For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
OWNERSHIP
Media Consolidation Over? Or Just Getting Started?
Tribune Ordered to Divest in TV Station
News Corp. Acquires All of Fox
Diller to Add Ask Jeeves To Network of Web Sites
VIDEO NEWS RELEASES
Broadcasters Alerted About VNRs and Possible Penalties
Activists Urge FCC to Investigate VNRs
State is Committed to VNR ID's
TELEVISION/BROADCASTING
For Congress, Decency=92s a Basic Part of the Package
DBS Firms Rebut NCTA on FCC Fees
Emergencies and People with Disabilities
Closed-Captions Translate News Into Spanish
TELECOM
Verizon: DSL-Phone Bundle OK with FCC
I Ain't Got Your Stinkin' Phone Service
NEW RESEARCH
Reinventing Media Activism
Protecting Teens Online
College Searching Online
More Wired Seniors Than Ever
2005 MediaWorks Funder Survey
QUICKLY -- Kevin Martin's FCC; On the Media; Radio Grandma; Cheaper Phone=20
Bills?; Utah Governor Signs Net-porn Bill; E-mail authentication
OWNERSHIP
MEDIA CONSOLIDATION OVER? OR JUST GETTING STARTED?
You can almost here the dueling banjos -- Slate's Jack Shafer picks up on=20
the possible split up of Viacom to suggest that media ownership may be=20
"deconsolidating." (Apologies to my high school English teacher, Mrs V.)=20
While Reuters' Kenneth Li begins his article, "Rumors of the global media=20
conglomerate's demise may have been greatly exaggerated." I'll let you be=20
the judge. [And if I've got that song stuck in your head, check out this --=
=20
http://www.laserp.com/dueling_banjos.htm (yeah, I don't get the penguin=20
either)].
[SOURCE: Slate/Reuters]
http://slate.msn.com/id/2115066/
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=3DtopNews&storyID=3D7952689
* Media Firms Piece Together New Strategies
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55379-2005Mar21.html
TRIBUNE ORDERED TO DIVEST IN TV STATION
The US Appeals Court (Connecticut) has ordered the Tribune Company to=20
divest WTXX, a WB affiliate in Waterbury (CT), to comply with FCC=20
cross-ownership rules. Tribune has sought and received multiple waivers=20
from the FCC to hold on to WTXX, which Tribune claims had financial=20
troubles. Tribune also owns WTIC, a Fox affiliate in Hartford. =93Tribune=
=92s=20
numerous applications for extensions of time in which to come into=20
compliance with that rule implicitly recognize that it was failing to=20
comply with that rule,=94 the court said. Tribune plans to appeal, said=20
Tribune VP Shaun Sheehan.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Tania Panczyk-Collins]
(Not available online)
LATimes:=20
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-rup22.6mar22,1,442911...
ory?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
NEWS CORP ACQUIRES ALL OF FOX
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. persuaded Fox Entertainment Group Inc. minority=
=20
holders to accept $6.6 billion for their stock, giving him full control of=
=20
assets including Fox News Channel and the 20th Century Fox film studio.=20
Purchasing the stock gives News Corp. all of Fox's $12.2 billion in annual=
=20
sales. Getting Fox businesses including TV stations and the Fox sports=20
cable channels also gives Murdoch assets to trade with Liberty Media Corp.=
=20
Chairman John Malone to reduce Liberty's 18% voting stake in News Corp.
[SOURCE: Bloomberg News]
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-fox22mar22,1,5031621....
y?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)
DILLER TO ADD ASK JEEVES TO NETWORK OF WEB SITES
Barry Diller's IAC/InterActive Corp. will pay $1.85 billion in stock to=20
acquire Ask Jeeves Inc. Ask Jeeves, the country's fifth-most-popular search=
=20
site, has differentiated itself from competitors by allowing users to pose=
=20
queries as if they were asking a friend or relative. For the nearly 10=20
years it has existed, the company's dapper cartoon butler has stood ready,=
=20
his hands on his lapels, to provide answers. Ask Jeeves has long been=20
considered to have strong technology but has lacked the capital of a=20
Google, Yahoo or MSN. With the backing of Diller, who also owns travel site=
=20
Expedia, online matchmaker Match.com, event sales company Ticketmaster,=20
local guide Citysearch and many other prominent Web properties, some think=
=20
the company is ready to become a more powerful player in the industry.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Ariana Eunjung Cha]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55577-2005Mar21.html
(requires registration)
USAToday:=20
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20050322/2b_askjeeves22.art.htm
NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/22/technology/22search.html
LATimes:=20
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-jeeves22mar22,1,72277...
tory?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
Also see --
* Net stocks rebounding all over the place
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20050322/1b_brink22.art.htm
VIDEO NEWS RELEASES
BROADCASTERS ALERTED ABOUT VNRs AND POSSIBLE PENALTIES
With Members of Congress and thousands of citizens contacting the FCC=20
asking for an investigation into the use of video news releases (VNRs), the=
=20
National Association of Broadcasters is warning members to proceed with=20
caution -- at least until the FCC rules on use of VNRs. =93Informal=20
conversations with FCC staff indicate that failure to properly disclose=20
that the VNR has been government furnished may result in a sponsorship=20
identification violation,=94 the NAB said Monday. FCC rules say that with=20
political broadcast matter or matter related to a controversial issue of=20
public importance furnished either directly or indirectly for broadcast,=20
stations must reveal the source at the broadcast=92s beginning and=
conclusion.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Tania Panczyk-Collins]
(Not available online)
See also http://www.onthemedia.org/
ACTIVISTS URGE FCC TO INVESTIGATE VNRs
Free Press and the Center for Media and Democracy (publisher of PR Watch)=20
filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission Monday asking=
=20
the agency to investigate broadcasters that air government-produced news=20
reports without identifying their source.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA512110?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* Concerned citizens flood FCC with demands to stop fake news
http://www.freepress.net/news/release.php?id=3D56
STATE COMMITTED TO VNR ID'S
In a speech Monday night, Robert Tappan, principal deputy assistant=20
secretary of state, says the State Department identifies all its video news=
=20
releases. He said their use must be guided by ethical rules, with=20
credibility the key to getting State's message across and transparency and=
=20
attribution the keys to that credibility.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA512127?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
TELEVISION/BROADCASTING
FOR CONGRESS, DECENCY'S A BASIC PART OF THE PACKAGE
For years, cable operators have been selling Cable News Network, Discovery=
=20
Channel and MTV: Music Television in a large, one-size-fits-all package,=20
elevating efficiency over consumer choice and flexibility. But if two=20
powerful members of Congress get their way, cable=92s business model, which=
=20
calls on customers to buy it all and block the bad stuff, could wind up in=
=20
the Smithsonian next to shards of the Berlin Wall. Senate Commerce=20
Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and House Commerce Committee=20
Chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas) say it is unacceptable that children can=20
access objectionable cable programming on a random basis and they believe=20
cable=92s channel-blocking efforts are insufficient. Aides to Sen Stevens=20
called cable companies and were dissatisfied with the experience. They=20
found blocking technology complicated and access codes frustrating to use.=
=20
One cable company contacted wanted to charge a monthly fee to provide=20
blocking technology. Lawmakers are looking at tiering, ratings and channel=
=20
rebates as possible ways to give consumers more control over the content=20
that comes into their homes.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA511866.html&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
DBS FIRMS REBUT NCTA ON FCC FEES
The Federal Communications Commission in 2005 is requiring cable operators=
=20
to pay $48 million to fund the agency=92s operations, while the commission=
=20
intends to collect just $1.9 million combined from EchoStar Communications=
=20
and DirecTV. The National Cable & Telecommunications Association has told=20
the FCC that changes in the regulatory landscape compel direct-broadcast=20
satellite operators to pay more. But EchoStar and DirecTV are the=20
challenging cable-industry claims that DBS providers are paying less than=20
their fair share in regulatory fees to the FCC.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA511981.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
EMERGENCIES AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
In light of recent enforcement actions by the FCC for apparent violations=20
of the Commission's access to emergency information rule, the Commission=20
issued a Public Notice to again remind video programming distributors --=20
including broadcasters, cable operators, and satellite television services=
=20
-- of their obligation to make emergency information accessible to persons=
=20
with hearing and vision disabilities. The Consumer & Governmental Affairs=20
Bureau will continue to closely monitor complaints alleging violations of=20
the access to emergency information rule, and will promptly forward=20
appropriate complaints to the Enforcement Bureau for possible enforcement=20
action. If you have a complaint, you can first contact the video=20
programming distributor, although you are not required to do so. You can=20
also complain directly to the FCC. Your complaint should include: 1) The=20
name of the video programming distributor (e.g. broadcast station, cable=20
company, or DBS provider) against whom the complaint is alleged; 2) The=20
date and time of the omission of emergency information; and 3) The type of=
=20
emergency. Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Contact: Traci Randolph,=
=20
(202) 418-0569 (voice); (202) 418-0537 (TTY); e-mail traci.randolph( at )fcc.gov
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-688A1.doc
CLOSED-CAPTIONS TRANSLATE NEWS INTO SPANISH
Fourteen stations are broadcasting local news with Spanish translations=20
over the closed-captioning system. The service is provided by Translate TV,=
=20
a two-year old Ohio company that uses customized technology to translate a=
=20
station's newscast in real time and pump out translations. Most televisions=
=20
have such capabilities; stations provide English captioning on one of two=20
closed-captioning channels. Translate TV taps into the second, referred to=
=20
as CC2. Stations see captioning as more than a public service; it can also=
=20
be a revenue driver. Local broadcasters are selling sponsorships to fund=20
the effort. In return, the sponsor usually receives promotions announcing=20
its involvement.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Allison Romano=
aromano( at )reedbusiness.com]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA511879?display=3DNews&referra...
SUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
TELECOM
VERIZON: DSL-PHONE BUNDLE OK WITH FCC
Verizon Communications=92 policy of terminating digital-subscriber-line=20
service at the same time a customer cancels local-phone service is=20
consistent with federal regulations, the Baby Bell told the Federal=20
Communications Commission last week. Verizon, the nation=92s largest local=
=20
phone company, said it had explained its bundling policy to the FCC before=
=20
in a long-distance entry application and =93the [FCC] reviewed it and=20
approved it.=94
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA511975.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
I AIN'T GOT YOUR STINKIN' PHONE SERVICE
[Commentary] Bunnie Riedel wants to stay naked, darn it. The FCC, we=20
learned yesterday, is planning on suspending public utility commission=20
regulations in California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Louisiana that=20
require phone companies to offer DSL separate from phone service (this is=20
called "Naked DSL"). Riedel write, "The implications of this FCC decision=20
go beyond BellSouth=92s insatiable desire to keep itself out of bankruptcy.=
=20
Is the FCC going to follow suit with the cable ops? You can't get cable=20
modem unless you buy cable? There are actual living, breathing human beings=
=20
in our great nation who do not want cable television, they are perfectly=20
satisfied with four channels and rabbit ears. I talked to one mother this=20
weekend who told me that they do get modem but not the cable because she=20
doesn't want her kids watching t.v. all day. Makes sense, I did the same=20
thing with my kids. Even if you don't have kids some people find paying for=
=20
90 channels with nothing on a waste of money."
[SOURCE: Riedel Communications]
http://www.riedelcommunications.blogspot.com/www.riedelcommunications.blog=
spot.com=20
NEW RESEARCH
REINVENTING MEDIA ACTIVISM
A key concept informing this report, which shares the results of research=20
conducted by Syracuse University's Convergence Center project and supported=
=20
by the Ford Foundation's Knowledge, Creativity and Freedom Program, is that=
=20
of citizen collective action: "In a free and democratic society, citizens=20
influence the political process not just by passively voting....They also=20
organize to continuously shape policy and legal outcomes, and to express=20
their opinions to public officials so that the officials will make=20
decisions that reflect their own needs, problems and interests. Most of=20
this lobbying is driven by economic interests....But there are also=20
citizens who organize to promote some concept of the public interest. These=
=20
groups promote ideas, ideologies, values, policies, laws or regulations=20
that they believe will benefit society as a whole." In short, these groups=
=20
seek to support and sustain the common good.
AUTHORS: Milton Mueller, Brenden Kuerbis & Christiane Pag=E9
http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2005/thinking-969.html
PROTECTING TEENS ONLINE
More than half of American families with teenagers use filters to limit=20
access to potentially harmful content online. But both teens and parents=20
believe that teens do things on the Internet that their parents would not=20
approve of.
[SOURCE: Pew Internet & American Life Project, AUTHOR: Amanda Lenhart]
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/152/report_display.asp
COLLEGE SEARCHING ONLINE
Fully 45% of American adult Internet users and 57% of online teenagers have=
=20
used the Internet when they search for colleges or other schools to attend.=
=20
It's quicker -- but not as fun -- as those Spring Break college campus=
tours.
[SOURCE: Pew Internet & American Life Project]
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/p/1064/pipcomments.asp
MORE WIRED SENIORS THAN EVER
There has been a steady increase over the past year in the percentage of=20
older Americans who go online. In Pew's January 2005 phone survey, 26% of=20
Americans age 65+ report Internet access, compared to the 22% of older=20
Americans described in Pew's March 2004 report.
[SOURCE: Pew Internet & American Life Project, AUTHOR: Susannah Fox]
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/p/1062/pipcomments.asp
2005 MEDIAWORKS FUNDER SURVEY
To help inform media grantmaking strategies, MediaWorks offers this=20
snapshot of media funding after surveying foundations, private donors,=20
investors, and government agencies in January 2005.
http://www.mediawks.org
QUICKLY
KEVIN MARTIN'S CHALLENGE/MARTIN TAKES CHARGE AT FCC
A look at Kevin Martin and the challenges he faces as he takes over the FCC=
=20
from publications that target people in the radio and TV business.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable and Multichannel News]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA511792?display=3DNews&referra...
SUPP
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA511868.html?display=3DTop+Stories&...
rral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
FCC SILENT AS MARTIN HITS THE BOOKS
New FCC chairman Kevin Martin issued an email last Friday to FCC senior=20
staff, ordering them not to release any major staff-level decisions or=20
public notices until Chairman Martin's office gets a chance to review them.=
=20
Staff also have been asked not to give speeches on behalf of the Commission=
=20
or make other public statements purportedly reflecting the commission's=20
views "until further notice."
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA512088?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
ON THE MEDIA
WNYC's On the Media has a number of stories available on its website this=20
week on video news releases and the broadcasters that air them, our new FCC=
=20
Chairman, and the latest report from the Project for Excellence in=20
Journalism. Find links to audio files at the URL below.
[SOURCE: On the Media]
http://www.onthemedia.org/
RADIO GRANDMA
WVLP-FM, a low-power community radio station in Valparaiso (IN) has aired=20
"Stories with Old Nana" since September 2004. The show features Nancy=20
Pekarek reading pictures books to children.
[SOURCE: Connect for Kids, AUTHOR: Susan Phillips]
http://www.connectforkids.org/articles/radio_grandma
CHEAPER PHONE BILLS ON THE HORIZON?
[Commentary] I can't suggest you read this, but McCullagh plays fast and=20
loose with facts here to suggest elimination of the E-rate program for a=20
$10/year savings on your phone bill.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
http://news.com.com/Cheaper+phone+bills+on+the+horizon/2010-1071_3-56261...
tml?tag=3Dnefd.ac
UTAH GOVERNOR SIGNS NET-PORN BILL
Utah Governor Jon Huntsman signed a bill on Monday that would require=20
Internet providers to block Web sites deemed pornographic and could also=20
target e-mail providers and search engines. The controversial legislation=20
will create an official list of Web sites with publicly available material=
=20
deemed "harmful to minors." Internet providers in Utah must provide their=20
customers with a way to disable access to sites on the list or face felony=
=20
charges.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
http://news.com.com/Utah+governor+signs+Net-porn+bill/2100-1028_3-562906...
ml?tag=3Dnefd.top
E-MAIL AUTHENTICATION. THEN WHAT?
[Commentary] A look at how email authentication could be a solution to spam=
=20
and e-mail fraud.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Sendmail CEO Dave Anderson]
http://news.com.com/E-mail+authentication.+Then+what/2010-1071_3-5629318...
l?tag=3Dnefd.ac
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------