Marketplace

From the 'it was only a matter of time' desk...

With so many people TiVo-ing out commercials these days, some companies are just going to make the shows themselves. Tonight, ABC debuts a new reality series — sponsored by Gillette. Gillette helped conceive and create the show. It features NASCAR drivers teaching celebrities how to drive race cars. Gillette-sponsored cars of course.

Marketing - Advertising

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Another suitor for the Journal?

All Dow Jones bets are off. The Wall Street Journal's parent company finally started to look like it might consider an offer from media mogul Rupert Murdoch, but the door is still wide open for other bidders. Enter Philadelphia Media Holdings? The owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily news and other papers has expressed an interest. CEO Brian Tierney says he doesn't think Murdoch's offer of $5 billion was too high and that if there is a formalized bidding process, they would take part — with other investors.

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Just browsing, thanks

May wasn't the best month for big retailers, but it wasn't the worst. That was April, which literally was the worst retail month ever. We got the numbers for May this morning, and they're mixed. Wal-Mart had pretty disappointing numbers while Costco and Nordstrom did better than expected. The bottom line is people are still spending, but they're being kinda careful with their money.

Asia Retail

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Does Tony get whacked or what?

The final episode of The Sopranos airs this Sunday. Wanna bet what'll happen? A lot of people have and they're placing those wagers on sites like Bodog.com. (Vegas won't take odds on something that's already happened, if you were wondering.) According to Forbes, Bodog handled more than $7 billion in online bets in 2005, and 95 percent came from the U.S. — where online gambling is now a crime. As for our star crime boss Tony Soprano, the odds right now are 1 to 3 that he lives, 2 to 1 he dies. We're staying out of it.

Entertainment

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It's a Bollyworld after all

Disney wants to break into the Indian entertainment market. The company is expected today to announce that it has commissioned one of India's oldest film studios to turn the musical magic of Bollywood movies into lucrative full-length cartoons.

Asia Entertainment

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Korean housewives fire up beef patrol

Hundreds of women in South Korea begin a campaign today to get their government to stop U.S. beef imports. They're checking stores to see where U.S. beef is being sold and if it's really cheaper, as their government claims. South Korea partially reopened its market to American meat last year. It had been banned after 2003's outbreak of Mad Cow Disease.

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Safari lag

So, um, have you downloaded Safari for Windows yet? Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced yesterday that the company has unleashed a beta of its popular-but-until-now-Mac-only browser for Windows-based PCs. Probably not a bad way to grow Apple's share of the market, but investors aren't connecting those dots yet. Shares of Apple dropped after the announcement by about 3.5 percent. Mac enthusiasts stuck working on PCs, on the other hand, couldn't be happier.

Internet

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Back to banana

What's yellow, about 150 calories and smells like a banana? It's a Twinkie. In a blast from the past, the spongy cake treat is now offering a banana creme center — the way they used to make 'em back before World War II, before a wartime banana shortage forced Hostess to switch to vanilla. The company has offered the original flavor in the past for limited-time promotions and profits were Twinkielicious: The last time sales rose by 20 percent. Now it's making the banana option permanent.

Retail

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Got a little change in our pockets...

Despite gas prices, despite the housing slump, Americans went shopping in May. Retail sales shot up 1.4 percent. That's the best month since January of 2006 and the increase is double what economists predicted. This is a clear sign the economy is rebounding from a blah start to the year. Consumer spending is a huge part of the economy — it makes up 70 percent of GDP.

Retail Spending

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SELENE to moon: Konichiwa!

Guess who's going to the moon? All systems are go for Japan's first lunar orbiter, scheduled for liftoff on August 16. The $269 million probe, called SELENE, is four years behind schedule. Japan's space agency did launch a moon probe in 1990, but that was just a fly-by mission — unlike SELENE, which should actually orbit the moon. Researchers will use data from the probe to study the moon's orgin and evolution.

Science - Technology

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Investors are feeling a little better this morning

Wall Street saw a nice rebound yesterday as the sell-off in the bond market cooled and bond prices rose. And when May's retail sales numbers came in much better than expected, Wall Street went on a buying spree. The Dow shot up 187 points to 13,482. The NASDAQ put on 32 points to 2,582. And the S&P 500 climbed 22 to finish at 1,515.

Wall Street

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Brits hang carbon out to dry

Sales of clotheslines and clothespins in Britain are at their highest level in 50 years. They've seen a big jump since February, when the government there called on individuals and businesses to reduce their carbon footprints. Double bonus: Air drying is good for your clothes too.

Europe International Sustainability

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Tough critics in China

The third "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie has passed the $500 million mark at the world box office and it just opened in China last Tuesday, taking in more than a million dollars on opening day alone. The Chinese version is a little shorter than the original though. Censors there didn't think the Chinese pirate in the movie was funny -- so they cut a few of his scenes.

Asia Entertainment

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Feeling lonely in the carpool lane?

Never mind long commutes and the promise of a faster-moving HOV lane... Not even sky-high gas prices have convinced Americans to rideshare. Figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show more people than ever are driving alone to work and carpooling figures are dropping. The number of people taking public transit, however, seems to be holding steady.

Jobs Sustainability

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Peak oil in just four years?

The statistical review of world energy was published yesterday by British Petroleum. The report — the most widely used in figuring out how much oil reserves there are in the world — says we've got enough to last 40 years at current rates of consumption. But scientists at the London-based Oil Depletion and Analysis Centre say the BP estimate is way off, and they don't believe oil companies and governments have been honest in reporting how much oil they have. They estimate oil production will peak in four years, then fall off sharply.

Sustainability

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That's show business...

Forbes Magazine is out with its list of the 100 most powerful celebrities. It's based in large part on how much money they bring in. Oprah is No. 1. Actor Johnny Depp made a big move up to No. 6 with the Pirates of the Caribbean cash cow. And something we can all be thankful for: Paris Hilton was dropped from the list.

Entertainment

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No change to spare

The Indian city of Calcutta is having a coin shortage. No one knows why but it's causing quite a stir. Shopkeepers are begging beggars to give them change, and entrepreneurial types are standing in long lines to turn in paper money for coins — then turning around and selling the coins for more than they're worth. India's reserve bank issued a million rupees yesterday, but not much has... changed.

Asia International

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Curiouser and curiouser...

The battle for Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal keeps getting more intriguing. Word this morning is that GE and a company called Pearson could make a joint bid for Dow Jones. Pearson owns the Financial Times of London. So, if the deal were to go through, the FT, the Journal, CNBC and the Dow Jones newswires would all be under one roof. So what's GE's interest? It's trying to protect its CNBC franchise as Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch, who's already made a bid for Dow Jones and the Journal, prepares to start up his own financial news channel.

Media

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A Blockbuster decision

If you've been holding off on buying one of those next-generation DVD players, waiting to find out which format will win the war, there's news from the electronic industry's front lines this morning.

Blockbuster is expected to announce today that it will rent high-definition DVDs only in the Blu-ray format when it expands its offerings next month at 1450 rental outlets. That's a major setback for the rival HD-DVD format.

In explaining this decision, a Blockbuster executive tells The Associated Press consumers who've been renting limited releases so far have been choosing Blu-ray more than 70 percent of the time, a message he says the rental giant can't ignore.

Entertainment Science - Technology

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When pigs... flirt?

A new ad campaign launches tonight on ABC and NBC, but CBS and Fox won't be airing it. The commercial features pigs talking to beautiful women at a bar. One little piggy goes to the restroom, buys a condom and comes back as a good-looking man. Fox and CBS didn't say why they rejected the ad, but some are calling the networks hypocritical, questioning the decision not to use sex to sell condoms when they have no problem airing trampy reality shows. Who needs TV anyway? You can already watch the ad online

Marketing - Advertising

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YouTube in any language...

It's VousTube, VoiTubo or VoceTubo, depending on where you're from, but to this point, YouTube has been for Americans by Americans. Today, the website announced an expansion into nine countries, including France, Italy and Brazil. YouTube will be translated into the native language and will eventually feature local content. Of course, it better be careful with the local content or it'll be facing more... how do you say? Lawsuits.

International Internet

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Private equity gets a real fixer-upper

Home Depot's supply unit has been struggling along with the housing market, so today the home improvement retailer has reportedly agreed to sell that division to three private investment groups. The price tag: more than $10 billion. They'll probably do what private equity does best: Swoop in, fix'er up and flip it for a profit by taking it public again.

Wall Street

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There's budget travel, then there's communist time warp

If you're looking for a cheap place stay in Europe this summer, Berlin has a bargain for you. The new Ostel hotel offers all the "comforts" of life in the former East Germany. Its rooms — complete with portraits of Socialist Unity Party leaders — feature bed linens, toilets and other fixtures from the old GDR days. The mattresses, thank goodness, are new. You can book a bunk decorated in lovely tones of orange and brown for as little as 9 euros a night.

Travel

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We're No. 2!

The United States is No. 1 in a lot of categories, but there's one less thing this morning. China is now the world's top emitter of carbon dioxide. That's according to a report from the Dutch government. And we can probably expect China to increase its lead heading forward. Recently the Chinese government said it's too early to talk of caps since economic development is its top priority.

Asia International Sustainability

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Bracing for iPhone

If you need anything from your neighborhood Apple or AT&T store, might we suggest you go before June 29. That's when Apple's highly-anticipated iPhone goes on sale and it's expected to cause quite a commotion. The device will only be available at those shops, and demand is expected to be so great that AT&T is hiring 2,000 temporary workers as well as enhanced security to handle the extra shoppers for a couple months.
Of course, they might get bored pretty quickly. AT&T execs are predicting that iPhone will sell out within a day, maybe two.

Retail Science - Technology

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Zoom over to London

OK it's not faster, but there is a cheaper way to get to London today. A Canadian airline called Zoom starts flying between JFK and Gatwick for $199 each way — a very low price for summer. But you'd better book early because only about a quarter of Zoom's seats will go for that price.

Travel

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Sorry, we really did try

We've tried to be a "Paris Hilton-free" zone here at Marketplace, but now they're talkin' money and that's what we're all about. Apparently a whole lotta people are anxiously awaiting that first post-jail interview with Paris Hilton when she's released next week. At least the networks think so. The New York Times reports that ABC offered $100,000 for the privilege, but says NBC made a substantially higher bid, possibly more than $750,000, and will get the first crack.

Entertainment

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Even the Jetsons had to push buttons

Maybe the future really is here. Long gone are the days of getting up and walking over to the TV to change the channel. Ah, the remote. But we still have to manage not to lose it in the sofa cushions. And push all those pesky buttons. But maybe not for much longer...

Hitachi is developing a new device — a "brain-machine interface" — that turns your thoughts into a remote control. That's right, you just think about changing the channel. It detects changes in blood flow in certain areas of the brain and converts those thoughts into electric signals.

Now before you get too worked up about the perils of laziness, consider this: Besides taking all the exercise out of watching TV, this technology could also help paralyzed people operate wheelchairs or speak. Honda wants to apply it to driving.

Science - Technology

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Murdoch stands alone

General Electric and Pearson have bowed out of the Dow Jones bidding game, and so once again Rupert Murdoch's $5 billion unsolicited bid remains the lone offer for the parent company of The Wall Street Journal. GE, parent company of NBC Universal and CNBC, and Pearson, publisher of the Financial Times, say they couldn't make the numbers work.

Media

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Who says it never rains in Southern California?

Flying in and out of Los Angeles International Airport can always be a little hectic. It was more so yesterday. A minor security breach and an unrelated incident involving a broken water pipe led to a temporary evacuation that kept passengers from entering Terminal One for 90 minutes. Long lines, delays, hassles no doubt. But even the most seasoned LAX travelers probably weren't prepared for the brief shower they got when that broken pipe set off the fire sprinklers.

Travel

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Demolition sale

Soon you could be the proud owner of an authentic Tiger Stadium hot dog cart, batting cage, or even a little home plate dust. Die-hard fans and collectors may get a chance to buy a piece of the park if the Detroit City Council approves the auction — proceeds of which would be used to pay for the stadium's demolition, the Free Press reports today. An auction of the old Busch Stadium in St. Louis a couple years ago netted millions.

Sports

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Evan just-alrighty

Evan Almighty drifted to the No. 1 slot at the box office with $32 million in opening weekend ticket sales, but the movie about a modern-day Noah's Ark was one of the most expensive comedy productions in Hollywood history with a price tag of about $175 million.

Entertainment

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China's trouble on wheels

First, it was poisoned pet food, then lead-painted toys. Now, tires that won't stay together. About 450,000 Chinese-made tires sold through a U.S. distributor under the names Westlake, Telluride Compass and YKS are being recalled because there's a problem with the gum strip — a handy safety feature that helps keep the tread together.

Asia International

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Tell it like it is, NYT

If you haven't been following along, the New York Times has caused quite a stir in the media world this week, putting forth a massive amount of information on Fox media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Yesterday an in-depth look at his career and business dealings. Today his ties to China. And the Gray Lady didn't pull any punches. News Corp is calling it a "malicious assault."

Meantime, it looks like an agreement could be announced today paving the way for Murdoch to take over the Wall Street Journal. Reports say Murdoch and the paper's publisher, Dow Jones, were close to a deal last night on how to protect the Journal's editorial independence.

Media

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You can do it, Home Depot doesn't want to pay

We've all seen the day laborers who congregate outside stores like Home Depot to wait for work. Some local governments have been requiring those businesses to provide facilities such as restrooms and security staff — and Home Depot has had enough. The home improvement giant has been lobbying for help from Washington, hoping to insert language into the looming federal immigration bill that would prohibit local governments from mandating that businesses accommodate the day laborers. Cities have argued that certain businesses bring certain land-use costs with them and it's not fair to taxpayers to have to pick up the tab.

Immigration Washington, DC

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T-Mobile says it's got the only phone you need

If you're not already lined up to buy an iPhone on Friday, T-Mobile has another suggestion. It launches its HotSpot @Home service today, a new option that not only one-ups its competitors in the cell phone market, but also traditional landlines and voice over Internet services.

The service can pass a mobile phone call from a cellular network to a Wi-Fi wireless router in your home or public T-Mobile hotspot with no interruption to the conversation. And if that's not a sweet enough deal, T-Mobile says when a call is connected via Wi-Fi, it won't even use monthly plan minutes.

OK here's the catch: You will have to shell out cash for one of two new HotSpot-compatible mobile phones (and a wireless router and high-speed Internet if you don't already have them).

Internet

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Pennies on the meter

Students at Colorado State University were getting a deal, or rather, a steal on campus parking. Some... we'll call them "enterprising" student motorists figured out that a glitch in old campus parking meters confused certain pennies for quarters, so they were cashing in on 30 minutes of parking for only one cent — hard to resist if you're a broke college kid. But campus police caught on after lots of copper starting showing up in the meters. The manufacturer is now replacing them.

Crime - Law

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Starbucks gives Hollywood another shot

With another shoutout to the issue of climate change, Starbucks will promote the National Geographic documentary "Arctic Tale" this summer. It's the story of a polar bear and a walrus adapting to environmental changes because of melting ice.

Starbucks hopes its customers will actually see the movie this time around. Last year the company linked with Hollywood to promote "Akeelah and the Bee," a film about an inner city girl who makes it to a national spelling contest. It got a lukewarm reception at the box office in spite of fun vocabulary-word flash cards from Starbucks.

Entertainment Sustainability

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Phoenix bumps Philly for the 5-spot

Congratulations Phoenix, you're now the 5th largest city in the U.S.! Or, please accept our condolences, if that's how you prefer to spin it. Like it or not, our population continued its spread away from major industrial centers in 2006. That's according to estimates released by the Census Bureau today.

The shift over the past 50 years or so has been extreme. The folks crunching the numbers have found that, despite an overall population that's nearly doubled, 16 of the top 20 cities have shrunk since 1950, some by more than half.

The 10 most populous U.S. cities
2006 population estimates, according to the U.S. Census:
1. New York: 8,214,426
2. Los Angeles: 3,849,378
3. Chicago: 2,833,321
4. Houston: 2,144,491
5. Phoenix: 1,512,986
6. Philadelphia: 1,448,394
7. San Antonio: 1,296,682
8. San Diego: 1,256,951
9. Dallas: 1,232,940
10. San Jose, Calif.: 929,936
(USA Today)

Housing - Real Estate

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A little something extra with your Kung Pao shrimp?

Do you know where that eel you're eating came from? Not from China... at least, not anymore. On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration blocked the sale of five types of farm-raised seafood from China, including shrimp and catfish. The U.S. has been warning China for six years about fish imports contaminated with additives. China is the world's largest producer of farmed fish. Chinese officials responded by installing a new health minister.

Health International

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Ex-HealthSouth CEO going to prison

The founder of what used to be the country's largest healthcare provider is going to the big house. CEO-turned-preacher Richard Scrushy was sentenced yesterday to six years and 10 months in prison on bribery charges. Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat, got a seven-year sentence. The pair were convicted of taking part in a scheme that gave hospital contracts to Scrushy's company, HealthSouth. Scrushy has already paid $81 million to settle SEC charges he directed his company to overstate revenues by at least $2.6 billion between 1996 and 2002.

Crime - Law

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