More

• Writers' Strike: Despite Optimism, There's A Fly In Ointment Thursday, 31 Jan 2008 | 3:05 PM ET

  

  The Writers Guild strike is 12 weeks old and wreaking havoc on the TV biz. There's no new scripted programming. The Oscars are less than a month away, and with no promises yet from the WGA that they won't picket, there are serious fears it could turn into another movie-clip heavy press conference. We've got reality TV alright, tons of it--but the viewers aren't satisfied.

• Michael Bloomberg: Is He Hollywood's Man For White House? Wednesday, 30 Jan 2008 | 4:04 PM ET

  

  As we lead up to Super Tuesday I've been reporting on the intersection of Hollywood and politics. Hollywood plays a key role raising awareness about issues, and candidates. (Though I wouldn't say that a Hollywood endorsement is necessarily a good thing).

• Music Industry Ready To "Give Away" The Songs? Tuesday, 29 Jan 2008 | 8:58 AM ET

  

  Illegal downloading outpaces legal downloading alternatives by 20-to-one. Record companies may have grown their digital music revenue by 40 percent over the past year, but that's so far from enough to keep up with the death of the CD business.

• Advertisers Bank on Super Bowl in Face of Writers Strike Sunday, 27 Jan 2008 | 3:37 PM ET

  The story lines are unabashedly goofy. Cavemen invent the wheel to transport a beer cooler made of stone, and a car buyer enlists the help of a tribal warrior in case he needs some extra negotiating leverage at the dealership.

• Recession And Media Sector: Which Stocks May Be "Best" Bets Wednesday, 9 Jan 2008 | 2:58 PM ET

  Economic concerns are making Wall Street nervous about the media sector. Today analysts at Goldman Sachs and Sanford Bernstein issued negative reports on the broad media sector. GS's Anthony Noto reduced estimates across communications, media and entertainment sectors.

• Comcast: Out To Make Cable TV An Audience And (Stock) Favorite? Tuesday, 8 Jan 2008 | 5:02 PM ET

  

  Yet another sign of the convergence of content and technology: For the first time, a cable company CEO made a keynote speech at CES. This morning, Comcast spacer chief Brian Roberts announced a new strategy, calling it Comcast 3.0.

• Jay Leno: Is He Writing "Controversial" Monologues? Friday, 4 Jan 2008 | 10:49 AM ET

  

  The late night shows had their second night return to the airwaves and the networks are glad they are back after the two month hiatus. Their first night brought whopper increases in ratings--Nielsen reporting that Jay Leno, who returned without his writing staff, had his best ratings in years, 47 percent higher than his pre-strike average.

• Letterman, Leno, Kimmel Back, But How Funny Will They Be? Wednesday, 2 Jan 2008 | 11:11 AM ET

  

  Happy 2008! I'm back from my travels and have spent the day reading up on all the news I missed while away (though news of Benazir Bhutto's assassination was everywhere, the international press doesn't follow Hollywood labor negotiations as closely).

• Media Money with Julia Boorstin Wednesday, 12 Dec 2007 | 1:09 PM ET

  

  At this time of year, it's predictions, predictions, predictions. So as part of CNBC's Outlook for '08, here are mine for the media world and all that's in it--with a personal look as well! (see number 7). Here I go!!

• NBC Reimburses Advertisers After Ratings Shortfall Wednesday, 12 Dec 2007 | 3:25 AM ET

  

  NBC has reimbursed some advertisers who paid in advance for commercials aired during prime-time shows that didn't live up to ratings projections, the network said Tuesday. 

• Lights, Camera, No Action Monday, 10 Dec 2007 | 7:43 PM ET

  

  Entertainment stocks are finally feeling the heat from Wall Street as the writer’s strike drags on with no end in sight. Which media companies are best prepared to weather the storm as they stare at a long, cold winter with no new material?

• WGA Strike: Math Not "Adding Up" As Shows Disappear Wednesday, 5 Dec 2007 | 12:45 PM ET

  

  Now that the press blackout has been lifted on the Writers Guild strike talks, we're getting some insight into the ongoing haggling over offers and counteroffers. Last night the WGA released analysis of the producers association, the AMPTP's deal, saying that it would cost the companies $151 million over three years, and some studios would pay very little--MGM would pay only an additional $320,000 per year to writers.

• TV Writers, Studios Return to Negotiations Wednesday, 5 Dec 2007 | 5:49 AM ET

  

  The TV industry braced Tuesday for what could become a long strike by writers, even as both sides returned to the bargaining table.

• The Best Gift For Your Kids Tuesday, 4 Dec 2007 | 10:46 AM ET

  This holiday season, buy them a single share of this stock. They’ll thank you later. Investing can be confusing. Luckily, Cramer has mapped out some road rules for all you Home Gamers trying to navigate the jungle that is Wall Street. Think of it as "Mad Money 101" –- some fundamental advice to keep in mind as you play the market. Whether you're a first time investor or a seasoned financier, it's always good to remember the basics.

• Imus to Return to Airwaves on Monday Sunday, 2 Dec 2007 | 12:46 PM ET

  

  Imus isn't talking, yet, but it's safe to say radio's best-known curmudgeon will have lots to say when his show kicks off at 6 a.m. EST Monday on WABC-AM and other Citadel Broadcasting  stations around the country, ending his nearly eight-month banishment from the air.

• Countrywide Writes Back, and Letterman Writers Find Work Monday, 26 Nov 2007 | 11:55 AM ET

  

  Countrywide has been very smart about figuring out ways to make money from every part of the mortgage process. Here's an example pointed out to me. Countrywide reinsures some of its mortgages. When a homebuyer puts down only 10%, he or she usually has to buy mortgage insurance from a third party (I thought mortgage insurance was dead in the age of 80-20 loans, but apparently not).

• Writers' Strike: Spreading And No End In Sight? Tuesday, 13 Nov 2007 | 4:56 PM ET

  

  We're in the second week of the writers' strike and there's no sign of any negotiations on the horizon. I've been polling writers, actors, and producers I know and they're all already fed up. But that doesn't mean that there's any resolution in sight.

• No Money, No Downloads, No Peace! Monday, 5 Nov 2007 | 7:30 PM ET

  

  Who says talk is cheap! For the first time in 20 years Hollywood screenwriters walked off their jobs over pay and royalties. Is there money to be made as media moguls go head to head with script gurus?

• Hollywood Writer's Strike A Bad "Script" For All Monday, 5 Nov 2007 | 2:25 PM ET

  

  The Writers Guild contract expired at midnight--though there's no strike just yet, it is NOT looking good. The rhetoric last night was so angry and stubborn on both sides, I'm predicting a strike by mid-week next week. The WGA says the producers association "refused to continue to bargain until we agree that the hated DVD formula be extended to Internet downloads." HATED? Ouch.

• Game Plan: The Chuck Prince/Citigroup Trade Monday, 5 Nov 2007 | 10:49 AM ET

  Reports are saying the CEO will step down Nov. 4. That's the best thing that could happen to the bank, as far as Cramer is concerned.Investing can be confusing. Luckily, Cramer has mapped out some road rules for all you Home Gamers trying to navigate the jungle that is Wall Street. Think of it as "Mad Money 101" –- some fundamental advice to keep in mind as you play the market. Whether you're a first time investor or a seasoned financier, it's always good to remember the basics.