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Watch Shelly’s commentary on the SAG – AMPTP negotiations.
APPLE (NASD: AAPL) finally unveiled the 3G iphone, available July 11. Steve Jobs presented the mobile smart phone at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference and as expected the phone comes equipped with a handful of new features, including a cheaper price tag. Apple is hoping to sell 10 million iPhones during 2008.
AT&T (NYSE: T), who has the exclusive rights to the iPhone in the United States, will subsidize a $200 rebate on the smart phone. The discount, which cuts the price of the iPhone in half, is intended to bring the iPhone to the masses. With new features and an affordable price, AT&T should be able to capitalize on the sleek 3G iPhone.
Advertisers have committed $9.2 billion upfront to primetime television for the 2008-09 season. While advertisers are willing to spend now, analysts believe the upfront spending is a predecessor to higher prices in the following season. The networks are increasingly relying on upfront ad spending and looking to fill in the holes later, which could leave a potential hole in the market.
TIME WARNER (NYSE: TWX) CEO Jeff Bewkes said the media company has no plans to acquire NBC, but would consider a deal if the network became available. While rumors about TW acquiring NBCU (NYSE: GE) have been rampant on Wall Street, NBCU execs have repeatedly denounced such claims.