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, /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow, AT&T's chief executive officer will participate in a fireside chat where he will discuss the Company's multi-year strategic growth plan. : , chief executive officer, ( ), will speak tomorrow at the UBS Global Media & Communications Conference where he will provide an update to shareholders. Stankey is expected to cover key topics discussed below. As a result of the investment-led strategy announced at its , the Company expects to be in a differentiated position within the connectivity industry by the end of the decade. In Mobility, the Company is building a more efficient, high-capacity, programmable and open network. By 2027, it expects to have largely completed the modernization of its 5G wireless network with open technology, with deep mid-band 5G spectrum covering 300 million+ people by the end of 2026. In broadband, the Company already has the largest fiber broadband network in America. By the end of 2029, it expects to reach 50 million+ total locations with fiber . This includes expectations to pass about 45 million locations through its organic fiber deployment and to serve 5 million+ fiber locations through Gigapower, its joint venture with Blackrock, as well as through agreements with commercial open-access providers. These collective efforts increase AT&T's opportunity to serve customers how they want to be served, by one provider in a converged manner. While building the network of the future, the Company is actively working to exit its legacy copper network operations across the large majority of its wireline footprint by the end of 2029. As discussed during the Company's 2024 Analyst & Investor Day, it expects 2025 Free Cash Flow of $16 billion+, when excluding DIRECTV. The expected drivers of next year's free cash flow growth include Adjusted EBITDA growth, lower cash interest from lower debt balances, the absence of network termination fee payments in 2025 and lower working capital impacts in 2025 compared to 2024. These items are expected to more than offset an expected increase in cash taxes. AT&T expects its multi-year strategic plan to provide $50 billion+ of financial capacity over the next three years, largely through organic growth. Financial capacity represents anticipated free cash flow after distributions to noncontrolling interests, plus expected cash payments from the announced agreement to sell AT&T's stake in DIRECTV to TPG, as well as net borrowing capacity after the Company achieves its net leverage target. The Company continues to expect to achieve its net leverage target of net-debt-to-adjusted EBITDA in the 2.5x range in the first half of 2025 and maintain leverage within this range through 2027. The Company expects to return $40 billion+ of this financial capacity to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Under this capital return plan, the Company expects to maintain its current annualized common stock dividend of per share. This plan would result in $20 billion+ in total dividend payments, with capacity for about in share repurchases, from 2025-2027. The plan also contemplates approximately in incremental financial flexibility for items such as potential organic or inorganic strategic growth investments, debt repayment, redemptions of noncontrolling interests, or additional dividends or share repurchases. Tune in for the fireside chat with at the UBS Global Media & Communications Conference, scheduled to begin at . The webcast will be available live and for replay at To automatically receive AT&T financial news by email, please "Total locations" includes consumer and business locations (i) passed with fiber and (ii) served with fiber through commercial open-access providers. Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise. This news release may contain certain non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations between the non-GAAP financial measures and the GAAP financial measures are available on the company's website at . We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. ( ), please visit us at . Investors can learn more at . © 2024 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE AT&THigh Point defeats Pfeiffer 81-50
ABC has made the holiday season a little brighter thanks to The Great Christmas Light Fight . Season 12 is currently underway with more elaborate and unique displays. Even though Carter Oosterhouse has been judging for more than a decade, the longtime judge continues to be impressed. The construction expert and interior designer Taniya Nayak has the difficult task of deciding who out of the four families they visit in each episode takes home $50,000 and the coveted trophy. Here Oosterhouse talks about the show’s longevity and what his residence looks like during the holidays with his wife, actress Amy Smart . It’s amazing how this show has become such an annual holiday tradition for families to watch together. Carter Oosterhouse: The Great Christmas Light Fight is the gift that keeps on giving. The more we are on, the more people come up to me at the airport and reflect on how it’s a tradition for them. They tell me, “We know it’s Christmas time when we see this show come on air.” The family programming this embodies is so sweet and perfect for the holiday season. You have the holiday movies on, which are nostalgic and fun. This is a little bit different, yet gives the same moment for families to gather and have a nice little night at home. Disney/Jim Gensheimer How would you say your judging eye has evolved? That’s a good question. I think sometimes as a judge you don’t even realize how these displays continue to get better. And it’s not just bigger. It’s more than more lights. I always say I can pick the winner right when the lights go on, but that’s not always true because now what I’ve seen is the creativity level has skyrocketed. People are more and more creative than ever before. It’s not just about putting lights on a tree or making sure the balance is correct or the color profile is engaging and interesting. It’s really about creativity. What that means is people are starting to tell stories with their lights. That’s fascinating. In scripted or nonscripted TV, it’s all about telling a story. When you watch something, that is why you keep going back to it. Now these families with these light displays are telling stories. As the viewer, it’s so much more dynamic and interesting to the point you have to scratch your head and say, “I’m blown away. I’m shocked. Just when you think you’ve seen them all, you haven’t.” Technology has also advanced within these displays through computer programming and drones. The technology is there and every year it gets better. Sometimes we do have people who are extremely good with computers and putting light and synchronized lights together, but that’s not always the winner. I don’t want to say it’s usually not the winner, but it seems to me what I have learned is over time I go back to the creative ones. Those are going to be the winners. If they can throw tech in there, even better because it makes it faster, more efficient maybe, and more interesting to some degree. As far as technology goes, every year we’re seeing something different. The light fighters who have been doing it for decades and are at the forefront of this technology, really geek out over that. I do too. I love learning more about it. Then some people who are doing it for the first time knock your socks off because they have no frame of reference. They just want to do something they want to do and in their mind is really cool. I’m always amazed at the dedication of these participants. The light fighters work extremely hard. They are very diligent with what they are doing. The families are in the grind. When September comes around, they are starting to put their lights up and it’s all hands on deck. It’s a lot of work. As a judge too, I want to make sure I applaud them and give them the credit they deserve. It is impressive to see the lengths they go. These guys are beyond the next level. They know the drill. They take the kids to school, go to work, and then come home to start working on their display at all hours of the night. Then they get up the next day and do the same thing. The cool thing is I’d say 99 percent of the people are happy to do this for their community. That’s the best part. On your travels, have there been places you never thought about going but are glad you went? For Trading Spaces , we traveled all over the United States. I think that was the indoctrination of a really crazy travel schedule. I’d say the good thing is I can go back to some of these areas. To your point, I do get to see areas that have lit up these lights or sometimes they are theme parks because we do heavyweights as well. We get into bigger areas that have the capability of dressing it up. Those are eye-opening. I’m in this last round of shooting right now where there are plenty of places I’ve said, “I want to bring my daughter back here.” That’s a sign they’ve done a really good job. You and Taniya are solo judging in these episodes, but do you talk much? We touch base a couple of times during the season and before. It’s funny because it is all very similar for us. There is a progression of what these light fighters are doing. I always feel like I can figure it out if they are going to be a top tier when the lights go on. Lately, I feel as you’ve gotten into it, this is not what I expected at all and even better. That’s fun. Taniya and I have been on the same page with all that. Carter Oosterhouse and Amy Smart at “Common Ground” Screening. (Gregg DeGuire/Variety via Getty Images) Does this being known for this show put pressure on you at home to deliver a good display? Does Amy get you to work? Good question. It used to be my wife saying, “So what are we doing? Why aren’t we having any lights?” I say, “I am the judge of The Great Christmas Light Fight . I feel like I would not do a service and carry out the oath of being a judge and fail miserably putting lights up.” Usually, when I get home it’s a lot closer to Christmas. So, we do the inside. I’ve been trying to bring back things people make as a builder and duplicate them. There are a lot of makers out there. You see this guy who has been working in his workshop, who has this crazy Santa Claus walking up a ladder built on a timing system. I think that’s really cool that I want to go home and do that. So I have dabbled in those. You mentioned you’re filming right now for next year. Do you go back and watch the episodes airing as a family at home? We try to, absolutely, when I’m not shooting for next year. We critique. If my daughter is into it, I feel like I’m doing my job. There are tons of shows she can watch, especially during the holidays. I feel if she is into it, I’m doing alright. What’s your go-to Christmas movies to watch? Do you watch Amy’s movie Just Friends ? I feel sometimes people forget that is a Christmas movie. Just Friends , we do watch that. That is definitely a Christmas movie. We go back to all the nostalgic movies. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation , we run back through all that. Now there are all these shows, too. Like these Christmas baking shows. I feel like those are of interest to us too. I guess we’re finding shows I never thought I would watch and falling into. Also, being on a show this long, we’re so thankful it has been on the air this long and having such a successful run. You go through a rollercoaster of emotions. Right now, we’re doing great. It’s fun. It’s a new interest not just on the show but on Christmas too. It’s all about being loved ones. This experience has really helped me dive deeper into the whole Christmas world and look at it from other angles compared to when I first started on the show. 2024 Holiday TV Roundup: Full Schedules for NBC, CBS, ABC, More Anything you can tease about the episodes to come? There is one episode that is coming up, and what was really of interest was the coordination. Not just of the lights but things that these blow molds were doing within the light display. We see a lot of coordination from the tech world, but when you can take traditional elements and mix those into a newer feel, that was really impressive. There was this choir of blow molds in the show, and that was so dynamic because you think, “Wait? Are those blow molds singing to me now?” There was a ton of them. Not only was it visually interesting but to hear it was amazing. What do you want to see from the show moving forward? I do like the heavyweights. Those are really fun to shoot because they are on such a different level. It’s also the community is helping out as well. You just have more people involved. I’d like to see more of those to tell you the truth because there seems to be a lot more people, which creates a bigger energy. That’s not to say the homes don’t do that. We only do one of these types of episodes a year, but I’d love to see more of them. The Great Christmas Light Fight , Thursdays, 8/7c, ABC More Headlines: ‘Firefly’ Reunion! Who Will Be at Emerald City Comic Con 2025 for ‘Serenity’s 20th Anniversary? ‘Christmas Light Fight’ Host Carter Oosterhouse on Holiday Traditions, Marriage to Amy Smart & More Snoop Dogg Gives Daughter Pre-Wedding Pep Talk in E! Docuseries Sneak Peek (VIDEO) ‘Bold and the Beautiful’ Breakup? Thorsten Kaye on Ridge’s Blowup With Brooke and If He’d Go Back to Taylor ‘Farmer Wants a Wife’ Renewed for Season 3 With a New Host: All the UpdatesAn online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalition
US dollar rises, Aussie drops after Chinese trade data‘Christmas Light Fight’ Host Carter Oosterhouse on Holiday Traditions, Marriage to Amy Smart & More
Google is ramping up its push into smart glasses and augmented reality headgear, taking on rivals Apple and Meta with help from its sophisticated Gemini artificial intelligence. The internet titan on Thursday unveiled an Android XR operating system created in a collaboration with Samsung, which will use it in a device being built in what is called internally "Project Moohan," according to Google. The software is designed to power augmented and virtual reality experiences enhanced with artificial intelligence, XR vice president Shahram Izadi said in a blog post. "With headsets, you can effortlessly switch between being fully immersed in a virtual environment and staying present in the real world," Izadi said. "You can fill the space around you with apps and content, and with Gemini, our AI assistant, you can even have conversations about what you're seeing or control your device." Google this week announced the launch of Gemini 2.0, its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date, as the world's tech giants race to take the lead in the fast-developing technology. CEO Sundar Pichai said the new model would mark what the company calls "a new agentic era" in AI development, with AI models designed to understand and make decisions about the world around you. Android XR infused with Gemini promises to put digital assistants into eyewear, tapping into what users are seeing and hearing. An AI "agent," the latest Silicon Valley trend, is a digital helper that is supposed to sense surroundings, make decisions, and take actions to achieve specific goals. "Gemini can understand your intent, helping you plan, research topics and guide you through tasks," Izadi said. "Android XR will first launch on headsets that transform how you watch, work and explore." The Android XR release was a preview for developers so they can start building games and other apps for headgear, ideally fun or useful enough to get people to buy the hardware. This is not Google's first foray into smart eyewear. Its first offering, Google Glass, debuted in 2013 only to be treated as an unflattering tech status symbol and met with privacy concerns due to camera capabilities. The market has evolved since then, with Meta investing heavily in a Quest virtual reality headgear line priced for mainstream adoption and Apple hitting the market with pricey Vision Pro "spacial reality" gear. Google plans to soon begin testing prototype Android XR-powered glasses with a small group of users. Google will also adapt popular apps such as YouTube, Photos, Maps, and Google TV for immersive experiences using Android XR, according to Izadi. Gemini AI in glasses will enable tasks like directions and language translations, he added. "It's all within your line of sight, or directly in your ear," Izadi said. gc/dw
Sen. Joni Ernst to helm Senate DOGE Caucus, huddles with Ramaswamy to slash governmentFor children, parental guidance is essential to ensure that they use their devices appropriately and only as needed. — Bernama photo IT is now commonplace to see children as young as two years old holding a smartphone, their eyes fixed intently on the screen. Whether at a restaurant or in a shopping mall or even on the way from home to school and vice versa, the smartphone is often the ‘companion’ of the little ones. The Internet, unarguably, offers vast benefits to users; however, for children, parental guidance is essential to ensure that they use their devices appropriately and only as needed. To borrow a quote by Norwegian historian and educator Christian Lous Lange: “Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master.” In reality, technological advancements like the Internet and digital networking platforms are not inherently harmful. Rather, it is the users’ inability to manage social media effectively that often leads to psychological stress, emotional disturbances and challenges in communication and social relationships. Is YouTube replacing parents? Commenting on this, SEGi University’s child psychologist Prof Datin Dr Mariani Md Nor, who is also Early Childhood Care and Education Council Malaysia president, says in (American psychologist Uries) Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory (1977), interactions between children and their environment can influence their development and growth processes. In this context, any information or knowledge from the environment shapes a child’s mind and personality. “The influence comes not only from authentic aspects (real life), but also from cyberspace, including social media, which serves as a platform for children to gain knowledge and skills, and emulate the behaviours of their role models. “(Hence) there should be monitoring of the websites they visit or read and the language they use in online conversations. This is because whatever they see, hear and read, especially in the form of words or screenplay like that of cartoons or children’s dramas, will to some extent shape their thinking and become something they would indirectly follow,” she tells Bernama in an interview. Dr Mariani says an individual’s developmental process begins at birth and goes on till adulthood. However, different experiences lead to variations in emotional and mental development, which in turn result in differences in psychological development. According to her, children aged below six are at a critical stage of their lives as this is the time when they can be easily influenced, shaped and nurtured in terms of their minds and skills because they are particularly receptive to all types of information presented to them. “If social media is constantly by the side of children in that age group, then their parents are to be blamed if platforms like YouTube and TikTok become almost like surrogate parents or teachers to their kids,” she said. Influence of cyber narratives Commenting on reports that issues such as stress, mental health problems, running away from home, and even self-harm or suicide attempts among children are often linked to the influence of the Internet and social media, Dr Mariani says these negative behaviours are often influenced by the ‘narratives’ presented on social media, which can lead children to act without considering the consequences, especially given their age and immaturity. “Here, ‘narratives’ refer to the tendency to follow or emulate behaviours seen on social media that may seem meaningful or beneficial to them. “If they don’t get the expected outcomes, it can lead to disappointment. Without relevant guidance, education and advice, children may take shortcuts to resolve their issues, sometimes in very unhealthy ways.” Dr Mariani says many negative behaviours are often influenced by the ‘narratives’ presented on social media, which can lead children to act without considering the consequences, especially given their age and immaturity. — Bernama photo Touching on the issue of cyberbullying among children, which can escalate into bigger issues affecting their psychological and mental health, Dr Mariani says it can disrupt their daily lives and thinking and affect their studies and well-being. Stressing that the use of the Internet and social media is not inherently wrong as it has become a necessity today, she says its use should be controlled to prevent addiction. “It’s important to regulate children’s screen time and social media interactions. All online content accessed by children, especially those under the age of seven, should be monitored by their parents. Content accessed by children should ideally focus on educational or developmental games to support their growth,” she adds. All online content accessed by children, especially those under the age of seven, should be monitored by their parents, says the SEGi University’s child psychologist. — Bernama photo ‘Strawberry Generation’ Commenting on the ‘Strawberry Generation’ – a label given to children of today’s generation who are considered ‘fragile’ and lacking strong emotional, physical and social resilience due to overreliance on the digital world, particularly social media, leading them to rarely engage with peers in ways that build mental resilience, Dr Mariani says children should be nurtured to build resilience and strengthen their mental endurance. Due to overreliance on technology, this generation tends to be impatient and struggles to handle complex problems, often turning to the Internet and social media as ‘solutions’ without considering other alternatives around them. “According to studies, the ‘Strawberry Generation’ often results from ‘helicopter parenting’, where parents are overly controlling, leaving no room for children to think freely, express emotions or gain personal life experiences appropriate for their age. “This overly controlling parenting style hinders children from developing essential soft skills such as tolerance, making their own decisions, accepting opinions of others and even being ready to accept defeat as life doesn’t always mean winning.” Meanwhile, Universiti Multimedia Malaysia language lecturer Maswanhizzly Masri says in today’s digital world, social media significantly shapes how children communicate and the language they use. Maswanhizzly says in today’s digital world, social media significantly shapes how children communicate and the language that they use. — Bernama photo According to him, the use of harsh language and insults, and toxic behaviours in social media interactions, combined with demeaning or mocking comments, can influence the language children use in their daily lives. “The use of slang and abbreviations and following trends including the latest Gen-Z language, which is becoming increasingly complex, is also a challenge. “While words in short forms might facilitate communication, it may also erode a person’s formal language skills and undermine the purity and originality of the language itself,” he says. Dr Mariani says if social media is constantly by the side of young children, then their parents are to be blamed if platforms like YouTube and TikTok become almost like surrogate parents or teachers to their kids. — Bernama photo ‘Stop normalising crude language’ Maswanhizzly believes that language degradation can affect the socio-cultural development of society in this country, with one risk being the potential loss of the identity of the national language. In the context of Malaysia, known for its diverse ethnicities and languages, exposure to social media encourages the usage of a more globalised language or trends that mostly originate from Western countries. “For example, the dominance of English or the uncontrolled mixing of languages, widely referred to as ‘bahasa rojak’ (mixed language) on social media, can undermine the use of Bahasa Melayu, which is the national language. “When children gravitate more toward using English or ‘bahasa rojak’, it can impact their proficiency in Malay, especially in formal contexts. “This weakens the resilience of the national language among the younger generation, which could ultimately impact the country’s cultural and social identity,” he says, adding the freedom of expression on social media also contributes to this issue. He also observes the tendency for individuals to share opinions and disseminate inaccurate or misleading language, which can lead to misunderstandings in social communication, reducing society’s ability to think critically and accurately analyse information. “They may think that communicating with harsh language is ‘normal, cool, trendy and accepted’ in social interactions. “However, we should be concerned if children start using harsh words, insulting others or behaving disrespectfully based on what they ‘absorb’ from social media.” Sharing the findings of a 2019 study carried out by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on language etiquette among teenagers on social media in the country, Maswanhizzly says there is a notable difference in the language used on social media compared to the daily spoken language. The study also found that 2,220 obscene words were used by 120 teenagers and women on Facebook posts, with the offensive language used by netizens from different racial backgrounds in Malaysia. The use of the Internet and social media is not inherently wrong as it has become a necessity today, but it should be controlled to prevent addiction. — Bernama photo “There was also a 2017 study by Telenor Group (titled ‘Digital Parenting: The Challenges and Opportunities of Raising Children in the Digital Age’), which revealed that over 70 per cent of Malaysian teenagers use social media, with several local studies indicating a tendency to use harsh language in online conversations, particularly in more informal spaces like WhatsApp or Facebook. “Although there are no exact statistics on how many people use harsh language frequently, studies show an increase in the use of aggressive and provocative language,” says Maswanhizzly. He adds that beyond serving as entertainment and social interaction spaces, these digital platforms should be used for educational purposes including the development of language skills, as well as for generating income. “Platforms like YouTube can be utilised to learn language skills, and many other educational resources are available for children to access. “However, without assistance, monitoring and cooperation from parents, children are more likely to choose inappropriate content,” says Maswanhizzly. — Bernama
