Re: miCroBSoft?

[Mark Shneyder <mshbc@bu.edu>]

If Microsoft and CBS deal happens, it's going to raise
some serious issues of media ownership concentration.
Everyone's talking about Microsoft's involvement with MSNBC,
but if they  take over CBS, they'll automatically get
access to 2 cable networks(CMT and TNN) which are 99% carried
on all almost all cable systems and available on all DSB packages.
(and Gates can certainly launch a brand programming service just
like NBC did with MSNBC when it killed off AMerica's Talking). In addition,
MS large stake in QVC opens lots of other opportunities, too...

With Microsoft already in the cableTV distribution businesss(last
month's acquisition of Comcast(MSO) and partners with TCI/Liberty on 
interactiveTV projects), they would have an upper hand on Fox, ABC and NBC.
And, with acquisition of WebTV you can bet they'll be the first ones
to position themselves as the main source on digital interactive TV.

In the MSNBC partnership, where MS contributes $200 million a year and
about 300 sandal-wearing technoids based in Redmond, WA, Gates got a
an upclose look of running a real broadcast operation. MSNBC which 
by the way is a very tiny part of the NBC operation still generated $40 
million profit for the Peacock last year. 


- -Mark

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