AT&T in talks to buy DirecTV for nearly $50 billion: sources
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - AT&T Inc is in active talks to buy satellite TV provider DirecTV and may finalize a deal in the next few weeks that could be worth close to $50 billion, two people familiar with the matter said on Monday. The second largest wireless operator is discussing an offer in the low to mid-$90s per share for DirecTV, one of the people said, compared with the company's closing price of $87.16 on Monday.
Thomson Reuters and ex-employee agree to settle lawsuit
(Reuters) - Thomson Reuters Corp and a former employee who sued the company claiming wrongful termination reached a settlement agreement, according to a court document filed on Monday. The plaintiff Mark Rosenblum, a former Thomson Reuters employee, sued the global news and data company, saying he lost his job after complaining about how the company distributed data.
News Corp ties knot with romance novel publisher
TORONTO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - For Harlequin Enterprises Ltd, the romance novel publisher that News Corp agreed to buy for $415 million, the title of one of its latest offerings, "My Fair Billionaire," could well refer to Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch's News Corp said on Friday it would purchase Harlequin from Torstar Corp, owner of the Toronto Star, Canada's largest daily newspaper by circulation.
Netflix brings net neutrality concerns to U.S. regulators
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After weeks of public outcry, Netflix Inc brought its concerns about Internet neutrality directly to U.S. regulators this week in meetings with Federal Communications Commission staff, according to sources familiar with the matter. The video streaming company has been outspoken in its push to do away with fees that content companies pay Internet service providers to deliver their video and other data to consumers.
Rivals poach Publicis, Omnicom clients, staff as merger faces snags
LONDON/NEW YORK/PARIS (Reuters) - Publicis and Omnicom have lost more than $1.5 billion of client work in recent weeks and face a fight to retain billions more, including a huge Samsung contract, just as the two advertising firms struggle to keep their merger on track. When the world's second and third-largest ad groups announced a merger last July, it sparked talk from rivals, led by Martin Sorrell, the boss of current leader London-based WPP, that the U.S. and French firms could lose clients and talented staff as a result.
Viacom buys Britain's Channel 5 to boost global presence
(Reuters) - U.S.-based Viacom Inc said on Thursday it would buy British TV broadcaster Channel 5 from media baron Richard Desmond for $760 million (450 million pounds) as a keystone to develop its worldwide presence. Viacom, which owns a stable of cable channels such as MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and movie studio Paramount Pictures, said the deal would also allow the company to tap new ideas.
Mediaset confirms foreign interest for its pay TV business
MILAN (Reuters) - Italian broadcaster Mediaset confirmed it had received expressions of interest from foreign players for its pay-TV business - though it gave no names - as media speculation grows a tie-up could be on the horizon. In a statement late on Saturday, the company said the strategic value of Mediaset Premium had drawn interest from "various international operators for a possible partnership."
China customs to intensify checks for harmful print material- report
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - A China media watchdog has urged customs to intensify checks of luggage entering China to block "harmful publications," said the official Xinhua news service, as Beijing executes a selective crackdown on imported media in the name of social order. The National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications, during a meeting in the southern city of Zhuhai, called for customs officials to check all luggage crossing the border at certain key checkpoints for "harmful publications," according to a meeting circular quoted by Xinhua.
WPP thumps forecasts with strong first-quarter organic growth
LONDON (Reuters) - WPP, the world's largest advertising group, reported a much better than expected 7 percent rise in first quarter like-for-like revenue growth and said it had seen a surge in new client wins due to changes in the industry. Martin Sorrell's group, which shocked the market in February when it lowered its 2014 profit guidance due to fierce competition, said it had enjoyed strong trading in North America and Britain and from its advertising and digital media divisions.
Coulson and Brooks affair ran until he quit paper, UK hacking trial hears
LONDON (Reuters) - The affair between Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks, former Rupert Murdoch editors who are on trial accused of phone-hacking offences at the News of the World newspaper, lasted until he quit the tabloid, a London court was told on Friday. The jury at the Old Bailey also heard that Coulson, who later became Prime Minister David Cameron's media chief, received a three-year payoff amounting to 600,000 pounds when he left the paper after its former royal reporter was jailed for phone-hacking in 2007.- Reuters
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