BSkyB have made it clear that editorial independence, particularly of its news channel, will be an important factor in a deal with News Corp. News Corporation has faced criticism for the partisan Fox News channel, which broadcasts with a strong Republican bias. Earlier this year, there was a flurry of speculation about the channel's future after Matthew Freud, Rupert Murdoch's son-in-law and powerful public relations executive, said that the Murdoch family were "embarrassed" and "sickened" by the channel. Last week, News Corporation was preparing a bid for the proportion of BSkyB it does not already own. The 700p-a-share …

It is still early in the mobile-DTV game, but one thing is already clear in terms of consumers' viewing habits: "Daytime is prime time." This is according to findings from the Open Mobile Video Coalition Washington Consumer Showcase, presented during a panel on mobile DTV. The Washington Showcase involves nine area TV stations, with more than 23 mobile-DTV channels available to hundreds of area consumers, who are being asked to provide feedback. Local news and information programming was the runaway winner in terms of viewership by genre, with viewers tuning into 2,600 local news programs through mid September. …

Sony Internet TV is the first TV set to be powered by Google TV, the recently unveiled operating system for Internet-connected TV sets. It features dual view, enabling a user to watch a show and go online at the same time. The products will be available for purchase October 16 on SonyStyle.com, and at retailer Best Buy shortly thereafter. Other features include Sony's premium streaming service "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity" as well as pre-installed apps from, among others, CNBC, Napster, NBA, Netflix, Pandora, Twitter and YouTube. Sony Internet TV also connects to select HD DVR devices …

Fox News is targeting a growing audience with its new Web site: FoxNewsLatino.com. Launched weeks before the midterm elections, the bilingual site spans topics including news, entertainment and lifestyle, with a twist focusing on Latino culture and interest. First-day stories included the imminent freedom of the trapped Chilean miners and entertainment features like Jessica Alba's GQ shoot. The site focuses on prominent Latinos, including the recent winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Mario Vargas Llosa, and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The target audience are "Latinos whose first language is English, who inform themselves in English, who are …

For the first time, the 4As is taking a stance on how agencies should be thinking and talking about compensation in a 13-page position paper. The 4As is looking to generate support broadly across the industry for transforming agency compensation methodology from a price-based to value-based approach based on four key principles. They are: * Increased involvement from agency management in transforming pricing discussions with clients; focusing not on costs and fees but on scope of business benefits; agencies should consistently negotiate appropriate arrangements with clients and adhere to internal standards; and do not segregate agency finance and client procurement …

As the date approaches for his "Rally to Restore Sanity," television personality Jon Stewart draws mixed opinions from the American public. In a Bloomberg National Poll conducted this month, "The Daily Show" host was included with Barack Obama, Sarah Palin and the Tea Party when respondents were asked to categorize their "feelings" toward some public figures and institutions. 19% said they have a "very favorable" view of Stewart, and another 20% are "mostly favorable." 12% were "mostly unfavorable" and 13% "very unfavorable." That left a plurality of respondents, 36%, saying they're "not sure" how they feel about Stewart. As …

Warner Bros. is in the early stages of gauging interest from television station groups in "Too Fab," a potential "TMZ spinoff based on the recently launched TooFab Web site, likely for fall 2012, according to sources familiar with these talks. "TMZ," the No. 3 newsmagazine in broadcast syndication this season, right behind CBS Television Distribution's "Entertainment Tonight" and "Inside Edition," got its start as a Web site. In 2007, the "TMZ" television show debuted. The Fox Television Station group carries the show in 18 of its markets, including on all the Fox O&Os like WNYW New York.

A technology start-up backed by Comcast Corp, Time Warner Cable Inc, and Cisco Systems Inc launched on Tuesday, rolling out software designed to help cable and satellite companies easily search or social networking to TV services. BNI Video, which is also backed by Charles River Ventures and Castile Ventures, has raised about $16 million in financing so far. BNI Video's software is being introduced at a time when cable, telecommunications and satellite companies are trying to keep pace with dramatic changes in audience behavior.

Hiring Eliot Spitzer and Kathleen Parker only increased CNN's prime time ratings woes. Monday night was the lowest weekday prime time rating average in more than 10 years, since June 28, 2000. And it wasn't just the 8 p.m. slot that was seeing low ratings. Larry King, who announced his retirement, due, some believe to low ratings, had even lower ratings than "Parker Spitzer," with just 196,000 total viewers. That's less than Rachel Maddow's A25-54 demo average in the same hour.

Viewers in New York and Philadelphia could lose the Fox TV network, -- not to mention the MLB playoffs -- if talks with Cablevision over a new contract aren't resolved this week. Fox -- like cable networks that collect fees from cable operators -- believes pay-TV companies should pay for carriage of its TV stations. Along with Fox broadcast network, consumers may also lose My 9 Network, Fox Business Channel, NatGeo Wild and Fox Deportes because they are part of the same deal. Also included is WTXF Channel 29 in Philadelphia. Fox, which like the New York Post is …