3D Doomsayers

Lots of doomsayers out on the 3D front yesterday as: 

• BTIG's Richard Greenfield says the American consumer is rejecting 3D at the movies.   About the canard that 3D has been held back by "too few screens," Greenfield notes: "In the past year, 3D screen count has more than doubled from over 4,000 to north of 8,500 ... (But) 3D share of box office has started to decline."  Find the post here.

• Researchers at Ovum say, "When asked to rate their strategic priorities for 2011, senior IT and business executives rated “production of 3D content and/or launch of 3D channels” as the lowest priority for strategic investment. 53% of respondents said 3D content production was “not an important business consideration.” Meanwhile, no broadcasters in Europe or North America viewed 3D as a “critical investment area”.  (Find the release here.)

However, on the bright side of 3D, we also have two content items: 

• 3net says it will roll out more than 30 hours of original, native 3D content in June.

• Penthouse recently signed a deal for a second European Penthouse 3D channel via SES Astra.•

Etc: Nielsen in Your Brain – "Greater Flexibility" for MSS – ESPN's "Frat House"

Stuff to Scare You:  Nielsen wants into your brain as it agrees to acquire NeuroFocus, a group which applies neuroscience to advertising, media and brand research. --- The EMR Policy Institute warns the FCC that widespread wireless broadband will make people sick. --- It's not just T-Mobile ... AT&T is looking to suck up additional wireless spectrum via a spate of (much) smaller applications with the FCC.  (See the story in Ars Technica here.) --- Bumper sticker report:  "At Least the War on the Middle Class Is Going Well." 

SkyREPORT:  The FCC's Julius Genachowski told TIA 2011 that "giving greater flexibility to bands like Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) to permit terrestrial broadband use" is one key to unlocking the "enormous" opportunities of mobile broadband.  Sat companies holding MSS spectrum sent up a cheer.  --- A deal between Eutelsat's Skylogic and TeliaSonera will bring Eutelsat's next-gen Tooway satellite broadband service to Finland. --- Broadcom has launched its next-gen satellite set-top box system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution. --- Iridium is pushing its "Test Your Satellite Phone Week" this week as it reminds sat phone users about the importance of preparedness. --- Arianespace's Ariane 5 workhorse successfully took SingTel's and Chunghwa's ST-2 and the Indian Space Research Organization's GSAT-8 satellites into space on Friday evening.

Online:  Hulu Plus is now available to TiVo subs with TiVo Premiere boxes.  Six months of free Hulu Plus is the carrot for new box purchasers.

Programming: DISH has added another donation option, this one targeted for the victims of the devastating tornado in Joplin, MO.  By clicking "Donate Storm Relief" on channels 1 or 501 customers can make a $5 donation to the American Red Cross. --- Citing "tremendous growth in our Spanish-language subscriber base," Verizon has added five more Spanish-language channels to its FiOS TV lineup. The new channels – including CentroAmerica TV, Latele Novela Network, Pasiones, Teleamazones Internacional and Vme Kids –  take  FiOS's Spanish-language line up to 39 channels.  

Analyze This Redux (in case you missed it from The Evening BRIDGE): Sony, ahead of an official report Thursday, is projecting a $3.2B loss for the year ended 03/31, down from a projected $860M profit ... thanks to an earthquake and an already booked tax credit. --- BTIG’s Rich Greenfield likes Cablevision Systems and AMC Networks pegging the former (post-AMC-spin) at target $30 and the latter at $12. --- In one of those “born-to-be” deals, Sinclair acquired the Ring of Honor wrestling franchise. --- Citadel’s Shing Yin outlines a couple of spectrum plays for Clearwire and Sprint: (1) Clearwire owns network, pays rent to Sprint; (2) Sprint owns the network, pays Clearwire for spectrum.  Both OK. --- Citadel’s Vijay Jayant has Sirius XM at neutral citing the earthquake in Japan; but likes Liberty Media with a target of $96.

Folks:  TV One's new president/CEO will be former Discovery Channel and Science EVP Wonya Lucas.  She takes over from Johnathan Rodgers who is retiring. --- Cindy Freed is new VP/Sales Marketing for ESPN’s Customer Marketing and Sales group. --- Rick Alessandri has joined Univision as SVP of Business Development. --- Former Sony Pictures Television SVP Tal Rabinowitz will replace Jeff Ingold as EVP/comedy programming at NBCU.

Heads-Up Redux (in case you missed it from The Evening BRIDGE): Coming on Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday tomorrow, the book that will own hallways and water coolers thru the weekend is “Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN” by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller.  Meanwhile, everyone in sports will be reading our friend John Ourand’s pieces in today’s Sports Business Journal ... in addition to excerpts of the book, John covers Dick Ebersol’s abrupt exit from NBCUniversal.  Entertainment Weekly has a bit here.   (Read on for the frat house.)
 
Tech:  The Internet Society (ISOC) is coordinating a 24-hour test of IPv6, the next-generation Internet Protocol, on World IPv6 Day, June 8, 2011. Entities around the world will test the compatibility of web sites and associated networking technologies with IPv6, which allows for additional internet addresses.  Among the cable operators who will conduct subscriber tests are Bright House Networks, Charter, Comcast, Cox, GCI and Time Warner Cable.

Get tomorrow's headlines today with The Evening BRIDGE ... every weekday, after the Bell.•

ADVERTORIAL: CABLE HALL OF FAME CELEBRATION TO FEATURE REALITY TV STARS BILL AND GIULIANA RANCIC AND FABULOUS AFTER PARTY!

Bill and Giuliana Rancic, stars of The Style Network’s hit reality series "Giuliana & Bill," will emcee the 14th annual Cable Hall of Fame Celebration on Tuesday, June 14 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers.

Several years after his introduction to America as Donald Trump’s original Apprentice, Bill Rancic continues his commitment to entrepreneurship throughout the country. He regularly appears in "The Board Room" on NBC’s primetime show "The Apprentice," produces and stars in the A&E series "We Mean Business," and is the executive producer of "Repo Man" on Discovery Channel.  Highly engaged in charitable activities, Bill was recently named national spokesperson for Gradiant Gives Back, and is also a board member for the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.  

Giuliana Rancic is an entertainment journalist, fashion and beauty expert and television personality with two million followers on Twitter.  She is the co-anchor of E! News alongside Ryan Seacrest and is the co-star of E!’s "Fashion Police" team with Joan Rivers.  Giuliana recently launched FabFitFun.com, and is a weekly fashion contributor for OK! Magazine.  Giuliana is a board member for the National Italian American Foundation, and does charity work for Operation Smile, Dress For Success, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago and the Children’s Miracle Networks.  

The gala Cable Hall of Fame Celebration will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by a dinner and the induction ceremony.  The Cable Hall of Fame event program will also include the presentation of the inaugural Bresnan Ethics in Business Award, honoring the late William J. Bresnan, to Robert J. Miron. Plus! Don’t miss the fabulous “Chicago Vibe” After Party at the trendy Chi Bar, one flight down from the ballroom, beginning at 9:30 PM.

The Cable Hall of Fame is presented by Cablevision Systems Corp.  and Rainbow Media, and also sponsored by NBCUniversal, Fox Networks, CommScope, iN DEMAND, Discovery Communications, A&E Television Networks, and MTV Networks.  

For table and ticket information, visit www.cablehalloffame.com today.•