Jan. 18 at 5:51 a.m.
Filed under:
Magazines,
Media,
TV
By Associated Press
A couple from the Brooklyn borough of New York part of the Playboy network adult reality program "Brooklyn Kinda Love." (AP/Playboy TV)
For generations, Playboy’s image has been “Entertainment for Men.” Now, it’s TV network wants these men to watch their movies and shows with their wives and women friends.
The premium cable network, which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year, is starting “TV for 2,” slightly steamy programming designed for women and men to experience together. The idea was unwrapped over the weekend with the premiere of “Brooklyn Kinda Love,” a reality series made by the producers of HBO’s “Taxicab Confessions.” Get the full story »
Jan. 18 at 5:30 a.m.
Filed under:
Reports: Retail sales for December, 7:30 a.m.; Consumer Price Index for December, 7:30 a.m.; Industrial production for December, 8:15 a.m.; Business inventories for November, 9 a.m.
Major earnings:Apple Inc., Citigroup Inc., Delta Air Lines, IBM Corp., JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Jan. 17 at 6:04 p.m.
Filed under:
Airlines,
Earnings
By Los Angeles Times
After one of the worst economic slumps in airline industry history, the nation’s eight largest airlines are expected to report a combined $3.95 billion in profit from $122.2 billion in revenue in 2010, according to an industry analyst.
If the projections prove true, it would mean that the airlines collected the highest annual profits in more than 10 years and the second-highest annual revenue ever, said Robert Herbst, an industry consultant and founder of AirlineFinancials.com.
Herbst, who was a commercial airline pilot for 35 years, expects his projections to be confirmed over the next two weeks, when the nation’s airlines release their financial reports for the last three months of the year. Financial reports for the third quarter of 2010 showed rising profits for the airlines.
Jan. 17 at 4:59 p.m.
Filed under:
Economy,
International
By Reuters
Stretching out the repayment of Greece’s outstanding debt, beyond its EU/IMF bailout loans, could help the overborrowed country emerge from its debt crisis, its deputy prime minister said Monday.
“I do not believe in haircuts but in extending the repayment period on debt,” Deputy Prime Minister Theodore Pangalos told Skai TV’s New Files show.
“Debt repayment extension may refer not only to the 110 billion euros (of emergency EU/IMF funding) but the entire debt,” he said.
Jan. 17 at 3:59 p.m.
Filed under:
Bankruptcy,
Entertainment,
Movies
By Dow Jones Newswires-Wall Street Journal
Blockbuster Inc. is asking creditors to put up more money to help it exit bankruptcy protection, prompting a debate among bondholders about whether to invest further in the struggling video chain or put it up for sale, people familiar with the matter said.
When Blockbuster filed for Chapter 11 protection in September, the company had agreed to turn ownership over to its creditors. But after poor holiday sales and new estimates for a costlier turnaround, the company is asking bondholders for an additional $200 million to $250 million to be used after the chain exits court protection. Get the full story »
Jan. 17 at 3:35 p.m.
Filed under:
M&A,
Media,
TV
By Dow Jones Newswires
Federal regulators are on the verge of announcing approval of Comcast Corp.’s deal to acquire control of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. , according to people close to the review.
Federal Communications Commission officials spent the weekend making last-minute revisions to an order approving the deal. FCC commissioners are expected to approve it on a 4-1 vote, with Democratic commissioner Michael Copps, an opponent of media consolidation, voting against. Get the full story »
Jan. 17 at 2:42 p.m.
Filed under:
Sports
By Problem Solver
If you plan to buy tickets to Sunday’s Bears-Packers playoff game, you know you’ll be coughing up some major cash.
StubHub.com Spokeswoman Joellen Ferrer said tickets on the site have sold for an average of $766 the last 24 hours, with the most expensive one going for $2,942, according to Monday’s Tribune story.
In a previous column, the Problem Solvers shared with readers some tips on buying concert and sporting event tickets through the secondary market. In light of the upcoming game, we thought it was worth revisiting.
Jan. 17 at 2:23 p.m.
Filed under:
Energy
By Reuters
Alaska’s main crude oil pipeline resumed operations Monday, nine days after a leak forced it to shut down, and is aiming to reach 500,000 barrels per day by Tuesday, a spokesman said.
The line, which transports about 12 percent of total U.S. output, was pumping about 640,000 barrels per day in December.
Jan. 17 at 2:06 p.m.
Filed under:
Autos,
Recalls
By Associated Press
General Motors is expanding a recall of some 2011 trucks and SUVs to fix a problem that could cause the vehicles’ rear axles to lock.
The recall, originally announced in December, now covers 26,751 Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs. The models affected are: Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Colorado, Silverado, Suburban and Tahoe; and GMC Canyon, Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL. Get the full story »
By Reuters
GlaxoSmithKline will record a legal charge of 2.2 billion pounds ($3.4 billion) for the fourth quarter, effectively wiping out its profit, as it settles further claims related to Avandia and sales practices.
The charge equates to an after-tax cost of 1.8 billion pounds, more than the 1.45 billion the drugmaker had been expected to make in net income in the three months to December, according to Thomson Reuters consensus forecasts. Get the full story »
Jan. 17 at 1:26 p.m.
Filed under:
Internet,
Privacy issues
By Los Angeles Times
Facebook has quietly opened the door for app developers to request a user’s addresses and phone numbers.
The most popular social media site in the world announced the move on its Facebook Developer blog, in a post Friday night by developer liaison Jeff Bowen.
So far, Facebook has failed to mention the change on its general announcement blog for users or any other network-wide methods. The company has dealt with privacy concerns for years, with a focus of criticism being third-party app makers’ access to user data.
For Facebook users, this means address and phone numbers listed in their profile will be given to a developer who requests such information by way of the “Request for Permission” dialog box that pops up when a user begins the process of adding an application to their profile.
Jan. 17 at 12:38 p.m.
Filed under:
International,
Internet,
Investing
By Reuters
Goldman Sachs has decided to limit its private placement of Facebook shares to investors outside the United States, citing “intense media coverage,” according to the investment bank. Get the full story »
Jan. 17 at 11:45 a.m.
Filed under:
Computers,
Updated
By Reuters
(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs is taking medical leave for the second time in as many years, sending its shares tumbling close to 10 percent as the unexpected news revived concerns over the long-term future of the iPhone- and iPad-maker.
The news, which was disclosed early on a U.S. holiday when markets were closed, came nearly two years to the date after Jobs first took a six-month break to undergo a liver transplant.
“At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health,” Jobs, 55, wrote in an email to staff published on a regulatory newswire. “I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can.” Get the full story »
Jan. 17 at 11:41 a.m.
Filed under:
Banking,
Updated
By Reuters
A former Swiss private banker handed over data on hundreds of offshore bank account holders to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Monday, saying he wanted to draw attention to financial abuses.
Rudolf Elmer, 55, headed the office of Julius Baer in the Cayman Islands until he was fired by the bank in 2002. He is scheduled to go on trial in Switzerland on Wednesday for breaching bank secrecy.
Swiss national Elmer handed Assange the data at a news conference at a media club in London. The two yellow and blue discs contain information on around 2,000 banking clients, both individuals and companies, he said, declining to reveal further details on the data. Get the full story »
Jan. 17 at 10:56 a.m.
Filed under:
IPOs,
Investing
By Reuters
Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Blankfein went to Chicago to pitch Groupon executives on hiring his bank to underwrite the online coupon company’s initial public offering, Bloomberg reported on Friday.
The report was attributed to a single unnamed source. Get the full story »
