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Technology Stocks : Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: HEXonX who wrote (6553)	2/27/2007 3:05:56 PM
From: HEXonX	Respond to of 8420

News for 'SIRI' - (=DJ Senior House Democrat John Dingell Offers Broadcasters Support) By Corey Boles Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said Tuesday he supports broadcasters in their attempts to negotiate contracts with cable operators to air their programs. Speaking at a National Association of Broadcasters conference, Dingell told the audience he believes they should have the right to negotiate terms with cable operators that recognizes the value of their programming. Broadcasters, he said, "...should have the right to negotiate their signals." There is a growing trend for broadcasters to demand an upfront cash payment from cable operators in exchange for those distributors having the right to carry their signal. Traditionally, cable companies were given the right to do so in exchange for favorable rates on advertising and for agreeing to carry less popular channels owned by broadcasters. CBS Inc. (CBS CBSA) recently announced it renegotiated deals with several smaller cable operators that would see the broadcaster receive cash payments from cable companies for the first time. In January, smaller broadcaster Sinclair Broadcast (SBGI) withdrew its signal from the majority of cable operator Mediacom Communication's customers after the latter refused to pay it cash. Mediacom eventually succumbed to Sinclair's demands. Other broadcasters have suggested they want to follow in CBS' footsteps and start getting paid cash for their programs. Dingell also gave notice to officials at the Federal Communications Commission they could expect a "vigorous period of congressional oversight." He said that in his decades in Congress he has disagreed with many FCC administrations and that the current one was no different. Dingell is the senior member of the House of Representatives, having represented Michigan's 15th district since 1955. Speaking to reporters after his speech, Dingell hinted he has little faith in the current timeline for television broadcasters completing the transition from an analog signal to digital. He said there needs to be evidence the FCC, and the industry, are preparing the groundwork for the transition, including educating consumers as to what it means for them. He echoed the concerns of fellow Democratic lawmaker Edward Markey, D-Mass., earlier Tuesday at the NAB conference over the proposed merger of Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI) and XM Satellite Radio (XMSR). Markey said the telecommunications subcommittee he chairs would be conducting an oversight hearing into the planned merger next week. Dingell said his committee would keep a very close eye on the merger as it proceeds, and on the roles played by the Department of Justice and the FCC, both of which must approve the merger. -By Corey Boles, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-6637; corey.boles@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires February 27, 2007 15:01 ET (20:01 GMT) Copyright (c) 2007 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.- - 03 01 PM EST 02-27-07 Source: DJ Broad Tape