Samsung will ship “handfuls” of its 57W LCD TV ($19,999) by year’s end, with supply expected to strengthen in early 2006 as it competes with Sharp’s 65W model ($21,000), company officials said. The 57W, being produced as part of a Samsung-Sony S-LCD joint venture for 7th-generation glass, originally was expected to ship in the 3rd quarter (CED April 29 p3).

A Cal. judge denied a request by credit card holders and merchants for a preliminary injunction requiring credit card firms to alert customers to accounts exposed in CardSystems’ massive security hack (WID June 23 p8). In a ruling issued Fri., San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer said he doesn’t “see the emergency” to notify countless customers, some of whom may not have been involved in the breach.

U.S. Dist. Court, Newark, N.J., denied M.D. On-Line’s request for a preliminary injunction against WebMD’s plan to change its name to Emdeon. The healthcare electronic claims provider said the name change -- pronounced “m-d- on” -- would cause confusion for M.D. On-Line’s customers, including insurance companies and healthcare providers. “We view this ruling only as a temporary setback, and the company intends to resolve this matter on a permanent basis through litigation,” M.D. On-Line Pres. Bill Bartzak said.

Attendance at last week’s NAB Radio Show in Philadelphia reflected a dampening of interest caused by Hurricane Katrina and impending Hurricane Rita, several participants told us. But preliminary data had registered attendance at 3,789, up from 3,223 in 2004, an NAB spokesman said. FCC personnel, including FCC Acting Media Bureau Chief Donna Gregg, had to cancel appearances due to FCC Chmn. Martin’s testimony at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on emergency communications (CD Sept 23 p1). Gregg was to be on a panel about regulatory issues on low-power FM and FM streamlining, the spokesman said. - - TP

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its preliminary results of the following antidumping (AD) duty administrative reviews:

The PS2 version of Madden NFL 06 from Electronic Arts (EA) was again the top-rented videogame in the U.S., according to Rentrak’s preliminary data for the week ended Sept. 18. Rentrak said the SKU earned an additional $330,000 in its 6th week, for a total of $2.07 million in rentals. The Xbox version was #2 again, earning an additional $190,000 for $1.30 million to date. EA’s NCAA Football 06 for PS2 was again #3, in its 10th week, earning $180,000 ($2.17 million to date). The only new SKUs in the top 10 were EA’s Burnout Revenge for PS2 at #6 ($140,000) and Xbox at #10 ($120,000). EA had one other title in the top 10: NASCAR 06: Total Team Control for PS2 at #9, down 4 in its 3rd week ($120,000 in the week, $320,000 to date). The only other publisher with more than one SKU in the top 10 was Ubisoft, with 2: The Xbox and PS2 versions of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Lockdown at #4 ($140,000 in the week, $240,000 to date) and #8 ($120,000 in the week, $170,000 to date), up 7 and 29, respectively, in the title’s 2nd week. Rounding out the top 10 were PS2 SKUs The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction at #6 again in its 4th week ($140,000 and $520,000 to date) and Take-Two Interactive’s Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition at #7, down 3 in its 23rd week ($130,000 and $6.63 million).

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its preliminary results of the following antidumping (AD) duty administrative reviews:

As controversial Corp. for Public Bcstg. Chmn. Kenneth Tomlinson steps down at the board meeting Sept. 26, the corporation is coming under pressure from media groups to make its operations and programming decision- making process more transparent. Free Press, Common Cause and Center for Digital Democracy started an ad campaign this week to draw attention to CPB board meetings being “largely off limits to the press and the public” and calling for more “transparency and accountability.”

Movie Gallery said Tues. most of its stores in the Gulf region had “resumed normal operations and are performing in-line with Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video stores across North America.” The company said it believes the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina “will not be material to its short-term revenues nor affect its long-term financial condition.” The company runs 328 stores in Ala., La. and Miss. under the Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video names, but it said “the vast majority of these stores are located outside of the areas affected by” the hurricane. Movie Gallery said it resumed operations at 12 of the 21 stores closed due to power outages and other storm damage. But it said about 3 stores were “operating under a dusk to dawn curfew and 6 stores remain closed.” It said “the exact amount of damage to these stores is still unclear as some stores are located in restricted areas.” Regardless, it said, “all of these stores represent less than half of one percent of Movie Gallery’s 4,800 stores across North America.” The company this month released preliminary 3rd and 4th quarter same- store sales estimates weaker than analysts had expected, saying it expects Q3 comparable store sales to decline 8- 10% from a year ago as “the current slump” in theatrical box office revenue continues” (CED Sept 19 p9). Separately, rival Blockbuster didn’t respond right away to a request for comment about a Wall Street Journal report in which CEO John Antioco characterized the rental business as “in the tank.” The report also quoted him as saying that although he doesn’t expect his company to default on payments due to Hollywood movie studios, those studios “have a legitimate reason to be concerned about the entire video business.” Blockbuster shares fell after the report came out. In late afternoon trading Tues., shares were down 5.63% at $4.36.