NFL wants long-term carriage deal for its cable net
The National Football League is willing to sit down with Comcast and Time Warner Cable to discuss carriage of its NFL Network over the long term, not just select games, according to NFL spokesman Seth Palansky. The comments came in response to an overture by U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who reportedly wants to make sure a wide audience can view the Dec. 29 game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. Broadcasting & Cable

Lawmakers express concern over “rush” to approve satellite merger
In a letter, Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, alerted Attorney General Michael Mukasey to their concerns “about the transparency of the department’s merger review processes.” Specifically, they are alarmed by press reports that suggest Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Thomas Barnett may approve the alliance of XM Radio and Sirius “over the objections of department staff.” Shares of both companies dropped on news of the letter. New York Post, Reuters

NAB: Tech giants trying to “muscle” approval for unlicensed wireless
The formation of the new Wireless Innovation Alliance by tech giants like Google and Hewlett-Packard and watchdog groups like Free Press and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group has not swayed the NAB from opposing the use of unlicensed spectrum for mobile devices. “It is unfortunate Microsoft and Google continue to try to muscle their way through Washington in support of a technology that simply does not work,” said NAB spokesman Dennis Wharton. The FCC is currently testing the devices and developing rules for their use in the broadcast spectrum. The Hill

Tribune may generate $1B in sale of Cubs, Wrigley Field
Tribune Co., in an effort to reduce the debt it will accrue in the $8.2 billion buyout that will take it private, in the next six months reportedly will put up for sale the Chicago Cubs baseball team and Wrigley Field stadium. The sale could generate more than $1 billion, according to one financial analyst. Bloomberg

Other News

• News Corp could finalize Dow Jones acquisition today
  The Wall Street Journal

• Writers strike could break broadcast development cycle
  The Hollywood Reporter