FYI...

Time Warner Inc. is getting rid of Time Warner Cable Inc.. . .CBS Corp. has agreed to acquire CNET Networks Inc. This adds another internet property to CBS. . .Robert Thomson, former publisher of the Wall Street Journal, has been named managing editor of the Wall Street Journal and editor in chief of Dow Jones. Les Hinton will add Wall Street Journal publisher to his title of chief executive of Dow Jones. . .WCBS/Ch. 2 anchor Jim Rosenfield has departed the station....

FYI...

Broadcasting & Cable reports last night the Senate voted, without debate, to invalidate the Federal Communications Commission's Dec. 18 decision to loosen the newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rule. The FCC voted Dec. 18 to lift the ban on the co-ownership of newspapers and TV and radio stations in the top 20 markets, subject to certain conditions. . . WNBC/Ch. 4 may make an anchor change on its 6 p.m. newscast. The NY Daily News is reporting that Lynda Baquero, who has been with Ch. 4 since 1995, will make an exit. . .Jeff Rossen's contract with WABC/Ch. 7 is up at the end of May. He has decided to leave and move onto different opportunities. . .

For the Record

Fair Media Council Against Cablevision Acquisition of Newsday, Inc.

Citing grave concern for the Long Island public, both as news consumers and as advertisers, the Fair Media Council today denounced Cablevision's acquisition of Newsday and its holdings.

"Such an acquisition simply places too much power in the hands of too few," said Jaci Clement, executive director of the Fair Media Council. "Cablevision's dominance as the only 24-hour news channel on Long Island, combined with Newsday being the sole daily local newspaper, spells serious trouble for the 2.7 million people on Long Island who need - and deserve -- a diversity of information and viewpoints in their news. Such a media monopoly also poses a threat for the 87,000 small businesses that comprise the backbone of the Long Island economy and need affordable avenues for advertising."

"If you take Newsday and its other products, plus News 12, you're looking at the ability for one media outlet to come into every home on Long Island," said Clement. "You're also looking at the ability for one media outlet to ignore news it doesn't want the public to know."

The Fair Media Council, an advocate for quality local news coverage and a 501c3 organization, is comprised of about 200 regional businesses and nonprofit organizations. More information may be obtained at www.fairmediacouncil.org

FYI...

NBC Universal is planning to launch a 24-hour/week-long local news channel in November to air content on various platforms. The channel will air in the New York area on Time Warner, Cablevision and Comcast. NBC is also planning on revamping operations at 30 Rockefeller Center by 2009. Plans are to move some of their units to another building but 30 Rock will continue to be its headquarters. Lauren Zalaznick is named president of newly-formed NBC Universal Women and Lifestyle Networks. She will be adding oversight to iVillage.com along with her responsibilites of leader to Bravo Media and Oxygen Media. She will also be launching Women @NBCU, content and marketing initiative to align advertisers with the young, upscale female media buyers on the attributes of the various Women and Lifestyle properties. . .Rupert Murdoch has announced that the New York Post will increase its price to 50 cents from 25 cents. This change is to take effect May 19. . . Reuters is reporting The New York Times Co. will be laying off roughly 100 newsroom employees. Most of the layoffs were voluntary due to the accepting buyout packages. . .ABC News is planning to open bureaus this fall on campuses of five universities across the U.S. Students will provide local reporting . . .WNET and WLIW plan to drop a BBC-produced nightly newscast this fall and a new half-hour program focusing on international issues will take its place. . .