The Morning Fix: Jobs loss. Bad day at Beeb. ‘Heist’ VOD backlash.

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After the coffee. Before deciding whether to see ‘The Ides of March’ or wait for the 3-D re-release in 15 years.

The Skinny: It’s a light edition today as I must prepare my list of sins to atone for and that will take some time. Stories include a look at the hole left by the death of Steve Jobs, not just at Apple but Disney and elsewhere. Also, the backlash against Universal’s video-on-demand experiment grows, and the BBC will go through some heavy cutbacks.

Big shoes to fill. The void left by the passing of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs will be felt not only at Apple, but at Disney, where he was a very influential board member and confidant of CEO Bob Iger. A look at the role Jobs played at Disney from the Los Angeles Times. Additional coverage on Jobs death and its impact on Apple and the entertainment and technology worlds from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.

VOD backlash. Universal’s plan to experiment with making its new movie ‘Tower Heist’ available on video-on-demand for $60 just a few weeks after its theatrical release is not being greeted with hugs and kisses from theater owners. Cinemark, the nation’s third-biggest chain, has said it won’t carry the film if the studio goes ahead with testing the willingness of consumers to pay $60 to watch a new movie in their home. The latest on the issue from the Los Angeles Times and Hollywood Reporter.

TKO. Robot-boxing flick ‘Real Steel’ is expected to knock out the competition, including the political thriller ‘The Ides of March.’ Industry observers have ‘Real Steel’ making $30 million, but Disney and DreamWorks are downplaying expectations. Looks like a pretty silly movie to me, but what do I know? Box-office forecasts from the Los Angeles Times and Variety.

Bad day at the Beeb. The British Broadcasting Corp. said it will be cutting 2,000 jobs over the next five years in a dramatic effort to trim costs at the iconic broadcaster. Details from the Daily Mirror.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Kenneth Turan on ‘The Ides of March’ and Betsy Sharkey on ‘Real Steel.’ Some more thoughts on ‘The Simpsons’ contract dispute.

-- Joe Flint

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