Copps Not "Terribly Optimistic" on Net Rules --- Oprah Found Her Unknown 1/2 Sister!

• Analyze This: Bernstein Research’s Craig Moffett looks closely at AT&T and Verizon noting the transformational nature of the iPhone ... looking closer, he also notes, “The underlying trends in Wireline are likely to be telling; we expect sustained access line losses in the 10%+ range, compounded by declines in DSL, and further slowing of new homes passed by FiOS.” --- Analysts seem to like Viacom's MTV performance; moralists don't.

• Rules & Regs: FCC Cmr. Michael Copps isn't "terribly optimistic" about the Commission's net neutrality rules surviving Verizon's court challenge.

• Tech: Charter and TiVo finalized a multi-year deal to bring TiVo to its STBs.

• Folks: NY Post says Google’s soon-to-be-ex-CEO is talking with a CNN producer about an interview show featuring Eric Schmidt.  “"Eric Schmidt has been looking for a TV job for over a year," said a CNN insider. "But the pilot he filmed with Liza [McGuirk] was a complete disaster."

• Advertising/Marketing: John Miller, former head of NBC's marketing group, will set up an NBC Sports Agency which will include Comcast's sports properties.

• Programming: NATPE opens in Miami Beach today at the Fontainebleu ... sans Oprah (who just found her half-sister!) and with an international flavor.  Meanwhile, some of the bosses are in Davos as another group meets. --- deadline.com says TNT wants to extend The Closer (good move) ... all dependent upon Kyra Sedgwick. --- Variety says soon-to-be NBC Entertainment  programming honcho Bob Greenblatt is “moving quickly to take the reins ... ordering four pilots. His early picks include a new take on Wonder Woman, an ambitious musical project from Steven Spielberg, and a romantic comedy about lesbian motherhood.”

• Up, Over & Down There: Media Week UK says BSkyB will buy 22K Wi-Fi hotspot provider The Cloud. --- 3D in the US might be slower than expected, but 3D set sales in the UK have been strong and both Sky and Virgin are working on 3D EPGs.•

    Lots of progress ... of a sort.

    The FCC approved the acquisition of 51% of NBC Universal by Comcast from GE ... and perhaps illegally required the acquiring entity to produce certain kinds of content.  Of course, it is hard to argue that with more local news, children’s programming and a Spanish-language multicast channel.  Then again, maybe this is just the FCC formally indicating that broadcasters really do need to provide a public service for all of that free spectrum and, after all, they aren’t really and truly free to invoke most company’s 1st Amendment rights.

    The FCC had earlier issued an order on net neutrality ... crafted in part by not 100% happy companies.  So, one of the companies - Verizon - has challenged the FCC’s right to issue the report & order.  Using much the same arguments that Comcast used to stifle the FCC’s regulatory instincts earlier, it seems like a fair bet.

    Just to make it interesting, every other Republican in Congress is threatening this or that to overturn the 3rd Way.

    And, the hot potato of retransmission consent is beginning to work its way to a non-conclusion.

    All of that “progress” and only Brian and Steve are particularly happy about any of it.  And to them, credit for great timing, great price and great upside.

Meanwhile, we toned down our language, too.

     Speaking of which, all of the noise surrounding Keith Olbermann's departure from MSNBC makes it official that "cable" nets have parity with broadcast nets ... and, one other thing: Comcast had absolutely nothing to do with it, really, no kidding (they couldn't be bothered) ... •