This article talks about the new economic model for online news sources (the pay for what you use model that the NYT will switch to in 2011), and how it will actually be implemented on a user's screen.
"Shaw Communications Inc. said it will take control of the broadcasting business of debt-laden Canwest Global Communications Corp, helping rescue Canada's second-biggest private television network."
"We have so many other voices out there, [loosening ownership limits] does not stifle the free exchange of ideas out there anymore," said Rick Peters, president of Bluewater Broadcasting, a small Montgomery, Ala.-based radio company
FCC officials are looking at what the agency can do to improve the health of the newspapers, TV and radio stations, which continue to lose customers and advertising revenue to online competitors.
"Debt and equity providers are largely disinterested in media and broadcast properties," said Brian Rich, managing partner at Catalyst Investors, a New York private-equity fund.
Former FCC Chairman Kevin Martin ran into strong opposition from Democrats in 2007 when he proposed relatively modest changes to a long-standing rule that barred companies from owning both a newspaper and TV or radio station in the same city. The proposal was eventually adopted but almost immediately challenged by activists in a federal appeals court, where it remains pending.
After the workshop, a nonprofit interest group opposed to media consolidation, Free Press, released a statement expressing disappointment that the FCC did not include the views of consumer advocates on the panel.
In a statement, an FCC spokeswoman said the workshop was focused on broadcasters' access to financing and was "one in a series we will hold throughout the proceeding."
"Media-ownership rules should be loosened to allow more consolidation and attract capital to the industry, representatives of the investment community said Tuesday at a Federal Communications Commission workshop on how the agency might change ownership rules later this year."
At an FCC workshop, industry representatives argue for relaxed media-ownership rules to allow more consolidation and to attract capital to the industry. FCC officials are looking at what the agency can do to improve the health of the
newspapers, TV and radio stations, which continue to lose customers and advertising revenue to online competitors.
Executives at Microsoft are fond of saying that its subscription gaming service, Xbox Live, should be thought of as a cable channel.
The company is even producing shows for users: it is in the middle of the second season of “1 vs. 100,” an interactive version of a game show that was on NBC.The content ambitions do not end there. Microsoft has held in-depth talks with the Walt Disney Company about a programming deal with ESPN, according to people close to the talks, who requested anonymity because the talks were intended to be private.
For a per-subscriber fee, ESPN could provide live streams of sporting events, similar to the ones available through ESPN 360,
Similarly, users of the Sony PlayStation can tune into BBC shows and see Weather Channel updates, as well as stream Netflix. Last week, Netflix extended its streaming service to the Nintendo Wii.
console makers have a significant head start. Nearly 60 percent of American homes now have at least one console, according to the consulting firm Deloitte, up from 44 percent three years ago.
In November, Nielsen started to track “1 vs. 100” play and ad views. The pilot program “is the tip of the iceberg,” said Gerardo Guzman, a director for Nielsen Games; eventually, he hopes to generate TV-style ratings.Mr. Kroese said Xbox advertisers were “very interested in being able to compare the media buy on Xbox to other media buys they do.”
"Topics under consideration for the report include the state of TV, radio, newspaper and Internet news and information services; the effectiveness and nature of public interest obligations in a digital era; and the role of public media and private sector foundations, among others.
As part of the broad initiative, the FCC launched a Web site for public discussion."
"Time Warner Inc. is considering a bid of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. film studio, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions, as second-round offers come due tomorrow.
Warner Bros. executives, including Chief Executive Officer Barry Meyer and Chief Operating Officer Alan Horn, will iron out a possible price tomorrow with Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, said one of the people, who declined to be named because the talks are private. Time Warner may decide not to make an offer, the people said."