mediageek

Author: Paul

  • Pocket-Sized Flash-Memory Hi-Def Camcorder — NY Times Says It Works… Kind of

    Last month I posted about Sanyo’s newly announced high-definition camcorder that records to flash-memory cards, instead of tape. I admit that the concept is very enticing, but that most attempts at a flash-memory consumer cam have been lackluster. The Time’s David Pogue got his hands on one for one of the first reviews, and he…

  • Godcasters Making a Mint by Trafficking in Free Low-Power Radio Licenses

    Last year I was tracking the apparent trafficking in low-power FM translator stations by several Christian broadcasting groups. Translators are stations whose only legal purpose is to rebroadcast the programming of a full-power parent station. John at DIYmedia has an update on the traffickers and their spoils from laundering licenses that come free-of-charge from the…

  • The Future of the Internet Is on the Table

    I dedicated all of yesterday’s radioshow (already available for download) to the issue of network neutrality. I’m quite convinced that this is the most important communications issue to watch in 2006, since whatever Congress does will have long-lasting repercussions on the very basis of our telecommunications infrastructure. Yesterday’s show featured some excerpts of testimony from…

  • Another Sinclair Newsroom Goes Bye-Bye

    In what is becoming a common refrain for Sinclair, the company is shutting down its local news operation at WSTR-TV in Cincinnati. It’s Sinclair’s second newsroom in the city, but nevertheless employs 19 staffers who will all be looking for work.

  • Network Newspeak

    As I predicted yesterday, the telecomm industry showed up at today’s Senate Commerce Committee meeting and found a way to advocate for THEIR version of network neutrality–the one that lets them filter what customers get over the internet-which isn’t really all that neutral. Say hello to network diversity, and what Congresscritter wants to be accused…

  • Trouble Downloading Radioshow?

    It’s a little after midnight and the radioshow site isn’t responding. I’ve got a support request in, but it’s late. So if you need to download the radioshow (like, if you’re one of the show’s affiliates), the show itself isn’t off-line, here’s a link: mediageek 2-3-06 broadcast quality mp3 With luck, things will be cleared…

  • What Congresscritter Can Say ‘No’ to Network Neutrality?

    Tuesday morning the Senate Commerce Committee takes up the issue of net neutrality, which I believe is the most important issue on the nation’s telecomm agenda this year. As Ben Scott, Policy Director for Free Press, pointed out on this week’s radioshow, Congresscritters aren’t weighing in definitively yet on the issue, and the devil will…

  • Ownership Change Decimating a Local Newsroom

    JD Lasica’s New Media Musings put me onto a story about FOX affiliate KHON in Honolulu, where the station’s news anchor went on a bit of a tirade on air about the massive layoffs the station’s new owner is implementing. In particular, he revealed the new owner to be nothing more than the equivalent of…

  • Catch Up on the Radioshow: Broadcast Flag Hearing, Podcasting and Public Broadcasting, Nexstar and the Decline of Local TV

    If you haven’t been tuning in to the mediageek radioshow in the last month, I think you’ve missed some pretty interesting programs. On Jan. 13 my guest was Ken Schreiner, who was formerly news director of Nexstar-owned WCIA-TV in Champaign, IL. Ken held nothing back talking about how Nexstar is defunding its local news operations…

  • Micro-Transmitter Manufacturer Fined by FCC

    Ramsey Electronics has been well known in micro-radio circles for selling small Part 15 transmitter kits that often function as many folks’ first introduction to unlicensed broadcasting. A few years ago Ramsey started selling transmitters that put out much more power, at least 1 watt, which greatly exceed the Part 15 limits for unlicensed operation…