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Online Video Sites Don't Protect Kids, Parents Group Says

Online video portals that offer mainstream shows -- including Hulu, Comcast's Fancast, AOL's Slashcontrol and AT&T's U-verse -- don't meet the standards as broadcast television for protecting kids from inappropriate content, according to a new report from the Parents Television Council.

Midterm Election TV Viewership Up 11% from 2006

Networks broadcasting midterm election results attracted 11% more viewers than they did during the 2006 elections, and about a third more than the 2002 midterms, indicating the heightened level political interest among Americans concerned about House and Senate races, Nielsen reported Friday.

Why American Idol Still Commands the Biggest Bucks on TV

Despite a slip in its ratings dip and the loss of man-we-love-to-hate Simon Cowell, American Idol remains the most expensive show on TV for advertisers. Why are they willing to pay close to half a million dollars for a 30-second spot? Young viewers, and lots of them.

Fox Channels Go Dark on Cablevision: Baseball Playoff Broadcasts at Risk

News Corp.'s Fox has pulled its channels off Cablevision after a programming deal expired at midnight Saturday. The move means 3 million viewers in Philadelphia and New York could miss the first game in the National League Championship Series between the Phillies and the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night.

Sony's Google TV Set Coming Saturday

Sony's lineup of sleek televisions boasting Google's Web-surfing system will go on sale online Saturday and will hit Best Buy shelves early next week. The company unveiled the high-definition LCD sets Tuesday evening, with recommended retail prices from $600 to $1,400.

Why Consumers Don't Want Their 3-D TVs

Sales of 3-D televisions aren't growing as quickly as TV makers had expected this year, according to new DisplaySearch report. The research firm now expects 3.2 million 3-D TVs to be shipped this year, down from the 3.4 million it had forecast in July.

Hulu Considers an IPO to Expand Its Subscription Service

Hulu is considering raising up to $300 million in an IPO next year to add more shows to its subscription service, Reuters reported Friday. Will that be enough capital to keep Hulu competitive with Netflix, as well as services from companies such as Apple, Amazon and Wal-Mart?

Political Ad Spending Will Fatten Broadcasters This Year

TV station political revenues may hit $2.5 billion in 2010, a 25% increase above 2006, SNL Kagan says. Among the biggest beneficiaries: conservative broadcaster Sinclair, which has the largest footprint of all independent station owners in areas with contested elections.

Sluggish TV Sales Create Huge Glut of LCD Panels

Lower-than-expected flat-screen TV sales have created a glut in liquid-crystal display panels and are unlikely to be bolstered anytime soon from 3-D TV demand. That means prices for LCD panels -- and TVs -- are falling once again.

Tech Titans' New Battlefield: Your Living Room

With Apple and Google joining Amazon and Netflix in aiming to channel entertainment to your TV, where does that leave the cable guys and broadband providers? They're all girding to fight it out. The biggest winner: consumers.

TV Sales Grow Globally, But Not in North America

Americans are buying fewer televisions, according to a new report from DisplaySearch. Overall, North American TV shipments fell 3% in the second quarter, even as worldwide shipments grew 26%.

Tech Enthusiasts Await Apple's Latest Announcement

As Apple prepares for a press conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, speculation about the coming news is running rampant. Will the company announce a refreshed iPod or a new Apple TV device with Netflix programming?