NAB Convention Notebook...
Among many unsolved issues on the FCC’s plate, the DTV transition is a big one, said FCC Comr. Adelstein at the NAB convention. “Of particular concern is channel assignments,” Adelstein said. Another is interference from unlicensed devices, which he suggested should be tested in rural areas: “It’s possible we could be more aggressive in rural areas on unlicensed devices. We don’t want to do it at the expense of broadcasters. But I think it makes sense to start out in rural areas.” He characterized telecom efforts to migrate into broadcast as “one of the greatest developments since satellite radio.” But on satellite radio, Adelstein said the true “hallmark” of HD radio is local content not available over satellite radio. On indecency, NTIA Dir. Michael Gallagher said President Bush has made it “very clear” parents should have the tools to weed out unwanted content. -- TP
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Now is the time for broadcasters to take chances on the HD content they provide, said Mark Cuban, pres. Of HDNet. Speaking at the NAB convention, Cuban said one of the most “completely underappreciated” areas of HD content is broadcast news, particularly national news. “The sound and the picture quality of HD tell the story. With the pope’s death you don’t need a talking head to tell that people are upset. You can see the tears,” Cuban said. He said his company, a national TV network transmitting all its programming in 1080i, provided news coverage of the Iraqi elections and the death of Pope John Paul II, and received an “amazing” response.
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Registration at the NAB convention was 104,427 by the close of business Tues., up from final attendance of 97,544 last year. International attendees were at 23,401 Tues., up from 22,320 in 2004.
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Five critics, including FCC Comr. Adelstein, hectored local TV stations, alleging they don’t fulfill their public interest obligations. But they were speaking mostly to themselves, with only 6 reporters at hand, during a Las Vegas news conference Tues. afternoon. Meredith McGehee of the Public Airwaves, Public Interest Coalition accused broadcasters of “gambling with our democracy” while Celia Wexler, Common Cause vp-advocacy, charged the industry with “casino capitalism.” She said Congress should reduce a TV station’s license term from 8 years to the 3 years it once was, to “increase broadcaster accountability.” They said local TV stations don’t provide adequate coverage of candidates for local and state office. Adelstein -- along with the absent Comr. Copps, who issued a statement -- criticized the Commission for failing to specify broadcasters’ public interest obligations, “particularly as they transition to digital technology,” in Adelstein’s words. In return for free use of the digital spectrum, “as well as the additional capabilities it offers, broadcasters certainly must provide something back to the public.” Copps said ownership concentration is “homogenizing our entertainment and dramatically diminishing our democratic dialogue.” Another absent commentator, head of the Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ and ex-FCC Comr. Gloria Tristani said broadcasters are in Las Vegas “to plan and execute how to exploit and profit from the unharnessed potential” that the digital transition offers them.
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Media Access Project (MAP) Pres. Andrew Schwartzman served on an NAB convention panel Mon. for the first time, after years of trying. He was invited by Marsha McBride, ex-FCC chief of staff who now heads legal and regulatory affairs for the NAB. Schwartzman paid his own way to Las Vegas, but the NAB provided a free hotel room.