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FCC chief pushes a la carte cable TV

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Advertisers could target their dollars better if U.S. cable TV operators offered a la carte subscriptions, the Federal Communications Commission chief says.

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Under the current model, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said, advertisers know that a subscriber may receive as many 200 channels, but have no idea which ones are watched, Variety said.

"The sad truth, as both you and your commercial clients know, is that no one actually knows how many people are watching each channel, much less how many are watching each commercial," Martin said during an Association of National Advertisers conference.

The only accurate Nielsen measures, he said, are for channels associated or affiliated with major networks he said. Offering cable channels on an la carte, or tiered, basis would lower the uncertainty for advertisers and their clients about viewers.

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The National Telecommunications and Cable Association has said it isn't economically feasible to segment its channel offerings.

"Numerous economic analyses, including the FCC's own economists, have concluded that a la carte would harm consumers by driving up prices and eliminating channels that serve minority and niche audiences," association spokesman Brian Dietz said.


BBC says fee hike lower than it wanted

LONDON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- British officials report the television license fee will rise by 3 percent each of the next two years, but BBC executives say that is lower than they had hoped.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said the fee would increase from $259 to $267 April 1, then rise gradually to a maximum $299 in 2012, the BBC said Friday.

BBC director-general Mark Thompson called the deal "disappointing." The BBC had wanted a higher increase to cover costs and a switch to digital.

"It doesn't mean we can't carry on with our exciting plans for the future, but it means we face some quite tough choices," Thompson said.

Jowell said the license fee settlement will allow the BBC to maintain its current services and provide up to $2.3 billion for investments, as well as allow the planned move of key departments from London to Salford, Greater Manchester, England.

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Jowell said the BBC would receive a 12.5 percent increase in its borrowing capacity to help in the digital switch.

The settlement provides "stability and certainty over the crucial period of digital switchover," she said.


'Brother' housemates apologize to Shetty

LONDON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Housemates on the British reality show "Celebrity Big Brother" apologized for alleged racist comments against Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.

Jade Goody, a reality TV star, and former Miss Great Britain Danielle Lloyd both apologized to Shetty, the Press Trust of India said Friday.

Inside the house, Goody said she didn't mean for her comments to be interpreted in a racial way, adding, "I don't judge people by the color of their skin."

Shilpa said she didn't think Goody was racist. "I really appreciate that you took the first step," she said.

Lloyd also apologized, saying she was "disgusted" by her behavior.

"I didn't agree with some of the things you said to Jade, but I especially didn't agree with some of the things that Jade said to you," she said. "I'm sorry."

Complaints from viewers climbed to more than 36,000 to the Office of Communications; and the show's sponsor suspended its support because of the controversy.

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The Perfume Shop withdrew Goody's perfume, Shh..., from its shelves because of the controversy. Lloyd's modeling contract was canceled as well.

Channel 4, which airs "Celebrity Big Brother," has stood by the program.


Redford: Bush owes U.S. apology

PARK CITY, Utah, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- President Bush should apologize to the U.S. public for his actions after Sept. 11, 2001, Robert Redford said during the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

"Six years ago we held off" commenting negatively about the administration after the terrorist attacks on the United States, Redford said in opening the festival, Fox News reported Friday.

"But considering what's happened, I think we're owed an apology," Redford told the audience.

The festival opened Thursday with Brett Morgen's "Chicago 10," a film that centers on the anti-Vietnam War demonstrations of the Chicago 1968 Democratic National Convention in which protesters clashed with police and soldiers.

The Sundance Film Festival, which runs through Jan. 28, features new work from American and international independent filmmakers. It is part of the Sundance Institute, founded by Redford, an award-winning actor and director.

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