Google's Instant Search Could Boost Profits
Google's new instant search feature, which automatically delivers results as a user types in a query, might boost the Internet giant's profits by nudging users toward the most common search terms. Google Instant may force advertisers to bid more for commonly used terms.

   AOL's Jim Wiatt to Seek Content, Creatives
AOL director Jim Wiatt is stepping down to take on a more active role in the company as a strategic adviser. "We are still in the beginning stages of content opportunities on the Internet and social networks," says the former William Morris chairman and CEO.

   Yahoo Editor Gets Lucky in Conde Nast Return
Lucky founding editor Kim France is out after 10 years of running the women's shopping magazine. Brandon Holley, editor of Yahoo's women's site Shine, is being brought in to replace her. Holley worked at Conde Nast before, when she edited the now-shuttered Jane magazine.

   Hearst: Esquire Editor Exits for Web Retailer
Jeremy Langmead, editor of the U.K. edition of Esquire, is leaving the magazine to become editor-in-chief of the new men's fashion website Mr Porter. Langmead, who has edited Esquire since March 2007, will be replaced on an interim basis by deputy editor Dan Davies.

   Politico Nabs Kinsley, Scarborough as Writers
Politico will start running opinion columns by Joe Scarborough, the MSNBC host, and Michael Kinsley, a columnist for the Atlantic. While Scarborough will continue with MSNBC, Kinsley will be leaving the Atlantic. His exit could be a blow to the company.

   CNN: Piers Morgan to Take Over 'Larry King'
British TV host Piers Morgan will take over Larry King's prime-time hour with "a candid, in-depth newsmaker interview program" starting in January. Morgan, best known to U.S. viewers as a judge on NBC's "America's Got Talent," will provide columns to CNN.com.

   Media Magnate John Kluge Dies at Age 95
John Kluge, whose media holdings made him one of the richest people in America, has died at a family home in Charlottesville, Va. Kluge's media empire included television and radio stations, outdoor advertising, the Harlem Globetrotters, as well as mobile phone services.

   National Lampoon Ex-CEO Heads to Prison
National Lampoon CEO Daniel Laikin is being sentenced to 3 3/4 years in prison for his part in a conspiracy to manipulate the company's stock price in 2008. Laikin also will be fined $100,000, and still faces civil charges from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

   NBC Universal Plans Stephen King 'Synergy'
"The Dark Tower," an epic series of novels by horror writer Stephen King, will soon receive an epic adaptation. NBC will use its television and film properties to adapt the seven books through three feature films and a network television series directed by Ron Howard.

   Paley Center Plans TV Awards for Upfronts
Bored with the Emmy Awards? The Paley Center for Media is developing its own television awards program, scheduled for May 2012 in New York City. The plan is to televise the show to coincide with the upfront presentations to advertisers by the broadcast networks.

   YouTube, Vevo: New Home for Music Videos
After MTV largely phased out airing music videos in favor of reality programming and other shows, the genre is finding new life online. Four of the five most-viewed clips on YouTube are music videos released in the last year. Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga are at the top the charts.

   MTV Bests Vevo as Online Music Destination
Thanks largely to an ad-sales partnership with Warner Music, MTV Networks last month became the web's most-visited music destination, surpassing rival Vevo, according to comScore. The MTV-Warner alliance emerged in July as a potent challenger to Vevo.

   TiVo Poll Reveals 'Snooki Fatigue' Starting
A poll by TiVo says people are looking forward most to new dramas and comedies on television this fall, and that they are tired of reality shows. Some 40% of people in the poll say reality TV is the most "overdone" genre. "Snooki fatigue is starting to set in," TiVo says.

   'Frasier' Star Backs Conservative TV Network
Former "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer is an investor and public face supporting RightNetwork, a new network with entertainment aiming to appeal to political conservatives. Its programming initially will be available through video-on-demand services, the Internet and mobile phones.

   Discovery, Hasbro to Launch Hub Network
Discovery and toy maker Hasbro say their new joint-venture cable network TheHub, to launch on Oct. 10, will target an under-served market of children aged 6 to 11. The channel, replacing Discovery Kids, will air shows featuring Hasbro toy brands like GI Joe.

   Univision Hits TV Ratings Milestone In Demo
Univision was the most popular network among television viewers aged 18 to 49 years old last week -- the first time a Spanish-language station has beaten the English ones in this key demographic. Univision's backbone is the prime-time telenovelas that run five times a week.

   Al Jazeera Near Deal to Air in U.S. Markets
The nonprofit Pacifica Radio public-radio network is in talks with Al Jazeera to air the audio portion of its English-language television channel on five stations in major U.S. markets. Pacifica could become the biggest American broadcaster to carry Al Jazeera.

   Netflix Enters Deal to Show Movies Early
Netflix is entering a deal with Nu Image/Millennium Films to show the studio's movies before they are released on DVD when they would normally only be shown on pay television channels. The movie-by-mail outfit has been working to add new methods of movie distribution.

   Sirius XM Radio Sued Over Phone Calls
Missouri attorney general Chris Koster obtained a temporary restraining order against Sirius XM Radio, for making solicitation calls to Missourians who had previously placed their names on the state's no-call list. Koster says his office received numerous complaints.

   NY Times Shares Rise on Talk of Takeover
New York Times Co. shares are up as much as 8% on renewed speculation the newspaper publisher may be acquired. "The rumor mill is being cranked up again saying Carlos Slim wants to buy the company. But it's a complicated process for that even to be possible."

   Wall St Journal Plans Book Review Section
The Wall Street Journal is said to be planning to launch a weekly book review within the next few weeks. The Journal has never had a standalone book review before, and creating one now flies in the face of ever-dwindling book coverage in papers across the country.

   Dow Jones Loses WSJ Digital Network Head
Gordon McLeod, president of the Wall Street Journal Digital Network, is announcing plans to leave his post. Also leaving is Ann Sarnoff, president of Dow Jones Ventures, who is taking a job with BBC America. McLeod did not say where he is headed in his departure memo.

   Tribune Names Head of Restructuring Effort
Tribune is promoting its general counsel, Don Liebentritt, to the position of chief restructuring officer, as the company attempts to lift itself out of Chapter 11 protection. Liebentritt will now focus exclusively on Tribune's negotiations with creditors.

   Meredith Locks In Execs With 11 Promotions
When Jack Griffin left Meredith to become CEO of Time Inc., sources say he left behind co-workers that he contractually agreed not to hire for two years. Meredith is going the extra step to make sure key employees won't jump ship soon by making 11 promotions.

   Newsweek: Job Cuts Coming by Month's End
Newsweek staffers are being told that new owner Sidney Harman will retain 75% of current employees, and that the entire workforce will receive letters on Sept. 24 containing either a job offer or a severance package. About 90 severance deals could be coming.

   Craigslist Removes 'Censored' Bar from Site
Following pressure from U.S. 17 attorneys general, Craigslist last weekend slapped a black "censored" bar over the entrance to its Adult Services section. Now, that black bar is gone, giving the appearance that Craigslist has given up on the section for good.

   Daily Beast Editor Offers Advice to Journos
Tina Brown, editor of the Daily Beast news website, offers advice for aspiring journalists: "Young journalists [should] go work in India. It has a very vibrant newspaper and magazine culture." She adds: "It's much better, as a journalist, to be young than it is to be 50."