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Watch Shelly’s commentary on VIACOM’s (NYSE: VIA-B) decision to add shows to HULU, an NBC (NYSE: GE) – FOX (NYSE: NWS) joint venture.
VERIZON (NYSE: VZ), TIME WARNER CABLE (NYSE: TWC) and SPRINT NEXTEL (NYSE: S) agreed to implement systems to censor child pornography on the internet. The decision came after an investigation led by NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo which found that the internet service providers were not properly responding to complaints about lewd content involving children. Web censorship laws regarding pornography, which have twice been struck down by the Supreme Court citing First Amendment rights, could greatly affect user groups and online forums, which have traditionally been havens for child pornography.
DISNEY(NYSE: DIS) will stream full length feature films at Disney.com. Films like “Finding Nemo”, currently available for stream, will be made available online after airing on ABC Saturday nights throughout the summer. While the films will only be available for a limited time, the move toward streaming content is a way for Disney to boost their web presence.
THE NEW YORK TIMES (NYSE: NYT) and ADREADY have launched a self-service advertising site at NYTIMES.com. The service, which targets small businesses, enables users to create and manage online ad campaigns on NYTIMES.com. The self service site allows advertisers with a budget of under $10,000 to reach a mass audience via one of the most well trafficked sites on the web.
FCC head Kevin Martin continues to push for free web despite being forced to withdraw the position from Thursday’s FCC meeting agenda. Martin has been open about his plan to provide free internet access as a condition in an upcoming airwave auction, but has received opposition from Congressmen Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), who believes it alienates “traditional industry players.” Martin’s goal of free web access for all is an extension of the proposed broadband cloud.