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Fox is pushing hard for carriage fees of $1 per subscriber. Part of broader Murdoch strategy to charge for content. CBS now getting about $.50 per cable sub. Altogether, bc stations should take in $933m in fees in 2010, while cable nets take in $28b. Explains opposing positions in the negotiations.

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.

Mark Cuban weighs in on the internet's potential to replace cable. It may not happen as fast as one would think...

"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."

Xbox draws more users per hour than most cable channels. MSFT wants to blur boundaries between gaming and cable by providing more video content.

Time Warner's 4th quarter financial results from 2009. They reported an increase in total revenues, which came from growth in subscriptions. A decline in advertising revenues was reported. Subscriber Statistics During the fourth quarter, Time Warner Cable added 56,000 Digital Video subscribers to 8.866 million. The company lost 105,000 Basic Video subscribers to 12,859 million, added 120,000 Residential high-speed data subscribers to 8.994 million, added 2,000 Commercial high-speed data subscribers to 0.295 million, added 75,000 Residential Digital phone subscribers to 4.153 million, and also added 9,000 Commercial Digital phone subscribers to 0.067 million. During the same quarter the company added 64,000 Triple play subscribers to 3.448 million, added 27,000 Double play subscribers to 4.9 million, and lost 146,000 Single play subscribers to 6.224 million.

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.

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

Federal regulators are voting on closing a loophole that allows cable TV operators to withhold sporting events and other popular programming that they own from satellite companies and other rivals.

The Federal Communications Commission voted to close a "loophole" that allowed cable operators to withhold local sports programming from competitors. In a 4-1 vote, the commissioners ended the "terrestrial loophole," which prevents satellite TV providers and new TV providers, such as AT&T and Verizon Communications, from offering some live sports channels in certain areas of the country.

Hulu is free Internet TV in a sea of subscription. The portal is said to be making very little once all money is divided up among its partners.

"To stop broadcasters from flexing their muscles, the coalition asked the FCC to mandate that disputes be settled by an arbitrator. They also want regulators to bar stations from withholding their programming, their most potent bargaining chip."

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.

"Walt Disney Co.'s fourth-quarter results should cheer media investors fretting about whether legacy businesses can thrive postrecession. The Burbank, Calif. company just about matched its profit for the last three months of 2008 thanks to strong performances by its cable channels and movie studios. Theme parks, however, stalled in the bad economy as families cut back on luxuries."

A blog post covering a grassroots organizing effort to address the digital divide. Makjia Cyril argues that the cable companies are offering a false choice by tying broadband build out to net neutrality. An interesting perspective from outside the traditional media.

NBC's current online coverage of the Olympics is discussed in light of the online technology and the use of "cable verification" to establish new online models limiting free content.

Discusses framing of Net Neutrality as contested First Amendment terrain, with comments by Kyle McSlarrow, President of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association.

Comcast/NBC combined cable networks will comprise 82% of the cash flow to the combined venture. Network and film studio will contribute only a small portion. Comcast says no overlap between it and NBC. Thus no redundancies or lay-offs.

Following the Fox TWC dispute, experts predict more retransmission battles as broadcast networks search desperately for ways to supplement falling advertising revenue.