FCC Rejects EchoStar and DirecTV Merger

This is a fairly obvious outcome. As reported in MediaWeek:

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday rejected as anti-competitive the proposed merger of EchoStar Communications Corp. and its major satellite TV competitor, DirecTV, according to Todd Shields.

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Basics of Email Marketing

A good Business Week article on the basics of email marketing
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Web Sites Reduce Ad Format Restrictions

In a TechNews article, it is reported that web sites have begun to reduce the restrictions they place on advertisers ad formats. So, now we can expect to see more flying monkeys and dancing babies crawl across our screens. We thought pop ups were bad. At least you can click those closed. Not so with these newer "takeover" formats that force you to view the ad. I agree with the authors opinion on this matter:

As far as I'm concerned, any advertising that takes control of the Internet experience away from those using it might as well take away the Internet. We have had enough of that nonsense from the passive medium of television.

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TiVo May Fail

In an article on Slate, it is stated that TiVo will fail. By that, they mean the company, not the technology. One saving grace? License the technology to cable set top box manufacturers and/or providers. The line of reasoning behind this is that one box and one bill is perceptually better then two boxes and two bills. Not to mention the fact that it is insanely difficult to hook TiVo up in tandem with a cable box for the average consumer. I am waiting very patiently for my cable company (Charter) to offer the integrated Scientific Atlanta box. You should wait too.
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Microsoft Removes Copy Protection From Media Center

I suppose this is good news but Im still not sold on consumers buying a computer to watch TV and movies on. Yes, it's great on a lap top on a plane maybe but as a replacement for the Home TV I just don't know. What do you think?

Microsoft nixes TV copy protection - Tech News - CNET.com

Microsoft has bowed to consumer pressure and pulled back from a controversial plan that would have encrypted TV shows recorded on forthcoming digital media PCs.

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