Business

Congress to Take Probe of Comcast-NBCU Deal on the Road to Hollywood

Congress is taking the unusual step of putting its probe of the Comcast-NBCU merger on the road with a hearing in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times’ Company Town blog reports. The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing about…

Report: Fox Starting to Write Upfront Business at High Single Digit Increases

Fox Broadcasting has begun writing orders for upfront advertising at high-single-digit increases compared to last year, Advertising Age reports. According to the report, by Ad Age media expert Brian Steinberg, "Other networks are also moving along. CBS is in active…

Seventh Largest Cable Operator Wants to Go Private

The nation’s seventh largest cable operator wants to go priviate, Multichannel News reports. The seventh largest cable MSO is Mediacom Communications, which serves 1.3 million subscribers. The article says that Mediacom founder and chairman Rocco Commisso "who took the operator…

Wall St. Analysts Debate Who’d Buy ABC if Disney is Willing to Sell It

Wall St. is debating if Disney will sell ABC, and if so, who will buy it. According to Reuters, "On Wednesday, the long-debated issue resurfaced after prosecutors charged a secretary to a senior Disney executive and her boyfriend with trying…

Two Major Studios Tell Apple They Will Not Revamp Video Libraries to Accomodate the iPad

Two major studios, whose video libraries use Adobe’s Flash technology, have told Apple that they will not revamp their library product to accomodate the iPad, which does not use Flash, according to the New York Post. The two studios are…

Viacom Promotes Tom Dooley to Chief Operating Officer

Viacom has promoted Tom Dooley, most recently chief financial officer and chief administrative officer, to the newly created post of chief operating officer, reports The Hollywood Reporter. Dooley, 53, long one of Sumner Redstone’s most trusted executives, will continue to report…

Pentagon Report: Space Trash Is Risking $250 Billion Market for TV Signals, Phone Connections

A Pentagon report is warning that space trash is putting at risk the $250 billion market for television signals, phone connections, global-positioning navigation and other signals, reports Bloomberg News. The services are at risk from potential crashes between satellites and…

Former Us Weekly Editor Janice Min Joins Venerable Hollwood Trade Publication

In what the New York Times’ Media Decoder blog calls "a surprising move," former Us Weekly editor Janice Min has joined one of the oldest Hollywood trade publications at its editorial director. Min is now employed by The Hollywood Reporter. After…

Apple, Riding the Success of Its i-Products–iPhones, iPods, iPads, iTunes–Is Now Worth More Than Microsoft

What a phenomenal turn-around. Apple, for years makers of cult products such that the company wasn’t even close to the market cap of megagiant Microsoft, is now worth more than Microsoft. In the words of the Seattle Times, "It was the day a…

Comcast-NBC Deal: FCC Very Interested in How Company Decides What Content Goes on What Platform

The Federal Communications Commission is digging into its review of the merger between Comcast and NBC Universal, sending them questions that are very detailed and probing and which might require them to release confidential information, writes Joe Flint on the…