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MONDAY JUNE 29, 2009

DIRECTV READY TO SPRING FALL NFL OFFER
KENTUCKY COURT STRIKES DOWN TAX
SEARCH STARTED FOR NEW DIRECTV PRESIDENT
DIRECTV ADDS LOCAL STATIONS
VIEWTECH PUSHES NEW CLAIMS AGAINST ECHOSTAR
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Tip-of-the-Dish to Chase Carey...AT&T raises suspicions by blocking Slingbox use on its network
NEWS & NOTES: The launch of the Sirius-FM5 satellite for Sirius XM Radio is now scheduled to take place tomorrow at 3:10 p.m. (EDT), rather than today at that time, International Launch Services said Saturday. ILS pushed the launch back one day to fix a stuck fuel fill-and-drain valve on the rocket. ILS plans to show the launch on Galaxy 28, C-band transponder 12…The Senate confirmed Larry Stickling (D) to be the head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

FRIDAY JUNE 26, 2009

SUBCOMMITTEE PASSES BOUCHER BILL
LIBERTY LOOKS FORWARD TO DIRECTV DEAL
SENATE, OBAMA ACT ON FCC NOMINATIONS
SIRIUS XM DEAL PAYS OFF FOR LIBERTY
SIRIUS XM UPS DEBT OFFERING
NEWS & NOTES: Comcast and Time Warner said they reached an agreement under which Comcast cable customers could access some TNT and TBS programming for free on their computers once they are “authenticated” as customers of the companies.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 24, 2009

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE SLATES BILL MARK-UP
TIVO SEEKS ECHOSTAR INTEREST PAYMENT
FCC GETS MORE VIDEO COMPETITION INPUT
ILS SETS SIRIUS SATELLITE LAUNCH
SIRIUS XM MAKES CREDIT MOVE
SEA LAUNCH FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY

FRIDAY JUNE 19, 2009

CHARTER, DIRECTV SETTLE AD LAWSUIT
SIRIUS XM RINGS UP IPHONE APP
DIRECTV PICKS UP BUYBACK SPEED
SENATE COMMERCE APPROVE FCC NOMINATIONS
COURT CHARTS ECHOSTAR-TIVO APPEAL SCHEDULE
FCC DROPS NEWS CORP. RESTRICTIONS
NEWS & NOTES: The DirecTv Group said it plans next week to start offering a “mix” channel with six screens of coverage of the Wimbledon tennis tournament, as well as various interactive features...A Department of Agriculture telecommunications program has approved CommScope’s "Flat Drop" cable designs, and that will allow those seeking funding from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to include the use of the "Flat Drop" products in various applications submitted to the RUS grant and loan programs.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 17, 2009

HEARING DIVIDES SATELLITE TV, BROADCASTERS
DBS SERVICES PITCH LOCAL TV COOPERATION
ECHOSTAR WORKS ON NEXT TIVO FIX
SATELLITE TV AGREES NOT TO EXPLOIT LAW
SENATORS EYE GENACHOWSKI, MCDOWELL OK
FCC DROPS NEWS CORP. RESTRICTIONS
NEWS & NOTES: Today marks the 15th anniversary of the launch of high-power DBS service by DirecTv and USSB…DirecTv said it plans to offer three channels of additional coverage of all four rounds of the U.S. Open Championship golf tournament this week.

MONDAY JUNE 15, 2009

BOUCHER STARTS SATELLITE TV BILL DRAFTING
FCC, BROADCASTERS PLAY DOWN DISRUPTION
DIRECTV SWEETENS POT WITH SHOWTIME OFFER
SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Digital television transition notable for how many people no longer rely on off-air TV...Liberty Chairman John Malone might want to tell President Greg Maffei to tone down comments.

FRIDAY JUNE 12, 2009

TIVO PUSHES AGAINST STAY IN ECHOSTAR CASE
NPS SWITCHES DISTANT QUALIFICATION COURSE
FINAL EXAM ARRIVES FOR DIGITAL TV EDUCATION
DISH NETWORK, FISHER END DISPUTE
TIVO LOOKS FOR MORE CABLE AGREEMENTS

WEDNESDAY JUNE 10, 2009

NPS UNIT TO LAUNCH HD DISTANT NETWORKS
ERGEN PLAYS UP HD OFFERINGS
LIBERTY EYES QUICK REGULATORY REVIEW
DIRECTV SETS BLIMP FLIGHT TO AIR TAX PROTEST
FCC GETS BROAD HIGH-SPEED DATA PLAN INPUT
JUDGE KEEPS CHARTER-DIRECTV CASE GOING
LIBERTY: SIRIUS XM
CAN RIDE OUT ECONOMIC STORM
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.