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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2008

TAMPA BAY AREA

Digital Studios Expands

Tampa Digital Studios is expanding its film and video operations by acquiring the sports programming and production arm of Tampa-based Focused TV Productions. That four-employee unit of Focused TV produces programming for ABC, ESPN, Versus, NBC and other networks, with coverage of events such as the ESPN show dog championships and offshore powerboat racing. Tampa Digital Studios, one of the larger media production companies in west Florida, is based in Ybor City and will have about 40 employees after the merger.

St. Joseph's A Stroke Center

Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration has named St. Joseph's Hospital a comprehensive stroke center, the hospital said Friday. The certification makes St. Joe's the second comprehensive stroke center in the Tampa Bay area, along with Tampa General Hospital, and one of eight in the state.

Titan Will Boost Capacity

Titan Metal Service will open a new steel processing facility at the Port of Tampa on Thursday. The 50,000-square-foot facility can process up to 60,000 tons of steel coil annually.

NATION

Jury: Enzyte Owner Guilty

A federal jury on Friday found the owner of a company selling "male enhancement" tablets and other herbal supplements guilty of bank fraud and money laundering. Steve Warshak's Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals distributes Enzyte and other products said to boost energy, manage weight and reduce memory loss. Enzyte TV ads feature "Smiling Bob," a goofy, grinning man whose life gets much better after using Enzyte. Warshak faces more than 20 years in prison, and his company could have to forfeit tens of millions of dollars.

UAW, GM In Legal Step

The United Auto Workers and General Motors have taken a big legal step toward shifting billions in retiree health care costs from the automaker to an independent trust fund. The union and attorneys representing several retirees sued GM on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Detroit in an effort to get court approval of the change. It would cover about 500,000 GM retirees and spouses, plus current UAW workers when they retire.

The lawsuit is not a hostile action. GM will not oppose its major points and joined the UAW and retirees in filing a settlement agreement to govern how the trust would be run. If the court approves, the trust will take on $46.7 billion in health care costs starting as early as Jan. 1, 2010.

A staff and wire report

Watch the Tribune's Business report at 5, 6 and 11 a.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m. Saturdays on WFLA-TV.

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