Friday Links

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

A weekly collection of design, data and interactive links.

Design/Data viz
Forms of color | Vintage illustrations exploring color systems
Police Punishment: CCRB vs NYPD | Interactive analyzing NYPD complaint data
Futuristic UI | Video and stills from the short SIMIAN

Photo/video
Serendipity | Every second, a few people hit "play" on the same track at the same time
Zaha Hadid | Zaha Hadid's Wangjing Soho complex nears completion in Beijing
Instagram programming | A look at what goes on behind the scenes at Instagram

See last week's links

Have a nice weekend!
@dubly and @talyellin

First Published: August 29, 2014: 7:08 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Coolest Kickstarter ever raises over $13 million

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The Coolest Cooler (yes, a cooler) raised $13.3 million in its 52-day run. The previous record holder, the Pebble smartwatch raised $10.2 million in 2012.

Why have more than 60,000 people contributed to a cooler campaign?

Well, this cooler includes a blender, waterproof bluetooth speaker, USB charger, cutting board and bottle opener -- a "portable party," according to founder Ryan Grepper of Portland, Ore.

And those who pledged enough ($165 or more) will save at least $130 on the cooler, which will retail for $299.

Related: The 13 most WTF gadgets

Those who contributed less can still get in on a piece of Kickstarter history: A $25 contribution earned a Coolest-branded reusable party cup and a drink guide; for $55, backers receive the party cup plus a "Keep Calm and Blend On" tee.

And for the first eight backers who contributed $2,000, Grepper will fly out and help them host a tailgate party with the Coolest (before its available to backers in February 2015).The record is impressive by any measure, but the last couple days have been a whirlwind: Backers contributed over $2 million in 24 hours.

The rush to contribute in the final days isn't all that shocking to Jason Greenberg, PhD and assistant professor at New York University's business school.

"This is something we tend to see in cultural settings where the 'rich get increasingly richer,'" said Greenberg. "A firm end date and time can precipitate this."

But it adds more pressure to satisfy consumer expectations.

"Bigger capital raises entail bigger expectations and scrutiny," said Greenberg.

Grepper is acutely aware of this obligation.

"I feel personal responsibility to each backer that has supported me and am committed making the Coolest live up to its name," said Grepper.

Related: Water balloon lovers pledge $645,000 on Kickstarter

The success of the Coolest is perhaps all the more surprising because this isn't its first time around the Kickstarter block.

Grepper unsuccessfully tried to raise $125,000 for similar model In November 2013 (he only earned $100,000),

"My confidence was pretty low because of the first campaign," said Grepper.

But a combination of seasonality (launching the campaign in July vs. November), more supporters and an improved design helped him get far more than his $50,000 goal this time around.

Setting the bar so low -- and meeting it within 36 hours of launching -- has helped him get ahead on production. He's currently in the process of locking in a final design and securing a factory to produce the coolers (which will be available in three colors: Margarita, Blue Moon and Coolest Orange).

Related: These startup ideas are money magnets

So, are the millions raised any indication of how it'll fare post-crowdfunding?

They could be.

"We've seen more and more angels and investors using [Kickstarter] as a minor league in terms of [gauging] customer demands," said Greenberg.

Grepper said he's already been contacted by "many" retailers who are interested in working with him to sell the product.

According to PrivCo, a financial data provider on privately-held companies, U.S. cooler sales totaled $635 million in 2013.

Igloo Products Corp "dominates" the market, according to Matt Turlip, senior analyst at PrivCo. The company, which ACON Investments bought from J.H. Whitney & Co. earlier this year, owns 53% of the full-size cooler market.

"Maybe in a year or two, the Coolest can hope to compete," said Turlip.

First Published: August 29, 2014: 9:19 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

A&E deal would price Vice at $2.5 billion

Vice's co-founder Shane Smith has said he wants Vice to be the "next CNN" and "next MTV."

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Vice Media is in talks with A&E about a deal that would value it at more than $2.5 billion, according to a Vice spokesman.

A&E would buy a 10% stake in the company.

Vice would also create content for the A&E cable networks, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.

Its online content, magazine and HBO series, called Vice, specifically targets millennials.

On YouTube, the Vice channel has nearly 5 million subscribers. Its most popular video, "First Animal to Survive in Space," has 12.1 million views, followed by "The Biggest Ass in Brazil," which has been viewed 10.6 million times.

A&E, which also owns the Lifetime and History channels, is buying the stake to gain digital exposure.

Flipboard: Future of Media

A&E is jointly owned by Disney (DIS) and the Hearst Corporation. An A&E spokesman declined to comment.

Time Warner (TWC) was also interested in buying a stake in Vice, but those discussions are now over, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. (Time Warner owns CNN.)

This isn't the first time Vice has attracted investment from an established media company. Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox paid $70 million for a 5% stake last year.

Vice's other minority shareholders include marketing services firm WPP, The Raine Group and former Viacom (VIA) chief executive Tom Freston.

The company's co-founder Shane Smith has said he wants Vice to be the "next CNN" and "next MTV."

First Published: August 29, 2014: 8:41 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Friday Links

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

A weekly collection of design, data and interactive links.

Design/Data viz
Forms of color | Vintage illustrations exploring color systems
Police Punishment: CCRB vs NYPD | Interactive analyzing NYPD complaint data
Futuristic UI | Video and stills from the short SIMIAN

Photo/video
Serendipity | Every second, a few people hit "play" on the same track at the same time
Zaha Hadid | Zaha Hadid's Wangjing Soho complex nears completion in Beijing
Instagram programming | A look at what goes on behind the scenes at Instagram

See last week's links

Have a nice weekend!
@dubly and @talyellin

First Published: August 29, 2014: 7:08 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Coolest Kickstarter ever raises over $13 million

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The Coolest Cooler (yes, a cooler) raised $13.3 million in its 52-day run. The previous record holder, the Pebble smartwatch raised $10.2 million in 2012.

Why have more than 60,000 people contributed to a cooler campaign?

Well, this cooler includes a blender, waterproof bluetooth speaker, USB charger, cutting board and bottle opener -- a "portable party," according to founder Ryan Grepper of Portland, Ore.

And those who pledged enough ($165 or more) will save at least $130 on the cooler, which will retail for $299.

Related: The 13 most WTF gadgets

Those who contributed less can still get in on a piece of Kickstarter history: A $25 contribution earned a Coolest-branded reusable party cup and a drink guide; for $55, backers receive the party cup plus a "Keep Calm and Blend On" tee.

And for the first eight backers who contributed $2,000, Grepper will fly out and help them host a tailgate party with the Coolest (before its available to backers in February 2015).The record is impressive by any measure, but the last couple days have been a whirlwind: Backers contributed over $2 million in 24 hours.

The rush to contribute in the final days isn't all that shocking to Jason Greenberg, PhD and assistant professor at New York University's business school.

"This is something we tend to see in cultural settings where the 'rich get increasingly richer,'" said Greenberg. "A firm end date and time can precipitate this."

But it adds more pressure to satisfy consumer expectations.

"Bigger capital raises entail bigger expectations and scrutiny," said Greenberg.

Grepper is acutely aware of this obligation.

"I feel personal responsibility to each backer that has supported me and am committed making the Coolest live up to its name," said Grepper.

Related: Water balloon lovers pledge $645,000 on Kickstarter

The success of the Coolest is perhaps all the more surprising because this isn't its first time around the Kickstarter block.

Grepper unsuccessfully tried to raise $125,000 for similar model In November 2013 (he only earned $100,000),

"My confidence was pretty low because of the first campaign," said Grepper.

But a combination of seasonality (launching the campaign in July vs. November), more supporters and an improved design helped him get far more than his $50,000 goal this time around.

Setting the bar so low -- and meeting it within 36 hours of launching -- has helped him get ahead on production. He's currently in the process of locking in a final design and securing a factory to produce the coolers (which will be available in three colors: Margarita, Blue Moon and Coolest Orange).

Related: These startup ideas are money magnets

So, are the millions raised any indication of how it'll fare post-crowdfunding?

They could be.

"We've seen more and more angels and investors using [Kickstarter] as a minor league in terms of [gauging] customer demands," said Greenberg.

Grepper said he's already been contacted by "many" retailers who are interested in working with him to sell the product.

According to PrivCo, a financial data provider on privately-held companies, U.S. cooler sales totaled $635 million in 2013.

Igloo Products Corp "dominates" the market, according to Matt Turlip, senior analyst at PrivCo. The company, which ACON Investments bought from J.H. Whitney & Co. earlier this year, owns 53% of the full-size cooler market.

"Maybe in a year or two, the Coolest can hope to compete," said Turlip.

First Published: August 29, 2014: 9:19 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

A&E deal would price Vice at $2.5 billion

Vice's co-founder Shane Smith has said he wants Vice to be the "next CNN" and "next MTV."

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Vice Media is in talks with A&E about a deal that would value it at more than $2.5 billion, according to a Vice spokesman.

A&E would buy a 10% stake in the company.

Vice would also create content for the A&E cable networks, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.

Its online content, magazine and HBO series, called Vice, specifically targets millennials.

On YouTube, the Vice channel has nearly 5 million subscribers. Its most popular video, "First Animal to Survive in Space," has 12.1 million views, followed by "The Biggest Ass in Brazil," which has been viewed 10.6 million times.

A&E, which also owns the Lifetime and History channels, is buying the stake to gain digital exposure.

Flipboard: Future of Media

A&E is jointly owned by Disney (DIS) and the Hearst Corporation. An A&E spokesman declined to comment.

Time Warner (TWC) was also interested in buying a stake in Vice, but those discussions are now over, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. (Time Warner owns CNN.)

This isn't the first time Vice has attracted investment from an established media company. Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox paid $70 million for a 5% stake last year.

Vice's other minority shareholders include marketing services firm WPP, The Raine Group and former Viacom (VIA) chief executive Tom Freston.

The company's co-founder Shane Smith has said he wants Vice to be the "next CNN" and "next MTV."

First Published: August 29, 2014: 8:41 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Friday Links

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

A weekly collection of design, data and interactive links.

Design/Data viz
Forms of color | Vintage illustrations exploring color systems
Police Punishment: CCRB vs NYPD | Interactive analyzing NYPD complaint data
Futuristic UI | Video and stills from the short SIMIAN

Photo/video
Serendipity | Every second, a few people hit "play" on the same track at the same time
Zaha Hadid | Zaha Hadid's Wangjing Soho complex nears completion in Beijing
Instagram programming | A look at what goes on behind the scenes at Instagram

See last week's links

Have a nice weekend!
@dubly and @talyellin

First Published: August 29, 2014: 7:08 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Coolest Kickstarter ever raises over $13 million

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The Coolest Cooler (yes, a cooler) raised $13.3 million in its 52-day run. The previous record holder, the Pebble smartwatch raised $10.2 million in 2012.

Why have more than 60,000 people contributed to a cooler campaign?

Well, this cooler includes a blender, waterproof bluetooth speaker, USB charger, cutting board and bottle opener -- a "portable party," according to founder Ryan Grepper of Portland, Ore.

And those who pledged enough ($165 or more) will save at least $130 on the cooler, which will retail for $299.

Those who contributed less can still get in on a piece of Kickstarter history: A $25 contribution earned a Coolest-branded reusable party cup and a drink guide; for $55, backers receive the party cup plus a "Keep Calm and Blend On" tee.

And for the first eight backers who contributed $2,000, Grepper will fly out and help them host a tailgate party with the Coolest (before its available to backers in February 2015).

Related: The 13 most WTF gadgets

The record is impressive by any measure, but the last couple days have been a whirlwind: Backers contributed over $2 million in 24 hours.

The rush to contribute in the final days isn't all that shocking to Jason Greenberg, PhD and assistant professor at New York University's business school.

"This is something we tend to see in cultural settings where the 'rich get increasingly richer,'" said Greenberg. "A firm end date and time can precipitate this."

But it adds more pressure to satisfy consumer expectations.

"Bigger capital raises entail bigger expectations and scrutiny," said Greenberg.

Grepper is acutely aware of this obligation.

"I feel personal responsibility to each backer that has supported me and am committed making the Coolest live up to its name," said Grepper.

Related: Water balloon lovers pledge $645,000 on Kickstarter

The success of the Coolest is perhaps all the more surprising because this isn't its first time around the Kickstarter block.

Grepper unsuccessfully tried to raise $125,000 for similar model In November 2013 (he only earned $100,000),

"My confidence was pretty low because of the first campaign," said Grepper.

But a combination of seasonality (launching the campaign in July vs. November), more supporters and an improved design helped him get far more than his $50,000 goal this time around.

Setting the bar so low -- and meeting it within 36 hours of launching -- has helped him get ahead on production. He's currently in the process of locking in a final design and securing a factory to produce the coolers (which will be available in three colors: Margarita, Blue Moon and Coolest Orange).

Related: These startup ideas are money magnets

So, are the millions raised any indication of how it'll fare post-crowdfunding?

They could be.

"We've seen more and more angels and investors using [Kickstarter] as a minor league in terms of [gauging] customer demands," said Greenberg.

Grepper said he's already been contacted by "many" retailers who are interested in working with him to sell the product.

According to PrivCo, a financial data provider on privately-held companies, U.S. cooler sales totaled $635 million in 2013.

Igloo Products Corp "dominates" the market, according to Matt Turlip, senior analyst at PrivCo. The company, which ACON Investments bought from J.H. Whitney & Co. earlier this year, owns 53% of the full-size cooler market.

"Maybe in a year or two, the Coolest can hope to compete," said Turlip.

First Published: August 29, 2014: 9:19 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

A&E deal would price Vice at $2.5 billion

Vice's co-founder Shane Smith has said he wants Vice to be the "next CNN" and "next MTV."

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Vice Media is in talks with A&E about a deal that would value it at more than $2.5 billion, according to a Vice spokesman.

A&E would buy a 10% stake in the company.

Vice would also create content for the A&E cable networks, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.

Its online content, magazine and HBO series, called Vice, specifically targets millennials.

On YouTube, the Vice channel has nearly 5 million subscribers. Its most popular video, "First Animal to Survive in Space," has 12.1 million views, followed by "The Biggest Ass in Brazil," which has been viewed 10.6 million times.

A&E, which also owns the Lifetime and History channels, is buying the stake to gain digital exposure.

Flipboard: Future of Media

A&E is jointly owned by Disney (DIS) and the Hearst Corporation. An A&E spokesman declined to comment.

Time Warner (TWC) was also interested in buying a stake in Vice, but those discussions are now over, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. (Time Warner owns CNN.)

This isn't the first time Vice has attracted investment from an established media company. Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox paid $70 million for a 5% stake last year.

Vice's other minority shareholders include marketing services firm WPP, The Raine Group and former Viacom (VIA) chief executive Tom Freston.

The company's co-founder Shane Smith has said he wants Vice to be the "next CNN" and "next MTV."

First Published: August 29, 2014: 8:41 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Friday Links

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

A weekly collection of design, data and interactive links.

Design/Data viz
Forms of color | Vintage illustrations exploring color systems
Police Punishment: CCRB vs NYPD | Interactive analyzing NYPD complaint data
Futuristic UI | Video and stills from the short SIMIAN

Photo/video
Serendipity | Every second, a few people hit "play" on the same track at the same time
Zaha Hadid | Zaha Hadid's Wangjing Soho complex nears completion in Beijing
Instagram programming | A look at what goes on behind the scenes at Instagram

See last week's links

Have a nice weekend!
@dubly and @talyellin

First Published: August 29, 2014: 7:08 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Coolest Kickstarter ever raises over $13 million

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The Coolest Cooler (yes, a cooler) raised $13.3 million in its 52-day run. The previous record holder, the Pebble smartwatch raised $10.2 million in 2012.

Why have more than 60,000 people contributed to a cooler campaign?

Well, this cooler includes a blender, waterproof bluetooth speaker, USB charger, cutting board and bottle opener -- a "portable party," according to founder Ryan Grepper of Portland, Ore.

And those who pledged enough ($165 or more) will save at least $130 on the cooler, which will retail for $299.

Those who contributed less can still get in on a piece of Kickstarter history: A $25 contribution earned a Coolest-branded reusable party cup and a drink guide; for $55, backers receive the party cup plus a "Keep Calm and Blend On" tee.

And for the first eight backers who contributed $2,000, Grepper will fly out and help them host a tailgate party with the Coolest (before its available to backers in February 2015).

Related: The 13 most WTF gadgets

The record is impressive by any measure, but the last couple days have been a whirlwind: Backers contributed over $2 million in 24 hours.

The rush to contribute in the final days isn't all that shocking to Jason Greenberg, PhD and assistant professor at New York University's business school.

"This is something we tend to see in cultural settings where the 'rich get increasingly richer,'" said Greenberg. "A firm end date and time can precipitate this."

But it adds more pressure to satisfy consumer expectations.

"Bigger capital raises entail bigger expectations and scrutiny," said Greenberg.

Grepper is acutely aware of this obligation.

"I feel personal responsibility to each backer that has supported me and am committed making the Coolest live up to its name," said Grepper.

Related: Water balloon lovers pledge $645,000 on Kickstarter

The success of the Coolest is perhaps all the more surprising because this isn't its first time around the Kickstarter block.

Grepper unsuccessfully tried to raise $125,000 for similar model In November 2013 (he only earned $100,000),

"My confidence was pretty low because of the first campaign," said Grepper.

But a combination of seasonality (launching the campaign in July vs. November), more supporters and an improved design helped him get far more than his $50,000 goal this time around.

Setting the bar so low -- and meeting it within 36 hours of launching -- has helped him get ahead on production. He's currently in the process of locking in a final design and securing a factory to produce the coolers (which will be available in three colors: Margarita, Blue Moon and Coolest Orange).

Related: These startup ideas are money magnets

So, are the millions raised any indication of how it'll fare post-crowdfunding?

They could be.

"We've seen more and more angels and investors using [Kickstarter] as a minor league in terms of [gauging] customer demands," said Greenberg.

Grepper said he's already been contacted by "many" retailers who are interested in working with him to sell the product.

According to PrivCo, a financial data provider on privately-held companies, U.S. cooler sales totaled $635 million in 2013.

Igloo Products Corp "dominates" the market, according to Matt Turlip, senior analyst at PrivCo. The company, which ACON Investments bought from J.H. Whitney & Co. earlier this year, owns 53% of the full-size cooler market.

"Maybe in a year or two, the Coolest can hope to compete," said Turlip.

First Published: August 29, 2014: 9:19 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

A&E deal would price Vice at $2.5 billion

Vice's co-founder Shane Smith has said he wants Vice to be the "next CNN" and "next MTV."

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Vice Media is in talks with A&E about a deal that would value it at more than $2.5 billion, according to a Vice spokesman.

A&E would buy a 10% stake in the company.

Vice would also create content for the A&E cable networks, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.

Its online content, magazine and HBO series, called Vice, specifically targets millennials.

On YouTube, the Vice channel has nearly 5 million subscribers. Its most popular video, "First Animal to Survive in Space," has 12.1 million views, followed by "The Biggest Ass in Brazil," which has been viewed 10.6 million times.

A&E, which also owns the Lifetime and History channels, is buying the stake to gain digital exposure.

Flipboard: Future of Media

A&E is jointly owned by Disney (DIS) and the Hearst Corporation. An A&E spokesman declined to comment.

Time Warner (TWC) was also interested in buying a stake in Vice, but those discussions are now over, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. (Time Warner owns CNN.)

This isn't the first time Vice has attracted investment from an established media company. Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox paid $70 million for a 5% stake last year.

Vice's other minority shareholders include marketing services firm WPP, The Raine Group and former Viacom (VIA) chief executive Tom Freston.

The company's co-founder Shane Smith has said he wants Vice to be the "next CNN" and "next MTV."

First Published: August 29, 2014: 8:41 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Malaysia Airlines slashes 6,000 jobs in major restructuring

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

State investor Khazanah, which owns nearly 70% of the carrier, revealed the 30% workforce reduction on Friday. Khazanah also announced the creation of a new corporation that will absorb the majority of the carrier's assets.

Khazanah plans to buy out minority shareholders and de-list the current Malaysia Airlines. Assets will then be shifted to the new company, which the fund said could be ready to go public in three to five years.

Azman Mokhtar, the managing director of Khazanah, said that the changes were necessary to help the airline compete in the rough-and-tumble airline industry.

"The combination of measures announced today will enable our national airline to be revived," Mokhtar said. "While funds have been made available, they come with strict conditions, so as to ensure that Malaysia Airlines truly resets its business model and cost structures."

The airline reported on Thursday that it lost $97.4 million in the second quarter, as it reeled from its second aircraft disaster of 2014 -- the loss of MH17 over Ukraine.

Related: Malaysia Air posts $97 million loss

Malaysia Airlines was once a symbol of national pride. But the airline was in big financial trouble before the twin disasters of Flight 370 and Flight 17 claimed the lives of 537 people.

The carrier hadn't turned a profit in years, efforts to compete with low-cost carriers had failed, and the need for yet another government bailout was growing.

Analysts say that Malaysia Airlines had been hindered by uncompetitive supplier contracts, and a bloated workforce. Labor unions are sure to oppose the restructuring efforts.

Related: Passengers' families could collect millions

MH17 was shot out of the sky in July, over territory that's controlled by pro-Russian militants battling the Ukraine government. The United States says a surface-to-air missile took down the plane.

In March, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared with 239 people on board. No trace of the plane has been found.

First Published: August 29, 2014: 3:46 AM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Japan's economic revival is in jeopardy

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe must make more progress on structural economic reforms.

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

Abenomics -- a massive bond-buying campaign coupled with structural reforms and stimulus from the central government -- has failed to lift wages, bring more women into the workforce or boost exports.

Now, critics are questioning the government's strategy as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tried to coax the economy back to life after a sales tax hike spurred a massive contraction in the second quarter.

"The economic recovery is not looking good, to be quite blunt," said HSBC economist Izumi Devalier. "Abenomics is at a very difficult point now."

The hope was that coordinated government action would end 15 years of deflation in Japan, and lead to more robust growth for the world's third largest economy. But Abe has failed to push through many key structural reforms, and the window for real change is closing quickly.

Related: Women hold key to fixing Japan's economy

One major problem is that the "virtuous cycle" promised by Abenomics supporters has been slow to materialize. The idea was that an increase in sales would boost corporate profits and lead to higher pay for workers, who would then increase spending.

Yet even with significant prodding from the government and record profits, Japanese businesses are not paying higher wages.

Haruhiko Kuroda, the Bank of Japan governor, last week called the puzzle "troublesome," and lamented a lack of mobility in Japan's labor force. Still, he said workers would be able to negotiate higher wages if they could count on sustained inflation.

Others are less optimistic and think the central bank has few good options to ease the pain of workers. As it stands now, wages are static, but inflation encouraged by the central bank is making goods more expensive -- a problematic situation for the millions of Japanese on fixed incomes.

Related: Japan debt tops 1 quadrillion yen

Concerns about the success of Abenomics have also been underscored by a series of boom and bust GDP reports, the most recent of which showed that Japan's economy shrank at an annual rate of 6.8% in the second quarter.

Much of the poor performance was attributed to a sales tax increase that encouraged consumers to make big purchases in the first quarter and close their wallets during the following three months. But Devalier said the report's details suggested the performance was "even worse than the headline number suggested."

With the tax cut now firmly in the rear-view mirror, the third quarter will be crucial. Should Japan's economy contract again and enter a technical correction, the central bank could be forced to increase stimulus.

Japan must also make progress on the final part of Abenomics: structural reforms that require immense political capital to implement.

Abe's government has proposed measures that would make the labor market more flexible, encourage immigration, bring nuclear power plants back online and draw more Japanese women into the workforce.

Most of those ideas have, so far, gone nowhere.

"These structural reforms are not going to happen overnight," Devalier said. "But they are the most important part of Abenomics."

First Published: August 28, 2014: 10:09 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stocks: 5 things to know before the open

Click chart for in-depth premarket data.

LONDON (CNNMoney)

Here are the five things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Amazing August: The major U.S. indexes have climbed up by roughly 3% to 4% over the course of the month, with the S&P 500 hitting record-high levels.

It seems stocks could rise further on Friday -- U.S. stock futures were edging up ahead of the opening bell.

U.S. stocks closed lower Thursday. The S&P 500 lost a few points, closing at 1,997. The Dow and Nasdaq both moved about 0.3% lower.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

2. Russian markets roiled: Investors are taking notice after NATO published satellite images showing evidence of Russian troops inside Ukraine.

The ruble was off by about 0.3% versus the U.S. dollar on Friday. It's fallen by 10.5% since the start of the year.

Russia's benchmark Micex was also lower by 0.5%. Over the course of 2014 the index has fluctuated wildly -- it's off by about 6% since the start of January.

Related: CNNMoney's Tech30

3. European overview: Major markets across Europe were higher in early trading.

Fresh monthly data from Eurostat showed that European inflation remains tepid and unemployment in the euro area is stuck at 11.5%. The numbers are likely to feed expectations that the European Central Bank will be forced to embark upon a stimulus program to support the economy.

4. Worries about Japan: Japanese markets were soft Friday after more weak data failed to support the country's Abenomics revival plan.

"Japanese markets are down following a raft of negative data. Further declines in household consumption indicate that the increase in sales tax is hitting Japanese households hard," said Tom Beevers, CEO of StockViews.

Most other Asian markets closed the week with some gains.

5. U.S. economic reports: The U.S. government will report personal income and spending numbers at 8:30 a.m. ET. The University of Michigan will release the final reading of its consumer sentiment index for August at 9:55 a.m.

First Published: August 29, 2014: 5:29 AM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Twitter suspends fake @JPMorganCEO account

The first tweet from @JPMorganCEO on August 27.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The account popped up Wednesday afternoon under the Twitter handle @JPMorganCEO.

"We are excited to announce that our CEO Jamie Dimon has joined Twitter. This account is managed by the Global Media Relations Department," the first tweet said.

Another tweet from the account a few minutes later read, "My name is Jose and I work here in Global Relations. I made this account for Jamie, he will be using it today."

The account followed a number of media professionals and generated buzz and criticism in its initial hours. It used a photo of Dimon from his congressional testimony in 2012 over the bank's $2 billion trading loss that spring.

The Wire wrote about Dimon's "momentous embrace of social media" and had to amend its article once it became apparent the account was fake.

By Thursday morning, the Twitter bio for @JPMorganCEO included the disclaimer, "This is a parody account."

By Thursday afternoon, the account had been suspended. Twitter declined to comment on why.

JPMorgan has had a rough week. The bank is in the headlines for a large scale data breach that the FBI is investigating.

Jamie Dimon is undergoing treatment for a curable throat cancer this summer, although he continues to work.

First Published: August 28, 2014: 4:48 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Japan's economic revival is in jeopardy

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe must make more progress on structural economic reforms.

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

Abenomics -- a massive bond-buying campaign coupled with structural reforms and stimulus from the central government -- has failed to lift wages, bring more women into the workforce or boost exports.

Now, critics are questioning the government's strategy as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tried to coax the economy back to life after a sales tax hike spurred a massive contraction in the second quarter.

"The economic recovery is not looking good, to be quite blunt," said HSBC economist Izumi Devalier. "Abenomics is at a very difficult point now."

The hope was that coordinated government action would end 15 years of deflation in Japan, and lead to more robust growth for the world's third largest economy. But Abe has failed to push through many key structural reforms, and the window for real change is closing quickly.

Related: Women hold key to fixing Japan's economy

One major problem is that the "virtuous cycle" promised by Abenomics supporters has been slow to materialize. The idea was that an increase in sales would boost corporate profits and lead to higher pay for workers, who would then increase spending.

Yet even with significant prodding from the government and record profits, Japanese businesses are not paying higher wages.

Haruhiko Kuroda, the Bank of Japan governor, last week called the puzzle "troublesome," and lamented a lack of mobility in Japan's labor force. Still, he said workers would be able to negotiate higher wages if they could count on sustained inflation.

Others are less optimistic and think the central bank has few good options to ease the pain of workers. As it stands now, wages are static, but inflation encouraged by the central bank is making goods more expensive -- a problematic situation for the millions of Japanese on fixed incomes.

Related: Japan debt tops 1 quadrillion yen

Concerns about the success of Abenomics have also been underscored by a series of boom and bust GDP reports, the most recent of which showed that Japan's economy shrank at an annual rate of 6.8% in the second quarter.

Much of the poor performance was attributed to a sales tax increase that encouraged consumers to make big purchases in the first quarter and close their wallets during the following three months. But Devalier said the report's details suggested the performance was "even worse than the headline number suggested."

With the tax cut now firmly in the rear-view mirror, the third quarter will be crucial. Should Japan's economy contract again and enter a technical correction, the central bank could be forced to increase stimulus.

Japan must also make progress on the final part of Abenomics: structural reforms that require immense political capital to implement.

Abe's government has proposed measures that would make the labor market more flexible, encourage immigration, bring nuclear power plants back online and draw more Japanese women into the workforce.

Most of those ideas have, so far, gone nowhere.

"These structural reforms are not going to happen overnight," Devalier said. "But they are the most important part of Abenomics."

First Published: August 28, 2014: 10:09 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Malaysia Airlines slashes 6,000 jobs in major restructuring

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

State investor Khazanah, which owns nearly 70% of the carrier, revealed the 30% workforce reduction on Friday. Khazanah also announced the creation of a new corporation that will absorb the majority of the carrier's assets.

Khazanah plans to buy out minority shareholders and de-list the current Malaysia Airlines. Assets will then be shifted to the new company, which the fund said could be ready to go public in three to five years.

Azman Mokhtar, the managing director of Khazanah, said that the changes were necessary to help the airline compete in the rough-and-tumble airline industry.

"The combination of measures announced today will enable our national airline to be revived," Mokhtar said. "While funds have been made available, they come with strict conditions, so as to ensure that Malaysia Airlines truly resets its business model and cost structures."

The airline reported on Thursday that it lost $97.4 million in the second quarter, as it reeled from its second aircraft disaster of 2014 -- the loss of MH17 over Ukraine.

Related: Malaysia Air posts $97 million loss

Malaysia Airlines was once a symbol of national pride. But the airline was in big financial trouble before the twin disasters of Flight 370 and Flight 17 claimed the lives of 537 people.

The carrier hadn't turned a profit in years, efforts to compete with low-cost carriers had failed, and the need for yet another government bailout was growing.

Analysts say that Malaysia Airlines had been hindered by uncompetitive supplier contracts, and a bloated workforce. Labor unions are sure to oppose the restructuring efforts.

Related: Passengers' families could collect millions

MH17 was shot out of the sky in July, over territory that's controlled by pro-Russian militants battling the Ukraine government. The United States says a surface-to-air missile took down the plane.

In March, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared with 239 people on board. No trace of the plane has been found.

First Published: August 29, 2014: 3:46 AM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

7 companies that keep more than $50 billion offshore

Companies like Apple that do business abroad can delay paying U.S. taxes on the billions of dollars they keep offshore, indefinitely.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

But for some, a merger,known as an inversion, isn't the method of choice for paring a tax bill. There's another way to pay less in U.S. taxes, without relocating headquarters.

Plenty of companies that do business abroad delay paying big bucks to Uncle Sam by leaving foreign profits abroad, indefinitely. As long as they don't bring that money back home and reinvest it in the business, they don't have to pay U.S. tax on it.

Microsoft, for example, said that it lowered its tax bill by $29.6 billion last year by keeping $92.9 billion abroad, according to a regulatory filing by the company.

Related: How companies are shrinking their taxes

Why are so many U.S. firms reluctant to bring their profits home? Most experts say the problem is America's corporate tax rate, which is 35% on most corporate income. That's the highest rate among developed economies.

Companies typically reveal how much cash they're holding abroad in annual regulatory filings, but unlike Microsoft, don't often say how much in U.S. taxes they haven't paid yet.

Here are just seven companies that are keeping more than $50 billion offshore as of their most recent filings:

Apple (AAPL, Tech30): $111.3 billion

General Electric (GE): $110 billion

Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30): $92.9 billion

Pfizer (PFE): $69 billion

Merck (MKGAF): $57.1 billion

IBM (IBM, Tech30): $52.3 billion

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): $50.9 billion

First Published: August 27, 2014: 7:42 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

U.S. runs out of investor visas as Chinese overwhelm program

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

The State Department's chief of visa control, Charles Oppenheimer, told lawyers at an industry conference earlier this week that no more spots will be available to Chinese for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Several attendees confirmed his comments to CNNMoney.

Known as EB-5, the immigration program offers a green card to any foreigner willing to invest at least $500,000 and create 10 jobs in America.

No more than 10,000 of the visas are allowed every year, and this will mark the first time the quota has been reached since the program's inception in 1990.

"It's like the movie house is sold out -- there are no spare tickets left," said Bernard Wolfsdorf, founder of immigration law firm Wolfsdorf Rosenthal. "Pretty much all the visas for this year are accounted for."

Related: Rich Chinese overwhelm U.S. visa program

There are 10,300 pending applications, and Wolfsdorf estimates it could take as long as three years for some to be processed.

This is of particular concern for investors hoping to bring their children, who only receive a green card if they're under 21 at the time of application approval.

"There's a lot of enthusiasm now to file as soon as possible," Wolfsdorf said. "If you don't get your ticket now, you're going to wait longer."

In 2013, Chinese nationals accounted for more than 80% of EB-5 visas issued, compared to just 13% a decade ago, according to government data compiled by CNNMoney. That translates to nearly 6,900 EB-5 visas for Chinese nationals last year, a massive bump up from 2004, when only 16 visas were granted to Chinese.

For rich Chinese, opportunities in the U.S. are attractive. A green card offers a way to send their children to American universities, escape heavy pollution and enjoy an improved quality of life.

Plus, the EB-5 program is relatively cheap. Australia, for example, requires a $4.5 million investment -- nine times the minimum required by the U.S.

Experts say the program has exploded in popularity this year, particularly since Canada ended a similar program this year that was also popular with Chinese.

Related: Why the rich are ditching their home country

Supporters say immigrant investors have provided an important alternative source of financing, pouring at least $5 billion into jobs and projects from Brooklyn's Atlantic Yards real estate development to a Texas peanut company.

On top of that, these wealthy immigrants contribute to the local economy by buying houses, purchasing cars, and paying school tuition for their children, Wolfsdorf said.

But there are plenty of critics. Some argue that the program is a way for the global elite to buy citizenship. Others say the scheme has too much red tape, and believe parts of it are mismanaged to the point of fraud.

A longer waiting line isn't "the end of the world," Wolfsdorf said. "The demand is greater than the supply."

First Published: August 27, 2014: 10:27 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

America's favorite credit card company is...

American Express and Discover tied for first place in customer satisfaction this year.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Discover (DFS) tied American Express (AXP) for the number one spot this year, according to J.D. Power's annual report on credit card satisfaction.

Both companies received scores of 819 out of 1,000 based on survey responses from 20,000 credit card customers who rated issuers on their terms and conditions, interaction with customers, billing and payment policies, rewards programs, resolution of cardholder issues, and other services.

The key to success for American Express and Discover: extremely effective and accessible customer service, especially when it comes to getting help from representatives over the phone, online or via a mobile app, survey respondents said.

Related: Shoppers beware: Retail credit card APRs average 23%

Across the 10 biggest card issuers, the average satisfaction score was 778 this year -- a record high that was up from 767 last year.

Much of the bump is likely due to issuers piling on rewards, hoping to stand out from competitors, says Jim Miller, senior director of banking services at J.D. Power.

Since the pool of creditworthy Americans without a card is growing smaller, issuers need to lure customers away from each other to succeed. And it seems to be working: 10% of customers said they switched cards this year -- up from 8% last year.

"The market is ultra-competitive and credit card companies are using reward programs to make their card more attractive," said Miller. "However, [what's really important is] understanding your customers, knowing what motivates them and aligning rewards and benefits to their needs."

Where does your issuer rank?

1. American Express, Discover

2. Chase

3. Barclaycard

4. U.S. Bank

5. Wells Fargo

6. Bank of America

7. Capital One

8. Citi

9. GE Capital Retail Bank

First Published: August 28, 2014: 4:03 AM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

HP recalls 6 million computer cords for fire risk

The government said the recalled chargers look like this and are stamped with the code "LS-15."

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ, Tech30) and federal regulators on Tuesday recalled 6 million power cords sold between September 2010 and June 2012 with some HP and Compaq notebook computers, as well as certain docking stations.

They warned the cords could overheat and catch fire. Of the 29 reported cases, two involved burns and there were 13 claims of property damage.

Related: The best deals in tech

The Consumer Product Safety Commission warned the recalled power cords should be unplugged immediately.

HP provided an online tool for customers to determine if their cord is recalled.

First Published: August 26, 2014: 8:27 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Want a great 401(k)? Work for an oil company

These five 401(k)s are among the top employer plans offered to workers in the tech, utility, legal, airline and oil and gas industries.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Lawyers, oil and gas workers and airline employees have some of the best 401(k) plans in the country, typically boasting generous employer matches, high participation rates and low fees, according to a BrightScope report that analyzed some 3,500 company 401(k) plans with at least $100 million in assets.

Employees at many tech firms and utilities fare pretty well too, the report found.

The average balance for participants in Saudi Arabian Oil Company's 401(k) plan, for example, is $490,000 -- nearly 30 times Wal-Mart's (WMT) average balance of $18,000.

Wal-Mart said more than a million of its workers take part in its plan, including some part-time associates. The company said it matches employee contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 6% of its workers salaries.

Yet, since many of Wal-Mart's workers earn low hourly wages, they may not be able to afford to contribute much.

Calculator: Will you have enough to retire?

BrightScope's analysis looked at 2012 data and took into account hundreds of factors, including fees and participation rates, investment options and the level of employer and employee contributions. The higher the score, the more likely savers are to accumulate large enough nest eggs to live their retirement "in dignity," said Brooks Herman, head of data and research at BrightScope.

Southwest Airlines (LUV)' plan for pilots was one of the very top performers. It carries some of the lowest fees around, offers plenty of investment options and a generous employer contribution. As a result, participants have saved an average of $350,000.

The best performing plans also typically offer generous employer contributions, whether it's a traditional match or profit-sharing, something that is especially common in the legal sector.

Workers also tend to earn higher salaries, which allow them to sock away more of their own pay each year.

"These are going to be people who often have advanced degrees, and they are going to understand the importance of 401(k) savings," Herman said.

Related: 5 big retirement mistakes

The retail and hospitality industries, on the other hand, offer some of the country's worst 401(k) plans, BrightScope found.

Workers in these sectors tend to earn lower wages and have higher turnover, making it harder to save. And many workers don't choose to participate at all, BrightScope found.

The differences are stark: Lawyers receive average employer 401(k) contributions of more than $10,000 a year, compared to an average of $1,403 for savers in the hospitality industry.

First Published: August 26, 2014: 7:25 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stocks: 4 things to know before the open

Click chart for in-depth premarket data.

LONDON (CNNMoney)

Here are the four things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Stocks are on fire: U.S. stock futures were stable Wednesday morning, a day after the S&P 500 closed above 2,000 for the first time ever.

If investor sentiment remains strong, it's possible the benchmark index could surpass its latest record-setting high.

U.S. stocks advanced Tuesday. The Dow tacked on nearly 30 points, the S&P 500 was up 0.1%, and the Nasdaq was 0.3% higher.

2. Geopolitics: The new Israel-Hamas ceasefire could give investors confidence Wednesday. Israel's benchmark index was higher in early trading.

Meanwhile, talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko over Ukraine have concluded.

The Russian Micex index was up by about 0.7% in early trading. Russia's equity and currency markets have taken a hit this year after Western nations levied sanctions.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

3. Earnings: Brown-Forman (BFA)and Tiffany & Co. (TIF) will report earnings before the opening bell, while retailers Guess (GES) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) will report after the close.

Shares in gun maker Smith & Wesson (SWHC) plunged by as much as 15% in extended trading after the company said quarterly sales were dragged down by a shrinking demand for rifles.

Related: CNNMoney's Tech30

4. International markets overview: European markets were looking anemic in early trading as investors reacted to weaker-than-expected economic data.

Asian markets all closed higher, except for the Hang Seng in Hong Kong, which dipped by 0.6%.

First Published: August 27, 2014: 5:14 AM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Smith & Wesson shares plunge 15%

Rifles are a tough sell for Smith & Wesson.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The gun maker said Tuesday that quarterly sales were down by $39.2 million, pulled down by a shrinking demand for rifles. It made a $14.6 million profit, falling 45% from the prior year.

Shares plunged as much as 15% in after-hours trading.

Summer is typically a slow time for the industry, said CEO James Debney on a call with investors, and sales actually met the company's expectations.

Related: Smith & Wesson hit for overseas bribes

Still, Smith and Wesson (SWHC) lowered overall guidance for the year. Executives now expect sales to come in between $530 million and $540 million. In June, they predicted sales would be between $585 million and $600 million at the end of the fiscal year, which ends in April.

In the past couple of years, the gun industry saw an intense run-up in demand, fueled by concerns of more rigorous gun restriction. But President Obama has failed to get a bill through Congress that increases regulation and Americans are buying fewer guns.

Shares of rival gun maker Sturm Ruger (RGR) also fell Tuesday, but its drop was less dramatic.

First Published: August 26, 2014: 6:01 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Want a great 401(k)? Work for an oil company

These five 401(k)s are among the top employer plans offered to workers in the tech, utility, legal, airline and oil and gas industries.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Lawyers, oil and gas workers and airline employees have some of the best 401(k) plans in the country, typically boasting generous employer matches, high participation rates and low fees, according to a BrightScope report that analyzed some 3,500 company 401(k) plans with at least $100 million in assets.

Employees at many tech firms and utilities fare pretty well too, the report found.

The average balance for participants in Saudi Arabian Oil Company's 401(k) plan, for example, is $490,000 -- nearly 30 times Wal-Mart's (WMT) average balance of $18,000.

Wal-Mart said more than a million of its workers take part in its plan, including some part-time associates. The company said it matches employee contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 6% of its workers salaries.

Yet, since many of Wal-Mart's workers earn low hourly wages, they may not be able to afford to contribute much.

Calculator: Will you have enough to retire?

BrightScope's analysis looked at 2012 data and took into account hundreds of factors, including fees and participation rates, investment options and the level of employer and employee contributions. The higher the score, the more likely savers are to accumulate large enough nest eggs to live their retirement "in dignity," said Brooks Herman, head of data and research at BrightScope.

Southwest Airlines (LUV)' plan for pilots was one of the very top performers. It carries some of the lowest fees around, offers plenty of investment options and a generous employer contribution. As a result, participants have saved an average of $350,000.

The best performing plans also typically offer generous employer contributions, whether it's a traditional match or profit-sharing, something that is especially common in the legal sector.

Workers also tend to earn higher salaries, which allow them to sock away more of their own pay each year.

"These are going to be people who often have advanced degrees, and they are going to understand the importance of 401(k) savings," Herman said.

Related: 5 big retirement mistakes

The retail and hospitality industries, on the other hand, offer some of the country's worst 401(k) plans, BrightScope found.

Workers in these sectors tend to earn lower wages and have higher turnover, making it harder to save. And many workers don't choose to participate at all, BrightScope found.

The differences are stark: Lawyers receive average employer 401(k) contributions of more than $10,000 a year, compared to an average of $1,403 for savers in the hospitality industry.

First Published: August 26, 2014: 7:25 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

HP recalls 6 million computer cords for fire risk

The government said the recalled chargers look like this and are stamped with the code "LS-15."

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ, Tech30) and federal regulators on Tuesday recalled 6 million power cords sold between September 2010 and June 2012 with some HP and Compaq notebook computers, as well as certain docking stations.

They warned the cords could overheat and catch fire. Of the 29 reported cases, two involved burns and there were 13 claims of property damage.

Related: The best deals in tech

The Consumer Product Safety Commission warned the recalled power cords should be unplugged immediately.

HP provided an online tool for customers to determine if their cord is recalled.

First Published: August 26, 2014: 8:27 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

3 reasons why Californians shun quake insurance

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Here are three reasons why many quake-prone Californians shun insurance:

1) Quake damage rarely exceeds deductibles.

Some argue the insurance is not worth the money for homeowners. Earthquake insurance generally comes with a deductible of 15% of the home's value, according to John Rundle, a professor of physics at the University of California, Davis.

"Most homeowners will never exceed the deductible even if they do get damage," he said.

Related: Natural disaster -- the riskiest spots in the USA

Most policies are purchased from the California Earthquake Authority, a privately funded, publicly managed organization that was created by the state legislature after severe losses in the Northridge quake threatened to send private insurers packing.

Glenn Pomeroy, CEO of CEA, said he would love to have a zero deductible, but that would make the premiums unaffordable for homeowners. Check out what you would pay on the CEA calculator.

The big deductibles mean money that would have gone to paying insurance premiums might be better spent being invested in temblor resistant home retrofits, according to Rundle. Homeowners could get their houses bolted to bedrock, for example, or braced and reinforced to prevent them from shaking apart.

Related: The 10 most expensive U.S. earthquakes

2) Californians were slammed by the housing bust.

Many Californians were hurt by the real estate crisis and have little or no home equity -- or are underwater on their mortgages.

Jason Simpson, a computer programmer in Sherman Oaks, Calif., outside Los Angeles, bought his $690,000 home with a 3% down mortgage in 2008. The housing bust pushed him underwater -- he soon owed more on his loan than his home was worth.

Related: Mansion that measures earthquakes

"With no equity, there was no reason to drop $1,200 a year," he said.

If the big one had hit, he would have simply walked away from his mortgage. Now, however, as home prices have rebounded and he has added on to the house, he's preparing to buy insurance.

3) Mistrust of the California Earthquake Authority's support.

Another factor discouraging homeowners from buying coverage is that the CEA would stop paying claims if catastrophic earthquake losses exceed the the Authority's reserves.

Pomeroy said that homeowners shouldn't worry. Even though, just like any insurer, CEA would stop paying claims once its ability to pay was exceeded, it won't happen. CEA is very well capitalized, he said.

"We could handle two Northridges," he said, about the costliest earthquake in U.S. history.

"I don't lose sleep worrying whether we have enough money to pay claims, I worry because so many people don't have coverage."

First Published: August 25, 2014: 5:30 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

GM's compensation fund gets 100th death claim

Ken Feinberg has received 100 death claims so far.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

GM received 100 death claims and 184 injury claims as of Friday, according to a spokeswoman for Ken Feinberg, a consultant hired to administer GM's compensation fund. He began receiving claims on Aug. 1 and will continue to do so until Dec. 31, 2014.

GM has pledged to pay victims who were injured or killed as a result of a defect affecting 2.6 million cars that can cause the vehicle to shut off unexpectedly, disabling airbags. Officials have admitted that the company made mistakes, leading to a decade-long delay in issuing a recall for the affected vehicles.

Related: GM offers victims more than $1 million

Not everyone who submits a claim will receive compensation. Claimants must prove that the defect is to blame for the accident. Feinberg, who was tasked to give out compensation to victims after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and other high-profile tragedies, will evaluate all the claims and respond within three to four months.

GM (GM) is offering at least $1 million to the families of those who died. The automaker will give another $300,000 for each surviving spouse and dependent, in addition to a sum of money that will be determined by the victims' earning potential.

Compensation for those who were injured will be based on the severity of the injury. Victims give up their right to sue GM if they take the money.

The automaker expects to pay between $400 million to $600 million to compensate victims. No claims have been paid out yet, according to the spokeswoman.

First Published: August 25, 2014: 5:52 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stocks: 4 things to know before the open

Click chart for in-depth premarket data.

LONDON (CNNMoney)

Here are the four things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Stock markets mellow: U.S. stock futures were little changed Tuesday and European markets were mostly in negative territory. Gold prices were higher by 1% to about $1,290 per ounce.

The early market mood just isn't quite as jubilant as it was Monday when the S&P 500 surpassed 2,000 for the first time ever. The Dow and the Nasdaq both rose by about 0.4%.

The latest reading on the CNNMoney Fear & Greed index shows investors are still feeling relatively fearful.

2. Earnings expectations: Shares in advertising giant WPP (WPPGY) were higher by roughly 2% in London after the firm reported strong half-year earnings.

"It seems as if the ill-fated merger of Omnicom and Publicis has led to WPP winning business as they post pre-tax profit ahead of forecasts," said Tom Robertson, a trader at Accendo Markets.

In New York, Best Buy (BBY) will report earnings before the opening bell. Gun maker Smith & Wesson (SWHC) will report after the close.

Related: M&A market is heating up

3. Economics: There are a few important economic announcements to watch Tuesday.

The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index comes out at 9 a.m. ET., followed by the Conference Board's consumer confidence index at 10 a.m.

Related: CNNMoney's Tech30

4. International markets overview: European markets were mostly lower in early trading Tuesday after rallying in the previous session. The London FTSE 100, which was closed for a holiday Monday, was higher as it played catch-up with the rest of the continent.

Most Asian markets ended with losses Tuesday.

First Published: August 26, 2014: 5:05 AM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Facebook to display less "click-bait"

Don't click on that "cutest thing ever" link! Facebook wants to discourage "click-bait"

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

As a result, you'll probably see fewer stories on the Web that proclaim "You won't believe what happens in this video!" or promise that "This story will blow your mind."

These sorts of headlines have proliferated in the past couple of years because Internet publishers have found that they help boost page views and, consequently, revenues from advertising. But critics of the style -- and there are a lot of them -- say it's cheap and fundamentally unsatisfying to users.

Facebook (FB, Tech30) apparently agrees.

Related: Facebook makes games quit inflating 'likes'

Facebook says "click-baiting" happens when "a publisher posts a link with a headline that encourages people to click to see more, without telling them much information about what they will see."

There is a whole ecosystem of bottom-feeder Web sites that specialize in these kinds of stories.

Facebook's algorithm currently rewards these links when they're posted onto the social networking site because the links "tend to get a lot of clicks."

But "when we asked people in an initial survey what type of content they preferred to see in their News Feeds, 80% of the time people preferred headlines that helped them decide if they wanted to read the full article before they had to click through," the Web site said in an announcement on Monday.

So "click-bait" is unsatisfying -- and it may also hurt Facebook's business model, which entails getting people to spend more time on Facebook.

"Over time, stories with "click-bait" headlines can drown out content from friends and pages that people really care about," making Facebook less useful, the announcement added.

Related: Why Facebook stockpiles Blu-ray discs

Facebook said it would try to curtail the "click-bait" plague by showing "fewer of these types of stories."

The site said it would be careful not to ensnare other Internet publishers.

Facebook has become a crucial source of traffic for news and entertainment sites, so every perceived change to Facebook's algorithm is obsessively scrutinized.

And because Facebook has more than one billion monthly users, its choices and preferences ripple across the whole web.

Another change it announced on Monday will, in some cases, discourage publishers from attaching photos to their promotional posts -- so users will probably see somewhat fewer photos and more straight links in the future.

First Published: August 25, 2014: 3:48 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

3 reasons why Californians shun quake insurance

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Here are three reasons why many quake-prone Californians shun insurance:

1) Quake damage rarely exceeds deductibles.

Some argue the insurance is not worth the money for homeowners. Earthquake insurance generally comes with a deductible of 15% of the home's value, according to John Rundle, a professor of physics at the University of California, Davis.

"Most homeowners will never exceed the deductible even if they do get damage," he said.

Related: Natural disaster -- the riskiest spots in the USA

Most policies are purchased from the California Earthquake Authority, a privately funded, publicly managed organization that was created by the state legislature after severe losses in the Northridge quake threatened to send private insurers packing.

Glenn Pomeroy, CEO of CEA, said he would love to have a zero deductible, but that would make the premiums unaffordable for homeowners. Check out what you would pay on the CEA calculator.

The big deductibles mean money that would have gone to paying insurance premiums might be better spent being invested in temblor resistant home retrofits, according to Rundle. Homeowners could get their houses bolted to bedrock, for example, or braced and reinforced to prevent them from shaking apart.

Related: The 10 most expensive U.S. earthquakes

2) Californians were slammed by the housing bust.

Many Californians were hurt by the real estate crisis and have little or no home equity -- or are underwater on their mortgages.

Jason Simpson, a computer programmer in Sherman Oaks, Calif., outside Los Angeles, bought his $690,000 home with a 3% down mortgage in 2008. The housing bust pushed him underwater -- he soon owed more on his loan than his home was worth.

Related: Mansion that measures earthquakes

"With no equity, there was no reason to drop $1,200 a year," he said.

If the big one had hit, he would have simply walked away from his mortgage. Now, however, as home prices have rebounded and he has added on to the house, he's preparing to buy insurance.

3) Mistrust of the California Earthquake Authority's support.

Another factor discouraging homeowners from buying coverage is that the CEA would stop paying claims if catastrophic earthquake losses exceed the the Authority's reserves.

Pomeroy said that homeowners shouldn't worry. Even though, just like any insurer, CEA would stop paying claims once its ability to pay was exceeded, it won't happen. CEA is very well capitalized, he said.

"We could handle two Northridges," he said, about the costliest earthquake in U.S. history.

"I don't lose sleep worrying whether we have enough money to pay claims, I worry because so many people don't have coverage."

First Published: August 25, 2014: 5:30 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

GM's compensation fund gets 100th death claim

Ken Feinberg has received 100 death claims so far.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

GM received 100 death claims and 184 injury claims as of Friday, according to a spokeswoman for Ken Feinberg, a consultant hired to administer GM's compensation fund. He began receiving claims on Aug. 1 and will continue to do so until Dec. 31, 2014.

GM has pledged to pay victims who were injured or killed as a result of a defect affecting 2.6 million cars that can cause the vehicle to shut off unexpectedly, disabling airbags. Officials have admitted that the company made mistakes, leading to a decade-long delay in issuing a recall for the affected vehicles.

Related: GM offers victims more than $1 million

Not everyone who submits a claim will receive compensation. Claimants must prove that the defect is to blame for the accident. Feinberg, who was tasked to give out compensation to victims after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and other high-profile tragedies, will evaluate all the claims and respond within three to four months.

GM (GM) is offering at least $1 million to the families of those who died. The automaker will give another $300,000 for each surviving spouse and dependent, in addition to a sum of money that will be determined by the victims' earning potential.

Compensation for those who were injured will be based on the severity of the injury. Victims give up their right to sue GM if they take the money.

The automaker expects to pay between $400 million to $600 million to compensate victims. No claims have been paid out yet, according to the spokeswoman.

First Published: August 25, 2014: 5:52 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Is Burger King moving to Canada?

Burger King is in talks that could move the restaurant chain's headquarters to Canada.

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

The new company would be headquartered in Canada, the two firms said in a joint statement. Both Tim Hortons (THI) and Burger King (BKW) would continue to operate as standalone brands.

By moving north of the border, Burger King would be completing what is called an "inversion" -- a strategy that allows U.S. firms to lower their tax bills by merging with a foreign company, and then relocating to the new country.

Corporate tax rates are lower in Canada than the U.S., which has the highest tax rate among developed economies.

In the case of Miami-based Burger King and Tim Hortons, the combined company would be the world's third largest fast food chain, generating $22 billion in sales at more than 18,000 restaurants in 100 countries worldwide.

Related: 7 things you absolutely must know about corporate taxes

In the past decade, at least 47 U.S. companies have used the inversion process. Several inversions have been proposed this year and more are in the works.

One major inversion deal was announced in July, when Chicago-based AbbVie agreed to a $54.7 billion merger with Britain's Shire, slashing AbbVie's effective tax rate to about 13% by 2016 from 26%.

Drugmaker Mylan also announced last month that it would buy a Netherlands-based unit of Abbott Laboratories in a deal designed to let it incorporate abroad.

Related: 8 of the world's craziest fast food items

The flurry of deals has attracted the attention of Washington, and the White House has called on companies to practice "economic patriotism."

"They're declaring they're based someplace else even though most of their operations are here. .. My attitude is I don't care if it's legal -- it's wrong," President Obama said in July.

First Published: August 24, 2014: 11:18 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hackers attack Sony PlayStation Network

The "Lizard Squad" has targeted Sony's online gaming network.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Over the weekend, Blizzard Entertainment, CCP Games, Riot Games and Sony (SNE) have done maintenance to bring their networks back online.

CNNMoney quiz: What hackers know about you

The hackers, speaking publicly on Twitter, claimed responsibility for attacking the PlayStation Network and others, disrupting the ability of millions of gamers to play together online.

According to the targeted companies, hackers flooded their networks with illegitimate traffic -- a strategy known as a distributed denial of service attack. The FBI said it was investigating.

The hackers slammed the following game networks:

• Battle.net (World of Warcraft, Starcraft II, Diablo III)
• EVE Online
• League of Legends
• PlayStation Network and Sony Online Entertainment

On Sunday, Sony said both its services were still under repair but assured customers no user data was exposed. The other networks did not immediately return requests for comment.

When John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment, acknowledged the "large scale" attacks on Twitter, he came under fire as well. Knowing that Smedley was on a flight from the Dallas area to San Diego, the hackers made a veiled threat about bombs on his plane.

"We have been receiving reports that @j_smedley's plane #362 from DFW to SAN has explosives on-board, please look into this," the group said to American Airlines on Twitter, pairing that with images of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

The plane was diverted to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

CNNMoney's cybersecurity Flipboard magazine: How safe are you?

The FBI later released this statement: "The flight landed without incident. Passengers were safely removed from the plane."

-- CNN's Evan Perez contributed to this report.

First Published: August 24, 2014: 10:03 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stocks: 4 things to know before the open

Click chart for in-depth premarket data.

LONDON (CNNMoney)

Early indications are good. U.S. stock futures were all higher Monday and European markets advanced.

Here are the four things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Stock market movers -- Burger King, Tim Horton's, Roche, InterMune: Get ready for market reaction after Burger King (BKW) announced it's in talks to buy the Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons (THI) in a deal that could see the burger chain move its headquarters to Canada and lower its tax bill.

Shares in Roche (RHHBY) were up by about 0.5% after the Swiss pharmaceutical giant announced it's paying $8.3 billion to buy Nasdaq-traded InterMune (ITMN). The offer represents a 38% premium compared to where InterMune shares closed on Friday.

2. French government shake-up: French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has presented President Francois Hollande with his government's resignation, and a new government will be announced on Tuesday. Shares in the benchmark CAC 40 in Paris were higher by about 1% in early trading.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

3. Economic data: New data on business sentiment in Germany shows confidence continues to deteriorate as the economy loses steam. Many German firms have suffered as tensions escalate with Russia, a major trading partner.

At 10 a.m. ET the U.S. Census Bureau will release data on new home sales.

Related: CNNMoney's Tech30

4. Friday market recap: U.S. stocks closed mixed Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 both slid about 0.2%, but the Nasdaq gained about 0.1%.

First Published: August 25, 2014: 5:13 AM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

The 10 most expensive U.S. earthquakes

Sunday morning's earthquake jolted Northern California, leaving extensive and widespread damage.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

That would rank the 6.1 magnitude quake, which left extensive and widespread damage, among the most expensive in terms of damage to homes and other infrastructure.

Nearly all of the 10 most expensive earthquakes in U.S. history have hit California.

Here is the list, with cost figures not adjusted for inflation, according to the Insurance Information Institute and USGS:

1. January 17, 1994: The 6.7 quake that hit California's San Fernando Valley has come to be known as the Northridge quake. It caused $44 billion in damage, about $15 billion of which was covered by insurance policies. It killed 60 people and injured more than 7,000, the USGS says.

Buildings crumbled in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, rated the most expensive in U.S. history.

2. October 17, 1989: The last time the San Francisco Bay region shook like it did on Sunday was the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake. It was responsible for $10 billion in damage.

3. February 28, 2001: The magnitude 6.8 earthquake that rattled Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, was felt as far away as Montana. It caused about $2 billion in damage.

4. March 27-28, 1964: The Great Alaska Earthquake was the second-strongest earthquake ever recorded and lasted about three minutes, according to the USGS. It leveled buildings and caused landslides, then was followed by a tsunami that pummeled coastal towns. The damage totaled about $570 million.

Related: Most Californians don't have earthquake insurance

5. February 9, 1971: It took just 60 seconds of shaking for highway overpasses in the San Fernando Valley to collapse. The magnitude 6.6 earthquake caused about $553 million in damage. Only $35 million was covered by insurance policies.

6. April 18, 1906: The legacy of the Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake isn't the trembling ground, but the fires it caused. All told, the damage amounted to $524 million. The official death toll was 700, although the USGS said that figure "underestimate(d) the total loss of life by a factor of 3 or 4."

7. October 1, 1987: Two dozen bridges in the Los Angeles area were damaged by the 5.9 magnitude Whittier Narrows earthquake. It caused about $360 million in damage.

8. April 4, 2010: The so-called Easter Earthquake was a magnitude 7.2 and shook San Diego, Los Angeles and parts of Arizona. It caused $150 million in damage.

9. June 28, 1992: Two earthquakes, rated at 7.6 and 6.7, about 17 miles apart, shook Southern California and caused about $100 million in damage.

10. September 3, 2000: This magnitude 5.0 earthquake in the Napa area caused "considerable damage," according to the USGS. The insurance institute tallied the cost at $80 million.

--CNN's Taylor Ward contributed to this report.

First Published: August 24, 2014: 8:11 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hackers attack Sony PlayStation Network

The "Lizard Squad" has targeted Sony's online gaming network.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Over the weekend, Blizzard Entertainment, CCP Games, Riot Games and Sony (SNE) have done maintenance to bring their networks back online.

CNNMoney quiz: What hackers know about you

The hackers, speaking publicly on Twitter, claimed responsibility for attacking the PlayStation Network and others, disrupting the ability of millions of gamers to play together online.

According to the targeted companies, hackers flooded their networks with illegitimate traffic -- a strategy known as a distributed denial of service attack. The FBI said it was investigating.

The hackers slammed the following game networks:

• Battle.net (World of Warcraft, Starcraft II, Diablo III)
• EVE Online
• League of Legends
• PlayStation Network and Sony Online Entertainment

On Sunday, Sony said both its services were still under repair but assured customers no user data was exposed. The other networks did not immediately return requests for comment.

When John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment, acknowledged the "large scale" attacks on Twitter, he came under fire as well. Knowing that Smedley was on a flight from the Dallas area to San Diego, the hackers made a veiled threat about bombs on his plane.

"We have been receiving reports that @j_smedley's plane #362 from DFW to SAN has explosives on-board, please look into this," the group said to American Airlines on Twitter, pairing that with images of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

The plane was diverted to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

CNNMoney's cybersecurity Flipboard magazine: How safe are you?

The FBI later released this statement: "The flight landed without incident. Passengers were safely removed from the plane."

-- CNN's Evan Perez contributed to this report.

First Published: August 24, 2014: 10:03 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Is Burger King moving to Canada?

Burger King is in talks that could move the restaurant chain's headquarters to Canada.

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

The new company would be headquartered in Canada, the two firms said in a joint statement. Both Tim Hortons (THI) and Burger King (BKW) would continue to operate as standalone brands.

By moving north of the border, Burger King would be completing what is called an "inversion" -- a strategy that allows U.S. firms to lower their tax bills by merging with a foreign company, and then relocating to the new country.

Corporate tax rates are lower in Canada than the U.S., which has the highest tax rate among developed economies.

In the case of Miami-based Burger King and Tim Hortons, the combined company would be the world's third largest fast food chain, generating $22 billion in sales at more than 18,000 restaurants in 100 countries worldwide.

Related: 7 things you absolutely must know about corporate taxes

In the past decade, at least 47 U.S. companies have used the inversion process. Several inversions have been proposed this year and more are in the works.

One major inversion deal was announced in July, when Chicago-based AbbVie agreed to a $54.7 billion merger with Britain's Shire, slashing AbbVie's effective tax rate to about 13% by 2016 from 26%.

Drugmaker Mylan also announced last month that it would buy a Netherlands-based unit of Abbott Laboratories in a deal designed to let it incorporate abroad.

Related: 8 of the world's craziest fast food items

The flurry of deals has attracted the attention of Washington, and the White House has called on companies to practice "economic patriotism."

"They're declaring they're based someplace else even though most of their operations are here. .. My attitude is I don't care if it's legal -- it's wrong," President Obama said in July.

First Published: August 24, 2014: 11:18 PM ET

15.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Coolest Kickstarter tops $9 million

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

More than 46,000 people think so. The Coolest Cooler has raised over $9.2 million on Kickstarter -- and it still has a week to go.

It's described as a "portable party" and includes features like a blender, waterproof bluetooth speaker, USB charger, cutting board and bottle opener.

It's the second highest grossing campaign ever, ranking just behind the Pebble (the smartwatch that raised a record $10 million in 2012).

"There's a point where products derive much more attention than any rational expectation would suggest," said Jason Greenberg, PhD and assistant professor at New York University's business school, "In a market where potato salad can raise $55,000, it's not that surprising."

What's more surprising is that this isn't Coolest's first time around the Kickstarter block.

Related: The 13 most WTF gadgets

Ryan Grepper of Portland, Ore., unsuccessfully tried to raise $125,000 for similar model of The Coolest In November 2013. He only raised about $100,000.

On Kickstarter, Grepper detailed the biggest changes this time around: Seasonality (July vs. November), more supporters and an improved design.

It's certainly worked -- but are the millions any indication of how it'll fare post-crowdfunding?

They could be.

"We've seen more and more angels and investors using [Kickstarter] as a minor league in terms of [gauging] customer demands," said Greenberg.

Related: Water balloon lovers pledge $645,000 on Kickstarter

According to PrivCo, a financial data provider on privately-held companies, U.S. cooler sales totaled $635 million in 2013.

Igloo Products Corp "dominates" the market, according to Matt Turlip, senior analyst at PrivCo. The company, which was acquired by VC firm J.H. Whitney & Co. earlier this year, owns 53% of the full-size cooler market.

"Maybe in a year or two, with $9 million in funding, The Coolest can hope to compete," said Turlip.

Those who pledged enough for the cooler ($165 or more) will have to wait until February 2015 to get the product (which will come in Margarita, Blue Moon and Coolest Orange).

But they will have saved a cool $130 -- it'll retail for $299.

First Published: August 22, 2014: 5:22 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

10 Western companies getting slammed in Russia

LONDON (CNNMoney)

Many are reporting slower Russian sales and, in some cases, store closures as the Ukraine-Russia conflict drags on. Some have seen their share price get pummeled since the start of the year.

Cold War-style tensions and escalating sanctions are slamming these companies, as American and European leaders blame Russian President Vladimir Putin for the unfolding crisis and violence in Ukraine.

Here are 10 of the highest profile, worst hit companies:

1.McDonald's: Russian officials and regulators have been cracking down on the restaurant chain. Officials shut a handful of popular McDonald's (MCD) restaurants in Moscow this week, and state media report that Russia's consumer watchdog will be conducting checks on outlets as part of a food standards investigation.

Meanwhile, Wendy's (WEN) was recently forced to exit Russia due to what it said was a change in management at its local partner Wenrus. Wendy's had been in Russia since 2011.

2. Coca-Cola: The drinks giant said this week that quarterly sales declined by about 5% in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Coca-Cola (KO) blamed "economic instability in the region," but global sales increased by 3%.

3. Carlsberg: The Danish brewer warned this week its annual results will be weaker than expected, as Russian demand dries up. Carlsberg (CABGY) estimated that industry-wide Russian beer sales fell by as much as 7% in the first six months of 2014 due an uncertain economic environment, leading it to also lose market share. Carlsberg beer is the most popular beer in Russia by a wide margin. The company's stock has fallen 15% since the start of the year.

4. Adidas: In late July, the German sportswear company announced it was shutting stores and scaling back expansion plans in Russia. It said that "tensions in the region" had hurt consumer spending, and that the decline in the Russian ruble hurt profitability. Adidas (ADDYY) slashed its 2014 earnings forecast by 20% to 30%, partly because of Russia. Shares have plunged 37% since the start of 2014.

5. Volkswagen: The German automaker blamed an 8% drop in its Russia car sales during the first six months of the year on political tensions, and it said it believes i sales industry wide fell about 25% in July. Volkswagen (VLKAY) shares are down 13% since the start of the year.

6. Ford: A weakening ruble and slower sales in Russia have hurt Ford's (F) bottom line.

7. Renault: The French car maker has warned investors about a sharp slowdown in Russia and other emerging markets. Russia is Renault's (RNSDF) third largest market in terms of sales.

8. BP: The British oil giant BP (BP) owns a large stake in Rosneft, Russia's biggest oil company, and warned that unit will suffer from tougher U.S. sanctions. Investors are also worried about other energy companies, including Total (TOT) and Exxon Mobil (XOM), which have significant ties with Russia.

9. Societe Generale: Profits at the French bank's Russian unit fell 36% in the second quarter.

10. Danone: The French food multinational said first-half results were hurt by a decline in the ruble, and that it was forced to hike prices for some products in Russia due to strong inflation.

-- CNN's Olga Pavlova contributed to this report.

First Published: August 23, 2014: 10:12 AM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Glenn Beck sought out CNN deal, but talks died fast

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

But the idea fizzled fast and talks aren't expected to resume, according to several people with direct knowledge of the exchange. "The talks were never serious," one of the people said.

Still, Beck's interest -- first reported Friday night by the Wall Street Journal -- is a sign that he is seeking partnerships to help his two-year-old cable channel, called The Blaze.

The Blaze has had a hard time gaining distribution on cable and satellite systems. It is not alone: Many fledgling channels are in similar positions, particularly channels that are not backed by major media companies.

Time Warner (TWX), owner of CNNMoney and CNN, is one of those major media companies. It also owns HBO, TNT, TBS, and other channels, so it has significant leverage in negotiations with distributors like Comcast (CMCSA) and DirecTV (DTV).

That's one of the reasons why Beck's representatives from his media company, Mercury Radio Arts, reached out.

One of the sources compared the proposal to the joint venture between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications for the channel that became OWN. Discovery provided the shelf space on cable systems and Winfrey provided the bulk of the programming for that channel.

Related: Future of media

Another source said Beck's company proposed that it buy a block of time on HLN, a smaller television sibling of CNN. That would have been a homecoming of sorts for Beck, who hosted a nightly show on HLN from 2006 to 2008. But CNN signaled that it was not interested.

The contact from Mercury Radio Arts came after media reports about talks between Time Warner and Vice Media. Those talks, first reported in late June, have also involved HLN. They are believed to be ongoing, though neither of the companies have commented publicly.

Spokespeople for Beck and CNN declined to comment.

When I interviewed Beck for CNN's "Reliable Sources" last month at his headquarters in Irving, Texas, he acknowledged the challenges that independent channel owners face. At the time, I didn't know about his company's outreach to CNN, and he didn't mention any possible partnerships with major media companies.

Related: Glenn Beck's challenge: Getting into your TV

But he spoke at length about his interest in making sure Mercury Radio Arts reaches audiences through television, radio, the Internet, in-person events, and other means.

"I am interested in delivering an experience for people," he said. "And I want to be in every -- in every possible venue."

Beck's channel is arguably the biggest opportunity he has. It originated on the Internet and was picked up by the country's second-biggest satellite television provider, Dish Network (DISH), in 2012. At the time, that was a big coup for Beck.

Since then, The Blaze has struck distribution deals with about 70 smaller TV providers. But the industry is top-heavy, and only two of the ten biggest providers, Dish and Cablevision (CVC), have supported The Blaze so far.

Beck's representatives have declined to say how many of the country's 100 million homes with pay-TV currently have access to The Blaze, which helps to explain his apparent interest in partnerships.

First Published: August 23, 2014: 8:17 PM ET

17.42 | 0 komentar | Read More