• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, April 12, 2013

Does the media embrace feuds? Of course. Bitter face-offs drive clicks, ratings, etc.

Why? Because people who think the media are making too much of the battles can’t get enough of them.

In the media business, there are some emerging doozies. Hopefully, they’ll only intensify. Here’s just a partial list:

1) Aereo vs. Big Media – Aereo couldn’t ask for better marketing – free, too! – than it’s received in the past few days thanks to Fox and brethren. News Corp. COO Chase Carey threatened to shift Fox to pay-TV distribution if poor little Aereo (actually well-funded), which streams broadcast content to digital devices, continues to operate. CBS and Univision have supported Carey, feeling Aereo is stealing their signals without compensating them. So far, Aereo has topped Big Media in two court decisions and it’s unclear if it has a path to legal victory.     

2) Google vs. Time Warner Cable/AT&T – Google recently launched its efforts to offer TV and broadband service in Kansas City, challenging Time Warner Cable (TWC) and AT&T. Soon, it will be stalking them in Austin, Texas as it moves into the market next year. TWC has publicly downplayed any threat from Google. But if Google continues expanding, surely TWC and AT&T would welcome others having to deal with the deep-pocketed competitor.

3) Dish Network vs. (Long List) – Dish’s AutoHop, a DVR on steroids that automatically removes commercials, has Big Media apoplectic. Big Media (the same giants fighting Aereo) are battling Dish in court trying to banish the ad-jettisoning functionality. Dish has also cost ESPN a fortune in legal fees through various actions in recent years, though it hasn’t won much. The two now have to hammer out a new carriage deal in the next few months, which could very well have implications for the AutoHop’s future since ESPN and ABC share an owner. Last year, Cablevision/AMC reached a settlement involving multiple issues, including a blackout of the “Walking Dead” network.

4) NBC vs. Univision – A struggling NBC finished behind the Spanish-language network in the February sweep and continued trailing it in the ensuing three weeks. Jay Leno joked about it. Finally, “The Voice” helped lift NBC out of fifth place. But the singing competition will be off the air this summer. Will "America's Got Talent" hold off fresh telenovelas on The U?

5) Netflix vs. SVOD Challengers/TV Everywhere – Amazon or Hulu challenging Netflix in the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) space? It seemed unheard of not long ago. Now, Amazon is investing in original content and acquiring exclusive rights to the likes of “Downton Abbey,” while Hulu could get an influx of cash from a new owner. Cable operators and networks also aren’t sitting by without going after Netflix. And the company’s CEO, Reed Hastings, has acknowledged the trouble TV Everywhere poses. Still, Netflix has loads of subscribers and with “House of Cards” has proven it can do well with original production.

6) ESPN vs. Fox Sports 1 – ESPN says it welcomes competition and the new Fox 24/7 network coming in August isn’t likely to overtake it. But, it could be a feisty challenger among younger viewers with UFC events, even if they don't warm to Regis Philbin. Fox has lined up rights to a bevy of other top-tier live programming, too, and News Corp. has money to spend and regional sports networks to help bolster FS1.

7) Matt Lauer vs. America (or “Good Morning America”) – The formerly unimpeachable “Today” host has been tabbed as a villain by many for the ouster of Ann Curry. And, the NBC show now trails “GMA” this season, with ratings in the 25-to-54 demo down by one metric by 20%. NBC has nudged Jay Leno aside. How long will Matt be around?

8) Mike White vs. Sports Programmers – The DirecTV CEO never misses the bait to rail against sports rights fees. Apparently, he believes the ecosystem with cable operators and networks making money off consumers may eventually crack. DirecTV has launched a surcharge for carriage of some regional sports networks (RSNs) -- as have other operators. But DirecTV owns a few RSNs. And, a Time Warner Cable executive recently charged it with a degree of hypcorisy, saying it collects more for its networks than it pays TWC for a Lakers-oriented network in Southern California.

9) C7 vs. C3 – This could be a nasty battle between advertisers and networks. Or, maybe not. Networks would like to change the currency in the national TV market to incorporate seven days of DVR viewing versus the current three. Advertisers seem to be getting considerable free exposure with the C3 metric, so is there enough of an incentive for them to switch to C7? Then again, pricing discounts, tight supply and other permutations may lead to a rather smooth rapprochement.

10) Jimmy vs. Jimmy – NBC’s Jimmy Fallon will take over for Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" next year, where he'll take on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel and CBS"s David Letterman. It would be a surprise if Fallon were able to keep NBC’s late-night lead. Letterman should pull in front. But, the battle for second place between the Jimmys will be closely watched with the leader likely to be the late-night pacesetter for the next decade. That's assuming Craig Ferguson doesn't unexpectedly topple them both.