MVPD Workarounds

Another attempt at an MVPD workaround has surfaced with New York based startup Bamboom. The company plans to launch a programming service using an array of one-per-customer "teeny-tiny HD antennas."  It's legitimized, they say, by Cablevision's networked DVR court win. For more from arstechnica, go here. ---  In another kind of MVPD workaround (most of them won't carry it), Al Jazeera is looking to boost its audience online with The Stream, "a social media community with its only daily television program" on Al Jazeera English.  The TV premiere is May 2; a preview is here.•

DIRECTV Launches Home Premiere

DIRECTV's premium VOD service launches this week with new movies ~60 days from theatrical release) costing $29.99 for 48-hour windows.  Upcoming on the DTV Home Premiere service are Sony's "Just Go With It," Universal's The "Adjustment Bureau," Fox's "Cedar Rapids" and Warner's "Hall Pass."   Flixster's Tomatometer audience ratings for these are (respectively) 72%, 69%, 77% and 55% (as of Tuesday afternoon).•

Etc: As News Corp. Turns – Beltway Blues – Satellite Broadband Protests

As News Corp. Turns:  More fun with those good folks from News Corp. as employees of two small town newspapers owned by Roger and Elizabeth Ailes are in revolt after learning they've been spied on by News Corp. security.  (Maybe their cell phones got tapped too, a la News Corp's News of the World scandal in London?)  Don't miss this drama filled story as reported by Gawker here. 

Beltway:  The NCTA, again, says some RUS broadband projects are being built in areas already served. --- Google says the FCC takes too long to make decisions. 

SkyREPORT:  DISH Network, EchoStar, Hughes and ViaSat/WildBlue want the FCC to give more thought to satellite broadband as a part of a broadband-oriented universal service program.  Noted the group, "Contrary to assumptions in the NPRM and the National Broadband Plan, capacity limitations provide no basis to exclude satellite broadband providers from direct participation in Phase I of the Connect America Fund (“CAF”) or for limiting participation in Phase II." Here's hoping they listen. --- Satellite rocker Harry Thibedeau is headed back to Kourou for the rescheduled launch of the Yahsat-1A and Intelsat/New Dawn satellites via Ariane 5.  Launch is scheduled for around 5:30 ET on Friday with Harry doing the English webcast.  You can find it here. --- NASA has awarded contracts to four companies to help the nation move forward in space.   The companies and their awards are:   Blue Origin ($22M); Sierra Nevada ($80M); Space Exploration Technologies (aka SpaceX - $75M); and Boeing ($92.3M).

Folks:  FCC Commissioner Michael Copps' chief of staff John Guisti will leave the Commission to serve as head of spectrum for GSMA, a global trade association of mobile operators.  He'll be replaced by Mark Stone, who has been with the Commission since 1994.

Letter to the Editor:  In response to our comments on the latest DISH rumor:

Realizing that Charlie Ergen does nothing unless he can make a profit, or so goes his public persona, I believe Ergen may sell if the price was right.

In business, everything is for sale, well almost, to the right entity with the right amount of money.

I also know that Ergen has a very large ego. That ego may be dented if he does indeed sell Dish Network.

So there ya have it. My $0.02

Ken Young

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