This photo released by Sony - Columbia Pictures shows James Franco, left, as Dave and Seth Rogen as Aaron in a scene from Columbia Pictures' "The Interview." (AP Photo/Sony - Columbia Pictures, Ed Araquel)
NEW YORK (AP) --
Digital sales for "The Interview" are up to $40 million, putting the release on track to eclipse "Bridesmaids" as the biggest online release.
In a statement Tuesday, Sony Pictures chief executive Michael Lynton called the total "a significant milestone." The film has been playing on a variety of online and on-demand platforms. It has also added $6 million in box office sales, playing in select independent theaters.
In early 2012, "Bridesmaids" set the previous record for digital release with $40 million in sales.
While record-breaking, the digital release of "The Interview" means Sony will struggle to break even on the $40 million-plus film, whose national release was canceled amid a diplomatic dispute with North Korea.
Receipts are split with distributors, and marketing would have cost around $25 million.
The Walt Disney Co. logo appears on a screen above the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Aug. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
Disney's Hulu + Live TV and sports streaming service Fubo are combining in a deal that will also see the settlement of a lawsuit against the creation of Venu Sports.
Fubo and Hulu + Live TV both allow customers to stream live broadcast and cable networks on their connected TVs, mobile phones, tablets, and other internet-connected devices.
The combined company, which Disney will have a 70% stake in, will operate under Fubo's publicly traded company name and be led by Fubo's existing management team. Fubo and Hulu + Live TV have a combined 6.2 million North American subscribers.
Fubo and Hulu + Live TV will still be available to consumers as separate offerings once the transaction closes.
"This combination enables us to deliver on our promise to provide consumers with greater choice and flexibility," Fubo CEO David Gandler said in a statement. "Additionally, this agreement allows us to scale effectively, strengthens Fubo's balance sheet and positions us for positive cash flow."
Disney has committed to a $145 million term loan to Fubo in 2026. There's also a $130 million termination fee payable to Fubo under certain circumstances.
Disney said it will also enter into a new deal with Fubo that will allow Fubo to create a new sports and broadcast service that features Disney's sports and broadcast networks including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS and ESPN+.
The companies said that Fubo has settled all litigation with Disney and ESPN related to Venu Sports, the sports streaming platform that was planned by ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery. Fubo has also settled all litigation with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery.
In August a federal judge granted Fubo's motion for a preliminary injunction against... Read More
