"We are thrilled to count Amazon as a digital distribution outlet for our television group, " said Ken Werner, President, Warner Bros.

ENGADGET: Amazon, Warner deal brings Fringe, The West Wing to Prime Instant Video exclusively

Thinfilm has been working on low-cost sensor tags containing rewritable memory that can be placed on anything from a bunch of bananas to a bottle of perishable pills and that can collect a bevy of information, including the environmental conditions the fruit and drugs have passed through to how long it took them to get from the factory to a distribution outlet.

FORBES: Thinfilm Pairs Up With Packaging Giant Bemis To Create Labels That Know Things

For starters, there is a law that says foreign retailers are not allowed to sell goods directly to the public, so Wal-Mart built a wholesale distribution center instead of their typical retail outlet.

FORBES: Wal-Mart: A Good Plan in Africa

There is nothing wrong with any distribution terms negotiated between a vendor and an outlet.

ENGADGET: Editorial: Bring on the digital overthrow of publishing

They have stopped inefficient unit growth, even closing stores, and are investing to improve distribution, IT capabilities, and their factory outlet system.

FORBES: Nike's Massive BRIC Opportunity: China Turning Around And Brazil's World Cup And Olympics Could Take Stock To $80

Owning a distribution channel, whether satellite or cable, guarantees an outlet for your content, making it easier to launch new networks, and fortifies your bargaining power over carriage rights.

ECONOMIST: Satellite television: Another twist in the tale | The