Gemstar Tv Guide International Inc

Silicon Valley software company Macrovision Corp. said Friday that it would buy Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. for $2.8 billion in cash and stock in a bet that consumers will turn to their TV sets, not their personal computers, to manage home entertainment. The sale to Macrovision, which developed technology to prevent movie and video game copying, was a surprise because experts had expected such bigger names as Comcast Corp.

Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. said third-quarter profit rose sevenfold because of a tax benefit as sales climbed 7.1%. Net income increased to $123.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International swung to a loss in the third quarter, citing distribution delays in Mexico and weak U.S. sales for some products, the Aliso Viejo-based drug maker said Thursday.

Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc., a publisher of on-screen program listings, signed a patent licensing agreement with Qualcomm Inc.'s MediaFlo mobile television division.

Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc., whose history of ups and downs would be fit for a financial soap opera, said Monday that it was exploring a possible sale.

Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.'s TVG horse racing network sued track owner Magna Entertainment Corp. and two subsidiaries over patents for interactive betting.

A federal judge denied for now a request by the Securities and Exchange Commission to hold former Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. Chairman Henry Yuen in contempt and to jail him until he pays $12 million.

Gemstar TV Guide International Inc. reported higher first-quarter profit as its interactive program guides for cable and satellite TV drove revenue.