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Stacy Carlson Joins MPAA Staff

The Motion Picture Association of America announced Thursday that Stacy Carlson has been hired to fill a new position as executive VP of global government affairs, effective Jan. 3. Ms. Carlson is currently director of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Washington…

Viacom Reports Q3 Loss, Announces $8 Billion Stock Buyback Program

A charge tied to the spinoff of Blockbuster Video swung Sumner Redstone’s Viacom to a third-quarter loss, the company announced Thursday. Viacom also announced an aggressive $8 billion stock buyback program.The company, whose assets include CBS and MTV, reported a…

FCC Commissioners Slate Dec. 9 Field Hearing on Consolidation

Stirring the pot anew on media concentration, the Federal Communications Commission’s two Democrats-Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein-on Thursday announced that they are planning to preside at a field hearing on industry consolidation on Dec. 9 at Hamline University in…

Martha Stewart Living Reports Wider Q3 Loss

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia on Thursday reported a wider third-quarter loss, as the lifestyle company continued to suffer from the legal troubles surrounding founder Martha Stewart. Ms. Stewart started her five-month federal prison term earlier this month.MSO reported a third-quarter…

News Corp. Promotes O’Connell

News Corp. has promoted Maureen O’Connell to senior VP of regulatory and government affairs. She joined the company in June 1996 as VP of regulatory and government affairs after serving as legal adviser to Commissioner James H. Quello at the…

Hearst-Argyle CEO Expresses Concern About NBC

Hearst-Argyle Television CEO David Barrett on Thursday acknowledged his station group is concerned about the ratings slide taking place at NBC and said the company is encouraged by the improvement taking place at ABC. But he said he isn’t ready…

Sony’s Q2 Profit Surges, but U.S. TV Division Down

Sony on Thursday reported a 62 percent surge in fiscal second-quarter profit, though its U.S. television operation delivered weaker results in the period.The Japanese conglomerate reported a profit of 53.2 billion yen ($501.4 million), versus a year-earlier profit of 32.9…

Q3 Profit Down for Tribune

Tribune, the media company that owns 26 television stations and owns stakes in The WB Network and Food Channel, on Thursday reported a 33 percent decline in third-quarter profit as the circulation scandal at a number of its newspapers, coupled…

DreamWorks Shares Soar in First Day of Trading

Shares in DreamWorks Animation SKG surged 34 percent in midday trading Thursday, its first day as a public company.DreamWorks Animation’s stock traded at $37.42 a share, up sharply from the company’s initial public offering price of $28 a share.That IPO…

LIN TV Corp. Reports Increase in Q3 Profits

LIN TV Corp. on Thursday reported that third-quarter profit more than doubled, thanks to political advertising spending, which helped offset losses suffered in the Puerto Rico market, which was hit by a string of hurricanes.The Providence, R.I.-based owner and operator…