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Harry Jessell
Net-Affil Peace Raises Troubling Reality
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 22, 2008 - 3:13pmRepresentatives and the major broadcast networks and their affiliates last week hand-delivered to key Federal Communications Commission officials what amounts to a treaty formally ending seven years of hostilities between them.
FCC Clears Way for sale of Media General TVs
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 3, 2008 - 7:59pmThe Federal Communications Commission has approved Media General’s sale of two small-market TV stations to Hoak Media for $60 million.
Leaving the Lights on for the DTV Strategies
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 1, 2008 - 5:22pmCapitol Broadcasting's Jim Goodmon says the Wilmington (NC) stations that are participating in the Federal Communications Commission's September test switch-over to digital will run explanatory information on their analog channels for viewers who aren't ready after the switch is over.
FCC Greenlights Sale of sage's Texas Stations
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 30, 2008 - 7:26amThe 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.
Here's Hoping Less is Better for Fox
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 18, 2008 - 10:33amIn a world of almost unlimited viewing options, the broadcast networks need to reestablish themselves as the premier showcase of programming with the best viewer experience. Fox's "Remote-free TV" experiment is a good first step.
Quarterly Reports Make Sobering Reading
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 12, 2008 - 7:26amWith economic hard times, broadcast groups are reporting disappointing first quarters almost across the board. And while there's still the expectation that the political ad bonanza will arrive later this year, broadcasters need to make good on their promises of new revenue streams if they hope to convince investors of their future.
Sadusky: DTV Transition will be 'Y2K' Non-event
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 9, 2008 - 7:07amThe CEO of LIN Television says cable or satellite subscribers will be unaffected by TV stations' analog cut-off next February and that most over-the-air viewers will learn from educational campaigns that they must act to avoid losing service.
The FCC's Regulation-Wary Regulator
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 7, 2008 - 7:48amAnother Q&A with Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Robert McDowell. He's resisting FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's push to adopt new rules to promote localism in broadcasting. He dissented on the FCC’s enhanced disclosure rules requiring stations to file quarterly reports on their local programming efforts.
Sezmi may be on to something, sez me
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 5, 2008 - 7:22amSezmi, the latest wireless cable scheme involving broadcast spectrum, cable networks, Internet access and a big, honkin' DVR could just work if stations don't decide to keep all their digital space for diginets or mobile.
Has NAB Found Scapegoat for Robbins Speech?
Submitted by Benton Foundation on April 25, 2008 - 7:58amSources says the sudden departure this week of Pam Magnani, one of the association's senior vice presidents, was due at least in part to her role in scheduling actor Tim Robbins as a keynote speaker at the NAB convention last week.
