News Broadcasting
Liberty Media to acquire Provide Commerce for $477 million
MUMBAI: Liberty Media Corporation announced today that it would acquire Provide Commerce, Inc, an e-commerce marketplace of websites for perishable goods marketed under the brands: ProFlowers, Cherry Moon Farms, Uptown Prime, and Secret Spoon.
Under the terms of the agreement, Liberty will pay $477 million in cash, or $33.75 per Provide share.The proposed transaction is expected to close in the second calendar quarter of 2006. Completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval, Provide Commerce stockholder approval and other customary closing conditions.
“Provide Commerce is a market leader in online perishable goods and through its advanced supply chain and superior execution, has built scale and a strong competitive position. This is a testament to the caliber and dedication of the Provide management team and we are thrilled to welcome them to the Liberty family. We believe in the power of video to drive television and web-based retailing businesses and Provide is a compelling addition to our strategy,” stated Liberty chairman and CEO John C. Malone.
“The philosophy of Liberty and its affiliates is consistent with Provide’s culture and our unrelenting focus on our customers. We look forward to working with the other Liberty Internet and video companies to accelerate profitable growth,” said Provide Commerce CEO Bill Strauss.
JP Morgan Securities Inc. served as financial advisor to the board of directors of Provide Commerce. Following the acquisition, Provide Commerce will remain a separate subsidiary within Liberty.
Vesting of outstanding options and restricted stock grants will be accelerated and holders of options and warrants will receive cash payments equal to the difference between the cash price per share and the respective exercise prices.
In connection with the proposed transaction, Jovian Holdings LLC has agreed to vote the shares it owns or controls in favor of the proposed transaction or against any alternative proposal, in addition to other customary agreements. Jovian Holdings owns or controls approximately 29 per cent of the outstanding common stock of Provide Commerce.
As of September 30, 2005 Provide Commerce had a cash balance of $60 million.
News Broadcasting
Times Network to air JVC Exit Poll across 5 regions on April 29
Four-hour broadcast spans states and Puducherry with data-led analysis
MUMBAI: Times Network is set to roll out what it calls one of its most expansive election programming efforts yet, culminating in the JVC Exit Poll on 29 April, with a multi-hour broadcast spanning key poll-bound regions.
The exit poll will air across Times Now and Times Now Navbharat, beginning at 5pm and 4pm respectively. Co-powered by Vedanta and Jindal Stainless, the programming aims to combine on-ground reportage with data-driven projections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
The network has deployed over 50 journalists across these regions, gathering voter sentiment and local insights in the run-up to polling. The effort builds on its ongoing election formats such as Election Yatra and Election Premier League, which have tracked campaign narratives and community-level issues.
In parallel, Times Now Navbharat has focused on constituency-level reporting in West Bengal through its Jan Gan ka Mann series, capturing voter opinions across diverse segments.
The coverage has also featured interviews with prominent political leaders. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and V D Satheesan have appeared on the network’s election specials. From Tamil Nadu, voices including deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, BJP leader K Annamalai and NTK’s Seeman have also featured in discussions.
On the day of the exit poll, the network’s primetime anchors, including Navika Kumar, Zakka Jacob and Sumit Awasthi, will lead the coverage. They will be joined by a panel of political analysts, psephologists and senior journalists offering real-time insights and interpretation of trends.
The programming will integrate grassroots reportage with analytics from the JVC Exit Poll, aiming to give viewers an early sense of electoral outcomes ahead of the official results on 4 May.
With its combined English and Hindi broadcast reach, Times Network is positioning this effort as a comprehensive look at voter sentiment, blending field reporting, data and debate to decode what could lie ahead when the final mandate is revealed.
