Founders Fund Raises Third Fund
SEC Filings indicate the San Francisco venture capital fund may have closed on a new $107.2m fund.
FTC Ruling on Google AdMob Deal This Week or Next?
Google’s proposed $750m acquisition of mobile ad startup Admob is expected to get a regulatory response soon.
THQ Beats Forecasts, Posts Earnings Improvement
Game publisher THQ cuts its losses for its fiscal year ended March 31st to $9m and shows signs of a successful turnaround.
Google to Sell Digital Books This Summer
Going head to head with Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple and others, Google is expected to begin selling digital books through its Google Editions service by June or July
Apple to Shut (reinvent?) Lala
In December, gas tanks of Apple watchers got a surprise dose of high octane when reports surfaced the company was buying online music service Lala. Some immediately speculated that Apple had plans to create a "cloud" friendly iTunes. Others chimed in on the possibility of Apple using Lala’s intellectual property and license relationships to offer an iTunes music subscription package.
Now, just a few months removed, rumor engines are spinning again on news Apple will shut down the public face of Lala’s services a week before the start of Apple’s World Wide Development Conference.
Measuring Retail: Holiday Results Trickle In
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:
Viacom Q3: A Quick Look
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).
