When the news broke that Goldman Sachs had rid itself of its investment in Village Voice Media due to the company’s connection with Backpage.com, a website known mostly for its advertisements for “escorts” and certain kinds …
Technology & Media
As Scandal Swirls, News Corp. Shareholders Call For Reduced Murdoch Influence
James Murdoch’s resignation as chairman of British satellite giant BSkyB is just the latest development in a slow-moving saga that continues to roil one of the most powerful media companies in the world. Now, ahead of a …
Research: Over 1 Million U.S. Cable Subscribers Cut Cord in 2011
Cable and satellite TV subscription growth slowed down more than had been previously reported, and cord-cutting was a primary factor. But don’t worry about it — a revolution that will re-create the current multi-channel …
Why Groupon’s Fuzzy Math Should Worry Investors
What is it with daily-deals website Groupon and accounting? The latest snafu came Friday when the company restated earnings to reflect a larger fourth-quarter loss after failing to set aside enough money to account for customer …
Is The Flat-Screen TV Boom Over?
The consumer electronics trend that had us shuffling out our perfectly good but perfectly bulky CRT televisions in favor of fancy-new flat screens appears to be ebbing. According to research firm IHS iSuppli, U.S. shipments of …
Apple Stock: Too Much of a Good Thing?
As virtually everyone knows, Apple has had a sweet run of late. This year alone its stock shot up nearly 50%, four times the gains notched by the S&P 500 index.
But if you’re feeling miffed that you missed out on the stock …
Thanks to E-Books, Flat Revenue is No Problem for Publishers
Large book publishers’ most recent earnings reports reflect a new normal: Revenues are roughly flat, but profits are up—in large part due to e-books.
Apple Agrees to Labor Reforms After ‘Serious’ Foxconn Violations
After months of growing scrutiny over its labor practices, Apple has agreed to implement reforms following an independent audit that discovered major violations in the sprawling Chinese factories that produce iPhones and iPads. …
Is Cable’s Long, Glorious Ratings Run Finally Over?
For more than three decades, cable TV programmers enjoyed steady ratings gains—mostly at the expense of broadcasters. Inspired efforts like AMC’s Mad Men and FX’s Sons of Anarchy notwithstanding, those steady ratings …
Light Beer, Suffering From Watered-Down Sales, Tries to Regain the Spotlight
Retail sales of craft beers grew 15% last year. Liquor also had a good 2011, with a 4% increase in sales, while wine has soared in popularity among Baby Boomers and women in general. Everywhere you look, there’s a hip new vodka …
China Welcomes Apple CEO Tim Cook, Approves New iPad for Sale
Apple’s new iPad, which is currently for sale in over 30 countries worldwide, has been an immediate hit — the company sold over 3 million units in the first weekend. But there is one very large and conspicuous market where the …
Facebook Asks Court to Throw Out ‘Fraudulent’ Paul Ceglia Lawsuit
Social networking giant Facebook hopes to finally put an end to a bizarre lawsuit filed by an upstate New York former wood-pellet salesman who claims he owns half of the tech phenom. In a motion to dismiss the case Monday, …
