Multichannel News articles from November 2003

Multichannel News archives from November 2003

DBS pitches: MSOs swine, telcos divine.(DirecTV Inc. and EchoStar Communications corp. seek new subscribers to their direct-broadcast satellite platforms)
November 24, 2003... With the holiday season fast approaching, DirecTV Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corp. have taken two distinctly different tacks in attracting new subscribers to their direct-broadcast satellite platforms. DirecTV opted for the more...

Brawl game: dueling ESPN and Cox are 'ad' it again.(ESPN and Cox Communications Inc. launch ad campaigns to promote their opinions in their dispute)
November 24, 2003... Like opposing baseball teams spilling out of the dugout for an on-field brawl, the battle between ESPN and Cox Communications Inc. escalated last week to include a war of Web sites and dueling ad campaigns. In the latest volley in an...

Now playing: local VOD.(Time Warner Cable's Southeastern Wisconsin division launches Wisconsin On Demand)
November 24, 2003... Time Warner Cable's Southeastern Wisconsin division is bringing more than just basic and premium channels to customers in an on-demand format. The MSO has launched Wisconsin On Demand, a dedicated VOD channel that offers local...

Comcast wins big in Pa. union balloting.(five locals of the Communications Workers of America organized in Comcast Corp. units around Pittsburgh vote to decertify the union)
November 24, 2003... Five of seven locals of the Communications Workers of America organized in Comcast Corp. business units around Pittsburgh have voted to decertify the union, according to uncertified results from the National Labor Relations Board. ...

AMC sues Time Warner over termination threat.(American Movie Classics Co. sues Time Warner Cable to block the termination of its carriage agreement)
November 24, 2003... Attempting to thwart a leverage play by Time Warner Cable, American Movie Classics Co. on Nov. 14 sued Time Warner Cable in New York state Supreme Court, seeking to bar the MSO from terminating its carriage agreement with AMC. Officials...

Congress: restore 35% cap.(Congressional Republicans reverse the FCC's decision to increase the national broadcast ownership cap from 35% to 45%)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Congressional Republicans dealt a setback to ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox last week by reversing a Federal Communications Commission's decision to raise the national broadcast ownership cap to 45%. The reversal also was a...

Markey: extend privacy.(Legislation)(a House bill introduced will extend consumer privacy production to DirecTV Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corp. customers)
November 24, 2003... WASHINGTON -- A House bill introduced last Tuesday would take existing cable-TV consumer privacy protections and extend them to include customers of direct-broadcast satellite providers DirecTV Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corp. It...

Appendixes can't read the calendar.(Through The Wire)(Spencer Kaitz handles the details for the final Western Show)
November 24, 2003... If any detail of this final Western Show escapes the attention of California Cable Telecommunications Association president Spencer Kaitz, he has an excellent excuse. He can blame in on an anesthetic haze. That's because Kaitz has been...

Education key to World AIDS Day PSAs.(Through The Wire)(Cable Positive will launch a public-service-ad campaign on World AIDS Day)
November 24, 2003... In response to a high HIV-infection rate among American youth, Cable Positive will break its first integrated public-service-ad campaign on World Aids Day. Television and print ads depicting young people in carefree moments--with the...

VoIP, more tech to rule at Western.(a discussion of the final Western Show)
November 24, 2003... With the Western Show exhibit floor largely barren of programming networks, save for Starz Encore Group LLC, technology will rule the day once again at this final show, set for Dec. 2 to 5 in Anaheim. With 166 exhibitors, including more...

Bay Area gets Weatherscan carriage.(Net Launch)(Comcast Corp. launches Weatherscan, a 24-hour, all-local service from The Weather Channel)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Many Bay Area residents can soon have a better sense of fog conditions engulfing the Golden Gate Bridge or how windy it might be at Candlestick Park for the next 49ers game when Comcast Corp. launches Weatherscan. The...

Rainbow hopes 'World Picks' clicks with MSOs.(Rainbow Media Holdings Inc. introduces a new foreign-language on-demand services and several digital international services)
November 24, 2003... NEW YORK -- Rainbow Media Holdings Inc. is introducing four new foreign-language on-demand services and a suite of digital international services. Grouped as "World Picks," the services are positioned to help operators better serve...

'Two Towers' anchors upcoming Starz! Campaign.(Starz! plans the pay TV premier of 'Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers')
November 24, 2003... For Starz!, just like for Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn and Sauron, the ring's the thing. The premium movie channel has put the pay TV premiere of Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, the second installment of The Lord of The Rings trilogy, at...

Showtime sets 'Reagans' for Nov. 30 debut.(Programming Briefs)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... NEW YORK -- After initially leaning toward a first-quarter 2004 airdate, Showtime has decided to show the controversial miniseries The Reagans on Nov. 30. Showtime acquired the rights to the four-hour miniseries three weeks ago from...

BuckEye first to salute America Channel.(Programming Briefs)(BuckEye CableSystem agrees to carry The America Channel)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- The America Channel has scored its first carriage deal, agreeing to terms with Block Communications Inc.'s BuckEye CableSystem for expanded-basic analog carriage. Led by former Cable News Network executive Doron Gorshein,...

OLN plans to feast on Thanksgiving originals.(Programming Briefs)(Outdoor Life Network)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... STAMFORD, CONN -- Outdoor Life Network will give thanks for its original programming on Thanksgiving--18-and-a-half hours' worth of thanks. The network will feature the best episodes of four of its original series: Beach Ambush, Bragging...

TCM honors Kate Hepburn in January.(Programming Briefs)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... ATLANTA -- Turner Classic Movies will devote Wednesdays in January to Katharine Hepburn. The network will present 26 Hepburn movies, as well as 1993 documentary All About Me, on Wednesdays throughout the month. The tribute will also...

ABC Cable.(People)(hires Jon Sayer)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... JON SAYER has joined ABC Cable Networks Group's kids' advertising team as vice president, advertising sales and marketing, Midwest. He comes from World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was senior VP, integrated sales.

Comcast.(People)(names three people to positions)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... Comcast Cable named MIKE BELLING director, direct sales operations, Midwest division. The Philadelphia-based MSO also named DAVID WILLIAMS senior director of customer service at the Internet protocol services support center serving...

Discovery.(People)(Discovery Networks U.S. hires Emilio Pardo as senior vice president of special projects)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... Discovery Networks U.S. has named EMILIO PARDO senior vice president, special projects. He comes from CityNet Telecommunications in Silver Spring, Md., where he was CEO and director.

IBS.(People)(Integrated Broadband Services Inc. names Bill Lee vice president of sales and marketing)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... Integrated Broadband Services Inc. an engineering and integration firm specializing in design and deployment of advanced services for broadband operators, has named BILL LEE, vice president of sales and marketing. He comes from Peregrine...

INSP.(People)(the Inspiration Network announces three new employees)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... The Inspiration Networks had tapped JUDSON JACKSON as producer of the new original daily show Inspiration Today/He comes from BelmontMills Entertainment in Charlotte, N.C. Also, LEANNE BURNETT MORSE joined INSP as a producer/writer for...

TCM.(People)(Turner Classic Movies promotes Richard Steiner)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... Turner Classic Movies has elevated RICHARD STEINER to managing director, interactive. He had been director.

TV Guide.(People)(names Doug Yates senior vice president of marketing)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... DOUG YATES was named senior vice president, marketing for the TV Guide Television Group. He comes from ABC Family Channel, where he was senior VP, marketing and creative services.

WorldLink.(People)(promotes Jim Miller to senior account executive)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... Media-sales firm WorldLink has elevated JIM MILLER to senior account executive, responsible for direct-response spot sales.

Major shows.(upcoming cable television industry trade shows)(Calendar)
November 24, 2003... December 2-5 California Cable & Telecommunications Association, "The Western Show," Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, Calif. Contact: Dorothea Elumba, (510) 428-2225 or dorethea@calcable.org. January 13-15 Society of...

Events.(upcoming television industry events)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
November 24, 2003... November 24 International Television Academy of Arts & Sciences, International Emmy Awards, New York Hilton, 1335 6th Ave., New York. Details online: www.iemmys.tv. December 1 VH1 and VH1 Classic Present a Special...

Closing prices: Nov. 18, 2003.(Industry Stocks)(cable television industry stock prices)(Illustration)
November 24, 2003... CLOSING PRICES NOV. 18, 2003 MSOs Price Price % 52-Week 52-Week Company 11/18/03 11/11/03 Change High Low ...

Diego secures Motorola site.(Interactive)(Charter Communications Inc. is rolling out its Digeo ITV product on its system in Clarksville, TN)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2003... Charter Communications Inc. is rolling out its Digeo ITV product on its Motorola Inc.-based system in Clarksville, Tenn.--the first such launch on a Motorola platform in the United Slates. "Our ITV product is now on Scientific-Atlanta and...

Cebridge to add VoIP: Net2Phone to provide small MSO with service for rollout.(Broadband week: advanced technologies for video, voice and data services)
November 24, 2003... Cebridge Connections has signed a memorandum of understanding with Net2Phone Cable Telephony to provide the starting-up MSO with cable voice services, beginning next year. Cebridge plans to begin offering telephony in selected Texas and...

Verizon picks vendors for FTTP Testbed.(Broadband week: advanced technologies for video, voice and data services)
November 24, 2003... Verizon Communications Inc. has chosen four vendors for the fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) project it will begin building in 2004, designed to offer data at higher speeds than cable modems or digital subscriber line as well as potential video...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
November 24, 2003... In the Nov. 10 edition, a headline on page 32 incorrectly stated that CommPartners will use use a voice gateway from Syndeo Corp. CommPartners will use Syndeo's Syioncall-management server and media-gateway controller.

Cable: a pig or the only one?(Backtalk)(the cable industry and EchoStar Communications Corp. launch advertising campaigns to promote their services)
November 24, 2003... Often, real life is so much more funny than fiction, and that irony became apparent again last week, when by sheer coincidence--really--both the cable industry and EchoStar Communications Corp. independently launched multimillion-dollar...

Gay-themed here! PPV eyes cable.(Here! Films is launching a cable version of its PPV network)
November 24, 2003... Having already established a foothold with direct-broadcast satellite, movie producer Here! Films will launch a cable version of its gay-and-lesbian themed pay-per-view network, beginning in March. The production company will offer its...

MCN online poll results.
November 24, 2003... WEEK OF 11/17 Cablevision announced that it would restate some financial results. The impact will be: * 38% Significant * 31% Minor * 31% None Go to Multichannel.com to vote on our next on-line poll: WEEK OF 11/24...