Wondering where to put your money in the race for entertainment eyeballs? Before you buy into the hoopla surrounding video via smart phone, check out the latest Nielsen Three Screen Report. Couch surfing remains a strong American favorite.

The amount of time we spend watching TV at home actually increased by 2 hours and 2 minutes per month in the second quarter of 2009 over a year ago, up to 141+ hours, or 4.7 hours per day. Time-shifting (Tivoing) those TV selections is growing in popularity very quickly, up almost 20% in the same one-year period.

Continue reading Changing media consumption habits? We still luv luv luv our TV

Changing media consumption habits? We still luv luv luv our TV originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Years ago, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) helped secure its niche in the personal computer world by targeting the classroom. Many people who learned on the Apple II are among its most loyal fans today.

Google is making huge inroads following the same path, as its Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Apps Education Edition has been adopted by more and more schools. It now claims that 5 million students are Googling in the classroom. If 5 million young people become accustomed to a gmail account, Google word processing, Google spreadsheets, the ability to create their own free websites, and to share video, this could lay the foundation for a lifetime of profits for the company.

Continue reading Google Apps a hit in the classroom

Google Apps a hit in the classroom originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In an act of brand seppuku, Newscorp's (NYSE:NWS) Fox Business Network has disemboweled any respect it might have built since its launch in 2007 as a serious business news source by signing mumble-jock radio host Don Imus to anchor its morning slot. Beginning October 5, the simulcast of the Imus radio show will air in HD on the television network in the 6 a.m. - 9 a.m drive time. It replaces Money for Breakfast with Alexis Glick and part of Fox Business Morning, whose hosts will appear on the Imus show with market updates.

Personally, I find watching a radio show on television as exciting as watching a classroom of students practice signing. Imus, the cowboy-hatted advertising ho (his show missed the second World Trade Center collision while on a commercial break), will reportedly include more business news in the morning format, sandwiched around his marginally audible witticisms. His show, long one of the most popular in the a.m. drive slot, was cast off of CBS radio and MSNBC two years ago who he referred to the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos."

Continue reading Imus joins Fox Business News - Business?

Imus joins Fox Business News - Business? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Many entrepreneurs have attempted to appropriate McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) brand recognition to benefit their own businesses; witness MacJoy, McMunchies, McAllen, McSleep, and McChina Wok Away to name but a few. But the burger chain will have none of that and has aggressively pursued the protection of its trademark and name.

McCurry of Malaysia, however, has finally succeeded in convincing a local court to allow it to continue to sell its food under the McCurry name, as long as its menu remains distinct from that of McDonald's. The ruling marks the end of an eight-year legal battle.

Continue reading McDonald's forced to swallow McCurry

McDonald's forced to swallow McCurry originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I'm Wal-Mart dyslexic, or so my editors probably believe. I have the devil's time remembering just how the company name is presented. To my relief, I discovered today that the problem is not with me, but with WalMart Wal-Mart Walmart Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT). The "Prince" of the retail world can't make up its mind what it wants to be called.

CNBC today pointed out a note at the end of the firm's new second quarter report rebuking the press for failing to transition references to the company after last year's logo redesign. The new WalMart Wal-Mart Walmart logo abandoned the star that had separated WAL and MART, and the capitalization of the letter M in text references. The company now wants us to refer to it as Walmart. I'm glad for the official guidance; I was prepared to refer to it as Walmart☼.

Continue reading Wal-Mart, Walmart, WalMart -- The 'Prince' of the retailing world

Wal-Mart, Walmart, WalMart -- The 'Prince' of the retailing world originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When it first appeared, fans flocked to the television to watch the world's best poker players and the world's biggest chumps vie for huge pots on the World Poker Tour (NASDAQ: WPTE). Unfortunately, one of the biggest losers walking away from the table now is the World Poker Tour itself, having turned a table stake at one time estimated at $500 million into chump change. Last week, the company announced that it had reached agreement to sell all its rights and operations for slightly over $9 million, plus a share of future profits, to Gamynia Enterprises, a privately held company.

According to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required), WPT was a victim of its own success. Given the eagerness of the gaming industry to popularize its products, there was no shortage of funds to sponsor poker broadcasts. And the low cost of producing such entertainment meant that any idiot could set up a camera and create a show (and many did). At one time, poker was on television more often than Billy Mays.

Continue reading World Poker Tour -- the house loses

World Poker Tour -- the house loses originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For me, part of the charm of a good coffee house is the languorous pace. Those in a blood-pounding hurry aren't willing to wait while a frothy delight is put together.

Apparently, the staff at Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) has been a little too laid back, so the company is conducting time studies and training them to make every motion count. The stated goal is to free them up to engage the customer more, but I don't doubt that operating with fewer employees is also a consideration.

Continue reading Starbucks teaching efficiency with Mr. Potato Head

Starbucks teaching efficiency with Mr. Potato Head originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Could fizzy milk be the new new Coke? Coca-Cola's (NYSE: KO) Venture and Emerging Brands unit is testing just that concept in New York with its new drink, Vio. According to Foodbev.com, the bottled concoction is made of skim milk, cream, fruit, sweetener, and fizz. It comes in four flavors: peach, mango, berry, and citrus colada.

Milk, fruit -- sounds like a drink made with nutrition in mind, right? Sadly, Vio contains as much sugar, 26 grams, as full-strength Coke, along with 1.5 grams of fat. Despite the sugar content, though, the milk content could be the loophole by which Coke could expand its toehold in U.S. schools, where it thrived for decades before public backlash led to a move to banish soft drinks.

Continue reading Coca-Cola's fizzy milk headed for the school market?

Coca-Cola's fizzy milk headed for the school market? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I worry every time I see a company with a strong market niche attempt to reinvent itself in hopes of finding a new avenue of growth, knowing all too frequently it loses its way altogether. (Remember your motorcycle fiasco, Cannondale?) Will Starbucks' (NASDAQ: SBUX) new pilot cafe, which will offer beer, wine, and entertainment, bring it new success or divert its attention from its core business?

The test-of-concept cafe to open next week in Seattle is named the 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea. Obviously, in addition to alcoholic beverages the cafe will offer caffeine in its many forms. However, according to CNN Money, the Starbucks name will not appear on coffee and tea products.

Continue reading Starbucks to offer wine, entertainment at new cafe

Starbucks to offer wine, entertainment at new cafe originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The American consumer may not be buying much these days, but my guess is his desire for goods has not abated. This is clearly demonstrated by the healthy returns enjoyed by two companies in the rent-to-own business, Aaron's (NYSE: AAN) and Rent-A-Center, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCII). According to USA Today, both companies experienced great success as the economy folded. Tight credit brought in customers who could not qualify for conventional loans.

Both companies rent household appliances, entertainment electronics, computers and furniture. Customers agree to pay a monthly amount toward the eventual full price of the goods selected, and are able to take their selections home immediately.

The USA Today article reports that three-quarters of the customers of Rent-A-Center return their rented goods within 17 weeks, never coming close to ownership. In fact, only one in twenty end up buying what they have rented. The full retail price of merchandise purchased through these companies is considerably higher than it would be if bought from a conventional retailer, so buying through rent-to-buy is an expensive proposition.

Continue reading Rent-to-own business booming

Rent-to-own business booming originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), which already has most of the money in the world, seems intent on grabbing Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) pile by elbowing its way into the operating system business.

Last year Google introduced its own web browser, Chrome, and a platform for smart phones, Android. Now the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reports that by the end of next year it will roll out an operating system to compete with Windows.

Continue reading Google to launch alternative to Windows

Google to launch alternative to Windows originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I guess Kmart -- part of Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD) -- has exhausted every other marketing idea it had for luring us back to the shopping aisles. How else to account for launching what must the earliest Christmas shopping campaign in history? The website for the chain now features a snowy village decked out in holiday cheer.

The banner reads "Take A Stroll Down Christmas Lane," and suggests that you can 'beat the Christmas rush" (ha!) by buying your stocking stuffers, gifts, and decorations now. Personally, I can't even predict who I'll still like well enough to give a gift to in six months. Stuff happens.

Continue reading Kmart launches Christmas campaign -- in July

Kmart launches Christmas campaign -- in July originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) struck gold when it entered the breakfast market decades ago. Today it's fighting for Starbucks' boutique coffee business. Where will it turn next to expand its business? How about electricity?

According to our sister blog, Engadget, a new North Carolina McDonald's will include electric vehicle (EV) recharging stations, part of the ChargePoint network. While you stuff your face, your car could be stuffing its battery.

Continue reading New McDonald's to include recharging stations for electric cars

New McDonald's to include recharging stations for electric cars originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Windows 7 presales strong

Windows 7 presales strong originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In an over-the-top example of watching the pennies so the dollars add up, Marriott Intl. (NYSE: MAR) has found an extra $2 million a year in its bacon. Fortune Magazine reports that the chain has abandoned uniform six-inch strip of crispy goodness in favor of strips of varying lengths. The lower price of the irregular sizes should bolster the bottom line, it hopes without harming the perception of value of its customers.

Continue reading Marriott hopes to save its bacon by saving its bacon

Marriott hopes to save its bacon by saving its bacon originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The motel chain Red Roof Inn hit the roof this week with a thud, defaulting on over $350 million of mortgage payments. The chain, purchased by Citigroup Inc.'s (NYSE:C) Global Special Situations Unit and Westmont Hospitality Group from Accor SA two years ago for $1.3 billion, has suffered a drop in overnights of over 10% since the acquisition.

Red Roof Inn was started in 1972 by Jim Trueman. (Trueman is better remembered as the car racing fan, who provided the opportunity for star driver, Bobby Rahal, to start his career.) The company was based in Columbus, OH until its sale to Accor, and returned there after its most recent sale. The chain has grown to 345 locations, in 36 states. 133 of these Inns are owned by franchisees. 131 of the company-owned Inns were put up as collateral for the four mortgages the chain received. Total debt, according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required), approaches $1.2 billion.

Continue reading Red Roof Inn hits the roof, defaults on mortgage

Red Roof Inn hits the roof, defaults on mortgage originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While Washington considers a uniform national sales tax on internet sales, many struggling states aren't waiting, instead pushing forward their own legislation. One of the major companies that stands to lose business from such a tax, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), has begun to send messages to these states threatening to quit doing business with partners based in these states rather than accept the responsibility for collecting and distributing these taxes.

North Carolina and Hawaii have already received such notices. According to the Wall Street Journal linked above, these states are considering new laws that would required companies that have "online marketing affiliates" in the state to collect and return tax to the state. Amazon has thousands of such affiliates, web-based vendors who display links to Amazon products and receive a commission for each sale.

Continue reading Amazon warns California against internet sales tax

Amazon warns California against internet sales tax originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A study just released by the CMO Council and Pointer Media Network concludes that brand loyalty in the consumer packaged goods sector is taking a severe hit during this recession. Among its conclusions- 52% of customers who were considered highly loyal to a brand in 2007 either cut back or quit buying the brand in 2008. Less than half of the brands kept 50% or more of their highly loyal customers during that interval.

A full third of loyal customers of the average brand abandoned that brand altogether in 2008. One might say today's customers are fickle as well as frugal! The recession is also impeding the ability of leading brands to recruit new customers, meaning that the overall customer base of many contracted in 2008.

Continue reading Customer loyalty suffers in recession

Customer loyalty suffers in recession originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One of the great marketing triumphs of the late 20th century was bottled water. Turning a commodity into a retail product uncapped huge revenue for companies such as Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) and Pepsico (NYSE:PEP). The question now, however, is how fragile is the business? A troubling trend has top restaurants taking bottled water off of their menus due to environmental concerns.

According to CNN Money's Martinne Geller, New York's Del Posto restaurant and other restaurants owned by Joseph Bastianich are discontinuing bottled water, citing the resources squandered in transporting waters long distances. Perrier, for example, must be shipped from its source in Vergaze, France. 86% of all water bottles end up in the landfill. A study by the Pacific Institute's Peter H. Gleick and Heather Cooly found that bottled water required up to 2,000 times more energy to deliver than tap water.

Continue reading Restaurants pull bottled water from menu; bad news for drink companies?

Restaurants pull bottled water from menu; bad news for drink companies? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As the newspaper business goes south, many of us are wondering what will happen to investigative journalists, the standard-bearers of the third fourth estate and a crucial check to unfettered power. The Associated Press has moved to address this problem in announcing it will begin distributing stories from four prominent not-for-profit reporting organizations.

The sad fact is that many newspapers can no long pay for their own reporting from the revenues of advertising and circulation sales. The four organizations, however, operate on a different donor model. The Center for Public Integrity, ProPublica, The Center for Investigative Journalism, and the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University are already AP members, which no doubt made the decision to add their work to the wire offerings easier.

Continue reading AP to distribute investigative journalism from not-for-profits

AP to distribute investigative journalism from not-for-profits originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.