It might not seem like a big deal with all the 1080p TVs these days, but 1080i is actually still the most prevalent broadcast format and the way it's currently rendered by the Echo makes it unwatchable.

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Assuming that one management group operates multiple stations in a market, the consolidation of non-commercial broadcast stations and operations could mean more cost-efficient broadcast operations and format choices for listeners.

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The format of 24-hour broadcast news is generally similar across the board, Monck said, and aside from the fact that it's headquartered in the Middle East, Al Jazeera will probably not be noticeably different from its competitors.

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He credits the show's staying power to its timing ("We were in the right place at the right time, " he told The Associated Press), the power of producer James L. Brooks ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show, " the movie "Broadcast News") and its animated format, which allowed the show to avoid meddling Fox note-givers.

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Without a broadcast flag in place, content providers might decide not to release new programming in digital format, thus reducing consumer demand for Thomsons' digital set-top boxes, according to Arland.

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