Interactive cable closing down
The country's largest cable TV companies are shutting down the bulk of a venture that lets viewers interact with TV ads. The shutdown requires laying off 120 employees. Four-year-old Canoe Ventures made it possible for viewers of eight cable networks, including AMC, Bravo, and Discovery, to request information by mail from TV advertisers by pressing a button on the remote. It was accessible in 25 million households. But the technology didn't catch on with advertisers, prompting the shutdown, officials said. Canoe was set up by Comcast Corp., Cox Communications Inc., Time Warner Cable Inc., Charter Communications Inc., Cablevision Systems Corp., and Bright House Networks. - AP
Toll Bros. dips amid signs of recovery
Toll Brothers Inc. posted a first-quarter loss Wednesday as the nation's biggest luxury- home builder reported a slight decline in home deliveries and a higher cancellation rate. But it also posted an increase in net signed contracts and backlog - a key barometer of future home deliveries. CEO Douglas C. Yearley Jr. said the Horsham- based company was seeing continued strength in the Northeast corridor from Washington to Boston, which represents 60 percent of its business. Florida, Phoenix, and Detroit also showed signs of recovery. The company reported a loss of $2.8 million, or 2 cents a share, compared with $3.4 million, or 2 cents a share a year earlier. Shares are up 73 percent from the low of $13.16 set in early October. - AP
Nutter pushes for 2d anchor hotel
