Category: Media

Meredith Buying Time May Be Its Safest Route to Really Going Digital

Time has begun to show signs that legacy print publishers can transition to digital from print, but merging with Meredith may be the best way to get there. Experience matters, and reports that Time is no longer being pursued by an investor group led by Edgar Bronfman Jr. should come as a welcome sign for a company that would probably be best served if its new owners have first-hand knowledge of the digital magazine business.

AT&T’s Flashing Yellow Light

Time Warner Inc. investors are becoming convinced the company’s sale to AT&T Inc. will get done, even though President Donald Trump at one point seemed intent on stopping it. But don’t get too excited.

European TV Giant RTL Group Reports Record Full-Year Earnings

The parent company of Germany’s RTL, France’s M6 and ‘Young Pope’ producer FremantleMedia saw profits and revenue hit new highs thanks to German TV and digital expansion. Its annual results published Thursday saw RTL post record revenue and profits, thanks mainly to a still-booming German TV market and to strong growth in the company’s digital operations.

Tribune Media, Time Jump on Reports of Potential Deals

Mergers among media companies, much anticipated for at least three years, may be finally unfolding as WGN owner Tribune Media and magazine publisher Time talk to potential acquirers. Shares of Tribune Media and Time were surging on Wednesday before the market open amid reports that the companies, two of the country’s oldest media operators, may be close to sales.

No AT&T-Time Warner merger review expected

The head of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission does not expect to review AT&T Inc’s planned $85.4 billion acquisition of Time Warner Inc , a spokesman for the agency said on Monday. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai had told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on Monday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that he did not foresee a role for the FCC on the takeover and his comments were confirmed to Reuters by FCC spokesman Neil Grace.

Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross confirmed as Trumpa s secretary of commerce

Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., takes his seat at a hearing of Commerce, Science, and Transportation committee on January, 18, 2017 in Washington, DC. Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., a former banker and investor who earned billions during decades buying and selling industries and who Trump has touted to lead his trade negotiations, was confirmed as Secretary of Commerce on Monday night in a 72 to 27 vote in the Senate.

FCC Chairman Doesn’t Expect to Review AT&T-Time Warner

The new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission said Monday he didn’t expect the agency to have a role in reviewing AT&T Inc.’s $85 billion takeover of Time Warner Inc. In an interview at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Ajit Pai said he understood the companies have structured the deal so that no airwave licenses would be…

Lawmaker: ‘I got confirmation’ my Russia-Ukraine plan was…

The Ukrainian lawmaker who met with President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, and businessman Felix Sater in New York last month to discuss a controversial peace plan for Ukraine “got confirmation” from Sater that his plan was delivered to the White House, he told Business Insider. Andrey Artemenko, a member of Ukrainian parliament and former member of the country’s far-right Radical Party, said he met with Cohen and Sater at the Loews Regency New York on January 27 to discuss Artemenko’s proposal for solving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Gretchen Carlson in talks to join MSNBC, sources say

Gretchen Carlson, who settled a multi-million lawsuit late last year against former Fox News chief Roger Ailes, is in talks with MSNBC to join the network, sources familiar with the matter told Business Insider. A source familiar with the matter said Carlson’s deal had not yet been finalized, but was nearing completion.

Time Warner to Sell TV Station Amid AT&T Merger

“Time Warner Inc. agreed to sell its Atlanta television station to Meredith Corp. for $70 million,” confirms the Wall Street Journal , “removing a significant factor that could have prompted the Federal Communications Commission to review Time Warner’s $85 billion sale to AT&T Inc.” New FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has yet to say whether he plans to have the agency review AT&T’s mega-purchase. As of press time, he has also declined to remark on what impact the Atlanta station sale might have on any possible FCC review.

Japan’s Biggest Anime Channels to Combine Operations

Owned by Sony and trading house Mitsui, Kids Station and Animax will come under a joint venture as online platforms challenge the pay TV business model. Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan and trading house Mitsui are forming a joint venture to operate the two anime cable stations they own in Japan, the two companies announced Thursday.

Paramount’s Brad Grey to Leave Studio as Viacom Cleans House

Viacom CEO Bob Bakish continued his aggressive reorganization of the media conglomerate on Wednesday, announcing that Brad Grey will leave as CEO of Paramount Pictures. In a mover that follows a reorganization of Viacom’s cable TV network group, Bakish on Wednesday announced that Brad Grey will leave Paramount Pictures after 12 years atop the Hollywood studio.

Wednesday’s ETF Movers: MCHI, GDX

In trading on Wednesday, the iShares MSCI China ETF is outperforming other ETFs, up about 0.9% on the day. Components of that ETF showing particular strength include shares of Netease , up about 3.4% and shares of Alibaba Group Holding , up about 2.8% on the day.

An investigation into the former president of the ‘poor man’s…

A federal investigation into Lisa S. Coico, former president of City College, the flagship of the City University of New York , has expanded, the New York Times reported. Prosecutors are now investigating an additional money source – the City College Fund – to understand why the fund apparently paid Coico without university approval, according to the Times, which said the arrangement was not reported on tax returns.

An investigation into the former president of the ‘poor man’s…

A federal investigation into Lisa S. Coico, former president of City College, the flagship of the City University of New York , has expanded, the New York Times reported. Prosecutors are now investigating an additional money source – the City College Fund – to understand why the fund apparently paid Coico without university approval, according to the Times, which said the arrangement was not reported on tax returns.

China’s $9 Trillion Moral Hazard Problem Grows Too Big to Ignore

China may be about to embark on its most ambitious — and perilous — campaign to convince investors that they can’t depend on a bailout during the country’s next market upheaval. In a rare show of cooperation, the nation’s main financial regulators are drafting new rules for asset-management products that aim to make clear the investments have no government guarantee, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News on Tuesday.

Russia-Ukraine ‘peace plan’ controversy is an…

The controversy surrounding the role President Trump’s lawyer played in pushing a “peace plan” for Russia and Ukraine on the National Security Council is “an absurd attempt to distract” from Trump’s reforms, the White House told Business Insider on Tuesday. Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, was at the center of a New York Times report published Sunday that said he had hand-delivered a plan to former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn before Flynn was asked to resign.

Senators Want Sessions to Review AT&T, Time Warner Deal

The planned $85 billion merger between AT&T and Time Warner could be facing further scrutiny as top senators on the Judiciary Committee are urging the DOJ to look into the deal further, due to antitrust concerns. Subcommittee chair Sen. Mike Lee and Amy Klobuchar sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions highlighting parts of the deal they find concerning, The Hill reports.

Milo Yiannopoulos resigns from Breitbart after appearing to…

Milo Yiannopoulos, the controversial right-wing provocateur, resigned as senior editor from Breitbart News on Tuesday amid controversy stemming from year-old comments he made appearing to condone sexual relationships between “younger boys and older men.” “I would be wrong to allow my poor choice of words to detract from my colleagues’ important reporting, so today I am resigning from Breitbart,” Yiannopoulos said in a statement .

Publisher cancels Milo Yiannopoulos book deal

Milo Yiannopoulos, the conservative provocateur known for brusque and controversial political commentary, just had his book deal canceled by publisher Simon & Schuster. “After careful consideration, Simon & Schuster and its Threshold Editions have canceled publication of ‘Dangerous’ by Milo Yiannopoulos,” a statement from the company read Monday afternoon.

Milo Yiannopoulos Book Canceled By Simon & Schuster

The Breitbart editor had signed a $250,000 book deal in December with Threshold Editions, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, but the publisher announced on Monday that it halted plans for the book, after “careful consideration,” according to Publisher’s Weekly . Yiannopoulos, who also appeared on Real Time With Bill Maher last week to discuss his views on Hollywood liberalism, was disinvited from this week’s Conservative Political Action Conference, known as CPAC, where he was supposed to deliver the keynote address.

Yiannopoulos responds to video posted by conservative site

In this Jan. 25, 2017, file photo, Milo Yiannopoulos speaks on campus in the Mathematics building at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo. Right-wing provocateur Yiannopoulos was trying to clarify past comments on relationships between boys and older men after a conservative site posted a collection of edited video clips that set social media abuzz.

Yiannopoulos responds to video posted by conservative site

In this Jan. 25, 2017, file photo, Milo Yiannopoulos speaks on campus in the Mathematics building at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo. Right-wing provocateur Yiannopoulos was trying to clarify past comments on relationships between boys and older men after a conservative site posted a collection of edited video clips that set social media abuzz.