Media

Kasikorn Securities holds a positive view on PLANB and COM7 shares after COM7's extraordinary general meeting of shareholders resolved to approve the appointment of two new directors nominated by PLANB, namely Mr. Prin and Dr. Pinitjorn, to COM7's board. As a result, PLANB is highly likely to begin recognizing its share of profits from COM7 starting September 17, which should support profit growth in the fourth quarter of 2026 and continue into 2027. The research team maintains a buy recommendation on both stocks, setting a target price of 6.68 baht for PLANB, supported by its well-performing OOH media business, growth in its higher-margin non-OOH business, and full-year recognition of its share of COM7 profits in 2027. The stock also continues to trade below its historical average and below global peer comparisons. For COM7, the research team notes that the response to iPhone 18 Series pre-orders has been relatively good, and therefore expects third-quarter 2026 sales to grow both year on year and quarter on quarter. It maintains a buy recommendation with a target price of 34.12 baht, and views PLANB's average purchase price of 27.44 baht as potentially a suitable level for re-entering an investment.

DAOL Securities stated that COM7 has notified the resolution of its shareholders' meeting approving two board seats for PLANB, expanding COM7's board structure from seven seats to nine seats, with PLANB receiving two seats, representing a 22% proportion, which is considered to carry control influence. As a result, PLANB will change its recognition of returns from dividends only to the equity method immediately, driving significant profit growth. The research team holds a positive view on the COM7 deal, in which PLANB currently holds an 11.01% stake, because it helps increase media capacity and expand the customer base, extending the growth of OOH revenue in the long term. Net carry under the equity method is expected at 53 million baht in 2026E before turning to 422 million baht in 2027E. However, the research team's assumptions still exclude upside from synergies. The new target price for 2026E is 7.40 baht and for 2027E is 10.5 baht, based on 26x PE. The research team maintains its net profit estimate for 2026E at 1,258 million baht, up 14% YoY, but still excludes the COM7 deal from its estimates. It also maintains a buy recommendation and keeps the target price at 7.10 baht, based on 2026E PER of 26x. Currently PLANB trades at 2026E PER of 22.7x. The research team continues to favor PLANB for its leadership in the OOH media business and expects it to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the economic recovery and advertising spending.

The Federal Communications Commission approved foreign ownership in Paramount Skydance's planned $110 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery. The FCC granted Paramount's request to allow financing of more than 25% for the transaction, waiving its 25% cap on foreign equity ownership and permitting individual investors to own up to 20% of the equity. The regulator said foreign investors can have no voting stock and will not have any influence, direction, or control over Paramount's content decisions or company management. Paramount said it appreciated the FCC's careful review and was pleased the petition was granted consistent with its established process. The approval comes as the deal has been halted after 12 state attorneys general, led by California, sued to block the mega media deal in July, with a trial scheduled for March; on Tuesday a court ordered Paramount and California Attorney General Rob Bonta to meet on October 14 to try to work on a potential settlement.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on the 17th approved foreign investment in U.S. media giant Paramount Skydance's $110 billion acquisition of rival Warner Bros. Discovery. The FCC regulates foreign investment in U.S. television broadcasting, and said it would waive the 25% cap on foreign equity ownership in this case, allowing individual investors to hold up to 20% of the shares. However, foreign investors may not hold voting shares, and may not exert any influence, direction, or control over Paramount's content decisions or corporate management, nor provide comments or guidance, nor be granted access to non-public data concerning U.S. citizens. Paramount welcomed the approval, stating that the merger will give it the scale and resources needed to compete, invest, innovate, and deliver premium content to audiences around the world. According to Paramount, at the close of the transaction, the family led by billionaire and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and RedBird Capital Partners will jointly hold the largest equity stake and 100% of the voting shares in the combined company, while other shareholders will have no management rights whatsoever. According to the FCC, after the transaction closes, Middle Eastern investors will hold approximately 85% of Paramount's shares, of which 15.1% is expected to be held by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund.

Generac agreed to supply up to $8 billion worth of backup generators for Amazon's data centers, sending its shares up 18% and making it the top performer on the S&P 500. The company also issued a warrant for a stake in itself, according to a securities filing, and analysts said the stock could double in price over the next 12 to 18 months. The broader market closed higher, with the Dow Jones industrial average adding about 300 points, or roughly 0.6%, the S&P 500 gaining about 86 points, or 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rising about 1.7%. Intel shares climbed more than 7.5% after South Korean memory chipmaker SK Hynix said it might team up with the company, following a Reuters report that it could lease part of Intel's long-planned Ohio chip facility or form a venture, though SK Hynix said no decision has been made. Among decliners, Paramount Skydance fell more than 4.6% as a Barclays analyst argued its proposed merger with Warner Brothers could introduce massive financial and operational risks and predicted the company would eventually split up, while Fluence Energy tumbled 15% after cutting its revenue forecast, which analysts attributed to production issues at its Houston facility.

King Gen Public Company Limited, or KGEN, disclosed that Rayong Wire Industries Public Company Limited, or RWI, has taken a stake in KGEN through a private placement subscription of newly issued ordinary shares worth no more than 250 million baht, at a price of no more than 1.35 baht per share, representing approximately 7.68% of the shares after the capital increase, with total investment of no more than 252 million baht. RWI will also receive the right to subscribe to KGEN-W3 warrants in proportion to its existing shareholding, worth no more than 2 million baht. The maximum transaction size of 24.67% qualifies as a Type 3 transaction, which requires approval from a shareholders' meeting by a vote of no less than three-quarters. An extraordinary shareholders' meeting, the first of 2026, has been scheduled for Thursday, October 22, 2026. Khanit Sivachiraprapha, Chairman of the Advisory Board of KGEN, said the partnership will strengthen the domestic supply chain for automotive parts production, in line with the policy of increasing the use of locally made parts in electric vehicle production under cooperation with the CHERY brand. RWI specialises in the production of cold-drawn steel, which is used to make automotive parts. KGEN has so far produced 20,000 vehicles, with EV production capacity of approximately 5,000 vehicles per month, and expects capacity to rise by another 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles in the final three months of the year, bringing total production for the year to around 40,000 vehicles. Year-end bookings are expected to accelerate on the back of the Motor Expo in December, where two to three new electric vehicle models will be unveiled. The company has also signed an agreement to support a transport fleet for J&T Express, including the use of electric pickup trucks for deliveries of no more than 400 kilometres.

SBI Holdings announced on the 17th that it will make internet-related company Livedoor a wholly owned subsidiary. It will acquire all of Livedoor's shares from parent company Minkabu The Infonoid for about 7.5 billion yen. SBI Chairman and President Yoshitaka Kitao and Takafumi Horie, who led Livedoor, once clashed in the battle for control of Nippon Broadcasting System shares, so the two have now come together as a group, transcending their past feud. SBI will strengthen its media business by leveraging Livedoor's assets, including its news sites in Japan and overseas. Minkabu will form a capital alliance with NTT Data, and the three companies including SBI will consider new services in the financial sector, aiming to become a financial information platformer originating in Japan.

Minkabu The Infonoid announced on the 17th that it will form a capital and business alliance with NTT Data and sign a three-party business partnership agreement with NTT Data and SBI Holdings. Minkabu shareholders will sell their shares to NTT Data, giving NTT Data more than 16% of Minkabu's voting rights. Meanwhile, Minkabu will sell all shares in its consolidated subsidiary Livedoor to SBI Holdings, using the gain to fully repay the group's borrowings, and will record about 3 billion yen as an extraordinary profit in its consolidated results for the fiscal year ending March 2027. SBI will become Minkabu's second-largest shareholder after NTT Data, holding just over 8% of its voting rights. Through the alliance, the three companies aim to combine the customer bases and financial business expertise of NTT Data and the SBI Group with Minkabu's financial data content and its touchpoints with individual investors to create and roll out new financial services.

Bualuang Securities stated that PLANB's profit momentum is likely to keep improving in the second half of 2026, driven by the Asian Games and the start of equity income recognition from COM7. It expects third-quarter 2026 revenue of 2.7 billion baht, up 15% year-on-year and 3% quarter-on-quarter, and core profit of 300 million baht, up 5% year-on-year and 3% quarter-on-quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2026, the company will get a full quarter of contribution from COM7 of about 30 million baht after interest, while also entering the high season for out-of-home media, giving it a chance to post a new quarterly profit record. Another key driver is the sports business, which is playing a growing role, especially football and boxing, in line with government policy on sports, tourism and soft power. For boxing, the company targets full-year revenue of about 1 billion baht, after already generating 600 million baht in the first half of 2026, and its boxing stadium still has room to add revenue from utilization of only about 50–60% in the second quarter of 2026. For 2027, PLANB is expected to recognize equity income from COM7 of about 500 million baht, less interest of about 200 million baht, supporting core profit growth of about 30% year-on-year. Additional opportunities lie in extending media onto EV7 vehicles and into COM7's network of about 1,400 stores, while PLANB already has experience running in-store media at about 2,000 7-Eleven branches, generating about 400 million baht a year. The broker maintains its Buy rating with a target price of 6.80 baht, based on a 2027 PER of 20x, or minus one standard deviation, seeing fourth-quarter 2026 profit as having a chance to hit a record high and 2027 bringing a clearer new revenue base from Sports, COM7 and Mobility. If the company proves more profit from these partnerships, there is still room for its valuation to return closer to its previous average PER of 30x.

Comseven Public Company Limited, or COM7, is holding an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, or EGM, today, September 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PLANB has nominated representatives from the company to serve as two additional directors, which would expand COM7's board structure from seven seats to nine. If PLANB secures the two seats, that would represent a 22% share, giving it controlling power. As a result, PLANB would change its recognition of returns from dividends alone to the equity method, which would help drive significant profit growth. The heart of this investment is the expansion of advertising space through COM7, both in-store media, with plans to install digital screens in more than 1,400 COM7-affiliated stores nationwide, and EV Taxi, expanding media in electric taxis through wrapping and installing advertising screens. The research team at Dao Securities has a positive view. Currently PLANB holds 11.01% of COM7, and net carry under the equity method is expected to be 53 million baht in 2026E before turning into 422 million baht in 2027E. The research team's assumptions do not yet include upside from synergies. The new target price for 2026E is 7.40 baht and for 2027E is 10.5 baht, based on a PE of 26x.

The State Enterprise Policy Committee has resolved to approve a restructuring plan for MCOT Public Company Limited, or MCOT, aimed at rehabilitating its business operations and enhancing its capacity to generate revenue and profit. One of the key approaches proposed in the plan is a merger between MCOT and the Thai Public Broadcasting Service, or Thai PBS, which has not yet been settled. The Ministry of Finance is preparing to bring the matter before the Cabinet for consideration within next week, or at the latest the following week. If the Cabinet approves, a clear direction for implementation will then be determined. The merger between MCOT and Thai PBS is considered a challenging task, since the two organizations were established and operate under entirely different laws. If the government proceeds in earnest, it will need to amend several laws and go through complex legal procedures. In addition to MCOT's rehabilitation plan, the Ministry of Finance is also preparing to propose that the Cabinet consider reviewing the operational plans and roles of eight other state enterprises, covering approaches such as dissolution, merger, or organizational restructuring. Meanwhile, Thibordee Wattanakul, Director of the State Enterprise Policy Office, or SEPO, confirmed that reports claiming the Ministry of Finance is preparing to reduce its shareholding in MCOT and may allow it to merge with Thai PBS if no new private co-shareholder can be found within six months are not true, and said he views such an idea as still difficult to achieve both in principle and under current law.

ST Huawen announced on the evening of September 17 that its controlling subsidiary, Hainan Ankechong Charging Technology Co., Ltd., plans to acquire, for 10.7193 million yuan in cash, a group of 23 new energy vehicle charging station assets held by Hainan Xiaoji Technology Co., Ltd. The assets are located in Haikou and Sanya, and include tangible assets such as charging equipment and power distribution facilities, as well as intangible asset rights including site lease usage rights and station operation rights. According to an appraisal report issued by Beijing Yachao Asset Appraisal Co., Ltd., using the income approach with a valuation base date of March 31, 2026, the total investment in the target assets was 15.3583 million yuan, and the appraised value was 10.7193 million yuan, with the transaction price consistent with the appraised value. This transaction amount accounts for 0.48% of the company's audited total assets of 2.253 billion yuan for 2025, and 18.30% of the net assets attributable to shareholders of the listed company of 58.5747 million yuan. It does not constitute a major asset restructuring or a related-party transaction, and has been approved by the company's management, without the need for review by the board of directors or shareholders' meeting. The company stated that, affected by changes in the external industry environment, its traditional media business is under growth pressure, and its cultural tourism segment faces challenges such as adjustments in consumption structure. After this acquisition, it will rapidly expand the operating scale of its new energy charging business and promote the new energy operation segment to become a source of business revenue. Just over two months ago, the company completed the execution of its restructuring plan and, on July 31, removed its delisting risk warning, with its stock abbreviation changed from *ST Huawen to ST Huawen.

Publicis Groupe announced it has successfully priced an offering of EUR 500 million of notes due September 2030. The notes are being issued under Publicis Groupe SA's Euro Medium Term Note Program dated July 24, 2026, by MMS USA Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Publicis Groupe SA, and are unconditionally guaranteed by Publicis Groupe SA. The bonds carry a fixed annual coupon of 4.125%, and the net proceeds will contribute to the financing of the acquisition of LiveRamp, which remains subject to customary approvals and is expected to close before the end of 2026. The transaction was led by Citi as Global Coordinator, with BNP Paribas, BofA Securities, HSBC and Lloyds all acting as Joint Lead Managers.

Comcast announced a Fastly-powered edge platform integrated across its nationwide network, targeting ultra-low latency services. The company reported new broadband buildouts in Glades County, Florida and Jackson County, Michigan, reaching thousands of previously under-connected locations. Management highlighted AI-focused edge capabilities, including support for streaming, gaming, and emerging AI services delivered closer to end users. The rollout embeds Fastly's software into more than 200 edge compute centers, extending Comcast's Connectivity & Platforms push into broadband innovation, intelligent WiFi, and bundled services. Comcast operates as a global media and technology group, a dual position that lets it test AI-focused connectivity services on its own network footprint while also selling them to customers.

Thryv Holdings has agreed to sell its print directories business to Carolwood L.P. for $142M in cash. The divested business includes Print Yellow and White Pages in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, along with related digital editions and Australia White Pages online, while Thryv will retain its Internet Yellow Pages and other online properties. Net proceeds will be used to repay debt and other liabilities, strengthening the company's balance sheet and financial profile. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2026. THRY shares rose 4.5% premarket.

SES announced the successful launch of its eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth O3b mPOWER satellites, completing its second-generation medium Earth orbit constellation. The three satellites lifted off at 2:49 pm local time aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. They join the 10 O3b mPOWER spacecraft already in operation, bringing the full constellation to 13 satellites offering services ranging from tens of Mbps to multiple gigabits per second of capacity to any site. CEO Adel Al-Saleh called the launch a defining milestone that reinforces SES's ability to deliver resilient, secure and scalable connectivity for governments, enterprises, cloud providers and mobility customers. The newly launched satellites are expected to become operational by mid-2027, expanding high-performance connectivity capacity in underserved and remote environments and advancing SES's next-generation MEO network strategy.

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings reported second-quarter revenue of $438.0 million, up 8.7%, as the billboard and airport advertising company accelerates just before its pending take-private deal. The company agreed on February 9 to be acquired by an investor consortium advised by Mubadala Capital for $2.43 per share, a deal stockholders approved on May 12 and one expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2026. Consolidated revenue rose 10.2% to $811.9 million over the first half, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup pulling in extra advertising spend across both segments; the America division grew revenue 7% to $324.3 million, while Airports revenue jumped 14% to $113.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 11.6% to $143.4 million for the quarter and 19% to $247.3 million for the first half, and Adjusted Funds From Operations climbed 61.6% to $44.9 million in the quarter. Despite the top-line gains, Clear Channel posted a loss from continuing operations of $10 million in the quarter, reversing a $6.3 million profit a year earlier, with net interest expense of $99 million and total debt of $5.1 billion as of June 30. On August 4, Clear Channel closed the sale of its Spain business for about $132.3 million, proceeds it plans to put toward paying down debt.

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. is positioning a new advertising arrangement with YouTube and a shift toward share buybacks as the next phase of a strategy refocused at the end of 2024, Chief Financial Officer Zac Coughlin said at an investor event. In the first half, revenue rose 1%, EBITDA increased 5% and free cash flow jumped 67%, results Coughlin described as largely structural rather than timing-related. The YouTube arrangement, structured similarly to an advertising-representation deal, will expand SiriusXM Media's reach to roughly 255 million Americans, or 90% of the listening population age 13 and older, with the companies spending roughly the first half of next year ramping up and more material output expected in the second half; Sirius XM does not expect substantial incremental investment and said the arrangement should be meaningfully profitable, though below podcasting margins and within the range of its owned-and-operated advertising platform. Advertising revenue rose 5% in the second quarter, led by podcasting and programmatic, and Coughlin said growth rates should moderate in the second half on tougher comparisons. On capital allocation, Coughlin said Sirius XM has reached its long-term leverage target range but remains near the high end of its low-to-mid-three-times objective, and expects to move toward the middle of that range through the rest of 2026; beginning in early 2027, share repurchases are likely to take priority over dividend increases, with the current dividend considered sufficient. He also cited the company's 35 megahertz of contiguous mid-band spectrum as medium- to longer-term optionality, and said the SiriusXM with 360L platform is installed in more than half of newly purchased vehicles and represents more than 20% of the total subscriber base.

Sirius XM CEO Jennifer Witz told Goldman Sachs' Communacopia + Technology Conference that the company reiterated free-cash-flow guidance of $1.375 billion this year and $1.5 billion next year, up from $1.25 billion last year, supported by $100 million in planned gross cost savings and lower satellite-fleet capital spending as that investment cycle completes next year. Witz said second-quarter advertising revenue rose 5% and churn was 1.4%, and that the company is expanding its SiriusXM with 360L platform, used by roughly 20% of self-pay subscribers and expected in just over 60% of new-car sales by year-end. Sirius XM is launching lower-priced offerings including a $5-per-month Sports Pass and a $7-per-month ad-supported Play plan, and is broadening advertising partnerships with SoundCloud, Amazon, Apple and YouTube, where it expects to reach 255 million monthly listeners. Witz said the company is evaluating a sale, lease, joint venture or other commercialization of its spectrum holdings, including 25 MHz of S-band spectrum and 5 MHz on either side in WCS blocks acquired in 2024, prioritizing value over speed. She said Sirius XM has reached its target leverage ratio and intends to prioritize investment in the business, maintain leverage and return excess capital to shareholders, including through share repurchases.

John Wiley & Sons reported fiscal first-quarter revenue fell 3% to $386 million and adjusted earnings per share dropped 10% to $0.44 from $0.49, a decline the company attributed largely to a known comparison problem. The research business brought in $293 million, up 4%, with research publishing climbing 12% to $259 million, while the AI business generated $14 million in the quarter, of which $10.5 million came from model training and $3.5 million was recurring, with another $14 million already contracted for delivery across the next two quarters. The learning segment was the clear soft spot, with revenue down 20% to $93 million as academic revenue fell 20% to $45 million and professional revenue fell the same amount to $48 million, partly reflecting the loss of a $29 million non-recurring AI licensing benefit from last year's quarter. The Emerald Publishing acquisition added $13 million in revenue and $5 million in adjusted EBITDA but pushed net debt to $1.2 billion and net debt to EBITDA to 2.7 times from 1.9 times a year earlier, while free cash flow remained negative at a $70 million use of cash. Wiley reaffirmed its full-year guidance, including adjusted EPS of $4.60 to $5.05, up from $4.19, and organic revenue growth in the low to mid single digits.

Eutelsat announced on September 11, 2026, the extension and expansion of its long-standing partnership with StarTV, part of Grupo W Com, one of Mexico's leading direct-to-home television providers, for continued delivery of satellite television and next-gen services via the EUTELSAT 117 West B satellite. Under the renewed multi-year agreement, StarTV will expand its use of satellite capacity on EUTELSAT 117° West B to support the growth of its service portfolio, including direct-to-home television, educational content initiatives, and NVOD, or Near Video On Demand, over IP across Mexico. The deal reinforces the 117° West orbital position as one of the most important video neighborhoods in Mexico and Latin America. Jean-François Fallacher, CEO of Eutelsat, said the expanded partnership shows how satellite continues to evolve alongside the changing video landscape, expanding access to high-quality entertainment and digital services across Mexico. Jose Aguirré Campos, CEO of Grupo W Com, said the partnership has allowed the company to offer low cost pay TV services in Mexico and to launch new services such as NVOD via Broadcast, which is expected to help reduce churn and give customers access to movies and TV shows, especially in remote places without accessible ISPs.

SES announced the launch of SES CORE, a first-of-its-kind content orchestration and hybrid delivery platform that lets broadcasters and media customers manage, monitor and enable transmission of content via satellite, fiber and IP through a single interface. Built on an infrastructure-neutral architecture, the platform brings multiple distribution technologies into a unified orchestration layer so customers can select the most effective delivery path while guaranteeing service reliability and consistent delivery of high-quality content to global partners. SES CORE gives customers real-time visibility into service status by monitoring active content feeds, provides network performance insights, automates operational tasks and offers redundancy options, helping broadcasters manage distribution more independently and efficiently. Deepak Mathur, President of Media at SES, said broadcasters are navigating increasingly complex distribution environments and that SES CORE provides a unified platform designed for the future of content orchestration and hybrid delivery. SES, headquartered in Luxembourg and listed on the Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges under the ticker SESG, said the launch follows its Intelsat acquisition and more than 100 years of combined global industry leadership.

The new National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee, or EV Board, at its first meeting approved in principle a restructuring of the car excise tax into three tiers, covering battery electric vehicles, REEV electric vehicles, hybrid cars and plug-in hybrids. Tier 1 carries the lowest rate for cars produced domestically and using domestic parts, Tier 2 a middle rate for imported cars with clear plans to invest in building factories in Thailand, and Tier 3 the highest rate for commercially sold imported cars with no investment plans. The Excise Department will speed up finalising the tax rate for each tier and submit it to the Cabinet for consideration as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Khanisorn Srivachiraprapha, chairman of the advisory board of King Gen Public Company Limited, or KGEN, said EV car orders grew 50% from the same period last year, with cumulative sales of about 10,000 units since the Big Motor Sale event, and deliveries to customers are being gradually made. The new excise tax rate may rise to about 30% and is expected to take effect around the end of this year, prompting consumers to speed up their purchasing decisions to avoid possibly higher costs. KGEN also plans to announce the price of its V27 model within this month, along with plans to launch additional new models at the Motor Expo at the end of the year, and is in the process of bidding to supply vehicles to one of the country's leading large logistics businesses, which it is highly confident of winning.

High Co reported strong activity growth in the first half of 2026, with organic growth described as very good and positive standalone results from its international activities, particularly in Belgium and Spain. The company said its restructuring, which involves social and economic negotiations including potential job reductions, weighed on first-half results and carries a provision of around EUR 3 million, with operational savings of a similar amount expected to materialize in the second half. High Co is integrating Budget Box and Retail Activation, which contributed negatively to short-term performance but are expected to generate synergies and support future growth. The company maintains a positive net cash position with solid cash flow, and its free share attribution plan has been validated, representing up to 3% of the capital, while its share buyback program remains ongoing. Management cited continued growth in retail media, the full benefit of the restructuring, and the Budget Box integration as key drivers for the second half, while noting inflationary pressures, tariff uncertainties, and a consolidating French retail market where major distributors such as Carrefour and Intermarche are gaining share.

The Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the premerger waiting period for National CineMedia's planned acquisition of Captivate Holdings, clearing the Hart-Scott-Rodino requirement so the deal can close if other conditions are met. National CineMedia agreed to buy Captivate, North America's digital elevator- and lobby-video advertising operator, from Generation Partners for a $275M enterprise value, funded with new term debt. The acquisition would expand National CineMedia beyond cinemas to more than 48K screens across 185 U.S. media markets, enabling cross-selling and targeting of high-attention office and residential audiences. The deal is expected to close in the second half of the year. CEO Tom Lesinski called the acquisition an important milestone in NCM's evolution and a key next step in its strategy to build a market-defining premium video and digital out-of-home advertising platform.

Comcast Business announced a collaboration with Equinix that will let enterprises order Comcast Business last-mile connectivity through standards-based APIs directly within Equinix Fabric, Equinix's software-defined interconnection service. The program, run through the Comcast Business Innovation Lab launched in April 2026, builds on the Lab's earlier work with Colt Technology Services this quarter to advance cross-carrier API interoperability. In the initial phase, Equinix Fabric customers will be able to digitally order Comcast Business last-mile Ethernet connectivity to eligible locations, with Comcast Business provisioning the connection and the goal of cutting delivery time from weeks to days; the companies will validate the approach with enterprise customers in live environments during this phase. Comcast Business delivers the integration through its digital orchestration platform using industry-standard APIs aligned with the Mplify, formerly MEF, Lifecycle Service Orchestration framework, so partners integrate once rather than against a proprietary specification. Over time, the program is designed to extend to optical wavelengths, cloud connectivity, and cybersecurity. Comcast Business already connects customers to more than 700 data centers nationwide, while Equinix Fabric is available in more than 240 data centers across 66 markets.

Comcast and Fastly announced a next-generation content and application delivery partnership that embeds Fastly's programmable edge software into Comcast's edge compute platform, pushing live streaming content closer to customers' homes for millions of Xfinity members. The deployment creates an industry-first hyper-local service layer across Comcast's nationwide network, which includes more than 200 AI-powered, data-processing edge compute centers distributed across the country. Initial results have demonstrated substantial gains in data delivery and significant reductions in round-trip latency compared to traditional content delivery mechanisms, with the platform designed to handle massive live streaming traffic, real-time security, edge compute, and AI services. Elad Nafshi, Chief Network Officer at Comcast, said the stakes will never be higher than during the upcoming fall football season, when a single streaming game can drive record network traffic, and that integrating Fastly establishes a new approach for delivering the biggest moments in streaming. Kip Compton, Chief Executive Officer at Fastly, said extending Fastly's platform into Comcast's network brings more local performance and real-time traffic management to streaming, compute, and security applications while infusing intelligence into the network layer for the AI era.