Amazon gets classic shows in HBO deal

April 24, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

NEW YORK

Fans of classic HBO shows such as “The Sopranos” and “The Wire” will soon have access to those series and more through Amazon Prime in the first online streaming deal signed by the cable network.

Starting on May 21, Amazon Prime members — who pay $99 a year for streaming entertainment, two-day shipping and other perks— will be able to watch other older shows, such as “Six Feet Under” and “Big Love,” as well as early seasons of “Boardwalk Empire” and “True Blood.”

Past seasons of newer shows such as “Girls,” “The Newsroom” and “Veep” will also become available throughout the multi-year agreement, about three years after airing on HBO.

The HBO deal is a big win for Amazon, which is competing with Netflix and Hulu for streaming viewers as more people cut the cord on cable services.

Apple increases stock buyback, to split stock

SAN FRANCISCO

Apple is diverting more of its cash to shareholders and preparing to split its stock for the first time in nine years in an attempt to win back investors fretting about the iPhone maker’s slowing growth and pace of innovation.

The moves announced Wednesday as part of Apple’s fiscal second-quarter earnings report are aimed at boosting its stock price, which has been hovering about 25 percent below the peak it reached in September 2012.

Apple Inc. earmarked an additional $30 billion for buying back its stock through next year, bringing the total to $90 billion during that time frame.

The Cupertino, Calif., company also is raising its quarterly dividend 8 percent to $3.29 per share, up from $3.05 per share.

Although many analysts had been expecting Apple to distribute more money to shareholders, the stock split came as a surprise.

First lady: Vets have one-stop job site

FORT CAMPBELL, KY.

To help veterans leaving the military as it downsizes, the government Wednesday started a one-stop job-shopping website for them to create resumes, connect with employers and become part of a database for companies to mine.

First lady Michelle Obama announced the new Veterans Employment Center at Fort Campbell, Ky., during a special veterans’ jobs summit, which comes as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down. Unemployment among veterans who have served since September 2001 stood at 9 percent in 2013, about 1.6 percentage points higher than the overall civilian population.

The website, ebenefits.va.gov, will help veterans and military spouses build resumes, translate military skills into private-sector skills and provide career and training data with the click of a mouse.

Associated Press

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .61, 25.35 .04

Avalon Holdings,4.80—.19

Clear Channel, .61 23.30 .35

Cortland Bancorp, 10.900.00

Farmers Nat., .127.59 —.09

First Energy, 2.20, 33.30—.14

FirstMerit Corp., .64,19.25 .17

First Niles Financial, .32,7.500.00

FNB Corp., .48,12.85.02

General Motors,34.46.22

General Electric, .76,26.43—.16

Huntington Bank, .20, 9.42.05

JP Morgan Chase, 1.52,56.04.23

Key Corp, .22,13.87—.04

LaFarge, 23.00 —.01

Macy’s, 1.00, 58.16.64

Parker Hannifin, 1.80, 124.940.00

PNC, 1.76,84.76.10

RTI Intl. Metals,28.36.11

Simon Prop. Grp.,4.60,170.15—.49

Stoneridge 11.32 —.17

Talmer Bank, 3.720.00

United Community Fin. 3.72—.07

Selected prices at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Provided by Stifel. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.