Broadcasters told Senate Commerce Committee Thurs. that most important action FCC could take to facilitate swift and successful transition to digital TV (DTV) would be to impose full must-carry obligations on cable, move that cable said would be neither lawful nor technically feasible. Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.) said hearing was to move beyond “finger pointing” among broadcast, cable and consumers, which blame on one another for “dearth of digital programming.” Although they presented various solutions to ensure industry meets its mandated 2006 DTV transition deadline, all remained firm in blaming others for delay.
Gilat had net loss of $18.9 million in 4th quarter as revenue gained 87% to $73.6 million. Net loss in quarter deepened to $9.4 million from $5.6 million net loss year earlier.
Over-air TV had 52% more viewers than ad-supported cable channels for first 6 months of current TV season, TV Bureau of Advertising (TvB) reported. Citing Nielsen figures, TvB said TV stations posted 40.3 rating in Feb., up from 39.3 in Jan. -- while cable’s rating dropped to 24.9 in Feb. from 26.2 in Jan. For year-to-date, TV viewing has had average rating of 38.8, cable 25.5, TvB said.
Telesat Canada posted record consolidated revenue of $272.4 million, up $30.5 million from 1999, with net earnings of $47.4 million, increase of $16.4 million. Company cited addition of Nimiq Direct Broadcast Satellite, additional revenue from Ford Motor Co. satellite network and equipment sales as factors driving improved performance.
National Telephone Co-op Assn. (NTCA) is very disappointed with President Bush’s budget proposal to eliminate funding for Rural Telephone Bank (CD March 1 p1), CEO Michael Brunner said Thurs. Telephone Bank is “essential financing tool” used by rural telcos “to provide modern, reliable services to the thousands of households that the bigger carriers have deemed unprofitable,” he said.
Christine Miller, Discovery.com, moves to exec. vp-mktg., Discovery Networks… Timothy Cawley, ex-SBC Communications/Europe, named corporate vp-gen. mgr.-N. America region, personal communications sector, Motorola… Jose R?os, ex- Telef?nica Media, appointed pres.-Latin America and Caribbean, Global Crossing, replacing interim pres. Joseph Clayton… Elected to Media Institute board: Jill Lester, senior vp-domestic public policy, AOL Time Warner, and Gregory Schmidt, LIN TV… Robert Woodruff retires as CFO, Qwest Communications International, replaced on interim basis by Robin Szeliga… Changes at CTIA: Steve Berry, senior vp-congressional affairs moves to senior vp- governmental affairs; Michael Altschul, ex-Justice Dept., named senior vp-policy and administration; Christina Martin takes over as senior vp-public affairs and communications; Stacy O'Brien promoted to dir.-press relations… Allan Larmour, ex-IP Applications, named exec. vp-sales and mktg., L3 Technology.
European Bcstg. Union (EBU) said there had been “significant progress” is developing effective ways to protect copyright of live broadcasts over Eurovision and other digital broadcast networks. In report, EBU said Lucent, Philips, Tektronix and Thomson each had developed watermarking systems, which have been in tests since last summer. “While none of the systems submitted completely met all the stringent requirements set by the group, the tests did show that digital watermarking is coming of age,” said the EBU project group. Tests were done by BBC, France’s TDF, Germany’s IRT, Italy’s RAI, Sweden’s SVT. Audio watermarking tests are to be done later.
Rep. Terry (R-Neb.) moved onto House Telecom Subcommittee, replacing Rep. Shadegg (R-Ariz.), who took Terry’s former seat on Energy Subcommittee. Terry said he was “looking forward to discussing the expansion of high-speed broadband services and opportunities for e-commerce.”
Congressional telecom leaders heavily criticized spectrum policy changes contemplated by President Bush’s budget blueprint (CD March 1 p1), with some saying they seemed motivated more by attempts to free up money for tax cuts than sound telecom policy. They predicted quick defeat in debacle that probably would teach Administration lesson about talking with them before assuming such far-reaching proposal would gain quick acceptance. “Once Congress kills it, they'll remember to call us next time,” said Ken Johnson, spokesman for House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R- La.). “They're just looking for extra money to pay for their excessive tax cuts,” said aide to House Telecom Subcommittee ranking Democrat Markey (Mass.): “The job for Telecom Subcommittee members is to make sure these plans make sense for telecom.” Another staffer said chances of plan’s passing Congress were “infinitesimal” and predicted that it would be greatly scaled back when full budget book is released in April.
House Commerce Committee will introduce new bill “in next month or so” to replace last session’s HR-2420 that would give Bells more regulatory freedom for data transmission and expects easy passage in House but harder job in Senate, Ken Johnson, spokesman for Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.), said Thurs. Johnson, who participated in panel discussion at Precursor Group conference in Washington, urged audience not to “mistake inaction with indecision” on part of Committee because it still was committed to basic HR-2420 concept. Bill probably will be same as last year’s version although it could change during legislative process, Johnson said. Tauzin looks at current version of bill as setting tone for discussion, he said.