For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Judge permits trial over newspaper deals
Real Estate Riches Flow Into Newspapers -- As Moguls Buy Them
Common Cause blitzes FCC with cross-ownership protests
Comcast to Buy Fandango, Launch Fancast.com
BROADCASTING/CABLE
Take Back the Airwaves
MSNBC Drops Imus Show Over Racial Remark
FCC Downplays Reports of Imus Investigation
NCTA Pans Martin=92s DTV-Carriage Plan
Federal Court To Hear Video Franchise Challenge
WIRELESS
CTIA Hires Furchtgott-Roth to Influence FCC on Public Safety Spectrum
Houston Signs for $2.5M Services Package with Earthlink
Sprint Taking Chicago to the WiMax
A Faster Wi-Fi World Is Coming
Hearing and Compatibility Rules
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Bush Advisers=92 Approach on E-Mail Draws Fire
DIGITAL CONTENT
MySpace bans Photobucket videos and slide shows
Google draws 64 pct of US search queries: Hitwise
Papers Nab Largest Share of Local Web Video Ads
YouTube launches interactive forum for =9208 candidates
QUICKLY -- There's history and money in obsolete=20
computers; OK, it was Kevin Martin
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
JUDGE PERMITS TRIAL OVER NEWSPAPER DEALS
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Bob Egelko]
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled that=20
readers have the right to challenge media mergers=20
under antitrust laws. The decision allows a=20
lawsuit opposing MediaNews Group's acquisitions=20
of the San Jose Mercury News and Contra Costa=20
Times to move forward. MediaNews bought the=20
papers for $736.8 million last year in a complex=20
transaction that resulted in the Hearst Corp.,=20
parent company of The San Francisco Chronicle,=20
owning a stake in MediaNews operations outside=20
the Bay Area. MediaNews and Hearst had sought to=20
dismiss the suit, arguing that individual readers=20
have no stake in antitrust laws because they=20
suffer no harm from any alleged reduction in=20
newspaper competition. Judge Illston said federal=20
law recognizes the public's concern in=20
maintaining competition and diversity in the news media.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=3D/c/a/2007/04/11/BAGCUP6E33...
TL
REAL ESTATE RICHES FLOW INTO NEWSPAPERS -- AS MOGULS BUY THEM
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Subscribers, shareholders and advertisers may be=20
leaving newspapers in droves but real estate=20
moguls, of all people, are sinking part of their=20
fortunes into the business. For better or worse,=20
that gives outside magnates a growing role in=20
newspapers at a time of dramatic change for an=20
industry long dominated by traditional media=20
ownership. The new players aren't all about real=20
estate but have it at the core of their fortunes.=20
They include Fortress Investment Group which=20
purchased Liberty Group Publishing/GateHouse=20
Media; Bruce Toll who bought The Philadelphia=20
Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News; and Sam=20
Zell who just announced a deal for the Tribune=20
Company. "When you think about it, there are a=20
lot of reasons why real estate moguls would be=20
interested in newspapers," said Morningstar=20
analyst Arthur Oduma. Strong and predictable cash=20
flows from media properties are a key lure,=20
mirroring those in real estate holdings. Another=20
draw is the acquired real estate itself, even=20
though Zell's stated intent isn't to break up=20
Tribune. The Chicago-based media conglomerate=20
owns or leases 2.7 million square feet of office=20
and production space in 289 U.S. locations alone=20
with more than 1,000 acres of land, according to=20
its annual report. Finance experts also say the=20
ability to load companies like Tribune with debt=20
and take them private minimizes the investment=20
risk and makes the firms easier to run once=20
they're away from Wall Street's harsh quarterly=20
glare. The reliable cash flows make them better=20
able to withstand the high debt loads.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003570627
* GateHouse Completes $380 Million Purchase Of Copley Midwest Papers
GateHouse Media Inc. said Wednesday it had=20
completed its acquisition of nine Copley Press=20
Inc. papers for a net purchase price of=20
approximately $380 million. With the purchase of=20
the seven dailies, including the Peoria (Ill.)=20
Journal Star; The State Journal-Register in=20
Springfield, Ill.; and The Repository in Canton,=20
Ohio, GateHouse now publishes 84 dailies in 19=20
states. The former Copley dailies have a combined=20
circulation of 241,060. The deal includes two=20
weekly newspapers with a combined circulation of 34,918.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003570644
COMMON CAUSE BLITZS FCC WITH LA TIMES/KTLA-TV CROSSOWNERSHIP PROTESTS
[SOURCE: Lasar's Letter on the FCC, AUTHOR: Matthew Lasar]
Over 2,500 supporters of Common Cause have filed=20
comments asking the Federal Communications=20
Commission to deny the Tribune Company the right=20
to own both the Los Angeles Times and local TV=20
station KTLA. "For more than 30 years, the=20
Federal Communications Commission has had a rule=20
in place that prevents one company from owning=20
both the local newspaper and the local TV station=20
in one community," the Common Cause missive=20
reads. "The reason for the ban on=20
newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership is clear:=20
consolidated media fail to serve the public=20
interest when they reduce the amount of=20
independently produced programming available in a local community."
http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/388
COMCAST TO BUY FANDANGO, LAUNCH FANCAST.COM
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Todd Spangler]
Comcast announced plans to acquire=20
movie-ticketing site Fandango and said it will=20
launch an entertainment-search portal,=20
Fancast.com, this summer. The Fandango deal is=20
expected to close in the second quarter.=20
Financial terms of the acquisition weren't=20
disclosed. Investors in privately held Fandango,=20
founded in 2000, include seven of the 10 largest=20
movie exhibitors in the United States, as well as=20
Accretive Technology Partners and Technology=20
Crossover Ventures. The site -- which attracts 4=20
million-5 million unique visitors per month --=20
sells tickets for 1,300 theaters representing=20
15,000 screens. Comcast said Fandango will be an=20
=93integral=94 component of Fancast.com, which will=20
=93enable consumers to search, discover, manage and=20
enjoy their entertainment experience across many=20
devices and channels, including television,=20
computers, DVDs and wireless services.=94=20
Fancast.com will let visitors search for TV=20
shows, movies and actors, and will provide=20
information about where video entertainment can=20
be viewed -- on cable, video-on-demand, online,=20
at a movie theater or elsewhere. Both Fandango=20
and Fancast will be managed by Comcast=20
Interactive Media, the operator=92s=20
Internet-businesses unit. Comcast said Fandango=20
will provide e-commerce capabilities for other=20
CIM sites, including Comcast.net, and will be an=20
additional source of traffic and revenue.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6433055.html?rssid=3D108
* Comcast to Expand Fandango Movie Site
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D11866
BROADCASTING/CABLE
TAKE BACK THE AIRWAVES
[SOURCE: AlterNet, AUTHOR: Amy Goodman]
[Commentary] As the TV pundits on the networks=20
gab about the tens of millions of dollars raised=20
by the top presidential candidates, what they=20
don't talk about is where that money is going: to=20
their own networks. Money is now considered the=20
single most important factor in our electoral=20
process. Ideas and issues take a back seat to the=20
bottom line. This prostitution of our electoral=20
process has one key culprit: television=20
advertising. Political advertising makes or=20
breaks candidates, and it takes a huge amount of=20
money to implement a national advertising=20
strategy. Now more than 20 states are piling onto=20
Feb. 5, 2008, as their primary day, including=20
states like California and New York with large,=20
expensive media markets. The early, deciding role=20
of money and television advertising in=20
determining who gets to run for president is=20
secure. More than $2 billion will be poured into=20
the broadcasters' coffers in the 2008 election=20
cycle, almost all for use of the airwaves that=20
the public owns. Imagine what could be done with=20
that money--to register and educate voters, to=20
fully equip polling stations with functioning=20
voting machines, to produce many vigorous debates=20
and public forums. The American public is being=20
robbed by the National Association of=20
Broadcasters. It's time to take back the airwaves.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/50457/
MSNBC DROPS IMUS SHOW OVER RACIAL REMARK
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Bill Carter]
NBC News dropped Don Imus yesterday, canceling=20
his talk show on its MSNBC cable news channel a=20
week after he made a racially disparaging remark=20
about the Rutgers University women=92s basketball=20
team. The move came after several days of=20
widening calls for Mr. Imus to lose his show both=20
on MSNBC, which simulcasts the =93Imus in the=20
Morning=94 show, and CBS Radio, which originates=20
the show. CBS Radio, which is the main employer=20
of Mr. Imus, said in a statement last night that=20
it would stick by the two-week suspension of the=20
show that it and NBC News announced earlier; the=20
suspension begins Monday. But CBS said it would,=20
in the interim, =93continue to speak with all=20
concerned parties and monitor the situation=20
closely.=94 The demands that Mr. Imus=92s show be=20
canceled have grown in intensity every day.=20
Numerous advertisers said yesterday that they=20
would refuse to sponsor the show in the future.=20
Among the advertisers were General Motors,=20
American Express, Sprint Nextel, GlaxoSmithKline, TD Ameritrade and Ditech.=
com.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/business/media/12dismiss.html?hp
(requires registration)
* Facing Ad Defection, NBC Takes Don Imus Show off TV
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117631524468166584.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
* MSNBC Drops Imus's Show
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/11/AR200704...
1767.html
* Pressure grows on CBS as MSNBC drops Imus
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070412/1a_topstrip12_dom.art...
* NBC cancels its Imus simulcast as outrage builds
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-imus12apr12,1,14...
98.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
* Advertisers risk waves on radio
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Joshua Chaffin and Jonathan Birchall]
The mounting scandal over racist and sexist=20
comments by radio personality Don Imus offers=20
another reminder of the unpredictability that=20
advertisers face when they support controversial=20
programmes on radio and television.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/11227882-e893-11db-b2c3-000b5df10621.html
(requires subscription)
* Imus and mustn't
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] Talk-show host Don Imus has probably=20
figured this out already: As he works through his=20
apology to the Rutgers women's basketball team,=20
he's also defining the line that separates what's=20
acceptable from what's not in public discourse.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0412/p08s02-comv.html
FCC DOWNPLAYS REPORTS OF IMUS INVESTIGATION
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
FCC spokesman Clyde Ensslin confirms that the FCC=20
has received complaints about Don Imus' racist=20
and sexist comments about the Rutgers women's=20
basketball team. The FCC has no authority to=20
regulate such language, a point former FCC=20
Chairman Michael Powell made to CBS News, but it=20
looks into all its complaints as a matter of=20
course. Ensslin discounted media reports that=20
said it was conducting an official investigation,=20
which suggests the commission is actively=20
soliciting information from the parties involved=20
rather than routinely assessing the complaints as it would with any others.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6433091.html
NCTA PANS MARTIN'S DTV-CARRIAGE PLAN
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
The National Cable & Telecommunications=20
Association Wednesday panned a proposal by=20
Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin=20
Martin on cable carriage of local digital-TV=20
signals after the end of the DTV transition in=20
February 2009. Martin=92s proposal would allow DTV=20
stations that elect mandatory must-carry to=20
insist on both digital and analog carriage on=20
cable systems that had not converted to an=20
entirely digital platform. The proposal is=20
designed to ensure that some local TV stations=20
don't lose access to analog-only cable homes=20
because of the analog-to-digital conversion=20
mandated by federal law. =93This plan appears to=20
conclude that the digital-TV transition can be=20
solved by disenfranchising millions of customers=20
by forcing them to rent a set-top box they may=20
not want, and it will in fact cost more because=20
the [FCC] has refused to repeal its $600=20
million-per-year set-top-box tax that begins in=20
July,=94 NCTA vice president of communications Brian Dietz said.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6433097.html?display=3DBreaking+News
* NCTA Fires Back At Dual Carriage Proposal
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6433089.html
* Could FCC Plan Hurt HDTV Efforts?
[Commentary] If approved, Martin's proposal could=20
hurt cable TV's efforts to expand their high-def=20
lineups. If they are forced to broadcast the=20
analog signals for a longer period of time, they=20
may have less room for more HD channels during=20
that time. The law could also become a=20
disincentive for cable subscribers to switch from=20
analog to digital because they might think the=20
analog signals will be there indefinitely.=20
Comcast is now urging customers in some cities to=20
switch from analog to digital, saying that new=20
digital boxes will offer 125 high-def channels in=20
2008. As part of its persuasion campaign, the=20
cable operator is alerting subscribers that the=20
Digital TV switch is set for 2009.
http://www.tvpredictions.com/martin041107.htm
FEDERAL COURT TO HEAR VIDEO FRANCHISE CHALLENGE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
As promised, local governments took the FCC to=20
court last week over its revision of video=20
franchising rules, and now the U.S. Court of=20
Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has reportedly been=20
assigned to hear the case. The challenge was=20
filed in six federal courts saying the changes=20
would "severely restrict the ability of local=20
governments to protect their citizens,=20
rights-of-way, community channels and public=20
safety networks" and slash revenues and cut off=20
cable service to governmental buildings and=20
schools. The challenge was filed by groups=20
including the Alliance for Communications=20
Democracy, the National Association of Counties,=20
National League of Cities, National Association=20
of Telecommunications Officials and Advisors=20
(NATOA), and The United States Conference of=20
Mayors. The six identical petitions were=20
consolidated into one case and assigned to the Sixth Circuit.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6433036.html
* Court Set for Appeals vs. FCC Order
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6432813.html?rssid=3D108
WIRELESS
WIRELESS ASSOCIATION HIRES FORMER BOSS OF FCC=20
CHIEF TO INFLUENCE AGENCY ON PUBLIC SAFETY SPECTRUM
[SOURCE: DrewClark.com]
The wireless industry association CTIA has=20
retained an economic consulting firm run by the=20
former boss of FCC Chairman Kevin Martin to poke=20
holes in proposals modifying a forthcoming=20
auction of radio frequencies. Furchtgott-Roth=20
Economic Enterprises is run by Harold=20
Furchtgott-Roth, a Republican FCC Commissioner=20
from 1997-2001. Martin worked as a=20
telecommunications attorney for Furchtgott-Roth=20
from 1997 to 1999. Some technology companies and=20
non-profit advocacy groups have been coalescing=20
around a proposal released in February by a new=20
venture called Frontline Wireless. It would=20
create a new wireless zone for public safety=20
communications. But CTIA and its major members =AD=20
particularly Verizon and AT&T =AD have come out=20
strongly against the Frontline proposal. On April=20
5, CTIA CEO Steve Largent, a former Republican=20
congressman from Oklahoma, said in a letter to=20
Martin that there were "issues involving the legality of the proposal."
http://www.drewclark.com/2007/04/wireless-association-hires-former-boss....
ml
-- In a related story...
* Will Reed Hundt 2.0 have better luck?
Former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt co-founded=20
Frontline Wireless, a company that plans to bid=20
on the 700 MHz spectrum that is going to be freed=20
up when analog television meets its maker.
http://gigaom.com/2007/04/11/will-reed-hundt-20-have-better-luck/
HOUSTON SIGNS FOR $2.5M SERVICES PACKAGE WITH EARTHLINK
[SOURCE: dailywireless.org]
The Houston City Council approved a plan with=20
Earthlink on Wednesday to build a public wireless=20
network that will provide discounted Internet=20
access citywide. The Council approved two=20
separate contracts with Earthlink. The first is a=20
citywide broadband license agreement for the=20
640-square-mile project. The second is a wireless=20
service agreement for the city of Houston. The=20
city, as its anchor tenant, would pay at least=20
$500,000 annually for five years to use the=20
service. When it becomes operational, Houston is=20
expected to have the largest Wi-Fi network in the=20
country, covering nearly all of the city=92s 600=20
square miles by spring of 2009.
http://www.dailywireless.org/2007/04/11/houston-signs-for-25m-services-p...
age-with-earthlink/
TAKING WIRELESS TO THE WIMAX
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, AUTHOR: Jon Van jvan( at )tribune.com]
With the digital age increasingly going wireless,=20
Chicago soon will become one of the first cities=20
in the country to have access to the next=20
generation of computer communication, in which=20
people will keep connected to the Internet=20
wherever they go. The new network, constructed by=20
Motorola, will be operated by Sprint Nextel Corp.=20
and will envelop the region in a digital signal=20
as powerful as the broadband service used by many=20
homes and businesses. Customers will be able to=20
log onto the Internet on a laptop computer at=20
home and then stay online as they travel around=20
the city and suburbs. It is a $3 billion national=20
bet by Sprint that just as voice communication=20
has migrated from traditional wired phone=20
networks to mobile phones, customers will prefer=20
to go to MySpace, eBay and other Web destinations=20
without being tied by a cable to a home or office=20
computer. Sprint says it should start operating=20
by the end of the year and will provide=20
competition to Internet connections offered by=20
Comcast and AT&T. Municipal governments in=20
Chicago and several suburbs have sought to=20
establish citywide Wi-Fi wireless Internet=20
service. Sprint's network will be entirely=20
separate from those networks and probably will be=20
operating long before anything launched by=20
Chicago, which is considering various proposals from vendors.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-070411wimax,0,4141230.story?c...
=3Dchi-bizfront-hed
A FASTER WI-FI WORLD IS COMING
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: David Pogue]
=93When I was your age,=94 we'll someday tell our=20
awe-struck grandchildren, =93wireless Internet was=20
available only in isolated hot spots 100 feet=20
across!=94 That is, if everything works out the way=20
the electronics industry hopes. Every couple of=20
years, it rolls out another flavor of faster,=20
better Wi-Fi equipment, bearing such uninspired=20
names as 802.11b and 802.11g. This year=92s edition=20
is 802.11n, which is supposed to offer two huge=20
advantages over the popular =93b=94 and =93g=94 types: 5=20
times the speed and 15 times the range. That=20
would be a big deal, if it were true. It would=20
mean, for example, that the signal from just one=20
transmitter =97 one wireless router, to use the=20
technical term =97 could fill every room in your=20
house with glorious waves of data. It turns out=20
that =93n=94 does offer better speed and range =97=20
nowhere near 15 times better, but generally at=20
least 2 times. One =93n=94 router should be enough to fill even a McMansion.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/technology/12pogue.html
(requires registration)
HEARING AID COMPATIBILITY RULES
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
On Wednesday, the FCC addressed the waiver=20
requests filed by 19 non-nationwide wireless=20
carriers seeking relief from certain portions of=20
the FCC's hearing aid compatibility rules. These=20
rules are designed to ensure that persons with=20
hearing disabilities have full access to digital=20
wireless services. In 2003, the FCC required=20
that, by September 16, 2005, non-nationwide=20
wireless carriers must offer at least two=20
wireless handset models for each wireless network=20
technology (e.g., CDMA, GSM) that meet a U3=20
rating under the ANSI (American National=20
Standards Institute) hearing aid compatibility=20
standard for reduced radio frequency (RF)=20
interference. The FCC also requires that hearing=20
aid-compatible handsets comply with certain=20
labeling requirements. Nineteen non-nationwide=20
carriers filed waiver requests in which they=20
sought extensions of time to comply with the=20
September 16, 2005, deadline, arguing that=20
hearing aid-compatible handsets were not=20
available to them as of that date. The FCC took=20
the following actions: 1) Granted waiver requests=20
of 5 carriers: Dobson Communications, SunCom=20
Wireless, Iowa Wireless, South Slope Wireless,=20
and Virgin Mobile; 2) Granted in part and denied=20
in part waiver requests filed by 5 carriers: Pine=20
Cellular, South Central Utah Telephone Assoc., CC=20
Communications, IT&E Overseas, and UBET Wireless;=20
3) Denied waiver requests of 6 carriers: XIT=20
Cellular, Blue Sky Communications, CT Cube, WUE,=20
Cellular Phone of Kentucky, and Litchfield County=20
Cellular; and 4) Dismissed as unnecessary waiver=20
requests filed by 3 carriers: Leaco Rural=20
Telephone Cooperative, SLO Cellular, and=20
Entertainment Unlimited. In addition, those=20
wireless carriers to which the FCC did not grant=20
full waivers, and which appear to be currently in=20
violation of the FCC's hearing aid compatibility=20
rules or to have been in violation in the past,=20
were referred to the Enforcement Bureau for further review.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-272268A1.doc
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
BUSH ADVISORS' APPROACH ON E-MAIL DRAWS FIRE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Sheryl Gay Stolberg]
Political advisers to President Bush may have=20
improperly used their Republican National=20
Committee e-mail accounts to conduct official=20
government business, and some communications that=20
are required to be preserved under federal law=20
may be lost as a result, White House officials=20
said Wednesday. Of the 1,000 White House=20
officials with political duties, 22 -- including=20
Karl Rove, the chief political strategist -- have=20
Republican National Committee accounts that are=20
supposed to be used only for campaign-related=20
work. But recent revelations that some officials=20
have used those accounts for Bush administration=20
business, including discussions of a plan to=20
dismiss United States attorneys, has prompted a=20
Congressional investigation. On Wednesday, Scott=20
Stanzel, deputy White House press secretary, said=20
the administration had recently begun its own=20
inquiry, and had concluded that its policy=20
governing political e-mail accounts was unclear,=20
that the White House was not aggressive enough in=20
monitoring political e-mail and that some people=20
who had the accounts did not follow the policy closely enough.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/washington/12emails.html
(requires registration)
* White House E-Mail Lost in Private Accounts
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/11/AR200704...
2167.html
* Officials' e-mail may be missing, White House says
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-emails12apr12,1,...
327.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
DIGITAL CONTENT
MYSPACE BANS PHOTOBUCKET VIDEOS AND SLIDE SHOWS
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Joseph Menn and Alana Semuels]
The struggle over how to generate more money from=20
MySpace without killing its freewheeling style=20
burst into the open Wednesday when the social=20
networking site blocked videos its users had=20
created with the aid of another popular website.=20
News Corp.'s MySpace said it barred videos and=20
slide shows created by some of Photobucket Inc.'s=20
40 million users. The problem is that some of the=20
slide shows violated MySpace's=20
no-outside-advertising policy because they=20
contained paid promotions for "Spider-Man 3." The=20
photo-sharing site posted an angry condemnation=20
of MySpace's decision on its corporate blog,=20
prompting complaints from many people who use the=20
service to decorate their MySpace profile pages.=20
They accused News Corp. of overreacting as it=20
tries to preserve an ad monopoly on MySpace,=20
which shows more pages than any other site.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-myspace12apr12,1,7988...
.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)
GOOGLE DRAWS 64 PERCENT OF SEARCH QUERIES: HITWISE
[SOURCE: Reuters]
Web search leader Google's market share inched up=20
to 64 percent of all queries among U.S. Internet=20
searchers in March, gaining further ground=20
against Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft Corp., a survey=20
released on Wednesday by Hitwise found. The=20
number of search queries on Google rose to 64.1=20
percent in March, compared with 63.9 percent in=20
February and 58.3 percent a year ago, according=20
to Hitwise, which bases its report on the surfing=20
habits of 10 million U.S. Web users. Hitwise said=20
Yahoo search queries slipped to about 21.3=20
percent from close to 21.5 percent in February=20
and 22.3 percent in March 2006, while MSN Search=20
dipped to 9.2 percent from 9.3 percent in February and 13.1 percent a year =
ago.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN1122273920070411
PAPERS NAB LARGEST SHARE OF LOCAL WEB VIDEO ADS
[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: Katy Bachman]
TV stations may be the experts when it comes to=20
leveraging video on Web sites and other=20
distribution channels, but newspapers are getting=20
the largest share of local video advertising,=20
according to Borrell Associates. Last year, local=20
newspaper sites pulled 50 percent ($81 million)=20
share of total video ad revenue, compared to TV=20
station sites' 20 percent ($32 million). Other=20
local sites combined have 30 percent of local video ad revenue ($48 million=
).
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
9900
YOUTUBE LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR '08 CANDIDATES
[SOURCE: TheHill, AUTHOR: Aman Ali]
Online video service YouTube is providing=20
presidential candidates with a virtual soapbox=20
that allows them to interact with the online=20
community. The Google-affiliated website added a=20
feature to its You Choose =9208 site that=20
encourages a two-way dialogue between candidates=20
and voters. The Spotlight feature was launched=20
Wednesday and allows a different candidate each=20
week to create a video for the Spotlight to=20
encourage responses from YouTube users. =93It=92s an=20
interactive platform,=94 said Steve Grove, head of=20
the site=92s News and Politics division. =93It=92s=20
revolutionary because it encourages dialogue and=20
conversation in an authentic way.=94 The Spotlight=20
will be featured on each candidate=92s YouTube=20
channel and on the main site=92s News and Politics=20
category. Throughout the week, users can engage=20
in dialogue with candidates by posting videos=20
back and forth in the Spotlight section.
http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/youtube-launches-interactive-forum-for-...
candidates-2007-04-11.html
QUICKLY
THERE'S HISTORY AND MONEY IN OBSOLETE COMPUTERS
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Adam Tanner]
Even as the power and speed of today's computers=20
make their forerunners look ever punier, a=20
growing band of collectors are gathering retro=20
computers, considering them important relics and even good investments.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0440353720070411
OK, IT WAS KEVIN MARTIN
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
[Commentary] More Washington humor from FCC=20
Chairman Kevin Martin at the Federal=20
Communications Bar Association's annual salute to=20
the chairman Tuesday night -- "about as enjoyable=20
as appearing before a congressional committee."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/blog/1380000138/post/790008279.html?nid...
3349
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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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