Satellite : SkyReport:2/22/2012

Policy: Technology Policy Institute VP Scott Wallsten says the purchase of spectrum proposed in the Verizon Wireless/Spectrum Co. deal "should benefit consumers and does not in itself raise antitrust concerns" as the spectrum isn't currently being used. "The proposed transaction would accomplish precisely what the FCC envisioned when it began promoting secondary markets: quickly moving spectrum to more productive uses without the need for a long, complicated process of reclaiming and re-auctioning the spectrum," he said. Wallsten's full comments can be found at the TPI's website.

Strategy: Monday we reported that Cisco was considering selling the STB business it bought from Scientific-Atlanta. Tuesday the company said 'not true.' On its blog, the company said the demise of its set-top arm were greatly exaggerated. Read it. --- 'It's cool to have rabbit ears again...' So starts a story at the WSJ about how OTAs are coming back.

OTT: Nintendo saw what Microsoft did to its Xbox 360 and wants in on the action. Reports say execs at Nintendo have been negotiating with "several major media companies" to turn its Wii U video game console into a complete OTT media hub. As reported in yesterday's (early arriving) Morning BRIDGE, Nintendo recently landed Hulu Plus for the Wii for $8/month.

Programming: NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson is launching ASPIRE, a new network designed for African-Americans. ASPIRE, one of several new and minority o&o indie nets from Comcast (as part of its diversity promise to the FCC upon acquiring NBCU), is set to go live in June. --- Another of Comcast's minority indie nets is Sean (P-Diddy) Combs' music channel Revolt. --- NBC News and RLTV are premiering a new live consumer finance show for baby-boomers and seniors called "Cash Call with Jean Chatzky." The show will air Feb. 28 at 8pm ET exclusively on RLTV. --- Logo said it is "evolving" its programming with new content that will reflect the GLBT community's "increasing integration into mainstream culture." The push includes a handful of new series, information about which can be found here.

Deals: Super Channel, Canada's national English pay-TV network, signed a multi-year licensing and programming distribution agreement with Starz Media Worldwide for the upcoming Starz original series "Magic City" and several other feature films. --- Verizon Wireless said it has agreed to buy wireless assets of Plateau Wireless, a subsidiary of NM-based ENMR-Plateau. Terms were not disclosed. Details here. --- Gas station network Outcast inked a partnership with FOX News Channel for daily news updates at the pump. Outcast will deliver FOX News content to ~13K screens nationwide. --- BlueHighways TV reached a carriage agreement with the NCTC to distribute the network to the co-op's 1K member cable operators.
: Fta Files - FTA-GODS.COM Satellite : SkyReport:2/22/2012

Data: Rentrak signed a TV measurement contract with News Corp. Star U.S. for its South Asian market StarTV network. --- Social advertising analytics firm Visible Measures said the Media Rating Council (MRC) voted to grant accreditation to a range of VM's metrics for digital video performance online, including paid, owned, earned media, and other products.  
: Fta Files - FTA-GODS.COM Satellite : SkyReport:2/22/2012

SkyREPORT: Inmarsat issued a notice this week to LightSquared saying that the 4G LTE start-up defaulted on a $56M payment due for the companies' cooperative spectrum agreement. LightSquared quickly responded by saying the payment isn't even due. Speaking of LightSquared, ars technica has a story examining why the company's plans failed. Hint: 'It was science, not politics.' --- The International Telecommunications Union has enabled member states to take greater actions to combat satellite signal interference. BroadbandTV News has details. --- EWTN Global Catholic Network will begin to transition its three North American cable networks to Galaxy 15, Transponder 5, beginning March 1.
: Fta Files - FTA-GODS.COM Satellite : SkyReport:2/22/2012

Service: WOW! is launching ARRIS's whole-home solution which includes a Moxi Gateway, 6-tuner HD DVR, DOCSIS 3.0 data service, VoIP, and optional in-home WiFi routing. --- The Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network (HITN) announced a partnership with Connect to Compete (C2C), a private and nonprofit organization to promote broadband adoption and improve digital literacy in disadvantaged communities.

$$$: CenturyLink said its board of directors voted to declare a quarterly cash dividend of $.725 per share, payable on March 16, 2012, to shareholders of record on March 6, 2012.

Over, Up & Under: An international court rejected claims by Mediaset that Sky Italia's purchase of 2010 FIFA World Cup rights violated a previous ruling by the EU. Mediaset wanted to the opportunity to air the games but eventually failed to secure bidding rights. The broadcaster was seeking compensation because it couldn't include the event it its lineup.