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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.