Today in fat-cat consolidation news comes a report that Sinclair Broadcast Group is on the verge of owning more TV stations in the U.S. than any other company.
The news media are relying more on social media — both as a reporting tool and to disseminate their own content. But a hack of the AP Twitter account shows how things can go wrong.
If you’re an avid reader of the New York Times, you’re probably already familiar with its complex subscription model, which offers reading options ranging in price between $15 and $35 per month. Yes, it’s sometimes costly to stay in the loop, but on the upside of the paywall, company CEO Mark Thompson says that readers will soon find a wider array of content packages, including less expensive options.
Entrenched broadband providers like Verizon, Time Warner Cable and Comcast have been slow to respond to the threat posed by Google Fiber, the ultra-high-speed Internet service that the search giant is rolling out in Kansas City. But the giants are finally starting to awaken since Google announced that it is expanding into other markets, including Austin, Texas, and Provo, Utah.
We’re not really sure how to read Time Warner Cable’s announcement: The company will be expanding its free-for-subscribers Wi-Fi network across the Texas capital and other cities nationwide in response to Google Fiber’s Texas arrival in 2014. It seems like a clear case of too little, too late.
New York City’s ancient subway system is getting a much-needed high-tech upgrade with the rollout of 4G LTE and free Wi-Fi connectivity at 30 subway platforms, including Times Square, Union Square and Columbus Circle. Providers include each of the big four U.S. carriers and Boingo Wireless.
Daniel P. Howley, LAPTOP
The bankrupt Tribune Company is selling its daily newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. Charles and David Koch — billionaire brothers notorious for their extreme politics — may be the buyers. Tell the Tribune Co.: Don’t sell your papers to the Koch brothers.
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