Word is that Fox TV Network will tell its affiliates at meeting this weekend in Las Vegas that it’s dropping annual spring convention that has been held since network began in 1981. Session will be held just before start of ALTV-NATPE convention and fewer than half of affiliates are expected to attend. Many of what are now Fox affiliates were prominent in forming association for independent stations before Fox network started and have remained members. Financial factors reportedly are reason for dropping spring meeting, which in 2000 was held in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Hearst-Argyle TV will use Harris Corp. DTV transmitters under new agreement. Deal at start covers 17 stations, allowing them to begin DTV broadcasting this year, companies said. Hearst-Argyle owns or manages 26 stations.
Broadlogic said iBeam signed agreement to use Satellite Express XR1 Fast Ethernet receiver/router developed by Broadlogic as standard satellite receiver platform for current and new deployments within iBeam networks.
Hot topics at N. American Numbering Council (NANC) meetings Wed. were elimination of certain numbering/dialing options and expansion of N. American Numbering Plan (NANP)capacity. Industry Numbering Committee (INC) proposed elimination of proposals to: (1) Use 4-digit area code. (2) Use 1-digit national destination code that would be dialed as “1” is now for long distance calls. (3) Dial NANC steering committee’s proposed 2-digit geographical code before area code. Also discussed were: (1) How to transition changes once decision is made on dialing methods and whether transition should be gradual or “flash cut.” (2) Whether 10-digit dialing question has been decided. (3) Whether need to move to new dialing regimes is pressing, since it appears significant amount may be accessible soon. NARUC representative said real resolution of numbering issues wouldn’t occur soon.
Time Warner Cable and Intellicast.com said they teamed up to start Broadband Weather, new online weather information service delivered over high-speed cable lines, in MSO’s Portland, Me., system. New on-demand, 24-hour service features hourly local weather forecasts, national forecasts, video segments, local radar, storm watches and warnings, severe storm tracking. Time Warner said it would offer broadband service to its Road Runner subscribers in Portland area first and then extend it to several other regions.
FCC issued schedule for reviewing Verizon’s refiled application to offer long distance service in Mass.: (1) Feb. 6 for comments, including those by Mass. Dept. of Telecom & Energy. (2) Feb. 21, Dept. of Justice evaluation. (3) Feb. 28, reply comments. (4) April 16, deadline for FCC action. FCC Common Carrier Bureau said it would be available for ex parte meetings on application Jan. 30 and Feb. 23 in case parties wanted to discuss issues they planned to bring up in comments or replies.
Women hold smaller percentage of jobs in cable and DBS than year ago, while minorities hold more cable positions but fewer DBS jobs, FCC said in new report. Relying on annual employment reports submitted by cable operators, Commission found that total cable industry employment at companies with more than 5 employees had slipped to 130,953 in 1999 from 133,705 in 1998 and total female representation fell to 40.4% from 41.7%. Among full-time employees in upper-level posts, women held 26.9% of jobs in 1999, down from 28.9% year earlier. At same time, minorities boosted their representation in total cable work force to 32.7% from 30.9% and increased their share of upper-level jobs to 29.1% from 21.7%. Other multichannel video program distribution (MVPD) operators, consisting largely of DBS providers, nearly doubled their overall employee base to 10,322 in 1999, but total female representation fell to 43.2% from 52.7% and minorities to 27% from 27.7%. Among full-time employees in upper-level jobs, however, women increased their share to 33.6% from 32.2% and minorities to 22.9% from 16.9%.
James Packer, ex-Disney, appointed exec. vp-N. America TV sales, MGM Worldwide TV Distribution… Changes at CNN: Ken Jautz, n-tv Germany, named exec. vp-gen. mgr.-CNNfn after merger of those units; Teya Ryan, exec. vp, domestic networks, CNN News Group, appointed gen. mgr-exec. vp, CNN Headline News… Changes at Starpower: Don Mathison, ex-Media General Cable, named gen. mgr.; Andrew Nigolian, ex-Time Warner, appointed division vp- Adelphia… Michael Yorick, ex-A&E TV Networks, moves to vp- emerging businesses, USA Cable… Wis. PSC Exec. Asst. Robert Garvin appointed to fill Wis. PSC seat of John Farrow, who’s retiring when his term expires in March; Ave Bie reappointed Wis. PSC chmn… Elected to Satellite Industry Assn. board: Larry Atlas, vp-govt. relations, Loral Space & Communications, as chmn.; Peter Hadinger, dir.-telecom strategy, TRW, vice chmn.; Jeffrey Trauberman, dir.-information and communications systems, Boeing, treas.; and Kalpak Gude, vp-govt and regulatory affairs, PanAmSat, Suzanne Hutchings, regulatory counsel, Teledesic, and Gerald Musarra, vp-govt and regulatory affairs, Lockheed Martin, all as exec. committee representatives… Eugene DiDonato, ex- Peritus Software Services, named vp-gen. counsel, Lightbridge.
Eight Chris-Craft TV stations will remain UPN affiliates under new agreement announced this week. Stations, which are being bought by News Corp., had been considered possible candidates for switch to Fox network. Deal runs through 2001-2002 TV season. Terms weren’t disclosed.
STM Wireless and Alcatel said Wed. they signed OEM partnership agreement under which Alcatel will integrate STM’s VSAT products into its range of carrier grade systems and software in order to offer satellite broadband solutions to service providers using current satellites and emerging Ka-band systems.