Staggering New Retransmission Figures

A new study shows more than 30 cable networks have margins of 50% or more. If that isn't eye-opening enough, the report also says the number of nets that will top the 50% margin threshold could nearly double to 58 by the year 2015.

According to new SNL Kagan data, Nickelodeon is the fattest of the fat with a 64.6% margin followed by the Food Network at 60.5%. Rounding out the top 10 networks are: NBCU's CNBC World and CNBC at 59.9% each; Viacom’s VH1 Classic (59.3%); Discovery's TLC (58.7%); The Disney Channel (57.7%); Scripps' HGTV (57.1%); the Discovery Channel (57%); and AMC Network's AMC at 55.4%.

The research firm says the average margin on all cable nets in 2010 was an "amazing" 41% given the number of established (and emerging) networks with negative and low cash flow margins. In addition, the report says, "sports networks typically have lower cash flow margins than general entertainment and other genres."

Why is that? Ask the NFL. A separate report is saying the league is on the verge of inking new deals with all of its broadcast partners "that will result in massive rights fee increases of more than 60% across the board."

The Sports Business Journal is reporting that for the first time, each of the broadcast networks are expected to pay an annual average of at least $1B for the right to carry NFL games. The pub says the projected total from its deals with CBS, Fox and NBC will land the league more than $24B over the next 8 years.

"Combined with ESPN’s annual average of $1.8B a year for Monday Night Football, DIRECTV’s out-of-market Sunday Ticket deal, the league’s planned Thursday night game package ... Sirius Satellite Radio, Westwood One radio and Verizon's mobile deal, the NFL could wind up generating close to $7B annually in national media revenue starting in 2014," SBJ writes. The total represents a staggering 64% increase over the $4.28B the NFL tackled away from national media before its most recent negotiations. •

OTT Round-Up: Data, Cable & Xbox

New research suggests only a fraction of consumers that own a connected TV device actually hook it up to the internet to create a true OTT play. Despite the hurdle, new research says multiscreen revenues are poised to hit $21B by 2015 pushed largely by internet VOD and electronic sell-throughs.

"OTT video is continuing to grow, overcoming the barriers of low device connect rates and cumbersome user interfaces,” says Keith Nissen, research director of In-Stat. But "even stronger growth of I-VOD and EST video services is possible if device manufacturers and digital retailers can put together a simpler, plug-n-play solution for getting online video to the TV."

Enter Microsoft and its Xbox 360 gaming console. The company made official this week the launch of its advanced TV technology for the Xbox with 1) Kinect motion-sensing/voice recognition controls and 2) integrated Bing search functions. The tech world is raving about the product … as the NY Times says Microsoft is legitimately taking on the 'cable box.'

Other news from the OTT industry includes: Rogers has teamed up with Microsoft to launch the Rogers On Demand app on Xbox 360 in Canada. --- NetGear expanded its premium content channels available to the NeoTV console, including Best Buy's CinemaNow service. New features include: Film Fresh (international movies), Databazaar (Bollywood), web TV channels (Discovery, PBS, G4, MTV Buzz, CNET and others) casual games and more international programs. --- Netflix launched a seasonal grouping called 'Holiday Favorites' across all its partnered devices featuring holiday movies. •

Etc.: AppleTV Won't Be Cheap - FCC: Cooper Is News - DIRECTV Tuner Rumor

Analyze This: Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster says if (when) Apple launches its long-rumored Apple-branded TV it will cost double that of a competitors' equivalent set. Said the entire tech-buying world: No d'uh. --- Talk about predictions! IDC says next year Microsoft will buy Netflix and LinkedIn to increase its presence in social networking and online content. Read more. --- In context of TWC & Viacom's recent iPad streaming dispute, ISI's Vijay Jayant ponders if Slingbox is on the verge of greatness. The analyst says that it's consumers, not gatekeepers, who are increasingly leveraging new technology and it's up to the media industry to adapt (and embrace) the IP-based future. "Sling's real power, in our view, is its capability in extending viewership outside the home," he says. And even though no one has ever really challenged its technology in court (a possible outcome in an industry not shy of litigation), "we recommend you put the $99 (Sling)box at the top of your holiday wish list." --- Not news from the Street, but a sort of analysis all the same: AdWeek's Hot List has a number of the usual cable net other media suspects here. 

In Court: A U.S. judge denied Apple's request for a preliminary injunction against four Samsung products that it claims infringes upon its patents last week. As a result, the Galaxy S 4G, Infuse 4G, Droid Charge, and Galaxy Tab 10.1 will remain on store shelves in the States while the two sides continue their legal battle. PC Mag has more. --- Citing a contrary opinion from the D.C. Circuit, the NAB is taking the Third Circuit court's decision to uphold FCC media ownership rules to the Supreme Court.  

Rules & Regs: The FCC ruled that Anderson Cooper's syndicated talk show qualifies as a news program and thus is exempt from obligations of equal air time to opposing political candidates. --- Reports say the FCC will seek public comment on a "far-reaching" proposal to push minority media ownership dubbed the Media Incubator. Politic365 has details.

M&A: Facebook acquired location-based social service Gowalla for an undisclosed amount Monday. Details here.

Gov't: The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee will hold an executive session Thursday to consider the nominees to the FCC and FTC. --- Homeland Security's ICE unit seized a handful of domain names from movie download sites based in Korea. TorrentFreak has the story. --- The Justice Department has given the green light to Google's $400 million acquisition of AdMeld, a major display advertising company that helps online publishers sell their ads.

Tech: In response to last week's news that its technology was tracking the activity of nearly 150M mobile phone users, Carrier IQ is saying it didn't know that's what the company's software was doing. The company told CNNMoney it was "as surprised as anybody" and that the revelation raises series questions for the entire mobile industry. Read more. Meanwhile, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) has called for an investigation into the company's software. --- With more viewers breaking out their tablets and smartphones for watching video, new technology is making the trend easier and more inviting than ever before. CNET has a great story on how the touchscreen is 'revolutionizing' your customers' TV viewing experience. --- Verizon, the History Channel and tech firm Delivery Agent have teamed up to launch a new TV commerce initiative that enables viewers of HC's "Pawn Stars" to buy stuff they see on the screen through their remotes.

Retrans:  DISH Network and Pappas Broadcasting agreed to an extension of their retrans deal covering stations in Lincoln and North Platte, NB; Yuma, AZ; and Des Moines, IA.

Online: Cox launched its Cox TV Connect app Monday enabling subs to access content on an iPad. --- Are you like us and use 'to do' lists for, like, everything? If so, you may like this: TeuxDeux - a free web-based app that helps you create and manage all the lists you can handle.

Rumor Mill: DIRECTV will launch a new 5-tuner HD DVR this week that can store up to 200 hours of HD programming. According to SatelliteGuys, the company's resellers will have the new set-top on Thursday but it "should not be advertised." No word on how it will affect DIRECTV's new TiVo HD DVR product slated for release this month.

Retail: Google opened its first brick-and-mortar Android-themed retail store in Melbourne last week in partnership with Australian mobile telco Telstra.

Deals: Prime Cities Broadcasting Fox-affiliates in Bismarck (KNDX) and Minot (KXND) signed audience measurement contracts with Rentrak. --- Full Channel picked up Stingray Digital's 50-channel strong Galaxie music service for its digital TV customers.

SkyREPORT: MTN Satellite will be supplying Costa Cruise cruiseliners with VSAT services for video and data. --- NASA TV's public, HD and education channels will be available via dual service on AMC-18 and its current bird (SES-2) through mid-December. --- Thrane & Thrane signed a 2-yr. deal with Inmarsat to develop and deliver new BGAN services.

Up, Down & Over There: European DVD rental/video streaming service LoveFilm is launching on Microsoft's Xbox Live in the UK. The service also became the latest entity to drop Adobe Flash in favor of Microsoft Silverlight for internet video platforms. --- The global BBC iPad app is now available in Canada. No launch in the US, yet.

People: CBSSports hired veteran baseball journalist Jon Heyman to cover Major League Baseball for the site. The company's cable sports net CBSSports Network named Dan Weinberg as SVP of programming. --- CEDIA said Monday that Utz Baldwin unexpectedly stepped down from his position as CEO. The org did not announce a replacement. --- TV One made several HR appointments to strengthen its marketing team including: Linda Finney, SVP of Marketing; Scott Perkins, SVP of Creative Services; and Orlena Blanchard as SVP of Digital Marketing.

--- Catch today's media market news in The Evening BRIDGE. •