibility for all Turner channels in that market. From 2000-03, he was vice president, Turner Classic Movies, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and from 1997-2000 he was vice president, Business Development, Television and Interactive Media, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies.

Save Disney Shows August 2010 Events

Save 10 Things Day – 08/10/10

Save W.I.T.C.H. Day – 08/14/10

Save Kim Possible Day – 08/23/10

Save Lilo & Stitch Weekend Bash – 08/27-30/10

It’s important to remember that paper letters are the key to our efforts, and events are spaced out so you have at least a week to prepare as many as you can. Please refer to our how to help section for addresses: http://help.savedisneyshows.org

Then on the day of the event, you can also send faxes, make phone calls, and use our email program at http://sdsmail.org

Paul Lee Promoted to President of ABC

ABC Family’s management only gave Ruby 10 episodes and ended 10 Things after only one season. Is this the kind of management Paul Lee will be bringing to the ABC Network?

The 50-year-old, London-born Lee, a former BBC television executive, [and current ABC Family President] will oversee creative and business operations for the broadcast network as well as ABC Studios, the company’s in-house TV production unit. It’s a massive job for the executive, who has spent the last decade keeping a modest profile at mid-size cable channels.

But Disney executives are confident that Lee is up to the task. They point to Lee’s variety of skills, which include producing and directing made-for-TV movies. He worked on spicy telenovelas, a staple of Spanish-language television.

Read more at the SDS Blog.

Good Luck Charlie Renewed for Season 2

In 2Q10, "Good Luck Charlie"� ranked as the No. 1 series on television among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14, posting double-digit gains year to year among both demographics and defeating its time period competition by triple digits.

Good Luck Charlie has clearly gotten some pretty impressive ratings, so it’s no surprise that Disney has picked up the show for another season. However, it is a little surprising that they’ve already ordered a movie!

Read more on the DC Fans Blog.

New DCOM: Den Brother

This month’s new DCOM, Den Brother, premieres August 13th on Disney Channel. The movie stars Hutch Dano (Zeke and Luther) and G. Hannelius (Sonny With A Chance).

Hutch Dano and James Gaisford on the Den Brother Set

In the movie, 16-year-old hockey star Alex Pearson gets suspended from his team after showboating during a game, and to his dismay, finds himself filling in as a Bumble Bee Troop leader for his little sister Emily’s troop. He must pose as the troop’s elderly den mother from time to time but thinks it’s a small price to pay, especially since he can get Emily and the girls to do his chores and make him snacks in exchange for merit badges. Even more advantageous, Alex has the opportunity to get closer to the beautiful Matisse Burrows, leader of another Bumble Bee Troop. However, when his self-centered antics cost Emily and her friends an opportunity to participate in the long-anticipated Camporee, Alex finally sees how he has affected those he cares about and must devise a plan that will get his troop into the camp.

Read more on the DC Fans Blog.

Disney Channel August Highlights

Disney is premiering several new Hannah, Sonny, Wizards, Charlie, On Deck, and JONAS LA episodes this August! The full list is much too long for this email alert, so be sure to click the link below to read the full article.

Read more at the DC Fans Blog.

Shake It Up Episode Filming

You heard about it here first! Disney Channel’s next live action series (and the replacement for Hannah Montana) began filming in LA last month, and Webmaster Greg has the inside scoop from the filming of the second episode.

In the pilot we are introduced to best friends CeCe Jones (Bella Thorne) and Rocky Blue (Zendaya Coleman). … At school, we meet Deuce (Adam Irigoyen) … [who] also had an important gift for the girls, a flier with the info to audition for a dance show called "Shake it Up Chicago."� Rocky is reluctant, but CeCe insists that they give it a try - it is their dream to be professional dancers after all. … Anyway, CeCe and Rocky audition for the show and through no fault of her own CeCe is eliminated. Rocky makes it, but doesn’t want to go without her BFF. CeCe insists that Rocky follow through with her dream and marches her to the studio - with Rocky still in her pajamas. This next segment was very Hannah Montana-esque as CeCe helped Rocky change into her dance clothes during the live show. Fortunately, the host thought more of it than [Greg] did, because instead of firing Rocky, he asked both girls to stay on the show. And that is how these two best friends ended up on TV.

This show plays upon familiar themes and is no way groundbreaking, but it’s a solid effort and is likely to become a a big hit. The star of the show, Bella Thorne, is clearly very talented and as the first of the next generation of DC stars is likely to become the next Miley – and we mean that in a good way!

Read more about the show at the DC Fans Blog.

Well, I’m not sure what I think of this. I for one have not been very impressed with the management of ABC Family which only gave Ruby 10 episodes and which just ended 10 Things after only one season. Is this the kind of management Paul Lee will be bringing to the ABC Network?

Full article follows…

Paul Lee, the executive who revived Walt Disney Co.’s moribund ABC Family channel with shows that appealed to the sensibilities of the millennial generation, was elevated Friday to president of ABC Entertainment Group.

Lee immediately takes over for Steve McPherson, who abruptly stepped down this week.

The 50-year-old, London-born Lee, a former BBC television executive, will oversee creative and business operations for the broadcast network as well as ABC Studios, the company’s in-house TV production unit. It’s a massive job for the executive, who has spent the last decade keeping a modest profile at mid-size cable channels.

But Disney executives are confident that Lee is up to the task. They point to Lee’s variety of skills, which include producing and directing made-for-TV movies. He worked on spicy telenovelas, a staple of Spanish-language television.

“Paul was hired six years ago because of his great creative instincts and his ability to identify an audience and develop programming that resonates with them,” Anne Sweeney, president of the Disney/ABC Television Group, said in a statement.

Broadening ABC’s audience will be Lee’s biggest challenge. A sore point for Disney was the fact that ABC ended the most recent television season in a third-place tie with NBC in the important category of viewers ages 18 to 49.

“He’s got to find some shows that attract men to the network. ABC’s audience is primarily made of up of women because of shows like ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ” said Brad Adgate, a TV analyst with Horizon Media. “But those shows are getting older. He has to create the next generation of hits for ABC. Their biggest shows have had a noticeable fall-off in audience.”

Reaching out to men has been a priority for ABC since it gave up its longtime ratings giant “Monday Night Football.” Although a huge draw, the show lost hundreds of millions of dollars a year for the network. Disney shifted the franchise to its profitable ESPN network, which has two streams of revenue — advertising and cable affiliate fees.

Despite taking big swings with shows with futuristic concepts, such as “Flash Forward,” or a look at some Neanderthal characters in “Cave Men,” McPherson was unable to bring in the testosterone crowd. During the last six years, the ABC network and TV studio has spent more than $500 million developing new shows, buying scripts and making deals with writers and producers.

“One of the mistakes that McPherson made was looking for another ‘Lost’ or another ‘Desperate Housewives,’ ” said David Scardino, entertainment specialist with the Santa Monica advertising agency RPA. “And those shows were really unique and not easy to replace.”

The shows that McPherson developed, he said, “always looked great and sounded great but they weren’t really executed that well.”

McPherson’s biggest hit was “Modern Family,” but even that show lacks the mainstream appeal of some of CBS’ comedies, including “Two and a Half Men,” and “The Big Bang Theory.”

Lee will step into the spotlight Sunday when he is introduced to more than 150 television industry writers in town for the twice-a-year gathering of the Television Critics Assn.

Lee founded the BBC America channel in the U.S. before joining ABC Family in 2004. He developed original shows for young adults who were craving sophisticated yet sweet dramas. The cable network has found success with such programs as “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “Kyle XY.”

Under Lee, ABC Family has shown six consecutive years of growth and ranks among the top five cable networks in prime time for teens and young women ages 18 to 49.

Save Disney Shows July 2010 Events

Save 10 Things Day – 07/10/10

Save Kim Possible Day – 07/14/10

Save Jake Long Day – 07/21/10

Save Lilo & Stitch Weekend Bash – 07/23-26/10

It’s important to remember that paper letters are the key to our efforts, and events are spaced out so you have at least a week to prepare as many as you can. Please refer to our how to help section for addresses: http://help.savedisneyshows.org

Then on the day of the event, you can also send faxes, make phone calls, and use our email program at http://sdsmail.org

Rita Ferro Promoted to EVP Media Sales

From the official Disney Press Release…

Rita Ferro, an executive with a strong track record in advertising sales and promotions, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Disney Media Sales and Marketing, effective June 28. Ms. Ferro will relocate to New York from Miami, where she’s been an integral part of Disney and ESPN’s Latin America business since 1997. She succeeds Tricia Wilber who was recently named Chief Marketing Officer, The Walt Disney Company, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Read more at the SDS Blog.

SDS Fundraising Drive Continues

We want to take a moment to thank Brent for his generous donation. Unfortunately, we where forced to drop two domains due to lack of funds, and may be forced to drop more. If you can help, even with a small donation, it would go a long ways towards keeping the remainder of our domain names and ultimately keeping the site online. Click here for more information or to make a donation. Thank you.

Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure

Ashley Tisdale reprised her role as Sharpay Evans in a new DCOM filming now for a 2011 release. Joining her are Austin Butler (Aliens in the Attic, Ruby & the Rockits) and Bradley Steven Perry (Good Luck Charlie).

In the movie, a New York casting director spots aspiring thespian Sharpay Evans performing with her dog, Boi, at a charity gala and offers to arrange an audition for a new Broadway musical. Sharpay packs her bags with Boi in tow and heads to the Big Apple to fulfill her destiny on Broadway. Her father has given her one month to make it to center stage, or else she will have to return home and learn the family business. However Sharpay’s dreams are turned upside down when she discovers the Broadway role is really for Boi, not her. Pushing her disappointment aside, Sharpay sets out to make Boi the most fabulous canine to hit the Great White Way.

Read more on the DC Fans Blog.

Disney Channel Screencaps are Back!

Okay, not all of the caps that we used to have, but we’ve made a lot of progress restoring the galleries. So far we’ve restored Hannah Montana, Sonny with a Chance, Wizards of Waverly Place, and The Suite Life on Deck.

Anyway, we’re still missing some of the newer episodes, but everything that we had in the old gallery for these three shows is back up and we will continue adding more.

See all the caps on the DC Fans Photo Gallery.

Disney Channel July Highlights

Air dates for the first three Hannah Season Four episodes, plus new episodes of Wizards, Sonny, On Deck, Charlie, and JONAS LA are all coming in July! The full list is too long for this email alert, so be sure to click the link below to read the full article.

Read more at the DC Fans Blog.

Demi Lovato Concert Videos

We always like to close out the newsletter with something fun, and this month is no different. Webmaster Greg was able to attend Demi Lovato’s free concert last week in San Diego and was nice enough to film the show for our members! Just click the link below to see all of the videos and the story behind the show at DC Fans.

Read more at the DC Fans Blog.

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This concludes this email news alert. Thanks for reading from all of us at Save Disney Shows.

Save Disney Shows June 2010 Events

Save 10 Things Day – 06/10/10

Save Kim Possible Day – 06/14/10

Save Lilo & Stitch Weekend Bash – 06/21-27/10

Save W.I.T.C.H. Day – 06/29/10

It’s important to remember that paper letters are the key to our efforts, and events are spaced out so you have at least a week to prepare as many as you can. Please refer to our how to help section for addresses: http://help.savedisneyshows.org

Then on the day of the event, you can also send faxes, make phone calls, and use our email program at http://sdsmail.org

Our first Save 10 Things Day

ABC Family’s 10 Things was canceled last month, and the series finale ended on a cliff hanger! It sounds like the decision was primarily made in response to lower than expected ratings. Which means that a sizable fan campaign has a reasonable chance of convincing the company to continue to invest in the show.

We are holding our first Save 10 Things day this month, on the 10th. Learn more about the show and how you can help at our Save 10 Things website: http://save10things.sds.me/.

Wizards of Waverly Place RENEWED for Season Four!

We did it guys! Disney has officially announced the renewal of WOWP for a fourth season, AND they’re making a second DCOM!

Disney has ordered a fourth season of its Emmy Award-winning sitcom "Wizards of Waverly Place,"� and is in development on the sequel to "Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie,"� cable TV’s second-highest rated scripted telecast of all time in Total Viewers (13.5 million), Kids 6-11 and Tweens. The announcement was made today by Gary Marsh, president, Entertainment, and chief creative officer, Disney Worldwide. on the fourth season is scheduled to begin in August with show runners Vince Cheung and Ben Montanio ("Married"¦with Children,"� "Greetings from Tucson"�) executive-producing. Todd J. Greenwald ("Hannah Montana,"� "Saved By the Bell: The New Class"�) is the series creator and also an executive producer.

In making the announcement, Marsh said, "The Emmy win this past year confirmed what we already believed - this is a cast of superstar comedic talent, backed by an inspired team of writers and producers."�

Read more at the DC Fans Blog.

New SDS Fundraising Drive

I want to thank our members for your continued support of our movement. With your help, we where able to renew most of our domain names and keep the site online. However, it’s been almost a year and those same domains are up for renewal again!

The domains we’re trying to renew include:

SAVEDISNEYSHOWS.COM
SAVEKIMPOSSIBLE.ORG
SAVEWITCH.COM
MISSIONKIMPOSSIBLE.COM
SDSFORUM.ORG
SAVEKP.COM
SAVEKP.ORG
SAVELILOANDSTITCH.ORG
SAVEOURSTITCH.ORG
LILOANDSTITCH.ORG
FIXDISNEY.COM
LEROYANDSTITCH.COM
PRESERVETHEMAGIC.ORG
SAVEDISNEYSHOWS.NET

Can you contribute $5, $10, $20? Any donations are appreciated. All proceeds received go right back to Save Disney Shows to keep our campaigns running. Click here for more information or to make a donation. Thank you.

Disney 2010 Second Quarter Financial Results

In a May 11 release, the Walt Disney Company reported diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter increased 45 percent to $0.48 from $0.33 in the prior-year quarter. EPS for the current and prior-year quarter include the items discussed in the following paragraph. Excluding these items, EPS increased 12 percent to $0.48 from $0.43 in the prior-year quarter…

Read more on the SDS Blog.

16 Wishes – June 25th

Debby Ryan’s DCOM 16 Wishes will premiere Friday June 25rd on Disney Channel. The movie follows Abby Jensen (played by Ryan), a teenager who can’t wait to grow up, and when she’s handed the chance to make all her wishes come true, quickly learns the importance of being careful what you wish for.

Starring are Debby Ryan ("The Suite Life on Deck"�) as Abby Jensen; Jean-Luc Bilodeau ("Kyle XY"�) as Jay Kepler; Anna Mae Routledge ("Harper’s Island"�) as Celeste; and Karissa Tynes ("Aliens in America"�) as Krista Cook. Produced by MarVista Entertainment, the movie was written by Annie DeYoung (Disney Channel’s "StarStruck,"� "Princess Protection Program"�) and was directed by Peter DeLuise ("Stargate SG-1?).

Read more at the DC Fans Blog.

New Disney Channel Series: Shake It Up!

Disney has ordered "Shake It Up!,"� a buddy comedy centered around a teen dance show, created by Chris Thompson ("Laverne and Shirley,"� "Bosom Buddies,"� "The Truth,"� "Action"�) and executive-produced by Thompson and Rob Lotterstein ("The War at Home,"� "Ellen"�). It stars 12-year-old Bella Thorne ("Big Love"�) and 13-year-old Zendaya. The multi-camera series will begin in Hollywood, California, in July for a scheduled Fall 2010 premiere on Disney Channel. The was made today by Gary Marsh, president, Entertainment, and chief creative officer, Disney Worldwide.

Marsh said, "Newcomers Bella Thorne and Zendaya make for one of the most likable and engaging BFF duos we’ve ever seen. And while buddy comedies have been around since the start of television, what makes "˜Shake It Up’ unique is that this is the first time anyone has incorporated dancing into the underlying premise of a sitcom."�

Read more about the new show at the DC Fans Blog.

Sonny with a Chance Filming!

As this newsletter comes to a close, we wanted to apologize for being a few days late. This has been a crazy week for Webmaster greg, which ended with an unbelievable event this past Friday night. Greg attended the filming for one of the last season two episodes of Sonny with a Chance!

This was episode 222 "Sonny with a Choice"� directed by Eric Dean Seaton. … don’t want to give away much on the plot. This is a episode for the overall season two storyline and it wouldn’t be fair to you all to spoil how it ends. In this episode, So Random and MacKenzie Falls are both nominated for the Tween Choice award for best Tween show, which causes some (additional) friction between the two casts. … Needless to say, people where impressed. Ezra took a moment then to mention that I had a fansite to one of the showrunners. I think it was creator Steve Marmel, but I’m not sure.

You can read more about the filming at the DC Fans Blog and discuss the show at the SWAC Forum.

I am pleased to announce the creation of a new Save 10 Things email program at SDS mail.

http://sdsmail.org/10things/

Please remember that it is still important to call and write Disney using the information on our How to Help page.

We are also planning on having our first Save 10 Things day in early June. Please check back next week for more information!

The news broke via twitter Thursday evening that ABC Family’s 10 things has been canceled. And the fans are not taking this news lying down! A simple search for the #save10things hash-tag shows hundreds upon hundreds of tweets. Not enough to make a tending topic (yet) but I fully expect it to happen.

With this in mind, we’ve created a Save 10 Things Website at http://save10things.sds.me/.

It sounds like the decision was primarily made in response to lower than expected ratings. Which means that a sizable fan campaign has a reasonable chance of convincing the company to continue to invest in the show. So spread the word, and do it quickly! We need as many people as possible to write and call Disney and politely ask them to renew the show.

Hitflix Reports:

The creative team behind ABC Family’s well-regarded “10 Things I Hate About You” has been told that the comedy will not be renewed for a second season.

As so often happens these days, the news was initially reported first-hand via Twitter.

Early Thursday (April 29) afternoon, series creator Carter Covington tweeted, “Sad news… ABCFamily canceled the show Thanks 2 our AMAZING fans – U R the reason I do this! Enjoy the last 5 eps – they’re fantastic!”

ABC Family sources confirm Covington’s tweet that these will be the last five “10 Things I Hate About You” episodes, with the series finale currently set for the end of May.

“10 Things I Hate About You” premiered last year and was loosely based on the 1999 feature of the same title. That feature was, in turn, based loosely on William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.”

The second half of the first season returned in late March and although the series premiere broke ABC Family records last July, ratings for the new run were such that Covington had been instigating a Save Our Show campaign, also on Twitter.

The half-hour, single-camera comedy stars Larry Miller, Lindsey Shaw, Meaghan Martin, Ethan Peck, Dana Davis and Nicholas Braun.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Looks like we have a new board member. Other than that, no major news, but it’s still worth reading the recap from Disney.

SHAREHOLDERS ELECT 13 DIRECTORS AT THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY ANNUAL MEETING

San Antonio, Tex. March 10, 2010 — Shareholders of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) at the 2010 Annual Meeting today elected 13 members of the Board of Directors and supported Board recommendations on the Company’s auditor, its stock incentive plan and amendments to its Restated Certificate of Incorporation, based on preliminary results.

Shareholders also agreed with the board in rejecting two shareholder proposals.

Disney Chairman John E. Pepper Jr. welcomed shareholders to the meeting at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country and introduced members of the Board of Directors. He noted that last year was an extremely tough one for the global economy, adding that Disney’s management team “has done an excellent job of steering through” the challenges.

“Last year was more a period of adaptation than growth, but it also re-affirmed the importance of investing aggressively for the future in high-quality original branded entertainment and experiences,” Disney President and CEO Robert A. Iger told shareholders. “Ultimately, that’s the best way to assure Disney’s prosperity and, with that in mind, we’ve committed our capital and creative resources to some very exciting projects at our movie studios, our media networks and at our parks and resorts.”

Mr. Iger said that the recent acquisition of Marvel Entertainment will provide Disney “new opportunities to create great content” and that a big step was taken towards future growth when the Company received a go-ahead from China’s government to develop a new theme park in Shanghai. He also announced that the next D23 Expo, where Disney fans gather to get an inside look at technology and projects, mingle with talent and enjoy exclusive screenings and events, will take place in Anaheim, Ca., August 19-21, 2011.

Based on preliminary results, the following directors were re-elected to the Board, while Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg was elected for the first time:

• Susan Arnold
• John E. Bryson
• John S. Chen
• Judith L. Estrin
• Robert A. Iger
• Steven P. Jobs
• Fred H. Langhammer
• Aylwin B. Lewis
• Monica C. Lozano
• Robert W. Matschullat
• John E. Pepper Jr.
• Orin C. Smith

Shareholders also ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent accountants for the fiscal year ending October 2, 2010, approved an amendment to the Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan increasing the number of shares authorized to be issued under the plan and approved four amendments to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation.Shareholders rejected two shareholder proposals, one seeking specific reference to “ex-gays” in its employment policies and one seeking to institute shareholder advisory votes on executive compensation.

Final voting tallies are subject to certification by the Company’s inspector of elections, and will be included in the Company’s report to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by early next week.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

It looks like Disney’s really starting to cut back on their new film production.

Potential buyers of Walt Disney Co.’s (DIS) Miramax film unit include Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (LGF) and the Weinstein brothers, Reuters reported Monday on its Web site, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation said.

Independent studio Summit Entertainment might also be interested in Miramax, the sources said on condition of anonymity, according to the new agency.

A Lions Gate spokesman was unavailable for comment, and Disney and Summit declined comment, the report said.

The Weinstein Co. confirmed its interest in Miramax, the report said. “We are keen to look at the company and we will see what happens in coming weeks,” it quoted David Glasser, operations executive for the independent Weinstein Co., as saying.

From what I gather, Nikki Reed will be in charge of finding new shows, so as a site dedicated to saving existing show, she will have little relevance to us. However, it’s still important to know who she is, and what she does. Which is why I’m posting this press release:

NIKKI REED NAMED VICE PRESIDENT,
ORIGINAL SERIES, DISNEY CHANNEL AND DISNEY XD

Nikki Reed has been named Vice President, Original Series, overseeing live-action development for Disney Channel and Disney XD, it was announced today by Adam Bonnett, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, Disney Channel, to whom she will report.

Reed, who has more than 13 years’ experience overseeing feature films and television series development, will be responsible for developing new live-action series geared towards kids, tweens and families on Disney Channel, Disney XD, as well as numerous platforms around the world.

Bonnett said, “Disney Channel is a home for outstanding comedy writers. Nikki’s breadth of experience in both film and television makes her the perfect executive to help us maintain our dominance in kids programming and grow Disney XD into a top destination for live action comedies.”

In her new role, Reed will oversee the development and execution of Disney Channel and Disney XD Original Series pilots, recruit series creators, executive producers, writers and directors and collaborate with the Casting department to identify new talent.

Reed most recently served as Vice President of Current and Development at Universal Cable Productions. From 2003-08 she was a development executive for executive producer Barry Kemp’s Bungalow 78 Productions while it was based at Disney’s Touchstone Television. Previously she served as Vice President of Development for Director Jon Turtletaub’s Junction Entertainment for Disney Studios. There she spearheaded the development of the feature films “National Treasure” starring Nicholas Cage and “The Kid” starring Bruce Willis.

In 2005 Reed served as an executive producer on the feature film “Invincible” starring Mark Wahlberg. Reed was part of the team responsible for negotiating the rights for Vince Papale, overseeing the screenplay script development and was involved in all aspects of the film.

The Los Angeles native is a graduate of the University of Arizona where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

I don’t know much about Sheryl, but she seems like a pretty good choice from what I’ve read so far.

BURBANK, Calif., Dec 23, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Walt Disney Company
(NYSE:DIS) Board of Directors has nominated Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating
officer of Facebook Inc., to be a new independent director, effective upon her
election at the Company’s next annual meeting.

“Sheryl is an outstanding executive who can add incredible value to what is already a diverse and highly experienced group of directors,” said John E. Pepper Jr., Disney’s chairman. “She brings great expertise in the online world, considerable international experience and a deep understanding of consumer behavior.”

Sandberg has served as COO of Facebook, an online social utility company, since March 2008. In that capacity, she has been responsible for building Facebook’s operations globally and managing its sales, marketing, business development, human resources, public policy, privacy and communications functions. Facebook is now considered the number one global social network with more than 350 million members.

Prior to joining Facebook, Sandberg was Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations for Google Inc., an Internet search engine company, a post she assumed in 2001. In that role, she built and managed Google’s online sales channels, which represents the majority of Google’s customers worldwide, for both AdWords and AdSense.

Sandberg, 40, is also a former Chief of Staff of the United States Treasury Department and previously served as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and as an economist with The World Bank.

“Sheryl has been at the forefront of a technological revolution that’s opened up a world of new possibilities for consumers and which has greatly affected the way we do business,” said Robert A. Iger, Disney’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Her unique insight, born of great practical experience, will be of considerable value to Disney’s shareholders.”

“Disney has remained an entertainment icon around the world for over 80 years by enthusiastically embracing change and new technologies,” said Sandberg. “It’s a tremendous honor to be nominated to the Disney board.”

Sandberg is also a director of Starbucks Corp. and serves on a number of nonprofit boards including The Brookings Institution, The AdCouncil, Women for Women International and V-Day. She received a Master’s Degree in business administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s Degree in economics from Harvard University.

Disney shareholders will vote on Sandberg’s nomination and the re-election of the Company’s other 12 directors at the next Disney annual meeting, March 10, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas.

SOURCE: The Walt Disney Company

Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew and one of the most influential people in the recent history of the Disney company passed away today.

Roy was one of my heroes. He fought for what he believed, he fought for quality in Disney animation, and he ultimately saved the company. Twice.

Without his guiding hand, I don’t know what will happen to the company. Iger seems to be doing a good job, and I have faith in John Lasseter and Steve Jobs. But we’ll all miss Roy.

What follows is the official Disney Press Release:

Roy Edward Disney, son of Disney Studios co-founder Roy O. Disney, and nephew of Walt Disney, passed away today (12/16/09) at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California, following a year-long battle with stomach cancer. He was 79 years old. Disney was a successful businessman, philanthropist, filmmaker, and award-winning sailor, who played a key role in the revitalization of The Walt Disney Company and Disney’s animation legacy. He was associated with the Company over a 56-year period, and from 1984 – 2003, served as vice chairman of the Company’s board of directors, and chairman of the Studio’s Animation Department. In recent years, he held the title of director emeritus and consultant for the Company.

As head of Disney Animation, Disney helped to guide the Studio to a new golden age of animation with an unprecedented string of artistic and box office successes that included “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King.” He personally executive produced “Fantasia/2000,” a sequel to the 1940 Disney classic, and served in a similar capacity on a number of recent animated shorts, including the 2004 Oscar(R)-nominated “Destino,” based on storyboards and original art by the iconic artist Salvador Dali. In the area of live-action films, Disney and his wife, Leslie DeMeuse Disney, most recently executive produced the 2008 feature documentary, “Morning Light,” which followed a group of young sailors as they competed in the grueling Transpac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

His philanthropic activities included sponsorship of the Roy E. Disney Center for the Performing Arts at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, part of Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, is scheduled to open in spring, 2010.

Commenting on the announcement, Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said, “On behalf of everyone at Disney, we are saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague Roy E. Disney. He was much more than a valued 56-year Company veteran – Roy’s true passion and focus were preserving and building upon the amazing legacy of Disney animation that was started by his father and uncle. Roy’s commitment to the art of animation was unparalleled and will always remain his personal legacy and one of his greatest contributions to Disney’s past, present and future.”

John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, added, “I first met Roy when I was still an animation student at CalArts. Not only did I consider him a personal friend, but he was a great man who believed deeply in the art of animation. He put his heart and soul into preserving Disney’s legendary past, while helping to move the art of animation into the modern age by embracing new technology. Roy was a visionary and passionate supporter of the art form, and he was all about quality. I was always impressed that he would make time for someone like me when I was fresh out of college, and he continued to support and encourage me throughout my career.”

Stanley Gold, president, Shamrock Holdings, said, “Roy and I enjoyed a 35-year friendship and partnership that was simply special. We faced many business challenges together, had fun in the process, and enjoyed a wide variety of professional successes. Roy was a man who was steadfastly loyal to his principles and to his friends. He was a gracious, humble gentleman who could make the tough decisions life sometimes requires. He carried the torch high and proud, and the world is a better place for his tireless efforts. I will miss him greatly.”

Roy Edward Disney was born in Los Angeles on January 10, 1930 to Roy O. Disney and Edna Francis Disney. His father and his uncle, Walt Disney, co-founded the Disney entertainment business in 1923.

After attending Harvard School and Pomona College, Disney launched his entertainment industry career in 1952, working as an assistant film editor on the “Dragnet” TV series.

He joined The Walt Disney Studios in 1953 as an assistant film editor, where his credits included the landmark Academy Award(R)-winning True-Life Adventures features, “The Living Desert” and “The Vanishing Prairie.” As a writer and production associate, he received Oscar(R) nominations for his work on the short subject, “Mysteries of the Deep” in 1959, and in 2003 for his work as executive producer for “Destino.”

Disney produced and directed some 35 other TV and theatrical production, including the landmark 1968 documentary, “Varda, the Peregrine Falcon,” before leaving in 1977 to become an independent producer and investor.

In 1978, Disney founded Shamrock Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned family enterprise headquartered in Burbank, California, which specializes in private equity, real estate, and public equities investing. He served as chairman of the company, which has approximately $1.5 billion of capital committed to funds.

An avid competitive sailor, Disney holds several elapsed-time records for offshore races in the Pacific Ocean, including multiple wins in the 2,225-mile Transpac.

Among his many professional and philanthropic activities, Disney served on the board of trustees of California Institute of the Arts, the advisory board of St. Joseph Medical Center, and the board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. Additionally, he was an advisory member of the board of directors of the United States Committee for UNICEF, chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the Peregrine Fund, a member of the board of trustees of Ronald McDonald House charities, and a member of the board of trustees of the American Ireland Fund.

In 1993, he received the Winsor McCay Award (a special “Annie Award”) from ASIFA-Hollywood (The International Animated Film Society). The McCay Award is for lifetime achievement in animation. In 1997, Disney was awarded the first “Mort Walker Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cartoon Industry,” by the Boca Raton International Museum of Cartoon Art.

Disney received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from his alma mater Pomona College in 1998. In 2002, he received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Mercy College in New York. The following year, he was presented with the Trustees’ Award and honorary Doctor of the Arts degree from CalArts.

Among his other honors, Disney was named a recipient of the 1999 National Catholic Education Association Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to children and education. In April 1999, Disney received the Henry Bergh Humane Award from the ASPCA, and in spring 2000, he was awarded the Inaugural Environmental Leadership Award from the Audubon Society.

Disney is survived by his wife, Leslie, and four children from his marriage to Patricia Dailey Disney – Tim Disney, Roy Patrick Disney, Abigail Disney, and Susan Disney Lord. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be private, followed by cremation. His ashes will be scattered at sea. Plans for a Life Celebration will be announced shortly. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.