Inside these posts: ESPN

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Disney, NBC latest to block shows from Google TV

Three of the biggest U.S. television broadcasters have blocked their shows from Google Inc.’s new Web TV service, throwing a wrench into the company’s plans to expand from computers to the living room.

Spokespeople from Walt Disney Co. and NBC Universal confirmed Thursday that they blocked access to its broadcast TV shows from Google TV. Disney owns network and cable TV businesses ABC and ESPN. Get the full story »

ESPN, AOL suspend Jay Mariotti after arrest

Former Chicago Sun-Times star sports columnist Jay Mariotti, has not spoken publicly about his weekend arrest in Los Angeles on suspicion of felony domestic assault. And it doesn’t appear he will be saying much of anything on his usual turf, ESPN or AOL’s Fanhouse site, at least for a while.

Mariotti will be sidelined next week from his regular role as panelist on ESPN’s “Around the Horn,” perhaps longer, it was learned Thursday. AOL Fanhouse, for which Mariotti has been a columnist since January 2009, has suspended him pending its own investigation.

‘Toy Story,’ ESPN lift Disney earnings 40%

Walt Disney Co.’s  fiscal third-quarter earnings jumped 40 percent on deferred revenue at ESPN and hit movies including  “Toy Story 3,” as the media giant and theme-park operator’s results beat analysts’ views.

Shares climbed 1.5 percent  after-hours, to $35.75. The stock had risen 9.4 percent this year through the close, better than the broader market. Get the full story »

Disney to close Chicago’s ESPN Zone sports bar

By Dawn C. Chmielewski | The Walt Disney Co. is shutting down most of its ESPN Zone stores, a chain of sports-themed restaurants located in seven cities, including Chicago, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The only outlets to remain open are those tied to a Disney property, such as the Downtown Disney shopping district in Anaheim.

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