CNET Networks (NDAQ:CNET) finally began to heed the advice of former president Barry Briggs by undergoing a sort of restructuring that some are speculating could be a precursor to a sale of the company. Investors are hoping that old media companies may take advantage of this opportunity to add a strong online presence to their existing portfolio.

CNET picked up Stephen Colvin from Maxim as executive vice president of the company's entertainment and lifestyle brands. Then the interactive media company announced that it sold its photo-sharing service, Webshots, to American Greetings for $45 million, a price that is $25 million less than what it paid in 2004. The company appears to be making a move towards adding valuable content onto its premium domain portfolio.

"Steven is a dynamic, experienced, and respected media executive who has an impressive track-record of bulding highly successful lifestyle media brands in the U.S. and international markets," said chief executive Neil Ashe. "We're extremely pleased to have him join our executive management team."

In the end, CNET is making a genuine attempt to restructure itself and in the process may become a great target for an old media company. Combined, these factors make CNET a stock worth watching!

Related Companies
Yahoo Inc. (YHOO)
Google Inc. (GOOG)
Time Warner Inc. (TWX)

Merrill Lynch (NYSE:MER) may be headed for some turbulent waters after its recent derivatives fiasco that sent earnings plummeting. The investment firm is reportedly ousting CEO Stan O'Neal in a matter of days. Further, there is also speculation that the company is considering a merger with Wachovia. The news sent shares up today after today's steep loss.

The shares rallied on the news despite the fact that even more writedowns are expected during the next quarter. Merrill Lynch reportedly owns $20.9 billion in collateralized debt obligations and subprime mortgages - two markets that are continuing to deteriorate. The $8.4 billion writedown may have been a hit, but some analysts are expecting an additional $4.5 billion in the near future.

Merrill Lynch also has many investors confused after it refused to disclose what happened to $11 billion in CDO exposure - a position that was open in the second quarter but suddenly disappeared, neither written down nor on the firm's books. Events like this lead many to wonder how well the firm really is able to value these securities in the first place.

In the end, the ousting of this chief executive may result in a more conservative pick during the next round. The board will also likely step up their oversight into risk management policies and procedures. Moreover, a potential merger with Wachovia or investment by a large investor like Warren Buffet would certainly prove to be a windfall. Combined, these things make MER a stock worth watching!

Related Companies
Morgan Stanley (MS)
Lazard Ltd. (LAZ)
BlackRock Inc. (BLK)

Charter Communication (NDAQ:CHTR) shares dropped around 20 percent yesterday before rebounding slightly today. Things are looking bad for the $800 million company with an astounding $19 billion in debt. The cable company's operating income of $200 million is hardly enough to service its debt while it struggles to compete with others in the industry.

Shares in the company fell around 20 percent after competitor Comcast Corporation (NDAQ:CMCSA) announced earnings that showed a slowdown in the growth of digital cable subscribers. Many are speculating that this could be the end of the "triple play" boom as countless other telecom companies are entering the fray.

This is a big problem for Charter, who is quickly running out of time to ramp up its offerings to match the triple-play offerings seen at other companies. These triple offerings include phone, cable and internet services over newer and faster fiber optic networks. The company also has yey to embrace the HDTV wave to the same extent as others in the industry.

Unfortunately, Charter does not have enough money to move into the triple play market and continue to service is debt. This is bad news for shareholders who are likely to see their money erode in value unless the company takes action soon to unlock value and return it to shareholders. Combined, these factors make CHTR a stock worth watching!

Related Companies
EchoStar Communications (DISH)
DIRECTV Group Inc. (DTV)
Comcast Corporation (CMCSA)