May 2008

Today's Quotes 05.30.08

“You are the head of the FCC. How have you allowed this to happen? I AM DEAD SERIOUS. HOW HAVE YOU ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN?"
-- Walt Mossberg on broadband speed in the U.S.

"We spend $6 billion a year on infrastructure for telephone networks. I think we need to move that to subsidized broadband."
-- FCC Chairman Kevin Martin

Was Press a War ‘Enabler’? 2 Offer a Nod From Inside

In his new memoir, “What Happened,” Scott McClellan, the former White House press secretary, said the national news media neglected their watchdog role in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, calling reporters “complicit enablers” of the Bush administration’s push for war. Surprisingly, some prominent journalists have agreed. Katie Couric, the anchor of “CBS Evening News,” said on Wednesday that she had felt pressure from government officials and corporate executives to cast the war in a positive light. Jessica Yellin, who worked for MSNBC in 2003 and now reports for CNN, said on Wednesday that journalists had been “under enormous pressure from corporate executives, frankly, to make sure that this was a war presented in a way that was consistent with the patriotic fever in the nation.” On Thursday, she clarified her comments in a blog post, writing that her producers at MSNBC had wanted their coverage to reflect the patriotic mood of the country. A spokeswoman for General Electric, which owns NBC and MSNBC through its division NBC Universal, declined to speak about the specifics of the comments but said, “General Electric has never, and will never, interfere in the editorial process at NBC News.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/washington/30press.html?ref=todayspaper
(requires registration)

McCain's Web gap is showing

Six of the top 10 videos returned by a "John McCain" YouTube search Thursday pegged the 71-year-old as inconsistent, extreme, wooden or a combination of the three. Contrast that with a YouTube search of "Barack Obama." It's a swoon fest, with virtually all of the top entries featuring the Illinois senator at his eloquent, uplifting best. The videos range from the pop-icon worship of Scarlett Johansson and John Legend & Co. in “Yes We Can” (closing in on 13 million views) to a clip of the candidate's speech on race after the explosion over the controversial sermons of his onetime pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. "This is another example of the generation gap that the Republicans are facing. And that gap is morphing into a chasm," said Frank Luntz, a veteran GOP pollster. Yes, many of the young video viewers are already committed to Obama, but watching and even making the short films has turned the merely amused into the deeply committed. "You activate them and engage them in a way you haven't before, up to and including on election day," Luntz said. "I think this is a critical part of Obama's appeal."
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-onmedia30-2008ma...
(requires registration)

FCC Commissioner Urges National Broadband Policy with Municipal Wi-Fi

A national broadband strategy should permit, and not prohibit, municipalities from offering high-speed Internet services, Federal Communications Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said Thursday at summit on community wireless networks. FCC Adelstein said that broadband should be so much more available that communities wouldn't find the need to build their own broadband network, speaking at the International Summit for Community Wireless Networks here. But when local elected officials do take matters of broadband access into their own hands, they shouldn't be barred from doing so, said Commissioner Adelstein. Speaking of some recent setbacks in wireless projects in Philadelphia and San Francisco, he said: “To draw from those the conclusions that we should give up and allow states to ban these would be a huge mistake.” At the same time, Commissioner Adelstein said that “it is a shame that communities need to take that up. If we had a national broadband policy, there would be a way of making sure that every community had access” to the high-speed Internet. In fact, Commissioner Adelstein said that other countries surpassing the United States in global broadband availability had done so by relying, in part, on municipal wireless networks. Adelstein said that he hoped that a national broadband policy would be ratified by the FCC “sooner rather than later.”
http://broadbandcensus.com/blog/?p=7

Redskins' Snyder Seeks to Buy WTEM, Two Other Stations

Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is moving closer to an agreement to buy local sports-talk station WTEM-AM and two other AM stations, in a bid to expand his fledgling but problem-plagued radio operations. A purchase of WTEM (980) would give Snyder's radio station group, called Red Zebra Broadcasting, a lock on the sports radio market in the Washington area. Red Zebra already owns three smaller stations that are WTEM's chief rivals for sports call-in and discussion programs. Snyder has made an undisclosed offer for WTEM, WWRC-AM (1260) and WTNT-AM (570), all of which are owned by Clear Channel Broadcasting. Purchasing WTEM would give Red Zebra a much better signal for Redskins games and Redskins-related programming. Indeed, WTEM was the Redskins' flagship station for several years in the 1990s, before Snyder purchased the team.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/29/AR200805...
(requires registration)

Slower cellphone growth in USA could bring good deals

After years of go-go growth, the number of people signing up for cellphone service in the USA is finally slowing. That could spell good news for consumers as carriers turn up the marketing heat, says Craig Moffett, a senior analyst at Bernstein Research and author of a report documenting the trend. "When operators have no choice but to try to take customers away from each other, they have a natural inclination to sharpen the pencils and make the best offer they can," he says. The wireless industry added 23% fewer subscribers in the first quarter this year than it did last year. The overall growth rate — how fast the total is growing — dropped to 7.9% from 11.5%, and will "slow further from here," the report said. Moffett says carriers are victims of their own success. "The vision of every adult in America having a cellphone is a great aspiration until you get there. Then it raises the obvious question: Now what?" For years, wireless was a story of heady growth. As of year-end 1995, the USA claimed 33.8 million subscribers. By December 2007 the number had jumped to 255.4 million, a sevenfold increase. About 83% of U.S. consumers have at least one cellphone. By 2010, the number will rise to 89%, Bernstein predicts. At that level, Moffett says, everybody who wants a cellphone will already have one.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20080530/cellslow30.art.htm

Can Hollywood's future be found amid all those quirky videos on the Internet?

Top Hollywood agencies such as UTA, Endeavor and Creative Artists Agency are diligently mining the Web for raw talent. The process quickly has become as crucial to entertainment talent scouts as trawling smoky comedy clubs or screening obscure movies has been for generations. Meanwhile, network executives are busy signing deals with online content producers with a knack for wooing audiences with short attention spans. This month, CBS brought on EQAL founders Miles Beckett and Greg Goodfried, the duo behind the first successful Web serial, LonelyGirl15, to help create unique extensions of CBS shows for the Web.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080530/1a_cover29.art.htm

FCC Greenlights Sale of sage's Texas Stations

The Federal Communications Commission yesterday approved Bayou City Broadcasting’s purchase of Sage Broadcasting’s small group of TV stations in West Texas for $3 million. The group comprises KIDY San Angelo (Fox, DMA 197), KXVA/KIDZ-LP Abilene (Fox/MNT, DMA 164) and four other low-power stations. KIDY was among the original Fox affiliates, signing on in 1986. The deal marks Sage’s exit from TV broadcasting.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/05/30/daily.1/

Where Things Stand as DTV Conversions Looms

A legal expert offers a recap on Washington's regulatory and legal moves affecting TV stations and the public as the Feb. 17, 2009, switch to all-analog, full-power broadcasting approaches. The FCC 1) expects to announce, very soon, the opening of a filing window for new applications by stations to maximize their authorized DTV facilities -- this would end a long freeze and give first filers in their markets priority over later filers; and 2) may exempt digital stations, before or during its June 12 public meeting, from the requirement of immediate updating of on-screen program guides when programs are preempted or run longer than scheduled.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/05/29/daily.14/

Benton's Communications-related Headlines For Friday May 30, 2008

Next week's major event, of course, is the=20
National Conference for Media Reform=20
(http://www.freepress.net/conference/). For this=20
and other upcoming media policy events, see=20
http://www.benton.org/calendar/2008/6/all

JOURNALISM
Was Press a War =91Enabler=92? 2 Offer a Nod From Inside

INTERNET/BROADBAND
FCC Chairman at All Things Digital
FCC Commissioner Urges National Broadband Policy with Municipal Wi=
-Fi
Internet Network Companies Say Bandwidth Gap is Growing
Internet Safety Education Bill

ELECTIONS & MEDIA
Character and the Primaries of 2008
McCain's Web gap is showing
Obama Spent $3.47 Million on Online Advertising
Stations=92 Political Ad Bounty Isn't Over Yet

BROADCASTING/CABLE
FCC Publishes DTV Transition Education Order
Where Things Stand as DTV Conversions Looms
Digital TV Switch to Wipe Out Your Portable TV?
FCC DTV Consumer Education Workshop on DTV Converter Boxes
Minority Groups Target Undbundling
New CPB Nominees
FCC Greenlights Sale of sage's Texas Stations
Redskins' Snyder Seeks to Buy WTEM, Two Other Stations

CONTENT
Redlasso to Continue Offering Networks=92 Clips
Can Hollywood's future be found amid all=20
those quirky videos on the Internet?
Commissioner Tate Applauds qubo Adoption on Nutritional Guidelines

TELECOM
Slower cellphone growth in USA could bring good deals

JOURNALISM

WAS PRESS A WAR 'ENABLER'? 2 OFFER A NOD FROM INSIDE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Brian Stelter]
In his new memoir, =93What Happened,=94 Scott=20
McClellan, the former White House press=20
secretary, said the national news media neglected=20
their watchdog role in the run-up to the invasion=20
of Iraq, calling reporters =93complicit enablers=94=20
of the Bush administration=92s push for war.=20
Surprisingly, some prominent journalists have=20
agreed. Katie Couric, the anchor of =93CBS Evening=20
News,=94 said on Wednesday that she had felt=20
pressure from government officials and corporate=20
executives to cast the war in a positive light.=20
Jessica Yellin, who worked for MSNBC in 2003 and=20
now reports for CNN, said on Wednesday that=20
journalists had been =93under enormous pressure=20
from corporate executives, frankly, to make sure=20
that this was a war presented in a way that was=20
consistent with the patriotic fever in the=20
nation.=94 On Thursday, she clarified her comments=20
in a blog post, writing that her producers at=20
MSNBC had wanted their coverage to reflect the=20
patriotic mood of the country. A spokeswoman for=20
General Electric, which owns NBC and MSNBC=20
through its division NBC Universal, declined to=20
speak about the specifics of the comments but=20
said, =93General Electric has never, and will=20
never, interfere in the editorial process at NBC News.=94
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/washington/30press.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
(requires registration)

INTERNET/BROADBAND

FCC CHAIRMAN AT ALL THINGS DIGITAL
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Eric Auchard]
The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg opened a=20
session of D: All Things Digital Conference with=20
an angry tirade against the s-s-s-low state of=20
broadband in the United States. The target of his=20
wrath was Federal Communications Commission=20
Chairman Kevin Martin. Mossberg asked, "You are=20
the head of the FCC. How have you allowed this to=20
happen?" Chairman Martin replied, "I am not sure=20
I am solely responsible." "We spend $6 billion a=20
year on infrastructure for telephone networks. I=20
think we need to move that to subsidized broadband."
http://www.benton.org/node/11293

FCC COMMISSIONER URGES NATIONAL BROADBAND POLICY WITH MUNICIPAL WI-FI
[SOURCE: BroadbandCensus.com, AUTHOR: William Korver]
A national broadband strategy should permit, and=20
not prohibit, municipalities from offering=20
high-speed Internet services, Federal=20
Communications Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein=20
said Thursday at summit on community wireless=20
networks. FCC Adelstein said that broadband=20
should be so much more available that communities=20
wouldn't find the need to build their own=20
broadband network, speaking at the International=20
Summit for Community Wireless Networks here. But=20
when local elected officials do take matters of=20
broadband access into their own hands, they=20
shouldn't be barred from doing so, said=20
Commissioner Adelstein. Speaking of some recent=20
setbacks in wireless projects in Philadelphia and=20
San Francisco, he said: =93To draw from those the=20
conclusions that we should give up and allow=20
states to ban these would be a huge mistake.=94 At=20
the same time, Commissioner Adelstein said that=20
=93it is a shame that communities need to take that=20
up. If we had a national broadband policy, there=20
would be a way of making sure that every=20
community had access=94 to the high-speed Internet.=20
In fact, Commissioner Adelstein said that other=20
countries surpassing the United States in global=20
broadband availability had done so by relying, in=20
part, on municipal wireless networks. Adelstein=20
said that he hoped that a national broadband=20
policy would be ratified by the FCC =93sooner rather than later.=94
http://broadbandcensus.com/blog/?p=3D7

INTERNET NETWORK COMPANIES SAY BANDWIDTH GAP GROWING
[SOURCE: Home Media Magazine, AUTHOR: Chris Tribbey]
The gap between those with low-speed Internet=20
access and those with high-speed access is=20
growing larger by the day. That=92s according to=20
The Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council, a coalition=20
of more than 160 Internet network companies,=20
which met on Capitol Hill on May 22 to discuss=20
bandwidth issues and the ways to address them.=20
With more content and service providers demanding=20
more bandwidth every day to deliver movies, TV=20
shows and other media, the pipelines are getting=20
clogged, FTTH members agreed. =93We all recognize=20
the torrid growth of bandwidth-intensive video=20
and applications on the Internet,=94 said Erik=20
Klinker, chief technical officer of BitTorrent,=20
the No. 1 peer-to-peer service provider in the=20
world. =93=85 It is crucial we work with the=20
networking community to understand which=20
practices that will preserve a superior end-user=20
experience.=94 Klinker suggested that more=20
streaming options, instead of direct downloads, would help free up bandwidt=
h.
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=
=3D12827

INTERNET SAFETY EDUCATION BILL
[SOURCE: Rep Judy Biggert (R-IL), AUTHOR: Press release]
Rep Judy Biggert (R-IL) AND Nick Lampson (D-TX)=20
have introduce the Protecting Our Children Online=20
Act, a bill to ensure that children exploring the=20
Internet are protected from online predators and=20
other threats. The bill would require that=20
schools and libraries that allow children to=20
access the Internet also provide them with basic=20
instruction on how to avoid common online=20
dangers. Teachers and librarians will be given=20
the flexibility to choose the most effective=20
means for instructing children, but the lessons=20
will focus on the safe use of social networking=20
websites, chat rooms, instant messaging, and=20
e-mail as well as awareness of and response to cyberbullying.
http://judybiggert.house.gov/Newsroom.aspx?FormMode=3DDetail&ID=3D860

ELECTIONS & MEDIA

CHARACTER AND THE PRIMARIES OF 2008
[SOURCE: Project for Excellence in Journalism, AUTHOR: Mark Jurkowitz]
If campaigns for president are in part a battle=20
for control of the master narrative about=20
character, Sen Barack Obama (D-IL) has not=20
enjoyed a better ride in the press than rival Sen=20
Hillary Clinton (D-NY), according to a new study=20
of primary coverage by the Pew Research Center=92s=20
Project for Excellence in Journalism and the Joan=20
Shorenstein Center on Press, Politics and Public=20
Policy at Harvard University. From January 1,=20
just before the Iowa caucuses, through March 9,=20
following the Texas and Ohio contests, the height=20
of the primary season, the dominant personal=20
narratives in the media about Sens Obama and=20
Clinton were almost identical in tone, and were=20
both twice as positive as negative, according to=20
the study, which examined the coverage of the=20
candidates=92 character, history, leadership and=20
appeal=97apart from the electoral results and the=20
tactics of their campaigns. The trajectory of the=20
coverage, however, began to turn against Obama,=20
and did so well before questions surfaced about=20
his pastor Jeremiah Wright. Shortly after Clinton=20
criticized the media for being soft on Obama=20
during a debate, the narrative about him began to=20
turn more skeptical=97and indeed became more=20
negative than the coverage of Clinton herself.=20
What=92s more, an additional analysis of more=20
general campaign topics suggests the Obama=20
narrative became even more negative later in=20
March, April and May. On the Republican side,=20
John McCain, the candidate who quickly clinched=20
his party=92s nomination, has had a harder time=20
controlling his message in the press. Fully 57%=20
of the narratives studied about him were critical=20
in nature, though a look back through 2007=20
reveals the storyline about the Republican=20
nominee has steadily improved with time.
http://www.journalism.org/node/11266
* Coverage of Obama Becomes Less Positive, Study Shows (NYTimes)
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/coverage-of-obama-becomes-...
s-positive-study-shows/
* Obama coverage fair, study finds (Variety)
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117986594.html?categoryid=3D18&cs=3D1&...
=3D2562
* Study: Coverage of Clinton, Obama =91Almost Identical=92 (Broadcasting&Ca=
ble)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6565086.html?rssid=3D193
* Journalism report: Clinton got fair shake
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080530/a_eline30.art.htm

MCCAIN'S WEB GAP IS SHOWING
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: James Rainey]
Six of the top 10 videos returned by a "John=20
McCain" YouTube search Thursday pegged the=20
71-year-old as inconsistent, extreme, wooden or a=20
combination of the three. Contrast that with a=20
YouTube search of "Barack Obama." It's a swoon=20
fest, with virtually all of the top entries=20
featuring the Illinois senator at his eloquent,=20
uplifting best. The videos range from the=20
pop-icon worship of Scarlett Johansson and John=20
Legend & Co. in =93Yes We Can=94 (closing in on 13=20
million views) to a clip of the candidate's=20
speech on race after the explosion over the=20
controversial sermons of his onetime pastor, the=20
Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. "This is another=20
example of the generation gap that the=20
Republicans are facing. And that gap is morphing=20
into a chasm," said Frank Luntz, a veteran GOP=20
pollster. Yes, many of the young video viewers=20
are already committed to Obama, but watching and=20
even making the short films has turned the merely=20
amused into the deeply committed. "You activate=20
them and engage them in a way you haven't before,=20
up to and including on election day," Luntz said.=20
"I think this is a critical part of Obama's appeal."
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-onmedia30-2008ma...
,0,2542273.story
(requires registration)

OBAMA SPENT $3.37 MILLION ON ONLINE ADVERTISING
[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: ]
Sen Barack Obama's campaign spent at least $3.47=20
million on online advertising related purchases=20
between January and April. Google received most=20
of those dollars. The search giant scored over 82=20
percent of money spent on online media buys for=20
Obama campaign this year through April, according=20
to information compiled from Federal Election=20
Commission filings. More than $2.8 million was=20
paid to Google, as listed by Obama for America in=20
its itemized FEC reports. After spending about=20
$640,000 in January on online advertising, the=20
campaign pumped its online ad budget up to over=20
$1.9 million in February. Expenditures tapered to=20
about $888,000 in March. Filings show spending of=20
only around $234,000 in April. However, previous=20
monthly reports suggest more April online ad=20
payments will be reported in the future; Google=20
didn't even appear in April spending data supplied by the campaign.
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/digital-downloads/searc...
3i3f3a21456cba6a51581ed296479342df

STATIONS' POLITICAL AD BOUNTY ISN'T OVER YET
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Ira Teinowitz]
The Democratic race for president may be nearly=20
over, but there are signs its conclusion will=20
kick off a new flurry of political advertising,=20
pushing this year=92s record spending even higher.=20
That=92s good news for television stations, which=20
are struggling with revenue declines, and it=20
breaks the customary pattern of a political=20
spending lull that normally occurs prior to party=20
conventions. The candidates have strong=20
motivations to step up spending. Republican=20
nominee Sen. John McCain may need to separate=20
himself from the current Republican office holder=20
in the face of Democratic attacks that portray=20
him as a clone of President George W. Bush. And=20
Sen. Barack Obama, who leads in the Democratic=20
race, needs to introduce himself and his policies=20
nationally. Those factors and others are likely=20
to combine to bring an unprecedented airing of=20
presidential advertising throughout the summer,=20
according to Democratic and GOP consultants.=20
Political spending on the 2008 presidential race=20
could top $800 million, up from $650 million in=20
2004, according to research firm TNS Media Intelligence.
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/05/stations_political_ad_bounty_i.php
(requires free registration)
* Study: 2008 Station Web Revenue to Be $1.2B (Broadcasting & Cable)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6565189.html?rssid=3D193

BROADCASTING/CABLE

FCC PUBLISHES DTV-TRANSITION INFO ORDER
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Federal Communications Commission said=20
Thursday that its order revising=20
digital-TV-transition information requirements=20
for consumer-electronics manufacturers and=20
telecommunications carriers was published in the=20
Federal Register, meaning it is official. The=20
agency reminded the affected parties that the new=20
rules take effect May 30. Under the order,=20
manufacturers have to include DTV-transition=20
information along with TV sets, digital-video=20
recorders and set-top boxes, including cable=20
set-tops that do not contain or rely on a TV=20
receiver. That last item, the FCC said, was=20
included "to counter consumer confusion about the=20
functioning of such boxes in light of the=20
over-the-air digital transition."=20
Telecommunications companies also now must=20
include DTV-transition information in monthly=20
communications to their low-income customers.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6565219.html?rssid=3D193
* FCC Announcement
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-1231A1.doc

WHERE THINGS STAND AS DTV CONVERSIONS LOOMS
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Michael D. Berg]
A legal expert offers a recap on Washington's=20
regulatory and legal moves affecting TV stations=20
and the public as the Feb. 17, 2009, switch to=20
all-analog, full-power broadcasting approaches.=20
The FCC 1) expects to announce, very soon, the=20
opening of a filing window for new applications=20
by stations to maximize their authorized DTV=20
facilities -- this would end a long freeze and=20
give first filers in their markets priority over=20
later filers; and 2) may exempt digital stations,=20
before or during its June 12 public meeting, from=20
the requirement of immediate updating of=20
on-screen program guides when programs are=20
preempted or run longer than scheduled.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/05/29/daily.14/

DIGITAL TV SWITCH TO WIPE OUT YOUR PORTABLE TV?
[SOURCE: TVPredictions.com, AUTHOR: Phil Swann]
The Columbus Dispatch reports that current=20
battery-powered TVs will likely not be able to=20
display new digital signals when the nation=20
switches to Digital TV on February 17, 2009. Like=20
other analog sets, your portable TV would need a=20
digital converter box to convert the digital=20
signals to analog so you could continue to watch=20
television. However, it appears that no one is=20
making a portable converter box that would operate with current portable TV=
s.
http://phillipswann.c.topica.com/maalHzNabHCcAbsRVLVeaeQCSn/http://www.tv=
predictions.com/portabletv052908.htm=20

FCC DTV CONSUMER EDUCATION WORKSHOP ON DTV CONVERTER BOXES
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission has=20
announced that, on Thursday, June 19, 2008, it=20
will hold a Digital Television (DTV) Consumer=20
Education Workshop. The Workshop will begin at=20
10:00 a.m. and end at approximately 2:00 p.m.,=20
and will address issues related to DTV converter=20
boxes for analog television sets that receive=20
signals over-the-air. Specifically, the Workshop=20
will explain how to connect DTV converter boxes=20
to analog television sets and will discuss the=20
converter boxes' features, including closed=20
captioning and parental controls. Several=20
manufacturers and vendors will display their DTV=20
converter boxes and be available to answer questions about them.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282481A1.doc

MINORITY GROUPS TARGET UNBUNDLING
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Minority business groups that have historically=20
opposed retail cable a la carte said wholesale=20
program unbundling will be equally "devastating"=20
for program diversity. In a letter to Federal=20
Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin=20
and the other commissioners, more than one-dozen=20
groups ranging from the National Congress of=20
Black Women to the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber=20
of Commerce argued, as they did on retail a la=20
carte, that program bundling increases the=20
availability of minority-targeted programming,=20
which boosts investment, which "yields a=20
higher-quality product." Program unbundling --=20
which would require cable programmers to offer=20
channels individually, as well as in bundles --=20
would "strike a deadly blow at this virtuous=20
cycle by eradicating the benefits of bundling,"=20
the groups said. They also took aim at a=20
suggestion by Chairman Martin that one unbundling=20
model might be to require channels above a=20
certain per-subscriber price -- say 75 cents or=20
$1 -- be sold individually as a way to lower=20
cable prices and increase cable-operator control over their channel lineups.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6565106.html?rssid=3D193

NEW CPB NOMINEES
[SOURCE: White House, AUTHOR: ]
President George Bush has nominated the following=20
individuals to be Members of the Board of=20
Directors of the Corporation for Public=20
Broadcasting: Lori Gilbert, of Nevada, for the=20
remainder of a six-year term expiring 01/31/12;=20
Cheryl Feldman Halpern, of New Jersey, for the=20
remainder of a six-year term expiring 01/31/14;=20
David J. Pryor, of Arkansas, for the remainder of=20
a six-year term expiring 01/31/14; Bruce M.=20
Ramer, of California, for the remainder of a=20
six-year term expiring 01/31/12; Liz Sembler, of=20
Florida, for the remainder of a six-year term expiring 01/31/14.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080529-5.html
* Cheryl F. Halpern
http://www.cpb.org/aboutcpb/leadership/board/halpern.html
* David Pryor
http://www.cpb.org/aboutcpb/leadership/board/pryor.html
* Bruce M. Ramer
http://www.pacificcouncil.org/interior.aspx?pageID=3DAbout&subID=3D31&it...
D=3D88

FCC GREENLIGHTS SALE OF SAGE'S TEXAS STATIONS
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Harry A Jessell]
The Federal Communications Commission yesterday=20
approved Bayou City Broadcasting=92s purchase of=20
Sage Broadcasting=92s small group of TV stations in=20
West Texas for $3 million. The group comprises=20
KIDY San Angelo (Fox, DMA 197), KXVA/KIDZ-LP=20
Abilene (Fox/MNT, DMA 164) and four other=20
low-power stations. KIDY was among the original=20
Fox affiliates, signing on in 1986. The deal=20
marks Sage=92s exit from TV broadcasting.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/05/30/daily.1/

REDSKINS' SNYDER SEEKS TO BUY WTEM, TWO OTHER STATIONS
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Paul Farhi]
Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is moving=20
closer to an agreement to buy local sports-talk=20
station WTEM-AM and two other AM stations, in a=20
bid to expand his fledgling but problem-plagued=20
radio operations. A purchase of WTEM (980) would=20
give Snyder's radio station group, called Red=20
Zebra Broadcasting, a lock on the sports radio=20
market in the Washington area. Red Zebra already=20
owns three smaller stations that are WTEM's chief=20
rivals for sports call-in and discussion=20
programs. Snyder has made an undisclosed offer=20
for WTEM, WWRC-AM (1260) and WTNT-AM (570), all=20
of which are owned by Clear Channel Broadcasting.=20
Purchasing WTEM would give Red Zebra a much=20
better signal for Redskins games and=20
Redskins-related programming. Indeed, WTEM was=20
the Redskins' flagship station for several years=20
in the 1990s, before Snyder purchased the team.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/29/AR200805...
3738.html
(requires registration)

CONTENT

REDLASSO TO CONTINUE OFFERING NETWORKS' CLIPS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Alex Weprin]
Redlasso, an Internet startup that collects hours=20
of footage from selected television networks,=20
said it will continue to allow bloggers to=20
search, clip and embed the video on their own=20
sites. The company explained its plans Thursday=20
in response to a May 19 cease-and-desist letter=20
from Fox, NBC and CBS, adding that it will=20
continue to try to strike deals with the=20
networks. The company is also bringing on former=20
Westinghouse and CBS CEO Michael Jordan as a=20
senior advisor, acting as a liaison between the company and the networks.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6565221.html?rssid=3D193

CAN HOLLYWOOD'S FUTURE BE FOUND AMID ALL THOSE QUIRKY VIDEOS ON THE INTERNE=
T?
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Marco R. della Cava]
Top Hollywood agencies such as UTA, Endeavor and=20
Creative Artists Agency are diligently mining the=20
Web for raw talent. The process quickly has=20
become as crucial to entertainment talent scouts=20
as trawling smoky comedy clubs or screening=20
obscure movies has been for generations.=20
Meanwhile, network executives are busy signing=20
deals with online content producers with a knack=20
for wooing audiences with short attention spans.=20
This month, CBS brought on EQAL founders Miles=20
Beckett and Greg Goodfried, the duo behind the=20
first successful Web serial, LonelyGirl15, to=20
help create unique extensions of CBS shows for the Web.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080530/1a_cover29.art.htm

COMMISSIONER TATE APPLAUDS QUBO ADOPTION OF NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
In addition to providing family friendly=20
programming, qubo recently adopted specific=20
nutrition standards to guide their decisions=20
regarding advertisements directed at children. "I=20
appreciate qubo's continued dedication to the=20
goal of reducing the national epidemic of=20
childhood obesity," said Commissioner=20
Tate. "They have dedicated significant resources=20
to the development of these nutrition guidelines,=20
with the realization that filtering out unhealthy=20
messages will truly improve - and possibly even=20
save - our children's lives." Qubo programs will=20
contain advertisements only for foods and=20
beverages that meet established dietary limits on=20
fat, sugar, and calories. Qubo is a member of=20
the Ad Council's Coalition on Healthy Children=20
and the FCC's Joint Task Force on Childhood Obesity.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282525A1.doc

TELECOM

SLOWER CELLPHONE GROWTH IN USA COULD BRING GOOD DEALS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Leslie Cauley]
After years of go-go growth, the number of people=20
signing up for cellphone service in the USA is=20
finally slowing. That could spell good news for=20
consumers as carriers turn up the marketing heat,=20
says Craig Moffett, a senior analyst at Bernstein=20
Research and author of a report documenting the=20
trend. "When operators have no choice but to try=20
to take customers away from each other, they have=20
a natural inclination to sharpen the pencils and=20
make the best offer they can," he says. The=20
wireless industry added 23% fewer subscribers in=20
the first quarter this year than it did last=20
year. The overall growth rate =97 how fast the=20
total is growing =97 dropped to 7.9% from 11.5%,=20
and will "slow further from here," the report=20
said. Moffett says carriers are victims of their=20
own success. "The vision of every adult in=20
America having a cellphone is a great aspiration=20
until you get there. Then it raises the obvious=20
question: Now what?" For years, wireless was a=20
story of heady growth. As of year-end 1995, the=20
USA claimed 33.8 million subscribers. By December=20
2007 the number had jumped to 255.4 million, a=20
sevenfold increase. About 83% of U.S. consumers=20
have at least one cellphone. By 2010, the number=20
will rise to 89%, Bernstein predicts. At that=20
level, Moffett says, everybody who wants a cellphone will already have one.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20080530/cellslow30.art.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------
... and we're outta here. Have a great CUBS weekend.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online=20
news summary service provided by the Benton=20
Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday=20
through Friday, this service provides updates on=20
important industry developments, policy issues,=20
and other related news events. While the=20
summaries are factually accurate, their often=20
informal tone does not always represent the tone=20
of the original articles. Headlines are compiled=20
by Kevin Taglang headlines( at )benton.org -- we welcome your comments.
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