A Merrill Lynch analyst predicts cable stocks will rise, although box office take could drop, as U.S. consumers gravitate toward staying home and watching TV, the Hollywood Reporter says. A Conference Board survey revealed that while consumer spending intentions are down for most objects such as homes and cars, buying plans for new TV sets are at an all-time high, the newspaper says. Comcast Corp. Chairman-CEO Brian Roberts also said the DTV transition could bring more subscribers to cable, the newspaper notes.
—Vlada Gelman