Blockbuster Makes Payment Deals with Movie Studios

Dan Rayburn submits: Sony (SNE) just announced that 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros have all agreed to allow Sony to stream thei

Apple on Friday expanded its iTunes online film service to France and Ireland.Films from major studios including Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Walt Disney, Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox are now available for purchase or rental at the iPad, iPhone and iPod maker's Internet shop.European studios with works in the line-up include Pathe, SND and StudioCanal in France and E1 Entertainment, Lionsgate UK and Optimum Releasing in Ireland, according to Cupertino, California-based Apple.

TechCrunch submits: By Robin Wauters

DVD Sales Amid the Recession, DVDs Make Up 95% of Total Home Entertainment Spending, Demand for Blu-Ray, Movie Making Costs; Analysis and Discussion with CEO Michael Lynton of Sony Pictures Entertainment (Starting Bell)

Viacom's Paramount Pictures studio is seeking to merge its home entertainment division with a rival and is in advanced talks with Sony Pictures and News Corporation's Fox studio, signalling that Hollywood could soon see a wave of consolidation

AP - Blockbuster Inc. posted a first-quarter loss as the movie-rental chain suffered a drop in revenue caused in part by its bruising competition with Netflix Inc.

It is the rental-kiosk company's first publicly disclosed deal with a major studio.