May 2008

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ELECTIONS & MEDIA
McCain Reenters Campaign Narrative
Monitoring the Maverick
How small stories become big news
Kurtz on Bias at MSNBC
Obama ahead in Hollywood donations

JOURNALISM
Study: NBC Stations Dominate Local News

BROADCASTING/CABLE
Nielsen: Almost 10% of U.S. Unready for Digital Transition
FCC Has DTV-Heavy Schedule
Agreement may mean end of cable set-top boxes
Canada auction aims to reshape wireless market
More TV Stations Face FCC Fines
Tennessee State Franchising Bill Signed Into Law
Verizon Another Step Closer To NYC Franchise

SPECTRUM/WIRELESS
Google's Page Questions Cable Must-Carry Law

INTERNET/BROADBAND
We need a national broadband policy

POLICYMAKERS
White House Issues Regulation Deadline
FCC Adds Board Members

ELECTIONS & MEDIA

MCCAIN REENTERS CAMPAIGN NARRATIVE
[SOURCE: Project for Excellence in Journalism, AUTHOR: Mark Jurkowitz]
For May 19-25, the dominant media narrative on=20
the state of the race remained the same -- that=20
Sen Barack Obama (D-IL) was on the cusp of=20
securing a hard-fought nomination. That storyline=20
has been unchanged since the North Carolina and=20
Indiana primaries on May 6, when the pundits=20
declared the race over for all practical=20
purposes. What did change noticeably in the=20
media=92s campaign narrative last week was the role=20
of presumptive GOP nominee John McCain. After=20
largely being treated as a bystander to the=20
Democrats=92 battle for weeks, he emerged to become=20
a central newsmaker and featured player in the=20
coverage. Appearing as a significant or dominant=20
newsmaker in 41% of last week=92s campaign stories,=20
McCain still trailed Obama widely (62%) and=20
Clinton narrowly (43%) in the competition for=20
media exposure. But that 41% represents the=20
Arizona Senator=92s highest level of coverage since=20
way back on Super Tuesday week (Feb. 4-10). As=20
recently as the week of May 5-11, McCain was=20
registering as a virtual afterthought, at a mere 12%.
http://www.journalism.org/node/11241

MONITORING THE MAVERICK
[SOURCE: American Journalism Review, AUTHOR: Rem Rieder]
The relationships between the news media and the=20
candidates are generally much more complex than=20
the reigning narratives of the moment would=20
suggest. There's no doubt that Sen John McCain=20
(R-AZ) has long had a good relationship with=20
reporters. And no wonder. He gives great access.=20
He seems to enjoy the give-and-take. He conveys=20
an air of authenticity. And he makes for great=20
copy. The POW saga gives him serious street cred.=20
The post-Keating Five, born-again reformer is=20
another good story line. Then there's the=20
"straight talk." And =97 sorry, there's no way=20
around this =97 that whole "maverick" business.=20
Once a public figure's image is established, it=20
can be tough to change. Think of Al Gore, forever=20
the Internet-inventing r=E9sum=E9 padder. Or John=20
Kerry, forever the chardonnay-sipping,=20
windsurfing Brahmin who ordered a cheesesteak in=20
Philadelphia with, ohmigod, Swiss cheese. That=20
phenomenon hasn't been so good for Gore and=20
Kerry, as you may have noticed. But it has paid=20
big dividends for McCain. But the John McCain=20
running in 2008 is a far cry from the one who ran=20
in 2000. A lot less mavericky. The old =97 sorry =97=20
McCain back then was against George W. Bush's tax=20
cuts. The current McCain embraces them. McCain=20
was 100 percent against torture. Then he voted=20
against legislation that would have banned the=20
CIA from waterboarding. McCain once called Jerry=20
Falwell and Pat Robertson "agents of=20
intolerance." He later withdrew the remark and=20
spoke at Falwell's Liberty University. Then=20
there's the whole business about Hamas looking=20
forward to an Barack Obama presidency. This is an=20
odd gambit indeed for a candidate who insists the=20
campaign should be played out on the high road.
http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=3D4514

HOW SMALL STORIES BECOME BIG NEWS
[SOURCE: Politico, AUTHOR: John Harris]
The signature defect of modern political=20
journalism is that it has shredded the ideal of=20
proportionality. Important stories, sometimes=20
the product of months of serious reporting, that=20
in an earlier era would have captured the=20
attention of the entire political-media community=20
and even redirected the course of a presidential=20
campaign, these days can disappear with barely a=20
whisper. Trivial stories =97 the kind that are=20
tailor-made for forwarding to your brother-in-law=20
or college roommate with a wisecracking note at=20
the top =97 can dominate the campaign narrative for days.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10604.html

KURTZ ON BIAS AT MSNBC
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
MSNBC, which bills itself as "the place for=20
politics," is being pummeled by political=20
practitioners. "It's an organ of the Democratic=20
National Committee," says Steve Schmidt, a senior=20
strategist for John McCain's campaign. "It's a=20
partisan advocacy organization that exists for=20
the purpose of attacking John McCain." Ed=20
Gillespie, President Bush's counselor, says there=20
is an "increasing blurring" of the line between=20
NBC News and MSNBC's "blatantly partisan talk=20
show hosts like Christopher Matthews and Keith=20
Olbermann." Terry McAuliffe, chairman of Hillary=20
Clinton's campaign, says Matthews has been "in=20
the tank" for Barack Obama "from Day One" and is=20
practically "the Obama campaign chair." Why are=20
operatives from across the political spectrum=20
suddenly beating up on the third-place cable=20
channel? Phil Griffin, the NBC senior vice=20
president who runs MSNBC, dismisses the=20
criticism, calling Schmidt's broadsides "pretty outrageous accusations."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/27/AR200805...
3047.html
(requires registration)

OBAMA A HEAD IN HOLLYWOOD DONATIONS
[SOURCE: Variety, AUTHOR: Ted Johnson]
Barack Obama has pulled way ahead of Hillary=20
Clinton in money raised from the entertainment=20
business -- and could very well finish the=20
nomination battle as the victor when it comes to=20
Hollywood dollars. The latest figures from the=20
Center for Responsive Politics show that Obama=20
collected $4,022,006 from movie, TV and music=20
sources through the end of April, compared with=20
$3,413,024 for Clinton. That may not seem like=20
such a surprise given that many consider Obama=20
the likely nominee. But Obama and Clinton have=20
been battling for entertainment industry donors=20
throughout the campaign cycle, raising almost=20
equal amounts. At the end of February, for=20
instance, less than $300 separated the candidates=20
in show business fund-raising. CRP spokesman=20
Massie Ritsch wrote on the org's website that=20
Obama has become the "industry's clear favorite."
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117986510.html?categoryid=3D13&cs=3D1&...
=3D2562

JOURNALISM

STUDY: NBC STATIONS DOMINATE LOCAL NEWS
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: ]
A new report from The Media Audit comparing local=20
early evening and prime newscasts reveals that 10=20
of the top 20 news programs are produced by NBC=20
affiliates while the country=92s top ranked news=20
program is produced by a CBS affiliate. The Media=20
Audit report went on to say that news programming=20
continues to be important for local television=20
stations because it represents a disproportionate=20
amount of a station's income. It cited a recent=20
survey conducted annually by the Radio-Television=20
News Directors Association (RTNDA) that said that=20
news accounts for almost 16 percent of a typical=20
station's programming each day (almost four hours=20
per day), but news programs on average represent=20
nearly 45 percent of a station=92s revenue. The=20
study further suggests that the percentage of=20
revenue from news may not be affected by a weak=20
economic climate. Historical data from the RTNDA=20
surveys show that the share of revenue from news=20
was slightly higher in 2001 than it had been in=20
1999, even though 2001 was a down year in the=20
economy and 1999 was near the end of the 1990s=20
boom. According to The Media Audit report, 25.2%=20
of U.S. adults currently tune in to a local NBC=20
affiliate for early evening news in the typical=20
week, down 3.3 percentage points from a 2005=20
survey, followed by 24.9% for ABC stations, down=20
1.7 percentage points from 2005 and 21.6% for CBS=20
stations, down 2 percentage points from 2005.=20
Currently, 19.3% of U.S. adults tune in weekly to=20
a Fox affiliate for a prime time newscast, a=20
figure that has remained unchanged over the past three years.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/05/27/daily.7/

BROADCASTING/CABLE

NIELSEN: ALMOST 10% OF US UNREADY FOR DIGITAL TRANSITION
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Moss]
Nearly 10% of U.S. households are completely=20
unprepared for the transition to all-digital=20
broadcast signals next February, Nielsen said=20
Tuesday. The ratings company issued that finding=20
in a seven-page report it released on the=20
=93digital readiness=94 of U.S. households. The=20
report looked at how many Americans have TV sets=20
that are equipped to receive digital signals when=20
broadcasters start transmitting them exclusively,=20
rather than analog signals, Feb. 17, 2009.=20
Nielsen found that 78% of households are=20
completely ready for the transition, while 12.6%=20
are =93partially unready,=94 or have some TV sets=20
that can=92t receive digital signals. Another 9.4%=20
are classified as =93completely unready,=94 with no=20
TV sets equipped to receive digital signals. In=20
anticipation of problems with the transition next=20
year, Nielsen has already said it will push back=20
the February sweeps period until March.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6564193.html?nid=3D4262
* DTV 'Unready' Homes Drop to Single-Digits
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6564131.html

FCC HAS DTV-HEAVY SCHEDULE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Federal Communications Commission is having a=20
busy week on the digital-TV front. FCC Chairman=20
Kevin martin and Commissioner Michael Copps are=20
meeting with officials of Wilmington (NC) about=20
the test the FCC is conducting there of the=20
digital switch. Commissioner Copps said that the=20
entire nation will benefit from the lessons=20
learned when TV stations cut off their analog=20
signals in Wilmington. =93In any effort of this=20
scale, there are unknowns that no one anticipates=20
and you find out about only when you throw that=20
switch,=94 Commissioner Copps said. =93That's the=20
category that really keeps me up at=20
night. That=92s why this test is so important.=94=20
The FCC is also hosting a town meeting at its=20
Washington (DC) headquarters aimed at seniors,=20
one of the groups targeted for special attention=20
and help. That meeting will include D.C. Delegate=20
Eleanor Holmes Norton and local news anchor J.C.=20
Hayward, a member of the National Association of=20
Broadcasters' speakers bureau on the DTV=20
transition. The NAB estimated that about 50,000=20
Washington households receive over-the-air TV=20
exclusively. "One in five households [are] at=20
risk of losing their television signals Feb. 17,=20
2009, if they do not take the necessary steps to=20
prepare for the transition," the NAB said.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6564378.html?rssid=3D193
* Copps: Wilmington Will Yield Key Data (Multichannel News)
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6564384.html?nid=3D4262
* Commissioner Copps' remarks
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282438A1.doc
* FCC Meeting Announcement
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282434A1.doc

AGREEMENT MAY MEAN END OF CABLE SET-TOP BOXES
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: John Dunbar]
The set-top box, a necessary appendage for=20
millions of cable television customers for=20
decades, is moving toward extinction. A leading=20
television manufacturer, Sony Electronics Inc.,=20
and the National Cable and Telecommunications=20
Association said Tuesday they signed an agreement=20
that will allow viewers to rid themselves of=20
set-top boxes, yet still receive advanced=20
"two-way" cable services, such as pay-per-view=20
movies. In most cases, cable viewers also could=20
dispose of another remote control since they=20
could use their TV's control rather than one tied=20
to the set-top box. The agreement marks a=20
significant meeting of the minds between cable=20
companies and one of the world's dominant makers=20
of consumer electronics. The two industries have=20
been feuding for a decade about how best to=20
deliver cable service to customers while allowing=20
them to buy equipment of their own choosing.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20080527/cable-boxes/
* Cable TV firms, Sony end dispute
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-cable28-2008may28,0,1...
527.story

CABLE AUCTION AIMS TO RESHAPE WIRELESS MARKET
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Louise Egan]
Canada's government launched an auction of=20
wireless spectrum on Tuesday that it hopes will=20
bolster competition and lower prices by allowing=20
new players to break into the cellular phone=20
market. In a process that Industry Minister Jim=20
Prentice estimates could take up to a month to=20
complete, 24 companies can bid electronically on=20
292 licenses for chunks of wireless airwaves in=20
different geographical regions across the=20
country. Of the 105 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum=20
to be auctioned, 40 MHz will be set aside for new=20
players. That provision is a source of worry for=20
the three big players -- Rogers Communications,=20
Telus Corp and BCE -- which control about 95=20
percent of the wireless market in terms of revenue.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2737547420080527

MORE TV STATIONS FACE FCC FINES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
ACME Communications=92 WIWB Suring (WI), Viacom's=20
WKBD TV Detroit and Sage Broadcasting's KIDU-LP=20
Brownwood (TX) all face fines for breaking=20
Federal Communications Commission rules. WIWB=20
twice exceeding the FCC's limits on ads during=20
kids=92 TV shows -- 10.5 minutes on weekends, 12=20
minutes on weekdays One overage was 90 seconds=20
and the other was the appearance of a Pokemon=20
character in an ad during the Pokemon show on The=20
WB back when there was a WB (in 2002). WKBD=20
infraction also involved a TV character appearing=20
in ads during children's programming. KIDU-LP, a=20
low power TV station, is being fined for=20
violations of the ad limits during kids=92 shows, a=20
failure to put information on its kids' shows in=20
its public files and incomplete issues reports.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6564200.html?rssid=3D193
* CBS, Sage, ACME Stations Draw FCC Fines (tvnewsday)
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/05/27/daily.6/

TENNESSEE STATE FRANCHISING BILL SIGNED INTO LAW
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
(5/22) Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen has signed a=20
state cable franchising law which allows AT&T and=20
other new providers to deploy broadband services=20
in the state 10 days after they make a complete=20
application to the office of the Tennessee=20
Regulatory Authority. Local governments are not=20
allowed to levy local fees or taxes on the=20
state-authorized providers, but they do retain=20
authority for overseeing customer service=20
standards, and may seek mediation on behalf of=20
consumers for perceived service breaches.=20
Customers can also reach out to the TRA for assistance with service dispute=
s.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6563358.html?nid=3D4262

VERIZON ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO NYC FRANCHISE
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Todd Spangler]
New York City's Franchise and Concession Review=20
Committee (FCRC) voted unanimously Tuesday to=20
approve Verizon Communications=92 proposal to=20
provide TV service in all five boroughs of the=20
city. Before Verizon is allowed to start=20
marketing FiOS TV service, the proposed agreement=20
must be confirmed by the Mayor's Office of the=20
City of New York and the New York State Public Service Commission.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6564270.html?nid=3D4262

SPECTRUM/WIRELESS

GOOGLE'S PAGE QUESTIONS CABLE MUST-CARRY LAW
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
(5/22) Google co-founder and president Larry Page=20
said the ability of television stations to demand=20
carriage on cable systems probably deters=20
policymakers from ever considering plans to take=20
back TV spectrum for use by mobile broadband=20
access providers. "I don't know how you fix=20
that," Page said. "I think that's a difficult=20
political problem." Page's point was that TV=20
stations don't want to give up the economic value=20
tied to must carry, no matter how small their over-the-air audience.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6563408.html?nid=3D4262

INTERNET/BROADBAND
We need a national broadband policy
WE NEED A NATIONAL BROADBAND POLICY
[SOURCE: Seattle Times, AUTHOR: Ron Sims]
[Commentary] If there is a sleeper issue on which=20
any enterprising candidate could capitalize, it=20
is the issue of bringing the Internet's broadband=20
revolution to more and more Americans at=20
affordable prices. Why broadband? Simply put,=20
there is no other business in America that can=20
have such a dramatic effect on our lives, our=20
economy and our security. In the crudest of=20
terms, the "broadband industry" =97 from wire-line=20
broadband providers to dot-com boomlets and all=20
of the equipment, devices and software programs=20
in between =97 is giant, representing more than=20
one-fifth of the gross domestic product, with a=20
combined market cap well into the trillions. The=20
importance of information technology to virtually=20
every facet of American life has been evident for=20
some time, yet our leadership has done little to=20
promote it. Presidential candidates could make=20
good policy and good politics by speaking up for=20
a national broadband policy that brings=20
meaningful competition to the nation's broadband marketplace.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004435284_simsop27.html

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

FCC CAN'T TURN BACK MEDIA TIDE
[SOURCE: Miami Herald, AUTHOR: Edward Wasserman]
[Commentary] From the Senate floor, the Federal=20
Communications Commission is denounced for=20
kneeling before business by allowing broadcast=20
owners to buy newspapers. From the executive=20
suite, the same FCC is denounced for bullying=20
business by forcing broadcast owners to file=20
meticulous reports detailing what they do to=20
serve their communities. So does that mean the=20
commission is getting things about right --=20
maneuvering between industry and the public in a=20
way that favors neither unduly and annoys both in=20
rightful measure? Or do we have a moment when the=20
way policymakers think about media power is=20
exposed as the incoherent muddle it is?=20
Policymakers spar over issues that either don't=20
matter or matter in ways that they misunderstand.=20
The consolidation they deplore is a sideshow, the=20
localism they extol may yet make the rest of us shudder.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/other_views/story/546825.html

POLICYMAKERS

WHITE HOUSE ISSUES REGULATION DEADLINE
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
White House chief of staff Joshua Bolton has=20
issued a memo saying he doesn't want cabinet=20
departments or agencies to issue any new=20
regulations after November 1. Bolton said the=20
purpose of the memo was to remind administration=20
officials to =93resist the historical tendency of=20
administrations to increase regulatory activity=20
in their final months.=94 Bolton's memo indicated=20
that the Nov. 1 deadline was firm =93except in=20
extraordinary circumstances.=94 He added that=20
regulations intended =93to be finalized in this=20
administration should be proposed no later than June 1.=94
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6563656.html?nid=3D4262

FCC ADDS BOARD MEMBERS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission filled six=20
vacancies on the Federal-State Joint Conference=20
on Advanced Services: Mark K. Johnson,=20
Commissioner, Regulatory Commission of Alaska;=20
Rachelle Chong, Commissioner, California Public=20
Utilities Commission (and former FCC=20
Commissioner); Betty Ann Kane, Commissioner,=20
District of Columbia Public Service Commission;=20
Krista Tanner, Commissioner, Iowa Utilities=20
Board; Vendean V. Vafiades, Commissioner, Maine=20
Public Utilities Commission; and Randy Mitchell,=20
Commissioner, Public Service Commission of South=20
Carolina FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate=20
chairs this Joint Conference. The FCC also added=20
members to the Federal-State Joint Board on=20
Jurisdictional Separations: Steve Kolbeck, Vice=20
Chairman, South Dakota Public Utilities=20
Commission, and Anthony Palermino, Commissioner,=20
Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-134A1.doc
* Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-135A1.doc
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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
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