Netflix’s Hastings Says Viewer Data Underpins Programming

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Description: Netflix Inc. (NFLX) will test whether Machiavelli and math are a winning formula as the world’s largest subscription-video service debuts “House of Cards,” its most ambitious step yet into original online-TV programs. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Feb 01, 2013 Link:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-01/machiavelli-meets-math-as-netflix-bets-on-original-shows.html Questions for Discussions: Describe the change in product strategy by Netflix? What are the… Read more »

Bye, Bye Big Burger? Diners Try to Cut Calories

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Description:  America’s romance with triple-decker, gooey cheese- and bacon-laden burgers is officially cooling. Not that we’re all noshing on baby carrots. Source:  Businessweek.com Date: Feb 08, 2013 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-02-08/bye-bye-big-burger-diners-try-to-cut-calories Questions for Discussions:  How are consumer eating behaviors changing? What explains these changes? How have businesses responded? What are some innovations that might provide growth opportunities… Read more »

RIM Shot For Blackberry Maker

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Description:   Research in Motion’s… excuse me, Blackberry’s… attempts to become “cool” on Wednesday failed to impress investors. Source: Forbes.com Date: Feb 01, 2013 Link:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/mergermarket/2013/02/01/rim-shot-for-blackberry-maker/ Questions for Discussions: Do you agree with the view that BlackBerry is still searching for “cool” in order to compete against Apple and Android devices? Should Blackberry try the “uncool”… Read more »

Marissa Mayer’s Yahoo turnaround

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management, Part 5 Managing Technology and Information, Part 6 Managing Financial Resources.

Description: Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has already put her stamp on the company in a short time and has Yahoo’s revenue growing again Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Jan 29, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2013/01/29/t-yahoo-mayer-turnaround.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: How has Yahoo changed over the past few years? Do you think Marissa Mayer’s summation of the future… Read more »

BlackBerry 10’s Debut Fizzles as U.S. Buyers Left Waiting

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Description: Even Alicia Keys couldn’t get investors excited about the debut of the newest BlackBerry. The smartphone maker formerly known as Research In Motion stumbled in its introduction of the BlackBerry 10 lineup yesterday, disappointing shareholders with the lack of a firm U.S. release date and setting a price that may be too high to… Read more »

The Story Behind Smosh, Youtube’s Number One Smash

Posted by & filed under Part 1 Business in a Global Environment, Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business, Part 3 Management: Empowering People to Achieve Business Objectives, Part 4: Marketing Management.

Description:   Smosh President Barry Blumberg talks with Bloomberg’s Jon Erlichman about how Smosh has become a Youtube sensation. They speak on Bloomberg Television’s “Bloomberg West.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Jan 24, 2013 Link:  http://bloom.bg/WpPwpk#ooid=w2eGFwODoME4dzTmiBSK3q8HKQLcTu91 Questions for Discussions: How is YouTube different from television? How has the growth in YouTube audience share… Read more »

This Year, All Publishers Go Mobile

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Description:  Mobile readership offers publishers new circulation revenue sources.Media businesses have already gone through a first wave of digital transition, and in the last few years, mobile has been the next frontier. Publishers have been tasked with deciding whether to offer their content on the smaller-screen devices—and how. Source:  eMarketer.com Date: Jan 25, 2013 Link:… Read more »

Lance Armstrong’s financial fallout

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Description: From legal fees to paying back bonuses for his victories, Lance Armstrong may have significant bills to pay if he admits to doping. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: Jan 15, 2013 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/01/15/n-lance-armstrong-doping-drugs-sponsorships.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What are the financial implications pending for Lance Armstrong? How will this story play out in the… Read more »

Video: Lee’s Music puts focus on innovative guitar manufacturing with Riversong Guitars venture

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Description:   Lee’s Music was simply a retail store with a specialist repair arm until Lee’s son, Mike Miltimore, came up with an innovative technique for building stronger, better guitars in a fraction of the time. The company has big plans for its patent-pending design, and is tooling up a manufacturing plant to scale up production…. Read more »

Ad legend bashes Coke, Pepsi in Super Bowl return

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Description:  Most Super Bowl ad stories focus on the advertisers. But the gee-whizzer for SodaStream — an upstart maker of home carbonation machines — may be the guy who is creating its Big Game commercial. Source: USAToday.com Date: Jan 15, 2013 Link: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/01/15/soda-stream-super-bowl-commercial-alex-bogusky/1836061/ Questions for Discussions: Do you think the SodaStream “concept” is a more… Read more »