Demonstrations of proposed downloadable security technology done by Google and Hauppauge for FCC staff in December were the same as those done for congressional staff in January, Hauppauge said in an ex parte filing posted online in docket 15-64 Thursday. The technology is also the same as described in ex parte filings from Public Knowledge in October, Hauppauge said. The technology involved and proposed in the Downloadable Security Technical Advisory Committee report is "well known" to both multichannel video programming distributors and consumer industries, the filing said.
CTA backed an FCC waiver for e-readers to follow advanced communications services accessibility rules (see 1602020058), a spokeswoman for the group told us Wednesday. "We appreciate the FCC’s thoughtful decision-making in granting an indefinite waiver," Vice President-Regulatory Affairs Julie Kearney said. The group's members include Amazon and Sony, which along with Kobo have made up the Coalition of E-Reader Manufacturers, according to CTA's website. The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau order, released earlier this week, said the coalition requested the waiver.
Ion Media Networks wants its earth station licenses transferred to newly created sister company Ion Media Stations, the first company said in an FCC International Bureau filing Friday. The creation of Ion Stations and the license transfers are part of a pro forma reorganization "for corporate and tax efficiency and simplification purposes," Ion said. Ion Networks and Ion Stations will have the same officers and operating control, the broadcaster said.
Cox Communications and Nexstar are blaming one another for Nexstar channels being blacked out (see 1601250035) in nine Cox markets Saturday. In a news release Saturday, Nexstar said the blackout "is highly unusual for Nexstar but more common for Cox [which] is routinely involved in disputes with content providers and since 2012 has dropped network and local community programming from five other station owners as a result of its refusal to agree to fair and reasonable market terms to carry some of the most highly rated programming on television." In its own news release, Cox said, "Nexstar ... decided to remove their channels from the Cox line up ... in an effort to boost their bottom line" from higher retransmission fees. "Nexstar has not changed their offer in 2 weeks and is still demanding three times more for its free over-the-air stations for Cox customers," that cable operator said, saying Nexstar's $4.6 billion takeover of Media General "[raises] the specter that they are using retransmission fees to fund these deals." Cox is opposing Nexstar/Media General (see 1601280070).
Hollywall Entertainment bought online video distributor OpenVision Networks, it said in a news release Thursday. Financial terms of the cash and stock acquisition weren't disclosed. Hollywall said OpenVision will operate as HollyVision, with founders Sherman Davis and Leroy Gordon managing it and reporting to Hollywall CEO Darnell Sutton. By acquiring OpenVision, “Hollywall will now offer news and entertainment seekers a one-stop venue with the greatest ease of access to a world of outstanding content, either free or at competitive rates, from television, movies, radio and video games," Sutton said in the release. As "the first virtual, mainstream international cable network," HollyVision will provide 24-hour free basic service available online, while its Key Lime Pie set-top box will allow for viewing of its content on TVs, the release said.
The FCC should reject changes to set-top box rules being proposed (see 1601280064) by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in an upcoming NPRM, CALinnovates said in a news release Friday. "This proposal is wrong for consumers, wrong for creators and wrong for the innovation economy," said Mike Montgomery, CALinnovates executive director. The commission should pursue the apps-based approach favored by pay-TV carriers, CALinnovates said.
The 30-day clock for appeals of FCC rules intended to soften the burden of the incentive auction on low-power TV stations starts Monday, said the LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition in an emailed newsletter Friday. Director Mike Gravino suggested a court challenge of the rules would be more fruitful than a petition filed with the FCC. “At this point in the process who wants to wait through the lengthy and rigged Petitions for Reconsideration process?” Gravino said. “Nope, the clock is starting to get some MAJOR fixes to our post-auction realities.” The FCC didn't comment.
Amazon shares closed 7.6 percent lower Friday at $587 on what analysts largely viewed as disappointing Q4 results. Revenue rose about 22 percent to $35.7 billion from the year-ago quarter, while profit more than doubled to $482 million. Wedbush's Michael Pachter said a higher concentration of third-party goods sold via Amazon’s fulfillment services (FBA) will lead to higher Prime membership engagement and higher services revenue. Amazon said worldwide paid Prime memberships grew 51 percent in Q4. Credit Suisse's Stephen Ju said stronger media revenue was offset by "elevated shipping losses" from “rapid” FBA adoption. Amazon highlighted milestones of its Fire device lineup: Fire TV is the top-selling streaming media player in the U.S., having added more than 1,000 new apps, channels and games since September, including NBC, NBC Sports and Watch HGTV. The company said its Alexa voice platform is growing, and it added news sources from Bloomberg and CNN. Amazon Web Services announced general availability of AWS IoT.
Increasing competition in set-top boxes and reducing barriers experienced by programmers are a "unifying theme" of the Feb. 18 FCC meeting, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said in a blog post Thursday. The commission will consider an NPRM on set-top rules (see 1601280064) and a notice of inquiry (see 1601280069) on program carriage, Wheeler said. “The video marketplace is changing, including the rise of new ways for consumers to access programming.”
Chipset makers and content providers are among those that will be a key part of high dynamic range (HDR) becoming a broadly accepted feature among consumers, said Dolby CEO Kevin Yeaman on a fiscal Q1 earnings call (its replay can be heard here). Speaking after regular U.S. markets closed Wednesday, he cited the importance of meeting the needs of the content creation, distribution and TV manufacturing communities -- along with the consumer. He said MGM, Sony, Universal and Warner will deliver Dolby Vision HDR content for home distribution, Netflix is creating original content in Dolby Vision that will be available to 75 million subscribers globally, and Vudu is streaming content with Dolby Vision. Gaming and virtual reality are opportunities for Dolby Atmos, its audio technology, said Yeaman, and Sony and Warner have announced software support for Blu-ray titles with Atmos. Vudu is streaming in Atmos and Comcast’s X1 service will support Atmos later this year, he said. Shares closed up 12.5 percent Thursday at $35.71.