Copps Unveils New American Media Contract
Democratic FCC Commissioner Michael Copps calls for “local stations that are actually local,” “strengthen our democracy” and “look and sound like America”—while noting that “you deserve all this on free-over-the-air TV and radio” because “by the way, you have already paid for” it. Half a trillion dollars. That’s a conservative valuation of the airwaves that our country lets TV and radio broadcasters use—for free.

New Studies Dismantle Big Media Case for Consolidation
Civil rights and consumer groups address the negative impact of corporate media with a host of recent studies that “pointedly refute” arguments for “abandoning the ownership protections that currently prevent media conglomerates from swallowing up even more local outlets.” Among the studies is an exposé of the National Association of Broadcasters’ fraudulent financial reporting on commercial broadcasters, and an analysis of news consumption online—where the top Internet news sites are owned by the same giants that control the rest of the media.

Newsweek could benefit from Time’s personality change
With Time focusing on commentary from “star” pundits and forward-looking analysis, Newsweek could end up with a near-monopoly on scoops, says Matthew Flamm. “Perhaps best of all, the casual observer will have an easier time telling the two publications apart,” he writes.
Leave it to Time to buck the trend toward democratization of media content.  They tried years ago to publish letters only from famous people, and got a barrage of criticism–and that was before the internet.  Newsweek has an opportunity here to benefit from Time’s stupid move.

Netflix to be delivered on the Internet
LOS GATOS, Calif. – Netflix Inc. will start showing movies and TV episodes over the Internet this week, providing its subscribers with more instant gratification as the DVD-by-mail service prepares for a looming technology shift threatening its survival.

British band breakthrough another online victory
WITHAM (Reuters) – A little known band reaching no. 31 in the British charts is not normally the stuff of headlines. But Koopa’s breakthrough into the prestigious top 40 this week is another landmark in an Internet revolution sweeping the music industry.

YouTube Mulls TV Channel
YouTube is considering creating a linear TV channel compiled from the video clips submitted by its users. Speaking at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, the vice-president of content, Kevin Donahue, said the company had been considering the idea of a creating TV shows and might even extend that into a full channel.

Media Push Across Multiple Devices a Gamble
A growing “soccer mom audience” for accessing content legitimately on new devices is giving media companies pause, says Jupiter Research analyst Todd Chanko. Industry watchers disagree on which platforms — TV, PC, phone, laptop, portable player — will ultimately draw the most viewers.

NY Times Anthrax Libel Case Dismissed
A federal judge is dismissing a libel lawsuit filed against the New York Times by Steven Hatfill, a former Army scientist once identified as a “person of interest” in the 2001 U.S. anthrax attacks. Times lawyers argued that Hatfill should be considered a public figure under libel law.

Claim: The plethora of media criticism is good for news orgs
Nick Madigan recalls when one had to have a long list of intellectual credentials to be a critic. “Now, everyone’s a critic, and media outlets themselves are in the crosshairs,” he writes. Jameson Foser of Media Matters thinks that’s good. “Anyone can benefit from someone looking at your work and saying, ‘Look, here’s where you missed the boat.’” But he says there’s no benefit in self-appointed critics “calling you names,” which happens a lot.

Buy, Sell, Now: Newspaper Business Model is ‘Collapsing’
The newspaper industry will see strong merger-and-acquisition activity in 2007, according to a survey of media execs by media bank AdMedia Partners. Says head Mark Edmiston: “This is the first year that people really realize the business model for newspapers is collapsing.”

Tribune Share Price Suggests No Sale of Company
Tribune’s share price suggests the company won’t be sold when bids for the newspaper publisher come due on Jan. 17, according to Merrill Lynch analyst Lauren Rich Fine. “Investors appear to anticipate that no sale will transpire. Even if there is a sale, a big premium is unlikely.”

Scripps CEO: No ‘Immediate’ Plans to Sell Papers
But Ken Lowe points out, “Keep in mind, though, that it’s prudent for the company to continuously review the strategic value of our local newspapers as well as our entire portfolio of media businesses.”