Broadcasting & Cable articles from December 2003

Broadcasting & Cable archives from December 2003

How about the fat chance channel? New cable networks face tough road.(new cable networks are facing difficulties)
December 1, 2003... Jokevision President Stephen Cunningham heard a good one the other day. "What's the difference between launching a cable network and touching the moon?" a cable executive asked wryly. The answer: "Nothing." For the more than 20 new of...

Station-cap roulette now lands on 39%.(the Bush Administration reaches a compromise over media deregulation by agreeing to permanently set the national TV-station-ownership cap at 39%)
December 1, 2003... Like comedian Jack Benny, who never admitted to turning 40, the national cap on TV ownership could be perpetually stuck at 39. At 39% of TV homes, that is. Last week, the Bush White House brokered a surprise compromise over media...

Six TV talents tapped for Tartikoff awards: NATPE, B&C inaugurate honor in name of the legendary NBC exec.(Top of the Week)
December 1, 2003... A half dozen distinguished media professionals will become the recipients of the First Annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards, an honor sponsored by NATPE, BROADCASTING & CABLE, Multichannel News and Variety. The award, recognizing...

NAB proposes must-carry plan.(Breaking ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- After vainly trying to persuade the FCC to order dual cable carriage of TV stations' analog and digital channels, broadcasters last week unveiled a must-carry plan that would carry them through the transition to all-digital...

Night moves at MSNBC.(Breaking ...)(MSNBC is dumping 'Buchanan & Press' and replacing it with 'The Abrams Report')(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... SECAUCUS, N.J. -- MSNBC is dumping talk show Buchanan & Press, hosted by Pat Buchanan and Bill Press, and giving its 6 p.m. ET time slot to The Abrams Report, hosted by Dan Abrams. That show's former slot, 9 p.m., will be taken by a new...

Nexstar's IPO underwhelms.(Breaking ...)(Nexstar Broadcasting's initial-public-offering )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... IRVING, TEXAS -- Investors were unimpressed by Nexstar Broadcasting's initial-public-offering price last week, but at least the deal got out the door. Nexstar priced its Monday deal at $14 per share, the low end of the expected $14-$16 range....

Azteca adds newscasts.(Hispanic)(Azteca America)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Azteca America is adding two home-grown national newscasts, its first, starting today. Both will be produced out of a studio in Washington and replace the general-interest news imported from parent TV Azteca's two Mexican TV channels. A...

PBS plans holiday HD loop.(Technology)(PBS is adding more content to its HD service)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... For HDTV owners, the PBS HD loop of programming is both a blessing and a curse. The nearly continuous offering produced by PBS member stations provides the only over-the-air signal that has HD content 24 hours a day, making it ideal for HD...

CNN: the cello & news network.(Cable)(Paula Zahn plays the cello on her CNN program)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... So, can Bill O'Reilly play the oboe or something? Last Thursday night, sometime after 8 p.m. ET on CNN's Paula Zahn Now, while most of us were probably dozing off after Thanksgiving dinner, the anchor made Zahn CNN debut as a cellist, joining...

IRTS mirthmakers.(Advertising)(the International Radio and Television Society holds a holiday luncheon)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Dec. 11 holiday luncheon sponsored annually by the International Radio and Television Society has a silly twist this year. Top ad buyers and sellers will form an ensemble for a holiday revue. The "ad-actors" are Discovery's Joe Abruzzese,...

Stars come out for NATPE parties.(Syndication)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... It's unlikely NATPE will ever return to its former excess, but several syndicators are gearing up to throw some lavish parties for the upcoming gathering. Both Sony Pictures Television and King World are hosting private dinners. Comedian Jerry...

Deposed DeWitt sues SNTA, wants $1.25m.(In The Loop)(former Syndicated Network Television Association president Gene DeWitt sues his former employer)
December 1, 2003... Gene DeWitt, who was terminated as president of the Syndicated Network Television Association this summer, has taken his former employer to court. In a complaint filed at New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, DeWitt sued SNTA for breach of...

Broadcasters rearm for '04.(Top of the Week)(television networks are revamping their networks)
December 1, 2003... Hoping to bolster their sagging prime time ratings, Fox, NBC, ABC and The WB are revamping their schedules with a mix of old and new. Fox has ordered a full season of the critically acclaimed Arrested Development, although the sitcom's...

November sweeps limp to close.(Bright Lights, Dim Results)(CBS is the only network to thrive during the November sweeps)(Illustration)
December 1, 2003... Fox Entertainment President Gail Berman said it best when she kicked off Fox's sweeps call to reporters last week by congratulating CBS on its November sweeps performance and then musing, "For the rest of the networks, the last four weeks...

CBS's Secret flies on WB.(Top of the Week)(in Arkansas, CBS' 'The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show' airs on another station)
December 1, 2003... All those Victoria's Secret models needed their wings in Little RockPine Bluff, Ark., given the journey the CBS special took in that market. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which, in keeping with the finest lingerie traditions,...

Staying ahead of the game: Time Warner's Glenn Britt says cable's challenge is answering the question "What's next?".(Q & A With Glenn Britt)(Interview)
December 1, 2003... Glenn Britt knows the perils of new technology. A shelf in the Time Warner Cable chairman's Stamford, Conn., office holds a set-top box from the company's "full-service network" launched in 1994 in Orlando, Fla. The device was hugely expensive:...

Court TV grows a news division: Jacko, Kobe, Martha give it a reason to be.(Programming)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... Court TV is enjoying its own November sweeps this year. Viewers are fixated on high profile legal stories, from Michael Jackson's legal woes--a story Court TV broke--to celebrity defendants like Kobe Bryant, Martha Stewart, Robert Blake and...

SVU gives USA a ratings boost.(USA Network adds 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' to its schedule)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... USA Network is getting a positive ratings jolt in prime with new off-net star Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The network added the hit Dick Wolf drama to its daily lineup in September and saw an immediate Nielsen bump up. At 8 p.m. ET...

Ratings: Nov. 3-9.(Syndication Watch)(top television shows)(Illustration)
December 1, 2003... RATINGS | Nov. 3-9 Nielsen Media Research Top 25 Shows Households RANK PROGRAM AA GAA 1 Wheel of Fortune 9.6 NA 2 Jeopardy 7.2 NA 3...

That '70s success.(off-net)(Carsey-Werner-Mandabach has success with the syndication of 'That '70s Show')
December 1, 2003... When Carsey-Werner-Mandabach began selling That '70s Show in syndication back in 2000, the company gave each station the option of taking a second run of the show on a barter-only basis. "It was a bit of a gamble, but the bottom line is, we...

Paramount marketing ace to ABC.(Syndie Insider)(ABC named Michael Mellon senior VP of research for the ABC Television Network)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... ABC has named Michael Mellon senior VP of research for the ABC Television Network. Mellon is leaving his job as executive VP in charge of research for Paramount Worldwide TV Distribution to go to ABC. He replaces Andy Fessel, who left the post...

Temple bumped up at CF Entertainment.(Syndie Insider)(Andrew Temple has been promoted to executive VP)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Andrew Temple has been promoted to executive VP of Byron Allen's CF Entertainment. Temple, who has been with the syndicator for six years, had been VP of southeastern marketing and sales. In his new job, he will continue to oversee clearances,...

New co-host for The View.(Syndie Insider)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Survivor finalist Elisabeth Filarski Hasselbeck has been chosen as the fifth co-host on ABC's daytime talk show The View. Since her appearance on Survivor: The Australian Outback, Hasselbeck has gone on to host The Style Channel's The Look for...

The prime time race.(Programming)(television ratings, week of November 17-23, 2003)(Illustration)
December 1, 2003... THE PRIME TIME RACE Top 10 Basic Cable Shows Nov. 17-23 Total Households (in millions) PROGRAM DATE NET HHS 1. NFL: Redskis/Dolphins 11/23 ESPN 7.1 2. NFL Prime Time 11/23...

Nielsen ratings: Nov. 17-23.(Programming)(Illustration)
December 1, 2003... NIELSEN RATINGS | Nov. 17-23 Week 9 abc MONDAY 9.0/14 8:00 86. Britney Spears: In 8:30 the Zone 4.2/7 9:00 12. Monday Night Foot- ...

Moonves knocked by showtime exec.(Programming)(CBS president Leslie Moonves criticized by Robert Greenblatt for not understanding content of television program 'The Reagans')(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Defending the controversial TV movie The Reagans, which Showtime inherited from Viacom sister CBS, the pay service's Entertainment President Robert Greenblatt last week started another mini-brouhaha when he chided CBS chief Leslie Moonves for...

GM town in flux.(Next: Pittsburgh)(Flint, Michigan market analysis)(Illustration)
December 1, 2003... Filmmaker Michael Moore's 1989 documentary Roger & Me focused attention on Flint, Mich., as a town abandoned by its biggest industry, General Motors. Although GM is still this market's largest employer, the 20,000 or so jobs represent only a...

Nielsen: we just got better: says broadcast's fall-off in young male viewers is due to improved methods.(TV Buyer)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2003... Why are the broadcast networks losing young male viewers? Simple, says Nielsen. It's doing a better job measuring TV audiences. According to a white paper issued by the rating company last week, at least 40% of the decline is attributable to...

Quieter, softer network scatter.(EBB & Flow)(advertising revenues)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2003... The fourth-quarter scatter market is down double digits, perhaps as much as 35%, largely because advertisers spent the money in this year's upfront market, hoping to avoid the steep price increases the networks achieved the previous two years....

SF Station War II: KRON-TV owner Young opposes NBC transmitter plan.(Washington)(San Francisco, California station owner Young Broadcasting)
December 1, 2003... NBC and Young Broadcasting are still battling in San Francisco--four years after Young outbid NBC for KRON-TV and NBC retaliated by buying a station in nearby San Jose and yanking KRON-TV's affiliation. Now NBC is trying to move the...

Sachs: multicast carriage threatens 'dumbed-down' TV.(Capital Watch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... As the battle of cable carriage of digital broadcast stations heats up, top cable lobbyist Robert Sachs said broadcasters have put forth no viable business plans for multicasting, save infomercials and home shopping. "We don't want cable...

FCC grants renewal extension.(Capital Watch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Dec. 1 deadline for submitting renewal applications for radio stations in Alabama and Georgia was postponed to Dec. 8 after a bad software upgrade bogged down the FCC's electronic application system. Since Oct. 24, the system that TV and...

ATSC promotes Whitaker.(Capital Watch)(Jerry Whitaker named vice president of standards development for the Advanced Television Systems Committee)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Jerry Whitaker has been named vice president of standards development for the Advanced Television Systems Committee, the industry group that sets standards for digital television. He has been secretary of ATSC's technology group on...

Administration plans spectrum-management hearings.(Capital Watch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... NTIA, the agency overseeing White House telecom policy, plans a series of public meetings on spectrum management. NTIA will host the first, on Dec. 9, and will co-sponsor another in February with the National Academy of Sciences. NTIA plans a...

NCTA's new lobbyist.(Capital Watch)(Steven Berry named lobbyist for National Cable & Telecommunications Association )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Steven Berry was picked last week to run the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's Capitol Hill and White House lobbying team. Berry, 51, takes his post Jan. 2. He joins NCTA from the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet...

Changing hands.(broadcasting industry acquisitions, divestments)
December 1, 2003... TVs K34FI Bozeman, Mont. PRICE: $27,000 BUYER: Eagle Communications Inc (Keith Sommer, VP/general manager) SELLER: Wireless Access LLC FACILITIES: Ch. 34, 0.255 kW K36GG Cloverdale, Calif. PRICE: $25,000 ...

Leitch taps Thorsteinson: former head of Grass Valley Group looks to expand his new company's product line.(Technology)(Tim Thorsteinson named president)
December 1, 2003... Tim Thorsteinson, who delivered the Grass Valley Group out of financial jeopardy and into security as part of Thomson Broadcast, is now at the helm of another major industry manufacturer as president and CEO of Leitch. "If you look at the...

It's video now for WorldNow.(Technology)
December 1, 2003... WorldNow, which has made its name helping TV stations establish a more effective presence on the Internet, has created The Video Producer, a broadband video streaming system that the company says will help stations and networks incorporate...

Andrew and Channel Master.(Cutting Edge)(Andrew Corp. acquires Channel Master L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Andrew Corp. has acquired selected assets of Channel Master LLC and certain of its subsidiaries for approximately $18 million in cash. Channel Master is a privately held designer and manufacturer of antennas and related products for...

Xtend extends Cox spectrum.(Cutting Edge)(Cox Communications)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Cox Communications is using Xtend Networks' Block Division Multiplexing (BDM) technology to provide an additional 2 GHz of spectrum on its coaxial plants. The system will serve commercial customers of Cox Cable that typically require more...

New VTR available.(Cutting Edge)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The AJ-SD755 DVCPRO studio editing VTR with jog/shuttle control and a Firewire/IEEE 1394 digital interface for computer-based editing is available from Panasonic for $11,450. According to Stuart English, vice president, marketing, Panasonic...

Quantel ties into P2.(Cutting Edge)(product compatibility partnership with Panasonic)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Quantel will be working with Panasonic in the coming months to ensure that its editing systems and video servers will be compatible with the P2 solid-state memory product lineup. According to Quantel Executive Chairman Richard Taylor, transfer...

WRAL-DT tests datacast video-on-demand.(Technology)(digital television station)
December 1, 2003... Video-on-demand is moving to the over-the-air TV signal with the help of Decisionmark's QuickCast application and a datacast stream sent out through a station's DTV broadcast signal. A trial of the system by WRAL-DT Raleigh, N.C., came to an...

For the big fish, the water's fine: after a tough three years, the top networks show strong growth, up 11% as a group from a year ago.(Special Report)(Illustration)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2003... The recession may not be over for all Americans, but it's largely over for TV networks. That's the conclusion of BROADCASTING & CABLE'S annual ranking of the top 25 television networks. After three years in which the sour economy sliced...

2003 top 25 TV networks.(Special Report)
December 1, 2003... [1] NBC 2003 REVENUE: $4.46 billion OWNER: General Electric TOP EXECUTIVE: Robert Wright, chairman and CEO PROGRAMMING: General entertainment TYPE: Broadcast TV HOMES REACHED: 108.0M VIEWERSHIP: 12.2M [2]...

A politician wannabe turned policy wonk: Tramont helps keep the FCC chief's initiatives on track.(The Fifth Estater)(Bryan Tramont, Michael Powell)
December 1, 2003... Public policy has been a passion of Bryan Tramont's ever since the fifth grade. The new chief of staff for FCC Chairman Michael Powell caught the politics bug when he successfully petitioned his principal to end a ban on talking in the...

WPVI-TV.(Broadcast TV)(promoted Rebecca S. Campbell to president and general manager)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... REBECCA S. CAMPBELL, VP, programming, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, promoted to president and general manager.

KDEB-TV/KOLR-TV.(Broadcast TV)(named Mark Gordon vice president/general manager)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... MARK GORDON, general sales manager, KDEB-TV/KOLR-TV Springfield, Miss., named VP/GM, KDEB-TV, with oversight of KOLR-TV.

WNET(TV).(Broadcast TV)(named Dr. Deborah Cross Macfarlane director of development and membership)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... DR. DEBORAH CROSS MACFARLANE, president/CEO, Per Scholas Inc., Bronx, N.Y., has joined WNET(TV) Newark, N.J., as director of development and membership.

WHP-TV/WLYH-TV.(Broadcast TV)(named Lou Castriota Sr. director, operations and programming)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... LOU CASTRIOTA SR., director, programming, WPMT-TV York, Pa., named director, operations and programming, WHP-TV/WLYH-TV, Harrisburg, Pa.

WATL-TV.(Broadcast TV)(appointed Benjamin Oldham general sales manager)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... BENJAMIN OLDHAM, national sales manager, WATL-TV Atlanta, appointed general sales manager.

KGPE-TV.(Broadcast TV)(promoted Patrice Coulter and Rick Turner)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... At KGPE-TV, Fresno, Calif.: PATRICE COULTER, national sales manager, promoted to director, sales; RICK TURNER, production manager, promoted to creative services director.

WYFF(TV).(Broadcast TV)(named Michael J. Hayes president/GM)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... MICHAEL J. HAYES, general sales manager, WLWT(TV) Cincinnati, named president/GM, WYFF(TV), Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C., effective at year-end.

KTVE(TV) El Dorado, Ark./KARD(TV), West Monroe, La.(Broadcast TV)(named Tony Taglavore news director)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... TONY TAGLAVORE, news director, KAVU-TV/KVCT(TV) Victoria, Texas, joins KTVE(TV) El Dorado, Ark./KARD(TV), West Monroe, La., in the same capacity.

KFAA(TV)/KPOM-TV.(Broadcast TV)(appointed Mike Vaughn general sales manager)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... MIKE VAUGHN, local sales manager, KDEB-TV/KOLR-TV Springfield, Mo., appointed general sales manager KFAA(TV)/KPOM-TV Fayetteville-Fort Smith, Kan.

WGAL (TV).(Broadcast TV)(promoted Nancy Tulli to general sales manager)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... NANCY TULLI, local sales manager, WGAL (TV) Lancaster, Pa., promoted to general sales manager for the station.

Mediacom Communications.(Cable TV)(announces promotions of Brian M. Walsh, Mark E. Stephan and John G. Pascarelli)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... At Mediacom Communications, Middletown, N.Y.: BRIAN M. WALSH, VP, finance/assistant to the chairman and CEO, promoted to senior VP, financial operations; MARK E. STEPHAN, senior VP/chief financial officer/treasurer, promoted to executive...

Customer First.(Cable TV)(Ellen Rosson named VP, Customer First, Comcast, Southern division)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... ELLEN ROSSON, VP/GM, Comcast, Knoxville/East Tennessee, named VP, Customer First, Comcast, Southern division.

The Walt Disney Co.(Programming)(named Andy Bird president, Walt Disney International)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... ANDY BIRD, president, TBS International, London, joins The Walt Disney Co. as president, Walt Disney International, Burbank, Calif., effective January 12, 2004.

Warner Bros.(Programming)(named Andrew Goldman senior VP/general sales manager)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... ANDREW GOLDMAN, senior VP/general sales manager, Warner Bros. domestic television, New York, named executive VP, sales, College Sports Television, New York.

Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.(Programming)(named Jim Weiss senior VP, marketing and communications)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... JIM WEISS, senior VP, corporate communications and media relations, Turner Broadcasting System Inc., Atlanta, named senior VP, marketing and communications, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, New York City and Jericho, N.Y.

Discovery Networks.(Programming)(Emilio Pardo named senior VP, special projects, Discovery Networks U.S.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... EMILIO PARDO, CEO, CityNet Telecommunications Inc., Silver Spring, Md., named senior VP, special projects, Discovery Networks U.S., Silver Spring.

MTV Networks.(Programming)(named Jason Hirschhorn senior VP, digital music and media, music and comedy group)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... JASON HIRSCHHORN, GM, VH1/ senior VP, CMT.com, named senior VP, digital music and media, MTV Networks, music and comedy group, New York.

Madison Square Garden.(Programming)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... HANK RATNER, vice chairman, Cablevision, Bethpage, N.Y., also appointed vice chairman, Madison Square Garden.

Sesame Workshop, New York.(Programming)(promoted Bill Burke to assistant VP, marketing; appointed Natasha Fishman director, retail business development)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... At Sesame Workshop, New York: BILL BURKE, director, marketing, promoted to assistant VP, marketing; NATASHA FISHMAN, director, merchandising, online stores, Scholastic Inc., New York, named director, retail business development.

Univision Communications.(Programming)(Cesar Conde returns as vice president, network corporate development)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... CESAR CONDE, formefly VP, business development, Univision Network, returns as VP, network corporate development, Univision Communications, Miami.

VNU.(Programming)(appointed Ann Marie Dumais vice president, marketing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... ANN MARIE DUMAIS, VP, integrated marketing, VNU media measurement and information, New York, appointed VP, marketing.

Game Show Network.(Programming)(announces promotions of Nate Whitman and John Willey)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... At Game Show Network, Santa Monica, Calif.: NATE WHITMAN, director, business development and strategy, promoted to executive director; JOHN WILLEY, director, research, promoted to executive director.

Fox Sports Net.(Programming)(named Geoff Suddleson director, development, original programming)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... GEOFF SUDDLESON, director, development, MTV Networks, New York, named director, development, original programming, Fox Sports Net, New York.

Playboy TV Networks.(Programming)(named Tammy Brown director, marketing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... TAMMY BROWN, marketing consultant, ABC cable networks group, Burbank, Calif., named director, marketing, Playboy TV Networks, Los Angeles.

Nick at Nite and TV Land.(Programming)(promoted Michael Gaylord to vice president)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... MICHAEL GAYLORD, site director, Nick at Nite and TV Land, New York, promoted to VP.

Fox Sports Net.(Programming)(named Tom Pahnke executive producer, Fox Sports Net North)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... TOM PAHNKE, executive producer, Fox Sports Net Arizona, Phoenix, named executive producer, Fox Sports Net North, Milwaukee.

Mohegan Sun New England Sports Tonight.(Programming)(named Lucy St. Pierre news production supervisor/director)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... LUCY ST. PIERRE, news production supervisor/director, WMTW-TV Auburn, Maine, named director/technical director, Mohegan Sun New England Sports Tonight, Fox Sports Net New England, Burlington, Mass.

Bay News 9.(Journalism)(announces various appointments)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... At Bay News 9, Pinellas Park, Fla.: JASON BISHOP, assignment manager, named assistant news director; TINA KARAGIANNIS, assignment editor, promoted to assignment manager; JOEL POILEY, assignment editor, joins the evening desk; KETURA (TORI)...

Dateline NBC.(Journalism)(Stacie Gottsegen joins staff)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... STACIE GOTTSEGEN, talent executive, E! Entertainment network, Los Angeles, joins Dateline NBC, NBC News, Burbank, Calif.

WISN-TV.(Journalism)(named Nick Capitano executive morning news producer)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... NICK CAPITANO, executive news producer, WXII-TV Winston-Salem, N.C., named executive morning news producer, WISN-TV Milwaukee.

KYW-TV.(Journalism)(Calvin Hughes joins staff as general assignment reporter )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... CALVIN HUGHES, anchor/reporter, WGCL-TV Atlanta, joined KYW-TV Philadelphia as general assignment reporter.

Sirius.(Radio)(named Gregg Steele director, classic-based rock)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... GREGG STEELE, regional director, programming, WZTA(FM) Miami Beach, Fla., and WBGG-FM, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., named director, classic-based rock, Sirius, New York.

ATSC.(Technology)
December 1, 2003... JERRY C. WHITAKER, secretary, technology group on distribution, ATSC, Washington, named VP, standards development, board of directors.

Omneon Video Networks.(Technology)(announces appointments of James L. Skupien and Keith L. Andoos)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... At Omneon Video Networks, Sunnyvale, Calif.: JAMES L. SKUPIEN, sales, Swiderski Electronics, Itasca, Ill., named Midwest regional sales manager; KEITH L. ANDOOS, regional sales manager, Leitch, New York, named Northeast regional sales manager.

Ascent Media Network Services.(Technology)(announces appointments of Thomas Fuelling and Jeffrey Casey)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... At Ascent Media Network Services: THOMAS FUELLING, executive VP, finance and operations, ARTISTdirect Inc., Los Angeles, named senior VP, chief financial officer, networks division, Santa Monica, Calif.; JEFFREY CASEY, regional director, sales...

International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.(Allied Fields)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... BRUCE L. PAISNER, VP, Hearst Corp., New York, elected president, International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, New York.

DMX Music.(Allied Fields)(promoted Simon Bexon to VP, commercial division, Western region)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... SIMON BEXON, national sales manager, major account executive team, DMX Music, Los Angeles, promoted to VP, commercial division, Western region.

Michigan Association of Broadcasters.(Allied Fields)(named Larry Crittenden executive director, programs & communications)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... LARRY CRITTENDEN, program manager and communication activities, Institute of Public Utilities, named executive director, programs & communications, Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Lansing, Mich.