Broadband Preview on Capitol Hill Today
• Rules & Regs: Remember that FCC broadband plan? Congress gets a preview today as the leaks continue ahead of Tuesday’s “unveiling.”
• Video Tech: More 3DTV “squares” in NY again as Samsung used the Black Eyed Peas and James Cameron to pack Times Square like New Years Eve as it debuted its 3DTVs yesterday. --- Cinemark Holdings will use its new financing to grow its portfolio of 3D-equipped theaters from 400 to over a thousand.
• In the Courts: Whew! The Sydney Morning Herald reports Apple doesn’t own the lower case letter “i” - at least in Australia. A trademarks tribunal ruled against Apple’s challenge to case-maker DOPi (iPOD inverted). Meanwhile, you can pre-order an iPad today.
• Prohibition still necessary? The DC Circuit Court of Appeals voted to uphold the FFC's program access rules denying Comcast and Cablevision’s petition for review. 2 of the 3 judges voted to uphold the rule, while Judge Brett Kavanaugh dissented. However there is some hope that the FCC may soon let the rule fade.
• Analyze This: IPTV provider UTStarcom 4Q results saw net sales cut nearly in half to $116 million as the company repositions to focus on its core IP-based technology. --- Rumors: BSkyB hit a high on the London Stock Exchange as rumors News Corp would take it private bounced around Europe. (And a happy birthday to the mogul as he turned 79 on a FOX News camera!) --- Lionsgate’s board shunned Carl Icahn’s unsolicited partial offer. --- Collins Stewart's Tom Eagan likes the Disney renewal by Starz; so does Netflix. --- Sirius XM says it will offer $550 million of senior notes due 2015.
• Mobile: What was behind the scenes in the NFL's $720 mobile play with Verizon Wireless? NFL SVP of media strategy Brian Rolapp tells SNL Kagan: "They are the market leader from a subscriber perspective; their marketing prowess is obvious; and they're a partner that really understands that differentiated NFL content was going to be a great differentiator for their customers but also a differentiator for them in what is a very competitive space."
• Programming: We've had WWII in Europe, The Pacific comes Sunday night on HBO; so, when's Korea? When's my war? - Max
• Advertising: The Weather Channel renewed its long-term deal with Invision. •
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