BROADCASTING
As Sales of HDTV's Increase, Producers Ease Promotion (NYT)
FCC's Likely New Leader Signals Hands-Off Attitude on Digital TV
(WSJ)
Murdoch Deal on TV Stations May Help UPN (NTY)
MERGER
Final OK Expected for AOL This Week (USA)
INTERNET
Free Web Services for Members Of Medical Groups Are Created (WSJ)
Culturefinder Hopes to Find Success (NYT)
BROADCASTING
FCC'S LIKELY NEW LEADER SIGNALS HANDS-OFF ATTITUDE ON DIGITAL TV
Issue: DTV
Republican Commissioner Michael Powell, son of secretary of State nominee
Colin Powell, is likely to be the new leader of Federal Communications
Commission. He has praised electronics makers for
their progress on digital-television products, and said he would prefer the
agency not intervene in industry squabbles over the future of TV. But he
hopes the FCC will address some digital-TV disputes, like "must carry" rules
that apply to digital broadcasting. The rules require cable operators to
carry the ordinary, or analog, signals of TV stations; stations want the
rules extended to digital signals. Mr. Powell rejected criticism that the
issue has languished at the FCC, saying that, to a degree, "It's just not
ripe yet." He would prefer industry participants settle the matter and
pointed out variables, such as the capacity of cable systems and upgraded
schedules of TV stations and cable systems, that could be the start of a
compromise.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (Interactive), AUTHOR: Evan Ramstad]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB978909075245907034.htm)
(requires subscription)
AS SALES OF HDTV'S INCREASE, PRODUCERS EASE PROMOTION
Issue: DTV
Sales of digital television sets have finally begun to gain some steam, even
if such sets remain a tiny fraction of overall TV set sales. Whilw digital
TV sales had increased fivefold from 1999, digital sets still represent less
than 3 percent of all television sales. With the exception of CBS, which has
a full schedule of high-definition programming each night, most broadcasters
are doing nothing of note with their digital channels. As a result, many of
the major TV manufactures are focusing much of their marketing energy on
digital networking of the home, recordable DVD decks and Internet TV's,
among other new products that can be sold without all the problems plaguing
digital television.
[SOURCE: New York Times (C10), AUTHOR: Joel Brinkley]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/08/business/08HDTV.html)
(requires registration)
MURDOCH DEAL ON TV STATIONS MAY HELP UPN
Issue: Ownership/TV
Within the next week, executives say, eight television stations that Rupert
Murdoch has agreed to buy are expected to extend their agreements to be
affiliates of UPN, the network owned by Viacom, through the next television
season. Later this year, when his purchase of those stations from
Chris-Craft Industries is expected to be completed, Mr. Murdoch will be
UPN's most important station owner, including the crucial markets of Los
Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Orlando and San Francisco. Further, his News
Corporation would then own two television stations in each of five cities.
Some UPN executives are concerned that if News Corporation and Viacom enter
into a joint ownership agreement for UPN, the companies might use the
network to amortize their own programming costs by showing reruns of hits in
prime time from their other television outlets. "I think UPN works best when
it is allowed to have its own voice," Dean Valentine, UPN's chief
executive,. "You can't make it a subvoice of CBS or Fox, or make it a weaker
Fox or a weaker CBS. People don't want that."
[SOURCE: New York Times (C1), AUTHOR: Jim Rutenberg]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/08/business/08UPN.html)
(requires registration)
MERGER
EXPECTED FOR AOL THIS WEEK
Issue: Merger
America Online's purchase of Time Warner is expected to clear its final
regulatory hurdle this week with the Federal Communications Commission's
approval of the deal, to form the biggest media merger in history, and
forging an unparalleled amalgam of old and new media. The deal marries Time
Warner's TV, movie, music, magazine and cable empire with AOL's No. 1
Internet service. However, the FCC could add some conditions to the merger
beyond those outlined in a settlement reached last month with the Federal
Trade Commission, in a bid to promote competition. If the FCC approves the
deal, it will likely be the coup de gr