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Volume 24, Issue 201, Jim Carnegie, Editor & Publisher
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Monday Morning October 15th, 2007
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TV News ®
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 Profits up for NBC Uni
Q3 revenues were up 3% and profits 9% for NBC Universal, which was right on track with what parent GE had been expecting. GE CEO Jeff Immelt, pictured, applauded Jeff Zucker and his team for their fourth straight quarter of increased profits, with number five expected in the current quarter. For the entire company - and GE is one of the world's largest an most diversified conglomerates - net earnings for the quarter were up 14% to 5.5 billion bucks and earnings per share rose 15% to 54 cents. That was in line with Wall Street expectations, but the stock fell because analysts noted that some of the gain was due to a lower-than-expected tax bite and that profits at the infrastructure unit were below expectations. NBC Universal accounted for a relatively small amount of GE's total Q3 revenues of 42.53 billion, but NBCU did have an up quarter, with revenues rising 3% to 3.76 billion. More importantly, profits for the media unit rose 9% to 589 million, nearly equaling the companywide profit growth of 10%. In his conference call with analysts, Immelt hailed the new fall lineup for NBC, said scatter pricing was high and declared the advertising market for network television "robust." For the current Q4, GE is projecting that NBCU revenues will be down 5%, but, even so, that profits will be up 10-15%. In his commentary during the call, GE CFO Keith Sherin noted that NBC increasingly owns the content that it airs, allowing it to monetize that content off-network, such as the recent deal to sell "Heroes" reruns to cable channels.
TVBR observation: What about the "hot rumor" on Wall Street last week that GE was planning to put NBCU up for sale after collecting the revenues from the 2008 Beijing Olympics? Well, not one analyst asked Immelt about it. No doubt they knew that he would not answer the question.
Hearst drops Hearst-Argyle bid
Hearst Corporation has abandoned its bid to buy out other shareholders of Hearst-Argyle Television for around 600 million bucks. The tender offer to buy out the public shareholders for 23.50 per share expired on Friday and Hearst Corporation then announced that its buyout bid was over and that all tendered shares would be returned to the shareholders. It did not announce how many shares had actually been tendered. The move was a bit of a surprise, since Hearst Corporation had stated in an SEC filing just a few days earlier that it planned to extend the tender offer (10/9/07 TVBR #197). The independent directors of Hearst-Argyle had declared the offer inadequate and the stock had traded above the tender price since the buyout bid was announced.
TVBR observation: It will be interesting to see what happens to Hearst-Argyle's stock price today. It had closed at 20.42 on August 23rd, before the buyout bid at 23.50 was announced the next day. Traders had bid the price up above the tender offer in expectation of Hearst Corporation being forced to raise its bid to get the job done. But, instead, there is now no longer a bid on the table.
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 Three companies opt out
of anti-obesity program
Ed Markey (D-MA) is Capitol Hill point man in the battle against childhood obesity, and has been recruiting food manufacturers and marketers for the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) initiative to limit marketing of food to children under age 12 unless it meets certain nutritional standards. ConAgra and Chuck E. Cheese indicated they would sign on; Dannon, Nestle and Yum! Brands will not. "I applaud Chuck E. Cheese and ConAgra for taking a step in the right direction. Though Dannon, Yum! Brands, and Nestle have been slow to act, I hope they have a 'Quik' change of heart for the sake of America's children. At a time when our country is facing a serious childhood obesity crisis, the responses from these companies raises the question of whether voluntary industry action will be sufficient to combat this important public health issue," said Rep. Markey. Yum!, owner of KFC and Taco Bell among other things, said in its letter that it wasn't signing up because it targets adults and families in the US, and would "commence a dialogue with BBB" in the event it ever does decide to advertise to preteens. Dannon said it already does a number of things in this area, and hasn't yet decided if it will sign on to the current effort. Nestle said it self-restricts and that coming into compliance would actually have the potential of limiting some of its beneficial activities, such as distributing its Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives kits to school teachers.
TVBR observation: It four of five companies continue to advertise gum and candy to kids, it will put every other company in the gum and candy company at a competitive disadvantage, bringing down the whole voluntary house of cards. If the players in this don't police themselves, it will not be long before Markey looks to put something in place with more teeth than a voluntary program.
CMD/FP hit on VNRs again
Watchdogs Center for Media and Democracy and Free Press recently celebrated 20K in FCC fines leveled at cable giant Comcast for airing unattributed video news releases. The duo is still awaiting possible action against numerous broadcast outlets on the same grounds, and has now fired off complaints about another. Max Media's ABC WGTU-TV 29 Traverse City MI stands accused of running three such items without proper sourcing. "Stations continue to air fake TV news, even though the FCC has repeatedly stated that VNRs must be disclosed," said Diane Farsetta, CMD senior researcher. "While the FCC recently announced that it will fine Comcast for five VNRs, more must be done to ensure the public's right to know. Not disclosing fake news benefits TV stations, PR firms and their corporate client -- everyone except the millions of Americans who rely on TV news daily." The watchdogs used the occasion to push for action on the other pending cases.
TVBR observation: There is nothing inherently sinister about the concept of a VNR, or an audio news release either. The NAB recently put one out on the DTV transition, and among other things it has a pretaped interview with FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell discussing the topic. A station which cannot simply put a reporter on a cab to go across town and interview McDowell can use the footage to build a legitimate story in a genuine effort to bring important news about the transition to its viewers. On the other hand, if a news program puts on a story about the importance of a high fiber diet and it includes b-roll footage of a family sitting at a table eating ACME Bran Flakes, and the VNR was sent in by ACME, the source should be identified. Government releases are not necessarily benevolent, either, when they are used to push a point of view that is far from being a settled matter. At the FCC, Jonathan Adelstein has made this a pet project, and at a Senate hearing, there was general agreement on both sides of the aisle that some form of identification was appropriate when VNRs are used. We suspect we have not heard the last on this topic.
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Ad Business Report TM
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Carat endorses Commercial Minute Ratings as currency
Shari Anne Brill, SVP/director of programming for Carat USA and her team have issued an official white paper defining why the media agency endorses Average Commercial Minute ratings, including up to three days of DVR viewing, or "C3." Said Brill: "Next week, Nielsen will release the first set of official average commercial minute ratings which became the new reporting standard for most national television buys in the 2007/08 upfront marketplace. While we may have liked the time to examine more data before entering the marketplace, we think this is an important step towards providing greater accountability to our clients.
| Read More |
Kodak to end Olympics sponsorship
 Following the closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Eastman Kodak Company will conclude its sponsorship as the Official Imaging Sponsor of the Olympic Games. "The Olympic Games and the International Olympic Committee have played a major role for Kodak historically, helping us to showcase products, innovations, and services," said Kodak's Elizabeth Noonan, Director, Brand Management. "As we complete the transformation of Kodak, it makes sense for us to take a new direction," Noonan said. "Digital technology changes everything, including the way we market our products and services. Our new business strategy requires us to reassess our marketing tactics as well, and adapt them to changing market conditions and evolving customer behavior."
Kodak is one of 12 sponsors in The Olympic Program, the top-tier partnership level for companies supporting the Games. Kodak will fully participate as a TOP sponsor through the 2008 Beijing Games. These include operating a 20,000-square-foot Kodak Image Center for accredited photojournalists to process, edit, and upload their photos of Olympic athletes; a polyclinic for diagnostic imaging and treatment of athletes' injuries; and accreditation badging for thousands of Olympic participants, families, volunteers, guests, journalists and officials. Kodak signed an eight-year agreement valued at more than 100 million to continue as a global sponsor for the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, the 2006 Winter Games in Turin and the 2008 Summer Games.
TVBR observation: Kodak's transition to digital hasn't been an easy one. The more likely reason for this pullout is to simply save money. Kodak has had 2.1 billion in net losses over the last 11 quarters. Its work force will slip to around 34,000 at year-end, half what it was five years ago, according to The AP.
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| Media Business Report TM |
Journal makes an acquisition
Journal Communications announced an addition to the company, albeit a rather small one. The Journal Community Publishing Group has purchased the weekly Clinton Tribune-Gazette in Wisconsin from GateHouse Media. Terms were not revealed, but the price tag could not be substantial for a company the size of Journal. The Clinton Tribune-Gazette has a paid circulation of approximately 2,300. "The acquisition of the Tribune-Gazette allows Journal Community Publishing Group to deepen its media offerings and extend its reach in north central Wisconsin and to take advantage of efficiencies created by our printing facility in nearby Waupaca," said Journal Communications CEO Steven Smith. He also noted that the company is interested in acquiring other community newspapers to expand its footprint in its Wisconsin and Florida markets.
Talkers diverge from the news
 The news coverage for the week of 9/30/07-10/5/07 gave the ever-hot topic of the 2008 presidential campaign a slight nod over the events in Iraq saga, 14%-13%. The Iraq story was propelled by incidents and Congressional hearings involving private security firm Blackwater. Talkers also gave the campaign the most attention, with 30% of their available time, but pretty much gave Blackwater a pass in order to wage a "proxy" battle over Iraq policy revolving around comments by Rush Limbaugh. The policy topic claimed 25% of the talk hole, with only 7% going to events. All of which didn't leave much time for other topics. Larry Craig claimed fourth place with a mere 3%.
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| Media Markets & Money TM |
In Schutz Liu trusts
With Arthur Liu's Multicultural media empire set to acquire KHIZ-TV (Ch. 64, Ind.) Bartow, CA, which is in the Los Angeles market, the Multicultural Radio group will be one over the local limit in the LA based on the FCC's new use of Arbitron market definitions, rather than contours, for determining how many stations a single owner may have. To facilitate the TV acquisition, broker Bill Schutz has former Transition Radio to become the designated trustee to hold the license of KALI-AM and operate the station. Still to be determined is whether or not Schutz will seek to find a buyer for the station.
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| Washington Business Report TM |
Martin touting efforts to increase minority ownership
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin used a Washington symposium Friday by Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition to promote his idea that DTV multichannels provide a way to increase minority involvement in media. His idea, which hasn't yet gathered support from other commissioners, is that minorities would be able to lease digital channels from existing broadcasters to increase the diversity of programming in local markets. Martin also pressed the idea that his cable a la carte proposal, unbundling cable programming offerings, would increase opportunities for minorities. Meanwhile, at the same conference, Jackson himself and the two Democrats on the FCC, Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein, pressed for creation of a minority media task force to draw up recommendations before the FCC takes any new action on ownership rules.
TVBR observation: Leasing DTV channels to minorities, or anyone for that matter, doesn't really require FCC action. It can be done today and it sounds like a pretty good idea to us. As for Martin's claim that a la carte will increase minority opportunities in cable, the minorities who already operate cable channels say just the opposite - that a la carte will put them out of business. We would agree with them that Martin has the economic reality backward on this issue.
 FEC set to examine implications of Supreme ruling
When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Wisconsin Right to Life (WRtL), it put another major dent in the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act often known as McCain-Feingold. Not that the ruling necessarily cleared matters up appreciably, however. The Federal Election Commission is going to devote two entire days to a public hearing on just what the ruling means in terms of the rules. The FEC opened the matter to public comment 8/23/07. The questions revolve around the court ruling, "which held that certain advertisements were entitled to an exemption from the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act's (BCRA) restriction on the use of corporate or union funds for 'electioneering communications.' The Supreme Court held that the specific ads at issue in the case were not the 'functional equivalent of express advocacy' because they were 'susceptible of a reasonable interpretation other than as an appeal to vote for or against a clearly identified Federal candidate.'" The FEC has set aside two days for this, 10/17-18/07.
TVBR observation: You can make a strong case that the WRtL ad was hiding behind an issue to go after a federal candidate, which is why supporters of BCRA won in lower courts. The issue discussed in the ads, support for President Bush's bench nominees, was not on the Congressional agenda at the time, so it could be argued that WRtL could afford to abide by BCRA pre-election blackout and bring the matter up over the airwaves when there was a nomination pending before Congress. Coming up with a regulatory framework that doesn't head straight back to the courts figures to be a real challenge.
| FEC hearing schedule here |
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| Cable Business Report TM |
Fox Business Network launches today
Today is the day. News Corporation launches Fox Business Network to challenge CNBC, just as a few years ago the company dared to challenge CNN with Fox News Channel. Will FBN prove to be as successful as its sibling? Fox executives have been mum about exactly what the new service will look like and how its content will fit into the media landscape. The theme which has been heard is that it will be more accessible to "Main Street" than "Wall Street," implying that CNBC and, especially, Bloomberg TV are too focused on professional stock traders and the jargon they use. There's also suspicion, though, that Fox executives have tried to spread a little disinformation to throw CNBC off guard. Today, at last, we find out what Rupert Murdoch and his associates really have in mind.
TVBR observation: Somehow, we can't imagine Neil Cavuto talking abut how to cut grocery bills by coupon clipping or comparing the relative costs and environmental impacts of cloth vs. disposable diapers. However much FBN tries to make investing more accessible to ordinary people with IRAs and 401(k)s, the underlying issue is still how to understand what is going on in financial markets so you can build your nest egg. The battle between FBN and CNBC, particularly during the market day, is going to have to be about who has the hot trading tips and the most interesting guests with insights into what is going on with the overall economy and individual companies.
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| Ratings & Research |
News/Talk top format for organics consumer
Scarborough Research issued an analysis which finds 25% of adults who have used organic food within the past month listen to the News/Talk/Information radio format. Organics users are 25% more likely than the average adult to listen to this radio format. Scarborough analyzed the TV program genres with the highest concentration of organic food consumers. 24% of adults who typically watch News Magazines have used organic food within the past month. Organics consumers are 45% more likely than the national average to watch News Magazines, 32% more likely to watch documentaries, and 24% more likely to watch National/Network News.
| See the charts here |
 Nielsen launches "'DemoWatch"
The Nielsen Company has launched DemoWatch, a new feature of its web-based commercial tracking service KeepingTrac that will enable advertisers to monitor demographic composition of their advertising audiences. DemoWatch links the demographic information from Nielsen's overnight television ratings with the commercial monitoring ability of KeepingTrac to help advertisers and their agencies make sure their television commercials reach the intended audience. For example, this tool would help advertisers of food, alcohol, prescription drug and R-rated movies to adhere to advertising guidelines for children and take immediate corrective action if their commercials violate those guidelines.
KeepingTrac provides next-day confirmation of television commercial airings for National Broadcast Networks, National Cable Networks, and Local Broadcast stations in all 210 designated market areas in the U.S., and matches the ratings data against the media buy schedule. It also monitors media buying guidelines to be sure that the correct creative is airing during the desired programs and dayparts. The commercial tracking system, which captures commercials that have been encoded with a digital watermark, is particularly valuable for campaigns where real-time performance evaluation is critical. For example, the DemoWatch tool helps advertisers and their agencies automatically detect commercials that may inadvertently reach unintended audiences such as children and teens so that corrective action can be taken immediately. DemoWatch automates this process and is the first industry-wide tool to measure compliance.
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| Monday Morning Makers & Shakers |
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Transactions: 8/27/07-8/31/07
Radio trading took advantage of its final August opportunity to break through the 10M-per-week barrier, but it wasn't able to get all the way to 20M, although it came close. Three small television transactions just about evened out the weekly action between the two media. A big bulge in the number of stations traded was the result of a dispute settlement between two noncommercial religious broadcasters, including numerous CPs, to which we did not attempt to attach an estimated value.
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Total
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Total Deals
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13
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AMs
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6
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FMs
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40
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TVs
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3
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| Value |
35.367M
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| Complete Charts |
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Radio Transactions of the Week
Armada sets sail for Kansas
| More... |
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TV Transactions of the Week
Multicultural breaks into television
| More... |
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| Stock Talk |
Stocks end week with gains
Stock traders were optimistic on Friday as some good news hit Wall Street. For example, McDonald's sales were higher than expected and, in the tech sector, Oracle made a bid for BEA Systems. Tech stocks were up strongly and the blue chips also benefited. The Dow Industrials rose 78 points, or 0.6%, to 14,093.
TV stocks had a mixed day. The best performer was Tribune, up 1.2%. The worst was Gray Television (common), down 2%.
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| Stocks |
Here's how stocks fared on Friday
| Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
Company |
Symbol |
Close |
Change |
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Acme
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ACME
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3.88
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+0.05
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Lincoln Natl.
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LNC
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68.86
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+0.40
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Belo
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BLC
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19.57
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-0.15
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LIN TV
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TVL
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13.60
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+0.09
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| CBS CI. B |
CBS |
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29.89
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-0.23
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McGraw-Hill
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MHP
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52.77
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-0.13
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| CBS CI. A |
CBSa |
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29.85
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-0.26
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Media General
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MEG
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29.20
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-0.54
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Clear Channel
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CCU
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37.78
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+0.15
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Meredith
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MDP
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58.97
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-0.22
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Disney
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DIS
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35.47
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+0.46
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News Corp.
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NWS
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24.34
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-0.06
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Emmis
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EMMS
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5.58
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+0.03
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Nexstar
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NXST
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9.86
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-0.08
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Entravision
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EVC
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9.99
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unch
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Ion Media
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ION
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1.38
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-0.02
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| Equity Media |
EMDA |
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2.95 |
+0.05 |
Saga Commun.
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SGA
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7.69
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-0.02
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Fisher
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FSCI
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49.40
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-0.17
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SBS
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SBSA
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2.70
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+0.07
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Gannett
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GCI
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44.31
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-0.73
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Scripps
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SSP
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42.67
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+0.11
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Gen. Electric
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GE
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41.03
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-0.57
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Sinclair
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SBGI
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12.80
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+0.03
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| Google |
GOOG |
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637.39
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-15.39
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SWMX
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SWMX
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0.04
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-0.01
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Gray
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GTN
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9.47
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-0.19
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Time Warner
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TWX
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18.98
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+0.02
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Gray, C1. A
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GTNa
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9.53
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-0.14
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Tribune
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TRB
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29.86
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+0.36
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Hearst-Argyle
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HTV
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25.04
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-0.26
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Wash. Post
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WPO
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802.03
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-2.18
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Journal Comm.
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JRN
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9.83
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+0.03
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Young
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YBTVA
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2.48
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-0.03
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Bounceback
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 We want to
hear from you.
This is your column, so send your comments and
a photo to tvnews@rbr.com
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Below the Fold
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Cable Business Report
Fox Business Network
Launches today Somehow, we can't imagine Neil Cavuto talking abut how to cut grocery bills...
Ad Business Report
Carat endorses
Commercial Minute Ratings as currency, Shari Anne Brill, SVP has issued an official white paper...
Media Markets & Money
In Schutz Liu trusts
Multicultural set to acquire KHIZ-TV/Indy 64 Bartow, CA, which is in the LA mkt,
Ratings & Research
Nielsen launches
DemoWatch, new feature of its web-based commercial tracking service KeepingTrac...
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Stations for Sale
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 Market your Stations For Sale
in our daily epapers.
Contact
June Barnes
jbarnes@rbr.com
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TV Media Moves
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Added to Patrick
Jill Davis has joined Patrick Communications as Chief Administrative officer. She was previously Marketing Coordinator for the Graduate School at Towson University.
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More News Headlines
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Modest September
sales gains reflect
conservative consumer
According to the National Retail Federation, retail industry sales for September (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) rose 2.2% unadjusted over last year and 0.2% seasonally adjusted from August. September retail sales released by the Commerce Department show total retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gasoline stations and restaurants) increased 0.6% seasonally adjusted from last month and 2.9% unadjusted year-over-year. While some categories fared well, unusually warm weather didn't help clothing and clothing accessories retailers whose sales increased a meager 0.3% unadjusted year-over-year and decreased 0.4% seasonally adjusted from August.
Consumer demand for popular electronics such as cell phones and MP3 players helped boost electronics and appliance stores sales 0.9% seasonally adjusted from August and 3.4% unadjusted year-over-year. Health and personal care stores also showed strength with seasonally adjusted sales from last month increasing 1.0% and 4.1% unadjusted year-over-year. Housing market concerns affected both building material and garden equipment and furniture and home furnishings retailers. Sales in home furnishings stores dropped 0.6% seasonally adjusted from August and 3.6% unadjusted over last year. Building materials stores sales increased 0.1% seasonally adjusted month-to-month and decreased 2.3% unadjusted year-over-year.
NBC snares Sen. Craig for primetime
NBC is reworking its Tuesday primetime schedule tomorrow to air the first network television interview of embattled Senator Larry Craig (R-ID). NBC News' Matt Lauer secured the exclusive and will interview Craig for the first time on network TV since he pled guilty following an arrest after controversial events in a Minnesota men's room this past summer. In September, Craig announced his intent to resign as Senator, but has now shelved his resignation and embarked on a legal war maintaining his innocence. Lauer will also interview the Senator's wife, Suzanne Craig, who will be speaking publicly for the first time about the incident and the events that followed. The special one-hour edition of "Matt Lauer Reports" will air on Tuesday, October 16th at 8:00 pm ET, preempting "The Spelling Bee" and reducing the scheduled 90 minutes of "The biggest Loser" to one hour. Additional coverage of the Lauer/Craig interview will be broadcast on "Today" on Wednesday, October 17th at 7:00 am ET. Coverage will also appear on MSNBC, and will be included online on MSNBC.com. David Corvo is the executive producer of "Matt Lauer Reports," and Jim Bell is the executive producer of "Today."
On the NARUC agenda
Everybody wants to get into the act. The National Association of REgulatory Utility Commissioners is holding its 2007 convention 11/11-14/07, and it has a lot on its plate. Climate change, energy efficiency, universal service, disaster communications, competitive gas markets...and the DTV transition. We're not sure just what NARUC has in mind on the topic, but any hand that helps move the ball forward is a good thing.
Ford hires former
Lexus chief
Ford has tapped Jim Farley to a new post as head of world-wide marketing and communications. Farley, the former head of Toyota's Lexus division and U.S. sales arm, is the third high-ranking US exec to leave Toyota in recent months. Farley will work with Ford's head of global product development, Derrick Kuzak. Ford spends more than 2 billion a year on advertising but has struggled to generate buzz for new models.
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RBR - Radio News
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Rehr opposes LPFM bill
NAB President/CEO David Rehr has fired off a letter to Senate Commerce Committee chair Daniel Inouye (D-HI) opposing S.1675, the Local Community Radio Act of 2007. He says it would allow thousands micro radio stations to come into existence on the basis of a flawed study, and says they will interfere with existing full-power FMs in third-channel adjacency restrictions are no longer observed. He suggested allowing the FCC to act on pending applications, and getting granted LPFM CPs built, before going further down the LPFM road. "Local broadcasters do not oppose the licensing of LPFM stations," he wrote. "We do oppose the introduction of thousands of micro-radio stations that would cause significant harmful interference to full power FM stations."
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TVBR Radar 2007
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Television News you won't read any where else. TVBR--First, Accurate, and Independently Owned.
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Martin pushes LPFM
and DTV leasing
How can the FCC help more small businesses get into the communications field? FCC Chairman Kevin Martin cited leasing of DTV multicast channels and low power FM stations as opportunities for small businesses.
TVBR observation: What? Does the Chairman of the FCC not know that no business, large or small, can own an LPFM? They are strictly non-commercial and must be owned by a qualified non-profit organization.
10/12/07 TVBR #200
Doldrums likely to continue
Wall Street analysts were not surprised by the 1% drop in radio revenues for August (10/11/07 RBR #199), nor are they encouraged by what they see in the advertising marketplace now. Bank of America, Jonathan Jacoby has lowered his September estimate to down 1% and sees that trend continuing into October and Q4. CL King, Jim Boyle says early September pacings appear to be weak.
RBR observation: So far 2007 has produced only three months where radio revenues were up from a year earlier. If Jacoby's predictions come true, the best we will see for the rest of the year is a flat December. That would take the tally for the year to eight down, three up and one flat. Ouch! Details of what was reported see RBR
10/12/07 RBR #200
No LA Times sale says Zell
Several rich locals have expressed and interest in buying the Los Angeles Times, but Zell says he has no plans to sell - unless someone really wants to pay a strong price. Zell has insisted all along that keeping together the broadcast-newspaper crossownership combos of Tribune Company is key to growing the company going forward. So far, since he became an investor and a member of the board, all that Tribune Company has put up for sale is the Chicago Cubs and its studio complex in LA.
TVBR observation: Although traders are worried about Tribune being able to hold the financing together in the current credit climate, we think the bigger problem is getting FCC approval of the crossownership waivers - and particularly getting them in a timely manner. Despite general Democratic Party opposition to media consolidation and waivers for big media companies, Tribune was able to line up Capitol Hill support, particularly from the Illinois delegation, from both sides of the isle. But as the election season draws nearer, it will be increasingly difficult to get the FCC to go out on a limb and grant a pile of waivers for one company. It doesn't help that Commissioner Michael Copps (D) recently expressed public concerns about granting waivers to Tribune. Copps appears to be frustrated that he is powerless to do anything about News Corporation acquiring Dow Jones & Com! pany, a media merger he clearly detests, so that could make him more likely to wield the power he does have - against the Tribune-Zell deal.
10/11/07 TVBR #199
Peacock gets Oxygen for 925M
NBC Universal is adding to its stable of cable networks with a 925 million bucks deal to acquire Oxygen Media. The women-oriented cable network was launched in 2000. The cable networks are a growth area for NBC Uni. They account for 50% of the company's profits. Jeff Zucker states, This acquisition increases our foothold in the advertiser-coveted young, upscale, female demographic, and perfectly complements our current roster of cable channels and plays to our strength of running and operating cable networks."
10/10/07 TVBR #198
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