AT&T bows to pressure from activist investor, may sell ailing DirecTV unit

Mere weeks after activist investor Elliott Management publicly pressed AT&T to slash costs and dial down its acquisitions strategy, it appears as if Chairman-CEO Randall Stephenson has knuckled under to those demands. Speaking today on AT&T’s third-quarter earnings call, Stephenson laid out a three-year plan that includes a pledge to conduct a comprehensive review of all non-essential businesses that may be be sold or spun off, while also making a commitment to retire all the debt related to its $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner. Stephenson also said that he plans to stay aboard through at least 2020. This is particularly important, as speculation that he was about to hand the reins to WarnerMedia boss John Stankey may have been one of the factors that precipitated Elliott’s decision to put the squeeze on the AT&T board. “I believe we’re on the threshold of something really remarkable, in terms of the next chapter of AT&T’s storied history,” Stephenson said. “I have every intention of being here, and I will be here through 2020.” Stephenson added that when the time comes for AT&T to choose his successor, the CEO and chairmanship positions will be made separate, a split for which Elliott advocated in its Sept. 9 letter to the board. Stankey, who recently was upped to chief operating officer at AT&T, remains the heir apparent. “Following five-plus years of heavy investment, it’s now time to reap the rewards of these investments and deliver... Continue reading at 'Advertising Age'

[ Advertising Age | 2019-10-28 20:32:03 UTC ]
News tagged with: #streaming services #investment fund #hbo max #unique position #time warner

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KKR Is in 'No Hurry' to Sell Simon & Schuster

Pete Stavros, co-head of global equity for KKR, said that it will be at least five years before the private equity firm considers selling Simon & Schuster, which it bought last fall. Stavros added that he has many hopes for what S&S can accomplish before he looks for a new home for the... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Winter Institute 2024: Bookselling Activists Call for Words and Deeds

At the ABA Community Forum, held at Winter Institute 2024 in Cincinnati on February 14, a developing coalition of booksellers spoke on behalf of Palestinians under fire in Gaza and advocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Create and sell an e-book for just $25 this January

If you’re looking for more ways to earn an income or diversify revenue streams, e-books are a great avenue. You don’t need to be an expert, either. With My AI eBook Creation Pro, you can create premium e-books in a matter of clicks without the writing or design expertise. Powered by... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2024-01-10 08:00:00 UTC ]
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Vignette Books Succeeds In Selling Surprise Vintage Titles

Vignette Books is new online bookstore based in Austin, Tex., cofounded by a former employee at Book People. It has attracted an audience willing to gamble on buying used and vintage books based solely on their categories, without knowing exactly which title will arrive. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-04 05:00:00 UTC ]
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AIDS Activist’s Memoir Captures History

‘Love is Greater Than AIDS’ (R&L, Apr.), a memoir by the late Rev. A. Stephen Pieters, describes his watershed interview with Tammy Faye Bakker in 1985 as well as decades of AIDS activism. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-12-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
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A Spider-Man comic that cost 12 cents in 1962 is now selling for nearly $60K in Moncton

A Moncton comic book shop is selling one of the most valuable issues of Spider-Man comics out there. The Comic Hunter in Moncton is looking for $60,000 for a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-12-03 21:53:26 UTC ]
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The History of the United States According to Colson Whitehead

Since the publication of his first novel in 1999, Colson Whitehead has become one of the most lauded, prized, taught, and studied American novelists writing today. Winner of the National Book Award, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize (the only writer apart from William Faulkner and John... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-11-21 09:40:53 UTC ]
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Hachette Book Group, Hachette UK to Move Under United Management Team

Under what it calls a "new English-language management structure," Hachette Livre has named Hachette UK CEO David Shelley head of both Hachette Book Group and HUK, while current HBG CEO Michael Pietsch will retire as CEO and serve as chairman of the new group. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Britney Spears’s Memoir Sells 1.1 Million in First Week

Britney Spears's memoir sold 1.1 million copies in its first week. Here are some other recent celebrity memoir sales numbers. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-11-02 14:55:52 UTC ]
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Britney Spears's 'The Woman in Me' Sells More Than 1 Million Copies

In its first week on sale in the U.S., the pop star's debut memoir sold a total of 1.1 million copies across pre-orders, sales of print books, e-books, and audiobooks formats, according to publisher Gallery Books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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BuzzFeed in Advanced Talks to Sell Complex, Backtracking on Digital Media Bet

BuzzFeed is negotiating a sale of much of Complex Networks for under $140 million, less than half of what it paid to acquire it two years ago. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-10-27 16:26:21 UTC ]
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Hardie Grant Sells U.K. Division to PRH UK

Penguin Random House UK has acquired Australia-based publisher Hardie Grant Publishing’s U.K. publishing business, which is comprised of Hardie Grant UK and Quadrille. The sale will have no direct impact on Hardie Grant North America's business. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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WaterBrook’s Wingfeather Saga Sells 1 Million Copies ‘On Its Own Terms’

Wingfeather, Andrew Peterson’s middle grade fantasy series from Christian publisher WaterBrook, follows three siblings as they encounter good versus evil, in a story ‘that doesn’t cheapen the reality that the world can be a scary place,’ the author says. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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How Does a Best-Selling Author Name Her Characters?

Lisa Jewell puts a great deal of thought into the monikers she chooses for the people who populate her books. Here are her rules of thumb. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-09-07 09:02:29 UTC ]
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'Amazing Grace' Soothes Souls, Sells Books

The 251-year-old hymn of God's transforming love—a church staple and a music chart-topper—also resonates with writers today. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Much-hyped biography of Tucker Carlson struggles to sell

Tucker by Chadwick Moore sells just 3,227 copies in first week after publication on 1 August, Publishers Weekly figures revealA much-hyped biography of the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has struggled to find favour with readers, a leading US publishing authority said, listing just over... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-08-15 16:05:23 UTC ]
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Paramount Global sells Simon & Schuster to private equity firm KKR. Here’s what to know

The sale comes after Paramount failed to sell the book publishing giant to Penguin Random House. Iconic American publishing company Simon & Schuster has a new owner. On Monday, the publisher was acquired by private equity firm KKR in a $1.62 billion deal. Here’s what you need to know.Read... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2023-08-08 08:50:00 UTC ]
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Paramount Agrees to Sell Simon & Schuster to KKR, a Private Equity Firm

The deal, for $1.62 billion, will put control of a cultural touchstone in the hands of a financial buyer. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-08-07 23:51:30 UTC ]
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Equity Firm Eyeing Simon & Schuster to Sell RBmedia for $1 Billion

In what is likely a record price for an audiobook publisher, KKR, the private equity firm that owns RBmedia—and a rumored contender to buy S&S—is selling the company for an alleged $1 billion sum. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
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