Time Warner

While painful (for most folks) to watch, the actor's explosion has created a bonanza for the tabloid mill. But on a broader level, Sheen has also offers a potential shot in the arm for companies across the spectrum, from media to pharmaceuticals. Hey Viacom, how about Charlie's Family?

Companies that have piled up cash over the past few years are finding one good use for it: Repurchasing their own shares. January alone saw $57 billion in buybacks, compared with $357 billion for all of 2010. While buybacks don't add value, they do give investors more options.

So far, at least, Piers Morgan shows no signs of being CNN's next big star. His ratings have declined steadily, falling below that of his predecessor, Larry King, in his first two weeks on the air. But it may be too early to make a fair comparison.

Time Warner Inc. (TWX), the owner of Warner Bros., HBO, CNN and DC Comics, on Wednesday said its fourth-quarter profit jumped 22 percent, helped by strong subscription and advertising increases in its TV operations and cost-cutting in publishing. The results beat Wall Street expectations, and Time...

Comcast reached an agreement with Time Warner that will allow the cable-television giant to air content from Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting unit on Comcast's Xfinity videostreaming service.

It's award season in Hollywood, with the Oscars just weeks away. But stocks are forward-looking, so investors are already keying on summer blockbuster season. And a bigger-than-expected summer hit or two can indeed provide a catalyst for media and entertainment company shares.

Don't bet on it. While media chatter has it that the conservatives at Comcast are going to overhaul MSNBC's lineup, the problems with Olbermann were more managerial than political. The channel's demographics are actually quite favorable, and other shows' ratings are strong.