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The Disney Way with acquisitions

"The Disney Way" often refers to the Disneyland employee handbook, which introduces staff ("cast members") to the values that embody Disney. But it should also refer to Disney's habit of making bold acquisitions and turning them into home runs.

The Walt Disney Company just sent shockwaves through the entertainment, tech, media, and finance worlds with its $4 billion blockbuster acquisition of Lucasfilm, the creators and owners of the "Indiana Jones" and "Star Wars" franchises. Lucasfilm has also provided the visual effects for countless blockbusters, including "The Avengers" (a Disney … Read more

Listen to and follow the World Series online

Want to watch the World Series online? Sorry. Fox Broadcasting seems to have made that impossible (or just illegal) in 2012. But have no fear: when you're away from your TV, you can still listen to or follow the MLB championship games easily with a few choice Android apps.

Listen to the World Series live on your Android device

If you've sprung for a subscription from MLB At Bat, you're already covered. Those of us on the cheap can get our World Series broadcast on our Android phones for free with the ESPN Radio Android app. ESPN … Read more

Social-media-savvy ESPN show is a year-round Father's Day tribute

Outspoken (which might be the gentlest thing anyone's said about him) Miami sports journalist Dan Le Batard has a show on ESPN2 (4:30 pm ET weekdays; back on the air Wednesday, June 20), "Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable" and it consists of him answering sports questions from viewers. Nothing unusual so far, except for the title.

But it's unusual for a lot of reasons.

USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA: One of them is how well it uses social media. It was the first show I saw to display its Twitter hashtag, #DLHQ, on the screen … Read more

ESPN denies talks on Apple TV move

Apple's Apple TV set-top box could get more sports programming as part of a deal with Disney's ESPN network.

Bloomberg today relays its chat with ESPN marketing executive Sean Bratches, who said that the company would be game for offering its WatchESPN service through the Apple TV to existing cable subscribers.

"We're a platform-agnostic content company," Bratches told Bloomberg. "To the extent that in the future there's an opportunity with Apple to authenticate through the pay-TV food chain as we're doing with Microsoft, that's something that we will participate in." … Read more

ESPN Cricinfo.com Chrome Add-on

Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world, next only to soccer. If you happen to be a fan, then this free Google Chrome add-on, ESPN Cricinfo from ESPN EMEA, is just what you need to get the latest news and information on the world of cricket just by clicking on your Chrome toolbar.

The Chrome add-on, once installed, is relatively easy to use. Just click on the icon in the upper-right corner of the browser, and the app will provide instant information on scores, news, and stories from cricinfo.com. The clickable links provide a quick way … Read more

Is Bleacher Report ready for some football?

SAN FRANCISCO--The Super Bowl takes place in just over 72 hours, and Brian Grey and his lieutenants are trying to plan what is by far their most important day of the year.

Grey is the CEO of Bleacher Report, one of the largest sports Web sites in the U.S., and a place nearly 26 million people visited in January for the latest insights into their favorite teams.

Unlike many sports publications, Bleacher Report doesn't concentrate on breaking news with a team of paid writers. Instead, it relies on sports enthusiasts around the country and the world who are … Read more

China Telecom to give the U.S. wireless business a shot

China Telecom wants to go where Walt Disney and ESPN couldn't: the U.S. wireless business.

The Chinese telecommunications provider wants to break into the U.S. market with its own service next year, the company told Bloomberg BusinessWeek. The company intends to go after Chinese Americans and tourists with its offer, which would provide one line for use in the U.S, and another that would work in China.

Rather than build its own network, it plans to lease capacity from another carrier, although the company declined to specify to Bloomberg who the potential partner would be. Traditionally, … Read more

Slacker, ESPN tie up on sports radio

Music-streaming service Slacker is moving into the sports world through a partnership with ESPN.

Starting today, Slacker users can access ESPN Radio content. Basic radio users can listen to a programmed ESPN station, while Slacker Radio Plus and premium subscribers can listen to an ad-free programmed station and create customized myESPN Radio sports stations based on the type of sport, teams, or ESPN programs. They can also get hourly SportsCenter updates added to their Slacker station.

The partnership represents a significant expansion of content for Slacker, which already offers music, ABC News, and comedy. ESPN, meanwhile, gets another outlet for … Read more

A ride straight out of Valhalla: The 2012 Acura TL cross-promotes with 'Thor'

Pairing sexy cars a with summer movie blockbusters has been a long-standing tradition--like last year's "Iron Man 2," which featured the 2011 R8 Spyder 5.2 Quattro supercar. This summer, "Thor", will team up with Acura for a major cross-promotion featuring the 2012 Acura TL.

In the movie "Thor," S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, worldwide peace-keeping organization of the Marvel Comics universe, drive various Acura vehicles, including the MDX, ZDX, RL and TL models. The TL will be the only model featured in ad spots, which include a 30-second TV on … Read more