Late Breaking News

BY JON LAFAYETTE

Gemstar-TV Guide International's horse-racing and interactive waging network network, TVG, boosted its distribution to over 12 million homes through two additional launches with Cox Communications and a new multiyear agreement with Charter Communications. By the end of this year, TVG should be in about 14 million homes, said Ray Hopkins, EVP, affiliate sales and marketing at Gemstar.

Jonathan Adelstein of the FCC said he was considering asking Chairman Michael Powell for either a courtesy monthlong ?hold? on the media ownership rules vote scheduled for June 2, or for a waiver that would allow him and fellow Democrat Michael Copps to publicly release the ownership proposal after they receive it May 12. They both said Powell has a ?moral? obligation to give the public time to learn about proposed changes. Adelstein also said on Friday at a forum sponsored by the New America Foundation that he had privately asked Powell ?a personal favor? to publicly air the proposed rules once they are sent to the commissioners for review, but that Powell turned him down. Turning to the press, Adelstein said, ?Most of the media has kept Americans in the dark about this.? Jim Goodmon of Capitol Broadcasting in Raleigh, N.C., said the argument that media companies need the rules loosened to help them economically ?belongs on Saturday Night Live.?

Comcast launches CN8 in Boston and New England today, despite strained relations with officials in the town where the CN8 studio is located. ?A breach letter was sent out May 2 as a result of Comcast's closure of the Brookline Access Television studio,? selectman Gil Hoy, chairman of Brookline's Cable Coordinating Committee, said Friday. ?We will likely work out an arrangement to share what is now the renovated studio.? Comcast spokesperson Jennifer Khoury said, ?In hopes of reaching an agreement, Comcast has had several meetings with Brookline Access Television?Comcast has operated fully within the scope of our franchise agreement in New England.?