While advertisers traditionally have been willing to shell out more for CNN's venerable brand, broad audience reach and less-opinionated programming, the network's recent ratings slide is likely to bring down its ad prices. Media buyers say CNN has the benefit of 30 years in the business and a trusted name that still resonates with advertisers. "All in all, CNN has tried to be a force for objective journalism," says Steve Lanzano, executive VP of MPG. "I think that's the reason why advertisers aren't shying away." But that could change. CNN lost the overall ratings race several years …

A bidding war may be about to erupt for Playboy Enterprises. Inconix, a publicly traded brand management company is looking over the compnay's books, according to Bloomberg. Inconix just bought Marc Ecko and owns London Fog and Danskin. At least one undisclosed private equity player is also in the hunt, say sources. Providence Equity and Apollo are said to have taken a pass. Since May, Playboy has been for sale with an asking price of $300 million, far above its market capitalization. Hugh Hefner remains very much at the helm of the magazine with a controlling 70% …

Swedish furniture chain Ikea has selected incumbent Mediaedge:cia to retain its estimated $95 million U.S. media planning and buying business. Overseas, media chores in the U.K. have shifted from incumbent Mediacom to Aegis Group's Vizeum. The company just completed a six-month global procurement-led review. Ikea's separate creative search led by Boston-based consultancy Pile + Co. is ongoing. Deutsch, an IPG shop, which handles general-market U.S. ad chores, is participating. So is Anita Santiago Advertising, the chain's Hispanic shop.

Executives from two rival media companies caution that Comcast Corp could face serious antitrust questions if it were to acquire control of NBC Universal. News Corp. President Chase Carey and Liberty Media Chief Executive Greg Maffei, in separate presentations at a conference, both said such a deal could prove a winner for Comcast, but also raised concerns about regulatory hurdles. Carey said regulators would likely focus on making certain that Comcast ensures "fair access" for rivals to the content it controls as well as fair access to the largest distribution network in the United States. News Corp itself …

Big changes in media ownership rules could come in 2010, with the FCC allowing more consolidation in local markets and cross-ownership of newspapers and broadcasters. This month the federal agency is holding industry hearings and so far it seems receptive to possible reforms. For broadcasters, the biggest change would be the loosening of station ownership rules. The FCC allows an entity to own only two TV stations in the same market, based on complex demographic mandates. Loosening these rules would boost small markets where only four or five television stations operate. For local broadcasters to survive, David Barrett, …

ABC News bosses are talking to "This Week" moderator George Stephanopoulos about moving to an anchor chair on the daily "Good Morning, America" show. It comes at a time when "This Week" is trying to overtake NBC's longtime ratings champ "Meet the Press." One might assume Stephanopoulos would want to stay with "This Week" and preside triumphantly over the victory. But sources say he is giving serious consideration to "GMA," where he'd replace Diane Sawyer. Stephanopoulos would be walking into less than peaceful territory; "GMA" is a troubled mess, having settled into murky ratings doldrums lately, after …

Bayer HealthCare has consolidated its U.S. media duties with Initiative after a review. The account had been split between Initiative, which handled national broadcast chores, and Mediaedge:cia, which handled the rest of the account. Other shops in the pitch were not known The Bayer HealthCare unit spends close to $100 million annually on domestic measured media. Initiative already handles media chores on the client's Consumer Care division, which spends about $250 million a year on ads.

Current TV, the cable channel founded by former Vice President Al Gore, is shifting toward a more traditional content strategy, with plans to run 30- and 60-minute programs. The revamp includes the elimination of 80 full-time staff positions. Originally positioned as a showcase for short-form, user-generated content, Current will continue to generate some in-house material. COO Joanna Drake Earl says the channel plans to run more themed compilation shows rather than run blocks of standalone viewer submissions. User content presently accounts for about 30% of Current's programming. The company says it will be putting more of its …

News anchor Lou Dobbs announced he is leaving CNN last night (Nov 11) on his final show. Dobbs, 64, said he is considering his options and will continue to explore issues, including immigration, the economy and the middle class. The anchor has been a CNN fixture since the 24-hour news channel began operating in 1980, except for a hiatus from 1999 to 2001, when he left to start the Web site space.com. With his show "Lou Dobbs Tonight," he has shifted his focus from business news to economic issues, such as immigration. Dobbs's ratings have slipped over …

Hearst has tapped an investment banker as its new CFO because the company is quietly sitting on a $1 billion war chest. The hire of Mitchell Scherzer signals a more aggressive acquisition strategy by CEO Frank Bennack, who wants to fulfill the Hearst family mandate to find new revenue streams in digital and non-traditional media. While Hearst profits are off, the company is said to have revenues of over $7 billion and to be profitable -- as well as debt-free. "The CFO appointment is absolutely not about cutting costs," confirms Reed Phillips, partner at investment bankers DeSilva & …