Mediagazer: Regulators Propose Limited Set-Aside of TV Airwaves for Unlicensed Use (Amy Schatz/Re/code)

3:15 PM ET, April 18, 2014

Top News:

Rick Edmonds / Poynter:

Newspaper industry narrowed revenue loss in 2013 as paywall plans increased — The newspaper industry narrowed its total revenue loss in 2013 to 2.6 percent, the best performance since the mid-2000s, according to figures released today by the Newspaper Association of America.

Discussion: Newspaper Association …, Media & Entertainment, Reflections of a Newsosaur and Associated Press

Financial Times:

Comcast and Time Warner in talks to sell subscribers to Charter — Comcast and Time Warner Cable have entered negotiations to sell cable assets worth up $20bn to Charter Communications in a deal aimed to allay Washington?s concerns about their proposed merger.

Discussion: The Verge and @zseward

Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg / Wall Street Journal:

Smaller Barnes & Noble Stores? 'Yes, It's Possible,' Says Leonard Riggio … Several weeks before Chairman Leonard Riggio sold his latest tranche of shares in Barnes & Noble, he sat down for a chat at the retailer's corporate offices in Manhattan. Here, an edited Q&A:

Discussion: Consumerist and Melville House Books

Barbara Selvin / Poynter:

Newseum will include weeklies in its “Today's Front Pages” exhibit after campaign by editors — Newseum relents, will display weeklies after protest by editors — A daylong protest by weekly newspaper editors from around the U.S. against the Newseum's snubbing …

Discussion: @poynter and The Rural Blog

Amy Schatz / Re/code:

Regulators Propose Limited Set-Aside of TV Airwaves for Unlicensed Use — Federal regulators will propose setting aside a limited amount of spectrum for use by unlicensed devices in an auction of TV airwaves next year. — “With the increased use of Wi-Fi, this spectrum has also become congested.

Discussion: Adweek, multichannel.com, Broadcasting & Cable, Deadline.com, Ars Technica, Engadget, FCC.gov and BGR

Reuters:

Weibo debut highlights complicated dance with Chinese censors — (Reuters) - Weibo Corp executives on Thursday toasted the Chinese social media firm's debut at Nasdaq's New York headquarters. Hours earlier in Beijing, Charles Xue, a Chinese-American venture capitalist and prominent Weibo user …

Edward Nawotka / Publishing Perspectives:

Byliner uses social media to monetize back catalog, tie older stories to current news hooks — Byliner Sees Huge Opportunity in “Second Serial” Rights — Join us on April 24 in NYC at this half-day event, where we'll discuss how to sell more backlist titles, find new licensing and distribution channels …

Brooks Barnes / New York Times:

ESPN Sees Continued Profitability Despite Competition — Aiming to squelch smoldering concerns about ESPN's continued profitability amid rising sports rights costs, the Walt Disney Company on Thursday said profits at its ESPN-dominated cable networks unit would grow in the “high single digits” …

Discussion: @richarddeitsch and Deadline.com

Alexandra Topping / Guardian:

Eric Pickles: I'll shut council freesheets that publish ‘propaganda on the rates’ — Communities secretary targets five Labour-led London boroughs, where he says free press is being put out of business — An advertising board for a London newspaper. Eric Pickles says the capital's local press …

Discussion: Hacknety Gazette, Hackney Citizen, Telegraph, BelfastTelegraph.co.uk, ITV, Daily Mail and Guardian

Eriq Gardner / Hollywood Reporter:

Former Maker employee and shareholder Andy Faberlle sues to block acquisition by Disney — Maker-Disney: New Lawsuit Asks for Unwinding of Merger — A shareholder argues that Disney's acquisition came after fraud at the company. — Maker Studios CEO Ynon Kreiz

Discussion: Variety

Eriq Gardner / Hollywood Reporter:

Record Labels Sue Pandora Over Pre-1972 Recordings — The popular streaming service is hit with a complaint in New York court with potentially big consequences. — The major record labels are now suing Pandora for exploiting sound recordings made prior to February 15, 1972.

Discussion: VentureBeat, New York Times, Techdirt, PC World and Billboard

Politico:

Conservative radio hosts garnered nearly $22M in sponsorships from conservative lobby groups — The tea party radio network — Glenn Beck worked the crowd like a preacher at a rally this month in Louisville, Ky., declaring that God had responded to conservatives' prayers by sending a slate …

Discussion: @kenvogel