CASPER
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SkyFILES: Surviving the Multiplatform Storms
by Michael Hopkins
After folks in the multiplatform industry spent the Labor Day weekend at baseball games, barbecues and outdoor parties, or taking shelter from the rain and wind delivered by Hurricane Gustav, it was back to work for the business on Tuesday.
And there was a lot of business, and ongoing industry speculation, during the abbreviated week.
For starters, Liberty Media announced plans to split off Liberty Entertainment, the entity holding key properties such as Starz and Liberty's controlling stake in DIRECTV. Some said making the tracking stock into an asset-backed security could eventually lead to a vehicle that allows Liberty to acquire all of the satellite TV giant.
That was not the only suggestion surrounding Liberty Media's latest move.
John Malone's longer term plan could include selling the DIRECTV asset to - can you believe it - AT&T. Given the ongoing struggles for the telco giant, including steady landline losses, "we believe there is increased likelihood that they (AT&T) could be interested in acquiring DIRECTV," said Tom Eagan of Collins Stewart.
Funny how no satellite TV service can dodge any of the telco takeover rumors. Once it was DISH at the center of all that AT&T speculation … now it's the other DBS company. My, how things change … and don't change.
In another development, Google announced plans offer its own internet browser. Anything that challenges Microsoft's Internet Explorer is good for consumers. But folks can expect a lot of scrutiny of Google's "Chrome," especially from privacy and antitrust observers.
That's my speculation, anyway.
And while it's good news that the Gulf Coast escaped a lot of devastation from Hurricane Gustav, those in the programming business continue to conduct themselves in a questionable manner when these big storms hit the nation.
Sending reporters out into the field to cover a hurricane is one thing. But asking viewers to send in video (such as CNN's iReport) is asking for a lot of trouble. Viewers shouldn't be encouraged to go outside in the eye of the storm … they should be encouraged to seek shelter.
And now that another storm is taking aim at the Carolinas, all eyes in the multiplatform world will be watching Wilmington, N.C., for more than just the digital TV switch that the mid-sized market will be making Monday.
by Michael Hopkins
After folks in the multiplatform industry spent the Labor Day weekend at baseball games, barbecues and outdoor parties, or taking shelter from the rain and wind delivered by Hurricane Gustav, it was back to work for the business on Tuesday.
And there was a lot of business, and ongoing industry speculation, during the abbreviated week.
For starters, Liberty Media announced plans to split off Liberty Entertainment, the entity holding key properties such as Starz and Liberty's controlling stake in DIRECTV. Some said making the tracking stock into an asset-backed security could eventually lead to a vehicle that allows Liberty to acquire all of the satellite TV giant.
That was not the only suggestion surrounding Liberty Media's latest move.
John Malone's longer term plan could include selling the DIRECTV asset to - can you believe it - AT&T. Given the ongoing struggles for the telco giant, including steady landline losses, "we believe there is increased likelihood that they (AT&T) could be interested in acquiring DIRECTV," said Tom Eagan of Collins Stewart.
Funny how no satellite TV service can dodge any of the telco takeover rumors. Once it was DISH at the center of all that AT&T speculation … now it's the other DBS company. My, how things change … and don't change.
In another development, Google announced plans offer its own internet browser. Anything that challenges Microsoft's Internet Explorer is good for consumers. But folks can expect a lot of scrutiny of Google's "Chrome," especially from privacy and antitrust observers.
That's my speculation, anyway.
And while it's good news that the Gulf Coast escaped a lot of devastation from Hurricane Gustav, those in the programming business continue to conduct themselves in a questionable manner when these big storms hit the nation.
Sending reporters out into the field to cover a hurricane is one thing. But asking viewers to send in video (such as CNN's iReport) is asking for a lot of trouble. Viewers shouldn't be encouraged to go outside in the eye of the storm … they should be encouraged to seek shelter.
And now that another storm is taking aim at the Carolinas, all eyes in the multiplatform world will be watching Wilmington, N.C., for more than just the digital TV switch that the mid-sized market will be making Monday.
