Archive for March, 2005

Billions at stake in battle over sports on satellite radio

Wednesday, March 16th, 2005

Billions at stake in battle over sports on satellite radio

The new world of satellite radio is reshaping an ages-old medium and turning it into the hottest new vehicle for sports fans, no matter how far they roam or what time zone they’re in.

Across an ever-expanding universe, a white-hot competition between major players XM and Sirius […]

DirecTV Increases Credit Line

Wednesday, March 16th, 2005

Los Angeles Business Journal Online

DirecTV Group Inc., said two of its units will take out a new $2 billion secured credit line and will sell nearly $500 million in unsecured bonds to pay off the units’ $1.26 billion credit line and to repay an $875 million promissory note owed to the parent company. The units, […]

TiVo investors give standing ovation to Comcast deal

Wednesday, March 16th, 2005

TiVo investors give standing ovation to Comcast deal

Investors sent TiVo (TIVO) shares soaring 75% to $6.70 Tuesday after the digital video recorder pioneer unveiled its first deal to provide its widely praised television-recording service to a major cable operator.

Comcast (CMCSA), which has 21.5 million basic subscribers, agreed to offer TiVo’s software and programming guide as […]

BMW’s Auto Launch Uses Sirius Satellite Radio

Wednesday, March 16th, 2005

BMW’s Auto Launch Uses Sirius Satellite Radio

For the first time, a major automobile manufacturer is using satellite radio to promote a new vehicle launch. BMW of North America announced Wednesday an innovative promotion with Sirius to celebrate the launch of the new 3 Series vehicle.

The promotion, called “3 Across America” and running March 26-May 6, […]

Does anyone want TiVo?

Wednesday, March 9th, 2005

Does anyone want TiVo?

Shares of TiVo have surged nearly 20 percent in the past month. But some analysts think investors need to hit the rewind button on the stock.

TiVo, the company that popularized digital video recording technology, has never reported a profit and analysts are forecasting a loss of 43 cents a share in its […]

DirecTV Exec Steps Down

Tuesday, March 8th, 2005

DirecTV Exec Steps Down

The president of DirecTV abruptly resigned Monday, a little more than a year after he was handpicked for the job by News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch in the wake of his takeover of the satellite TV leader.

DirecTV executives said no replacement would be named for Mitchell Stern, who had been commuting weekly […]

XM Changes Program Structure, Faces New Indecency Standard Proposals

Tuesday, March 8th, 2005

XM Changes Program Structure, Faces New Indecency Standard Proposals

XM Satellite Radio made an announcement last week that it is expanding its basic service package, in an effort to counter the fact that their monthly subscription price for said service will increase from $9.99 to $12.99 beginning April 2. To make the price jump an easier […]

Dish Network Launches TVG Interactive

Monday, March 7th, 2005

Dish Network Launches TVG Interactive

After years of promises and disappointments, true two-way interactivity for horse-race wagering will reach 10 million TV sets nationwide this month through the Dish Network’s launch March 2 of the TVG Interactive Horseracing channel.

EchoStar Communications Corp.’s satellite service has begun rolling out the virtual channel to the 90% of its 11 […]

DirecTV Files Lawsuit Against 19 Canadians

Monday, March 7th, 2005

DirecTV Files Lawsuit Against 19 Canadians

DirecTV, Inc. announced today that it has filed a lawsuit in Ontario against 19 Canadian citizens and five of their businesses that it believes were participating in a scheme to activate fraudulent DirecTV accounts that enabled individuals to receive DirecTV programming without authorization by, or proper payment to DirecTV. […]

DirecTV Unit Chief Quits

Monday, March 7th, 2005

DirecTV Unit Chief Quits

A top executive at DirecTV left the company as CEO Chase Carey consolidated his control of the satellite television broadcaster.

DirecTV said Mitch Stern, who had been president and CEO of its DirecTV Inc. operating subsidiary, left effective today. Carey will take over his roles, and the company won’t replace Stern. Stern and […]