Quick Hits

Charter Ex-CEO Lovett Reaps Big Payday

ST. LOUIS — Former Charter Communications
CEO Mike Lovett nearly doubled his total compensation
in 2011, raking in $20.5 million in salary,
bonuses and stock options, compared to his
$10.9 million haul in 2010,
according to a proxy statement
filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

Lovett, who left Charter
after almost two years at the
helm and was replaced by
former Cablevision Systems
chief operating officer Tom
Rutledge, received a $1.3 million
base salary (up slightly
from $1.24 million in 2010);
$16.1 million in stock option
awards (up from $3.7 million in 2010); and nonequity
compensation of $3.1 million (down from
$3.7 million in 2010).

Charter also said chief financial officer Christopher
Winfrey’s total compensation rose 76% in
2011 to $7.4 million from $4.2 million in 2010.

Study: Local Online Ads to Grow at Faster Pace

CHANTILLY, VA. — Local online, Internet and
digital advertising growth is expected to far
outpace that of traditional advertising over the
next five years, according to a recent study by
BIA Kelsey.

Overall local advertising revenue was about
$132.8 billion in 2011, a decrease of 2.4%
over the previous year, affected by the economy.
Because of that decline, BIA Kelsey is expecting
local media will grow at a slower rate — about
2.6%, compounded annually — and will not keep
pace with the overall economy.

Overall local ad revenue should rise to $151.3
billion by 2016, according to BIA.

BIA Kelsey predicts over the next five years
online/Internet/digital will rise at a 12.7% annual
clip, reaching $38.5 billion by 2016. Traditional
advertising will grow at 0.2% per year, from
$111.5 billion in 2011 to $112.7 billion in 2016.