June 2009

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. has found an economical solution for cash-strapped TV stations looking to fill their digital space: "Beach Blanket Bingo." Nearly eight months ago, the venerable movie studio created a low-cost programming service for television stations called This TV. Stocked with B-level films found deep within MGM's vault, the venture serves up vintage fare like the 1960s beach movie with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello as well as TV shows such as "The Addams Family" and "The Patty Duke Show." The shift to digital TV, which had been in the works for two decades, was envisioned by the federal government as an opportunity for stations to provide comprehensive coverage of local news and sports, public affairs and multilingual programs on their digital sub-channels. But a market to underwrite that vision has not materialized, and the lousy economy and crimped local advertising spending have not helped. During the last year, TV stations have cut costs and shed employees, leaving few resources to develop original programming that could be used to draw viewers to their digital channels.

More than two-dozen separate organizations joined to reinvigorate the public library as a community "watering hole" for broadband access as the Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition held a launch event Thursday at Washington's Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library. The coalition grew out of a realization that the Internet is now a "fundamental cornerstone of modern education, learning...and the dissemination of information of free speech," said director Jim Windhausen. The goal of the coalition is to direct Broadband Technology Opportunity Program funding to anchor institutions in unserved areas, particularly schools, libraries, and health facilities. While Jenni Terri of the American Library Association said that the economic stimulus funds are "only seed money," ALA's hope is that the coalition can stand for the long term as a continual advocate for universal broadband. Made up of 28 schools, libraries and health-care providers (and Microsoft and the Benton Foundation), the SHLB says these groups need between 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps.