Ex parte filings: Time Warner Cable, in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 10-71, continued to press the FCC to promptly start a rulemaking to change the way that retransmission-consent disputes are handled. Section 325 of the Communications Act lets the agency order interim carriage during contract disputes between TV stations and subscription-video providers, company representatives told an aide to Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. … Discovery Communications said the commission needs to protect diversity in programming offered by pay-TV providers. Executives discussed with an aide to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski the impact that the current retransmission system has on the ability of programmers unaffiliated with broadcasters guaranteed cable distribution to gain carriage “on reasonable terms and conditions,” said a filing in the docket Thursday.
Ikanos Communications Chairman Diosdado Banatao becomes interim CEO, replacing Michael Gulett, resigned … South Dakota Public Utilities Commission candidate Doyle Karpen has his party’s official nod but still will face competition from fellow Democrat John Zaks when state Democrats convene in June … Clear Channel Radio hires Bob Michaels to new position of executive vice president of research … CBS promotes Zander Lurie to senior vice president of strategic development … Discovery promotes Glenn Oakley to executive vice president of media technology, production and operations, replacing John Honeycutt, who moved to head of international business operations for Discovery Networks International … Laura Kuhn promoted to senior vice president-strategic sales insights, ABC Family … Verizon Wireless promotes Mark Frazier to president of its Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia region.
John Eichhorn, ex-Hewlett-Packard, hired by Tropos Networks as chief financial officer …
Ex parte filings: American Cable Association representatives said retransmission consent and video programming price discrimination occur against small and mid-sized cable operators. Executives at cable operators MetroCast and WOW and the National Cable Television Cooperative also participated in the meetings last week with Commissioners Michael Copps and an aide to and Robert McDowell.
Christopher Ornelas, ex-Brownstein Hyatt and ex-Senate aide to NAB President Gordon Smith, joins NAB as executive vice president-chief strategy officer … Gordon Snow promoted to assistant director, FBI Cyber Division … Discovery promotes Robert Voltaggio to senior vice president, national ad sales and planning … Peter Diaz promoted by Belo to president of media operations … Christoph Pachler, ex-Sony Pictures Entertainment, hired by Playboy Enterprises as chief financial officer and executive vice president.
Senior Vice President Matthew Kazmierczak becomes interim director of TechAmerica Foundation, replacing Foundation President Christopher Hansen, leaving April 30 to head American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network … NBC Local Media promotes to vice presidents of digital media Gregory Gittrich, editor in chief, and Lora Le Sage, operations … Scott Lewers promoted by Oxygen Media to vice president of multiplatform program planning and acquisitions.
New in TechAmerica Washington office: Chris Wilson, ex-Wiley Rein and ex-aide to Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., as director and regulatory counsel for e-commerce and telecom; Randi Meyers, ex-aide to Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., as director and counsel, federal government relations …
News Corp. Chief Security Officer Hemanshu Nigam steps down, to become adviser … Nexstar Broadcasting changes: Jerry Jones promoted to vice president/general manager, KATD-TV and KTVE-TV, Monroe, La.; Albert Gutierrez promoted to replace him as vice president/general manager, KMID-TV Midland/Odessa, Texas … Ward Loyd will be sworn in Friday as a Kansas Corporation Commission member, serving a term that expires March 15, 2012.
Ex parte filings: Media General’s ownership of WJHL Johnson City, Tenn., in the same market where it owns the Bristol Herald-Courier gave that newspaper “greater resources” to pursue “such intensive efforts” as development of a series that won a Pulitzer Prize last week, the company said Friday. It also discussed with Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Robert McDowell its 2008 opposition to a petition to throw out permanent cross-ownership waivers Media General got as part of the commission’s media ownership review.
Jim Gewert, ex-Turner Broadcasting, becomes executive vice president, worldwide finance, planning and systems, at Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group … Marjorie Cohn promoted by Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group to president, original programming and development … Eduardo Fernandez, ex WSNS Chicago, hired by Scripps as general manager of WXYZ Detroit … Lisa Fischer, ex-Discovery, becomes Ion Media Networks senior vice president, network sales … Telecom litigators Bruce Beckner and Erick Soriano, both ex-Fleischman & Harding, move to Garvey Schubert as partners … Mark Shockley promoted by Motorola to senior vice president, global go-to-market for Mobile Devices business; Frank Meng, ex-Qualcomm, hired by Motorola as president of greater China for Mobile Devices … Debra Goetz, ex-Univision, hired by NBC Universal as vice president of integrated sales marketing … South Dakota Public Utility Commission Chairman Dustin Johnson will seek re-election to a second term … Minnesota Public Utility Commission member Betsy Wergin confirmed for a second six-year term.