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BROADCAST/CABLE by Marauder

BROADCAST/CABLE

Viacom is developing a one-hour documentary on what is arguably the media conglomerate’s most-prized asset: “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Details are scant, but, according to this report, the documentary will likely run in July to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the animated show’s debut on Nickelodeon. MediaPost Communications (1/19)

Time Warner’s Warner Bros. Entertainment movie studio is cutting nearly 800 jobs, or 10% of its global work force, and is examining further cost reductions. Time Warner says it will post a loss for the year due to a $25 billion write-down of its cable, magazine and Internet assets. (Iwantmedia 1/20, http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/090120/time_warner_cuts.html 1/20)

The FCC has issued public notice that the franchising authorities of local governments do not have the right to regulate the basic-tier rates of cable companies coming into a new market. Regulation on the basic tier typically is eliminated once the FCC deems there is enough competition in a given market. Multichannel News (1/19)

Microsoft is disclosing that it has sold its entire 7.3% stake in Comcast, the biggest U.S. cable television operator. Twelve years after Microsoft’s initial investment in Comcast, the software giant’s “vision of a Windows-based gateway to the television still hasn’t materialized.” (Iwantmedia 1/20, http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2009/01/20/microsoft-sells-entire-comcast-stake 1/20)

Cablevision has won the right to continue deploying its set-top boxes with SmartCards through 2010. The FCC, however, said the cable provider must begin phasing in set-tops with downloadable security by July 1 of next year and must rely completely on that technology by the end of 2010. Multichannel News (1/19)

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