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JAN. 30, 2012 DIRECTV SOWS DEAL TO KEEP SPROUT IN PLACE AT&T URGES CONDITIONS ON DBSD-TERRESTAR DEALS NAB CHIDES TIME WARNER CABLE RETRANS STANCE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: As carriage disputes continue, DeMint-Scalise bill to eliminate retrans and must-carry rules deserves a look...CES continues to lose relevance. JAN. 27, 2012 DIRECTV-SUNBEAM DEAL SPIKES SUPER BOWL WORRY AT&T ADDS SUBS, BLASTS FCC OVER T-MOBILE TIME WARNER CABLE DOWNPLAYS BASIC LOSSES FIGHT PITS DISH NETWORK AGAINST ATLANTA STATION JAN. 25, 2012 HILL INTEREST IN DIRECTV-SUNBEAM DEAL SPIKES SUPREMES NIXES DISH NETWORK HD PBS RULE APPEAL VERIZON SEES VIDEO SUB UPTICK NDS HAILS DISH NETWORK ATTORNEY FEE DECISION SIRIUS XM WARNS ON WCS INTERFERENCE JAN. 23, 2012 GAMES DRIVE TALK OVER DIRECTV-SUNBEAM IMPASSE GRANT STATIONS STAY ON DISH NETWORK TIVO LOOKS TO KEEP VERIZON LAWSUIT MOVING SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: DirecTv-Sunbeam fight shows retrans rules need fixing...Verizon "NFL Mobile" pales in comparison to NFL Sunday Ticket JAN. 20, 2012 SUNBEAM PLANS PLAYOFF TIMEOUT IN DIRECTV FIGHT SUPREMES REJECT DISH NETWORK APPEAL CABLE GROUP SEEKS MORE RETRANS INFO DIRECTV, OTHERS QUESTION VERIZON-CABLE DEALS DISH NETWORK EXPANDS REVAMPED HDNET DISTRIBUTION JAN. 18, 2012 DIRECTV, SUNBEAM IMPASSE CLOUDS OVER SIGNALS DISH NETWORK, GRANT SEEK RETRANS ACCORD FCC PUTS INTERNET CAPTIONING RULES ON-LINE DIRECTV READIES INDY SUPER BOWL BEACH EVENTS DISH NETWORK URGES 2 GHz ACTION NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv Sports Networks reached a five-year agreement to televise Big Sky Conference football and basketball games on DirecTv’s the Roots regional sports channels. DirecTv also obtained the rights to distribute the games nationally. JAN. 13, 2012 FCC LOOKS AT TURNING OUT SPORTS BLACKOUT RULES GENACHOWASKI PUSHES AGENDA AT CES SIDES CARRY ON AT FCC OVER CARRIAGE RULES MCDOWELL QUESTIONS CABLE-VERIZON DEAL DIRECTV KEEPS TALKING TO SUNBEAM JAN. 11, 2012 DISH NETWORK EYES SUB JUMP FROM NEW OFFERING SAMSUNG PLANS ‘BOXLESS” DIRECTV ON TELEVISIONS VIASAT SLATES FASTER SATELLITE INTERNET SERVICE ERGEN PRESSES FCC TO GIVE DBSD/TERRESTAR OK DIRECTV WORKS ON SUNBEAM RETRANS DEAL Reproduction of this publication in whole or in part beyond the single-use subscriber, for any purpose—whether by a single photocopy, fax, or e-mail forwarding—is a violation of federal copyright law. Those wishing to reproduce copies of this publication for any use must contact the publisher for information regarding site and company licenses. JAN. 9, 2012 CES RINGS IN THE YEAR IN VEGAS THIS WEEK DISH NETWORK TO CHANGE SERVICE NAME ECHOSTAR, DISH NETWORK RENEW TIES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: The 17th Annual Notebook Awards JAN. 6, 2012 SIRIUS XM ENDS YEAR ON HIGH NET SUB ADD NOTE DISH NETWORK HINTS AT WHOLE-HOME UNIT ROLLOUT VIASAT SETS WILDBLUE IMPROVEMENT SCHEDULE SMALL RETRANS FIGHT LOOMS FOR DISH NETWORK COMCAST SEES IMPROVING VIDEO PROSPECTS TIVO POINTS TO PROGRESS FROM AT&T SETTLEMENT JAN. 4, 2012 SIRIUS XM INSTITUTES PRICE INCREASES DISH NETWORK SEES SCATTERED RETRANS ISSUES TIME WARNER CABLE, MSG KEEP SLUGGING IN FIGHT DIRECTV AVOIDS NEW YEAR CARRIAGE HEADACHES NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv started offering Mas Movies, a $4.99 per month package that includes three Spanish-language movie channels. DEC. 28, 2011 DISH NETWORK, DIRECTV DEAL WITH RETRANS ISSUES FCC LOOKS AT JOINT RETRANS NEGOTIATIONS DBS FIRMS EYE BETTER RECEPTION IN PHILADELPHIA DIRECTV SLATES PRICE INCREASE FCC GIVES OK TO AT&T-QUALCOMM SPECTRUM DEAL NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv and Dish Network are each charging $169 for the NBA League Pass package of out-of-market basketball games this season, which was shortened to 66 regular season games instead of 82 because of a dispute between players and owners. This year’s price also includes access to games via the Internet. The DBS services charged $189 for the package last season...PRODUCTION NOTICE: In observance of the New Year’s 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 New Year. DEC. 21, 2011 DISH NETWORK, HERITAGE END DISPUTE VERIZON, CABLE COMPANIES SEEK SPECTRUM DEAL OK AT&T DROPS CALL FOR T-MOBILE CRITICS HAIL AT&T/T-MOBILE DEAL END NDS PLANS $100 MILLION STOCK OFFERING NEWS & NOTES: Charter Communications named former Cablevision Chief Operating Officer Tom Rutledge president and chief executive officer, effective Feb. 13...PRODUCTION NOTICE: In observance of the holidays, 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 season. DEC. 19, 2011 TIME WARNER CABLE, MSG SHOW SHORT FUSE IN SPAT VIDEO DEREGULATION BILL DRAWS DIRECTV SUPPORT NEWS & NOTES: Cox agreed to sell its 20 MHz advanced wireless service licenses covering 28 million potential customers to Verizon for $315 million...Lawmakers on Saturday approved large spending, tax relief, and jobs legislation that did not include language that would have cleared the way for the FCC to conduct an auction of spectrum “voluntarily” relinquished by broadcasters. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Google TV update fails to impress. DEC. 16, 2011 NFL BROADCAST DEALS LEAVE SUNDAY TICKET ALONE DIRECTV, BROADCAST GROUP SPAR OVER RETRANS FIGHT LEAVES STATION PAIR DARK ON DISH NETWORK DISH NETWORK KEEPS PITCHING DEALS TO FCC COURT NIXES CABLEVISION ACCESS APPEAL NEWS & NOTES: Cablevision Chief Operating Officer Tom Rutledge plans to resign from the company later this month, Cablevision said in a statement…ESPN and the NCAA reached an agreement that provides ESPN the rights to carry NCAA games for 24 sports across ESPN’s various channels and via the Internet. DEC. 14, 2011 DISH NETWORK SMALL MARKET RETRANS FLAP BREWS DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA LIGHTS UP DATA SERVICE FCC ADOPTS COMMERCIAL LOUDNESS RULES DIRECTV DEBUTS NEW USER INTERFACE HOUSE OKS BILL WITH FCC AUCTION AUTHORITY NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network Senior Vice President Jeff Blum was named chairman of the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association’s board of directors. DEC. 12, 2011 DISH NETWORK SEEKS NDS FEE REVIEW BY SUPREMES SATELLITE, CABLE FIRMS EYE AD VOLUME CALM HOUSE PUSHES ‘JOBS’ BILL WITH SPECTRUM AUCTIONS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Verizon-cable deal is not going to reshape video landscape in the short run...Interesting to see brief Slingbox mention in Verizon ad..."Job creater" and "job killer" labels do not provide answers to economic NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv is offering customers a total of $10 in bill credits if they order four pay-per-view movies this month…Dish Network has started offering a slate of holiday music channels on its DBS service that will be available through Dec. 26. DEC. 9, 2011 CHURCHILL LIKES DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA PROSPECTS COMMITTEE OKS FCC NOMINATION; BLOCK LOOMS NEWS CORP. LOOKS AT RETRANS, SPORTS FEE VALUE NCTA CHIEF DOWNPLAYS RETRANS; WARNS ON SPORTS VERIZON PLAYS UP CABLE DEAL IMPORTANCE NEWS & NOTES: ViaSat said the testing of its ViaSat-1 satellite is progressing well and the company expects the recently launched bird to be available for its WildBlue service in the middle of this month…AT&T and T-Mobile have no plans at the moment to abandon the plan that calls for AT&T to purchase its wireless competitor, AT&T Chief Financial Officer John Stephens said. DEC. 7, 2011 DIRECTV HOME MEDIA CENTER READY FOR ROLLOUT SIRIUS XM LIKES PRICE HIKE REVENUE OUTLOOK CABLE FIRMS LOOK FOR QUICK START WITH VERIZON DIRECTV, TIVO SET NEW UNIT SCHEDULE NEWS & NOTES: The Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to vote tomorrow on the nominations of Jennifer Rosenworcel (D) and Ajit Pai (R) to become FCC commissioners. Meanwhile, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps (D), whose term technically expired last year, said he plans to step down from his post by Jan. 1. DEC. 5, 2011 CABLE, VERIZON RING IN WIRELESS DEAL DISH NETWORK, PAPPAS KEEP TALKING OVER STATIONS DBS SERVICES SOUND COMMERCIAL RULE CONCERNS NAB KEEPS PUSHING AGAINST RETRANS CHANGES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Karmazin remarks about government review show how arrogance and ego can overwhelm thinking...Broadcast TV is far from free...Ohio State hiring Meyer shows how lessons go unlearned. DEC. 2, 2011 DISH NETWORK, TITAN SEAL DISTRIBUTION DEAL DISH NETWORK DEFENDS TERRESTAR-DBSD PLAN COMMITTEE SIGNALS FCC NOMINEE SUPPORT NAB DEFENDS STATIONS’ NEGOTIATING PRACTICES DISH NETWORK REUPS NEXSTAR RETRANS CONTRACT HOUSE PANEL BACKS SPECTRUM BILL NOV. 30, 2011 DISH NETWORK, TITAN STILL LACKING RETRANS DEAL FCC GETS EARFUL ON PROGRAM CARRIAGE RULES DEMOCRATS FOLLOW REPUBLICANS’ AUCTION BILL FCC OKS AT&T/T-MOBILE WITHDRAWL; AIRS FINDINGS HOUSE COMMITTEE STARTS LOOKING AT FCC BILLS NEWS & NOTES: During a televised interview, Sirius XM Radio Chairman Mel Karmazin again argued the $1.54 price increase the company plans to impose Jan. 1 was “modest.” NOV. 29, 2011 NEW RETRANS FIGHT BREWS FOR DISH NETWORK DISH NETWORK PUSHES AT&T DEAL HEARING ORDER FCC KEEPS RECEIVING RETRANS VIEWS CABLEVISION-MSG GET TEMPORARY ACCESS REPRIEVE NAB URGES FCC TO KEEP NEGOTIATING RULES HOUSE PANEL PLANS FCC REFORM, SPECTRUM VOTES NOV. 23, 2011 TIVO TURNS IN IMPROVED CUSTOMER GROWTH FCC EYES AT&T/T-MOBILE DENIAL, QUALCOMM TERMS AT&T, VERIZON, FCC URGE AGAINST MSG ORDER STAY DISH NETWORK, SPRINT CHEER FCC AT&T MOVE NEWS & NOTES: Disney announced ESPN President George Bodendheimer will become Disney executive chairman in January...PRODUCTION NOTICE: In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, and barring any major breaking news, the next issue of the FaxUPDATE will be distributed Tuesday. NOV. 21, 2011 DIRECTV READIES NEW SUBSCRIBER OFFER FCC GETS MORE CALLS FOR RETRANS REFORM DBS SERVICES WARN OF AD LOUDNESS ACT ISSUES SIRIUS XM LOOKS TO ACTIVATE SALES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: ESPN should have learned from Paterno episode not to grant Krzyzewski and other coaches saint hood. NEWS & NOTES: Ted Forstmann, founder of Forstmann, Little and Company, died after a battle with brain cancer. NOV. 18, 2011 KARMAZIN, MAFFEI SING SIRIUS XM PRAISES CABLEVISION-MSG EYE CHANNEL ACCESS ORDER STAYS TIME WARNER CABLE DISMISSES ‘CORD-CUTTING’ SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVES FCC REFORM BILLS NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar’s Sling Media unit has started allowing Slingbox owners to access their units using Google’s Chrome Internet browser...Sirius XM Canada said yesterday it added 251,400 net new subscribers in its fiscal fourth quarter and ended the period with a total of 1.983 million subscribers...Motorola Mobility shareholders approved Google’s plan to acquire Motorola Mobility for approximately $12.5 billion. NOV. 16, 2011 DISH NETWORK, OTHERS SEEK BROADCASTER CURBS DISH NETWORK KEEPS UP DBSD-TERRESTAR PRESS SLING MEDIA READIES FACEBOOK VIEWING APP DIRECTV BACKS SUBSIDIARIES DEBT ISSUES ECHOSTAR GETTING QUETZSAT-1 KEYS CENTURYLINK TELLS FCC SPORTS ACCESS ‘CRITICAL’ NOV. 14, 2011 DISH NETWORK KEEPS WORKING ON RETRANS DEALS FCC SIDES WITH AT&T, VERIZON OVER MSG ACCESS GROUPS ASK FCC TO TURN OFF BLACKOUT RULES DISH NETWORK GETS SUPPORT FOR 2 GHZ PLAN SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: ESPN gets high marks over all-news channels for Penn State coverage...Big money from TV for sports rights helped create environment where football and basketball programs hold too much sway over universities. NOV. 11, 2011 DISH NETWORK PUSHES FCC FOR DBSD-TERRESTAR OK TEST SIGNALS KINKS IN EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM SENATE SPIKES NET-NEUTRALITY BLOCK SUBCOMMITTEE PLANS FCC REFORM BILL VOTES LORAL FINANCIAL RESULTS SLIP NEWS & NOTES: Bulk TV and Internet said it reached an agreement to install DirecTv reception equipment at hundreds of Pizza Hut restaurants around the country…Viacom reported revenues of $4.053 billion during the third quarter of this year…Disney said it took in revenues of $10.425 billion in this year’s third quarter. NOV. 9, 2011 DISH NETWORK GETS SILVER LINING FROM SUB DROP ERGEN SEES DEALS AS BET ON FUTURE VIASAT EXPECTS SATELLITE TO BEAM IN SUB GROWTH HUGHES KEEPS ECHOSTAR REVENUES UP DISH NETWORK WARNS ON SPORTS COST INCREASES NEWS & NOTES: The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association has filed a petition asking the FCC to declare an ordinance Philadelphia passed restricting the placement of satellite dishes violates the commission’s prohibition against such ordinances. NOV. 7, 2011 SPRINT LIFTS OBJECTIONS ON DISH NETWORK DEALS DIRECTV ADDS TO OFFER DISCOUNTS ACA KEEPS PUSHING RETRANS CHANGES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: DirecTv results put could show importance of NFL Sunday Ticket over Red Zone knock offs...DirecTv closes in on 20 million subscribers. NOV. 4, 2011 SUNDAY TICKET PUNCHES UP DIRECTV RESULTS DIRECTV, AT&T RENEW DISTRIBUTION VOWS VIASAT BIRD FINDS PARKING SPOT FOX, DIRECTV EXECS TOUT FAIR DEAL COMCAST BASIC SUB SLIDE SLOWS DOWN NOV. 2, 2011 BROAD DEAL PUTS DIRECTV, FOX FIGHT TO REST SIRIUS XM EXPECTS NO DOWNSIDE FROM PRICE HIKE DISPUTE HITS DISH NETWORK IN TWO SMALL MARKETS ACCORD KEEPS BELO STATIONS ON DIRECTV OBAMA NOMINATES PAIR FOR FCC POSTS NEWS & NOTES: Charter Communications yesterday said it lost a net total of 64,800 basic cable subscribers in the third quarter. OCT. 31, 2011 DIRECTV, FOX TAKE DISTRIBUTION TALKS TO WIRE DEADLINES LOOM FOR DISH NETWORK, DIRECTV DISH NETWORK PUSHES AGAINST DEAL CONDITIONS CABLEVISION TAKES BASIC SUB LOSS FCC GIVES SATELLITE LIMITED BROADBAND FUND ROLE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: DirecTv, Fox offer confusing messages to baseball viewers...Programmers, video distributors should get together and figure out own retransmission consent solution. NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar Chief Financial Officer David Rayner plans to leave that post Nov. 8. OCT. 28, 2011 DIRECTV SENDS FCC LETTER; FOX ALTERS AD DISH NETWORK ASKS SUPREMES TO NIX HD PBS RULE TIME WARNER SEES BASIC SUB DROP BELO, DIRECTV KEEP TALKING FCC GIVES SATELLITE LIMITED BROADBAND FUND ROLE NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv modified its application for Apple iPads that enables users to view live programming from 38 channels on the device. Live programming will only be available on the user’s home network. OCT. 26, 2011 BROADCAST FIRM WARNS ON DISH NETWORK FIGHT FOX, DIRECTV HAGGLE OVER PRICE INCREASE TERMS DISH NETWORK, SPRINT KEEP PUSHING AT&T HEARING VERIZON SEES SLOWER VIDEO SUB GROWTH AMID SUB LOSSES, NETFLIX DOWNPLAYS BLOCKBUSTER IMPACT NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network has started using its web site to highlight what it says are the advantages of sister company EchoStar’s Slingbox products over the Nomad unit DirecTv started selling earlier this month..Fox reached an agreement to provide video-on-demand content via the Internet to Verizon and Mediacom video subscribers...Hubbard Media’s ReelzChannel said it is now available in more than 60 million homes through various multichannel video services. OCT. 24, 2011 FOX BRINGS LOCAL STATIONS INTO DIRECTV FIGHT BROADCASTER WARNS OF DISH NETWORK DISPUTE DIRECTV PREVIEWS HD USER INTERFACE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: DirecTv has timing on its side in fight with News Corp.-Fox. OCT. 21, 2011 DIRECTV, FOX SPAR OVER WHOLESALE FEES SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH BOOSTS WILDBLUE PLANS AT&T SEES SLOWER SUB GAINS CBS SEEKS RETRANS STATUS QUO NEWS & NOTES: ESPN said its ESPN 3D channel plans to telecast a total of 43 college basketball games in 3-D this season...Canadian DBS service Shaw Direct added a net total of 3,087 new subscribers during the company’s fiscal fourth quarter OCT. 19, 2011 SIRIUS XM ROLLS OUT NEW RADIO, SERVICE CHANGES VIDEO SERVICES PAN UNIVERSAL BOX PROPOSAL DBSD, TERRESTAR DEALS DRAW CONDITION CALLS DIRECTV, TIME WARNER PRESS RETRANS AGENDA OCT. 17, 2011 VIASAT SATELLITE ON TRACK FOR LAUNCH GENACHOWSKI KEEPS UP SPECTRUM PUSH DISH NETWORK SUBS GET INDIANA STATIONS NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar’s Sling Media unit has started offering an application that enables users to access their Slingboxes via tablets that employ the Android operating system. The application retails for $29.99. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: ESPN should catch praise for documentary...Satellite launch could be one shot in arm WildBlue needs. OCT. 14, 2011 GAME SHOW NETWORK FIGHTS CABLEVISION AT FCC BELO GOES PUBLIC WITH DIRECTV TALKS GROUPS OPPOSE SPECTRUM FEES IN OBAMA PLAN SATELLITE TV, TELCOS TOP CABLE IN SURVEY OCT. 12, 2011 WILDBLUE SUBS BACK ON LINE GROUP KEEPS BACKING UNIVERSAL BOX IDEA APPEALS SEEK TO SINK SIRIUS XM SETTLEMENT SENATE PLANS LOOK AT BROADBAND FUND NEWS & NOTES: Charter Communications President Michael Lovett, plans to leave his post by April 30, 2012. OCT. 7, 2011 SATELLITE OUTAGE HITS SOME WILDBLUE SUBS NOMAD PUTS CONTENT ON MOVE FOR DIRECTV SUBS FOX CHIDES TIME WARNER CABLE ON RETRANS VIEWS FCC CHAIRMAN FLOATS BROADBAND FUND PLAN PRODUCTION NOTICE: In observance of the Columbus Day holiday, and barring any major breaking news, the FaxUPDATE will not be distributed Monday. OCT. 5, 2011 SUPREMES SIGNAL INTEREST IN OHIO TAX APPEAL FCC HEARS ALL SIDES ON UNIVERSAL BOX PROPOSAL NAB CHIEF DEFENDS BROADCASTER RETRANS ACTIONS SPRINT SEEKS FCC HEARING ON AT&T/T-MOBILE NCTA, ACA PRESS CASE AGAINST FUND PROPOSAL OCT. 3, 2011 DIRECTV OFFER FOCUSES ON MULTIROOM, HARDWARE NEXT DISH NETWORK SATELLITE OPERATING AT&T CHALLENGES SPRINT LAWSUIT VERIZON CHALLENGES LOOMING NET RULES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: DirecTv's four game mix channel for Sunday Ticket is worth looking at...New Geico commercial goes too far. SEPT. 30, 2011 NEXT DISH NETWORK BIRD SEES LAUNCH SUCCESS DISH NETWORK KEEPS UP ANTI-AT&T/T-MOBILE STANCE MEDIACOM CITES NEED FOR RETRANS CHANGES DIRECTV, GETGLUE ATTACH VIEWERS TO SHOWS GROUP TAKES ON NET NEUTRALITY RULES IN COURT NEWS & NOTES: CalAmp reported revenues of $33.8 million for the second quarter of its fiscal 2012…A federal judge in San Diego has scheduled a mandatory settlement conference between Dish Network and SonicView for Oct. 18. SEPT. 28, 2011 DISH NETWORK WARNS ABOUT RETRANS ISSUES TIME WARNER CABLE SEEKS SPORTS NET RULE END FCC CHAIRMAN KEEPS PUSHING SPECTRUM NEEDS SATELLITE FIRMS SEEK INCLUSIVE BROADBAND FUND NEWS & NOTES: The FCC set Oct. 27 for comments to be filed regarding Time Warner Cable’s proposed acquisition of Insight Communications. SEPT. 26, 2011 DISH NETWORK, BLOCKBUSTER SET STREAMING PLANS DISH NETWORK ADDS MORE AT&T/T-MOBILE CRITCISM NEXT DISH NETWORK SATELLITE SET FOR LAUNCH SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Prospect of Dish Network standoff with Disney over ESPN highlights need for retrans reform. NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv and Time Warner Cable representatives met with FCC officials and staff members to urge the agency to make changes to the retransmission consent rules, acording to a FCC filing. SEPT. 23, 2011 FCC SIDES WITH TELCOS OVER MSG WHITE: DIRECTV PUTTING TOGETHER SOLID QUARTER AT&T CHIEF SEES COURT DATE TARGET TIME WARNER CABLE LOOKS TO IMPROVE SEPT. 21, 2011 COMCAST OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BASIC IMPROVEMENTS AT&T/T-MOBILE DEAL DRAWS MORE STATIC DIRECTV SEEKS REVIEW ON SPORTS CHANNEL RULING TIVO HEAD KEEPS PITCHING WARES TO CABLE FCC CHAIRMAN PUSHES HIGH-SPEED DATA ADOPTION NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network and its Blockbuster unit are scheduled to announce Friday their plan to start offering an Internet-delivered video streaming service designed to compete with the streaming service Netflix and others offer. SEPT. 19, 2011 STATES JOIN LAWSUIT AGAINST AT&T/T-MOBILE COMBO DISH NETWORK SEEKS HEARING ON T-MOBILE DEAL JUDGE DELAYS TIVO-AT&T TRIAL NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv said last night it had put to rest technical problems that cropped up last Sunday during the opening day of The NFL Sunday Ticket package..“Friday Night Lights,” which DirecTv aired on its Audience Network, won Emmy awards last night for best lead actor in a drama and best writer in a drama series. “The Kennedys,” which was shown on Hubbard Media’s Reelz Channel, was awarded an Emmy award for best lead actor in a miniseries. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Lack of baseball, football games is holding back 3-D...AT&T/T-Mobile deal is not dead yet, and could help Dish Network-EchoStar get hands on Qualcomm spectrum...Dish Network could help Google TV. SEPT. 16, 2011 SIRIUS XM PUTS PRICE ON PLANNED FEE INCREASE DISH NETWORK RESOLVES SATELLITE ISSUE FCC STARTS LOOK AT DISH NETWORK DEALS DIRECTV LIKES OWN DATA PATH AT&T HOPES FOR ‘SOLUTION’ TO JUSTICE LAWSUIT NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv said it has started offering local stations via satellite in high-definition in another six markets... As expected, Space Systems/Loral said it has delivered the ViaSat-1 Ka-band satellite to Kazakhstan. SEPT. 14, 2011 SPECTRUM FEES IN OBAMA BILL DRAW IRE SIDES RING IN ON SPORTS CHANNEL ISSUES DBS SUBS GET ACCESS TO MORE ONLINE CONTENT DIRECTV WORKS ON SUNDAY TICKET ISSUES NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv reached an agreement for Arianespace to launch the planned DirecTv-14 and DirecTv-15 satellites from French Guiana in 2014...DirecTv launched its fourth annual “Ultimate Displaced Fan” contest. SEPT. 12, 2011 GLITCH FORCES DIRECTV MOVE ON NFL FEATURES FCC GETS AT&T CALL FOR SPORTS NET CHANGES AT&T RAILS AGAINST LAWSUIT OVER T-MOBILE DEAL SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Ten years after terrorist attacks, political leaders should put differences aside. NEWS & NOTES: The agreement Dish Network announced last week to start distributing the MLB Network did not include Dish Network acquiring an ownership stake in the channel, Major League Baseball said. As reported, DirecTv’s acquired a 16.5 percent stake in the channel as part of its distribution deal for the MLB Network. In Demand, which is owned by Comcast, Time Warner, and Cox, also has an equal ownership stake in the baseball-controlled channel. SEPT. 9, 2011 VIASAT BIRD LAUNCH BUMPED BACK, AGAIN NFL SEASON KICKS OFF WITH FREE PREVIEWS DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA SETS SATELLITE PLAN TIVO TRUMPETS PROGRESS WITH CABLE SATELLITE FIRMS KEEP PUSHING FUND PLAN NEWS & NOTES: ESPN and the National Football League reached a new eight-year agreement to continue airing Monday Night Football. SEPT. 7, 2011 SPRINT ADDS TO AT&T/T-MOBILE LEGAL DRAMA HOUSE COMMITTEE SIGNALS SPECTRUM, FCC ACTION FCC ISSUES IN-STATE TV REPORT TIVO, MOTOROLA SPAR OVER LAWSUIT STAY NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv selected its conditional access system supplier, NDS, to provide a digital rights management software systems for DirecTv to use for delivery of programming over home networks and to mobile devices. SEPT. 6, 2011 DBS SERVICES KEEP UP WITH STORM CLEAN UP COPYRIGHT OFFICE RECOMMENDS DISTANT SUNSET DISH NETWORK PRAISES MOVE ON AT&T/T-Mobile DISH NETWORK ADDS MLB NETWORK DISH NETWORK ROLLS OUT ‘TAILGATER’ NEWS & NOTES: Cable company Mediacom at press time remained in a distribution dispute with Lin Media that resulted in Mediacom customers losing access to Lin-owned stations in several markets. AUG. 29, 2011 VIDEO SERVICES PREP CLEAN-UP IN IRENE AFTERMATH DISH NETWORK SETTLES VERMONT WORDING SUIT FCC RESTARTS CLOCK ON AT&T/T-MOBILE DEAL SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Severe weather brings out the worst in some stations, channels...Time Warner Cable made a smart move with Slingbox promotion...Jobs deserves a lot of credit for Apple, but is not in same league as Edison, Ford, and others. The next issue of the FaxUPDATE will be distributed Sept. 6. AUG. 26, 2011 TIVO STARTS SEEING SIGNS OF CABLE PROGRESS JUDGES GIVES SIRIUS XM SETTLEMENT OK SATELLITE FIRMS BEMOAN BROADBAND FUND IDEAS ESPN LONGHORN NETWORK SHORT ON DISTRIBUTION FCC TRIES AGAIN ON VIDEO DESCRIPTION RULES TIME WARNER SET TO OPEN SLINGBOX OFFER AUG. 24, 2011 DISH NETWORK SEEKS DBSD, TERRESTAR COMBO OK SPRINT PRESSES AGAINST AT&T/T-MOBILE DIRECTV SERVES UP U.S. OPEN EVENTS MULTIBAND EXPANDS DIRECTV DEAL NEWS & NOTES: Cablevision has started distributing Hubbard Media’s ReelzChannel to Cablevision’s digital cable customers. AUG. 22, 2011 COMCAST YANKS AD LAWSUIT AGAINST DIRECTV TOPSY-TURVEY MARKET UPENDS STOCK PRICES TIVO TUSSLES WITH MOTOROLA, VERIZON SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Comcast lawsuit over Sunday Ticket only served to point out cable's shortcomings...Google acquiring Motorola interesting on many levels. AUG. 19, 2011 DIRECTV EXPANDS SUNDAY TICKET OPTIONS CANADA SEES MODEST VIDEO SERVICE GROWTH AHEAD FCC STANDS BEHIND AUCTION PLAN SATELLITE, CABLE STOCKS FOLLOW MARKET DOWN AUG. 17, 2011 JUDGE DELAYS DIRECTV-COMCAST HEARING DEAL PUTS GOOGLE ON MOBILE, CABLE SET-TOP MAP TIME WARNER CABLE PICKS UP INSIGHT SYSTEMS DINGELL HEAPS CRITICISM ON FCC RESPONSE TIME CENTURYLINK SEEKS DISH NETWORK PAYMENTS SIRIUS XM AGAIN WARNS ABOUT WCS INTERFERENCE AUG. 15, 2011 ROCKY WEEK LEAVES STOCKS LOWER DISH NETWORK VOWS FIGHT ON PBS HD RULE TIVO SLATES STOCK BUYBACK NCTA STICKS TO UNIVERSAL BOX OBJECTION SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Subscriber results reflect new economic reality...NFL stepping into DirecTv-Comcast fight show's impact of Comcast-NBC deal. NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar plans to shut down the ViP-TV satellite-delivered Internet protocol-based video service…Cinemax started making its MaxGo online service available to users of iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile devices. AUG. 12, 2011 STOCKS MAKE SWING BACK UP APPEALS COURT STICKS WITH PBS HD RULING DISH NETWORK SATELLITE CLOSES IN ON LAUNCH FCC MAKES COORDINATED EFFORT ON AT&T DEALS CABLEVISION, VIACOM DELETE IPAD DISPUTE NEWS CORP. RESULTS WEATHER STORM NEWS & NOTES: The FCC yesterday rejected DirecTv’s request for a review of an arbitration ruling that favored Armstrong Utilities in a wholesale rate dispute with DirecTv’s Pittsburgh regional sports channel. AUG. 10, 2011 DISH NETWORK SEES SUB LOSSES, FINANCIAL GAINS JUDGE DENIES COMCAST AD BAN VERSUS DIRECTV COMCAST TAKES ISSUE WITH ‘STANDSTILL’ ORDER ECHOSTAR HURT BY DISH NETWORK SUB LOSS SATELLITE STOCKS RIDE MARKET COASTER CABLEVISION SUB COUNT SLIPS NEWS & NOTES: Loral Space and Communications reported revenues of $460 million during the second quarter of this year…Disney recorded revenues of $10.675 billion during the second quarter…ESPN said its ESPN-3D channel plans to televise 20 regular season college football games in 3-D this fall. AUG. 8, 2011 VIASAT SEES CLEAR PATH TO LAUNCH, IMPROVEMENTS DIRECTV URGES AGAINST NFL AD HALT COMCAST TAKES ISSUE WITH ‘STANDSTILL’ ORDER NEWS & NOTES: Viacom reported revenues of $3.766 billion during the second quarter of this year. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Comcast lawsuit over DirecTv's NFL Sunday Ticket ads defines hypocrisy. AUG. 5, 2011 LATIN AMERICA PROPELS DIRECTV RESULTS DIRECTV BANKING ON DEMAND FOR NEW SERVICES COMCAST SUES DIRECTV OVER SUNDAY TICKET ADS DISH NETWORK GAINS FRONTIER TERRITORY BROADBAND FUND PLAN VEXES SATELLITE FIRMS NEWS & NOTES: Susan Eid has been promoted to DirecTv's executive vice president of government and regulatory affairs...Satellite company stocks slumped yesterday with the rest of the market, during one of Wall Street’s worst days in a decade. AUG. 3, 2011 SIRIUS XM ADDS UP SUBS, AWAITS PRICE INCREASE FCC MOVES ON CARRIAGE ‘STANDSTILL’ RULE CABLE, MCDOWELL NOT THRILLED WITH ‘STANDSTILL’ CHARTER TALLIES BASIC SUB LOSS NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar said it expanded its board of directors from eight members to nine and named Hughes Communications President Pradman Kaul to fill the new seat. EchoStar purchased Hughes in June. AUG. 1, 2011 FCC TO ANNOUNCE ‘STANDSTILL’ TODAY SIRIUS XM CAUTIONS FCC ON INTERFERENCE PHONE COMPANIES PITCH BROADBAND FUND PLAN NEWS & NOTES: Satellite operator SES reported it took in $609 million during the second quarter. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: FCC's decision to let Sirius XM price condition lapse defies logic. JULY 29, 2011 FCC LETS SIRIUS XM PRICE FREEZE MELT AWAY DIRECTV MAKES ESPN-3D FULL-TIME; ADDS CHANNELS TIME WARNER CABLE SEES COMPETITION TAKE SUBS DISH NETWORK, DIRECTV LINE UP FOR BIG TEN ONLINE PUSH NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv named Dixon Doll to its board of directors..DirecTv and ESPN plan to conduct their second annual “Head2Head Knockout” Nascar competition they said would result in $400,000 being donated to drivers’ charities...Reports indicated BSkyB's board of directors had decided to retain James Murdoch as chairman of the News Corp.-controlled company amid continued controversy over alleged illegal activities at the now-closed News of the World tabloid. News Corp. declined comment. JULY 27, 2011 DIRECTV WORKS ON NFL PROMO AFTER LABOR DEAL DISH NETWORK TO GO FIRST ONLINE WITH FOX FCC STARTS LOOK AT REGIONAL SPORTS CHANNELS NAB WARNS ON FCC SPECTRUM PLANS COMCAST BEMOANS ‘STANDSTILL’ NEWS & NOTES: SNY, the New York area sports channel which carries Met games, briefly returned to Dish Network’s air Monday night, but not by design...Dish Network said it plans to make The Big Ten Network available starting Sept. 1 as a regional sports network to subscribers in Nebraska as part of the America’s Top 120 programming package…The American Cable Association named WideOpenWest Chief Executive Officer Colleen Abdoulah chairwoman of the organization…Comcast said it is making eight Hispanic and Spanish-language channels available to an additional 14 million of its cable subscribers. JULY 25, 2011 VERIZON SEES VIDEO SUB INCREASE SIRIUS XM, STERN LEGAL TUSSLE CONTINUES STATION GROUP PUSHES AGAINST RETRANS CHANGES NEWS & NOTES: The prohibition against Sirius XM Radio raising the prices of its core offerings is slated to expire Friday, unless the FCC takes action to extend and/or modify it…At press time, though the situation was still fluid, reports indicated the National Football League and its players were closing in on ending their dispute and that a full season would be played. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Murdoch hearing shows Britain's politicians no different than U.S. counterparts...Rupert Murdoch gets off to slow start in hearing, but Parliment security was worst performer...James Murdoch raises questions about succession, while Carey keeps running operation. JULY 22, 2011 VIASAT SEES ANOTHER SATELLITE LAUNCH DELAY AT&T ‘CONFIDENT’ T-MOBILE APPROVAL WILL COME DEMOCRATS RAISE FLAGS ON AT&T/T-MOBILE DEAL BLOCKBUSTER SETTLES ON 1,500 STORES AT&T ADDS, SUBTRACTS VIDEO SUBS NEWS & NOTES: NFL owners late yesterday approved an agreement that they said would bring the league’s labor dispute with its players to an end and start the season on time...DirecTv added the high-definition version of the TeleFutura affiliate to its local station line-up in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale market. JULY 20, 2011 BLOCKBUSTER CLOSES IN ON FINAL STORE COUNT SATELLITE FIRMS PITCH PART IN BROADBAND ROLLOUT SIRIUS XM LOOKS FOR CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT OK GROUP PROTESTS AT&T/T-MOBILE Transaction NEWS & NOTES: News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch and his son, News Corp. Deputy Chief Operating Officer James Murdoch, testified yesterday at a British Parliament hearing on allegations reporters from the now-shuttered News Corp.-owned News of the World newspaper illegally accessed the voicemails of British citizens. Some or all of the three-hour hearing was shown on numerous channels, with commentators spending about as long analyzing the proceedings. JULY 18, 2011 DIRECTV UPS ANTE ON LATEST OFFER SIRIUS XM TAKES STERN LAWSUIT MCDOWELL REMAINS UN-NEUTRAL ON NET RULES NEWS & NOTES: International Launch Services successfully launched the SES-3 C-band/Ku-band satellite for SES. The satellite, which was launched aboard a Proton rocket from Kazakhstan Saturday, is slated to replace the AMC-1 satellite at the 103-degree orbital slot. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: News Corp. controversy says a lot about the political and media environment. JULY 15, 2011 SIRIUS CANADA, XM CANADA ADD UP RESULTS HDNET BACKS CARRIAGE ‘STANDSTILL’ RULE WHITE HOUSE BEMOANS HOUSE BILL IMPACT ON FCC ESHOO, WAXMAN DROP SPECTRUM AUCTION BILL BLOCKBUSTER LOOKS TO NAB NETFLIX SUBS NEWS & NOTES: Long-time satellite dealer Kevin Leslie, who was active for years in industry and trade association affairs, died this week after suffering a heart attack…In the face of controversy sparked by allegations against the now shuttered News Corp.-owned News of the World newspaper in England, News Corp. has abandoned, at least for now, its plan to acquire the 60 percent of BSkyB it does not already own…The latest season of “Friday Night Lights,” which first aired on DirecTv, received four Emmy nominations. “The Kennedys” mini-series that aired on The Reelz Channel received 10 Emmy nominations. JULY 13, 2011 FCC DRAWS MORE VIDEO COMPETITION INPUT DIRECTV CHIMES IN ON AD LOUDNESS RULES DISH NETWORK SEEKS RURAL BROADBAND ROLE NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network started offering customers who buy packages that include News Corp.’s Speed Channel access to Speed2, an online-only offering from the Speed Channel…Sirius XM Radio is slated to be added to the Nasdaq-100 Index, effective Friday. JULY 11, 2011 AT&T SEEKS QUICK FCC LOOPHOLE RULING DIRECTV GETS ‘BEST OFFER EVER’ UNDERWAY NCTA VIES AGAINST FCC CARRIAGE ‘STANDSTILL’ SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Google TV needs a software update and overhaul. JULY 8, 2011 DISH NETWORK GETS NODS ON TERRESTAR, DBSD FCC CLOSES IN ON PROGRAM CARRIAGE RULES JUDGE ISSUES STAY IN TIVO-MOTOROLA CASE NCTA HEAD PUSHES AGAINST UNIVERSAL BOX MCDOWELL BEMOANS FCC REGULATIONS NEWS & NOTES: The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative named Tim Bryan chief executive officer, effective Aug. 1. Jack Harvey will remain president of the co-op. Most recently, Bryan was chief executive officer of ICO Global Communications. JULY 6, 2011 OBJECTIONS CROP UP IN TERRESTAR DEAL SPRINT MEETS FCC ON AT&T/T-MOBILE DEAL SIRIUS XM CAUTIONS FCC ON INTERFERENCE NTIA HEAD PRESSES SPECTRUM ISSUES NEWS & NOTES: Cablevision Systems completed the spin-off of AMC Networks into a separate, publicly traded company…ESPN acquired the exclusive television rights in the United States for live coverage of the Wimbledon tennis tournament for the next 12 years…FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell (R) is slated to be one of several witnesses testifying at a House Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing Thursday. JULY 1, 2011 CABLEVISION WANTS LOOPHOLE LID OPEN DISH NETWORK LIGHTS UP HOLIDAY MOVIE OFFER TIVO STANDS BY PUSH TO STAY MOTOROLA LAWSUIT STERN FIGHTS TO KEEP BONUS CASE GOING SHAW SATELLITE TV SUBS TOTAL HEADS NORTH JUNE 29, 2011 DISH NETWORK, TERRESTAR SEEK OK FOR DEAL RETRANS STILL SPLITS BROADCASTERS, SERVICES DBSD, DISH NETWORK CLOSE IN ON APPROVAL GROUPS SEEK AT&T/T-MOBILE HEARING NEWS & NOTES: Jack Riley, a long-time satellite industry hand, died earlier this month in Shelby, N.C…Comcast started offering ReelzChannel in high-definition on Comcast’s cable system in Chicago. JUNE 27, 2011 SATELLITE FIRMS SEEK BROADBAND ROLLOUT ROLE AT&T, T-MOBILE START MAKING ROUNDS AT FCC MOTOROLA TRIES TO KEEP TIVO CASE MOVING TIME WARNER SEES PATH TO APP AGREEMENTS JUNE 24, 2011 CABLEVISION WANTS FCC TO SORT OUT LOOPHOLE MANNINGS SNAP UP ATTENTION WITH DIRECTV SPOT AT&T EYES SEPARATE QUALCOMM, T-MOBILE REVIEWS COMCAST URGES CARRIAGE RULE CAUTION VIACOM, CABLEVISION SPAR OVER IPAD APP DIRECTV UPGRADE OPENS RECEIVERS TO IPAD APP NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar named Anders Johnson president of EchoStar Satellite Services. He will report to EchoStar President Mike Dugan. Johnson most recently was SES World Skies senior vice president of strategic satellite development. JUNE 22, 2011 DISH NETWORK SET AS LEAD TERRESTAR BIDDER OPPONENTS KEEP PANNING AT&T/T-MOBILE DEAL CLAYTON MOVE SHUFFLES ECHOSTAR SEATS SIRIUS XM STARTS USED CAR PROMO WITH GM DIRECTV LOOKS TO CLEAN UP WITH HOTELS NEWS & NOTES: WCOV, the Fox affiliate in Montgomery, Ala., was restored to Dish Network’s channel line-up Monday. JUNE 20, 2011 POWELL SEES COMPLICATED CABLE FUTURE QUALCOMM DEFENDS AT&T SPECTRUM DEAL SIDES WEIGH IN BROADBAND DISCLOSURE RULES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Well-run NCTA convention offers little news, but shows how Comcast is calling shots...Powell makes good impression as NCTA chief, but dealing with Comcast influence could be tricky...Oprah makes entrance...Delta, Staples commercial strike sour notes. JUNE 17, 2011 DISH NETWORK MAKES RUN AT TERRESTAR FCC KEEPS PONDERING UNIVERSAL BOX CABLE EXECS PUSH TV WITHOUT BORDERS FCC CHAIRMAN PRESSES BROADBAND ISSUES NEWS & NOTES: The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday approved a bill introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) that would make it a felony to stream programming for commercial purposes over the Internet without authorization. JUNE 15, 2011 CABLE SOUNDS HOPEFUL IN CHICAGO POWELL SEES GOOD CABLE FUTURE, CHALLENGES CAPITAL HILL LOOKS AT FCC REFORM ECHOSTAR PITCHES NEW LINE TO CABLE WALL STREET SEES POSITIVES FOR CABLE NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network has added “health and wellness” channel Veria TV in high-definition to the America’s Top 250 and America’s Everything programming packages. JUNE 13, 2011 APPEALS COURT LETS FCC PUT LID ON LOOPHOLE CABLE INDUSTRY HEADS TO CHICAGO DBS, TELCOS PRAISE LOOPHOLE RULING AT&T, T-MOBILE DEFEND COMBINATION SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: FCC looks at making mistake of DBS channel set-aside even worse...Court misses history of cable's handiwork in terrestrial loophole. JUNE 10, 2011 ECHOSTAR TAKES HUGHES REINS SIDES WEIGH IN AT COPYRIGHT OFFICE FCC EYES EXPANDED DBS PUBLIC INTEREST RULES SIDES WEIGH IN ON VIDEO COMPETITION JUNE 8, 2011 AT&T DRAWS IN SOME T-MOBILE DEAL SUPPORT COMCAST-NBC PAY GOLD FOR OLYMPICS RIGHTS COMCAST-NBC PAY GOLD FOR OLYMPICS RIGHTS ECHOSTAR PLOTS NEW CABLE BOX STRATEGY AT&T SEES WAIT FOR USING QUALCOMM SPECTRUM BLOCKBUSTER CANADA SEEKS TO KEEP NAME NEWS & NOTES: Cablevision’s board of directors approved the spin-off of AMC Networks, formerly known as Rainbow Media, into a separate, publicly traded company JUNE 6, 2011 TIVO: LEGAL LESSONS LEARNED FROM ECHOSTAR SATELLITE FIRMS SEEK BROADBAND INCLUSION CABLEVISION PANS AT&T/T-MOBILE DEAL COMCAST URGES MEASURE CARRIAGE RULE CHANGES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: There is a long list of reasons why a DirecTv-Dish Network combination will not happen. JUNE 3, 2011 DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA HITS 10 MILLION SUB MARK DISH NETWORK AGAIN PANS AT&T/T-MOBILE DEAL JUDGE LETS DISH NETWORK KEEP STARZ PROMO AT&T CHIEF DEFENDS T-MOBILE TRANSACTION JUNE 1, 2011 SPRINT CALLS FOR STOP TO AT&T/T-MOBILE DEAL SIRIUS XM SENDS OUT SETTLEMENT NOTICE COX PRESSES AGAINST UNIVERSAL BOX PLAN BLOCKBUSTER SHAKES UP PRICING MAY 27, 2011 DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA COUNTS ON MIDDLE CLASS FCC GETS INPUT FOR, AGAINST RETRANS REFORM BROADCASTERS AGAIN BACK LICENSE SCHEME TIVO BLAMES DELAYS FOR LOWER SETTLEMENT ECHOSTAR EYES SATELLITE LAUNCH MAY 25, 2011 TIVO WAITS FOR REVERSALAS DEPARTURES CONTINUE COMCAST TOUTS VIDEO IMPROVEMENTS TIVO SEES ECHOSTAR SETTLEMENT SENDING MESSAGE JUDGE PUTS DISH NETWORK-DBSD DEAL ON TRACK VERIZON SEES END COMING TO VIDEO ROLLOUT SATELLITE FIRMS SEEK BROADBAND FUND INCLUSION MAY 23, 2011 SIRIUS XM CASE SETTLEMENT GETS PRELIMINARY OK ECHOSTAR HIGHLIGHTS HUGHES PLANS TO FCC FCC BEMOANS BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT PACE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Comcast retreat could be harbinger of things to come for TiVo. MAY 20, 2011 DISH NETWORK PUSHES PLAY ON BLOCKBUSTER OFFER DIRECTV STARTS NEW RECORDER TESTING ECHOSTAR PLACES DEBT OFFERING MCDOWELL CALLS FOR REGULATORY CUTBACKS CONSUMER GROUP BEMOANS RETRANS RULES NEWS & NOTES: An Ontario, Canada court has sentenced Davin Omeir to two years in prison and fined him $223,849 [Canadian] after he plead guilty to charges he and his company failed to pay taxes on revenue generated from an Internet-based business that allegedly sold satellite piracy equipment. MAY 18, 2011 SETTLEMENT DELAYS SIRIUS XM PRICE HIKE CUSTOMERS RATE VERIZON, DIRECTV TOPS IN SURVEY VIASAT BIDES TIME FOR WILDBLUE SUB ADDS DIRECTV PLANS ORIGINAL CHANNEL NAME CHANGE CLAYTON TAKES DISH NETWORK JOB NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network started offering two interactive video-on-demand channels that enable subscribers to make donations to disaster relief efforts in the United States and Japan…DirecTv said it plans to provide six channels of coverage from ESPN and The Tennis Channel of the French Open tennis tournament..DirecTv launched an offer to redeem all of the $658.767 million of its outstanding 6.375 percent senior notes. MAY 16, 2011 HEARING DELVES INTO FCC OPERATIONAL ISSUES BAKER DEFENDS MOVE TO COMCAST DIRECTV KEEPS UP CASE AGAINST UNIVERSAL BOX MARKEY LAYS INTO PHONE COMPANY DEAL COMCAST SEEKS QUICKER RESOLUTIONS MAY 13, 2011 DBS FIRMS PRAISE STATE TAX RELIEF BILL ECHOSTAR LAUNCHES $1.8 BILLION DEBT EFFORT BAKER MOVING FROM FCC TO COMCAST AT&T, T-MOBILE DEFEND DEAL AT HEARING BILLS EYE CURBS ON ONLINE PIRACY NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar extended its agreement with Bell Canada to continue supplying satellite receivers for the Bell TV Canadian DBS service…FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski (D) is scheduled to testify today at a House Communications Technology Subcommittee hearing regarding “FCC process reform.” MAY 11, 2011 COMCAST, TIVO DELETE DEAL, SKIP TO NEW ONE NAB CHIEF PRESSES SPECTRUM AGENDA VERIZON DERIDES UNIVERSAL BOX PROPOSAL COPPS LAMENTS BROADBAND PROGRESS NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network said it added The Game Show Network in high-definition to the programming line-ups for its America’s Top 200 package and above…Disney reported it took in revenues of $9.08 billion during this year’s first quarter…Loral Space and Communications said it tallied $279 million in revenues during the first quarter of this year…Intelsat reported its first quarter revenues this year totaled $621.14 million. MAY 9, 2011 LIBERTY PILES ON SIRIUS XM PRAISE BROADCAST GROUPS BACK MARKET STATUS QUO DISNEY URGES AGAINST UNIVERSAL BOX IDEA SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Positive DirecTv and Dish Network results have to give cable, telcos pause...Dish Network, DirecTv retailer events give glimpse into future receivers...Churchill and DirecTv Latin America deserve more attention. NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv and Northwest Broadcasting agreed to a new one-week extension of their retransmission consent deal covering DirecTv’s delivery of Northwest-owned local television stations in four small markets…Tribune Co. named ex-DirecTv President Eddy Hartenstein president and CEO. MAY 6, 2011 DISH NETWORK SAYS TEAM SUMMIT IS BLOCKBUSTER RESULTS KEEP DIRECTV ON GROWTH PATH DISH NETWORK CHALLENGES SPRINT CLAIMS DISH EXECS TALK TECH, PROGRAMMING, PROMOTIONS ERGEN PLAYS OUT ‘SEINFELD’ STRATEGY FOR DEALERS ECHOSTAR UNVEILS NEW HARDWARE AT TEAM SUMMIT NEWS & NOTES: A federal bankruptcy court judge approved Terrestar’s revised plan to hold an auction for its assets June 15…DirecTv filed a lawsuit against several people and companies accusing them of engaging in a scheme to sell so-called “gray market” subscriptions to the DBS service to consumers in Canada...News Corp. recorded revenues of $8.256 billion in its fiscal third quarter and net income of $639 million. MAY 4, 2011 DEAL PUTS ECHOSTAR-TIVO LITIGATION TO REST DISH NETWORK RETURNS TO NET SUB ADDS ERGEN SEES PLAN COMING TOGETHER, EVENTUALLY SIRIUS XM SEES SUBS UP; RATE HIKE IN WORKS ECHOSTAR SEES PROFIT, REVENUES SLIDE NEWS & NOTES: Disney filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Dish Network...Dish Network initiated a $2 billion debt offering, with the proceeds slated for “general corporate purposes.” The company had originally planned a $1 billion offering…DirecTv said it plans to hold a 3-D film festival on the DBS service’s N3D 3-D channel. MAY 2, 2011 ECHOSTAR LAYS OUT CLAIM AGAINST TIVO DBS FIRMS WEIGH IN ON DESCRIPTION RULES DISH NETWORK CHALLENGES SPRINT CLAIMS DISH NETWORK SETS UP RETAILER SUMMIT SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Theater owners' misplace concerns about pay-per-view windows and should concentrate on improving experience for moviegoers...Young "petite giraffes" take care of business with Xfinityfiosoptimum" litter box filler. NEWS & NOTES: The FCC established May 31 as the date by which any parties seeking to deny AT&T’s planned purchase of T-Mobile must file thier oppositions to the deal. Comments will be due June 10 and reply comments in opposition to those will be due June 20...Dish Network told a federal court in San Diego it does not plan to seek attorneys fees in its piracy case against free-to-air receiver manufacturer Viewtech and its owner, Jung Kwak. Kwak is serving 18 months in a federal prison. As reported, though chances are slim it will ever collect, the court awarded Dish Network about $215 million in damages last month…Lionsgate and Dish Network resolved a dispute over video rental revenue sharing and inventory in connection with Dish Network’s purchase of the bankrupt Blockbuster video store chain. APRIL 29, 2011 DBS SERVICES DEAL WITH STORM FALLOUT TIME WARNER CABLE SEES BASIC SUB DROP DISH NETWORK, BROADCASTER KEEP TALKING SIDES STATE ISSUES ON STATUTORY LICENSES WHITE PLAYS UP DIRECTV PERFORMANCE NEWS & NOTES: Dow Electronics said it plans to contribute 2 percent of the revenues it generates next week to the America Red Cross to aide in relief efforts in the wake of the severe weather that has hit the Southeast in recent days…The five FCC commissioners are slated to testify Tuesday at a House Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing regarding “FCC process reform.”…Viacom reported it took in revenues of $3.27 billion during the first quarter, an increase over the $2.73 billion it recorded in the first quarter of last year. APRIL 27, 2011 DISH NETWORK CLOSES BLOCKBUSTER DEAL RETRANS DEADLINE LOOMS FOR DISH NETWORK SIDES SHARE VIEWS ON FCC SPECTRUM PROPOSALS SIRIUS XM PLANS CHANNEL MOVEMENTS NETFLIX SEES DISH NETWORK GEARING UP APRIL 25, 2011 FCC EXPANDS LOOK INTO VIDEO COMPETITION DISH NETWORK WEIGHS IN ON UNIVERSAL BOX MOTOROLA DENIES TIVO COUNTERCLAIMS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Appeals court decision leaves EchoStar-Dish Network less impacted than many have said and leaves TiVo a long way from the decisive win it needed. APRIL 22, 2011 TIVO, ECHOSTAR PROMISE MORE LEGAL ACTION DISH NETWORK WORKS ON BLOCKBUSTER LEASES BROADCASTER CITES TALKS WITH DISH NETWORK DISH NETWORK WINS VIEWTECH JUDGMENT NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network started offering subscribers online access to HBO and Cinemax programming...A group of movie directors released a statement to complain that premium video-on-demand services such as the one DirecTv started yesterday that make films available shortly after their theatrical releases “could irrevocably” harm the movie industry. SPECIAL EDITION APRIL 20, 2011 APPEALS COURT HANDS DOWN SPLIT DECISION IN TIVO-ECHOSTAR CASE APRIL 20, 2011 SIRIUS XM COMPLIES WITH SET-ASIDE CONDITION SATELLITE FIRMS PUSH UNIVERSAL SERVICE REFORM DIRECTV SETS PREMIUM VOD MOVIE SERVICE LAUNCH TIVO LOOKS FOR RULING AGAINST MOTOROLA DISH NETWORK WARNS ON SHARING NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network has downloaded a software update to its model 922 digital recorders that places several "apps" on the units, which are accessible if the receivers are connected to the Internet…The National Hockey League reached a 10-year agreement with NBC and Versus, both of which are now owned by Comcast, for the rights to continue showing NHL games…The U.S. Copyright Office said it plans to hold a hearing June 10 as part of its congressionally mandated inquiry looking into possible alternatives to statutory license fees satellite TV and cable companies pay to retransmit local broadcast stations…Dish Network reached an agreement to exclusively distribute Hindi-language channels Aastha Bhajan and Aastha TV. APRIL 18, 2011 TERRESTAR LOOKS TO AUCTION FOR BUYER SMALL CABLE KEEPS PUSHING RETRANS CHANGES DIRECTV, NORTHWEST NUDGE DEADLINE, AGAIN SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Attention over Kennedy mini-series was good for ReelzChannel...DirecTv hit home run with pettite giraffe ads...XStreamHD silence raises questions. APRIL 15, 2011 DISH NETWORK DETAILS DBSD DEAL SIDES STAKE OUT RETRANS GROUND SIRIUS XM KEEPS PUSHING AGAINST RATE FREEZE CRTC APPROVES SIRIUS-XM MERGER IN CANADA NEWS & NOTES: Canadian satellite TV service Shaw Direct, formerly Star Choice, said it added 2,176 net new customers, giving it a total of 906,443. APRIL 13, 2011 DIRECTV BUILDS UPON SUCCESS, DEALERS AT EVENT DIRECTV EXECS DISCUSS TECHNOLOGY, SALES NAB, FCC AGAIN SPAR OVER SPECTRUM AUCTION POWELL ADDRESSES DIRECTV DEALERS DIRECTV LAUNCHES HBO/CINEMAX ACCESS DIRECTV SETS LOCAL HD EXPANSION PLANS NEWS & NOTES: A unit of Liberty Media appointed Carl Vogel and Vanessa Whittman to the Sirius XM Radio board of directors…Dish Network reached an agreement to distribute the Indian Premier League cricket tournament in high-definition for the next four seasons. APRIL 11, 2011 DISH NETWORK-BLOCKBUSTER GETS REGULATORY OK DIRECTV, NORTHWEST EXTEND DEADLINE, AGAIN MCDOWELL PUSHES LIMITED FCC REVIEWS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Tough to see where dots on Ergen's acquisition path lead...Japan's issues will start having business effects...Nice job by ESPN on 3-D Masters coverage. NEWS & NOTES: The U.S. Copyright Office has extended the comment deadlines for its inquiry into statutory license fees satellite TV and cable companies pay to retransmit local broadcast stations. Comments will now be due April 25 and reply comments will be due May 25. APRIL 8, 2011 BANKRUPTCY COURT OKS DISH-BLOCKBUSTER DEAL DIRECTV, YES NETWORK REACH NEW DEAL DEADLINE LOOMS FOR DIRECTV-NORTHWEST DEAL DIRECTV RETAILERS TO MARCH INTO NEW ORLEANS HUGHES, VIASAT PRESS FCC ON DATA COLLECTION NEWS & NOTES: The Senate Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights Subcommittee plans to hold a hearing May 11 regarding AT&T’s plan to acquire T-Mobile…The House is scheduled vote today on a bill that would block the FCC from implementing the so-called “net-neutrality” rules the three Democratic commissioners approved in December...A second RadioShack store, this one in Mountain Home, Idaho, has joined the retailer in Montana offering a free gun with a subscription to Dish Network, Reuters reported yesterday. APRIL 6, 2011 DIRECTV, YES NETWORK KEEP WORKING ON NEW DEAL DISH NETWORK, SPORTSNET N.Y. DISAGREE ON TALKS KENNEDYS GIVE REELZCHANNEL BEST EVER RATING SIRIUS XM AGAIN PUSHES PRICE FREEZE THAW GROUPS STILL BACK UNIVERSAL BOX IDEA CABLEVISION PUSHES TO STOP LOOPHOLE CLOSURE APRIL 4, 2011 DISH NETWORK, SPORTSNET N.Y. RHETORIC HEATS UP YES NETWORK, DIRECTV EXTEND DEAL DEADLINE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: DirecTv-Yes on-airmessages made no sense for either side for many reasons. NEWS & NOTES: The FCC said Friday comments regarding EchoStar’s application to acquire Hughes Communications will be due April 18... In an e-mail to customers over the weekend, TiVo said its subscribers' e-mail addresses were "exposed due to unauthorized access of [a vendor's] system." APRIL 1, 2011 DIRECTV, YES NETWORK THROW BARBS IN RATE FIGHT STORE KEEPS DISH-GUN PROMO IN FACE OF FLAK DISH NETWORK, SPORTSNET NY STRIKE OUT IN TALKS NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv is scheduled today to drop the “FSN” from its FSN Northwest, FSN Pittsburgh, and FSN Rocky Mountain regional sports channels and replace it with the moniker “Root Sports.”... ReelzChannel is slated to premiere the mini-series “The Kennedys” beginning Sunday..ReelzChannel reached a distribution agreement with cable operator BrightHouse. MARCH 30, 2011 SIRIUS SUBS AGAIN OUT OF BASEBALL GAME LINE-UP DISH NETWORK SEEKS TO QUASH AT&T 700 MHZ DEAL PROGRAMMERS, SATELLITE SEEK C-BAND PROTECTION JUDGE LETS SIRIUS XM CUSTOMER LAWSUIT MOVE ON FCC SETS RETRANS COMMENT SCHEDULE NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network started offering the RFD-TV channel in high-definition...LodgeNet Interactive and ReelzChannel announced an agreement for the channels LodgeNet sells to hotels to include ReelzChannel. MARCH 28, 2011 DIRECTV-NORTHWEST TALKS CONTINUE CANADA PONDERS DBS LOCAL-INTO-LOCAL RULES NDS PRESSES FOR MORE ATTORNEY FEES DIRECTV AGAIN QUESTIONS FCC UNIVERSAL BOX SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: NEWS & NOTES: AT&T's lobbying operation will get T-Mobile deal through Washington...Will AT&T/T-Mobile deal put Dish Network purchase talk to rest?...Broadcasters offer laughable argument on spectrum hoarding...Promotional drop-ins make for akward basketball coverage. MARCH 25, 2011 DBS FIRMS MOBILIZE AGAINST GEORGIA TAX DISH NETWORK TAKES NEXT STEP IN DBSD DEAL SIRIUS XM HEATS UP RATE FREEZE OPPOSITION SIRIUS XM STARTS DEBT BUYBACK DIRECTV-NORTHWEST TALKS CONTINUE JUDGE ISSUES STAY IN NORTHPOINT PATENT CASE NEWS & NOTES: Radio personality Howard Stern filed lawsuit in a state court in New York alleging Sirius XM has failed to pay him all of the bonuses called for in his previous contract. MARCH 23, 2011 DIRECTV CAUTIONS FCC ON SPECTRUM PROPOSAL GENACHOWSKI BEMOANS BANDWIDTH ‘CRUNCH’ AT&T, QUALCOMM DEFEND TRANSACTION GROUPS PRESS UNIVERSAL BOX PROPOSAL NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv said it plans to deploy NDS technology that will enable it to insert advertising into live and recorded programming on DirecTv digital video recorders. The technology also will enable DirecTv to track how often ads are watched, the companies said…Verizon’s fiber-delivered television service plans to start offering ESPN 3-D on a full-time basis April 5, which coincides with the channel’s coverage of The Masters golf tournament. MARCH 21, 2011 DIRECTV, NORTHWEST KEEP TALKIING RETRANS DEAL DIRECTV ENDS DEBT BUYBACK OFFER GROUPS WEIGH IN ON FCC SPECTRUM PLANS GENACHOWSKI DOWNPLAYS SPECTRUM HOARDING SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: NCAA tournament coverage hard to find, sometimes hard to watch...News channel's miss chance to provide news. NEWS & NOTES: The FCC approved the merger of regional phone companies CenturyLink and Qwest Communications...AT&T announced a plan yesterday to acquire T-Mobile...Dish Network said it is making TV Japan available in a free preview to subscribers to its international package through the end of the month. MARCH 18, 2011 DIRECTV DEALS NEW HAND FOR NDS DIRECTV, NORTHWEST STILL TALKING FCC CHIEF EYES TV SPECTRUM AUCTION GENACHOWSKI DOWNPLAYS SPECTRUM HOARDING NEWS & NOTES: Sirius XM started offering an updated version of its application for Apple iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch users…Loral Space and Communications generated revenues of $326.7 million during the fourth quarter of last year. MARCH 16, 2011 SIRIUS XM PRESSES CASE AGAINST PRICE FREEZE JUDGE CLEARS DISH NETWORK PLAN FOR DBSD TIVO DEFENDS RAISING FUNDS FOR LITIGATION FORMER FCC HEAD POWELL GETS NCTA NOD DISH NETWORK OBJECTS TO AT&T SPECTRUM DEAL NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv reached an agreement to distribute TruTV in high-definition while the channel is showing NCAA basketball tournament games and pre and post game shows...The House Energy and Commerce Committee yesterday approved a measure that would prohibit the FCC from implementing the so-called “net-neutrality” rules it adopted in December. MARCH 14, 2011 DEAL PUTS LIN STATIONS BACK ON DISH NETWORK DIRECTV, NORTHWEST EXTEND TALKS DBS FIRMS SEEK STAY IN NORTHPOINT CASE DIRECTV UNIT SETS DEBT BUYBACK SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Ergen faces challenges, but knows more than Wall Street is saying he does...FCC should block Sirius XM price hike, but likely will not. MARCH 11, 2011 DIRECTV, NORTHWEST KEEP TALKING DIRECTV SEES STRONG LATIN AMERICA PROSPECTS SIRIUS XM DISCUSSES PRICING PLANS MCSLARROW HEADS FROM NCTA TO COMCAST WALDEN STANDS BY ATTEMPT TO BLOCK NET RULES SENATE ANTITRUST SUBCOMMITTEE EYES OVERSIGHT TIVO EYES DEBT OFFERING TO COVER LEGAL COSTS NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv named Kroger Chairman David Dillon to its board of directors…Cablevision said yesterday it is proceeding with its planned spin-off of its Rainbow unit and Rainbow President Josh Sapan would be the president of the spun-off company. MARCH 9, 2011 DIRECTV SEES GROWTH KEEPING PACE LIBERTY PONDERS SIRIUS XM MOVES BASIC SUB LOSSES WEAR THIN FOR CABLE EXECS REPUBLICANS UNSWAYED ON NET RULES MARCH 7, 2011 LIN STATIONS LEAVE DISH NETWORK LINE-UP HUGHES TALLIES DATA SUBS NAB CHIEF URGES FCC AGAINST RETRANS CHANGES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: ESPN fight in 3-D showed some punch...3Net does not stand out yet, but helps 3-D cause...ESPN covers line on NFL betting...Comcast wasted no time putting stamp of its channels on NBC golf and hockey coverage...ReelzChannel makes smart move by airing Kennedy documentary. MARCH 4, 2011 FCC CONSIDERS LIMITED RETRANS CHANGES VIEWS VARY ON FCC PROPOSALS COMMISSIONERS SEE HANDS TIED ON RETRANS DISH NETWORK, LIN MEDIA STILL TALKING BID ADDS NEW TWIST IN DBSD BANKRUPTCY DISH NETWORK DISPUTES NAB HOARDING CLAIM NEWS & NOTES: A June 5, 2012, trial date has been penciled in by a federal court in Texas for EchoStar-Dish Network’s counter patent lawsuit against TiVo. MARCH 2, 2011 WHITE QUESTIONS ERGEN’S SPECTRUM PLANS TIVO BIDES TIME AS SUB LOSSES CONTINUE ECHOSTAR, HUGHES SEEK FCC OK FOR PLAN DISH NETWORK, LIN CLOSE TO RETRANS TIFF COPYRIGHT LOOKS AT LICENSE ALTERNATIVES NAB SEES DISH ‘HOARDING’ SPECTRUM NEWS & NOTES: A federal judge late yesterday ruled in favor of the NFL Players Union in a dispute with the NFL over how the league could use TV rights fees from the broadcast networks, ESPN, and DirecTv in the event all or part of next season is not played...The Motion Picture Association of America named former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) its new president…A federal bankruptcy court judge is now scheduled to conduct a hearing today regarding Dish Network’s proposal to acquire DBSD out of bankruptcy…Charter said it lost a net total of 67,300 basic cable subscribers during the fourth quarter of last year. FEB. 28, 2011 DISH NETWORK SEEKS OK FOR ALTERED DBSD DEAL FCC GETS MORE RETRANS INPUT DBS FIRMS PRESS TV MARKET CHANGES MOTOROLA TAKES ON TIVO IN PATENT LAWSUIT SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: In person look at final Discovery launch brings back memories...Shuttle launch desreves 3-D treatment...Slingbox lets one reporter in on last-second launch talk. FEB. 25, 2011 DISH NETWORK DROPS SUBS, ADDS PROFITS DIRECTV ROLLS THROUGH FOURTH QUARTER ERGEN SEES NO ‘GRAND’ SPECTRUM PLAN DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA ADDS UP IMPROVEMENTS FCC PUTS RETRANS ITEM ON AGENDA NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network said yesterday it was “disappointed” a three-judge appeals court panel rejected the DBS service’s appeal of a lower court’s decision not to impose a preliminary injunction that would have blocked implementation of the provisions in the recently enacted satellite TV law requiring Dish Network to distribute local PBS stations in high-definition via satellite...ESPN 3-D said it plans to provide 10 hours of coverage of the Masters golf tournament in 3-D in April. ESPN 3-D is also scheduled to televise the NBA Finals in June in 3-D FEB. 23, 2011 COURT ORDERS END TO WEB SITE TV STREAMING FCC GETS MORE RETRANS INPUT SHAREHOLDERS BACK XM CANADA-SIRIUS CANADA BROADCASTERS RAIL AGAINST CHANGING MARKETS ECHOSTAR GETS DATE TO ARGUE VIEWTECH CASE NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv is slated to release its fourth quarter 2010 financial results this morning. Dish Network and sister company EchoStar are each scheduled to release their fourth quarter 2010 financial results tomorrow…Telesat reported it took in revenues of $209 million (Canadian) during its fiscal third quarter. FEB. 18, 2011 ECHOSTAR DEAL FOR TERRESTAR FALTERS HOUSE TACKLES FCC NET-NEUTRALITY ORDER DISH NETWORK GETS STAY IN VOOM CASE GROUPS BACKS FCC UNIVERSAL BOX IDEA NEWS & NOTES: Comcast announced it plans to launch a 3-D TV channel of its own Sunday, apparently to compete with DirecTv’s N3D channel. FEB. 16, 2011 SIRIUS XM EXPECTS PRICE INCREASE ECHOSTAR MAKES $2 BILLION DEAL FOR HUGHES DISH NETWORK GETS STAY IN VOOM CASE KARMAZIN PLAYS UP SIRIUS XM RESULTS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: As NFL counts ratings and attendance, media coverage of problems with Super Bowl in Dallas falls flat. CENTURYLINK, QWEST TALLY DIRECTV SUBS NEWS & NOTES: A three judge federal appeals court panel in Washington is now considering Cablevision’s “terrestrial loophole” appeal...Dish Network plans to make the movie “The Resident” available on pay-per-view Friday, the same day it will be released in theaters…DirecTv started making the documentary “Waiting for Superman” available on pay-per-view, the same day it was made available on DVD…Dish Network said it plans to make the ICC Cricket World Cup available on pay-per-view...Time Warner Cable plans to launch a pair of high-definition regional sports networks that will telecast Los Angeles Lakers basketball games, starting next season. FEB. 14, 2011 FCC GIVES SIRIUS XM CLEARANCE FOR BIRD LAUNCH COMCAST DROPS ARBITRATION CHALLENGE DIRECTV, RAYCOM SETTLE DIFFERENCES BELL CANADA ADDS UP VIDEO SUBS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: As NFL counts ratings and attendance, media coverage of problems with Super Bowl in Dallas falls flat. NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv named former EBay executive Lorrie Norrington to the DirecTv board of directors…A federal appeals court in Washington is slated to hear oral arguments today in Cablevision’s challenge of the complaint process the FCC set up last year that in most cases would close the so-called terrestrial loophole in the program access rules. FEB. 11, 2011 JUDGE REVIVES ECHOSTAR LAWSUIT AGAINST TIVO ECHOSTAR SEEKS VIEWTECH PIRACY JUDGMENT DIRECTV, RAYCOM SETTLE DIFFERENCES DIRECTV READIES NEW 3-D CHANNEL LAUNCH BROADCASTERS WARY OF OBAMA BROADBAND PLAN NOTES: As expected, the FCC released a tentative agenda for its March 3 public meeting that includes consideration of a proposed rulemaking regarding retransmission consent rules…The House Energy and Commerce Committee plans to hold a hearing Wednesday regarding the so-called “net-neutrality” rules the FCC approved in a 3-2 party line vote in December. FEB. 9, 2011 VIASAT AIMS FOR SUMMER SATELLITE LAUNCH FCC PLOTTING COURSE FOR RETRANS REFORM DBS, BROADCASTERS AGAIN SIGNAL DIFFERENCES LAWMAKERS PITCH CHANGES TO MARKET AREAS NCTA KEEPS OPPOSING UNIVERSAL BOX NEWS & NOTES: The Walt Disney Co. reported revenues of $10.7 billion during the fourth quarter of last year. FEB. 7, 2011 DIRECTV HOT DURING FRIGID SUPER BOWL WEEK GOODELL TALKS UP RED ZONE NAB SEEKS RETRANS “BALANCE” FROM FCC BAKER SEES LIMITED MISSION FOR FCC FEB. 4, 2011 DISH NETWORK, COMCAST SIGN SPORTS DEAL NORTHWEST STATIONS RETURN TO DIRECTV, FOR NOW CREDITORS UNHAPPY WITH DISH NETWORK-DBSD PLAN DISH NETWORK RESOLVES GEORGIA RETRANS DISPUTE DIRECTV SEEKS CLARITY ON UNIVERSAL BOX ISSUE NEWS CORP. PUTS PRICE TAG ON DISPUTES NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv said it added Disha India to its South Asian programming package. The DBS service also said it started offering Peru Magico to its DirecTv Mas programming packages…Time Warner said it generated revenues of $3.6 billion during last year’s fourth quarter, up from $3.284 billion during the same period of 2009…Viacom reported revenues of $3.83 billion during last year’s fourth quarter. FEB. 2, 2011 DIRECTV GIVES CREDIT IN NEXT PROMOTION DISH NETWORK DEALS WITH SATELLITE ISSUE DISH NETWORK BUYS DBSD OUT OF BANKRUPTCY DIRECTV, NORTHWEST MOVE FORWARD VERIZON STANDS BY NET-NEUTRALITY APPEAL NEWS & NOTES: ReelzChannel reached an agreement to air the drama mini-series “The Kennedys,” which follows the Kennedy family on April 3. JAN. 31, 2011 COMCAST WRAPS UP NBC ACQUISITION GROUPS CAST WARY LOOK ON COMCAST-NBC FCC GETS MORE STATIC ON UNIVERSAL VIDEO BOX VERIZON PRESSES MORE ON RETRANS ISSUES FCC WANTS NET-NEUTRALITY APPEAL BOUNCED SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Comcast gives up little to get big win with NBC approval...Comcast-NBC deal could spell changes for NFL Sunday Ticket...Roberts family deserves acknowledgement for how far Comcast has come. JAN. 28, 2011 FCC STARTS LOOK AT SIRIUS XM PRICE FREEZE TIME WARNER CABLE NOTCHES BASIC SUB LOSS FCC GETS MORE STATIC ON UNIVERSAL VIDEO BOX AT&T ADDS OWN SUBS, SEES SATELLITE SUBS DROP NEWS & NOTES: Comcast and NBC are expected today to close their transaction in which Comcast is acquiring control of NBC. The FCC and Justice Department approved the transaction last week...DirecTv announced yesterday it will air two specials on last fall's final event of the "Formula Drift" car racing season in 3-D beginning next month. JAN. 26, 2011 SIRIUS XM SEEKS END TO RATE FREEZE CONDITION DBS, NAB STATE DIFFERENCES OVER MARKETS FCC GETS MORE BROADCAST SIGNAL TEST INPUT NEWS & NOTES: Charter Communications and TiVo said they reached an agreement under which Charter “later this year” will start deploying TiVo’s high-definition digital video recorders to Charter cable subscribers...Verizon said it added 182,000 net subscribers to its video service. JAN. 24, 2011 NPS ENDS HD DISTANT NETWORK FEEDS DIRECTV, BROADCASTER KEEP SPARRING VERIZON PRESSES FOR RETRANS REGIME CHANGES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: 3-D offerings remain a sometimes fun and entertaining work in progress. JAN. 21, 2011 FCC ORDER DETAILS COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS VERIZON CHALLENGES NET-NEUTRALITY ORDER BAKER PANS COMCAST-NBC REVIEW PROCESS RAYCOM FILES COUNTER LAWSUIT AGAINST DIRECTV NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv named Raleigh, N.C., resident and Baltimore Ravens fan Kris Jones the winner of its “Ultimate Displaced Fan” contest. Jones won a trip to next month’s Super Bowl in Dallas. JAN. 19, 2011 COMCAST-NBC GET FCC, JUSTICE APPROVALS JUSTICE, FCC OFFICIALS SIGNAL COMCAST-NBC VIEWS COMCAST-NBC OK BRINGS FLOOD OF RESPONSES DBS SERVICES DEAL WITH RETRANS ISSUES NEWS & NOTES: ViaSat said it was forced to delay the scheduled launch of its ViaSat-1 Ka-band satellite until this summer... AT&T said it is now offering its own video service to small businesses in 131 markets, and DirecTv’s DBS services in other markets around the country. JAN. 14, 2011 DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK RETRANS DEADLINES LOOM MORE PUSH ON COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS GENACHOWSKI PUSHES SPECTRUM AUCTION NEED DISH NETWORK GETS ESPN/DISNEY BILL NEWS & NOTES: Shaw Direct lost a net total of 1,539 customers during the first quarter JAN. 12, 2011 SIDES FILL IN TERRESTRIAL LOOPHOLE ARGUMENTS DBS PUSHES COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS DISH NETWORK SEES NEW RETRANS CONCERN NEWS & NOTES: The Consumer Electronics Association said that according to its “preliminary” count, 140,000 people attended The Consumer Electronics Show last week. JAN. 10, 2011 DISH NETWORK PLANS MORE DISCOUNTS GENACHOWSKI PUTS PREMIUM ON MOBILE SPECTRUM COMMISSIONERS TALK NET-NEUTRALITY, RETRANS DIRECTV CHIMES IN ON COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Sixteenth Annual Notebook Awards, recognizing the year's winners, losers, and other distinctions. JAN. 7, 2011 CES OPENS IN LAS VEGAS NET-NEUTRALITY DEBATE CARRIES OVER TO CES TIVO CONFIDENTLY WAITS ECHOSTAR RULING DIRECTV SORTS OUT SCATTERED RETRANS ISSUES NEWS & NOTES: ESPN said its ESPN 3-D channel will show programming in 3-D 24 hours per day starting Feb. 14…Discovery Communications, Sony, and IMAX said the 3-D channel they plan to launch will be dubbed “3net.”...EchoStar announced it acquired the remaining assets of video streaming company Move Networks. JAN. 5, 2011 CES LOOKS QUIET FOR SATELLITE CABLEVISION URGES LOOPHOLE ORDER TURNOVER COURT PUTS DISH NETWORK-DISNEY BACK ON DOCKET FCC GETS COMCAST-NBC CONDITION CALLS JAN. 4, 2011 DISH NETWORK SLATES PRICE INCREASE, THEN FREEZE DIRECTV STAVES OFF LARGEST RETRANS HEADACHES DBS KEEPS TALKING TO COMCAST CHANNELS NEWS & NOTES: Motorola was slated to end authorization of all programming for C-Band dish owners using 4D-TV units at the end of the month. DEC. 29, 2010 DIRECTV RETRANS TALKS HEAD TO WIRE DBS FIRMS SEE RED OVER OHIO STATE TAX RULING DIRECTV PLANS PROGRAMMING PRICE INCREASES COMCAST, NBC AWAIT FINAL DEAL OK DISH NETWORK DISPUTES COMCAST SPORTS ARGUMENT NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv said it plans to distribute the Discovery/Oprah Winfrey-owned OWN channel. Dish Network said it expects to distribute the channel, but is still negotiating with Discovery. DEC. 22, 2010 SPLIT FCC APPROVES NET-NEUTRALITY RULES NET-NEUTRALITY ORDER RINGS UP LOUD REACTION STATION GROUP WARNS OF DIRECTV FIGHT COMCAST AGAIN PITCHES FCC ON LIGHT DEAL CONDITIONS NEWS & NOTES: AT&T reached an agreement to purchase the 700 MHz spectrum Qualcomm has been using for its Flo-TV mobile video service. DEC. 20, 2010 DBS FIRMS CHALLENGE UTAH STATE TAX NCTA DIGS IN ON LOOPHOLE APPEAL DISH NETWORK WINS PIRACY LAWSUIT JUDGES SETS DISH NETWORK-VOOM TRIAL DIRECTV PLANTS SEED FOR SPORTS CHANNEL NAME CHANGE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: National embarrassment of Larry King is over, but CNN still has problems...Ted Turner might ponder whether he would like his name removed from channels...Congratulations to DirecTv's Betsy Kjerland on her retirement...Happy New Year. DEC. 17, 2010 DISH NETWORK SUBS LOSE CHAMBERS STATIONS DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA BUMPS UP SKY BRAZIL STAKE NEWS CORP. WANTS RETRANS RULES LEFT AS-IS COMCAST-NBC DEAL DRAWS MORE CONDITION TALK SENATORS URGE FCC AGAINST NET-NEUTRALITY NEWS & NOTES: Cablevision Systems said it plans to proceed with a plan to spin off its Rainbow unit to Cablevision stock holders…Dish Network said it plans to offer three movies in 3-D...Incoming House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) named Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) chairman of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee. DEC. 15, 2010 DIRECTV SETTLES WITH STATES OVER PRACTICES DEADLINE LOOMS FOR DISH NETWORK, CHAMBERS UPTON PUSHES FCC TO FINISH COMCAST-NBC REVIEW COURT SETS DISH NETWORK PBS ARGUMENT QUALCOMM PLANS FLO-TV “REBATES” NEWS & NOTES: HBO Senior Vice President Janice Aull plans to leave the company Feb. 1. Aull has been with HBO since 1979, and is one of the company’s longest-serving executives...DirecTv has started offering its revamped video-on-demand/pay-per-view offering, which it has dubbed DirecTv CinemaPlus…A Dish Network unit has asked the FCC for permission to acquire a 90 percent controlling interest in Liberty Bell Telecom DEC. 13, 2010 HEARST, DIRECTV HEAT UP RETRANS RHETORIC ECHOSTAR SEEKS REVERSAL ON VOOM SANCTION DISH NETWORK, CHAMBERS SPAR OVER STATIONS COMCAST ASKS FCC TO UPHOLD SPORTS RULING ROCKEFELLER PANS COMCAST-NBC DEAL SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: MLB Network should make sure it gets replay of famous 1960 World Series Game right...If the New York Times can figure out there need to be broadband conditions on the Comcast-NBC deal, so can the FCC...Cord cutting is not the same as service switching. NEWS & NOTES: The NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants that was postponed from yesterday to tonight at 7:20 p.m. EDT because of damage to the Vikings stadium in Minneapolis will be available to DirecTv’s NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers, DirecTv said. DEC. 10, 2010 FCC EYES RETRANSMISSION CONSENT CHANGES STERN RE-SIGNS WITH SIRIUS XM APPEALS COURT SETS UP LOOPHOLE ARGUMENT REACTION FLOWS IN ON FCC RETRANS PLANS COMCAST STEPS UP DISH NETWORK SPORTS DISPUTE DEC. 8, 2010 DIRECTV PLAYS UP LATIN AMERICA PROSPECTS TIVO KEEPS WORKING ON NEW DIRECTV RECORDER SIRIUS XM TOUTS IMPROVING OUTLOOK COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS GET ATTENTION UPTON GETS HOUSE COMMERCE SEAT OVER BARTON DEC. 6, 2010 DISH NETWORK, COMCAST TALK OVER CHANNEL TIVO: LICENSE DEAL “RATIONAL” ECHOSTAR OUTCOME COMCAST-NBC EXTEND DEAL DEADLINE DISH NETWORK TAKES POSITIVE VIEW ON FCC MOVES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Time to consider "unbundling" Internet service. DEC. 3, 2010 DIRECTV CHARTS COURSE FOR MORE GROWTH REACTION FLOODS IN ON NET-NEUTRALITY PROPOSAL EXECS TOUT DIRECTV LATIN AMERICA STRIDES GENACHOWSKI TAKES NEW NET-NEUTRALITY STAB DIRECTV FINE-TUNES TECHNOLOGY, MARKETING NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network added Starz Entertainment’s MoviePlex channel to its HD Platinum package, which sells for $10 per month. DEC. 1, 2010 SIRIUS XM STAYS IN GAME WITH NFL SIRIUS XM TOPS 20 MILLION SUB MARK COMMISSION SETS NET-NEUTRALITY VOTE FCC SETS UP BROADCAST SPECTRUM CHANGES CONSUMERS UNION WARNS ON COMCAST-NBC DEAL NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network started offering a free application enabling Apple iPad users to remotely view live and recorded programming from Sling-enabled Dish Network receivers and newer standalone Slingboxes. NOV. 30, 2010 DISH, COMCAST KEEP UP SPORTSNET DISPUTE SIRIUS CANADA, XM CANADA PLAN COMBINATION COMCAST, NBC KEEP DEFENDING DEAL DIRECTV URGES CLOSED-CAPTION STATUS QUO NOV. 24, 2010 FCC KEEPS OUTSIDE ANTENNA RULES TIVO’S ROGERS SEES LEGAL VICTORY FCC BACKS DBS ON ‘SIGNIFICANTLY VIEWED’ STANCE TIVO LOOKS TO BUMP UP SUBSCRIBER NUMBERS NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv Senior Vice President Andrew Reinsdorf has been re-elected to serve another one-year term as chairman of the SBCA...DirecTv said it plans to offer a dozen video-on-demand movies in 3-D next month, as well as an exclusive Jessica Simpson holiday special and a Vancouver Olympics documentary in 3-D on its n3D channel...A federal court in New York issued a temporary restraining order directing FilmOn to stop offering an online service that retransmits broadcast stations and streams them on the Internet. NOV. 22, 2010 GOVERNMENT STANDS BY LOOPHOLE CLOSURE NAB PRESSES ‘SIGNIFICANTLY VIEWED’ AGENDA MCSLARROW PLANS SPRING NCTA DEPARTURE NEWS & NOTES: Long-time industry executive David Krone was last week named chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Hearing shows FCC will have to wake up and solve retrans issues...Monopoly helps Karmazin keep shoveling fertilizer...Networks should use honest countdown clocks to game starts, not pre-game shows. NOV. 19, 2010 LAWMAKERS LOOK FOR RETRANS ANSWERS DBS FIRMS FOCUS ON DISTANT RULES NDS WANTS ECHOSTAR ATTORNEY FEE RULING STAND DISH NETWORK STARTS SELLING SLING ADAPTER NAB, ACA WEIGH IN ON RETRANS NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network added three channels from the southern region of India to its international channel offering. NOV. 17, 2010 JUDGE RULINGS SEND VOOM-ECHOSTAR CASE TO TRIAL SENATE HEARING SETS UP RETRANS SHOWDOWN UPTON PUSHES FOR HOUSE COMMERCE CHAIR COMCAST, ACA SPAR OVER REPORT NEWS & NOTES: Jay Leno mentioned both of the nation’s DBS services by name during Monday night’s “Tonight Show.” NOV. 15, 2010 ECHOSTAR WINS ‘FTA’ PIRACY JUDGMENT NPS SETS C-BAND SHUTDOWN PLANS DISH NETWORK, ECHOSTAR PUSH UNIVERSAL SERVICE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Hard to predict outcome, but appeals court could come up with split decision...Technical nature of patent law makes things difficult for juries. NOV. 12, 2010 JUDGE LIFTS DISH NETWORK DISTANT INJUNCTION DBS FIRMS, ACA PRESS COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS DISH NETWORK FLIPS SWITCH ON GOOGLE TV OFFER DIRECTV TOUTS EASIER MDU TECHNOLOGY DIRECTV PUSHES SIGNIFICANTLY VIEWED AGENDA BARTON KEEPS UP CHAIRMANSHIP PRESS NEWS & NOTES: Viacom reported it took in revenues of $3.33 billion during this year’s third quarter…The Walt Disney Co. generated revenues of $9.74 billion in this year’s third quarter. NOV. 10, 2010 TIVO, ECHOSTAR STATE CASES TO APPEALS COURT BROADCASTERS STAND BY SATELLITE TV LAW VIEWS ACA PREDICTS COSTS FROM COMCAST-NBC DEAL NEWS & NOTES: The Senate Commerce Committee’s Communications, Technology, and the Internet Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing next Wednesday regarding the retransmission consent rules and Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) legislative proposals…EchoStar’s Sling Media unit started offering a $29.99 application to enable users of mobile phone with Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 operating system access their Slingboxes remotely. NOV. 8, 2010 HIGHER DISH NETWORK PROFIT SOFTENS SUB LOSS ECHOSTAR, TIVO HEAD BACK TO COURT ECHOSTAR UPS REVENUE INCREASE, PROFITS DROP ERGEN SEES NET NEUTRALITY FIGHT COMPLICATED SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: "Robo calls" just one more reason for Amercicans to detest politicians...Cablevision, MSG try to have it both ways with arbitration...Should be interesting day tomorrow at the appeals court for EchoStar and TiVo. NOV. 5, 2010 DIRECTV CRUISES TO MORE NET SUB ADDS SIRIUS XM TOUTS IMPROVED RESULTS ECONOMY STINGS CABLE SUB NUMBERS DBS FIRMS PRESS INDOOR ANTENNA SUPPORT NEWS & NOTES: Hughes Communications reported it added 13,000 net new subscribers to its HughesNet service...Bell Canada’s Bell TV, formerly ExpressVu, added 18,538 net new subscribers during the third quarter...ESPN 3D plans to telecast numerous men’s college basketball games in 3-D this season...Ranking House Energy Committee member Joe Barton (R-Texas) issued a statement soliciting support to be named the chairman of that committee when Republicans take over control of the House in January. NOV. 3, 2010 ELECTIONS TOPPLE HOUSE DEMOCRATS, BOUCHER DIRECTV SUBS LOSE G4 IN DISPUTE DISH NETWORK-MSG DISPUTE LANDS AT FCC COMCAST STATES ANTI-ARBITRATION STANCE NEWS & NOTES: Members of the Communications Workers of America are slated to hold rallies in front of two Dish Network facilities in Texas to support workers there who want to be represented by the union. NOV. 1, 2010 DISH NETWORK, FOX END DISPUTE; CHANNELS RETURN CABLEVISION BEMOANS NEW FOX DEAL DEAL STAVES OFF DISH NETWORK-BELO SHOWDOWN DIRECTV READY TO SEE G4 LEAVE LINE-UP DBS FIRMS AGAIN ASK COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Lack of regulatory option played big part in Dish Network-Fox deal, while Cablevision defined "bad faith"...Giving satellite option to import distant stations during retrans disputes would pressure both sides. OCT. 29, 2010 DISH NETWORK, FOX STAREDOWN KEEPS UP CABLEVISION PLAYS ON FOX BASEBALL COVERAGE NAB PUSHES SATELLITE BILL RULE WISH LIST COMCAST PUSHES AGAINST ONLINE ACCESS RULES COMCAST SEES STEEP SUB DECLINE DIRECTV ADDS LOCAL HD MARKETS NEWS & NOTES: Sea Launch completed its bankruptcy reorganization plan, which results in Russian company Energia Overseas Ltd. Acquiring a majority ownership stake in Sea Launch. OCT. 27, 2010 FOX, CABLEVISION STATE SIDES TO FCC DBS FIRMS TAKE ON BROADCASTER VIEWS NFL NETWORK SEIZES ON ARBITRATION IDEA RETRANS SPAT FIRES UP COMCAST-NBC CRITICS OCT. 25, 2010 FCC ASKS FOR FOX-CABLEVISION RESOLUTION VERIZON, AT&T SEE VIDEO SUB ADDS DISH PUSHES COMCAST-NBC ONLINE RULES SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Broadcasters have shown off-air antennas are no solution for retrans disputes...Genachowski needs to make retrans rule changes and place meaningful conditions on Comcast-NBC or risk being known as do-nothing FCC chairman. OCT. 22, 2010 DISH-FOX DISPUTE PROMPTS MISSOURI AG LETTER DISH NETWORK, MSG DANCE ON ARBITRATION COPPS SEES NEED FOR LOOK AT RETRANS DISPUTES TERRESTAR MOVE PRESERVES ECHOSTAR OPTIONS NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network reached a deal with Turner Broadcasting System to make TBS and TNT programming available to Dish Network subscribers on the DBS service’s online video-on-demand service. OCT. 20, 2010 FOX-CABLEVISION DEADLOCK CONTINUES TIVO, ECHOSTAR SPAR OVER PATENT RULING FCC IMPLEMENTS SIRIUS-XM SET-ASIDE RULES WASHINGTON KEEPS YAPPING OVER FOX FLAP COMCAST SUBMITS MORE DETAILS TO FCC OCT. 18, 2010 FOX, CABLEVISION DISPUTES KEEP GAMES OFF AIR ECHOSTAR DEFENDS STANCE IN TIVO APPEAL LAWMAKERS, FCC WEIGH IN ON FOX, CABLEVISION DISH NETWORK PUSHES COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Qualcomm's plan to shut down Flo-TV comes as now suprise...Using local anchors in retrans fights is hypocritical. OCT. 15, 2010 FOX, DISH NETWORK KEEP UP TALK DBS, CABLE SQUARE OFF OVER OHIO STATE TAX ROCKET SENDS SIRIUS XM SATELLITE UP SAFELY STATES EXAMINE SIRIUS XM PRACTICES SIRIUS SEES SUB NUMBERS MOVE UP FCC SETS UP NEW CABLECARD RULES OCT. 13, 2010 DISH NETWORK FOX, MSG DISPUTES LINGER ON BROADCASTERS SIGNAL VIEWS ON RULES SIRIUS XM SATELLITE SET FOR LAUNCH ACA PUSHES COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS OCT. 8, 2010 TIVO STAKES CLAIM ON PATENT OFFICE WIN TELCOS, DBS LEAD SATISFACTION SURVEY RESULTS DISH NETWORK, LOGITECH READY GOOGLE TV SIRIUS XM LAUNCH ON TAP NEXT WEEK DBS FIRMS PRESS COMCAST-NBC ARGUMENTS DIRECTV KEEPS UP UNIVERSAL BOX OBJECTIONS NEWS & NOTES: ESPN plans to telecast 14 National Basketball Association games in 3-D this season on its ESPN-3D channel this season...EDITOR’S NOTE: In observance of the Columbus Day holiday, and barring any major breaking news, the FaxUPDATE will not be distributed Monday. OCT. 6, 2010 FOX PUSHES DISH NETWORK FIGHT TO AFFILIATES NCTA BACKS CABLEVISION LOOPHOLE EXTENSION DISH NETWORK GETS DISTANT WAIVER EXTENSION FCC SEEKS MORE COMCAST-NBC INFO QUALCOMM SUSPENDS FLO-TV SALES DIRECTV KEEPS UP UNIVERSAL BOX OBJECTIONS OCT. 4, 2010 DISH NETWORK ADDS MSG TO DISPUTE LIST FOX, DISH NETWORK KEEP UP RHETORIC SIRIUS XM BOOSTS SUBSCRIBER EXPECTATIONS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Dish Network and Fox have little to lose in disute, until Fox station contract comes up...Mudslinging in distribution fights has gotten out of hand...Retrans rules need to be changed. OCT. 1, 2010 DISH NETWORK, FOX FAIL TO REACH NEW DEAL GOVERNMENT STANDS BY HD PBS REQUIREMENT DISH NETWORK PUSHES FOR NET RULES DBS FIRMS SEEK NORTHPOINT CASE DISMISSAL NEWS & NOTES: JetBlue plans Sunday to start making DirecTv’s NFL Sunday Ticket package available on its flights starting this Sunday…The episode of CBS’ “Undercover Boss” featuring DirecTv Chairman Mike White is scheduled to air a week from Sunday, CBS spokesman Mitch Graham said. SEPT. 29, 2010 DISH NETWORK, FOX TALKS HEAD TOWARD WIRE DIRECTV KEEPS FREE HD OFFER IN PLACE SATELLITE COMPANIES WEIGH IN COMPETITION DIRECTV TEES UP POST-SUNDAY TICKET OFFER NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv reached an agreement to air three BBC comedies on its channel, The 101 Network. SEPT. 27, 2010 DISH NETWORK GIVES FREE HD DEAL MORE TIME DBS FIRMS PRESS DISTANT STATION AGENDA BEST BUY URGES UNIVERSAL SET-TOP BOX SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Despite Rogers' talk, TiVo has plenty to lose in EchoStar case...CBS should take cue from ESPN and Fox by cleaning up screen on NFL games. SEPT. 24, 2010 DIRECTV STAYS POSITIVE IN TOUGH ECONOMY DISH NETWORK SETTLES RETAILER LAWSUITS CABLE PINS SUB LOSSES ON ECONOMIC WOES DIRECTV SEES RUNNING ROOM IN LATIN AMERICA DIRECTV WORKS ON “TO GO” VERIFICATIONS NEWS & NOTES: Cable industry marketing group CTAM said yesterday it hopes to have about 1,900 executives attend its annual conference, taking place Oct. 18-20 in New Orleans. SEPT. 22, 2010 DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK TALK RULES AT FCC XSTREAMHD AGAIN DELAYS LAUNCH ACA PUSHES COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS AT&T SEES ROOM FOR STEADY VIDEO SUB GROWTH TIVO LOOKS FORWARD TO NEXT DIRECTV LAUNCH NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar formed a joint venture with Deluxe Entertainment Services to develop a satellite distribution service to deliver movies, live events, and other programming to theaters in the United States and Canada. SEPT. 20, 2010 JUDGE KEEPS TIVO TELCO LAWSUITS IN TEXAS XSTREAMHD NETS DISTRIBUTION DEAL DIRECTV STILL GETTING KICK FROM SUNDAY TICKET CHARTER CHIMES IN FOR RETRANS REFORM SATELLITE ESCAPES IMPACT FROM NEW YORK STORM SEPT. 17, 2010 DIRECTV TOUTS RESULTS AMID COMPETITORS’ ISSUES CABLEVISION PANS TERRESTRIAL LOOPHOLE CLOSURE CABLE COMPANIES BEMOAN SUBSCRIBER LOSSES TIVO PLANS TO LET LITIGATION PLAY OUT MALONE TALKS UP DIRECTV, CABLE NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network started offering Vermont-based local TV stations via satellite to two Vermont counties where designated market area boundaries were such that customers had only been allowed to receive television stations from New York and Massachussetts. SEPT. 15, 2010 TIVO AGAIN PREDICTS VICTORY IN ECHOSTAR CASE VERIZON URGES CAUTION ON UNIVERSAL DEVICE DIRECTV TUSSLES OVER NORTHPOINT DISCOVERY NEWS & NOTES: Comcast said it plans to provide a free preview of The NFL Red Zone channel to its customers Sunday…The Satellite Industry Association named Sam Black director of policy. SEPT. 13, 2010 TIVO ASKS COURT TO LET ECHOSTAR RULING STAND NAB PRESSES RETRANS PROTECTION SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Easy answers hard to find in net neutrality debate. SEPT. 10, 2010 NFL SEASON KICKS OFF AFTER MARKETING PUSH WILDBLUE PRESSES CASE FOR FUND RULES DIRECTV, ESPN, RETAILERS SET 3-D DEMOS DISH, FOX NEXT UP ON DISTRIBUTION DEAL LIST NEWS & NOTES: Sirius XM Radio started offering the Sirius XM College Sports National channel to Sirius and XM customers’ line-ups…DirecTv Latin America promoted Rick Nerod to senior vice president of programming…EchoStar Europe named Rhod Williams general manager, overseeing engineering, operations, sales, and marketing. SEPT. 8, 2010 DISH NETWORK PUSHES PBS INJUNCTION APPEAL FCC HEARS HAGGLING OVER DISTANT RULES DISH NETWORK GETS CLOSER TO DISTANT REVIVAL ERGEN MAKES ROUNDS AT FCC SIRIUS XM SEEKS RULE RECONSIDERATION AUG. 30, 2010 DBS, BROADCASTERS STATE SIGNIFICANT VIEWS DISH NETWORK SEEKS COMCAST-NBC WEB CONDITIONS BROADCASTERS STAND BY RETRANS PROCESS APPEALS COURT KEEPS DISH PBS RULE MOVING SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Summer, thankfully, brings cool down in Dish Network-DirecTv ad fight...25 years of NFL games on satellite TV. AUG. 27, 2010 TIVO BIDES TIME FOR DEALS TO PAY OFF DIRECTV PREPS NON-SUB ONLINE FOOTBALL OPTION BROADCASTERS, DBS ARGUE OVER DISTANT RULES TIVO TALKS TOUGH ON ECHOSTAR LITIGATION AGREEMENT KEEPS STATIONS ON DIRECTV NEWS & NOTES: Along with a “mix” channel that will show coverage of six matches at once, DirecTv also plans to show matches from the U.S. Open in 3-D on its n3D channel. AUG. 25, 2010 DISH NETWORK SEES BIG PLAY WITH NFL RED ZONE COMCAST STANDS UP FOR NBC DEAL SATELLITE INTERESTS ADDRESS COMPETITION ISSUES DISH NETWORK TALKS WEB, SLINGBOX OPTIONS DIRECTV KEEPS TALKING AS STATIONS STAY ON AUG. 23, 2010 STATION DEADLINE LOOMS FOR DIRECTV DISH NETWORK EYES COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS DBS FIRMS WARN ON PUBLIC CHANNEL EXPANSION SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: This season will show how big an impact The Red Zone Channel will have for cable. AUG. 20, 2010 ECHOSTAR SEEKS REHEARING ON NDS FEE AWARD SIDES SEE NEED FOR COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS DISH NETWORK SUGGESTS SIGNIFICANT CHANGES LOWER COURT WAITS ON DISH NETWORK-PBS CASE SATELLITE FIRMS RECEIVE RURAL GRANTS NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network started offering AMC in high-definition. AUG. 18, 2010 SIDES DEBATE ‘SIGNIFICANTLY VIEWED’ RULES DIRECTV, BROADCASTER TALK OVER NEW DEAL DIRECTV CLOSES $3 BILLION DEBT OFFERINGS BROADCASTERS DEFEND RETRANS PROCESS NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar’s Sling Media unit has resolved the upgrade issue that resulted in some Slingbox users not being able to access their units remotely using the Slingbox.com web site…XStreamHD now plans to launch its satellite-delivered video-on-demand/pay-per-view service in September…Dish Network started offering The 3, a new movie channel owned by Viacom’s Epix…Dish Network launched Dish Network Gridiron Games. AUG. 16, 2010 DISH NETWORK ADDS MORE LOCAL HD SIDES DEFEND, BEMOAN RETRANS RULES FCC INTERNET PROPOSAL GARNERS YAYS, NAYS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Wall Street analysts venting about Dish Network should try it when Ergen is on the call...Next two quarters will show if Dish Network's marketing plan is on track...Golf announcer should learn the difference between satellite TV and cable. AUG. 13, 2010 GOVERNMENT, DISH AGREE TO WAIT ON PBS CASE FCC GETS MORE INPUT ON UNIVERSAL BOX IDEA DISH NETWORK BUMPS UP LOCAL HD FARE DIRECTV CLICKS WITH GOOGLE FOR AD DEAL DISH NETWORK DEALS WITH CHANNEL SWITCH SLING MEDIA KEEPS WORKING ON GLITCH AUG. 11, 2010 DISH NETWORK SEES SUB DROP, PROFITS RISE ECHOSTAR RECORDS UP, DOWN RESULTS SLINGBOX WORKING ON FIXING GLITCH GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO KEEP PBS RULE MOVING NEWS & NOTES: Former Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) died Monday night in a plane crash in rural Alaska…ViaSat said its WildBlue unit lost 9,000 subscribers in the second quarter of this year…Loral Space and Communications reported $481 million in revenues for the second quarter of this year…Intelsat said it took in revenues of $653.3 million during the second quarter…DirecTv is slated to start offering the Fox Soccer Channel in high-definition today. AUG. 9, 2010  NDS SEES WIN IN ECHOSTAR ATTORNEY AWARD COMCAST MAKES ROUNDS AT FCC ON NBC DEAL TIME WARNER KEEPS PUSHING RETRANS CHANGE AUG. 6, 2010  DIRECTV POSTS BIGGER PROFIT; ADDS 100K NET SUBS COURT ORDERS ECHOSTAR TO PAY NDS $18 MILLION SIRIUS XM PLAYS UP SUB, FINANCIAL GAINS CABLE SEE SUB GAINS, LOSSES DISH NETWORK PUSHES FCC FOR DISTANT OK DIRECTV PUTS THIRD QUARTER BET ON SUNDAY TICKET NEWS & NOTES: After holding a hearing Tuesday, a state court judge in New York is deciding whether to grant summary judgment requests by EchoStar-Dish Network and Cablevision’s Voom related to the breach of contract lawsuit Voom filed against EchoStar-Dish Network...EchoStar named long-time industry executive Ken Carroll chief operating officer of EchoStar Satellite Service…Hughes Communications finished the second quarter of this year with 545,000 subscribers to its HughesNet satellite-delivered Internet service, formerly known as DirecWay. AUG. 4, 2010 CENTURYLINK UP, RUNNING WITH DIRECTV ‘FRIENDS’ LINE UP FOR ECHOSTAR-TIVO APPEAL BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU CITES DBS COMPLAINTS BOUCHER EYES COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS NEWS & NOTES: Comcast reached a 10-year retransmission consent agreement with CBS. AUG. 2, 2010 C-BAND REACTS TO MOTOROLA PLAN DISH NETWORK EYES COMCAST PHILADELPHIA FIGHT DIRECTV DIALING IN CENTURYLINK DISTRIBUTION MIAMI SUES DIRECTV OVER AD PRACTICES DIRECTV URGES FCC TO DROP UNIVERSAL DEVICE IDEA JULY 30, 2010 DISH DODGES PBS MANDATE, KEEPS UP CHALLENGE FCC LOOKS TO STAY COURSE ON DISTANT RULES FCC GIVES MORE TIME ON COMCAST-NBC COMMENTS COMCAST SEES BIGGER BASIC SUB LOSS NEWS & NOTES: Phone company CenturyLink is close to reaching an agreement to distribute DirecTv’s DBS service, several sources said yesterday…DirecTv Chairman Mike White is slated this fall to appear in an episode of CBS’ “Undercover Boss.” JULY 28, 2010 ECHOSTAR DEFENDS WORKAROUND IN TIVO CASE DISH NETWORK RECOVERS FROM OUTAGE SMALL CABLE SETS SIGHTS ON ‘UNFAIR’ DEALS LAWMAKERS BACK RETRANS STANCE COURT APPROVES SEA LAUNCH REORGANIZATION JULY 26, 2010 FCC STARTS SIGNIFICANTLY VIEWED REWORK VERIZON PICKS UP VIDEO SUBS COMMISSION LOOKS AT SATELLITE COMPETITION VERIZON BACKS CHANGING RETRANS RULES ACA SEEKS MORE TIME ON COMCAST-NBC ANSWERS NEWS & NOTES: Sea Launch signs contract with EchoStar...SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Thanks but no thanks to Facebook...C-band paved the way for DBS...Motorola/GI treatment of C-band over the years is a study in destroying a business. JULY 23, 2010 JUDGE NIXES DISH PBS INJUNCTION REQUEST AT&T SEES SATELLITE SUB DROP TIVO SEEKS APPEALS COURT FILING DELAY VERIZON BACKS CHANGING RETRANS RULES COMCAST DEFENDS NBC TRANSACTION NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network started offering an application that enables subscribers to use an Apple iPad as a remote control for their receivers. JULY 21, 2010 DISH NETWORK KEEPS UP PBS INJUNCTION PUSH BROADCASTERS BACK STANDING PAT ON RETRANS FCC SEES MILLIONS LACKING BROADBAND ACCESS DIRECTV EYES COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS DISH NETWORK SEEKS INTERNET RULES NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv reached an agreement with Sony Pictures Television to air 20 new episodes of “Damages” in 2011 and 2012. JULY 19, 2010 DIRECTV PLANS MODIFIED FREE HD EXTENSION MOTOROLA SIGNALS YEAR-END C-BAND SHUTDOWN CABLE OFFERS EARFUL ON BROADBAND DIRECTV SETS KICKOFF FOR NFL PROMO SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Broadcasters should have picked a better metaphor than oil spill for retrans comments...Dish Network not winning friends with PBS HD mandate, but government response makes you wonder about motivation. JULY 16, 2010 GOVERNMENT DEFENDS HD PBS MANDATE DBS FIRMS WEIGH IN ON GATEWAY DEVICES AT&T, RAINBOW MAKE UP; MSG DISPUTE CONTINUES BROADCASTERS BASH BACK AT RETRANS COALITION NEWS & NOTES: The FCC started a proceeding designed to open use of mobile satellite service spectrum for terrestrially delivered mobile high-speed Internet services...XStreamHD said it reached an agreement to make Lionsgate movie titles available through the satellite-delivered pay-per-view/video-on-demand service XStreamHD has said it plans to start offering “this summer.”…DirecTv named Joe Bosch executive vice president and chief human resources officer. JULY 14, 2010 NEW DISH NETWORK BIRD SPREADS WINGS COMCAST-NBC DEAL TAKES MORE HEAT VIASAT, HUGHES PRESS UNIVERSAL SERVICE CASES DISH NETWORK SPOTS PUT ERGEN OUT FRONT JULY 12, 2010 DISH NETWORK HD GETS SATELLITE LIFT DIRECTV, FOX COVER ALL-STAR GAME BASES IN 3-D PBS GROUP BEMOANS DISH NETWORK LAWSUIT ACA LOOKS FOR MORE RETRANS STUDY SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Maybe Roxanne Austin should next take her talents to a cable or phone company...LeBron James saga points out sports business flaws...Larry King finally leaving CNN, but news network still needs more news. NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv garnered four Emmy nominations last week for the “Friday Night Lights” program the DBS service helped fund and which aired on DirecTv Channel 101 before being shown on NBC...Rainbow Media Holdings warned Friday that customers of AT&T’s own video service could lose access to AMC, IFC, and WE TV if Rainbow does not reach a new distribution agreement with the phone company by the end of the day Wednesday. JULY 9, 2010 XSTREAMHD NOW EYES “SUMMER” LAUNCH SIRIUS XM TURNS UP SUBSCRIBER VOLUME HEARING HIGHLIGHTS COMCAST-NBC ISSUES COUNTDOWN MOVES ON DISH NETWORK SATELLITE NEWS & NOTES: Former DirecTv President Roxanne Austin is exiting her post as president of video streaming company Move Networks as part of a corporate shake-up the company said could lead to a sale of the company…As expected, the FCC said it plans to start a proceeding at its public meeting Thursday examining whether to allow terrestrial use of mobile satellite spectrum frequencies…HBO garnered the most Emmy nominations yesterday with a total of 101. JULY 7, 2010 JUDGE SETS DATE FOR DISH NETWORK PBS CHALLENGE COMCAST-NBC DETAILS AFFILIATE BARGAIN DIRECTV UPS 3-D FARE COUNTDOWN MOVES ON DISH NETWORK SATELLITE NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network is conducting a promotion through today under which it is making several recent movie releases available on pay-per-view for 99 cents...Promoter NCM Fathom is working with Dish Network to show live high-definition feeds in 3-D of the semi-final games and final of the World Cup soccer tournament in 15 movie theaters around the country. JULY 2, 2010 DISH NETWORK LOOKS FOR RETURN TO DISTANT GAME DISH NETWORK SHORTS FUSE, ADDS MTV’S PALLADIA DIRECTV UPS 3-D FARE NEXT DISH NETWORK BIRD GETS FLIGHT DATE DISH NETWORK SEEKS INTERNET RULE JUNE 30, 2010 VERIZON PRESSES MSG ACCESS COMPLAINT SIDES SIGNAL STANCES ON OBAMA SPECTRUM PLAN BLOOMBERG TV PUSHES COMCAST CONDITIONS TIVO TAKES AT&T TO TASK FOR MOVE REQUEST NEWS & NOTES: Freedom Communications named former DirecTv President and Fox Television President Mitch Stern to be its new president...XStreamHD formally announced it has signed a contract with Dish Network sister company EchoStar to use capacity on the AMC-16 satellite. JUNE 28, 2010 MCDOWELL SEES PITFALLS IN RETRANS REFORM LAWMAKERS DEBATE FCC INTERNET PLANS FCC LAYS SATELLITE SPECTRUM GROUNDWORK SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Latest Dish Network-EchoStar-Nagra piracy lawsuit foreshadows results of FCC all-video device proposal...ESPN suprises with "30 for 30"...Clock runs out for World Cup interest. JUNE 25, 2010 DBS FIRMS, AT&T TEE UP LOOPHOLE FIGHTS MALONE: FCC FORCED HAND ON DIRECTV DEPARTURE CABLE OPS PRESS RETRANS AGENDA AT FCC DISH NETWORK PUSHES ON COMCAST-NBC DIRECTV TACKS ON MORE HD CHANNELS NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network added AATH and Tara Muzik to its $19.99 per month Prabasi Bengali Pack…DirecTv added public interest channel Free Speech TV and a channel from Oral Roberts University to its programming line-up. JUNE 23, 2010 DISH NETWORK LOSSES DISNEY HD FEEDS DISH NETWORK-ECHOSTAR PRESS NEW ‘FTA’ CASE COMCAST-NBC DEAL DRAWS YAYS, NAYS, MAYBES LIBERTY PLANS TRACKING STOCK SHUFFLE NEWS & NOTES: Sling Media started selling an application that enables users of mobile phones using Google’s Android operating system to access their Slingboxes remotely using a Wi-Fi connection or wireless data plan. JUNE 21, 2010 LAWMAKERS LAUNCH LOOK AT TELECOM ACT REWRITE MCDOWELL DERIDES FCC BROADBAND INQUIRY FCC PONDERS EYES SATELLITE SPECTRUM SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Tip-of-the-dish to John Malone...Liberty transaction has a huge upside for DirecTv...White gets to shape DirecTv's future...Any goals scored at the World Cup yet? NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network is evaluating whether it will distribute the Cox-owned regional sports channel that shows the vast majority of San Diego Padres games…The Motion Picture Association of America named former Dish Network Vice President of Law and Regulation Linda Kinney as its vice president of regulatory affairs. JUNE 18, 2010 DIRECTV, MALONE CLOSE DEAL; WHITE IS CHAIRMAN FCC INTERNET INQUIRY SPURS STRONG REACTIONS COX WILLING TO BUDGE ON SAN DIEGO CHANNEL DIRECTV ADDS LOCAL HD MARKETS NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar appointed current Chief Administrative Officer David Rayner chief financial officer, succeeding Bernie Han, who will continue to be EchoStar’s chief operating officer...Dish Network plans to start distributing a second Home Shopping Network channel Aug. 1. JUNE 16, 2010 ERGEN PLAYS UP HD OFFER, LOCAL STATIONS DIRECTV’S WHITE WARNS FCC ON “GATEWAY’ PLAN TIVO WANTS VERIZON CASE TO STAY PUT FCC DETAILS BROADCAST SPECTRUM REUSE PLAN NEWS & NOTES: The FCC is expected in the next few days, and perhaps as early as today, to grant final approval of the transfer of satellite licenses to the newly independent DirecTv company...NCC Media, which handles local spot advertising placements for cable companies, reached a deal to provide the same service for DirecTv…Cablevision Systems reached an agreement for a subsidiary to acquire Bresnan Communications for $1.365 billion...BSkyB rejected a $11.6 billion offer from News Corp. to purchase the remaining portion of the company News Corp. does not own. JUNE 14, 2010 DBS FIRMS TAKE ON RETRANS REFORM VERIZON ASKS COURT TO NOTE TIVO PATENT RULING DIRECTV SIGNS CONTRACT FOR NEXT SATELLITE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: FIFA should be paying ESPN for the World Cup...Tables turnb on Microsoft, Apple...Sorry to hear about Robert J. Wussler. JUNE 11, 2010 ROGERS CALLS FOR CALM AFTER TIVO PATENT RULING DISH, DIRECTV, PITCH WORLD CUP OFFERINGS COMCAST, TIME WARNER CABLE TOUT RESULTS PLAYERS CALL NFL OFFSIDES ON TV DEALS NEXT DISH NETWORK SATELLITE NEARS LAUNCH JUNE 9, 2010 PATENT OFFICE REJECTS KEY TIVO PATENT CLAIMS DIRECTV HD RECORDERS RECOVER FROM ‘GLITCH’ TIVO, ECHOSTAR REACT TO NEW PATENT RULING DIRECTV CAMPAIGN TOUTS WHOLE-HOME SERVICE DISH ADDS HD TO PUERTO RICO SLATE NEWS & NOTES: The National Cable and Telecommunications Association told a federal appeals court it plans to support Cablevision’s appeal of the FCC’s recent terrestrial loophole decision. JUNE 7, 2010 PATENT OFFICE RULING PENDING FOR TIVO SMALL CABLE OPS BEMOAN RETRANS REGIME MICROSOFT, AT&T SEEK TIVO CASE VENUE SWITCH SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Well-liked Shanks snares premiere TV job. JUNE 4, 2010 COURT SETS NOVEMBER DATE FOR TIVO ARGUMENT DISH NETWORK FILLS UP LOCAL SLATE WHITE PITCHES PLANS TO STOCKHOLDERS DISH NETWORK, DIRECTV DUEL OVER FREE HD TIME WARNER CABLE PUSHES RETRANS CHANGES JUNE 2, 2010 ECHOSTAR, TIVO DEBATE APPEAL SCHEDULE DISH NETWORK SEEKS ‘SHORT MARKET’ DISTANT OK PBS STATIONS HAIL SATELLITE TV BILL NAB WANTS FCC TO STAND PAT ON RETRANS NEWS & NOTES: Vermont cable company Duncan Cable TV said it would use EchoStar’s satellite-delivered wholesale Internet TV protocol service…Google started making an application available for download to enable users of Android-based mobile phones to access Sirius XM’s $2.99 per month Internet add-on service. MAY 28, 2010 PRESIDENT SIGNS SATELLITE TV BILL ECHOSTAR SEEKS MORE TIME ON TIVO APPEAL BRIEF COMCAST DEFENDS NBC DEAL AMID KOHL OBJECTIONS ROGERS REMAINS CONFIDENT IN TIVO CASE SHANKS SLATED TO DEPART DIRECTV FOR FOX SPORTS NEWS & NOTES: The FCC granted Sirius XM Radio an extension until Aug. 23 of the requirement imposed as part of the Sirius-XM transaction approval that the combined company lease 4 percent of its channel capacity to a qualified non-commercial entity or entities. MAY 26, 2010 TIVO PREDICTS VICTORY OVER ECHOSTAR DISH, WEATHER CHANNEL CLEAR DIFFERENCES TIVO SEES MORE CUSTOMERS DEPART NRTC PRESIDENT GETS SEND-OFF DEMOCRATS PONDER COMMUNICATIONS LAW UPDATE GOVERNORS SIGN ON TO SUPPORT COMCAST-NBC NEWS & NOTES: At press time, President Obama had not yet signed the broad satellite TV bill the House and Senate passed earlier this month. MAY 24, 2010 DISH NETWORK, WEATHER CHANNEL KEEP TALKING FCC SENDS QUESTIONS ON COMCAST, NBC DEAL DISH NETWORK, VOOM SEEK JUDGMENTS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Kudos to Dish Network for standing up to The Weather Channel...NCTA show well run, lacking in big news...Customer service survey gives Dish Network good news. MAY 21, 2010 ERGEN AGAIN BLASTS DIRECTV OVER AD WAR DISH NETWORK LEAVING WEATHER CHANNEL IN COLD FCC FINALLY APPROVES WCS/REPEATER RULES DIRECTV ROLLS OUT ‘WHOLE HOME’ OPTION DISH NETWORK SIGNS ON FOR GOOGLE TV NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv plans to offer subscribers with interactive receivers a mix channel starting Monday that will show up to six matches from the French Open tennis tournament on a single screen. MAY 19, 2010 DIRECTV SLATES MORE HD LOCAL STARTS TELCOS TOP SATISFACTION SURVEY BROADCASTERS BAND TOGETHER FOR RETRANS SIRIUS XM INCREASES FULL-YEAR EXPECTATIONS SUPREME COURT DECLINES MUST-CARRY REVIEW VIASAT HOLDS LINE ON WILDBLUE SUBS NEWS & NOTES: Sea Launch filed a plan for reorganization with the bankruptcy court that calls for Energia to purchase 85 percent of the stock in the reorganized company in exchange for an equity investment of $140 million. MAY 17, 2010 COURT GIVES ECHOSTAR NEW LOOK AT TIVO CASE APPEALS COURT REVIEW SLAMS TIVO STOCK FLORIDA INVESTIGATING SIRIUS XM SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Appeals court caps good week for Dish Network...Dish Network and DirecTv wisely seem to be scaling back ad fight. MAY 14, 2010 DISH SUMMIT: FREE HD, LOCALS, SLING SATELLITE BILL STEP AWAY FROM LAW CABLE DEALS WITH COMPETITION, CHANGES GENACHOWSKI CLEARS AIR ON ‘OPEN INTERNET’ MAY 12, 2010 DISH NETWORK ADDS SUBS, PROFIT SLIPS CABLE TAKES UPBEAT ATTITUDE TO CONVENTION ERGEN GIVES PAUSE ON TIVO OPTIONS ERGEN SEES GOOD, BAD IN DIRECTV AD FIGHT ECHOSTAR SEES REVENUE UPTURN NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network opened its annual retailer event in San Antonio last night. Sources said the company expected its largest crowd ever at the event...The House is slated to pass today, without amendment, the broad satellite TV bill the Senate passed Friday...DirecTv agreed to distribute GolTV in high-definition. MAY 10, 2010 SENATE MOVES SATELLITE BILL, HOUSE UP NEXT DISH NETWORK SETS UP FOR RETAILER SUMMIT CABLE INDUSTRY HEADS TO LOS ANGELES ECHOSTAR SEEKS LONGER TIVO INJUNCTION STAY SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Opryland flood brings up memories...Dish Network's 922 is a disappointment, so far...Will be interesting to hear how much Dish Network talks about DirecTv at its retailer event. MAY 7, 2010 DIRECTV SUB GROWTH SLOWS, PROFIT SPEEDS UP DIRECTV, TIVO STILL WORKING ON NEW BOX GENACHOWSKI INTERNET PLAN SPARKS REACTION YANKEES, DIRECTV PLAN 3-D TELECASTS NAB LAUDS RETRANS RULES CABLEVISION SEES SMALL BASIC SUB GAIN Hughes added 27,000 net new subscribers to its HughesNet service. MAY 5, 2010 SIRIUS BUOYED BY CAR MARKET BOUNCE BACK DISH NETWORK RECOVERS INTERNATIONAL FARE TERRESTRIAL REPEATER PROPOSAL VEXES SIRIUS XM SEA LAUNCH DEALS WITH NEW FINANCING NEWS & NOTES: News Corp. reported fiscal third quarter revenues of $8.8 billion, up from $7.4 billion during the same period of the company’s previous fiscal first quarter. News Corp. posted third quarter income of $839 million, down from net income of $2.7 billion the previous corresponding period...The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association named Amy Hager communications manager. MAY 3, 2010 DIRECTV’S WHITE TALKS DISH, STRATEGY, FUTURE DISH NETWORK PRESSES RETRANS VIEWS SIRIUS XM SIGNALS STANCE ON WCS RULES ECHOSTAR EYES ASSET FREEZE IN VIEWTECH CASE APRIL 30, 2010 DIRECTV PANS FCC “GATEWAY” PROPOSAL DISH NETWORK SOUNDS ALARM ON COMCAST-NBC COMCAST, TIME WARNER NET BASIC SUB LOSSES DIRECTV, LODGENET EXTEND DEAL FCC PLANS WCS/SATELLITE RADIO ORDER NEWS & NOTES: Sirius XM Radio plans June 1 to pay off $114 million in outstanding debt, which is due in 2011…DirecTv said it has started offering the national feeds of Univision and TeleFutura in high-definition…Viacom reported revenues of $2.786 billion in the first quarter of this year, down from $2.9 billion during the same period of 2009. APRIL 28, 2010 DISH NETWORK, DIRECTV KEEP UP AD SPARRING SIRIUS XM STAVES OFF DELISTING HOUSE PANEL SETS “GATEWAY” WITNESS LIST DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK TEAM ON AD SERVICE COMPANIES PRESS FCC ON ‘OPEN INTERNET’ NISSAN SUPPORTS SIRIUS XM INTERFERENCE STANCE APRIL 26, 2010 LAWMAKERS KEEP LOOKING AT BROADBAND PLAN TIVO TAKES ON MICROSOFT PATENT FILING VERIZON TACKS ON OWN VIDEO SUBS SIRIUS XM, WCS GROUP REMAIN AT ODDS SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: DirecTv and Dish Network need to call a truce and turn their attention to cable and telephone companies. APRIL 23, 2010 WHITE PAINTS DEALERS PICTURE OF DIRECTV PLANS NCAA TOURNEY DEAL BENCHES DIRECTV PACKAGE TELCOS SEE NO DBS ISSUES AFTER COMBO PROFESSORS BACK ECHOSTAR REVIEW REQUEST FCC STARTS “GATEWAY” INQUIRY APRIL 21, 2010 DIRECTV EVENT MIXES DISH SHOTS WITH PROMOTION DIRECTV CALLS FOUL ON DISH NETWORK HD COUNT DISH NETWORK PITCHES FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS ACA FORESEES COMCAST-NBC ISSUES APRIL 19, 2010 DIRECTV RETAILERS HEAD TO DALLAS DIRECTV, AT&T JOIN LOOPHOLE CLOSURE DEFENSE JUDGE FREEZES VIEWTECH OWNER’S ASSETS OBAMA PUTS NEW EXTENSION ON BOOKS FCC STOPS CLOCK ON COMCAST-NBC DEAL REVIEW APRIL 16, 2010 CONGRESS PASSES NEW SHORT-TERM EXTENSION TIVO FILES AGAINST ECHOSTAR REVIEW REQUEST DISH NETWORK, DIRECTV END AD LEGAL TUSSLE SIRIUS XM KEEPS UP SUB GROWTH FCC PUTS INTERNET DEVICE INQUIRY ON AGENDA APRIL 14, 2010 SENATE EYES ANOTHER DISTANT EXTENSION COURT WANTS TIVO INPUT ON REHEARING REQUEST RETRANS NABS ATTENTION AT BROADCAST CONFAB ECHOSTAR WINS ‘FTA’ PIRACY JUDGMENT APRIL 12, 2010 SATELLITE BILLS WAIT ON LAWMAKERS’ PLATE C-BAND CHANNELS KEEP DWINDLING ‘NORTHPOINT DENIES DBS SERVICE CLAIMS SENATE CALLS FCC CHAIRMAN TO HILL SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Wall Street Journal gets it right in view of Martin...Malone leaving DirecTv points to FCC staff dislike...Comcast win in net-neutrality case could lead to loss down the road. APRIL 9, 2010 DISH NETWORK ROLLS OUT SLING-ENABLED 922 NDS, ECHOSTAR ATTORNEYS ARGUE OVER FEES FCC SETS OUT BROADBAND PLAN ROUNDMAP WCS GROUP, SIRIUS XM SPAR OVER RULES NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv plans to start offering local stations in high-definition in three markets in June, the company said on its web site. The markets are Idaho Falls-Pocatello, Idaho; Joplin, Mo-Pittsburg, Kan.; and Biloxi-Gulfport, Miss…Though it said an anomaly Monday on the Galaxy-15 C-band satellite did not cause any service interruptions, Intelsat said it plans to migrate transmissions for the various programming channels that use the satellite to the Galaxy-12 C-band satellite. APRIL 7, 2010 ECHOSTAR FILES FULL APPEALS COURT REVIEW MALONE TO RESIGN AS DIRECTV CHAIRMAN LAWMAKERS SEEK END TO PADRES COMPLAINT NEWS & NOTES: A federal appeals court this week struck down FCC rules to regulate how Comcast and other companies manage their high-speed data networks, often referred to as "net-neutrality."...DirecTv plans to offer four channels this week showing CBS and ESPN’s coverage of The Masters Golf Tournament, as well a “mix” channel showing coverage from those channels on a single screen...Dish Network and Windstream reached an agreement to extend their distribution agreement. APRIL 5, 2010 N.Y. DISH NET SUBS SIT OUT BASEBALL OPENER ECHOSTAR, NDS FEE APPEAL HEADS TO COURT DISH NETWORK WINS STOP TO SONICVIEW SALES NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv and cable operators are offering free previews this week of the MLB Extra Innings package of out-of-market baseball games. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: FCC standardizing set-top boxes and receivers will stifle innovation and increase piracy. APRIL 2, 2010 DEAL KEEPS CITADEL STATIONS ON DIRECTV FCC PLANS INTERNET-ENABLED DEVICE INQUIRY TIVO QUESTIONS VERIZON PATENT LAWSUIT TELESAT PLANS NEW SHAW DIRECT SATELLITE GOLTV SCORES PARTIAL WIN OVER ECHOSTAR MARCH 31, 2010 ECHOSTAR SEEKS FASTER WORKAROUND RULING DIRECTV, CITADEL DISPUTE GOES TO WIRE DIRECTV PLANS ‘VIRTUAL’ CALL CENTER HIRES ECHOSTAR SEEKS VIEWTECH ASSET FREEZE DIRECTV SLATES JUNE 3-D LAUNCH NEWS & NOTES: Sirius XM Radio said Nasdaq had set a hearing April 29 regarding the notification Sirius XM received that its stock would be delisted. MARCH 29, 2010 SENATE ADDS 10-YEAR DISTANT EXTENSION TO MIX SIRIUS SUBS AGAIN ON BASEBALL BENCH DIRECTV SLATES MPEG-2 HD CHANNEL MIGRATION NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv said it filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Playboy and Spice Hot Entertainment. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Cable and telephone companies are the only ones benefiting from Direct and Dish Network's ad legal battle...3-D ads are setting consumers up for disappointment...Cablevision's 3-D hockey telecast is yet another reason to close the terrestrial loophole...Tiger Woods picks a suspect course to return to. MARCH 26, 2010 HOUSE, SENATE OK ONE-MONTH EXTENSION COURT KEEPS TIVO STAY IN PLACE, FOR NOW DIRECTV, CITADEL SPAT HEADS TO WIRE HOUSE PANEL QUERIES FCC ON BROADBAND PLAN MARCH 24, 2010 DISH NETWORK COUNTERSUES DIRECTV ONE-MONTH EXTENSION STILL ON SENATE PLATE HOUSE PLANS LOOK AT BROADBAND PLAN CANADA SETS UP RETRANS PLAN DIRECTV SUES BARS OVER ACCOUNTS MARCH 22, 2010 SENATE NEARS ONE-MONTH EXTENSION VOTE DISH NETWORK PREDICTS DOOM IF STAY LIFTS EARLY DISH NETWORK SEES GOOD SATELLITE LAUNCH FCC STARTS LOOKING AT RETRANS RULES NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv began airing several new commercials as part of its "To Tell The Truth" campaign over the weekend. One features the most hard-hitting line against Dish Network to date. At the end of the spot, the actor portraying Dish Network turns to his DirecTv counterpart and says, "If this were ‘To Tell A Lie,’ I'd be crushing you."…EchoStar obtained the rights to use SES’ AMC-15 and AMC-16 satellites to offer full-time and occasional use medium-power Ku-band capacity to business users in Mexico. The Mexican government recently gave SES affiliate Sistemas Sateltales de Mexico permission to offer service in Mexico from the satellites. SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Over-under on total number of extensions of the distant netwpork station/superstation rules is 5...Commercials run court in CBS NCAA basketball tournament coverage...Congratulations to Dish Network on its satellite launch. MARCH 19, 2010 HOUSE PASSES ONE-MONTH SATELLITE EXTENSION FCC SETS DATES FOR COMCAST-NBC REVIEW SIRIUS XM CONTESTS NASDAQ DELISTING DISH NETWORK ADDS INTERNATIONAL CHANNELS NEWS & NOTES: Dish Network plans to show the launch of its EchoStar-14 satellite tomorrow afternoon on channel 101. The launch is slated to take place at 2:27 p.m. EDT…Telesat signed a contract for International Launch Services to launch its Nimiq-6 high-power DBS satellite in the middle of 2012…Sea Launch received approval from a federal bankruptcy court to obtain an additional $12.5 million in debtor-in-possession financing. The Boeing-controlled company had already obtained $12 million in financing. MARCH 17, 2010 DEAL ENDS DIRECTV-VERSUS FACE-OFF ECHOSTAR ENDS BID FOR SATMEX FCC PUSHES INTERNET-ENABLED DEVICE MANDATE AT&T FILES COUNTERSUIT AGAINST TIVO NEWS & NOTES: The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association plans to hold a regional member meeting April 6 in Wilmington, Del. MARCH 15, 2010 APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS PROGRAM ACCESS RULES COMPETITORS PRAISE, CABLE JEERS ACCESS RULING DISH NETWORK SETS SATELLITE LAUNCH DATE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: TiVo more than fudges truth about why it has lost customers...Comcast tries to create another brand...Flo-TV works well, but lacks programming...Last Comcast hearing shows nothing new. MARCH 12, 2010 TIVO SEEKS INSTANT END TO ECHOSTAR STAY DIRECTV POPS NEW "TO TELL THE TRUTH" AD zSENATE OK SENDS SATELLITE BILL TO HOUSE RETRANSMISSION CONSENT DRAWS ATTENTION SENATE COMMITTEE LOOKS AT COMCAST-NBC MARCH 10, 2010 SENATE CLOSES IN ON VOTE ON BILL ERGEN GLOATS OVER DIRECTV COURT WIN ECHOSTAR ASKS FAST OK ON NEW TIVO WORKAROUND TIVO SEES ‘MAJOR VICTORY’ IN ECHOSTAR CASE TIVO SEES MORE CUSTOMERS DEPART SENATE PANEL SETS COMCAST-NBC WITNESSES NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv yesterday said it expects to close three separate debt offerings by tomorrow totaling $2.98 billion. The issues include $1.2 billion in 3.55 percent senior notes due in 2015, $1.3 billion in 5.2 percent senior notes due in 2020, and $500 million in 6.35 percent senior notes due in 2040...DirecTv said customers who purchase “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” on pay-per-view starting at midnight March 20 will also receive exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the film. MARCH 8, 2010 SENATE COULD TAKE UP BILL THIS WEEK DEAL RETURNS ABC TO CABLEVISION BONDHOLDERS OBJECT TO ECHOSTAR-SATMEX DEAL SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Roller coaster ride for EchoStar-Dish Network last week...TiVo case could give EchoStar-Dish Network flashbacks to GI...Appeals court hands TiVo all the cards...Decision could stifle innovation. NEWS & NOTES: Verizon asked a federal judge in Texas to agree to move the patent infringement case TiVo filed against the phone company to a federal court in New Jersey. MARCH 5, 2010 RECORDERS STAY ON AS ECHOSTAR MAPS MOVE TIVO WINS 2-1 DECISION IN ECHOSTAR APPEAL SENATE KEEPS TALKING OVER BILL DIRECTV SEES STRENGTH AGAINST COMPETITION NEWS & NOTES: The Senate Commerce Committee plans to hold a hearing on the proposed Comcast-NBC Universal transaction next Thursday...Telesat reported fourth quarter 2009 revenues of $195 million (Canadian), down $12 million from the same period of 2008. MARCH 3, 2010 SENATE PASSES SHORT SATELLITE TV EXTENSION DISH NETWORK KEEPS UP SUB ADD MOMENTUM ECHOSTAR SEES REVENUE RISE, LOSS NARROW ERGEN EYES COMCAST-NBC CONDITIONS DISH NETWORK LOOKS FORWARD TO TIVO CASE END MONDAY MARCH 1, 2010 DISTANT STATIONS STAY ON BEHIND HILL BACKING LAWMAKERS TURN TO PLAN B ON LEGISLATION NCTA JOINS MUST-CARRY CHALLENGE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Satellite TV bill shows how dysfunctional Washington has become...Switching distant station subs on and off no simple task...March Madness could help people forget boring Olympics and end sports dry spell. NEWS & NOTES: EchoStar and MVS reached an agreementto acquire Satellite Mexicanos…DirecTv and Dish Network are both slated to start offering Fox Soccer Plus as an a la carte channel that sells for $14.99 per month…Dish Network and EchoStar are each slated today to release their fourth quarter 2009 financial results this morning. FRIDAY FEB. 26, 2010 SATELLITE BILL ACTION GOES DOWN TO WIRE SIRIUS XM PICKS UP SUBS, PROFIT LAWMAKERS QUERY COMCAST, NBC EXECS DIRECTV, NPS UNIT WAIT FOR HILL ACTION MAFFEI SEES SIRIUS XM UPSIDE CABLEVISION SEES SMALLER SUB DROP NEWS & NOTES: DirecTv started offering age-based ratings and reviews on its electronic programming guide provided by Common Sense Media. WEDNESDAY FEB. 24, 2010 SECOND SHORT DISTANT STATION EXTENSION EYED C-SPAN JOINS MUST-CARRY LEGAL CHALLENGE HOUSE COMMITTEE SETS COMCAST-NBC HEARING FCC EXTENDS SIRIUS XM CHANNEL DEADLINE COMMISSION DETAILS BROADBAND SHORTFALLS MONDAY FEB. 22, 2010 COMCAST, GROUPS TANGLE ON PROGRAM ACCESS NEXT DISH NETWORK SATELLITE LAUNCH NEARS JUDGE SETS UP TIVO-AT&T CONFERENCE SCHERMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Common sense should lead Congress to a distant station extension or a more comprehensive bill...Snow coverage fails to note lack of battery-operated digital TVs...Anyone remember name of the firefighter show where the crew wanted to make sure the captain retred...Best of everything to NRTC's retiring Bob Phillips...Network news shows should have to disclose sports rights ties. NEWS & NOTES: Gary Ginsberg was named an executive vice president of Time Warner Inc., where he will oversee the company’s public relations, communications, and marketing affairs. FRIDAY FEB. 19, 2010 DIRECTV YEAR ENDS WITH SUB GAINS NEW DIRECTV CHIEF TOUTS BRAND, SERVICE FCC ISSUES BROADBAND PLAN BULLET POINTS SIRIUS XM PUSHES AGAINST WCS PLAN NEWS & NOTES: The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative announced President Bob Phillips plans to retire in May. WEDNESDAY FEB. 17, 2010 JUDGE DENIES DIRECTV CALL TO BLOCK DISH ADS LAWMAKERS PONDER NEXT SATELLITE TV MOVE DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK LOOK ON BRIGHT SIDE IPHONE USERS GET FULL SLINGBOX APP FCC CHAIRMAN SETS BROADBAND AGENDA QWEST PICKS UP DIRECTV SUBSCRIBERS FRIDAY FEB. 12, 2010 DIRECTV SUES DISH NETWORK OVER ADS LAWMAKERS LABOR ON SATELLITE TV BILL DISH NETWORK TACKS ON HD CHANNELS NEWS & NOTES: As expected, DirecTv this week replaced the XM Satellite Radio channels it had been offering with channels programmed by SonicTap…PRODUCTION NOTICE: In observance of the holiday, and barring any major breaking news, the next issue of the FaxUPDATE will be distributed Wednesday. WEDNESDAY FEB. 10, 2010 SNOW PUTS FREEZE ON WORK VIASAT SETS WILDBLUE WHEELS IN MOTION REELZ CHANNEL AUGMENTS VOD CONTENT DISH NETWORK, RENTRACK SIGN MEASURING DEAL NEWS & NOTES: KVH Industries, which, among other things, manufactures satellite reception systems for cars and boats, said it recorded revenues of $26.3 million in the fourth quarter of last year…Disney said it recorded revenues of $9.74 billion during its first fiscal quarter of 2010. MONDAY FEB. 8, 2010 DISH NETWORK DROPPING DIRECTV CELEBRITY AD NPS MOVE PROMPTS C-BAND DEBATE GOODELL SEES SUPER NFL NETWORK FUTURE SIRIUS XM LINES UP FORD USED CAR DEAL TIVO, ECHOSTAR AGREE ON CASE FEES 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 Washingto