Comcast's Cohen to testify on Time Warner Cable merger
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Comcast Corp's Executive Vice President David Cohen will testify at a hearing in the U.S. Senate on April 9 about his company's plans to buy Time Warner Cable Inc, a Comcast spokeswoman said on Thursday. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold the first congressional hearing on the proposed $45.2 billion merger between Comcast, the No. 1 U.S. cable operator, and its biggest rival, No. 2 cable services provider Time Warner Cable.
Judge rejects ABC News bid to throw out 'pink slime' lawsuit
(Reuters) - ABC News has failed to persuade a South Dakota state judge to dismiss a $1.2 billion defamation lawsuit by a meat processor complaining about a series of reports that referred to its signature product as "pink slime." Judge Cheryle Gering of the Union County Circuit Court ruled on Thursday that Beef Products Inc may pursue most of its case against ABC, a unit of Walt Disney Co, and others including news anchor Diane Sawyer and reporter Jim Avila.
Time Warner Cable rates targeted by 'professional' hagglers
(Reuters) - Time Warner Cable customers looking to lower their bills would be able to hire "professional negotiators," to squeeze discounts out of the cable provider under a trial service being offered by Yipit, a New York-based daily deals startup. Yipit sent out an email on Thursday to a small group of people on its distribution list directing them to a link to submit their Time Warner Cable account information. Then Yipit said it would have employees who are "professional negotiators" try to haggle for better rates with the cable company.
Prodigal son returns, Lachlan Murdoch back in News Corp
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Lachlan Murdoch's appointment to senior positions within his father Rupert Murdoch's media empire marks the return of the prodigal son. Nearly a decade after walking away from the News Corp inner circle in New York to set up his own investment company and settle in Sydney with his young family, it appears Lachlan has accepted the mantle of successor, whether alone or jointly with younger brother James.
Murdoch sets up sons to take over media empire
LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch has returned eldest son Lachlan to the leadership of his media empire and promoted younger son James, paving the way for the 83-year-old tycoon to pass the reins to the family's next generation. Lachlan, 42, will become non-executive co-chairman of both entertainment company 21st Century Fox and publishing operation News Corp, sharing both roles with his father. He rejoins the company after quitting as deputy chief operating officer nearly 10 years ago amid friction with other News Corp executives.
HuffPo editor Willow Bay to head California journalism school
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Journalist Willow Bay, senior editor at The Huffington Post and wife of Walt Disney Co. chief executive Bob Iger, on Wednesday was named the new director of the University of Southern California's Annenberg School of Journalism. Bay, also a special correspondent and host for Bloomberg TV, has been working in journalism since the early 1990s, including co-hosting stints at ABC News' "Good Morning America/Sunday," CNN's "Moneyline News Hour" and NBC's "Early Today."
AOL rolls out new platform in bid to become digital ad hub
(Reuters) - AOL Inc on Wednesday unveiled a new advertising platform aimed at changing the media buying process for digital advertising by becoming a one-stop shop. The new platform, dubbed One, will knit together AOL's various ad technology offerings like its recent acquisition of Adap.TV, an electronic trading platform for video advertising.
Dish CEO contacts DirecTV head over possible tie-up: report
(Reuters) - Dish Network Corp Chief Executive Officer Charlie Ergen recently contacted DirecTV CEO Mike White to discuss a possible tie-up of the companies, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. White is reluctant to pursue a deal and no official process is underway, Bloomberg reported.
New York Times to roll out new paid apps from April
(Reuters) - The New York Times Co has introduced two new digital paid apps as it expands its subscription offerings to entice new readers to pay for its products. The new apps, available beginning April 2, will hit both ends of the price spectrum.
U.S. journalism benefiting from 'game-changing' investments: study
(Reuters) - A new wave of funding by technology-savvy investors into U.S. media companies is driving momentum in journalism, even as news organizations continue to face challenges, according to a report issued on Wednesday. The level of media investing activity is forging the underpinnings of "game-changing" developments for the industry, according to the Pew Research Center's State of the News Media 2014 report, which cited funding from entrepreneurs like Amazon's Jeff Bezos and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar.
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