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  2. March 2008

March 2008

Increased DTV Awareness

MAGID STUDY FINDS INCREASED DTV AWARENESS
According to research firm Frank N. Magid Associates, 59 percent of Americans are now aware of the digital television transition. In September 2007, a similar survey found that just 34 percent of adults were aware of the coming turn-off of analog TV. Fifty-three percent of consumers have heard about the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s program to provide government subsidies toward the purchase of digital converter boxes that will let analog TVs show DTV signals; 29% of over-the-air-only consumers reported that they have already applied for their NTIA coupons.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6544545.html?rssid=193

* Magid: 6 In 10 Aware Of Digital TV Switch
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6544545.html?rssid=193

Will Kids Pay the Price for Recall Failures?

WILL KIDS PAY THE PRICE FOR RECALL FAILURES
[Commentary] Ironically, at the very time when so much attention is being paid to the digital TV transition, a very large percentage of the digital televisions sold in the US over the last two years lack V-Chip 2.0 which allows upgrading the ratings software. The FCC is trying to figure out the problem. Its Enforcement Bureau and then the FCC itself are trying to come up with a solution, presumably some combination of fines and remedial action. The level of fines should be related to the remedial action each company takes. The FCC’s objective should be to fix the problem and make sure it doesn't happen again. The solution is for the manufacturers and/or retailers to come to houses and fix the defective software, or at least mail thumb drives and clear instructions to the buyers. Anything less will not solve the problem. Of course, if digital televisions were treated by their manufacturers like our office and home computers, the solution would be a snap. One could automatically download an upgrade, a “patch”, directly into the device. Consumers, especially the kids who are supposed to be protected by the V-Chip, should not have to pay the price for manufacturers not thinking ahead, or manufacturers hoping the FCC doesn’t care enough to force compliance now and in the future.
http://benton.org/node/10342

Ad Spending Barely Budged in 2007

AD SPENDING BARELY BUDGED IN 2007
U.S. ad spending growth ground to a halt in 2007, climbing a negligible 0.2% to reach $149 billion last year after a 4.1% gain in 2006, according to data released today by TNS Media Intelligence. Ad spending in the fourth quarter declined 0.1% from the fourth quarter one year prior. The stall in spending growth isn't a shock, given the general financial uncertainty and specific problems in high-spending categories like domestic auto or housing. But its arrival highlights the speed with which market conditions have gone south. It was only January 2006 when TNS predicted that 2007 would produce a 2.6% gain, itself considered a "tepid" rate of growth. Now tepid looks positively sunny.
http://adage.com/article?article_id=125921

* New media expected to get more ad dollars
Advertisers and marketers, struggling to keep up with changing consumer habits, are about to make massive investments in new digital and out-of-home media platforms, according to a forecast out today from research firm PQ Media. It says that companies will spend more than $160.8 billion in 2012 — up 82% from 2008 — on 18 emerging markets including online videos, store-based TV screens, sponsored events, TV and movie product placements, cellphones, video games and digital video recorders.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20080326/altmedia26.art.htm

Google holders seek human rights, censorship review

GOOGLE HOLDERS SEEK HUMAN RIGHTS, CENSORSHIP REVIEW
Shareholders of Google will propose that the company take steps to ensure freedom of Internet access and establish a review of its operations' effect on human rights. In one proposal expected to be submitted at the company's 2008 annual meeting on May 8, shareholders will ask Google to commit to certain standards, including a pledge not to engage in proactive censorship or host user data in countries that restrict political speech. A second proposal put forward by Harrington Investments requests that the company create a board committee on human rights to review the implications of its policies on a worldwide basis.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2540166320080325

* Google Shareholders to Vote On Proposed Human Rights Panel
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/25/AR200803...

Comment Deadlines for Universal Service NPRMs Extended by Two Weeks

COMMENT DEADLINES FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICE NPRMs EXTENDED BY TWO WEEKS
The Federal Communications Commission has extended the deadlines for filing comments in three universal service proceedings. Comments in the Notices for Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) are now due April 17; reply comments are due May 19, 2008. No saying the dog ate your comments.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-674A1.doc

Will Kids Pay the Price for Recall Failures?

Will Kids Pay the Price for Recall Failures?

David K. Aylward

Today's Quote 03.25.08

"We are astonished that the Justice Department would propose granting a monopoly to two companies that systematically broke FCC rules for more than a decade. To hinge approval of this monopoly on XM and Sirius's refusal to deliver on a promise of interoperable radios is nothing short of breathtaking."
-- Dennis Wharton, National Association of Broadcasters

The Pastor, The Candidate, And The Speech Lead The News

THE PASTOR, THE CANDIDATE, AND THE SPEECH LEAD THE NEWS
[SOURCE: Project for Excellence in Journalism, AUTHOR: Mark Jurkowitz]
It was, to put it simply, the week of “the speech.” The 37-minute address on race delivered by Barack Obama March 18 at Philadelphia’s Constitution Center dominated last week’s campaign narrative in the press. While the subject was race relations in America, there were so many subtexts it was hard for the press to know where to begin. The numbers alone tell much of the tale. First, Obama utterly dominated the media narrative. He was a significant or dominant figure in 72% of last week’s campaign coverage. That was more than twice as many stories as Hillary Clinton, at 30%. Not only was it Obama’s highest coverage level in 2008, it was Clinton’s lowest since mid-January, when both parties still had multi-candidate presidential fields. And that was despite last week’s much-anticipated National Archives release of thousands of pages of records of Clinton’s activities as First Lady. Despite presumptive GOP nominee John McCain’s high-profile Mideast mission to burnish his national security credentials, that trip played second fiddle to the Wright controversy as well. McCain registered at only 17% of the campaign coverage as Democrats generated almost 12 times the media attention as Republicans did last week.
http://www.journalism.org/node/10319

Members of Congress Respond to XM-Sirius Decision

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS RESPOND TO XM-SIRIUS DECISION
1) Sen Herb Kohl (D-WI), the chairman of the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee, told the Federal Communications Commission it should not allow XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio to merge, saying that it would create a satellite-radio monopoly. He said, "We believe the elimination of competition between XM and Sirius is contrary to antitrust law and the interests of consumers. We urge that the FCC find the merger contrary to the public interest and exercise its authority to block it. We are particularly disturbed by this decision given the Justice Department's record in recent years of failing to oppose numerous mergers that reduced competition in key industries, resulting in the Justice Department not bringing a single contested merger case in nearly four years." 2) Sen Byron Dorgan (D-ND) called the Department of Justice decision to approve the merger "another disappointing example of this administration's blatant disregard for the public interest with regard to media ownership." He said "the American consumer will pay the price" if the merger ultimately eliminates competition in satellite radio. 3) House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee chairman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said the Department of Justice's approval of the XM Satellite Radio-Sirius Satellite Radio merger without conditions was par for the course, but he told the Federal Communications Commission it should aim for more. “If the Federal Communications Commission, after completing its analysis and consideration of the proposed merger, decides to approve it, I urge the FCC to appropriately condition any such approval to ensure consumer welfare with respect to long-term service plans and pricing, as well as equipment compatibility and pricing,” he said.
* Kohl: FCC Should Block XM-Sirius Merger
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6544438.html?rssid=193
* Dorgan: XM-Sirius Approval Shows 'Blatant Disregard' Of Public Interest
http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=141526&pt=todaysnews
* Markey Tells FCC XM-Sirius Merger Needs Conditions
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6544432.html?rssid=193

Common Cause, Benton Challenge FCC Ownership Change

COMMON CAUSE, BENTON CHALLENGE FCC OWNERSHIP CHANGE
Common Cause, the Benton Foundation, Consumers Action, the Massachusetts Consumers' Coalition, the National Hispanic Media Coalition, and others filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission Monday asking it to reconsider and modify the decision to loosen media ownership rules, as well as to grant waivers to some existing combos, as well as its decision not to tighten -- or loosen -- TV or radio local ownership rules. For one thing, it wants the commission to rescind waivers it granted Media General for combos in Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C.; Columbus, Ga.; Panama City, Fla.; and Tri-Cities, Tennessee/Virginia, as well as Gannett for its Phoenix combo. They also want the commission to: 1) Revise the rule so that waivers will be granted only if it is presumed in the public interest or saves a failing media outlet or passes a tougher test on the provision of local news. 2) Require applicants to provide ample public notice of merger/waiver requests and seek such waivers within 30 days of a purchase.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6544450.html?rssid=193

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