Corporate directors believe that gender diversity on corporate boards is beneficial, but most think the issue gets too much attention from shareholders, according to PwC's latest Corporate Directors Survey.
Why it matters: That sentiment became much more prominent in the last year. 63% of directors say investors devote too much attention to board gender diversity — compared to just 35% who said so in 2018.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing pulled a $39 billion takeover offer for the London Stock Exchange, following opposition from LSE's board and an inability to secure large shareholder support.
Why it matters: LSE opposition was officially driven by strategic and pricing concerns, but cannot be divorced from concerns over the future viability of Hong Kong's "one country, two systems" relationship with China.
Of the 10 regions surveyed as a part of Parrot Analytics' second quarter 2019 global streaming demand study, demand for dramas is by far the lowest in the U.S.
Why it matters: It's a clear shift from the beginning of the "Golden Age of TV" when shows like "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad," "The Good Wife," "House of Cards", and "Dexter" were so dominant.
Two of the biggest names in conservative journalism — Steve Hayes, formerly of the now-defunct Weekly Standard, and Jonah Goldberg, a longtime National Review star — will launch The Dispatch, a digital media company, on Tuesday.
Why it matters: The Dispatch, citing "worrisome" trends in journalism on the right, is plunging into a tough space — conservative, but not a booster of President Trump. "The conservative movement was not intended to be a handmaiden to a single political party," the co-founders say in a letter to readers.
The cannabis industry is poised to undergo another major change as Colorado's House Bill 1090 takes effect next month, providing investment opportunities for publicly traded companies, venture capitalists and private equity firms, which were previously barred.
Why it matters: The law will push cannabis into a new phase of development and foster considerable consolidation in the industry, creating new businesses and driving out others.
A slew of digital media acquisitions over the past few weeks shows how unreliable private valuations can be.
Why it matters: The only way for anyone to really know how much any private company is worth is if it sells in an all-cash deal. When privately-held companies sell via all-stock transactions or via a mix of cash and stock, dealmakers can essentially make up the value of the assets they are looking to purchase.
Over the past 5 years, the 72-year-old "Meet the Press" brand has evolved from an hour-long Sunday broadcast into a political franchise that touches everything from daily podcasts to newsletters and even films.
The big picture: The mission of NBC News' flagship Sunday program has never been clearer, but the transformation of the media industry around it has forced American's longest-running TV program to rethink its strategy for a new generation.
The impeachment process has widened the rift between solidly pro-Trump media and conservative-leaning news outlets — especially at Fox News, where daytime news anchors and primetime opinion hosts often find themselves at odds.
Why it matters: It's rare for the tensions between conservative outlets to be aired so openly, as they're being forced to choose between backing President Trump at all costs and reporting candidly on his troubles.
Group Nine Media said Monday that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire POPSUGAR Inc., a lifestyle digital media company that caters to millennial women, in an all-stock transaction.
Why it matters: It's the latest media mega-merger between two venture-backed companies that are looking to consolidate for survival. Vice Media acquired Refinery29 last week for a reported $400 million.
Kroger and Walgreens have become the latest retailers to stop the sale of e-cigarettes amid rising deaths and illnesses linked to vaping.
The big picture: E-cigs have come under increased scrutiny in recent months, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linking at least 18 deaths and over 1,000 illnesses to vaping. In response, federal, state and local lawmakers have been increasingly pushing for bans on the sale of e-cigs in general and flavored vape products in particular, due to their popularity among young people.
Jeff Daniels will play former FBI Director James Comey in a CBS Studios miniseries adaptation of Comey's memoir, "A Higher Loyalty," Deadline reports.
The big picture: Writer and director Billy Ray spent a year interviewing Comey and other key FBI and government officials to represent the viewpoints of those on both sides of the political aisle.
Private equity takeovers result in significant job losses, according to a landmark new study by Josh Lerner of Harvard Business School and Steve Davis of the University of Chicago.
Why it matters: Private equity regularly defends its employment record by citing a 2011 study by the same two academics.
Why it matters, via Axios' Dion Rabouin: The U.S. economy continues to grow, but is increasingly struggling to do so — and multiple sectors are beginning to view the talks, which will involve China's top trade envoy Vice Premier Liu He, as a primary indicator for the country's economic outlook moving forward.
Economists said in a new survey that they think the U.S.-China trade war will bring about a slowdown in U.S. growth this year and next, per AP.
Why it matters: The economists also said they expect the trade war to increase the risk of recession in late 2020, which would put an end to the longest period of economic expansion on record in the U.S.
The battle among streaming companies is getting competitive, as rivals block competitors from marketing on their TV channels or distributing content on their apps.
Why it matters: TV networks, hardware companies and telecom giants control access to some of the biggest audiences for new products, but they want to use that reach to benefit their own streaming offerings and stymie the competition.
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