Deutsche Telekom is in preliminary talks to sell T-Mobile to Sprint, a deal that would remake the mobile landscape.

Facebook introduces movie streaming and rentals with Warner Bros., sending Netflix stock down; and launches real-time analytics for social plug-ins.

BP plans $3.5 billion bond sale as CEO apologizes for Gulf Spill and says industry must take more precautions.

Airbus receives $9.5 billion order for 100 jets.

American Apparel head Dov Charney's latest scandal: a $250 million employee lawsuit alleging sexual assault.

Bill Gates is unlikely to reclaim the world's richest title tomorrow, due to philanthropic contributions.

Bupa launches integrated marketing campaign and new tagline.

Coca-Cola invests in green bottling facility in UK.Continue reading...

The centennial of Ronald Reagan’s birth on February 6 will make this a memorable Super Bowl for fans of the Gipper.

What would have been his 100th birthday has sparked a media frenzy. It's being celebrated, of course, by the Ronald Reagan Library and Foundation; predictably by Fox News; civically by GE, which has a long history with Reagan and is funding scholarships with the Reagan Foundation; opportunistically by HBO and other networks; and broadly by the millions of Americans who remember him fondly as (depending on their politics) perhaps the greatest president of their generation. Even the Super Bowl telecast will make room for a Reagan tribute, above.

But leave it to TIME magazine to commemorate Reagan with a jaw-dropper.Continue reading...

TV check-ins, aka social TV, is the newest form of online engagement. As easy as changing channels via your remote, it’s steadily growing and predicted to be a break-out trend of 2011.

Brands emerging in the space include GetGlue, Philo and Miso. So far, according to a recent analysis by Clickz, GetGlue is the one to beat.Continue reading...

They play in the smallest market in professional sports, a town of about 100,000 people, and they’re technically a not-for-profit enterprise that is actually owned by the local American Legion post – not by some egomaniacal entrepreneur.

Their colors are a combination of hunter green and mellow yellow that remains anathema to fashionistas. The last time they won the Super Bowl was 1997. And they’re the team that gave Brett Favre his walking papers — the first time. 

But make no mistake about it: The powers that be in the National Football League, and the many brands that advertise during its games, are happy as can be that the Green Bay Packers are one of the four teams remaining this weekend with a chance to make it to Super Bowl XLV.Continue reading...

In year-end sales figures released today, US automakers post gains (first since the recession) as Toyota lags and Ford moves to second place behind GM. Lexus held off Mercedes-Benz and BMW to hang onto the top US luxury auto brand.

Apple's iPad is being embraced by the educational market for in-school use.

BitTorrent has more users than Netflix and Hulu combined.

BMW's electric hybrid sets $200K price point.

Consumer Reports sees packaging shrinking on US grocers' shelves.

GE unloads $6B worth of debt.Continue reading...

Google and Microsoft join President Obama's fight on $75 billion illegal drug e-market, as Obama meets with Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to discuss bolstering the US economy.

WikiLeaks leader Julian Assange granted bail (but Sweden vetoes) as supporters pay $360,000 for New York Times ad.

Audi and Mercedes-Benz lead automaker push to go social for 2011 Super Bowl.

Best Buy share price plunges on lowered forecast, despite brighter November for US retail sales.

Brett Favre draws criticism for trying to profit from end of winning streak.

CNBC launches subscription CNBC Pro, "for the serious investor."Continue reading...

Canadian Club whisky, or “C.C.” in common parlance, long ago hit skid row. Once a top-shelf liquor choice but long since fallen on hard times, the brand is refreshing its image by turning back the clock. As a major marketing partner of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, C.C. is claiming a piece of the show’s Prohibition-era glamour for itself.
 
On the show, Canadian Club is the imported liquor of choice, generously product-placed (and heartily imbibed) in the sordid but dazzling crime world of Atlantic City in the early ‘20s. But the deal doesn’t just play out onscreen. You may have noticed real-world liquor stores and wine shops decked out with signage for the show, and several major cities have hosted speakeasy-themed special events to tout the partnership of Boardwalk Empire and C.C.

There’s no doubt that the lure of the forbidden adds a spark to any experience. This is part of the magic of the Prohibition-era setting, when alcohol was sipped surreptitiously. Like many a taboo, this association could add a shot of sparkle to the C.C. brand. Chase it down with the sexy sepia glow of nostalgia for added luster. Now considered a well whiskey rather than a gentleman’s choice, C.C  was both more popular and a classier selection in the ’20s. By associating today’s C.C. with the brand’s glory days, it could climb back towards the top.Continue reading...

Google TV announced its programming partners, including TV networks HBO and CNBC (but not, notably, ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC) and Web players including Twitter. Google also launched a microsite to highlight the new offering.

In addition to the Google TV partnership and formally launching promoted tweets today, Twitter CEO Evan Williams announced he's stepping down from the top spot to focus on product strategy. As expected, COO Dick Costolo is moving up to the CEO's role.

The U.S. Justice Department sues American Express (Visa and MasterCard settled) for alleged anti-competitive practices that prevent merchants from offering discounts and raise prices for consumers.

Cisco exec Tony Bates is the new CEO of Skype, which is reportedly in integration talks with Facebook.Continue reading...