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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Print Units Rose 12% at October’s End

With all categories posting increases, unit sales of print books rose 12% in the week ended Oct. 30, 2021, over the comparable week in 2020, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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In the United States: Sourcebooks Acquires BES Publishing

'Our children’s book business now accounts for more than half our annual sales,' says Sourcebooks' Kay Birkner as the company buys BES Publishing. The post In the United States: Sourcebooks Acquires BES Publishing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-04 18:59:42 UTC ]
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Follett Sells Baker & Taylor to B&T CEO

The makeover of Follett Corp. continues with the announcement that it has sold Baker & Taylor to a private investment company led by Aman Kochar, B&T CEO and president. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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My White Teacher Used A POC Pen Name To Sell Her Book. Should I Have Outed Her?

"This POC author was actually a blond white woman who didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with her act of brownface." Continue reading at The Huffington Post

[ The Huffington Post | 2021-11-02 13:00:03 UTC ]
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Trade predicts pressures on profits as costs rocket

The industry is facing an escalation in costs, as soaring energy prices and rising shipping fees add to the financial implications of distribution delays, with publishers, printers, analysts and retailers predicting pressure on profits and the likelihood of costs being passed on to consumers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-29 15:37:05 UTC ]
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Are Customers Shopping Early? Unit Sales Rose 7% Last Week

With all segments except adult nonfiction posting gains, unit sales of print books rose 7% last week over the week ended October 24, 2020. The increase could indicate that consumers are heeding warnings that they should buy holiday gifts early to avoid missing out on items due to shortages... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-10-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
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IPG Buys U.K Distribution Company United Independent Distributors

Independent Publishers Group has acquired U.K.-based United Independent Distributors. IPG CEO Joe Matthews called the deal a “game-changing acquisition,” and one that will make IPG one of the world’s largest book distributors for indie publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-10-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Print Unit Sales Up 2% in Early October

Unit sales of print books rose 2% in the week ended Oct. 9, 2021, over the comparable week in 2020, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-10-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Silverback duo give climate activists a shot in the arm

The co-creators of the book of the Earthshot Prize talk about striking the right tone in order to encourage individual action on climate change. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-14 17:53:00 UTC ]
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Unit Sales Up 3.2% in Mid-September

Helped by a number of hot new releases, unit sales of print books rose 3.2% in the week ended Sept. 25, 2021, over the comparable week in 2020, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-10-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Knights Of gets first public investor as 9 Story acquires stake

Nine Story Media Group has acquired a minority equity stake in Knights Of, becoming the inclusive publisher's first public investor. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-01 03:32:48 UTC ]
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Angelica Ross talks about walking the line between actor and activist

‘When I’m advocating for trans people and trans rights, I’m advocating from a place of real experience,’ the ‘AHS’ star told Fast Company. Actor, founder, and activist Angelica Ross first broke out as a performer. On-screen she made history as the first female transgender actress to secure two... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2021-09-30 09:55:09 UTC ]
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Richard Osman’s second book is one of the fastest-selling novels since records began

The Pointless presenter’s second crime novel, The Man Who Died Twice, has sold 114,202 copies in its first week on saleRichard Osman’s follow-up to The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice, has become one of the fastest-selling novels since records began.Published on 16 September, The... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-09-21 14:37:39 UTC ]
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Washington slept there: Retracing his travels to unite the new nation

Nathaniel Philbrick follows the trail of the first president’s journeys between 1780 and 1791. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-09-17 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Unit Sales Slipped 1.2% Last Week

Another strong performance by adult fiction was not enough to prevent unit sales of print books from falling 1.2% last week compared to the week ended September 12, 2020, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Print Unit Sales Dip in Mid-August

Unit sales of print books declined 1.3% in the week ended Aug. 14, 2021, from the comparable week in 2020, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Print Unit Sales Fell in Mid-July

Unit sales of print books fell 3.9% in the week ended July 17, 2021, compared to the similar week in 2020, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Print Unit Sales Fell in Early July

Unit sales of print books fell 1.3% in the week ended July 10, 2021, compared to the similar week in 2020, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Elizabeth Martínez, writer and activist for Chicano and feminist causes, dies at 95

During a long life of social activism, she participated in the civil rights movement and was an outspoken advocate for Mexican Americans and women. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-07-02 05:19:03 UTC ]
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