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Leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, some expectations consumers would open their wallets to buy electronics were high.  The November Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)-CNET Index of Consumer Technology  Expectations (ICTE), which measures consumer expectations about planned technology spending, was at 93.5 on November 24th. That was the index’ highest level since tracking began in January 2007, and a gain of more than 14 points over October.

Putting the forecast to the test, actual results are starting to come in:

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When corporate earnings reports come in clusters there is often a macro tone about industry that echoes in the details like a PR reps list of talking points.  In Viacom’s third quarter earnings there were references to “financial discipline” and “renewed optimism.”  There were hints of a cautious recovery in advertising revenue. It was the same tone taken by other media companies.  On point and consistent, the message was clear: careful cost management is carrying the load while the broader market is stabilizing.

Overall, Viacom reported consolidated revenues of $3.3 billion in the third quarter, down 3% year over year. Operating income climbed 14% to $784m.  Net Adjusted EPS was 69 cents a share.  Analysts had expected 57 cents on comparable revenue (Thomson Reuters).

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Every company that struggles inevitably reaches a stage in its life when managers introspectively ask: what kind of company are we?   Yahoo in the Carol Bartz era decided it’s a media company. The company wants to be at the center of people’s online lives.

For the last two quarters Yahoo has trimmed costs and refocused to try and deliver that experience.  The end is not yet within reach,  but an apparently stabilizing ad market seems to be helping the cause.

Tuesday, Yahoo reported third quarter earnings up more than three fold over the same period last year.  On revenue of $1.58b (down 12% year over year), Yahoo earned $186.1m or 13 cents a share.   

The third consecutive double digit revenue decline was expected.  The extent of earnings growth wasn’t. 

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There comes a point when calling each successive performance a record starts to get a little ridiculous.  Apple crossed that threshold a long time ago but the fiscal rocket ship flying out of Cupertino isn’t showing any signs of slowing down either.   Even in spite of lofty expectations and market acceptance of Apple’s generally conservative guidance, Apple yet again flew by the benchmarks laid down to measure its performance.

Monday,  Apple’s reported revenue for the September quarter up 25% year over year to $9.87b (the company’s second best total on record).  Profits surged 47%.

For the fourth quarter, Apple earned $1.67b, or $1.82 a share, compared to $1.14 billion, or $1.26 a share, in the same period a year ago. Click to Read More

The New York Times Co. is set to announce quarterly earnings later this week.  Monday, bad news came early and by surprise.

With a need for greater cost reductions, the Times announced a plan to cut 100 newsroom jobs (8% of total) by year end.  This on top of budget cuts and a 5% employee pay cut already in place.

The Times is approaching the process with a buyout offer.  Employees will receive detailed information packets and have forty five days to decide whether or not to apply.  The buyouts are expected to offer between two and three weeks of salary per year of employment. If there aren’t enough volunteers, the company will implement layoffs to reach the quota.

Earlier this year, Times executives said they didn’t anticipate further newsroom cuts in 2009.  That they changed their minds isn’t surprising given the current ad market and the struggles of the print industry.  Newspapers are fighting an increasingly competitive online global arena and it’s clear there is no easy answer for how to succeed.   There’s so much information beamed at audiences.  To stand out from the volume (below cost and consistently) is a difficult task.  

What is odd about the Times’ news is the timing. Delivering bad news days before earnings…  the foreshadowing doesn’t look good.

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Amazon apologized verbally in July for inappropriately deleting copies of 1984 (and Animal Farm) from customer’s Kindles.  Now the company appears to have apologized with its check book.

According to court documents first reported on Seattle news site Tech Flash, a proposed settlement has been submitted to the court for the Case of Amazon’s Orwellian behavior.

The agreement, which was filed on September 25th, will require Amazon to pay $150,000 to the plaintiff’s law firm with KamberEdelson donating its portion of that to charity.  (Ed. Update 10/7: the court document is embedded below)

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The transformation is complete.  After several months of internal adjustment and review, News Corp announced today that Fox Interactive Media’s management reorganization is complete.

Charged with the task of playing the “lead role in shaping digital strategy across News Corporation” and “ensuring a consistent, long term vision of both product innovation and revenue generation across the entire company,”  the group will be renamed News Corp. Digital Media (“NDM”).

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