NBC, Microsoft face hurdles in new venture
Article Abstract:
Microsoft and NBC have announced a joint venture dubbed MSNBC Cable that they intend to launch in mid-1996 as a 24-hour cable TV and Internet-based news service, but the venture must overcome several hurdles. The two companies have signed a letter of intent but no contract has been signed as yet. The cable-based component of the service will compete directly with CNN, which owns several of the cable companies contracted to carry America's Talking, a show that NBC will discontinue and attempt to contractually replace with MSNBC. The Internet-based component will initially offer text and graphics and will face the challenge of implementing interactive video despite the lack of an established technology proven in the mass market. CNN presently carries an Internet-based service, and ABC made preliminary announcements of a similar cable and Internet service the week of Dec 8, 1995.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1995
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Sprint PCS' subscriber count nears one million, at high end of estimates
Article Abstract:
Sprint PCS says it will have signed up one million subscribers for its digital wireless phone service by next week. The subscriber count, which would be at the high end of analysts' estimates, represents a formidable challenge to established rivals such as AT&T. Sprint PCS is a partnership of Sprint and cable companies Tele-Communications, Cox Communications and Comcast, which has introduced most of its service since Feb 1997. Sprint PCS will report about $64 in average monthly revenue per subscriber in 1997, according to company executives. By comparison, cellular providers' subscriber bills average approximately $48 a month. Sprint PCS refused to disclose its total for average minutes of use per subscriber, but says it 'substantially' surpasses the PCS monthly industry averages of 200 to 300 minutes a month.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1998
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GTE will revamp to fund its expansion: program aims to cut costs, raise up to $3 billion; rumors of merger arise
Article Abstract:
GTE introduced a significant program to reduce expenses and boost cash flow to create financial flexibility for funding its expansion. Financial specifics call for the local and long-distance company to assume more than $800 million in 1st-qtr 1998 charges, which will drop 1998 earnings per share by 83 cents; raise up to $3 billion in cash by selling assets; and cut annual costs by $500 million, which will place $500,000 into new investments. The moves could prepare GTE for initiating a merger or other transaction amid intense telecommunications mergers, according to some analysts and industry observers. Rumors hold that GTE could possibly link with British Telecommunications or AT&T, or acquire Qwest Communications International.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1998
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