Review & Preview. (Up Front).

MAY 9 - 15

Earnings Roundup: News Corp. reported third-quarter net income of $275 million, compared with a loss of $3.99 billion for the like period a year ago when the Rupert Murdoch-controlled company wrote down the value of an investment. Revenue rose 14 percent, to $4.39 billion. Increased TV ad sales at the Fox network were cited for the results. Computer Sciences Corp. reported firstquarter net income of $162.7 million, compared with $141.1 million for the like period a year ago. Revenue for the El Segundo-based computer company rose 1.4 percent, to $3.08 billion. Univision Communications Inc. reported first-quarter net income of $12.8 million, compared with $7.6 million for the like period a year ago. Revenue for the Los Angeles-based Spanish-language TV network rose 22 percent, to $261.7 million. Activision Inc. reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $8 million, compared with net income of $10.9 million for the like period a year ago. Revenue for the Santa Monica-based video game publisher was $125 million from $ 164.9 million. IHOP Corp. reported first-quarter net income of $6 million, compared with $9.8 million for the like period a year ago. Revenue for the Glendale-based restaurant chain rose 15.3 percent, to $94 million. Tenet Healthcare Corp. reported a first-quarter loss of $20 million, compared with net income of $278 million in the like period a year ago. Revenue for the Santa Barbara-based hospital chain rose 2.3 percent, to $3.45 billion. Tenet, whose Medicare billing is being probed by regulators, wrote down the value of some facilities.

Britney Settles: Skechers U.S.A. and Britney Spears agreed to drop their suits over the singer's endorsement deal for her namesake skates and apparel. Financial terms weren't announced. In dueling lawsuits filed earlier this year, Spears claimed that Manhattan Beach-based Skechers failed to promote the merchandise she received royalties on. Skechers countered that Spears failed to approve manufacturers and designs for Britney 4 Wheelers, causing it to miss the fall season.

TV Season: The television networks announced fall season offerings amid an active period for upfront ad sales. NBC said it would add six shows to its 2003-04 schedule, including three comedies. One of the new shows, "Coupling," will air on Thursday nights and has been compared with HBO's "Sex and the City" - perhaps the heir apparent to the hit series "Friends," which will end after next season. ABC will add seven new shows, four comedies and three dramas, as it continues its turnaround efforts after losing about 20 percent of its audience last year. CBS will add seven shows -- two comedies and five dramas.

Jobless Stats: Reflecting a relatively stable labor climate, the unemployment rate in Los Angeles County fell to 6.5 percent in April from 6.6 percent the previous month. The state's unemployment rate remained at 6.7 percent, despite the loss of 13,100 jobs. The jobless report also showed that 22.4 percent of unemployed Californians had been out of work at least six months, compared with 14.6 percent a year earlier.

Ownership Hearing: Viacom Inc. President Mel Karmazin told Congress that the Federal Communications Commission should ease media-ownership rules so television networks can better compete with cable and satellite operators. Meanwhile, the commission's two Democrats asked Chairman Michael Powell to postpone for 30 days a June 2 vote on the rules. Powell has proposed letting media companies like Viacom own more stations in a market; consumer advocates say such a move could reduce the number of sources for local news and programming.

MAY 19 - 25

Holiday Time: It's the unofficial start of the summer season as Memorial Day weekend brings out the barbecues and ballgames. With beach traffic getting busier, expect more than the usual holdups on the San Diego Freeway. For those staying home, the malls will have the usual holiday sales and summer movies.

Sports Beat: Quiet week. The Dodgers finish up their homestand against Colorado Tues-Thurs. (20th-22nd). There's also, of course, the Mighty Ducks who as of last week were almost assured of getting into the Stanley Cup finals.

Women of Distinction: The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundations presents it annual Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon on Thursday (22nd) at the Hollywood & Highland ballroom. Among the recipients are Donelle Dadigan, who purchased the Max Factor Building in 1996, and LAPD Sgt. Beatrice Girmala, who has worked in the Hollywood division. For information: 323-469-8311.

Space Available: The International Parking Institute sponsors its annual international parking conference and exposition at the Long Beach Convention Center beginning May 18th and running through Wednesday (21st). For information: 540-371-7535.

Trade Talk: As part of the World Trade Week, there's the 77th annual luncheon and International Trade Fair on Tuesday (20th) at the Biltmore Hotel. Keynote presentation by Amir Dossal, executive director of the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships with welcoming remarks by L.A. Mayor James Hahn. For information: 323-730-1011.

Car Talk: Steve Wilhite, vice president of marketing for Nissan North America Inc., will be the featured speaker at a luncheon session of the Advertising Club of Los Angeles on Wednesday (21st) at the Beverly Hills Hotel. For information: 323-782-1044.

Economic Data: Very quiet week leading up to the holiday, with April's leading economic indicators due out Monday (19th) about the only major report expected.

Runoff Election: L.A. voters go to the polls on Tuesday (20th) to choose from among runoff candidates for the City Council, the Board of Education and Community College District. Running in the 10th Council District are Martin Ludlow and Deron Williams while in the 12th District, Julie Korenstein takes on Greig Smith.

Work-Comp Panel: The Los Angeles County Commission on Insurance convenes a one-day panel discussion on the state's workers' compensation crisis on Thursday (22nd). The meeting starts at 10 a.m. at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 W. Temple Street in Downtown L.A. Information: 213-974-1431