5 Winners and Losers of the Week in Business
A lot of wonders and blunders took place in the business world this week, from vinyl record fans getting some digital love to Disney shutting down a popular division.
Star Wars
'Star Wars' Spinoffs Will Make Lucasfilm Even Bigger for Disney
Disney CEO Robert Iger told CNBC on Tuesday that his company didn't shell out $4 billion to buy Lucasfilm to merely put out a new "Stars Wars" movie every other year: Disney is also working on other theatrical properties based on "Star Wars" characters.
Market Minute: Disney's Stock Shines Even as Earnings Decline
Disney won over more fans on Wall Street with its latest quarterly performance, despite a slight drop in its earnings. Disney digested higher programming costs at its ESPN television network and dealt with a less appealing line-up of home video releases in its movie studio.
Wall Street Watch Wednesday: Disney Uses the Force
In a $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm, Mickey Mouse gets his mitts on the Star Wars franchise.
Disney to Buy "Star Wars" Producer for $4.05 Billion
Walt Disney has agreed to buy filmmaker George Lucas's Lucasfilm Ltd and the "Star Wars" franchise for $4.05 billion in cash and stock, a blockbuster deal that adds one of the most beloved franchises in entertainment history to Disney's lineup.
Should the Government Give Colleges Value Report Cards?
More students and parents are approaching higher education like any other big investment, researching schools' relative merits and the values of their diplomas so they can make informed decisions. Trouble is, the data can be hard to find -- and what's available isn't always trustworthy. Should Washington step in?
Why Are LEGOs So Expensive?
It's a question that echoes across the Internet, on blogs and message boards, and in the content of a specialty wiki called Brickipedia: "Why are Legos so expensive?" Our search for an answer starts in Denmark, and ends in the playrooms of countless children around the world.
With New Coffee-Bean Partnership, Starbucks to Brew Up Its First Stores in India
Starbucks is partnering with India-based coffee-bean provider Tata Coffee to help it open its first retail stores in India. According to the agreement, Tata will help Starbucks source and roast beans, as well as develop the new stores.
Original Darth Vader Costume Fails to Sell at Christie's Auction
Bidding for an original Darth Vader costume from the "Star Wars" movie series failed to reach the undisclosed reserve at a Christie's auction Thursday. Auctioneers had expected the costume to sell for between 160,000 pounds and 230,000 pounds ($250,000 to $365,000). The top bid was 150,000 British pounds (roughly $236,000).
A Midnight Boost for Big-Budget Movie Openings
Cult classics used to rule in midnight screenings. But in recent years, blockbuster films like Eclipse, The Dark Knight and Avatar, have proven that it's a strategy that can supercharge both ticket sales and buzz.
