Benton RSS Feed

The FCC Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane=20
Katrina on Communications Networks meets=20
tomorrow. For this and other upcoming media=20
policy events, see http://www.benton.org

TELEVISION
Why Can't I Have Just the Cable Channels I Want?
TV Networks and Stations Challenge FCC Indecency Ruling
As V-Chip goes Digital, do Consumers Care?
The Case for Local Control of TV Deals

INTERNET
Free Net TV Threatens Telecoms and Cable
Once-Wary Industry Giants Embrace Internet Advertising

TELECOM
U.S. May Stop, Refund Excise Tax On Phone Service
Telecom Companies Pin Hopes On Developing Mobile Commerce
AT&T and Domestic Spying
Restrictions on Cellphone Use While Driving Gain Traction

FCC MEETING RECAP
FCC sets rules for next-generation wireless bids
FCC Modifies Rules to Facilitate Wireless Broadband Access
FCC Adopts Rules to Facilitate Advanced Wireless Services
Commissioner Copps Announces Staff Changes

QUICKLY -- Project Roadblock; Free TV placements;=20
Victims of Cyberstalkers; Corrupt Me Elmo

TELEVISION

WHY CAN'T I HAVE JUST THE CABLE CHANNELS I WANT?
[SOURCE: New York Times 4/16, AUTHOR: Richard Siklos]
[Commentary] The great paradox of the cable "a la=20
carte" debate is that it comes as the number of=20
media options is exploding and the way they are=20
being priced is all over the map. The=20
much-maligned bundle will most probably prevail=20
as the most popular business model for media,=20
although it, too, is likely going to need an=20
extreme makeover. Just look at the big picture:=20
At one end of the spectrum is the push to sell=20
more and more programming on a per-show or=20
per-viewing basis, via video-on-demand or some=20
kind of download service. Whether it is iTunes=20
from Apple Computer, the new video services from=20
Google and Yahoo, or the newest iterations of=20
nascent mobile telephone services through=20
Verizon, Sprint and others, it's clear that we=20
are approaching a future where there will be no=20
chance that a favorite show can be missed. All=20
this is happening not so much because content=20
makers sense gigantic riches in these new=20
ventures, but out of fear that if they don't make=20
their programming more freely available, younger=20
audiences will grow up accustomed to getting=20
their favorite shows free via illegal=20
file-sharing services and DVD's burned by their=20
pals. At the other end of the spectrum from=20
selling individual shows is the equally au=20
courant concept of =FCberbundling -- selling=20
digital cable services combined with high-speed=20
Internet and telephone service, and maybe=20
throwing some wireless into the mix. Ask cable=20
industry executives, and most will argue that a=20
majority of people still prefer buying the=20
existing pre-ordained packages of cable. And the=20
addition of new services like high-speed access=20
gives viewers conveniences like a single bill and=20
shared customer service. Yet a recent poll found=20
that 54 percent of television viewers said they=20
would prefer to buy channels individually, while=20
only 43 percent said they'd rather pay a flat fee=20
for a fixed number of channels.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/business/yourmoney/16frenzy.html
(requires registration)
* Cable A La Carte =91Such a Bad Idea=92
http://telecommagazine.com/newsglobe/article.asp?HH_ID=3DAR_1976

TV NETWORKS AND STATIONS CHALLENGE FCC INDECENCY RULING
[SOURCE: Associated Press 4/14, AUTHOR: Gary Gentile]
ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, along with their network=20
affiliate associations and the Hearst-Argyle=20
Television group of stations have filed court=20
challenges to a March 15 Federal Communications=20
Commission ruling that found several programs=20
"indecent" because of language. The move=20
represents a protest against the aggressive=20
enforcement of federal indecency rules that=20
broadcasters have complained are vague and=20
inconsistently applied. Millions of dollars in=20
fines have been levied based on those rules. The=20
networks and affiliate groups, representing more=20
than 800 individual stations, issued a rare joint=20
statement Friday calling the FCC ruling=20
"unconstitutional and inconsistent with two=20
decades of previous FCC decisions. "In filing=20
these court appeals we are seeking to overturn=20
the FCC decisions that the broadcast of fleeting,=20
isolated - and in some cases unintentional -=20
words rendered these programs indecent." The=20
networks and stations said the FCC "overstepped=20
its authority" and acted arbitrarily in not=20
giving the networks a clear standard for what content is objectionable.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/14343600.htm
* TV stations challenge FCC profanity decisions
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=3DtelevisionNews&sto...
D=3D2006-04-14T225941Z_01_N14104739_RTRIDST_0_TELEVISION-MEDIA-PROFANITY-FC=
C-DC.XML
* Nets Take Indecency Fines to Court
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6324990?display=3DBreaking+News
* TV Networks Sue to Challenge F.C.C.'s Indecency Penalties
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/17/business/media/17fcc.html
* Networks challenge FCC ruling
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20060417/news17.art.htm
* 'Commons Sense' Says Jackson Indecent
An FCC spokeswoman said Friday that CBS' argument=20
that the Janet Jackson 2004 Super Bowl halftime=20
reveal was not indecent "runs counter to common sense."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6325163?display=3DBreaking+News

AS V-CHIP GOES DIGITAL, DO CONSUMERS CARE?
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Tom Krazit]
It's been 10 years since Congress required=20
television makers to include the V-Chip in their=20
TVs as a result of the Telecommunications Act of=20
1996. It's been six years since all televisions=20
13 inches or larger were required to include a=20
V-Chip. But a 2004 study conducted by the Kaiser=20
Family Foundation in 2004 found that only 15=20
percent of parents have ever used the V-Chip. The=20
Ad Council put the usage figures even lower -- at=20
8 percent. few expect that to change following a=20
March 15, 2006, deadline that required television=20
makers to include a second generation of the chip=20
in digital TVs. The new V-Chip isn't really a=20
chip. It's software that blocks programs that=20
stray outside a ratings boundary set by the=20
television user. The new technology is designed=20
to accommodate changes in the ratings standards=20
used by broadcasters to rate their content. The=20
analog V-Chip was designed for the technology=20
used to communicate the ratings when the=20
technical standard was drawn up in the late=20
1990s. To promote the new V-chip, the Ad Council=20
is preparing a renewed advertising campaign for=20
later this year. But if parents today are=20
blocking content from reaching their children,=20
most appear to be using the TV's power-off button rather than chip technolo=
gy.
http://news.com.com/As+V-Chip+goes+digital%2C+do+consumers+care/2100-104...
-6061580.html?tag=3Dnefd.lede

THE CASE FOR LOCAL CONTROL OF TV DEALS
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Michael Hiltzik]
[Commentary] have a simple rule of thumb for=20
determining whether my cable TV service is=20
overpriced: Is it a monopoly? Then it's overpriced.
And let's face it: Virtually every cable TV=20
operation in the country is a monopoly. In=20
principle, therefore, we should welcome the=20
efforts of the phone companies Verizon=20
Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc. to offer=20
cable-style video services to the home in=20
competition with the Comcasts and Time Warner=20
Cables of the world. The record shows that when a=20
genuine rival enters a cable TV market,=20
subscription rates plummet. But the question=20
raised by a bill in the state Assembly is whether=20
it's necessary to wipe out all local regulation=20
of cable services in order to achieve the nirvana=20
of video competition. AB 2987, sponsored by=20
Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nu=F1ez and=20
Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys), chairman=20
of the Utilities and Commerce Committee, would do=20
just that. The bill would replace our current=20
regime of local regulation with a statewide=20
system endowed with scarcely a dime's worth of=20
enforcement authority. Local officials have=20
reacted predictably to this threat to their only=20
leverage against the big companies =97 leverage=20
that has allowed them to demand benefits such as=20
public access channels and free video and=20
Internet connections for government buildings,=20
schools and libraries, as well as enforceable=20
guarantees of service to underserved=20
neighborhoods and communities. "This bill is not=20
good public policy for California," says Lori=20
Panzino-Tillery, division chief of the franchise=20
program for San Bernardino County and president=20
of the National Assn. of Telecommunications=20
Officers and Advisors. "It would harm technology=20
to schools, it doesn't provide for advanced=20
services for those who don't have it and it=20
doesn't enhance broadband deployment." The cable=20
and phone companies keep talking about their=20
desire to face each other on a level playing=20
field, but who's keeping it level for the consumer?
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-golden17apr17,1,48684...
column?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

INTERNET

FREE NET TV THREATENS TELECOMS AND CABLE
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Marguerite Reardon ]
On Monday, Disney-owned ABC announced plans to=20
put "Lost," "Desperate Housewives," "Alias" and=20
"Commander-in-Chief" on the Internet for free as=20
part of a two-month trial beginning in May. The=20
Net-accessible episodes, which will be available=20
the day after the shows air, will be archived so=20
viewers can watch any shows they miss. Viewers=20
will access the shows on the ABC Web site where=20
they'll be able fast-forward, pause and rewind=20
entire episodes. Short commercials will be aired=20
with the programs; viewers will not be able to=20
fast-forward through them. Disney's move to offer=20
shows for free on the Internet could be viewed as=20
a direct threat to the business model of cable=20
companies, which have been the gatekeepers of=20
television programming in America for the last=20
few decades. The news is equally grim for phone=20
companies, especially Verizon Communications,=20
which is aggressively moving into the TV=20
business. Disney's plans "raise big questions for=20
the phone companies' long-term strategy," said=20
Joe Laszlo, an analyst with JupiterResearch. "To=20
some extent, building a faster network is smart=20
no matter how content delivery evolves. But if we=20
reach a point in five to 10 years when video over=20
the Internet becomes a bigger part of how we=20
consume video, then the phone companies will have=20
to find other ways to make their video services=20
relevant." "Even though Disney is delivering=20
content independently of the cable operator or=20
the telephone company, it would be interesting to=20
see if network providers respond by blocking=20
content," he said. The issue referred to as Net=20
neutrality centers on whether carriers should be=20
able to charge different fees to content=20
providers who access their network. For weeks,=20
the topic has been hotly debated in the industry=20
as lawmakers draft legislation that addresses the=20
issue. "I think Disney's move could open up this=20
debate even more," Laszlo said. "I wouldn't be=20
surprised if we saw large media companies getting into the debate soon."
http://news.com.com/Free+Net+TV+threatens+telecoms+and+cable/2100-1034_3...
60306.html?tag=3Dnefd.lede
* ABC Deal Stuns Affiliates
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6325082?display=3DBreaking+News
* Podcasting shakes up local media
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0417/p02s02-ussc.html

ONCE WARY INDUSTRY GIANTS EMBRACE INTERNET ADVERTISING
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Kevin J. Delaney kevin.delaney( at )wsj.co=
m]
After years of cautiously experimenting with Web=20
marketing, powerhouse advertisers like General=20
Mills and Kraft Foods are cranking up online=20
spending and increasing the range of brands they=20
promote on the Web. Providers of consumer=20
packaged goods accounted for more than 11% of the=20
$145 billion in U.S. ad spending in 2005,=20
according to research firm TNS Media=20
Intelligence. But they spent just 1.6% of their=20
ad dollars online last year, on average, compared=20
with an overall average of 5.8% of total ad=20
spending for U.S. advertisers, says TNS. These=20
advertisers have been the most challenging=20
targets for Internet companies, says Wenda Harris=20
Millard, chief sales officer at Yahoo. That=20
company has overcome some of their resistance by=20
wielding new tools to show that Web ads can=20
increase consumer spending. General Mills, maker=20
of Cheerios and Betty Crocker baking mixes,=20
expects to nearly double online-ad spending in=20
the current fiscal year. Kraft, home of Jell-O=20
and Kool-Aid, plans to double its number of=20
online-ad campaigns in 2006 and to increase the=20
number of brands it advertises on the Internet by=20
at least half. The shift underlines the=20
Internet's threat to traditional media such as=20
television and print magazines. It suggests that=20
the boom in Internet advertising that has already=20
fueled rapid revenue growth in recent years at=20
Google, Yahoo and other companies could continue=20
as still other groups of more traditional=20
advertisers step up online spending. The=20
packaged-goods companies say their customers are=20
spending more time online and using the Web in=20
new ways, such as watching TV shows and other=20
video. U.S. consumers go to the Web for about 15%=20
of the time they spend with all media, according=20
to another research firm, Knowledge Networks.=20
Some Internet executives believe Web spending=20
will echo the patterns set in earlier years with=20
broadcast and cable TV, which both saw sharp=20
growth in advertising once they reached a critical level of consumer adopti=
on.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114523618204327274.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

TELECOM

US MAY STOP, REFUND EXCISE TAX ON PHONE SERVICE
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal 4/14, AUTHOR: Robert=20
Guy Matthews robertguy.matthews( at )wsj.com and Amol Sharma]
The Treasury Department, following a series of=20
hostile court rulings on the way it assesses the=20
federal excise tax on phone service, is working=20
on a plan to stop collecting the levy and refund=20
billions of dollars to consumers and businesses,=20
according to people familiar with the matter.=20
Government officials are holding closely guarded=20
discussions on how to best handle the repayment=20
process as well as mitigate the impact of about=20
$60 billion in potential refunds and lost federal=20
revenues over the next five years. The surcharge=20
would likely disappear from long-distance and=20
wireless bills, but local-call levies could=20
remain. Courts have ruled seven times in recent=20
years that the government is misapplying the 3%=20
tax and ordered refunds to companies that have=20
sued over the charges. The courts have generally=20
accepted the argument that the tax is outdated=20
and should no longer apply on long-distance=20
calls, given how technologies and calling plans=20
have changed. More suits are pending, and rather=20
than continue with costly litigation, the=20
Treasury has decided to concede defeat, say=20
government officials. Elimination of the excise=20
tax would be a major victory for the=20
telecommunications industry, which has fought for=20
years in court and on Capitol Hill to do away=20
with the surcharge. The law -- originally enacted=20
to help pay the costs of the Spanish-American War=20
-- taxes telecom services based on both the=20
duration of a call and the distance it travels.=20
But the changing nature of technology now lets=20
phone companies offer flat rate per minute or=20
monthly plans. The government, however, has=20
continued to assess the tax under the old=20
services, sparking widespread protest.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114498252655725905.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

TELECOM COMPANIES PIN HOPES ON DEVELOPING MOBILE COMMERCE
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Roger Cheng roger.cheng( at )dowjones.com]
According to Len Lauer, chief operating officer=20
of Sprint Nextel Corp., there are only three=20
forgotten things consumers will return home for:=20
a cellphone, a wallet or purse and keys. The=20
telecommunications industry wants to get that=20
list down to just one. As such, engineers are=20
busy cramming as many features and services into=20
cellphones as they can. Among them is the=20
capability to open doors or pay for lunch with a=20
wave of the handset. In Japan, NTT DoCoMo offers=20
a mobile-payments service that allows subscribers=20
to make purchases at a convenience store or check=20
into the airport by waving a cellphone. Some=20
subscribers even have their apartments programmed=20
where they can lock and unlock their doors with=20
their handsets. The technology, called=20
"near-field communication," has been up and=20
running in Japan since 2004. In the U.S.,=20
however, adoption of mobile payments is still at=20
an early stage. Mobile commerce is seen as a=20
potential driver of revenue for the cellphone=20
companies, who already are seeing an increase in=20
their revenue from nonvoice services such as text=20
messaging and music and ring-tone downloads. With=20
mobile commerce, carriers could charge a fee for=20
each transaction. The technology would run=20
similar to the small "speed pass" gas cards. But=20
one issue is security. Consumers worry that a=20
stolen cellphone will be used by a thief to make purchases.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114522530420027096.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

AT&T AND DOMESTIC SPYING
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] A former AT&T employee has come=20
forward with documents suggesting that there may=20
be a lot more domestic spying going on than=20
President Bush has admitted. The AT&T documents=20
suggest that telephone companies may be helping=20
the government engage in wholesale interception=20
of telephone calls, e-mail messages and Web=20
surfing. If AT&T is violating its customers'=20
privacy rights, it should come clean, and stop=20
immediately. In the age of unfettered=20
communication, no company should want to get a=20
reputation for allowing the government to listen=20
in on its customers' phone calls, read their=20
e-mail and monitor their Web activity without the requisite legal showing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/17/opinion/17mon2.html
(requires registration)

RESTRICTIONS ON CELLPHONE USE WHILE DRIVING GAIN TRACTION
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Shearon=20
Roberts shearon.roberts( at )wsj.com]
Addressing what safety experts say can be a=20
deadly distraction, states are scrambling to=20
impose restrictions on cellphone use by drivers.=20
Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia=20
have written legislation on the issue, mostly=20
since 2003. This year, other legislatures are=20
tackling the subject, and two states have passed=20
laws on it. The move toward legislation reflects=20
the proliferation of cellphones and rising=20
concern the devices and other distractions are contributing to auto crashes.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114522448326327081.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

FCC MEETING RECAP

FCC SETS RUES FOR NEXT GENERATION WIRELESS BIDS
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com 4/12, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
On June 29, the Federal Communications Commission=20
is planning to auction 90MHz of radio spectrum,=20
which is projected to bring in between $8 billion=20
and $15 billion for the government. Companies are=20
interested in snapping up the 1,122 licenses for=20
that spectrum so they can roll out more=20
third-generation, or 3G, mobile networks capable=20
of shuttling voice, data, video and other=20
services at higher speeds. For more than a=20
decade, the FCC's policy was to unveil each=20
participant's identity and bid for each license=20
at the end of every auction round. Spectrum=20
auctions, which occur electronically,=20
historically have lasted anywhere from a few days=20
to a few months, depending on the number of=20
licenses up for grabs. But in a public=20
notice released in late January, the agency said=20
it had concerns about potential anticompetitive=20
effects arising from that approach. Citing=20
reports from economists, regulators said they=20
worried that if information about bidders were=20
revealed during the auction's multiple and=20
simultaneous rounds, sneaky participants could=20
use that information to "signal" each other.=20
Through that tactic, they could find ways to=20
coordinate their own bids--perhaps resulting in=20
lower-than-market-value prices for licenses--or=20
to fight off competing ones. At Wednesday's=20
meeting, the four seated commissioners agreed by=20
voice vote to a compromise that would permit=20
"anonymous" or "blind" bidding only if the FCC=20
determined beforehand that a sufficient level of=20
competition be present. That decision, based on a=20
formula that accounts for the number of bidders=20
that apply to participate and the upfront=20
payments they provide, will likely not occur=20
until sometime after June 1, the target date for those payments.
http://news.com.com/FCC+sets+rules+for+next-generation+wireless+bids/210...
039_3-6060487.html?tag=3Dnefd.top
* FCC Creates Option For Blind Airwaves Auction
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-ILVS1144955096703.html
* PUBLIC NOTICE: AUCTION OF ADVANCED WIRELESS=20
SERVICES LICENSES SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 29, 2006
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-47A1.doc

FCC MODIFIES RULES TO FACILITATE WIRELESS BROADBAND ACCESS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
On April 12, the Federal Communications=20
Commission adopted an Order that continues its=20
efforts to transform its rules and policies=20
governing the 2496-2690 MHz Broadband Radio=20
Service (BRS) and Educational Broadband Service=20
(EBS) band. The actions taken in this Order will=20
facilitate the deployment of educational and=20
commercial wireless broadband services using this spectrum.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264897A1.doc

FCC ADOPTS RELOCATION PROCEDURES AND COST SHARING=20
RULES TO FACILITATE ACCESS OF SPECTRUM FOR ADVANCED WIRELESS SERVICES
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
On April 12, the FCC adopted a Ninth Report and=20
Order establishing procedures by which new=20
Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) licensees may=20
relocate incumbent Broadband Radio Service (BRS)=20
and Fixed Microwave Service (FS) operations in=20
spectrum that has been allocated for AWS. These=20
procedures will promote the rapid deployment of=20
broadband, voice, and data services to the public=20
by new AWS licensees, and also will minimize the=20
disruption to incumbent BRS and FS licensees during the relocation process.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264895A1.doc

COMMISSIONER COPPS ANNOUNCES STAFF CHANGES
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Jessica Rosenworcel will serve as Commissioner=20
Copps' Senior Legal Advisor. In addition to her=20
duties as senior advisor, Ms. Rosenworcel will=20
serve as advisor for media issues. Scott M.=20
Deutchman will serve as Legal Advisor for=20
competition and universal service issues and=20
Bruce Liang Gottlieb will serve as Legal Advisor=20
for wireless and international issues. Deutchman=20
is a graduate of Cornell University's School of=20
Industrial and Labor Relations and a cum laude=20
graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law=20
School. He most recently served as the Managing=20
Director of The LawMedia Group, providing=20
legislative and public relations counsel for a=20
variety of companies, trade associations and=20
business coalitions. Before that, he served as=20
Minority Counsel to the U.S. House of=20
Representatives Committee on the Judiciary and=20
practiced law at Hogan and Hartson in Washington,=20
DC. In addition, Deutchman has been an Adjunct=20
Faculty Member at the University of Maryland Law School.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264899A1.doc

QUICKLY

STRAIGHT PUBLIC SERVICE, NO CHASER
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: David Goetzl]
The 2005 =93Project Roadblock=94 campaign against=20
drunk driving reached more than 97% of the=20
country and generated an estimated $6 million in=20
exposure. But perhaps most impressive, research=20
shows that the effort persuaded nearly 20% of the=20
people who viewed the ads to take action. A joint=20
venture between the Ad Council, the National=20
Highway Transportation Safety Administration and=20
the Television Bureau of Advertising=97the second=20
year it has been tried=97the public-service=20
campaign saw 638 stations air more than 21,000=20
PSAs during its week-long run leading up to New=20
Year's Eve. The Project Roadblock name is derived=20
from the initiative's concentrated seven-day push=20
to blanket the airwaves with a message to avoid=20
driving while intoxicated. It also happens to be=20
a week when stations don't always have lots of=20
ads to run. Stations from 133 broadcast groups=20
ran the spots, which were produced by the Ad=20
Council and were worth an estimated $3.8 million=20
in media placements. Their support of PR efforts,=20
including stations' covering the campaign on=20
their local newscasts, extended the campaign's=20
value (by an additional $2.4 million). Although=20
the campaign ran for only a week, 18% of the=20
people who saw it said in a follow-up survey that=20
they had recently acted to stop an impaired=20
friend or family member from driving under the=20
influence. The research also showed nearly 25% of=20
men ages 21-35, the campaign's target, had seen=20
or heard about the campaign (drunk driving=20
remains the leading cause of death for younger=20
Americans; the majority of those killed are men).
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6325122?display=3DFeature

BRANDS TAKE BUZZ TO BANK THROUGH FREE TV PLACEMENT
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Gail Schiller]
During the past four months, Apple iPods, Macs=20
and other products have been featured 250 times=20
on 38 different network primetime shows,=20
including such hits as "CSI: NY" and "The O.C."=20
That adds up to 26 minutes of free exposure for=20
one of Hollywood's biggest brand stars, according=20
to Nielsen's Place Views tracking service. With=20
its cultural cachet and storied history of giving=20
away tens of thousands of Apple computers to the=20
Hollywood creative community, Apple has had=20
perhaps the greatest success of any brand in=20
embedding its products into film and TV without=20
paying for the integrations, even amid=20
Hollywood's rush to cash in on branded=20
entertainment deals over the past several years.=20
But the Silicon Valley star is by no means alone,=20
especially among companies that have that=20
much-sought-after "cool" factor or that sell=20
big-ticket luxury items, such as Aston Martin and=20
Lamborghini. And, because of practical issues=20
that arise on the set, even brands that lack such=20
totemic status still frequently manage to win free placements.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
d=3D2006-04-13T115315Z_01_N13277518_RTRUKOC_0_US-BRANDS.xml

A SINISTER WEB ENTRAPS VICTIMS OF CYBERSTALKERS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Tom Zeller Jr]
The problem of personal information from the=20
Internet being used to stalk can be devastating=20
to those who are targeted, and it is not easily legislated away.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/17/technology/17stalk.html?hp&ex=3D114533...
0&en=3D352ad6b337a3884a&ei=3D5094&partner=3Dhomepage
(requires registration)

CORRUPT ME ELMO
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Karen Karbo is=20
the author of "Minerva Clark Gets a Clue"]
[Commentary] Recently, Sesame Workshop, the=20
people behind "Sesame Street," released a series=20
of DVD's aimed at babies as young as 6 months,=20
and I cannot begin to fathom what all the fuss is=20
about. Oh, I know =97 according to the American=20
Academy of Pediatrics, no television is=20
appropriate for children under 2. But doctors,=20
where have you been? "Teletubbies" (target=20
audience: viewers 1 to 3) has been entertaining=20
our nation's infants for a decade, and Disney's=20
"Baby Einstein" (birth to 2) has been educating=20
our youngest consumers since hours after their=20
conception. The videos are meant to offer a=20
chance for parents and child to interact, to get=20
to know each other better, to have something in=20
common besides peekaboo. But why should I drop 10=20
bucks on one of your DVD's when I have on-demand=20
cable, where there exist many quality programs=20
that both parents and their precocious nippers=20
can enjoy together? For example: Six Feet Under,=20
The Sopranos, American Idol, Lost, Big Love...
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/17/opinion/17karbo.html
(requires registration)
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------