Apple prepares to announce Beatles/iTunes deal at 10am ET.

BHP Billiton will keep pursuing large acquisitions despite failed bid for Potash.

Buick, Delta, Disney, Diageo, and T-Mobile test Google Goggles brand marketing.

Chrysler redefines Dodge brand, sans Ram.

Discovery buys Animal Planet and Liv TV channels from BBC.

Droid lands a starring role in Gossip Girl.

Facebook roils rivalry with Google with new messaging system.Continue reading...

The Republican Party won big in Tuesday’s elections, capturing a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, neutralizing the Democratic Party in the U.S. Senate, seizing a handful of key governorships and state legislatures across the country and marking the ascendancy of the Tea Party. Among other industries, the shift has big implications for the branding and marketing community. 

AOL revenue drops 26% on slumping ad sales.

Apple's iPad dominated 95% of the market for tablet computers last quarter.

Bugatti launches Veyron model in India, priced at $3.6 million.

Chase partners with DreamWorks for Megamind 3D movie.

Discovery Communications notches huge gains in ad sales.Continue reading...

She may be on her OWN soon, but Oprah Winfrey's world is about to get a lot bigger.

Launching her 24/7 OWN: the Oprah Winfrey Network in a 50/50 partnership  between her Harpo Productions and Discovery Communications on January 1, the Winfrey-"curated" (as CEO Christina Norman told CNN) channel will debut in 80 million U.S. homes via cable and satellite, where it's replacing the Discovery Health Channel.

Initial bumps in development caused Discovery to increase funding to $189 million and Winfrey to increase her on-air appearances, including starring in Oprah's Next Chapter.Continue reading...

Cablevision maintains subscriber base in wake of Fox standoff.

Chrysler seeks bank loans before possible stock sale in 2011.

DirecTV drops Comcast's G4 channel in latest tussle between media giants.

Discovery and Oprah Winfrey reveal programming details for OWN, Winfrey's cable channel debuting Jan. 1st.

Disney merges TV distribution and home entertainment units.

Gallup pollsters expect the Republican brand to win big in U.S. elections today, while Google helps voters with voting locator.

GM terminates 500 dealers, over politicians’ objections.Continue reading...

American Girl prompts Disney and others to boost doll sizes.

Chili’s may make “2 for $20” promotional pricing permanent.

Comcast, on the verge of acquiring NBC Universal, reports dramatic loss in subscribers.

Economist Ideas Channel targets intelligentsia online.

Foursquare's kickback user incentives won't fly with the FTC.

FOX spat heats up as News Corp. rejects Cablevision’s offer and cable operator steers customers online for World Series.

General Motors tunes IPO price.Continue reading...

Apple's quarterly profits (up 70% on iPad and iPhone sales) put company in running to become largest U.S. public company, while CEO Steve Jobs casts a hex on rivals' tablets.

Bank of America will resume foreclosures.

British Airways dispute with Unite cabin crew union may be resolved soon.

Citigroup beats Wall Street projections, begins legal battle over EMI buyout.

Clearwire is bringing 4G to major U.S. cities with Sprint, Comcast and Time Warner.

Discovery Channel's Mythbusters lands a cameo from President Obama.

Domino's adds sound to online Pizza Tracker tool.

Facebook vows to keep applications from divulging users' personal information.Continue reading...

Apple patents "anti-sexting" technology.

EA taps Venus Williams as a brand ambassador.

GM admits that its new extended-range hybrid Volt isn’t always all-electrically driven.

Hasbro and Discovery debut the new Hub children’s TV network.

Honeywell takes the lead among U.S. corporations in political giving.

Intel sees signs of growing PC demand, and tries brand anonymity in some new products, for a change.

Jamba Juice announces major refranchising.Continue reading...

Alibaba develops China search engine with Microsoft as challenger to Baidu.

Apple is in talks to bring the iPhone to India, and will sell the iPad at Wal-Mart.

AT&T's U-verse TV is coming to Microsoft’s Xbox 360.

Bank of America and other mortgage lenders face lawsuits from up to 40 state attorneys general.

Beijing Auto hopes to reinvigorate brand with $2.7 billion marketing push, as China car sales cool down.

Blockbuster begins search for a new CEO.

Bloomberg LP plans a data service catering to U.S. government.

Bloomingdale's, Macy's, J.C. Penney and other retailers go beyond discounts (incl. BOGO) to compete.Continue reading...