MediaBiz

• Analyze This: Time Warner reported and analysts are bullish ... Collins Stewart’s Tom Eagan calls Q4 results “impressive” and has a target of $41; Macquarie’s Andrew Kim reiterates ‘outperform’ with a $40 target. Kim cites “at the networks, better than expected ad revenue growth” and “continued cost savings” in publishing. Eagan notes the continued sub revenue growth and the increased stock repurchases going from 8 to 13% of shares or $5B. --- The analyst who plays with the toys the most, BTIG's Rich Greenfield, has been having consternations - and questions for Jeff Bewkes - as he tries out the new iPad-enabled Comcast/TW TV everywhere here (registration required). --- Ad $s dropped @ AOL in Q4, but not as badly as expected as the company reported $596M (off 26% y/y) revenues with ads down 29% to $332M. Restructuring continues. --- IAC revenue for Q4 grew 27% y/y to $451M. The Match.com unit is buying OKCupid for $50M in cash (+ performance incentives) while writing down its Shoebuy.com acquisition of about $33M. --- Corning is going wireless buying MobileAccess Networks for over $150M; MobileAccess builds distributed antenna systems.

• Rules & Regs: FCC will hold an open meeting on 02/08 with the Universal Service Fund front and center.

• Retrans, Renewals & Carriage: Time Warner Cable and Sinclair finally got ahead of the deadlines as they signed a long-term retrans deal ... no specifics, of course. --- Looks as though the FOX stations and the Super Bowl will return to DIRECTV customers in Northwest territories as the two companies continue to negotiate a carriage deal.

• Comment: The turmoil in Egypt brings back the immediacy of on-the-ground reporters and video ... and live news feeds via MVPDs.

• Tech: IEEE published its formal 1901 Broadband over Power Line Standard here.

• Folks: Punxsutawny Phil predicts an early spring ... as with global “warming,” it is a bit hard to take when the temperature at our house is a frigid -30° ... and dropping under sunny skies!

• Online: He said, she said - listening to Microsoft and Google point fingers over search getting nasty. --- News Corp’s The Daily debuted for the iPad (temporarily bumping Egypt from FOX News).

• Retail: Verizon iPhone debuts at Apple stores on the 9th.

• In the Courts: The Bridge Lenders, a Tribune lenders group, dropped its competing plan. --- Verizon says its suit against the FCC's net rules should go forward; but it'll file again when the rules hit the Federal Register, too.

• Up in the Sky: In-Stat says satellite STB shipments are down 8% in Western Europe and North America.

• Up, Over & Down There: Egypt is back on the grid. --- Australia is getting much, much wetter.•