Competitors from Apple to Hulu have to be quaking. Google, which controls what could be one of the most powerful advertising media in modern times, is giving hints that it will begin to use it more aggressively.

Even as childhood obesity becomes an increasing problem, it's unlikely that heavy government restrictions on junk-food advertising will come anytime soon. Advertisers are making the case that they are already reducing the sugar and fat content in kid-targeted products, while ad industry lobbyists oppose restrictions.

In this month's Leaders & Bleeders, indications are consumer packaged goods advertisers will boost spending, while Amazon is making headway versus Netflix in online streaming. But Google TV Ads is disbanding after a similar effort by eBay failed and Jay Leno has to take a pay cut.

The Pac-12 Networks, the new conference-owned venture, will accept beer ads. It's a departure from what the Big Ten Network has done over its five-year history.

For a couple of decades, some of the most unavoidable ads have been those signs behind the batter in baseball games, picked up by the cameras live and later in highlights. Still, even as the ads switch throughout a game, they can lose star power.

As of Dec. 13, networks will have to be careful in turning up the volume on a promotional spot. That means the last joke in a comedy before a commercial break can't be followed by a persistently louder promo for other programming.

No question second-screening offers networks and advertisers enormous potential. It's pretty simple: get viewers intrigued enough with what's on TV that they'll interact with it simultaneously on another device. Will it catch on?

It sure seems like Cablevision has the leverage in its carriage fee dispute with the Tribune station group. Reason: a struggling network and some horrible baseball teams. At the heart of the stand-off is Cablevision's blackout of WPIX in the New York market - now 11 days old. Under most circumstances, a cable operator going without a broadcast station can bring significant customer backlash and an urgency to settle. But in this case, Cablevision might be thinking, "What's the rush?"

Memo to famous Washington personalities: marry a person of the opposite party. There can be big money in it. As skilled as James Carville and Mary Matalin may be in offering political advice and strategy, aren't they just regulars in the punditocracy without each other?

There is simply no sign that football's preeminence in America will slow one bit. Not even the future of the country takes precedence. Consider that NBC won't cover the Democratic convention one night in order to air an NFL game. Then, on Oct. 22, a Presidential debate will go head-to-head with a "Monday Night Football" game.