Check this out: "Rudeness is the new normal" ... a Politico column by Roger Simon citing lots of statistics from a just-released study called "Civility in America 2012."

Simon cites lots of different bits of bad mood news. Such as almost 70% of the 1K adults surveyed by Weber Shandwick and Powell Tate, in partnership with KRC Research "have lost hope that our political parties can discuss matters civilly." Or, "that 82% of Americans believe the media are more interested in controversy than facts and that 62% find the media’s tone 'uncivil'?"

Kind of goes to show as retrans and carriage renewals get nastier. But, those aren't the real reasons for the this "uncivility" ... no!  It is really ... the inability to properly employ turn signals.

Really.

For the past few years, I've been driving between Breckenridge and Denver on a somewhat eclectic basis ... all times of the day but usually once each way once a week or so. So I began watching the behavior of other drivers. Especially in regards to usage of the turn signal lever ... whether turning or changing lanes.

Back when I learned to drive in my grandfather's Studebaker on his ranch, one had to roll down the window and stick one's arm out and point left or right.

My first car, a '51 Ford convertible, had a fantastic invention: turn signals!  Activated by the left hand!  Wow!  No more rain on a suit jacket!  (That changed when I sold the Ford and got a '56 MG.)

Ever since I once got a ticket for failing to use my turn signal when changing lanes on an LA freeway, I’ve been quasi-religious about signaling.  So I started to really pay attention ... and count.

Of over 2,500 instances of changing lanes or exiting or entering I-70 between Frisco and Denver, the following actions were noted:
• 74% did NOT signal when changing lanes
• 12% signaled AFTER beginning the lane change
• 13 % signaled before changing lanes
• 1% of signaled but did not, in fact, execute the lane change

Furthermore:
• 68% exiting the freeway did NOT signal before doing so
• 12% exiting the freeway signaled AFTER entering the exit lane
• 19% signaled, then exited

Furthermore:
• 94% entering the freeway did NOT signal before
• 6% signaled before entering the freeway

Therein lies the problem with American behaviors across the board. Well, that and the global growth of fundamentalism ... my way or the highway.

Meanwhile ...
• Almost forgot ... 73% of all drivers had a cellphone in each left hand ... talking.  Smartphones?  I wish.
• Lest you've forgotten:  Our next major, quarterly trend report via The BRIDGE is due out today.  (You can get a year-long subscription now for $667 ... it goes up to $1000 a week after the next issue is published.) •

DIRECTV Losing Grip on NFL Exclusivity?

While you have to wait another couple months for the 2012 NFL season, the ISI Group say it's never too early to discuss the economics of football. Analysts at the firm have taken a peek into DIRECTV's Sunday Ticket playbook and wonder: Is the company losing its grip on the NFL?

For starters, the firm gives DIRECTV props for having the foresight to lock down NFL rights as early as it did. Calling the Sunday Ticket "the single most important decision" DIRECTV has made... ISI analyst Vijay Jiyant says things have changed since the exclusive package was launched nearly two decades ago.

First, the analyst notes, the NFL's popularity exploded, eclipsing $10B per year in revenue. Second, recognizing it was sitting on one of the most valuable brands on the planet, the NFL spent $100M to launch the NFL Network in 2003. (And while it might have taken a little while to get rolling, the NFLN now reaches 61M pay-TV HHs.)

Then, the analyst says, the league upped the ante by launching its exclusive 8-game Thursday night package in 2006, and again in 2012 by expanding that package to include five incremental national games. "By our count," Jiyant says, "the total amount of games available to fans on a non-exclusive basis (is) 81, giving DIRECTV 'just' 175 out of market games it can correctly deem 'exclusive'." The analyst calculates that DIRECTV, based on its latest deal with the league, is now paying $5.7M per game, and by making the NFLN available to all pay-TV distributors, the NFL effectually took away exclusivity of the popular "Redzone" channel - "one of the key selling points" for the Sunday Ticket.

"Given all of the aforementioned changes... what has DIRECTV done in response? ... Radically alter its pricing," he says. Now two-year contracts come with the first year free, and for everyone else the price drops $100. And while the change might seem negative, Jiyant says not only is the satcaster "acting rationally," but it may just come out on top in the end. Why?

The new price point is simultaneously "more appealing to the masses" and still being offered "at a premium for extreme fans," Jiyant says. And perhaps most importantly, "DTV might have more leverage" as the league continues to "dilute" its exclusivity. Boom. •

Heads' Up for 2020 – Uh Oh Greece - TV's Financial Cliff

Hot Topics:  From last month's Cable Show floor, Amdocs conducted a survey of more than 130 executives on key industry issues. Some "heads'-up" results include:  Broadband may be even hotter than you think as 52% of the execs said HSD services would provide more revenue by 2020 than video delivery, business services or connected home services combined.  But watch for wireless broadband coming up the outside: 49% of respondents said it is "very likely" or "definitely" to replace wired broadband in a majority of homes by 2020.  For more 2020 forecasts:  50% said a la carte will be available on demand and 64% see continued competitive pressures as the biggest challenge. 

Analyze This: Hold your breath this morning as the markets react to yesterday's Greek vote. --- Is TV set for a fiscal crisis? Maybe, says analysts at Pivotal Research. While the research firm predicts network TV advertising to grow 1-2% next year, the forecast depends on the financial well-being of the country at large. Unless Congress fails to act by the end of this year, says Pivotal's Brian Wieser, when the Bush Tax Cuts expire and cuts to gov't spending take effect, the U.S. could be headed over a "fiscal cliff." If we go over said cliff, "a 1% shortfall of ad growth would seem likely, at minimum," the analyst said. And while national TV is largely immune (thanks to upfronts and how much brands value the medium), local media will bear the brunt as advertisers won't hesitate to jump ship. "The cliff will be scary for the broader population... but the five broadcast nets will be able to watch any outcome from a relatively comfortable position."

Regulation: FCC indicated Friday it would take a look at cellphone radiation rules as the Chairman circulated an order that should lead to a formal inquiry (with a bias toward strengthening the rules).

Strategy: CenturyLink is launching IPTV service is Colorado Springs, CO. If the telco receives a cable franchise at its July 10 hearing, the company said it expects to begin service in 2013. --- YouTube is said to be considering bringing on smaller cable nets as a paid, stand-alone service (read: a la carte). Reuters has more. --- DISH has been making a lot of moves - and waves - lately (what's new?). DBJ has been following closely and has complete coverage here.

M&A: IC Places is buying Punch TV Network for an undisclosed amount.

Rumor Mill: Samsung says it is NOT working on a Facebook rival.

In Court: A judge denied CBS' request for a temporary restraining order against ABC over its "Glass House" reality show squabble.

Tech: Annonymous insiders say Microsoft is working on a tablet to take on Apple's iPad. The tech-giant is having an event later today to make some kind of big reveal. --- HDTV-maker Vizio unveiled a line of Windows-based PCs and laptops Friday.

Research: NPD says video game retail sales totaled $516M in May, a 28% y/y decline from $719M last year. --- Information Solutions Group says 44% of adults in the US and UK play mobile games at least once per month, up from 29% last year.

Over, Up, & Under: German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF have devised a strategy to stop paying fees to cable operators for distribution hoping their 'must-carry' status and public demand will lead to continued carriage. ANGA President Thomas Braun says 'no way.' --- Japanese MSO Jupiter Telecommunications added 216K subs in May, up 6.3% y/y, totaling 7.32M RGUs. --- So you think you can dance? Prove it - with Virgin Media's new interactive dance app on TiVo. --- Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting has shuttered TNT in Turkey.

People: New FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai appointed former House Energy Committee staffer Nicholas Degani as his legal advisor on wireline issues.

Say It Ain't So: In case you haven't heard, there is a massive wildfire raging in northern Colorado right now that has consumed more than 50K acres and hundreds of buildings. The Denver Post is reporting that Comcast is allegedly charging 'early termination fees'  to those who've lost their homes. A Comcast spokesperson says it isn't true, but some customers have tweeted otherwise.

--- Catch today's media market news in The Evening BRIDGE. •