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The proposed merger between satellite radio companies XM and Sirius awaits approval from the FCC before moving forward. It must have been discouraging, then, for the companies to hear FCC chairman Kevin Martin say, during a press conference on Tuesday, that such a merger faces a “high hurdle.”
Martin disagreed with one of the basic arguments the companies made in support of the deal. In 1997, when issuing licenses to the satcasters, the FCC forbade them from merging because of monopoly building; the two companies say now that they face new, unexpected competition from other sources such as internet radio and MP3 players. Martin, however, says the relevant area for their business is still just satellite radio, writes MediaPost. In that is the case, it will be difficult for the companies to argue that the merger is not a monopoly.
On the other hand, Martin said, he gives high marks to the companies for their announced a la carte subscription plans.
Clear Channel’s operating results for the first quarter were flat, reflecting a continued weak demand for radio advertising. Outdoor advertising performed better than radio in the quarter for the second quarter in a row, with revenue gains of 12 percent.…
Among the near-constant doom and gloom reporting about the newspaper industry, every now and then comes a story that points out how smaller, community newspapers are bucking the trend.
Small town newspapers are faring better than most of their regional…
Busy moms apparently aren’t willing to waste their “me time” watching television commercials.
According to new research from MindShare that focused on American mothers, reading, surfing the web and watching television were the top me-time - or personal down-time -…
Ryan Seacrest is in talks with CNN to replace Larry King, according to sources close to Seacrest.
The source, however, also says, “I don’t think it’s going to happen,” writes Fishbowl LA.
Seacrest is currently host of E! News, American Idol…
Editors at Hachette’s digital operation will do well to have their digital skill sets firmly behind them. The company has reportedly chopped 15 editorial jobs from a staff of about 100 in its digital operation; those positions will eventually be…
Most CMOs with more than 10 years of experience describe themselves as “extremely loyal” to specific brands, according to a survey of marketing officers at Fortune 100 companies conducted by LoyalTV.com, a video sharing website.
92 percent of CMOs with…
