July 2009

The global technology industry may have passed a turning point, showing a marked recovery in recent weeks after an extraordinarily deep downturn, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Production of semiconductors, computers, mobile phones and other electronic equipment is still considerably below pre-crisis levels but has rebounded strongly from the end of 2008 and early 2009, the organization says in a report set for publication this week. "Even a few weeks ago, we didn't see the bounce-back in the data," said Sacha Wunsch-Vincent, an OECD economist. "We were still grappling with the size of the downturn. Now, this could be the turning point." The slump was even deeper than previously thought, Mr. Wunsch-Vincent said, particularly in Asia. In Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, production of information technology products at its trough was down around 40 percent from a year earlier, according to the OECD data, which are compiled from national statistics offices. After suffering the steepest fall, Asia has also recovered the most rapidly, with South Korea leading the way, the report shows. There, output in May was down only 3 percent year-on-year.

The proposed merger of ticketing giant Ticketmaster and Live Nation, the world's largest concert promoter, should be closely scrutinized by the Justice Department, according to the chair of a Senate antitrust subcommittee and 50 members of the House of Representatives. Sen Herb Kohl (D-WI), chair of the Judiciary Committee's antitrust subcommittee, said the merger would combine Ticketmaster, the nation's dominant ticket seller, with Live Nation, which has its own ticketing business. "It is clear that this merger raises serious competitive concerns warranting thorough scrutiny," wrote Chairman Kohl to Christine Varney, head of the Justice Department's antitrust division. The deal has been criticized by Bruce Springsteen, politicians like Sen Charles Schumer (D-NY), and legions of music fans commenting in Internet chatrooms. Fifty members of the House of Representatives signed a letter written by Rep Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) which also expressed concern about the deal.

HBO tops the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's third annual Network Responsibility Index, a study that evaluates the quantity, quality and diversity of images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people on television. Among the five broadcast and 10 of the highest-rated cable networks, once again none earned the top "excellent" ranking, with five, including NBC and CBS, getting a "failing" grade. Four networks were rated "good," led by HBO with 42 percent representation of LGBT characters, a 16 percent increase from last year. Virtually all non-sports original HBO series included LGBT content, with shows such as "True Blood" and "The No. 1 Lades Detective Agency" lauded for featuring "complex and authentic LGBT characters from diverse backgrounds." Also singled out in the report is ABC's drama "Brothers & Sisters," which features three gay characters among its regular cast, as well as the network's "Grey's Anatomy," which has a bisexual woman among the leads. Overall, "GLAAD analysts found that ABC consistently offers the most fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the five broadcast networks," the survey said.

Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke reminded Americans who are still not digital television-ready that they have one more week to request converter box coupons before the July 31st deadline. The Department of Commerce's TV Converter Box Coupon Program provides up to two $40 coupons per eligible household toward the purchase of converter boxes to help consumers who rely on free over-the-air broadcasting with the digital transition. Consumers have three options to receive digital television: subscribe to cable, satellite or another pay service; buy a television with a digital tuner; or purchase a TV converter box with or without a government coupon. When connected to an older analog TV and antenna, a TV converter box allows the television to receive over-the-air digital television signals.