CableFAX back issues from March 2007:
A Tale of Two Cities: Time Warner Cable Eyes L.A. and Dallas.
Mar 01, 2007 ... While Time Warner Cable anticipates rev and operating growth rates in the mid-to-high 30s in '07, the performance of its stock--expected to begin public trading Thurs on the NYSE--may well hinge on clearing the smog afflicting its L.A. and Dallas markets. In a media briefing, execs ...
Cable Earnings.
Mar 01, 2007 ... Charter signed up 310K digital phone subs in '06, a staggering 309% Y- over-Y surge that's providing important oil to the MSO's revving triple play engine. Slower relative growth in digital video adds (+35%), level HSD adds of 305K and a continuing loss of basic customers (74K) may ...
More MTVN Changes.
Mar 01, 2007 ... Following layoffs unveiled earlier this month (Cfax, 2/13), MTVN on Wed unleashed a flurry of reorganization announcements for its ad sales and affiliate marketing units. The net will reshuffle its ad-sales division, realigning its channels into 3 demo-specific, strategic selling ...
Being More Upfront.(MTV Networks Inc. announces changes in advertising sales and marketing affiliates)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007 ... The same day MTVN announced a slew of changes to its ad-sales and affiliate marketing organizations, it also announced a new upfront presentation model for the '07 selling season that will roll out in 4 phases across the calendar year: MTVN roadshows and individual client meetings in the ...
Showdown.
Mar 01, 2007 ... As the Thurs morning deadline for a retrans deal between Comcast and Sinclair Broadcasting nears, several reports stated that the parties are still far apart. A Comcast spokesman told Cfax talks are ongoing, but Sinclair general counsel Barry Faber told the AP Wed ...
DTV Learning.
Mar 01, 2007 ... The much-anticipated campaign by NTIA and various industries to educate consumers about the digital TV transition become official on Wed. The DTV Transition Coalition includes cable, broadcast and consumer electronics reps, which plan to help spread the word on the Feb 17, 2009, planned ...
At the Portals.(Deborah Taylor Tate on spectrum lease to third parties)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2007 ... As FCC chmn Kevin Martin contemplates new multicast must-carry schemes that would allow broadcasters to lease spectrum to third parties (Cfax, 2/26), he can count on commish Deborah Taylor Tate for support. In a Wed speech at a Media Institute luncheon in DC, Tate said the concept is ...
CableFAX Daily Stockwatch.
Mar 01, 2007 ... <Pre> Company 02/28 Close 1-Day Ch BROADCASTERS/DBS/MMDS BRITISH SKY: 43.930.93 DIRECTV: 22.550.66 DISNEY: 34.251.15 ECHOSTAR: 40.6 -0.3 GE: 34.910.25 ...
Think About That for a Minute...(stock prices of Cable television broadcasting industry)
Mar 01, 2007; ... Commentary By Steve Effros Taking Stock That would be a good thing to do right now ... and I mean RIGHT NOW. Grab as much cable stock as you can afford after the "mini-crash" of Tuesday. My bet is that by the time this is printed, or within the next few days, the stock values ...
You've Got a Friend: EchoStar Wants to Be There for Broadcasters.
Mar 02, 2007 ... Bring on the retrans battles, says EchoStar's Charlie Ergen. "We will help any broadcaster in a retransmission situation where they might lose a distributor," Ergen said during DISH's 4Q earnings call Thurs. Ergen talked up the good relationship EchoStar has built with broadcasters over ...
Ford's Flight.(John Ford to quit from National Geographic Channel)(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2007 ... National Geographic Channel evp, programming John Ford will leave the net this summer to pursue his own projects, including fact-based theatricals and interactive media. Ford, whose tenure included "The Dog Whisperer" and "Inside 9/11," plans to leave at the end of Aug and will assist ...
Nice Ring.
Mar 02, 2007 ... Time Warner Cable scored a victory at the FCC, with the Wireline Bureau granting it permission to use 3rd party wholesalers, like Sprint and MCI, to exchange voice traffic with incumbent telcos. The MSO filed the petition a year ago after SC and NE determined that incumbent telcos ...
Competition.
Mar 02, 2007 ... Verizon launched FiOS TV service in 62 additional NJ communities, bringing to 168 the state total. The telco also filed with the NJ PUC its intention to expand its service territory from 316 to 344 communities. FiOS TV will be available in 200 of them by year's end. -- Verizon Wireless ...
Sour Notes at MTVN.
Mar 02, 2007 ... Amid a multitude of layoffs and structural changes, Viacom's media nets segment reported Thurs a 7% increase in Y-over-Y '06 rev to $7.24bln, led by an 11% jump in affil rev to $2bln. Not too shabby, but "a great deal of our [4Q rev] growth was due to ... acquisitions," CFO Thomas Dooley ...
DTV Doings.
Mar 02, 2007 ... Ex-House Commerce chmn Joe Barton (R-TX) fired back after new chmn John Dingell (D-MI) said earlier this week that the Feb 17, '09, DTV transition may need to be postponed. Barton said that would "undo ...
Advertising.
Mar 02, 2007 ... Turner has agreed to stop advertising TV-MA or TV-14 programs on the children's section of its shopping site Bamzu.com. The Children's Advertising Review Unit of the Council of Better Business ...
Retrans.
Mar 02, 2007 ... For a moment, it looked like Comcast might have to make use of those antennas it bought a few weeks back. But in the end, Comcast and Sinclair agreed to extend negotiations on a retrans deal until Mar 10. Some 3mln subs in 23 markets could lose their Sinclair stations if a new deal ...
Online.
Mar 02, 2007 ... Fox Broadcasting, Fox Interactive Media and 20th Century Fox are extending TV programming to affil websites for download purchase by local viewers, ...
On the Circuit.
Mar 02, 2007 ... The nomination deadline for NAMIC's "Next Generation Leaders Awards" is Mar 14, and information is ...
Programming.(ESPN extends deal with United States Golf Association)(Women's Entertainment Channel's "Designer to the Stars: Kari Whitman")(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2007 ... ESPN inked an 8-year extension deal with the USGA to remain the exclusive cable partner of the US Open, US Women's Open and US Senior Open golf tourneys. -- WE tv's original series "Designer to the Stars: Kari ...
Business/Finance.
Mar 02, 2007 ... Fitch assigned a 'B' rating to Charter's proposed $8.35bln secured credit facility, and affirmed the 'CCC' issuer default rating. -- Outdoor Channel Holdings has emerged from the NASDAQ doghouse (Cfax, ...
CableFAX Daily Stockwatch.
Mar 02, 2007 ... <Pre> Company 03/01 Close 1-Day Ch BROADCASTERS/DBS/MMDS BRITISH SKY: 43.45-0.48 DIRECTV: 22.930.38 DISNEY: 34.390.14 ECHOSTAR: 42.682.08 GE: 35 0.09 ...
Programmer's Page with Chad Heiges and Seth Arenstein.
Mar 02, 2007 ... (H)eed (I)ts (V)oice Those involved with HBO's "Life Support" (Mar 10, 8pm) hope the film's strong voice and message impel people--particularly African Americans--to recognize the dangers and many causes of HIV. The CDC reports that African Americans aren't getting the ...
Don't Look at Us: DirecTV Defends MLB 'Extra Innings' Deal.
Mar 05, 2007 ... Leave it to DirecTV to defend its much-criticized, exclusive deal with the MLB by knocking cable. In a letter to FCC Media Bureau chief Monica Shah Desai Fri, the DBS provider said it will transform the MLB's out-of-market "Extra Innings" package into a more compelling product (the ...
Discovery Planet: Nature Conservancy Signs on as Ally.
Mar 05, 2007 ... Just when you thought the Discovery Channel hype was over, here comes "Planet Earth." March is a big month for the net, with the 11-part series on some of the world's most beautiful places to air just 2 weeks after the net's much-talked about "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," (Mar 4, 9pm) ....
Retrans.(A.H. Belo Corp. and Cox Broadcasting Corp. reach retrans pact)(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Cox and Belo were still negotiating at press time Fri. The 2 have until midnight to reach a retrans pact for analog and digital signals in New Orleans (Cox now is only carrying CBS affil WWL-TV's analog signal, which it could lose if a deal is not reached). The 2 are also negotiating ...
State Franchising.(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007 ... The CA PUC created Thurs a statewide video franchise program requiring the agency to determine whether a franchise app is complete within 30 days of its submission. Incumbent cable ops with expired franchises may apply for statewide authority in '08, and may also apply for franchises ...
YouTube Goes British.(British Broadcasting Corp.)(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007 ... The BBC has launched short-form content on YouTube to help introduce more people to its programming. "It's a great medium to showcase the breadth and depth of our network," said BBC Worldwide managing dir, digital media David Moody, who also expects "significant ad revenue" from 2 of ...
Technology.
Mar 05, 2007 ... CableLabs is developing cable interface specs that would enable devices to receive digital off-air TV signals and deliver them through ...
Honors.
Mar 05, 2007 ... Congrats to Discovery, Nat Geo, Discovery Times, Cable Positive, Cox New England, The Pentagon Channel, Bravo and Time Warner Cable, winners of the CableWorld-CTPAA Public ...
Obit.(Obituary)
Mar 05, 2007 ... We were saddened to learn that Cynthia Upson, a longtime CEA hand and classy woman, passed away on Feb 17 from cancer. Memorial contributions can ...
People.
Mar 05, 2007 ... WWE promoted Frank Serpe to CFO. -- Irv Kalick, application div, pres of TVWorks, is leaving the Comcast-Cox ...
CableFAX Week in Review.(Statistical table)
Mar 05, 2007 ... <Pre> Company Ticker 03/02 Close 1Week % Chg YTD % Chg BROADCASTERS/DBS/MMDS BRITISH SKY: BSY 43.03-3.60% 4.40% DIRECTV: DTV 22.5 -1.70% -9.80% DISNEY: DIS 33.95-3.40% 1.80% ...
Winners & Losers.(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007 ... This Week's Stock Price Winners <Pre> Company Close 1-Wk Ch 1. CONCURRENT: 1.636.50% 2. VYYO: 4.435.50% 3. HARMONIC: 9.524.60% 4. SPRINT NEXTEL:19.96 3.60% 5. LIBERTY CAPITAL: 108.48 3.20% </Pre> This ...
MaxFAX...(broadcasters fight over retransmission consent)(Michelle Sie Whitten hosts symposium on down syndrome)(Scott Binder, Comcast Corp. awarded Denver Telecom Professional's Communications Executive of the Year award)
Mar 05, 2007 ... By Paul S. Maxwell Free TV? Not any more. All that free spectrum assigned to the public interest isn't free to the users who get better pictures. And one broadcaster now wants his local hardware, Radio Shack and big box stores to cut his company in for ...
Rising Star: CableLabs Unveils Innovation Showcase Winner.(Simple Star)(Brief article)
Mar 06, 2007 ... San Francisco-based Simple Star became the 1st "winner" of CableLabs' Innovation Showcase, with attendees of the winter conference designating it the most interesting emerging company. The showcase featured 10 selected firms demonstrating broadband technologies. "The intention is to ...
Fond Farewell.(Dave Deker joins 1105 Government Information Group)(Brief article)
Mar 06, 2007 ... Well, we can't imagine govt IT parties will be as fun, but we can't begrudge our publisher Dave Deker for leaving us to join one of the biggest trade publishing companies in the DC area. Deker, publisher of Access Intelligence's CableFAX and CableWorld, will join 1105 Government ...
Retrans.(Belo and Cox Communications renew deal)(Brief article)
Mar 06, 2007 ... Belo and Cox were able to go to bed early Fri, with the 2 reaching a retrans renewal that allows for continued carriage of New Orleans CBS affil WWL- TV (Cfax, 3/5). Their agreement came a few hours before the pact's midnight expiration. Cox also agreed to begin carrying WWL's HD signal ...
Franchising.(FCC releases order on telcommunications franchise applications)(Brief article)
Mar 06, 2007 ... Just when we were getting ready to chide the FCC for taking so long to publish its order setting up a 90-day shot clock for local govts to act on telco franchise applications, it released the long-awaited order. The 100+ page document comes 75 days after the Commission approved the ...
Soccer Play.
Mar 06, 2007 ... SCP Worldwide has reached an agreement on a partnership transaction for GolTV. In a joint statement, the parties declined to release details "other than to say SCP Worldwide will bring its belief in the growth of soccer, its extensive and successful operating experience of cable ...
Wireless World.
Mar 06, 2007 ... Time Warner Cable has expanded its wireless rollout to 3 markets, launching its Sprint-backed Mobile Access service in its Southwest OH division (which includes Cincinnati and Dayton). The MSO has said it will offer the service in every division this year (Cfax, 12/1). This is the 1st ...
Competition.
Mar 06, 2007 ... Verizon is contemplating the additions of an Italian soccer channel and all-Asian nets to its FiOS TV channel lineup, CFO Doreen ...
Carriage.
Mar 06, 2007 ... Insight will launch S? TV across all its systems in IL, IN, KY and OH. The English-language net aimed at 18- to 34-year-old Latinos recently launched on Time Warner Cable Dallas, Comcast Portland, OR, and Time Warner Cable ...
Jockeying for Position.(Magna Entertainment signs deal with Churchill Downs)(Brief article)
Mar 06, 2007 ... Magna Ent and Churchill Downs forged a sweeping business agreement that includes Churchill's purchase of 50% interest in HRTV. The pair also formed TrackNet Media Group, which integrates horse racing content from ...
Technology.
Mar 06, 2007 ... BigBand unveiled an IPTV app for cable nets delivered via key elements of CableLabs' "DOCSIS" specs; the app allows for IP-based video ...
Deals.(New Wave Communications acquires Suddenlink's sub-stations)(Brief article)
Mar 06, 2007 ... NewWave closed on the acquisition of approx 10K Suddenlink subs in MO, AK, TN and KY. NewWave also announced the sale of its Piedmont, MO, system serving approximately 900 customers to Partel ...
Online.
Mar 06, 2007 ... CNBC.com bowed Mon a page surrounding "Mad Money w/Jim Cramer" and the inaugural "CNBC.com Million Dollar Portfolio Challenge," offering $1mln to the person who earns the ...
Programming.("Wizards of Waverly Place" on Walt Disney Studios)("Head Case" on Starz!)(Brief article)
Mar 06, 2007 ... Disney's in production for new original series, "Wizards of Waverly Place," where the kids are wizards in training (fall). -- Starz' new weekly comedy block begins Apr 18 (11pm) offering ...
People.
Mar 06, 2007 ... Oxygen upped Mary Murano to pres, distribution. -- A&E promoted Dan Silberman to vp, publicity. -- FSN Nets named ex-Fox Sports exec Dan Dieffenbach svp, ...
Business/Finance.
Mar 06, 2007 ... UBS initiated Time Warner Cable with a "Buy 2" rating and a $48 price target. The firm believes investors requiring diversification in cable will need to own exposure to both Comcast and ...
CableFAX Daily Stockwatch.
Mar 06, 2007 ... <Pre> Company 03/05 Close 1-Day Ch BROADCASTERS/DBS/MMDS BRITISH SKY: 42.05-0.98 DIRECTV: 22.11-0.39 DISNEY: 33.72-0.23 ECHOSTAR: 42.270.45 GE: 34.55-0.32 ...
Symonds Says...
Mar 06, 2007 ... By Curtis Symonds A little distance is a wonderful thing. It wasn't too long ago that I went through the same thing that Michael Woolf, Nicole Browning and a few hundred other people at MTV Networks just experienced. In 2003, I left BET after more than 20 years of ...
Ready to Make Nice? Roberts, Smith Predict Retrans Resolution.
Mar 07, 2007 ... It looks like Comcast may not have to pull out those antennas after all. Speaking at the Bear Stearns media conference, both Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and Sinclair CEO David Smith expressed optimism they could forge a retrans pact before the Mar 10 deadline. Sinclair's guidance of ...
Bear Stearns Notebook.
Mar 07, 2007 ... Brian Roberts responded Tues to some investment firms' grumbling about Comcast's greater-than-expected '07 capex guidance, calling the expected outlays "success-based capital." He said the outlay will spur further rev growth through continued triple-play sub expansion and ...
Capturing Eyeballs.
Mar 07, 2007 ... Increasingly fractured audiences create huge challenges for content providers and distributors--but also unprecedented opportunity. That was the theme of Horowitz Assoc's 7th annual forum on multicultural media in NYC on Tues as speakers said technology and changing consumer habits are ...
In the States.
Mar 07, 2007 ... DirecTV and EchoStar have formed a coalition with Intel, Yahoo, Google, Skype and Access Spectrum urging the FCC to keep 1 key principle in mind when taking action on the upcoming 700 MHz auction: that any changes to the auction's rules should not violate Feb 17, '09 as the hard date ...
Competition.
Mar 07, 2007 ... AT&T rolled out U-verse TV in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the 14th market across 5 states to receive the service. Middleware problems slowed the service's introduction plans, but AT&T vp, network Ernie Carey Tues at the Bear Stearns media conference said the telco ...
Franchising.(Brief article)
Mar 07, 2007 ... House Commerce ranking member Joe Barton (R-TX) called the FCC's just- published video franchising order a step in the right direction, though he expressed disappointment that the Commission did not grant similar ...
Wonder Lunch.
Mar 07, 2007 ... It's impressive to see the Wonder Women lunch, started 7 years ago, fill the same ballroom that the annual Kaitz Foundation dinner uses for its Sept fundraiser. "When I started, women in senior management were the exception, not the rule," said Comedy Central evp, gm Michele Ganeless, ...
Insight Earnings.
Mar 07, 2007 ... Insight's '06 total rev jumped 13% to $1.3bln, powered by rev growth in basic (7%), HSD (26%), digital (24%) and telephone (43%) services. The MSO's total RGUs grew 13% to 2.68mln, strongly aided by sub expansion ...
Deals.
Mar 07, 2007 ... TiVo and Earthlink have partnered to offer bundled Internet and TV through TiVo's "Series2" DVR and service and Earthlink-branded dial-up, DSL or ...
In the Courts.
Mar 07, 2007 ... Americable founder Charles Hermanowski received a 3-year prison sentence Mon in FL and a $4mln fine for tax evasion and overbilling the US govt. Former ...
Ratings.
Mar 07, 2007 ... Discovery put its faith in Jesus and it paid off. Its controversial "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" pulled down a 3.2/2.99mln on Sun, good for 9th place on the weekly cable telecast list. Rival Nat Geo's entire Sun prime lineup - comprised of "Aryan Brotherhood" (1.54), "Lockdown: Gangland" ...
Programming.(details of CSTV: College Sports Television program)(Brief article)
Mar 07, 2007 ... CSTV will air next Thurs and Fri a pair of 1st-round, out-of-market games of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, both of which will be produced by CBS Sports. -- Comedy ...
Business/Finance.
Mar 07, 2007 ... Entrepreneurs John Stanton and Terry Gillespie have agreed to purchase from Verizon approx 1.3mln shares of GCI Class B common shares, representing 15.25% of voting interest in the Alaskan MSO. -- Citing lower '07 ...