Comcast and GE name Comcast COO Steve Burke as new CEO of NBC Universal, replacing Jeff Zucker after the NBCU sale to Comcast closes. 

Alberto Culver has been sold to Unilever for $3.7 billion in cash.

AIG will lose the US Treasury as a part-owner.

Apple's Ping music-based social network incorporates users' iTunes libraries.

Barnes & Noble ownership battle nears its climax.

BP pressured to restore reputation and stock price as new CEO Robert Dudley takes the reins on Friday.Continue reading...

Verizon Wireless readies tiered data pricing plans for 4G services.

Apple woos corporate world by introducing professional dictation software.

BMW will unveil EV scooter at Paris Motor Show.

HP's Slate tablet pops up in supposed demo on YouTube.

Pantene promotes healthy water in first cause-related marketing campaign.

Zara profits jump on Asian sales.

That Facebook movie? Critics are raving as The Social Network reviews roll in.Continue reading...

Ally Financial's legally iffy foreclosures may affect other US mortgage lenders.

Blockbuster nears bankruptcy filing.

Chrysler could add value to Fiat, European analysts say.

Conde Nast is bullish on revenue growth from digital apps.

Disney insider pleads guilty to leaking confidential information about the company’s earnings.

General Mills sees quarterly increase from organic and cereal products.

Google does some rare advertising – in Times Square.Continue reading...

Airstream pitches younger, creative affluents on RV-ing.

Apple is wooing publishers to develop iPad versions of their titles.

ARM, a British semiconductor firm, holds a command position in the crucial technology of low-power chips.

Barnes & Noble’s takeover struggle centers on e-books.

BP finally seals the well in the Gulf of Mexico, but the effects of the disaster will linger for years.

California Pizza Kitchen tests technology that allows patrons to pay their tabs from their tables.Continue reading...

What's going on with Hollywood's big award shows? First comes word that the Oscars may be moving to Monday nights after being tackled by the NFL. And now the Paley Awards are attempting to become the new Emmy awards for TV. The ... who?Continue reading...

* McDonald's promoted McDonald's UK president and CEO Steve Easterbrook to EVP, global chief brand officer, a new position that fills the hole in its senior management team created when former CMO Mary Dillon left in May to join U.S. Cellular. Jill McDonald, currently CMO for McDonald's in the UK and northern Europe, is being promoted to UK CEO.

* Dell put its first U.S. smartphone on sale today: the Aero, which costs $99 with a two-year AT&T contract and runs on Google's Android platform.

* Watch out, Netflix: Apple is rumored to be preparing a 99-cent TV show service.

* Facebook sues Teachbook, a social networking site for teachers, over use of -book in its name; deletes accounts purporting to be from North Korea; and bans marijuana-based advertising campaign.

* Microsoft is now handling all search requests for Yahoo in North America; the global rollout will take until 2012.Continue reading...

Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carrefours would be welcomed by shoppers in India, where such “multi-brand” foreign-owned retailers currently are restricted, a new study says. Meanwhile, in the U.S., Wal-Mart’s new president scrambles to reverse earlier decisions that hurt sales.

American Apparel's troubles increase after auditor quits and fashion retailer (which is relaunching as "preppy") receives subpoena.

Axe Music launch is promoted with "mystery concerts" across U.S., kicking off with Mary J. Blige in New York.

Burger King tests $12.99 “shareable” pizza burger at its Whopper Bar in New York.

CBS will air a companion series to last winter’s hit reality show, Undercover Boss.

EMI faces an uphill struggle despite a corporate restructuring of the U.K. music icon.Continue reading...

• "Old Spice Man" social marketing campaign results (such as 1.4 billion campaign impressions) are discussed in a video case study, above, by W+K.

• Gowalla's check-in API is released to third-party applications as Twitter prepares to share Promoted Tweets and Promoted Trends with third-party apps.

• Your Google Stories squares off vs. latest batch of users' Facebook stories.

• AT&T's U-verse app brings TV to subscribers' smartphones.

• Facebook's geolocation Foursquare-like feature is coming soon.

• Foot Locker Europe expands "cheeky" game on Facebook.

• Twitpic founder launches Heello, a social startup aimed at businesses and potential rival to HipChat, another B2B social enterprise play.

• Twitter-inspired CBS series starring William Shatner, #*! My Dad Says, is being boycotted by parents' watchdog.

• Watch Twitter's Rushmore-inspired recruitment video after the jump.Continue reading...