BUSINESS
June 7, 2012 | By Joe Flint, Los Angeles Times
A small market TV broadcaster has apparently decided to skip doing business with Dish Networks in part because of its commercial skipping device known as the AutoHop. Dish Network said Hoak Media Corp., a Dallas company that owns 14 television stations in markets that include Grand Junction, Colo.; Fargo, N.D.; and Lincoln, Neb., was no longer going to allow its signals to be carried by the satellite broadcaster. "Hoak doesn't respect customer control — they are telling customers they must watch commercials," said David Shull, Dish's senior vice president of programming.
BUSINESS
May 15, 2012 | By Joe Flint, Los Angeles Times
NEW YORK - Satellite broadcaster Dish Network Corp.'s new Auto Hop feature, which makes it easier for viewers to avoid watching commercials, is not winning the company any fans in the television business. Dish's new offering lets customers block commercials from recorded shows that have aired on broadcast networks ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox during the previous day. Although consumers with digital video recorders can already fast-forward through commercials of recorded shows, Auto Hop takes it a step further.
BUSINESS
April 4, 2012 | By Dawn C. Chmielewski and Henry Chu, Los Angeles Times
James Murdoch's resignation as chairman of satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting comes ahead of a government report expected to be critical of his handling of the ethics scandal at News Corp.'s British tabloids. Murdoch, in announcing his decision Tuesday, alluded to the ongoing investigations into alleged phone hacking and police bribery by News Corp.'s the Sun and the now-closed News of the World. Problems at the tabloids last summer derailed the media conglomerate's plans to take control of Britain's dominant pay-TV provider, in which it holds a 39% interest, with a $12-billion purchase of all outstanding BSkyB shares.
BUSINESS
November 3, 2011 | By Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times
Satellite broadcaster DirecTV Group Inc. has agreed to double the size of its El Segundo headquarters in a lease valued at more than $300 million. DirecTV, which beams television service to more than 19 million subscribers, will rent 630,000 square feet in three buildings on East Imperial Highway near Los Angeles International Airport, landlord Kilroy Realty Corp. said Wednesday. The broadcaster said it expects to expand into a total of up to 720,000 square feet over the course of the nearly 16-year agreement.
BUSINESS
November 1, 2011 | By Joe Flint, Los Angeles Times
News Corp. has struck a new deal to that will keep its powerful cable and broadcast channels on satellite broadcaster DirecTV. The two sides had been feuding over a new contract, and DirecTV, which has more than 19 million subscribers, was set to drop more than two dozen News Corp.-owned Fox cable networks Tuesday. Channels that are part of the agreement include the popular FX network and Los Angeles regional sports outlets Prime Ticket and Fox Sports West. Monday's accord not only consists of Fox's cable channels but also the local television stations that carry the programming of the Fox Broadcasting Co., including National Football League games and the popular comedies "Glee" and "New Girl.
BUSINESS
October 29, 2011 | By Joe Flint, Los Angeles Times
With three days to go before their current agreement expires, DirecTV and News Corp. are still far apart on a deal to keep more than 25 networks on the satellite broadcaster's programming service. Among the News Corp.-owned channels DirecTV is prepared to drop Tuesday are the popular FX network and 19 regional sports channels, including Prime Ticket and Fox Sports West in Los Angeles. Not part of the dispute are Fox's broadcast television stations and Fox News. DirecTV said News Corp.'s Fox Cable unit was demanding a 40% fee increase to keep carrying the channels.