Audio Video News

Television broadcasters could soon legally own and operate multiple stations within one market, under regulations being considered by the <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov/">Federal Communications Commission</A>. At present, FCC rules allow only one station per owner per market (a market being defined as a geographical area within transmitter range). The proposed changes were submitted for review by the FCC's Mass Media Bureau to the commissioners on Monday, July 19.

Rupert Murdoch may get another shot at DirecTV. On October 9, the News Corp. CEO won a second chance to acquire the direct broadcast satellite operation from General Motors' Hughes Electronics division when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) declined to approve a proposed $13 billion acquisition of DirecTV by Littleton, CO&ndash;based EchoStar Communications.

New broadband offerings, including high-speed Internet access and video-on-demand, may be coming soon, thanks to an April 18 decision by the <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov">Federal Communications Commission</A> (FCC).

The new management at the Federal Communications Commission isn't taking the CableCARD snafu lying down. They want to make new rules to foster card adoption--and they've also got ideas on what the card's successor may look like.

Following a long and contentious debate, the Federal Communications Commission has OKed the merger of the Sirius and XM satellite radio networks. The immediate effect of this controversial move will be a monopoly in consumer satellite radio service. However, the two money-losing companies have long said that only a merger would allow them to cut costs, make money, and survive in the longterm.

Back in 1996, when Congress set the timetable for digital television, one of the provisions left open for later discussion was fees the <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov/">Federal Communications Commission</A> (FCC) would levy on broadcasters who charged for new pay-TV programming. The deadline for converting to DTV was set to be the year 2006, but how much should the government be compensated for special content such as HDTV movies, stock quotes, or other fee-based services that a broadcaster might charge for?

Shame on you, RadioShack. And you too, HH Gregg, FYE, Fred Meyer Stores, Ultimate Electronics, and Boscov's. You've been selling analog televisions without adequately warning consumers that these sets are about to become obsolete with the end of analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009. That's why the Federal Communications Commission has just slapped you with $96,000 in fines. Not much, admittedly, but it's a start.