Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE
Jeff Immelt, the CEO of NBC parent General Electric, will answer questions live on the Web on Thursday in a first-of-its kind Webcast. Anyone can log in and pose a question. The forum will be available at several sites, including ge.com, cnbc.com and msnbc.com. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601213&sid=aYLyMp2kfHnE 3/11)
Go here from 2:30 – 3:00PM (guessing this is EST but unconfirmed) to ask Immelt whatever you wish. I’m impressed by his openness to this interview style. This says quite a bit about his management style. Impressive.
Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei used his turn in Delaware court Tuesday to hit the “lagging” performance of IAC and his unhappiness with Barry Diller’s management of the Internet holding company. Most of the fireworks are expected today, however, when Diller may take the stand. (http://www.nypost.com/seven/03122008/business/libertys_maffei_rips_lagging_iac_perform_101624.htm 3/12)
Barry Diller
CBS is looking for acquisitions in content and new media in the next couple of years, according to CEO Les Moonves. The company has no plans to sell radio or television stations unless prices go up. “There might be some terrific deals that are out there,” says Moonves. (http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUSN1163945620080312 3/11)
TiVo will begin delivering online videos from YouTube directly to television screens via its digital video recorders. The service will be available for high-speed Internet subscribers. Users would be able to log onto their YouTube accounts directly from their TiVo boxes. (http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUSWNAS451820080312 3/12)
Nielsen will offer a new service that uses cable set-top boxes to shed light on people’s television-viewing habits. Nielsen expects to merge its second-by-second data with information from its panels and other Nielsen data, such as consumer-purchasing information. (http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120528948535329547.html 3/12)
President Bill Clinton will participate in mtvU‘s first-ever Editorial Board on March 16, a series featuring student journalists interviewing key national figures.
Scripps Networks’ HGTV HD and Food Network HD will launch simulcasts of their respective standard definition feeds beginning March 31 to a combined footprint of more than 25 million homes.
Starz Entertainment licensed a five-film package from Yari Film Group, set to premier later this year on Starz, Encore, Starz on Demand and the Vongo broadband service.
Time Warner, which owns an 84% stake in Time Warner Cable, is leaning toward significantly selling down its position in the second-largest cable company in the country or spinning it off all together. “It might be better if it were able to live as a separate ownership position for us as well as for all of you as shareholders,” said Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, who previously told investors a decision could come by April 30. (The Wall Street Journal (free content) 3/12)
Time Warner Cable has hired Rentrak of Portland, Ore., to help measure the success of its video-on-demand and analytical services. With the deal, Rentrak now keeps tabs on more than 36 billion transactions from more than 45 million set-top boxes and other platforms for 23 cable providers and more than 90 cable networks and broadcasters. (Broadcasting & Cable 3/11)
After more than a year of negotiations, Comcast and the Big Ten Network may finally be close to announcing a carriage agreement, according to this report. While issues remain, including video-on-demand and online distribution, one source said optimism was running extremely high that a deal would be worked out. (Chicago Tribune 3/11)
According to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Charter Chairman Paul Allen has received inquiries from possible investors about transactions with the company. It was unclear from the filings whether the inquiries were related to a small investment or an outright sale. (Multichannel News 3/11)
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