2016 stuns by tapping into anti-Obama sentiment at weekend box office.

ABC seems to be tanking Nightline to make room for Jimmy Kimmel's move.

Apple cements its industry dominance with court victory over Samsung as verdict affirms the value of product-design innovation and raises questions about future of smartphone market.

CNN looks for a boost from HBO shows.

Carrefour needs turnaround plan.

CarMax plans next-generation outlet and entry into smaller markets.

Crain overhauls Advertising Age for digital world.

Facebook wants to redefine how reach is measured.

Ford vows to fix problems with MyFord Touch. Continue reading...

Amazon looms as nemesis of book publishers, as children's book publisher pulls its titles.

Apple denies designer Philippe Starck's claim of 'revolutionary' device.

Arby's makes social media blunder over Rush Limbaugh advertising.

Archie comics legal battle heats up.

Audi may select its North American plant site this week, with Mexico the favorite, Automotive News says.

CBS emphasizes hard news to regain an edge.

Citigroup reports better-than-expected revenue growth.Continue reading...

Count the global automotive industry as another huge entity now shifting mightily in response to the deep economic woes of Europe. That's one main reason General Motors and PSA Peugeot Citroën today announced a partnership that will give GM a 7% stake in the French auto maker while it helps the two companies to cut costs by a targeted total of $2 billion over five years.

The tough European market also is why Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne now is talking a lot about finding yet another partner for the Italian automaker even after Fiat snatched up the carcass of Chrysler a few years ago. "We're on the move," Marchionne said. "We can be an active partner everywhere around the world."

The GM-Peugeot deal will involve sharing of vehicles' mechanical "platforms" and components and creation of a purchasing joint venture but won't affect their brands per se.Continue reading...

Just when it seemed that almost every Super Bowl ad already had been revealed or teased, brand marketers' buzz machines continue revving up. GM is promoting their Super Bowl XLVI spots on Chevy's YouTube channel — including talking insects on a Chevy Sonic and Volt-enchanted aliens, which you can watch below — with YouTube-only clips with Rainn Wilson encouraging fans to share, engage and vote for their favorite spots.Continue reading...

The huge pricetag for Super Bowl advertisements keeps all but the biggest and boldest brands away. But with inventiveness, other brands are finding ways to ride the Big Game zeitgeist without having to fork over Big Game prices.

Suzuki, for example, in the past has proven adept at skirting the expensive national spots in the Super Bowl in favor of a regional strategy, and the Japanese auto brand is doing the same thing this year — even bigger.

Instead of joining the cacophony of national car ads at $3.5 million a pop, Suzuki will focus its regional buy in 21 core cold-weather markets for ads to run in locally allocated slots during the game. Suzuki will highlight the all-wheel-drive version of its Kizashi sport sedan in a slush spot (titled "Sled") which you can watch below — along with Super Bowl 46 sneak peeks from Audi, Coca-Cola and Cars.com.Continue reading...

Apple's environmental impact concerns China.

AT&T has an 11th hour plan to salvage T-Mobile deal and win over reluctant FCC.

American Airlines parent AMR files for bankruptcy protection to restructure debt as talks with pilots end.

American Express launches $20-million giveaway to spur online sales.

BSkyB holds annual meeting as James Murdoch survives investor vote; singer Charlotte Church alleges coverage trade-off for singing at Rupert Murdoch's wedding; and The Guardian reports broadening of News Corp. hacking scandal to include a North Ireland government minister.

Chevrolet gives three-day Sonic test drives to Klout leaders.

Cyber Monday sales come in 15-20 percent higher than a year ago.

Facebook targets $10 billion IPO for spring that would value social network at $100B.

Groupon shares plummet post-IPO.Continue reading...

Major economies try to reassure investors with joint statement, but markets continue to swoon.

HP defends hasty hiring of Meg Whitman as CEO, as Whitman hits the ground running.

Chanel files sweeping Internet trademark suit in Nevada.

Boeing plans a celebration for long-delayed delivery of Dreamliner.

Alibaba gets major investment from abroad.

Apple opens fifth (and largest) China store, in Shanghai.

Borders name and IP sale to Barnes & Noble blocked by judge.Continue reading...

America and the world grieve and reflect on tenth anniversary of 9/11 on Sunday.

Amazon gets one-year sales-tax reprieve from California legislature; displaces Apple in brand loyalty survey; and may be working on a Netflix for books.

AOL and Yahoo struggle for identity.

AT&T revamps stores for tablet push.

Coca-Cola brings PlantBottle packaging to the UK.

Facebook, Skype and YouTube head "breakaway brands" report.Continue reading...