WARNERS VS. DISNEY Warners is trying to get FTC approval for its mega-deal with AOL. You'd think it'd watch its manners. On the one hand - as we reported a month before the local dailies - Warners and the other 3 record co's - who own 80% of all music and what seems like 100% of airplay (won't hear indies on ad radio ) did mind its manners and settled with the FTC to stop the price-fixing scheme that all 4 shared. The update news is you and other CD buyers have over paid $500 million over the last 21/2 years! (Can you smell a class action suit?). Now back to WB and its manners. Seems it tried to play hardball with fellow Corp. Art 8 , Disney (who is known in the industry as being a bully company). In the height of sweeps week, WB, pulled the plug on ABC TV (owned by Disney) in 3.5 mill homes. They claim Disney was asking too much for WB Cable to carry their stations (ABC, The Disney Channel, etc.) - one of those package deals. Disney says WB broke the law. Here's some reaction: "They have the potential to monopolize the Internet", ABC Pres; "If WB has the power right now to block the top-rated TV network in the country, one can only imagine what the new AOL-Time Warner will be able to do in the broadband internet arena", Center for Media Education spokesman; "This is an example of what happens when you let a monopoly get too big" NYC Mayor, Giuliani ; "This incident took the theoretical danger of media consolidation and control and made it a very real problem", Consumers Union; "(It) has called into question ... whether your industry can be trusted to be an honest gatekeeper to the Internet", FCC Chairman Kennard. Gee. Comments like that sound familiar!
NAB GOES TO WASHINGTON The National Association of Broadcaster lobbyists (bulldog for Corporate Art radio and TV) have descended on Washington to kill micro-broadcasting (an FCC ruling that would make legal so called pirate radio, 1-3 mile radius - no commercial - radio, controlled by real people. And the bad news is they will probably do it. The House of Reps. passed bill H.R.3439 that would kill about 80% of micro radio. The Senate will be voting on it soon S.2068. MuseaMaxim, the Playboy-lite mag!
MICROSOFT SPLITSVILLE? We hope so and agree with one San Jose geek who, when asked what would have happened if MicroSoft hadn't been such a bully? "Chances are we'd see a more dynamic software marketplace, a larger number of thriving high-tech firms with record revenue - even an earlier internet boom. There would be a more creative and competitive environment everywhere."
TOP 10 CENSORED STORIES OF 99 are out. (From the Sonoma State U.) They are: 1. Energy companies support brutal dicatatorships and human rights violations. 2. Drug companies put profits before health. 3. Bloated American Cancer Society wastes much, prevents few cancers. 4. American sweatshops sew US military uniforms. 5. Turkey uses US weapons to wipe out the Kurds. 6. NATO defends private Economic interests in the Balkans. 7. US media reduces foreign coverage. 8 US plans to put weapons in space, violating international law. 9. Louisiana promotes toxic racism. 10. The US and NATO Deliberately started the war in Yugoslavia.
MUSEA ADDS SOME MORE: 1. AIDS Drug manufacturers had originally refused to allow African drug companies to do generic versions of their drugs to save their dying millions (1/10 of the world's pop., 2/3 of the AIDS). Activists and other people with morals, have put pressure on them. The UN and 5 of the world's largest drug co's have slashed prices by 85% to the 3rd world. But here's the kicker. The drug companies will be selling just slightly over cost. Uh .. doing the math ... that means US is paying 85% markup? That's a big story, but an even bigger is the help for Africa. 2. KILLER DR.s. You are 30 times more likely to be killed by your doctor than by a handgun & prescription drug adverse reactions are the 3rd leading cause of death in US. Every year 200,000 die from prescription drug reactions and 80,000 from medical malpractice (www.drugawarness.org)
DALLAS MORNING NEWS SCIENTISTS? In the 5/2/00 DMN story Most Newspapers Post Circulation Increase (their spin on statistics that show the newspaper biz in real trouble) DMN Pres. And Gen. Mgr.,Robert Mong Jr. ,said their increases were due to "(a) genuine focus in the circulation department and genuine scientific selling". We e-mailed DMN and asked them what their mad doctors meant by scientific selling. Their response:
Bob Mong replies in answer to your question:
"It means that we applied demographic research to our faster growing ZIP codes and determined which ones were growing faster than our subscription gains. Once identified, we concentrated on these areas by adding journalistc products marketed to them more aggressively and made sure our customer service was outstanding." Hope this answers your question. Sincerely, Carol Portele Editorial Department, The Dallas Morning News
Gee guys, wouldn't it be easier just to make a better newspaper? Reports gathered by Alden Scott Crow & Musea. Stay revolutionary everyone!