ESPN, 4 cable MSOs and DirecTV will conduct single-screen interactive TV (ITV) tests with NHL and Winter X Games programming next week. ESPN, which had offered only 2-screen ITV enhancements involving both TV and PC up until now, said Feb. 3 trial during 4 hours of live, prime-time programming would use infrastructure services and/or software of Commerce.TV, RespondTV, Wink. Company said each telecast would feature 3 main enhancements -- access to enhanced participant/event content, enhanced commercials, merchandise purchase offers. Viewers will be able to use their remote controls to access enhancements.
Excite@Home said it would drop 250 employees, 8% of its total work force, to slash costs and reach profitability sooner as online ad market suffers. Excite@Home, which posted $668.7 million loss on $169.9 million in sales in 3rd quarter ended Sept. 30, said most of cuts would be in company’s online content areas. It said it also would trim staffing in such corporate and administrative areas as finance, human resources, marketing. But company, which closed 2000 with nearly 3 million high-speed data subscribers, said it wouldn’t eliminate jobs in its broadband access businesses and broadband network operations. Excite@Home said it would take $8 million charge for layoffs in first quarter.
Harris Corp. broadcast sales grew 21% in 2nd quarter ended Dec. 29, mainly because of sales of DTV transmitters, company said, and orders were at record level. RF Communications Div. sales also set record. Overall revenue jumped to $450.3 million from $389.3 million, operating profit to $36.6 million from $28.1 million and net profit to $19.7 million from $19.5 million.
Andrew Corp. said Wed. net sales increased 20% to record $280.5 million in fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 31, up from $233.6 million in same quarter year ago. Net income climbed 25% to $20.9 million, up from $16.8 million.
Jonas Neihardt promoted to head of Washington office, Qualcomm… Wendy Cutler, ex-USA Networks, appointed dir.-member services, Cable TV Ad Bureau… Randy Livingston, ex-OpenTV, becomes vp-business affairs and CFO, Stanford U… Barry Boniface, ex-Cypress Communications, named vp-corporate development, BellSouth… David Coler promoted to COO, National Decision Systems…Michael Jordan, exec. chmn., Clariti Telecommunications International and ex-CBS, elected to ScreamingMedia board.
Viacom completed its previously announced purchase of BET Holdings II for $3 billion in stock and assumption of debt. Under new structure, BET founder Robert Johnson will remain chmn.-CEO of BET, reporting to Viacom COO Mel Karmazin. Debra Lee will stay on as BET’s pres.-COO. BET also will keep its home in Washington.
Ex-FCC Chief of Staff Kathryn Brown will be honored at reception today (Jan. 25), 4-7 p.m., at Club at Franklin Square, 1300 I St. NW., sponsored by group of FCC staffers -- Joy Howell, 202-418-0505.
Qwest Communications reported strong results Wed. including 10% rise in revenue to $5 billion for 4th quarter that ended Dec. 31, with Internet and data services revenue growing almost 40%. Net income excluding one-time charges increased 44% to $270 million (16 cents per share), 2 cents higher than Wall St. expected. Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio said he also was happy with “trend lines” that indicated company would meet future goals. “We spent capital in the right places” such as improved local exchange phone service in old U S West territory, he said. U S West is “no longer the worst operating telephone company in the country,” Nacchio said. “We put improved customer service on top of our priorities, we put capital there and we're seeing results.” Qwest’s results reflected some savings through synergies from merger with U S West but “most synergies will be ahead” in 2001, he said. In earnings conference call, Nacchio touched on company’s Sec. 271 strategy. He said he was heartened by FCC’s recent approval of SBC’s “multiple-state” application for Sec. 271 authority in Okla. and Kan. because Qwest also plans to file multiple applications once it gets started. With joint testing under way in 13 of its 14 states “you can expect multiple applications.” Nacchio said Qwest “probably will be the last to get the first state but the first to get the last state” approved by FCC. He said his first state probably would be Colo.
Ameritech told Mich. PSC Tues. that it wasn’t able to keep its promise to be in compliance with state’s 36-hour outage restoration standard by Dec. 31. Ameritech said it ended year 2000 with 48-hour average outage repair interval. It said it also failed to meet its internal target of reducing pending installation and repair orders below 19,125. Carrier said it had 25,354 pending orders at end of Dec., and 23,305 pending as of Mon. Ameritech attributed its failure to meet promised targets to record cold weather and snowfall in Mich. in Dec., plus out-of- state technicians’ taking vacation days to return home for holidays. In other Mich. matters, PSC approved Ameritech’s plan to prevent identity theft. Program includes: (1) Verifying identity of person ordering service. (2) Ensuring that accounts going to collection agencies and credit bureaus are attributed to responsible party, and keeping records on such accounts for period adverse report stays on credit record. (3) Responding promptly to customer complaints about fraudulent accounts or identity theft and making sure that credit bureaus have removed negative information created because of account fraud perpetrated against customer. Mich. Attorney Gen. Jennifer Granholm told PSC she wouldn’t ask state Supreme Court to review Dec. state appeals court ruling allowing PSC to hire outside counsel when agency is being sued by AG’s office on behalf of utility customers. AG normally defends state agencies in lawsuits, but also can sue them. Court ruled AG’s office was subject to state legal canon that prohibits private law firms from representing both sides of same case. PSC went to court in 1999 after one AG division sued PSC on behalf of Detroit’s electric ratepayers while another AG division was to handle PSC’s defense.
Utah legislature passed and sent to Gov. Mike Leavitt bill (HB-184) to repeal 2000 state law that in July was to merge state’s independent utility consumer advocate agency, Utah Committee on Consumer Services, into Utah PSC. Intent was to streamline state’s utility regulation processes. Leavitt spokesman said governor would sign repeal bill. PSC Chmn. Stephen Mecham called legislature’s action Tues. “an appropriate outcome” for controversy that had plagued Republican majority in legislature since last year’s law was passed over strong objections from Democrats and consumer interests. Critics claimed last year’s HB-320, if implemented this summer, would increase chances that state’s answers to energy and telecom problems could impose unfair and excessive burdens on telephone, electric and gas ratepayers. House Majority Whip David Ure (R-Kamas) at first tried to amend last year’s law to restructure PSC and its processes, but conceded defeat after consumer interests flatly rejected anything less than repeal of HB-320. Both chambers voted to suspend normal rules to move repeal bill through swiftly.