Broadcasters spend $3.8M on lobbying; Nortel patents drawing big player interest

Cable industry news from across the Web:

> When it comes to lobbying, the NAB is something of a piker, having spent only $3.8 million in the first quarter, mainly focused on retransmission consent fee regulations. Story

> A who's who of tech companies--Google, Apple, Ericsson and Intel among them--are lining up for a chance to buy some of the 6,000 patents from Nortel Networks this week. Story

> Wireless broadband supporters, the Wireless Broadband Alliance and WiFi Alliance have agreed to collaborate to "harmonize their programs related to WiFi hotspot ease of use and roaming." News release

> New Blockbuster President Michael Kelly believes that despite streaming and VoD there's "still demand for physical media." Story

> Hulu's owners, having passed the first euphoria of selling the service, are now reconsidering what such a sale would mean in the competitive space. Story

And finally ... here's some news that's hardly hard to believe. Cable TV "edged out" banks and further defeated telecoms and insurance companies in a rather select polling of companies providing bad service. Story