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For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Stations Say Reg Revise Means Survival
CBS: Save Our Service
NAA Urges Repeal of Crossownership Ban
Disney Doesn't Seek Ownership Rule Revise
CWA Says FCC Rules Must Protect and Promote Media Diversity
Catholic Bishops Urge FCC to Retain Ownership Limits
KidTV Advocates Urge FCC to Limit TV Station Ownership
Hispanic Journalists ask FCC to Increase Minority Ownership
NAHJ Board Disturbed by NBC's Plans for Telemundo
Reports bolster argument that media consolidation hurts the public
NBC's Telemundo to air Televisa-made show in U.S.
Clear Channel in talks with buy-out groups

NETWORK NEUTRALITY
It's Our Network Calls For Tougher Conditions
'Net Neutrality' Would Be Democrats' Pet

MUNICIPAL BROADBAND
Municipalities Accelerate Broadband Deployments
City Wi-Fi coverage put to the test

ADVERTISING
Ads Test Payola Case Settlement
Election Tracker Predicts $2.6B In Spending
Some cablers balk at Nielsen ad ratings
The Pickup Ad That's Carrying Lots of Baggage

ELECTIONS & MEDIA
Judge Voids Measure to Bar News Exit Polls
Politicians Grow Wary Of Survey as Internet Spreads Attack Ads
White House hosts mass talk radio event
Rush Limbaugh On the Offensive Against Ad With Michael J. Fox

QUICKLY -- The Comma That Costs 1 Million=20
Dollars; Who needs a bowling league to make=20
friends when there's the Web?; HDTV sales strong=20
-- among wealthier consumers; Be loyal, kind and don't steal Movies

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

STATIONS SAY REGULATION REVISE MEANS SURVIVAL
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
TV station and group comments in the FCC media=20
ownership review proceeding are increasingly=20
taking on the character of SOS signals from=20
companies claiming their very survival is at risk=20
if ownership regulations are not loosened. The=20
111 TV stations making up the Smaller Market=20
Broadcasters Coalition, in filings to the FCC=20
Monday, argued that their stations are under=20
siege and the FCC needs to allow TV duopolies in=20
smaller markets or their news will continue to be=20
cutback, and some stations may have to go dark=20
altogether. Struggling stations, and certainly=20
dark ones, are not the public servants the FCC=20
wants them to be, they argue. Citing the drain on=20
resources of the DTV transition and the=20
continuing subdivision of the ad pie among=20
competitors, the group says that the "public=20
interest goals at issue in the proceeding cost=20
money," and that financial viability is=20
"therefore a necessary predicate to achieve them." In other words: Help!
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6384441.html?title=3DArticle&...
cedesc=3Dnews
* Old Media Urge FCC to Ease Ownership Rules
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iG...
sv5i2nr7J5KEfGNMtA%3D%3D
* In Digital Age, Big Media Still Wants Old-Media Properties
[SOURCE: TVWatch, AUTHOR: Wayne Friedman]
[Commentary] Media companies still want more old=20
media. The FCC shouldn't give away the old store yet.
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=3DArticles.showAr...
leHomePage&art_aid=3D50050

CBS: SAVE OUR SERVICE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
In its comments to the FCC Monday, CBS said the=20
media ownership proceedings had gotten off to a=20
"troubling start." In championing relaxation of=20
the FCC's media ownership rules in their=20
comments, CBS also argued that the FCC's initial=20
media ownership hearing in L.A. had gotten off to=20
a troubling start. The networks were hammered by=20
producers for using their deregulatory status to=20
squeeze out independents, leverage bigger cuts of=20
a programs lucrative back end and quell=20
creativity, they said. "The first public=20
'hearings' [CBS put the word in quotes] were=20
filled with invective and emotion rather than=20
fact and intellectually rigorous analysis," said=20
CBS, and thus represented testimony that did not=20
meet the "legal standard" for an "expert agency."=20
CBS said the FCC should also not lose sight of=20
what is at stake in the rule review, which,=20
echoing NBC's comments, it said was nothing less=20
than the preservation of local news, information=20
and entertainment, "free to all Americans." CBS=20
cited local broadcasting as a source of emergency=20
information -- invoking Hurricane Katrina and=20
9/11 -- and a vital news link "infused with=20
public interest responsibilities," whose loss would be tragic.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6384387.html?title=3DArticle&...
cedesc=3Dnews

NAA URGES REPEAL OF CROSSOWNERSHIP BAN
[SOURCE: tvnewsday]
In its comments to the FCC, the Newspaper=20
Association of America urged it to repeal the=20
newspaper/broadcast crossownership ban. =93This=20
rule is a relic of the 1970=92s -- a time when the=20
Internet, satellite television and radio, cell=20
phone, Wi-Fi and iPods were not even visible on=20
the distant horizon,=94 said NAA president and CEO=20
John F. Sturm. In its comments, NAA makes the=20
following points: 1) Over the last three decades,=20
and even in the last three years since the 2003=20
FCC rulemaking decision, the marketplace has=20
become far more diverse, competitive and crowded=20
with news and information voices. 2) Repeal of=20
this rule means increased production of higher=20
quality local news and public affairs=20
programming. 3) Newspaper owners are committed to=20
assuring the editorial autonomy of its newspapers and television stations.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2006/10/24/daily.10/
* NAA press release
http://www.naa.org/sitecore/content/Global/PressCenter/2006/NAA-FILES-CO...
NTS-URGING-RELEASE-OF-NEWSPAPER-CROSS-OWNERSHIP-BAN.aspx?lg=3Dnaaorg
* Text of comments:=20
http://www.naa.org/ppolicy/NAA_Media_Ownership_Remand_Comments.pdf

DISNEY DOESN'T SEEK OWNERSHIP RULE REVISE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Disney isn't asking the FCC to loosen any of its=20
ownership rules, saying it already has more than=20
enough stations and is looking to using other=20
platforms for content delivery. With its 10=20
owned stations covering not quite 24% of the=20
nation, it is well below the national ownership=20
cap of 39% -- although that cap is not on the=20
table in the rule rewrite having already been=20
legislated by Congress. What is definitely in=20
play is owning more multiple stations in markets=20
and owning a station and newspaper in the same=20
market. "Given the increase in, and=20
attractiveness of, new media outlets," Disney=20
wrote in a brief filing in the FCC's media=20
ownership rule review, "in Disney's view, the=20
Commission may soon find itself considering ways=20
to incent, rather than restrict, ownership of over-the-air broadcast statio=
ns."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6384242.html

CWA SAYS FCC RULES MUST PROTECT AND PROMOTE MEDIA DIVERSITY
[SOURCE: Communications Workers of America]
The Communications Workers of America filed=20
comments in the latest FCC review regarding media=20
ownership rules, urging the Commission to=20
maintain remaining rules governing the diversity=20
of local TV, radio and newspaper ownership. CWA=20
continues to believe that the newspaper/broadcast=20
cross-ownership rule provides the strongest=20
protection against undue concentration in a local=20
media market for news and information. However,=20
should the Commission modify that rule, it must=20
do so according to the methodology laid out by=20
the Court in Prometheus to avoid excessive media=20
concentration. If mergers are to be considered,=20
the burden of proof must lie with the merging=20
parties "to demonstrate that the combination is=20
in the public interest; and with the requirement=20
that the commonly owned media outlets maintain=20
separate newsrooms and editorial staff," CWA=20
states. Media corporations are crying wolf when=20
they claim that they must merge to survive, CWA=20
said, noting that newspapers continue to earn=20
profits in the range of 20 percent and local TV=20
stations earn profits of 40 to 50 percent. "This=20
proceeding is of profound importance to American=20
democracy," CWA's executive summary concludes.=20
"It is imperative that the Commission adopt=20
strong structural rules to protect and promote=20
against further consolidation of the media into=20
fewer hands, an outcome that would do serious=20
harm to the free flow of ideas that is so=20
essential to civic participation in our democracy."
http://www.tickertech.com/cgi/?a=3Dnews&ticker=3Da&w=3D&story=3D20061020...
0241114PR_NEWS_USPR_____DCTU504
See comments at:=20
http://files.cwa-union.org/National/CommunicationsPolicy/Comments/061023...

CATHOLIC BISHOPS URGE FCC TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP LIMITS
[SOURCE: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]
The USCCB urges the Commission not only to retain=20
current ownership limits, but to promulgate=20
regulations to define digital television=20
broadcasters' public interest=20
obligations. Ownership of local broadcast=20
stations by increasingly fewer companies over the=20
past decades has ill served the needs and=20
interests of the communities whose radio and=20
television stations were licensed to serve,=20
particularly their religious needs. This=20
situation would be worsened if the already=20
generous ownership regulations were loosened=20
while there are no enforceable regulations=20
defining how broadcast licensees must meet their=20
statutory public interest obligations.
http://www.usccb.org/index.shtml

KIDTV ADVOCATES URGE FCC TO LIMIT TV STATION OWNERSHIP
[SOURCE: The Children=92s Media Policy Coalition]
The Children=92s Media Policy Coalition urges the=20
Federal Communications Commission to limit local=20
broadcasters to one license in a given market in=20
order to ensure sufficient original programming=20
for children. Research shows that media=20
consolidation diminishes the diversity and=20
availability of programming for the child=20
audience. It is essential that young viewers have=20
access to diverse viewpoints in the television=20
programming they so readily consume; limiting=20
broadcasters to one license will help to maximize=20
the amount and diversity of educational and=20
informational (E/I) programming for children. The=20
Coalition also argues that any relaxation of=20
existing rules be accompanied by a requirement=20
that the Commission analyze, according to=20
specific guidelines, the impact of any proposed=20
media mergers on kids served by the market. The=20
Coalition is concerned that relaxation of the=20
ownership rules will reduce competition, stifling=20
innovation and increasing commercialism in=20
children=92s programming. Children are particularly=20
vulnerable to influences of commercialism and the=20
Commission must consider the effects of=20
consolidation on advertising aimed at children,=20
as well as the content of children=92s programs.
http://www.benton.org/benton_files/cmpc.pdf

NAHJ ASKS FCC TO INCREASE MINORITY OWNERSHIP
[SOURCE: National Association of Hispanic Journalists]
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists=20
submitted comments with the FCC opposing the=20
agency=92s effort to rewrite our nation=92s broadcast=20
ownership regulations. In its filing, NAHJ stated=20
that it opposed further media consolidation=20
because of the impact it has on minority=20
ownership and on communities of color. NAHJ=20
called on the FCC to stop its current ownership=20
proceedings and address how to increase minority=20
broadcast ownership. NAHJ noted that the FCC=20
currently has no policies in place to foster the=20
growth of minority owners, meanwhile people of=20
color currently make up 33 percent of the U.S.=20
population. NAHJ also submitted all of its=20
correspondence with the National=20
Telecommunications and Information Agency. In=20
April, NAHJ wrote to the NTIA and asked the=20
agency whether it planned to conduct another=20
minority ownership study. The last study the=20
agency released was in 2000. In that study, the=20
NTIA found that people of color make up just 3.8=20
percent of all broadcast owners and that media=20
consolidation threatened the future of minority=20
ownership. John Kneuer, the acting assistant=20
secretary for the NTIA, wrote back to NAHJ and=20
stated the agency had no current plans to conduct another study.
http://www.nahj.org/nahjnews/articles/2006/october/fcccomments.shtml

NAHJ BOARD DISTURBED BY NBC'S PLANS FOR TELEMUNDO
[SOURCE: National Association of Hispanic Journalists press release]
Late last week, NAHJ wrote to executives at NBC=20
regarding the network's plans for Telemundo. Much=20
has been reported about the restructuring and=20
layoffs at NBC. The plans for Telemundo have=20
received very little media attention. To us, the=20
most disturbing action NBC will take is to=20
eliminate local newscasts at six Telemundo=20
stations and replace them with a "hubbed"=20
newscast out of Fort Worth, Texas. The half-hour=20
newscast will include reports from the cities=20
where the news departments are being eliminated.=20
It's also estimated that 68 Telemundo employees=20
are being cut in Puerto Rico, where Telemundo was=20
founded. This could only have a negative effect=20
on the network's ability to cover the=20
Spanish-speaking population of the island. The=20
cities where the local newscasts are being axed=20
ranked among the top 10 Hispanic markets: Houston=20
(4), Dallas (6), San Antonio (7), San Jose (8)=20
and Phoenix (9), according to 2006-07 Nielsen=20
Media Research. NBC is not doing away with local=20
newscasts at any of its English-language stations=20
-- only with its Telemundo properties. This leads=20
us to question the company's commitment to the=20
Latino community. To the point: if regionalized=20
newscasts are good for journalism and not just a=20
way to save money while giving the appearance of=20
meeting the network's public interest=20
obligations, why are regional newscasts only=20
being planned for the Spanish-speaking audience?=20
Doesn't the English-language audience deserve this level of service?
http://www.nahj.org/nahjnews/articles/2006/october/telemundo.shtml
* Letter to NBC:=20
http://www.nahj.org/nahjnews/articles/2006/october/nbcuniversalletter.pdf

TWO REPORTS BOLSTER ARGUMENT THAT MEDIA CONSOLIDATION HURTS THE PUBLIC
[SOURCE: Common Cause]
Common Cause today released two reports refuting=20
claims that consolidated media serves the public.=20
The first, A Tale of Five Cities, describes the=20
real-world harm that can result when one company=20
owns the local newspaper and its dominant=20
television and/or radio stations. The examples=20
cited in the report show that cross-ownership can=20
harm a community either by shutting out diverse=20
voices or limiting access to unbiased news. The=20
second, Citizens Speak: The Real World Impacts of=20
Media Consolidation, is a distillation of the=20
comments of individuals who spoke at town hall=20
hearings on media consolidation in 2003. The=20
hearings were held to discuss the importance of=20
localism in media and gave people a forum for=20
expressing, often in vivid terms, how media=20
concentration had destroyed local radio,=20
replacing it with bland and homogenized radio=20
formats, robbed of any local color or talent, and=20
had left them bereft of news about their own=20
communities and responsive to their need for=20
information in a democracy. Both reports were=20
filed Monday with the Federal Communications=20
Commission, as the Commission once again=20
considers changing its ownership rules to increase media concentration.
http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=3DdkLNK1MQIwG&b=3D192086#studies

NBC'S TELEMUNDO TO AIR TELEVISA-MADE SHOW IN THE US
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Cyntia Barrera Diaz]
A sitcom co-produced by Televisa will air this=20
week on NBC's Telemundo, a first attempt by the=20
Mexican media giant to bypass its long-time=20
partner Univision and further expand in the U.S.=20
Hispanic market. Televisa is barred under a=20
long-term programming deal with Univision=20
Communications Inc. from selling its content to=20
other media companies in the United States. But=20
the "Amor Mio" sitcom, which debuted in Mexico in=20
August, was co-produced with an Argentine=20
consortium that owns the distribution rights for=20
the United States and Puerto Rico and has cut a=20
deal with Telemundo. Telemundo said late on=20
Monday that it had licensed the U.S. rights to=20
"Amor Mio," and would air the first show on Wednesday night.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtelevisionNews&sto...
D=3D2006-10-24T180029Z_01_N24273249_RTRIDST_0_TELEVISION-MEDIA-TELEMUNDO-TE=
LEVISA-DC.XML

CLEAR CHANNEL IN TALKS WITH BUY-OUT GROUPS
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: James Politi and Joshua Chaffin]
Clear Channel Communications, the largest US=20
radio station chain, has held serious talks about=20
taking the company private with a number of=20
buy-out groups, including Kohlberg Kravis=20
Roberts. People familiar with the situation said=20
members of the founding Mays family, which had=20
previously rejected approaches from interested=20
private equity investors, were now more open to=20
the idea of a buy-out. However, they cautioned=20
that no deal appeared imminent and it was far=20
from clear that the negotiations would lead to an agreement.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/b51fd0d6-63ac-11db-bc82-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)

NETWORK NEUTRALITY

IT'S OUR NETWORK CALLS FOR TOUGHER CONDITIONS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The It's Our Net Coalition, made up of a number=20
of big computer companies, filed comments Tuesday=20
with the FCC saying that the Commission should=20
revise the AT&T-BellSouth merger proposal to make=20
sure that the conditions guarantee "evenhanded=20
treatment of all Internet-based applications,=20
content and services traffic traversing its=20
broadband facilities, regardless of its source, destination or ownership."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6384263?display=3DBreaking+News
* AT&T Open To More Limits On Merger With BellSouth
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-UUEK1161698417823.html
* Groups call for net neutrality rules in AT&T merger
http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/10/24/HNnetneutralityatt_1.html
* AT&T/BellSouth Merger Does Nothing for Consumers
http://www.hearusnow.org/index.php?id=3D812
See also --
* Internet Freedom Must Be Condition of=20
AT&T-BellSouth Merger, Creative Voices Tells FCC
http://www.creativevoices.us/php-bin/news/showArticle.php?id=3D171

'NET NEUTRALITY' WOULD BE DEMOCRATS' PET
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: John Dunbar]
A Democratic takeover on Capitol Hill would be=20
good news to those who say the government should=20
prohibit telecommunications giants from playing=20
favorites with Internet content. The idea, known=20
as "network neutrality," is about preventing=20
those who control traffic on the Internet from=20
allowing well-heeled Web sites to in effect buy=20
their way to the front of the line in a world=20
where data flow can be as congested as Los=20
Angeles traffic. Proponents say it should be a=20
bipartisan issue. But lobbyists for the big=20
companies that control most of the Internet in=20
the United States are worried that the Democrats=20
might pick up the seats they need to take over=20
one or both chambers of Congress. Regardless of=20
the election's outcome, network neutrality=20
legislation would still have to be signed by=20
President Bush - something that both sides acknowledge is unlikely to happe=
n.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INTERNET_EQUALITY?SITE=3DFLINV&SE...
ON=3DTECHNOLOGY&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT&CTIME=3D2006-10-23-19-25-28

MUNICIPAL BROADBAND

MUNICIPALITIES ACCELERATE BROADBAND DEPLOYMENTS
[SOURCE: Mediacaster]
From rural regions to urban centers, wireless=20
solutions for municipal broadband deployment are=20
being used by governments and operators=20
worldwide. As such, key Canadian telecom players=20
like Nortel have announced increases in=20
development and investment in Municipal Wireless=20
Solutions, including opening a municipal wireless=20
lab and accelerating collaboration with some of=20
the industry's leading applications vendors.=20
Enhanced broadband wireless applications being=20
developed include in-vehicle communication=20
services, automated meter reading, digital video=20
surveillance, asset or fleet tracking and=20
monitoring, subscriber management and access control and mobile television.
http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=3D61544&issue...
10232006&btac=3Dno
See --
* More Than $3 Billion Will Be Spent On Public=20
Wi-Fi By U.S. Municipalities During Next Four Years
[SOURCE: Muniwireless.com press release]
More than $3 billion will be spent over the next=20
four years to build and operate public wireless=20
networks for U.S. municipalities, according to a=20
new research report by Muniwireless.com. Spending=20
will exceed $235 million in 2006 -- significantly=20
higher the forecast of $177 million made last=20
year -- according to the research findings. For=20
2007, spending will reach $460 million, compared=20
to last year's estimate of $406 million. In 2008,=20
U.S. spending will grow 105 percent to $940=20
million, and 2009 spending will increase another=20
87 percent to $1.8 billion, according to the report.
http://www.govtech.net//digitalcommunities/story.php?id=3D101840

CITY WI-FI COVERAGE PUT TO THE TEST
[SOURCE: IDG News Service, AUTHOR: Stephen Lawson]
Uptown Services has quietly launched an=20
independent testing service to check on the=20
performance of Wi-Fi networks. Numerous cities=20
around the world, and some rural areas, are=20
building or exploring wireless networks that can=20
deliver fast Internet access everywhere. Even=20
when they don't pay to build the networks,=20
municipalities invest political capital in the=20
promise of connectivity everywhere. Uptown is=20
offering to help them figure out if the network=20
delivers on that promise. The service is becoming=20
available as municipal wireless is projected to=20
grow quickly over the next few years.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/10/23/HNcitywifi_1.html?source=3Drss...
l=3Dhttp://www.infoworld.com/article/06/10/23/HNcitywifi_1.html
* Testing Service will Check on City Wi-Fi
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/102306-testing-service-will-check-...
html?fsrc=3Drss-timgreene

ADVERTISING

ADS TEST PAYOLA CASE SETTLEMENT
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jeff Leeds]
Hardly more than a year has passed since the=20
nation=92s biggest record labels started agreeing=20
to a series of measures that were intended to end=20
the industry=92s long history of employing bribes=20
and other shady practices to influence which=20
songs are heard on the radio. But it has become=20
increasingly clear that the industry is still=20
grappling with how to change its culture. In the=20
last two weeks, songs from two record labels --=20
both distributed through Vivendi=92s Universal=20
Music Group -- got a lift on the charts after a=20
radio chain was paid to play the tunes as part of=20
commercials late at night in an advertising=20
program that New York state officials say is used=20
to trick radio programmers. The ad purchases come=20
five months after Universal settled accusations=20
that it bribed radio programmers with gifts in=20
exchange for airplay and engaged in other=20
deceptive practices. The accord, in which=20
Universal agreed to pay $12 million to New York=20
charities, was the biggest so far in a sweeping=20
investigation of the music industry that has been=20
led by Eliot Spitzer, the New York attorney=20
general. In the settlement -- which extends to=20
any label or other entity whose practices are=20
=93directed or controlled=94 by Universal --=20
executives are prohibited from, among other=20
things, buying advertisements for the purpose of=20
misleading the independent services that compile=20
airplay data for Billboard and other=20
publications. If Universal purchases a commercial=20
containing more than 60 seconds of song --=20
potentially enough for a tracking service to=20
count it as regular airplay -- the company must=20
provide written notice of the ad.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/25/business/media/25music.html
(requires registration)

ELECTION TRACKER PREDICTS $2.6B IN SPENDING
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
According to the Center for Responsive Politics=20
projections, candidates, parties, and advocacy=20
groups will have spent $2.6 billion by the end of=20
2006 to try to get their respective candidates=20
elected in 472 federal contests or building up=20
the war chests of Senate incumbents who get to=20
sit this one out. That's the most expensive midterm ever.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6384422.html?display=3DBreaki...
News
* U.S. Congress campaign cost expected to set record
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=3DpoliticsNews&storyID=
=3D2006-10-24T234123Z_01_N24188949_RTRUKOC_0_US-MONEY.xml&WTmodLoc=3DPolNew=
sHome_C2_politicsNews-3

SOME CABLERS BALK AT NIELSEN AD RATINGS
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Nielsen Media Research is getting set to deliver=20
its first-ever ratings of commercials, and some=20
companies representing cable networks are balking=20
at accepting them. The Turner cable networks,=20
which represent TBS, TNT, CNN and Court TV and=20
are owned by Time Warner Inc., said Tuesday they=20
are opting out of participating in the new=20
ratings system. NBC Universal, owned by General=20
Electric Co., is also rejecting the plan for its=20
networks, including CNBC, Bravo, Sci Fi, MSNBC=20
and USA. Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN also said it was=20
"taking a wait and see approach" and not=20
accepting the new measurements. Nielsen had been=20
planning to release the data for the first time=20
on Nov. 18, but has pushed that target date back to Dec. 11.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TV_NIELSEN_COMMERCIALS?SITE=3DAZP...
SECTION=3DHOME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT
* MTVN, Discovery Join Boycott of New Nielsen Ratings
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6384448.html?display=3DBreaki...
News
* Nets Nix Nielsen=92s Ad Ratings
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6384439.html?display=3DBreaking+News
* Nielsen plan gets poor cable reception
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-nielsen25oct25,1,2614...
.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business

THE PICKUP AD THAT'S CARRYING LOTS OF BAGGAGE
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Paul Farhi]
Rosa Parks became an enduring symbol of the=20
American civil rights movement after she refused=20
to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger in=20
Montgomery, Ala., 51 years ago. Today, Parks has=20
posthumously become a pitchwoman for a line of=20
pickup trucks. Another civil rights icon, Martin=20
Luther King Jr., also has been pressed into=20
service by General Motors in a new TV commercial.=20
The spot also includes images of President=20
Richard Nixon, Muhammad Ali, the late race car=20
driver Dale Earnhardt, some dancing hippies and a=20
memorial to the victims of the 9/11 attacks. The=20
commercial for Chevrolet's Silverado truck has=20
gotten plenty of airplay -- and a few expressions=20
of surprise, shock and puzzlement -- since it=20
went into heavy rotation during pro football=20
games and the baseball playoffs over the past=20
three weeks. The ad mixes vintage photographs and=20
news footage from the past half-century,=20
accompanied by a rousing John Mellencamp song=20
called "Our Country." Some of the images are=20
uplifting, such as a photo of Parks sitting on a=20
bus and a brief clip of King preaching. Others=20
evoke painful memories, such as Nixon's wave from=20
the presidential helicopter upon his resignation=20
in 1974, U.S. troops in Vietnam, damage from=20
Hurricane Katrina and the twin light beacons at=20
the World Trade Center site that memorialized=20
those killed in the attacks. Chevrolet says the=20
spot, called "Our Country. Our Truck," was=20
created to highlight "key moments" in recent=20
American history and is intended as a patriotic=20
statement. By including positive and negative=20
historic episodes, the ad is attempting to evoke=20
the notion that "we've had some bruises and=20
scars, yeah, but we've gotten up and gotten on=20
with it," says Chevy spokeswoman Melisa Tezanos.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/24/AR200610...
1400.html
(requires registration)

ELECTIONS & MEDIA

JUDGE VOIDS MEASURE TO BAR NEWS EXIT POLLS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Abby Goodnough]
A federal judge on Tuesday permitted news=20
organizations to conduct exit polls outside=20
voting places, overturning part of a Florida law=20
that put such polls in the same category as=20
electioneering and other banned activities. The=20
Associated Press and five television networks=20
sued last month to block the law. They are=20
fighting similar laws in Nevada and Ohio, saying=20
that questioning voters as they leave polling=20
places on Election Day is crucial to newsgathering.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/25/us/politics/25exitpoll.html
(requires registration)

POLITICIANS GROW WARY OF SURVEY AS INTERNET SPREADS ATTACK ADS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Peter Grant Peter.Grant( at )wsj.com]
With the election approaching and the Internet=20
growing as a powerful tool for negative=20
campaigning, there's one good-government group=20
trying to harness Web technology for the noble=20
purpose of better informing voters on the issues.=20
Unfortunately, the group, Project Vote Smart, is=20
being undermined by the same negative forces it's=20
trying to combat. Working out of a former dude=20
ranch in Montana, Vote Smart runs a Web site and=20
a toll-free number that tracks more than 10,000=20
candidates running for federal and state offices.=20
Along with gathering voluminous data on voting=20
records, speeches and endorsements, the nonprofit=20
conducts an exhaustive survey of the candidates'=20
positions on issues ranging from abortion to=20
welfare. For years, the survey was catching on=20
with incumbents and challengers alike. But=20
lately, the number of candidates taking the=20
survey has dropped dramatically. The reason: Many=20
are afraid their opponents will use the information against them in attack =
ads.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116173744805102790.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

WHITE HOUSE HOSTS MASS TALK RADIO EVENT
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: David Jackson]
Two weeks before a pivotal election, the Bush=20
administration brought some of the Republican=20
Party's conservative base to its front yard=20
Tuesday by inviting talk radio hosts to broadcast=20
from the North Lawn of the White House. About=20
three dozen radio hosts set up inside a huge=20
tent, interviewing administration stars such as=20
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense=20
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and political guru Karl=20
Rove. The hosts, both national and local, hailed=20
from cities from New York to San Diego. They=20
included a smattering of liberals. Michael=20
Harrison, publisher of the trade magazine=20
Talkers, said the White House has held =93radio=20
days=94 before, including one President Clinton=20
hosted in 1993 to promote his health care=20
proposal. The Bush White House hosted a radio day=20
less than a week before the elections in 2002.=20
Harrison said the difference this year is that=20
some conservatives, such as economist Bruce=20
Bartlett and blogger Andrew Sullivan, have been=20
critical of Bush policies on the war in Iraq and=20
federal spending as elections loom Nov. 7. =93Right=20
now, the Bush administration is worried about its=20
conservative base defecting,=94 Harrison said.=20
According to Talkers magazine, four of the five=20
top talk radio audiences tune into conservatives:=20
Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage and=20
Laura Ingraham. Of those, only Hannity showed up=20
at the White House on Tuesday, and his day=20
included an interview of Vice President Cheney to=20
be run on both his radio and Fox News television programs Tuesday.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20061025/a_talkradio25.art.htm

RUSH LIMBAUGH ON THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST AD WITH MICHAEL J FOX
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: David Montgomery]
Possibly worse than making fun of someone's=20
disability is saying that it's imaginary. That is=20
not to mock someone's body, but to challenge a=20
person's guts, integrity, sanity. To Rush=20
Limbaugh on Monday, Michael J. Fox looked like a=20
faker. The actor, who suffers from Parkinson's=20
disease, has done a series of political ads=20
supporting candidates who favor stem cell=20
research, including Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin,=20
who is running against Republican Michael Steele=20
for the Senate seat being vacated by Paul=20
Sarbanes. "He is exaggerating the effects of the=20
disease," Limbaugh told listeners. "He's moving=20
all around and shaking and it's purely an act. .=20
. . This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox.=20
Either he didn't take his medication or he's=20
acting." Limbaugh, whose syndicated radio program=20
has a weekly audience of about 10 million, was=20
reacting to Fox's appearance in another one of=20
the spots, for Missouri Democrat Claire=20
McCaskill, running against Republican Sen. James=20
M. Talent. But the Cardin ad is similar. It is=20
hard to watch, unless, for some reason, you don't=20
believe it. As he speaks, Fox's restless torso=20
weaves and writhes in a private dance. His head=20
bobs from side to side, almost leaving the video=20
frame. "This is the only time I've ever seen=20
Michael J. Fox portray any of the symptoms of the=20
disease he has," Limbaugh said. "He can barely=20
control himself." Later Monday, still on the air,=20
Limbaugh would apologize, but reaction to his=20
statements from Parkinson's experts and Fox's supporters was swift and angr=
y.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/24/AR200610...
0691.html
(requires registration)
* Limbaugh says actor Fox exaggerating his disease as stem cell issue churns
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20061025/a_stemcells25.art.htm

QUICKLY

THE COMMA THAT COSTS 1 MILLION DOLLARS (CANADIAN)
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Ian Austen]
Our friends at York University know that it pays=20
to pay attention to your grammar. dispute between=20
Rogers Communications of Toronto, Canada=92s=20
largest cable television provider, and a=20
telephone company in Atlantic Canada, Bell=20
Aliant, is over the phone company=92s attempt to=20
cancel a contract governing Rogers=92 use of=20
telephone poles. But the argument turns on a=20
single comma in the 14-page contract. The answer=20
is worth 1 million Canadian dollars (or 888,000=20
real American dollars). Citing the =93rules of=20
punctuation,=94 Canada=92s telecommunications=20
regulator recently ruled that the comma allowed=20
Bell Aliant to end its five-year agreement with=20
Rogers at any time with notice. Rogers argues=20
that pole contracts run for five years and=20
automatically renew for another five years,=20
unless a telephone company cancels the agreement=20
before the start of the final 12 months. The=20
contract is a standard one for the use of utility=20
poles, negotiated between a cable television=20
trade association and an alliance of telephone=20
companies. French and English versions were=20
approved by a government regulator about six=20
years ago. The dispute is over this sentence:=20
=93This agreement shall be effective from the date=20
it is made and shall continue in force for a=20
period of five (5) years from the date it is=20
made, and thereafter for successive five (5) year=20
terms, unless and until terminated by one year=20
prior notice in writing by either party.=94
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/25/business/worldbusiness/25comma.html
(requires registration)

WHO NEEDS A BOWLING LEAGUE TO MAKE FRIENDS WHEN THERE'S THE WEB?
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
The online equivalent of bowling leagues =97 now=20
there's the next big thing on the Web. Social=20
networking on the Web is already huge, and it's=20
only going to get bigger. But the next stage of=20
the trend is not all about MySpace adding to its=20
100 million members. A lot of tech entrepreneurs=20
are betting on a new generation of sites that=20
build social networking around activities or=20
interests. Such sites include Splice, MyBlogLog,=20
Hotsoup and Dodgeball. Sneakerplay is a social=20
network built around, of all things, sneaker=20
fanatics. Google is buying YouTube in part=20
because of YouTube's social networking around=20
videos. These kinds of sites are beginning to=20
circle MySpace like a piranha sizing up a hippo.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20061025/maney25.art.htm

HDTV SALES STRONG -- AMONG WEALTHIER CONSUMERS, STUDY SAYS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: David Lieberman]
Electronics stores are selling lots of HDTV sets,=20
but that doesn't mean the technology has gone=20
mainstream just yet. Well-to-do consumers still=20
dominate buying: 26% of HDTV owners have more=20
than one set -- up from 11% last year --=20
according a study out today from Leichtman=20
Research Group. =93That's a dramatic difference,=94=20
says Bruce Leichtman, president and principal=20
analyst. =93What is developing is an HD divide. If=20
I'm a marketer, I realize I'm not just selling to=20
new customers. I'm selling to a lot of existing=20
customers.=94 About a sixth of all homes have at=20
least one HDTV, up from 1-in-14 two years ago.=20
But owners still average a household income of=20
$89,500 -- 42% above the national average and=20
unchanged in the last year, even as prices for=20
plasma HDTVs fell 30%, and LCD models fell 15%.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20061025/hdtv25.art.htm

BE LOYAL, KIND AND DON'T STEAL MOVIES
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
A Boy Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, etc.,=20
etc. He is also respectful of copyrights. Boy=20
Scouts in the Los Angeles area will now be able=20
to earn an activity patch for learning about the=20
evils of downloading pirated movies and music.=20
The patch shows a film reel, a music CD and the=20
international copyright symbol, a "C" enclosed in=20
a circle. The movie industry has developed the curriculum.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SCOUTS_PIRACY_PATCH?SITE=3DTXDAM&...
TION=3DHOME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------