There was a subtle but significant tinge to Fox News’s lineup of moderators for the big debate of Republican presidential contenders last week: Bret Baier, Chris Wallace and Megyn Kelly don’t hail from the network’s robust lineup of red-meat, all-American conservatives.

Apparently that casting was part of a larger “course correction” Fox News has been undertaking as the nation moves heavily into 2012 campaign mode. Fox News head Roger Ailes has “quietly adopted” a bit of a tack toward the center recently, according to media reporter Howard Kurtz in The Daily Beast – a move that also has included parting ways with bomb-thrower Glenn Beck and paying less attention to the Tea Party movement.Continue reading...

If you're BMW and Mercedes-Benz, you're taking lots of sideways glances at the other brand these days, because the German luxury leaders are locked in a tight competition for the crown of best-selling upscale brand in the U.S. market for 2011. A flurry of new-product introductions by each brand during the last few months of the year promises to make the finish even more exciting than the start.

But another place their brand executives are looking is the rear-view mirror. That's where they'll find Lexus, last year's segment champ in the last of a long string of annual victories. And while the Toyota luxury marque most likely won't be able to make up sales of the tens of thousands of extra units in the United States that it would take to pull off a stunning, come-from-behind victory in the second-half and nip Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Lexus is definitely making German executives nervous again at the Frankfurt Auto Show this week.Continue reading...

Yahoo stock rises after CEO ouster, as site explores options (though Jerry Yang says it's not for sale).

Saab files for bankruptcy protection — again.

Facebook doubles first-half revenue; adds high-profile Democrat to board; accused of violating click-fraud standards.

Apple earnings forecast raised 10%.

Best Buy launches online mall with other e-tailers.

ConAgra blogger backlash at NYC event shouldn't have come as a surprise.Continue reading...

Accenture drives social business adoption through gamification.

Amazon battles U.S. states over taxes.

Bally expands to India.

Banco Popular expands rebranding to Popular Inc.

Canada sees online ad revenue exceed print for the first time.

Cargill recalls 36 million pounds of turkey products.

CNN finds host Piers Morgan coming under parliamentary pressure and accusations by Heather Mills over hacking.

Coca-Cola joins brands testing cloud-based in-text social advertising.

comScore acquires analytics firm AdXpose.

Dunkin' Donuts rolls out Keurig single-serve cups, with Starbucks to follow.Continue reading...

Amazon tests new Kindle subscription model on science fiction fans.

Ann Taylor features Demi Moore in fall campaign.

Apple could double market share with iPhone 5, says analyst.

Blockbuster begs customers for a second chance.

Dish Network aims to compete with Netflix.

Disney partners with Chiquita and Fresh Express.

Facebook acquires iPad book publishing app; and sees landmark California privacy ruling.Continue reading...

While nowhere near as shocking as News Corp.'s surprise closure of News of the World, across the Atlantic CNN delivered its own shocker this week. Eliot Spitzer is out as CNN replaces his nine-month old In the Arena roundtable program that followed the demise of Parker Spitzer, and faithful Anderson Cooper regains his flagship positioning with Anderson Cooper 360 moving to 8 p.m. ET starting August 8th.

Spitzer's ouster isn't the only news. Additional changes to the CNN schedule include the shifting, in late September, for The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer from 5-7 p.m. to a late afternoon 4-6 p.m. slot; John King’s show will move to 6 p.m.; while Erin Burnett, recently hired from CNBC, will assume the 7 p.m. slot as the lead-in to Cooper.

The only prime-time show unaffected is Piers Morgan Tonight, the 9 p.m. interview show introduced six months ago to replace Larry King.Continue reading...

Airbus is poised to dominate Paris Air Show this week as rival Boeing decides whether to revamp or replace the 737.

Current TV sets its sights on MSNBC with Keith Olbermann and new branding.

Disney fuels product-placement formula with Cars 2.

Dollar General builds post-recession momentum.

Facebook becomes new king of display-ad revenue.

Ford launches showroom for PlayStation users and plans to buff up Lincoln brand.

Jack in the Box changes menu to promote high-margin items.Continue reading...

Keith Olbermann makes his television comeback next week (on June 20) on Al Gore’s still nascent Current TV. Since launching in 2005 as a quasi public affairs cable network focused on user-generated content (including ads), Current has struggled to find a brand presence in the crowded TV universe, let alone stay current.

Now, the network is making a big-ticket bet that the outspoken Olbermann can draw an audience, lend more authority and news chops, and become the cornerstone of a sharper focus on hardhitting political commentary and news — a crucial repositioning as 2012 election coverage starts to gear up.Continue reading...