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☆ Portugal won't compensate telcos for replacing "high-risk" equipment
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Sergio Goncalves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Europe and the U.S. have concerns that Chinese involvement in critical infrastructure could compromise security. The Security Assessment Commission created within the scope of the CSSC has over the past nine months assessed the security aspects of all existing equipment in Portugal, regardless of "technology, merit or quality", and applied the criteria of the EU 5G security toolbox. "Because there is this balance between security and the operators' return on investment, Portugal does not consider compensating them for replacing equipment," he said. Asked if the deliberation was aimed at Chinese suppliers such as Huawei, he said: "Of course not". Portugal's main operators, Altice, NOS (NOS.LS) and Vodafone (VOD.L) have already said they would not use Huawei's equipment in 5G core networks.

Persons: Mario Campolargo, Campolargo, Sergio Goncalves, David Evans Organizations: Huawei, Reuters, Union, U.S, EU, NATO, OECD, Vodafone, Thomson Locations: LISBON, Portugal, digitalisation, Europe, Beijing, EU

☆ Cheddar News was meant to be a digital-media darling that could rival Bloomberg and CNBC. Now it's reportedly considering a sale — here's how the network was pushed to the brink.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The owner of embattled network Cheddar News is reportedly considering selling the seven-year-old startup. NYT's DealBook reported on Monday that Altice USA tapped Goldman Sachs to explore a possible sale. NYT reporters Lauren Hirsch and Ben Mullin noted a sale isn't a foregone conclusion and Altice USA could decide not to proceed. Spokespersons for Altice USA did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on Monday morning and a spokesperson for Goldman Sachs had no comment. Check out Insider's exclusive coverage of the chaos at Cheddar News:Are you a Cheddar News or Altice USA insider?

Persons: DealBook, Goldman Sachs, Lauren Hirsch, Ben Mullin, Altice, —, I'd, Baker Machado, Chloe Aiello, Read, I've, Jon Steinberg, Steinberg, Reed Alexander Organizations: News, Telecom, Altice USA, Cheddar News, New York Times, USA, Insiders, Mail, Cheddar Locations: USA, Cheddar, Portugal

July 24 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google (GOOGL.O) violated a software developer's patent rights with its remote-streaming technology and must pay $338.7 million in damages, a federal jury in Waco, Texas decided on Friday. The jury found that Google's Chromecast and other devices infringe patents owned by Touchstream Technologies related to streaming videos from one screen to another, a court representative said on Monday. According to the complaint, Google met with Touchstream about its technology in December 2011 but said it was not interested two months later. Touchstream said that Google's Chromecast copied its innovations and infringed three of its patents. It also said its patents were infringed by Google's Home and Nest smart speakers and third-party televisions and speakers with Chromecast capabilities.

Persons: Jose Castaneda, Touchstream, David Strober, Blake Brittain, David Bario, Grant McCool Organizations: Google, Touchstream Technologies, New, Google's, Comcast, Thomson Locations: Waco , Texas, New York, Altice, Texas, Washington

The cable company Altice USA is said to be weighing a potential sale of Cheddar News, the network once billed as “CNBC for millennials,” less than five years after buying the company. Altice USA has hired Goldman Sachs to help explore strategic alternatives for Cheddar News, according to three people with knowledge of the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. They cautioned that Altice was still weighing its options and could decide against a sale. Representatives for Altice USA and Goldman declined to comment. Among them: Gas Station TV (which, yes, plays at the pump) and MTV’s college campus network (which Cheddar bought in 2018).

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Altice, Goldman, Patrick Drahi, Jon Steinberg Organizations: Cheddar News, CNBC, millennials, Altice USA, New York Stock Exchange, Gas Locations: USA, Altice, French, Cheddar

☆ Illumina hit with record $476 million fine for closing Grail deal without EU approval
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

European Union regulators on Wednesday fined Illumina a record 432 million euros ($476 million) for closing its acquisition of cancer test developer Grail without first securing regulatory approval. The fine from the European Commission, the EU's executive body, amounts to 10% of San Diego-based Illumina's turnover. The Illumina fine exceeds the commission's previous largest merger regulation fine of $125 million, or 1% of annual turnover, imposed on telecommunications company Altice in 2018. Illumina has already put aside $453 million to cover a potential maximum fine of 10% of turnover, according to a regulatory filing from earlier this year. "This is a very serious infringement, which requires the imposition of a proportionate fine, with the aim of deterring such conduct," the European Commission continued.

Persons: Illumina Organizations: European Commission, EU, Altice Locations: San Diego, Menlo Park , California

☆ Cheddar News is slashing jobs including longtime anchors and broadcast producers in the latest blow after months of low morale, discontent, and staff exits
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Cheddar News cut a series of roles on Thursday, the latest blow to its dwindling newsroom. The embattled news network is cutting at least two anchors and several producers, sources said. The embattled network Cheddar News cut a series of jobs on Thursday, resulting in the ouster of at least two senior anchors and numerous other producers and back-office staff, Insider has learned. At Altice USA, news and advertising revenues were down nearly 14% year-over-year, according to the company's most recent earnings report. Do you work at Cheddar News or Altice USA and have additional details to share?

Persons: —, Manoj Shamdasani, Altice, …, it's, Reed Alexander Organizations: Cheddar, Altice, Cheddar News, Altice USA Locations: Cheddar, Altice USA, newsrooms, New York, Hollywood

☆ Cheddar News laid off a team of respected reporters who once created content for its popular YouTube channel
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Embattled network Cheddar News cut six roles in a small layoff round in April, Insider has learned. Affected employees previously worked on Cheddar's highly-regarded YouTube team. Cheddar News quietly laid off half a dozen staffers who formerly worked on its highly-regarded YouTube team creating original video content, Insider has learned. As Insider reported earlier this year, sources at Cheddar said management had indicated cost-cutting and profitability concerns were behind the shift in strategy away from creating original YouTube content, which Cheddar had done for years. Do you work for Cheddar News or Altice USA, or are you a media insider with insight to share?

Persons: Cheddar, Anna Delvey, Kristin Malaspina, Altice, Malaspina, Claire Atkinson, Reed Alexander Organizations: Cheddar, YouTube, News12, Altice, Cheddar News, Altice USA, New, BuzzFeed Locations: New York, News12 New York, Altice USA, Russian, Cheddar

☆ Cheddar News quietly laid off a handful of video producers as its newsroom reels from continued defections and organizational changes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Embattled network Cheddar News cut six roles in a small layoff round in April, Insider has learned. Affected employees previously worked on Cheddar's highly-regarded YouTube video team. Cheddar News quietly laid off half a dozen staffers who formerly worked on its highly-regarded YouTube team creating original video content, Insider has learned. Altice, which bought Cheddar in 2019, set out to implement a series of content changes at the 7-year-old news outlet in mid-2022. Do you work for Cheddar News or Altice USA, or are you a media insider with insight to share?

☆ Portugal moves closer to banning Chinese suppliers from 5G
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Sergio Goncalves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LISBON, May 26 (Reuters) - Portugal's cybersecurity council CSSC has issued a resolution that could formally bar telecom operators from using Chinese equipment in their high-speed 5G mobile networks as well 4G platforms on which the new technology is based. The CSSC is the prime minister's consultative body and its document, dated May 23, is another blow to efforts by Chinese technology giant Huawei (HWT.UL) to enter the 5G market in Portugal and possibly extend existing contracts. Portugal's existing 5G networks are not standalone and still largely based on 4G technology and equipment. Its opinion is based on an undisclosed report that evaluated the safety of equipment in public electronic communications networks involving 5G technology. Reporting by Sergio Goncalves Editing by Andrei Khalip and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ BT’s miss may spur big investors into action
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Trumpeting massive job cuts is usually one way to boost a share price. The 14 billion pound telco said on Thursday it would shed 55,000 jobs over the next seven years, but shares slumped 8%. That will stretch the patience of Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE) and Patrick Drahi’s Altice, which collectively control 30% of the UK group. The catch for Drahi and Höttges is that it’s not obvious what they should demand to reinvigorate BT’s share price. Still, if the two bigwigs decide to join forces, BT’s job cuts may yet move up to the company’s C-suite.

☆ A solid start to earnings season will be put to the test in the week ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

The biggest week of this earnings season showed us that things aren't as bad as many feared. The week ahead of earnings, including several more Club names, should tell us more. The results are always important, but it's the guidance and management commentary we will really hone in on to better understand the path ahead. In Amazon's case, a solid first quarter for its AWS cloud business was overshadowed by management seeing a material slowdown in April. ET: Nonfarm Payrolls Looking back It was the biggest week of this earnings season for the Club as several of our mega-cap holdings and industry bellwethers reported results.

☆ Cheddar News has seen so many exits that managers have asked staffers to delay scheduled vacations, while promising that reinforcements are on the way
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Cheddar News has lost more than 10 newsroom staffers since the start of 2023, sources told Insider. As of March, Cheddar appears to have plans to hire at least five news-related roles, according to Altice's jobs portal. a former Cheddar producer said. The two executives are said to have denied speculation that Altice has any plans to combine Cheddar and News 12. Sources previously told Insider that, throughout 2022, the Cheddar newsroom had contracted by roughly a third.

☆ The Fed’s favorite inflation gauge will be the big market hurdle of next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Most important this week is Friday's core personal consumption expenditure (PCE) price index for January. In comparison, the consumer price index (CPI), released this past week, only tracks price changes over time. The market is expecting the core PCE price index to rise 0.4% monthly and 4.9% annually. In addition to the core PCE price index, we're going to be looking closely at the housing and utilities component. Lastly, the January producer price index came in hotter than expected, rising 0.7% from December versus expectations for 0.4% increase.

☆ AMC Networks names a new CEO: Kristin Dolan, spouse of chairman James Dolan
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

AMC Networks , the company that owns TV channels like AMC and IFC, named Kristin Dolan its new CEO on Wednesday. She's an industry veteran, and most recently served as CEO of 605, a data analytics firm that measures audience numbers for TV networks. She is also the spouse, albeit separated, of James Dolan, the AMC Networks interim executive chairman James Dolan. The Dolan family has been considering the best way to move AMC Networks forward as it deals with cord-cutting and a tight ad market. For some time now, AMC Networks has been considered an acquisition target for larger media companies looking to bulk up their libraries.

☆ Baupost’s Seth Klarman hikes his Meta, Amazon stakes right before the big rebound
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Baupost's Seth Klarman drastically increased his stake in some of the biggest technology companies in the fourth quarter, just before the group staged a big comeback, according a new regulatory filing. Klarman hiked his Meta bet by 150% to $208 million, and upped his Amazon stake by 300% to a bet worth more than $83 million. Meta has risen nearly 50% year to date, while Amazon has gained nearly 19%. And just like Buffett, Klarman has increased his exposure to the tech sector in recent years to take advantage of its explosive growth. Other than technology stocks, Klarman added small new bets on cable television provider Altice and Herbalife last quarter.

Led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs are playing in their third Super Bowl in the past five seasons. How to watch Super Bowl LVIIYou can watch Super Bowl LVII on Fox starting at 6:30 p.m. Matt Sayles/APRihanna headlines the Super Bowl LVII halftime show with her first live televised performance since the 2018 Grammys. There's no set time for the Super Bowl halftime show, as it depends on the pace of the game. Who's singing the national anthem at Super Bowl LVII?

☆ European junk debt sales spring back to life as sentiment improves
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Chiara Elisei | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

According to Refinitiv data, those sales so far in January add to almost $2.2 billion worth of sales in December and $760 million in November. Decades-high inflation and aggressive central bank rate hikes also weighed on debt markets with investors shunning risk assets. Firms are either selling new debt or asking investors to extend the maturity of existing debt, offering in return an increase in the interest they pay. Last week, Air France SA-KLM (AIRF.PA) sold a debut sustainability-linked bond worth one billion euros, giving the European credit market its first major high-yield deal in months. Analysts say that such firms could struggle with selling new debt and might require shareholder support to entice investors.

☆ How Scripps News, the streaming and broadcast network formerly known as Newsy, is pivoting to anti-partisan, 'fact-based' reporting
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Streaming and broadcast news network Newsy has been rebranded as Scripps News. The network formerly known as Newsy has a presence on TV stations owned by Scripps and its ION Media stations and is accessible via free over-the-air digital antenna and several streaming platforms — including Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV. The company, which pulled Newsy from cable packages in 2021, boasts that Scripps News offers the only free 24/7 national news broadcast. Scripps News is also absorbing scores of executives from a national desk that fed the company's 61 local stations. Its local stations pulled in $208 million in ad revenue thanks to the midterm elections.

☆ Cheddar News pushed its anchors to think and act like influencers, insiders say, with some on-air hosts hiring agencies at their own expense to boost their social-media followings
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Cheddar News was founded with the vision of taking on business news big dogs like CNBC. But the vision has been beset by staff defections, complaints of low morale, and editorial red flags. Some on-air talent felt "pressure" to act like social-media influencers, Insider's reporting showed. Sign up for our newsletter to get the news, trends and strategies that advertising and media pros want to know — delivered weekly to your inbox. An Altice spokesperson said in an emailed statement earlier this month that there were "inaccuracies" in Insider's reporting, but did not provide specifics.

☆ In leaked audio, Cheddar bosses address newsroom burnout and outline their goals, but offer no concrete solutions for declining morale and ongoing exits
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Insider obtained leaked audio of an hour-long all-hands meeting at Cheddar News. Leadership also addressed employees' concerns about the state of the company, including under-staffing, burnout, and a recent wave of departures. Three more staffers have either exited Cheddar's newsroom or are imminently on the way out this week, Insider has learned. A spokesperson for Altice USA offered no comment. Are you an insider at Cheddar News or Altice USA?

☆ Google's most cutting-edge moonshot lab is refocusing on actually making money
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Matt Weinberger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I'm Matt Weinberger, deputy editor of Insider's tech analysis team, filling in for my colleague Diamond Naga Siu for the next few days. It's yet another sign that the tech industry is very different than it was even a year ago. A moonshot in the foot for Google: Insider's Hugh Langley reports that Google's X Development is scaling back from its pioneering, famously envelope-pushing roots as a tech research lab. Instead, it'll focus on initiatives that actually make money for Google and its parent company Alphabet. Read Insider's in-depth review of the newest model of the iPad Pro, released in late 2022.

☆ Inside the turmoil at Cheddar News, where an editorial 'identity crisis' and misfired social media strategy divided the newsroom and drove staffers to the exits
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Reed Alexander | Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +21 min

16 insiders described unrest and discord partly fueled by the site's revamped social media strategy. Malaspina's plan was for Cheddar to look and feel like a social media platform and to position its stars as influencers. Concerns inside Cheddar intensified when Malaspina, a newcomer to journalism, refocused its coverage on social media content. Multiple segments and even an entire show — "Trending" at 7 p.m. — centered on social media trends and TikTok challenges. It's very troubling to think that news professionals would inflate or distort their social media followings.

☆ Cox launches mobile business, joining Comcast, Charter, Altice
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

In this photo illustration, the Cox Communications logo is displayed on a smartphone screen. Cox Communications is ringing in the new year with the official launch of its mobile business. The privately held cable and internet operator plans to announce the national launch of Cox Mobile Thursday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Cox has trailed peers like Comcast , Charter Communications and Altice USA , which started offering mobile service to their customers in recent years and have been adding customers at a fast clip. Like Comcast and Charter's services, Cox Mobile will only be available to new and existing customers.

☆ Microsoft recognizes its first union as ZeniMax software testers organize
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile for Web Summit via Getty Images)Microsoft said Tuesday that it has recognized its first union of employees in the software maker's 47-year history. Last year, Microsoft said it would support approaches that would make it simpler for its employees to join unions. A supermajority of ZeniMax workers said they wanted to join the union, the CWA said in a statement. Microsoft operates 23 internal game studios in addition to selling Xbox consoles and operating gaming services such as Game Pass subscription packages. The workers become the largest group of quality-assurance testers at any U.S. game studio, the CWA said.

☆ No more Newsy: The streaming and broadcast network rebrands as Scripps News under Warren Buffett-backed E.W. Scripps
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Streaming and broadcast news network Newsy is being scrapped and rebranded as Scripps News. Parent company E.W. Bellini is a San Francisco-based reporter for Newsy, the 14-year-old streaming news platform owned by E.W. Scripps News is also absorbing scores of executives from a national desk that fed the company's 61 local stations. Its local stations pulled in $208 million in ad revenue thanks to the midterm elections.

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