Disney and NFL renew Monday Night Football on ESPN with eight-year contract extension on eve of regular season kickoff, while Indianopolis Colts fans mourn news that Peyton Manning has been sidelined "indefinitely" following surgery.

Yahoo rumor mill heats up: is Jerry Yang trying to buy it back?

Google releases Google Music app for iPad and iPhone.

Intel invests in startups.

P&G develops restructuring plan and hears from Oprah Winfrey.

Solyndra employees file class action suit as bankrupt company faces inquiry.

Twitter passes 100 million active monthly users, confirms CEO Dick Costolo.

Volkswagen ferries shoppers hitting Fashion's Night Out in New York.

Industries, businesses and governments up and down the Eastern seaboard are still toting up the economic damages created by Hurricane Irene, which included a deep impact on weekend movie box office numbers.

Amazon spends millions to fight Internet sales tax.

Chipotle tops limited-service restaurants among Gen Y, survey says.

Clean Energy Fuels draws investment as natural-gas automotive market heats up.

ESPN officially launches the Longhorn Network.

Kellogg targets dads in new ads for Frosted Flakes.

Kia brings back hamsters for new Soul campaign.

LivingSocial gets used to life in the fast lane.

Mentos produces app to help "improve friends."Continue reading...

In just his third year in the NFL, defensive star Clay Matthews III already has a Super Bowl championship with the Green Bay Packers. Everything is looking up for Matthews, including his endorsement appearances.

Matthews is currently starring in a Nike Football commercial where the 25 year old "blows it up," a reference to how his on-field penetration often wrecks the opposition's developing play. This is a step up for Matthews whose endorsement opportunities until until now have not been…  marquee. Continue reading...

Buddy Media, the WPP-backed Facebook management system, is taking on Europe and opening a headquarters in London. A $54 million raise (Series D funding) is fueling a seemingly indefatigable global expansion as the company continues to dominate the social media enterprise software space.

A new group of late-stage investors, including Insight Venture Partners, joined current Buddy Media investors GGV Capital, Institutional Venture Partners and Bay Partners.

Buddy Media serves eight of the world’s top ten global advertisers including Nivea, Bacardi, All Saints, Vodafone and Mercedes Benz. In 2011, the company added 165-plus new customers, including Kraft Foods, Hanes, ESPN, Ford Motor Company and Virgin Mobile USA.Continue reading...

When the television network Versus becomes the NBC Sports Network in 2012, it now has a brand new batch of content to share with its viewers.

NBC and Major League Soccer have just made a deal that has the NBC and its new cable network broadcasting 45 games over the next three seasons as well as four men’s national-team games, according to the New York Times. The contract will end when 2014 games have been completed.Continue reading...

Apple edges past Exxon to become the biggest public company in the world (while AOL has a bad day); and stops Samsung's Galaxy Tab in Europe with legal ruling.

Barney's NY hires former French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld as model and consultant.

Disney profits from sales of Cars 2 and Marvel merchandise, and ESPN revenues.

Facebook rolls out mobile Messenger feature.

Ford manages expectations of eager Focus electric car buyers.

Hero MotorCorp unveils brand identity.

J&J reaches agreement with U.S. on Risperdal charge.Continue reading...

You’ve already got your Mineral Water Bowl, your Beef ‘O’ Brady Bowl, your Little Caesar’s Bowl, Chick-Fil-A Bowl, and Outback Bowl. 

This just in: News comes from Idaho Press Tribune that the Idaho Potato Commission has signed a six-year naming-rights deal that will have two college football teams squaring off in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Finally, vegetables will get a representative at the smorgasbord known as college bowl games.Continue reading...

AT&T challenges ESPN on 3DTV claims.

Audi signs on as Emmys sponsor.

Budweiser rebrands its can.

Burger King, Wendy's, Subway, Taco Bell, Carl's Jr. lead US fast food brands expanding in Russia.

Coca-Cola tests "FaceLook" facial recognition Facebook app in Israel.

Dunkin' Brands quarterly profits slip.

Facebook marketing director (and sister-of-Mark) Randi Zuckerberg quits to launch a start-up.

Google accuses Apple, Oracle and Microsoft of "patent bullying."Continue reading...