Green Bay Packers defend title to win NFL kickoff game, while Bud Light kicks in as NFL sponsor, and Coors Light debuts new campaign.

President Obama presents $447 billion jobs stimulus plan to tough audience.

American Apparel search for plus-size models backfires.

Aquascutum among brands finding new life in China.

Bank of America could shed up to 40,000 jobs.

Facebook complaints can't get an employee fired, judge rules while site adds five languages.

John Galliano  found guilty in anti-racism case.

Glenn Beck launches web TV network.

Google details electricity usage.Continue reading...

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.

It’s nothing new in the old boy’s network, the recycling of executives at the very top, and now it’s a growing fact for women at the apex of their careers, as evidenced by Christina Norman’s new role as Executive Editor of HuffPost BlackVoices, the former AOL portal that has migrated to its own channel this week on the Huffington Post with Norman's arrival.

She's a big hire for Arianna Huffington, who's been aggressively ramping up since joining forces with AOL, and perhaps an indication of a missed opportunity in OWN's business plan — to think multiplatform and digital, not just TV — for Winfrey.Continue reading...

Rosie O'Donnell’s recent appearance in LA at the Television Critics Association U.S. TV networks' fall presentations was a big win for the comedian, and for OWN founder Oprah Winfrey.

"It's a huge, huge stamp of approval. It's almost like being knighted, to have her say she wanted me to do this for her," said O’Donnell in reference to her new boss. "I still get nervous when I get her phone calls." It’s a mutual admiration society, said Winfrey, who commented, "She could have gone to any of the big broadcast networks. But she chose to take her talent to OWN."

The Rosie Show, O'Donnell's new talk show on OWN, will revamp her old talk show for the average woman entering her fifties, inviting one guest per show to address news-driven subjects. What it will not be: a vehicle for stars to promote a project.Continue reading...

Oprah is finally taking OWNership of her fledgling TV channel.

The Oprah Winfrey Network (aka OWN) announced today that its namesake founder is stepping up to CEO and chief creative officer, effective this fall, in addition to her current role as chairman.

Erik Logan and Sheri Salata, current presidents of Harpo Studios, the television arm of Winfrey's Harpo Productions, will assume co- presidency of OWN, effective immediately, in a clear signal that Harpo will now focus all production on OWN, while Winfrey will now focus her energies on the Discovery-backed cable channel.

"I am ready to dedicate my full creative energy and focus as the full time CEO of OWN," said Winfrey. "By aligning the mission, talent and leadership of Erik, Sheri, the OWN team, the Harpo team, along with expertise of (Discovery Communications CEO) David Zaslav, Peter (Liguori, OWN's interim CEO) and all of Discovery behind us, we can unleash the full potential of the network."Continue reading...

Albertsons decides to keep self-checkout lanes.

Amazon seeks ballot measure to undo California tax.

Arm & Hammer woos cat-lovers.

BlackBerry owner RIM announces seven new smartphones, courts carriers feeling threatened by Apple and Google.

BMW cranks up its profit forecast.

Campbell takes new course as new CEO outlines strategy.

Carrefour sees its acquisition deal in Brazil fizzle.Continue reading...

Now that she has more time, Oprah Winfrey has taped a new promo for co-OWNer Discovery touting its original programming and OWN HD. Winfrey, who will be honored at the upcoming Daytime Emmys, will have a Chicago street named after her (when the paperwork's filed). She's also being credited for boosting travel to Australia with her Down Under specials earlier this year.

Fresh from a rare interview as one of Oprah Winfrey's last guests and seeing First Lady Michelle Obama dazzle this week in one of his couture designs, American fashion icon Ralph Lauren is in the spotlight this week.

His Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. may have had its net income decline almost 36%, bringing in “only” $73.2 million, in the fourth quarter that ended April 2nd (prompting at least one analyst to issue a 'buy' recommendation for its stock), but that isn’t stopping the company from investing a cool $1 billion to expand its global retail operation, according to Women’s Wear Daily.

Roger Farah, president and COO of Polo Ralph Lauren, told WWD that in the next fiscal year, $325 million of that would be laid out, with 70% of the cash would go to “growing the company’s store base internationally, particularly in Europe and through concession shops in China and Hong Kong.” But Polo won’t be just throwing money new retail locations.Continue reading...