Latest articles by Frank Beacham
Desktop TV Gets Another Boost at Macworld
It was last January when Apple Computer introduced the first simple and affordable personal DVD mastering system.
Microsoft Draws Battle Lines On Content Protection
In the end it wasn't Fritz Hollings, Jack Valenti or the FCC that took the first step into the explosive minefield of content protection. It was - to the surprise of many - Bill Gates.
Of a Certain Age
As one who grew up watching Johnny Carson regularly, I found myself gradually tuning out. The programming became so irrelevant to me that I never thought about it enough to even question why.
Where's the Big DTV Sound?
During a dinner at the recent AES show in New York City, I listened as a highly respected audio expert ridiculed the sad state of television sound.
A Thrilling 40-Year Ride From Portapak to iPhone
Those of us who grew up in the “portable” revolution of video sometimes wrap our memories in nostalgia.
The Impact of Mobile Technology
Who could have predicted that Apple's iPhone would forever change television and democratize the way the nation receives its news and information?
To Avoid Oblivion, Cable Looks for Web Solution
Cable companies are scrambling to find ways to give paying subscribers access to their programming on the Web.
A Perfect Storm Hits Media Businesses
The year 2009 will most certainly go down as an historic turning point in our industry.
A New Generation of Reporters Emerges Online
The winds of change have begun blowing through Washington, D.C. But how will we know what's happening?
Answering the Next Generation's Question
One of the interesting things about getting older and having survived as a freelancer is that younger people ask for advice.
Apple's iPad and the Future of Video Media
I suspect it is the first step in a grand design that will offer a new multimedia distribution platform that could reinvent the journalism business.
Pay TV Windfall From the DTV Transition
After more than a decade of denials, we now know how important a good rooftop, rotor-driven antenna will be to millions of people wanting to receive DTV signals.
Copyright Protection: Be Careful What You Believe
It’s one thing to inflate piracy figures, but the MPAA and RIAA have far more dangerous ideas for the future.
RIAA Shifts From One Wreck to Another
The RIAA announced recently it has abandoned the mass lawsuits it has been bringing against Internet users who it claims steal music.
NBC, Microsoft Raise The ‘Broadcast Flag’
In a remarkable case of viewer “gotcha,” NBC and Microsoft were recently caught red-handed playing footloose with the broadcast flag.
Question for Broadcasters: What Do We Get for Our Spectrum?
With the demise of analog television fast approaching, over-the-air broadcasters have made a lot of noise lately in favor of educating America's television viewers about the digital transition.
