Broadcasters that go private would reduce their financial transparency, a phenomenon media activists said may subject such deals to scrutiny by parties fearing consolidation. More publicly traded companies are seeking to exit the business or be taken private as stock prices suffer from increased rivalry by Internet and other media (CD Oct 30 p3). Private firms need not disclose quarterly profit and other financial results under SEC rules.
The FCC is overstepping its authority in an inquiry of video news releases (VNRs), said RTNDA. It called the effort unconstitutional govt. oversight of newsroom decisionmaking. It’s legal for TV stations to air such promotional materials as long as they aren’t paid for them, the group said in response to a private report that found 77 TV stations had aired VNRs without disclosing them (CD April 7 p5). Media activists involved in the April report said they disagreed.
Changes at LIN TV: Douglas McCormick, ex-iVillage, and Mitchell Stern, ex-DirecTV, join board; Gregory Schmidt promoted to exec. vp-digital media; Scott Blumenthal, to exec. vp-TV; Edward Munson, to vp-station sales; Denise Parent, to vp-gen. counsel… Rainbow promotes Bill Rosolie to exec. vp-national network ad sales… Satoshi Ikeuchi, ex- Photonics Systems Group, joins Fujitsu Network Communications as pres.-CEO, replacing Takanobu Yoden, retiring… Changes at Motient: Robert Brumley moves from subsidiary TerreStar Networks to become pres.-CEO; Neil Hazard, ex-TerreStar, becomes exec. vp, CFO and treas.; Jeffrey Epstein, ex- Capitol One Financial, named gen. counsel and secy.
FCC Chmn. Martin gives great weight to opinions from top advisers who, in the eyes of many, play more crucial a role in Commission work than predecessors in previous administrations. While others vie for the list, here, based on numerous interviews with former and current FCC officials, is Martin’s inner circle:
Ex-FCC Comr. Henry Rivera heads a 4-lawyer group leaving Washington law firm Vinson & Elkins Fri. to join the Wiley Rein & Fielding (WRF) communications practice. Rivera will become a WRF partner, as will Mark Lipp. Scott Woodworth becomes an assoc.; Edgar Class, of counsel. Lipp and Class also were at the FCC. WRF will be Rivera’s 5th firm since he left the Commission in 1985, and he will become WRF’s 5th ex- commissioner. “Dick [Wiley] and I have talked on and off for years about joining forces and just decided the time was right,” Rivera told us: “It’s a dream come true.” Clients moving to WRF from Vinson & Elkins include Clear Channel, Cumulus Bcstg., Moinet Communications and First Bcstg. A lawyer said Rivera’s joining the predominantly Republican firm will give it better political balance. “That’s the whole communications group at Vinson & Elkins,” the source said.
Additions at Wiley Rein & Fielding from Vinson & Elkins’ Washington office: Ex-FCC Comr. Henry Rivera and Mark Lipp, ex-FCC, as partners; Edgar Class, ex-FCC, of counsel; Scott Woodworth as associate… XM Canada names Donald McKenzie, ex-Clearnet, senior vp-sales & mktg… Jacques Natz, ex-WTHR- TV Indianapolis, joins Hearst Argyle TV as dir.-digital media content… Comcast promotes Tim Fitzpatrick to Comcast SportNet vp-communications… Patrick Fitzsimmons promoted at wireless broadband firm Alternet to pres.; Pres. Michael Dearden returns to dir… Hallmark Channel promotes Leonard Rivera to dir.-information technology.
PBS will keep giving stations bleeped and unedited versions of shows it believes could run afoul of FCC indecency rules, Vp Lea Sloan said: “We will continue looking at shows and in cases we where we think it’s appropriate we will be offering two versions.” PBS eased editing curbs it imposed on programmers after talks with producers, regulators and stations (CD Aug 11 p4). Some stations feel certain words are inappropriate in any context for their audiences and markets, Louis Wiley, exec. editor of WGBH Boston’s Frontline said, supporting distribution of 2 versions of edgy programming. “I honor local decisions,” he said: “This is the proper thing to do.”
USTelecom’s lobbying bill was 8 times higher in 2005 than in 2002, thanks to telecom reform bills, filings with the Secretary of the Senate showed. NCTA lobbying outlays rose 68% in the same period, a notable gain for a sector typically not maintaining a strong presence on Capitol Hill because it’s lightly regulated. The lobbying disclosure reports, which must be filed twice a year, list contacts with House and Senate members and federal agencies.
PBS said it’s easing its editing requirements for producers after reviewing its indecency guidelines with stations managers, producers and regulators. The decision isn’t “directly” related to Pres. Paula Kerger’s recent meetings with FCC commissioners, Vp Lea Sloan told us. The network also filed as an amicus curiae seeking review of the FCC’s proposed a $15,000 fine against KCSM-TV San Mateo for carrying the PBS documentary The Blues: Godfathers and Sons, whose audio track includes “fuck” and “shit.”
The Senate shut down for Aug. recess early Fri. without passing the telecom bill (HR-5252), despite Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens’ (R-Alaska) week-long drive to round up the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster. On Tues. Steven was somewhat optimistic, he told reporters after the Republican policy lunch. “I think I've got them, but I'm not sure yet.”