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Cablevision App Lets You Watch TV on Your iPad

Apple (AAPL) iPadDo you want to watch television on your iPad? No problem. Just download an app. Cablevision (CVC) claims that its customers can watch 300 channels at home, according to Reuters.

The interesting feature of this program is that you don't need the Internet. Cablevision uses a digital code to deliver content to an Apple (AAPL) iPad. The app allows you to search channels by genre and record programs.

Continue reading Cablevision App Lets You Watch TV on Your iPad

Options Update: Discovery Communications Volatility Low into Launch of Oprah Winfrey Network

Discovery Communications, Inc. (DISCA) closed at $41.80. OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a joint venture between Oprah Winfrey's production company, Harpo, and cable programmer Discovery Communications, is slated to launch on January 1. Overall option implied volatility of 26 is below its 26-week average of 29 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (EEM) overall option implied volatility of 24 is below its 26-week average of 27 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Mad Men: Investing in Advertising

Discovery Communications (DISCA)"Over the past few years, no amount of Don Draper's charm would have won new business for any ad firm; ad spending declined by more than 12 percent in 2009," notes Benjamin Shepherd.

The contributing editor to Personal Finance newsletter explains, "However, thus far in 2010, spending on advertising has rebounded by almost 3 percent, and digital ad buys have eclipsed traditional print media purchases.

"Two two top plays on this theme are Scripps Networks Interactive (SNI) and Discovery Communications (DISCA).

Continue reading Mad Men: Investing in Advertising

Discovery Communications (DISCA): Media Breakout

"Discovery Communications (DISCA), based in Silver Spring, Md., is a global media and entertainment company," says technical analyst Leo Fasciocco.

The editor of Ticker Tape Digest, which specializes in stocks breaking out from basing patterns, explains, "Technically, the stock has broken out from a 6-week flat base ; the move took the shares to an all-time high.

"With annual revenues of $3.7 billion, the company provides original and purchased programming across multiple distribution platforms in the US and 170 other countries.

Continue reading Discovery Communications (DISCA): Media Breakout

IMAX Is Rocking -- Buy or Sell into Strength?

IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is doing pretty darn good in today's session. At the time of this writing, shares were up over 8% to $14.43, good for a new 52-week high. Headlines on Tuesday proclaimed the intention of Discovery Communications Inc. (DISCA), Sony Corporation (SNE), and IMAX to join forces for purposes of launching a 3-D television asset. I'm sure that must have intrigued not a few in the market.

In addition to that, though, I think there is a general bullish feeling forming on IMAX. I was surprised to read over at Benzinga.com that CNBC's Fast Money analyst Guy Adami highlighted the company as a potential pick for the entire decade! Now that's bullish.

Continue reading IMAX Is Rocking -- Buy or Sell into Strength?

Oprah to pull the plug in 2011

Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey, arguably the most powerful woman in entertainment (if not the world in general), is preparing to pack her luxurious bags. She's announced that in 2011, after a quarter-century of favorite things and heartfelt interviews, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will be no more. The last program is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2011. One can only imagine who might be her guests.

In syndication across the country, Oprah's eponymous program is the top-rated U.S. daytime show (take that, Days of Our Lives!), with an average viewership of 7.1 million this year.

While not entirely unexpected, the news is likely a bit of a blow to CBS Corporation (CBS), as its CBS Television Distribution arm syndicates the program. Additionally, Walt Disney (DIS) might feel the sting of an Oprah departure as Disney-owned ABC is the primary network that airs the show. And will it impact O, Oprah's monthly magazine published by the Heart Corporation? To say nothing of all of the manic women in the audience who long for a chance at one of Oprah's favorite things.

Continue reading Oprah to pull the plug in 2011

Wall Street didn't want to play with Hasbro after Q3 results

Hasbro (NYSE: HAS) isn't doing too well today. Shares of the toy entity are down 3.5% at the time of this writing in early afternoon trading. Third-quarter results are the catalyst, apparently. Management must hate this, because on Friday, rival Mattel (NYSE: MAT) saw a bid after its own earnings release.

Hasbro's top line contracted 2%, and earnings per share, even with some dilution from a joint venture with Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA) and investments in Hasbro's virtual-studio initiative, increased 11% to 99 cents. Expectations were beat by six pennies. Gee, that was better than Mattel's performance. The maker of Barbie actually saw a per-share earnings decline and came in line with forecasts.

Continue reading Wall Street didn't want to play with Hasbro after Q3 results

Discovery to buy HowStuffWorks.com

Discovery Communications, which owns the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, hopes to turnaround its failed efforts to get a foothold on the Internet by buying the popular website HowStuffWorks.com for $250 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. Discovery will use this popular base to make its library of videos more easily available to the public.

HowStuffWorks.com, a privately held company whose best known owner is investor Carl Icahn, was founded by Marshall Brain in 1998. Brain is a university professor in North Carolina. He built the audience for the site by analyzing what people were searching for on the Internet and creating content to answer those queries.

In addition to HowStuffWorks.com, the purchase will include several other digital properties including a map database, which are not yet profitable. Discovery hopes that by controlling a website that already gets 3.8 million unique U.S. users each month it will have more success drawing Internet users to its online content. Chief Executive David Zaslav, who has been redesigning Discovery in his own image since taking over in January, told the Journal he believes this acquisition will give Discovery the "online firepower" it's been lacking.

Discovery throws down some green for TreeHugger.com

As the name implies, TreeHugger.com is the place to get "green news, solutions, and product information."

And now the company is getting some green from Discovery Communications – that is, in a buyout. The terms have not been disclosed (but the rumors have the purchase price between $10 million to $15 million).

TreeHugger.com is in the form of a blog. But there are also videos, newsletters and user generated content areas.

And it's a popular destination. In June, there were 3.6 million pageviews and 1.94 million unique visitors. Even Oprah Winfrey is a fan.

TreeHugger.com also has some good-natured humor. According to the site: "TreeHuggers know that you don't need to run off to live with the wolves to contribute to the betterment of Mother Nature. (We do, however, prescribe this to anyone with strong urges to pursue cave art and moon howling). TreeHuggers live in the 21st century, make quotidian decisions, consume, have fun and maintain their aesthetic je ne sais quoi."

Oh, and TreeHugger.com has no issue doing some dealmaking, either.

And, if you want to check out some more recent M&A deals, click here.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and the EDGAR-Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements.

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Last updated: February 12, 2012: 11:10 PM

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