May 2008

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
For McCain, A Switch On Telecom Immunity?
Amendment Targets Embedded-Analyst Program

ELECTIONS & MEDIA
Public Says Media Harder on Clinton Than Obama, McCain

LABOR
AFTRA, majors agree on deal

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Another Tribune unit put on auction block
Microsoft denies Windows Media blocks digital broadcasts

INTERNET/BROADBAND
FCC Weighs Free-Internet Plan
Privacy concerns seen hurting online ad biz

BROADCASTING/CABLE
Senior Citizens Get Ready For Switch To Digital TV
Azteca shifts production of U.S. newscasts to Mexico
BBC told to slow online development
Small Cable Ops Keep Up Leased-Access Fight

QUICKLY -- Minorities Dominate Use of New Media;=20
Survey Finds Majority of Families Do Not Have=20
Emergency Communications Plan; Librarians discuss how to store world's data

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

FOR MCCAIN, A SWITCH ON TELECOM IMMUNITY?
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Jonathan Weisman and Ellen Nakashima]
A top lawyer for Sen. John McCain's presidential=20
campaign said telecommunications companies should=20
be forced to explain their role in the Bush=20
administration's warrantless surveillance program=20
as a condition for legal immunity for past=20
wiretapping, a statement that stands in marked=20
contrast to positions taken by President Bush,=20
Sen McCain and other Republicans in Congress.=20
"There would need to be hearings, real hearings,=20
to find out what actually happened, what harms=20
actually occurred, rather than some sort of=20
sweeping of things under the rug," Chuck Fish, a=20
former vice president and chief patent counsel at=20
Time Warner, said last week at the Computers,=20
Freedom and Privacy conference, according to an=20
audiotape available on the conference Web site.=20
"That would be absolutely verboten in a McCain=20
administration." The comments -- first noted=20
last week on the blog of the technology magazine=20
Wired -- contradict McCain's voting record, and=20
they are almost certain to disrupt negotiations=20
between Democratic leaders in Congress and Bush=20
administration officials, who are seeking blanket=20
immunity for the telecoms' cooperation with the surveillance program.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/28/AR200805...
2967.html
(requires registration)

AMENDMENT TARGETS EMBEDDED-ANALYST PROGRAM
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
It looks like the inspector general of the=20
Defense Department and the Government=20
Accountability Office may be joining the Federal=20
Communications Commission in investigating the=20
Bush administration's =93embedded analyst=94 program.=20
This came after the House of Representatives=20
passed an amendment -- to a Defense Authorization=20
bill -- that would try to end the practice,=20
currently suspended by the DOD, of briefing media=20
analysts for networks in an effort to get them to=20
relay the government line on the war in Iraq. The=20
Defense Authorization bill passed in the House,=20
as well. So if the amendment survives a=20
conference between different House and Senate=20
versions of the bill, it would prevent any DOD=20
funding from being used for propaganda. It would=20
also require the GAO and DOD inspector general to=20
investigate whether the DOD's care and=20
information-feeding of analysts violated existing=20
laws against domestic propaganda.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6564727.html?rssid=3D193

ELECTIONS & MEDIA

PUBLIC SAYS MEDIA HARDER ON CLINTON THAN OBAMA, MCCAIN
[SOURCE: Gallup, AUTHOR: Jeffrey M. Jones]
Although Americans in general think that news=20
media coverage of the three major presidential=20
candidates has been "about right," they are more=20
inclined to say the media have been "too hard" on=20
Hillary Clinton and "too easy" on Barack Obama=20
and John McCain. Bill and Hillary Clinton are two=20
of the most prominent people to suggest that the=20
news media have been unfairly critical of her and=20
her campaign. The overall sentiment of the=20
American public seems to tilt in agreement, with=20
significantly more Americans saying the media=20
have been too hard on Clinton than say that about=20
either Obama or McCain. Clinton's supporters=20
generally share this negative view of her=20
treatment by the media -- a majority (56%) of=20
Democrats who support Clinton for the=20
presidential nomination say the media have been=20
too hard on her. That is nearly double the=20
percentage of Obama supporters who say this about Clinton.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/107557/Public-Says-Media-Harder-Clinton-Than-...
ma-McCain.aspx

LABOR

AFTRA, MAJORS AGREE ON DEAL
[SOURCE: Variety, AUTHOR: Dave McNary]
The American Federation of Television and Radio=20
Artists (AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion=20
Picture & Television Producers have reached a=20
deal which mirrors the Directors Guild of America=20
and Writers Guild of America pacts in many of the=20
new media provisions. The new media provisions=20
cover programs streamed over the web and=20
downloads of TV shows along with setting the same=20
thresholds as the DGA and WGA for coverage of=20
made-for-Internet programs. As with the director=20
and writer deals, the AFTRA pact did not include=20
any gains in DVD residuals. The AFTRA pact also=20
retains actors' consent over online use of clips,=20
an issue that has unexpectedly emerged as a=20
dominant concern at both the SAG and AFTRA=20
negotiations. AFTRA president Roberta Reardon=20
told Daily Variety that the clips discussion took=20
up the majority of time during the 18 days of=20
talks - partly because the unions had not been=20
anticipated the companies pushing the issue and=20
partly because no business model currently=20
exists. Both SAG and AFTRA had opposed the=20
AMPTP's proposal that actors agree to drop the=20
consent requirement for online clips while the=20
companies had contended that the change was=20
essential in order to establish a viable business=20
model that could compete with the massive levels=20
of pirated clips on the web. AFTRA said the pact=20
calls for it and the companies to "develop a=20
mechanism" by which performers can provide or=20
withhold consent for non-promotional use of clips=20
from TV libraries. Reardon said there had been=20
several proposals under discussion, adding that=20
ratification will trigger a 90-day deadline for=20
both sides to come up with a specific framework.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117986517.html?categoryid=3D13&cs=3D1&...
=3D2562
* AMPTP, AFTRA Reach Primetime Deal
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6564454.html?rssid=3D193
* Actors union, studios reach new TV labor deal
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN2739492120080528
* Studios, AFTRA Agree on Contract
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/05/28/daily.8/
* AFTRA, Producers Agree on Deal
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/05/aftra_producers_agree_on_deal.php
* Studios in a Tentative Deal With TV Actors in=20
One Union, but Uncertainty Remains (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/business/media/29studio.html?ref=3Dtod...
paper
* Actors' Union in Tentative Pact On TV Contract=20
With Studios (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121198286224626043.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
* Hollywood studios, AFTRA agree on contract (LATimes)
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-aftra29-2008may29,0,9...
33.story
* After AFTRA (LATimes)
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-aftra29-2008may29...
1748935.story

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

ANOTHER TRIBUNE UNIT PUT ON AUCTION BLOCK
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Julie MacIntosh]
Tribune Company is attempting to sell off another=20
business =96 this time, its Tribune Media Services=20
unit, which distributes news and entertainment=20
listings =96 to boost its short-term liquidity.=20
Tribune, the second-largest US newspaper=20
publisher, has roughly $13bn of debt, with=20
$1.85bn due in 2008 and 2009, following its deal=20
last year to be bought by Sam Zell, the real=20
estate investor. The Chicago-based publisher=20
agreed earlier this month to sell Newsday, the=20
Long Island tabloid, to cable operator=20
Cablevision to pay down some of its shorter-term=20
obligations, but it still faces long-term=20
challenges. Mr Zell had originally pledged not to=20
sell any of the company=92s 11 newspapers, which=20
include the Los Angeles Times and Chicago=20
Tribune. Tribune, which is also trying to sell=20
the Chicago Cubs baseball team and Chicago=92s=20
Wrigley Field stadium, has now added its media=20
services business to the list of assets on the=20
auction block, according to people familiar with=20
the situation. Tribune Media Services, which=20
operates as a Tribune subsidiary, provides=20
television and movie broadcast listings and=20
distributes well-known syndicated columns and=20
comic strips. Tribune=92s advisers have distributed=20
information on the unit, which generates about=20
$25m in annual earnings before interest, taxes,=20
depreciation and amortization and could be worth=20
roughly $200m, to a range of potential buyers.=20
The sale could spark interest both from private=20
equity investors and from corporate buyers within=20
the media industry, such as cable operators or=20
Internet-based content providers, who may be=20
interested in the unit=92s content provision.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/95ccfb8c-2d09-11dd-88c6-000077b07658.html
(requires subscription)

MICROSOFT DENIES WINDOWS MEDIA BLOCK DIGITAL BROADCASTS
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Greg Sandoval]
Microsoft says that there isn't anything in=20
Windows Vista Media Center that would have=20
stopped Vista users from recording two NBC=20
Universal shows earlier this month. On May 12,=20
people who attempted to use Windows Vista Media=20
Center to digitally record NBC Universal shows=20
American Gladiator and Medium received a message=20
saying the copyright holder had blocked recording=20
of the shows. NBC Universal later acknowledged=20
that it accidentally sent a flag to prevent=20
recording. What upset many Vista users is that=20
the block couldn't have been carried out unless=20
Windows adhered to the flag. Microsoft said that=20
it honors flags sent to protect against the=20
recording of "premium content" from pay-per-view=20
channels or video on demand (VOD). The company=20
said that it doesn't prevent the recording of=20
over-the-air digital or QAM digital broadcasts.=20
What Microsoft didn't say was how, if Windows=20
Media only honors flags intended for analog=20
broadcasts, were users stopped from recording digital broadcasts.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9954223-7.html?tag=3Dnefd.riv

INTERNET/BROADBAND

FCC WEIGHS FREE-INTERNET PLAN
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Amy Schatz]
In the quest to increase Americans' access to=20
broadband Internet, federal regulators are=20
considering a new plan: get someone to give it=20
away free. The Federal Communications Commission=20
is considering a plan that would require the=20
winner of a planned airwaves auction to offer=20
free wireless-Internet service to most Americans=20
within the next few years. Details of the plan=20
still have to be worked out, and it isn't=20
entirely clear who might bid for the airwaves.=20
Most of the major carriers have already bulked up=20
their spectrum holdings through recent FCC=20
auctions or acquisitions, and start-ups may have=20
difficulty raising enough capital to not only win=20
the auction but build out a network. If it works,=20
however, the FCC's plan could represent a major=20
step forward in U.S. broadband policy since it=20
would provide at least bare-bones=20
wireless-Internet service to millions of=20
Americans who either don't have access to=20
high-speed Internet services or aren't willing to pay for them.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121202475689428063.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

PRIVACY CONCERNS SEEN HURTING ONLINE AD BIZ
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Diane Bartz]
Federal, state and consumer discomfort with=20
Google Inc, Yahoo Inc and other companies=20
tracking consumers' online behavior could slow=20
the growth of Internet advertising, a financial=20
services research group said in a report on=20
Wednesday. The organization, Stanford Group Co,=20
cited moves by the state legislatures in New York=20
and Connecticut to ensure consumers' privacy=20
online; the Federal Trade Commission's call for=20
industry self-regulation; and complaints by=20
lawmakers as signs that the advertising model may=20
face some controls. Further, a survey by research=20
firm TNS Global found that 42 percent of Internet=20
users would opt out of online tracking if they could, the Stanford Group sa=
id.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2843537620080528

BROADCASTING/CABLE

SENIOR CITIZENS GET READY FOR SWITCH TO DIGITAL TV
[SOURCE: nbc4.com, AUTHOR: ]
Senior citizens packed a meeting room at the=20
Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday to=20
learn about the switch to digital television=20
coming in February 2009. The town hall meeting=20
was held at the request of D.C. Delegate Eleanor=20
Holmes Norton and aimed to ease seniors' fears=20
about the changeover. About 50,000 homes in D.C.=20
get their signals over the air through antennas,=20
meaning one in five homes are at risk of losing=20
their TV signals if they don't get ready. People=20
at Wednesday's meeting saw a demonstration on how=20
to connect the converter box. They also learned=20
how to apply for $40 coupons to buy the boxes, which cost $50 to $70.
http://www.nbc4.com/news/16416855/detail.html

AZTEC SHIFTS PRODUCTION OF US NEWSCASTS TO MEXICO
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Meg James]
Spanish-language television network Azteca=20
America is now producing its U.S. national and=20
local Los Angeles newscasts from Mexico City. The=20
company, a subsidiary of Mexican broadcaster TV=20
Azteca, until this week had originated its news=20
programs for the U.S. from its facilities in=20
Glendale. The network and its flagship station,=20
KAZA-TV Channel 54 in Los Angeles, made the=20
switch to save money amid a weak advertising=20
market. Azteca America has laid off about 30=20
people in the last week, including 19 in its news=20
division, the company confirmed Wednesday. The=20
network has long struggled to make inroads in Los=20
Angeles, the nation's largest Latino market,=20
where entrenched rivals Univision Communications=20
Inc.'s KMEX-TV Channel 34 and NBC Universal's=20
KVEA-TV Telemundo Channel 52 dominate.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-azteca29-2008may29,0,1046171.story
(requires registration)

BBC TOLD TO SLOW ONLINE DEVELOPMENT
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Tim Bradshaw]
The BBC Trust on Thursday told the public service=20
broadcaster to slow the pace of its online=20
developments because of competitive tensions with=20
the commercial sector and =93poor financial=20
accountability.=94 In the first of its service=20
reviews under the BBC=92s new Charter, the Trust,=20
the corporation=92s governing body, said it would=20
apply stronger scrutiny before authorizing new=20
developments at bbc.co.uk, particularly in=20
=93hyper-local=94 news coverage and educational=20
services =96 areas where local newspapers and other=20
commercial groups have suggested the BBC has=20
overreached its public service remit and=20
distorted the market. The review also revealed=20
weak financial controls that led to =A324.9m =96 a=20
third of the website=92s annual budget =96 being=20
wrongly attributed to other parts of the BBC.=20
That in turn led to it spending 48 per cent more than its budget allocation.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e9f25e62-2d6f-11dd-b92a-000077b07658.html
(requires subscription)

SMALL CABLE OPS KEEP UP LEASED-ACCESS FIGHT
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
A federal court stayed the Federal Communications=20
Commission's leased-access-rule changes until it=20
can hear a cable-industry challenge, but that=20
hasn't stopped small cable operators from=20
continuing to hammer away at them at the=20
commission. In a filing with the FCC, the=20
American Cable Association said the changes,=20
which include additional reporting requirements,=20
violate the 1980 Paperwork Reduction Act. The=20
FCC=92s Office of Management and Budget is=20
currently reviewing the rules to make sure they don't violate that act.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6564830.html?rssid=3D193

QUICKLY

MINORITIES DOMINATE USE OF NEW MEDIA
[SOURCE: Center for Media Research, AUTHOR: Jack Loechner]
According to BIGresearch's most recent=20
Simultaneous Media Survey, African Americans,=20
Hispanics, Asians and Whites not only use=20
traditional media differently, their adoption of=20
new media is also quite unique. When it comes to=20
traditional media, types of TV shows watched as=20
well as radio formats listened to most often=20
differ by consumer group. Although movies are the=20
most watched type of TV show among all=20
categories, according to the study: 66% of=20
African Americans are most likely to watch them=20
regularly; 63.6% of Hispanics watch them=20
regularly; 52.5% of Asians watch them regularly; and
51.4% of Whites watch them regularly.
http://blogs.mediapost.com/research_brief/?p=3D1716

SURVEY FINDS MAJORITY OF FAMILIES DO NOT HAVE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
[SOURCE: Embarq, AUTHOR: Press release]
While 58 percent of moms feel their families are=20
prepared for a severe weather emergency, only 30=20
percent have created and discussed an emergency=20
communications plan, according to a recent survey=20
by the Home Safety Council. That is a cause for=20
concern given that many experts say a detailed=20
communications plan plays one of the biggest=20
roles in helping families stay connected to each=20
other and emergency contacts during a natural=20
disaster, such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes=20
and wildfires. With the National Oceanic and=20
Atmospheric Administration forecasting a 65=20
percent chance for an above average storm season=20
this year, there is even more reason for families=20
to create and discuss emergency plans.
http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/embarq/33337/

LIBRARIANS DISCUSS HOW TO STORE WORLD'S DATA
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Tom Abate]
Libraries are overflowing with the ever-expanding=20
trove of human knowledge, which has evolved=20
beyond books and broadcasts into new digital=20
formats that mutate all too frequently. The=20
challenges of organizing, preserving and serving=20
up the human experience brought more than 150=20
academic and governmental librarians from around=20
the world to San Francisco this week for a=20
conference sponsored by Sun Microsystems. Sun is=20
among the technology vendors who see a vast new=20
market in creating the digital storage sheds=20
needed to house the world's intellectual output.=20
At a briefing between conference sessions,=20
Stanford University librarian Michael Keller=20
outlined the two-pronged challenge - preserving=20
and digitizing the wisdom of the past, and=20
deciding what to keep of the new facts, photos=20
and videos being created at accelerating rates.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=3D/c/a/2008/05/29/BU3710U908...
L&type=3Dtech
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
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