Dolan more than doubles 3Q profit AP (November 06, 2009) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Dolan Media Co., a provider of legal and professional publications and services, said Friday its third-quarter profit more than doubled as revenue grew sharply in its mortgage default processing services business.
Deja vu: Wal-Mart, Amazon, Target in DVD price war AP (November 06, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is upping the ante heading into the holiday season, trimming the online preorder prices of some upcoming DVDs following last month's price cut on books.
Pa. table games stalemate bumps into tuition bills AP (November 05, 2009) HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - An entrenched stalemate in the Capitol may mean students at major Pennsylvania universities will soon see higher second-semester tuition bills.
MGM Mirage loses $750M as CityCenter's value drops AP (November 05, 2009) LAS VEGAS (AP) - MGM Mirage's latest casino project isn't open yet, but a drop in the $8.5 billion complex's value combined with falling revenue to push the casino operator into the red in its third quarter, the company said Thursday.
Scripps to get majority stake in Travel Channel AP (November 05, 2009) CINCINNATI (AP) - Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. said Thursday it will take a 65 percent stake in Cox Communications Inc.'s cable-television network Travel Channel, which reaches about 95 million U.S. households.
Detroit, Michigan watch as Ohio OKs Toledo casino AP (November 05, 2009) DETROIT (AP) - Ohio voters have given their blessing to the opening of casinos in Toledo and three other cities, and that has Michigan officials and gambling interests paying close attention.
Group urges CW stations not to air 'Gossip Girl' AP (November 05, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - On-air promos for a sexual threesome on an upcoming episode of "Gossip Girl" have spurred the Parents Television Council to ask affiliates of the CW network to pre-empt the show.
E.W. Scripps narrows 3Q loss AP (November 05, 2009) CINCINNATI (AP) - Media company E.W. Scripps says it narrowed its loss in the third quarter despite another decline in revenue as the company continues to cut costs to cope with advertising declines hurting the industry.
Sirius XM 3Q loss narrows as revenue rises AP (November 05, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Sirius XM Radio Inc., the nation's only major satellite radio provider, on Thursday said its third-quarter loss narrowed as it booked smaller charges and revenue rose almost 27 percent.
Thomson Reuters posts drop in 3Q earnings AP (November 05, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - News and information provider Thomson Reuters Corp. said Thursday its third-quarter net income tumbled 60 percent from a year ago, as revenue in its legal and market divisions fell.
Sarah Palin promises more cities on book tour AP (November 04, 2009) ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is promising to visit more cities than a conventional book tour when her memoir "Going Rogue" is published later this month.
Time Warner 3Q profit drops, boosts outlook AP (November 04, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Media conglomerate Time Warner Inc. reported a 38 percent drop in third-quarter profit, hurt by declines at its AOL and publishing segments.
Voters in struggling Ohio approve 4 urban casinos AP (November 04, 2009) COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio voters hit hard by the economic downturn have approved casinos on the fifth try by gambling supporters in the past two decades.
Denver public TV plans nonprofit news operation AP (November 04, 2009) DENVER (AP) - A Denver public television station is planning a nonprofit investigative news operation with a Web site and on-air program.
SF Chronicle goes glossy to attract readers, ads AP (November 04, 2009) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - With its circulation falling faster than any other major U.S. newspaper's, the San Francisco Chronicle is determined to set the pace in a flashier way: It's about to become the first general-interest daily to print its editions on high-quality glossy paper.
Wall Street Journal launches San Francisco edition AP (November 04, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - The Wall Street Journal says its new San Francisco Bay Area edition will launch Thursday, with a weekly section devoted to local news.
Viacom 3Q profit jumps 15 pct on strong box office AP (November 03, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - G.I. Joe and the Transformers came to Viacom Inc.'s rescue in the third quarter, helping boost the company's earnings 15 percent with strong box office returns.
HBO filmmakers get inside Obama campaign AP (November 02, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Pivotal presidential campaigns are frequently defined in retrospect by documentaries.
TNT picks up NBC's axed police drama 'Southland' AP (November 02, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Cable network TNT says it has rescued the shot-down NBC cop drama "Southland" and will bring it back in the new year.
Author Ken Auletta searches for the Google story AP (November 02, 2009) (AP) - "Googled: The End of the World as We Know It" (The Penguin Press, 336 pages, $25.95), by Ken Auletta. Google is best understood in terms of billions. Three billion searches are conducted daily on the site. Company revenues last year exceeded $22 billion. It spent $1.76 billion for YouTube and $3.2 billion for the digital ad company DoubleClick.
'Precious' makes a 'surreal' premiere in Hollywood AP (November 02, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - The cast and crew of "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" continued their unexpected journey from a scrappy little screening 10 months ago at the Sundance Film Festival to a star-studded ga
DC station airs demo of bare breast self-exams AP (October 30, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The ABC affiliate here is airing a two-part series that takes a close - and unobscured - look at breast self-exams. The series is airing during the fall "sweeps" period critical for a TV station's ad revenue, prompting concern by a parental watchdog group. But WJLA insists it's not just a naked attempt to boost the ratings.
NFL's Goodell to testify on Vikings suspensions AP (October 30, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is returning to Capitol Hill next week, this time to testify about the case of two professional football players whose suspensions for violating the league's anti-doping policy were blocked by the courts.
Oprah on the road? Chrysler offers live TV service AP (October 29, 2009) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - Chrysler Group LLC says it will begin offering customers a television service in their vehicles featuring up to 20 channels of live TV.
Doctor wrote about kissing Anna Nicole in diary AP (October 29, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - One of Anna Nicole Smith's doctors worried about his own drug use and his professionalism after he kissed her and prescribed her highly addictive drugs, according to his diary, which was read in court.
Canwest says National Post might fold AP (October 29, 2009) TORONTO (AP) - Canada's beleaguered media giant Canwest Global Communications says it will shut down the unprofitable National Post newspaper if its operations are not transferred to a different holding company by Friday.
Plans to rebuild damaged CCTV building under way AP (October 29, 2009) BEIJING (AP) - The chief architect for the landmark new headquarters for China's powerful state broadcaster said the part of the complex that burned in a massive fire earlier this year can be repaired and does not need to be torn down.
'Slumdog' kids' truancy threatens their trust fund AP (October 29, 2009) MUMBAI, India (AP) - The two child stars of "Slumdog Millionaire" are at risk of losing their monthly stipend and their trust fund if they don't attend school more regularly, a trustee for the fund said Thursday.
Nintendo's profit dives as Wii demand dwindles AP (October 29, 2009) TOKYO (AP) - Nintendo's first-half profit plunged as sales of its hit Wii home console fizzled, forcing the maker of Super Mario and Pokemon games to forecast annual earnings would fall for the first time in six years.
Ohio senators curious about casino money AP (October 29, 2009) COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Some Ohio senators were curious Wednesday about the possibility of plugging the state's budget hole with money from casinos, should they be approved by voters next week.
Pinnacle Entertainment loses money in 3rd quarter AP (October 29, 2009) LAS VEGAS (AP) - Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. wound up losing more money in its third quarter than a year earlier, even though its revenue was stable, in part because it repaid some debt early.
Ex-Letterman writer claims hostile environment AP (October 28, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A former writer for David Letterman said she quit his NBC talk show in part because of alleged sexual favoritism and a hostile work environment.
Educators urge lower lottery profits for Ore. bars AP (October 28, 2009) SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Education advocates are pressing the Oregon Lottery Commission to reduce what they say are overly generous payouts to bars and taverns that host the state's video gambling machines.
IAC reports 3Q profit but ad revenue still slips AP (October 27, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - IAC/InterActiveCorp, which runs Match.com, Ask.com and other Web sites, says asset sales helped it profit in the third quarter while ad revenue continued to slump.
Democrat-Gazette, Morning News pact approved AP (October 27, 2009) LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The Justice Department has cleared the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Inc. and Stephens Media LLC to combine their operations in northwest Arkansas.
Court to hear arguments on E. Chicago casino money AP (October 27, 2009) INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Supreme Court will decide whether a share of East Chicago casino revenues earmarked for economic development should go to a nonprofit corporation or to the city.
Wynn 3Q profit drops as gamblers spend less AP (October 27, 2009) LAS VEGAS (AP) - The casino industry continues to struggle in the third quarter, with gamblers still clamping down on their spending. Such ongoing belt-tightening, coupled with increased expenses, pushed Wynn Resorts Ltd.'s profit down for the second consecutive quarter Tuesday.
Season of false starts for news organizations AP (October 26, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - A balloon racing across the Colorado sky without a 6-year-old boy inside. A major lobbyist not changing its position on climate change. A shootout with terrorists on the Potomac River that never happened.
McGraw-Hill posts lower 3Q profit, sales AP (October 26, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Plagued by weakness in advertising and the elementary and high school education markets, information-services company McGraw-Hill Cos. said Monday its profit and sales declined in the third quarter.
Association marks 20 years of greening Hollywood AP (October 26, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - With local, organic food, minimal electricity use and on-site composting, the Environmental Media Association's 20th anniversary party might be the green standard for future Hollywood awards shows.
Netflix movie streaming coming to PlayStation 3 AP (October 26, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - PlayStation 3 owners will soon be able to stream movies and TV shows from Netflix to their TVs using the gaming console, just as Xbox 360 owners have been able to do for a year.
Former Mets GM fired by ESPN AP (October 26, 2009) (AP) - Baseball analyst Steve Phillips was fired by ESPN on Sunday night, less than a week after he admitted having an affair with a production assistant at the cable network.
Newspaper circulation down 10.6 percent AP (October 26, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - The decline in U.S. newspaper circulation is accelerating as the industry struggles with defections to the Internet and tumbling ad revenue.
Amid ad slump, Fortune redesigns business magazine AP (October 23, 2009) PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Fortune is embarking on an ambitious redesign of its business magazine to become more competitive in the face of a vicious advertising slump.
Pam Anderson launches anti-seal hunt campaign AP (October 23, 2009) TORONTO (AP) - Former "Baywatch" star Pamela Anderson wants to save the seals from the annual hunt on Canada's East Coast.
Store clerk accused of stealing $1M lottery prize AP (October 22, 2009) AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A 25-year-old convenience store clerk pocketed a customer's $1 million winning lottery ticket, claimed the prize and skipped town, possibly back to his native Nepal, authorities said.
Md. panel OKs slot machine license for Cecil Co. AP (October 22, 2009) ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - A state commission approved a license Wednesday for 1,500 slot machines in Cecil County - the second license awarded so far - and the panel also urged local officials in Anne Arundel County to resolve zoning issues on another site by December.
New York Times Co. narrows loss, ad slump lingers AP (October 22, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Times Co. narrowed its losses in the most recent quarter, heartening investors even though the company showed only moderate signs of improvement in advertising.
BusinessWeek's editor to step down AP (October 21, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - BusinessWeek editor-in-chief Stephen Adler plans to leave the magazine when Bloomberg LP takes over Dec. 1.
EU: breakthrough on online music rights AP (October 21, 2009) BRUSSELS (AP) - The EU's top antitrust official on Wednesday described a deal among Apple Inc.'s iTunes, music companies, distributors and online licensing groups as a "great breakthrough" that would roll out more Internet music sales across Europe.
Media General posts 3Q loss AP (October 21, 2009) RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Falling ad revenue and a big one-time charge pushed newspaper and TV station owner Media General Inc. to a third-quarter loss, the company said Wednesday.
Kerkorian mulls reducing MGM Mirage stake AP (October 20, 2009) BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian is considering cutting his stake in MGM Mirage, the big hotel and casino operator whose earnings are being hammered by the severe downturn in the real estate market.
MGM Mirage to take nearly $1 billion charge in 3Q AP (October 20, 2009) LAS VEGAS (AP) - MGM Mirage said Tuesday it will take a nearly $1 billion charge against third-quarter earnings because it had to slash selling prices at CityCenter, a huge condo development in Las Vegas.
AP NewsBreak: Swiss tipped US to Polanski trip AP (October 20, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - Swiss authorities set in motion the arrest of fugitive director Roman Polanski in his decades-old child sex case as he traveled to the country last month, documents obtained by The Associated Press show.
Gannett ad sales still dropping despite 3Q profit AP (October 19, 2009) MCLEAN, Va. (AP) - Profits at Gannett Co. fell 53 percent in the third quarter as the nation's largest newspaper publisher endured another big decline in ad revenue.
Singer death column sparks Twitter rage AP (October 19, 2009) LONDON (AP) - Britain's press watchdog said Monday it had received a record 21,000 complaints about a newspaper column on the death of Boyzone singer Stephen Gately after critics used Twitter to brand the article homophobic and insensitive.
TLC network is suing its star Jon Gosselin AP (October 16, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - The TLC network has sued Jon Gosselin for breaching his contract as a star of the hit reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8."
News group asks court to stop NJ exit poll ban AP (October 16, 2009) TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Six major media outlets are asking a federal judge to stop enforcement of a New Jersey ruling that bans exit polling near voting sites.
Spanish language La Frontera ceases publication AP (October 16, 2009) McALLEN, Texas (AP) - La Frontera, an award-winning Spanish-language newspaper serving southern Texas, has stopped publication.
Clooney laments decline in media standards AP (October 15, 2009) LONDON (AP) - George Clooney thinks something has gone wrong when the media prints celebrity rumor and innuendo as fact.
Cost cuts help publisher McClatchy's 3Q earnings AP (October 15, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Cost cutting and a favorable tax adjustment lifted profits for newspaper publisher McClatchy Co., even as advertising revenue took a dive that displeased investors Thursday.
Fox Reality Channel to make way for new venture AP (October 15, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - Reality TV junkies are facing a cold truth: The Fox Reality Channel is wrapping up its four-year mix of new and repeat programming next spring.
Judge OKs release of warrants in Letterman case AP (October 15, 2009) NORWALK, Conn. (AP) - A Connecticut judge says information in search warrants should be released in the case of a newsman accused of trying to blackmail David Letterman.
Gannett CEO returns after back surgery AP (October 15, 2009) McLEAN, Va. (AP) - The CEO of Gannett Co., the country's largest newspaper publisher, returned to work Thursday after a medical leave this summer for back surgery.
National Amusements to sell shares of Viacom, CBS AP (October 14, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Media mogul Sumner Redstone's holding company, National Amusements Inc., said Wednesday it is selling a portion of its stake in CBS Corp. and Viacom Inc. to pay off its debts.
Future of top China magazine in doubt after exodus AP (October 13, 2009) BEIJING (AP) - The general manager of China's most influential financial magazine and dozens of her staff have resigned, in a possible tussle over editorial control at the path-breaking publication.
J&J: Planned tax on medical device makers too high AP (October 13, 2009) TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Johnson & Johnson executives said Tuesday a proposed tax on medical device makers, part of the health care reform package moving in the Senate, is too high and could cost jobs in the industry.
Macau eyes curbs on its booming gambling industry AP (October 13, 2009) HONG KONG (AP) - Macau may curb the growth of its booming casino industry with limits on the number of gambling tables and other restrictions, the government said.
Twitter users undermine attempt to gag UK media AP (October 13, 2009) LONDON (AP) - Bloggers and Twitter users thwarted a legal attempt Tuesday to stop Britain's media from reporting the questions posed by a lawmaker in a parliamentary debate, spotlighting the power of new media to influence public policy.
Lotteries discuss cross-selling, national game AP (October 13, 2009) DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The nation's two biggest lottery games are talking about cross-selling tickets in U.S. lottery jurisdictions with the potential for a national lottery, the head of a lottery association said Tuesday.
Kindle lightens textbook load, but flaws remain AP (October 13, 2009) SEATTLE (AP) - It's an experiment that has made back-to-school a little easier on the back: Amazon.com gave more than 200 hundred college students its Kindle e-reading device this fall, loaded with digital versions of their textbooks.
Lenny Bruce memorabilia headed to the auction bloc AP (October 12, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - If he'd had a Lenny's House to go to, Lenny Bruce's daughter says, her father might have lived to celebrate his 84th birthday on Tuesday.