December 2007

MARTIN GETS THREE VOTES FOR 30% CABLE CAP
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Apparently, a majority of the Federal Communications Commission’s members voted to impose a cap on cable system ownership. Not all of the votes have been cast, a Commission source said, so the cap is not technically a done deal and it may not be released for several weeks as the Commissioners work on their statements. When the vote does become official, it will likely be taken to court by the cable industry.

VIVENDI GAMES TO COMBINE WITH ACTIVISION
[SOURCE: CNNMoney]
Vivendi SA said Sunday that it plans to acquire a controlling stake in Activision Inc. and combine the video game publisher with Vivendi Games in a deal the companies valued at $18.9 billion. The combination of Santa Monica-based Activision, whose titles include "Guitar Hero," "Call of Duty" and the "Tony Hawk" series, and Vivendi Games, which publishes "Crash Bandicoot" and owns the online role-playing franchise "World of Warcraft," would create the world's largest pure-play online and console game publisher, the companies said.

AIRWAVE SALE SPARKS SCRAMBLE
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Jim Puzzanghera and Jessica Guynn]

A CELLULAR SEA CHANGE
[SOURCE: New York Times 12/1, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]