A combined Comcast-NBC Universal would have horizontal and vertical competitive harms, said a slide shown to FCC officials last week by the American Cable Association. “By controlling a much larger block of highly demanded programming, the merged entity will be able to charge higher programming fees” to pay-TV providers -- expenses to be borne by subscribers, said another slide. Vertical harm is predicted because Comcast’s profit will be reduced when NBC sells programming to pay-TV operators competing with that cable company. The slides were shown by a professor to Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake, Office of Strategic Planning Chief Paul de Sa, an aide to Chairman Julius Genachowski and other FCC officials, said a Friday filing at http://xrl.us/bhhmb4. Monday, Outdoor Channel CEO Roger Werner wrote Genachowski saying Comcast is a good business partner. Werner asked that a condition Comcast proposed for its plan to buy control of NBC Universal -- in which the cable operator would carry more independently owned cable channels -- include giving broader distribution to “proven independents.” Although the FCC Friday paused its six-month deadline clock for review of Comcast-NBC Universal as it awaits two studies from those companies (CD April 19 p1), commission staffers continue their review of the deal, an agency official said.
The FCC paused its clock on consideration of Comcast’s agreement to buy control of NBC Universal, because staffers want additional information from the companies. Comment deadlines on the deal are on hold until Comcast, NBC Universal and NBCU’s parent, General Electric, provide the information, said a Media Bureau order released Friday. A report will take up “the claimed benefits from the transaction” and another its effect on video distribution online, said the ruling signed by bureau Chief Bill Lake.
The FCC paused its clock on consideration of Comcast’s agreement to buy control of NBC Universal, because staffers want additional information from the companies. Comment deadlines on the deal are on hold until Comcast, NBC Universal and NBCU’s parent, General Electric, provide the information, said a Media Bureau order released Friday. A report will take up “the claimed benefits from the transaction” and another its effect on video distribution online, said the ruling signed by bureau Chief Bill Lake.
Best Buy will partner with the U.K.’s Virgin Media to showcase “the connected digital home” to consumers there, the companies said Wednesday. Best Buy will open its first U.K store next month, and plans to host a “media day” April 26 to preview the flagship location, about a half hour from London (CED April 12 p6). Five more Best Buys will open in the U.K. by year-end. At all outlets, customers will be able to see and try Virgin Media products and services, the partners said, including fiber broadband for data and VOD content downloading and streaming in HD. Virgin set-tops that can pause, play, rewind and record live TV will also be available at the Best Buy stores, as well as Virgin’s cellphone products and services. “The Blueshirts, Best Buy’s expert and impartial in-store team, will be on hand to offer demos, explain how customers can access, share and watch their content on their mobile, laptop or TV, as well as suggesting ways to add more value to existing Virgin Media packages,” the retailer said. Best Buy and Virgin also will emphasize videogaming in the stores, they said. “In response to recent research conducted by Best Buy …, Best Buy’s store in Thurrock will feature the Ultimate Games Experience room,” the retailer said. “This will be kitted out with the latest HDTV home theatre equipment featuring 5.1 surround sound, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 consoles and PC equipment.” The room will be sponsored by Virgin Media, the partners said. Virgin Media already has significant street-presence in the U.K., with 57 stores in major cities London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Leeds and Leicester. It also has 26 “retail lite” sites in prominent locations at shopping centers across the U.K., plus availability through 4,000 independent retailers.
On April 8, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection held a webinar that provided an update on Automated Commercial Environment and the International Trade Data System Concept of Operations.
The FCC denied a request that it pause review of Comcast’s plan to buy control of NBC Universal until public hearings are held and that a special master get programming information from the companies. They had objected to the request by the Mabuhay Alliance (CD March 23 p10). The March 18 FCC notice seeking comment on Comcast-NBC Universal “established a lengthy pleading cycle” and “an open and transparent forum for public participation by any interested party, and we do not see the logic in delaying that process,” Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake wrote Monday.
The FCC denied a request that it pause review of Comcast’s plan to buy control of NBC Universal until public hearings are held and that a special master get programming information from the companies. They had objected to the request by the Mabuhay Alliance (WID March 23 p4). The March 18 FCC notice seeking comment on Comcast-NBC Universal “established a lengthy pleading cycle” and “an open and transparent forum for public participation by any interested party, and we do not see the logic in delaying that process,” Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake wrote Monday.
Municipal broadband, stimulus funding and Google’s fiber projects are among alternatives some cities are looking at as Verizon backs away from further FiOS expansion and concentrates on completing current commitments, experts told us. Cities probably won’t make quick decisions to pursue their own fiber buildouts, but Verizon’s pause in seeking new franchises will prompt them to raise the possibility again, said lawyers who represent cities in these matters. Baltimore and Boston are among the major cities likely to consider the idea, they said.
Municipal broadband, stimulus funding and Google’s fiber projects are among alternatives some cities are looking at as Verizon backs away from further FiOS expansion and concentrates on completing current commitments, experts told us. Cities probably won’t make quick decisions to pursue their own fiber buildouts, but Verizon’s pause in seeking new franchises will prompt them to raise the possibility again, said lawyers who represent cities in these matters. Baltimore and Boston are among the major cities likely to consider the idea, they said.
A pause in court consideration of an appeal of media ownership rules was lifted Tuesday by the 3rd U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, a move cheered by an FCC member who didn’t support a stay earlier backed by the commission (CD April 6 p8). With its stay lifted in Prometheus Radio Project v. FCC, briefs from appellants are due May 17, said an order signed by Chief Judge Anthony Scirica. Respondent briefs are due 30 days after they've received those from petitioners and replies must be served in another 14 days, he said. Commissioner Robert McDowell believes “the lifting of the stay on the Commission’s very modest relaxation of the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule is particularly appropriate given the economic upheaval affecting the ongoing viability of many daily newspapers and broadcast stations,” he said in a written statement. “I also believe that the Commission can only benefit from instruction of a Third Circuit ruling on the 2007 ownership rules as we begin the next round of the statutorily required quadrennial review of the regulations.” The FCC declined to comment, a spokesman said. Representatives for the FCC didn’t reply to messages seeking comment. “Although I think lifting the stay is unwarranted and unfortunate, it is understandable that the court would lose patience, given the FCC’s dilatory approach towards this proceeding,” said Media Access Project President Andrew Schwartzman, representing Prometheus.