Big Media

Free Press: Comcast/NBC Universal Merger Bad for the Public Interest

Moira Vahey — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:02:46 -0400

WASHINGTON -- According to news reports, Comcast may soon move one step closer toward taking a controlling interest in NBC Universal. Shareholders of Vivendi, which owns 20 percent of NBC Universal, are expected to meet on Wednesday to consider selling their stake in the company.

Is Comcast on the Prowl for Big Media?

Lindsy Embree — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:41:03 -0400

Full article: Reuters
Franklin Paul
Comcast made a bold $54 billion bid for Walt Disney Co. in 2004. It failed -- but there are those who wonder if the cable provider might be considering a play for another media giant. Stockholders, who have watched the value of Comcast shares shrink to historical lows, might not be so thrilled about such a move.

Powerful Forces at Work Between Big Media, Telecom and Technology

Lindsy Embree — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:05:36 -0400

Full article: Telephony Online
Steven Hawley
The transformation of the media to digital has been a high-stakes war with many battles. Advancing technologies have been a strategic weapon used by media companies and device suppliers, and broadband service providers are often caught in the middle. Consumer interests are often an unintended casualty.

Fairness Doctrine 'Debate' Goes Off the Deep End

Holiday Shapiro — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:43:53 -0500

Full article: Huffington Post
Craig Aaron
The Fairness Doctrine is dead. But some Republicans are still trying to prop up the issue and parade it around in a tired political theater production of <em>Weekend at Bernie's</em>.

Why Big Media Must Embrace Innovation

Holiday Shapiro — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:18:58 -0500

Full article: Contentinople
R. Scott Raynovich
If large media companies want to survive this recession, they are going to have to take advantage of the situation: Use the depressed landscape to change strategy. If these companies can stabilize their finances and carve out a new strategy to innovate, they may have a shot at survival.

A SAG Strike Won't Cripple TV

Holiday Shapiro — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:50:15 -0500

Full article: Los Angeles Times
Scott Collins
Dark clouds of labor trouble are again closing in on Hollywood. But the environment for the TV industry looks considerably different than it did when the writers' strike began a little more than a year ago. That's because a larger number of shows this time around simply wouldn't be affected.

A Blow to Big Media's Internet Claims

Holiday Shapiro — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:26:16 -0500

Full article: StopBigMedia.com
Adam Lynn
Big Media's favorite scapegoat is the Internet. Broadcasters cry that the Net is stealing their viewers. But a new study by Nielsen reveals that consumers do not use the Internet as a substitute to traditional television watching, but as a complement.

Election Puts Tech and Movies on Opposite Paths

Holiday Shapiro — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:02:43 -0500

Full article: Public Knowledge
Art Brodsky
Two industries find themselves in different directions after the election. The Internet/tech industry is on the way up. The big content companies are at a crossroads, stuck in neutral while being buffeted by lots of competing forces.

Big Media Coming Apart at the Seams

Stevie Converse — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:38:28 -0400

Full article: Media Post
Diane Mermigas
Big media isn't just being ravaged by recession; it's being sacked by a technological transformation of enormous proportions. They're hamstrung between deteriorating traditional costs and revenues and evolving digital business models that do not offset the losses.

Big Media. Bad Idea

Stevie Converse — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:25:58 -0400

Full article: Portfolio
Sophia Banay
Ask any shareholder not named Murdoch or Redstone -- big media just isn't working. How about small media? Or at least smaller media?