Viacom

Viacom headlines

• Viacom must pay Harmonix $299 million in disputed bonuses per Delaware Supreme Court ruling

  The Delaware Supreme Court has ruled that Viacom must pay Harmonix bonus payments owed to the tune of $299 million.

• Warner one of five buyers interested in THQ - report

  Warner Bros. Interactive has been cited as a possible buyer for THQ assets, according to a report coming out of the firm’s US Bankruptcy Court proceedings in Delaware on January 4.

• Harmonix shareholders awarded $383 million

  An arbitrator has ordered former Harmonix parent company Viacom to hand over a portion of allegedly outstanding bonus payments.

• Thursday Shorts II: GoG, Rocketbirds, Rotastic, Neversoft FPS, Aion turns two

  Snuggle up to this second batch of shorts.

• Viacom sues former Harmonix shareholders

  Viacom is asking for a refund. That is, the company has found that it over-paid Harmonix stockholders in anticipation of certain Rock Band-related earn-outs that never happened, and it would like its money back, please. How much? US$131 million.

• MTV Games closed down

  MCV reports that Rock Band publisher MTV Games has officially shut up shop.

• Rock Band 3 Fender Squier Stratocaster now on pre-order

  Rock Band 3’s ultimate accessory, the Fender Squier Stratocaster, is now available for pre-order in the US.

• Report - Viacom sold Harmonix for $50

  Harmonix was sold by Viacom to investment group Columbus Nova for $49.99, All Things Digital is reporting.

• Viacom ditching game industry may impact Bruckheimer Games deal

  With Viacom getting out of the gaming business, and selling Harmonix off to the highest bidder, the move to exit the industry may put Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s intended videogame plans in jeopardy.

• Konami and Harmonix both dismiss "all claims and counterclaims" in patent suit

  Konami and Harmonix settled a patent dispute over Rock Band, according to court filings in Texas this week.

• Rock Band sales decrease by seven percent

  Viacom has announced that worldwide sales of Rock Band have decreased by seven percent during the quarter ending March 31, 2010.

• Hendrix: Rock Band rumor is just that - a rumor, says Harmonix

  Rumors floating about the net earlier in the day had Harmonix working on a Hendrix-centric Rock Band title. Turns out, that is not the case.

• Viacom wants bonuses paid out to Rock Band devs back

  MTV Games’ parent company Viacom plans on to seek a partial refund on the $150 million in bonuses it paid Harmonix back in 2008. Guess since music sales have slumped, it needs the money.

• EA publishing deal with Rock Band lasting through March

  EA’s confirmed its present deal with Viacom on all things Rock Band from MTV Games and Harmonix is only good for another month.

• Mad Catz paid $300K to be let out of Guitar Hero peripheral contract

  Darren Richardson, president and CEO of Mad Katz, had told Kotaku that the reason the original Guitar Hero game only launched on PS2 was because the firm pulled out of doing a Xbox SKU due to a lawsuit between Harmonix and Konami.

• Rock Band sales slow, but "improving" say Viacom

  Viacom has said that its Harmonix and MTV game franchise, Rock Band, has been a a bit of a slow rummer, but that the series is finally picking up the pace. It may possibly break even or become “slightly profitable” by the end of Q4 if Christmas sales are good, said CEO Philippe Daumann. “The […]

• Beatles: Rock Band sales have "exceeded expectations," says Viacom

  Guitar Hero 5 may be winning the battle of the bands, but you won’t find any gently weeping guitars over at Viacom. “It’s been terrific. The sales have exceeded our internal expectations. In the first week we’ve sold about 25% of our inventory, and we’ve had tremendous excitement around this game. The reviews have been […]

• Viacom revenues down due to decline in Rock Band sales

  MTV and Harmonix’s parent company, Viacom, has reported that sales of the Rock Band franchise are down this quarter “due to the soft retail environment”, which has directly impacted revenues for the company. Q2 revenue dropped 8 percent to $1.97 billion with a 41 percent decline in revenue blamed on poor sales of Rock Band […]

• GameTrailers' Shane Satterfield promoted to Spike VP of Content

  MTV has promoted Shane Satterfield, former GameTrailers editor-in-chief, to Spike’s VP of content, reports GI.biz. Satterfield will continue to head GameTrailers, but new responsibilities include accruing new content for the Spike website. “I am excited to welcome Shane into this new role,” said Jon Slusser, senior VP. “He will bring his creativity, leadership skills and […]