Briefcase: Netflix supports Charter’s bid for Time Warner
NEW YORK – Netflix, a vocal opponent of Comcast’s failed bid for Time Warner Cable, supports Charter’s quest to do the same in a deal that would create another cable giant.
In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission Wednesday, the online video company said it supports the deal because Charter says it won’t charge companies to connect to its network to reach its customers.
Spread across a larger Charter with 19.4 million Internet customers, that would be a “substantial public interest benefit” and would help get online services to consumers and promote innovation, Netflix said.
Charter’s policy and Netflix’s support of it could help sway regulators to approve the Charter deal after the Comcast-Time Warner Cable transaction fell apart in April under pressure from regulators.
Charter Communications Inc. wants to buy Time Warner Cable and Bright House for $67.1 billion to become the country’s No. 3 traditional TV provider and the second-largest home Internet supplier after Comcast.
UPS sued over beard ban
NEW YORK – A Muslim man who objected to rules requiring him to get rid of his beard if he wanted to become a driver for UPS Inc. was told by a UPS official that “God would understand” if he shaved, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday against the shipping company.
The lawsuit in Brooklyn federal court alleges the man was among several employees who were victims of religious discrimination in the past decade by the nation’s largest package delivery company. The EEOC wants the court to force the company to comply with Civil Rights Act protections and to award the plaintiffs back pay and unspecified damages.
“No person should be forced to choose between their religion and a paycheck, and EEOC will seek to put an end to that long-standing practice at UPS,” said Robert D. Rose, an attorney for the agency’s New York office.
UPS spokesman Steve Gaut said in a statement Wednesday the Atlanta-based company has protocols in place for employees to seek permission for religious accommodations when it comes to appearance or work schedules.
Pabst to open Milwaukee site
MILWAUKEE – Pabst Brewing Co. said Wednesday it is coming home to open a new brewery and restaurant next year on the site of its original Pabst Brewery in Milwaukee.
The Los Angeles-based beer company said it plans to sign a multiyear lease on a building within the former Pabst brewery complex near downtown Milwaukee and expects to open to the public in summer 2016.
Pabst traces its roots to 1844 in Milwaukee, but closed its brewery there nearly 20 years ago.
Back-to-school spending dips
Another survey on back-to-school shopping is out – this time showing that parents plan to trim spending this year compared to last.
The average family with children in grades K-12 plans to spend $630 on electronics, apparel and other school needs, down from $669 last year, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Total spending is expected to reach $24.9 billion.
When you include college students along with K-12, overall spending balloons to $68 billion, NRF said.
The survey came out a day after the International Council of Shopping Centers said a survey it conducted showed that nearly 70 percent of back-to-school-shoppers expect to spend more this year.