Jimmy Schaeffler follows the cable industry for the Carmel Group. He says the Dolans are anxious to escape Wall Street’s obsession with quarterly profits.
SCHAEFFLER: There is a philosophy here of long-term entrepreneurialship that the Dolans seek. And that runs counter to short-term financial goals that are sought by the financial world.
A head-to-head battle is intensifying in the nascent satellite radio business. In a big gamble, Sirius Satellite Radio has signed up shock jock Howard Stern in a $500 million deal, hoping his loyal fans will make the switch to pay radio. Sirius trails XM Satellite Radio, which has four times as many subscribers. NPR’s Jim Zarroli reports.
All Things Considered, November 9, 1999 · NPR’s Jim Zarroli reports that owners of satellite TV dishes may soon be able to receive local station signals for the first time. A compromise worked on between House and Senate negotiators allows DirecTV, EchoStar and other companies to carry local station signals, something that had been prohibited by law. The lawmakers say a new law will be passed which will make satellite a more viable competitor to cable TV.
All Things Considered, March 22, 1999 · NPR’s Jim Zarroli reports that Comcast and Mediaone, two of the nation’s largest cable operators announced plans to merge today. Comcast will acquire the smaller Mediaone in a stock deal valued at more than $48 billion. The deal brings the nation’s third and fourth largest cable TV providers together and has implications for the emerging broadband services market. The merger must still be approved by federal and local regulators.
