Having to pay a monthly bill for "only" a few hundred channels of TV is likely to be a quaint memory for the viewers of the future. Many people, especially those under 30, are living that future now. These people watch their favorite TV shows whenever they want -- on their PC or streamed from the PC to their television set - and don't pay a monthly cable bill. Such viewers are at the vanguard of a potent economic and social force that could do to the broadcasting, cable and satellite TV industries what free online news has …

"American Idol" is still ruling the roost after eight seasons. What started as a cheesy summer show in 2002 has mushroomed into a cultural phenomenon. Its estimated $1 billion-plus brand spans everything from ice cream and trading cards to an attraction at Walt Disney World Resort. But clouds are gathering as the show faces declining audiences and limits to its viewer-driven format. Revenue from "American Idol" declined $4.1 million to $24.7 million in the first quarter of 2009 compared to 2008. The show has also seen a 7% viewership drop this season. Added to the concerns is the …

Nielsen Business Media's Brandweek has lost its separate publisher and now falls under the purview of Geri FitzGerald, who is also publisher of sibling Mediaweek. FitzGerald replaces Brandweek publisher Tom Woerner, who has left the company. In addition, Brandweek's managing editor Chuck Stogel has been laid off. Trade magazines Brandweek, Mediaweek and Adweek are published by the Adweek Media Group. Alison Fahey will continue to serve as publisher and editorial director of Adweek. In a related move, former Nielsen Business Media senior vice president Sabrina Crow last week was appointed senior vice president and managing director of …

Negotiations are going down to the wire on whether networks will renew several veteran series. "Networks are playing hardball when negotiating license fees, especially with their more mature shows," says a network insider. There may be surprises at the upfronts next week, with popular shows not coming back or jumping networks. With ratings in decline and the networks saddled with covering the full costs of older shows, higher-rated veteran dramas are being given a more equal footing with lower-rated freshman and sophomore shows. "It's not that ratings don't matter, but it's a little more of a bottom-line discussion …

After NBC's Jay Leno moves from late-night to prime time the big four broadcast networks will see their ratings among the 18-49 audience drop as much as 10.5% for the season, almost twice the attrition endured in that demographic over the last several years. That is the prediction of Turner Broadcasting exec Jack Wakshlag. He says Leno's move will be partially responsible, since Leno will cause a chunk of the under-50 crowd to flee his prime-time show. Many of them will go to cable instead of other broadcast networks, he says. Another factor is the conversion from …

Clear Channel Communications has begun quietly negotiating with lenders about restructuring its massive debt load. Just nine months ago the company was acquired in a $27 billion leveraged buyout. Among the topics possibly being discussed by the radio and billboard giant is a pre-packaged bankruptcy or a group of senior lenders trading debt for assets. Analysts watching Clear Channel have expressed concern that the company could violate its loan terms later this year. What Clear Channel has in its favor is that it owes senior lenders $16 billion of its $18 billion in long-term debt, and for …

Former Rocky Mountain News business writer David Milstead and other reporters and editors from the former Denver newspaper plan a summer launch of the Rocky Mountain Independent. The new project is described as a "daily online news magazine" that will offer analysis, commentary and discussion about local news, sports, politics, business, and culture in Denver and the Rocky Mountain region. Operations will be supported by memberships and advertising revenue. Members will have access to premium content and features, including live discussions with RMI's reporters and contributors and in-depth coverage of issues and events. Some of the principals …

Tough times are making some magazines look beyond the standard format and experiment with manifestations of what a magazine can be. Their common goal is to offer readers and advertisers experiences that Web sites and digital devices can't match. The magazine T-Post, for instance, sends its 2,500 subscribers a new T-shirt every six weeks. An article is printed on the inside of the shirt and art related to the article is printed on the outside. The idea is that the owner of the T-shirt will tell people about the story printed on the inside. Another magazine, Visionaire, …

A rise in issue advertising and early primary elections could drive 2009 political advertising to over $1 billion this year. That's according to Evan Tracey, president of the Campaign Media Analysis Group. Even half that amount would be a spending record for an off political year. Fueling the increase is a boom in advocacy advertising. The administration's tough rules requiring public officials to wait at least two years before becoming lobbyists has restricted traditional lobbying avenues, which forces advocacy groups to do more advertising, says Tracy. At the same time, there are now as many liberal groups advertising …

Look for the iconic Playboy magazine brand on even more products as the media company looks to expand its global licensing business. Jerome Kern, Playboy Enterprises' interim CEO, wants to make the Playboy bunny more mainstream by expanding what last year was a $40.4 million business. The goal "is to create products and distribution deals that can work across a wide array of hip and mass market retailers, domestically and internationally," says Alex Vaickus, who oversees Playboy's global licensing. The company brands apparel, jewelry, accessories, an energy drink, men's fragrances and resort venues. The magazine's June issue, …