ESPN wants in. Other cable networks do too. Food Network and HGTV will continue to zig while they zag.

Local station groups should thank Time Warner Cable for the wake-up call. It's unlikely they will ever again craft a carriage-rights contract without explicit, inarguable language saying their stations cannot be imported into a faraway market.

In this month's Leaders & Bleeders, NBC is thriving with its Olympics coverage, while GM's top marketer Joel Ewanick flames out. Also "Face the Nation" is surging, while Apple ads are getting panned.