January 2007 Archives

According to a new Nickelodeon research study titled "The Digital Family," families today rely on modern technology to function more than ever before, rendering former household staples such as road maps and dictionaries obsolete, as well as reducing the importance of spelling skills. Key findings of the study also indicated that kids and parents place a higher premium on "downtime," and that TV has become their medium of choice to relax. And, contrary to popular belief, parents are embracing technologies just as much as kids, and view cell phones as essential part of managing their lives, while also providing kids more freedom.

"The Digital Family" research incorporates findings from Nickelodeon's "Living in a Digital World" research project (2006), which explores technologies including: the Internet, television, cell phones, mp3 players and more. "The Digital Family" offers insights from kids 8-14 and parents of kids 0-14, and references several findings from Nickelodeon commissioned studies (Multicultural Kids Study 2006 and Nickelodeon Wireless Study 2006).

"In today's modern family, parents and kids identify technology as a homework helper, virtual babysitter, time-keeper and a center piece of a lot of family time," said Cyma Zarghami, President of Nickelodeon and the MTVN Kids and Family Group. "We found that technology has brought the need for new skills while seemingly lessening the need for others. What is very apparent is the critical role technology is playing in helping modern families functions."

The survey found that tech devices like computers and the Internet have become essential tools in daily living, making kids and parents much more productive and self sufficient. In some instances, the Internet has almost become part of the family. More than half of parents (59 percent) strongly agree that it helps them get things done and 68 percent surveyed believe it makes them more efficient and self sufficient.  As one parent from the study said, "I just didn't realize how much the internet was part of my family."

The majority of kids said the Internet helps them do better in school (85 percent) and helped them learn things (93 percent). Kids also said they believed it helps them to be more creative and makes them feel like they've accomplished something.

SIRIUS Satellite Radio, the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, will provide comprehensive radio coverage of Super Bowl XLI, with multiple live game broadcasts, live day-long news and analysis every day of Super Bowl Week.

On Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 4, SIRIUS will air an expanded lineup of live play-by-play broadcasts of Super Bowl XLI. SIRIUS will offer ten different game calls in seven languages, including both teams' local radio broadcasts and the national Westwood One/CBS Radio Sports broadcast.

From now  through Super Bowl Sunday, SIRIUS NFL Radio // ch. 124, SIRIUS' 24/7 year-round NFL talk radio channel, will broadcast live every day from Radio Row at the Miami Beach Convention Center and will be streamed live and free of charge on the NFL's official game site www.superbowl.com.

SIRIUS NFL Radio will provide up-to-the-minute news and analysis from a panel of expert hosts that includes Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Tim Ryan, Pat Kirwan, Gil Brandt, Jim Miller, Carl Banks, Bob Papa and Adam Schein. SIRIUS NFL Radio will broadcast live from Dolphin Stadium on Media Day, Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. Media Day shows will feature one-on-one interviews with players and coaches from the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears.

IRIUS listeners in the Miami area during Super Bowl Week can also monitor traffic and weather conditions by tuning in to SIRIUS First Traffic and Weather for Miami on channel 153.

For more details on the programming schedule, check out the SIRIUS press release.

ComEd announced earlier this month the expansion of its Residential Real-Time Pricing Program. A part of the company's efforts to help customers effectively manage their bills, the program provides participants hour-to-hour electricity pricing.

"We are pleased to offer residential customers a pricing program that puts more control into their hands," ComEd President Barry Mitchell said. "This voluntary program is an option that participating customers can use to potentially save money by reducing their electric consumption during high hourly price periods."

Under the legislatively mandated program, approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission last month, residential customers choosing the real-time pricing option will be billed for the power they consume based on hourly market prices. Participating customers will be able to lower their monthly electric bills by changing their usage habits to take advantage of lower- priced time periods, and avoiding heavy usage during higher-priced time periods.

Participants will receive hourly pricing information from the program's third party administrator, Comverge, who was selected following a competitive bidding process held in December. Over the past four years, 1,100 customers participated in a pilot program administered by the Community Energy Cooperative.

"Comverge is excited to have been chosen to manage this important real- time pricing program rollout," said Robert M. Chiste, president and CEO of Comverge Inc. "Real-time pricing programs are a critical element to the long term reliability of the electric infrastructure. Comverge is pleased to share this vision with ComEd and bring its expertise to this program."

CNN.com announced this week that it claimed the greatest average monthly share of online news among all Current Events and Global News sites in 2006.

CNN.com, with 15 percent of online news usage, garnered a higher average monthly share of online news than both second-ranked Yahoo! News, which had a 13 percent share, and third-ranked MSNBC.com, which had a 10 percent share.

"During 2006, CNN.com reasserted its dominance as a leading online news source, providing users with incomparable access to the best news and information and the most compelling on-demand video," said David Payne, senior vice president and general manager of CNN.com. "Coming off such a strong year, we face the challenge to take the online news experience to a whole new level. As we move into 2007, our online consumers will find CNN.com more than capable to meet the challenge."

"The phenomenal reach of our digital assets and the quality content that CNN.com provides as the number one online news source has led to unprecedented growth for our digital advertising business," said Greg D'Alba COO of CNN Ad Sales and Marketing. "Combining our impressive digital portfolio with CNN's powerful on-air networks, our ad sales team is able to develop fully-integrated packages for our clients that deliver all the advantages of CNN's brand across multiple platforms."

As the first Internet site dedicated to 24-hour news coverage, CNN.com attracts an average of 23 million unique users each month. Launched in 1995, CNN.com draws from the resources of CNN Worldwide to provide relevant, up-to-the minute news and information. CNN.com features the latest multimedia technologies, from video streaming and user-generated content to audio packages and searchable archives of news features and background information.

For more information, check out the press release CNN.com Tops News Sites in 2006 for Online News Usage.

Verizon announced earlier this month that it will launch local television channels in selected markets in 2007, starting with the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area in the first quarter.

Michelle Webb, a former ABC News producer, will produce and manage the project. The announcements were made at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Verizon will offer the local channels, to be called FiOS1, on its Verizon FiOS TV service.

FiOS1 will include round-the-clock traffic and weather, local news and community sports. Verizon will partner with professional news organizations to deliver some of the content. It will also televise original features shot and produced by citizen journalists using high-definition camcorders and provide a platform for local user-generated content. Verizon says it plans to announce more details as the launch date approaches.

Webb joined Verizon last spring as executive producer and general manager, FiOS1 local channels. Prior to her current position, she served for four years as a producer of the ABC News program "Primetime Live," where she did preproduction planning, research and storyline development for features and segments presented on the network's television-magazine shows.

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Earlier this month at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show, Delphi Corp. announced the introduction of a premium sound system designed to work with multiple satellite radio receivers.

The company says that the Delphi Premium Sound System allows consumers to enjoy clear XM Satellite Radio sound transmitted seamlessly through the Delphi SKYFi3(R), Roady XT(R), MyFi(TM) and Audiovox(R) Xpress(TM) XM receivers. They are touting the system as the easiest, most elegant way to listen to XM Satellite Radio at home, at the office or outdoors with its battery feature.

"The Delphi Premium Sound System's sleek design makes it an excellent choice for use in the corporate office, and its premium sound allows listeners to enjoy digital audio throughout their day - even when away from their car," said Max Rogers, general director of consumer electronics, Delphi Product & Service Solutions. "This system will appeal to a wide range of XM Satellite Radio listeners."

The Delphi Premium Sound System features an advanced acoustic and integrated systems that includes precisely engineered speakers, state-of-the-art power supply and amplifier architecture, and advanced digital signal processing. There is also a bass enhancer to provide full sound, even at lower volume levels. The result is natural, life-like sound with a sense of clarity and spaciousness not typically found in a system at this price and size.

Along with its compact design, the Premium Sound System features an integrated handle and an integrated XM antenna for convenient portability from room-to-room or on-the-go away from home. No complex setup or adjustments are needed to start enjoying the crystal clear Delphi Premium Sound System. Docking a compatible XM receiver is all it takes to start enjoying crystal- clear sound virtually anywhere. Private listening is also available through headphones, and the Delphi Premium Sound System can be connected to another audio device, such as an MP3 player.

"The Delphi Premium Sound System offers the ultimate in flexibility for consumers who own different to XM receivers," said Massimo Baldini, Delphi's global satellite radio business line manager. "Delphi has a rich heritage of innovation in radios, which started with the first in-dash, factory-installed radio in 1936, and continues today with several industry leading firsts in satellite radio technology, enabling us to produce a portable sound system of the highest quality."

Available this spring, the Delphi Premium Sound System will be priced at $179. For more information, check out the Delphi press release.

Cox Communications recently announced that it has added ESPN2 HD to its high-definition cable lineup. This high-definition simulcast of the ESPN2 will be now be available on all Cox systems. As part of the new programming agreement, more than 1 million Cox customers will also now have access to ESPNU, a 24-hour sports network that features programming focused on college sports, including approximately 300 live events each year.

In most markets, Cox also carries HBO HD, Showtime HD, Discovery HD Theater, INHD, MHD, ESPN HD, Universal HD and local channels in high definition. ESPN 2 HD has been available for more than a year on other satellite and cable services.

For more information, check out the article Cox Boosts Availability of ESPN2 HD, ESPNU.

MySpace.com recently announced that it filed suit against Scott Richter, for violations of state and federal laws including the CAN-SPAM Act and California's anti-spam statute. The suit, filed in United States District Court in Los Angeles on last week, seeks a permanent injunction barring Richter and his affiliated companies from the MySpace site in addition to unspecified monetary damages.

MySpace alleges in the suit that between July and Dec. 2006, Richter and his associates arranged for millions of spam "bulletins" to be sent from MySpace users' accounts without their knowledge. According to the lawsuit, Richter either phished MySpace accounts himself or acquired a list of phished accounts to launch spam campaigns. The campaigns promote Web sites offering products and services such as ringtones and polo shirts, according to MySpace's filing.

"We're committed to protecting our community from phishing and spam," said Hemanshu Nigam, Chief Security Officer for MySpace. "If it takes filing a federal suit to stop someone who violates the law and damages our members' experience, then that's what we'll do."

Richter previously has been sued by Microsoft and then-New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. According to Microsoft, Richter agreed in a post-judgment settlement to pay $7 million and to make "fundamental changes" in his e-mail practices. According to Spitzer's office, Richter settled that case for both monetary damages and specific changes in his e-mail campaigns.

MySpace says the suit against Richter is the latest in a series of aggressive steps it has taken over the last two years to combat spam, phishing and other abusive misuse of the MySpace site.

For more information, check out the MySpace press release.

Thanks to Verizon telephone customers who participated in Verizon's convenient Check Into Literacy Program, nonprofit organizations throughout 26 states and Washington, D.C., will receive more than $1.28 million to bolster local literacy efforts.

The Check Into Literacy Program enables Verizon landline telephone customers to support literacy by simply checking a box on their monthly phone bills to make a $1 tax-deductible donation. Verizon then distributes the donations to local literacy organizations that serve the individual states the customers live in.

"The generosity of our customers and the commitment of our Verizon employee volunteers go hand-in-hand in our grassroots campaign to continue the important work of improving literacy in our communities," said Verizon Foundation President Patrick Gaston.

Residents of Washington, D.C., and the following states took part in the program: Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Residents of the following states contributed the greatest amount to the program: Pennsylvania, $304,001; New Jersey, $186,386; Massachusetts, $126,763; California, $95,046; and Maryland, $78,477.

The Verizon Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications. Committed to improving literacy and K-12 education, fostering awareness and prevention of domestic violence and promoting the use of technology in health-care delivery, the foundation awarded more than $69 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad in 2006. The foundation also matched charitable donations from Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $29 million in combined contributions. Under the foundation's Verizon Volunteer initiative, one of the nation's largest employee-volunteer programs, company employees and retirees have also contributed nearly 3 million hours of community service since Verizon's inception in 2000.

Fore more information, check out Verizon Customers Help Improve Literacy in Their Communities by Donating More Than $1.28 million To Nonprofit Organizations Through Monthly Program.

The alliance between Blockbuster Inc. and The Weinstein Company got a karate kick-off last week with the video release of The Protector and Seven Swords. The two films, available now on DVD, are the first titles from The Weinstein Company available for rent exclusively from Blockbuster as a part of an alliance announced last fall. The Protector will be featured as a "guaranteed in- stock" title at all Blockbuster company-operated stores.

As it plans to do with all the Weinstein films, Blockbuster will make these titles available both online and at all its company-operated stores as well as at participating franchise stores. Subscribers to BLOCKBUSTER Total Access, the company's online service, will be able to rent the titles online or rent the movies, free of charge, by exchanging their online rentals for these titles at participating BLOCKBUSTER stores. And to make sure customers don't miss the movies, Blockbuster is prominently displaying the films in a special in-store section and on its Web site.

"As a result of this agreement with The Weinstein Company, Blockbuster is going to be able to give great visibility to quality independent films like The Protector and Seven Swords, some of which may not have had wide theatrical release or any theatrical release at all," said Matthew Smith, Blockbuster senior vice president, merchandising. "We will now be able to really market these films in-store and on-line and make them available to virtually 100 percent of the U.S. population. We are thrilled to be able to do this for our customers, and we think it's a pretty exciting opportunity for independent filmmakers as well."

For more information on this new alliance, check out the Blockbuster press release.

AT&T and Atlanta Classic Foundation officials announced last week that the new name of Atlanta's annual PGA TOUR stop is the AT&T Classic. The new name and logo for the May 14-20, 2007, tournament at TPC at Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia reflect the recently approved merger between AT&T and BellSouth.

"AT&T is honored to be associated with a longtime Atlanta event that gives back so much to local charities," said Rod Odom, president and CEO, AT&T Southeast. "AT&T has a long tradition of service in the community, and we're pleased that the AT&T Classic will continue its rich tradition of hospitality, charity, and world-class golf on an outstanding course for players and galleries alike."

"AT&T is one of the world's most recognized and respected brands," said Dave Kaplan, tournament director, AT&T Classic. "We're thrilled to be associated with a company that's well-known locally, around the world, and in the golfing community. We anticipate a seamless transition as we work with our new friends at AT&T. As always, our primary goals will be to host the greatest golfers in the world and to raise funds for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and other local and national charities."

In addition to the AT&T Classic, AT&T sponsors The Masters, the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and two CHAMPIONS TOUR events in San Antonio and Los Angeles. AT&T's sponsorship agreement with the AT&T Classic runs through the 2010 tournament.

The AT&T Classic, now in its 39th year, will offer a total purse of $5.4 million, up $100,000 from last year. In 2006, the tournament contributed a record $1.7 million to local charities. Since 1983, the tournament has donated more than $12.3 million to local charitable organizations.

Professionals who are expected to compete in May include two-time defending champion Phil Mickelson, two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen, Chris DiMarco, Sugarloaf resident Stewart Cink and many more of the world's finest golfers.

For more information, check out the press release Introducing the AT&T Classic.

XM announced earlier this month that it will launch "GRAMMY Radio," a dedicated channel providing coverage of GRAMMY Week events. GRAMMY Radio will air on XM LIVE (XM 200) starting Feb. 9 through Feb. 11, the evening of the 49th Annual GRAMMY(R) Awards, featuring a mix of exclusive broadcast coverage of GRAMMY Week events along with every GRAMMY nominated song and artist. This dedicated channel is part of XM's multi-year programming and marketing partnership with The Recording Academy(R).

GRAMMY Radio will feature the first live broadcast of this year's pre-telecast GRAMMY Awards, as well as red-carpet interviews from the GRAMMYAwards and broadcasts of performances by a "who's who" of superstar artists at the most exclusive events during GRAMMY Week. These include MusiCares(TM) Person of the Year Tribute honoring music legend Don Henley and the Lifetime Achievement and Trustee Awards Ceremony honoring Joan Baez, Booker T. & The MG's, Maria Callas, Ornette Coleman, the Doors, the Grateful Dead, Bob Wills and more, among other GRAMMY Week events.

"GRAMMY Radio will provide millions of XM subscribers the closest thing to red-carpet access and front-row seats at the music industry's most exclusive events, traditionally reserved only for music industry V.I.P.s," said Eric Logan, executive vice president of programming for XM Satellite Radio. "XM is the ideal platform to bring comprehensive coverage of GRAMMY Week events to the millions of music fans who listen to XM."

Fore more information, check out the XM press release.

SCI FI Channel recently announced that it has partnered with DIRECTV for a comprehensive sponsorship package that will give DIRECTV a presence everywhere Battlestar Galactica is available. The first deal of its kind for the Channel, this "360-degree" cross-platform partnership will put DIRECTV alongside SCI FI's most critically-acclaimed series on-air, online and in print.

DIRECTV will sponsor every episode of SCI FI's hit original series Battlestar Galactica including yesterday's mid-season premiere with on-air ads and through a customized promo highlighting the satellite provider as well as online throughout the SCIFI.COM site. In addition to being represented in the Battlestar Galactica iTunes page, Ronald D. Moore's podcasts, David Eick's blogs and in the Webisodes page, they will be a sponsor of Battlestar's weekly episodic recaps on SCI FI's 'Pulse' broadband channel via DIRECTV. SCIFI.COM will also house a sweepstakes for a chance to win a flat screen television and a year's subscription to the satellite service. In print, there will be a customized DIRECTV ad prominently featured in SCI FI Magazine. DIRECTV will also sponsor the SMS mobile alerts sent by the Channel to Battlestar viewers with updates on upcoming episodes and have a presence in Battlestar Galactica's upcoming third season home video release.

Mark Miller, Senior Vice President of Sales for the SCI FI Channel notes, "The partnership between Battlestar Galactica and DIRECTV is an exciting opportunity for both brands. With one of the most active and engaged audiences in television, SCI FI viewers are constantly looking for new ways to connect with the brand, and DIRECTV is taking advantage of the power of the SCI FI audience."

"We are constantly on the lookout for media partners that are forward looking and willing to integrate our messaging across all their platforms," added Jon Gieselman, DIRECTV Senior Vice President of Advertising and Public Relations. "There is nothing better than enjoying Battlestar Galactica with the best picture on TV, except later this year when we rule the airwaves with 100 channels in HD."

Netflix is turning up the heat in the online DVD rental wars. In response to Blockbuster's new Total Access, Netflix, has introduced a new feature that allows people to immediately watch movies and television series on their personal computers. The company said it will make the new feature available to its subscribers in a phased roll-out over the next six months.

Subscribers will continue to receive DVDs by mail from the company's catalog and will have the additional option of instantly watching about 1,000 movies and TV series on their PCs. The new feature will be included in subscribers' monthly membership plans at no additional cost, and the company said its phased roll-out is meant to ensure that subscribers have a great initial experience with the feature.

"We named our company Netflix in 1998 because we believed Internet-based movie rental represented the future, first as a means of improving service and selection, and then as a means of movie delivery," said Reed Hastings, the company's chief executive officer. "While mainstream consumer adoption of online movie watching will take a number of years due to content and technology hurdles, the time is right for Netflix to take the first step.

"Over the coming years we'll expand our selection of films, and we'll work to get to every Internet-connected screen, from cell phones to PCs to plasma screens. The PC screen is the best Internet-connected screen today, so we are starting there. "

Netflix said the introduction of immediate viewing is part of its plan to lead movie rental in total by adding electronic delivery to its existing DVD delivery platform. Netflix is specifically focusing on the rental segment of electronic delivery, distinct from the download-to-own market and advertising-supported electronic delivery.

The new feature differs from current services in that it does not require the often lengthy downloading of a large video file. The Netflix feature uses real-time playback technology that allows video to be viewed at virtually the same time it is being delivered to a user's computer. Following a one-time, under-60-second installation of a simple browser applet, most subscribers' movie selections will begin playing in their Web browser in as little as 10 to 15 seconds. Movies can be paused and a position bar gives viewers the ability to immediately jump to any point in the movie. In all, the instant watching feature requires only Internet connectivity with a minimum of one megabit per second of bandwidth. The more bandwidth a consumer has, the higher quality the video displayed, ranging from the quality of current Netflix previews to DVD quality with a three-megabit-per-second connection.

Initially, the new feature will offer about 1,000 titles and its selection will expand over time as licensing for electronically delivered movie rentals widens. The number of titles available at introduction roughly mirrors the number of DVD titles Netflix carried when its subscription service was launched in 1999. In seven years, that DVD catalog has grown to over 70,000. Most of the major and many independent studios are supporting the introduction of the new feature, including NBC Universal, Sony Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., New Line Cinema and Lionsgate.

In addition, content is being provided by A&E Television Networks, Anime Network, Allumination FilmWorks, BBC Worldwide, Cinema Libre Studios, Egami Media, Film Movement, Hart Sharp Video, The Independent Film Channel, Magnolia Pictures, New Video Group, New Yorker Films, Palm Pictures, Seventh Art , Silvernitrate Entertainment, Starz Digital, ThinkFilm, Video Action Sports, WMG Productions and Wolfe Video, among others.

Once it is made available to them as part of the phased roll-out, members will access instant movie watching by clicking on a "Watch Now" tab on their home page. As with the Netflix DVD catalog, subscribers can browse movies available for immediate viewing by title, genre or star rating. Personalized recommendations, based on an individual's historical preferences, will also appear at the top of the member's "Watch Now" page.

Netflix said it expects to make the new feature available to all Netflix subscribers by the end of June. The hours available for instant watching will vary based on subscribers' monthly plans.

For more information on the new feature, check out the Netflix press release.

Last week, CBS Research revealed new data showing that as the public at large becomes more connected to digital media, the more engaged they become in primetime television programming. Additionally, as more TV viewers become aware of the 2009 deadline for broadcasters to switch to full digital transmissions, the likelihood of them investing in new digital TV sets increases by 40 percent.

Those are just two of the major findings revealed today by a comprehensive study CBS Research has conducted examining consumers' attitudes towards digital media, and the role television will play in the near future. The project was led by David F. Poltrack, Chief Research Officer, CBS Corporation, President of CBS Vision.

Researchers found that 56 percent of those surveyed were aware that you could watch network television programs by streaming them over the Internet. Of those aware of this streaming option, 46 percent have already streamed at least one program. Of those not aware of this streaming option, when told which programs were available for streaming, 62 percent selected at least one of the 33 available programs that they probably would watch via streaming over the in the future. Analysts say it is clear that the potential for network program distribution over the Internet is just beginning to be tapped.

In addition, the research shows that people are gradually moving up to higher levels of connectivity. The segment of the population with both a broadband and a digital television connection at home has grown from 22 percent in the fall of 2005 to more than 30 percent in the fall of 2006. The same segment is most likely to watch the top broadcast network programs. In addition, this segment visits network television web sites and is increasingly likely to stream clips and full episodes of network television programs on the  Internet. Members of this upscale, better-educated "fully connected" segment are today the most engaged with the popular network programs.

"This data clearly show a correlation between connectivity and primetime television viewing," said Poltrack. "Consumers who embrace the new media are the heaviest viewers of the top network primetime programs, and this sector of the audience is growing. By offering them new ways to connect to their favorite shows- whether it's Web sites, podcasts, ringtones or other mobile features- we've been able to deepen the bond these fully connected viewers have with our programming. The research also illustrates that as viewers learn about the 2009 deadline for digital transmissions their attitudes towards investing in technology, like advanced home entertainment centers, to watch their favorite shows, changes radically. These findings really demonstrate the potential the broadcast networks have to further engage the public with our content as new technology expands our distribution options."

To read more about this new research, check out the CBS press release.

If you are an avid Smallville fan as I am, you will enjoy this news. The Warner Bros. Television Group and The CW Network are teaming up with Sprint on a new shortform animated wireless series based upon the hit network drama Smallville (airing Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET on The CW).

Smallville Legends: The Oliver Queen Chronicles, a six-episode animated wireless series created for the mobile and broadband environment, will premiere today, January 18, exclusively on the Sprint TV mobile video service. A new episode will launch on subsequent Thursdays and remain exclusive to Sprint for the six-week duration of the series.

Even if Sprint is not your wireless provider, do not lose hope. After Sprint's exclusive window, the entire wireless animated series will be available for streaming at www.CWTV.com, the online home of The CW Network, beginning February 22. The initiative marks the first time Warner Bros. and The CW have created original animated content as a marketing platform to help drive tune-in for the Smallville television series.

"Our goal at Warner Bros. Television is to look for unique, innovative ways to entertain and engage our fans, resulting in a deeper connection to our shows and providing value to our broadcast partners," said Gregorian. "This partnership with The CW and Sprint enables us to deliver exceptional wireless entertainment which provides a multi-layered experience for viewers."

"This is another example of how The CW is delivering on its promise to deliver original, new content to our young audience via multiple platforms," said Haskins. "We will continue to work with our studio and sales partners to whet the appetite of our passionate fans for more CW programming."

"Smallville's mix of young, tech savvy viewers want to learn more and interact more with their favorite show, and Sprint is in a perfect position to give them that access," said Newton. "We are always looking for new opportunities for Sprint TV to give our subscribers exclusive content related to the primetime television shows that they love."

The producers of the Smallville television series recently introduced the new character of Oliver Queen, who arrives in Smallville to continue his covert quest for justice in the guise of the super hero Green Arrow. Possessing phenomenal skills with a high-tech bow and arrow, Queen learns Clark has super powers and tries to recruit him in his current mission against Lex Luthor, Queen's former schoolmate. It is the fascinating back story to this new plotline that unfolds in the animated wireless series Smallville Legends: The Oliver Queen Chronicles. Viewers will go on a journey back in time to experience the pivotal events that led to a young Oliver Queen becoming Green Arrow.

You can read this Warner Bros. press release to find out how to view the series on your Sprint cell phone.

Knology announced recently that it will pay $255 million to buy PrairieWave Communications, a voice, video and high-speed Internet broadband services provider in South Dakota.

Operating in South Dakota and in portions of Minnesota and Iowa, PrairieWave has more than 56,000 residential and 7,100 business customers, with most in areas around Sioux Falls and Rapid City, South Dakota.

"PrairieWave is a highly successful, customer-focused business that will expand Knology's footprint by adding meaningful scale to our existing operations," said Rodger L. Johnson, president and CEO of Knology. "PrairieWave has achieved excellent bundled penetration and attractive EBITDA and free cash flow margins, and we believe this acquisition will complement our continued focus on organic growth in the existing Knology markets."

For more information, check out the Black Hills Pioneer article PrairieWave Communications announces merger with Knology Inc..

In recent years, cable companies have managed to switch more than eight million homes away from the nation's phone companies by offering cable-based local phone service. Now they're going after business clients in an attempt to accelerate their market share growth. According to an article in today's Wall Street Journal, there are billions of dollars of business waiting for cable providers in the business world, particularly in the small business segment. In 2005, industry analysts estimate that businesses with fewer than 500 employees spent more than $5.5 billion on cable phone services. By 2010, that number is expected to more than double. Part of the appeal for businesses is the ability to bundle both local phone and high-speed Internet. While most can do that now with their telco providers, they're often limited to the lower bandwidth of DSL connections, while the cable companies routinely offer download speeds of five or six megabytes per second.

One way the phone companies are fighting back is with fiber optic service, which both Verizon and AT&T have rolled out this year in selected markets. Eventually, fiber optic TV and Internet service will be available to about half the telco footprints bringing with them download speeds as high as 30 Mbps.

That should be plenty fast for businesses who need to handle heavy duty phone and Internet tasks, as well as watch reruns of The Office during breaks.

I never pass up an opportunity to talk about my home state of Michigan and sports, so I thought I would share this latest news. AT&T Inc. announced last week that it has signed a new contract to provide managed service s to the Detroit Tigers major league baseball team.

Under the terms of the three-year contract, AT&T delivered a robust Managed Internet Service (MIS) solution via a burstable DS3 connection in just one week after the contract was signed and just in time for the ALCS and World Series games.

The solution provides increased bandwidth across the Tigers converged Internet Protocol (IP)-based network. The MIS solution is intended to support advanced video and data communications, such as media connectivity, file transfers, Web-browsing and other business-critical corporate operations, for Comerica Park. The flexibility of the MIS allows the service to expand when the additional bandwidth is needed to accommodate high-volume traffic as media and corporate users take advantage of the Tigers network to stream live video and send and receive large media files, especially during the post-season when media attendance is at its highest.

As the Tigers moved into the post-season in 2006, an immediate need for a flexible network solution surfaced. To avoid network downtime, the Tigers enlisted the help of AT&T to provide a network capable of supporting the additional volume. In addition to expanded bandwidth, the network provides added redundancy and increased reliability for greater network efficiency and availability.

"We had a fantastic season this year, and as a result, we knew our network would need additional bandwidth to support the influx of data traffic," said Scott Wruble, manager of IT for the Detroit Tigers. "Thanks to AT&T, we were able to accommodate the spike in traffic we received rather quickly and without worrying over network outages or slower Internet speeds. AT&T provided a solution capable of meeting all of our networking needs."

EMBARQ has reached several key milestones since its separation from Sprint Nextel on May 17, 2006, and now says that it has emerged as an innovative provider of communications solutions.

During its first six months as a stand-alone company, EMBARQ introduced its residential and business customers to several solutions designed to help meet their daily telecommunications needs. The company says these solutions are part of the cits complete lineup of communications and entertainment services, including local and long distance, data, high-speed Internet, wireless and DISH Network television services.

"In just a few months, we have delivered many 'firsts' to the U.S. telecom market," said Dan Hesse, EMBARQ chairman and CEO. "Customers want their products and services to work together, and this is the kind ofpractical innovation we intend to bring them."

"EMBARQ has been actively reinventing itself since its split away from Sprint. It is the best of old and new telecom firms," said Jeff Kagan, telecommunications industry analyst. "They have introduced many innovative new ideas to the marketplace. They have been transforming the company and have been focused on implementing integrated products and services."

The company sited several innovations as important for its growth as a company, including new voicemail services and high-speed network enhancements.

"If we look at their first six months as a stand-alone company, I'd say the company looks very promising," Kagan added. "They are transforming themselves to provide an even wider range of services for business customers and for consumers."

For more information on the company's milestones, check out the EMBARQ press release.

DISH Network's parent company EchoStar Communications recently introduced the MobileDISH in-car satellite service, a programming package by DISH Network combined with antenna technology from RaySat. The company says that MobileDISH technology allows DISH Network customers to watch live satellite television from their vehicles, even while in motion.

"We're excited to partner with RaySat because we know people today are always on the move and have a need for TV even while on the road," said Mark Jackson, President of EchoStar Technologies. "The MobileDISH technology is just another example of how we're providing our extensive line of cutting-edge technology and exceptional programming packages to reach our 13 million subscribers everywhere."

The mobile satellite antenna, designed by RaySat, mounts to a vehicle's roof rack and provides hundreds of channels of all-digital DISH Network satellite TV. The company says that the MobileDISH technology is perfect for occupying the kids, monitoring weather and road conditions, keeping up on breaking news and watching movies on long road trips.

The MobileDISH technology is compatible with existing vehicles including most cars, recreational vehicles (RVs) and trucks and performs well at highway speeds. More information about the MobileDISH technology, including package information and price details, is expected to be released in Spring 2007.

For more information, see the DISH Network press release.

You may have noticed that some of the posts these last two weeks have mentioned the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). No, I didn't convince my bosses to send me to Las Vegas but I have been keeping up with all the great news coming out of the show.

If you aren't familiar with CES, here's a little background. It is the world's largest annual tradeshow for consumer technology and America's largest annual tradeshow of any kind. The first CES took place in New York City in June of 1967 with 200 exhibitors and 17,500 attendees. Since then, CES has grown tremendously. Nearly 2,700 exhibitors, filling 1.6 million net square feet of exhibit space, showcased their latest products and services to more than 140,000 attendees at the 2006 International CES.

Attendees and exhibitors come from the United States, Canada, Mexico and more than 130 other countries, including manufacturers, retailers, content providers and creators, broadband developers, wireless carriers, cable and satellite TV providers, installers, engineers, corporate buyers, government leaders, financial analysts and the media from around the world.

It's also the place where the most exciting consumer electronics get debuted every year. Some of the past product debuts include:

• Videocassette Recorder (VCR), 1970
• Compact Disc Player, 1981
• Digital Satellite System, 1994
• High Definition Television (HDTV), 1998
• Microsoft Xbox, 2001
• IP TV, 2005

As you can see, this show is pretty important when it comes to the technology we use daily. Trying to keep up with all the new products introduced this year has been a challenge but it's also very exciting. Who knows what will be the next big thing that will become something we all can't live without!

To read more about the show, check out the official site at cesweb.org. And don't forget to check back here for more CES news.

Comcast and TiVo have teamed up and recently demonstrated a new TiVo service for Comcast DVRs at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The companies began trialing the TiVo service for Comcast DVRs in late 2006.

This is great news for consumers who, like me, would love to only have one set-top box that can handle both cable and the great service TiVo provides. The collaboration between the two companies will allow subscribers to use a single digital cable set-top box to enjoy TiVo DVR features along with Comcast's video-on-demand (VOD) service and the most high-definition (HD) television viewing choices for the first time. Together with Comcast, TiVo has developed a software application that will enable Comcast to deploy the service for a monthly fee to existing set-top boxes without an additional in-home visit by a technician.

"Collaborating with Comcast to make the state-of-the-art TiVo service available on their existing hardware platform is an important accomplishment for both companies," said Jeff Klugman, Senior Vice President for TiVo's Service Provider Division. "We're thrilled that the benefits of TiVo will soon be available to Comcast's millions of subscribers. Consumers know that it is not TiVo, unless it is a TiVo, and the TiVo service will enhance the cable television experience."

"The combination of our signature Comcast ON DEMAND and HD services with the TiVo interface will provide customers with the only integrated access to all of these outstanding services from one set-top box," said Mark Hess, Senior Vice President of Video Product Development for Comcast. "TiVo has been a great partner in developing this service, and we're proud of the work that our teams have done to deliver our customers a product that's simple, easy to use and is a great value."

For more details on the collaboration, check out the press release Comcast and TiVo Demonstrate Integrated DVR at CES.

MySpace and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, presenters of the Emmy Awards, recently announced they have joined forces to honor premium broadband content on the Internet. MySpace will serve as the exclusive online partner of the Broadband Emmy Award submissions, empowering video producers and filmmakers to submit self-generated content for consideration through the official MySpace Emmy profile at myspace.com/MyEmmy.

"Amazing content is flourishing on the Web and enabling submissions through MySpace makes a world of sense. This unique collaboration gives users an accessible platform to recognize the best creative content out there," said Shawn Gold, SVP of Marketing and Content for MySpace. "We're inviting all creators of premium broadband content to use the Emmy profile to submit their work for consideration for this highly coveted honor."

"MySpace will make the Emmy more accessible to aspiring professionals and video creators of all occupations and ages," said Peter Price, President/CEO, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. "The Emmy community on MySpace and our expansion of the categories eligible for the Broadband Emmy are our next steps in the National Television Academy's taking a leadership role in encouraging and recognizing premium content on broadband."

MySpace and the National Television Academy will encourage MySpace users  to enter their work in the Emmy competitions. Beginning Feb. 1, MySpace users will be able to upload their original videos to their personal MySpace profile and submit their video URL to the Emmy profile page for viewing by the MySpace community.

MySpace, with more than 50,000 filmmakers and countless creators of premium video content, and the National Academy are encouraging all artists to enter their videos for consideration through MySpace. MySpace and The National Television Academy will sponsor Emmy scholarships to cover the cost of the entry fees for selected MySpace users. Even those videos not chosen for a scholarship may be entered directly into the Emmy Award competitions at www.myemmy.tv. The National Academy will judge the Broadband Emmys, following its standard procedures of utilizing expert professionals from related areas of expertise.

The 2007 Broadband Emmy Awards will be presented in each of the existing National Television Academy's Emmy Award ceremonies for program excellence, which include for Daytime Entertainment, News & Information, Sports, and Public & Community Service. The MySpace Emmy profile will first feature videos for the Entertainment Broadband Emmy Award, and subsequently throughout the year will feature News & Documentary, Business & Financial, Public & Community Service, and Sports.

For more information, check out MySpace and the National Academy of Television Partner on the Broadband Emmy Awards.

Hughes Network Systems announced this week that the number of HughesNet small business and residential subscribers surpassed 325,000 during the fourth quarter of 2006, an 18 percent growth over the same period in 2005, demonstrating continued steady growth in satellite broadband subscriptions among consumers that do not have access other means of obtaining high-speed Internet services.

"There are a considerable number of people in communities across the country who still are unable to receive high-speed Internet access through cable, DSL, or other terrestrial means," said Max Engel, Satellite and Broadband analyst at Frost & Sullivan. "For those consumers, satellite broadband offers an excellent alternative to their dial-up service."

During 2006, the company successfully transitioned to the HughesNet brand and launched a new subscriber platform and service plans, offering subscribers enhanced quality, speeds and performance.

"The continued growth in our subscriber base is a testament to the service quality we are delivering today," said Mike Cook, senior vice president of Hughes. "By focusing on our customers' needs and service innovation, we are satisfying our subscribers and further solidifying our position as the leader in the satellite broadband market."

For more information, check out the press release Hughes Reaches New Pinnacle in Subscriber Numbers.

CNET News recently posted an interesting article about the future of bundled services. Most cable providers currently offer phone, high-speed Internet and cable service packages, commonly referred to as triple-play bundles. However, many companies are bringing wireless in as part of these packages as well.

"If 2006 was the year of the triple play," the article states, "2007 may very well be the year of the quadruple bundle as cable operators and phone companies start to integrate mobile wireless services into their service packages."

According to CNET, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox and Advance/Newhouse Communications will all be launching and expanding their integrated mobile phone services in 2007, a direct result of the their joint venture with Sprint Nextel.

The article also goes on to say that adding wireless to their bundles means more to cable providers than just providing customers with a one bill and savings on buying more than one service. These companies see mobility as a way to add more convenience and value to services their customers already have. However, CNET cautions that companies admit that they are still in the early stages of developing these services, so you may have to wait for the perfect quadruple bundle to be available in your area.

To read more, check out the full CNET article.

XM Satellite Radio announced last week that the company added more than 1.695 million new subscribers in 2006, ending the year with more than 7.625 million subscribers. The company also said that it posted a positive cash flow from operations during the fourth quarter of 2006, where it gained more than 442,000 new net subscribers.

"XM completed another year of significant subscriber growth, despite retail softness, and did so with continued cost controls, achieving positive cash flow from operations during the fourth quarter," said Hugh Panero, Chief Executive Officer, XM Satellite Radio.

Citing the success of its online subscription service Total Access as a major factor, Blockbuster announced this week that the company ended the year with approximately 2.2 million online rental subscribers, including approximately 2 million paying subscribers.

"We are pleased that we achieved our year-end goal of 2 million subscribers, an addition of more than 500,000 paying subscribers since the end of the third quarter. We credit our success to Blockbuster Total Access, which gives our online customers the option of returning their DVDs through the mail or exchanging them at a participating Blockbuster store for free in-store movie rentals," said John Antioco Blockbuster Chairman and CEO. "The strong consumer appeal of Blockbuster Total Access has translated into significant subscriber growth and was accomplished without any broadcast media except in a handful of test markets."

Under the Blockbuster Total Access program for each online rental exchanged in the store, customers can receive a free in-store movie rental. Blockbuster Total Access also offers subscribers faster shipping cycles. When subscribers return their online rentals to a participating Blockbuster store, the store check-in process automatically initiates the process of shipping the next available movies in the subscriber's rental queue, so customers generally receive their online movies a day faster than if they had dropped the return movies in the mail themselves. In-store movies are still subject to store rental terms, including due dates, and must be returned to the store from which they were rented.

"Thanks to Blockbuster Total Access, customers no longer have to choose between renting online or renting in-store, and they never have to be without a movie," said Antioco. "We believe this compelling and unique offering will make blockbuster.com the fastest growing online DVD rental service in 2007."

For more details, check out the Blockbuster press release.

Yahoo! HotJobs recently surveyed more than 5,000 U.S. workers and found nearly half plan to search for a new job in 2007. And they say that number only represents those who will actively look. Another two-thirds of currently employed respondents said they may not actively seek out a new job, but that they would be open to one if the right opportunity came along.

Why Workers are Leaving:

• Seventy-five percent of respondents said they did not receive the bonus or the raise they expected for their performance in 2005.
• More than half of the people said they have to work on their days off at least once per month, and more than one-third said they do some aspect of work every single day.
• Twenty-seven percent think they can get better salaries elsewhere.
• Nineteen percent don't feel there is any potential for career growth in their current jobs.
• Nineteen percent want a better benefits package.

"Job seekers have a lot of leverage these days with unemployment rates at historically low levels," said Vobejda. "However, we are increasingly hearing from people that one of the main reasons they have not actually started their job search is procrastination."

Yahoo! HotJobs says it has developed a new tool, along with Assessment.com, to help you gauge your job satisfaction and career progress. People can visit a microsite located off of the Yahoo! HotJobs home page to take an assessment quiz and access new content, advice and other tools for managing one's career. The quiz features questions like, "How do you feel about your boss?", "When you wake up in the morning how do you feel about going to work?", and "Is this where you thought you'd be three years ago?".  The tool then offers advice based on your answers about the best employment options for you and possible next steps.

"One of the biggest obstacles for job seekers considering taking the next step is fear or apathy of the job search process," said Tom Musbach, editor and career expert for Yahoo! HotJobs. "Our new assessment tool provides customized guidance and is a great place for them to easily get started. The microsite also includes assistance to job seekers on developing a resume, handling the interview process and even preventing their current employers from knowing they're looking."

Another obstacle that Yahoo! HotJobs doesn't mention is the sometimes frightening prospect of moving to a different city to take a new job. If you are one of the many who plan to switch jobs this year, don't forget to check out Moving 101 here at the Home Services Guide. From finding the best cities for families and cost of living calculations to finding a trustworthy mover and giving notice at your current job, we've got you covered. The only thing we can't help with is finding you the perfect job. For more on that, check out the Yahoo! HotJobs Web site.

I'm a big fan of the NBC show Heroes, so I am excited about the latest news from Netflix. As a follow up to their successful promotional partnership in 2006, Netflix and NBC recently announced they will join forces  again to offer Netflix subscribers an exclusive DVD experience. The latest NBC DVD to be offered through the service will feature a specially produced, never-before-seen recap of the first eleven episodes of the hit Golden Globe-nominated series and the first full episode of the highly anticipated new NBC drama, The Black Donnellys from Academy Award winners Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco (Crash). In addition, the DVD will offer a first-time sneak peek of actor Jeff Goldblum's new drama series Raines.

The content of the DVD will be exclusive to Netflix subscribers until Jan. 15, when the content will also be available for viewing at NBC.com.  However, the special DVD will still be available to Netflix subscribers though the end of March. With Heroes on hiatus until Jan. 22, the recap provides viewers with an easy way to catch up on the series and learn more about the characters and plot lines of the Golden Globe nominated series which Time magazine selected as one of the best shows of 2006. The Black Donnellys and Raines will join the NBC line-up this Spring.

"We are delighted to again be working with Netflix on this special offer," said John Miller, chief marketing officer, NBC Universal Television Group. "We think the combination of an exclusive catch-up for audiences who have not yet discovered Heroes, the pilot of 'The Black Donnellys, as well as a preview of Raines, will make a very attractive offering for Netflix subscribers."

"Partnering with NBC to provide original content to our subscribers that can't be found anywhere else is a tremendous value add for Netflix," said Ted Sarandos, Netflix chief content officer. "Enhancing consumers' entertainment experience is the end goal for both companies and this promotion certainly achieves that goal."

How much online shopping did you do this holiday season? According to new research, a lot more than you did last year. comScore Networks recently released its estimates of consumer online non-travel (retail) spending at U.S. sites for the 2006 holiday season through Tuesday, Dec. 26. During the first 56 days of the holiday season, total online retail spending reached $23.11 billion, a 26-percent increase from the same days in 2005. Sales during the week prior to Christmas (Dec. 18 - Dec. 22, 2006) rose 38 percent versus the same week in 2005. In addition, year-to-date non-travel e-commerce spending surpassed the $100 billion mark for the first time ever on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006.

"Online sales continued to show strong growth during the last week before Christmas when procrastinators were clicking with confidence," said Gian Fulgoni, chairman of comScore Networks. "Consumers making purchases in those final days expressed both their faith in retailers' ability to pick and pack their orders in a timely fashion and shippers' ability to drop them on recipients' doorsteps in time for Christmas."

"That online retail consumer spending for the year-to-date has surpassed the $100 billion mark is a testament to the continued growth and strength of the online marketplace," continued Mr. Fulgoni. "Retail e-commerce now accounts for approximately 7 percent of consumers' U.S. retail spending (excluding gas, autos and food), making it an important component of the total U.S. economy."

Ranked by total retail sales for the holiday season through Dec. 26, Amazon.com topped the list of online retailers, followed by Dell.com, Yahoo.com and Walmart.com. An analysis of leading retailers by percentage increase in sales from 2005 to 2006 found that consumer electronics retailer Bestbuy.com achieved the greatest gains, followed by Walmart.com and Ticketmaster.com, with each of these three sites experiencing gains in excess of 50 percent.

For more information, check out the full comScore report.

Delphi announced this week that it has just sold its 13-millionth satellite radio receiver, setting a new milestone. The company also says it plans to showcase its satellite radio products next week at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Delphi currently produces receivers for more than 10 new vehicle manufacturers. It also sells a variety a variety of models as add-on accessories for multiple uses at home and on the road. Delphi is familiar to most consumers of satellite radio because of its Delphi SKYFi, MyFi and ROADY family of portable satellite radio receivers. The company says that three out of four users listen to satellite radio on Delphi hardware.

"Satellite radio is changing the paradigm of radio in the U.S.," said Ken Erickson, Delphi Electronics & Safety general director of the Entertainment & Communications product business unit. "Satellite radio has not only taken a long-time analog medium and made it digital, but it has also opened a new world of offerings to customers by providing more than a 100 additional channels of programming."

Satellite radio is the radio medium that offers customers up to 170 channels of programming in addition to the traditional AM/FM radio offerings. Satellite radio programming is beamed from satellites and includes a very wide variety of music, talk, sports, news, traffic, weather and entertainment coast-to-coast in the U.S. without fading.

"Consumers now demand this level of flexibility and ownership, fueled even more today by their ability to personalize their listening experience through MP3 players," said Max Rogers, Delphi consumer electronics executive. "Satellite radio's 170 channels of individual programming offers the same type of tailored listening experience with no downloading hassles."

In addition to adding new programming to the vehicle, Delphi has developed a digital data decoder that works in conjunction with the Delphi satellite receiver to enable real-time traffic services in North America. Vehicles with a Delphi satellite receiver equipped with this data port and a navigation system can receive up-to-date traffic while playing satellite radio. The system is also capable of providing real-time weather, sports scores and stock updates.

Delphi's long history with satellite radio receivers includes celebrating sales milestones for 2.5 millionth in May 2004 and 5 million units in April 2005.

For more information on Delphi's current milestone, check out the press release.

On Sunday, the Illinois House of Representatives passed a rate freeze extension bill that will now go to the state Senate for consideration. The bill's approval by the Senate would mean that ComEd customers would avoid the 24 percent rate hike that took effect Jan. 1 after a decade-long state freeze on electricity rates expired.

In response to the House's passage of the bill, ComEd released a press release, saying that extending the rate freeze was bad for customers and could lead to bankruptcy for the company.

"Rate freeze extension legislation doesn't change the fact that the cost of electricity has increased over the past decade, and ComEd's cost to buy power has increased," the company said in the statement. "This bill would prevent ComEd from recovering its costs to buy power to serve its customers or to invest in its electric delivery system. It forces ComEd to 'buy high and sell low,' and will have a similarly devastating impact as the 2001 California energy crisis."

Late in 2006, the Illinois Commerce Commission approved ComEd's residential rate stabilization plan, which the company says allows residential customers the choice to pay for the rate increase over time, limiting the impact of any rate increases to 10 percent annually for the next three years and repay the deferred amounts, with a below-market interest rate of 3.25 percent, from 2010 to 2012.

According to The Chicago Sun-Times, the new extension bill proposed by the House faces an uphill fight in the Senate. Senate President Emil Jones expressed disdain for extending the freeze and, through his spokeswoman, repeated his support for the rate stabilization plan. Given his negative view of the bill, it's unlikely it will come up for vote in the Senate this week.

For more on this developing story in Illinois, check out the Sun-Times article Outlook dim for House bid to block ComEd hike.

Electronics retailer Best Buy has partnered with WhiteFence, the nation's number one site for movers looking to connect their utilities and home services online, to offer their Geek Squad and Magnolia services. Geek Squad offers PC and home network set up and connection services, while Magnolia is Best Buy's home theater set up solution. Making it easier for movers to get their home systems up and running is the aim of this strategic partnership.

The increasingly sophisticated and interconnected media options in our homes today dwarf the installations most of us grew up with. With big screen TV sales up 60 percent in 2006, most households are now connecting televisions, cable or satellite boxes, audio systems, gaming systems and TiVo digital recorders into home networks that connect to their PCs, LANs and even printers. Add to that the complexity of surround sound wiring and all-in-one remote controls that are programmed through a PC, very, very few of us can install a home entertainment and PC system by ourselves anymore.

Partly because of the services the offer, Best Buy's sales surged to record highs in 2006. The Best Buy services will be available on WhiteFence powered Web sites in early February.

In response to the merger of AT&T and BellSouth, Communications Workers of America released a statement saying that they believe the joining of the two companies will promote increased investment and build-out of high-speed networks that are critical to the region's economic growth and the nation's position in the global economy.

CWA President Larry Cohen said the merger agreement included real commitments by AT&T-BellSouth for an expanded build-out of both higher speed Internet services and DSL, an important step forward in bringing the full promise of the Internet to areas that have been passed by.

"Workers at BellSouth know that the future of communications and their own future is in the build-out of high-speed telecommunications services. This merger will help provide the resources to make this possible, and at the same time, should help create quality jobs," said Noah Savant, CWA's vice president for the Southeast and BellSouth territory. "Of course we remain concerned about the net effect on jobs within the region for frontline employees and the services we provide. We are pleased to see AT&T commitment to bringing thousands of support jobs back to the United States," Savant added.

CWA says that the United States has fallen to 16th in the world in terms of availability and access to high-speed Internet services. While most believe the availability and benefits of the Internet should be universal, residents in rural communities, low-income urban areas and other communities have less access to high-speed services. The union sees this as a growing disadvantage that needs to be addressed.

"High-tech innovation and job growth, advances in telemedicine and distance learning, and improving public safety and e-government all are possible and, in fact, are routine in much of the world. In the United States, however, current speed standards just aren't sufficient to support these kinds of services," Cohen said. "The build-out of true high-speed networks requires a huge investment of tens of billions of dollars and the AT&T-BellSouth merger will begin to provide the resources to do this," he added.

CWA is America's largest communications and media union, represents over 700,000 men and women in both private and public sectors, including over half a million workers who are building the Information Highway. Its members are employed in telecommunications, broadcasting, cable TV, journalism, publishing, electronics and general manufacturing, as well as airline customer service, government service, health care, education and other fields. The union includes some 1,200 chartered local unions across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Cohen stressed that CWA strongly supports an open Internet "where consumers can go where they want, when they want. Nothing should be done to degrade or block access to Web sites," he said. CWA also believes that reserving proprietary video bandwidth is essential in order to make such a build-out possible. The FCC recognized this in reserving the IPTV space as proprietary, much as cable controls the bandwidth on the set top box, Cohen noted.

For more on the CWA response to the merger, see the press release AT&T-BellSouth Merger Will Promote Critical Build-out of High-Speed Networks.

SIRIUS Satellite Radio recently announced that it ended 2006 with approximately 6,024,000 subscribers, an 82 percent increase over the company's 2005 ending subscriber base of 3,316,560. The company says it added a record 2.7 million net subscribers in 2006 and, based on preliminary financial data, achieved its first ever quarter of positive free cash flow in the fourth quarter of 2006.

The rising cost of land, energy, and materials is fueling a growing interest in sustainability in home design and construction. This interest is being explored comprehensively for the first time by the National Building Museum in The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design.

Opened in May 2006, the milestone exhibition will remain on view until June 3, 2007 and will be supported by a fully-illustrated catalog of the same name, co-published by the Museum and Princeton Architectural Press; a major scholarly symposium; a wide array of tours, talks, workshops and special family programming; and a Web site focusing on the marketplace, methods, principles, and history of sustainable design.

The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design is sponsored The Home Depot Foundation, the ASID Foundation of the American Society of Interior Designers, Bosch home appliances, and Portland Cement Association, plus other generous contributors. After its showing at the National Building Museum, The Green House will travel nationwide, with potential venues including museums in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.

"This show illustrates that environmental priorities and the highest aesthetic standards are fully complementary," says Donald Albrecht, the exhibition's lead curator. "Today we are seeing architects and interior designers combining new, high-tech materials and old-fashioned architectural wisdom to create houses that are glamorous, comfortable, and that sit lightly on the land."

Chase Rynd, executive director of the Museum, says, "The National Building Museum is uniquely suited to the task of bringing the nuts and bolts, as well as the theory, of sustainable home design to the attention of Americans. This is the only museum in the country edicated to all aspects of architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning."

The Green House is the second in a series of major exhibitions organized by the National Building Museum about sustainable design, the first being Big & Green: Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century (2003).

"The potential ecological benefits that are possible through the advances in sustainability tracked in The Green House are significant in a land like ours, where more than a million single-family homes may go up in any given year, and the typical size of a new suburban home far exceeds that of previous generations," says Albrecht.

For the average home owner, the most popular part of the exhibition may well be the Materials Resource Room. To de-mystify the selection of environmentally-friendly materials and structural systems, this gallery presents 60 different green materials, from carpets to countertops, from concrete to metal, and from wood to paint. These include recycled glass tiles by Country Floors, textiles by Maharam, American Clay Plaster, Mioculture three-dimensional recycled wallpaper, Durapalm coconut palm flooring by Smith & Fong Plyboo, Marmoleum flooring by Forbo Dual, EnviroGLAS Terrazzo, recycled rubber flooring by Ecopave, and IceStone recycled glass and cement countertop.

Given these resources and practical tips, and the fact that the sample house, with all its architectural quality and attention to detail, comes in at roughly $120 per square foot, the National Building Museum hopes to convince the American public that green is not only a socially conscious choice, but a relatively affordable one as well.

For more information on the exhibit, visit The Green House online at the National Building Museum Web site.

D-Link, a networking solutions provider, recently announced it is shipping its latest MediaLounge Wireless Media Player "DSM-510" a compact media player capable of delivering video, digital photos, music and more to televisions and home entertainment centers from computers and storage devices over a home network via a wired or 802.11g/b wireless connection. The new media player also aids in the streaming of high-definition (HD) video through a wired network connection.

Building on the new product availability, D-Link also announced that its DSM-510 received Intel Viiv technology verification, which tests the compatibility of networked media devices with Intel Viiv technology-based PCs. Using the Intel Viiv technology verified DSM-510, consumers will get maximum enjoyment out of their digital home entertainment network, including access to the Intel?? Viiv??? Zone, which offers a growing selection of on-demand, Internet-delivered premium content, including movies, music videos, TV shows, and information services.

While performance is optimized for users with Intel Viiv technology-based PCs, the DSM-510 is compatible with computers running Windows XP or 2000.

"The DSM-510 is an extremely powerful, full-featured media player with an intuitive user interface that bridges together computers, storage devices and the Internet with the home entertainment center for a heightened multimedia experience," said Brian Larsen, associate vice president of product development for D-Link Systems Inc. "Passing Intel Viiv technology verification underscores our commitment to bring next-generation connectivity solutions to market for consumers for enjoying seamless sharing and instant access to digital media and entertainment from anywhere inside their home."

"Intel Viiv technology, based on the new Core 2 Duo processor, is the superior technology for today's media PCs. When used with verified devices like the new D-Link MediaLounge player, consumers will enjoy new levels of digital home entertainment' said Gerald Holzhammer, Vice President, Digital Home Group and General Manager of Intel's Consumer PC Platform Group. 'We are pleased that D-Link has completed the verification process for the MediaLounge DSM-510 which will carry the 'Enjoy with Intel Viiv technology' logo."

For best results, Larsen added, the D-Link MediaLounge DSM-510 Media Player would be connected to an existing home network via wired Ethernet, or through an 802.11g wireless standard-compliant router such as the Intel Viiv technology verified D-Link RangeBooster G Wireless Router (WBR-2310) or AirPremier AG Dual-Band Wireless Router (DI-784). Another alternative for Ethernet-wired performance is the D-Link PowerLine Network Kit (DHP-301) that enables consumers to tap into their existing electrical wiring to extend their home network.

The retail price for D-Link MediaLounge DSM-510 is around $240. The device is now available from most computer retail outlets and at www.dlinkshop.com. For more information, check out the D-Link press release.

The National Federation of the Blind has partnered with Tribune Media Services to add television listings to NFB-NEWSLINE, the nation's largest on-demand news service for the blind.  This new service will allow blind and visually impaired Americans to have independent access to their local TV listings.

By entering the zip code, source of TV reception, and time zone, blind users will have access to their local TV listings through Zap2it television. The listings are interactive, as the user can navigate and choose between date, time, and/or channel listings.

"The sheer volume of information that blind persons will now have access to is astonishing," said Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind. "Finally, blind television viewers can find out what's on any channel, at any time, and within seconds."

Over 50,000 NFB-NEWSLINE subscribers already use the free electronic newspaper service which carries 242 newspapers and magazines to 41 states and the District of Columbia.  The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and AARP The Magazine are among the many national and local newspapers offered.  Subscribers have access twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, through a local or toll-free telephone number.

Individuals who are unable to read print due to a physical disability are eligible for this free service.  You can register or request more information by calling the National Federation of the Blind at (866) 504-7300, or visit them online at www.nfbnewsline.org.

Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana recently announced it will launch a program to help its Indiana customers lower their total natural gas bills by providing rebates on key appliances as well as the tools help customers better understand how their homes or businesses use energy.

The program is part of a comprehensive Vectren conservation proposal that is the end product of an extended collaboration between Vectren and the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC). The company says this new program effectively breaks the linkage between the recovery of fixed service costs and the amount of customer usage and positions Vectren to aggressively assist its customers to find ways to reduce their natural gas bills.

"This is a new day for our Indiana natural gas customers. The approval of the conservation program will enable us to squarely focus on helping our customers reduce usage and therefore save on their bills. This action is also important for our state and country as we continue to look for ways to reduce natural gas demand and increase supply," said Vectren Chairman, President and CEO Niel C. Ellerbrook. "Customers want reliable energy at a predictable cost. This program provides customers the tools they need to individually implement energy efficiency measures and lower their usage. Since approximately 75 percent of each customer's bill is for the cost of gas they use, reducing consumption will produce significant savings."

To assist customers in the reduction of their gas usage, Vectren will begin a public education campaign that will address conservation program awareness and details. Highlights of the conservation program include a furnace and thermostat rebate as well as a detailed online energy audit tool.

In addition to the conservation program, the proposal also provides that Vectren's delivery service charges will be adjusted to permit recovery of substantially all of the margins that were determined to be appropriate by the IURC at the time it established the existing base rates. This aspect of the proposal will initially be limited to Vectren's North operations. As part of the settlement agreement with the OUCC the Vectren South operations will defer implementation of this aspect of the proposal until new base rates are established by the IURC as a result of a pending rate proceeding.

"This fundamental change to the ratemaking paradigm will allow us to aggressively support customer conservation efforts, thus helping customers lower the total cost of their natural gas bills without penalizing the company for achieving reductions in customer usage," Ellerbrook said. "As more energy companies across the country pursue the adoption of this type of innovative regulation the demand for natural gas throughout the United States should be reduced and as a result the price of the natural gas commodity should be lower than it otherwise would be.

"A national effort is underway and is likely the only near-term opportunity to help ease the pressures on energy supplies and prices," Ellerbrook added. "With energy providers now spearheading these types of initiatives as a national group, I'm optimistic we can better address and hopefully overcome this continuing crisis. We also received authorization for a similar conservation proposal relating to our Ohio operations in September of this year and we are now positioned to effectuate a culture change at Vectren that will focus our efforts on assisting our customers in using less energy."

These new conservation efforts also align with the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, an effort Vectren announced it was participating in this July. The Environmental Protection Agency effort is a comprehensive plan delivered through electric and gas utilities that could reduce prices for natural gas, help defer the need for 40 new 500 megawatt-power plants, avoid the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 35 million vehicles, and lower the costs of air pollution controls.

For more information, check out the Vectren press release.

In this age of instant feedback online from consumers, smart companies are taking advantage of the situation by allowing their products to be reviewed by bloggers. While some companies have tried to outwit the public by creating fake personalities to tout the virtues of their products, the smarter ones are allowing bloggers to find their products at their own pace and to rate and review their offerings as they choose. One such provider is AT&T.

Alan Weinkrantz, a PR tech blogger, has taken it upon himself to chronicle his trial of the AT&T's new U-verse service. Because he lives in San Antonio, Alan was an early trial user of the AT&T U-verse service. Owner of his own PR firm and frequent blogger, he started documenting his experiences and observations on the service in May of this year. Things really heated up when he began to make daily posts at his blog, www.3screens.net, to document his experience of having AT&T's HD (High Definition) broadcast television service installed and deployed at his home.

Alan has not only writes about his experience as an AT&T trial user, but also makes suggestions and commentary about the company's strategy. He even spoke at the TelcoTV Conference in Dallas where he addressed his experiences and observations about being a U-verse customer.

"I can't recommend blogging and social media to clients unless I've done it and have been successful," he said in an interview with MidwestBusiness.com. "This is a fortuitous set of events because I'm in San Antonio and became a trial U-verse." Alan went on to say that "there are enough analysts and technical experts in the world. I don't think the world needs more "experts."

His commentary about the service is open and honest. No service is perfect and Alan isn't shy about noting drawbacks, including small things like no clock on the set-top box or overload of certain types of channels.

In addition, he makes it clear that he's only paying such close attention to one provider because he lives in the firm's service area. "If I lived in an area served by Verizon, I would be doing the same thing about them," he assured MidwestBusiness.com. "AT&T is really just my plumbing supplier."

Read more about Alan's experience with AT&T U-verse service at www.3screens.net. You can also check out his interview with MidwestBusiness.com.