Customers on the rental plan are now able to stream a large collection of movies to their own televisions without having to procure an actual disc. The $7.99 a month rental plan was introduced to cover this feature and the prices of plans for both digital streaming and DVDs jumped slightly. Netflix said more than one-third of the new subscribers joined on to enjoy the streaming plan only.

Analysts do say that the company’s record-high subscriber numbers were much higher than expected but cited that Netflix’s profit margins were soft which is likely due to the cost of streaming content. However, it is expected that Netflix will continue to add new members and revenue which allow for more content acquisitions.

Netflix has no plans to stop shipping physical DVDs to customers any time within the foreseeable future, although the company does expect that requests for the DVDs will begin to drop off at some point. Netflix is continuing its effort to keep current customers happy with both streaming and DVD delivery options but it does appear the company is headed in the right direction with the ramping up of their digital streaming transition.

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The competition between MySpace and rival Facebook has been ongoing. MySpace claims a user-ship of 100 million users compared to the 500 million Facebook maintains. MySpace says the main component of the change is that the site is not content-focused rather than people-focused as it was in the past.

Personal profiles still are used on the site but the site now boasts the latest content updates on celebrities, TV shows, bands, and movies instead of updates from long-lost friends. The welcome page of the site will consistently update with the latest news. Logged in users will have information displayed the pertains to their specific preferences.

Users have the option to choose between three user homepages including the traditional, a grid view, and a player view. The traditional uses a list view for information. The grid view is similar to a magazine-style content provider. The player view is a new television-style format that places an emphasis on video.

MySpace has also partnered with entertainment partners including MTV, Access Hollywood, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Village Voice, and Just Jared celebrity blog. Resident ‘experts’ will be enlisted to provide information on certain topics in the entertainment industry and cultural trends.

MySpace has also instituted a reward program where users can earn badges for their social activities on the site. The reward system has been called ‘Reputation’. The company is also planning to release a web-based mobile version of the new site. It plans to release an app for the iPhone and Android later in the year.

Currently the site is still in beta version but will be made available to worldwide users effective at the end of November.

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Rich Ross, the chairman recently appointed at Walt Disney Studios has make the move to shake up the movie division of the company and focus on films that can find leverage by other means such as video games and merchandise. The company is looking for ways to save money and cut unnecessary costs. The company is also working to recover from the abrupt resignation of Dick Cook after more than a year of disappointing results.

“Given today’s economic realities, we need to find alternative ways to bring creative content to audiences and IMD no longer fits into our business model,” President of Walt Disney Studios, Alan Bergman stated.

The facility has produced 2007’s “Beowulf” and “Polar Express’ from 2004. Both movies helped solidify the trend in Hollywood for 3-D movies and technology. ImageMovers last produced the Jim Carey 3-D “A Christmas Carol” which brought in $324 million around the world in box office profits and cost $175 million to produce the film. The movie also cost millions to promote the movie and the technology used to create the 3-D effects seemed very much outdated and overshadowed by James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’, which employed much more advanced technology. 

As for Zemekis, Disney is looking forward to creating a long-term production deal with the director and the two other partners of ImageMovers, Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey. Disney has been in a partnership with Robert Zemeckis for the past four years but the pair has been associated since 1988 when Zemeckis directed the groundbreaking hit film ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” It was announced by Disney in September 2009 that Zemeckis would be next working on a 3-D movie remake of The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine”, originally done in 1968. Zemeckis said in a statement that he was ‘incredibly proud’ of the ImageMovers work and the team who helped to accomplish it.

Currently, the Disney’s studio division has around 8,000 employees. With the closing of the ImageMovers facility after the final movie is completed, it is estimated more that 450 will find themselves unemployed. Those employees will be phased out of a job over the course of a year until the San Rafael, CA facility ultimately closes by January 2011. The facility’s last film has a tentative March 2011 release date.

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Consumers have trimmed spending where they can; taking advantage of coupons, purchasing store brand over national brand and eating at home in an attempt to scale down the household budget, but budgeting isn’t the only issue they face.

• Credit card rates and penalties are on the increase. With lines of credit maxed out or discontinued consumers can no longer resort to credit as their safety net.
• Many household have reported a loss or reduction of healthcare coverage resulting in the inability to meet their medical bills.
• Job losses continue to be reported especially in the lower –income households.
• Delinquency in major bills and mortgages continue to be reported.
• Housing foreclosures continue and mortgage modifications are bottlenecked.

In other words, consumers are faced with greater financial demands than they faced last year and are bringing in less income.

Short bursts of spending have been reported for new cars and homes, no doubt do to the recent Cash for Clunkers program and First Time Homebuyer incentives, but generally speaking the purse strings are still fairly tight.

• Increases in sales of canning and freezing supplies suggest America is going back to the home cooked meal.
• The movie rental industry and cable television have seen a drop in numbers as consumers report more viewing of local channels via their home computer.
• Estimates for holiday sales are projected to be about the same as last year with online shopping coming in ahead of the usual brick-and-mortar shopping trip.

It seems a blanket of malaise has settled over consumers. Worn out by the financial rhetoric of months past and with little hope for meaningful improvement in the near future many are just doing the best they can which is simply living in the moment, which might be one of the best lessons gleaned from these times.

As consumers learn to appreciate the simple things in life and create new lifestyles out of the economic fall-out we may very well see a resurgence of personal empowerment, dedication to family and community and the ability to smell the flowers along the way. Of course, that would mean the current means by which our economy is propelled would also need to change.

Sources: The Nielsen Company/ Nielsen Economic Current/ Nielsenwire/ Trade-Offs-Dominate-Shopping-Decisions. ConsumerReports.org/ Consumer Reports Index report.

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Set a Day Instead of going to see a movie every time a new one comes out, set a day each month that you and your family go to see a movie. Then, pick a movie that everyone would like to see a go to enjoy it. This way, you still get to go out and enjoy the movie-going experience without breaking the bank by going out too often. Of course there may be a special occasion where you want to see a specific movie in addition to your movie night. Don’t be afraid to do this, but try not to do it too often.

Get a Card  A lot of movie chains offer rewards cards. This may seem stupid, but if you go to the same chain each time, (like Regal), it can really save you some cash. Each time you go you may receive a different kind of reward, such as a free popcorn or a free drink. After a certain amount of time, you may even receive a free movie ticket. While this doesn’t seem like a huge savings, it can add up quite a bit over time, especially if you go to the movies often.

Skip the Food Sure, that popcorn sounds tempting. That candy looks scrumptious in the display case. But, do you really need it? Instead of buying multiple things, buy one or two things. Also, try getting a small. While you may think that this won’t be fulfilling, and you’ll just want to eat more later, you might be pleasantly surprised. A “small” at Regal Cinemas is actually pretty big. Don’t fall for those “value meals”. They’re really not much of a value. Food at a movie theatre can cost upwards of twenty dollars for two people. Cut this down, and you will be able to go see movies more often with the money you save.

Just follow these tips, and you can enjoy the movies without completely breaking the bank. Be responsible with your money, but also continue to enjoy entertainment with your family, or just by yourself. If you’re careful, you can still have fun!

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• Become a member of a fan club- Your favorite performer most likely has their own website which often sells merchandise, tickets and other goodies for members of their fan club. You may qualify for discounted tickets or a package that offers other goodies as well.

• Box office can be your best bet for great seats at a low price- Try to box office to see if you can get a good deal on great seats. Don’t forget to check back often as ticket availability may change throughout the tour.

• Start looking early- There are usually pre-sale opportunities prior to the date the tickets “officially” go on sale to the rest of the public. This is where being a member of a fan site may also come in handy as pre-sale opportunities are often announced on band websites. Certain credit card issuers also offer a jump on the official sale date of tickets.

• Check out promotions which may offer free tickets- Radio stations and major businesses in your area often have great tickets which you may win by participating in a contest or simply calling in at the designated time. Don’t forget acts that may perform at fairs or other venues where you may be able to take in a concert which is included in the cost of admission.

• Shop online- As with all things in this age of technology, sometimes the best deal can be found by simply spending a little bit of time comparison shopping online. Find out if there are promotional or coupon codes which will reduce the price of your ticket even lower than the advertised price.

• Last minute sales- With more people either unable or unwilling to spend money on summer entertainment, many tours which would otherwise be sold-out end up having tickets available right up until the date of the concert. If you are either late to the game getting a ticket or have decided to roll the dice and see if you can get a better deal at the last minute you may be in luck as sellers rush to unload remaining tickets.

As you can see there are many ways you can save money on concerts this summer. These tips will also work for other forms of summer entertainment such as sporting events or other shows. If you have a few dollars to spare, go ahead and take in a show this summer- you deserve the break.

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The kids of today’s times tend to think that in order to have a “fun time with their family” there needs to be a lot of money spent. The chaotic lives that many of us have might lead parents to the path of – “Here’s $50.00. I’ll drop you off at the mall to see a movie and shop and pick you up at nine” kind of family fun. Sound familiar? Ask yourself, Where’s the “FAMILY’ and the “FUN” in that? The “FAMILY” is driving to and from the mall. “FUN” is hanging with friends and spending money.

How about bringing it all back together again creating real “FAMILY FUN” while saving money? How about reinforcing the true meaning and value in family TIME? Sound exciting? Here are 8 Money Saving Ideas For Family Fun and bringing your family close again:

1. Break Out the Board Games. In this fast paced society, kids have become accustomed to fast-paced video gaming. What a better way to forget about the “fast-paced” time and enjoy true laughter with your family, acting silly in charades, Pictionary, or learning how smart each of you are with a good game of trivial pursuit. For the youngsters, there is Sorry, Shoots and Ladders and CandyLand that help to teach the basics while having a good time.

2. Popcorn and a Movie. Rent a movie, which is much less expensive than going to the theater, pop some popcorn and snuggle up on the sofa.

3. Make a Meal. Each family member picks a part of the meal to prepare, i.e. Appetizer, main course, desert, beverage, etc. Bring it to the table for a nice sit-down dinner and great conversation.

4. Cheer for the Locals. Enjoy a night, or afternoon, with the family cheering on the local sports teams, who knows, maybe even another family member. Much more memorable and inexpensive than a professional game.

5. Get Crafty. Make homemade decorations or gifts. Friends and family will treasure the “gifts from the heart” much more.

6. Ice Cream Parlor. Instead of going out for a cone of ice cream, dig out the old ice cream maker and make your own. Invite friends over and have a festival of ice cream.

7. Car Wash. How can anyone possibly NOT find good humor and fun in getting all soaped up and wet on a hot summer day? Kids will wiggle and giggle trying to get their parents wet with the hose while trying to keep from getting sprayed themselves, although they love it. At the same time, you are cleaning the car and avoiding the high price of the detailing shop.

8. Talent Show. Have other families to your house and show off your talents. Everybody has one! Make it a party with beverages and snacks. To keep cost even lower, ask each family to bring a little something to share.

There are many, many more fun and “easy on the pocket” ways to bring family and friends close together again. Be creative with your imagination and have a blast!

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In the economically-rough times our nation is currently experiencing, it is now more important than ever to save money and shop more carefully. Whether your preference is the community mall or the online outlets, shopping control should be exercised, tracked carefully, and done directly in line with a budget if you want to avoid debt and other financial problems.

Here are some tips to help keep shopping to a minimum, regardless of the temptations you are facing from the savvy retail marketing departments.

1. Do Not Go Shopping Out of Boredom

Going shopping when you having nothing else to do can literally rack up several hundred bucks in receipts. It makes much more financial sense to grab tickets to a play or movie to be entertained than it does to hit the mall. Here’s an even better idea – hit the local park with the kids or with friends and get some exercise. It’s free and good for you too!

2. Shop Out of Necessity

Keep a list that everyone in the family can reach (on the fridge, on a desk, by the phone) and ask that anything anyone needs be written down on the list. When it’s time to hit the store, check out the newspaper or online websites to find coupons for the list items. Clip them out and bring them and the list to the store. Shop only for what is on the list. Focusing on your specific written list can help you avoid making impulse purchases. You may be more inclined to get your listed items and get out of the store.

3. Go to Specific Stores for Specific Items

When you find you need to shop for a specific item, go to a store that specializes in those items. For instance, you need a simple gallon of paint. Head to the paint store, get your gallon and leave. If you go to a big home improvement store or general superstore, you are more likely to walk out of there with way more than your paint.

4 Avoid Window Shopping – Online and Off

Window shopping can be a very dangerous pastime. If you consider yourself to be only window shopping, chances are good your already know you don’t have the budget to go shopping for real. However, looking at all the things you can’t have may help you alter your thinking when it concerns your real financial situation. Stay away from the mall and other stores unless you really need something. Find a new hobby to stimulate your brain.

4 Tips – Keeping Your Time, Your Money, and Your Sanity While Shopping was created by and is property of American Consumer News.