Amazon losses spike to $437M in Q3; Comcast hires Mitch Rose for NBCU government affairs

Cable industry news from across the Web:

> Movie-recommendation app HereIsTV.com has launched on Comcast, Dish and DirecTV video services. Story

> DirecTV's Audience Network has acquired the Electus Digital series The Britishes, a parody of PBS' Downton Abbey. Story

> Partially hamstrung by slow sales of the new Fire smartphone, Amazon said it lost $437 million in the third quarter, which was much worse than the $41 million it posted for the same quarter last year. Story

> Chinese tech giant Alibaba is trying to acquire a 37 percent stake in Canadian film and TV studio Lionsgate. Story

> Netflix is closing a call center in Hillsboro, Ore., devoted to its shrinking DVD business. Story

> Comcast has hired Mitch Rose as senior VP of government affairs for its NBC Universal division, replacing the Meredith Attwell Baker, who was named president of CTIA. Story

And finally … Leichtman Research Group says 79 percent of U.S. homes have broadband service, up from 20 percent in 2004. Story