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5 Winners and Losers of the Week in Business

It's been a hectic week in the world of business, from a Office Depot prematurely announcing a big merger to analysts raising their price targets on Google, to Burger King getting hacked. Here's a rundown of this week's biggest wins and losses.

Comcast and GE in $16.7 Billion Deal for NBCUniversal

Stocks are edging higher in the early going after strong U.S. earnings and General Electric's sale of its remaining NBCUniversal stake. Comcast's $16.7 billion deal to buy the remaining half of NBCUniversal ahead of schedule represents a resounding vote of confidence in the future of TV

We're Watching Less Network TV: Guess What We're Doing Instead

Fresh data from ratings tracker Nielsen shows an alarming drop in television viewership. ABC, Fox, CBS and NBC have combined for a 9 percent drop in viewers in the coveted 18-to-49 age bracket since the fall season began. Media executives are worried, and rightfully so.

'Fashion Star' Goes Instantly From Reality TV to Retail

NBC's design reality show Fashion Star wants viewers to vote -- with their wallets. The day after each episode, the line of that week's winning designer will be on sale at major retailers. Real fashions for real viewers to spend their real paychecks on. Clever -- but will it sell?

Really Mobile Quarterbacks: Super Bowl to Be Streamed

Forget the screen pass. When Super Bowl XLVI rolls around in February, you may find yourself calling an audible for a stream pass instead. The NFL is making its biggest game available as a legal stream for the first time ever.

Yvonne Strahovski: How to Manage Overnight Success

L.A. has been exceptionally kind to Yvonne Strahovski, the long, blonde spy-babe on NBC's Chuck and the lone pretty face in the new film Killer Elite. But if you don't get the help you need after your big break, Hollywood can kill you with kindness, so Strahovski had to adapt fast.

Super Bowl XLVI Scores $3.5 Million Per Ad For NBC

NBC's Feb. 5 Super Bowl broadcast is already a financial winner, fetching $3.5 million per commercial while nearly selling out available slots. Just six in-game commercial spaces remain, an NBC spokesman said in AdWeek.

'Drop Dead Diva' Hunk Was Also a Finance Hot Shot

Jackson Hurst's gorgeous mug is one of his biggest assets in managing his show business career, but for years, management and assets were his career: The sexy star of Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva once was a rising star at Citigroup before he ditched the world of finance to follow his dreams.

Bloomingdale's Shoppers: Get Your Close-Up With NBC's Stars

Have you ever imagined walking down the red carpet with Christina Applegate, Eddie Cibiran or Kathryn Hahn? You don't have to stop dreaming. A fall marketing campaign by Bloomingdale's and NBC will enable customers to take pictures with digital versions of NBC's stars.

Will Comcast Pull NBC Universal Shows from Netflix?

Earlier this week, Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., warned that if the Comcast acquisition of NBC Universal went through, the company may pull NBC's programming from Netflix. Federal regulators approved the deal Tuesday.

Will Net Neutrality Suffer from NBC Universal Merger with Comcast?

Comcast got an early Christmas present Thursday, when the Federal Communications Commission chairman approved its huge merger with NBC Universal. The proposal comes with conditions meant to protect net neutrality, but vagueness renders the terms nearly meaningless -- and unlikely to inspire much confidence.

Family-Friendly TV Advertisers Get PTC's 'Green Light'

A conservative TV watchdog group wants consumers to consider patronizing companies that advertise on family-friendly television shows this shopping season, rather than those that buy commercials on racier programs, but price is still likely to be the biggest influence on holiday shoppers.

Greenspan: Deficit Fears Could Trigger Bond Market Crisis

The U.S. must act to rein in its massive budget deficits or face the risk of a bond market crisis, former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said Sunday. If deficits begin to frighten the bond market, interest rates will rise, undermining the recovery, and possibly causing a double-dip recession.

NBC Chief Jeff Zucker Out Ahead of Comcast Merger

NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker is leaving the company ahead of its impending merger with cable giant Comcast. Zucker said he made the decision because NBC Universal's new owners "deserve the chance to implement their own vision."

Emmy Awards Win with Jimmy Fallon

The Primetime Emmy Awards Show continues to rebound with host Jimmy Fallon. The bold and new, like Glee, were rewarded, while former favorites, like Lost, were forgotten.

Google Eyeing Pay-Per-View Movies on YouTube?

Google is talking to Hollywood studios about a pay-per-view video service based on YouTube, according to a new report. The move comes as Google girds for battle with Apple, and telecom and media companies jostle for control over the next generation of high-speed content delivery.

An Emmy Win: It's More Than Just a Golden Statue

Prestige means a lot in Hollywood. TV companies use a show's Emmy Award to help sell commercials, and advertisers enjoy being linked with hot shows. Sometimes, an Emmy can even help a program avoid the ax.

News Corp.'s
$1 Million to the GOP: No Big Deal

It's unseemly when one of the nation's biggest news outlets drops a wad of cash on one political party. But when you get down to it, News Corp.'s donation to the Republican Governors Association is no worse than business as usual.

Appeals Court Scraps FCC's TV Indecency Rules

In a major victory for TV networks, an appeals court struck down the Federal Communications Commission's indecency policy on Tuesday, calling it "unconstitutionally vague." The court also said the rules posed a risk to freedom of speech.

Will TV Shows Help Save the Music Industry?

Increasingly, shows such as Gossip Girl, America's Next Top Model and Pretty Little Liars are incorporating songs into their scenes and then featuring them in online playlists. It may seem like a minor promotion, but for some bands, the results have been nothing short of astounding.

Opponents Line Up Against Proposed Comcast/NBC Merger

Federal authorities must impose conditions on Comcast, the nation's largest cable company, as it seeks to merge with NBC Universal creating a $30 billion media colossus, public interest groups and others said Monday. Several of the groups said they oppose the deal "as its stands today."

Media Flash: Stanley Cup Scores Best Ratings in 36 Years

Fans of the Chicago Blackhawks aren't the only ones celebrating their Stanley Cup victory. NBC Sports says the game that decided the National Hockey League champion attracted an overnight rating of 5.8 and a 10 share, the best showing in 36 years.