List of top 15 cable shows in Nielsen ratings AP (November 20, 2009) (AP) - Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by the Nielsen Co. for the week of Nov. 9-15. Day and start time (EST) are in parentheses:
NYC TV newsman guilty of attempted assault on wife AP (November 20, 2009) WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) - Cable television newsman Dominic Carter, an influential reporter on New York politics, was convicted Friday of an attempted assault on his wife.
Oprah's departure presents problem for TV stations AP (November 20, 2009) CHICAGO (AP) - For more than two decades, Oprah Winfrey has been the inspirational, change-your-life champion who reigned over daytime television much like Johnny Carson once ruled late night.
Ahead of the Bell: RIM downgraded on competition AP (November 18, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - BMO Capital Markets on Wednesday downgraded Research in Motion Ltd., saying the BlackBerry maker faces rising competition and a consumer shift toward cheaper phones.
Calif. requires TVs to be more energy efficient AP (November 18, 2009) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Power-hungry TVs will be banned from store shelves in California after state regulators Wednesday adopted a first-in-the-nation mandate to reduce electricity demand.
T-Mobile resumes sale of Sidekicks after data loss AP (November 17, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - T-Mobile USA resumed selling Sidekick phones Tuesday, more than a month after a server meltdown at Microsoft Corp. caused contact numbers, pictures and other personal information to disappear from many of the phones.
A growing TV cover-up: Obnoxious pop-up promos AP (November 17, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Somewhere in the universe of TV viewers, there's got to be a person who actually likes those pop-up, on-screen promotions.
United States Cellular to repurchase shares AP (November 17, 2009) CHICAGO (AP) - Wireless carrier United States Cellular Corp. said Tuesday its board has approved a new program to buy back up to 1.3 million shares per calendar year.
Viacom's cable networks win rights to Jackson film AP (November 17, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Viacom Inc. says it has won exclusive rights in the U.S. to air "Michael Jackson's This Is It" on its MTV and BET cable networks starting in 2011.
Twitter to overhaul user list seen as partisan AP (November 17, 2009) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Social-networking site Twitter plans to end a service that links prominent message posters with new users, a service that was criticized in California because of perceived unfairness toward GOP gubernatorial candidates.
Union says Verizon laying off 1,000 AP (November 17, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - The largest union for Verizon Communications Inc. workers said the phone company is laying off more than 1,000 employees in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
Ahead of the Bell: Sprint Nextel jumps on upgrade AP (November 16, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Sprint Nextel Corp. shares rose ahead of regular trading Monday after Credit Suisse upgraded the wireless carrier, predicting the company will stop losing net subscribers in the last few months of the year.
Russian policemen turn to YouTube AP (November 13, 2009) MOSCOW (AP) - When a police officer posted a video on YouTube complaining of rampant abuse in Russian law enforcement, it seemed like a lonely voice in a sea of social media.
Telefonica profits down 0.6 pct AP (November 12, 2009) MADRID (AP) - Spanish telephone company Telefonica SA said Thursday its 3rd quarter net profit dipped 0.6 percent compared to the same period of last year as the company took in less revenue in a recession-plagued economy.
Vodafone H1 profit up 15 pct AP (November 10, 2009) LONDON (AP) - Telecommunications company Vodafone Group PLC on Tuesday reported a 15 percent increase in first-half net profit. Results were boosted by favorable currency movements, lower taxes and expansion at its Verizon Wireless venture in the U.S.
Sprint, others give Clearwire $1.5B in financing AP (November 10, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Clearwire Corp. is getting an additional $1.5 billion in financing from previous investors to build out its nationwide wireless data network.
NTELOS plans job cuts, expects charges of $1.5M AP (November 10, 2009) WAYNESBORO, Va. (AP) - NTELOS Holdings Corp. said Tuesday it plans to cut an unspecified number of jobs, resulting in charges of about $1.5 million in 2009.
Nokia to recall 14 million chargers AP (November 09, 2009) HELSINKI (AP) - Nokia Corp. announced Monday that some 14 million mobile phone chargers could be dangerous for users and said it will replace them free of charge.
Deutsche Telekom Q3 net income up 7 pct AP (November 05, 2009) BERLIN (AP) - Deutsche Telekom AG reported third-quarter net income rose 7 percent as it remained focused on controlling costs and developing key markets in the U.S., Britain and Poland.
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.
Smart phone demand going strong in 3Q AP (November 05, 2009) FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (AP) - The global smart phone market set a record for shipments in the third quarter as it continues to weather the economic turmoil, research firm IDC said Thursday.
DirecTV 3Q profit flat as revenue rises 10 percent AP (November 05, 2009) EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) - DirecTV Group's third-quarter net income was about flat from a year ago, as higher costs offset a 10 percent increase in revenue.
Comcast 3Q profit up 22 pct, but growth slows AP (November 04, 2009) PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Comcast Corp. reported a 22 percent increase in third-quarter earnings, buoyed by an investment gain and a lower tax rate as it stepped up promotions on its bundled video, phone and Internet plans.
Comcast 3Q net income up 22 pct, but growth slows AP (November 04, 2009) PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Comcast Corp. reported a 22 percent increase in third-quarter earnings Wednesday after stepping up promotions on its bundled video, phone and Internet plans.
Apple's partner sells 5,000 iPhones in China debut AP (November 04, 2009) BEIJING (AP) - Apple Inc.'s local partner has sold 5,000 iPhones since the smart phone's formal weekend debut in China, a lackluster start after analysts warned the company might be setting prices too high.
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.
T-Mobile says phone service outage resolved AP (November 04, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Wireless provider T-Mobile USA Inc. says it has cleared up service problems that were interfering with calls and text messaging for about 5 percent of its customers.
Cablevision Systems 3Q profit more than triples AP (November 03, 2009) (AP) - Cablevision Systems Corp. on Tuesday said its third-quarter profit more than tripled as a sluggish economy didn't deter subscribers from signing up for its digital cable, Internet and phone plans in the face of aggressive competition from Verizon's fiber-optic FiOS TV service.
Belo falls to loss on charges, declining ad sales AP (November 03, 2009) DALLAS (AP) - TV station owner Belo Corp. fell to a third-quarter loss, hurt by the weak advertising market and a one-time accounting charge.
Sprint laying off part of wholesale division AP (November 03, 2009) OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) - Sprint Nextel Corp. says it plans to trim jobs "in the dozens" from its wholesale division amid slowing business.
Nokia Siemens Networks to lay off up to 5,700 AP (November 03, 2009) HELSINKI (AP) - Nokia Siemens Networks said Tuesday it will lay off up to 5,700 workers globally as part of a move to cut annual costs by euro500 million ($740 million).
Cablevision Systems 3Q profit more than triples AP (November 03, 2009) BETHPAGE, N.Y. (AP) - Cablevision Systems Corp. said Tuesday that its third-quarter profit more than tripled as the number of customers using its voice phone service surpassed 2 million.
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.
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.
Reports: Cyberattacks traced to NKorea AP (October 30, 2009) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - The North Korean government was the source of high-profile cyberattacks in July that caused Web outages in South Korea and the United States, news reports said Friday.
Sprint Nextel 3Q loss grows on subscriber losses AP (October 29, 2009) KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Sprint Nextel Corp., the nation's third-largest wireless carrier, on Thursday reported a wider third-quarter loss and a larger exodus of customers despite an improved slate of phones and cheaper rates.
Motorola posts 3Q profit, names permanent CFO AP (October 29, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Motorola Inc. reported an unexpected quarterly profit Thursday as operating losses in its struggling mobile phone division narrowed. The company also forecast stronger-than-anticipated earnings for the current period.
Qwest Communications 3Q earnings fall 6 pct AP (October 28, 2009) DENVER (AP) - Qwest Communications International Inc. reported a 6 percent drop in third-quarter profit Wednesday as customers continue to give up traditional landline telephones.
Verizon 3Q profit falls 30 pct on higher costs AP (October 26, 2009) (AP) - Verizon Communications Inc., the nation's second largest phone company, on Monday said third-quarter profit fell nearly 30 percent as higher costs offset an increase in revenue that largely was driven by an acquisition in its wireless business.
FairPoint phone company files for bankruptcy AP (October 26, 2009) PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Telecommunications services provider FairPoint Communications filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday after agreeing on a deal with key lenders that will help lower its debt by about 62 percent.