(return to home page) WHO WE ARE About the company E-mail us! Address and phone numbers OUR PRODUCTS Satellite Business News FaxUPDATE Trade Show Dailies Trade Show Videos   SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Sign up for the magazine and the fax Get back issues Read past show news ADVERTISING INFORMATION Ads in the magazine Ads in the fax Trade Show Products Online ads: The latest, hippest way to get your name out there! About our readers

FRIDAY FEB. 5, 2010 COMCAST, NBCU NAVIGATE HILL HEARINGS LAWMAKERS LOOK FOR SATELLITE BILL VEHICLE DISH NETWORK TAKES ON COMCAST-NBCU DEAL IPHONE USERS CLOSE IN ON SLINGPLAYER APP KARMAZIN BLAMES MARKETS, FCC FOR ISSUES WEDNESDAY FEB. 3, 2010 DISH NETWORK FANS DIRECTV AD FLAME VIEWTECH OWNER GETS JAIL TIME COMCAST-NBCU OPPONENTS SPEAK UP ON ISSUES DIRECTV PLAYS UP IPHONE APP DOWNLOADS NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network added the Centroamerica TV Central American soccer channel to its DishLatino Clasico programming package and above…Texas-based Mega Hertz reached an agreement to resell EchoStar’s wholesale, satellite-delivered ViP-TV Internet Protocol video service. MONDAY FEB. 1, 2010 CONGRESS SET TO LOOK AT COMCAST-NBCU MCDOWELL PRESSES AGAINST REGULATIONS DIRECTV ADJUSTS FALL OFFER NORTHPOINT PLANS PITCH TO SETTLE DBS CASE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Time to stop calling non-broadcast channels "cable channels"...Cable has to like DirecTv and Dish Network taking swipes at each other in ads...How does CNN justify keeping Larry King...Ratings drive Haiti relief coverage. FRIDAY JAN. 29, 2010 COMCAST, NBCU OUTLINE CASE TO FCC AT&T SEES OVERALL DBS SUB BASE DROP TIME WARNER CABLE SEES BASIC SUB DECLINE SATELLITE TV PRESSES AGAINST INDIANA TAX IDEA CABLEVISION SEEKS MUST-CARRY REVERSAL WEDNESDAY JAN. 27, 2010 DBS SERVICES SUE OVER MASSACHUSETTS TAX COMCAST, NBC PUT REVIEW IN MOTION VIEWTECH HEAD AWAITS SENTENCING VERIZON SEES VIDEO SUB GROWTH SLOW NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network equipment distributor Dow Electronics has donated $25,000 to a Haiti relief fund on behalf of itself and its retailers...Hughes Network Systems’ HughesNet two-way, satellite-delivered data service crossed the 500,000 subscriber threshold, the company said...Shaw Communications said its Shaw Direct Canadian DBS service added a net total of 1,097 subscribers during its fiscal first quarter. MONDAY JAN. 25, 2010 COMCAST DEFENDS TERRESTRIAL LOOPHOLE DIRECTV STARTS MULTIROOM BETA TEST NAB HEAD WARY OF SPECTRUM TALK TIVO WEIGHS IN MICROSOFT LEGAL ACTION SCERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: FCC takes strong step with "terrestrial loophole" order...CES has become a non-event for satellite TV...Stations use "news" telecasts as public relations arm in carriage fights. NEWS & NOTES: The House Communications, Technology, and the Internet Subcommittee plans to hold a hearing Feb. 4 on the Comcast-NBC Universal deal…Former FCC Commissioner and acting Chairman Jim Quello (D) died yesterday at 95. FRIDAY JAN. 22, 2010 FCC SPACKLES TERRESTRIAL LOOPHOLE LOOPHOLE ORDER BRINGS COMPETITORS CHEER CABLEVISION, SCRIPPS END CARRIAGE FIGHT TIVO WEIGHS IN MICROSOFT LEGAL ACTION NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv promoted Andrew Reinsdorf to senior vice president of government affairs. WEDNESDAY JAN. 20, 2010 SIDES PILE ON PROGRAM ACCESS PITCHES SLING MEDIA MAKES PLAY FOR IPHONE ACCESS SIRIUS XM FINISHES 2009 WITH SUB GAINS DIRECTV PREPS SPRING CONSUMER OFFE MICROSOFT DEFENDS SOFTWARE IN TIVO CASE DISH NETWORK REUPS WITH NAGRAVISION NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar said it notified the FCC it is making capacity on its EchoStar-9 satellite available to agencies working on the earthquake relief effort in Haiti. FRIDAY JAN. 15, 2010 DISH NETWORK LAYS OUT PRICING CHANGES MEETINGS PILE UP AROUND LOOPHOLE ORDER DIRECTV DEFENDS PRACTICES NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv is running an advertisement on its web site that takes issue with Dish Network’s ad campaign. WEDNESDAY JAN. 13, 2010 SIDES WEIGH IN ON PROGRAM ACCESS DEBATE DIRECTV HAILS FINISAR DECISION RETAILERS LOOK FOR CHANGE IN 2010 DISH NETWORK KEEPS FIGHTING SONICVIEW MAGISTRATE SETS DISH NETWORK-ESPN MEET SIRIUS CANADA HITS SUB MILESTONE NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar-Dish Network and TiVo asked a federal judge in Texas to give TiVo until Jan. 22 to file a request for attorney fees. MONDAY JAN. 11, 2010 DISH NETWORK HOLDS PRICES, EYES CHANGES COMMISSIONERS PONDERING LOOPHOLE ORDER RETAILERS LOOK FOR CHANGE IN 2010 LAWMAKER: QUICK WORK ON BILL NEEDED JUDGE HANDS DOWN $51 MILLION PIRACY BILL FCC OFFICIALS DETAIL POLICY VIEWS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Fifteenth Annual Notebook Awards, recognizing the year's winners, losers, and other distinctions. NEWS & NOTES: In an unusually quick ruling, a federal appeals court in Washington on Friday upheld a lower court’s ruling dismissing patent infringement claims Finisar made against DirecTv. FRIDAY JAN. 8, 2010 INDUSTRY CAUTIOUSLY KICKS OFF CES CES OFFERS NEW PROGRAMMING DIMENSIONS GROUPS CALL FOR COMCAST-NBCU CONDITIONS LIBERTY STILL PONDERING SIRIUS XM NEWS & NOTES: FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski (D) sent a letter to lawmakers asking for a one-month extension to the Feb. 18 deadline by which the commission must submit a set of recommendations to Congress regarding how to spur deployment of high-speed data services to more consumers. WEDNESDAY JAN. 6, 2010 DISH NETWORK, SLING SWING INTO VEGAS DIRECTV OUTLINES 2010 SUB GOALS FCC SLATES TERRESTRIAL LOOPHOLE VOTE DIRECTV AVOIDS RAINBOW/MSG DISPUTE NEWS & NOTES: The federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., is slated to hear oral arguments today in Finisar’s appeal of a lower court judge’s ruling dismissing several claims the company made alleging DirecTv violated its digital video recorder-related patents. WEDNESDAY DEC. 30, 2009 LAUNCH UP AND GOOD FOR DIRECTV-12 DIRECTV SLATES PRICE INCREASES CARRIAGE TALKS GO TO WIRE DIRECTV RESOLVES CHANNEL GLITCH VIASAT PUTS MOORE BACK AT WILDBLUE FCC EXTENDS ‘GOOD FAITH’ CARRIAGE RULES PRODUCTION NOTICE: In observance of the holiday, and barring any major breaking news, the next issue of the FaxUPDATE will be distributed next Wednesday. Satellite Business News wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday. WEDNESDAY DEC. 23, 2009 OBAMA SIGNS DISTANT STATION EXTENSION KERRY PUSHES TIME WARNER, FOX AGREEMENT DISH NETWORK URGES AGAINST SINGLE SET-TOP DIRECTV EXTENDS VISA PROMOTION PRODUCTION NOTICE: In observance of the holiday, and barring any major breaking news, the next issue of the FaxUPDATE will be distributed next Wednesday. Satellite Business News wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday. MONDAY DEC. 21, 2009 SENATE PASSES TWO-MONTH EXTENSION BILL DISH NETWORK, DIRECTV WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR FOX LOCKS HORNS WITH TIME WARNER NEWS & NOTES: The FCC approved DirecTv’s application to launch and operate the DirecTv-12 Ka-band satellite, which is slated to be launched a week from tomorow from Kazakhstan by International Launch Services…Sirius XM Radio asked the FCC for permission to continue to operate Sirius Satellite Radio’s FM-1, FM-2, and FM-3 satellites through 2017. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Bill that did not get passed was not pefect, but might be better than the one that comes next...DirecTv, Dish Network make best of difficult 2009. FRIDAY DEC. 18, 2009 SHORT-TERM EXTENSION AWAITS SENATE VOTE DIRECTV DEFENDS NFL SUNDAY TICKET DEAL DBS FIRMS, NCTA STUDY SEES RETRANS HARM OHIO GETS SUPPORT IN DBS TAX FIGHT HOUSE COMMITTEE LOOKS AT SPORTS PIRACY DIRECTV WARNS AGAINST SINGLE SET-TOP MANDATE WEDNESDAY DEC. 16, 2009 OBJECTION PUTS SHORT-TERM BILL IN PLAY VIASAT COMPLETES WILDBLUE ACQUISITION FCC EYES TERRESTRIAL LOOPHOLE CLOSURE DIRECTV FACES WASHINGTON STATE LAWSUIT NEWS & NOTES: Preston Padden, head of Disney/ABC's Washington lobbying operation, announced Monday he is stepping down from that position at the end of this month...The city of Hazelton, Pa., has dropped an ordinance that required residents to pay a $10 fee for satellite dish installation inspections. MONDAY DEC. 14, 2009 HOUSE, SENATE CLOSE IN ON SATELLITE BILL DIRECTV, COMCAST DEAL ON SPORTS CHANNEL SMALL CABLE OPS EYE MUST-CARRY END NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network Director or Government Affairs and Senior Counsel Lori Kalani plans to join the law firm of Orrick, Herrington, and Sutcliffe. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Stay tuned as clock ticks down on satellite TV legislation...Comcast could loose terrestrial loophole as bargaining chip for NBC deal approval...Will Comcast-NBC stations run DirecTv and Dish Network ads?...Woods will probably end up on Oprah any day now...Letterman makes bad jokes at Woods' expense. FRIDAY DEC. 11, 2009 DISH NETWORK, PBS WAIT ON AFFILIATES ECHOSTAR STEPS UP WORKAROUND WORK COPPS KEEPS WATCH ON COMCAST-NBC DEAL DISH NETWORK REACHES 14 MILLION SUBS NEWS & NOTES: The House Judiciary Committee plans to hold a hearing Wednesday on “piracy of live sports programming over the Internet.” WEDNESDAY DEC. 9, 2009 HOUSE, SENATE EYE COMBINED BILL TIVO EXPECTS GOOD APPEALS COURT NEWS SIRIUS XM PRAISES PRICE RAISES, COST CUTS CUSTOMER SUES SIRIUS XM OVER PRICING ROBERTS EXTOLS VIRTUES OF NBC DEAL MONDAY DEC. 7, 2009 LAWMAKERS EYE MULTICAST LANGUAGE CHANGE NCTA PUSHES BROAD VIDEO DEVICE INQUIRY NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv reached a new agreement to distribute Fisher Communications-owned television stations. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Comcast-NBC deal will be the first big test for the new FCC...Tiger Woods brought two strikes on himself with media. FRIDAY DEC. 4, 2009 HOUSE CLEARS SATELLITE TV BILL COMCAST, NBC UNIVERSAL SEAL DEAL DISH NETWORK, DIRECTV DIFFER ON BILL COMCAST, NBC EXPECT CONDITIONS COMCAST-NBC DEAL FACES CLOSE SCRUTINY HOUSE PUSHES SENATE ON SATELLITE TV BILL WEDNESDAY DEC. 2, 2009 BILL ACTION WARMING UP DISH NETWORK STANDS BY CHRISTMAS SPOTS NCTA PROPOSES BROADBAND PROGRAM FCC CHAIRMAN KEEPS QUIET ON COMCAST-NBC TUESDAY DEC. 1, 2009 DIRECTV SATELLITE MOVES CLOSER TO LAUNCH CHARTER MAKES IT OUT OF BANKRUPTCY SMALL CABLE BACKS TIME WARNER CAMPAIGN CRTC SETS UP BROADCAST COMMENT SYSTEM KARMAZIN PLAYS DOWN REVERSE SPLIT IDEA DISH NETWORK SIGNS NEW CSG DEAL WEDNESDAY NOV. 25, 2009 TIVO SEES MORE DIRECTV SUB DEPARTURES SATELLITE TV BILLS STILL TAKING FORM ECHOSTAR PUSHES SLING IPHONE APP ACCESS ROGERS PLAYS UP TIVO LITIGATION PROSPECTS NEWS & NOTES: A federal appeals court in Washington plans to hear oral arguments Jan. 6 in Finisar’s appeal of a lower court’s decision to invalidate five patent claims Finisar had made against DirecTv... DirecTv told retailers it has started offering several more local affiliates in high-definition...PRODUCTION NOTICE: In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, the next issue of the FaxUPDATE will be distributed Tuesday. MONDAY NOV. 23, 2009 MALONE PLAYS DOWN CHANCE OF DIRECTV SALE FCC HEAD: PLAN AHEAD FOR SPECTRUM CRUNCH DIRECTV RENAMES SPORTS CHANNEL GROUP SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Lou Dobbs did CNN a big favor by leaving..Malone takes cheap shots at Carey...Dish Network makes lobbying push against PBS requirement...Satellite TV will have to choose its official Frito-Lay snack. FRIDAY NOV. 20, 2009 VOTES CLEAR PATH TO DIRECTV INDEPENDENCE PEPSI EXEC BUBBLES UP AS DIRECTV PRESIDENT SENATE COMMITTEE CLEARS SATELLITE TV BILL DUGAN RETURNS TO ECHOSTAR AS PRESIDENT DBS SERVICES OFFER VARIED REACTIONS TO BILL NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv started offering local stations in high-definition in the Sherman, Texas-Ada, Okla., and Minot-Bismarck-Dickinson, N.D., markets...EchoStar-Dish Network Associate General Counsel Jeff Blum has been tapped to become the head of the companies’ Washington office...Dish Network said Greg Jimenez pleaded guilty before a district court magistrate judge in the U.S. Virgin Islands to selling a so-called free-to-air, or “FTA,” satellite receiver modified to steal Dish Network’s DBS service. WEDNESDAY NOV. 18, 2009 SENATOR CONSIDERS LOCAL TV AMENDMENT KARMAZIN PLAYS UP SIRIUS XM, SELF NAB SQUARES OFF WITH CEA, CTIA ON SPECTRUM DISH NETWORK, ECHOSTAR EYE FCC DATA PLAN CABLEVISION BEMOANS PROGRAM ACCESS RULES NEWS & NOTES: Bell Canada’s Bell TV DBS service added 40,000 net new subscribers during the third quarter of this year, giving it a total of 1.924 million at the end of this year’s third quarter. MONDAY NOV. 16, 2009 SENATE COMMERCE SETS BILL MARK-UP DIRECTV PUTS BONUS IN CARDS FOR NEW SUBS NAB PRESSES CASE TO KEEP SPECTRUM XM CANADA ADDS UP SUBS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Independence will be a big change for DirecTv...Dish Network in tough spot with PBS provision with bills. FRIDAY NOV. 13, 2009 DISH NETWORK WARY OF PBS PROVISIONS HARTENSTEIN MOVES TO SIRIUS CHAIRMAN SEAT VIEWTECH BACKS STAY IN ECHOSTAR CASE DIRECTV EXPANDS LOCAL STATION COUNT WCS COALITION WANTS RULES SETTLED NEWS & NOTES: Sea Launch said it has secured up to $12.5 million in debtor-in-possession financing from Space Launch Services to fund Sea Launch’s operations while it completes its chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization…Insight Communications reported it lost a net total of 1,900 basic cable subscribers, dropping its total subscriber base to 718,200. WEDNESDAY NOV. 11, 2009 PROMOTIONS PUSH DISH NETWORK SUB GROWTH ROCKEFELLER, KERRY ADD BILL TO MIX ERGEN LOOKS FOR ECHOSTAR TO FIND WAY ERGEN PLAYS UP HAND IN TIVO CASE LIBERTY MEDIA EYES DIRECTV DEAL CLOSE NEWS & NOTES: Loral Space and Communications reported revenues of $249.2 million during the third quarter…Intelsat said it took in revenues of $617.9 million. MONDAY NOV. 9, 2009 TIVO, ECHOSTAR KEEP TALKING ATTORNEY FEES SATELLITE KEEPS PRESSING BROADBAND CASE DIRECTV WANTS BAR BOUNCED OVER ACCOUNT NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network reached an agreement to offer video-on-demand programming from The Ski Channel...Mediacom Communications reported that it lost 19,000 net basic cable subscribers during the third quarter. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK:Oral argument will not be the end of the story for complicated EchoStar-TiVo case...DirecTv should keep the current crew in charge of the ship...Interesting to see how Dish Network's advertising paid off in the third quarter. FRIDAY NOV. 6, 2009 DIRECTV SAYS IT HAS ‘SOLID’ THIRD QUARTER LEAHY EYES QUICK WORK ON SATELLITE TV BILL AUTO SALES PUSH UP SIRIUS XM SUB COUNT COMCAST PLANS DBS SUB PHONE, DATA PITCH VIASAT LOOKS FORWARD TO WILDBLUE CLOSE DIRECTV READY TO CLOSE LIBERTY DEAL WEDNESDAY NOV. 4, 2009 ECHOSTAR, TIVO MAKE CASE TO APPEALS COURT EXECS SHOW UP IN STANDS FOR ARGUMENT CABLEVISION SEES BASIC SUB DROP FRONTIER ADDS DISH NETWORK SUBSCRIBERS NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group reached an agreement to offer video-on-demand programming from HDNet and HDNet Movies…Viacom reported revenues of $3.3 billion during the third quarter, down from $3.4 billion during the third quarter of last year. MONDAY NOV. 2, 2009 DISH NETWORK, TIVO HEAD TO APPEALS COURT DISH NETWORK-ESPN CASE GOES TO MAGISTRATE SIRIUS XM PITCHES USED CHRYSLER DEAL JUDGE KEEPS DIRECTV LEASE FEE CASE GOING SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Criticism over DirecTv Farley ad silly...Dish Network picture-in-picture helps New York sports fans...Dish Network-EchoStar face big day in court NEWS & NOTES: ViaSat and WildBlue Communications said Friday the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department gave their approvals to the transaction in which ViaSat would acquire WildBlue. FRIDAY OCT. 30, 2009 ECHOSTAR TESTS NEW TIVO WORKAROUND WHEELS CHURN ON SATELLITE LEGISLATION ECHOSTAR PUSHES FOR MORE FEES IN NDS CASE MCDOWELL SOUNDS WARNING ON NET NEUTRALITY CABLEVISION SIGNALS LOOMING RATE INCREASE WEDNESDAY OCT. 28, 2009 IRS GIVES LIBERTY-DIRECTV DEAL TAX-FREE NOD VIEWTECH OWNER PLEADS GUILTY DIRECTV ADDS CUSTOMER INCENTIVES SENATORS QUIZ NTIA, RUS ON PLANS VERIZON NETS FEWER VIDEO SERVICE SUBS NEWS & NOTES: Shaw Communications added 2,728 net subscribers to its Shaw Direct Canadian satellite TV service. MONDAY OCT. 26, 2009 VERSUS CHIEF KEEPS UP DIRECTV RHETORIC SIDES MAKE PITCHES FOR SPECTRUM POLICIES FCC SETS ANTENNA RESTRICTION TIMELINE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Broadcasters make unreasonable demands about multicast reception. NEWS & NOTES: Shaw Direct adds DBS subs. FRIDAY OCT. 23, 2009 LOOPHOLE DEBATE LINGERS IN HEARING FCC LAUNCHES NET NEUTRALITY RULEMAKING SIDES WAY IN ON FCC INTERNET PROCEEDING AT&T SEES SATELLITE SUB BASE DROP AT&T DENIES TIVO ALLEGATIONS WEDNESDAY OCT. 21, 2009 LIBERTY, DIRECTV SET VOTES ON DEAL SATELLITE INDUSTRY GIVES BROADBAND INPUT FCC NET NEUTRALITY PLAN STIRS REACTION JUDGE DUMPS BUNDLING ANTITRUST CASE HOUSE PANEL SETS WITNESS LIST NEWS & NOTES: The Consumer Electronics Association released a study predicting consumers will spend 8 percent more than they did last year on consumer electronics gifts this holiday selling season. MONDAY OCT. 19, 2009 LIBERTY SEES DIRECTV DEAL DONE NEXT MONTH DIRECTV CEO SEARCH CONTINUES LIBERTY, SIRIUS XM PLAY UP PERFORMANCE MALONE KEEPS WATCH ON COMCAST-NBC DEAL SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: If it happens, a Comcast/NBC-Universal deal should only be allowed with some major conditions. NEWS & NOTES: Sirius XM extended Jim Meyer’s contract as president of operations and sales through May 1, 2013…The House Communications, Technology, and the Internet Subcommittee plans to hold a hearing Thursday regarding “video competition in a digital age.” FRIDAY OCT. 16, 2009 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES SATELLITE BILL SATELLITE FIRM PRAISE HOUSE BILL DISH NETWORK BEMOANS PBS AMENDMENT SCHOLARS BACK DROPPING OHIO SATELLITE TV TAX NEWS & NOTES: Telesat said its recently launched Nimiq-5 high-power DBS orbital slot is now operational…An administrative law judge recommended the FCC reject Wealth TV’s carriage complaint against various cable operators. WEDNESDAY OCT. 14, 2009 ERGEN TRUMPETS NFL RED ZONE CHANNEL DISH NETWORK EYES LEGISLATIVE HELP DISH NETWORK REFINING NEW RECORDER DIRECTV OFFERS PRICE LOCK-UP FCC PONDERING SLING/IPHONE ISSUE NEWS & NOTES: Monsoon Multimedia plans to make a Hava Mobile Player application available for users of Apple iPhones or iPod Touches FRIDAY OCT. 9, 2009 DBS SERVICES PUT PRICE ON LOCAL EXPANSION TELCOS, DBS TOP CABLE SATISFACTION SCORES DISH NETWORK, PBS KEEP TALKING CARRIAGE NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network blamed a server failure at an uplink center Wednesday night for a “small percentage” of its subscribers temporarily losing programming....The DirecTv Group started offering local stations in high-definition in the Jackson, Miss., market...Dish Network reached an agreement to be the “exclusive satellite television partner” of the Professional Bull Riders competitions...DirecTv said it plans to add the MBC Every1 channel to its Korea Direct programming package and Korean Direct Golf packages. WEDNESDAY OCT. 7, 2009 SENATE COMMITTEE SETS HEARING LINE-UP DIRECTV ADDS HD WEATHER INFO SBCA FIGHTS LOCAL DISH INSTALL RESTRICTIONS DISH NETWORK, DIRECTV OFFER SPORTS PREVIEW DIRECTV TAKES ON BAR OWNER DISH NETWORK FINISHES UP DEBT OFFERING DIRECTV ADDS MAG RACK PROGRAMMING MONDAY OCT. 5, 2009 LIBERTY, DIRECTV AMEND DEAL TERMS VIEWTECH SEEKS STAY IN ECHOSTAR CASE NORTHPOINT DISPUTES DBS COUNTERCLAIMS CRTC PLOTS RETRANSMISSION FEE HEARING SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Comcast stance in DirecTv-Versus dispute flies in the face of its own position in its fight with The NFL Network...WildBlue transaction signals change of heart for Malone...Dish Network gets laugh with claim about NFL Red Zone channel. FRIDAY OCT. 2, 2009 VIASAT MAKES MOVE FOR WILDBLUE FCC CLEARS LIBERTY-DIRECTV SPIN-OFF DEAL SENATE PANEL PLANS SATELLITE TV HEARING DIRECTV, VERSUS FACE-OFF CONTINUES DISH NETWORK-ESPN LAWSUIT GOES ON WEDNESDAY SEPT. 30, 2009 DIRECTV TAKES SLAP SHOT AT VERSUS TIVO PLAYS DOWN ECHOSTAR APPEAL FCC SEES BIG BILL FOR BROADBAND EXPANSION DIRECTV TIPS OFF NBA LEAGUE PASS BONUS DIRECTV TAKES ISSUE WITH FINISAR POINTS NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar named Vernon Smith senior vice president of business development and head of EchoStar Satellite Service’s “ViP-TV” satellite-delivered Internet protocol video service…Dish Network plans today to move the ESPNU channel from its Classic Gold 250 programming package to the Classic Bronze 100 package...Dish Network said it plans to offer a free preview of the NFL RedZone channel Sunday. MONDAY SEPT. 28, 2009 LOST DOCUMENTS FORCE OHIO TAX CASE DELAY DIRECTV ADDS ENTICEMENT TO OFFER ECHOSTAR, GOL TV SPAR OVER FEES COMCAST PUSHES BROADBAND PLAN PROPOSALS NEWS & NOTES: Sirius XM reached an agreement to make broadcasts of every Big Ten Conference football and basketball game available to XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio subscribers. FRIDAY SEPT. 25, 2009 SENATE COMMITTEE CLEARS SATELLITE TV BILL ECHOSTAR GETS DATE FOR TIVO APPEAL DISH NETWORK, DIRECTV MAKE DEBT MOVES SATELLITE TV BILL DRAWS SUPPORT DIRECTV ADDS MORE LOCAL HD MARKETS WEDNESDAY SEPT. 23, 2009 SENATE COMMITTEE SETS BILL MARK-UP DISH RETAILERS SETTLE DO-NOT-CALL DISPUTES DIRECTV WRAPS UP DEBT ISSUE ECHOSTAR LOOKS ON BRIGHT SIDE OF SANCTIONS DIRECTV SUFFERS SUPERFAN HEADACHES FCC CLEARS SIRIUS XM FOR PUERTO RICO FCC CHAIRMAN STIRS NET NEUTRALITY DEBATE NEWS & NOTES: A federal appeals court in Washington heard oral arguments yesterday in Cablevision’s challenge to a lower court’s ruling upholding the FCC’s decision in 2007 to extend the program access rules to 2012. MONDAY SEPT. 21, 2009 DIRECTV PREPS WINTER DISCOUNT OFFER NAB NAMES FORMER SENATOR PRESIDENT DIRECTV THROWS PENALTY FLAG AT BARS NEWS & NOTES: FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski (D) is slated to give a speech today at the Brookings Institution supporting a “free and open Internet.” SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Comcast's doesn't come up with banner ad idea against DirecTv in Versus dispute. FRIDAY SEPT. 18, 2009 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES SATELLITE BILL ECHOSTAR SECURES USE OF NEW TELESAT BIRD HOUSE JUDICIARY BILL DRAWS PRAISE DISH ADDS LOCAL HD OFFERINGS DISH NETWORK, DIRECTV COUNTER NORTHPOINT XM CANADA SETTLES ROYALTY DISPUTE WEDNESDAY SEPT. 16, 2009 JUDICIARY COMMITTEES START MOVING BILLS DBS SERVICES SEE GOOD STARTS IN BILLS DIRECTV MAKES MONEY MOVES DISH NETWORK, TELCOS TAKE ON COMCAST DBS SERVICES BLUE OVER MICHIGAN TAX IDEA OMAHA RETHINKS DISH INSPECTION FEE TIVO PLAYS UP PROSPECTS FROM LITIGATION MONDAY SEPT. 14, 2009 DISH NETWORK PONDERS SANCTIONS IMPACT VERSUS BEMOANS DIRECTV STANCE TELESAT SATELLITE PREPS FOR LAUNCH SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Versus needs DirecTv more than DirecTv needs Versus...Jugde keeps going after EchoStar-Dish Network NEWS & NOTES: The House Energy and Commerce Committee scheduled a FCC oversight hearing for Thursday. The hearing was originally schedule to take place in June...Cable overbuilder RCN agreed to distribute the NFL RedZone channel. FRIDAY SEPT. 11, 2009 ECHOSTAR, WILDBLUE SEEK BROADBAND FUNDS DIRECTV KEEPS EYE ON SUBSCRIBER ADDITIONS DISH NETWORK SEEKS CUBA OK TIVO EYES NEW DIRECTV DEAL DIRECTV THROWS IN MORE SOCCER COVERAGE DISH NETWORK, DIRECTV ADD LOCAL HD WEDNESDAY SEPT. 9, 2009 ECHOSTAR PRESSES TIVO APPEAL DIRECTV, VERSUS HOLD STANCES JUDGE SANCTIONS ECHOSTAR FOR $200 MILLION DIRECTV STEPS UP COUNT ON LOCAL HD CABLE SEEKS LIFT OF EXCLUSIVITY BAN NEWS & NOTES: Sirius XM Radio said last night its Sirius-FM5 satellite is now operational. The satellite, which was launched June 30, is being used to transmit programming to Sirius radios. FRIDAY SEPT. 4, 2009 DIRECTV SUES CABLE SYSTEMS FOR THEFT XM CANADA SUED OVER ROYALTY DISPUTE OMAHA EYES SATELLITE DISH “INSPECTION FEE” VIEWTECH PRESSES COUNTER ECHOSTAR CASE DIRECTV ADDS LOCAL HD IN LEXINGTON NEWS & NOTES: Next Generation Home Products, which is changing its name to NextGen, said it plans to introduce several new products at the CEDIA convention...Verizon reached an agreement to add the NFL RedZone channel to its line-up this football season. WEDNESDAY SEPT. 2, 2009 CARRIAGE FIGHT LEAVES VERSUS OFF DIRECTV HUGHES, WILDBLUE EYE BROADBAND INCLUSION DIRECTV FILLS IN LOCAL HD LINE-UPS VOLVO STARTS USED CAR DEAL ON SIRIUS FCC SEEK MORE PARENTAL CONTROL INFO DIRECTV OPPOSES TERRESTRIAL DBS WAIVER MONDAY AUG. 31, 2009 SATELLITE TV DERIDES CALIFORNIA TAX IDEA CABLE GETS WIN IN OWNERSHIP CAP CASE FCC GETS RUNDOWN ON COMPETITION FRIDAY AUG. 28, 2009 TIVO TALKS TOUGH ON ECHOSTAR LITIGATION TIVO PUTS AT&T, VERIZON ON LEGAL DOCKET MORE DIRECTV SUBS DEFECT FROM TIVO DIRECTV BOOSTS HD RECORDER SOFTWARE SIRIUS XM TOUTS NEW PRODUCTS NEWS & NOTES: The National Cable and Telecommunications Association named Rick Chessen senior vice president of law and regulatory policy. WEDNESDAY AUG. 26, 2009 DISH NETWORK SETTLES FREETECH FTA CASE DISH NETWORK, COMCAST GO TO REDZONE TIVO SEEKS BLOCK OF ECHOSTAR APPEAL SIRIUS XM RAISES DEBT TO PAY OFF LIBERTY MONDAY AUG. 24, 2009 FINISAR LAYS OUT APPEAL IN DIRECTV CASE WILDBLUE CROSSES 400,000 SUB MILESTONE DIRECTV PUTS UP MORE PBS HD SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: HBO's "Hard Knocks" makes the cut...Dish Network sub results show improvement, but some financial results show signs of trouble. FRIDAY AUG. 21, 2009 DIRECTV, VERSUS HEAD TO WIRE IN TALKS DISH NETWORK UPS LOCAL MARKET COUNT FCC LOOKS FOR BROADBAND HELP DISH NETWORK SEEKS SONICVIEW INJUNCTION DIRECTV ADDS INTERNATIONAL FARE NEWS & NOTES: The National Football League extended its agreement with NBC to broadcast Sunday night NFL games…The DirecTv Group reached an agreement with GuestSpan under which GuestSpan will market DirecTv’s high-definition channels to hotels…Starz Chairman Bob Clasen announced he plans to retire…DirecTv and ESPN are scheduled to host a tennis exhibition Wednesday in New York City’s Bryant Park in advance of the U.S. Open tournament. WEDNESDAY AUG. 19, 2009 ECHOSTAR SEEKS COURT VIEW ON TIVO ACTION DISH NETWORK, GOL TV SPAR OVER FEE CASE NEW TELESAT SATELLITE NEARS LAUNCH DIRECTV SETS SUNDAY TICKET ONLINE TRIAL MONDAY AUG. 17, 2009 DIRECTV PLAYS UP RESULTS TO RETAILERS ECHOSTAR, NDS SEEK FEE ORDER DELAY CRTC EYES BROADCAST RETRANS SCHEME AT&T TAKES ON CABLEVISION OVER MSG CARRIAGE NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group started offering the local PBS station in high-definition in Sioux Falls, S.D…Dish Network reached an agreement to obtain video-on-demand and pay-per-view programming from Image Entertainment…Wyoming is now using the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Associations’ certification process as a qualification for receiving a satellite installer license from the state. FRIDAY AUG. 14, 2009 NDS PUSHES FOR MORE FEES IN ECHOSTAR CASE DISH NETWORK EYES $1 BILLION DEBT OFFERING SIRIUS XM LOOKS TO DEBT TO REPAY LIBERTY WCS COALITION, SIRIUS XM ARGUE OVER TESTS DIRECTV ADDS LOCAL HD MARKET NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv plans to offer customers with high-definition receivers a free preview Aug. 13 to Aug. 23 of the channels in its HD Extra Pack add-on package...Intelsat reported revenues of $642.5 million during the second quarter of this year…Dish Network reached an agreement to distribute The Documentary Channel as part of the DBS service’s Classic Bronze 100 programming package...Robert Jacobson has left his position as president of the cable-owned In Demand Networks. WEDNESDAY AUG. 12, 2009 DISH NETWORK ADDS NET SUBSCRIBERS TIVO DOWNPLAYS PATENT OFFICE ACTION ECHOSTAR SEES REVENUE DROP, PROFIT RISE WILDBLUE OPENS UP MORE CAPACITY DIRECTV SETS UP SEARCH COMMITTEE FCC BUMPS BACK SIRIUS XM CHANNEL DEADLINE NEWS & NOTES: Loral Space and Communications reported revenues of $448 million during the second quarter of this year. That represents an improvement over the $383 million it posted in the second quarter of last year. MONDAY AUG. 10, 2009 LIBERTY SEES SIRIUS XM LOANS PAYING OFF FCC STARTS WORK ON BROADBAND DATA MCDOWELL: LET BUSINESS DRIVE BROADBAND SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Satellite TV legislation looks like it will be a last-minute deal...DirecTv shows solid results. NEWS & NOTES: Next Generation home products, the remote control and accessory company founded by industry veteran Bob Dolatowski, announced it is changing its name to NextGen...The DirecTv Group started offering the local CBS affiliate in high-definition format in the Milwaukee market. It also added the local PBS station in high-definition to its line-up in the Mobile, Ala.-Pensacola, Fla., market, and the local CW affiliate in high-definition in the Denver market. FRIDAY AUG. 7, 2009 DIRECTV KEEPS UP NET SUB “MOMENTUM” ESPN CHIMES IN ON DISH NETWORK LAWSUIT SIRIUS XM SEES AUTO IMPROVEMENT COMCAST SEES BIG BASIC SUB LOSS DISH NETWORK ADDS HD IN PUERTO RICO BELL TV ADDS UP MORE DBS SUBS NEWS & NOTES: ReelzChannel reached an agreement to provide video-on-demand programs to DirecTv…Hughes Communications added a net total of 38,000 subscribers to its HughesNet service…DirecTv is making the movie “The Burning Plain” available on pay-per-view Aug. 21, in advance of its Sept. 17 theatrical release date. WEDNESDAY AUG. 5, 2009 PATENT OFFICE STIRS ECHOSTAR, TIVO REACT DISH NETWORK SUES ESPN OVER DEAL CLYBURN TAKES FIFTH FCC SEAT FRONTIER ADDS DISH NETWORK SUBSCRIBERS ECHOSTAR-SLING WEIGH IN ON IPHONE QUERY FCC PREPS FOR BROADBAND WORKSHOPS MONDAY AUG. 3, 2009 WORK LIES AHEAD ON SATELLITE TV BILL FCC CLOSES IN ON FULL HOUSE COMCAST SEES BETTER FCC FCC MOVES FORWARD ON REVERSE BAND FRIDAY JULY 31, 2009 VERIZON, DIRECTV PITCH NFL OFFER TIME WARNER, CABLEVISION SEE BASIC DROP LIBERTY, DIRECTV TWEAK MERGER TERMS FCC KEEPS GETTING COMPETITION INPUT LAWMAKERS CHIME IN ON PADRES DISPUTE NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group started offering local stations in high-definition format in the Roanoke-Lynchburg, Va., market…Sirius XM Radio extended President and Chief Content Scott Greenstein’s contract through July 27, 2013. WEDNESDAY JULY 29, 2009 JUDGE EYES NOVEMBER SANCTION RULING DISH NETWORK HAILS HACKER SITE SHUTDOWN SMALL CABLE BEMOANS RETRANS PROCESS FCC APPROVES DIRECTV REVERSE BAND BIRD SMALL TELCO ORDERS ECHOSTAR IP VIDEO SERVICE NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network and EchoStar are scheduled to separately release their second quarter financial results Aug. 10…Viacom reported it took in revenues of $3.299 billion during the second quarter. MONDAY JULY 27, 2009 SENATE CONFIRMS FCC PICKS FCC SLATES SATELLITE RADIO, WCS TESTS DISH NETWORK FIGHTS FTA FIRMS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Consumers will tire of being charged for programming everywhere...Apple mistakenly sticks to single battery stance on new iPhone NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv offeres PBS stations in HD in several more markets...Adelstein confirmed for RUS head. FRIDAY JULY 24, 2009 AT&T SEES DIRECTV SUBS ADD UP DIRECTV KICKS OFF NEW OFFER NEWS & NOTES: Sirius XM Radio plans to release its second quarter earnings Aug. 6...The DirecTv Group continued to add stations to its line-ups in markets where it offers local stations. WEDNESDAY JULY 22, 2009 QWEST, DIRECTV RENEW DISTRIBUTION DEAL FTC, STATES PRESS DISH NETWORK CASE GENACHOWSKI, MCDOWELL EYE FCC REFORM SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES FCC NOMINEES NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv is working with the new NBC show "The Wanted."...Move Networks is declining to comment on whether Roxanne Austin made an investment in the company in conjunction with her being named its president...Distributors DSI Systems, Dow Electronics, Pace International, and Case-SRS are offering discounts to The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association members. MONDAY JULY 20, 2009 ECHOSTAR LAYS OUT TIVO APPEAL POINTS ECHOSTAR WORKS ON NEW TIVO FIX SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Move Networks press release crediting Roxanne Austin with turning around DirecTv was wrong, and insulting...Sad news about former SBCA/DirecTv anti-piracy head Larry Rissler...Anniversary of lunar landing provides great benchmark for technology...Cronkite call of moon walk deserves more attention than the end of Michael Jackson's moon walk. NEWS & NOTES: The House Communications, Technology, and the Internet Subcommittee has scheduled an FCC oversight hearing for Thursday that will serve as new FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s first appearance in front of the subcommittee. FRIDAY JULY 17, 2009 JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CIRCULATES DRAFT BILL STATES SETTLE DISH NETWORK COMPLAINTS SENATE COMMITTEE SETS FCC NOMINATION VOTE DIRECTV PLAYS DOWN FEE CASE NEWS & NOTES: HBO received the most Emmy nominations of any channel or network with 99. NBC received the mot nominations among the broadcasters with 67. Showtime received 29 nominations. WEDNESDAY JULY 15, 2009 ROSS INTRODUCES ‘SPLIT MARKET’ BILL JUDGE STICKS TO SANCTION HEARING PLAN VIEWTECH OWNER JAILED ON PIRACY CHARGES CONTINENTAL SETS UP DIRECTV SERVICE NEWS & NOTES: International Launch Services and SES reached an agreement for the launch in 2011 of the QuetzSat-1 satellite...Reelzchannel reached agreements to make programming available on Dish Network and Charter Communications’ video-on-demand services…Mercedes-Benz USA said it plans to offer buyers of certified pre-owned vehicles three fee months of Sirius XM Radio’s Sirius Everything package…Former DirecTv President Roxanne Austin was named president and chief executive officer of Internet video streaming company Move Networks. MONDAY JULY 13, 2009 HOUSE WORKS ON SATELLITE TV LEGISLATION TIVO FIGHTS ECHOSTAR SANCTION DELAY DIRECTV ADDS MORE LOCAL STATIONS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Comcast comes up with a good add...The lesson of Karmazin's story...America's endless line of media freak shows. FRIDAY JULY 10, 2009 TIVO PATENT CASE RULING UNLIKELY THIS YEAR CANADIAN DBS SERVICES DERIDE FUND FEE HIKE ECHOSTAR, GOL TV FILE DUELING MOTIONS CAL AMP SEES ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT NEWS & NOTES: Shaw Communications said its Shaw Direct DBS service, formerly known as Star Choice, added 1,580 net new subscribers during its fiscal third quarter WEDNESDAY JULY 8, 2009 TIVO PATENT CASE RULING UNLIKELY THIS YEAR OHIO HIGH COURT TAKES UP DBS TAX CASE SENATE SETS FCC CONFIRMATION HEARING NORTHPOINT SUES DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK KARMAZIN GETS SIRIUS EXTENSION, PAY RAISE DBS SERVICES SET UP FOR MORE LOCAL HD WEDNESDAY JULY 1, 2009 SIRIUS XM TUNES IN LAUNCH SUCCESS FCC DELAYS SIRIUS XM COMMITMENT, AGAIN DISH NETWORK ADS SPARK LEGAL TALK GENACHOWKSI TAKES HELM AT FCC NEWS & NOTES: As expected, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) signed a state budget bill into law Monday that includes a 5 percent tax on satellite TV service in the state. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 & 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 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 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 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 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’ 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’ 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 WILDBLUE UNVEILS LEASE PLAN NEWS & NOTES: Golf Channel said yesterday it reached a new carriage agreement with Dish Network. Dish Network also signed an agreement last week to continue carrying HDNet and HDNet Movies, sources said...The Big Ten Network reached carriage deals with Time Warner and Charter Communications…The DirecTv Group started offering local stations in high-definition in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Augusta, Ga. MONDAY AUG. 25, 2008 ACA APPLAUDS DUAL MUST-CARRY RELIEF DISH NETWORK RETAILERS GET DEBIT PRIMER SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: NBC's not-so-live Olympics coverage...XM-Sirius merger, Dish Network struggles make summer headlines FRIDAY AUG. 22, 2008 DISH NETWORK MAKES PLAY FOR CONVERSIONS DIRECTV ADDS MORE HD LOCALS MCDOWELL SLATES ALASKA DIGITAL TV TRIP NEWS & NOTES: The Big Ten Network said it reached a carriage agreement with US Cable…ESPN and Major League Baseball reached a new agreement that provides ESPN the rights to offer Major League Baseball content on its web sites and mobile phone service. WEDNESDAY AUG. 20, 2008 COMMISSIONERS PLAN DIGITAL TV ROAD TRIPS DIRECTV SPOTS LOCAL AD DEAL CONSUMERS UNION SEEKS ACCESS CHANGES NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group reached an agreement to add INSP-The Inspiration Network to its channel line-up next Wednesday in all of its programming packages…Sports radio personality Chris “Mad Dog” Russo signed a five-year contract to work for a new sports talk channel that will be available on both XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. MONDAY AUG. 18, 2008 DISH NETWORK SPEAKS UP ON QUIET PERIOD DIRECTV OFFERS OFF-AIR LOCAL SOLUTION DIRECTV SLATES NEXT LOCAL HD MARKETS PROGRAMMERS PUSH UNBUNDLING TELESAT DEFENDS REVERSE BAND PROPOSAL SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: NBC Olympic offerings too tough to navigate...HBO's football show worth watching...Watch LA Times stock price. NEWS & NOTES: Former DirecTv President Eddy Hartenstein was named publisher of The Los Angeles Times. FRIDAY AUG. 15, 2008 ECHOSTAR PRESSES TIVO WORKAROUND CASE NAB PLEDGE FALLS SHORT FOR DISH NETWORK NDS MOVES CLOSER TO GOING PRIVATE PROGRAMMERS PUSH UNBUNDLING TELESAT DEFENDS REVERSE BAND PROPOSAL NEWS & NOTES: An Arianespace rocket successfully launched SES Americom’s AMC-21 Ku-band/C-band yesterday from French Guiana. The satellite is slated to occupy the 125-degree orbital slot…According to reports, Sirius XM Radio President Mel Karmazin said during a televised interview that he plans to announce executive level lay-offs next month. Most expect Karmazin to largely keep his former staff from the standalone Sirius Satellite Radio service. WEDNESDAY AUG. 13, 2008 DISH NETWORK SEEKS SUPREME TIVO REVIEW LIBERTY ADDS MORE DOUBT TO DBS COMBO TALK RETAILER PAYS PRICE FOR DISH NETWORK FRAUD ECHOSTAR, INTELSAT SQUABBLE OVER TIMING CABLE SCOFFS AT NAB RETRANS PLEDGE NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar licensed CableLabs’ “Tru2way” technology…Dish Network said it was named “official high-definition satellite television service provider” of the 2008 Democratic Convention, which is taking place Aug. 25 28 in Denver, where Dish Network is based. MONDAY AUG. 11, 2008 DISH NETWORK PLOTS “EASTERN ARC” OPTION DIRECTV SEEKS TO NET GOLTV VIEWERS DISH NETWORK EYES WIDER TURBOHD ROLLOUT BCE CHANGES BELL EXPRESSVU TO BELL TV MARTIN SEES NO LET UP IN A LA CARTE PUSH NEWS & NOTES: David Wolford, who in the early 1980s founded Satellite Orbit Magazine, the first full-scale listing/guide magazine for C-band dish owners, died last month in Arizona, according to an obituary published last week in an Idaho newspaper. Wolford's company, CommTek Publishing, also published one of the first industry trade publications, Satellite Dealer Magazine. He was 70 and had not been active in satellite TV industry affairs for well over a decade…TiVo filed an opposition under seal objecting to EchoStar’s motion asking a federal judge in Delaware to declare that the software “workaround” EchoStar downloaded to millions of Dish Network digital video recorders does not violate TiVo’s so-called Time Warp patent. FRIDAY AUG. 8, 2008 IMPROVEMENTS DRIVE ‘SOLID’ DIRECTV RESULTS SIRIUS XM LOOKS TO IMPROVE SHARE PRICE SIRIUS XM PLANS RADIO ROLLOUTS DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA STEPS UP TALLY CAREY DISMISSES MERGER IDEA DISH NETWORK BACKS RETRANS “QUIET PERIOD” NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network plans to offer a “mosaic” channel of NBC Universal’s coverage of the Summer Olympics. Dish Network also plans to make various interactive information available, such as athlete profiles, medal counts, and late-breaking news. It also is offering two high-definition channels for soccer and basketball coverage...Applian Technologies and All Alex developed screen capture software called WM Capture that will enable users to record NBC’s online Olympics coverage on their computers. WEDNESDAY AUG. 6, 2008 DISH NETWORK SEES RECOVERY FROM SUB LOSS FCC ORDER DETAILS XM-SIRIUS JUSTIFICATIONS DISH NETWORK PLANS FOR AT&T UNCERTAINTY ERGEN SHOWS ‘STUBBORN’ SIDE ON TIVO NDS CLOSES IN ON GOING PRIVATE DISH NETWORK BACKS RETRANS “QUIET PERIOD” NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv said it plans to offer four high-definition channels carrying coverage of the PGA Championship this weekend, as well as various interactive features...Sirius XM President Mel Karmazin paid more than $2.7 million to purchase 2 million shares of Sirius XM stock. Meanwhile, Sirius XM subsidiary XM Satellite Radio offered to buyback about $200 million in debt. MONDAY AUG. 4, 2008 CITADEL STATIONS LEAVE DISH NETWORK WYDEN DROPS TAX BILL IN SENATE SIRIUS MAKES MANAGEMENT MOVES DISH NETWORK GIVES GOL TV RED CARD SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: GM shareholders might regret leaving satellite TV business...Could be tough day for Dish Network...Karmazin comments show mean and nasty side...Tate loses chance to make a mark...Broadcasters asking too much in satellite TV law changes. FRIDAY AUG. 1, 2008 DISH NETWORK EYES 150 HD CHANNELS KARAMZIN THANKS NAB FOR MERGER APPROVAL TATE DEFENDS ROAD TO “DIFFICULT” VOTE NEWS & NOTES: The T. Howard Foundation elected Comcast Cable Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Andrew Topping to its board of directors...Dish Network asked the FCC to ensure that both Time Warner and Time Warner Cable are subject to program access conditions if Time Warner Cable is allowed to split from Time Warner...Comcast said it lost a net total of 138,000 basic cable subscribers during the second quarter, dropping its total to 24.6 million. Cablevision said it added a net total of 7,000 basic cable subscribers, bringing its total to 3.34 million. WEDNESDAY JULY 30, 2008 FCC PUTS STAMP ON XM-SIRIUS DEAL OK XM, SIRIUS WRAP UP MERGER COMMISSIONERS EXPLAIN SIDES IN SPLIT VOTE DIRECTV LAYS OUT HD EXPANSION PLANS DIRECTV SPICES UP FALL OFFER DISH NETWORK SEEKS RETAILER TAX HELP NEWS & NOTES: Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), former chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, was indicted yesterday on federal charges he did not report more than $250,000 in gifts he received. TUESDAY JULY 29, 2008 XM, SIRIUS COMPLETE MERGER MONDAY JULY 28, 2008 XM-SIRIUS EYE CLOSING AFTER GETTING FCC OK MERGER APPROVAL GETS MIXED REVIEWS SKYTERRA, MSV GET DEBT FINANCING SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Martin goes down in the books as the worst FCC Chairman ever and Tate misses a chance to be remembered...Kudos to DirecTv and Dish Network for state tax bill bill success FRIDAY JULY 25, 2008 FCC APPROVES XM-SIRIUS DEAL FRIDAY JULY 25, 2008 XM-SIRIUS STILL WAITING TO CROSS FINISH LINE DEAL ON VIOLATIONS TEES UP XM-SIRIUS OK SATELLITE TV GETS TAX BILL WIN AT&T SEES DISH NETWORK SALES SLUMP ECHOSTAR, TIVO AGREE OVER REPAIRS NEWS & NOTES: XM Satellite Radio said it priced an offering of $778.5 million in new senior notes. WEDNESDAY JULY 23, 2008 XM-SIRIUS APPROVAL NOW ON HALF-INCH LINE XM RESULTS SHOW SUBS ADDS, LOWER LOSS DIRECTV TAKES CONTROL OF DIRECTV-11 ALPHASTAR OFFERS HAND IN XM-SIRIUS REVIEW NEWS & NOTES: The House Judiciary Committee’s Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee plans to mark-up Committee Chairman John Conyers’ (D-Mich.) bill that would prohibit states from imposing “discriminatory” taxes against satellite TV services compared to those imposed on cable services...Dish Network notified retailers it has started making PBS stations available in the Billings, Great Galls, and Helena, Mont., markets…KVH, which manufacturers satellite TV reception equipment for recreational vehicles, reported revenues of $22.3 million during the second quarter, down from the $23.2 million it generated in the second quarter of last year. MONDAY JULY 21, 2008 TIVO WORKS OVER ECHOSTAR ‘WORKAROUND’ DISH NETWORK SWITCHES ON MORE LOCAL HD COURT SETS ECHOSTAR-VIEWTECH MEETING ALPHASTAR OFFERS HAND IN XM-SIRIUS REVIEW SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Tate should do the right thing and cast vote against XM-Sirius...EchoStar-Viewtech case is more important than some might think. FRIDAY JULY 18, 2008 TATE TAKES MEETINGS ON XM-SIRIUS DEAL VOOM DISPUTES ECHOSTAR CLAIMS SEARS SELLS DISH NETWORK DTVPAL UNITS DISH NETWORK SUFFERS ECHOSTAR-2 LOSS NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group said yesterday it is now offering a selection of Olympics-related video-on-demand programming from NBC...Emmy nominations announced. WEDNESDAY JULY 16, 2008 LAUNCH BOOSTS DISH NETWORK HD PLANS SATELLITE TV PUSHES TAX ISSUE ON HILL NAB, MARKEY PILE ON XM-SIRIUS OBJECTIONS DIRECTV FLOATS ALL-STAR MESSAGES TO CABLE TWO DISH DEALERS RING UP DO-NOT-CALL FINES BROADCASTERS PONDER NPS RULING NEWS & NOTES: A Canadian man pleaded guilty to one count of violating federal anti-piracy laws. MONDAY JULY 14, 2008 ONLY MARTIN HAS VOTED ON XM-SIRIUS DEAL NDS BLASTS ECHOSTAR RESTITUTION CLAIM DISH NETWORK EYES OFF-AIR VIEWERS NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv told retailers it is allowing qualified dealer to offer customers additional $10 per month discounts for four months. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Sad news about John Quale...Ergen and EchoStar will not change gameplan to appease Wall Street or press. FRIDAY JULY 11, 2008 DISH NETWORK PLANS “TURBO HD” LAUNCH TIVO ASKS COURT TO DISMISS ECHOSTAR ACTION WILDBLUE AUGMENTS CAPACITY DIRECTV CLOSES DEAL TO TAKE OVER INSTALLS GROUPS SEEK MORE XM-SIRIUS DOCUMENTS CAL AMP RAMPS UP DISH SALES NEWS & NOTES: FCC Chairman Kevin Martin (R) is expected to announce this morning that he intends to recommend the commission take action against Comcast regarding the cable company’s management of its high-speed data network. WEDNESDAY JULY 9, 2008 NPS TOUTS APPEALS COURT VICTORY VIEWTECH COUNTERPUNCHES ECHOSTAR DIRECTV EXTENDS SPRING OFFER C-BAND DIPS SLIGHTLY IN JUNE XM-SIRIUS LOBBYING KEEPS UP COMCAST, NFL NETWORK AGREE TO MEDIATION TUESDAY JULY 8, 2008 NPS WINS DISTANT STATION APPEAL DISH NETWORK LOSES STATION IN DISPUTE BROADCASTERS, STATES FIGHT XM-SIRIUS NEWS & NOTES: The floating Sea Launch platform has left its home port in Long Beach, Cal., carrying the EchoStar-11 satellite, which is scheduled to be launched in the middle of this month, once it reaches the Equator…Dish Network is now offering customers in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Lansing, Mich.; and Syracuse, N.Y., markets local stations in high-definition. As expected, the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association formally announced Joseph Widoff as its new executive director. WEDNESDAY JULY 2, 2008 AT&T MAKES NEXT MOVE IN DBS TALKS KARMAZIN PUSHES XM-SIRIUS APPROVAL AT FCC COPYRIGHT OFFICE SUGGESTS DISTANT CHANGES DIRECTV ROLLS OUT VOD SERVICE TIVO URGES AGAINST ECHOSTAR REQUEST NEWS & NOTES: Long-time Washington communications attorney John Quale died Sunday after a long batter with cancer. He was 61...As expected, Dish Network added Grand Rapids, Mich., and Memphis, Tenn., to the list of markets where its offers local stations in high-definition…The DirecTv Group opened a new call center in Huntington, W. Va.…RFD-TV said it is starting a new national advertising campaign that will include sponsorship of a car running Friday in the Nascar race in Daytona. MONDAY JUNE 30, 2008 ECHOSTAR CLAIMS VOOM BREACHED CONTRACT ECHOSTAR STANDS BY $94 MILLION NDS CLAIM NEWS CORP. LOOKS TO TAKE NDS PRIVATE XM MAKES FINANCING MOVES NEWS & NOTES: A New York state appeals court upheld a lower court ruling calling for Cablevision’s Rainbow DBS to pay Loral Space and Communications $52 million. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Do not be surprised if the FCC releases a decision on XM-Sirius Thursday night...Reporters will miss Abe Peled's unintentionally funny conference calls..Wishing a happy July 4th holiday and summer to all. FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2008 COPPS, ADELSTEIN MAY SPLIT ON XM-SIRIUS DISNEY DISPUTES KOHL STANCE DISH NETWORK ROLLS OUT OFF-AIR DIGITAL BOX PARTIES KEEP WEIGHING IN ON XM-SIRIUS DEAL NEWS & NOTES: RFD-TV announced it has reached a master distribution agreement with Verizon that will allow the service to be offered to Verizon’s own video subscribers in 13 states over the next few months...Joseph Widoff has joined the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association as executive director. WEDNESDAY JUNE 25, 2008 FOES KEEP PUMMELING XM-SIRIUS PROPOSAL KOHL VOICES PROGRAM ACCESS CONCERNS DIRECTV PREPS LOCAL DEALER ADS DIRECTV SLATES HINDI PACKAGE OFFER MONDAY JUNE 23, 2008 DBS, BROADCASTERS DUEL OVER MUST-CARRY DISH NETWORK SEES TRANSITION OPPORTUNITY DIRECTV DROPS INSTALLATION COMPANY SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: XM-Sirius decision propels Martin past Hundt as worst FCC Chairman ever. FRIDAY JUNE 20, 2008 NAB SEES NO RELIEF IN XM-SIRIUS PROPOSAL COMCAST, BIG TEN NETWORK REACH ACCORD CANADIAN VIDEO SERVICES SEE REVENUES RISE DIRECTV KEEPS UP CHANNEL CHANGES WEDNESDAY JUNE 18, 2008 MARTIN MOVES XM-SIRIUS TO VOTING STAGE AT&T FORCES DISH NETWORK STAKE BUYBACK XM, SIRIUS DETAIL NEW CONDITIONS TO FCC NDS HEAPS OBJECTIONS ON ECHOSTAR CLAIM C-BAND USERS HOLD UP ABOVE 50,000 NEWS & NOTES: Hughes Network Systems’ HughesNet satellite-delivered, two-way Internet service is now offering the Elite and ElitePlus packages that offer speeds of up 2 megabytes per second and 3 Mbps, respectively. MONDAY JUNE 16, 2008 TIVO SEEKS ‘WORKAROUND’ CONTEMPT ORDER MARTIN TO SUPPORT XM-SIRIUS MERGER NDS CHIDES ECHOSTAR OVER RESTITUTION BID SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Cable trying to block competition with high-speed data stance...Russert coverage goes overboard. FRIDAY JUNE 13, 2008 ECHOSTAR WANTS NDS TO PAY $94 MILLION DIRECTV, OTHERS DEFEND TERMINATION FEES TERRESTAR MOVES FORWARD WITH DEALS BROWNBACK BEMOANS XM-SIRIUS DEAL NEWS & NOTES: Futron issued a report commissioned by the Satellite Industry Association showing the commercial satellite industry took in total revenues of $123 billion in 2007, a 16 percent increase over the previous year...Dish Network renewed its retransmission agreement to carry the analog and digital versions of Tribune’s 23 local television stations...Frontier Airlines added seven channels to the DirecTv service it offers on certain flights. WEDNESDAY JUNE 11, 2008 ERGEN SAYS VOOM TO BLAME FOR DROP LAWMAKERS’ OFFER FOGGY DIGITAL OUTLOOK DIRECTV, LIBERTY PONDER OWNERSHIP IDEAS DISH NETWORK PROMISES MORE HD LOCALS XM, SIRIUS DEFEND RECORD AT FCC VERIZON SEES STRONGER DIRECTV BOND NEWS & NOTES: XM Satellite Radio and EMI settled the lawsuit EMI filed claiming the recording functions of XM’s Pioneer-built Inno unit violated the company’s copyrights...The DirecTv Group reached a new agreement to retransmit LIN TV’s digital and analog broadcast stations in 15 markets…Dish Network said that starting tomorrow it plans to offer a “mosaic” channel with video from six ESPN feeds of U.S. Open golf coverage. MONDAY JUNE 9, 2008 DIRECTV OFFER TIES NFL PACKAGE TO NASCAR DIRECTV TAKES ON RESTAURANTS THOMSON, DIRECTV FOCUS ON MDU TECH LIBERTY PLAYS UP DIRECTV PROSPECTS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Wilmington, N.C., digital TV test plan will not prove anything...There is still no answer to what happens to all those small portable TVs people use in emergencies. FRIDAY JUNE 6, 2008 DBS SERVICES OBJECT TO MORE MUST-CARRY LIBERTY SEES OPPORTUNITIES WITH DIRECTV HDNET RAILS AGAINST PROGRAM TYING MARTIN SEES ‘DIFFICULT ISSUES’ IN XM-SIRIUS NEWS CORP. OBJECTS TO ACCESS STANCE WEDNESDAY JUNE 4, 2008 DIRECTV STARTS CHANNEL NUMBER SHUFFLE AT&T, DISH NETWORK EXTEND FREE OFFER FCC HEARS MORE ON XM-SIRIUS DEAL COPYRIGHT OFFICE PROPOSES CABLE FEES JUDGE KEEPS VIEWTECH RULING IN PLACE MONDAY JUNE 2, 2008 ECHOSTAR SEEKS TIVO ‘WORKAROUND’ OK VOOM FILES NEW LAWSUIT AGAINST ECHOSTAR XM, SIRIUS PUSH REPEATER TESTING SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: DBS services manage to always deal with the next big thing from cable TV. FRIDAY MAY 30, 2008 COURT REJECTS FINISAR REHEARING REQUEST TIVO REMAINS CONFIDENT IN ECHOSTAR CASE DIRECTV KEEPS EYE ON COMPETITION DISH NETWORK SPICES UP RETAILER OFFERS DIRECTV SUBS KEEP DEPARTING FROM TIVO BROADCAST GROUP FIGHTS AGAINST XM-SIRIUS NEWS & NOTES: Space Systems/Loral delivered Dish Network’s EchoStar-11 satellite to Sea Launch...Dish Network added several features to its interactive election campaign application. WEDNESDAY MAY 28, 2008 ECHOSTAR DEFENDS TIVO WORKAROUND MARTIN EYES JUNE/JULY XM-SIRIUS DECISION XM JUGGLES BASEBALL FINANCING DIRECTV SETS UP RETAILERS FOR WILDBLUE NEWS & NOTES: Slingbox competitor Monsoon Multimedia released a version of its software that enables users of Symbian mobile phones to remotely view their home televisions. FRIDAY MAY 23, 2008 TIVO ASKS BLOCK OF ECHOSTAR ‘WORKAROUND’ DISH NETWORK SLATES MPEG-4 UPGRADE DISH NETWORK EYES $750 MILLION DEBT OFFER CABLE EXECS DEMAND VOD RESPECT SENATORS SEEK XM-SIRIUS CONDITIONS NEWS CORP. GETS MORE STATIC ON CONDITIONS DIRECTV OFFERS BLACKOUT SEARCH TOOL WEDNESDAY MAY 21, 2008 FCC WANTS XM-SIRIUS DEAL CUT WITH CRITICS STUDY HAILS DIRECTV, DISH CUSTOMER SERVICE HILL SIGNALS TALK ABOUT DISTANT STATIONS CABLE EXECS DEMAND VOD RESPECT DIGITAL TRANSITION QUESTIONS REMAIN NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network subsidiary EchoStar DBS said it plans to offer approximately $500 million in debt...Dish Network said it reached an agreement to incorporate the ability for subscribers with digital video recorders to use their remote controls to request more information about advertisements seen on NBC Universal’s 14 channels, as well as 10 NBC owned-and-operated local broadcast stations. MONDAY MAY 19, 2008 ERGEN PLANTS HD FLAG AT TEAM SUMMIT CABLE PLAYS UP PERFORMANCE, PROSPECTS NFL LOSES INJUNCTION REQUEST AGAINST DISH SMALL CABLE, NEWS CORP. SPAR OVER ACCESS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: There are lessons in the EchoStar/Nagra-NDS trial...NCTA makes difficult return to New Orleans. FRIDAY MAY 16, 2008 NDS COMES OUT AHEAD IN TRIAL DISH NETWORK DROPS OTHER SHOE ON VOOM DIRECTV SETS UP STOCK BUYBACK FINANCING DIRECTV TOUTS HD, NET SUB SUCCESS NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar/Dish Network opened its eleventh annual “Team Summit” retailer event, last night in Nashville. According to those in attendance, the theme of this year’s show is “Decision Dish Network, Leadership Through Innovation.” THURSDAY MAY 15, 2008 SPLIT VERDICT MOSTLY GOOD NEWS FOR NDS WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2008 DISH NETWORK SEES STEEP NET SUB ADD DROP XM, SIRIUS BEMOAN REVIEW PROCESS DISH NETWORK STARTS TO DROP BOOM ON VOOM AUTO SALES STEER XM, SIRIUS RESULTS LIBERTY STAYS BULLISH ON DIRECTV DISH FOLLOWS SUIT IN PAY-PER-VIEW TIME LIMITS NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar plans to demonstrate the SlingModem at the NCTA convention. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 DIRECTV, COMCAST GET COURT DATE 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 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 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 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” 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 NEWS & NOTES: The American Cable Association named Ross Lieberman vice president of government affairs...EchoStar said it plans to offer a “mosaic” channel showing six screens of ESPN’s coverage of the U.S. Open golf tournament this weekend…XM Canada said it finished its fiscal third quarter, ended May 31, with 270,000 subscribers…“The Sopranos” finale Sunday night was the second most watched show ever of the series, attracting about 11.9 million viewers, HBO said. MONDAY JUNE 11, 2007 FCC STARTS OFFICIAL XM-SIRIUS REVIEW SKY ANGEL TO IPTV; ECHOSTAR WANTS SLOT COMCAST, TIME WARNER TAKE ON TELCOS, DBS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Better for companies to work with Slingbox than against it...Martin's curse-filled statement on obscenity fine ruling...Sopranos goes with anti-climax climax. NEWS & NOTES: Cable overbuilder RCN said it reached an agreement to start offering the Major League Baseball Extra Innings package of out-of-market games, beginning July 9...A report commissioned by the Satellite Industry Association showed satellite industry revenues of $106.1 billion in 2006, up from $88.8 billion in 2005. FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2007 NAB URGES SIRIUS, XM TO DROP MERGER PLANS BROADCASTERS KEEP PUSHING AGAINST NPS DIRECTV-10 MAKES IT TO KAZAKHSTAN SENATORS BACK CONDITIONS ON DIRECTV DEAL DIRECTV OPENS NEW DENVER FACILITY NEWS & NOTES: National Cable and Telecommunications Association Executive Vice President David Krone plans to leave the group, effective Oct. 1…Jim Meyer reached an agreement to remain Sirius Satellite Radio’s president of operations and sales through April 30, 2010…The DirecTv Group plans to offer a “mix” channel showing four screens of ESPN’s coverage of the first two rounds of next week’s U.S. Open golf tournament. WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 2007 TIVO STATES CASE AGAINST ECHOSTAR APPEAL ECHOSTAR, BROADCASTERS SETTLE FEE SPAT TIVO SEES POSITIVES IN LIBERTY-DIRECTV DEAL SIRIUS GETS $250 MILLION LOAN ERGEN PRAISES DEPARTING MOSKOWITZ INDECENCY RULING SEEN AS WIN FOR SERVICES ECHOSTAR SHIPS NEW HD RECEIVER MONDAY JUNE 4, 2007 KENTUCKY TAX RULING DISAPPOINTS DBS MOSKOWITZ TO RETIRE FROM ECHOSTAR JUDGE LAYS OUT ECHOSTAR-NDS CASE TIMELINE C-BAND DIPS TOWARD 50,000 MARK FORGENT PONDERS NEXT PATENT STEP SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Lawsuits over picture quality are silly...Short NHRA...TiVo's management risks credibility as DirecTv/TiVo subs depart. FRIDAY JUNE 1, 2007 KARMAZIN BLASTS NAB FOR LOBBYING EFFORT DIRECTV CUSTOMERS KEEP LEAVING TIVO DIRECTV SATELLITE LAUNCH RESCHEDULED DIRECTV DERIDES COMCAST COUNTERCLAIM PHONE COMPANIES PITCH VIDEO PLANS GROUPS SEE PROS, CONS IN XM-SIRIUS COMBO FCC CLEARS WAY FOR MDU COMPETITION NEWS & NOTES: The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s ruling dismissing a lawsuit EchoStar and DirecTv filed contesting Kentucky’s taxes on DBS services...Thomson said it has delivered 1 million high-definition DirecTv receivers…HD Partners Acquisition Corp., which was formed by several former DirecTv executives, reached a deal to acquire the National Hot Rod Association. WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2007 COMCAST COUNTERSUES DIRECTV OVER ADS DIRECTV EYES ALASKA, HAWAII WORKAROUND ECHOSTAR KEEPS UP REVERSE BAND TALK NAB WANTS SIRIUS-XM INFO ON FM MODULATORS XM-SIRIUS DEAL GETS LATIN CITIZEN SUPPORT NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications reached an agreement to offer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios’ movie library on its video-on-demand and pay-per-view services…TiVo is scheduled to release its first quarter financial results today. FRIDAY MAY 25, 2007 XM OFFERS SUBS CREDIT FOR OUTAGE KOHL LINES UP AGAINST XM-SIRIUS DEAL SIDES WEIGH IN ON 700 MHZ AUCTION PLAN DINGELL, MARKEY PUSH FOR DIGITAL PLAN DIRECTV SPELLS OUT MORE HD PLANS NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications launched the “HSN Shop by Remote” service in which subscribers with interactive receivers can use their remote controls to buy various products through an interactive channel on EchoStar’s DBS service…XM Satellite Radio reached an agreement to be the exclusive satellite radio provider of Fox Sports’ coverage of the NCAA’s Bowl Championship Series, national championship, and other BCS football games…Rogers Communications and CTV reached agreements to carry National Football League games in Canada…Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) introduced a bill to improve the way the FCC collects data about high-speed data service penetration. WEDNESDAY MAY 23, 2007 XM RESTORES SERVICE AFTER SATELLITE GLITCH JURY SIDES WITH ECHOSTAR IN FORGENT CASE ECHOSTAR BEMOANS REVERSE BAND ORDER LAWMAKER RAISES XM-SIRIUS CONCERNS FCC SHIELDS INFO IN LIBERTY-NEWS CORP. TRANSACTION NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group plans today to add Azteca America to its local-into-local line-up in Phoenix. MONDAY MAY 21, 2007 DIRECTV AGREES TO SETTLE WITH FORGENT DIRECTV PLANS “PREMIERE” RETAILER DEAL CAL AMP DETAILS ECHOSTAR DISH ISSUES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: People are still talking about Martin's poor performance at the NCTA show...Las Vegas is no place for a convention anymore...Converter box subsidy program is a problem waiting to happen. FRIDAY MAY 18, 2007 LIBERTY CHIEF PREDICTS EASY APPROVAL PATH ECHOSTAR HITS REDIAL WITH CENTURYTEL HOUSE LOOKS AT MEASURING BROADBAND AT&T EYES SINGLE DBS DEAL BY YEAR-END TELEPHONE GROUP BACKS PROGRAM ACCESS NEWS & NOTES: The Canadian Radio-Telecommunications Commission adopted rules setting a deadline of Aug. 31, 2011, by which broadcasters must stop transmitting analog signals and rely solely on digital transmissions. WEDNESDAY MAY 16, 2007 DBS AGAIN TOPS CABLE IN SATISFACTION SURVEY NCTA CHIEF MAKES PITCH FOR LESS REGULATION XM SUSPENDS CONTROVERSIAL HOSTS NEXT DIRECTV SATELLITE SET FOR JUNE LAUNCH NAB WANTS BIG PUSH ON DIGITAL CONVERTERS NPS DEFENDS DISTANT NETWORK SERVICE NEWS & NOTES: Intelsat reported revenues of $518.2 million and a net loss of $115.1 million in the first quarter…Monsoon Multimedia, which sells a product called HAVA similar to the Slingbox to enable the remote viewing of television signals via high-speed data services, released a new version of its software to enable remote viewing on Windows Mobile-enabled phones or handheld devices...DirecTv Group President Chase Carey said during a conference this week DirecTv would consider using broadband over powerline to deliver high-speed Internet access. MONDAY MAY 14, 2007 DIRECTV SUES COMCAST OVER HD ADS DBS CLOSES IN ON 30 MILLION SUBS ERGEN BEMOANS “REVERSE BAND” ORDER SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: EchoStar and NCTA events show the DBS-Cable battle continues. FRIDAY MAY 11, 2007 ECHOSTAR SUB ADDS GROW REVENUE DIRECTV PLAYS UP “ADVANCED” SUBS ADDS CABLE EXECS PREDICT BIG FUTURE HEARING FORCASTS DIGITAL VIDEO FUTURE HNS SEES REVENUE GROWTH NEWS & NOTES: Viacom reported revenues of $2.75 billion in the first quarter, a 16 percent increase over the same period of last year…A Superior Court of Justice in Quebec issued injunctions against two web sites accused of providing information on how to steal EchoStar’s DBS service…HBO Chairman Chris Albrecht resigned in the wake of being arrested Saturday in Las Vegas in connection to an alleged altercation with his girlfriend...A New York State Supreme Court Judge ruled that Comcast should be allowed to distribute the NFL Network in a digital programming package rather than its basic tier. WEDNESDAY MAY 9, 2007 CABLE EXECS EXPECT TO WIN FIGHT FOR SUBS MALONE PLAYS UP DIRECTV OVER CABLE MARTIN, CABLE AGREE TO DISAGREE DIRECTV SEEKS DUAL-MUST CARRY EXTENSION HNS DROPS SATELLITE INTERNET PRICE FCC STAFFERS SEEK FOCUS ON DIGITAL EDUCATION NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group plans to start offering the History Chanel in high-definition starting in September. MONDAY MAY 7, 2007 ECHOSTAR PLEDGES COMMITMENT TO RETAILERS CABLE LANDS IN LAS VEGAS FCC MOVES FORWARD ON REVERSE BAND ECHOSTAR PUSHES DIGITAL VCR LEASE PROGRAM NEWS & NOTES: After a one-day weather delay, Intelsat’s AMC-17 satellite was successfully launched aboard an Arianespace rocket Friday evening. FRIDAY MAY 4, 2007 VOGEL URGES PROGRAMMERS TO REJOIN SBCA CABLE SERVICES GAIN BASIC VIDEO SUBS DIRECTV LETS RETAILERS HANDLE UPGRADES FCC REJECTS NORTHPOINT’S COMPASS PLAN NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications opened its annual dealer meeting last night in Dallas...ION, formerly Paxon Communications, rejected a $2.13 billion buyout offer from EchoStar. ION owns 60 TV stations, as well as the ION network...Inclement weather forced the postponement yesterday of Arianespace’s planned launch of the AMC-17 and Astra-1L satellites…The DirecTv Group started selling its portable SAT-GO satellite TV system...Telesat reported first quarter revenues of $121.6 million (Canadian). WEDNESDAY MAY 2, 2007 SIRIUS NARROWS LOSS, UPS REVENUES ECHOSTAR PREPS RETAILER EVENT VERIZON, QWEST SEE DIRECTV SUBS RISE KARMAZIN EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE ON MERGER C-BAND DEAUTHORIZATIONS SLOW DOWN NDS TOUTS CARD SECURITY FINISAR SUES XM, SIRIUS OVER PATENTS NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group agreed to move the TVG horseracing channel from its Sports Pak to its Total Choice Plus and Choice Xtra packages…Starz Entertainment said it plans to launch three additional high-definition channels by the end of the summer…News Corp. made an offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Dow Jones and Company for about $5 billion at $60 per share...Comcast reached an agreement to pay $570 million in cash to acquire the 50 percent stake Cablevision Systems’ Rainbow Media Holding’s has in Fox SportsNet Bay Area, as well as the 50 percent stake Rainbow holds in Fox SportsNet New England...Telesat said its Anik-F3 C-band/medium-power Ku-band/Ka-band satellite is now operational. EchoStar has leased the Ku-band portion of the satellite. MONDAY APRIL 30, 2007 SIRIUS RESPONDS TO VIDEO SERVICE CONCERNS DIRECTV PUSHES REVERSE BAND PLAN ECHOSTAR PITCHES ITALIAN OFFERS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Valenti made an impression on a young reporter and remains the gold standard that association presidents are compared to. FRIDAY APRIL 27, 2007 XM IMPROVES FINANCIAL RESULTS NCTA OBJECTS TO DUAL MUST-CARRY PROPOSAL FCC KEEPS PONDERING 700 MHZ AUCTION PLAN T. HOWARD RAISES RECORD AT NEW YORK EVENT COMCAST PLAYS UP RESULTS FROM TRIPLE PLAY NEWS & NOTES: Former Motion Picture Association of America President Jack Valenti died yesterday after a brief illness.…The five FCC commissioners could vote in private, or “on circulation,” as soon as early next week on issues related to the provision of DBS service using the 17 GHz and 24 GHz spectrum bands…DirecTv has started offering the ABC, Fox, CBS, Univision, and PBS stations in the Laredo, Texas, market...DirecTv said it plans to air new episodes this fall of the soap opera “Passions,” which NBC recently cancelled. WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 2007 SIRIUS DETAILS TOP EXECS’ PAY SCALES AT&T TALLIES VIDEO SUBSCRIBERS NCTA MAKES CASE AGAINST MORE REGULATION LAWMAKERS OFFER RANGE OF BROADBAND VIEWS BARTON, UPTON PUSH MARTIN TO DROP CABLE AGENDA NEWS & NOTES: The FCC yesterday removed a controversial rulemaking regarding so-called “tweener” DBS orbital slots from the agenda for its public meeting today...The Media Access Project issued two reports this week contending that cable operators, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others used retaliatory bidding and other tactics to “deliberately and successfully” block DirecTv and EchoStar’s Wireless DBS joint venture and other bidders from winning licenses in the FCC’s advanced wireless services auction last year. MONDAY APRIL 23, 2007 DIRECTV PREPS NEXT CONSUMER OFFER OVERBUILDER CAUTIONS ON DIRECTV DEAL SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: NBC actions in the past few weeks highlight the decline of network news. NEWS & NOTES: It appeared that satellite dealer Buddy Davis and early satellite dish hobbyist Bob Cooper were the only two out of 10 who showed up Friday night to accept their awards at a self-proclaimed “Satellite Pioneers” dinner held during an independent trade show in Atlanta. Cooper, who now lives out of the country, was eventually found liable for his piracy activities but did not mention his legal troubles in his remarks to the crowd. During his talk, Davis repeatedly told the audience that “you’ve got royal blood in your veins.” FRIDAY APRIL 20, 2007 ECHOSTAR SEEKS REVERSAL IN TIVO CASE JUDGE SIDES WITH DIRECTV ON HD ADS DIRECTV TRIES TO CUT DOWN ON EARLY CHURN WIRELESS GROUP OBJECTS TO SIRIUS VIDEO DIRECTV ADDS LOCAL HD MARKETS NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications started carrying V-me, a Spanish-language entertainment and public affairs channel. It also started carrying The Starfish Television Network, which provides news and information about charitable causes…KVH Industries reported first quarter revenues of $20.4 million, up slightly from the $20.3 million it recorded in the first quarter of last year. WEDNESDAY APRIL 18, 2007 KARMAZIN FACES FAMILIAR QUESTIONS REHR KEEPS BAD-MOUTHING XM-SIRIUS DEAL MARTIN WANTS CONGRESS TO PURSUE A LA CARTE SIDES WEIGH IN ON PROGRAM ACCESS COPYRIGHT OFFICE LOOKS AT CABLE, SATELLITE LICENSES NEWS & NOTES: XM Satellite Radio’s XM Canada affiliate said it ended its second quarter with a total of 237,500 subscribers. MONDAY APRIL 16, 2007 IOWA PONDERS SATELLITE TV TAX BROADCASTERS GATHER IN LAS VEGAS DIRECTV PLANS TO SERVE UP TENNIS CHANNEL DIRECTV GETS WIN IN END-USER PIRACY CASE NEWS & NOTES: The FCC granted EchoStar Communications permission to continue to maintain its EchoStar-6 satellite as an in-orbit spare at the 110-degree high-power DBS orbital slot…The FCC gave XM Satellite Radio permission to operate signal boosters and low-power repeaters at various events and venues for 30 days...Sling Media reached an agreement to distribute programming from CBS over the Internet using its Clip+Sling software FRIDAY APRIL 13, 2007 NAB PUSHES COMMISSIONERS TO NIX XM-SIRIUS STATIONS LINE UP AGAINST DIRECTV DEAL JUSTICE WANTS MORE XM-SIRIUS MERGER INFO HNS AUGMENTS CANADIAN SERVICE WEDNESDAY APRIL 11, 2007 DIRECTV, LIBERTY, NEWS CORP. DEFEND DEAL DIRECTV VOWS TO MAKE GOOD ON PROMISES ECHOSTAR FACES NEW PATENT LAWSUIT NEXT TELESAT SATELLITE LAUNCHED SAFELY DIRECTV CAUTIONS ON SEARCH TERMS MONDAY APRIL 9, 2007 ECHOSTAR DOWNPLAYS EXTRA INNINGS IMPACT ECHOSTAR LANDS MASN CARRIAGE DEAL LIBERTY COMPLETES STOCK REPURCHASE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Cable's Extra Innings deal is more than a numbers game FRIDAY APRIL 6, 2007 ECHOSTAR DETAILS EXEC COMPENSATION MCDOWELL EYES DEFINITION IN XM-SIRIUS DEAL DIRECTV PUSHES HIGH-SPEED UNBUNDLING BILL ECHOSTAR LAUNCHES HD RSN EFFORT DIRECTV UPS SOME UPFRONT LEASE FEES KERRY PRAISES EXTRA INNINGS AGREEMENT HYUNDAI, LEXUS COMMIT MORE CARS TO XM SPECIAL EDITION THURSDAY APRIL 5, 2007 DEAL PUTS CABLE IN EXTRA INNINGS GAME; ECHOSTAR STILL SITTING OUT WEDNESDAY APRIL 4, 2007 NEWS CORP. SHAREHOLDERS OK LIBERTY DEAL BASEBALL KEEPS TALKING ABOUT EXTRA INNINGS FCC GETS EARFUL ON PROGRAM ACCESS DIRECTV NAMES CUSTOMER SERVICE EXEC SEA LAUNCH EYES RETURN IN SEPTEMBER NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications and Google entered into an agreement to use an automated advertising system for buying, selling, delivering, and measuring ads on EchoStar’s DBS service...The Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing April 17 on the proposed merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio…Ford Motor Co. plans to factory install Sirius radios in various Lincoln models beginning with the 2008 model year…XM Canada reached a deal to offer a selection of its channels on Rogers Communications cable systems. MONDAY APRIL 2, 2007 EXTRA INNINGS FATE STILL UP IN AIR DIRECTV PUSHES BASEBALL PACKAGE INTELSAT GETS BOOST FROM PANAMSAT SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Mike O'Hara will be missed. FRIDAY MARCH 30, 2007 EXTRA INNINGS TALKS GO DOWN TO WIRE DIRECTV EXPANDS LOCAL HD LINE-UP DIRECTV DETAILS PUSH ON REGIONAL FIRMS FORMER THOMSON CHIEF MIKE O’HARA DIES ALABAMA HOUSE OPPOSES XM-SIRIUS MERGER CHRYSLER COMMITS TO SIRIUS TV NEWS & NOTES: A U.S. District Court judge in Washington, D.C., dismissed a class action lawsuit shareholders had filed against XM Satellite Radio. WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2007 BASEBALL, IN DEMAND TALK ABOUT TALKING BROADCASTERS PUSH CASE AGAINST NPS MORE WEIGH IN ON DIRECTV-LIBERTY DEAL MONDAY MARCH 26, 2007 DIRECTV MEMO BLASTS REGIONAL HSP FIRMS SIDES LINE UP AGAINST LIBERTY-DIRECTV DEAL SENATORS SET TO HEAR HEAR BASEBALL DEBATE BROADCASTERS LAMBAST XM-SIRIUS DEAL XM FACES NEW LAWSUIT OVER DOWNLOADS FRIDAY MARCH 23, 2007 CABLE, BASEBALL TRADE BRUSHBACK PITCHES BASEBALL DEFENDS DIRECTV DEAL TO FCC FCC LOOKS AT EXCLUSIVE MDU VIDEO DEALS FCC SEES COMPETITION IN SATELLITE INDUSTRY NTIA PREDICTS SMOOTH COVERTER SUBSIDY WEDNESDAY MARCH 21, 2007 XM-SIRIUS DEAL GETS RAKED OVER BY KOHL XM, SIRIUS SAY NO RULE AGAINST COMBO EXISTS WILDBLUE ADDS 15,000 SUBS IN three months DBS PUSHES CABLE SUB NUMBERS DOWN. MONDAY MARCH 19, 2007 SENATE PANEL READIES FOR XM-SIRIUS HEARING ECHOSTAR LAYS OUT WILDBLUE COURSE ECHOSTAR PUSHES INTERNATIONAL FARE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Dealers will benefit if DirecTv lives up to commitments it made in Dallas...March Madness shows potential, problems of of Internet video. FRIDAY MARCH 16, 2007 DIRECTV SHOW WRAPS WITH LIVELY SESSION MARTIN: ACCESS LOOPHOLE FIX UP TO CONGRESS ECHOSTAR TOUTS WILDBLUE DEAL TO DEALERS NAACP URGES FCC AGAINST A LA CARTE NEWS & NOTES: CBS Sportsline said approximately 800,000 people have registered for its March Madness service, which enables them to watch NCAA basketball tournament games online. WEDNESDAY MARCH 14, 2007 DIRECTV RALLIES DEALERS AT RETAIL EVENT DIRECTV EXECS SPELL OUT RETAILER UPGRADES NAB KEEPS HARPING ON XM/SIRIUS DEAL ERGEN BEMOANS BASEBALL OFFER WILDBLUE PREPS NEW BIRD FOR SERVICE NTIA LETS DBS, CABLE SUBS INTO PROGRAM MONDAY MARCH 12, 2007 SPECTER EYES SPORTS ANTITRUST HEARINGS TIVO SEES DIRECTV SUBS KEEP DROPPING NTIA READY TO RELEASE SET-TOP SUBSIDY PLAN SENATE PANEL PLANS LOOK AT XM-SIRIUS DEAL NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar reached a new agreement with Crown Media’s Hallmark Channel…The DirecTv Group said it plans to offer all of the games in its Mega March Madness package of NCAA Basketball Tournament games in high-definition. The package sells for $69. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Please keep Mike O'Hara in your thoughts...Extra Innings flap makes cable companies look like spoiled brats...Sports channels could impact ESPN in the long run. NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications Chairman Charlie Ergen is listed at No. 62 on the Forbes list of the 400 richest people in the world with $10 billion. News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch is listed at No. 73, with $9 billion…XM Satellite Radio’s Canadian affiliate XM Canada finished its fiscal second quarter with a total of 237,500 subscribers...Telesat Canada took in revenues of $479 million (Canadian) in the fourth quarter. FRIDAY MARCH 9, 2007 DIRECTV-MLB NOT EXCLUSIVE—YET EXTRA INNINGS DEAL BRINGS QUICK REACTION KARMAZIN CLARIFIES XM-SIRIUS GUARANTEES XM-SIRIUS GETS MIXED REACTION AT HEARING NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar reached a new agreement with Crown Media’s Hallmark Channel…The DirecTv Group said it plans to offer all of the games in its Mega March Madness package of NCAA Basketball Tournament games in high-definition. The package sells for $69. MONDAY MARCH 5, 2007 XM, SIRIUS MAKE GUARANTEES TO SUBS CAREY DEFENDS DIRECTV BASEBALL EXCLUSIVE ASHCROFT OPPOSES XM-SIRIUS DEAL C-BAND NUMBERS DIP LOWER SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Karmazin spreads fertilizer on Sirius-XM deal...Taking lunch bets the deal never happens NEWS & NOTES: Former EchoStar President Michael Neuman was named chief executive officer of Magna Entertainment. FRIDAY MARCH 2, 2007 ECHOSTAR TURNS IN STRONG SUB NUMBERS XM-SIRIUS WILLING TO DEAL FOR APPROVAL HILL: JURY OUT ON SATELLITE RADIO MERGER ECHOSTAR DOWNPLAYS DISTANT STATION ISSUES XM-SIRIUS MERGER DRAWS GROUPS’ CONCERN LIBERTY TALKS UP DEAL FOR DIRECTV WEDNESDAY FEB. 28, 2007 SIRIUS, XM SOUND UPBEAT NOTE ON CHANCES DIRECTV PLANS STOCK BUYBACK NAB MAKES NOISE ABOUT SAT RADIO DEAL XM, Sirius POST IMPROVED FINANCIAL RESULTS NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications, The DirecTv Group, XM Satellite Radio, and Sirius Satellite Radio all saw their stock prices lose ground yesterday as the Dow fell 416.02 points to close at 12,216.24 and the Nasdaq closed down 96.66 points at 2,407.86...Cablevision Systems reported it added 16,000 basic cable subscribers during the fourth quarter of last year, giving it a total of 3.12 million...In a speech at a National Association of Broadcasters conference, House Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) criticized the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for not yet releasing guidelines for a congressionally mandated subsidy program that will provide discount coupons consumers will be able to use to obtain digital-to-analog convertor boxes. MONDAY FEB. 26, 2007 NAB RAILS AGAINST XM-SIRIUS DEAL JUDGE KEEPS FORGENT CASE GOING XM WOULD LIVE ON IF SIRIUS DEAL PASSES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: The failed EchoStar-DirecTv merger looks good in comparison to the proposed XM-Sirius merger...Kerry misses the boat on sports rights issues. FRIDAY FEB. 23, 2007 MARTIN TAKES SWING AT DIRECTV, BASEBALL FCC PONDERS PROGRAM ACCESS EXTENSION NPS CLOSES IN ON 100,000 DISTANT SUBS HOUSE READY TO EXAMINE XM-SIRIUS DEAL FCC LOOKS AT LIBERTY DEAL FOR DIRECTV NEWS & NOTES: A former DirecTv retailer has pleaded guilty in a federal court in Kentucky to participating in a conspiracy to distribute equipment used to steal DirecTv’s DBS service between March 1996 and 1999…EchoStar Communications reached an agreement for International Launch Services to launch an EchoStar satellite in 2008 aboard a Proton rocket from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. EchoStar declined comment on which satellite ILS will launch…Arianespace reached an agreement to launch SES’ medium-power Ku-band AMC-21 satellite in the second quarter of next year… China’s state-run China Satellite Mobile Broadcast Limited selected EchoStar Hong Kong-based affiliate China Mobile Broadcasting Satellite to provide S-band satellite capacity for a mobile video service China plans to launch in 2008…EchoStar Asia Holdings invested $40 million in South Korean satellite TV provider TU Media. WEDNESDAY FEB. 21, 2007 SIRIUS, XM PITCH GOING FROM STEREO TO MONO SATELLITE RADIO EXECS FACE STATIC ON DEAL NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications launched a new interactive application with Showtime...The Senate Commerce Committee plans to hold a hearing regarding The DirecTv Group possibly obtaining the exclusive rights to the Extra Innings package of out-of-market Major League Baseball games. FRIDAY FEB. 16, 2007 XM UPS CASH WITH TRANSPONDER SALE/LEASE ESPN, ECHOSTAR RACE INTO NASCAR DEAL DIRECTV VOWS ACTION AGAINST RESTAURANTS ECHOSTAR HANGS UP ON RETAILER NIELSEN, DIRECTV TO TRACK INTERACTIVE USE NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group told retailers it has expanded its latest consumer promotion. WEDNESDAY FEB. 14, 2007 DIRECTV DISCLOSES EXEC PAYOUTS REPS REINSTATE LOCAL SATELLITE RADIO BILL PBS STATIONS PUSH DBS DIGITAL MUST-CARRY SIRIUS CANADA TOPS 300,000 SUB MARK DIRECTV LAUNCHES “CASUAL” GAMES NEWS & NOTES: The National Association of Broadcasters, The National Cable and Telecommunications Association, and Consumer Electronics Association plan to announce today a joint effort to launch a digital television education campaign for consumers…Liberty Media reached an agreement to acquire the Atlanta Braves baseball team from Time Warner. MONDAY FEB. 12, 2007 ECHOSTAR, COURT TV END CARRIAGE SPAT NPS, BROADCASTERS WANT APPEALS COMBINED DIRECTV CHANGES UPFRONT PAYMENT PLAN COMMISSIONERS CALL FOR ACCESS ACTION CHARTER SUB COUNT SLIPS AGAIN SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: DirecTv defied Wall Street expectations with strong quarter...Has judge blocking DirecTv ads seen all of the untrue cable ads over the years...Any predictions for how long the analog broadcast shutoff date will be delayed. NEWS & NOTES: Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.) introduced a bill to allow satellite TV customers who live in desigated market areas served by TV stations from neighboring states to choose to subscribe to local channels from a designated market area in Oklahoma. FRIDAY FEB. 9, 2007 DIRECTV SUB ADDS NET STRONGER QUARTER DIRECTV STILL COUNTING ON MEETING HD GOAL MURDOCH PLAYS UP LIBERTY DEAL FOR DIRECTV ECHOSTAR, DIRECTV SETTLE SEARCH LAWSUITS TIME WARNER WANTS DIRECTV ADS NIXED NEWS & NOTES: News Corp. said it plans to launch its long-anticipated Fox Business Channel in the fourth quarter of this year…Qwest Communications said it added 78,000 net DirecTv customers in the fourth quarter of last year, giving it a total of 366,000. WEDNESDAY FEB. 7, 2007 NEWS CORP. EXPLAINS DIRECTV DEAL RATIONALE JUDGE TELLS DIRECTV TO PULL ADS ECHOSTAR, HBO SETTLE DIFFERENCES C-BAND RANKS THIN AGAIN SEA LAUNCH MAKES WAY BACK FROM EQUATOR NEWS & NOTES: The U.S. Appeals Court granted a motion by EchoStar and broadcasters to dismiss their appeals of the injunction that led to EchoStar having to turn off its distant network station service…The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association said this week it has received 60 complaints since last April about alleged violations of the federal rules that generally prohibit municipalities, homeowners associations, and community associations from enforcing rules that unreasonably restrict satellite dish installations. MONDAY FEB. 5, 2007 GOODELL PREDICTS MORE NFL NET CARRIAGE SINCLAIR, MEDIACOM SETTLE DISPUTE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Comcast's position on DirecTv's pending baseball deal is in inconsistent and disingenuous...Kudos to The NFL Network for showing old Super Bowl games. FRIDAY FEB. 2, 2007 KERRY BALKS AT POSSIBLE BASEBALL EXCLUSIVE NO ECHOSTAR-COURT TV DEAL MARTIN SIGNALS PROGRAM ACCESS SUPPORT DIRECTV PROMISES RETAILER IMPROVEMENTS SATELLITE ASSESSES SEA LAUNCH FAILURE TIME WARNER, COMCAST PRAISE TRIPLE PLAY NEWS & NOTES: XM Satellite Radio extended its exclusive distribution agreement with Toyota until 2017...EchoStar added A&E HD to its line-up of high-definition channels WEDNESDAY JAN. 31, 2007 LIBERTY OK WITH DIRECTV DEAL CONDITIONS SES BIRD BLOWS UP DURING SEA LAUNCH VERIZON ADDS MORE FIOS THAN DIRECTV SUBS NDIRECTV BUYS REST OF DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA DIRECTV TAPS COMPANY TO DETECT FRAUD NEWS & NOTES: XM Satellite Radio extended through 2016 its exclusive distribution agreement with Honda. MONDAY JAN. 29, 2007 DBS SERVICES TAKE ON ‘TWEENER’ SATELLITES ECHOSTAR ADDS LOCAL HD MARKET SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Journal article on Liberty considering selling future stake in DirecTv is preposterous...Many on new trade show's list of satellite industry "winners" are anything but. NEWS & NOTES: The Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to hold an oversight hearing Thursday regarding the FCC…The scheduled launch of SES New Skies’ NSS-8 satellite from the floating Sea Launch platform was delayed from Saturday until this evening. FRIDAY JAN. 26, 2007 DIRECTV PREPS NEXT CONSUMER OFFER AT&T, BELL SOUTH ADD UP DBS SUBS JUDGE ADDS MORE DAMAGES IN TIVO CASE BROADCASTERS MAKE CASE IN NPS APPEAL NEWS & NOTES: The launch of SES New Skies’ NSS-8 satellite from the floating Sea Launch platform has been pushed back from this afternoon until tomorrow. WEDNESDAY JAN. 24, 2007 DIRECTV REUPS FOR MARCH MADNESS PACKAGE REPS. DROP DIGITAL TV EDUCATION BILL HBO TAKES ECHOSTAR TO COURT OVER FEE SPAT XM STARTS FREE TRIAL FOR USED HONDA BUYERS NEWS & NOTES: SES New Skies’ NSS-8 satellite is scheduled to be launched from the floating Sea Launch platform Friday at 6:22 p.m. EST...The DirecTv Group has started offering a feed of the Baltimore CW affiliate to eligible subscribers. MONDAY JAN. 22, 2007 JUDGE LETS RECORD LABELS PURSUE XM CASE ECHOSTAR PLANS LEASE UPGRADE CHANGES BOUCHER SEES ROOM FOR DBS MERGER SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Good thing Curtis Symonds is no longer connected to T.Howard...DirecTv and Sirius were smart to save their money by staying off the CES floor..iPhone has plenty of drawbacks...EchoStar lobbyist moonlights makes regular stops as Democratic talking head. NEWS & NOTES: Bears win ensures Cowboy Maloney’s gets off the hook for committing to refund money for high-def televisions if the Saints won the Super Bowl. FRIDAY JAN. 19, 2007 DIRECTV DETAILS HIKES FOR CURRENT SUBS COMMENTS IMPACT SATELLITE RADIO STOCKS NPS TRIES TO KEEP NAME IN DISTANT LAWSUIT MARTIN PUSHES A LA CARTE AGENDA NEWS & NOTES: Hughes Communications, formerly Hughes Network Systems, reported it had 325,000 consumer and commercial subscribers to its HughesNet two-way, satellite-delivered data service…The DirecTv Group reached an agreement to sponsor the Sci-Fi channel’s “Battlestar Galactica” series...A private equity syndicate that includes Turnstone Capital and Capitol Broadcasting purchased a controlling interest in Decisionmark, which, among other things, provides distant network station qualification services. WEDNESDAY JAN. 17, 2007 DIRECTV UNVEILS PRICE, PACKAGING CHANGES BROADCASTERS EYE QUICK WORK ON NPS APPEAL NPS OFFERS CHECKS FOR REFERRALS NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications informed the Securities and Exchange Commission it has decided to redeem all of its outstanding 5.75 percent convertible subordinated notes due 2008…The floating Sea Launch facility started its journey toward the Equator where it is scheduled to launch the NSS-8 satellite Jan. 25 for SES New Skies aboard a Senit-3SL rocket...Virgin America plans to provide EchoStar’s DBS service at every seat on its domestic flights, pending government approval of the airline’s plans to start service this spring...Cablevison’s special transaction committee rejected the Dolan family’s offer to buy the outstanding shares of the company and take it private. FRIDAY JAN. 12, 2007 DIRECTV PLANS COMMISSION, PRICING CHANGES FCC LIKELY TO FROWN ON XM-SIRIUS COMBO TRY MARTIN SAYS TELCO VIDEO SLOW TO MARKET SIRIUS, XM PUT BEST FACE ON HOLIDAY SEASON NEWS & NOTES: The FCC rejected Comcast’s request for an extension of a July deadline by which it must offer set-top box with separate security functions. It also noted cable operators can deploy boxes that use downloadable conditional access systems. The FCC also granted Cablevision an extension until July 1, 2009. WEDNESDAY JAN. 10, 2007 DBS PLAYERS BANK ON VIDEO VS. CABLE CAREY, ERGEN AGAIN DISMISS MERGER TALK DIRECTV FOCUSES ON HIGH-DEF FUTURE ECHOSTAR PLAYS UP RECORDERS, VOD SUPREME COURT REJECTS ECHOSTAR DISTANT APPEAL ECHOSTAR SETS DEADLINE FOR COURT TV ERGEN PREDICTS BROADCASTER REGRET ON DISTANTS NEWS & NOTES: Hubbard Media’s ReelzChannel reached a distribution agreement with 4Com, which delivers programming to private cable networks, independent cable operators, and MMDS operators…Sling Media and CBS reached an agreement to test a new application to enable Slingbox users to save short video clips of CBS programming and upload them to the Internet so others can watch them...After meeting subscriber acquisition milestones specified in its contract with Howard Stern, Sirius Satellite Radio awarded Stern 22.1 million shares of Sirius stock, valued at about $83 million. MONDAY JAN. 8, 2007 ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY FLOODS LAS VEGAS ECHOSTAR GETS FEW COURT TV CALLS XM COMES UP SHORT AT HOLIDAYS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOKS: Twelth Annual Notebook Awards NEWS & NOTES: At press time, the U.S. Supreme Court had not announced whether it will hear EchoStar Communications appeal of the ruling that led to it having to shut down its distant network station service. But the EchoStar request was not on the list of cases the high court released Friday of cases it will consider. FRIDAY JAN. 5, 2007 HILL QUIET ON DIRECTV DEAL, SO FAR NPS ADDS UP DISTANT STATION SUBS SUPREMES SET TO DISCUSS DISTANT APPEAL C-BAND NUMBERS KEEP SLIPPING NCTA SEEKS PRICING REPORT CORRECTIONS NEWS & NOTES: Former Charter Chief Operating Officer Tom Cullen has joined EchoStar as executive vice president of corporate development, reporting to President Carl Vogel, who is the former president of Charter. WEDNESDAY JAN. 3, 2007 GAVEL DROPS ON ECHOSTAR COURT TV CARRIAGE BROADCASTERS APPEAL NPS RULING ECHOSTAR PUSHES PROGRAM ACCESS EXTENSION SIRIUS PASSES 6 MILLION SUB MARK NEWS & NOTES: CVS Systems Vice President of Distribution Troy Collins, 37, died Dec. 20, after a long battle with Crohns Disease...AT&T closed its merger with BellSouth Friday following the FCC’s approval of the transaction. FRIDAY DEC. 22, 2006 NEWS CORP., LIBERTY MAKE DIRECTV OFFICIAL JUDGE GIVES NPS GO AHEAD ON DISTANTS ECHOSTAR SLATES PACKAGE PRICE INCREASES WEDNESDAY DEC. 20, 2006 BROADCASTERS PLAN OBJECTION TO NPS NCTA CHIEF CHASTISES FCC, MARTIN LORAL, INVESTOR GROUP BUYS TELESAT DIRECTV DEFENDS AGAINST LAWSUIT NEWS & NOTES: XM Satellite Radio said it has started using its recently launch XM-4 satellite…XM named American Express Executive Vice President and Corporate Comptroller Joan Lordi Amble to its board of directors…FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell (R) said he has decided to continue to recuse himself from the FCC’s consideration of the AT&T-BellSouth merger application...Blonder Tongue sold its BDR private cable business to DirecPath, a joint venture between DirecTv and Hicks Holdings, for $3.1 million. MONDAY DEC. 18, 2006 MAGISTRATE SIDES WITH ECHOSTAR, NPS DIRECTV RETAILERS SETTLE CALL COMPLAINTS DIRECTV PULLS ADS AT BEHEST OF TIME WARNER SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Does it make sense for broadcasters to keep going after NPS...Forget about an XM-Sirius merger FRIDAY DEC. 15, 2006 DECISIONMARK SEEKS DISTANT CLEARANCE FCC HEARS DBS WARNING ON INTERFERENCE DIRECTV HD RECORDER PRODUCTION ON TRACK LODGENET TO GET ON COMMAND FROM LIBERTY WEDNESDAY DEC. 13, 2006 DECISIONMARK TOLD TO RESUME QUALIFYING ECHOSTAR URGES SUPREMES TO HEAR CASE SUPREME COURT TURNS DOWN TIVO CASE ECHOSTAR DUMPS RETAILERS OVER CALLS NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications reached an agreement to offer movies from New Line Cinema on its video-on-demand and pay-per-view services...EchoStar told customers during an uplink it has started offering local stations in standard-definition in several new markets in recent weeks. MONDAY DEC. 11, 2006 NPS BLASTS BROADCASTERS OVER LIST CHARGES CONGRESS LEAVES; NO ACTION ON DISTANT BILLS MORE NPS LEGAL MOVES, IN TWO COURTS TIME WARNER WANTS DIRECTV ADS BLOCKED WILDBLUE-1, AMC-18 ROCKET INTO SPACE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Competitors will try to get what they can from Liberty-News Corp. review...Do not expect Malone and Ergen to talk merger...Perhaps lawmakers should be identified by companies that back them, not the states they are from...Question for EchoStar: Are the Democrats taking over Congress, or the Sandanistas. FRIDAY DEC. 8, 2006 NPS HANDCUFFED BY DECISIONMARK NFL STANDS UP FOR ANTITRUST EXEMPTION WILBLUE, AMC BIRDS PREPPED FOR FLIGHT SIRIUS, XM EXECS DISCUSS MERGER TALK STEVENS DROPS DISTANT STATION LEGISLATION NEWS & NOTES: Numerous consumer media reports yesterday followed up a story in Wednesday’s FaxUPDATE on the pending agreement between News Corp. and Liberty Media that would swap Liberty’s stake in News Corp. for News Corp.’s controlling interest in the DirecTv Group plus other assets. A formal announcement of the agreement is expected any time in the next 10 days to two weeks...Monsoon Multimediaformally announced the availability of a product it claims “has all of the functionality of a Slingbox but with many more features and capabilities.”…David Goodfriend has rejoined EchoStar Communications on a full-time basis, and is now heading the company’s legislative affairs operation in Washington. WEDNESDAY DEC. 6, 2006 DECISIONMARK HALTS NPS DISTANT CLEARANCES JUDGE PASSES NPS CASE TO MAGISTRATE NEW BUZZ ABOUT NEWS CORP.-LIBERTY DEAL STEVENS PLANS ECHOSTAR DISTANT BILL NEWS & NOTES: Sirius Satellite Radio said it now expects to end 2006 with 5.9 million to 6.1 million subscribers, rather than 6.3 million...DirecTv signed a deal with NASCAR to provide a service in which DirecTv will dedicate five channels each week to coverage of NASCAR races...The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing tomorrow on whether cable companies owning sports channels hinders competition. MONDAY DEC. 4, 2006 HEAVY CALL VOLUME; ECHOSTAR ENDS DISTANTS DIRECTV SEES EASE IN HD RECORDER SQUEEZE C-BAND ROLLS KEEP DROPPING WILDBLUE, AMC SATELLITES READY TO GO SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Judge has to choose between facts and equities in EchoStar-NPS case with broadcasters. FRIDAY DEC. 1, 2006 APPEALS COURT DENIES LAST ECHOSTAR HOPE MOUNTFORD DETAILS NPS DISTANT PLANS DIRECTV, ECHOSTAR FIGHT FOR SUBSCRIBERS ERGEN DEFENDS NPS AS SHUTDOWN PROCEEDS CABLE, SATELLITE TAKES VARY ON COMPETITION NAB, ECHOSTAR KEEP SNIPING TO BITTER END DIRECTV, ECHOSTAR TUSSLE OVER TRADEMARK NEWS & NOTES: With their previous contract set to expire last night, EchoStar Communications and Pappas Telecasting yesterday reached a deal for EchoStar to continue to carry 16 stations the broadcaster owns and/or operates in 14 markets. Pappas had been urging EchoStar customers in those markets switch to DirecTv or cable...TiVo finished the third quarter with 4.434 million subscribers, including 1.625 million standalone and 2.809 million DirecTv/TiVo customers. TiVo lost a net total of 37,000 DirecTv customers, but added 53,000 standalone customers, meaning its net adds were only about 16,000. SPECIAL EDITION THURSDAY NOV. 30, 2006 NEW MANEUVERS AS ECHOSTAR DISTANT SHUTDOWN NEARS WEDNESDAY NOV. 29, 2006 COUNTDOWN KEEPS TICKING FOR ECHOSTAR JUDGE SPIKES ECHOSTAR NEW TIVO TRIAL BID ECHOSTAR CHANCES ON HILL GETTING STEEPER DIRECTV ADDS POLISH FARE TO LINEUP LAWMAKERS SPEAK OUT ON CABLE BOX SECURITY NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications reached an agreement to provide medium-power DBS satellite capacity to Sprint Nextel. MONDAY NOV. 27, 2006 BROADCASTERS OPPOSE ECHOSTAR ON STAY DIRECTV GIVES CREDIT ON INTERNET OFFERS FOX, AFFILIATES SLAM ECHOSTAR TO SUPREMES WILDBLUE, SES BIRDS CLOSE IN ON SAT LAUNCH WEDNESDAY NOV. 22, 2006 DISTANT SHUTOFF CLOSES IN ON ECHOSTAR ECHOSTAR BEMOANS LATEST LEGAL SETBACK SERVICES DEBATE ORBITAL SLOT PLANS ECHOSTAR RAIDS REAP HACKER EVIDENCE ECHOSTAR KEEPS PRESSING POINT ON FINISAR NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group said it has started offering local stations in MPEG-4 high-definition in Greensboro, N.C.; Green Bay, Wis.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Providence, R.I....Standard & Poors plans to add DirecTv to the S&P 500 Index...In observance of Thanksgiving, and barring major breaking news, the next issue of the FaxUPDATE will be distributed Monday. MONDAY NOV. 20, 2006 ECHOSTAR PUSHES FOR QUICK COURT ACTION DIRECTV GOES AFTER ECHOSTAR DISTANT SUBS MARTIN WINS CONFIRMATION FOR NEW TERM SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Congress' goal should be to help consumers...Whether EchoStar gets help will depend on how much noise it makes...Congress will see an even bigger uproar over the analog TV shutoff date...EchoStar and News Corp. fight is not good for satellite TV, but it might not matter if Liberty takes over DirecTv. FRIDAY NOV. 17, 2006 ECHOSTAR RUNNING OUT OF DISTANT OPTIONS BILL DRAWS STRONG REACTION FROM NAB DIRECTV OPENS OFFERS TO FORMER SUBS LAWMAKER FIRES OFF DISTANT LETTER WEDNESDAY NOV. 15, 2006 DIRECTV CAMP, ECHOSTAR BATTLE ON HILL MURDOCH SAYS LIBERTY DEAL ‘VERY LIKELY’ AFFILIATE GROUPS OPPOSE ECHOSTAR IN COURT ERGEN TAKES BLAME FOR DISTANT PROBLEM DIRECTV, NFL STAND UP FOR SUNDAY TICKET MONDAY NOV. 13, 2006 ECHOSTAR ENLISTS SUB HELP ON DISTANTS DIRECTV PREDICTS VICTORY AGAINST FINISAR DIRECTV DISCOUNTS SUNDAY TICKET, SUPER FAN WILDBLUE SATELLITE NEARS LAUNCH SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Elections will lead to more noise than action. FRIDAY NOV. 10, 2006 ECHOSTAR CHANCES GET MORE DISTANT ON HILL DIRECTV UPBEAT IN FACE OF DROP IN NET ADDS ECHOSTAR SEEKS DISTANT INJUNCTION STAY DIRECTV TAKES TIME ON BROADBAND DECISIONS SIRIUS PLAYS UP QUARTERLY RESULTS NEWS CORP., LIBERTY TAKE TIME ON DEAL WEDNESDAY NOV. 8, 2006 ECHOSTAR SEES SPIKE IN NEW SUBS ECHOSTAR PINS DISTANT HOPES ON CONGRESS JUDGE TO REVIEW ECHOSTAR EXTENSION SOON ELECTION SETS UP CHANGES IN HOUSE, SENATE LIBERTY, NEWS CORP. KEEP TALKING ENGINEERS WORK ON TIVO FIX FOR ECHOSTAR MONDAY NOV. 6, 2006 ECHOSTAR SEEKS MORE TIME ON SHUT OFFS ECHOSTAR DROPS DIRECTV ANTITRUST LAWSUIT DIRECTV PREPS INJUNCTION WHITE-AREA OFFER FINISAR WANTS TO KEEP ECHOSTAR OPTION OPEN SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Boston council should take dish ban idea off the table...Football coverage comments show few are happy...Elections, quarterly calls should make for interesting week. FRIDAY NOV. 3, 2006 ECHOSTAR STARTS SHUTDOWNS, URGES ACTION C-BAND DROPS BELOW 100,000 MARK WILDBLUE SATELLITE CLOSES IN ON LIFT-OFF EXPRESSVU SUB ADDS SLOW DOWN TIME WARNER SEES BASIC IMPROVEMENTS NEWS & NOTES: Cingular Wireless reached an agreement to offer 25 XM Satellite Radio music channels to Cingular cell phone customers, beginning Monday…Qwest Communications plans to offer a bundle of services including phone, digital subscriber line, and DirecTv’s DBS service at 110 Best Buy stores in Qwest’s 14-state service area. WEDNESDAY NOV. 1, 2006 MUSIC FIRMS SEEK SATELLITE RADIO PAYMENTS XM SATELLITE REACHES SPACE QWEST, VERIZON ADD UP DIRECTV SUBSCRIBERS NDS FEELS SECURE WITH DIRECTV CHARTER EYES BASIC IMPROVEMENTS NCTA RALLIES AGAINST SECURITY MEASURE NEWS & NOTES: Sling Media released a version of its Slingbox software that is compatible with Macintosh computers…Hubbard Media’s Reelz Channel is now available to Suddenlink cable subscribers in the Charelston, W.V., area. MONDAY OCT. 30, 2006 STATE CALLS OUT DIRECTV ON TELEMARKETING XM-4 LAUNCH RESET FOR TODAY SATELLITE LOBBIES AGAINST C-BAND BAN ECHOSTAR, TIVO DEBATE APPEAL TIMELINE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: ESPN needs to put more football in Monday Night Football...EchoStar has only a slim chance of white-area relief from Congress FRIDAY OCT. 27, 2006 ECHOSTAR STILL PONDERING DISTANT HD FATE XM SATELLITE LAUNCH ABRUPTLY STOPPED DIRECTV EMPLOYEE RINGS UP INDICTMENT COMCAST PLAYS UP BASIC IMPROVEMENTS DIRECTV ADDS LOCAL HD MARKETS WEDNESDAY OCT. 25, 2006 ECHOSTAR HOLDS OUT DISTANT HOPE INJUNCTION OK WITH AFFILIATE GROUPS NAB TAKES SATELLITE RADIO ISSUES TO FCC COUNTDOWN STARTS FOR NEXT XM SATELLITE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Jan Schroeder was one of a kind. NEWS & NOTES: AT&T reported it added about 50,000 EchoStar Communications DBS customers in third quarter, giving it a total of 583,000. Meanwhile, BellSouth, which AT&T is in the process of acquiring, said it added 65,000 DirecTv DBS customers in the third quarter. The telephone company had a total of 756,000 DirecTv customers at the end of the period. MONDAY OCT. 23, 2006 ECHOSTAR TOLD TO SHUT OFF DISTANT STATIONS NEWS CORP. KEEPS DEFENSE AGAINST LIBERTY FINISAR WANTS INJUNCTION AGAINST DIRECTV SATELLITE ARGUES AGAINST BOSTON DISH RESTRICTIONS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Jan Schroeder was one of a kind. NEWS & NOTES: In a move that was widely expected, The DirecTv Group renewed its carriage agreement for Fox News, which was set to expire in February. News Corp. controls both Fox News and DirecTv. FRIDAY OCT. 20, 2006 DIRECTV STARTS UPLINKING TO RETAILERS ECHOSTAR DETAILS ARGUMENT TO HIGH COURT DIRECTV TAKES ACTION IN RECORDER SHORTAGE LIBERTY SELLS KUDELSKI OPENTV CONTROL WILDBLUE PLANS SATELLITE LAUNCH, UPGRADES WEDNESDAY OCT. 18, 2006 ECHOSTAR PLANS TO LIMIT WILDBLUE ORDERS SEA LAUNCH PREPS FOR XM-4 LIFT-OFF SATELLITE FIRMS PITCH NEW DBS RULES BOSTON PONDERS DISH INSTALL RESTRICTIONS MEMORIAL SERVICE SET FOR JAN SCHROEDER NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications asked the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday to review an appeals court ruling that could lead to an injunction forcing EchoStar to turn off 800,000 to 1 million distant network station subscribers. A copy of the filing was not available at press time...XM Satellite Radio said it plans to introduce the SkyFi3 plug-and-play unit...Turner Broadcasting System reached an agreement with Major League Baseball for the rights to carry the 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013 National League Championship series and the 2008, 2010, and 2012 American League Championship series. TBS will also show Sunday afternoon games starting in 2008. MONDAY OCT. 16, 2006 NEWS CORP., LIBERTY DEAL UNLIKELY BY FRIDAY DIRECTV SATELLITE LAUNCHED INTO SPACE NEWS CORP. SHOWS SCORN OVER LAWSUIT FCC PUTS OFF VOTE ON AT&T-BELLSOUTH FRIDAY OCT. 13, 2006 ECHOSTAR ADDS NEWS CORP., FOX TO LAWSUIT DBS SERVICES TALLY HACKER SETTLEMENT DIRECTV ADDS FREE SUPERFAN TO PROMO FCC STARTS VIDEO COMPETITION INQUIRY DIRECTV-9S SET FOR LAUNCH TODAY NEWS & NOTES: The Department of Justice approved, with no conditions, AT&T’s plans to acquire fellow telephone service provider BellSouth. The FCC is scheduled to vote on the merger today. WEDNESDAY OCT. 11, 2006 DIRECTV DETAILS LOCAL HD EXPANSION PLANS DIRECTV-9S LAUNCH GETS ONE DAY DELAY CABLEVISION BOARD LOOKS AT DOLAN BID XM STARTS NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN NEWS & NOTES: The National Cable and Telecommunications Association said it has received commitments from 123 companies to exhibit at its annual convention next year…DirecTv told retailers customers can substitute HBO after Oct. 31 for either Starz or Showtime as part of its current offer. MONDAY OCT. 9, 2006 NEWS CORP., LIBERTY NEAR DIRECTV DECISION ECHOSTAR OFFERS DISTANT SUBS FREE LOCALS XM DETAILS TERRESTRIAL REPEATER ISSUES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Broadband over powerline could give DBS another data option...DirecTv's "Star Trek" could be best yet...EchoStar getting a stay in TiVo case is no surprise, but its bad news for TiVo. FRIDAY OCT. 6, 2006 DIRECTV APPEALS FINISAR VERDICT SIRIUS BESTS XM IN THIRD QUARTER NEXT DIRECTV SATELLITE NEARS LAUNCH DATE CABLE COMPANIES DETAIL SPECTRUM PAYMENTS ALLEGED HACKER FACES MORE JAIL TIME NEWS & NOTES: Word around Washington is that Ross Lieberman, EchoStar Communication’s principal congressional lobbyist, has shifted to working on special projects for the company and is no longer involved in daily legislative affairs…The FCC said yesterday it plans at its meeting next Thursday to open its annual inquiry into the status of multichannel video competition. In addition, the commissioners are slated to vote on AT&T’s application to acquire BellSouth...LIN TV named former DirecTv President Mitch Stern to its board of directors. WEDNESDAY OCT. 4, 2006 ECHOSTAR GETS LONGER STAY IN TIVO CASE AFFILIATES STAND UP FOR ECHOSTAR DEAL C-BAND NUMBERS KEEP DROPPING DEMOCRATS STATE PROBLEMS WITH TELECOM BILL PAIR FACE CHARGES IN INSTALLER SCHEME NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications subsidiary EchoStar DBS completed the redemption of floating rate notes due in 2008 for a total of $505 million…Hyundai started manufacturing its Santa Fe models with standard XM Satellite Radio units installed at the factory. MONDAY OCT. 2, 2006 DIRECTV SEES SHORTAGE ON NEW HD RECORDER XM ANSWERS RECORD LABELS ON LAWSUIT ECHOSTAR, DIRECTV URGE AUCTION CHANGES BROADCASTERS, CEA UNITE ON HD TUNER SUBSIDY ECHOSTAR PRICES DEBT OFFERING NEWS & NOTES: Sirius Canada said it plans to rollout the portable Stiletto radio with a suggested retail price of $449.99 Canadian, or about $402 U.S. As reported, Sirius set the retail price of the Stiletto in the United States at $349.99...The House and Senate are recessed until after the November elections. Lawmakers are scheduled to return for a “lame duck” session Nov. 9. FRIDAY SEPT. 29, 2006 CONGRESS MAY LEAVE ECHOSTAR WITH NO HELP DIRECTV ADS HD IN CINCINNATI, AUSTIN SLINGBOX ROLLS OUT NEW MODELS DIRECTV GETS WIN IN LATIN AMERICA CASE ECHOSTAR SLATES $500 MILLION DEBT OFFERING O’HARA LEAVES THOMSON; TO ADVISE ECHOSTAR NEWS & NOTES: ESPN said it plans to shutdown its mobile phone service as soon as Dec. 31 and instead plans to license the service to other wireless phone services. WEDNESDAY SEPT. 27, 2006 ECHOSTAR SUES DIRECTV ECHOSTAR URGES JUDGE TO IGNORE FOX REELZ ROLLS ONTO DBS, CABLE SERVICES DIRECTV EXTENDS SUNDAY TICKET PROMOTION DIRECTV, INTEL WORKING ON CONNECTED HD BOX NEWS & NOTES: Sirius Satellite Radio said yesterday its portable Stiletto model radio is now available after several delays. The unit, which retails for $349.99, also enables users to access live Sirius programming, store 100 hours of Sirius programming, and bookmark songs they want to download via a Wi-Fi connection…EchoStar named Bobby Billman senior vice president of product marketing. MONDAY SEPT. 25, 2006 ECHOSTAR UNVEILS WILDBLUE LEASE PRICES TIVO APPEALS FOR MORE DAMAGES DIRECTV OPENS MONTANNA CALL CENTER SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Murdoch has not soured on DirecTv...Cable is doing better, but don't write off satellite...MobiTV could someday be competition to Slingbox. FRIDAY SEPT. 22, 2006 FOX URGES BROAD ORDER AGAINST ECHOSTAR NAB KEEPS UP SATELLITE RADIO INTERFERENCE STEVENS NOT HANGING UP ON TELECOM BILL YET DIRECTV-9S GETS NEW DATE FOR LAUNCH NEWS & NOTES: A California Appeals Court upheld a Los Angeles Superior Court ruling saying that a class action lawsuit DirecTv customer Phillip Cohen filed alleging the DBS service covertly degraded the quality of its high-definition signals should be decided in a trial rather than arbitration as DirecTv contended…As expected, EchoStar Communications yesterday launched a service in conjunction with GetConnected that enables customers to find out what digital subscriber line services are available in their areas and sign up for them along with EchoStar’s DBS service...EchoStar is downloading 30-minute preivews of three ABC shows to select digital video recorders, as well as a “sneek peak” of NBC’s “Friday Night Lights.”...News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch was listed as No. 32 on Forbes’ annual list of the 400 richest Americans, with a net worth of $7.7 billion. EchoStar Chairman Charlie Ergen was listed as No. 34, with a net worth of $7.6 billion. WEDNESDAY SEPT. 20, 2006 MURDOCH, CAREY DEFEND DIRECTV’S BUSINESS DIRECTV STILL WORKING ON DATA PLANS DIRECTV SCHEDULES RETAILER EVENT VOGEL PRESIDENT AGAIN AT ECHOSTAR RAIDS AID ECHOSTAR PIRACY FIGHT FCC AUCTION TAKES IN $13.9 BILLION NEWS & NOTES: The Senate Commerce Committee voted in an informal session off the Senate floor yesterday to approve the nomination of FCC Chairman Kevin Martin (R) to serve another term. Martin must be approved by the full Senate…The FCC approved Motient and SkyTerra Communications’ transaction in which Motient would transfer Mobile Satellite Ventures satellite and earth station licenses to SkyTerra. MONDAY SEPT. 18, 2006 DBS STOCKS SUFFER AFTER MARTIN COMMENTS FOX GETS WHITE-AREA RESPONSE DATE DIRECTV-9S LAUNCH PUSHED BACK DIRECTV PREPS NEXT CONSUMER OFFER SENATOR DOUBTS TELECOM BILL PASSAGE SIRIUS EYES ANOTHER SATELLITE FRIDAY SEPT. 15, 2006 ECHOSTAR CRIES ANTITRUST FOUL AGAINST FOX BROADCASTERS, ECHOSTAR DETAIL DEAL MARTIN SEES SAME HURDLES FOR ANY DBS DEALTELCOS MOVE INTO APARTMENTS WITH DIRECTV NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv started offering local stations in MPEG-4 high-definition in San Antonio, Portland, Ore., and Memphis. WEDNESDAY SEPT. 13, 2006 ECHOSTAR, STATIONS TO FILE DEAL TODAY ECHOSTAR PLAYS DOWN DISTANT, TIVO CASES STEVENS CARRIES DISH WATER IN FRAY CHERNIN PUTS ANOTHER NAIL IN MERGER TALK MARTIN BEGS OFF MULTICAST PLANS DURING HEARING NEWS & NOTES: TiVo is rolling out its standalone high-definition digital video recorder unit with a $799 suggested retail price…EchoStar withdrew its program access complaint against InDemand...SES New Skies President Daniel Goldberg left the company to become president and chief executive officer of BCE Inc.’s Telesat Canada Inc. MONDAY SEPT. 11, 2006 DIRECTV TESTS PORTABLE DEVICE AT NFL GAMES LIFETIME, DIRECTV GET COURT DATE FCC WIRELESS AUCTION NEARS $14 BILLION DIRECTV READIES HD RECORDER PRICE CUT SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: EchoStar and the News Corp./Fox/DirecTv camps go from friendly to nasty over white-area case...NRTC stays sadly quiet on distant signal case. FRIDAY SEPT. 8, 2006 NEWS CORP. DISSES DISTANT INQUIRY IDEA COX HYPES ECHOSTAR DVR SCARE ECHOSTAR FACES PAY-PER-VIEW PATENT LAWSUIT LAWSUIT ACCUSES DIRECTV OF INFRINGEMENT XM CANADA TALLIES CUSTOMERS STEVENS GETS RELIGIOUS SUPPORT FOR BILL NEWS & NOTES: The Senate Commerce Committee plans to hold a re-nomination hearing Tuesday for FCC Chairman Kevin Martin (R). WEDNESDAY SEPT. 6, 2006 WHITE-AREA CASE AWAITS NEXT DECISION DISH HOME SENS. SEEK FOX DISTANT PROBE DIRECTV PLANS EXTRA PREMIUM SPIFFS TIVO DEALS WITH DIRECTV LOSSES COURT TELLS DIRECTV TO LIVE WITH VERDICT NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications’ EchoStar DBS subsidiary is redeeming all of its outstanding floating rate senior notes due 2008...Several major record labels urged the U.S. District Court to reject XM Satellite Radio’s call that it dismiss the labels’ lawsuit against it...XM said the Securities and Exchange Commission has asked it to “voluntarily provide” documents about its subscriber targets and related costs for the third and fourth quarters of last year...WildBlue Communications launched a print advertising campaign in several lifestyle magazines to promote its Ka-band delivered, two-way data service...There were 105,582 authorized VideoCipher modules in use at the end of last month. WEDNESDAY AUG. 30, 2006 DISTANT CASE STILL UNSETTLED AFTER DEAL ECHOSTAR CALMS ON DISTANTS, NOT ADS COURT PAUSES ECHOSTAR CASE AGAINST TIVO NEWS & NOTES: Hubbard Broadcasting subsidiary Hubbard Media Group and a group of investors including the Weinstein Co. acquired Ovation, The Arts Network. MONDAY AUG. 28, 2006 SANS FOX, ECHOSTAR CUTS DEAL WITH STATIONS FOX EYES NO NEW ECHOSTAR TALKS DIRECTV AIMS ADS AT ECHOSTAR DISTANT SUBS NEWS & NOTES: XM plans to resume production on three models after the FCC ruled the FM transmitters on them comply with FCC regulations...DirecTv plans to start the nationwide rollout for its high-definition, MPEG-4-capable digital video recorder this week, sources said. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: EchoStar makes it not such a quiet week...New DirecTv HD digital video recorder seems to work as advertised. FRIDAY AUG. 25, 2006 SOME BRACE FOR LOOMING DISTANT INJUNCTION TIVO ASKS COURT TO KEEP INJUNCTION IN PLACE DIRECTV, KVH TAKE LOCAL MOBILE FCC GETS DIGITAL DISTANT FEEDBACK NEXT DIRECTV BIRD MOVES CLOSER TO FLIGHT NEWS & NOTES: The Sky Brasil and DirecTv Brasil DBS services completed their merger...The DirecTv Group plans to enable NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers with the proper interactive receivers to track statistics of up to nine players each week...Cox signed an agreement to use TiVo’s software on some of its digital video recorders...EchoStar Communications reached an agreement that gives it the right to offer movies from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group...Bids for the FCC’s “advanced wireless service” spectrum auction topped $13.1 billion. WEDNESDAY AUG. 23, 2006 ECHOSTAR PLANS FOR SHUTDOWN REACTION SUPREMES REJECT ECHOSTAR WHITE-AREA STAY HACKER GETS JAIL TIME, FINE FCC GETS DIGITAL DISTANT FEEDBACK NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group is expected to drop the price of its new NDS Group designed MPEG-4 capable high-definition digital video recorder from $399 to $299 for lease customers...Ka-band, satellite-delivered Internet service WildBlue Communications secured a total of $350 million in financing from Liberty Media and Tennenbaum Capital Partners...Slingbox owner Sling Media is offering an updated version of its software for free that can be used on select mobile devices to consumers who buy Slingbox units through Sept. 16. MONDAY AUG. 21, 2006 ECHOSTAR GETS PAUSE ON TIVO INJUNCTION ECHOSTAR ASKS SUPREMES FOR DISTANT STAY FCC LOOKS INTO DBS LICENSING RULES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Washington viewers get short end of the stick in MASN-Comcast fight...EchoStar has a rough legal week. NEWS & NOTES: Judge sets DirecTv-Lifetime conference...ACA asks FCC to act on NCTC-Fox dispute. FRIDAY AUG. 18, 2006 ECHOSTAR TO SEEK TIVO EMERGENCY STAY JUDGE STYMIES ECHOSTAR-BROADCASTER TALKS DBS TRUMPS CABLE IN SURVEY DBS OUT, PHONE COMPANIES RING UP BIG BIDS NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv extended its deal with Peyton, Eli, and Archie Manning to continue promoting the NFL Sunday Ticket package through the 2008 season. WEDNESDAY AUG. 16, 2006 COURT TAKES NEXT STEP IN WHITE-AREA SAGA DBS BACKS OUT OF BIDDING IN AUCTION NEW DIRECTV HD RECORDERS SET FOR SHIPPING ECHOSTAR PUSHES SIGNAL TEST CHANGES FTC RINGS UP SETTLEMENT WITH DIRECTV MARKETER NEWS & NOTES: Distributor DSI Systems has added products from Monster Cable, Proview, and Proscan as part of the fall 2006 product catalog it released…Intelsat reported second quarter revenues of $310 million...Hughes Communications reported second quarter revenues of $208.5 million. MONDAY AUG. 14, 2006 ECHOSTAR, STATIONS LIKELY TO GET PAUSE XM KEEPS GETTING STATIC FROM FCC ECHOSTAR READY TO TACKLE DIRECTV IN ADS DBS BIDDERS FALL BACK IN AUCTION MASN, COMCAST SNIPE OVER RATE HIKE NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group is adding more interactive features for NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers with newer receivers, including a “player tracker” that enables subscribers to follow the statistics of up to nine players each Sunday…DirecTv plans to provide a “mix” channel and interactive applications for USA’s U.S. Open tennis coverage. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Hard to feel sorry for people who lost money on DirecTv-EchoStar speculation...Silly to think Ergen's absence from call means he's selling...EchoStar's litigation department is not exactly making nice with broadcasters. FRIDAY AUG. 11, 2006 ECHOSTAR SUBS DOWN, LEGAL ACTIVITY UP ECHOSTAR WARNS OF DISTANT SHUTOFF IMPACT DIRECTV-ECHOSTAR TEAM LEADS AUCTION FCC LETS SIRIUS OFF FM TRANSMITTER HOOK ECHOSTAR FACES SATELLITE ISSUES NEWS & NOTES: The National Association of Broadcasters promoted Dennis Wharton from senior vice president of corporate communications to executive vice president of media relations...Consumer Electronics Association Vice President of Communications Jeff Joseph is leaving to become vice president of communications for the Biotechnology Industry Association. WEDNESDAY AUG. 9, 2006 DIRECTV SEES SUBS SLIP, PROFITS RISE COURT HANDS ECHOSTAR DISTANT SETBACK RETAILER MOVES HINDER DIRECTV SUB ADDS CABLEVISION SUBS RISE, CHARTER CHARTS DROP DIRECTV STAYS MUM ON DATA PLANS NEWS & NOTES: Volvo plans to make Sirius units available as factory-installed option this summer...XM plans to ad sports channel....NFL names Roger Goodell new commissioner. MONDAY AUG. 7, 2006 ECHOSTAR, NAGRA STEP UP ANTI-PIRACY EFFORT NAB FIRES BACK AT ECHOSTAR ON HILL COMCAST, MASN END CARRIAGE STANDOFF SENATE LEAVES TELECOM BILL FOR VACATION C-BAND NUMBERS KEEP SLIPPING EXPRESSVU SEES SUB ADDS SLIDE FRIDAY AUG. 4, 2006 ECHOSTAR, NAB TRADE DISTANT E-MAILS ECHOSTAR IMPROVES EXISTING SUB OFFERS DBS SERVICES FIND COURT RULING TAXING FCC TELLS TIME WARNER TO PUT NFL ON FIELD BUNDLES GIVE TIME WARNER SOME JOY WEDNESDAY AUG. 2, 2006 SIRIUS BUMPS UP SUBSCRIBER PREDICTION NAB PUSHES FOR SATELLITE RADIO RECALL FCC GIVES MASN CHOICE IN COMCAST SPAT NFL NETWORK THROWS FLAG ON TIME WARNER NEWS & NOTES: Verizon said it added a net total of 70,000 DirecTv customers in the second quarter, giving it a total of 485,000. Meanwhile, Qwest reported it added 43,000 DirecTv subscribers, brining its total to 213,000…RadioShack started selling TiVo’s new dual-tuner digital video recorder in its 3,000 stores and online MONDAY JULY 31, 2006 DBS SERVICES PUT UP BIG BUCKS FOR AUCTION BBB ASKS FTC TO HEAR RAP AGAINST ECHOSTAR DIRECTV FENDS OFF ALLEGED HACKER LAWSUIT SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: ESPN manufacturers more attention than World Cup deserves...Taking bets on what the telcos will manage to do...FCC makes it hard for AWS auction to lead to robust services. FRIDAY JULY 28, 2006 SETBACKS TAKE TOLL ON XM REPS PITCH PROGRAMMING BILL STEVENS KEEPS LOOKING FOR VOTES ECHOSTAR, STATIONS DETAIL SHUTOFF DELAY COMCAST RIDES OUT SEASONAL ISSUES NEWS & NOTES: In the wake criticism that its MPEG-4 capable HD digital video recorder is delayed again, The DirecTv Group now says it plans to ship 4,000 of the units to its home base area around Los Angeles beginning Aug. 16. WEDNESDAY JULY 26, 2006 ECHOSTAR, BROADCASTERS EYE SHUTOFF STAY ECHOSTAR LOSES WHITE-AREA TEST CASE MARTIN PUSHES COMCAST-MASN SOLUTION DIRECTV SEEKS APPEAL IN FINISAR PATENT CASE NTIA LEAVES CABLE, DBS OUT OF SUBSIDY NEWS & NOTES: XM Satellite Radio named Nate Davis to the new positions of president and chief operating officer…XM signed a new five-year licensing agreement with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers…BellSouth reported it added 63,000 DirecTv subscribers during the second quarter giving it a total of 691,000…AT&T added 42,000 EchoStar subscribers during the second quarter, it said yesterday. AT&T now has 533,000 EchoStar subscribers. MONDAY JULY 24, 2006 FCC LAYS OUT ADELPHIA ORDER DETAILS MURDOCH MAKES NO PROMISES ON ECHOSTAR DIRECTV EYES HD DIGITAL VCR ROLLOUT SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: DirecTv-EchoStar merger talk gets absurd...EchoStar, broadcasters should settle white-area dispute. NEWS & NOTES: FCC employees diagnosed with tuberculosis. FRIDAY JULY 21, 2006 TRANSMITTER ISSUES DOG SIRIUS, XM STEVENS SEARCHES FOR TELECOM VOTES BARTON MAKES GOOD ON RETRANS MEETING HACKER FACES JAIL TIME AFTER GUILTY PLEA NEWS & NOTES: Two of EchoStar Communications’ hardware distributors, Dow Electronics and RS&I, said yesterday they have reached agreements to also distribute Sling Media’s Slingbox. WEDNESDAY JULY 19, 2006 ECHOSTAR SHARES RETURNING TO REALITY DBS SERVICES TAKE NEW CRACK AT AUCTION NAB TAKES OUT ANGST AGAINST ECHOSTAR IN AD FCC DOES NOT UP DBS FEES XM EYES DISMISSAL OF RECORD LABEL LAWSUIT DIRECTV, YES LIGHT UP INTERACTIVE YANKEE GAMES MONDAY JULY 17, 2006 SLING MEDIA TRYING TO STOP PC RECORDING ECHOSTAR PLANS PROMO FOR NFL-HD KICK OFF XM CANADA PLANS PRICE HIKE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: DBS gets big win in Adelphia decision, and should keep pushing the program access issue...MASN provision will test FCC's ability to step into disputes...McDowell shows he could be a problem for Martin. NEWS & NOTES: As of last night, the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network had not meet its publicly stated commitment of becoming a 24-hour channel by Saturday, as the channel’s owners promised Congress last April. FRIDAY JULY 14, 2006 DBS GETS CONCESSIONS IN ADELPHIA OK ADELPHIA DECISION SPARKS VARIED REACTION WRANGLING PRECEDES ADELPHIA DECISION CANADA LOOKS TO EXPAND SATELLITE PRESENCE NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications and Index Holdings invested a total of $20 million in movie CinemaNow, an Internet-based movie download service. WEDNESDAY JULY 12, 2006 FCC STILL CONSIDERING ADELPHIA CONDITIONS ECHOSTAR TRIES TO HEAD OFF FINISAR AT PASS DIRECTV UPS COUNT ON HD BASEBALL GAMES FOX STAYS IN GAME WITH BASEBALL NEWS & NOTES: U.S. Digital Television, which offers a multichannel video service using over-the-air digital television stations’ spectrum in four markets, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The move means it plans to liquidate its business rather than seek to reorganize it under Chapter 11. MONDAY JULY 10, 2006 DIRECTV DOWNPLAYS LATEST PATENT CASE LOSS DBS FIRMS EYE WIRELESS SPECTRUM ADELPHIA DEAL FOES PUSH ACCESS TERMS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Kudos to HDNet for its shuttle launch coverage...FCC Adelphia decision could liven up otherwise slow week...Good shows launch new season on SCI-FI...DIrecTv gets good shot in at cable in new ads. NEWS & NOTES: The FCC authorized Hughes Network Systems to use its Spaceway-3 Ka-band satellite at the 95-degree orbital slot. FRIDAY JULY 7, 2006 FCC READIES ADELPHIA DECISION LAWMAKERS WEIGH IN ON MASN-COMCAST FIGHT SIRIUS TOPS XM IN SECOND QUARTER SUB ADDS C-BAND NUMBERS KEEP DWINDLING NEWS & NOTES: Shaw Communications reported that its Canadian DBS service, Star Choice, added a net total of 4,283 subscribers in the second quarter…A unit of computer chip maker Intel agreed to invest $600 million in Craig McCaw’s Clearwire, the wireless Internet service provider DirecTv has held talks with in recent months about rolling out WiMax data services. WEDNESDAY JULY 5, 2006 INTELSAT, PANAMSAT SEAL DEAL ECHOSTAR ADDS TO LOCAL HD SLATE COMCAST KEEPS PRESSING ADELPHIA CASE WEDNESDAY JUNE 28, 2006 JUDGE PONDERS ACCOSTER INJUNCTION DIRECT LINKS UP FOR EARTHLING SERVICE SENATE TELECOM BILL MOVES ALONG DIRECT LOOKS TO BRING BACK FORMER SUBS HOUSE WEIGHS IN ON COMCAST-MASN DISPUTE DIRECT OFFERS CHEAPER FAMILY PACKAGE NEWS & NOTES: Verizon said it now has a total of more than 415,000 DIRECT subscribers…Hughes Network Systems said it now has more than 300,000 residential and small business subscribers to its HughesNet satellite-delivered...HDNet, which is carried on DIRECT and ACCOSTER, will carry live HD coverage of tomorrow’s scheduled space shuttle launch. WEDNESDAY JUNE 28, 2006 SATELLITE STAYS OUT OF TROUBLE IN SENATE COMCAST, TIME WARNER CLOSE IN ON ADELPHIA SATELLITE RADIO ISSUES GET HEARING COMCAST GETS FLACK FOR INTERNET VIDEO FCC PROPOSES RULES FOR NEW DBS SPECTRUM NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group plans to move Fox Cable Networks’ Fuel TV channel to its most widely distributed programming package, Total Choice...As expected, EchoStar formally announced the extension of its carriage agreement with the NFL Network. Also as expected, EchoStar announced its deal with GetConnected to allow retailers to go on-line and find out if a customer can receive digital subscriber line service from various providers...DirecTv plans to use online ordering services from Comergent eBusiness System. MONDAY JUNE 26, 2006 JURY HITS DIRECTV FOR $79 MILLION VERDICT ECHOSTAR, TIVO SET FOR NEXT LEGAL TUSSLE ECHOSTAR, RCN JOIN FORCES AGAINST ADELPHIA SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: It will be interesting to watch see how the Adelphia decision plays out at the FCC...EchoStar makes good point with data services ads. NEWS & NOTES: The FCC granted SES Americom permission to use its C-band Satcom-C4 satellite to deliver services to the United States from the 105-degree orbital location...Sanmina-SCI delivered its 35 millionth DBS receiver to EchoStar Communications last week. The component assembly firm has manufactured receivers for EchoStar for the past 12 years, it said...Sling Media said it plans to start selling its Slingbox product in Japan. FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2006 SENATE COMMITTEE STARTS TELECOM MARK-UP FCC MOVES TO ALLOCATE MORE DBS SPECTRUM FCC LIKELY TO OK ADELPHIA DEAL BY MID-JULY NAB VOICES MORE TRANSMITTER COMPLAINTS BIG TEN RECRUITS DIRECTV TO CARRY CHANNEL WEDNESDAY JUNE 21, 2006 DIRECTV PREPS NEXT NFL OFFER DIRECTV STILL MULLING BROADBAND OPTIONS CABLE ADDS TO A LA CARTE CRITICISM NCTA CROWS OVER SENATE TELECOM BILL MARTIN’S MULTICAST PUNT PLEASES CABLE FCC CLEARS INTELSAT DEAL FOR PANAMSAT DIRECTV GOES ALL IN FOR “TITANIUM” PACKAGE NEWS & NOTES: The Big Ten Conference is expected to announce today it plans to launch its own sports network next year. MONDAY JUNE 19, 2006 NEW DRAFT LEAVES ACCESS LOOPHOLE OPEN FCC DROPS MULTICAST MUST-CARRY DIRECTV KEEPS EYE ON RURAL CHANNEL EX-ECHOSTAR EMPLOYEE FILES LAWSUIT SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: DBS deals with WildBLue could be a turning point for the data service and a public relations bonus for DirecTv and EchoStar. FRIDAY JUNE 16, 2006 DBS TO AVOID MULTICAST MUST-CARRY ECHOSTAR BUYING TIME IN WHITE-AREA CASE TIVO SEEKS PAUSE IN ECHOSTAR LAWSUIT NAB PUSHES INDECENCY AGENDA NEWS & NOTES: Fox Networks Group promoted Michael Lang to executive vice president of business development and strategy…Intelsat and PanAmSat urged the FCC to complete its review of Intelsat’s plan to purchase PanAmSat...The overall satellite industry saw its global revenues increase $88.8 million, or 7 percent, last year, according to a study released by the Satellite Industry Association…Verizon plans to carry PBS stations, as well as multicast channels, on its fiber-delivered FiOS video service...A subcontractor for Mobil Pro, a company that installs systems for DirecTv, was suspended from his job after being charged for allegedly raping an 18-year-old women during a service call in Long Island, N.Y. WEDNESDAY JUNE 14, 2006 PROGRAM ACCESS CHANGES IRK CABLE TIVO SEES BENEFITS FROM ECHOSTAR RULING DIRECTV FOCUSES ON RETAILER ISSUES HNS SEES NO IMPACT FROM WILDBLUE DEAL XM, SIRIUS OPPOSE WIRELESS DELAY INPUT ON MULTICAST ISSUE MULTIPLIES NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications yesterday asked the full 11th District Court of Appeals to re-hear its appeal in its long-running white-area legal battle with broadcasters...The DirecTv Group is expected to announce today it plans to expand its operations center in Denver next year and move to a larger facility, sources said...Long-time DirecTv Senior Vice President Jim Arnold, who headed the firm’s retail services operation, recently left the company. MONDAY JUNE 12, 2006 ECHOSTAR MAPS FUTURE AT TEAM SUMMIT NEW STEVENS DRAFT SITS BETTER WITH DBS ECHOSTAR SETS NEW SPIFFS, PRICE DEALS HUBBARD SETS “REELZ CHANNEL” LAUNCH DATE NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group told retailers it has dropped the retail price for lease customers to upgrade to its high-definition/TiVo digital video recorder by $100 to $399...DirecTv plans to start offering local station in MPEG-4 high-definition in Baltimore; Charlotte, N.C.; Cleveland; Denver; Hartford, Conn.; Miami; Orlando, Fla.; Raleigh, N.C.; and West Palm Beach, Fla. FRIDAY JUNE 9, 2006 ECHOSTAR TO SELL WILDBLUE SERVICE HOUSE PASSES TELECOM BILL MULTICAST MUST-CARRY MUSTERS DEBATE FCC HOLDS TO PEGASUS SATELLITE RULING ECHOSTAR PRAISES MCCAIN A LA CARTE BILL NEWS & NOTES: As expected, EchoStar Communications filed a request with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas asking it not impose an injunction that would prohibit EchoStar from selling some digital video recorder models as a result of a jury verdict that some EchoStar units violate TiVo’s patent. The document was filed under seal...EchoStar notified the FCC it is in compliance with the one-dish local-into-local rule...Sirius Satellite Radio signed a contract for Space Systems/Loral to build the service’s fourth satellite, which is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2008. WEDNESDAY JUNE 7, 2006 NAB SEEKS SATELLITE RADIO INVESTIGATION COMPANIES EYE IPTV SATELLITE SERVICES XM CANADA ADDS SUBS, CAR MAKER DEALS DEMOCRATS SPEAK ILL OF TELECOM BILL BROADCASTERS PLEAD MULTICAST CASE NEWS & NOTES: Dell Computer has started selling Sling Media’s Slingbox for $179.10…EchoStar Communications has started offering a free “Preview Showroom” that is providing six pre-determined channels for the next three months. MONDAY JUNE 5, 2006 ECHOSTAR PREPS FOR SUMMIT WITH RETAILERS HOUSE PLANS FLOOR VOTE ON BARTON BILL COURT BLOCKS SHOT AT HALTING ADELPHIA DEAL SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Adelphia decision will be a good gauge of how much of a political hack Martin is...Expect DirecTv to make reinvest in its independent retailers...Analysts should stop wasting their time wondering if EchoStar and DirecTv will merge. FRIDAY JUNE 2, 2006 DIRECTV PLANS COMMISSION CHANGES XM HALTS PRODUCTION ON SOME UNITS DIRECTV BUYS BACK MORE STOCK DIRECTV SETS FATHER’S DAY SUPERFAN DEAL AT&T PLANS TO STICK WITH ECHOSTAR NEWS & NOTES: Robert McDowell (R) was sworn in yesterday as FCC commissioner...DirecTv added Seattle and Indianapolis to the list of markets where it is offering local stations in MPEG-4 high-definition...As expected, EchoStar plans to open its fourth “equipment refurbishment and repair center” in Spartanburg, S.C.…DirecTv launched an interactive application on its sports and news “mix” channels that enables subscribers with the proper interactive receiver to access a list of the 10 most popular programs...The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association launched an online tool through which consumers and installers can send challenges by local governments and homeowner groups against legal satellite dish installations....There were a total of 114,534 authorized VideoCipher modules in use at the end of last month. WEDNESDAY MAY 31, 2006 CHANNEL SUES TO BLOCK ADELPHIA DEAL CONFIRMATION CLEARS PATH FOR MARTIN RULING COULD ADD UP FOR ECHOSTAR SUBS SIRIUS PAYS FOR STERN TAPES JUSTICE CLEARS INTELSAT-PANAMSAT TRANSACTION NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group named John Shelton senior vice president of sales and distribution.…SES Global signed a contract for its AMC-21 medium-power Ku-band satellite to be launched by Sea Launch in the middle of 2008…XM Satellite Radio Holdings subsidiary plans to redeem all of its outstanding 8.25 percent series B convertible redeemable preferred stock due 2012. FRIDAY MAY 26, 2006 TIVO BRISTLES AT ECHOSTAR STATEMENTS DIRECTV SUBS TAKING TIVO SLOWS TO TRICKLE ECHOSTAR SETTLES MUSIC CHANNEL LAWSUIT XM LOWERS EXPECTATIONS CABLE SLAMS MCCAIN’S A LA CARTE IDEA COMCAST HOLDS OUT ON MASN NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Communications launched a new advertising campaign with the tag line “Pick Your Package, Pick Your Price.” WEDNESDAY MAY 24, 2006 ECHOSTAR FACES WHITE-AREA SHUTDOWN NEW LEGAL WRANGLING IN TIVO-ECHOSTAR CASE XM, WCS CALL OFF TRANSACTION DIRECTV TAKES CREDIT FOR BETTER SUBS NEWS & NOTES: WildBlue Communications extended its free installation offer again, this time through June 30. MONDAY MAY 22, 2006 ECHOSTAR PLANS PRE-PAY PLAN ADDITIONS TIME WARNER BEMOANS STOCK PRICE ECHOSTAR SEEKS EXTENSION FOR 61.5 DEGREES SIRIUS LOOKS TOWARD PROFITABILITY CHAPARRAL LOOKS AT SATELLITE TV ORIGINS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: TNT should be whistled for a foul for on-screen promos...NDS' Abe Peled gets the "what planet is this guy on" award so far this year...Telecom bill reaching President Bush's desk gets less likely by the day. NEWS & NOTES: The FCC has pushed back the date of its planned auction of Advanced Wireless Spectrum from June 29 to Aug. 9. FRIDAY MAY 19, 2006 STEVENS SEES PATH TO TELECOM BILL PASSAGE TIVO-ECHOSTAR CASE NEARS NEXT PHASE DIRECTV TAKES MORE STOCK IN BUYBACK SATELLITE MAKES CASE FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICE MASN BEMOANS DEALINGS WITH COMCAST LAWSUIT TAKES TOLL ON XM STOCK NEWS & NOTES: Mary Pat Ryan, Sirius Satellite Radio’s executive vice president of  subscriber sales and operations, is leaving the company, but will remain in her post until a replacement is named. WEDNESDAY MAY 17, 2006 SURVEY: DBS TOPS CABLE IN SATISFACTION BARTON BEATS DRUM FOR TELECOM BILL HUGHES POSTS IMPROVED RESULTS DIRECTV PREPS NEXT LOCAL HD MARKETS NCTA COMPLAINS ABOUT LOAN PROGRAM ECHOSTAR GETS SPLIT DECISION AT FCC NEWS & NOTES: Several large record companies filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York seeking to block XM Satellite Radio from selling its new line of portable radios that can record and download music. MONDAY MAY 15, 2006 WILDBLUE CHANGES KA-BAND SPOT PLANS ECHOSTAR INCREASES LOCAL HD OFFERINGS DBS KEEPS QUIET ON AUCTION PLANS NEWS & NOTES: XM Satellite Radio Holdings completed its tender offer for outstanding secured notes, amounting to a total of $393.4 million with interest rates ranging from 12 percent to 14 percent. FRIDAY MAY 12, 2006 CHURN, TIVO TAKE TOLL ON ECHOSTAR RESULTS ECHOSTAR AIRS DETAILS ON PIRACY PROBLEMS WILDBLUE CROSSES 50,000 SUBSCRIBER MARK ERGEN HAPPY GOING IT ALONE ECHOSTAR PREDICTS TIVO VERDICT WILL NOT STAND MINNESOTA SEES GROUNDS FOR INSTALL FIXES ARRAY OF GLITCHES HIT ECHOSTAR SATELLITES WEDNESDAY MAY 10, 2006 NDS DOWNPLAYS DIRECTV RECORDER ISSUES CABLEVISION STAKES CLAIM ON DBS SUBS XM PLANS COOPERATION WITH AGENCIES ECHOSTAR SLATES SEA LAUNCH LIFT-OFF SATELLITE FIRMS POST GAINS DIRECTV TEAMS UP FOR PRO GAMING LEAGUE AT&T CALLS IN WILDBLUE FOR DATA SERVICES NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group plans to launch a new channel tomorrow called BabyFirstTV…Fox Entertainment Group said yesterday it plans to make programming from Fox, FX, Speed, Fuel TV, and the 20th Century Fox t