Top news
* DISH Network Corp. and Fox Corp. reached a multiyear carriage agreement, restoring access to Fox channels for DISH subscribers. Fox Corp.'s owned-and-operated local stations, FOX Sports 1 (US) and FOX Sports 2 were restored on DISH and Sling, while BTN (US), Fox Soccer Plus (US) and FOX Deportes (US) were restored on DISH.
* PayPal Holdings Inc. became the first company to withdraw from Facebook Inc.'s initiative to launch a digital coin, called Libra. Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. are also reportedly considering stepping back, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.
* Apple Inc. acquired IKinema Ltd., a U.K.-based developer of animation technology solutions for the gaming and related industries, for an undisclosed amount. IKinema changed its address to the same one used by the iPhone maker's unit Apple (UK) Ltd.
* Analysts weighed in on Microsoft Corp.'s latest effort to get back into the smartphone game with the Surface Duo, a portable, dual-screen device set to launch in late 2020. Although the Surface Duo's introduction video starts with a woman pulling the device out of her bag to receive a phone call, Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella and Chief Product Officer Panos Panay are adamant about avoiding the smartphone label.
Technology
* Alphabet Inc.'s Google LLC held talks to buy video-sharing startup Firework, which lets users share 30-second videos via a free smartphone app, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. Firework, which was valued at more than $100 million in a fundraising round earlier this year, could help Google challenge Beijing Byte Dance Technology Co. Ltd.'s video-sharing app TikTok.
* The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee asked Spotify Technology SA to provide information regarding its anti-competitive claims against Apple Inc., Reuters reports. The lawmakers approached Spotify as part of an investigation into claims that the iPhone-maker engaged in anti-competitive behavior to support its own apps, a source with knowledge of the matter said.
* Apple is offering free repair for iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus handsets that may not be turning on due to a failed component, Reuters reports. The tech giant said the issue affects certain serial numbers of devices manufactured between October 2018 and August 2019.
* European Union Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager is expected to order Broadcom Inc. to halt alleged anti-competitive practices, even before the conclusion of the European Commission's antitrust investigation into the company, London's Financial Times reported. The EU will use "interim measures" to stop the U.S. chipmaker from imposing terms on clients that bar them from buying chips from other companies, according to the report.
Film & TV
* Warner Bros' "Joker" jumped to the first spot with $93.5 million to top the domestic box office for the Oct. 4 weekend, followed by Universal's "Abominable" at No. 2 with $12.0 million and Focus Features LLC's "Downton Abbey" at the third spot with $8.0 million, according to Comscore Inc. STX Entertainment's "Hustlers" was at No. 4 with $6.3 million, while Warner Bros.' "IT Chapter Two" took the fifth spot with $5.4 million.
* Fox and Cox Communications Inc. agreed to a long-term renewal of their distribution agreement for FOX's portfolio of channels. The renewed distribution agreement also includes retransmission consent for the FOX Television Stations. The deal covers the distribution of the FOX Television Stations, FOX News Channel (US), FOX Business Network (US), FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, BTN and FOX Deportes.
* Charter Communications Inc. struck a retransmission consent deal with TEGNA Inc. that will keep its network affiliates available to Charter's customers, Charter confirmed in a tweet. The deal covers ABC (US), CBS (US), FOX (US), NBC (US) and other multi-cast channels.
Internet & Advertising
* Walt Disney Co. will not air Netflix Inc. ads across its TV networks, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing people with the knowledge of the matter. When deciding which companies to continue advertising relationships with, Disney considered if it had a mutual business or advertising relationship with the companies, according to one of the sources.
* FBI Director Christopher Wray came down hard on Facebook's plan to encrypt its popular messaging program, saying that it would create "a lawless space" that would turn the platform into a "dream come true for predators and child pornographers," Reuters reports. Wray added that this plan could make it difficult for law enforcement agencies to find kids who need to be rescued from predators.
The day ahead
Early morning futures indicators pointed to a lower opening for the U.S. market.
In Asia, the Nikkei 225 was down 0.16% to 21,375.25.
In Europe, around midday, the FTSE 100 was up 0.39% to 7,183.19, and the Euronext 100 rose 0.45% to 1,069.87.
On the macro front
The TD Ameritrade IMX report and the Consumer Credit report are due out today.
Click here to read about today's financial markets, setting out the factors driving stocks, bonds and currencies around the world ahead of the New York open.
Featured news
The Daily Dose Europe: EU on Broadcom's practices; queries on Facebook's Libra; Spotify/Apple row: The European Union intends to reach out to Broadcom over anti-competitive practices, the European Commission sent queries to Facebook and Libra, and a U.S. committee requested Spotify AB to provide details of its claims against Apple.
The Best Of: Most read: Media ownership ruling; new Microsoft devices: Articles about a media ownership ruling and new Microsoft devices were among the most read in technology, media and telecommunications news for the week ended Oct. 4.
The Best Of: Editor's picks: FTC, DOJ turf wars; net neutrality ruling: Stories on how FTC/DOJ turf wars will not affect tech probes and the net neutrality ruling are featured in the editor's technology, media and telecommunications top picks for the week ended Oct. 4.
MarketWeek: FireEye pops on sale rumors; Apple jumps amid iPhone 11 demand: Stock price leaders in the technology industry for the week ended Oct. 4 included cybersecurity firm FireEye Inc., which surged amid sale rumors, and Apple, which seemed to benefit from reports about strong early demand for the newest iPhones.
Featured research
Economics of Advertising: Western Europe Addressable TV: Technology catching on, but formats lag behind: Addressable TV advertising was the hype of conversation at the International Broadcasting Convention, but it still faces challenges.
Economics of Internet: OTT in Latin America: Current state of the market: Kagan presents a roundup of select over-the-top services in Latin America recently updated in our OTT Services & Devices database.
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