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

Other Publishing stories related to: ' AT&T bows to pressure from activist investor, may sell ailing DirecTV unit '


An inclusive look at women’s history, beyond White activists

Historian Elisabeth Griffith includes divisions alongside victories in this rich, intersectional account of the struggle for equality. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-08-12 10:00:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #white activists


Axios to Sell Itself to Cox Enterprises for $525 Million

The digital media company’s founders, Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen and Roy Schwartz, will continue to run the company. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-08-08 14:16:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #roy schwartz #digital media


Pearson plans to sell its textbooks as NFTs

Educational publisher’s move into non-fungible tokens is intended to claw back some of the income lost to secondhand salesTextbook publisher Pearson plans to profit from secondhand sales by turning its titles into non-fungible tokens (NFTs), its chief executive has said.Educational books are... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-08-02 15:37:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital textbooks #pearson plans #educational publisher #non-fungible tokens #claw back #educational books #pearson


Will the Biggest Publisher in the United States Get Even Bigger?

The Biden administration is suing to block Penguin Random House from buying Simon & Schuster. A United States District Court will decide if the sale can proceed. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-07-31 11:19:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #biggest publisher #biden administration #penguin random house


Unit Sales Dipped in Mid-July

Despite a huge gain in adult fiction, print unit sales fell 2.5% in the week ended July 16, 2022, from the comparable week in 2021, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #huge gain #adult fiction


In the United Kingdom, TikTok Announces Its Own Book Club

The social-media success of #BookTok has prompted TikTok in England to open a 'TikTok Book Club' featuring a different title monthly. The post In the United Kingdom, TikTok Announces Its Own Book Club appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-07-21 00:24:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #united kingdom ##booktok #book club


Print Unit Sales Fell 9.4% in Late June

With all nonfiction categories posting double-digit declines, unit sales of print books fell 9.4% in the week ended June 25 from the comparable week last year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #late june


Print Unit Sales Fell 4.8% in Mid-June

Unit sales of print books fell about 5% in the week ended June 18, 2022, from the comparable week in 2021, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


School Librarians Under Pressure

Librarians are facing the ongoing stresses of the pandemic, the rise in book challenges and banning, and other obstacles through advocacy and collaboration. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #school librarians #book challenges


Baker & Taylor Sells U.K. Division

A little more than six months after acquiring Baker & Taylor from the Follett Corp., new owner Amandeep Kochar sold Baker & Taylor UK to the Little Group, parent company of the U.K.'s largest wholesaler, Gardners. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-31 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #follett corp #largest wholesaler


Hazel Henderson, environmental activist and futurist author, dies at 89

She spent decades campaigning for social change, fighting to limit air pollution in New York City and to rethink conventional yardsticks for economic development. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-05-23 23:59:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #environmental activist #social change #economic development


More than 25 Organizations Join ALA's 'Unite Against Book Bans' Campaign

“Our partners and supporters are critical in moving the needle to ultimately bring an end to book bans," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “It’s time that policymakers understand the severity of this issue.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book bans #intellectual freedom


Print Unit Sales Fell 6% at the End of April

With all categories except adult fiction posting declines, unit sales of print books fell 6.1% in the week ended Apr. 30, 2022, from the comparable week in 2021, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Rare proof sheets of first Harry Potter book expected to sell for £20,000

The ‘fascinating insight into what was to become an iconic work’ is the only known surviving copy of its kind and is to be auctioned along with a first edition signed by RowlingA prepublication version of the first Harry Potter book by JK Rowling is expected to fetch at least £20,000 when it is... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-04-26 09:29:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #printed version #advance copy #marketing manager #children’s book #independent bookshop #bloomsbury children’s #harry potter


United States Book Market: A First Quarter’s Glide and NPD’s Viewpoint

'Overall, the US book market is turning in a very strong performance by historic norms,' says NPD BookScan's Kristen McLean. The post United States Book Market: A First Quarter’s Glide and NPD’s Viewpoint appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-04-15 15:51:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #strong performance #kristen mclean #book market


News publisher Lee faces renewed pressure from hedge funds

Newspaper publisher Lee Enterprises is facing renewed pressure from a hedge fund to speed up its transition to digital publishing and consider adding new digital-savvy leaders to its board Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2022-04-14 21:27:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hedge funds #hedge fund #digital publishing #news publisher


Jack Higgins, best-selling author of ‘The Eagle Has Landed,’ dies at 92

The British thriller writer's 85 books have sold more than a quarter of a billion copies. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-04-11 17:59:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #best-selling author


First Issue of Captain America Comic Book Sells For $3.1 Million

With the sale, Captain America joined Superman and Spider-Man in having debut issues that topped $3 million at auction. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-04-08 13:21:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #comic book


Indie Presses Publishing Works in Translation in The United States

Traditional publishing houses put out classics from around the world, but independent presses bring attention to new original talent. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-03-31 10:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #original talent #traditional publishing


Unit Sales of Print Books Fell 8.3% in Early March

Unit sales of print books fell 8.3% in the week ended Mar. 12, 2022, from the comparable week in 2021, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #early march