| April 25, 2012 | News for broadcast and electronic media leaders |
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- Religious broadcasters plead to keep must-carry rule
A Republican plan to do away with the FCC's must-carry rule for broadcast TV stations is cause for concern among U.S. religious broadcasters, many of whose signals could be dropped by cable systems. The broadcasters are calling on the bill's sponsors to reconsider. "Eliminating those rules would be of significant detriment to the stations [the National Religious Broadcasters] represents and the viewers that rely on them for spiritual guidance," NRB President and CEO Frank Wright wrote in letters to the lawmakers who introduced the bill. TheWrap.com/TV/Hollywood, D.C. blog
(4/24)     
| Business & Industry Report | |  |
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- Senator puts Diller on spot about Aereo's business model
IAC Chairman Barry Diller, during an appearance before the Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday, faced sharp questions from Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., over whether his Aereo TV startup is basically a pay network that retransmits content without compensating creators for the rights to use it. However, Diller likened the distribution model for Aereo, which is the target of litigation by the top broadcast networks, to being similar to a consumer using a RadioShack antenna. No broadcasters were included in the Senate panel. However, one executive from a company suing Aereo said, "He is trying to make a buck without licensing the content that he is retransmitting. This is not about new technology. This is about trying to make money off of others' investment." Broadcasting & Cable
(4/24), TVNewsCheck (free registration)
(4/24), National Journal
(4/24)
- Crista Broadcasting adds streaming service, apps
Crista Broadcasting's online listeners will have access to streaming content as the company partners with provider StreamGuys and mobile app developer Onseeker. The new service, with scheduled push notifications, and apps will "allow us to go deeper than the music, which is important as a Christian broadcaster," said Crista new media specialist Channah Hanberg. Radio Online
(4/24)
- Merlin Media makes another inroad in Chicago
Randy Michaels' Merlin Media is expanding in Chicago with the addition of WLFM-LP, a low-power TV station with audio at 87.7 on the FM dial. News, weather and traffic information with smooth jazz are available, supplemented beginning today with news updates from FM News 101.1 WIQI-FM. Radio Ink
(4/24)
- NAB Show deemed a success with more exhibits
The number of exhibits was up from last year and the space devoted to them expanded at this year's NAB Show. Attendance was tabbed at about 92,000, and although large delegations were less in evidence, "key people" did make appearances and there was "a lot of international traffic," said Rusty Waite of Salzbrenner Stagetec Mediagroup. Broadcast Engineering
(4/24), Radio Ink
(4/24)
- Murdoch lays out routine contact with British officials
News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch told an official inquiry panel that politicians often "go out of their way to impress people in the press." He denied receiving any special favors from U.K. government officials. Murdoch's testimony came a day after his son, James, controversially revealed News Corp.'s dealings with the government's culture office amid a takeover attempt for Britain's largest pay-TV service. The Washington Post
(4/25)
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- Market forces drive shift to the cloud
In one sense, the cloud computing technology on display at the NAB Show brings computing full circle, to a model reminiscent of the early concentration of power in mainframes connected to minimally capable terminals, writes Tollefsrude Group principal Dave Stoner. But this time around, a number of market forces are behind the change. StreamingMedia.com
(4/25)
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- NBA delivers strong season for ABC
ABC garnered its biggest audience ever for the NBA's regular season, which was delayed five months because of a lockout. The network's average audience over 15 games rose 6% to 5.4 million viewers, while its household rating increased 10% to a 3.3. Household impressions also grew by 9% to 3.83 million. Broadcasting & Cable
(4/24)
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- Xbox Live ad experience will be even more like TV
Microsoft, at its Digital Content Newfront event, said it would increase its inventory of 15- and 30-second spots on Xbox Live. ESPN, Manga Entertainment and CBS Interactive Properties' GameSpot and Last.fm will be participating in Xbox Live's "Run of TV Apps" initiative, which offers TV-style ads with interactive features and audience metrics. PaidContent.org
(4/24)
| Related Industry News | | |
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- Much of new content on YouTube seems all too familiar
YouTube, in its push to compete more directly with traditional TV channels and services like Hulu and Netflix, has created some standout content, but most of the new channels seem to mimic the typical pop culture, sports and gossip fare found on many cable outlets, Mike Hale writes. "With regular weekly shows and viewer-friendly playlists, they are indeed slightly more televisionlike than the millions of mostly homemade videos that surround them. But the harder they try to resemble television, the less interesting they are," he writes. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(4/24)
- AOL's new shows include Twitter co-founder's interviews
AOL tried to entice media buyers at its Digital Content Newfront session with original, short-form scripted series as well as a nonscripted offering that features Twitter co-founder Biz Stone interviewing famous people. Pitched for a female audience, "Fetching" is a drama about a former lawyer who opens a doggie day care center, and "Little Women Big Cars" is a celebrity-driven show about soccer moms. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model)
(4/24)
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- NAB TV Board adds Texas broadcaster DuJuan McCoy
DuJuan McCoy, owner, president and CEO of Bayou City Broadcasting, has been named to the NAB Television Board. McCoy, who participated in the NAB Broadcast Leadership Training Program in 2008, will succeed Madelyn Bonnot Griffin. She will remain with NAB as co-chair of the Small Market Television Advisory Committee. TV Technology
(4/24)
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