Cablevision probably thought it had a good set of facts with which to take another run at must-carry in the courts. The Supreme Court apparently didn't think so, but we don't know why.… Continue Reading
Wrapping itself in the mantle of the Consumer's Friend, Big Cable wants to change the retransmission consent process. Read about the recent petition for rulemaking here.… Continue Reading
From much of the trade press coverage of the ION/Urban "share-time" proposal, it would appear to be an odds-on mortal lock for approval. With so many regulatory stars aligning just so, it's hard to see where the downside to the proposal may be. But wait.… Continue Reading
We have nothing new to report about the ION/Urban proposal to sell share-time "licenses" (in secondary DTV streams), but we do have some news about the FCC's processing of that proposal. The Commission has announced that the application will be treated as a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding.… Continue Reading
In a deft attempt to snag FCC-blessed mandatory cable carriage for non-primary digital streams - an issue which the FCC has managed to dodge for years - ION Media Networks and BET founder and billionaire Robert Johnson have lobbed in an assignment application which, if granted, would likely have profound effects on the DTV television industry. The FCC has invited public comment on (or petitions to deny) the proposal.… Continue Reading
Cable programmers failed to convince a federal appeals court that new "viewability" rules (imposed by the FCC on cable operators) would directly harm those programmers. As a result, the Court slammed the door on the programmers without consideration of their substantive arguments, leaving the viewability rules undisturbed.… Continue Reading
On September 26, the FCC released a short Declaratory Order clarifying certain issues relating to the mandatory carriage of DTV broadcast television stations on cable systems. The Order addresses the post-DTV transition effect of television stations’ must carry elections (which are due on or before October 1, 2008), the post-DTV transition channel placement rights and obligations … Continue Reading
