Category: media

“The 700 MHz spectrum, being vacated by TV stations as they go digital, is coveted for its ability to penetrate walls and other obstacles. Under FCC chairman Kevin Martin’s proposal, to be circulated in the agency as early as Tuesday, mobile services in these airwaves would have to allow consumer choice. ‘Whoever wins this spectrum has to provide … truly open broadband network — one that will open the door to a lot of innovative services for consumers,’ Martin said in an interview Monday.”

“When is open access not open access? That’s easy: When it’s being promoted by the FCC. Or more specifically by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, who earlier this week floated the rules he’d like to set for the upcoming auction of prime UHF spectrum.” Turns out the “open network” might not be so open after all.

West Virginia senator Jay Rockefeller on Thursday introduced legislation that would allow regulators to follow through on a new rule that says expletives uttered on broadcast television are a violation of TV decency standards.

“The new Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, has taken a record-breaking $12m at midnight screenings in the US. The figure is the most made at the box office for a Wednesday opening midnight run.”

“Why are these canny investors putting their millions into radio? Because they believe in the digital future, where, within the next five years, it is confidently predicted every television will be digital, every home have broadband. Radio will be something you download, time-shift, available through many devices other than that crackly old set that sits in your kitchen with flour on its face. They can also see that UK commercial radio is a business in decline. Some experts believe this is because there are too many stations, too much regulation, unfair competition from a BBC with its secure funding and freedom to change.”

“The executives stopped short of saying they would demand an immediate end to residual payments in the upcoming, probably difficult negotiations with writers, actors and directors. But they were emphatic in calling for the dismantling of a system under which specific payments are made when movies and showsare released on DVD, shown abroad or otherwise resold. Instead, they want to pool such revenue and recover their costs before sharing any of the profit with the talent.”

Pennsylvania lawmakers are working on a deal which would substantially increase tax breaks and other incentives for film crews wanting to shoot in the Keystone State. “To qualify, 60 percent of film expenditures (on wardrobe, transportation, food, lighting and such) would have to be in the state. Of that spending, productions could get up to 25 percent back in tax rebates.”

“If you look at film and popular music… there is almost no correlation between what critics say and what the public buys.” But when it comes to video games, critical opinion and public consumption mirror each other to a shocking degree. So “are gamers actually more discerning than consumers of other media? Or is it just that game critics have more in common with game players than film and music reviewers do with the unwashed masses? And is this good or bad for the creative health of video games?”

Increasingly consumers want to have control of their own entertainment. Now planes and hotels are stepping up to try to cater to this. “While it is too early to say that the offerings have significantly changed, some companies are starting to compete with — or at least cater to — the average consumer’s entertainment arsenal.”

“The video game that’s been dominating my life lately doesn’t have drive-by shootings, alien invasions or any more animation than the typical business card. There are no human voices, and the soundtrack resembles 1980s elevator music. If a single explosion appeared during the game, it was the result of the clue: ’17 Across: mushroom cloud, for one.'”