** Free Press is sponsoring four Town Meetings on the Future of Media,=20
offering people a chance to tell FCC Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and=20
Michael Copps exactly how well the media are serving their community. All=20
Things Considered offered a brief look at tonight's meeting in Dearborn,=20
Michigan. See=20
http://www.npr.org/rundowns/rundown.php?prgDate=3D13-Sep-2004&prgId=3D2 OR=
=20
http://www.freepress.net/future//dearborn
** The Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will=20
host an open forum on the campus of The George Washington University on=20
Tuesday, September 21 to hear comments and suggestions from the public=20
about the services and programs of public broadcasting. Those who wish to=20
speak at the public forum or submit written materials for the record should=
=20
contact CPB at 202-879-9817.
http://www.cpb.org/programs/pr.php?prn=3D373
TELEVISION
More TV/9-11 Legislation in Works
MAGNA Likes Multicultural Multicasting
OWNERSHIP
Sony-Led Group Makes a Late Bid to Wrest MGM From Time Warner
Aging Media Giants' Glamour Fades
MEDIA & POLITICS
Election Pledge: Broadband Access for All
FEC Nixes Kerry Doc Ads
JOURNALISM
As in Olden Days, U.S. Media Reflect The Partisan Divide
Journalists' Info Threat Level Raised
TELECOM
AT&T's Calling Card: Reach Out and Pitch Someone
Telecom Giants Unite to Lobby For Opening of Markets in Asia
JOBS AVAILABLE
AIVF Seeks Fall Interns
Senior Manager of Community Affairs -- Microsoft
TELEVISION
MORE TV/9-11 LEGISLATION IN THE WORKS
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) is working on=20
legislation that would require certain TV stations to vacate a portion of=20
the spectrum used for analog broadcasts. The bill will be similar, but=20
perhaps not identical, to the HERO Act (HR-1425) introduced by Rep. Harman=
=20
(D-CA). HR-1425 is gaining momentum since release of the 9-11 Commission=20
report which included recommendations to speed the transition to=20
digital-only TV broadcasting so first responders can use spectrum now=20
devoted to analog TV. HR-1425 would set a Jan. 1, 2007 deadline for 75=20
broadcasters in the 60-69 channels of the 700 MHz spectrum (which has been=
=20
designated for public safety use) to be vacated. Still in the works may be=
=20
resolving multicast must-carry, which is heavily supported by broadcasters=
=20
and heavily opposed by cable operators.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Terry Lane]
(Not available online)
All Things Considered included a story on first responders communication=20
Monday afternoon.
See http://www.npr.org/rundowns/rundown.php?prgDate=3D13-Sep-2004&prgId=3D2
MAGNA LIKES MULTICULTURAL MULTICASTING
Brian Wieser, whose company controls a multi-billion dollar budget of media=
=20
spending for the Interpublic Group of Companies, believes that digital TV=20
multicasting will make possible local TV formats targeted to the=20
African-American community. Wieser said such targeted media remain=20
"undeveloped relative to their long-term potential," citing a list of=20
positives including large concentrated populations and "manageable"=20
distribution issues. "With advertiser support and experimentation," says=20
Wieser's report -- and Magna Global suggests it would be wise for=20
advertisers to start experimenting -- "these media may become new vehicles=
=20
for marketers to effective reach audiences of the future.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA452592?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
OWNERSHIP
SONY-LED GROUP MAKES A LATE BID TO WREST MGM FROM TIME WARNER
A consortium led by the Sony Corporation of America reached a tentative=20
agreement yesterday to buy Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the Hollywood studio famous=
=20
for James Bond and the Pink Panther, for about $4.8 billion in cash. The=20
consortium includes buyout firms Providence Equity Partners, Texas Pacific=
=20
Group and DLJ Merchant Banking Partners as well as cable giant Comcast. The=
=20
deal with Comcast calls for the creation of several premium cable channels=
=20
that will broadcast both Sony and MGM movies, adding an additional revenue=
=20
stream for the company. In addition, Comcast will offer the movies through=
=20
its video-on-demand service.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Andrew Ross Sorkin]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/14/business/media/14studio.html
(requires registration)
For more coverage see --
* WSJ:=20
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109509269860016342,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_page_one
Sony, Comcast Strike Content Deals
=
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109512811193817108,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_page_one
(requires subscription)
*WP: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18297-2004Sep13.html
* USAToday=
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20040914/1b_mgm14.art.htm
=
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20040914/2b_comcast14.art.htm
* LATimes:=20
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fi-mgm14sep14,1,214001...
ory?coll=3Dla-headlines-frontpage
* Reuters:=20
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=3DWQYH3JNRD21XECRBAE...
A?type=3DtechnologyNews&storyID=3D6229312
With its acquisition of Hollywood film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Sony is=
=20
one step closer to its vision of linking hardware and content, and to=20
winning the key battle for the next generation DVD.
AGING MEDIA GIANTS' GLAMOUR FADES
Wall Street may be tiring of media mega-deals as claims of increased=20
revenues don't often pan out for investors. "Enough is enough," says=20
portfolio manager Mark Greenberg. =93We keep waiting for the cash to come=
in.=20
When it does, it seems they always have to make new growth acquisitions.=20
And the real return to investors hasn't been that great.=94 Big media=20
companies are largely mature, like utilities, so it doesn't make sense for=
=20
them to keep using their cash to build even grander empires. Instead, they=
=20
should pay big dividends to stockholders. In addition to concluding that=20
mega-deals don't pay off, investors are also realizing: 1) There's a media=
=20
glut. Companies are saturating the market with so many movies, TV shows and=
=20
music albums that it's hard to justify making many more. 2) New=20
technologies make many investments risky. TV producers and distributors=20
could see their economic models collapse if millions of viewers get digital=
=20
video recorders, such as TiVo, and use them to skip ads. Radio stations are=
=20
grappling with Internet and satellite rivals. Music companies watch=20
anxiously as more consumers skip high-margin CD albums to buy low-margin=20
download singles to feed their computers and iPods. Cable operators worry=
=20
that satellite companies will poach more TV customers, while phone=20
companies continue to cut prices to lure high-speed Internet subscribers.=20
The competition will intensify if phone companies make good on threats to=20
offer cable-like video, or if electric utilities offer broadband over power=
=20
lines. Broadband, meanwhile, could evolve into a cheap, new distribution=20
network for all kinds of media =97 including pirated movies.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR:David Lieberman]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20040914/media.art.htm
MEDIA & POLITICS
ELECTION PLEDGE: BROADBAND ACCESS FOR ALL
For months, President Bush and his Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry,=
=20
have been one-upping each other about the necessity for ubiquitous=20
broadband and how to achieve it. But for all the rhetoric, the two=20
candidates aren't far apart and both duck a central issue: Should a=20
nationwide broadband rollout be subsidized by the government? Industry=20
executives, who by early August had contributed nearly $11 million to the=20
presidential candidates, are pushing for a national broadband policy to=20
speed adoption of the technology. Countries with such policies, including=20
South Korea and Canada, have used government funds to boost subscription=20
rates, and the technology industry wants the U.S. to do the same.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Anne Marie Squeo=20
annemarie.squeo( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109511228446416664,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_page_one
(requires subscription)
FEC NIXES KERRY DOC ADS
Conservative lobby Citizens United will not get to buy local broadcast and=
=20
cable ad time to promote or air a documentary attacking the Democratic=20
presidential ticket. The Federal Election Commission said Friday that the=20
group did not qualify for a press exemption from the campaign finance law=20
prohibiting corporations, including nonprofits like Citizens United, from=20
running ads that mention or depict federal candidates within 60 days of a=20
general election. The commission pointed out that, to qualify, the ads=20
would have to be part of a "news story, commentary or editorial," and would=
=20
have to come from a group "acting as a media entity." They weren't, and it=
=20
wasn't, the commission concluded, so the communication would be prohibited=
=20
electioneering campaigning by a corporation.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA452599?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
In a related story about yet another political film, see
FILM BLURS LINE BETWEEN KERRY AD AND WAR DOCUMENTARY
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/14/politics/campaign/14river.html
(requires registration)
JOURNALISM
AS IN OLDEN DAYS, US MEDIA REFLECT THE PARTISAN DIVIDE
[Commentary] In the 1870s, only 11% of US newspapers claimed to be=20
independent. By the 1920s, two-thirds of newspapers considered themselves=20
to be independent of parties -- mainly in an effort to expand readership.=20
Today, the American media appear to be returning to its partisan roots.=20
Why? Murray believes consumers are choosing outlets that fit their=20
political views. For those of us who still value the independence and=20
nonpartisanship of Progressive Era journalism, there is some reason for=20
hope. Andrew Kohut, director of The Pew Research Center for the People and=
=20
the Press, says most Americans still say they want objective journalism,=20
not partisan spin. If Mr. Kohut is right, the current media conflict could=
=20
lead to a better, more balanced, but still fiercely independent press.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Alan Murray alan.murray( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109511244977916674,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_page_one
(requires subscription)
JOURNALISTS' INFO THREAT LEVEL RAISED
"Citizens seem to not realize how drastically their right to know has been=
=20
limited in the last three years," said Reporters Committee for Freedom of=20
the Press Director Lucy Dalglish. "Even journalists will be astonished at=20
the lengthy list of actions taken by public officials to turn basic=20
government information into state secrets." The group has released its=20
annual report finding that Freedom of Information Act restrictions and=20
Access to Terrorism and Immigrations Proceedings remain "red alert" issues=
=20
for journalists. "Incredible things have been happening to keep the public=
=20
in the dark on anything quasi-judicial. And it's coming from the Bush=20
administration and its coming from the courts and military tribunals and=20
hearings=85. We are looking people up and trying them in secret." As a=20
lawyer, Ms Dalglish says, "that is the most frightening thing that is=20
happening."
RCFP is online at http://www.rcfp.org/
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA452619?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
TELECOM
AT&T'S CALLING CARD: REACH OUT AND PITCH SOMEONE
If you've ever made a long-distance call with a prepaid calling card from=20
AT&T, you may have had to listen to an ad -- for WalMart or other retailers=
=20
-- before your call was connected. AT&T claims this "enhancement" makes the=
=20
call an information service instead of a telecommunications service and,=20
thus, should be exempt from paying intrastate connection and Universal=20
Service fees. In a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange=20
Commission, AT&T said it had "saved" $290 million in access charges since=20
the third quarter of 2002 and about $150 million in fund contributions=20
since 1999 because of the claim. Rival carriers are none too happy. "Our=20
members feel if AT&T gets away with this avoidance in paying access charges=
=20
and Universal Service support, who else will take advantage of this and why=
=20
shouldn't they?" said Randy Tyree, director of legislative and industry=20
affairs for the Organization for the Promotion and Enhancement of Small=20
Telecommunications Companies, which represents more than 500 small phone=20
companies in 47 states. "This sets a very bad precedent, and delay at the=20
FCC continues to bleed the system." Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), ranking=20
minority member on the Energy and Commerce Committee, wrote to the FCC in=20
June, asking the agency to act immediately on the AT&T claim and throw the=
=20
book at the company. On July 2, FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell wrote back=20
to Rep Dingell, saying: "I expect that Order to be released in the near=20
future. As a general matter, the burden is on carriers to offer their=20
services in a manner that complies with the Commission's rules. A carrier=20
that provides a service . . . that violates Commission rules may be subject=
=20
to forfeitures or other enforcement measures."
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Cindy Skrzycki]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18913-2004Sep13.html
(requires registration)
TELECOM GIANTS UNITE TO LOBBY FOR OPENING MARKETS IN ASIA
AT&T, MCI, BT, Cable & Wireless, Deutsche Telekom and several other telecom=
=20
giants are joining forces to form a new industry group, Asia Pacific=20
Carriers Coalition, to push for more liberalization of the Asia's telecom=20
sector. The same companies successfully lobbied regulators in Singapore=20
last year for a significant reduction in the so-called last-mile fees=20
charged by state-linked Singapore Telecommunications, the country's former=
=20
phone monopoly. Many of the dominant Asian telecom companies continue to=20
wield market power through excessive fees, the APCC believes, including=20
those charged for last-mile data connections and completing calls to mobile=
=20
phones. In much of Asia, unlike in the U.S., an individual subscriber's=20
phone company must pay a fee every time he or she places a call to a mobile=
=20
phone, even if the call is local. The APCC is also expected to express=20
concern about restrictions on foreign investment in less-developed telecom=
=20
markets, such as China. There, foreign investors can't invest in telecom=20
companies offering basic services, such as fixed or wireless networks --=20
though that will change soon because of China's membership in the World=20
Trade Organization.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Rebecca Buckman at=20
rebecca.buckman( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109510012379716416,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_page_one
(requires subscription)
JOBS AVAILABLE
AIVF Seeks Fall Interns
AIVF SEEKS FALL INTERNS
Individuals interested or involved in media arts and independent film/video=
=20
work directly with Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers staff in=
=20
its SoHo office environment. AIVF offers interns flexible scheduling,=20
hands-on learning experience, and prime exposure to the vast independent=20
filmmaking community. For those looking to move into film or video=20
production, being actively involved with AIVF will introduce you to great=20
information resources and will help you make those connections you need to=
=20
further develop your career.
For more info and an application go to:
http://www.aivf.org/about/jobs.html#aivf
SENIOR MANAGER OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Microsoft Community Affairs division is seeking a uniquely qualified=20
individual with passion, commitment and understanding of corporate=20
philanthropy and social change. As the Sr. Manager of Community Affairs=20
based in Redmond, you will serve as primary liaison with our Latin American=
=20
(LATAM) Community Affairs team for implementation of the Unlimited=20
Potential (UP) program; provide counsel and support in areas of grant=20
making, partnership building, and communications. Further you will also=20
manage the strategic and tactical implementation of the Unlimited Potential=
=20
Community Learning Curriculum including content development and=20
integration; cross-group collaboration; subsidiary support; vendor=20
management; product distribution and implementation; support; and=20
communications.
Qualifications for the position include 10 years post-graduate experience=20
in programming social development programs, grant making or=20
corporate/community affairs in the developed and developing world. Also=20
required are exceptional management skills including an extensive track=20
record leading regionally distributed teams toward collaborative=20
impact. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in NGO-related=20
work in Latin America and English fluency and working knowledge of=20
Spanish. Further qualifications include demonstrated knowledge and skills=
=20
related to programming IT training efforts, corporate social responsibility=
=20
and balancing corporate, regional and local priorities and needs to make=20
winning judgments.
Send resumes and inquiries to: carrolo( at )microsoft.com
More information on Microsoft Unlimited Potential=20
visit http://www.microsoft.com/unlimitedpotential
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------