MUMBAI: Steve Carell?s Gru and his adorable minions aren?t just taking over the box office, where Universal?s Despicable Me 2 grossed USD34.3 million on 3 July. The animated characters are also dominating digital downloads on iTunes, Amazon and Google?s Play store.

The first Despicable Me movie is the No. 1 movie download on iTunes and Amazon as of 5 July. The film is available to rent (starting at USD2.99) and buy (USD9.99) on both sites. The first movie is also the No 9 rented title on Google Play (USD2.99).

Minion Madness, a 12-minute collection of mini movies about the minions is also making noise on the charts, landing at No. 14 on Google Play, No. 33 on iTunes and No. 75 on Amazon. Despite its higher placement on the Google Play chart, it costs USD4.99 to buy there and USD3.99 on iTunes and Amazon.

Despicable Me game is also the top free iPhone app and No. 5 on Google Play?s list of free Android apps.

Meanwhile, preorders for the second film have already begun in earnest, with these advanced purchases putting Despicable Me 2 at No. 18 on Amazon?s list of best-selling DVDs (where the first film is also No. 1) and No. 73 on iTunes? list of top movies.
iTunes features a Despicable Me 2 promotion on its main page and Amazon has a promo on the main page for its instant video offerings.

MUMBAI: On-location filming in the Los Angeles area was up 9 per cent in the second quarter, thanks to a boost from television production and web-based shows, according to Film L.A.

Film L.A. declared Q2 a period of recovery for filming on location in the city, as a five-year analysis shows consistent under-performance in key TV subcategories. Film L.A.?s television category grew 26.6 per cent last quarter. It outperformed the five-year average by 8.9 per cent.

The TV drama subcategory witnessed a below par performance in its five-year average, however, by 12 per cent this quarter. This is despite year-on-year gains of 29.3 per cent. Web-based TV was up 63.1 per cent year-on-year. TV pilots were up 51.8 per cent and TV sitcoms were up 39.1 per cent. Reality TV, which was up 6.4 per cent year-on-year, remains to be the largest contributor to L.A.?s TV totals. Reality TV finished Q2 4.7-per cent below its five-year average, though.

"The more we study these numbers, the more obvious is the need for historical context," said president of Film L.A. Paul Audley "For production to increase 20, 40 or even 60 per cent in a category during a single quarter is positive and significant, but it also demands we look at the record and see what?s been happening in those categories seasonally and over time."

California?s Film and Television Tax Credit Program did its part to bring new projects to the Los Angeles region this past quarter. State-qualified Television projects generated 171 PPD (permitted production day) from March through June, comprising 22.7 per cent of all TV drama activity. State-qualified Television projects in L.A. included Franklin & Bash, Lost Angels, Major Crimes, Perception, Pretty Little Liars, Rizzoli and Isles, Teen Wolf and Switched at Birth.

MUMBAI: Struggling Web game maker Zynga gave new CEO Don Mattrick a $5 million signing bonus and stock awards valued at $40 million to lure him away from his previous job overseeing Microsoft?s Xbox console for video games.

Mattrick?s compensation package also includes a one million dollar annual salary and a guaranteed bonus of about one million dollar million this year, according to a regulatory filing made late Wednesday. Zynga announced Mattrick would replace company co-founder Mark Pincus as CEO earlier this week, but didn?t detail how much its new leader would be paid at that time.

Zynga is counting on Mattrick, 49, to reverse a steady string of losses that has caused the company?s stock price to plunge 66 per cent from its initial public offering price of $10 in late 2011.

The stock closed at $3.42 Wednesday. That price is nearly 20 percent higher than where the stock stood before the news broke about Mattrick?s defection from Microsoft Corp., a sign that at least some investors think he can revive Zynga.

As Mattrick draws up the turnaround strategy, he will still be working closely with Pincus, who holds a controlling stake in Zynga and will remain the San Francisco company?s chairman and chief product officer.

BENGALURU: Raj Television Network?s national head of distribution S Swaminathan put in his papers on 14 June. Swaminathan has been with the group since 2007. Sources at the network confirmed that Swaminathan had submitted his resignation and is on a notice period until 14 July 2013. "A replacement for Swaminathan will soon be announced," said the source.

Speaking with indiantelevision.com, Swaminathan said that the parting with Raj Television Network was cordial. "I have been in the distribution business in South India for almost 14 years and need a sabbatical. With the fast changing landscape of Cable TV in India, I want to explore newer avenues in the digital space, besides which, I am also contemplating on a few assignments already in hand."

When Swaminathan joined Raj Television Network, it had just four channels in Tamil. At present, the channel has five Tamil channels, two each in Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam and the Hindi channel. The Network now has six encrypted channels - four in Tamil and one each in Kannada and Telugu.

Before joining Raj Television Network, Swaminathan was with ESPN for about seven years, and with FMCG brands Pepsi, Heinz before that.

NEW DELHI: India not only has the second largest number of fans of tennis, but figures at number three in the list of countries talking about Wimbledon.

Data collected by Facebook shows how India has emerged as a tennis loving nation. The data reveals that after US, India figures as the second country in terms of number of tennis fans located.

The data showcases an analysis of all conversations occurring from the start of Wimbledon 2013 - 24 June to 1 July when the qualifiers concluded. Over 11.6 million total global interactions were analysed which includes mentions, likes and comments.

Most buzzed about men?s players: (People are talking about these players the most)

    Rafael Nadal
    Roger Federer
    Novak Djokovic
    Steve Darcis
    Andy Murray

Most buzzed about women?s players: (People are talking about these players the most)

    Maria Sharapova
    Serena Williams
    Sabine Lisicki
    Ana Ivanovic
    Victoria Azarenka

Top countries talking about Wimbledon: (People in these countries are talking about Wimbledon the most)

    Great Britain
    United States
    India
    Italy
    Australia

Top social moments: (People were talking about these moments the most)

    Rafael Nadal (5) stunned in the opening round by unranked Steve Darcis - 6/24
    Sharapova (3), Federer (3), and Azarenka (2) all fall in the second round - 6/26
    Serena Williams (1) is upset by Sabine Lisicki (23) - 7/1
    David Ferrer (4) holds off 26th-ranked Alexandr Dolgopolov in a 5 set thriller - 6/29
    Local favorites Andy Murray and Laura Robson both advance to the third round to keep British hopes alive - 6/28

Top five countries where tennis fans are located: (Methodology: includes mentions, likes and comments, aggregated anonymously)

    USA
    India
    UK
    Italy
    Philippines

MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company has extended Robert Iger?s contract to remain the CEO and chairman through 30 June, 2016.

Iger who became the chief executive on 30 September, 2005, has led the company to record financial results and significant growth through the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm. Iger has also been instrumental in making major investments in the company?s Parks and Resorts business and the expansion into key international markets.

"For nearly eight years as chief executive officer, Bob Iger has proven he has the unique ability to drive creative and financial success at the world?s preeminent entertainment company," said Disney Board independent lead director Orin C. Smith.

"Disney has hit new heights during Iger?s tenure, with total shareholder return of 193 per cent that dramatically exceeds the S&P 500s 54 per cent, and a market capitalisation that has risen to $113.7 billion from $48.4 billion when he became CEO in 2005. Iger?s ability to consistently deliver against a strategy of producing high-quality branded content, technological innovation and international expansion has repeatedly resulted in record revenue, net income, and earnings per share for the company," he added.

Iger?s outstanding leadership and the need to provide continuity of Disney?s corporate strategy to create long-term value for shareholders, has led the board to take this decision. "We have asked Iger to remain the CEO and chairman until the expiration of his contract on 30 June, 2016 under his existing annual compensation terms as CEO, under which 92 per cent of his pay was performance-based in fiscal 2012," informed Smith.

Originally, Iger was to have relinquished his CEO position and transitioned to the role of executive chairman on 1 April, 2015 for 15 months. "Now, Disney will continue to have the full benefit of Iger?s leadership as CEO and chairman for the duration of his tenure. The board remains focused on effective succession planning, and will continue to develop a sound and appropriate process for ensuring a smooth management transition," he said.

Acknowledging the confidence bestowed by the board, Iger said, "I sincerely appreciate this vote of confidence by the board of directors, and will continue to work with our talented and dedicated management team to drive creative excellence, innovation and continued growth."