- Murdoch Lashes Out At Google
- Why Google is Paying $750 Million for Ad Mob
- Modern Warfare 2's Record-Breaking Launch
- Food Network, HGTV Drive Scripps Networks' Upside Surprise
- Disney's 'Carol' Tests Widest 3-D Release Ever
- Eyeing the Growth at CBS
- Is Oprah Ready to Go on Her OWN?
- Time Warner Cable's Earnings Drop But Beat Expectations
- Scripps Networks Interactive Buys Stake in Travel Channel
- News Corp Emerging From Bottom of Cycle: Murdoch
More Videos
- Murdoch Lashes Out At Google
- Why Google is Paying $750 Million for Ad Mob
- Modern Warfare 2's Record-Breaking Launch
- Food Network, HGTV Drive Scripps Networks' Upside Surprise
- Disney's 'Carol' Tests Widest 3-D Release Ever
- Eyeing the Growth at CBS
- Is Oprah Ready to Go on Her OWN?
- Time Warner Cable's Earnings Drop But Beat Expectations
- Scripps Networks Interactive Buys Stake in Travel Channel
- News Corp Emerging From Bottom of Cycle: Murdoch
RSS FEED
MOST SHARED
- Bear Stearn Fund Managers Not Guilty on All Counts
- Fighting The Flu Vaccine Critics
- Hottest Zip Codes for Home Prices
- Bair: Reserve Fund For Dismantling Must Be Set Up
- 'Thriller' Art: Warhol's Jackson Work Could Net $700,000
- Treasurys Flat as 30-Year Auction Takes Focus
- Oil Tomorrow
- Nov. 10: Unusual Volume Leaders
- CNBC EXCLUSIVE: CNBC MEDIA ALERT: CNBC'S MARIA BARTIROMO SPEAKS WITH STARBUCKS CEO HOWARD SCHULTZ TODAY ON "CLOSING BELL"
- MBIA Shares Plunge in Wake of Earnings
- More Upside if S&P Passes This Number: Market Pro
- Murdoch Lashes Out At Google
- Fighting The Flu Vaccine Critics
- Nov. 10: Unusual Volume Leaders
- Shadow Inventory Dwarfs Loan Mods
- The Lloyd's Prayer
- Playing Activision and Other Video Game Stocks: Analyst
- Expect 'At Least' Another 10-15% Upside: Fund Manager
- If Mickey Mouse Has to Change—What Does That Say About You?
- Three Things the US Can Do To Stop the Dollar's Decline
- Bear Stearn Fund Managers Not Guilty on All Counts
- Commodity ETFs: Returns May Not Match Expectations
- Dodd's Proposed Super Bank Cop Faces Tough Battle
- JPMorgan Chase to Hire 1,200 Mortgage Officers
- Housing: 'Shadow Inventory' Dwarfs Loan Modifications
- Home Prices Decline Further In Most Parts of US
- UBS Faces Roadblock in Poaching More BofA Talent
- Ponzi Proceeds: Bidding on Madoff's Toys
Media Money
Text Size 
Today marks the end of analog TV and the transition to a fully-digital service. Most of the media attention has been on the bad news.
Despite some two billion dollars spent on educating and preparing consumers, still, nearly three million American homes will lose service. But there's a great silver lining that's getting lost in the shuffle.
The end of analog should actually make TV content more accessible. The bandwidth that's being freed up will be used for new content distribution. Now, high-def live TV content will be able to be compressed and sent to mobile devices, not just cell phones and laptops, but also taxis and the back seat of your car.
Qualcomm [QCOM
Loading...
()
] is one of many companies hoping to cash in on this much-anticipated transition. The company, which specializes in wireless products, spent more than $500 million to buy newly-freed up bandwidth.
Starting this weekend Qualcomm's FLO TV service, which delivers live TV to mobile devices, will be able to make use of that bandwidth, expanding its service in the cities it's already available, and rolling out to 39 new cities.
Meanwhile the telcos are also looking to make use of a year-old investment. AT&T[T
Loading...
()
] and Verizon Wireless, co-owned by Verizon Communications[VZ
Loading...
()
] and Vodaphone Group [VOD
Loading...
()
] together spent more than $15 billion for access to new airwaves to enable the launch of next-generation high speed wireless.
The news on the advertising market could not be more grim: US ad spending fell 14 percent in the first quarter. But one tiny part of the ad market, the $60 interactive TV advertising business, is hoping that the end of analog could give them a boost.
Companies like Brightline, which distribute interactive, targeted TV ads through cable, satellite, and telecom-enabled TV are hoping that new subscribers to these services will encourage more marketers to spend on interactive ads.
Greater accountability and narrow targeting could give this tiny niche a boost. With bad news for the greater industry and the emphasis on the sliver of households left behind in the digital transition, why not find the silver lining!
Questions? Comments?
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes