Hawaiian Paper Uses AI To Create Newscasts (mediapost.com)

The New York Times Company announced third-quarter 2017 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $.20 compared with $.00 in the same period of 2016. Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (defined below) was $.13 in the third quarter of 2017 compared with $.06 in the third quarter of 2016. Operating profit was $33.0 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared with $9.0 million in the same period of 2016, largely due to higher digital subscription revenues and lower severance costs, which more than offset lower print advertising revenues. Adjusted operating profit (defined below) was $56.5 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared with $39.2 million in the third quarter of 2016, principally driven by strong digital subscription revenues, which were partially offset by lower print advertising revenues. Mark Thompson, president and chief executive officer, The New York Times Company, said, “We had a strong quarter once again, with solid growth in digital subscriptions, digital advertising and subscription revenue and overall profitability. Click Read More below for additional information.

News Corporation announced that the Company’s Board of Directors, following the receipt of letters from K. Rupert Murdoch and the Murdoch Family Trust, has formed a Special Committee composed of independent and disinterested members of the Board to begin exploring a potential combination with Fox Corporation. The Special Committee, consistent with its fiduciary duties and in consultation with its independent financial and legal advisors, will thoroughly evaluate a potential combination with Fox. The Special Committee has not made any determination with respect to any such potential combination at this time, and there can be no certainty that the Company will engage in such a transaction.

Fourth-quarter highlights • Total revenue was a record $152.1 billion, an increase of $10.4 billion, or 7.3%. Excluding currency2, total revenue would have increased 7.5% to reach $152.3 billion. • Walmart U.S. comp sales1 increased 8.6% with strength across most key categories. • Walmart U.S. eCommerce sales increased 69% with strong results across all channels. • Sam’s Club comp sales1 increased 10.8% and eCommerce sales grew 42%. Reduced tobacco sales negatively affected comp sales by approximately 410 basis points. Membership income increased 12.9%, the strongest growth in six years. • Walmart International net sales were $34.9 billion, an increase of 5.5%. Net sales in constant currency2 increased 6.3%, led by Flipkart, Mexico and Canada. Changes in currency rates negatively affected net sales by approximately $0.3 billion. • Consolidated gross profit rate increased 29 basis points with positive contributions from each operating segment, led by the U.S.