Today's number: $48.93

The average monthly cost of satellite TV service this year, up 8 percent from five years ago, a study by J.D. Power & Associates found; cable TV was up 41 percent to $49.62 during the same time.

Dow Jones News Service

Today's mover

•Nicholas J. Sowar has been named regional managing partner of strategic client services for Deloitte & Touche LLP, Ohio Valley region. In this new role Sowar leads the delivery of Deloitte's services to non-attest clients. He will also continue as partner-in-charge of the Ohio Valley manufacturing practice and as a member of the region's management committee. He has been with the firm for 26 years.

Shirley Dees

Today's career talk

How important is your brand? Few elements of a product are more important, authors Mark T. Turnage, Lewis T. Kontnik and David M. Hopkins say in Counterfeiting Exposed. "The term brand comes from a Scandinavian word for burning. Brand is the Swedish word for fire," the authors said. "Branding originated from the act of putting your identifiable mark on something you have produced - a symbol of quality and service that the customer attaches to the product."

John EckbergToday's money tip

Looking to lower your monthly phone bill? One good way to do it is by telephone rate comparison-shopping on the World Wide Web.

A wide variety of sites offer all kinds of phone rate information, from local and long distance to DSL and 10-10 numbers. One site you might find useful is PhoneRateFinder.com. It features various service rate comparison search engines.

Knight Ridder News Service

Today's Company: Parking Solutions Inc.

On The Move: When he was a student at OSU, Cincinnatian Aaron Shocket launched a one-man valet parking service. Twelve years later, his company operates in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Knoxville, Charlotte, N.C., and San Francisco. It offers valet parking, shuttle bus services and manages parking facilities for colleges, hospitals, shopping malls, country clubs, hotels and convention centers.

Cream Of The Crop: PSI screens applicants and trains its employees to ensure their professionalism and emphasis on customer service. The company employs between 700 and 900 people, a significant portion of whom are college students.

Attired For The Occasion: The attire for PSI's special event valet staff ranges from khakis and golf shirts to tuxedo shirts and pants. The company also provides coat check attendants, traffic control personnel and doormen.

Vehicle Venues: Clients include the Port Columbus International Airport and the Great American Ball Park, for whom PSI manages bus parking. The company provides valet parking for the Contemporary Arts Center and a full range of services for Newport on the Levee.

Jenny Callison