Busy beat

Matthew Garrahan, the Financial Times' man in Los Angeles, reported Sunday that Apple is in advanced talks with Hollywood’s largest movie studios about "launching an online film rental service to challenge cable and satellite TV operators." He reports an autumn debut.

Apple already sells films that can be downloaded and owned, and has distribution deals with Walt Disney and Paramount. Other studios have shied from tie-ups with Apple because of concerns that digital downloading may hit DVD sales.

But studios will be more enthusiastic about joining its video-on-demand service. Films downloaded to rent are unlikely to affect DVD sales.

He goes deeper with an analysis piece. Garrahan, newly arrived in L.A., sure keeps busy. He reported Saturday on a lunch with Jerry Bruckheimer at the Buffalo Club, compared Tony Soprano to the average American on Sunday, and today interviews Paula Wagner, the new chief executive of United Artists Entertainment.