5 posts and columns on writedown

News Corp. Faces the Myspace Music With a Big Writedown [Updated]

in Media on February 2, 2011 at 1:17 pm PT

Here’s the flip side to News Corp.’s digital optimism: The company has taken a $275 million charge on Myspace and its related Web businesses, it disclosed in today’s quarterly earnings report.

September Surprise: AOL Re-Ups and Expands Search Agreement With Google

in News on September 2, 2010 at 5:30 am PT

In a surprisingly quick and even stealthy move, AOL has renewed and expanded its search agreement with Google, even though many had expected there to be more-competitive bidding throughout the fall to win the deal. The five-year deal, which is actually the third between the companies since 2002, to provide search technology and search advertising by powering AOL Search is more wide-ranging than the one it replaces. It also includes improved search products, global search, mobile search and also a video-distribution arrangement with YouTube, which could evolve over time to include content partnerships.

GE Ready for a French Haircut: Vivendi to Write Down NBC

in Media on January 12, 2009 at 4:45 am PT

What’s the value of media conglomerate in a recession? Less than it was a few years ago. Last week, Time Warner announced a $25 billion write-down. Now NBC Universal’s parent company, GE, may be looking at one of its own, courtesy of Vivendi, which owns a 20 percent stake in the broadcast network/movie studio/cable TV outfit.

Ghosts of AOL, Lehman Visit Time Warner in $25 Billion Write-Down

in Media on January 7, 2009 at 7:28 am PT

Yes, this economic collapse is different than the dotcom blowup at the beginning of the decade. But there are some similarities. For instance, in 2002, Time Warner had to take a $54 billion write-down connected to its disastrous AOL deal. Today, the company has announced a $25 billion write-down, which is in part connected to… its disastrous AOL deal. Insult to injury: Time Warner is also paying for Lehman’s collapse.

Micron: Another Rough Quarter; Cuts Exec Pay By 20 Percent

in News on October 1, 2008 at 5:03 pm PT

Micron (MU) posted worse-than-expected results this afternoon for its fiscal fourth quarter ended August 28. The memory chip company posted revenue of $1.45 billion, below the Street consensus at $1.54 billion. The company lost $344 million in the quarter, including a $205 million write-down of inventory and work in progress, offset by a gain of $70 million for price adjustments for NAND products purchased from other suppliers in prior periods.