Obama Wants to Delay Digital TV Switch

Rocky economy, online TV to blame: Nielsen

(NEWSER) - The rocky economy and an upswing in Internet viewing contribute to a surprising new statistic: In America, 96.7% of households have a television set—down from 98.9% previously. It's the first such drop in two decades, the New York Times notes. The Nielsen Company, which collected the data, notes that some low-income households likely cannot afford new digital sets or antennas. In addition, some young people are opting not to purchase a TV when they move out on their own, instead watching shows and movies on the Internet. More»

FCC's draft regulations 'worse than nothing'

(NEWSER) - Tomorrow, the FCC will discuss regulations on net neutrality—the principle that the biggest corporation and the humblest blogger should have equal access to viewers on the Internet. The FCC could protect this freedom, but its draft regulations “don't do that at all,” writes Sen. Al Franken on the Huffington Post . “They're worse than nothing,” effectively allowing Internet providers to “block lawful content, applications, and devices on mobile Internet connections.” More»

Star-studded finale ends emotionally

(NEWSER) - Larry King signed off for the last time last night, getting emotional as he reflected on his show's 25-year run. “It’s not very often in my life I’ve been without words,” he said. Two presidents, Barbara Walters, Donald Trump, Dr. Phil, and Ryan Seacrest all appeared on the program, Mediaite reports. King said he’d be back —”you’re not going to see me go away.” So “instead of goodbye, how about so long.” More»

Critics bid farewell to softballs, suspenders

(NEWSER) - Tonight is Larry King’s final show on CNN—Bill Maher and Ryan Seacrest will be in the studio with him, and word has it he’ll be receiving a taped sendoff from President Obama and chat with more than a dozen other mystery guests via satellite. Some 50,000 interviews later, what the critics are saying:

• King’s career “eternally careened between pinnacles of wild success and pits of utter catastrophe,” writes Glenn Garvin in the Kansas City Star . But “it's hard to find anyone of any significance in the past half-century who hasn't sat across the table.”

Barbara Walters will greet first sitting president to join ABC chatfest

(NEWSER) - President Obama will appear on The View on Thursday, and his visit will be only the second-most-anticipated of the day: Co-host Barbara Walters will return to work for the first appearance on the ABC chatfest by a sitting president, reports Broadcasting & Cable . Walters had surgery in May to replace a heart valve and had planned to return in September. "We are so pleased and honored that President Obama will be a guest on The View," she said in a statement. For more on Michelle Obama's June 2008 co-hosting gig, click here . More»