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Talks between IBM and Sun Microsystems have stalled. Sun, which was set to be acquired by IBM, rejected a formal acquisition by IBM this past weekend as its board was splitting apart. IBM was offering a reported $7 billion for the microchip manufacturer.
NBCU issued WHDH an ultimatum, after the Boston affiliate announced it would not carry Jay Leno’s new 10pm show. NBCU noted that it would discontinue all programming for WHDH if the station did not carry Leno’s new program, saying “WHDH’s move is a flagrant violation of the terms of their contract with NBC…If they persist, we will strip WHDH of its NBC affiliation.”
Cable and teleco’s are set to take on regulators looking to mandate portions of the economic stimulus package set to increase nationwide broadband penetration. The FCC will discuss ways to regulate and roll out faster, next-gen broadband penetration, with a plan due in February 2010. Expect the cable companies and teleco’s to lobby hard in Washington for mutually beneficial regulations.
Fast and Furious topped the box office this week taking in a total of $72.5 million dollars.The Universal production took in the highest grossing opening weekend box office take since Batman: The Dark Knight. Fast and Furious netted the highest opening ever for a Universal production.
Muzak, a “custom playlist” company who licenses music for businesses, is restructuring for chapter 11 bankruptcy. Muzak sank into deep debt licensing real songs, not renditions, to companies for elevator music, hold music and the like. While the company is restructuring for bankruptcy, it will continue to operate its licensing library of more than 2.6 million songs.