Fastest Growing Private Companies: Gravitas Ventures
The company has remained hyperfocused on video on demand, and its transactional, subscription and ad-sponsored business models
Fastest Growing Private Companies: I.T. Source Corp.
We attribute growth to our vision and perseverance. Our team went full throttle and exceeded expectations. I could not be happier with the staff we currently have.
Fastest Growing Private Companies: Shipito
When Czech immigrant John Vanhara founded Shipito four years ago, he was just hoping to make enough money to pay the rent on his warehouse after another business went bust.
Fastest Growing Private Companies: Network Solutions Provider
Two acquisitions; but the biggest part of our growth has come from expansion of our sales team and sales automation program, and creating customercentric solutions.
Fastest Growing Private Companies: Usamp
We founded uSamp during one of the worst economical downturns this country has ever faced, we managed to buck the recession by taking a big risk.
Dropping ‘Martha’ for Movies Works for Viewers
TV: Hallmark channels see ratings rise after parent axes ‘Stewart’ program.
After canceling daytime staple “The Martha Stewart Show” earlier this year, Crown Media Holdings Inc. of Studio City has gone back to its roots in made-for-TV movies.
3Net Adding Depth to Content Supply for 3-D TV
ENTERTAINMENT: Culver City company launches in-house production studio.
3-D channel 3Net blurs the line between distribution and production with the launch of an in-house studio.
Latino TV Heating Up
Media: Glendale’s Azteca revamping image with marketing, reality shows.
Spanish-language network Azteca America focuses on new image and programs to stay in the picture with Hispanic viewers.
Is This Town Big Enough For Two Local News Sites?
Media: Rivals trading barbs over who can best cover West Hollywood.
Rival websites trade barbs over coverage of West Hollywood.
Political Ad Spending Dialed Down for L.A. Media
Advertising: New law delays spots on local radio and TV – until now.
After sluggish start to the year, political ad spending is making a significant impact for TV and radio stations in Los Angeles.
L.A. Outpaces Nation in Venture Capital Draw
Finance: Local startups having most active year since dot-com bubble.
FINANCE: Los Angeles was a rare bright spot for venture capital investments in the last quarter thanks to interest in local e-commerce firms.
Westside Gets Creative While Other Areas Struggle
Real Estate Quarterly: L.A. County
The Los Angeles County office market continues to improve, but the third quarter wasn’t exactly stellar.
Service Clears Path From Filmmakers to Audience
Sales: Pumit’s system aims to capitalize on trend of direct distribution of media.
Independent filmmakers have a bevy of licensing options to extend the revenue life of their films, such as Netflix.
KCET to Merge with Bay Area Public TV Group
Burbank’s KCET (Channel 28) announced that it will merge with LinkTV, a public television satellite network based in San Francisco.
Station Has Everybody’s Ear After Rise in Ratings
Retuned MyFM ties for first place in wake of format, DJ shuffle.
MyFM format tune-up yields the station its first No. 1 finish in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Investors Dig Deep Into Forensic Software Maker
Analyst sees government clients boosting
Stock of forensic analysis software firm Guidance proves a positive discovery for investors.
Talk Radio Network Speaks Up for Axed Channels
TV: CRN drafts range of supporters to return service to Time Warner Cable.
Already this year, DirecTV Inc. has feuded with Tribune Co. and Viacom Inc. over fees paid to carry their programming.
Library Purchaser Looks To Turn Up Deal Volume
ENTERTAINMENT: RLJ sees Image as part of its platform for black artists.
New owner of Image library looks to book deals with a focus on African-American market.
Most Filming Activity in L.A. Continues Decline
Fewer days were spent filming movies and TV projects on the streets of Los Angeles during the third quarter, compared with the same period a year ago.
Another Movie Festival Setting Sail for San Pedro
CINEMA: ‘Spiff’ event to showcase films that have garnered buzz on circuit.
San Pedro and the Port of Los Angeles are already frequent filming locations for TV shows such as “NCIS” and “Dexter”; now, the harbor area is trying to become a bigger fixture on the film festival circuit.
Paper Hopes to Clean Up After Loss of Sex Ad Site
PUBLISHING: New parent of LA Weekly looks to put focus back on journalism.
New parent of LA Weekly wants to rewrite paper’s reputation after breaking with adult ad-oriented Backpage.com.
L.A. Startup Gets Hollywood Stars Going Mobile
Video games: Moonshark spins Apple app with Spiderman creator Stan Lee.
With so many mobile games coming to market, it’s no small challenge to get droves of gamers to discover any one in particular.
TV Channel Turns To French Accent To Woo Audience
Cinémoi hopes to channel frustration with the reality show glut into viewership for its arty and foreign fare.
Anschutz Says AEG Is for Sale
L.A. sports and entertainment giant Anschutz Entertainment Group is being shopped for sale by parent Anschutz Co., the company confirmed late Tuesday.
Some Firms Look to Reverse Their Share Fortunes
INVESTMENT: Analyst cautions stock splits don’t often work long term.
Some local public companies have gone forward with reverse stock splits to shore up share value.
Underwater World Looks to Make Digital Splash
GAMES: Wemo might follow up theBlu with alien or studio-linked project.
Wemo Media’s Venice offices aren’t too far from the beach, and that makes sense given its first product: a computer-animated underwater world called theBlu.
Brothers Launch Mug Shot Paper By Hook, Crook
Brothers hope sales break out big for their newspaper featuring criminal mug shots.
Daily News Parent Puts Subsidiary in Chapter 11
Digital First Media, parent of the Los Angeles Daily News, announced that it has put one of its East Coast subsidiaries, Journal Register Co., into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
L.A. Startup Has New Take on Digital Videos
A whole generation of upstart video producers can now make money by shooting low-cost digital projects, posting the videos to Google Inc.’s YouTube and recouping a share of advertising revenue sold on the videos.
In Beverly Hills, They’re Literally Making the News
MEDIA: Beverly Hills officials decide to start their own cable news show. Could it be they’re unhappy with the local newspaper?
Air Apparent
INTERVIEW: KCRW General Manager Jennifer Ferro is dialed into fundraising after taking the reins from local icon Ruth Seymour.
Jennifer Ferro says standing up to her boss helped her land the general manager job at KCRW-FM.
Making It Big
The long-anticipated and controversial redevelopment of Century City’s iconic Hyatt Regency Century Plaza hotel has taken a big step forward.
HuffPost Videos Give Voice, Face To Commentary
Website Huffington Post looks to put a new face on the news with a site for visitors’ video commentary.
Summer Doldrums a Reality for Reality Television
A little more than a decade ago, launching a reality show on a big four broadcast network during the lazy days of summer was a recipe for success – think “Survivor.”
New HuffPost Site Adds Video to Commentary
AOL and its Huffington Post Media Group are making a big bet to capitalize on the popularity of online video.
State Senate Extends In-State Film Production Tax Credit
The California State Senate on Tuesday approved a two year extension of a $100 million film and television tax credit, which could carry the annual subsidy through 2017.
DreamWorks Animation Signs 20th Century Fox Deal
DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., the Glendale studio behind the Shrek and Madagascar animated movies, has reached a five year distribution deal with 20th Century Fox.
Former Titan of Television Looks for New Life Online
INTERNET: TV Guide to relaunch mobile app with focus on interactivity.
INTERNET: TV Guide hopes to come in handy again with the launch of a mobile app to assist viewers
Movie Tracker Looks to Expand YouTube Patrols
INTERNET: Zefr hopes to add TV and sports clips to its advertising service.
It was only a handful of years ago that Hollywood studios were scrambling to remove clips of their movies from Google Inc.’s YouTube – conventional wisdom was that if videos were posted on the site, studio profits were being stolen.
Concert Website Cues Up Informal Performances
Startup StageIt streams intimate shows at a low price for fans.
Counting Jimmy Buffett as an investor has benefits.
LAUSD Fails Public Station
KLCS forced to scramble after district cuts subsidy.
LAUSD-supported station KLCS is getting a tough lesson on financing after the district reduced its subsidy.
Video Maker Sets Site on Hollywood
Little web episodes to be made by big producers.
Quantity is the goal of video producer BiteSize as it seeks to feed content to the growing online audience.
Judge Approves Bankruptcy Plan for L.A. Times Parent
A bankruptcy judge confirmed a plan that grants a group of creditors, led by L.A. asset management firm Oaktree Capital Management, control of Tribune Co., which is the parent of the Los Angeles Times and KTLA-TV (5).
New Elvis Figures Into Wax War
Madame Tussauds hopes King turns up heat on rival museum.
TOURISM: New Elvis attraction rocks rivalry of Hollywood wax museums
Purchase of Organ Transplant Firm a Perfect Match
BIOTECH: One Lambda hopes new owner can help grow sales overseas.
New parent looks to expand body of work for One Lambda’s organ transplant products
Vivendi Pursues Sale of Activision Blizzard Stake
French media and telecommunications conglomerate Vivendi SA has hired two investment banks to explore a sale of its majority stake in Santa Monica video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc.
Burkle, Kavanaugh Partner on Sports Agency
Supermarket magnate Ron Burkle has teamed up with Hollywood financier Ryan Kavanaugh to launch a sports agency that represents professional athletes, coaches and broadcasters.
Television Star Looks to Tap His ‘Wild’ Popularity
LICENSING: Bear Grylls mulls sponsorhip deals while plotting TV return.
“Man vs. Wild’s” seven-season run on Discovery Channel is over due to a contract dispute.
Website Network Cues Up Move Into Print Product
PUBLISHING: Buzzmedia acquires music mag Spin with eye on digital growth.
Blog network Buzzmedia tunes up with purchase of music magazine Spin
Westside Tech, Entertainment Tenants Brighten Up Dreary Quarter
You don’t have to go back far to see the Los Angeles County office market looking better.
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