2008 JUL 28 - (VerticalNews.com) -- Fitch Ratings believes that the U.S. consumer magazine segment will continue to experience lower circulations and advertising growth opportunities amid the weakening economy and ongoing transition to digital media.

  The shift toward digital media consumption has had a negative effect on traditional print advertising media. While not as dramatically affected as the newspaper industry, consumer magazines are feeling the adverse impact of the digital transition. Advertisers are consolidating and shifting their advertising budget mix. Revenue growth has stagnated in recent years and has been under pressure in 2008, as publishers struggle to offset circulation pressure and declining advertising page volume in many categories with price increases ...read more

  2008 MAY 5 - (VerticalNews.com) -- Fitch Ratings confirms the 'AAA' long-term rating and assigns a 'F1+' short-term rating to the Indiana Health and Educational Facility Financing Authority's $80,500,000 health system revenue refunding bonds, series 2006C.

  The rating actions are taken in connection with the conversion of the interest rate on the bonds from an auction rate to a weekly rate, the provision of a standby bond purchase agreement to provide liquidity support and the remarketing of the bonds. The long-term 'AAA' rating assigned to the bonds continues to be based on the support of a municipal bond insurance policy provided by Financial Security Assurance Inc., which insures scheduled payments of principal and interest. The insurance policy will extend to the maturity date of the bonds, Nov. 1, 2037. The short-term 'F1+' rating is based on the liquidity support of a standby bond purchase agreement (SBPA) provided by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association ...read more

  2008 MAY 5 - (VerticalNews.com) -- Fitch Ratings confirms the long-term 'AAA' rating and assigns a short-term rating of 'F1+' to the $293,600,000 Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), electric general revenue bonds, consisting of: $65,600,000 series 2003I, $47,000,000 series 2003J, $47,000,000 series 2003K, $47,000,000 series 2003L, $20,000,000 series 2003M, $47,000,000 series 2003N and $20,000,000 series 2003 O. Fitch also confirms the 'AAA/F1+' assigned to the series 2003 D-H bonds originally rated in May of 2003. The long-term 'AAA' rating assigned to all of the series 2003 bonds is based on the support of a municipal bond insurance policy provided by Financial Security Assurance, Inc., that insures scheduled payments of principal and interest on the bonds until their final maturity date of Dec. 1, 2029. The short-term 'F1+' rating is based on the liquidity support of an Amended and Restated Standby Bond Purchase Agreement (SBPA), provided by Dexia Credit Local, acting through its New York Branch ...read more