Media bigs try to coax us out of even more ca$h

Media companies like Time Warner and XM Satellite Radio have jumped into the holiday sales fray in a big way this year, pitching an array of merchandise to consumers as holiday gifts. In a bid to pump up its subscriber numbers, Time Warner is trying to make it easier to give magazine subscriptions as gifts, with a marketing push for its new product, Giftscriptions. Stores like Barnes & Noble, Borders and Best Buy are selling the product, a box about the size of a paperback that lets recipients choose a subscription from among 50 magazines. Nothing wrong with drinking out of a shot glass with Jeremy Piven's face at the bottom right? (maybe not) Media companies will do anything to fluff up the bottom line. They can sell us sand from Mischa Barton's beach towel and we'll buy it. [NYT]