Headlines czar Kevin "I'll get excited when PCS means Personal
Chocolate Supplies" Taglang liked his last vacation so much he
decided to take another. As a result, the usual pithy analysis
and sly barbs will be replaced by whatever poor substitutes we
minions can muster. We apologize for not mustering anything
yesterday, but we're hoping that by building public demand for
Kevin's speedy return, we can keep him in place for weeks at a
time in the future.
In today's headlines:
** Digital TV / HDTV
NYT: Under Pressure, 2 Broadcasters Decide They Will Now Run HDTV
WSJ: Executives Play Down Prior Indications They Might Scrap
High-Definition TV
** Internet Law
NYT: Court Decides Internet Issue
** Media Industry
WSJ: A Wave of Buyouts Has Radio Industry Beaming with Success
** Internet Industry
WSJ: New Satellite Network for Internet Access Isn't Up to Speed
** Computer Industry
WP: New Intel Chip Holds Twice as Much Data
** Arts
WP: Senate Spares NEA
******************* Digital TV / HDTV *********************
Title: Under Pressure, 2 Broadcasters Decide They Will Now Run HDTV
Source: New York Times (D1)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/091897hdtv.html
Author: Joel Brinkley
Issue: Digital TV / HDTV
Description: After heated questioning by Congress, ABC president Preston
Padden promised to begin broadcasting high-definition television programming
next year, reversing his comments last month that ABC would most likely use
the newly gained (from Congress) digital channels for Pay-TV programming.
Sinclair Broadcasting Group (owner of 29 broadcasting stations) concurred
with the caveat, "If the public doesn't accept it [HDTV], we won't do it."
The broadcasting industry is split over whether or not HDTV will make them
any money.
See also: "Executives Play Down Prior Indications They Might Scrap
High-Definition TV" Wall Street Journal (B7), http://www.wsj.com/
9/18/97
******************* Internet Law **********************
Title: Court Decides Internet Issue
Source: New York Times (D7)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/091897suit.html
Author: Stuart Elliott
Issue: Internet Law
Description: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that an
out-of-state business that establishes a WWW site outside of NY state cannot
be forced to defend an action in NY on the basis of its presence on the
Internet. The Blue Note jazz club in Manhattan sued a Missouri nightclub by
the same name for advertising on the Internet. The NY club holds the
trademark to the name. The circuit court upheld a Manhattan Federal
District Court's dismissal from September of last year, opining that
"established trademark law in the fast-developing world of the Internet" is
like "trying to board a moving bus."
******************* Media Industry *************************
Title: A Wave of Buyouts Has Radio Industry Beaming With Success
Source: Wall Street Journal (A1)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Eben Shapiro
Issue: Media Industry
Description: Since Congress relaxed ownership restrictions last year, more
than 10,000 stations have changed hands in deals valued at $24.7 billion.
Just two companies-- Westinghouse Electric's CBS Radio and Chancellor Media
Corp now control roughly half the radio-advertising market in NYC, LA,
Chicago, SF, Philadelphia and Detroit. Radio stocks have soared nearly 80%
compared to the national average of 28% (Standard & Poor 500). Boston's
American Radio Systems Corp will soon be auctioned off for more than $2
billion. One Country Western station in Seattle (KYCW) has had four
separate owners since 1/96. Advertising revenues generated from radio are
expected to increase as commuting hours rise.
********************** Internet Industry ************************
Title: New Satellite Network for Internet Access Isn't Up to Speed
Source: Wall Street Journal (B1)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Walter S. Mossberg
Issue: Internet Industry
Description: Author reviews DirecDuo, a new service from Hughes Network
Systems that supposedly speeds up your internet connection by 14 times for
$130/mo plus heavy installation fees.
********************* Computer Industry ************************
Title: New Intel Chip Holds Twice as Much Data
Source: Washington Post (E1)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-09/18/090l-091897-idx.html
Author: Elizabeth Corcoran
Issue: Computer Industry
Description: Intel Corp unveiled a new type of computer memory chip (called
StrataFlash) that holds twice as much data as conventional chips, a possible
boon for such devices as cellular phones, digital cameras and hand-held
organizers. The chips are being manufactured in New Mexico, with full-scale
production commencing early 1998. These chips are NOT intended for desktop
computers.
*********************** Arts **************************
Title: Senate Spares NEA
Source: Washington Post (B2)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-09/18/135l-091897-idx.html
Author: Jacqueline Trescott
Issue: Arts
Description: The Senate yesterday soundly defeated three bids to eliminate
the National Endowment for the Arts after a protracted debate focused on
obscenity (defeated 77-23), block grants to states instead of NEA (defeated
62-37), and privatizing the agency (defeated 73-26). The Senate approved
funding at $100 million. The House, however eliminated NEA funding for
fiscal 1998 in their appropriations bill. The differences must be
reconciled before October 1.
Good night and God bless, Clem Kaddiddlehopper....
Red Skelton 1913 - 1997
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