Best Media Companies To Own In Right Now

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over daily movements, we do like to keep an eye on market changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

Stock market investors were generally pleased with the congressional testimony that Fed chair nominee Janet Yellen gave today, with new expectations that accommodative monetary policy will continue as long as any hint of economic weakness persists. The Dow and S&P 500 reached new record highs yet again, with Dow 16,000 and S&P 1,800 now within a single percentage point. But Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO  ) , Tile Shop Holdings (NASDAQ: TTS  ) , and Millennial Media (NYSE: MM  ) all missed the record run, falling by more than 10% each.

Cisco Systems dropped 11% following its disappointing earnings report last night. Missing revenue estimates for the October quarter didn't distinguish Cisco from a number of other suffering tech giants lately, but guidance for a steep 9% plunge in year-over-year revenue in the current quarter showed just how serious the situation is for the networking giant. As Fool contributor Anders Bylund noted earlier today, rival Alcatel-Lucent's (NYSE: ALU  ) deal to sell networking equipment to Chinese wireless giant China Mobile might have represented a missed opportunity for Cisco.

Best Media Companies To Own In Right Now: Gannett Co. Inc. (GCI)

Gannett Co., Inc. operates as a media and marketing solutions company in the United States and internationally. Its Publishing segment publishes 83 U.S. daily newspapers with affiliated online sites, including USA TODAY, a national, general-interest daily newspaper; USATODAY.com; USA WEEKEND, a magazine supplement for newspapers; Clipper Magazine, a direct mail advertising magazine; bi-weekly Nursing Spectrum and NurseWeek periodicals; and military and defense newspapers. This segment also includes 17 paid-for daily newspapers; approximately 200 weekly newspapers, magazines, and trade publications; and approximately 600 non-daily publications, as well as involves in commercial printing, newswire, marketing, and data services operations. The company?s Digital segment owns and operates CareerBuilder, an employment Web site, which offers online recruitment and career advancement services for employers, employees, recruiters, and job seekers; ShopLocal, which provides multicha nnel shopping and advertising services; Planet Discover, which offers hosted search and advertising services; PointRoll, which provides digital marketing services and technology; and Schedule Star, which offers scheduling solution for high school athletic departments. Its Broadcasting segment operates 23 television stations and affiliated Web sites, which produce local programming, such as news, sports, and entertainment programming. This segment also includes Captivate Network, a national news and entertainment network that delivers programming and full-motion video advertising on video screens located in elevators of office towers and select hotel lobbies in North America. The company has strategic business relationships with online affiliates, including Classified Ventures, ShopLocal.com, Topix, and Metromix LLC, as well as strategic marketing agreement with Microsoft. Gannett Co., Inc. was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Here's something no one ever said: We don't see enough daily sports coverage, so we need a new website dedicated to cover it.�Yet USA Today, the�Gannett� (NYSE: GCI  ) newspaper dedicated to giving you national news in bite-size snippets and graphics, is launching a new website dedicated to just that. Calling it "For The Win," it expects the new division to attract fans inside and out of sports.

Best Media Companies To Own In Right Now: Time Warner Cable Inc(TWC)

Time Warner Cable Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a cable operator in the United States. It offers video, high-speed data, and voice services over its broadband cable systems to residential and commercial customers. The company provides a range of video services, including on-demand, high-definition (HD), and digital video recorder (DVR) services; residential high-speed data services with connection to the Internet; wireless mobile broadband Internet services; and digital phone services to residential customers. It offers video programming tiers and music services; high-speed data, networking, and transport services; and commercial digital phone service to small and medium-sized businesses under the Time Warner Cable Business Class brand. Further, Time Warner Cable Inc. sells advertising to various national, regional, and local customers. As of June 30, 2011, the company served approximately 14.5 million residential and commercial customers in the New Yor k State, the Carolinas, Ohio, southern California, and Texas. Time Warner Cable Inc. is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Reuters]

  Gene J. Puskar/AP WASHINGTON and NEW YORK -- Comcast (CMCSA) sought to rebut critics of its planned $45.2 billion takeover of Time Warner Cable (TWC), arguing that newcomers such as Google and Apple would ensure competition in both Internet and video markets. In a 175-page filing with the Federal Communications Commission that coincides with the formal launch of the controversial deal, Comcast argued that either all or key areas of its and Time Warner Cable's businesses compete with an "array of sophisticated companies with national or even global footprints." The U.S. Department of Justice will conduct the antitrust review and the FCC will examine whether the deal is in the public interest. Comcast has pledged to divest some cable subscribers so the combined company would serve just under 30 percent of the U.S. pay television video market. The company said it would serve between 20 and 40 percent of the U.S. broadband subscribers. MoffettNathanson research estimates the company would cover about 33 percent of the high-speed Internet market. Opponents have raised concerns that the combined company will have too much power over what Americans can watch on television and do online, becoming a powerful buyer of Web and pay-TV content. The cable companies are expected to face those concerns on Wednesday when their officials, Comcast's executive vice president David Cohen and Time Warner Cable's finance chief Arthur Minson, testify in Congress. In Tuesday's filing, Comcast argues that such concerns are unwarranted, especially given the growing competitiveness of both the video and internet markets. The filing names Amazon.com (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Verizon Communications (VZ), Netflix (NFLX), Dish Network (DISH) and DirecTV (DTV) as companies making progress over the last decade in competing against Comcast with video content, while cable operators have lost subscribers. "In the evolving video marketplace in which these comp

Hot Healthcare Technology Companies To Own In Right Now: Charter Communications Inc.(CHTR)

Charter Communications, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides entertainment, information, and communications solutions to residential and commercial customers in the United States. The company offers cable video programming services, such as basic and digital video, premium channels, OnDemand, pay-per-view, high definition television, digital video recorder, and online video services; Internet services; Charter.net, which provides multiple e-mail addresses, as well as various entertainment, games, news, and sports content; and telephone services. It also provides broadband communications solutions, such as Internet access, data networking, fiber connectivity to cellular towers and office buildings, video entertainment services, and business telephone services under the Charter Business brand name to business and carrier organizations. As of December 31, 2011, the company served approximately 4.1 million video customers; approximately 3.5 million Internet customers; appr oximately 1.7 million telephone customers; and approximately 476,200 commercial primary service units. Charter Communications, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Lewis]

  In case you haven't noticed, there are some serious consolidation efforts going around the cable and telecom industries. On one end, there are satellite TV providers chasing spectrum as if it's the gold rush of 1849. Now, it appears that Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC  ) may be courting Liberty Media (NASDAQ: LMCA  ) for a merger in an attempt to leverage Charter Communications' (NASDAQ: CHTR  ) �highly coveted network. Let's determine who is the biggest winner in this latest media M&A dance, and where you should be putting your funds.

• [By Sean Williams]

  What specifically led both stocks higher today was speculation that Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR  ) is on the acquisition hunt. According to CNBC, Time Warner Cable's CEO Glenn Britt has discussed the possibility of merging with Charter; however, CNBC also commented that Time Warner Cable isn't likely to pursue the deal. That still proved more than enough to send Time Warner Cable and rival Cablevision higher, as any M&A acquisition in this sector would only serve to improve pricing power for these broadcasting companies.

Best Media Companies To Own In Right Now: DIRECTV(DTV)

DIRECTV provides digital television entertainment in the United States and Latin America. The company provides direct-to-home (DTH) digital television services, as well as multi-channel video programming distribution services in the United States. It offers various channels of digital-quality video entertainment and CD-quality audio programming directly to subscribers' homes or businesses, as well as video-on-demand services; and approximately 160 national high-definition television channels and 4 3D channels. The company also provides premium professional and collegiate sports programming, such as the NFL SUNDAY TICKET package, which allows subscribers to view the NFL games. In addition, it offers DTH digital television services in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico. The company provides its local and international programming under the DIRECTV and SKY brand names. As of December 31, 2010, it served approximately 19.2 million subscribers in the United States; and 8.9 million subscribers in Latin America. The company was founded in 1990 and is based in El Segundo, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt Thalman]

  The first few of the companies are the major cable providers, such as Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA  ) , Dish Network (NASDAQ: DISH  ) , and�DirecTV (NASDAQ: DTV  ) . For every new home built, one of the cable companies is going to receive a new customer. In Comcast's situation, the lines must be laid, but Dish and DirecTV only need to install a satellite in your yard. General Electric (NYSE: GE  ) is another company that derives a decent portion of its revenue from appliances and lighting, and this unit should see increased revenues as new homes are built.

• [By Ian Wyatt]

  And DirecTV (DTV) has shot up 20.5% as consumers flock to digital television with DVR capabilities.

  By owning shares of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B), you essentially own a slice of all those stocks.

• [By Holly LaFon]

  The Fund had only three detractors in the quarter: Mosaic, Abbott Labs, and DIRECTV (DTV), with only Mosaic negatively impacting YTD results. We bought and exited Mosaic during the third quarter. Our case changed quickly with the potash industry drama that caused prices to drop. Abbott was down 4% in the quarter following FX headwinds, concerns over tougher rules for device approval in Europe, and issues at a dairy supplier leading to a meaningful product recall in the baby formula division in China. DIRECTV slipped 3% on increased subscriber churn amidst a challenged Brazilian economy. DIRECTV Latin America remains well positioned to benefit from rising pay-TV penetration in the region, and the mature U.S. business continues to generate higher ARPU (average revenue per user).

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Revenue and earnings have consistently improved on an annual basis, capital allocation is superb, and the stock should be somewhat resilient if any stock market corrections should occur. In addition to those factors, analysts love the stock: 12 Buy, 10 Hold, 1 Sell.

Best Media Companies To Own In Right Now: Comcast Corporation(CMCSA)

Comcast Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides entertainment, information, and communications products and services in the United States and internationally. Its Cable Communications segment provides video, high-speed Internet, and phone services to residential and business customers. As of June 30, 2011, its cable systems served approximately 22.5 million video customers, 17.5 million high-speed Internet customers, and 9.1 million phone customers. The company?s Cable Networks segment operates cable entertainment networks, such as USA Network, Syfy, E!, Bravo, Oxygen, Style, G4, Chiller, Sleuth, and Universal HD; news and information networks, including CNBC, MSNBC, and CNBC World; cable sports networks comprising Golf Channel and VERSUS; regional sports and news networks; international entertainment, and news and information networks, such as CNBC Europe, CNBC Asia, and Universal Networks International portfolio of networks; cable television production oper ations; and digital media properties consisting primarily of brand-aligned Websites and other Websites, such as DailyCandy, Fandango, and iVillage. Its Broadcast Television segment operates the U.S. broadcast networks, NBC and Telemundo; 10 NBC and 15 Telemundo owned local television stations; broadcast television productions; and related digital media properties. The company?s Filmed Entertainment segment operates Universal Pictures, which produces, acquires, markets, and distributes filmed entertainment and stage plays worldwide in various media formats for theatrical, home entertainment, television, and other distribution platforms. Its Theme Parks segment operates Universal Studios Hollywood park and Wet ?n Wild water park, as well as licenses intellectual properties and provides services to third parties that own and operate Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore. Comcast Corporation was founded in 1963 and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By DAILYFINANCE]

  Elise Amendola/AP NEW YORK -- Netflix has reached a deal with Comcast to ensure that its TV shows and movies are streamed smoothly to households, the first deal the online video streaming service has reached with an Internet service provider. The two companies said in a joint statement Sunday they're establishing a more direct connection to provide a better service to customers that will also allow for future growth in Netflix traffic. The companies say the arrangement is already giving customers a better experience. Netflix (NFLX) had 33 million U.S. streaming subscribers at the start of the year and accounts for about one third of all traffic at peak times on the Internet, according to research firm Sandvine. As the video steaming company has grown, Internet service providers like Comcast (CMCSA) (CMCSK) have pushed the company for more structured deals to enable its content to be transmitted smoothly and reduce the strain on their networks. While the companies didn't disclose the terms of the deal, Netflix investors will want to know how much this deal will affect the company's bottom line and whether the costs will be passed on customers. Netflix has been resisting paying fees to Internet companies and this deal could open the door to similar agreements with other providers. Netflix is already experimenting with different rate plans that charge slightly more for households that want to stream its shows and movies on four different screens simultaneously. The deal comes after months of collaboration with Comcast though Netflix will receive no preferential network treatment under the multiyear deal, the statement said. Comcast was ranked as the 14th fastest Internet service provider in January, according to a table on Netflix's website. By connecting directly to Comcast's network, Netflix should be able to boost the quality and speed of its video streaming as it adds more customers and prepares to start streaming its content in the ultra high defin

• [By Paul Ausick]

  The country�� two largest cable operators, Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) have reportedly had discussions in the past few months related to a combination. Time Warner took the lead in an apparent attempt to forestall a bid from Charter Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR).

• [By Johanna Bennett]

  Charter Communications (CHTR) and Comcast (CMCSA) are each also contemplating bids. The WSJ reported late�today that Charter is arranging $25 billionin debt to fund its bid.