Fox maintains top ad rates for American Idol even without Simon Cowell, as News Corp.-Cablevision stand-off saw 3 million NYC area homes lose the channel over a big weekend for football fans.

Apple is turning more attention to the corporate market.

Barclay Capital foresees modest bump in U.S. holiday sales.

Chevron incorporates anti-oil industry sentiment in new ads.

Chrysler expands as other U.S. automakers cut brands.

Citigroup reports $2.2-billion third-quarter profit.Continue reading...

Best Buy leads electronics retailers in adjusting holiday-stocking strategy to load up on hand-held gadgets this year.

Bob Evans challenged by activists from PETA and other groups who question them about “electrical stunning” to kill poultry.

China Air joins SkyTeam global alliance of airlines.

Chrysler shows off new products to dealers gathered in Atlanta.

Chuck E. Cheese recalls battery-operated kids' toys.Continue reading...

* HP sued former CEO Mark Hurd after Oracle hired him. GigaOm's Mathew Ingram notes why: non-competes are unenforceable in California, but protection of trade secrets is allowed.

* AOL hopes new partnership with Ellen DeGeneres will drive traffic across its network of sites.

* Google TV will launch this year, confirms CEO Eric Schmidt, while today's discombobulated logo baffles Web searchers.

* GM's OnStar is offering free services to combat Ford's Sync system.

* Amazon is pushing manufacturers to make their packages easier to open, hoping to reduce consumer "wrap rage."

* BP pins hopes on "Future BP" positioning.Continue reading...

* Amazon is preparing a subscription service to deliver movies and TV shows online.

* AOL is acquiring Rally Up, a location-based social networking service.

* Apple is expected to unveil a souped up Apple TV with Netflix streaming today.

* Blockbuster tests new “early-delivery” marketing strategy as it tries to stave off bankruptcy.

* BP is selling its Malaysian assets to Petronas.

* Burger King talks about a possible sale.Continue reading...

According to The Wall Street Journal, Goldman Sachs "is telling employees that they will no longer be able to get away with profanity in electronic messages." For those WSJ readers under 65, "electronic messages" means "email." But wait! There's more!Continue reading...

Interbrand CEO Jez Frampton addressed today's BP developments from a branding perspective with Bloomberg TV, which also spoke to BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg about the company's outlook. In non-BP brand news this morning:

Apple's latest challenge: a federal ruling supporting opening to apps and permitting “jailbreaking” of its devices.

Citigroup discloses a security flaw in its mobile-banking application for the iPhone – and a fix.

Coca-Cola brings back British DJ Calvin Harris ad in music-related promotion.Continue reading...

BP halts plan to seal new cap as more testing is required. 

CNN is thisclose to signing Piers Morgan to replace Larry King.

Comcast wins E.U. approval for NBC Universal deal.

Apple shares dip on iPhone 4 recall uncertainty.

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia get E.U. approval for alliance.Continue reading...

“Something is happening and it affects us all. A global revolution is changing business, and business is changing the world."

Those words were in the "Letter from the Editors" in the premiere issue of Fast Company, in November 1995. The magazine has been keeping us abreast of business evolution, creative individuals and best market practices ever since.

Its new 100 Most Creative People is worth checking out to see its list of the top innovators of 2010, particularly the top five. #1 was also recognized in another magazine's list of the globe's top influencers, the Time 100, as the world's role model and biggest celebrity brand; the next four FC help shape brands, technology and public debate.

Five years ago, a 19 year-old Stefani Germanotta was waitressing and singing in New York clubs. Now 24 and globally known as Lady Gaga, her brand encompasses music (with 10 million-plus albums sold), video (1 billion-plus Web views just on YouTube), design collaborations (Monster headphones, Polaroid cameras), and marketing (HP, MAC Cosmetics, which Gaga promoted with Cyndi Lauper earlier this year, above).Continue reading...