Could the fourth quarter become a challenge for the nation's biggest cable operator?

On Thursday, Tom Eagan of Collins Stewart released new projections that suggest bigger basic video subscriber losses and smaller phone customer additions for Comcast in the fourth quarter. In his note, the analyst said he expects the sluggish subscriber trends due to higher voluntary and involuntary churn as well as lower gross adds for the three-month period.

"With its subscriber base dispersed both geographically and demographically, increases in bad debt and housing foreclosures have both contributed to involuntary service disruption," Eagan said. "Also, despite an increase in HD choices, Comcast's fewer HD channels contribute to subscribers volunteering to switch to satellite. Additionally, we expect wireless substitution to impact fourth quarter phone gross adds."

Eagan said he expects basic video subscriber net losses for the fourth quarter to total 125,000, up from a previous estimate of 90,000. Comcast lost 147,000 basic subscribers in the third quarter, topping Eagan's 85,000 basic subscriber loss projection for the period.

"The company conceded that increased competition has impacted its gross adds, most notably the impact that the expanded AT&T U-verse footprint build-out is having on its basic video additions," Eagan said.

Eagan said he expects phone net customer additions for the fourth quarter to total 399,000, down from a previous estimate of 569,000.

The federal court handling the ongoing TiVo/DISH Network litigation has pushed the case into 2009, scheduling a bench trial on the matter for Feb. 17-18. More details in today's SkyREPORT --- The Senate passed legislation that would provide a voluntary short-term extension to analog broadcasts after the digital TV transition in February. Under the bill, analog broadcast signals would deliver public safety announcements and provide information about the digital transition for 30 days. Reportedly, the Bush Administration likes the analog extension --- According to press reports, Meredith Attwell Baker of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration said the government's DTV converter box coupon program has seen 14.5 million coupons redeemed and more than 35 million distributed to more than 19 million households.

It appears things aren't getting any easier for the big three automakers. And those Detroit struggles could have an impact on the multiplatform ad scene.

According to research released earlier in the week from Nielsen Monitor Plus, the automakers - General Motors, Ford and Chrysler - all showed negative advertising growth between January and July. Ford and Chrysler each spent 22 percent less on advertising, while GM dropped ad spending by 6 percent, states the firm's numbers.

It was an opposite situation for a handful of foreign automakers. Honda added the most advertising dollars between January and July, putting in an extra $71.5 million in advertising, representing a 13 percent jump. Daimler (48 percent) and Volkswagen (23 percent) showed the most growth percentage-wise for the period, says Nielsen.

Not all foreign automakers jumped advertising spending during the first half of 2007. Hyundai's spending dropped by 17 percent and Nissan's spending fell 15 percent. Toyota's numbers remained unchanged.

Overall, the numbers reflect a 10 percent dip in advertising spending across the entire auto industry through July, says Nielsen.

Major League Baseball has signed a multi-year contract for capacity on Intelsat's Galaxy 17 satellite. The capacity will be used to transmit standard and high-def programming for MLB Network, which will launch in about 50 million cable and satellite TV homes on Jan. 1 --- The HDNet Concert Series will present "Cowboy Junkies: Trinity Revisited," live Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern. The band will perform with special guests Ryan Adams, Natalie Merchant, Vic Chesnutt and Jeff Bird ---  Smithsonian Channel named Thought Equity Motion as its licensing partner to make available footage from its programming content for use by other producers.

Jon Gieselman, senior vice president of advertising and public relations at DIRECTV, was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Achievement, which recognizes young advertising professionals, age 40 and under, who have made a significant impact on the industry though their leadership and career achievements --- Eddie Dalva was named senior vice president of content at MTV Networks Entertainment Group. Dalva's primary focus will be Spike TV, although he will also represent sister networks TV Land and Comedy Central in certain instances, the programmer said --- Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) won his quest to become chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.