In Media We Trust?

Most Americans say they trust seven different media outlets to get them news fairly and accurately. But the difference in how much they trust is as vast as the stories they hear.

According to a new Harris Interactive poll, 73% of U.S. adults rely on their local TV news for information, but only 22% have "a lot of trust" in the source. As for print, 69% turn to local newspapers but only 18% really trust them.

Further, seven in 10 Americans turn to radio and internet for news and info, but for both, only 14% have "a lot of trust" in the source. The survey says three in five U.S. consumers trust cable TV news (64%) and network TV news (61%), but those who "really trust" these sources drop dramatically to 15% for both.

Harris said the types of media are all seen "in a mostly positive light." However, the survey shows, there are mixed results when looking at specific media outlets. According to the study:

• Three in ten Americans say that ABC (63%), NBC (63%), CNN (61%), the Associated Press (59%), and PBS (59%) all give news that is fair and unbiased "all the time or occasionally." 

• Over half of U.S. adults say FOX News, (54%), Yahoo News (53%), MSNBC (52%) and CNBC (52%) provide fair and unbiased news all the time or occasionally, and half say the same about The Wall Street Journal (50%) and Time (50%). Just under half say The New York Times (48%) and Reuters (48%) provide news that is fair and unbiased; about two in five say the same about The Washington Post (42%), NPR (41%), Newsweek/The Daily Beast (39%) and one-third about the Huffington Post (33%).

Bottom line: "As the number of news outlets continues to grow, providers of information are increasingly out to one-up each other as the first with that information," Harris said. "The large number of news providers also means that the providers have to find new, and sometimes sensational, ways to get eyes and ears to their outlet." •

Cord-Cutting Gets Major Backer

IAC's Barry Diller is throwing his weight and dough behind Aereo, the web-based video distribution company formerly known as Bamboom. Starting in mid-March, the company will stream programming from all the major networks via a connected DVR for ~$12 per month. And, the service will launch in NYC.

According to reports, IAC recently led a $20.5M round of financing for Aereo. The service works by using broadcast TV antennas to receive signals and them stream them to a user's individual live TV 'channel.'

Observers say while technically it is a 'cord-cutting' service, it won't allow consumers to watch shows they get on cable. So it's more a true over-the-top accessory service. Media Decoder has details from the Diller front; AllThingsD describes the product.

Comment: In light of IAC CEO Barry Diller's backing of Aereo, it's interesting to note that Barry did a keynote conversation with Phil Weiser at Monday's morning session at Silicon Flatirons in Boulder. Within the discussion was Barry's assertion that separating content from conduit was good. Noting that Charlie Ergen was scheduled to speak later, Weiser asked Barry if he could go to Charlie for backing for an idea ... Barry answered, "Well, you could if Charlie wasn't cheap." More to the point, Barry noted, "The internet is an open – not closed – system." -PSM (with thanks to Preston Padden, who once worked for Barry) •

Etc.: The Sports Blackout Volley - OTT Penetration - DogTV's For Dogs... Literally

Rules & Regs: Two sides to the sports blackout debate: A group of Senators (in response to the Sports Fans Coalition's own request) wrote to the FCC in favor of ending the policy. Signatories include: Tom Harkin (D-IA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CN) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). On the flip side, the NAB says it favors the rules. At issue for broadcasters is that cable and satellite companies may start "importing" games from other markets that could hurt their bottom lines. Said the group: "Market exclusivity agreements facilitate our system of local broadcasting and allow (us) to better serve local viewers." --- A group of Senate Committee leaders introduced the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 this week to protect the nation's "essential cyber systems." Representatives pushing the legislation say the bill reflects recommendations from private companies and trade associations (among others) and "in no way" resembles the controversial SOPA or PIPA. (Editor's note: Cybersecurity Act doesn't even involve copyright. The reference to SOPA/PIPA could be an effort to ensure no public confusion between the two.) The bill would, among other things, require the Dept. of Homeland Security to assess infrastructure risks and develop a set of "security standards." Read more here. --- For the record, a total of 7 Congressional leaders have filed with the FCC in favor of allowing LightSquared to build its wireless network... the latest coming from Rep. John Conyers (D-MI).

Research: Parks Associates says sales of digital video consoles - including Apple TV and Roku - during the holiday season has created a 13% penetration rate of OTT devices among U.S. broadband HHs. The firms says more than 14M units will sell this year "increasing consumer interest in nontraditional approaches to video access." In its latest report, Parks says 31% of U.S. broadband HHs "regularly watch TV or movies" accessed from the interwebs on a TV set. --- Broadband providers will be happy to note that ABI says smart home appliance shipments will exceed 24M units by 2017.

Disputes: THR has an exclusive story on a "legal tornado" brewing between Time Warner and Disney over the "Wizard of Oz." Trademarks, copyrights, public domain... Oh my!

Media: Twitter tops Fast Company's "World's 50 Most Innovative Companies" list in the 'media' category. Other notables from the overall list: 1) Apple, 2) Facebook, 3) Google, 4) Amazon... 11) HBO... 22) Dropbox... 41) Kickstarter. Check both lists, (media) here and (overall) here.

Scandals: News broke Tuesday that News Corp.-owned newspaper The Times has given authorities the names of its journalists' anonymous sources to police. Insiders say the move spurred a mutiny against Rupert and has launched an internal "civil war." HuffPost has details. In related news, News is reportedly consolidating its global gov't affairs division and bringing it to the U.S.

Carriage: DISH Network re-upped its affiliation agreement with Crown Media Family Networks. The multi-year deal will keep Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel on DISH's new Heartland TV package while adding the movie channel to DISH's new Blockbuster @Home service. Terms of the deal were undisclosed.

SkyREPORT: NSR says satellite broadband access will dominate the use of capacity on High Throughput Satellites (HTS) in the coming years and account for ~90% of leased capacity through 2020. Interestingly enough, the 10% not used for broadband will account for 40%-50% of revenues generated via HTS capacity. Get details here.

Programming: We love dogs... but DogTV may be a little much. Dog lovers would surely enjoy a net aimed at them, but the new DogTV is actually for the dogs. Like... to get dogs to watch TV. Seems TWC and Cox are testing it on VOD first. Advertisers must love the idea.

Mobile: AT&T says its wireless data traffic has grown 20,000% over the last 5 years. According to company EVP of tech John Donovan, AT&T's wireless data traffic has doubled every year since 2007 "driven primarily by smartphones."

Tech: Word is that Apple's latest iPad will have 4G LTE capabilities. (Does that mean independent deals with AT&T and Verizon?) WSJ has the story. --- CNET is reporting that Samsung will launch its 55" OLED TV in the UK sometime this spring. No clues about when it will be available Stateside.

Online: ABCNews.com and CNBC.com are now using tech solutions provider RAMP for internet-based closed captioning services.

Over, Up & Under: OTT services have officially gone global. According to French research firm Idate, the global OTT market will generate €3.4B ($4.5B) in 2015 with the U.S contributing the most (40%), Europe (24%) and the rest of the world (36%). "The development of connected TV solutions is spurring the trend," Idate said. "...Big internet companies will throw themselves in and surely have an impact on the video distribution chain." --- Research firm GfK says popularity with LCDs is pinching out plasma TV technology around the globe. The firm says emerging markets in Asia and Latin America yielded 34% growth last year in LCD sales with demand growing another 7% (to 225M units) in 2012. --- Al Jazeera Sport is launching two channels in France this summer and is seeking rights to Euro 2012. BroadbandTV News has details of the network's football strategy, here.

Events: The Aspen Institute, along with Grupo Salinas, will host the inaugural Forum on Freedom to Communicate in Mexico City. Speakers include Reed Hundt, Walter Isaacson and more. The event will also be streamed on the web. More info.

People: Time Warner Cable EVP & CTO Mike LaJoie will be the keynote speaker at SCTE Canadian Summit 2012.

Ha!: Check out SNL's skit poking fun at consumers' overall confusion when it comes to understanding just what are 4G and LTE. "Verizon: An Old Person's Nightmare!"

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