Financial Briefs

By VARIETY STAFF

Blockbuster Entertainment may have found the site for its proposed Florida sports and entertainment complex, which would also house radio, TV and film production interests. The video giant has signed contracts with owners of more than 1,600 acres about halfway betweeen Ft. Lauderdale and Miami and will evaluate the property for a multipurpose arena that would house the pro hockey Florida Panthers; a retractable dome baseball stadium for the National League Florida Marlins; and assorted other facilities. Blockbuster said it also will consider other sites.

Douris Corp. will distribute the 700 films from the Rohauer collection, including "M,""The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari" and "The Blue Angel," under a deal with Dallas-based Future Communications Inc. The deal, which also includes 26 Cinetel Films Inc. titles ("Where the Day Takes You,""Past Midnight"), was valued at $ 34 million. Douris also gets remake and music publishing rights. Douris CEO Gary Dartnall cited the demand created by the so-called 500 channel universe as driving the deal.

QVC claimed a record $ 8.5 million in sales during its annual 24-hour Fashion Day extravaganza Aug. 25. The results represent a 23% increase over last year's August Fashion Day.

Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co., Crosfield, Linotype-Hell AG and Scitex Corp. signed letters of intent to work with Kodak on a new photo compact disc. The four manufacturers will also enable their systems to read and display files from all Kodak Photo CD discs. Kodak said the product will simplify and reduce the cost of moving data through the pre-press process.

A group including New York money manager Mario Gabelli cut its stake in Chris-Craft Industries Inc.'s Class A common shares to 27.34% (5.61 million common shares). The Gabelli group reported on July 22 holding 28.38% (5.83 million shares).

Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Corp. of San Mateo named Michael Grant to the newly created post of producer on-line of interactive media. Grant was senior product strategist of Apple Computer Inc.'s PIE unit.