Charlie Ergen's Dish Network offers to buy Sprint for $25.5 billion in a bid to one up SoftBank.

ConAgra, Heinz and Nestle lead frozen food battle to reverse negative image.

Nike seeks to regain its edge with fewer ads following Tiger Woods stumble.

Dannon uses Greek-style to leapfrog Yoplait to top of U.S. yogurt business.

Apple clearly enters post-Jobs era.

Justin Bieber sparks controversy with Anne Frank comment.

Boeing sees new inspection order on its 737s.Continue reading...

Pepsi took YouTube by storm last month according to Google’s YouTube Ads leaderboard. The brand is benefitting from its latest viral branded content hit "Test Drive", which has over 33 million views. 

The video, which is the brand's second attempt on a spoof video, garnered more plays than any of 2012's leaderboard ads, earning 13 million more views than 2012's top performer, Nike's "My Time Is Now."

Samsung made the chart twice in March with its Galaxy S4 launch, while newcomers EA Sports, Adidas, ConAgra, ESPN, Doritos and the Anti-Defamation League’s "Imagine a World Without Hate" video, (the first non-profit to be so feted) all made it as well.Continue reading...

Arthur Frommer buys back travel book brand from Google, which acquired it with big plans last August.

Facebook readies for rumored phone event today.

Apple's futuristic campus project runs late and $2 billion overbudget.

BlackBerry turns mobile website into "test drive" of new Z10 phone, kills off BBM music service.

CVS and Rite-Aid target allergy season.

ConAgra boosts ad spending as commodity costs drop.

Detroit Electric launches Tesla rival.Continue reading...

ConAgra Foods has finally bagged its long-sought corporate prey, announcing today its agreement to acquire Ralcorp Holdings for about $5 billion.

The companies' union — which ConAgra CEO Gary Rodkin has been trying to consummate for 20 months — will create one of the largest packaged-food companies in North America, with total combined sales of about $18 billion.

But more important, it expands ConAgra's penetration in the growing private-label market at the same time that it offers more hope for retail growth by ConAgra brands — including Chef Boyardee, Hunt's, Healthy Choice, Orville Redenbacher's and Banquet — that, while well known, tend to be second- and third-tier marques. As ConAgra's FAQ on the deal notes,

The acquisition of Ralcorp will add to ConAgra Foods’ existing $950 million private label business to create the largest private label business in North America, with approximately $4.5 billion in combined private label sales, and a strong platform for sustainable, profitable growth over the long term. The two companies’ portfolios are a complementary fit, with very little overlap in terms of offerings. Ralcorp’s leading private label offerings include cereal, pasta, crackers, jellies and jams, syrups, frozen waffles, and more.Continue reading...

Aston Martin draws bids.

ConAgra to buy Ralcorp in huge packaged-foods deal.

Nintendo sells out Wii U in first week in US.

Adidas features celebs including Snoop Lion, other celebrities in Ebenezer Scrooge holiday campaign.

Airbus jabs Boeing with "Pinocchio nose" in ad campaign.

Barnes & Noble updates holiday wish lists via Nook campaign.

Bombardier signs largest-ever deal, with VistaJet.

Ericsson files patent claim against Samsung.

Mario Batali expands restaurant empire to Boston.Continue reading...

GM has new CMO tout Chevy relationship with Manchester United, after changing the terms, as pundits make recommendations on GM's way forward.

Chick-fil-A brand perception drops in wake of LGBT controversy.

Anheuser-Busch InBev sees North American drag on results.

Apple gets knocked for new "Genius Bar" Mac TV campaign as company mulls uses for corporate cash hoard.

BP posts weak earnings.

Chobani celebrates success that led to Team USA sponsorship.

Chrysler earnings leap on U.S. gains.Continue reading...

McDonald's UK will introduce Mad Men-inspired uniforms at London 2012 Olympics venue.

Kia Soul scores in J.D. Power auto quality study while Lexus repeats as #1 overall and Ford and Chrysler slip in key automotive rankings.

Starbucks to open first tea-only store under Tazo brand.

Facebook Credits system is being phased out for new payment platform, while IPO attracts Capitol Hill inquiry, "like" button migrates to third-party mobile apps, and unique visitors drop.

Apple fined in Australia for misleading iPad advertising.

BlackBerry-maker RIM downsizes workforce.

Cabot to buy Norit for $1.1 billion.

Cannes Lions announces winners for creative effectiveness, media, mobile and outdoor.Continue reading...

Altria launches tobacco rights website.

Apple sees its devices dominate mobile ordering as brand plans books announcement and sets Red Friday sales event for Asia.

Avery Dennison sells office and consumer products business to 3M.

Axe woos young males with interactive comic book.

Bentley plans luxury SUV.

BMW sees 2012 premium growth.

BP sues Halliburton over Gulf spill, includes anti-BP protesters in new ad.

Bridgestone kicks off Super Bowl campaign at NHL Winter Classic.

Brisk ties into Star Wars 3D theatrical launch with mobile campaign.

Cadbury adopts vertical shelf-ready packaging.Continue reading...