Low-Rated Channels Rebrand
At least six cable channels are changing their names and programming this year to attract more viewers, advertising dollars and higher subscriber fees. Pay-TV operators like DirecTV and Time Warner Cable aren’t pleased, and Bloomberg BusinessWeek explains why.
Little Summer Break at U.S. Auto Factories
Detroit automakers are largely forgoing the traditional two-week summer break at their factories, and speeding up production to meet buyers' growing demand for new cars and trucks, the Associated Press reports.
'Offshore' Money Can Include Manhattan
In the world of corporate tax accounting, money that is technically overseas often is held in American banks, the New York Times reports.
Kohl's Can Be Sued Over Sale Ads
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday said that Kohl's Department Stores and other California retailers may be liable for large money awards if they falsely advertise that their products are on sale, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Sony Board to Discuss Spin-off
Sony's board will examine the proposal from a U.S. hedge fund to sell off a stake in its entertainment division, but refused to give a timetable for when it would reply, the Hollywood Reporter says.
Phone Firms Sell Customer Data
Big phone companies have begun to sell the vast amounts of data they gather about their subscribers' locations, travels and Web-browsing habits, which the Wall Street Journal reports may be a treasure trove for marketers but raises new privacy concerns.
Chinese Buying Big in U.S.
While recent news about Chinese investment in the United States has focused on deals that don't get done, Chinese investment here actually is at an all-time high, CNBC reports.
Markets Up This Morning
In Wednesday morning trading, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 77 points to 15,465. The Nasdaq rose 14 points to 3,516. The S&P 500 rose 10 points to 1,679.
UCLA Hospital Hit by Walkout
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is among five university medical centers around the state to be hit by today’s walkout by workers over contract issues, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Bryan Shaw Pleads Guilty in KPMG Case
A San Fernando Valley jeweler pleaded guilty on Monday to a conspiracy charge and agreed to turn over $1.27 million in gains made from tips from a top auditor at accounting giant KPMG, the Los Angeles Times reports.
L.A. Mayoral Race to Be Decided Today
Angelenos go to the polls to elect a new mayor, but many voters have struggled to detect major differences between the two candidates, apart from the fact that one is a man and the other is a woman, the Wall Street Journal reports. For the still-undecided, check out endorsements by the Los Angeles Times and the Business Journal.
Edison to Pay $37 Million in Wildfire Settlement
Southern California Edison Co. on Monday agreed to pay $37 million related to the overloaded utility poles that sparked the 2007 Malibu Canyon fire, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Getting Their Share of the Whey Windfall
Farmers want an overhaul of California’s milk-pricing formula to give them more for a dairy byproduct that has become a profit center for cheese makers, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Didn’t Yahoo Try a Deal Like This Before?
Yahoo’s billion-dollar deal for Tumblr raises questions about the web portal's ability to make money by selling ads, among other thorny issues, the New York Times reports.
UTA's New Screening Room Gets Rave Reviews
United Talent Agency new headquarters in Beverly Hills features a digital theater that seats 165 people in plush banquettes and has 3-D projection capabilities. In the highly competitive industry, the new digs could force talent agency rivals to respond, the Los Angeles Times reports.
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