David Christopher, who runs AT&T’s wireless and entertainment businesses, has a bird’s eye view of how streaming media and video are evolving. AT&T recently completed its $85 billion purchase of Time Warner, a deal designed to help traditional media companies compete better with nimble tech services such as Netflix. Soon after the deal closed, AT&T […]
CBS’ 2Q Net Income Up as CEO Faces Sexual-misconduct Probe
CBS on Thursday reported a boost in second-quarter net income from the tax overhaul and higher fees from affiliates and subscribers, as turmoil swirls around the media company ahead of the important fall TV season. CEO Les Moonves is facing an investigation after the New Yorker magazine published a story last Friday detailing accounts by […]
Disney Seeks New Frontiers as More People Watch Video Online
Disney is seeking new frontiers. The media company launched its $5-a-month sports streaming service, ESPN Plus, last month, and it signed a deal with Twitter this month to create Marvel, ABC and ESPN content on that service. Meanwhile, Disney is trying to buy much of 21st Century Fox, including the Fox television network and the […]
A Media Giant in the Balance: AT&T Antitrust Trial Kicks Off
On Monday, AT&T squares off against the federal government in a trial that could shape how you get — and how much you pay for — streaming TV and movies. AT&T says it needs to gobble up Time Warner if it’s to have a chance against the likes of Amazon, Netflix and Google in the […]
How Burger King Revealed the Hackability of Voice Assistants
Burger King pulled a pretty juicy marketing stunt last month that drew plenty of attention – not just to the Whopper, but also to the intrinsic vulnerabilities of a new type of voice-activated gadget. The fast food chain’s 15-second television ad targeted Google Home, a speaker that can answer questions and control other smart appliances. When an […]
Tech Companies Protest Trump Immigration Order
NEW YORK (AP) — Google, Apple and other tech giants expressed dismay over an executive order on immigration from President Donald Trump that bars nationals of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. The U.S tech industry relies on foreign engineers and other technical experts for a sizeable percentage of its workforce. The order bars […]
Amazon Expands Dash Ordering Wand to Entire Catalog
Amazon has updated its barcode-scanning Dash shopping wand so you can now buy anything with it, not just groceries. With the new Amazon Dash , you scan a product’s barcode or say its name to add it to your Amazon shopping cart. You still need to go to Amazon’s website or app to complete the order. The […]
‘Smart Speakers’ Are Angling to Colonize Your Living Room
Does your home really need a “smart speaker” that can answer questions, call you an Uber, turn off the lights or play music when you ask? You may be about to find out. Two years ago, Amazon introduced the Amazon Echo, an unassuming, $180 cylinder that sits atop a kitchen counter or bookshelf, acting as […]
Amazon Web Services Shows Growth in Q3
The e-commerce powerhouse reported a surprise third-quarter profit, driven by a boost in revenue from its Prime Day promotion and continued strong growth in its cloud-computing offerings. Results beat expectations, and Amazon’s shares jumped 10 percent in aftermarket trading. That paints a rosy picture for the Seattle company as the holiday shopping season approaches. The […]
Crackdown: Amazon Sues to Stop Phony Product Reviews
NEW YORK (AP) — Internet users increasingly rely on online customer reviews when making spending decisions, whether they’re buying an iPhone case on Amazon or hiring an Uber ride in their hometown. But just how much can you trust those reviews? A new lawsuit in which Amazon accuses more than 1,000 people of offering to […]