DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Paramount, home to one of Hollywood’s most storied movie studios as well as CBS and cable networks like Nickelodeon, has been discussing entering into exclusive talks with the media company Skydance for a potential deal, according to four people with knowledge of the discussions. Apollo Global Management, an investment firm with more than $500 billion under management, has submitted an $11 billion offer to acquire the Paramount movie studio. Byron Allen, whose Entertainment Studios owns the Weather Channel, has also expressed interest in acquiring Paramount. Ms. Redstone, the controlling shareholder of Paramount, began negotiating with Skydance to sell her stake in the company last year. She controls Paramount through National Amusements, a holding company that owns her voting stock in Paramount.

Persons: Shari Redstone, Byron Allen Organizations: Paramount, CBS, Nickelodeon, Apollo Global Management, Entertainment Studios, Weather, Skydance, National

However, a quick glance at The Weather Channel this year might indicate the groundhog should predict an early spring for large parts of the U.S. Some lore says that if the groundhog “sees its shadow” there will be six more weeks of winter, and if it doesn’t, there will be an early spring. Weather forecasts over the next week indicate that much of that warmer weather will sweep Northern states. Therefore, a groundhog prediction of six more weeks of winter for California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Alaska would feel accurate for residents keeping their coats on. NOAA|National Weather ServiceWith warmer weather sweeping states used to snow, some are concerned that climate change is swinging the odds closer to an early spring each year.

Persons: Phil Organizations: U.S, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, National Weather Service Locations: Punxsutawney , Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, West Coast, California , Florida , Nevada , Arizona, Alaska, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota , Wisconsin , Iowa , Nebraska, Montana

☆ Wait. This guy wants to spend $14 billion on … Paramount?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Peter Kafka | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Media entrepreneur Byron Allen says he wants to buy Paramount for $14.3 billion. Who wants to buy a big TV company these days, anyway? But investors still think it's worth less than $10 billion — meaning they don't think Allen Media is really going to end up owning Paramount. AdvertisementOne answer may simply be skepticism about Allen Media Group and its owner, TV personality-turned-entrepreneur Byron Allen. But no one, to date, has suggested that Paramount is worth anything close to $14 billion.

Persons: Byron Allen, —, Allen Media Group didn't, David Zaslav, Bob Bakish, It's, Robert Fishman dryly, Shari Redstone, David Ellison, who's, Larry Ellison, Allen Organizations: Paramount, Service, Allen Media Group, CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, Allen Media, Weather Channel, ABC, BET, Denver Broncos, Bloomberg, Street Journal, Comcast, Warner Bros Discovery, Apple, Netflix, Biden, Viacom

☆ Byron Allen, offering $14 billion for Paramount, has a long history of media bids that haven't materialized
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Ryan Anastasio | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Byron Allen, founder, chairman and CEO of the Allen Media Group, speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, on May 2, 2022. Byron Allen, the media mogul offering $14 billion for Paramount Global , told CNBC on Wednesday that he has the money to finance a deal, despite skepticism around his deal-making. Allen told CNBC he hasn't received a response from Paramount to his most recent offer. Paramount reported in its third-quarter earnings report that its streaming platform, Paramount+, increased its subscriber count to 63 million. Allen told CNBC he wants to buy Paramount for its linear networks, what he says is the most challenging part of the company.

Persons: Byron Allen, Allen, hasn't, Shari Redstone, David Ellison's, Tegna Allen, of Famer Babe Ruth, Babe Ruth, Ruth, Paramount's, — CNBC's Alex Sherman, Julia Boorstin Organizations: Allen Media Group, Milken Institute Global Conference, Paramount Global, CNBC, Federal Communications Commission, Street, Paramount, CBS, Showtime, Nickelodeon, Media, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros, Black Entertainment Television, VH1, Bloomberg, Scripps, ABC, Disney, National Football League's, The Weather, of Famer, Netflix, CNBC PRO Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S, E.W

☆ East Coast prepares for major storm bringing high winds and torrential rain
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-16 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Cities across the eastern U.S. are preparing for a major storm system that will damper weekend plans when it brings torrential rain, high winds and severe thunderstorms to the East Coast. On Sunday, torrential rain is expected for nearly the entire state of Florida. Severe thunderstorms that could bring isolated nocturnal tornadoes in parts of the state, including Tampa and Orlando, are also possible. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected on the Mid-Atlanta coast. The NWS warned, however, that conditions will begin to deteriorate late Sunday into Monday when the storm "brings drenching precipitation and gusty winds to southern New England."

Persons: Kathy Hochul Organizations: Weather Channel, Florida, & Light Company, National Weather Service, Brooklyn, NWS, The New York State Division of Homeland Security, Emergency Services, Boston Locations: U.S, East Coast, Gulf, Mexico, Florida, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, New York, Queens, Long, Connecticut, New London County, Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Hudson, Capital, Boston, New England

☆ Hollywood insiders are bracing for M&A activity to make a comeback, as 10 experts reveal the deals they're predicting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Reed Alexander | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"The unknown is hard to transact in," Sam Powers, the global head of technology, media, and telecommunications for Bank of America, told Insider. Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision , which was completed Thursday, has also put media and tech M&A back in the spotlight. "People have been holding their breath in nervous anticipation" about the idea of tech buying big media , one investor told Insider. Private-equity bets on media and Hollywood have seen mixed resultsPrivate-equity firms may have the cash to finance major media acquisitions, but they're reckoning with market volatility. Are you a Hollywood insider?

Persons: Hollywood dealmakers, Jonathan Handel, Sam Powers, Bob Iger, —, Byron Allen, Greg Doherty, Iger, Disney's, Byron Allen —, Allen, Disney, it's, Handel, It's, you've, Reese Witherspoon, Dave Kotinsky, Moonbug, Reese Witherspoon's, Jeff Zucker, Abu, Tom Staggs, Kevin Mayer, Lucia Moses, Reed Alexander Organizations: Hollywood, Puck News, Bank of America, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Disney, ESPN, Activision, Byron Allen The Weather, Wall Street shareholders, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hulu, ABC, Nexstar Media Group, Allen Media Group, Weather, Lionsgate, Starz, Paramount, BET, Warner Bros, Games, Disney Digital Network, Maker Studios, Observers, Comcast, Paramount Global, Tech, MGM, Microsoft, Netflix, Apple, RedBird Capital Partners, RedBird IMI, Private, SP, G Global Market Intelligence, Bloomberg, Media, Apollo Global Management, Yahoo Locations: Hollywood, Blackstone, Abu Dhabi, lmoses@insider.com, ralexander@insider.com

☆ A 57-year-old UPS driver in Texas died after collapsing in the heat while making deliveries
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A 57-year-old UPS driver died after collapsing while making deliveries in the Texas heat last week. UPS drivers' heat-related injuries and deaths in recent years have highlighted the dangers of the job. In their newly ratified contract, UPS workers won AC installation in new vehicles starting next year. AdvertisementAdvertisementA 57-year-old UPS driver in Texas has died after collapsing while making deliveries in the heat last week. Following months of negotiations with Teamsters, UPS announced in June that it would install air conditioning in new trucks starting next year.

Persons: Christopher Begley, Begley, Dave Reeves, Tony Rufus, Esteban Chavez Jr, Chris Begley Organizations: Weather, UPS, WFAA, Teamsters, CBS News, Teamster, FedEx Locations: Texas, Farmersville , Texas, Farmersville, CBS News Texas, North Central Texas, Memphis, Pasadena , California, Scottsdale , Arizona

☆ IBM selling The Weather Channel and the rest of its weather business
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

IBM said Tuesday it's selling its weather unit, including The Weather Channel mobile app and websites, Weather.com, Weather Underground and Storm Radar. IBM will sell The Weather Company and its assets to Francisco Partners, a tech-focused private equity firm, for an undisclosed sum. As part of the deal, IBM will retain access to the company's weather data, which it uses to power some of the artificial intelligence models it sells to enterprise clients. One of those bets is Watsonx, the enterprise AI development tool IBM announced in May that's slated to debut in the third quarter. The platform includes a feature for AI-generated code, an AI governance toolkit, and a library of thousands of large-scale AI models, trained on language, geospatial data, IT events and The Weather Company's weather data, which IBM will continue to use.

Persons: that's Organizations: IBM, The Weather Channel, Storm Radar, Weather Company, Francisco Partners

☆ The weather is so chaotic that tourists are risking their lives to take selfies with a giant thermometer in Death Valley
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

People are flocking to the hottest spot of them all in Death Valley, where temps are exceeding 130. But the hottest spot of them all is Death Valley National Park, the famously scorching location on the border of California and Nevada. Tourists in Death Valley. Earlier this month, a 65-year-old man was found dead in his car in Death Valley. A sign warns people not to walk outside in Death Valley after 10 am.

Persons: John Locher, Ty ONeil Organizations: Service, MSNBC, Weather, National Weather Service, National Park Service Locations: Death, Wall, Silicon, Phoenix, Europe, California, Nevada, Death Valley

☆ In this economy, the winner is weather apps
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Sirena Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Weather apps are tech's sleeper hit. The Guardian is rather boldly reporting that weather apps have become an "addiction." At best, weather apps "perform about as well as meteorologists, but some of the most popular ones fare much worse," Charlie Warzel recently wrote in The Atlantic. Still, there's a weather app for everyone: Sassy weather apps, irreverent weather apps, fashion-conscious weather apps, practical weather apps, and aesthetic weather apps. A weather app can use US government data (and many do, The Guardian reported) which is free to use for any purpose, according to the National Weather Service's website.

Persons: haven't, who's, it's, Eric Floehr, Charlie Warzel Organizations: Morning, Guardian, View Research Locations: monetization

☆ Climate-change safe havens can still get hit hard. Vermont's flooding is a reminder.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

As the water recedes, officials said the storm shows an ongoing need to adapt to the climate crisis. It was the highest level in nearly a century, when the river reached 27 feet during the Great Vermont Flood of 1927, according to local officials . Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets via APEven as water levels recede, more rain is expected on Thursday and Friday. Some residents said the flooding was worse than Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, which at the time seemed like an anomaly in the state. About 18% of properties in Vermont are at significant risk of flooding over the next 30 years, predicts First Street Foundation .

Persons: Justin Michaels, Phil Scott, Irene Organizations: Service, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, AP, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Foundation, FEMA Locations: Vermont, Wall, Silicon, Montpelier, Waterbury, Ludlow, Montpelier , Vermont

☆ Heavy rains pound US Northeast, with more storms on the way
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 9 (Reuters) - Heavy rainstorms poured over parts of New York and Pennsylvania on Sunday, with first responders rescuing people stuck in vehicles along flooded roadways and with more wet weather on the way for the U.S. Northeast. "Significant flooding in Stony Point - homes and cars - and many people evacuated," he wrote. [1/2]Streets are flooded in Highland Falls, Orange County, U.S., in this video screengrab obtained from social media, July 9, 2023. Melissa Roberts/via REUTERS/File photoCentral Pennsylvania and southern New York bore the brunt of the rain on Sunday. Blocked roads in New York's Orange County, which is home to West Point, prevented rescue teams from reaching isolated people, the New York Times reported, citing a county emergency management official.

Persons: Mike Lawler, Bryan Jackson, screengrab, Melissa Roberts, Jackson, Brendan O'Brien, Daniel Trotta, Leslie Adler Organizations: U.S, Weather, Prediction, United States Military Academy, New York Times, Thomson Locations: New York, Pennsylvania, U.S ., . U.S, Hudson Valley, New York City, Stony Point, Hudson, Manhattan, Quakertown, Allentown, Canadian, Ontario, Highland Falls , Orange County , U.S, New England, Burlington , Vermont, West Point , New York, New York's Orange County, West, Chicago, Carlsbad , California

☆ Paramount Global mulls sale of majority stake in BET -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 6 (Reuters) - Paramount Global (PARA.O) is mulling the possible sale of a majority stake in BET Media Group, which includes the BET cable network, BET Studios and VH1, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. BET drew an immediate expression of interest from Byron Allen, whose Allen Media Group's assets include The Weather Channel. A spokesperson for Allen Media Group said it "will be pursuing the acquisition of the network." Paramount also formed BET Studios in 2021 through a partnership with "Black-ish" creator Kenya Barris, actress Rashida Jones and "S.W.A.T" co-creator Aaron Rahsaan Thomas. The Wall Street Journal first reported that Paramount was exploring a possible sale of BET as it looks to improve its balance sheet.

☆ A typical home in Vail, Colorado, is over $1 million, leaving workers with few living options. 4 people take us inside their housing crisis as home prices in tourist towns across the country spike.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Robert Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Vail is among the most expensive Colorado housing markets, with a median home price over $1 million. Weibel's struggle to find affordable housing in Vail speaks to similar issues playing out in other ski towns like Jackson, Wyoming, and Park City, Utah. In her spare time, Weibel works part time as a babysitter, a summer-school tutor, and a ski instructor at Vail Resorts. Getty ImagesSam Stevens, 25, has seen firsthand how Vail's expensive housing market is straining the town's budget for important infrastructure projects. He eventually moved in with one of his friends in Eagle-Vail, about 8 miles west of the Vail Ski Resort.

☆ Wonya Lucas is making big changes at the Hallmark Channel
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

And she's done it all while staying true to the Hallmark brand, which Lucas said is always on her mind. Courtesy: Hallmark MediaUnder Lucas, Hallmark's "Countdown to Christmas" movie slate has increasingly changed. When Lucas became CEO of Hallmark Media, which also includes the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries network, it had also been coming out from under a firestorm of controversy. There needed to be more diversity in both casting and storylines," Hamilton Daly said. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Three Wise Men and a Baby Hallmark Media

☆ 'Bomb cyclone' forces DoorDash to pause food deliveries in multiple US cities. The company says more shutdowns are coming and New York City could be next.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Winter Storm Elliot is intensifying into a "bomb cyclone," according to The Weather Channel. DoorDash said it is pausing food deliveries in Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Indiana. 1 delivery operator, is suspending operations in multiple cities in Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Indiana. "We have activated our Severe Weather Protocol in response to Winter Storm Elliot," the company said. According to The Weather Channel, Winter Storm Elliot is intensifying in the Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes.

☆ Tropical Storm Nicole traverses Florida, putting Mar-a-Lago under mandatory evacuation orders just ahead of wedding for Trump's daughter Tiffany
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tiffany Trump is set to get married at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, soon after a tropical storm hit the state. Tiffany Trump will marry fiancé Michael Boulos on Saturday at her father's Mar-a-Lago oceanfront estate in Palm Beach. Tropical Storm Nicole made landfall near Vero Beach on Wednesday morning, putting it north of Palm Beach. Tiffany Trump, 29, is the fourth child to former President Donald Trump and daughter to his ex-wife Marla Maples. Tiffany Trump works as a legal research assistant at Georgetown University Law Center.

☆ Media mogul Byron Allen is suing McDonald's for $10 billion, claiming it overlooks Black-owned media for its advertising
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

McDonald's faces a lawsuit from Byron Allen over its advertising spend with Black-owned media. He can try to prove in court that McDonald's violated civil rights laws, court documents show. The media mogul said: "The economic exclusion must stop immediately." The media mogul accuses McDonald's of relegating his TV networks to an "African-American tier" that has a smaller budget. Allen's legal counsel, David Schecter and Skip Miller, said: "As alleged in our complaint, McDonald's has engaged in pernicious racial discrimination in violation of federal and state law.

☆ McDonald's must face $10 billion racial discrimination suit from media group
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | Cnn Business | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York (CNN Business) McDonald's will have to defend itself against a $10 billion lawsuit from media mogul Byron Allen over an allegation that the fast food chain doesn't advertise with Black-owned media. A federal court ruled last week said that Allen and his company, Allen Media Group , can try to prove in court that McDonald's violated civil rights laws. "This is about economic inclusion of African American-owned businesses in the US economy," Allen said in the press release. "McDonald's takes billions from African American consumers and gives almost nothing back. The biggest trade deficit in America is the trade deficit between White corporate America and Black America, and McDonald's is guilty of perpetuating this disparity."

☆ McDonald’s ordered to face Byron Allen’s $10 billion discrimination lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

McDonald’s Corp (MCD.N) has been ordered by a U.S. judge to defend against media entrepreneur Byron Allen’s $10 billion lawsuit accusing the fast-food chain of “racial stereotyping” by not advertising with Black-owned media. While not ruling on the merits, Olguin cited allegations that Entertainment Studios had since its 2009 founding tried repeatedly and unsuccessfully to obtain a contract from McDonald’s, whose “racist” corporate culture harmed Allen. In May 2021, McDonald’s pledged to boost national ad spending with Black-owned media to 5% from 2% by 2024. Olguin dismissed an earlier version of Allen’s lawsuit last November, finding no proof of intentional and purposeful discrimination against his companies. The case is Entertainment Studios Networks Inc et al v McDonald’s Corp, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No.

The logo for McDonald's restaurant is seen as McDonald's Corp. reports fourth quarter earnings, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterCompanies McDonald's Corp FollowSept 20 (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) has been ordered by a U.S. judge to defend against media entrepreneur Byron Allen's $10 billion lawsuit accusing the fast-food chain of "racial stereotyping" by not advertising with Black-owned media. Olguin dismissed an earlier version of Allen's lawsuit last November, finding no proof of intentional and purposeful discrimination against his companies. read moreThe case is Entertainment Studios Networks Inc et al v McDonald's Corp, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Jonathan Stempel and Hilary Russ in New York; Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Search resuls for: "Weather Channel"

21 mentions found