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MONDAY
MAY 12, 2008
ECHOSTAR-NDS JURY SET
TO RETURN TO WORK
DISH NETWORK SETS UP
HD CHANNEL BOOST
CONDITION CALLS KEEP
COMING FOR XM-SIRIUS
CALAMP ALMOST BACK TO
WORK FOR DISH
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Cable has trouble keeping up with DirecTv HD ads...It will be
interesting to see how Dish Network addesses its HD needs at
its retailer event...Jury break another strange twist in EchoStar-NDS
case.
FRIDAY
MAY 9, 2008
NDS-ECHOSTAR TRIAL BECOMES
WAITING GAME
DIRECTV TURNS IN ‘STRONG’
QUARTER
DIRECTV UPS DEBT FOR
$3 BILLION BUYBACK
DISH OFFERS HELPING
HAND IN DIGITAL TEST
REP. CLARIFIES XM-SIRIUS
POSITION
CLEARWIRE LEAVES DBS
QUESTIONS
NEWS & NOTES: Hughes
Network Systems said it now has more than 400,000 subscribers
to its HughesNet satellite-delivered, two-way Internet service…Dish
Network is now offering local stations in high-definition in
Hartford and New Haven, Conn., and Portland/Auburn, Maine.
WEDNESDAY
MAY 7, 2008
TRIAL NEARS END; PELED,
KUDELSKI TAKE STAND
COURT SIDES WITH DISH
AGAINST VOOM
XM-SIRIUS TALK KEEPS
UP AT FCC
DISH NEWS CORP. CONDITIONS
TO REMAIN
TO REMAIN
NEWS & NOTES: The
NFL Network said yesterday it filed a complaint with FCC accusing
Comcast of “anti-consumer and anti-competitive” treatment
compared to national sports channels Comcast owns...The DirecTv
Group told retailers this week it plans to let them offer their
existing customers the ability to participate in DirecTv’s
“refer a friend” program.
MONDAY
MAY 5, 2008
NDS-ECHOSTAR/NAGRA TRIAL
NEARS END
XM-SIRIUS KEEPS DRAWING
NAB OPPOSITION
NAB DEFENDS CALL FOR
FULL SIGNAL CARRIAGE
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Placing conditions on XM-Sirius deal will not protect consumers...EchoStar/Nagra
case against NDS comes down to which hacker the jury believes
most, or disbelieves least.
FRIDAY
MAY 2, 2008
DINGELL, MARKEY EYE
XM-SIRIUS CONDITIONS
XM, SIRIUS AGREE TO
KEEP WAITING FOR OK
SMALL CABLE OPS WEIGHS
IN ON NEWS CORP.
NDS KEEPS QUIET ON ECHOSTAR
LAWSUIT
DISH ADDS ANOTHER LOCAL
HD MARKET
CABLE SEES UPS, DOWNS
WITH BASIC SUBS
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 30, 2008
XM, SIRIUS PUT OFF SHAREHOLDER
MEETINGS
DISH NETWORK OFFERS
MDU FIBER SERVICE
JUDGE KEEPS ECHOSTAR-NDS
TRIAL GOING
NAB KEEPS UP FIGHT AGAINST
XM-SIRIUS DEAL
FINISAR SEEKS STAY IN
XM CASE
COURT SETS UP ECHOSTAR-TIVO
HEARING
MONDAY
APRIL 28, 2008
STATE ATTORNEYS PUSH
XM-SIRIUS CONDITIONS
DIRECTV WARNS ON COMPRESSION
RULES
NCTA MAKES CASE FOR
SMALL CABLE WAIVER
DISH NETWORK RESULTS
TAKE TOLL ON GOALS
FRIDAY
APRIL 25, 2008
LAWYERS PLAY HACKER
VS. HACKER AT TRIAL
DISH NETWORK SLATES
CARD SWAP
DISH ADS TAKE ON DIRECTV
OVER PRICING
MARTIN: RADIO SILENCE
ON XM-SIRIUS
MORE MARKETS GET DISH
LOCAL HD
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network and Alcatel-Lucent said they will test mobile video devices...Tony
Petitti was named president of the MLB Network.
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 23, 2008
DISH NETWORK DEALS WITH
TIVO INJUNCTION
LAWYERS SLOG THROUGH
ECHOSTAR-NDS TRIAL
AT&T ADDS UP VIDEO
SUBSCRIBERS
HACKER ACTION CONTINUES
IN CANADA
DORGAN LAYS INTO XM-SIRIUS
MERGER
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
reached an agreement for Loral Space and Communications subsidiary
Space Systems/Loral to build a new satellite for Dish Network.
The EchoStar-15 satellite is slated to be launched in 2010, Loral
said in a statement.
MONDAY
APRIL 21, 2008
DIRECTV TURNS IN 180
CONNECT DEAL
COURT GIVES DIRECTV
WIN OVER FINISAR
DISH NETWORK ADDS MORE
NATIONAL HD
ACA SEES NEED FOR NEWS
CORP. ACCESS RULES
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Wishing a speedy recovery to Dave Robison...Retailers have long-standing
concerns about direct marekting have efforts...180 Connect deal
shows DirecTv is serious about improving installs... Judge makes
unusual statements in NDS-EchoStar trial.
FRIDAY
APRIL 18, 2008
JUDGE FRETS OVER ECHOSTAR,
NDS CASE
DISH NETWORK LOCAL HD
COUNT GROWS
XM-SIRIUS DEAL DRAWS
CONDITION CALLS
HBO PULLS ECHOSTAR LAWSUIT
NEWS & NOTES: The
Smithsonian Channel contracted its advertising sales operations
to Trifecta Entertainment and Media…Wireless high-speed
Internet service Clearwire joined the Satellite Broadcasting
and Communications Association...A Canadian judge found alleged
hacker Jeremy Corkery in contempt of court for not complying
with an order to turn over various items to EchoStar, Bell ExpressVu,
and their conditional access supplier as part of a piracy investigation.
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 16, 2008
DIRECTV EXECS SAY “REVOLUTION”
CONTINUES
HBO FILES NEW ECHOSTAR
LAWSUIT
SUPREME COURT DENIES
KENTUCKY TAX REVIEW
NAB CHIEF BLASTS JUSTICE
ON XM-SIRIUS
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
voluntarily disPROGRAMMERS BEMOAN MARTIN A LA CARTE IDEA
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network started offering local stations from the Cleveland-Akron-Canton,
Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisc.; Richmond-Petersburg, Va.; and Tampa-St.
Petersburg-Sarasota, Fla., markets in high-definition.
MONDAY
APRIL 14, 2008
ECHOSTAR VOWS TRIP TO
SUPREMES WITH TIVO
SES WRITES OFF CHANCE
OF AMC-14 REVIVAL
DIRECTV RETAILERS HEAD
TO ORLANDO
OPPONENTS KEEP UP XM-SIRIUS
COMPLAINTS
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit it filed in February in a federal
court in Colorado seeking a ruling that ads it has started running
featuring comedian Frank Caliendo impersonating celebrities does
not violate any copyright laws. EchoStar declined comment.
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
EchoStar-NDS case could be damaging to both sides...DirecTv will
get to gauage retailers' mood in Orlando
FRIDAY
APRIL 11, 2008
ECHOSTAR, NDS LAWYERS
COME OUT SWINGING
CEA BACKS XM-SIRIUS
MERGER
CANADIAN DBS SERVICES
GIVE WISH LIST
XM CANADA
UPS SUB NUMBERS
UPS SUB NUMBERS
FCC REACHES DIGITAL
TV SETTLEMENTS
MONDAY
APRIL 7, 2008
ECHOSTAR CASE AGAINST
NDS HEADS TO TRIAL
FCC SETS SCHEDULE FOR
NEWS CORP. PETITION
SIDES KEEP UP XM-SIRIUS
INPUT
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Above all, Liberty increasing its stake in DirecTv shows it believes
in DBS...Reaction comes in on XM-Sirius analysis
NEWS & NOTES: FCC
Chairman Kevin Martin (R) and Meredith Atwell Baker, the acting
head of the NTIA, are slated to testify tomorrow at a Senate
Commerce Committee hearing on the transition to digital-only
off-air TV broadcasts.
FRIDAY
APRIL 4, 2008
LIBERTY RINGS UP HIGHER
DIRECTV STAKE
KERRY CHIMES IN WITH
XM-SIRIUS ‘CONCERNS’
AT&T WIDENS DISH
OFFERINGS
DIRECTV DETAILS BASEBALL
EXTRAS
NEWS CORP. PUSHES AGAINST
PROGRAM ACCESS
NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv
said it plans to carry all IndyCar Series races in high-definition
this season, starting with Sunday’s race…XM Satellite
Radio started offering a 20 music/comedy channel package for
Blackberry users…DirecTv reached an agreement to show new
episodes of NBC’s “Friday Night Lights” on its
DBS service prior to their showings on NBC next season.
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 2, 2008
DISTANT STATION APPEAL
SET FOR NEXT WEEK
C-BAND UNIVERSE SHRINKS
SLIGHTLY
ECHOSTAR FILES NEW PIRACY
LAWSUITS
DISH NETWORK SHUFFLES
INTERNATIONAL DECK
INVESTORS BUY GILAT
FOR $475 MILLION
NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv
is slated today to add ESPNews, The Disney Channel, and Toon
Disney in high-definition. Dish Network, which is suing Disney/ABC
over carriage of the HD feeds, declined comment.
MONDAY
MARCH 31, 2008
XM, SIRIUS PRESS CASE
FOR FCC OK
SKY ANGEL DBS EXIT ARRIVES
VIEWTECH SEEKS APPEAL
TIME
NEWS & NOTES: The
SBCA announced its new slate of board members
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Examining the Justice Department'swrong-headed decision on XM-Sirius
merger.
FRIDAY
MARCH 28, 2008
JUSTICE XM-SIRIUS OK
RILES STATE ATTORNEYS
DISH, DIRECTV CHIME
IN ON MUST-CARRY
DISH NETWORK UPS LOCAL
HD COUNT
DIRECTV EXPANDS SPECIAL
AT&T OFFER
COMMISSIONERS SEE WISDOM
IN PHASE-IN
NEWS & NOTES: ESPN
is slated to start offering ESPNews in high-definition Sunday.
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 26, 2008
JUSTICE OUTLINES XM-SIRIUS
APPROVAL
XM, SIRIUS TURN ATTENTION
TO FCC
JUSTICE OK BRINGS MAINLY
JEERS, FEW CHEERS
DIRECTV RECOVERS FROM
CHANNEL GLITCH
MONDAY
MARCH 24, 2008
HD RADIO FIRM KEEPS
UP XM-SIRIUS PRESS
DIRECTV SEES MARCH MADNESS
BOUNCE
XM, SIRIUS WANT REPEATER
GROUND RULES
TIME WARNER BACKS PROGRAM
ACCESS RULE REVERSAL
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group started offering local stations in standard-definition
in the Odessa-Midland, Texas, market…DirecTv added the Gospel
Music Channel to its programming packages.
FRIDAY
MARCH 21, 2008
DBS SERVICES GET MUST-CARRY
PHASE-IN
ECHOSTAR UNIT GRABS
700 MHZ LICENSES
DIRECTV-11 LAUNCH LIFTS
DIRECTV HD HOPES
MARTIN: NO XM-SIRIUS
DECISION THIS MONTH
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
reached an agreement to lease 16 transponders on Telesat Canada’s
Nimiq-5 high-power DBS satellite from Bell ExpressVu, according
to a filing Dish Network submitted to the Securities and Exchange
Commission...XM Canada, said yesterday it now has more than 400,000
subscribers, after adding a net total of about 50,000 during
its fiscal second quarter.
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 19, 2008
DISH KEEPS HD GOAL,
DESPITE AMC-14 MISHAP
FCC SET TO GIVE DBS
MUST-CARRY TIME
SEA LAUNCH CLEARS DIRECTV-11
FOR LIFT-OFF
ECHOSTAR SEEKS RESET
IN TIVO APPEAL
NEWS & NOTES: The
FCC’s auction of licenses to use the 700 MHz spectrum band
closed yesterday, with bidders committing a total of $19.59 billion
for 1090 licenses after 261 rounds of bidding.
MONDAY
MARCH 17, 2008
AMC-14 OUT OF DISH’S
REACH, FOR NOW
COUNTDOWN FOR DIRECTV-11
LAUNCH STOPPED
NRTC BACKS DBS HD MUST-CARRY
SCHEDULE
DISH SLATES BIG TEN
NETWORK MOVE
REP. STEARNS OPTIMISTIC
ABOUT TRANSITION
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
AMC-14 failure shows why FCC needs to think carefully about DBS
digitial/HD must-carry...Government needs to make decision on
XM-Sirius deal...Government could have save money on converter
box coupons...Brotherly birthday/St. Patrick's Day wishes
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
asked a federal court in San Diego not to stay its case against
free-to-air satellite receiver manufacturer Viewtech while Viewtech
appeals the court’s decision to allow EchoStar’s case
to go forward...Dish Network asked a federal court in San Diego
to conduct a jury trial of the lawsuit Fox News filed against
the DBS service over its placement of the Fox-owned channel.
FRIDAY
MARCH 14, 2008
XM, SIRIUS IMPATIENT
FOR REVIEW TO END
NAB, DISH SPAR OVER
HD MUST-CARRY
BUSY LAUNCH SCHEDULE
ON TRACK
DISH SLATES BIG TEN
NETWORK MOVE
DIRECTV GOES MAD FOR
NCAA TOURNEY HD
DISH, LIN REACH RETRANS
DEAL
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 12, 2008
CAREY SEES RUNNING ROOM
ON HD
DIRECTV TAKES ON NAB
HD MUST-CARRY IDEAS
ERGEN REVIEWS NFL NET
PACKAGE PLAY
TIVO SEES ‘WORKAROUND’
RUNNING AGROUND
MURDOCH PINS DIRECTV
SALE ON DATA FEARS
NPS PUSHES DIGITAL SIGNAL
QUALITY STANDARD
MONDAY
MARCH 10, 2008
DISH DISPUTES NAB HD
MUST-CARRY STANCE
PARTIES ASK TO KEEP
PROGRAM ACCESS TWEAKS
DIRECTV STEERS RETAILERS
TOWARD DATA DEAL
XM, SIRIUS GETS MORE
STATIC
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
The FCC should worry about broadcasters providing high-quality
off-air digital signals to all of their viewers before imposing
a digital/HD must-carry rule on DBS.
FRIDAY
MARCH 7, 2008
DISH, DIRECTV SATELLITE
LAUNCHES SET
TIVO BLASTS DISH ‘WORKAROUND’
NFL, TIME WARNER SPAR
AT HEARING
DISH NETWORK OPEN TO
PBS HD TALKS
GROUPS SUPPORT HD DBS
MUST-CARRY PHASE-IN
DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA
PASSES 5 MILLION SUBS
NEWS & NOTES: There
were a total of 53,041 C-band dish owners subscribing to programming
at the end of last month, down from 53,814 at the end of January...Political
pundits Laura Ingraham and Donna Brazile will address the Consumer
Electronics Association’s annual Washington event early
next month. What connection either has to the consumer electronics
industry was not immediately clear…DirecTv reached a deal
to continue distributing the Hallmark Channel, as well as carry
the HD version of the channel.
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 5, 2008
MARTIN STILL EYEING
DBS MUST-CARRY PLAN
MARTIN: XM-SIRIUS NOT
OVER FCC ‘HURDLE’
BEST BUYS LAUNCHES DIRECTV
HD OFFER
LIBERTY SETS UP ENTERTAINMENT
UNIT
LAWMAKERS PLAN LOOK
AT SPORTS PROGRAMMING
NEWS & NOTES: Hughes
Network Systems reported it finished the fourth quarter of last
year with a total of 380,000 subscribers to its HughesNet satellite-delivered,
two-way data service, a net increase of about 40,000 during the
quarter.
MONDAY
MARCH 3, 2008
DISH NETWORK SUES ESPN
OVER HD
XM, SIRIUS EXTEND MERGER
TIMELINE
NAB PUSHES HD DBS MUST-CARRY
DISH WARNS RETAILERS
ABOUT CONVERSIONS
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Bittersweet week with Murdoch leaving DBS but Malone stepping
in...Hopefully the FCC listens to DBS capacity concerns.
FRIDAY
FEB. 29, 2008
DIRECTV SETS PATH FOR
2008
DISH NETWORK SEES NET
ADDITIONS DIP
CAR SALES DRIVE XM RESULTS
NEWS & NOTES: Charter
Communications lost a net total of 66,400 basic cable subscribers...Cablevision
added about 1,100 net new basic cable subscribers in the fourth
quarter of last year.
WEDNESDAY
FEB. 27, 2008
APPROVALS PUT DIRECTV
DEAL NEAR DONE
DISH NETWORK SEES NET
ADDITIONS DIP
REVIEW PROCESS FRUSTRATES
SIRIUS
DISH FACES NFL NETWORK,
VOOM LAWSUITS
FCC DETAILS DIRECTV
DEAL CONDITIONS
SIRIUS TOUTS FOURTH
QUARTER RESULTS
NEWS
ALERT!!!
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT GIVES
OK TO DIRECTV DEAL
MONDAY
FEB. 25, 2008
FEDS TO OK LIBERTY-NEWS
CORP. DEAL TODAY
ECHOSTAR GETS TIME TO
SEEK TIVO REVIEW
DIRECTV INKS MOUNTAIN
WEST RSN DEAL
NAB URGES FCC TO PLAY
TOUGH ON MUST-CARRY
CONSUMER GROUP PUSHES
XM-SIRIUS TERMS
DIRECTV FACES CLASS
ACTION LAWSUIT
FRIDAY
FEB. 22, 2008
FCC OK OF DIRECTV DEAL
EYED FOR TODAY
NFL NETWORK BEMOANS
DISH NETWORK MOVE
NAB PRESSES LOCAL TV
OBLIGATIONS
VIEWTECH FIGHTS JUDGE’S
DECISION
ECHOSTAR
FACES PMC PATENT LAWSUIT
FACES PMC PATENT LAWSUIT
NEWS & NOTES: Contrary
to some published reports, a source to EchoStar/Dish Network
said yesterday the company had never employed lobbyist Vicki
Iseman, or the firm she works for, both of which have been the
subject of widespread media attention in connection with Sen.
John McCain (R-Ariz.), the presumptive Republican presidential
nominee…The DirecTv Group plans to offer a “mix channel”
and three other channels of coverage of the Masters Golf Tournament,
in addition CBS and ESPN’s coverage…Dish Network signed
as a sponsor of Roush Fenway Racing for the 2008 NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series…SES Americom’s AMC-14 satellite is scheduled
to be launched from Kazakhstan the night of March 14. Dish Network
has contracted to use all of the payload…TerreStar named
EchoStar President of Satellite Services Dean Olmstead, EchoStar
Chief Administrative Officer David Rayner, and Pirinate Consulting
Group Chairman Eugene Davis to its board of directors.
WEDNESDAY
FEB. 20, 2008
DISH NETWORK THROWS
FLAG AT NFL NETWORK
DIRECTV, DISH JOIN FORCES
ON MUST-CARRY
GROUPS KEEP UP XM-SIRIUS
OPPOSITION
LAWMAKERS CAUTION ON
HD MUST-CARRY
PARTIES TAKE TELESAT
PROPOSAL TO TASK
XM, SIRIUS PRESS REPEATER
ISSUES
AT COMMISSION
AT COMMISSION
NEWS & NOTES: SES’
AMC-14 satellite has arrived in Kazakhstan, where it is scheduled
to be launched from at yet to be determined date next month...Dish
Network asked a federal court in Colorado to issue a declaratory
ruling stating impersonations of John Madden and Charles Barkley
comedian Frank Caliendo performs in Dish Network commercials
do not violate any federal or state trademark laws.
FRIDAY
FEB. 15, 2008
DIRECTV BUILDS ON SUBSCRIBER
NUMBERS
MARTIN PUSHES FOR LOW-POWER
CARRIAGE
DIRECTV LOOKS FOR TIME
ON HD MUST-CARRY
HOUSE COMMITTEE TACKLES
STATE TAX ISSUE
CAREY PLAYS DOWN AT&T
SWITCH
LAWMAKERS KEEP TALKING
ABOUT DIGITAL TRANSITION
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group started offering local stations in high-definition
format in Omaha, Neb., and local stations in standard-definition
in Dothan, Ala…Patricia Sumler has resigned as the executive
director of the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association.
She joined the SBCA in December 2005…Comcast said it lost
a net total of 94,000 basic cable subscribers…PRODUCTION
NOTICE: In observance of Presidents’ Day, the FaxUPDATE
will not be distributed Monday.
WEDNESDAY
FEB. 13, 2008
DIRECTV, DISH CAUTION
ON HD MUST-CARRY
ECHOSTAR PLAYS UP CONVERTER
BOX ROLLOUT
DBS SERVICES WEIGH IN
ON PROGRAM ACCESS
NAB OFFERS REASONS TO
BLOCK XM-SIRIUS
QWEST PICKS UP DIRECTV
SUBSCRIBERS
MONDAY
FEB. 11, 2008
FCC CLOSES IN ON LIBERTY-NEWS
CORP. OK
ECHOSTAR INVESTS $150
MILLION IN TERRESTAR
MARTIN DETAILS DBS DIGITAL
MUST-CARRY IDEA
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Comcast is better off without Specter's help...More must-carry
for DBS is another bad idea from FCC Chairman Martin.
FRIDAY
FEB. 8, 2008
MARTIN EYES HD MUST-CARRY
FOR DBS
DBS SERVICES FIGHT TO
KEEP MDU CONTRACTS
DIRECTV SETS EXTRA INNINGS
PRICING
C-BAND HOLDS ABOVE 50,000
DIRECTV THINKS POORLY
OF WEALTHTV IDEA
FCC AUCTION TOTAL SLOWLY
ADDS UP
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group started offering local stations in high-definition
in the Wichita, Kan.; Louisville, Kent.; Paducah, Kent.; and
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, markets.
WEDNESDAY
FEB. 6, 2008
MURDOCH: DIRECTV DEAL
NEARING CLOSURE
VOGEL SHIFTS ROLE AT
DISH NETWORK
TOP DIRECTV RETAILERS
GET NEW SALES TOOL
ION PUSHES DBS DUAL
MUST-CARRY
PROGRAMMERS CHALLENGE
DUAL MUST-CARRY
700 MHZ AUCTION BIDDING
SLOWS
MONDAY
FEB. 4, 2008
NFL NETWORK HOT TOPIC
AT SUPER BOWL
SPECTER QUESTIONS NFL
ANTITRUST EXEMPTION
DISH STOCKS GAIN AFTER
FURTHER REVIEW
FCC AUCTION PUSHES TOWARD
$20 BILLION
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group was very visible in Phoenix over Super Bowl weekend.
The company sponsored several events, including a charity party,
and got widespread media attention for its annual celebrity touch
football game...XM Satellite Radio reached an agreement with
Sony BMG to settle the lawsuit in which the music company alleged
the recording capabilities of XM’s Inno unit violated its
copyright.
FRIDAY
FEB. 1, 2008
SPLIT DECISION IN DISH
NETWORK-TIVO APPEAL
DIRECTV OULTINES LOCAL
TV STRATEGY
FCC AUCTION PASSES $15
BILLION MARKET
GROUP OBJECTS TO XM-SIRIUS
RECEIVER PLANS
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group reached an agreement with TNS Media Research to
develop an audience measurement tool using 100,000 DirecTv subscribers
who opt into the program…DirecTv has added Vesti, a Russian-language
news channel, to its RussianDirect II programming package…Dish
Network started carrying the History Channel in high-definition.
WEDNESDAY
JAN. 30, 2008
NFL, ESPN IN TALKS OVER
NFL NETWORK
DIRECTV SATELLITE MOVES
CLOSER TO LAUNCH
VERIZON ADDS UP VIDEO
SUBSCRIBERS
AUCTION TOTAL KEEPS
MOVING UP
MOVING UP
NDS TOUTS SECURITY RECORD
OPPOSITION TO XM-SIRIUS
COMBO KEEPS UP
NEWS & NOTES: Continental
Airlines entered into an agreement to start offering 36 DirecTv
channels at each passenger’s seat, starting next January…XM
Satellite Radio plans to start carrying the ESPN Xtra channel
Monday…Dish Network started offering information about each
presidential candidate as part of its Dish Decision 2008 interactive
application.
MONDAY
JAN. 28, 2008
SKY ANGEL EYES MARCH
DBS SWITCH-OFF
WILDBLUE UPS PRICES
IN SOME AREAS
FCC GETS MORE INPUT
AGAINST XM-SIRIUS DEAL
700 MHZ BIDDING PUSHES
CLOSE TO $4 BILLION
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Is XStreamHD for real?...DirecTv makes some good improvements
to the HR-20.
FRIDAY
JAN. 25, 2008
AUCTION BIDDING STARTS
WITH $2.8 BILLION
NCTA CHALLENGES FCC
MDU ORDER
DIRECTV TRIES TO COUNTER
AT&T WITH OFFER
AT&T PLAYS UP OWN
VIDEO SERVICE
DIRECTV UPS LOCAL HD
OUTPUT
OUTPUT
NEWS & NOTES: The
National Telecommunications and Information Administration said
yesterday it has received applications from more than 2 million
households to obtain more than 3.7 million coupons as part of
the NTIA’s digital-to-analog off-air convertor box subsidy
program. More than 15 federal agencies participated in a conference
dealing with education efforts related to the planned Feb. 17.
2009, switch to digital-only TV signals.
WEDNESDAY
JAN. 23, 2008
XM, SIRIUS KEEP DEFENDING
MERGER PLANS
DIRECTV SETS STOCK BUYBACK
DIRECTV TAKES ON MORE
BAR OWNERS
TIME WARNER VOWS APPEAL
ON MASN RULING
FCC PREPS
FOR 700 MHZ AUCTION
FOR 700 MHZ AUCTION
FRIDAY
JAN. 18, 2008
ECHOSTAR LAYS OUT PRICING,
HD CHANGES
DIRECTV PLANS DISTANT
HD MIGRATION
NPS, BROADCASTERS GET
NEW COURT DATE
BROADCASTERS SEEK LIBERTY
CONDITIONS
NEWS & NOTES: The
House Telecommunications and Internet Subcommittee plans to hold
a hearing Feb. 13 regarding the status of the planned Feb. 17,
2009, transition to digital-only broadcast transmissions…Chieftain
Capital Management sent a letter to Comcast urging the company
to fire Comcast Chairman Brian Roberts.
WEDNESDAY
JAN. 16, 2008
ECHOSTAR MAKES 700 MHZ
AUCTION CUT
FCC EYES XM-SIRIUS FINISH
LINE
C-BAND HOLDS ABOVE 50,000
DIRECTV DETAILS PRICE
INCREASE PLANS
SEA LAUNCH SUCCESS PUTS
DIRECTV NEXT UP
CALAMP MAPS PROGRESS
WITH DISH NETWORK
NEWS & NOTES: Shaw
Communications’ Star Choice Canadian DBS service added 1,544
net new subscribers in its fiscal first quarter, the company
said. The service finished the period with 881,129 customers.
MONDAY
JAN. 14, 2008
DISH NETWORK TAKES ON
CABLE RATE HIKES
XM, SIRIUS DEFEND MERGER
ANALYSIS
DIRECTV TRIES TO SACK
BARS STEALING SERVICE
APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS
NORTH CAROLINA TAX
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
CES has almost outgrown its usefulness...Trends push CE companies
in new directions...Hopefully the DOJ will not fall for XM-Sirius
a la carte promises as easily as Kevin Martin.
FRIDAY
JAN. 11, 2008
LIBERTY LOOKS FOR DIRECTV
DEAL OK SOON
DIRECTV, LIBERTY PLAY
UP PROSPECTS
TIVO HINTS AT MORE LITIGATION
DIGITAL TRANSITION BRINGS
WORRIES
TO CE STORES
TO CE STORES
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
Holdings named Dean Olmstead president of its satellite services
unit. Most recently Olmstead advised Loral Space and Communications
and, among other things, was president of SES Americom. The appointment
rounds out the leadership for newly spun-off EchoStar Holdings’
three main units. Mark Jackson is president of EchoStar Technologies
and Steve Schaver is president of EchoStar International.
WEDNESDAY
JAN. 9, 2008
MARTIN HINTS AT XM-SIRIUS,
LIBERTY TIMING
DISH NETWORK PUSHES
HD AGENDA
DIRECTV DISPLAYS PC
CONNECTION
COMCAST MAKES PLAY FOR
HD ATTENTION AT CES
DIRECTV, FINISAR MAKE
APPEALS COURT CASES
MARTIN SEES TRANSITION
DATE STAYING IN PLACE
NEWS & NOTES: Ovation
TV acquired Universal Music group’s International Music
Feed channel. The channel‘s distribution will increase to
about 25 million homes, mostly due to EchoStar’s carriage
of the channel, which begins today...DirecTv Senior Vice President
Jon Gieselman was on stage to help present the championship trophy
after Monday night’s LSU-Ohio state game in New Orleans.
MONDAY
JAN. 7, 2008
CE INDUSTRY TAKES BUSINESS
TO VEGAS SHOW
COMPANIES STAKE OUT
SIDES ON ACCESS, TYING
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Annual notebook awards
FRIDAY
JAN. 4, 2008
ECHOSTAR SPIN-OFF STOCK
TAKES OFF
NFL GETS HIGHLY RATED
SEASON FINALE
SIRIUS TALLIES FOURTH
QUARTER SUBS
DIRECTV GETS MARCH DATE
FOR NEXT LAUNCH
FOR NEXT LAUNCH
NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv
started offering local stations in MPEG-4 high-definition in
the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pa., and Albany, N.Y., markets...DirecTv
added The Tennis Channel and College Sports Television in high-definition
to its line-up…The National Cable and Telecommunications
Association named James Assey Executive Vice President…The
oral argument in DirecTv’s appeal of a jury verdict that
said it violated a digital video recorder patent held by Finisar
is scheduled to take place Monday in the federal appeals court
in Washington…The National Telecommunications and Information
Administration said more than 853,000 households have requested
1.6 million digital-to-analog converter box subsidy coupons since
Tuesday...ReelzChannel named Terry O’Reilly executive vice
president and general manager.
FRIDAY
DEC. 28, 2007
ECHOSTAR PLANS PRICE
FREEZE FOR SOME SUBS
NFL AGREES TO BROADCAST
DEAL FOR BIG GAME
LIBERTY PROPOSES PUERTO
RICO CONDITIONS
SATELLITE RADIO DEAL
DRAWS MORE COMMENT
NEWS & NOTES: A
“technical error” caused EchoStar DBS customers to
briefly lose access to some high-definition channels last Saturday,
the company confirmed…XM Satellite Radio settled the copyright
lawsuit Warner Music Group filed against it...PRODUCTION NOTICE:
In observance of the holiday, and barring any late-breaking major
news, the next issue of the FaxUPDATE will be distributed next
week at this time. Best wishes from everyone at Satellite Business
News for a happy and safe New Year.
FRIDAY
DEC. 21, 2007
DIRECTV, COMCAST WRAP
UP HD SETTLEMENT
FCC CONFIRMS ECHOSTAR
AUCTION FILING
NFL, CABLE BLITZ EACH
OTHER WITH LETTERS
DIRECTV, PBS INK CARRIAGE
AGREEMENT
NEWS & NOTES: Tomorrow
will mark the anniversary of the News Corp.-Liberty Media announcement
regarding Liberty buying a controlling stake in The DirecTv Group...EchoStar
Communications yesterday started offering three new international
channels, the Vietnamese-language Thuan Viet; Teluga-language
channel Maa TV; and Greek-language radio station Net 105.8...PRODUCTION
NOTICE: In observance of the holiday, and barring any late-breaking
major news, the next issue of the FaxUPDATE will be distributed
next week at this time. Best wishes from everyone at Satellite
Business News for a happy and safe holiday.
WEDNESDAY
DEC. 19, 2007
FOX NEWS SUES ECHOSTAR
OVER PACKAGING
CALAMP, ECHOSTAR SETTLE
DISH DIFFERENCES
FCC TAKES NEW STAB AT
CABLE OWNERSHIP CAP
XM, UNIVERSAL SETTLE
LAWSUIT
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
Communications notified SEC of planned board changes...Archos
released a software download that enables its 705 and 605 Wi-Fi
capable portable video player models to download shows saved
on EchoStar’s VIP722 high-definition/digital video recorders...The
FCC said yesterday it adopted final terrestrial repeater rules
for satellite radio services, as well as rules related to interference
between satellite radio services and 2 gighertz services.
MONDAY
DEC. 17, 2007
BROADCAST GROUP GIVES
DIRECTV DEAL STATIC
CABLE MAKES CASE AGAINST
CAP
ANOTHER FILES IN FAVOR
OF XM-SIRIUS DEAL
NFL WILLING TO SIT DOWN
FOR KERRY MEETING
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Thoughts and prayers for Carol and Carl Vogel's son...DirecTv
made a smart move to acquire Replay...Approving a cable ownership
cap and approving XM-Sirius deal would make no sense...Planned
departure of analog HBO East C-band feed will mark end of an
era...Courts should stay out of The NFL Network spat.
FRIDAY
DEC. 14, 2007
COMCAST ESCALATES NFL
NETWORK DISPUTE
DIRECTV MAKES MOVE FOR
REPLAY
MARTIN GETS MORE HEAT
IN SENATE
LAWMAKERS WEIGH IN ON
XM-SIRIUS REVIEW
NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv
reached a settlement with cable operator Cox to settle the lawsuit
the DBS operator filed complaining Cox’s ads about the quality
of its high-definition service compared to DirecTv’s were
false and misleading...The appeals court hearing on broadcasters’
challenge to National Programming Service selling distant network
stations to EchoStar system owners is being delayed because a
judge on the panel recused himself for undisclosed reasons. Oral
arguments had been scheduled for Feb. 11.
WEDNESDAY
DEC. 12, 2007
AT&T MANUEVERS ON
DBS FIRMS
MARTIN DEFENDS FCC PROCEDURES
NFL CHIEF CHASTISES
COMCAST, TIME WARNER
FCC PLANS TERRESTRIAL
REPEATER RULES
FCC DISPUTES GAO DIGITAL
TRANSITION STUDY
MONDAY
DEC. 10, 2007
DBS FIRMS DETAIL HD
CONVERSION DIFFICULTIES
HDNET DROPS DIRECTV
DEAL CONDITION CALL
GM BACKS XM-SIRIUS MERGER
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Cable could have chosen better than Comcast and Cablevision for
challenging the program access rules...HDNet had a nice early
impact but is still simply a nice, little niche service...Martin
and his advisors keep digging a deeper hole.
FRIDAY
DEC. 7, 2007
ECHOSTAR PLANS NAME
CHANGE
DIRECTV EXTENSION IN
CARDS FOR NDS
KERRY URGES CABLE, NFL
NETWORK DEAL
OVERALL C-BAND NUMBERS
HOLD STEADY
DIRECTV, HDNET SETTLE
DIFFERENCES
DIFFERENCES
LAWMAKERS LAY INTO MARTIN
AT HEARING
COMCAST SEES REASONS
FOR SLOWDOWN
WEDNESDAY
DEC. 5, 2007
LIBERTY ITCHING TO GET
DIRECTV DEAL DONE
TIVO PREDICTS GOOD THINGS
FROM PATENT CASE
SIRIUS STILL BANKING
ON DEAL CLOSING SOON
BOARD SETS SATELLITE
RADIO COPYRIGHT RATE
TIME WARNER DENIES HD
DISADVANTAGE
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group joined cable companies Time Warner and Comcast
in saying it will not participate in the FCC’s planned Jan.
24 auction of licenses for the 700 megahertz spectrum band. EchoStar
declined comment but it also filed to participate. If the company
does bid, it will likely be done by its planned technology spin-off.
Google and AT&T have said they applied to participate by
the Monday deadline. Verizon is also expected to bid…EchoStar
closed its acquisition of Sling Media...President Bush announced
his intention to nominate Jonathan Adelstein to serve another
five-year term as an FCC commissioner.
MONDAY
DEC. 3, 2007
XM-SIRIUS SEE SPECULATION
RUN-UP
SIDES KEEP WEIGHING
IN ON XM-SIRIUS DEAL
TEXAS BROADCASTERS BEMOAN
DIRECTV DEAL
TELESAT SEEKS REVERSE
BAND RULE CHANGES
SCHERMANS NOTEBOOK:
Internet sites should be held accountable for false EchoStar-AT&T
stories
FRIDAY
NOV. 30, 2007
PATENT OFFICE UPHOLDS
TIVO PATENT
DIRECTV SUBS KEEP LEAVING
TIVO
ECHOSTAR SEES LIFT FROM
NFL-CABLE DISPUTE
AT&T CHIEF PUMPS
UP OWN VIDEO SERVICE
XM-SIRIUS DEAL ATTRACTS
MORE SUPPORT
WEDNESDAY
NOV. 28, 2007
MARTIN FORCED OUT OF
CABLE AGENDA
NDS MOVES TO REDUCE
ECHOSTAR CASE
CONSUMER GROUPS PAN
XM-SIRIUS DEAL
FORD MOVES FORWARD WITH
SIRIUS
NEWS & NOTES: The
Senate Commerce Committee scheduled an FCC oversight hearing
Dec. 13.
WEDNESDAY
NOV. 21, 2007
LAWMAKERS CHIME IN AGAINST
MARTIN PLANS
DISCOVERY DISPUTES HDNET
CLAIMS
POLITICIANS LOBBY FOR
NFL NETWORK
XM OFFERS PROMO FOR
INACTIVE RECEIVERS
NEWS & NOTES: The
Satellite Industry Association named Patricia Cooper president,
effective immediately. She replaces David Cavossa, who recently
left the association. Cooper has been senior satellite competition
advisor for the FCC’s International Bureau…TenLab introduced
a 2 terabyte external hard drive that can be connected to DirecTv
HR-20 and HR-21 high-definition digital video recorders. The
TenBox TB2000 retails for $1,999. Any eSATA hard drive can be
connected to an HR-20 or HR-21, though doing so deactivates the
existing internal hard drive.
WEDNESDAY
NOV. 21, 2007
ECHOSTAR SHARES SETTLE
DOWN AFTER RUN-UP
SIRIUS, XM HAND OVER
INFO TO FCC
DIRECTV SWIPES BACK
AT HDNET
NFL TALKS TOUGH ON CARRIAGE
FELLOW GOP HANDS DERIDE
MARTIN’S CABLE PLANS
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
has started offering interactive services for ESPN and The Weather
Channel to subscribers with enable receivers…In observance
of Thanksgiving, the FaxUPDATE will not be distributed Friday.
It will return Tuesday.
MONDAY
NOV. 19, 2007
CUBAN CASTIGATES DIRECTV
AT FCC
NFL NETWORK, PLAYERS
SACK CABLE
DIRECTV PITCHES SPACE
STATION HDTV
PARTIES BEG OUT OF BI-LINGUAL
ALERTS
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Martin migh be losig his grip...How can Martin approve XM-Sirius
if he is trying to regulate cable again.
FRIDAY
NOV. 16, 2007
XM, SIRIUS PUT IN TWO
CENTS ON STUDIES
HDNET GETS ORDER AGAINST
DIRECTV
NCTA CHIEF LAMBASTES
MARTIN-LED FCC
DIRECTV UPS HD CHANNEL
LINE-UP
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group said yesterday it plans to switch its stock exchange
listing from the New York Stock Exchange to the NASDAQ Stock
Market, effective Dec. 3...RFD-TV said it plans to simulcast
controversial personality Don Imus’ new radio show, starting
Dec. 3. DirecTv carries the service on channel 379, EchoStar
on channel 231.
WEDNESDAY
NOV. 14, 2007
XM, SIRIUS SHAREHOLDERS
GREENLIGHT DEAL
"UNACCEPTABLE"
CHURN HAMPERS ECHOSTAR
DIRECTV UPS ANTE ON
FOURTH QUARTER OFFER
ERGEN MAKES CASE TO
KEEP AT&T
ECHOSTAR WILLING TO
TALK TO TIVO
NEWS & NOTES: Comcast
runs ads claiming more HD than DirecTv...NCTA disputes 70/70
rule.
MONDAY
NOV. 12, 2007
QUARTER BRINGS UPS,
DOWNS FOR ECHOSTAR
ECHOSTAR PUSHES AHEAD
WITH SPIN-OFF PLANS
LIBERTY SEES GOOD TIMES
AHEAD FOR DIRECTV
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Big Ten, NFL Network disputes foreshadow more issues...DirecTv
takes HD over data serice...NBC makes mistake letting Williams
go on SNL
NEWS & NOTES: Big
Ten and NFL Network disputes with cable operators raise larger
issues...DirecTv focus on HD trumps need for data service...NBC
makes some questionable calls with Brian Williams appearance
on SNL and its green initiative.
FRIDAY
NOV. 9, 2007
HD, RECORDERS DRIVE
DIRECTV
TIME WARNER, CABLEVISION
TAKE HIT ON SUBS
DIRECTV, NEWS CORP.
LOOKING FOR CLOSURE
HDNET CRIES FOUL OVER
DIRECTV MOVE
NEWS & NOTES: XM
Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio asked the FCC to impose
strict restrictions on any further data the companies provide
the FCC about their proposed merger...Hughes Communications said
it added 12,000 new subscribers to its HughesNet two-way, medium-power
satellite-delivered data service in the third quarter, giving
it a total of 365,000.
WEDNESDAY
NOV. 7, 2007
FCC PEPPERS XM, SIRIUS
WITH QUESTIONS
FOX PANS PROGRAM ACCESS
CHANGES
XM, SIRIUS CITE NEW
SUPPORT
COWBOYS OWNER ROOTS
FOR DBS, TELCOS
FCC GETS INPUT ON REVERSE
BAND
NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv
named Steven Roberts senior vice president of new media and business
development...Monsoon Multimedia plans today to introduce its
HAVA Titanium HD unit, which enables multiple users to simultaneously
access video programming remotely on computers or mobile phones.
The unit also gives users the ability to pause, rewind, fast
forward, and record programming on PCs using their devices.
MONDAY
NOV. 5, 2007
DISTANT CASE GETS APPEALS
COURT DATE
ECHOSTAR TAKES DIM VIEW
OF VIEWTECH MOVES
C-BAND MARKS MODULE
TALLIES
ECHOSTAR STARTS INTERNATIONAL
MIGRATION
ECHOSTAR ADDS TO PIRACY
CASE DOCKET
DIGITAL TV TRANSITION
CONCERNS COPPS
FRIDAY
NOV. 2, 2007
FCC OPENS UP DOOR TO
MDU COMPETITION
PBS BEMOANS LACK OF
DBS CARRIAGE
JACKSON OBJECTS TO XM-SIRIUS
MERGER
ECHOSTAR TALKS TOUGH
ON HD, RECORDERS
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group started carrying NHL TV in high-definition and
standard definition…Telesat Canada completed its acquisition
of substantially all of the assets of Loral Space and Communications’
Loral Skynet unit
WEDNESDAY
OCT. 31, 2007
SIRIUS POSTS LOWER LOSSES
ON MORE SUBS
VERIZON, QWEST ADD UP
VIDEO SUBS
SIRIUS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT
MERGER PROSPECTS
N. DAKOTA BROADCASTERS
TAKE ON DIRECTV
JACKSON TAKES ON MARTIN
AGENDA
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
Communications added NBA TV to its high-definition programming
line-up…The House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate
Commerce Committee approved similar bills designed to eliminate
the automatic removal of telephone numbers from the federal do-not-call
list...The House passed a bill to extend the Internet tax moratorium
for seven years, the same measure the Senate passed last week.
MONDAY
OCT. 29, 2007
LAWMAKERS PRESS CASE
FOR XM-SIRIUS DEAL
LIBERTY, DIRECTV KEEP
HANDING OVER INFO
CEA SUPPORT SATELLITE
EFFORT ON TAXES
ECHOSTAR STARTS CLEARWIRE
SALES
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
DirecTv and EchoStar show cable the next fight will be for HD
subs...Market shows cable having trouble with triple play.
FRIDAY
OCT. 26, 2007
XM SEES AUTO SALES OFFSET
RETAIL SAG
MALONE SEES SLIM CHANCE
FOR DBS MERGER
XM, SIRIUS OPPOSE ATTEMPT
TO DELAY REVIEW
COMCAST TAKES HIT FROM
COMPETITION
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group has started promoting its new high-definition offerings
using a blimp that took its maiden voyage over Fenway Park in
Boston this week as part of Fox’s World Series coverage.
Several references were made to the blimp. EchoStar and DirecTv
both ran ads during the games promoting their respective high-definition
offerings…The FCC is scheduled to vote Wednesday on an order
that would prohibit cable operators from signing exclusive contracts
to provide service in multiple-dwelling units.
WEDNESDAY
OCT. 24, 2007
ECHOSTAR RAISES $800K
FOR HILLARY CLINTON
AT&T EYES DBS DECISION
XM, SIRIUS HIGHLIGHT
MORE SUPPORT
ECHOSTAR UNVEILS WHOLESALE
IP VIDEO
CALIFORNIA FIRES SPARES
SATELLITE, SO FAR
NEWS & NOTES: International
Launch Services plans to launch the Ka-band/Ku-band Sirius-4
satellite for SES Astra’s Sirius European satellite TV service
Nov. 18. That service is unrelated to Sirius Satellite Radio.
MONDAY
OCT. 22, 2007
MURDOCH BALLYHOOS DIRECTV-LIBERTY
DEAL
DIRECTV ADDS UP OBJECTIONS
IN APPEAL
GROUP BACKS NAB PUSH
TO BLOCK XM-SIRIUS
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
The more lawmakers talk about digital TV transition the more
likely it is to be delayed...Approving XM-Sirius would still
be a mistake.
NEWS & NOTES: General
Motors plans to make XM Satellite Radio units standard features
on all of its Buick, Hummer, and Saab vehicles. All of the vehicles
will come with three-month trial subscriptions to the service.
FRIDAY
OCT. 19, 2007
DIRECTV SUES COX OVER
HD ADS
DIRECTV: ALL SUBS ALREADY
TRANSITIONED
LAWMAKERS STRESS OVER
DIGITAL EDUCATION
ECHOSTAR, DIRECTV HAIL
OHIO COURT RULING
SIDES DEBATE PROGRAM
CARRIAGE RULES
MARTIN PUSHES MULTICAST
MUST-CARRY
LIBERTY, DIRECTV KEEP
ANSWERING FCC QUESTIONS
WEDNESDAY
OCT. 17, 2007
VIEWTECH KEEPS SEEKING
DISMISSAL
DIRECTV HITS 70 HD CHANNEL
GOAL
HOUSE ACTS ON INTERNET
TAX BILL
HOUSE, SENATE LOOK INTO
DIGITAL TV
SIDES DEBATE PROGRAM
CARRIAGE RULES
NEWS & NOTES: Comcast
named Daivd Krone senior vice president for corporate affairs,
effective Jan. 2…Cable overbuilder RCN reached an agreement
to start carrying the NHL Center Ice package of out-of-market
games…News Corp. expanded Executive Vice President for Investor
Relations and Corporate Communications Gary Ginsberg’s role
to also include oversight of the company’s global marketing.
He was also appointed to the office of the chairman, Rupert Murdoch.
MONDAY
OCT. 15, 2007
DIRECTV SET TO HIT NEXT
HD CHANNEL GOAL
KARMAZIN DEFENDS MERGER,
CHASTISES NAB
FRONTIER OFFERS ECHOSTAR
DEAL
ECHOSTAR ISSUES RETAILER
WARNING
MARTIN KEEPS PUSHING
UNBUNDLED CHANNELS
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
EchoStar-TiVo case could go either way, and have long-term implications...DirecTv
HD effort will be a good gauge of how important HD is to consumers.
FRIDAY
OCT. 12, 2007
ECHOSTAR FOUNDERS BACK
CLINTON CAMPAIGN
DBS KEEPS LOOKING FOR
TAX HELP
XM, SIRIUS BRISTLE AT
NAB ACTION
CAL AMP KEEPS WORKING
ON DISH ISSUES
DIRECTV KEEPS ADDING
TO
HD SLATE
HD SLATE
WEDNESDAY
OCT. 10, 2007
NAB URGES DELAY IN XM-SIRIUS
REVIEW
ECHOSTAR KEEPS UP FIGHT
WITH VIEWTECH
ECHOSTAR FILES PIRACY
LAWSUITS
DIRECTV EXECUTIVE SUITE
SEES CHANGES
ECHOSTAR DROPS RETAILERS
OVER LEAD ISSUES
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
Communications added TBS-HD to its high-definition channel-line-up...The
Intelsat-11 C-band/medium-power Ku-band satellite was successfully
launched Friday by an Arianespace rocket from French Guiana…The
FCC rescheduled the auction of licenses to use the 700 MHz spectrum
band from June 16, 2008, to Jan. 24, 2008.
FRIDAY
OCT. 5, 2007
ECHOSTAR, TIVO MAKE
CASES TO APPEALS COURT
SIRIUS, XM SET SHAREHOLDER
MERGER VOTES
JUDGE KEEPS FINISAR,
XM-SIRIUS CASE GOING
DIRECTV AUGMENTS
HD SLATE
HD SLATE
NEWS & NOTES: An
Arianespace rocket is slated to launch the Intelsat-11 C-band/medium-power
Ku-band and Optus-D2 satellites today from French Guiana…NOTICE:
In observance of the Columbus Day holiday, the FaxUPDATE will
not be distributed Monday.
WEDNESDAY
OCT. 3, 2007
FCC CLEARS ECHOSTAR-DOMINION
TRANSACTION
FCC REVERSES COURSE
ON ORBITAL SPACING
LAWMAKERS LOOK FOR DIGITAL
TV INFO
C-BAND NUMBERS HOLDING
STEADY
GROUP BLASTS STUDY IN
FAVOR OF XM-SIRIUS MERGER
MARTIN KEEPS BACKING
MULTICAST MUST-CARRY
MONDAY
OCT. 1, 2007
ECHOSTAR, TIVO PREP
FOR APPEALS ARGUMENTS
NTIA CHIEFS DEFENDS
DIGITAL TV EFFORT
JUDGE LAYS OUT XM-LABEL
LAWSUIT TIMELINE
SIRIUS, XM EXECS PITCH
MERGER AT FCC
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Ergen is not going to sell EchoStar anytime soon...EchoStar buying
Sling is a good thing, but look for broadcasters to step up their
efforts to shut it down.
FRIDAY
SEPT. 28, 2007
SATELLITE APPLAUDS “FAIR”
TAX BILL
NAB CHIEF SLAMS XM-SIRIUS
MERGER
ECHOSTAR, DIRECTV TUSSLE
OVER SPACING
DIRECTV BOLSTERS
HD LINE-UP
HD LINE-UP
ECHOSTAR ADDS MORE REGIONAL
SPORTS HD
NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv
plans to start offering access to episodes of the soap opera
“Passions” online for $19.95 per month...Sling Media
started selling the $179.99 Slingbox Solo, which can process
either standard-definition or high-definition programming. Sling
Media also started offering a version of its SlingPlayer software
for Nokia phones using the Symbian operating system.
WEDNESDAY
SEPT. 26, 2007
DIRECTV SLATED TO START
HD ADDITIONS TODAY
ECHOSTAR CONSIDERS TECH
UNIT SPIN-OFF
JUSTICE STILL LOOKING
AT XM-SIRIUS DEAL
NTIA EXAMINES DIGITAL
TRANSITION EDUCATION EFFORTS
SENATORS URGE END TO
MOUNTAIN WEST ANGST
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group President Chase Carey last night accepted the Humanitarian
of the Year Award from the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of
America for on behalf of DirecTv…ReelzChannel named Doug
McCormick vice chairman of its executive management board. He
is non-executive chairman of LIN TV and a partner with Rho Ventures.
MONDAY
SEPT. 24, 2007
DIRECTV SEES NEW SERVICES
DRIVING GROWTH
SMITHSONIAN SEALS DIRETV
DEAL; EYES MORE
MALONE PONDERS LIBERTY,
DIRECTV PLANS
HOUSE, SENATE PLAN DIGITAL
TV HEARINGS
SENATE COMMERCE PLANS
TAX MARK-UP
FRIDAY
SEPT. 21, 2007
APPEALS COURT NIXES
DBS KENTUCKY TAX CASE
PARSONS: XM FOCUSED
AS REVIEW CONTINUES
LAWSUIT TAKES ON PACKAGING
PRACTICES
DIRECTV HINTS
AT TIMELINE FOR HD ROLLOUT
AT TIMELINE FOR HD ROLLOUT
GAO, ADELSTEIN BEMOAN
DIGITAL EDUCATION
CO-OPS START OFFERING
IP VIDEO SERVICE
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
Communications is working with Sharp to offer discounts on some
Sharp Aquos LCD-high-definition televisions to new and existing
EchoStar customers who agree to lease EchoStar equipment…The
DirecTv Group and Barclays have started offering a DirecTv Rewards
Visa Card, which enables users to accumulate points that can
be redeemed for various items…Industry Canada approved Loral
Space and Communications’ acquisition of Telesat Canada.
The FCC still must approve the transaction before it can be completed…EchoStar
Chairman Charlie Ergen was ranked No. 27 on the Forbes 400 list
of the richest people in the country... International Launch
Services established a “failure review board” to examine
the results of the investigation into the failure of an ILS Proton
rocket.
WEDNESDAY
SEPT. 19, 2007
CAREY PREDICTS BIG RESULTS
FOR DIRECTV
ECHOSTAR CITES VICTORY
IN FORGENT CASE
XM CHAIRMAN CHASTISES
NAB
CABLE PLANS FIGHT FOR
HD SUBS
DBS SERVICES EYE EDUCATIONAL
LEEWAY
CO-OPS START OFFERING
IP VIDEO SERVICE
MONDAY
SEPT. 17, 2007
DIRECTV READIES HD;
SEES SPOT-BEAM ISSUE
VIEWTECH SEEKS ECHOSTAR
CASE DISMISSAL
NCTA HEAD PREACHES TRANSITION
TEAMWORK
ECHOSTAR ADDS HD PAY-PER-VIEW
CHANNELS
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
FCC meeting make Martin look like a joke...FCC should reject
cable pleas for satellite dual must-carry.
FRIDAY
SEPT. 14, 2007
DIRECTV DOWNPLAYS HACKER
RULING IMPACT
DIRECTV SEES HIGHER
SUNDAY TICKET SALES
ECHOSTAR EYES LIBERTY-NEWS
CORP. RULES
NFL, CABLE TUSSLE OVER
CARRIAGE
DIRECTV SLATES TIER
FOR
HD CHANNELS
HD CHANNELS
ACCESS DECISION SITS
WELL WITH DIRECTV
WEDNESDAY
SEPT. 12, 2007
DIRECTV DOWNPLAYS HACKER
RULING IMPACT
DIRECTV SEES HIGHER
SUNDAY TICKET SALES
ECHOSTAR EYES LIBERTY-NEWS
CORP. RULES
NFL, CABLE TUSSLE OVER
CARRIAGE
DIRECTV SLATES TIER
FOR
HD CHANNELS
HD CHANNELS
ACCESS DECISION SITS
WELL WITH DIRECTV
MONDAY
SEPT. 10, 2007
SIDES MAKE LAST STANDS
ON PROGRAM ACCESS
COURT PUSHES BACK DIRECTV,
COMCAST AD CASE
DBS GETS UNLUCKY IN
KETUCKY IN TAX CASE
ECHOSTAR STATES CASE
AGAINST MUST-CARRY
NEWS & NOTES: Liberty
Media plans to hold a special stockholders meeting Oct. 23.
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
FCC should vote 5-0 in favor of extending program access provisions...Commission
should not expand must-carry ruless...DirecTv scores with latest
football ad.
FRIDAY
SEPT. 7, 2007
BIG TEN NETWORK LANDS
DEAL WITH ECHOSTAR
BOUCHER BACKS XM-SIRIUS
MERGER
ILS FAILURE CAUSES FUTURE
FALLOUT
C-BAND CHARTS USERS
CABLE PUSHES AGAINST
PROGRAM ACCESS
NCTA TOUTS DIGITAL TV
AD CAMPAIGN
WEDNESDAY
SEPT. 5, 2007
FCC SETS PROGRAM ACCESS
EXTENSION VOTE
DBS SERVICES DETAIL
TRANSITION DIFFICULTIES
ECHOSTAR PLAYS UP MUST-CARRY
BURDENS
C-BAND CHARTS USERS
FRIDAY
AUG. 29, 2007
BIG TEN NETWORK LAUNCHES
SMALL
DIRECTV SUBS KEEP DEFECTING
FROM TIVO
TAX MORATORIUM GETS
MORE TALK FROM DBS
DIRECTV DETAILS REASONS
FOR FINISAR APPEAL
COMCAST STATES CASE
AGAINST CLOSING LOOPHOLE
DIRECTV ADDS NEW LOCAL
HD MARKET
WEDNESDAY
AUG. 27, 2007
XM-SIRIUS, NAB SPAR
OVER RULES
DIRECTV STARTS WILDBLUE
“DOUBLE PLAY”
DIRECTV DROPS PRICE
ON PORTABLE SYSTEM
VERIZON SEEKS PROGRAM
ACCESS EXTENSION
NEWS & NOTES: Next
Generation Home Products has developed a switch that can connect
four HDMI satellite TV or other receivers and allow the user
to choose between the sources and feed them to two HDTV sets...XM
Satellite Radio said it is building new studios in Nashville.
MONDAY
AUG. 27, 2007
GROUP PUSHES PROGRAM
ACCESS CHANGES
FCC MAKES TWO-DISH LOCAL
BAN OFFICIAL
DBS PLEADS AGAINST DUAL
MUST-CARRY
ECHOSTAR PLAYS UP BIG
TEN GAME COVERAGE
DBS SERVICES BEG OUT
OF RULES FOR
PLUG-AND-PLAY
PLUG-AND-PLAY
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Martin painted into a corner on a la carte...iPhone hack is no
surprise...A prediction FCC will pass program access extension
5-0.
FRIDAY
AUG. 24, 2007
DIRECTV APPEALS HD AD
INJUNCTION
WILDBLUE SEES CRUNCH
IN SOME MARKETS
XM-SIRIUS MERGER DEBATE
CONTINUES
HNS OFFERS FREE EQUIPMENT
ECHOSTAR EXTENDS FREE
SERVICE OFFER
SEA LAUNCH MAKES PROGRESS
ON REPAIRS
MARTIN DEFENDS A LA
CARTE STANCE
WEDNESDAY
AUG. 22, 2007
APPEALS COURT SETS ECHOSTAR-TIVO
DATE
DIRECTV LOOKS FOR EARLY
SCORE WITH BIG TEN
NAB DETAILS DIGITAL
TV EDUCATION EFFORTS
N. DAKOTA BROADCASTERS
CHIME IN ON DIRECTV
DIRECTV SERVES UP TENNIS
INTERACTIVITY
FCC SETS DATE FOR 700
MHZ AUCTION
MONDAY
AUG. 20, 2007
JUDGE GIVES DIRECTV
STATIC OVER HD ADS
NEWS CORP. BITES BACK
ON BIG TEN COMPLAINT
ECHOSTAR EYES RETAILER
ACTION ON TAX ISSUE
XM-SIRIUS DEAL GETS
OPPOSITION, SUPPORT
FRIDAY
AUG. 17, 2007
COMMITTEE CONFAB FOCUSES
ON TAX ISSUE
DIRECTV LEADS WAY IN
SATISFACTION SURVEY
ECHOSTAR EYES FOOTBALL
FANS WITH PROMO
SIRIUS, XM PREP NEW
RADIO LAUNCHES
DIRECTV PLUGS INTO BROADBAND
POWERLINE DEAL
WEDNESDAY
AUG. 15, 2007
XM-SIRIUS, NAB SQUARE
OFF AT FCC
SPACEWAY-3 SATELLITE
REACHES SPACE
DIRECTV PUNCHES UP STADIUM
TICKET OFFER
DIRECTV TOUTS INTERACTIVE
EFFORTS TO FCC
DIRECTV DETAILS NEW
CAREY PAY PACKAGE
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
Communications informed retailers it is extending until Jan.
31 its offer in which qualifying existing customers to its Dish’n
It Up equipment lease program can receive up to $100 in credits…Rod
Perth resigned as president of ReelzChannel Television.
MONDAY
AUG. 13, 2007
ECHOSTAR DEALS WITH
COMPETITION
DIRECTV READIES ONLINE
SUNDAY TICKET
JUDGE BACKS ECHOSTAR
IN FORGENT CASE
TIME WARNER BEMOANS
PROGRAM ACCESS
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Congratulations to the Hubbards on their new addition...Contrary
to some opinions, EchoStar and DirecTv reported good quarters...Keeping
Chase Carey on was a good idea...Blockbuster makes misstep with
Movielink deal.
NEWS AND NOTES: Hughes
Network Systems said it added 30,000 customers to its HughesNet
service.
FRIDAY
AUG. 10, 2007
DIRECTV EXPECTS HD COSTS
TO PAY OFF
ECHOSTAR SEES PROFITS
RISE, NET SUBS DIP
DIRECTV, TIME WARNER
END HD AD FIGHT
LIBERTY PLANS STOCK
TO INCLUDE DIRECTV
DIRECTV KEEPS CAREY
ON WITH NEW CONTRACT
ECHOSTAR, DIRECTV SEEK
DBS TAX RELIEF
CABLEVISION SEES SLIGHT
BASIC SUB DIP
XM-SIRIUS DEAL DRAWS
MORE OPPOSITION
WEDNESDAY
AUG. 8, 2007
NAB, XM-SIRIUS CLASH
OVER A LA CARTE PLAN
MARTIN TAKES LOOK AT
XM-SIRIUS PLAN
COMPANY BLAMES ECHOSTAR
FOR BANKRUPTCY
NDS SOUNDS NO ALARM
BELLS OVER LIBERTY
ECHOSTAR KEEPS UP PROGRAM
ACCESS EXTENSION PUSH
MONDAY
AUG. 6, 2007
XM, SIRIUS PITCH A LA
CARTE PLAN TO FCC
ECHOSTAR PLANS SPECIAL
OFFERS
ECHOSTAR EXTENDS SWAPOUT
FOR VOOM SUBS
BROADCASTERS DEFEND
SHOPPING MUST-CARRY
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Rupert Murdoch shaking up the Wall Street Journal might
be a good thing...Sports leagues' could be hurt by troubled times...C-band's
inevitable decline.
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
Communications co-founders Charlie and Cantey Ergen hosted a
fund-raiser in Washington last Thursday night for Rep. Mark Udall,
a Democrat running for the Senate from EchoStar’s home state
of Colorado.
FRIDAY
AUG. 3, 2007
NAB KEEPS SLAMMING SIRIUS-XM
C-BAND AUTHORIZED MODULE
ROLLS DROP
SEASONAL SUB LOSSES
HIT CABLE
SIRIUS TAPS LORAL FOR
NEW SATELLITE
QWEST LOGS CALLS FOR
DIRECTV SYSTEMS
DIRECTV SYSTEMS
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
Communications appointed Jessica Heacock Insalaco to be its senior
vice president and chief marketing officer…EchoStar started
offering the Setanta Sports channel. EchoStar is running a free
preview of the channel through Sept. 5, after which it will charge
$14.99 per month.
WEDNESDAY
AUG. 1, 2007
SIRIUS LOSSES DROP AS
NET SUBS RISE
KARMAZIN SEES SIGNS
POINTING TO APPROVAL
DIRECTV-ECHOSTAR GROUP
GETS 700 MHZ WISH
DIRECTV SLATES TIVO
UPGRADES
VERIZON COUNTS UP VIDEO
SUBS
NEWS & NOTES: After
nine years with the organization, Harry Thibedeau plans to leave
the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, effective
Friday...Federal authorities searched Senate Commerce Committee
ranking Republican Ted Stevens’ (R-Alaska) home in Alaska
Monday in connection with a political corruption investigation,
according to numerous media reports.
MONDAY
JULY 30, 2007
DIRECTV ADDS ON TO COMCAST
HD LAWSUIT
DBS NOT IMPACTED BY
CLEARWIRE-SPRINT DEAL
FCC READY TO SET UP
700 MHZ RULES
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
XM-Sirius a la carte plan is frought with problems...TiVo playing
up to cable is hilarious.
FRIDAY
JULY 27, 2007
XM POSTS IMPROVED FINANCIAL
RESULTS
XM SEES MERGER DEBATE
GOING ITS WAY
XM, SIRIUS DETAIL A
LA CARTE PLANS
ECHOSTAR, BIG TEN NETWORK
TRADE BARBS
NAB BLASTS XM-SIRIUS
A LA CARTE PLAN
SIDES SHOW CONCERN FOR
DIGITAL TV PLANS
NEWS & NOTES: Comcast
said it lost a net total of about 90,000 basic cable subscribers
in the second quarter, bringing its total subscriber base to
about 24.1 million.
WEDNESDAY
JULY 25, 2007
XM, SIRIUS WEIGH IN
AGAINST DETRACTORS
KARMAZIN TAKES CASE
TO WASHINGTON
XM, SIRIUS DETAIL A
LA CARTE PLANS
ECHOSTAR WANTS FCC RULING
ON
BIG TEN NETWORK
BIG TEN NETWORK
DIRECTV, COMCAST GET
COURT DATE
FOR HD AD DISPUTE
FOR HD AD DISPUTE
NEWS & NOTES: TiVo
has started taking orders for a new $299.99 standalone high-definition
digital video recorder it plans to roll out early next month...AT&T
said it added a combined net total of about 162,000 DirecTv and
EchoStar DBS subscribers during the second quarter, along with
38,000 subscribers to its own fiber/digital subscriber line video
service.
MONDAY
JULY 23, 2007
COALITION EYES BROAD
700 MHZ LICENSES
COPYRIGHT OFFICE PREPS
FOR HEARINGS
ECHOSTAR TAKES FLIGHT
WITH VIRGIN AMERICA
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Congratulations to HBO and Showtime on Emmy nominations...Smithsonian
Channel has ingreidents for great pictures...CTAM hits Washington.
NEWS & NOTES: The
House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to hold an FCC
oversight hearing tomorrow. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin (R) and
the four other commissioners are scheduled to testify.
FRIDAY
JULY 20, 2007
NAB WANTS INFO ON XM,
SIRIUS ISSUES
SIRIUS WANTS LID SHUT
ON LICENSES
CABLE, BROADCASTERS
SHOP MUST-CARRY IDEAS
PHONE COMPANIES SPICE
UP ECHOSTAR OFFERS
COMCAST KEEPS UP OPPOSITION
AGAINST PROGRAM ACCESS
WEDNESDAY
JULY 18, 2007
ECHOSTAR SUES OVER FREE-TO-AIR
BOXES
MORE LAWMAKERS OBJECT
TO XM-SIRIUS DEAL
BROADCASTERS, CABLE
DUEL OVER MUST-CARRY
CABLE, BELLS RAIL AGAINST
NET NEUTRALITY
DIRECTV ADDS DOMINICAN
CHANNEL
NEWS & NOTES: Hughes
Network Systems Spaceway-3 satellite has arrived in French Guiana,
from where it is scheduled to be launched aboard a Proton rocket
Aug. 14.
MONDAY
JULY 16, 2007
XM DEFENDS AGAINST MUSIC
ALLEGATIONS
FORGENT SEEKS RULING
VALIDATING PATENT
XM, SIRIUS LOOK TO PUSH
OFF FINISAR CASE
SES OBJECTS TO ECHOSTAR
REQUESTS
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Congratulations to Harry Thibedeau...Comments on XM-Sirius reveiw
shed no new light...Kudos to DirecTv on "Alien" commercial...EchoStar
shows signs of broadening scope.
FRIDAY
JULY 13, 2007
FCC GETS MORE INFO ON
LIBERTY-DIRECTV DEAL
ECHOSTAR SLATES FREE
HD OFFER
ECHOSTAR PREPS FALL
PROMOS
VIDEOCIPHER MODULE USERS
KEEP DROPPING
CAL AMP CLARIFIES ECHOSTAR
DISH ISSUE COSTS
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group said it has raised about $1 million for schools
through its DirecTv4Schools. About 3,000 schools participate
in the program in which DirecTv donates $100 for every parent,
teacher, or friend that activates DirecTv service for one year,
and $50 for any current customer that makes a new programming
commitment for a year...The Senate Commerce Committee scheduled
a hearing for Thursday to examine how well consumers are prepared
for the transition to digital-only broadcast signals.
WEDNESDAY
JULY 11, 2007
XM, SIRIUS CITE SUPPORT
FOR MERGER
NAB NOT ALONE IN XM-SIRIUS
OBJECTIONS
ECHOSTAR LINES UP MORE
HD CHANNELS
DIRECTV AGREES TO REFUNDS
IN WEST VIRGINIA
IN WEST VIRGINIA
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
Communications started offering subscribers an interactive polling
and voting application for Bravo’s “Top Chef 3 Miami.”
MONDAY
JULY 9, 2007
ROCKET LIFTS DIRECTV
TOWARD MORE HD
SIDES OFFER INPUT FOR
COPYRIGHT REPORT
FORGENT PRESSES FOR
NEW TRIAL
ECHOSTAR MAINTAINS STANCE
IN TIVO APPEAL
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
New ESPN min-series about Yankees appears to be a home run...Apple
whips up frenzy over iPhone.
FRIDAY
JULY 6, 2007
DIRECTV-10 SET FOR LAUNCH
DBS SERVICES AIR COPYRIGHT
VIEWS
DIRECTV SEEKS DATA PROTECTION
FROM FCC
XM-SIRIUS DEAL SEES
MORE OPPOSITION
DIRECTV PANS REVERSE
BAND PROPOSALS
MONDAY
JULY 2, 2007
DIRECTV PREPS NFL CONSUMER
OFFER
NAB KEEPS POUNDING ON
XM-SIRIUS MERGER
FCC SETTLES INTEGRATED
SECURITY BAN ISSUES
DIRECTV SUES RESTAURANTS
OVER ACCOUNTS
FRIDAY
JUNE 29, 2007
FCC LOOKS INTO SATELLITE
RADIO POLICY
DIRECTV PLANS NO HD
PRICE HIKE
XM-SIRIUS COUNT MORE
SUPPORT
DIRECTV PONDERS ECHOSTAR
COOPERATION
DIRECTV, LIFETIME SETTLE
LEGAL SPAT
LEGAL SPAT
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
Communications started offering the Taiwanese Mega Pak. EchoStar
charges $34.99 per month for the 13-channel service...The Consumer
Electronics Association predicted there will be about 16 million
high-definition sets sold this year, which would bring the total
to about 52.5 million.
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 27, 2007
SIDES WEIGH IN AT TV
VIOLENCE HEARING
DIRECTV CHIDES “TWEENER”
SATELLITE PLANS
MORE MUSIC PUBLISHERS
SUE XM
PROGRAMMERS PAN A LA
CARTE
ECHOSTAR DROPS RETAILER
OVER CALLS
OVER CALLS
NEWS & NOTES: San
Francisco CBS affiliate started using Sling Media’s Slingbox
technology and 28 video cameras to produce live video feeds from
around the city...Installation companies Aerosat USA, Interlink
Communications, and Install Techs joined the Satellite Broadcasting
and Communications Association, the group said.
MONDAY
JUNE 25, 2007
NPS CHIDES BROADCASTERS
OVER DISTANT CASE
XM, SIRIUS HIGHLIGHT
MERGER SUPPORTERS
CABLE KEEPS OPPOSING
A LA CARTE
ECHOSTAR OFFERS HD TO
HOTEL, MDU ACCOUNTS
NEWS & NOTES: TiVo
Chief Financial Officer Steven Sordello resigned to become the
chief financial officer of an unnamed Silicon Valley company…Volkswagen
announced it plans to make Sirius Satellite Radio units standard
equipment on its 2008 My Touareg2, New Beetle, New Beetle Convertible,
GTI, and GLI models. Sirius units are already available on Jetta,
Passat, and EOS models…
FRIDAY
JUNE 22, 2007
LAWMAKERS DROP LOCAL
STATION BILL
HBO, TIME WARNER OPINE
ON PROGRAM ACCESS
CABLEVISION FINALLY
MAKES ROOM FOR VOOM
MORE SIDES WEIGH IN
ON XM-SIRIUS DEAL
COALITION SEEKS BROAD
700 MHZ LICENSES
DIRECTV FILES
LAWSUIT OVER “ACCOUNT STACKING”
LAWSUIT OVER “ACCOUNT STACKING”
NEWS & NOTES: Sling
Media introduced software designed to enable Windows Mobile 6-enabled
cell phones and other mobile devices to view programming through
their Slingboxes remotely...The DirecTv Group has started allowing
customers who live in Los Angeles to buy the analog NBC-owned
station in New York in addition to the L.A. NBC-owned station.
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 20, 2007
FCC SEEKS MORE INFO
ON DIRECTV SALE
LAWMAKERS LINE UP AGAINST
XM-SIRIUS DEAL
INVESTMENT GROUP TOPS
INTELSAT BIDS
AT&T COMPLAINS ABOUT
CABLEVISION CHANNEL ACCESS
NEWS & NOTES: SES
Americom started offering its Internet Protocol multichannel
video service on a wholesale basis to telephone companies yesterday...Sling
Media introduced a line of adapters that enable users to plug
their Slingbox’s into home high-speed Internet connection
using their home powerlines.
MONDAY
JUNE 18, 2007
ECHOSTAR WEIGHS IN FOR
PROGRAM ACCESS
DBS EXECS EYE 700 MHZ
AUCTION RULES
CANADA HANDS OUT SATELLITE
LICENSES
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
NAB shows true colors with complaints about Alaska/Hawaii...People
should stop jumping to conclusions about DirecTv and EchoStar
trying to merge again...Congratulations to Ross Lieberman joining
the ACA.
FRIDAY
JUNE 15, 2007
ECHOSTAR, DIRECTV SIGN
ON WITH CLEARWIRE
XM, SIRIUS CITE SUPPORT
FOR MERGER PLANS
FINISAR WANTS DIRECTV
VERDICT TO STAND
SENATORS SOUND OFF ON
700 MHZ AUCTION
CABLE SLAMS A LA CARTE
LEGISLATION
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
Communications and Liberty Media declined comment on a published
report which claimed they were planning to submit a joint bid
to purchase satellite operator Intelsat. Intelsat also declined
comment…Technical issues at one of its uplinks caused by
inclement weather caused some EchoStar customers in several major
markets in the Eastern half of the country to be unable to view
their local stations for less than an hour Wednesday night...A
U.S. District Court in Kentucky sentenced Michael Hill to five
months in prison and ordered him to pay DirecTv restitution of
$346,104, after he pleaded guilty to working with others to distribute
437 illegally modified conditional access cards that enabled
users to steal DirecTv’s DBS service...EchoStar started
offering the Hebrew-language Global One and the Israeli Movie
Channel.
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 13, 2007
ECHOSTAR PLANS VOOM
MOVE TO MPEG-4
DIRECTV SET TO INCREASE
HBO HD SLATE
ERGEN TRUMPETS ECHOSTAR
HD OVER DIRECTV
SEA LAUNCH COMPLETES
INQUIRY INTO FAILURE
BROADCASTERS CHASTISE
DIRECTV
ON ALASKA-HAWAII
ON ALASKA-HAWAII