NAB Knocks 'Localism' Rules
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) says the FCC's localism proposals are based on faulty premises, are unnecessary and, if passed, could decrease, not increase, public service to communities. Some of the regulations, it argued, could even have devastating consequences for broadcasters. In its filing with the FCC last week, the NAB said the commission has no basis for "turning back t...
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Localism Divides Religious Groups
The FCC's proposals for increasing public interest reporting requirements and other steps to promote broadcast localism have drawn a flood of comments from understandably worried broadcasters. But they have also revealed a potential new battleground in this issue: a schism between religious groups. In December, the FCC proposed closing out its media ownership rule review by a combination of loo...
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February Sweeps Move to March
Nielsen is moving the February 2009 sweeps to March to avoid the "potential disruptions" from the switch to digital. It will begin testing ratings collection on digital-only stations in December 2008. In a memo to clients last week, Nielsen also announced other plans to "ensure the accuracy of television-audience estimates throughout the DTV-transition period.
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AFTRA Unit OKs Pact
As expected, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) overwhelmingly approved its agreement with the studios and networks on a new contract last week covering shows including Deal or No Deal, American Idol, Survivor, Late Show With David Letterman and The Oprah Winfrey Show. The pact expires Nov.
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House Hearing Set on Internet Freedom Preservation Act
The House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee will hold a hearing May 6 on the Internet Freedom Preservation Act (HR 5353), which could put some more teeth in the FCC's guidelines on network nondiscrimination, the issue that prompted the network-neutrality and, more recently, network-management debates.
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FCC: Telepictures Productions' TMZ Is a News Program
The FCC ruled that Telepictures Productions' syndicated magazine show, TMZ , can feature candidates for public office without automatically invoking the FCC rule that requires stations to offer up airtime to other candidates. But it warned that stations were still on the hook if an appearance was deemed to be for the purpose of advantaging one candidate over the other.
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CBS Names Host for Greatest American Dog
Mediagenic zoologist and TV veteran Jarod Miller was named host of CBS' Greatest American Dog (working title), a reality show that has dogs and their owners competing for the title of, you guessed it, Greatest American Dog , as well as $250,000.
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Barack Obama Delivers 'Top 10' for David Letterman
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) looked to get some positive "earned media" Thursday night -- the kind you don't have to pay for -- by delivering the Top 10 list on CBS' Late Show with David Letterman .
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Sports Leagues, ESPN Take Field vs. Unlicensed Mobile Devices
The major sports leagues, and a network that depends on them, told the FCC in no uncertain terms not to allow any technology companies to sell wireless devices that interfere with wireless microphones operating in the so-called white spaces between TV channels.
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Top Democrats Want Sirius Conditions on XM Meld
The heads of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and its Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee called on Federal FCC chairman Kevin Martin to put conditions on the merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio if the commission votes to approve it, including allowing outside companies to make receivers that also receive competitive services like HD radio, the Internet and iPod-docking stations.
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PTC Pushes CBS Affiliates to Drop Dexter
The Parents Television Council is urging members to contact CBS affiliates to ask that they pre-empt this Sunday's episode of Dexter , the off-Showtime series about a serial killer turned police investigator.
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Network Affiliates Receive FCC Waivers
The FCC gave a handful of network affiliates, including WNBC-DT, another six-month waiver of a rule that could have allowed satellite-TV viewers in their markets to receive stations with similar network programming imported from another market.
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Primetime Ratings: Strong Night for The CW
The CW had a strong night Wednesday. It still came in fifth in the 18-49 demo, according to Nielsen Media Research overnight numbers, but not in the 8 p.m.-9 p.m. time period.
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AFTRA Members Approve New Contract
As expected, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists overwhelmingly approved its agreement with the studios and networks on a new contract covering shows including Deal or No Deal , American Idol , Survivor , Late Show with David Letterman and Oprah .
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