» Playboy’s sale talks moving fast, according to our sources, and Iconix is still in there strong. A few other parties are in there, including a hedge fund. As we have reported, TV/online outsourcing is on table too, and among the names floated for that are Cisneros Group, with which PLA already has international TV deals and Penthouse owner Friendfinder Group. UBS is banker from PLA’s side on the deal.
» South African media giant Naspers has $600 million to make digital acquisitions in Southeast Asia, but denies an interest in buying ICQ off AOL (NYSE: TWX), as has been speculated. [Bloomberg]. It also reported earnings and internet division grew 28 percent, mainly because Tencent in China is growing gangbusters. [Fin24]
» Chinese portal Sohu (NSDQ: SOHU) is building a new headquarter in China, at a cost of $110 million, to be completed in 2012, according to an SEC filing it filed yesterday. [SEC]
» In July, Salon hired an investment bank to raise money, its perpetual issue. No results yet from that effort, according an SEC filing. Its Q309 revs were down 48 percent. Also, it had about 10 layoffs in August, higher than previously reported (about six). Salaries for all remaining employees has been reduced as well. Severance costs about $33K.
» Maybe Borders is taking this e-reader thing literally: In UK it is close to filing for bankruptcy. [PCUK]
» Playstation Magazine publisher Future’s future isn’t looking that great either. UK’s held up OK, U.S. is bad. [Reuters]
» On Hulu for magazines: apparently launch is imminent and Time, Condé Nast, Hearst and Meredith (NYSE: MDP) would be equity partners. [NYT]
» Lachlan Murdoch’s back in the media game with an Aussie radio buy. Nielsen Business, as I reported first, next? [The Australian]
» Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) is launching an ad campaign

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