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Headlines, Media Ownership
Bloggers: Big Media Is Watching
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 25, 2008 - 7:43amThe Associated Press unleashed a firestorm in the blogosphere earlier this month when it demanded that a political site take down AP content it said violated copyrights. Bloggers cried foul, saying the AP's move threatened the free flow of information over the Web.
One Man, One Long List, No More Web Ads
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 25, 2008 - 7:41amA machinist and self-described "blue-collar guy" in his mid-50s from upstate New York, Rick752, as he's known online, spends most nights upstairs in his den assembling a list of Internet ad sites and related data.
Markey: Wait on Online-Ad-Service Technology
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 24, 2008 - 8:48pmLast updated: June 25, 2008 - 7:34am
House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA) has told cable operators and other broadband providers to hold off implementing ad-service technology similar to what Charter Communications was planning to use from online-ad network NebuAd.
NAB Seeks Removal of Cross-Ownership Provision
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 24, 2008 - 8:46pmThe National Association of Broadcasters is trying to get a provision removed from a House Federal Communications Commission appropriations bill that would prevent it from implementing its relaxation of the newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership ban.
Sinclair to Buy Raycom Station for $85M
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 24, 2008 - 8:45pmSinclair Broadcast Group announced Tuesday that it will buy the assets of WTVR, the CBS affiliate in the Richmond-Petersburg (VA) market, from Raycom Media for $85 million. If the sale is approved, Sinclair will own 59 TV stations around the country.
Online bandwidth hogs to be cut off at trough?
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 24, 2008 - 7:49amThe era of carefree, unlimited Internet browsing and downloading might be coming to an end. Industry leaders Comcast and Time Warner Cable have started testing traffic-metering and management techniques that seek to rein in heavy usage, and AT&T says such limits are inevitable for the most extreme users of its network.
Cable Channels Gain on Broadcast Networks
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 24, 2008 - 7:46amPreliminary figures for advance sales indicate that the cable channels will collectively sell about $8 billion in airtime to advertisers this season, up 7 to 8 percent from last year’s total.
Tough economy might be good for broadcast TV
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 24, 2008 - 7:42amIn uncertain times, Americans cling to their TVs. For those putting their dreams for a new home and car on hold, a flat-screen TV seems like a comforting alternative. The share of consumers planning to buy a TV set in the next six months hit an all-time high of 12.2 percent in May.
July 18 Deadline for Cross-Ownership Move Requests
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 23, 2008 - 6:36pmThe Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals gave broadcasters and media activists until July 18 to file their requests for moving the appeal of the Federal Communications Commission's decision to loosen the ban on newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership.
Iowa Broadcasters to Martin: This Is Localism
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 23, 2008 - 6:35pmIowa Broadcasters Association Executive Director Sue Toma has written Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin to let him know that some broadcasters there have been going 24/7 with commercial-free coverage of the devastating flooding while they help to marshal volunteer efforts and battle flood waters themselves.
