A lot is being written lately about broadband cable access. This article summarizes a debate at the Computers, Freedom and Piracy conference. Will broadband providers control content?. CFP speakers concerned that major cable operators will control access [InfoWorld: Top News]

Sony TV would grab streams from the Net. The company is developing a plasma screen TV set that's intended to tune in streaming video from home networks and the Internet as easily as regular TV programs, sources say. [CNET News.com]

Cable Company to Restate Sales Back to 2000 [New York Times: Technology]

Cost 'barrier' to future phones. A study of how real people interact with their mobiles reveals that third generation phones might not take off as the operators hope. [BBC News | Technology | UK Edition]

 

This is an interesting analysis of the DRM issues surrounding Windows Media9.

Microsoft's digital media mogul. Dave Fester, general manager of Microsoft's Windows Media, needs to balance the use of digital media to boost Windows sales with the piracy concerns of the entertainment industry. [CNET News.com]

Siting sources close to the negotiations a number of news organizations are reporting today that SBC has dropped out of the bidding for DirecTV.

SBC Drops Out of Bidding for Hughes and DirecTV. SBC Communications dropped out of bidding for Hughes Electronics and its DirecTV satellite television operation. By Andrew Ross Sorkin. [New York Times: Technology]

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/5539187.htm [San Jose Mercury News]