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| January 6, 2009 |
Government runs out of DTV coupons, starts waiting list
As of Sunday, the U.S. government had run out of the $40 coupons that can be used to buy converter boxes for the DTV transition. A huge spike in requests in December -- when the government anticipated about 4 million requests but received 7.2 million -- now means new coupon-seekers have to be put on a waiting list. According to a report in National Journal's CongressDaily, the coupon shortfall stems from NTIA's reliance on estimates from the Consumer Electronics Association and Nielsen Media Research, as opposed to the higher estimate made by NAB. The Wall Street Journal (1/6) National Journal (subscription required)/CongressDaily (1/6)
CBS, Time Warner Cable reach retrans deal
CBS and Time Warner Cable arrived at a retransmission agreement for CBS owned-and-operated TV stations just days after sister company Viacom and the cabler arrived at a retrans deal for its cable channels. No details were released about the terms of the CBS deal, but CBS chief executive Les Moonves said, "We're very pleased with the results." The deal includes premium cable channel Showtime as well as the broadcast stations. NYTimes.com (1/6) Reuters (1/6)
Multiple revenue streams key to TV, radio's sales future
Although the TV and radio sales market is likely to be down this year, broadcasters will be taking key steps to expand their revenue base into Web and other new media, and for the TV segment, to add dollars from retransmission consent fees and digital multicasting.
"We need to diversify away from the single revenue stream of traditional advertising support," said Perry Sook, chairman, president and CEO for Nexstar Broadcasting Group. Mediaweek (1/5)
Two Hearst-Argyle stations go dark in retrans dispute
Hearst-Argyle Television ABC and CW affiliates in Kansas City, Mo., have been unavailable to 31,000 Sunflower Broadband subscribers since midnight Dec. 31, due to a breakdown in retransmission consent talks. By and large, however, retrans talks have concluded with agreements, not with stations going dark. NAB spokesman Dennis Wharton said, "Most of the deals got done, just as we always expected. Multichannel News (1/5) Multichannel News (1/5)
ABC station Web sites to be repped by Cox Cross Media
Under a new deal, Cox Cross Media, the digital-sales unit for Cox Enterprises, will sell ads for the Web sites of ABC's owned-and-operated stations. The pact also calls for the two parties to collaborate on Web cross-marketing, and in the future to work together on other forms of digital media. Mediaweek (1/5)
MobiTV expects audience surge for Obama inauguration
The presidential inauguration is likely to give MobiTV, which provides live TV broadcasts on 20 mobile networks, a sizable audience boost, according to this post. MobiTV more than doubled its average number of daily viewers during the October presidential debates, and gained 1 million of its 5 million subscribers over the course of the campaign. NYTimes.com/Bits (1/5)
Shales gives take on state of TV, programming
Veteran Washington Post TV columnist Tom Shales talks to TVNewsday about the impact of Jay Leno's move to prime time, a switch Shales himself suggested; the network with the best shows; and what influence, if any, the incoming Obama administration will have on TV content. TVNewsCheck (free registration) (1/6)
Other News
Super Bowl spot to pop in 3D
A 3D Super Bowl ad for PepsiCo's SoBe Lifewater is being created by DreamWorks Animation and will include a trailer for the upcoming film "Monsters vs. Aliens." Intel, which provided technology for the trailer, is making available 125 million pairs of 3D glasses, which are being distributed by PepsiCo though SoBe Lifewater retail displays. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (1/5) Broadcasting & Cable (1/5)
"Dean of Sports" Jimmy Crum dies at 80
Jimmy Crum, the legendary Columbus, Ohio, broadcaster who enjoyed a long and distinguished career at TV station WCMH, died Monday at the age of 80. In addition to his work as a broadcaster, Crum is known for his philanthropy, having worked with the Special Olympics, Easter Seals and United Cerebral Palsy, among other causes. The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) (1/6)
Other News
NAB TV Compensation Report now available
The Television Compensation Report, the most comprehensive research compiled on TV station salaries, is now available. NAB members receive a 25% discount off the entire report ($119.95 member/$159.95 non-member) at the NAB Store. Specific data by market, station size (revenue) and region are also available for individual purchase ($24.95 member/$33.95 non-member).
Filing: NAB, MSTV want most analog channels to have "nightlight" option
The majority of analog channels should be given the option of maintaining an "analog nightlight" signal for 30 days following the Feb. 17 DTV switchover, according to an FCC filing from the NAB, with the Association for Maximum Service Television. Current eligibility rules reportedly cover only 136 of 210 TV markets. Broadcasting & Cable (1/5)
Other News
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