US Industry Summary

ESPN may offer online soccer package outside pay TV

(Reuters) - ESPN is considering selling online access to live Major League Soccer games to consumers without pay TV subscriptions, an experiment that could help the sports network find ways to generate revenue outside the traditional pay television system.

AT&T CFO says DirecTV to negotiate NFL deal independently

DirecTV will negotiate a deal with the National Football League independently, AT&T Inc.'s chief financial officer said, days after the mobile carrier announced a bid for the company that hinges on a renewal of the NFL Sunday Ticket Football Package. In a filing related to the acquisition, the companies agreed that if DirecTV's renewal for the NFL Sunday Ticket Service is not renewed on the terms discussed between the parties, AT&T may decide not to consummate the merger.

Italy seeks jail time for Mediaset vice chairman in Mediatrade case

An Italian prosecutor has asked that Mediaset Vice Chairman Pier Silvio Berlusconi, son of the ex-prime minister, be jailed for three years and two months for tax fraud over the TV group's broadcasting rights firm Mediatrade.

New York Times publisher tried for 'amicable' split with editor

New York Times Co Chairman and Publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. said he tried to part ways peacefully with the top leader of the newsroom, Jill Abramson, whom he ousted last week.

Netflix to make leap into France and Germany

Netflix will launch in both France and Germany this year, the U.S. video streaming company said on Wednesday, in the biggest test so far of its global expansion strategy.

'Raging Bull' copyright fight goes to a second round

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday gave the daughter of a deceased screenwriter a second chance to fight movie studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc over her claim it infringed the copyright of an early screenplay for what became the iconic boxing movie "Raging Bull."

N.Y. Times publisher denies fired female editor was paid less

Days after the sudden termination of Jill Abramson as executive editor of The New York Times, the first woman to hold that position, the newspaper's publisher denied reports that she had been paid less than her predecessor.

AT&T deal opens era of competition with Mexico's Slim

For a generation, AT&T and Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim's telephone business stood side by side and grew to become giants of the industry north and south of the Rio Grande.

New York Times publisher denies sexism, calls Abramson bad manager

New York Times Co publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. on Saturday denied the ouster of top editor Jill Abramson was due to gender bias and listed ways in which she was a bad manager.

Spotify says global paid subscriber base reaches 10 million

Online music streaming service Spotify said on Wednesday its global paid subscriber base had swelled to 10 million as speculation mounts the Swedish start-up could be gunning for a share listing.

WWE shares take a beating as TV deal fails to impress

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc lost almost half its market value in morning trade on Friday as its new TV deal with NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment failed to convince investors that the company was capable of winning more subscribers.