New York – Having already blossomed as a newspaper, website and book publisher, The Onion – perhaps the most dominant provider of fake news anywhere – is bringing its brand of humor to the hot medium of the moment: online video.
The dispatches on the Onion News Network, which goes live today, aren’t likely to be causing much missed sleep over at CNN and Fox News Channel, unless those outlets start covering fake news stories like Civil War re-enactors being dispatched to Iraq.
But on the Web, The Onion will be going up against several others who have already established themselves in comedy video, including Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.” Much of that awareness, however, came from unauthorized clips being viewed on Google Inc.’s YouTube, something over which Comedy Central’s parent company Viacom Inc. is suing YouTube for $1 billion.
Sean Mills, the president of the closely held company that runs The Onion, says he has “some tolerance” for unauthorized use of clips and is optimistic that the company will reach an arrangement with YouTube. Clips from the Onion News Network will also be available for free downloads on Apple Inc.’s iTunes store.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
Hilton to be built near Park Meadows
Arapahoe Hospitality LLC plans to build a 113-room Hilton Homewood Suites on 3 acres at the northeast corner of Interstate 25 and County Line Road near Park Meadows.
Arapahoe Hospitality paid Interface Properties Inc. $2.3 million for the property. Interface, represented by Marc Feder of Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler Inc., has retained 4.4 acres for future opportunities.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
EchoStar protests Liberty-News swap
EchoStar Communications Corp. filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against Liberty Media Corp.’s stock-for-asset swap with News Corp.
Douglas County-based Liberty is set to gain a 38 percent controlling stake of EchoStar competitor DirecTV, along with three regional sports networks.
In its 42-page filing, EchoStar said the transaction warrants “intense scrutiny” and that the deal would give Liberty more strength in setting programming rates, once combined with DirecTV, and thereby the ability to charge providers such as Echo Star more for content.
DENVER
House bill would curb corrupt moving firms
A bill that would try to crack down on corrupt moving companies passed a state House vote Monday, 45 to 20.
House Bill 1249 aims to provide greater consumer protection by requiring four additional procedures for moving companies, including a background check for principals of new moving companies. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
IDAHO SPRINGS
Echo Mountain offers now-later pass deal
Echo Mountain Park announced Monday that skiers and snowboarders who buy a 2007- 08 season pass now for $269 can ski free for all of April and into May.
The dedicated terrain park is scheduled to close May 14.
NEW YORK
Corporate airfares make a bumpy climb
The average one-way domestic airfare paid by corporate travel buyers increased to a three- year high of $231 in 2006, up from $216 in 2005, according to the American Express Business Travel Monitor.
Airlines increased fares throughout the year because of unstable fuel prices and fuller planes, according to the report. But between the third and fourth quarters of 2006, average fares declined from $231 to $216.
ROCHESTER, N.Y.
Kodak quits BBB after digital-camera woes
Eastman Kodak resigned its membership in the Council of Better Business Bureaus after a prolonged dispute over its handling of customer complaints about defective digital cameras, product warranties and other issues, the consumer-advocacy group said Monday.
It said Kodak has long refused to accept or respond to consumer complaints submitted by the Upstate New York Better Business Bureau, prompting expulsion proceedings in December.
BEIJING
Intel plans cheap chip plant in NE China
Intel Corp. announced plans Monday to build a $2.5 billion computer-microchip plant in China, the largest single investment by a U.S. company ever – but one that may face political opposition on Capitol Hill.
Intel chief executive Paul Otellini said the new plant in the northeastern city of Dalian would become the lowest-cost factory the company has ever operated. The plant will make microchips a generation behind Intel’s most advanced products, mostly for use in computers.
