February 5, 2008

FOX

Fox Scores Record Ratings for Super Bowl

News Corp.’s Fox network hauled in $250 million in advertising revenue on the strength of the most-watched Super Bowl ever -- a performance that chief Rupert Murdoch calls "the biggest day in our company's history." Fox says it isn't seeing any "concerns about the economic environment."

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/3e7f3952-d37d-11dc-b861-0000779fd2ac.html

News Corp Earnings Soar in Web Businesses

News Corp. is reporting that its fiscal second-quarter net income rose 1.2% on improved results in its television, cable-TV and Internet assets. In the company segment dominated by Fox Interactive Media and MySpace, earnings soared to $23 million from $1 million a year earlier.

http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?story=ON-20080204-000636-1639

VIACOM

Lisa Sherman Named Executive Vice President, General Manager, Logo

For more than two years as Senior Vice President, General Manager, Sherman has been charged with launching Logo, running its day-to-day operations and creating and implementing an aggressive business plan that has built the first-ever ad-supported television and multi-platform entertainment brand for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender audience.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/media/article/lisa-sherman-named-executive-vice-president-general-manager-logo_465577_15.html

AFRICA

HIV/AIDS tests for children in sub-Saharan Africa

Roche announced has announced an agreement with the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) whereby Roche will deliver state-of-the-art diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of HIV-exposed children less than 18 months of age at substantially reduced prices.

http://www.accra-mail.com/mailnews.asp?id=3764

CARIBBEAN

Education for liberation

Youth from various nations on the African continent, the Caribbean as well as the United States convene to discuss and provide realistic solutions to various issues and challenges that exist in their native homelands and the world. The topics include HIV/Aids, Black Leadership, The Role and Importance of the Girl Child.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/TeenAge/html/20080204T210000-0500_132167_OBS_EDUCATION_FOR_LIBERATION.asp

HIV/AIDS & SEXUAL HEALTH

Breastfeeding Now Safer For Infants Of HIV-infected Mothers

An antiretroviral drug already in widespread use in the developing world to prevent the transmission of HIV from infected mothers to their newborns during childbirth has also been found to substantially cut the risk of subsequent HIV transmission during breast-feeding.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204164025.htm

Female Celebrities Speak to Youth for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

The assembly entitled “I Am My Own Prevention” will focus on key topics such as self-respect, prevention, statistics on HIV/AIDS and STDs, and the effect that the media and “Hollywood” has on the misguided judgment of female youth.

http://www.pr.com/press-release/70710

Many sex ed teachers may lack training

In a study of sex ed teachers at 201 Illinois schools, researchers found that one-third of teachers did not give comprehensive instruction -- defined as covering the four basic topics of abstinence, birth control, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, 30 percent said they had no special training in teaching sex education, and these teachers were less likely to teach a comprehensive course.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSCOL56345420080205

With HIV, growing older faster

Much attention has been paid in recent years to how the human immunodeficiency virus disproportionately infects African Americans and Latinos, including women, many of them poor. But the new reality of HIV is not just black or brown. It is also gray.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-aginghiv5feb05,1,1764947.story

OTHER MEDIA NEWS

For Time Warner CEO, Time for Change

Jeff Bewkes, the new CEO of Time Warner, is expected to "aggressively" restructure some businesses to boost the company's languishing stock. Folding in New Line Cinema, while "not the Wall Street-shaking move that an AOL spin-off might be," would "probably improve cash flow."

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/feb2008/db2008024_252949.htm

Social Network Users Build Up Ad Immunity

While News Corp. is thrilled about the ad-revenue growth of MySpace, many marketers are frustrated about plummeting click-through rates. "There's too much [advertising] when you sign on," says one 32-year-old user who likes the site, though he ignores the ads. "They don't interest me."

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2008/tc2008024_252834.htm

Tuesday: A Big Day for Media in New York

If New York needs to make its case for being the center of the media universe, Tuesday is one of those days. Three area states are holding important primary elections; the New York Giants will be feted with a parade; and Fashion Week is expected to add to the gridlock.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iea16e1ac946e5235ab65f24220f0e89d

YouTube: Most Valuable Player for Marketing

The Internet and other new technologies are giving a strong postgame presence to Super Bowl commercials. Visitors to YouTube are being offered an incentive to vote for their favorite spot: The commercial attracting the most votes will be featured on YouTube's home page next Tuesday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/business/media/05adco.html