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Consumer groups urge action on the cable industry's TV Everywhere, which the groups claim will limit online television development and access to protect traditional cable business models.

"International cable company Liberty Global Inc. has reached a deal to sell its stake in a Japanese telecommunications-services provider for $4 billion, a transaction that will help it focus on consolidation of the European cable-TV industry."

The XBox moves into cable TV turf. What does it mean for the industry?

Broadcasting and Cable conducts a sit down interview with Steven Waldman, senior advisor to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, to discuss the Governments role in balancing old and new media. Subsidies and media industry economics are also discussed.

Discussion of the increasing amounts the average American household spends on cable, internet and gaming connections annually. Of special note is the lucrative nature of the subscription model for the media industry.

In his feisty opening statement, Franken said: "I worked for NBC for many years. And what I know from my previous career has given me reason to be concerned--let me rephrase that, very concerned--about the potential merger of Comcast and NBC Universal. The media are our source of entertainment, but they're also the way we get our information about the world. So when the same company that produces the programs runs the pipes that bring us those programs, we have a reason to be nervous.... You'll have to excuse me if I don't just trust their promises and that is from experience in this business." The former SNL star and entertainment industry insider-turned-Senator is dead on with his concerns. As Free Press--the media reform advocacy organization founded by The Nation's John Nichols, media scholar Robert McChesney, and current executive director Josh Silver-- points out, the merger would result in Comcast controlling one in every five television viewing hours. It would lead to fewer choices of what you can watch and how you can watch it. Those cable bills that continue to rise would rise even higher, and if you don't use Comcast you might have to pay a premium to get NBC's shows. There will be even less access to local and independent programming as Comcast would promote NBC's shows at their expense. And, finally, there's the even larger issue of concentrating power and limiting access to free public interest media.

Senator Feingold raises the issue of bundling and a lack of a la carte pricing. The issue continues to be raised despite past industry opposition.

Consumer watchdog groups complained to the FCC about cable conglomerates using "hostage taking" as a negotiating tactic. The groups referenced the subscription rate battles that threatened to keep consumers from watching the Super Bowl and the Oscars in a recent letter to the FCC.

NBC owns the U.S. rights to the Vancouver Olympics, and, for this Olympics, it has clamped down on online live streaming of events. Only hockey and curling will be shown live online, with all other events either shown live on television or held for tape-delay airing on prime time or late night television, says the industry publication Broadcasting & Cable in a story Monday. The Web site for CTV, the Canadian network with rights to the Olympics in that country, is live-streaming events, but NBC has made sure that computers with U.S. IP addresses can't log onto the CTV site.

This blog post explores reasons behind industry reluctance for ISPs to be reclassified under common carriage and Telecommunications regulation.

"Sony Pictures TV Intl. has inked a non-exclusive deal with Spanish cable operator ONO to provide pics for ONO's video-on-demand service Videoclub. Pact will include recent titles such as "District 9," "Bruno," "2012" and "This Is It," plus an undisclosed number of films from Sony's catalog, led by "Bram Stoker's Dracula," "Stuart Little 2," "Spider-Man" and "Jumanji."

"The scheduling change is among the first examples of an informal new agreement U.S. theater owners are discussing with the six major Hollywood studios: The exhibitors would let the studios experiment more with DVD release dates. As a result, studios could each release one or two movies a year on DVD a month or so sooner than they usually do, according to people familiar with the matter. The seemingly minor move could portend a big shift in the movie business down the road. The nascent arrangement, which has been under discussion for several months, highlights the growing pressure on the longstanding backbone of Hollywood's business model, an elaborate system known as "release windows." By separating a movie's release in theaters from the time window of when it is released on DVD or cable TV, studios were able to maximize revenue. DVD sales, for example, didn't eat into a movie's take at the box office."

Television content will only be accessible online to those who currently pay for cable television.

Explains strategic challenges faced by bc network news. NBC in strongest position, while ABC and CBS consider merger with CNN. Pressures toward cost cutting and consolidation in the industry. But where will growth come from?

Article describing an ongoing battle between the Walt Disney Company and Cablevision over the distribution payments Disney wants for ABC from Cablevision

Exclusive output deals between HBO and three major Hollywood studios stand as major obstacles to a robust movie-dowload business, holding back a potentially lucrative distribution channel and creating conflict between the powerhouse divisions of TimeWarner -- HBO and Warner Bros. -- who for once find their interests at odds.

Discusses how X-Box Live has been transitioning from merely a subscription gaming service to a media portal that can access many different forms of entertainment.