Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
The mutual sniping of recent weeks heated up Monday, the first day of testimony in a Delaware court, as John Malone accused Barry Diller of being a reckless steward of IAC. “He frequently refers to it as his business,” gripes Malone. The trial is expected to wrap up by week’s end. (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117982161.html
“Should we sell NBCU? The answer is no!” chief Jeff Immelt writes in General Electric’s newly released 2007 annual report — a statement clearly meant to address recent rumors. “I just don’t see it happening. Not before the Olympics, not after the Olympics. It doesn’t make sense.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/business/media/11nbc.html?_r=1&oref=slogin 3/11)
Jeffrey R. Immelt, left, the chairman of General Electric, and Jeff Zucker, the president of NBC Universal.
Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman is reiterating that ratings growth at the company’s cable networks should lead to higher advertising rates this summer, when the channels sell commercial time in advance for the fall season. “We’re seeing some results,” he says. “It’s a process.” (http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?story=ON-20080310-000585-1455 3/8)
HBO is teaming up with the U.S. Postal Service for a multiplatform push to promote both the cable channel’s upcoming miniseries about Founding Father John Adams and the “power of the letter.” Adams and his wife, Abigail, shared a passion for letter writing that helped inspire the campaign, from Civic Entertainment Group, New York, which includes a microsite created by AKQA. (The New York Times 3/11)
Kevin Martin, chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, says the agency doesn’t need to pass new rules to crack down on Comcast if it determines the cable giant unfairly impedes Internet traffic. Providers are allowed to practice “reasonable” network management. (http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2008-03-10-fcc-martin_N.htm 3/10)
A U.S. district court judge in Los Angeles has sided with cable providers in a potential class-action lawsuit seeking a la carte programming options. Judge Christina A. Snyder gave the plaintiffs 11 days to amend their suit to show that the lack of a la carte programming violates antitrust laws, or it will be dismissed. (Multichannel News 3/10)
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