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MONDAY
JUNE 29, 2009
DIRECTV READY TO SPRING
FALL NFL OFFER
KENTUCKY COURT STRIKES
DOWN TAX
SEARCH STARTED FOR NEW
DIRECTV PRESIDENT
DIRECTV ADDS LOCAL STATIONS
VIEWTECH PUSHES NEW
CLAIMS AGAINST ECHOSTAR
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Tip-of-the-Dish to Chase Carey...AT&T raises suspicions by
blocking Slingbox use on its network
NEWS & NOTES: The
launch of the Sirius-FM5 satellite for Sirius XM Radio is now
scheduled to take place tomorrow at 3:10 p.m. (EDT), rather than
today at that time, International Launch Services said Saturday.
ILS pushed the launch back one day to fix a stuck fuel fill-and-drain
valve on the rocket. ILS plans to show the launch on Galaxy 28,
C-band transponder 12…The Senate confirmed Larry Stickling
(D) to be the head of the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration.
FRIDAY
JUNE 26, 2009
SUBCOMMITTEE PASSES
BOUCHER BILL
LIBERTY LOOKS FORWARD
TO DIRECTV DEAL
SENATE, OBAMA ACT ON
FCC NOMINATIONS
SIRIUS XM DEAL PAYS
OFF FOR LIBERTY
SIRIUS XM UPS DEBT OFFERING
NEWS & NOTES: Comcast
and Time Warner said they reached an agreement under which Comcast
cable customers could access some TNT and TBS programming for
free on their computers once they are “authenticated”
as customers of the companies.
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 24, 2009
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE SLATES
BILL MARK-UP
TIVO SEEKS ECHOSTAR
INTEREST PAYMENT
FCC GETS MORE VIDEO
COMPETITION INPUT
ILS SETS SIRIUS SATELLITE
LAUNCH
SIRIUS XM MAKES CREDIT
MOVE
SEA LAUNCH FILES FOR
BANKRUPTCY
FRIDAY
JUNE 19, 2009
CHARTER, DIRECTV SETTLE
AD LAWSUIT
SIRIUS XM RINGS UP IPHONE
APP
DIRECTV PICKS UP BUYBACK
SPEED
SENATE COMMERCE APPROVE
FCC NOMINATIONS
COURT CHARTS ECHOSTAR-TIVO
APPEAL SCHEDULE
FCC DROPS NEWS CORP.
RESTRICTIONS
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group said it plans next week to start offering a “mix”
channel with six screens of coverage of the Wimbledon tennis
tournament, as well as various interactive features...A Department
of Agriculture telecommunications program has approved CommScope’s
"Flat Drop" cable designs, and that will allow those
seeking funding from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to include
the use of the "Flat Drop" products in various applications
submitted to the RUS grant and loan programs.
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 17, 2009
HEARING DIVIDES SATELLITE
TV, BROADCASTERS
DBS SERVICES PITCH LOCAL
TV COOPERATION
ECHOSTAR WORKS ON NEXT
TIVO FIX
SATELLITE TV AGREES
NOT TO EXPLOIT LAW
SENATORS EYE GENACHOWSKI,
MCDOWELL OK
FCC DROPS NEWS CORP.
RESTRICTIONS
NEWS & NOTES: Today
marks the 15th anniversary of the launch of high-power DBS service
by DirecTv and USSB…DirecTv said it plans to offer three
channels of additional coverage of all four rounds of the U.S.
Open Championship golf tournament this week.
MONDAY
JUNE 15, 2009
BOUCHER STARTS SATELLITE
TV BILL DRAFTING
FCC, BROADCASTERS PLAY
DOWN DISRUPTION
DIRECTV SWEETENS POT
WITH SHOWTIME OFFER
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Digital television transition notable for how many people no
longer rely on off-air TV...Liberty Chairman John Malone might
want to tell President Greg Maffei to tone down comments.
FRIDAY
JUNE 12, 2009
TIVO PUSHES AGAINST
STAY IN ECHOSTAR CASE
NPS SWITCHES DISTANT
QUALIFICATION COURSE
FINAL EXAM ARRIVES FOR
DIGITAL TV EDUCATION
DISH NETWORK, FISHER
END DISPUTE
TIVO LOOKS FOR MORE
CABLE AGREEMENTS
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 10, 2009
NPS UNIT TO LAUNCH HD
DISTANT NETWORKS
ERGEN PLAYS UP HD OFFERINGS
LIBERTY EYES QUICK REGULATORY
REVIEW
DIRECTV SETS BLIMP FLIGHT
TO AIR TAX PROTEST
FCC GETS BROAD HIGH-SPEED
DATA PLAN INPUT
JUDGE KEEPS CHARTER-DIRECTV
CASE GOING
LIBERTY: SIRIUS XM
CAN RIDE OUT ECONOMIC STORM
CAN RIDE OUT ECONOMIC STORM
NEWS & NOTES: The
Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to hold a confirmation
hearing Tuesday regarding the nominations of Julius Genachowski
(D) to be FCC chairman and FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell (R)
to serve a full term.
MONDAY
JUNE 8, 2009
DIRECTV SEEKS CHARTER
AD CASE DISMISSAL
FINISAR APPEALS ONE
CASE, DROPS ANOTHER
DIGITAL TRANSITION ENTERS
FINAL COUNTDOWN
CABLEVISION CITES ECONOMIC
IMPACT
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Letting decision stand in EchoStar-TiVo cast could unleash a
TiVo monopoly.
FRIDAY
JUNE 5, 2009
ECHOSTAR WINS TEMPORARY
STAY IN TIVO CASE
CAREY MAKES DIRECTV
DEPARTURE OFFICIAL
FCC PREPS FINAL DIGITAL
TV CONVERSION PUSH
SIA REPORT CHARTS SATELLITE
REVENUE GROWTH
NEWS & NOTES: The
Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association said it
is offering online certification courses for MDU/SMATV installations…In
response to inquires regarding the 80-channel package featuring
the telecasts that race tracks offer to gambling establishments
around the nation that it plans to launch in September, Dish
Network said yesterday it did not know or would not say what
satellite or spectrum the new service will use.
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 3, 2009
JUDGE POUNDS ECHOSTAR
IN TIVO RULING
TIVO RELISHES ORDER;
ECHOSTAR EYES STAY
CAREY PLAYS UP DIRECTV
PERFORMANCE
JUDGE NIXES VIEWTECH
COUNTERCLAIMS
SIRIUS XM GET MORE TIME
FOR CHANNEL SET ASIDE
NEWS & NOTES: President
Obama yesterday announced he intends to nominate FCC Commissioner
Robert McDowell (R) to serve a new five-year term...EchoStar
announced a plan to try to expand its reach to Asia by entering
into a partnership agreement with AsiaSat to offer a high-power
DBS service to Taiwan and other parts of Asia...DirecTv extended
its agreement under which Convergys provides various customer
service and billing services for DirecTv...Dish Network reached
a deal to continue distributing stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast
Group.
MONDAY
JUNE 1, 2009
DELAWARE COURT PUNTS
TIVO CASE TO TEXAS
DIRECTV SETS UP RECORDER
BONUS PROGRAM
JUDGE PONDERS FINISAR-XM
CASE FUTURE
CABLE EXPECTS SLUGGISH
SECOND QUARTER
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Becoming truly independent will be a major, long-awaited change
for DirecTv.
FRIDAY
MAY 29, 2009
TIVO SEES MORE SUB DROP
SLOWDOWN
CAREY SEES VALUE IN
DIRECTV SUB ADDS
ROGERS QUESTIONS ERGEN’S
STRATEGY
VERIZON, NCTA SPAR OVER
PROGRAM ACCESS
LIBERTY STILL LIKES
SIRIUS XM INVESTMENT
NEWS & NOTES: AT&T
and RaySat said they plan Monday to start offering a satellite
TV service for larger cars, recreational vehicles, and semi-trucks
that is slated to include 22 video and 20 music channels. Hardware
and programming prices were not immediately available.
WEDNESDAY
MAY 27, 2009
DISH NETWORK URGES CALL
CASE DISMISSAL
APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS
MDU EXCLUSIVITY BAN
SIRIUS XM SHUTS DOOR
ON SHAREHOLDER EVENT
ECHOSTAR SIGNS IPTV
CLIENT
DIRECTV DOWNPLAYS FEE
LAWSUIT
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group reached an agreement to continue carrying television
stations owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group.
FRIDAY
MAY 22, 2009
DIRECTV PRESSES FOR
COMPETITIVE CHANGES
JUDGE SIDES WITH DIRECTV
ON FINISAR CLAIMS
BROADCASTERS START DIGITAL
STRETCH RUN
COPPS PLAYS UP NATIONAL
BROADBAND PLAN
DISH NETWORK ADDS FUEL
TV TO LINE-UP
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group said it plans to again offer an interactive “mix”
channel showing six screens of coverage of the French Open between
Sunday and May 31…EDITOR’S NOTE: In observance of the
Memorial Day holiday, the next issue of the FaxUPDATE will be
distributed Wednesday
WEDNESDAY
MAY 20, 2009
DIRECTV LEADS SATISFACTION
SURVEY PACK
DEAL ENDS NFL NETWORK-COMCAST
FEUD
LIBERTY SEES POSSIBLE
SIRIUS XM OPTIONS
FCC GETS MORE PARENTAL
CONTROL INPUT
NEWS & NOTES: Former
Dish Network and EchoStar Vice Chairman Carl Vogel was named
a partner at sports and entertainment company SCP Worldwide…The
DirecTv Group reached an agreement to move the ESPNU channel
from the Premier package to the Choice package…After holding
a hearing yesterday on his and other nominations yesterday, the
Senate Energy and Commerce Committee said yesterday it plans
to hold a mark-up session today that will include a vote on whether
to confirm President Obama’s choice of former FCC official
Larry Stickling to be the next head of the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration.
MONDAY
MAY 18, 2009
DIRECTV MOVES TO ABIDE
BY CHARTER ORDER
NEVADA POSES NEXT DBS
TAX THREAT
FCC STARTS SATELLITE
COMPETITION INQUIRY
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Dish Network takes interesting, and risky, tack by planning to
take on DirecTv in ads...AT&T's move to block Sling app for
iPhones is about competition, not technical or capacity issues.
FRIDAY
MAY 15, 2009
ORDER PUSHES DIRECTV
TO ALTER CHARTER ADS
KARMAZIN GIVES UP SIRIUS
XM OPTIONS
DISH NETWORK ADDS TO
HAWAII, ALASKA SLATES
DISH NETWORK PLACES
BET ON RACETRACKS
DIRECTV-LIBERTY DEAL
FACES LAWSUIT
FCC PREPS FINAL PUSH
ON
TRANSITION
TRANSITION
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar’s
Sling Media unit started selling an application that enables
users of Apples iPhone and iPod Touch units to access programming
through Slingboxes…Intelsat reported revenues of $631.8
million during the first quarter of this year and a net loss
of $557.6 million during the period.
WEDNESDAY
MAY 13, 2009
DISH NETWORK MAKES MOST
OF SUB LOSSES
CHARTER SUES DIRECTV
OVER AD CAMPAIGN
ERGEN PREDICTS VICTORY
OVER TIVO
ERGEN PRAISES ECHOSTAR
PROGRESS
DISH NETWORK SEES STEPS
TOWARD REBOUND
DISH NETWORK DEALS WITH
AT&T DEPARTURE
NEWS & NOTES: Sirius
XM Radio plans to offer a free preview to XM subscribers next
week of the two Howard Stern channels that are currently available
only to Sirius subscribers, or XM subscribers who pay for the
“Best of Sirius” package
MONDAY
MAY 11, 2009
DISH NETWORK TO TARGET
DIRECTV IN ADS
LIBERTY PLAYS UP DIRECTV,
SIRIUS XM MOVES
DBS BEATS BACK TEXAS
TAX HIKE
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network and EchoStar plan to announce their first quarter results
this morning, and it is widely expected Dish Network will report
a significant net subscriber loss. Both companies also plan to
hold their annual shareholder meetings today in Denver...The
DirecTv Group started offering locals stations in high-definition
format in the Bozeman-Butte, Mont., and Lafayette, Ind., markets.
FRIDAY
MAY 8, 2009
DIRECTV SPENDS WAY TO
HUGE SUB ADDS
AUTO WOES STING SIRIUS
XM SUB TALLY
SIRIUS XM PLAYS DOWN
DIRECTV TIE-IN
CABLEVISION, CHARTER
SEE SUB DROPS
REHR SIGNS OFF AS NAB
CHIEF
COMMITTEE DELAYS GENACHOWSKI
HEARING
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network’s annual retailer event, using the theme “Rock
Solid,” got underway yesterday, according to those in attendance...Dish
Network has started telling customers that if they have not done
so already, they must switch to new conditional access cards
by Tuesday, at which point it plans to start turing off the authorization
streams for some well-known channels in favor of the new cards...Hughes
Communications reported its HughesNet two-way satellite-delivered
Internet service added 22,000 net new subscribers in the first
quarter.
WEDNESDAY
MAY 6, 2009
LIBERTY, DIRECTV STAKE
OUT COMBINATION
TAXES WOULD IMPACT FUTURE
DIRECTV DEALS
AT&T SEEKS ACCESS
RECONSIDERATION
NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv
said it extended its distribution deals for Liberty’s Starz
Entertainment and QVC…DirecTv awarded DirectPlus its multiple-dwelling
unit dealer of the year award.
MONDAY
MAY 4, 2009
DBS SERVICES TRY TO
BLOCK VERMONT TAX
BELL TV EYES FREE SATELLITE
TV IN CANADA
MINNESOTA TRIES TO FLUSH
OUT GAMBLING
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Cablevision runs more misleading ads...Flu story keeps scaremongering
news channels in business.
FRIDAY
MAY 1, 2009
SIRIUS XM EYES ‘POISON
PILL’ PROTECTION
ECHOSTAR KEEPS NDS ATTORNEY
FEE SPAT GOING
COMCAST, NFL AGREE TO
KEEP TALKING
SMALL CABLE PUSHES IN-STATE/DISTANT
RULE
TIME WARNER GAINS, COMCAST
LOSES BASIC SUBS
BARTON, STEARNS PROPOSE
FCC REFORMS
OBAMA GIVES CLYBURN
NOD FOR FCC
NEWS & NOTES: Qwest
reported it added a net total of 34,000 new DirecTv subscribers
during the first quarter of this year. The company had a total
of 832,000 video customers at the end of the quarter…KVH
reduced the retail prices for its mobile satellite TV reception
equipment by $300 to $600. The systems, which can be used to
receive DirecTv, EchoStar, or Bell TV services, now range in
price from $999 to $2,299…DirecTv started offering local
stations in high-definition in Harrisonburg, Va.
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 29, 2009
DISH NETWORK SHUFFLES
EXECUTIVE RANKS
SATELLITE TV KEEPS PUSHING
ON CAPITOL HILL
SIRIUS XM EYES PUERTO
RICO SERVICE
FISHER AGAIN BLAMES
ERGEN FOR DISPUTE
NEW & NOTES: NDS
Group reached an agreement to license electronic programming
guide patents from Macrovision Solutions, the companies said.
MONDAY
APRIL 27, 2009
LIBERTY MEDIA SETS SPLIT-OFF
VOTE
DIRECTV LIGHTS UP INTERACTIVE
SCOREBOARD
DIRECTV RAISES BAR ON
INCENTIVES
MORE CITIES GETTING
DIRECTV LOCAL HD
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Issues retailers raised at DirecTv event have been hovering around
the industry since the beginning.
FRIDAY
APRIL 24, 2009
EARLY DIRECTV RESULTS
PLEASE AT&T
LIBERTY ADDS TWO TO
SIRIUS XM BOARD
NFL NETWORK-COMCAST
WAIT FOR RULING
DIRECTV DETAILS SUCCESS,
CHALLENGES
DISH NETWORK OFFERS
WORLD VIEW
JUDGES DELAYS NDS-ECHOSTAR
FEE ORDER
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 22, 2009
DIRECTV TWEAKS DISH
AT RETAILER EVENT
DBS SERVICES PUSH IN-STATE/DISTANT
STATIONS
ECHOSTAR, TIVO SPAR
OVER CASE RELOCATION
DIRECTV TELLS RETAILERS
TO SKIP TWITTER
NAB CHIEF TOUTS TRANSITION
EFFORTS
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network reached an agreement with Ion Media Networks to extend
distribution of Ion Television to Dish Network’s most widely
distributed programming package, Classic Bronze 100...ReelzChannel
is slated to open its new headquarters Thursday in Albuquerque,
N.M.
MONDAY
APRIL 20, 2009
DIRECTV RETAILERS DESCEND
ON DALLAS
SIDES GIVE V-CHIP MIXED
RATINGS
DIRECTV ADDS TO ASIAN
SLATE
NEWS & NOTES: The
Senate Commerce Committee postponed a hearing regarding reforming
the FCC that had been scheduled to take place Wednesday. No new
date for the hearing date had been set at press time.
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Lack of baseball for Sirius subscribers illustrates what a failure
the Sirius-XM merger is...Comcast and The NFL Network should
stop whining at each other.
FRIDAY
APRIL 17, 2009
DIRECTV RESOLVES DO-NOT-CALL
LAWSUIT
AFFILIATES, DBS SERVICES
SPAR OVER BILL
NBA, DIRECTV NET NEW
DEAL
DISH NETWORK ADDS INTERNATIONAL
FARE
DIRECTV RAISES LOCAL
HD MARKET TOTAL
NEWS & NOTES: A
FCC administrative law judge is slated to complete a hearing
today in The NFL Network’s program carriage complaint against
Comcast...The Senate Commerce Committee plans to hold a hearing
Wednesday to discuss possible reform of the FCC. At press time,
the committee had not released a witness list.
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 15, 2009
DIRECTV DEALS RETAILERS
IN ON MAIL OFFER
GOVERNMENT GETS BROAD
BROADBAND INPUT
OBAMA MOVE OPENS SATELLITE
PATH TO CUBA
DIRECTV DROPS PORTABLE
UNIT PRICES
MORE STATIONS READY
FOR DIGITAL SWITCH
SIRIUS XM WEIGHS IN
ON SET-ASIDE PLAN
COMCAST, NFL TAKE DISPUTE
TO FCC JUDGE
NEW & NOTES: Liberty
Media’s Liberty Sports Group signed an agreement to use
satellite capacity on Intelsat’s Galaxy-17 satellite to
transmit its FSN Northwest, FSN Pittsburgh, and FSN Rocky Mountain
channels to cable head-ends…The Satellite Broadcasting and
Communications Association said yesterday it introduced a program
to offer group health benefits to its members.
MONDAY
APRIL 13, 2009
DISH NETWORK, NFL NETWORK
STRIKE DEAL
DISH NETWORK ADDS VIACOM
CHANNELS IN HD
LAWMAKERS SEEK CONVERTER
BOX INFO
FRIDAY
APRIL 10, 2009
FCC ADDS TO COMPETITION
DATA COLLECTION
FCC APPROVES LIBERTY
SPIN PLAN
FCC STARTS WORK ON BROADBAND
PLAN
DIRECTV ADDS ASIAN PROGRAMMING
DIRECTV ADDS TO LOCAL
HD SLATE
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 8, 2009
DELAWARE COURT PUNTS
ON ECHOSTAR-TIVO
DISH NETWORK WANTS DO-NOT-CALL
CASE TIME
DIRECTV ADDS HD OPTIONS
ECHOSTAR SEEKS 61.5-DEGREE
CHANNELS
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group said its digital video recorder scheduler application
for Apple’s IPhones and IPod Touches. The application enables
users to schedule their digital video recorders remotely, as
well as view programming guides…Comcast Executive Vice President
David Cohen wrote an editorial that ran in the Philadelphia Inquirer
yesterday reiterating Comcast’s position that it should
be allowed to continue offering The NFL Network as part of a
sports programming tier.
MONDAY
APRIL 6, 2009
CABLE SHOW BEATS LOWERED
EXPECTATIONS
SIRIUS SUBS STILL SHUT
OUT OF BASEBALL
COMMISSIONERS SHOW NO
LOVE FOR MARTIN
A LA CARTE PUSH SUBSIDES
FCC, NTIA KEEP WARY
EYE ON TRANSITION
BROADBAND PLAN STIMULATES
MORE DEBATE
MORE DEBATE
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Cable deserves some credit for convention...Internet, mobile
TV become companies' latest obsessions.
FRIDAY
APRIL 3, 2009
CABLE INDUSTRY KEEPS
CHIN UP IN RECESSION
SATELLITE TV BILL TALK
STARTING TO HEAT UP
LEGISLATION, REGULATION
TAKE STAGE AT SHOW
NCTA PRESSES DEREGULATORY
APPROACH
DISH NETWORK SIGNS UNIVISION
AGREEMENT
NEWS & NOTES: Comcast
and The NFL Network acknowledged this week that Comcast could
stop distributing the channel entirely at the end of this month.
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 1, 2009
CABLE TAKES CONVENTION
TO D.C.
AFFILIATES OPPOSE IN-STATE
STATION IDEA
VOGEL REDUCES ECHOSTAR-DISH
NETWORK ROLE
KERRY OUTLINES SUBCOMMITTEE
AGENDA
ECHOSTAR TAKES WRAPS
OFF CABLE SLINGBOX
FCC GETS INPUT ON SATELLITE
RADIO SET ASIDE
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network and Spanish-language programmer Univision are coming
down the wire on a distribution and retransmission consent agreement,
several sources said...The DirecTv Group is offering a version
of its remote digital video recorder scheduler application for
IPhone and IPod Touch users...Dish Network and EchoStar plan
to hold its annual shareholders meetings May 11.
MONDAY
MARCH 30, 2009
FCC ENLISTS AMERICORPS
FOR TRANSITION HELP
WILDBLUE EYES CAPACITY
FOR SUB EXPANSION
DIRECTV READIES AD CAMPAIGN
CHARTER FILES FOR CHAPTER
11
OBAMA TAPS STRICKLING
FOR NTIA CHIEF
FOR NTIA CHIEF
JUDGE HOLDS DOWN ECHOSTAR
FEES
HOUSE SLATES RURAL BROADBAND
HEARING
FRIDAY
MARCH 27, 2009
DISH NETWORK DISPUTES
DO NOT CALL LAWSUIT
DIGITAL TRANSITION DRAWS
VARIED REACTIONS
SENATE PUTS PROGRAM
ACCESS ON AGENDA
SATELLITE MAKES PLAY
FOR RURAL BROADBAND
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network added Fargo-Valley City, N.D.; Odessa-Midland, Texas;
Palm Springs, Calif.; and Terre Haute, Ind., to the list of markets
where it offers local stations in high-definition format...DirecTv
Group President Chase Carey entered into a plan to exercise up
to 764,296 options to purchase DirecTv stock and to sell the
shares “assuming certain price targets are met,” according
to a filing DirecTv submitted to the Securities and Exchange
Commission…DirecTv told retailers it has started offering
new customers three free months of Showtime.
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 25, 2009
DIRECTV KEEPS NFL SUNDAY
TICKET EXCLUSIVE
NTIA BEGINS RENEWING
EXPIRED COUPONS
CABLE BRISTLES AT DIRECTV-NFL
DEAL
NEWS & NOTES: The
Senate last night confirmed former Washington Gov. Gary Locke
(D) to be Secretary of Commerce. As reported, the Senate Commerce
Committee approved President Obama’s nomination of Locke
last week…Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps (D) is among
eight witnesses scheduled to testify at a House Communications,
Technology, and the Internet Subcommittee hearing Thursday.
MONDAY
MARCH 23, 2009
ADELSTEIN GETS OBAMA
NOD TO MOVE TO RUS
SIRIUS XM, WCS SPAR
OVER RULES
DBS SERVICES FRET OVER
WHITE SPACE RULES
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Comcast's latest goofy ad...Ergen will not sell and will not
change...NFL looks for legal resolutions for channel...CBS online
coverage of NCAA games has some issues.
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group said yesterday it experienced a “hardware
problem” at one of its uplink centers that caused a “relatively
small number of subscribers” to lose programming guide data
Saturday.
FRIDAY
MARCH 20, 2009
SATELLITE INDUSTRY EYES
BROADBAND SUBSIDY
JUDGE PUTS BRAKES ON
NDS-ECHOSTAR FEES
HOUSE COMMITTEE PLANS
DIGITAL TV HEARING
SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES
COMMERCE PICK
OBAMA COUNTS ON DIRECTV
FOR NCAA TOURNEY
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network said it is in the process of hiring 325 Denver-based
employees.
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 18, 2009
FISHER RADIO ADS BLAME
ERGEN FOR IMPASSE
MOST STATIONS PLAN TO
WAIT TO DROP ANALOG
DISH NETWORK, FANDANGO
EYE TICKET SALES
CHARTER SEES BASIC SUB
DROP
CABLE BALKS
AT MORE REPORTING RULES
AT MORE REPORTING RULES
NEWS & NOTES: Loral
Space and Communications reported revenues of $466.7 million
for the fourth quarter of last year, and $1.57 billion for the
full year...Satellite and cable stocks largely followed the broader
market higher yesterday.
MONDAY
MARCH 16, 2009
FCC LAYS OUT MORE TRANSITION
GROUND RULES
NAB HEAD: BROADCASTERS
DEAL WITH NEW DATE
DIRECTV ADDS MORE INTERNATIONAL
CHANNELS
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
CNBC and Jim Cramer deserved Jon Stewart's skewering...Karmazin
misplaces blame on media for Sirius XM's subscriber numbers...Liberty
gaining complete control of Sirius XM would be the best hope
for Sirius XM
NEWS & NOTES: Kansas
basketball coach Bill Self appeared on TV last night to promote
DirecTv’s out-of-market package for the NCAA tournament,
which begins Thursday...Telesat reported revenues of $207 million
(Canadian) during the fourth quarter of last year. But the company
said it recorded a net loss of $671 million during the period,
which the company blamed on a $483 million write-down of “intangible
assets,” as well as losses related to “foreign exchange
fluctuations.”
FRIDAY
MARCH 13, 2009
KARMAZIN FOCUSES ON
SAVINGS, NOT SUBS
SIRIUS XM SEES RELIEF
AFTER LIBERTY LOAN
NEW YORK DROPS TV TAX
PLAN
SIRIUS XM EYES DIRECTV
SUBS, IPHONE USERS
JUDGE SETS TIMELINE
FOR TIVO-ECHOSTAR CASE
NEWS & NOTES: ReelzChannel
said it plans tonight to launch a new feature called “ReelzChannel
Friday Night Movie,” in which it will show a movie each
Friday at 9 p.m. EST…The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications
Association formed the Satellite Industry Leadership Council
to make recommendations to the board of directors about satellite
industry issues.
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 11, 2009
SIRIUS XM SEES STEEP
NET SUB ADDITION DROP
FCC LEAVES ‘TERRESTRIAL
LOOPHOLE’ OPEN
ERGEN CHIDES BROADCASTERS
ON LEGISLATION
DISH NETWORK STARTS
ADDING TO HD LINE-UP
DISH NETWORK DISCUSSES
CHANNEL ISSUES
CHANNEL ISSUES
MONDAY
MARCH 9, 2009
LIBERTY FINISHES NEXT
SIRIUS XM DEAL PHASE
DIRECTV TIES BONUSES
TO CUSTOMER CALLS
JUDGE SETS FISHER-DISH
NETWORK COURT DATE
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Circuit City failure was not hard to see coming...Cirucit City
played ealry role in satellite TV rollout, local-into-local fight.
FRIDAY
MARCH 6, 2009
FCC GETS RUNDOWN ON
TRANSITION LESSONS
NTIA READY TO TURN FUNDS
INTO COUPONS
DISH NETWORK EXILES
MORE RETAILERS
DISH NETWORK ADDS MORE
LOCAL HD
DIRECTV TOUTS MARCH
MADNESS PACKAGE
COMCAST, TIME WARNER
SEE SLOWDOWNS
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 4, 2009
DISH NETWORK WORKS ON
TURNAROUND
GENACHOWSKI GETS OBAMA
NOD FOR FCC
DISH NETWORK SAW RADIO
OPPORTUNITY
ERGEN PONDERS POSSIBILITIES
With TIVO
WRITE-DOWNS HIT ECHOSTAR
BOTTOM LINE
TIVO PLAYS UP YEAR-END
PROFIT AS SUBS DROP
NEWS & NOTES: The
American Cable Association named long-time cable trade press
reporter Ted Hearn to the new position of vice president of communications.
MONDAY
MARCH 2, 2009
FCC EYES SIRIUS XM PUBLIC
INTEREST RULES
ESHOO PRESSES PBS MULTICAST
MUST-CARRY
DIRECTV ADDS SPRING
RETAILER INCENTIVES
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Broadcasters refuse to let go of outdated arguments...Satellite
TV industry needs to stand up to Stupak on local stations issue.
NEWS & NOTES: OpenTV
said its board of directors is considering conditional access
company Kudelski’s offer to pay $127 million to obtain the
shares of Open TV it does not already own…The National Cable
and Telecommunications Association announced Senior Vice President
for Law and Public Policy Dan Brenner left the organization to
become a partner at the law firm of Hogan and Hartson…Dish
Network and EchoStar are scheduled to release their fourth quarter
and 2008 year-end results today. TiVo is also slated to announce
its results today.
FRIDAY
FEB. 27, 2009
SATELLITE, BROADCAST
DIFFERENCES ABOUND
LAWMAKERS EYE NEXT LEGISLATIVE
STEPS
LIBERTY SEES NO SIRIUS
XM-DIRECTV COMBO
LIBERTY PLAYS UP DIRECTV-TELCO
PARTNERSHIPS
DIRECTV FILES ARIZONA
CABLE LAWSUIT
NEWS & NOTES: Cablevision
said it lost a net total of 3,800 basic cable subscribers during
the fourth quarter of last year…Hughes Communications said
it finished 2008 with 433,000 subscribers to its HughesNet two-way
satellite-delivered Internet service...The DirecTv Group said
James Cronelius resigned from its board of directors.
WEDNESDAY
FEB. 25, 2009
SATELLITE, BROADCASTERS
CLASH AT HEARING
LAWMAKERS PUSH SMALL,
MAJOR CHANGES
NPS LAUNCHES WEB SITE
FOR DISTANT IDEAS
NEWS & NOTES: News
Corp. announced President and Chief Operating Officer Peter Chernin,
who has been with the company for 20 years, plans to resign,
effective June 30.
MONDAY
FEB. 23, 2009
HEARINGS START NEXT
DISTANT DEBATE
ADELSTEIN OPTIMISTIC
AFTER EARLY SWITCH
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Karmazin missteps put Sirius XM in a pecarious state...Justice
Department could have something to say aout Sirius XM-Liberty
deal...Sirius XM used leaks to the consumer press... Hard to
say Ergen lost even though he did not end up with a deal...Sirius
XM future still up in the air
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group told retailers that starting March 5 they will
be allowed to sell a DirecTV-branded version of WildBlue’s
two-way, satellite-delivered Internet service to both new and
existing customers…Local media reports said police in Webb
City, Mo., arrested a man following a two-hour standoff after
he allegedly shot his television because he was unhappy about
his cable TV service being turned off and not being able to receive
digital off-air broadcast signals on his analog television.
FRIDAY
FEB. 20, 2009
TIVO, ECHOSTAR GET IN
CLOSING PUNCHES
FCC, NAB ENCOURAGED
BY EARLY SHUTOFFS
SIRIUS GETS OK TO ISSUE
STOCK TO LIBERTY
COMCAST
SEES BIG
BASIC SUB LOSS
SEES BIG
BASIC SUB LOSS
DISH NETWORK BEAMS IN
MORE LOCAL HD STATIONS
NEWS & NOTES: CBS
Broadcasting reached a new retransmission consent agreement for
its owned-and-operated stations to continue to be distributed
by Dish Network’s DBS service.
WEDNESDAY
FEB. 18, 2009
LIBERTY LOAN KEEPS SIRIUS
XM ABOVE WATER
TIVO, ECHOSTAR LAWYERS
SQUARE OFF
ECHOSTAR MAY STILL PROFIT
FROM SIRIUS XM
BAILOUT BUMPS UP SIRIUS
XM SHARES
DBS SERVICES DOWNPLAY
TRANSITION
TRANSITION
NEWS & NOTES: The
House and Senate Judiciary Committees, as well as the House Energy
and Commerce Committee are planning to hold hearings next week
regarding the Satellite Home Viewer Enhancement and Reauthorization
Act...A court-mandated settlement conference last week between
Gol TV and EchoStar failed to result in an agreement to end Gol
TV’s lawsuit against EchoStar.
TUESDAY
FEB. 16, 2009
LIBERTY LOAN RESCUES
SIRIUS XM
FRIDAY
FEB. 13, 2009
COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE
FOR SIRIUS XM
BOUCHER SEEKS MORE LOCAL-INTO-LOCAL
OBAMA MAKES DIGITAL
DELAY OFFICIAL
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar
and Bell TV, formerly Bell ExpressVu, signed a new agreement
under which EchoStar will remain the exclusive reception equipment
supplier for the Canadian DBS service through Dec. 31, 2011...The
DirecTv Group reached a new retransmission agreement with Salt
Lake City station KJZZ, which shows Utah Jazz games…Time
Warner and Time Warner Cable said they plan to complete their
plan to split into separate companies by the end of the quarter…Charter
Communications reached an agreement with some of its debt holders
to reduce its debt commitments by $8 billion, as part of a plan
to restructure through chapter 11 bankruptcy…SES New Skies’
NSS-9 C-band satellite was successfully launched yesterday.
WEDNESDAY
FEB. 11, 2009
SIRIUS XM EYES BANKRUPTCY;
ECHO TALKS COOL
DIRECTV POSTS BIG FOURTH
QUARTER SUB ADDS
STUPAK URGES MANDATORY
LOCAL-INTO-LOCAL
DIRECTV FOCUSES ON WIRELESS,
AT&T DEALS
DIRECTV STAYS BUOYANT
IN CHOPPY WATERS
FCC: 500 STATIONS PLAN
EARLY DIGITAL SWITCH
DISH NETWORK DROPS MORE
RETAILERS
MONDAY
FEB. 9, 2009
DIGITAL DELAY BILL AWAITS
OBAMA SIGNATURE
JUDGE PUSHES GOL TV-ECHOSTAR
SETTLEMENT
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Sirius XM gamble nothing new for Ergen...Even with digital TV
delay, government still needs a better plan
NEWS & NOTES: The
Ciel-2 high-power DBS satellite Dish Network has contracted to
use is now operational at the 129-degree orbital slot…The
DirecTv Group is scheduled to release its fourth quarter 2008
financial results tomorrow afternoon.
FRIDAY
FEB. 6, 2009
CONGRESS TRANSITIONS
TO NEW DIGITAL DATE
DBS SERVICES STATE DIGITAL
TV READINESS
FCC EXAMINES DIGITAL
DELAY IMPLICATIONS
DISH NETWORK SLATES
MORE LOCAL HD
NEWS CORP. COMPLETES
NDS PRIVATIZATION
WEDNESDAY
FEB. 4, 2009
HOUSE SET TO VOTE ON
DIGITAL TV DELAY BILL
DISH NETWORK INKS DEALS
WITH FOX
MCDOWELL HEAPS PRAISE
ON COPPS
SATELLITE TAKES STAND
AGAINST NEW YORK TAX
DISH NETWORK IN SMITHSONIAN
SPAT
MONDAY
FEB. 2, 2009
OBAMA WAITING TO SIGN
DIGITAL DELAY BILL
DIRECTV PREPARES TO
SPRING NEW OFFER
AT&T STARTS DIRECTV
DISTRIBUTION
COURT DISMISSES APPEALS
OF SIRIUS XM OK
COPPS OFFERS GLOOMY
VISION
OF TRANSITION
OF TRANSITION
NEWS & NOTES: Some
7,000 people attended DirecTv's annual "Celebrity Beach
Bowl" football game in Tampa on Saturday.
FRIDAY
JAN. 30, 2009
SENATE GIVES HOUSE NEW
SHOT AT DELAY BILL
DIRECTV SLATES PRICE
INCREASES
AT&T POSTS DISH
NETWORK SUBSCRIBER ADDS
DIRECTV,
DISH NETWORK ADD LOCAL HD
DISH NETWORK ADD LOCAL HD
NDS GETS ATTORNEY FEE
APPEAL SCHEDULE
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network plans on Saturday to start allowing existing customers
to subscribe to its “Turbo HD” packages of high-definition-only
programming packages. Those packages have only been available
to new subscribers since Dish Network launched them in August
WEDNESDAY
JAN. 28, 2009
DIGITAL DELAY BILL MOVES
CLOSER TO REALITY
FCC SENDS NFL COMPLAINT
BACK TO JUDGE
COPPS VOWS MORE COMMUNICATION
FOR FCC
DISH NETWORK DISPUTES
FISHER LAWSUIT
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network reached an agreement under which Comcast Spotlight will
sell advertising time for Dish Network on 10 regional sports
networks in seven markets...Verizon said it added 303,000 net
new customers to its fiber-delivered video service in the fourth
quarter of last year, pushing its total to 1.9 million subscribers.
MONDAY
JAN. 26, 2009
DIGITAL TV DELAY DEBATE
COMING TO HEAD
COPPS GETS EARFUL ON
CARRIAGE COMPLAINTS
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Split court decision leaves questions hanging over NFL Network...Martin
leaves on a typically low note...Not everyone could have an exclusive
with President Obama...MLB Network hits, NFL Network misses,
on old game presentations.
FRIDAY
JAN. 23, 2009
ROCKEFELLER MAKES DIGITAL
DELAY BILL DEAL
SIRIUS XM PLANS ADDITIONAL
RADIO PRICE HIKE
OBAMA NAMES COPPS ACTING
FCC CHAIRMAN
BARTON KEEPS PUSHING
AGAINST DELAY
NEWS & NOTES: Viacom
confirmed it had reached a new wholesale distribution agreement
with Dish Network, but declined to provide details. Dish Network
declined comment.
WEDNESDAY
JAN. 21, 2009
HOUSE COMMITTEE SETS
DELAY MARK-UP
DBS SERVICES OFFER INAUGURATION
COVERAGE
FCC FINALLY RELEASES
COMPETITION REPORT
FCC AWAITS NEW CHAIRMAN
FCC SETS CARRIAGE DISPUTE
SCHEDULE
NEWS & NOTES: The
bankrupt Circuit City announced it plans to shut down the company
after it was unable to find a buyer by last Friday. The company
employs 30,000 people and operates 567 stores in the United States
and 765 internationally.
FRIDAY
JAN. 16, 2009
ROCKEFELLER INTRODUCES
DIGITAL DELAY BILL
MARTIN SLATES FCC EXIT
VIDEOCIPHER PASSES QUIETLY
INTO OBLIVION
NFL NETWORK OFFERS CONFLICTING
OPINION
DIRECTV EYES NEXT STOCK
BUYBACK
JUDGE DELAYS COMPLAINT
HEARING
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network started making at least one local station available in
high-definition in Wilkes Barre, Penn.; Abiline, Texas; Joplin,
Mo.; Springfield, Mo.; Wichita Falls, Texas; Little Rock, Ark.,
and Louisville...Sirius XM Radio said it issued 100 million shares
of its common stock to pay for $13 million principal amount of
its 2.5 percent convertible notes due this year. Sirius XM still
has $174 million of those notes outstanding…DirecTv said
it plans to offer a mix channel Tuesday that will show coverage
of Barack Obama’s inauguration from eight channels on a
single screen…DirecTv plans to offer a six-screen mix channel
devoted to coverage of the Australian Open tennis tournament,
starting Sunday...PRODUCTION NOTICE: In observance of the Martin
Luther King, Jr. holiday, and barring major breaking news, the
next issue of the FaxUPDATE will be distributed Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY
JAN. 14, 2009
ECHOSTAR SITES WIN IN
NFL NETWORK CASE
ECHOSTAR, TIVO SPAR
OVER PATENT ORDER
OBAMA FCC CHAIRMAN PICK
GETS PRAISE
MARTIN SEES EVEN CHANCE
ON DIGITAL DELAY
DIRECTV EYES NEXT STOCK
BUYBACK
JUDGE DELAYS COMPLAINT
HEARING
NEWS & NOTES: Several
Sling Media executives have left the company, including founder
Blake Krikorian. Sling Media is owned by EchoStar, which bought
the company in 2007.
MONDAY
JAN. 12, 2009
MARTIN AGAINST DIGITAL
TV DELAY
DISH NETWORK, SLING
GET NOTICE AT QUIET CES
MARTIN REFLECTS ON FCC
TENURE
MARTIN DEFENDS XM-SIRIUS
APPROVAL
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Delay the digital TV transition and set up "Digital TV AmeriCorps...Powell
and Kennard must have enjoyed taking dig at Martin in op-ed...CEA
unwise to oppose Obama on digital TV delay
FRIDAY
JAN. 9, 2009
DISH NETWORK MAKES SLING
THE THING AT CES
CAUTIOUS ATTENDEES KICK
OFF CES
SIRIUS XM READIES ‘INTEROPERABLE’
RADIO
OBAMA ASKS FOR DIGITAL
TRANSITION DELAY
CAREY: DIRECTV STANDING
UP TO PRESSURE
MARKEY, BOUCHER SWAP
SUBCOMMITTEES
ERGEN FORESEES ‘TECHNICAL’
COPYRIGHT BILL
DIRECTV IN CHANNEL SPAT
WITH COMCAST
NEWS & NOTES: The
NBC-affiliate in the Fargo, N.D., market stopped being available
to DirecTv customers last night after the station could not reach
a retransmission consent agreement with DirecTv. Meanwhile, after
a week-long dispute that took it off Dish Network’s DBS
service, Topeka, Kan., CBC affiliate KTKA reached a new retransmission
consent agreement with the DBS service...DirecTv started offering
local stations in high-definition format in the Greenville-New
Bern, N.C., market…The ReelzChannel plans to move its corporate
headquarters to Albuquerque, N.M…The T. Howard Foundation
named board members.
WEDNESDAY
JAN. 7, 2009
NDS APPEALS ECHOSTAR
ATTORNEY FEE RULING
FCC JUDGE HOLDS TO COMPLAINT
DEADLINE
NTIA STARTS CONVERTER
SUBSIDY WAITING LIST
AUDIOVOX LINES UP SIRIUS
AFTERMARKET DEAL
DISH NETWORK DROPS MORE
RETAILERS
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar’s
Sling Media unit said it is demonstrating a version of its SlingPlayer
Mobile software at this week’s Macworld convention that
enables IPhone users to access their Slingboxes...CSG Systems
and Dish Network signed a one-year extension of their agreement
under which CSG will continue to provide customer and billing
services to the DBS service…Arianespace signed a contract
to perform as many as five satellite launches for Intelsat through
2015.
MONDAY
JAN. 5, 2009
DBS SERVICES SEE SCATTERED
RETRANS FIGHTS
VIACOM, TIME WARNER
REACH CARRIAGE DEAL
COMCAST FIGHTS FCC ON
NFL NETWORK ISSUE
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Fourteenth Annual Notebook Awards
NEWS & NOTES: The
Fox Business Channel is no longer available to Sirius and XM
subscribers.
WEDNESDAY
DEC. 31, 2008
CES LOOKS TO BE QUIET
FOR SATELLITE
ADELSTEIN FORESEES ‘MESSY’
TRANSITION
MARTIN SETS SLIM AGENDA
FOR FINAL MEETING
MLB NETWORK READIES
NEW YEAR’S LAUNCH
CARRIAGE COMPLAINTS
AWAIT ACTION
MONDAY
DEC. 29, 2008
FCC, NTIA LAY OUT TRANSITION
STATUS
FCC TAKES CONTROL OF
CARRIAGE COMPLAINTS
CABLEVISION TALLIES
VOOM SHUTDOWN CHARGE
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
DirecTv's "QuickTune" feature is a welcome addition...DirecTv
and Dish Network take different paths in 2008...CES could be
very quiet next week...Thanks for making 20 years of Satellite
Business News possible.
WEDNESDAY
DEC. 24, 2008
DISH NETWORK: ‘VERY
FAR APART’ WITH FISHER
FCC CHARTS DIGITAL TV
COVERAGE AREAS
SIRIUS XM TAKES SMALL
BITE OF DEBT
NEWS & NOTES: The
FCC last night said it now plans to hold a conference call Tuesday
that will serve as its monthly public meeting...Sling Media started
offering a new version of its SlingPlayer software that enables
15 mobile phones that use the Windows Mobile operating system
to access Slingboxes. Sling also released updated software for
its SlingCatcher units..The DirecTv Group and Finisar submitted
filings to a federal judge in Texas disputing the other’s
argument regarding what the scope should be of the new trial
in Finisar’s patent lawsuit against DirecTv next October.
MONDAY
DEC. 22, 2008
DISH NETWORK PLANS PRICE,
PACKAGE CHANGES
WAXMAN, DINGELL AGREE
TO PLAY NICE
MARKEY QUERIES FCC,
NTIA ON DIGITAL SWITCH
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Leno move marks latest low in NBC's spiral...Washington residents
looking for a way out of D.C. for inauguration...Slingcatcher
could open up new avenues for Sling, Dish Network
FRIDAY
DEC. 19, 2008
SIRIUS SHAREHOLDERS
APPROVE MOVES
RAINBOW LOWERS BOOM
ON VOOM SERVICE
NEW RETRANS DISPUTE
HITS DISH NETWORK
DBS SERVICES WORKING
ON DIGITAL TRANSITION
LIBERTY SEES SPLIT-OFF
BRINGING VALUE
NEW YORK FLOATS CABLE/DBS
SALES TAX
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group started offering local PBS stations in high-definition
in the Atlanta; Baltimore; Cleveland; Omaha, Neb.; Savannah,
Ga.; and Lincoln-Hastings, Neb…The Satellite Broadcasting
and Communications Association named Lisa McCabe director of
public policy and outreach…EchoStar’s Sling Media unit
said it plans to roll out Slingbox software Dec 30 for users
of several newer Blackberry models.
WEDNESDAY
DEC. 17, 2008
BROADCASTERS PREP FOR
DIGITAL TEST
CABLE PLANS DIGITAL
MOVE ‘QUIET PERIOD’
LIBERTY PLANS TO FLESH
OUT SPIN-OFF PLANS
SES PLANS TO HALT
IPTV PRIME SERVICE
ROCKEFELLER GETS SENATE
COMMERCE POST
NEW DISPUTE BREWS FOR
DISH NETWORK
DISH NETWORK
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network is now offering CW affiliate XETV in high-definition
format in the San Diego market. The DBS service also started
offering RAI News 24 in its Panorama Italiano programming package.
MONDAY
DEC. 15, 2008
LIBERTY SETS PARTIAL
ENTERTAINMENT SPIN
DISH NETWORK ADDS ‘EASTERN
ARC’ INSTALLS
MARTIN DROPS CONTROVERSIAL
MEETING PLANS
DISH NETWORK TERMINATES
MORE RETAILERS
C-BAND UNIVERSE SEES
SLIGHT SLIP
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network and Young Broadcasting have apparently reached a retransmission
consent agreement that has allowed Dish Network to return the
11 Young-owned TV stations to the DBS service’s channel
line-up.
FRIDAY
DEC. 12, 2008
YOUNG STATIONS LEAVE
DISH NETWORK
LIBERTY PRESSES CASE
FOR DIRECTV PLANS
DISH NETWORK SEES CIEL-2
LAUNCH SUCCESS
SIDES DEBATE SATELLITE
RADIO HD MANDATE
DIRECTV TARGETS “GRAY
MARKET” SALES IN CANADA
NEWS & NOTES: The
National Association of Broadcasters urged President Bush to
sign a bill that would allow broadcasters to continue transmitting
analog signals for 30 days past Feb. 17 in order to provide emergency
and other information.
WEDNESDAY
DEC. 10, 2008
DIRECTV CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC
ON ECONOMY
ERGEN LOOKS BACK ON
‘BUSY’ 2008
DISH-LEASED CIEL-2 SET
FOR LAUNCH
JUDGE TELLS NDS DEFENDANTS
TO FOOT BILLS
CRITICS WEIGH IN ON
MARTIN PROPOSALS
DISH NETWORK FINALLY
CONFIRMS GOODFRIEND EXIT
JUDGE AXES SIRIUS SHAREHOLDER
LAWSUIT
SUPREME COURT REBUFFS
FINISAR REQUEST
MONDAY
DEC. 8, 2008
JUDGES NIXES DELAY REQUEST
IN TIVO CASE
ECHOSTAR EDGES NDS IN
ATTORNEY FEES
DISH NETWORK AWAITS
CIEL-2 LAUNCH
ADELSTEIN PRESSES FOR
SMOOTH TRANSITION
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Martin's wholesale prgramming scheme is another reason cable
is counting the days until his chairmanship ends...Though he
likely will leave, Martin could stay on as a regular commission.
FRIDAY
DEC. 5, 2008
KARMAZIN KEEPS UP OPTIMISTIC
TONE
DISNEY/ABC LAYS INTO
CARRIGE RULE CHANGES
DIRECTV STARTS ROLLING
OUT PBS IN HD
MARTIN LAYS OUT MEETING
AGENDA
CEA DOWNGRADES HOLIDAY
FORECAST
DISH NETWORK FILLS IN
LOCAL HD STATIONS
WEDNESDAY
DEC. 3, 2008
ECHOSTAR ASKS FOR DELAY
IN TIVO BENCH TRIAL
DIRECTV, FINISAR SEEK
SUMMARY JUDGMENTS
MARTIN PLANS TO LEAVE
LOOPHOLE OFF AGENDA
SIDES WEIGH IN ON WCS
ISSUES
ISSUES
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network/EchoStar congressional lobbyist David Goodfriend has
told a number of colleagues in Washington that he plans to leave
the company and form his own lobbying firm...Broadcast stations
in Washington, D.C., yesterday evening conducted the first of
what they said would be several two-minute digital TV tests in
which they turned off their analog signals…Ted Rogers, the
founder of Canadian cable company Rogers Cable and the owner
of several media and sports properties, died yesterday at 75.
TUESDAY
DEC. 2, 2008
MARTIN PLOTS CARRIAGE
ITEMS FOR AGENDA
SIRIUS XM GETS TIME
FOR LEASE CONDITION
DISH NETWORK CALLS FOUL
ON GOLTV LAWSUIT
ECHOSTAR
SIGNS SES SATELLITE DEAL
SIGNS SES SATELLITE DEAL
NEWS & NOTES: Satellite
and cable-related stocks followed the overall market down yesterday.
WEDNESDAY
NOV. 26, 2008
ECHOSTAR PLANS DBS SERVICE
IN MEXICO
TIVO TALKS TOUGH ON
ECHOSTAR PATENT CASE
GOODELLL STANDS BEHIND
NFL NETWORK
TIVO SUBS TAKE ANOTHER
DIP
AT&T CONTINUES FIGHT
AT FCC AGAINST COX
NAB CHIDES ESPN-BCS
AGREEMENT
SMALL CABLE CHASTISES
NEWS CORP.
NEWS CORP.
NEWS & NOTES: Liberty
Media said that it has chosen to sell 11.25 million shares of
a 22.5 million shares of a DirecTv Group equity collar it obtained
in April. Liberty, which holds a 52 percent equity share and
48 percent voting share in DirecTv, repaid the portion of the
loan on the equity collar using funds from that loan…PRODUCTION
NOTICE: In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, and barring
major breaking news, the next edition of the FaxUPDATE will be
distributed Tuesday.
MONDAY
NOV. 24, 2008
DISH NETWORK LIFTS RETAILER
RESTRICTION
DIRECTV EYES CABLE SWITCH
OPPORTUNITIES
STUPAK FORESEES DIGITAL
TRANSITION DELUGE
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Contempt ruling against EchoStar that TiVo says is inevitable
might turn out not to be.
FRIDAY
NOV. 21, 2008
JUDGE SETS NEW ECHOSTAR-TIVO
HEARING
WAXMAN GRABS CHAIRMANSHIP
FROM DINGELL
NFL SUFFERS SETBACK
IN COMCAST COMPLAINT
DISH NETWORK ADDS TO
‘EASTERN ARC’ CITIES
DISH NETWORK EXTENDS
FRONTIER DEAL
DISH NETWORK ADDS INTERNATIONAL
CHANNELS
NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv
Senior Vice President of Advertising and Public Relations Jon
Gieselman was among eight people inducted into the Advertising
Hall of Achievement…Sea Launch reached an agreement to launch
five satellites for Intelsat between 2010 and 2012...Dish Network
started showing “Dish Studio” on its video-on-demand
service…The Senate passed a bill that would give broadcast
stations permission to continue broadcasting analog signals for
30 days past the scheduled Feb. 17 transition to digital-only
off-air broadcast signals in order to provide consumers with
emergency and other information...Sirius XM Radio’s stock
price closed down 2 cents at an all-time low of 14 cents.
WEDNESDAY
NOV. 19, 2008
DISH NETWORK PARES INTERNATIONAL
OPTIONS
TIVO TURNS TO LAYOFFS
TO CUT COSTS
MORE RETAILERS GET DISH
NETWORK AX
DISH NETWORK ADDS TO
LOCAL HD LINE-UP
DISH NETWORK OFFERS
MEXICO PRICE BREAK
NEWS & NOTES: Bob
Marsocci, who served as DirecTv's chief spokesman for years,
has joined Broadcom Corp. as vice president of corporate communications…The
Securities and Exchange Commission filed insider trading charges
against HDNet founder and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban,
alleging he avoided losses of more than $750,000 by selling shares
of mamma.com stock based on non-public information. Cuban issued
a statement disputing the charges and accused the SEC staff of
misconduct…The FCC is currently reviewing whether several
cable companies, including Comcast, have fully complied with
an FCC request for information regarding the companies moving
channels from analog to digital programming tiers.
MONDAY
NOV. 17, 2008
NDS, ECHOSTAR FIGHT
OVER LAWSUIT VICTORY
DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK
CHANGE MUSIC DIALS
NTIA BACKS RETRANS QUIET
PERIOD
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Ergen offers frank assessment while Karmazin's rosy forecast
flies in face of evidence...Tough to make predictions about what
how an Obama-picked FCC will operate.
NEWS & NOTES: President-elect
Barack Obama named former Washington attorney Susan Crawford
and former FCC counsel Ken Werbach as the “FCC review team
leads” for his administration’s transition team.
FRIDAY
NOV. 14, 2008
SIRIUS XM UNVEILS MERGED
CHANNEL LINE-UP
DIRECTV TRIES TO CAPITALIZE
ON NFL SPATS
CONYERS EYES JUDICIARY
JURISDICTION CHANGE
INTELSAT SEES REVENUE
UPGRADE
COMCAST ADS
SEEK TO KICK DIRECTV HABIT
SEEK TO KICK DIRECTV HABIT
NEWS & NOTES: The
transition team President-Elect Barack Obama named to help advise
him on who to appoint to top positions at various agencies, including
who would takeover as chairman of the FCC from Kevin Martin (R),
included several familiar names. Among them are former FCC Chairman
Reed Hundt (D), former FCC International Bureau Chief Don Gips,
and Tom Wheeler, who has headed trade associations for the both
the cable TV and cellular telephone industries...The Satellite
Industry Association named Marie-Pierre Bloch director of communications.
WEDNESDAY
NOV. 12, 2008
ECONOMY DRAGS ON DISH
NETWORK RESULTS
SIRIUS SEES SLOW SUB
ADDS, BIG WRITE-DOWN
DISH NETWORK TALKS PIRACY
PROBLEM
AT&T LOSS LOOMS
FOR
DISH NETWORK
DISH NETWORK
ERGEN PONDERS TIVO POSSIBILITIES
SIRIUS XM BEG OUT OF
HD RADIO REQUIREMENT
DISH NETWORK READIES
RECORDER OPTIONS
NEWS & NOTES: National
Football League executive Steve Bornstein sent a letter to various
publications reiterating the NFL’s stance that Comcast and
Time Warner are improperly refusing to carry The NFL Network
on their most widely distributed programming tiers…National
Association of Broadcasters President David Rehr sent a letter
to President-Elect Barack Obama detailing broadcasters efforts
to educate consumers about the planned Feb. 17 transition to
digital-only off-air broadcast signals.
MONDAY
NOV. 10, 2008
INOUYE SHIFT SHUFFLES
SENATE COMMERCE
DINGELL, MARKEY SEEK
DIGITAL TV ANSWERS
DISH NETWORK PLANS MEXICO
PACKAGE
DINGELL, WAXMAN FIGHT
OVER COMMERCE SPOT
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Networks leave viewers without election night home...All-news
channels pull out tricks to little good effect... Mix channel
helped cut through election clutter...Obama victory shows is
big statement on Bush, economy, celebrity.
NEWS & NOTES: The
Chicago City Council is scheduled to vote today on a budget proposal
that would require satellite TV customers to pay an “amusement”
tax, which Dish Network and The DirecTv Group oppose.
FRIDAY
NOV. 7, 2008
DIRECTV” ‘SOLID’
QUARTER IN TOUGH TIMES
AUTO SLUMP HITS SIRIUS
XM NUMBERS
TIME WARNER, CABLEVISION
LOSE BASIC SUBS
DINGELL, WAXMAN FIGHT
OVER COMMERCE SPOT
DISH NETWORK DUMPS MORE
RETAILERS
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network is working with the Community Broadcasters Association,
which represents low-power broadcasters, to promote Dish Network’s
line of digital-to-analog off-air broadcast signal converter
boxes...The DirecTv Group launched a web site to provide current
and potential advertisers with information about placing ads
on its channels and interactive offerings…Perfect 10 signed
an agreement to distribute DirecTv’s DBS service to the
multiple-dwelling unit market...The DirecTv Group started offering
local stations in high-definition format in Boise, Idaho; Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen,
Texas; Macon, Ga.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Traverse City,-Cadillac,
Mich.; and Fort Smith, Ark.
PAST
FAX HEADLINES....
WEDNESDAY
NOV. 5, 2008
COMMITTEE INCUMBENTS
UNSCATHED
GOODELL DEFENDS NFL
NETWORK SCHEDULE
NDS, ECHOSTAR HAGGLE
OVER FEES
SIRIUS XM DENOUNCES
SHAREHOLDER LAWSUIT
DISH NETWORK DUMPS MORE
RETAILERS
AUTHORIZED
C-BAND TOTALS SLIP IN OCTOBER
C-BAND TOTALS SLIP IN OCTOBER
NEWS & NOTES: William
Loesch was named chief executive officer of Monsoon Multimedia,
which sells the Hava line of devices that enables users to simultaneously
access video programming remotely on computers or mobile phones…The
FCC sent letters to Comcast and several other cable operators
inquiring about the shift of some channels to digital programming
tiers.
MONDAY
NOV. 3, 2008
DIRECTV LETS NEW SUBS
LOCK IN RATES
VIEWTECH RENEWS CLAIM
AGAINST ECHOSTAR
COURT BACKS FCC DUAL
MUST-CARRY DECISION
DIRECTV KEEPS UP FRIENDLY
OFFER
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Early results could be key to picking presidential winner...Would
have been nice for Sirius XM to give customers a few free "best
of" months...Specter's campaign against NFL turns into a
bad joke.
FRIDAY
OCT. 31, 2008
LIBERTY: MARKETS MIGHT
PUSH BACK SPLIT-OFF
CONSUMERS UNION SPARKS
CABLE RATE DEBATE
SPECTER REVIVES ANGST
OVER NFL TELECASTS
SIRIUS XM MAKES DEBT
MOVE
NEWS & NOTES: The
FCC late yesterday upheld an independent arbiter’s ruling
that Time Warner had discriminated against the Mid-Atlantic Sports
Network by refusing to carry the channel on the basic tier of
its North Carolina cable system...Qwest said it added a net total
of 39,000 DirecTv subscribers during the third quarter...Dish
Network said yesterday it has started offering the local CW stations
in Los Angeles and Denver in high-definition to HD subscribers
in those markets…Bell Canada’s Bell TV satellite service,
formerly called ExpressVu, added a net total of 7,000 subscribers
during the third quarter of this year.
WEDNESDAY
OCT. 29, 2008
ECHOSTAR-NDS CASE TURNS
TO ATTORNEYS FEES
ECHOSTAR OBJECTS TO
REVERSE BAND SWITCH
SES READIES CIEL-2 SATELLITE
FOR LAUNCH
DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK
STAND BY FEE VIEW
DISH NETWORK OFFERS
ELECTION COVERAGE CHANNEL
NEWS & NOTES: More
than a dozen television stations in New York last night conducted
a “test” just before 6 p.m. EDT during which they turned
off their analog transmissions for two minutes and ran messages
telling anyone relying on an off-air antenna to receive the signal
about the planned Feb. 17 transition to digital-only off-air
broadcasts…Verizon said it added 233,000 net new subscribers
to its fiber-delivered video service, pushing its total to 1.6
million.
MONDAY
OCT. 27, 2008
DIRECTV ADDS HD INCENTIVE
TO FALL OFFER
SATELLITE STOCKS SEE
UPS, DOWNS
JUDGE SETS NEW FINISAR-DIRECTV
TRIAL DATE
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Satellite could ride out financial storm better than most...Election
outcome makes little difference.
FRIDAY
OCT. 24, 2008
AT&T CHARTS DBS
SUBSCRIBER LOSS
DIRECTV TESTS HOME NETWORK
DISTRIBUTION
NDS REVENUES FALL FOR
QUARTER
DIRECTV TAKES LOCAL
HD TO MORE MARKETS
STAR CHOICE TALLIES
REVENUE RISE
TECH FACES DIRECTV FRAUD
CHARGES
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group started offering the Telecentro Spanish-language
channel as part of its DirecTv Mas Spanish/English-language programming
service.
WEDNESDAY
OCT. 22, 2008
DISH NETWORK SEES DEALER
GAIN IN AT&T LOSS
DISH NETWORK DOWNPLAYS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
LAWMAKERS QUERY NTIA
COUPON ISSUES
SIRIUS XM EXCHANGES
DEBT FOR STOCK
DISH READIES MORE LOCAL
HD
DISH NETWORK PIRATE
GETS
JAIL TIME
JAIL TIME
NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv
yesterday downloaded a software upgrade to its HR-21 and HR-20
high-definition digital video recorders that will enable the
units to process programming in the 1080p HD format. The download
also upgraded certain guide search functions. But there were
also indications a significant number of the recorders crashed
during the process.
MONDAY
OCT. 20, 2008
FCC DROPS C-BAND ANALOG
BAN IDEA
COMMISSION SEES SATELLITE
COMPETITION
JUDGE ORDERS NEW DIRECTV-FINISAR
TRIAL
ACA BACKS CARRIAGE DURING
DISPUTES
DISH NETWORK PLANS EXPANSION
OF ‘EASTERN ARC’
OF ‘EASTERN ARC’
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
DirecTv "Poltergist" ads send scary message to cable...Sirius
XM problems likely could continue, and could have been avoided
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network told retailers it is offering them an additional $30
commission for each new subscriber they sign up to WildBlue’s
two-way, Ka-band satellite-delivered data service…The DirecTv
Group started carrying the Fox News Channel in high-definition...TBS’
live coverage of the Boston-Tampa Bay baseball playoff game Saturday
night was delayed until late in the first inning because of a
transmission facility power outage in Atlanta.
FRIDAY
OCT. 17, 2008
JUDGE KNOCKS DOWN ECHOSTAR
CLAIM ON NDS
SIRIUS XM EYES STOCK
MOVES, STARTS LAYOFFS
GOLTV SEEKS DISH NETWORK
PAYMENTS
DISH NETWORK CUTS MORE
RETAILERS LOOSE
DISH NETWORK PLANS EXPANSION
OF ‘EASTERN ARC’
OF ‘EASTERN ARC’
NEWS & NOTES: Sirius
XM Radio and Pioneer introduced a new $279.99 portable XM radio
that also plays MP3 files, can record up to 100 hours of XM programming,
and also receive Sirius programming.
WEDNESDAY
OCT. 15, 2008
TIVO BANKS ON ECHOSTAR
RULING
MARTIN DROPS LOW-POWER
MUST-CARRY ITEM
MCDOWELL EYES REFINED
TRANSITION EFFORTS
DISH NETWORK BACKS REVERSE
BAND PROPOSAL
FCC PUSHES OFF PROGRAM
ACCESS ACTIONS
FRIDAY
OCT. 10, 2008
JUDGE LEANS AGAINST
ECHOSTAR NDS CLAIM
ECHOSTAR FORKS OVER
TIVO PAYMENT
DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK
BOOST LOCAL HD
SATELLITE SUFFERS MORE
WALL STREET WOES
CEA HOPES FOR MORE PORTABLE
DIGITAL TV
NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar’s
Sling Media unit started selling the SlingCatcher, which costs
$299.99 and enables users to view programming delivered from
a Slingbox unit, their computers, or via the Internet on a TV
set…EchoStar named former Sirius Chairman and Thomson Chief
Joe Clayton to its board of directors...Intelsat named former
EchoStar Chief Financial Officer Michael McDonnell executive
vice president and chief financial officer…NOTICE: Barring
major breaking news, the FaxUPDATE will not be distributed Monday
in observance of the Columbus Day holiday.
WEDNESDAY
OCT. 8, 2008
HIGH COURT LEAVES ECHOSTAR
WITH TIVO BILL
PACE SIGNS DISH NETWORK
DISTRIBUTION DEAL
DIRECTV, FINISAR TAKE
STANDS ON LAWSUIT
CAL AMP WORKS TO GET
BACK ON TRACK
BROADCASTER STANDS BY
SIRIUS XM REQUEST
SIRIUS XM REQUEST
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network signed an agreement to purchase video-on-demand programming
from Gravitas Ventures…SES Americom’s medium-power
Ku-band AMC-21 satellite is now operational at the 125-degree
orbital slot.
MONDAY
OCT. 6, 2008
DIRECTV TRIES TO REASSURE
DEALERS ON AT&T
DISH NETWORK DROPS RETAILERS
HILL RECESS LEAVES UNRESOLVED
ISSUES
DISH NETWORK OFFERS
GIFT IN DISPUTE
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Election coverage from MSNBC, Fox News, and CNN leaves a lot
to be desired..Sirius XM a la carte option is a flop.
FRIDAY
OCT. 3, 2008
SIRIUS GETS A LA CARTE,
XM NOT YET
AT&T, VERIZON TOP
CONSUMER VIDEO RANKINGS
STOCKS SEES ANOTHER
SLIDE
DIRECTV ADDS MORE LOCAL
HD
NCTA CHIEF WARNS ON
RETRANS TALKS
OBAMA PAYS FOR DISH
NETWORK TIME
NEWS & NOTES: Dish
Network started carrying the Ecuadorian channel TeleAmazonas
as part of its DishLatino basic programming package.
WEDNESDAY
OCT. 1, 2008
DISH NETWORK SHARES
START AT&T RECOVERY
DBS SERVICES REJECT
FCC FEE CHANGES
MARKEY PUSHES MANDATORY
HD RADIO TUNERS
REPS. FAVOR LONGER RETRANS
QUIET PERIOD
DIRECTV, PEGASUS , INTELSAT
EYE
BAND PLAN
BAND PLAN
NEWS & NOTES: WFXS,
the Fox affiliate in the Wassau/Rhinelander, Wisc., market, reached
a new retransmission consent agreement with Dish Network yesterday...EchoStar
reached an agreement to provide “multiple” transponders
on the AMC-15 medium-power satellite capacity to SkyWay USA.
MONDAY
SEPT. 29, 2008
AT&T SETS SWITCH
TO DIRECTV
MALONE KNOCKS DBS MERGER
CHANCES—AGAIN
NPS PUSHES DIGITAL DISTANT
PLAN
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
AT&T-DirecTv deal represents a major challenge for Charlie
Ergen and Dish Network.
FRIDAY
SEPT. 24, 2008
SATELLITE STOCKS SEE
BETTER DAYS
LAWMAKERS HOME IN ON
ANTENNA ISSUE
DIRECTV BOLSTERS LOCAL
HD LINE-UP
DISH NETWORK UNVEILS
OFF-AIR CONVERTER
DISH FACES NEW RETRANS
FLAP
NEWS & NOTES: The
Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested four people after conducting
searches in nine locations as part of an investigation into an
alleged satellite piracy ring...The DirecTv Group renewed its
agreement to carry the Star India Plus, Star One, Star India
News, and Vijay channels as part of its Hindi-language programming
packages…Dish Network reached an agreement to offer Sony
Pictures Television’s movies and other programming on Dish
Network’s video-on-demand and pay-per-view services…Intelsat’s
Galaxy-19 C-band/medium-power Ku-band satellite was successfully
launched from the floating Sea Launch platform Wednesday...The
Louisiana Broadcasters Association urged the FCC to require DirecTv
and Dish Network to have to offer local stations in all markets
by Feb. 17 rather than 2013 as currently required.
WEDNESDAY
SEPT. 24, 2008
DIGITAL TV TRANSITION
DRAWS MORE CONCERN
SATELLITE STOCKS SEE
ANOTHER ROUGH RIDE
DISH NETWORK, AT&T
SIGN SHORT EXTENSION
DIRECTV, FINISAR HAGGLE
OVER LAWSUIT
SIRIUS XM
OBJECTS
TO REQUEST
OBJECTS
TO REQUEST
NEWS & NOTES: Reelz
Channel reached an agreement with Borders Media under which the
bookstore chain’s Internet site will show segments from
Reelz Channel’s “Secret’s Out” program, hosted
by Leonard Maltin. The agreement also includes cross promotion
provisions.
MONDAY
SEPT. 22, 2008
DBS SERVICES DEAL WITH
HURRICANE CLEANUP
DIRECTV TAKING OVER
ITS WILDBLUE INSTALLS
NIMIQ-4 LAUNCHES WITHOUT
HITCH
SATELLITE STOCKS PUT
CHOPPY WEEK IN BOOKS
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group plans to start offering the VietDirect Plus package
of five Vietnamese channels Oct. 8. The package will retail for
$29.99 per month.
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Murdoch actually "frightened" of how Malone would have
been able to control News Corp.'s future...CNBC takes advantage
of bad Wall Street news...More needs to be done to get battery-powered
digital TVs to market.
FRIDAY
SEPT. 19, 2008
LIBERTY, DIRECTV PONDER
FUTURE MOVES
DIRECTV DISCUSSES AT&T
POSSIBILITIES
MURDOCH SEES POSSIBLE
MISSTEP ON DIRECTV
DIRECTV UPS LOCAL HD
STATION COUNT
DISH NETWORK DEBUTS
AZTECA CHANNEL
LAWSUIT TAKES ON DIRECTV
FEES
NEWS & NOTES: The
National Telecommunications and Information Administration only
has enough money left in its administrative budget to process
requests for digital-to-analog converter box coupons through
the end of January, a month before the scheduled shutdown of
off-air analog TV signals, NTIA chief Meredith Attwell Baker
said in a letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman
John Dingell (D-Mich.)..The NTIA’s Baker and FCC Chairman
Kevin Martin (R) are among the witnesses scheduled to testify
at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Tuesday on the digital
television transition.
WEDNESDAY
SEPT. 17, 2008
WILMINGTON TEST RAISES
MORE QUESTIONS
DISH NETWORK ALIGNS
WITH LIN TV
WALL ST.’S WEEK
IMPACTS SATELLITE STOCKS
BROADCASTERS, CABLE
DEBATE “QUIET PERIOD”
DISH NETWORK CHIPS IN
ON RELIEF
ON RELIEF
MONDAY
SEPT. 15, 2008
DIRECTV PROVIDES HOUSTON
STORM COVERAGE
NFL REARRANGES SUNDAY
TICKET SCHEDULE
COPPS PRESSES BETTER
DIGITAL TV EDUCATION
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
Wilmington test shows digital transition could lead to trouble...Good
job by DirecTv providing hurricane coverage.
FRIDAY
SEPT. 12, 2008
AT&T SEEKS ACCESS
TO COX PADRES CHANNEL
DEAL PUTS STATION BACK
ON DISH NETWORK
FCC GETS MORE ‘QUIET
PERIOD’ INPUT
SIRIUS XM MAKES REPEATER
PITCH TO FCC
NEW YORK POLICE LOOK
INTO
DBS FRAUD
DBS FRAUD
NEWS & NOTES: The
DirecTv Group reached an agreement to continue carrying the Outdoor
Channel...Intelsat’s C-band/medium-power Galaxy-19 satellite
is scheduled to be launched from the floating Sea Launch platform
Sept. 23.
WEDNESDAY
SEPT. 10, 2008
KARMAZIN STATES CASE
FOR SIRIUS XM FUTURE
SIRIUS XM UNVEILS “BEST
OF” LINE-UPS
LIBERTY PONDERS NEXT
DIRECTV STEPS
SENATORS WANT FCC TO
FOCUS ON TRANSITION
WILMINGTON THROWS
DIGITAL TV SWITCH
DIGITAL TV SWITCH
TIME WARNER SEES HD
PROGRESS
MONDAY
SEPT. 8, 2008
CITADEL, DISH NETWORK
SETTLE SQUABBLE
WILMINGTON ON SCHEDULE
FOR EARLY SWITCH
ECHOSTAR TAKES ON VIEWTECH
COUNTER SUIT
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:
TiVo has backed itself into a hole with EchoStar litigation and
licensing deals.
FRIDAY
SEPT. 5, 2008
JUDGE PONDERS TIVO CONTEMPT
MOTION
LIBERTY SLATES ENTERTAINMENT
GROUP SPLIT
DIRECTV PLOTS NEXT CONSUMER
OFFER
TIVO, DIRECTV EXTEND
RELATIONSHIP
NEWS & NOTES: Liberty
Media, Intelsat, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative,
and private equity firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield, and Byers
combined to provide WildBlue Communications with $50 million
in equity financing. Liberty controls WildBlue...The DirecTv
Group started offering local stations in high-definition in the
Baton Rouge, La.; Springfield, Mo.; and Little Rock-Pine Bluff,
Ark., markets...DirecTv and AT&T each reached agreements
to carry 50 local television stations owned by Nexstar Broadcasting
Group in 29 markets…Comcast signed a new deal to carry HDNet
and HDNet Movies.
WEDNESDAY
SEPT. 3, 2008
TIVO CHIDES ECHOSTAR
SUPREME COURT TRY
SATELLITE STEPS UP HURRICANE
HELP EFFORTS
FCC GETS EARFUL ON “QUIET
PERIOD”
DIRECTV SETTLES WITH
FCC OVER
EEO VIOLATIONS
EEO VIOLATIONS