News Briefs

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Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019

Nike CEO Mark Parker to step down in January

In this March 16, 2016, file photo Nike CEO Mark Parker speaks during a news conference in New York. Parker is stepping down early next year. He will be replaced by board member John Donahoe, who formerly ran e-commerce company eBay. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

By Joseph Pisani, Retail Writer

NEW YORK (AP) --

Nike said Tuesday that its longtime CEO Mark Parker is stepping down early next year.

He will be replaced by board member John Donahoe, who formerly ran e-commerce company eBay. Parker will become executive chairman of the board.

Nike's sales have been on the rise as the company focuses on selling more of its swoosh-branded sneakers online and on its apps. The company's first quarter earnings last month soared past expectations. But Nike has also been plagued by scandals recently.

Three weeks ago, renowned track coach Alberto Salazar was banned from the sport for four years by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for running experiments with supplements and testosterone that were bankrolled and supported by Nike, along with possessing and trafficking testosterone. Nike announced that it was shutting down its elite Oregon Project track and field program overseen by Salazar in the wake of the scandal.

Parker said in a TV interview with More

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019

Piyush Pandey to receive Epica’s Creative Leaders Tribute

Piyush Pandey

AMSTERDAM --

The Epica Awards will bestow its Creative Leaders Tribute to Piyush Pandey, the legendary Indian creative, chairman of Ogilvy India and Ogilvy’s chief creative officer, worldwide.

He will be handed the trophy during the Epica Awards ceremony at the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in Amsterdam on the evening of November 21. The award pays tribute to those who have shown a career-long commitment to supporting and enhancing creativity.

An apt description of Pandey can be found on the Ogilvy website: “The most decorated and revered advertising figure in India, Pandey is undoubtedly in the David Ogilvy mold: he is an extraordinary leader who is passionate about big ideas and delivering them to clients, all while keeping the greater good top of mind.”

In India Pandy is famous for his iconic work for brands such as Cadbury, Fevicol and Asian Paints, among many others. He has created ads that are jewels of entertainment and written songs and More

Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019

Lori Loughlin, other parents charged again in college scheme

In this Aug. 27, 2019 file photo, actress Lori Loughlin departs federal court in Boston after a hearing in a nationwide college admissions bribery scandal. Loughlin, her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, and nine other parents face new charges in the college admissions scandal. Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019, that the parents were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

By Collin Binkley, Education Writer

BOSTON (AP) --

"Full House" actress Lori Loughlin, her fashion designer husband and nine other parents faced new federal charges Tuesday in a scandal involving dozens of wealthy parents accused of bribing their children's way into elite universities or cheating on college entrance exams.

A grand jury in Boston indicted the parents on charges of trying to bribe officials at an organization that receives at least $10,000 in federal funding. In this case, they're accused of paying to get their children admitted to the University of Southern California.

The charge of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Prosecutors are pressuring those who have pleaded not guilty in the college admissions scandal to acknowledge their guilt.

A total of 35 wealthy and celebrity parents have been charged in the scheme that showed how far some will go to get their children into More

Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019

Streaming price wars heat up: Verizon to offer free Disney+ for 1 year

In this April 3, 2019, file photo characters from Disney and Fox movies are displayed behind Cathleen Taff, president of distribution, franchise management, business and audience insight for Walt Disney Studios during the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures presentation at CinemaCon 2019, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Verizon is offering new and current customers a free year of Disney+ as the battle for streaming customers heats up. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) --

Verizon is offering new and current customers a free year of Disney+ as the battle for streaming customers heats up.

The offer extends to certain new and existing unlimited 4G and 5G customers as well as the vast majority of new home-internet customers.

The promotion beginning Nov. 12 will provide access to Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and other content. Disney+ plans to release more than 25 original series and 10 original films and documentaries in its first year, including a remake of "Lady and the Tramp. "

Shares in Netflix, which has dominated the streaming entertainment world for years, slumped almost 3%.

Netflix is trying to hold onto its vast customer base as cheaper alternatives from the likes of Apple, Disney and others go live next month.

Netflix has long had a similar deal with T-Mobile. Comcast says its upcoming Peacock service will be free for cable customers. And AT&T, which More

Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019

Springsteen surprises moviegoers at film preview screenings

In this Nov. 5, 2018 file photo, Bruce Springsteen performs at the 12th annual Stand Up For Heroes benefit concert at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. Springsteen surprised moviegoers by introducing his new concert film in his New Jersey hometown. The Asbury Park Press reports Springsteen introduced two showings of "Western Stars" at the AMC Loews Freehold Metroplex Cinema in Freehold on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. (Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP, File)

FREEHOLD, NJ (AP) --

Bruce Springsteen surprised moviegoers by introducing his new concert film in his New Jersey hometown.

The Asbury Park Press reports Springsteen introduced two showings of "Western Stars" at the AMC Loews Freehold Metroplex Cinema in Freehold on Saturday.

Springsteen is a native of Freehold borough.

Springsteen told audiences that since his band knew it wasn't going to tour, he had to try to figure out a way to bring the music to his audience.

"Western Stars" is a concert film shot in a barn in front of a small audience at Springsteen's property in Colts Neck.

The music album "Western Stars" was released in June.

A second preview screening is scheduled for Wednesday. The film hits theaters on Friday.

Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019

Execs from Alamo Drafthouse, Disney, NEON, Picturestart join speakers lineup at American Film Market

Tim League, founder of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

LOS ANGELES --

The American Film Market (AFM®) announced more confirmed speakers for this year’s Conferences and programming which runs alongside the AFM’s marketplace and industry screenings. Over six days, more than 150 thought leaders, decision-makers and experts will discuss topics and issues most relevant to global filmmakers across three dedicated stages. This year’s market takes place November 6-13 in Santa Monica and marks its 40th edition.

The AFM Conferences will kick off on Friday, November 8, on the AFM main stage at the Fairmont Hotel. Highlights include:

The opening Conference will feature Breaking the Mold: The Innovators bringing together Erik Feig, CEO, Picturestart, Tim League, founder, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, and Aron Levitz, head of Wattpad Studios, and Tom Quinn, founder & CEO, NEON.

As part of its new Television Conference, network executives including Disney’s VP of Original Programming, Lauren Kisilevsky, the History More

Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019

"Abominable" to skip Malaysia theaters over disputed sea map

In this Sept. 7, 2019, file photo, the character Everest from the film "Abominable" appears on the red carpet on day three of the Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. The animated movie "Abominable" will skip Malaysian theaters after producers decided against cutting out a scene showing a map supporting Chinese claims to the disputed South China Sea. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) --

The animated movie "Abominable" will skip Malaysian theaters after producers decided against cutting out a scene showing a map supporting Chinese claims to the disputed South China Sea.

Vietnam already pulled the U.S.-Chinese production from theaters over a fleeting image of the so-called nine-dash line, a vague and broken outline depicting much of the resource-rich sea as Chinese territory. China's claims to the sea overlap with claims by Vietnam, Malaysia and other Asian governments.

Malaysian film distributor United International Pictures said in a brief statement Monday that "Universal has decided not to make the censor cut required by the Malaysian censor board and as such will not be able to release the film in Malaysia," where it was due in theaters on Nov. 7. It declined to give further details.

Universal is the parent company of DreamWorks Animation, which co-produced the movie with China-based Pearl Studio. "Abominable," More

Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019

New Facebook oversight board results to be public, exec says

Director of governance and strategic initiatives Andy Pergam talks during a University of Utah speech Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Salt Lake City. Pergam, a Facebook executive says a new quasi-independent oversight board will soon be weighing decisions on some of the most difficult questions on what material belongs on the platform in a "very public way." (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

By Lindsay Whitehurst

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) --

A new quasi-independent oversight board will soon make decisions on some of the most difficult questions on what material belongs on Facebook's platform in a "very public way," an executive for the social-media company said Friday.

The board will consider a small number of cases where all appeals of Facebook decisions have been exhausted, the company's director of governance and strategic initiatives, Andy Pergam, said in speech at the University of Utah.

The board's decisions and the company's responses will be public, he said.

Its rulings will be binding in individual cases, but broader policy findings will be advisory.

"They'll do all this in a very public way. This is the mechanism by which the board will have lasting policy influence over a company like Facebook," he said.

Board members who are experts in a range of disciplines from around the world will be named December and begin hearing cases in early 2020. More

Friday, Oct. 18, 2019

Netflix releases Panama Papers movie despite lawsuit

This image released by Netflix shows Meryl Streep, left, and Jeffrey Wright in a scene from “The Laundromat,” in theaters on Sept. 27. (Claudette Barius/Netflix via AP)

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) --

Netflix has released a movie based on the so-called Panama Papers despite an attempt by two lawyers to stop the streaming premiere.

"The Laundromat," starring Gary Oldman, Antonio Banderas and Meryl Streep, debuted Friday on Netflix after a limited release in theaters.

Two Panamanian lawyers, Jürgen Mossack and Ramón Fonseca, sued Netflix in federal court in Connecticut this week, saying the movie defamed them and could prejudice criminal cases against them. Netflix asked a judge to dismiss the suit but did not address the allegations.

The Panama Papers were more than 11 million documents leaked from the two lawyers' firm that shed light on how the rich hide their money.

A judge ruled there was no valid reason to file the case in Connecticut and ordered it transferred to the Los Angeles-area federal court district.

Friday, Oct. 18, 2019

"The Casagrandes" extols Mexican American life via animation

This image released by Nickelodeon shows a scene from the animated series “The Casagrandes,” featuring a multigenerational Mexican American family. In this series, Ronnie Anne, her older brother and single mother, leave the suburbs to move in with their large family in the fictional Great Lake City. The apartment is located above The Casagrandes bodega, owned by grandpa, and next to an elevated subway track. (Nickelodeon via AP)

By Russell Contreras

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (AP) --

Nickelodeon's "The Casagrandes" premiered this week and became one of the first cartoons in U.S. history to feature a multigenerational Mexican American family.

The long awaited spin-off from the network's popular animation series, "The Loud House," comes as more networks take chances on Latino-themed shows.

The series centers around an 11-year-old Mexican American, skateboarding girl trying to survive in the fictional town of Great Lake City. Her apartment is above The Casagrandes bodega, owned by grandpa and in front of a subway track.

Unlike some previous cartoons with Latinos, "The Casagrandes" seeks to tackle family-oriented themes like love, friendship, and jealousy.

Supervising director Miguel Puga says creators wanted to show how normal and relatable Latino families are.