Comcast "has started to alert its customers in some markets that it is about to encrypt their basic cable signals, forcing them to order a digital adapter if they want to continue to receive basic programming through the service," writes Janko Roettgers.

The "end is surely here" for The New York Post, which "has cost [owner Rupert] Murdoch as much as $80m a year in unstoppable losses," writes Michael Wolff. "As Murdoch gets ready to separate his newspapers from his richer entertainment holdings in a move that will force the papers to pay their own way, the Post's day of reckoning nears."

Lots of analysis of how the media how the media covered yesterday's Boston bombings. "Industry observers praised TV stations' work covering the explosions, most notably for erring on the side of caution by not broadcasting information without vetting it first or emphasizing information’s status as unconfirmed," writes Diana Marszalek in a TV News Check post. James Poniewozik's post ends with this note of grace: "And amid all of Monday’s shock, social media showed it could be comforting, even profound. It was of all people, a comedian, Patton Oswalt, who posted a defiant tribute to the goodness …

The Esquire Network will not launch next Monday, after all, reports Lacey Rose. She says NBC Universal has decided to delay the rebranding of its G4 Network until sometime in the summer.  The reason? So the new network can launch with five original series instead of just two.  Those shows will consist of the holdover “American Ninja Warrior,” plus a cooking competition offering “Knife Fight,” an Anthony Bourdain travel series “The Getewaway,” a lifestyle series “How I Rock It,” and a show called “American Field Trip” featuring blogger/photojournalist Matt Hranek.  Also targeting the “more mature, upscale and affluent male demographic”:  reruns of …

"Transaction-oriented salespeople are surpassing those who base their approach on building relationships," writes James G. Elliott in this analysis of how ad sales relationships -- and the ideal ad salesperson -- have changed. "These days, sellers may only get one thirty-minute meeting per year with agency planners....  Sellers must know how to get to the point rapidly, and tell their story with impact. It is usually not necessary to provide research, because agencies pull their own."

CEOs say the Wall Street Journal (and its website) is still their no. 1 information source, just as they did 10 years ago, according to a study sponsored by CEO.com and Domo. Not surprisingly, though, "online is now the most prominent source of business information for CEOs. Fully 87 percent of CEOs go online for business information at least once a day, and 80 percent are willing to pay for business content they find valuable, according to the survey," writes Chris Roush.

NBC News will begin running third-party ads bought by General Electric on magazine-like social media app Flipboard today. "NBC News says it is currently talking to other brands about buying in," writes Christopher Heine. "When we looked at our monthly Flipboard users, we realized we had a pretty big opportunity," Peter Naylor, evp of digital sales for NBCUniversal, told Heine.

Buyers will be back at the old flagship building of Filene’s department store next year, but they’ll be buying media, not clothes, as Boston’s branch of Havas Media will join sister creative agency, Beantown-based Arnold Worldwide as new tenants in the historic building.  The 1912 structure, designed by famed Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, is currently being renovated, and Arnold/Havas will occupy 125,000 square feet.  Lower floors will house retail space, writes Ira Kantor.  No word on Filene’s basement, though

Did Fox’s “Glee” go too far Thursday night with its “Shooting Star” episode? “Glee’”s creator Ryan Murphy called the episode’s depiction of a school shooting powerful, but Daily News critic David Hinckley was among those siding with complaints voiced by a Newtown, Conn. victim advocacy group that the episode was airing too soon after the Sandy Hook massacre.  Hinckley said the show  “misfired” and felt like “exploitation”: “With the national wound still bleeding through the bandages, Thursday's episode felt like it was using tragedy for its own advantage.” At least one critic sided with Murphy, though, as …

System, a “deep-thoughts magazine about the fashion industry,” will debut in May. Two issues are planned for the first year, with a $100,000 budget apiece.  The editorial board also includes veterans from Numero and Paradis.  Blogger Eric Wilson calls these publishing fashionistas “the next generation of Annas, Graydons and Graces. Or so they hope.”  And they’re “already rousing the ire of big publishing.”  A correction to the article, in fact, notes that stylist and W magazine Senior Fashion Editor Marie-Amélie Sauvé, originally said to be a member of System’s editorial board, will not be taking on that role after all.  …