Business

Publisher to Develop Animated Series Featuring Donald Trump

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 12, 2006 - 12:36pm.

New York - Premiere Publishing Group, whose Sobe Life subsidiary publishes Trump Magazine, announced on Thursday that it has signed a deal with Trump World Publications to develop two animated shorts and a pilot for an animated series featuring Donald Trump and other Trump executives. New York-based Premiere said it had interest from both animation houses and TV networks, and projects the pilot will be produced within 90 days and a series will production in the first quarter of 2007.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway to Acquire Business Wire

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 17, 2006 - 3:00am.

San Francisco - Berkshire Hathaway, the investment firm run by financier Warren Buffett, said on Tuesday that it will acquire Business Wire, a major distributor of corporate press releases and regulatory filings on the Internet. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Business Wire, which is very active in the region's government and technology sectors, will operate as a unit of Berkshire Hathaway, with its management team and day-to-day operations remaining unchanged. The deal is expected to close by the end of the current quarter. "We have followed our blueprint of buying profitable companies that are industry leaders, yet have significant growth potential," said Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway's chairman and CEO. Lorry Lokey, who founded Business Wire in 1961 and currently serves as its chairman, said that the deal will allow his company to continue expanding into overseas markets and capitalizing on "emerging opportunities." Lokey will retain his role chairman, but will focus on philanthropic pursuits.

tags: Berkshire Hathaway | Business | Warren Buffett | Wire |

Apple Sold 14 Million iPods in Fourth Quarter, 42 Million to Date

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2006 - 4:27am.

San Francisco - Apple has now sold more than 42 million iPod digital music and video players worldwide -- including 14 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 -- beating the expectations of industry analysts, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday. Apple CEO Steve Jobs made the announcement during his keynote address at the Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco, during which he also stated that the company's iTunes Music Store has now sold 850 million song downloads and commands 83% of the legal music download market.

tags: iPod | Apple | Business |

New ".eu" Top-Level Domain to Open for Business on Dec. 7

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 1, 2005 - 11:18am.

Brussels - The European Commission announced that the new ".eu" top-level domain, which allows businesses, public bodies and citizens to choose a pan-European Internet name for their websites and e-mail addresses, opens for business on Dec. 7. A sunrise period of four months will allow holders of prior rights, including businesses, to apply for the registration of domain names provided they are settled in the EU, the Commission said. From April 7, the Registry will open its doors for applications from the general public.

tags: .eu | Top-Level Domain | Business |

Liquid Audio Announces Board Changes; Will Pursue New Line of Business

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 17, 2003 - 1:48am.

Redwood City, Calif. -- Liquid Audio, which effectively ceased operation in January after agreeing to sell its assets and pay shareholders a cash distribution, announced on Thursday that Seymour Holtzman and James Mitarotonda have been named co-chairmen and co-chief executives. Holtzman and Mitarotonda, who joined the board in early November, replace CEO Raymond Doig and President Stephen Imbler, who handed in their resignations in early April. The Redwood City-based digital media company also announced that William Fox, Michael McManus Jr. and Jesse Choper will join the board; Mel Brunt was named chief financial officer and corporate secretary. Dow Jones reported that Brunt said Liquid Audio is "regrouping, and plans to pursue a different, yet to be determined line of business." The company's stock recently traded on Nasdaq at 30 cents.

tags: Business | Board | Liquid Audio | Pursue |

SportsLine.com Exits Gaming Information Business, Signs NCAA Deal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 26, 2003 - 2:25am.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- Fort Lauderdale-based SportsLine.com, a provider of online sports content, said on Wednesday that it has divested its two gaming information operations -- VegasInsider.com and Las Vegas Sports Consultants. Separately, the company said that it has sublicensed the rights from CBS Sports to offer the official NCAA Championship web site through 2006. As part of the deal with CBS, SportsLine.com will handle site production, hosting and advertising sales for NCAASports.com. The company also will hold exclusive rights to provide Internet broadcasts of certain NCAA championship games including the Division 1 men's basketball championship. http://www.newsalert.com/bin/story?StoryId=CpLXj0bWbrKXxmdeW