Multichannel News

• Cable Show 2012: Top TV Execs See More Change, More Choice in Future
  
  Jon Lafayette (Broadcasting & Cable), May 25, 2012
  Top executives from the television business said the industry's challenge are moving faster as technology gives consumers more control.
  
• Disney Junior Adds Apps
  
  George Winslow (Broadcasting & Cable), May 24, 2012
  Disney Junior has launched two new apps, the "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally Appisode" for the iPad and an app targeted to young kids, "Jake's Never Land Pirate School" for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
  
• Public Knowledge Denounces Broadcaster Suits Against Dish
  
  John Eggerton, May 24, 2012
  Fair use fan Public Knowledge took aim at Fox for challenging Dish Network
  
• Dish Sues Broadcasters for Stifling Auto Hop
  
  Jon Lafayette (Broadcasting & Cable), May 24, 2012
  Dish Network sued the Big Four broadcast networks over their efforts to "stifle" its service that allows viewers to skip TV commercials during recorded primetime shows.
  
• Boston Battles Back for Basic Rate Control
  
  by John Eggerton, May 24, 2012
    The city of Boston says Comcast's math does not add up, and that it should still be able to regulate basic rates
  
• Daytime Emmys Will Air on HLN June 23
  
  Paige Albiniak (Broadcasting & Cable), May 24, 2012
  The Daytime Emmys will air live on HLN on Saturday, June 23, as the awards show is held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.
  
• Science Acquisition Lifts Supernatural Series from Syndication 'Fringe'
  
  Mike Reynolds, May 24, 2012
  Science has secured off-network syndication rights to Fringe, beginning this fall.
  
• Knology Sets Date for Special Shareholders' Meeting
  
  Mike Farrell, May 24, 2012
  West Point, Ga. overbuilder Knology has set June 26 as the date for a special meeting of shareholders to approve its $1.5 billion sale to WideOpenWest.
  
• Liberty Global Completes Austar Sale
  
  Mike Farrell, May 24, 2012
  Liberty Global, the international cable giant chaired by cable legend John Malone, has completed the sale of its Australian satellite TV unit, Austar, to Foxtel for about $1.1 billion.
  
• Starz Sets 'Summer of Spartacus' Schedule
  
  Mike Reynolds, May 24, 2012
  This summer, Starz, for the first time, will line up all 29 episodes of its original gladiator franchise Spartacus in chronological order on Friday nights.
  
• Fox News Renews Hannity with Multiyear Pact
  
  Mike Reynolds, May 24, 2012
    Fox News has inked Sean Hannity to a new multiyear deal that will push his tenure with the cable news sector's top network past the 20-year mark.
  
• TV Land Orders Pilots from Silverman, Stuber
  
  Tim Baysinger, May 24, 2012
  TV Land continues to beef up its original programming slate, ordering comedy pilots from Ben Silverman and Scott Stuber on Thursday.
  
• Golf Channel to Cover U.S. Open Qualifiers
  
  John Eggerton, May 24, 2012
  Golf Channel will cover the sport's so-called "longest day" with a long day of its own.
  
• Reps. Barton, Stearns Praise Twitter for 'Do Not Track' Browser Funtionality
  
  John Eggerton, May 24, 2012
  A pair of House Republicans have sent Twitter a letter praising the company for supporting "do not track" browser functionality, but seeking more info on that promise as well as what info it collects when it does track.
  
• Kohl Outlines Verizon/SpectrumCo Deal Concerns
  
  John Eggerton, May 24, 2012
  Senate Antitrust Subcommittee chairman Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) outlined his many concerns about the Verizon purchase of advanced wireless spectrum from cable in a letter to the FCC and Justice Thursday, but stopped short of asking them to block the deal, as he had with the AT&T/T-Mobile merger.
  
• Longkloof Sweetens New Frontier Offer
  
  Mike Farrell, May 24, 2012
    Channel Islands investment company Longkloof Ltd. increased its unsolicited bid for New Frontier Media to $1.75 per share, providing a boost to the stock and putting pressure on the adult services provider to make a decision soon.
  
• Fox Sports, ESPN Reign at SBJ/SBD Sports Business Awards
  
  Tim Baysinger (Broadcasting & Cable), May 24, 2012
  Fox Sports and ESPN were the big victors at Wednesday night's SBJ/SBD Sports Business Awards in New York, winning a pair of trophies each.
  
• Canal Ella, Girl Scouts Establish Media Partnership
  
  Mike Reynolds, May 24, 2012
  Canal Ella, the Spanish-language lifestyle and entertainment channel designed for U.S. Hispanic viewers, has inked a media partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA that will promote Latina leadership
  
• Public Knowledge, EFF File Brief Supporting Aereo
  
  John Eggerton, May 24, 2012
  Public Knowledge and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have filed a brief in a U.S. District Court in New York City supporting Aereo, which is the target of a suit by broadcasters.
  
• Communications Subcommittee Schedules Net Governance Hearing
  
  John Eggerton, May 23, 2012
  The House Communications Subcommittee has scheduled a May 31 hearing on "Internet Proposals to Regulate the Internet."