Cable, TV Disputes Drag On
After Fox broadcasting and Time Warner Cable reached a New Years Day deal in their dispute over programming fees, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is now urging Sinclair Broadcasting Group and cable provider Mediacom Communications Corp. to resolve their differences before a Friday deadline. With their agreement set to expire at the end of 2009, Fox had threatened to force Time Warner to drop Fox television programming in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and other markets unless the cable provider agreed to pay higher fees, according to the Associated Press.
"Fox and Time Warner have granted a New Year's resolution of millions of viewers, and I congratulate them," Genachowski said in a statement released Jan. 1. "Now it is the turn of Sinclair and Mediacom to respect the wishes of their audience, and resolve their differences before the expiration of their extended agreement on Jan. 8th." Sinclair extended its agreement, which was set to expire on Dec. 31, allowing Mediacom to carry Sinclair's Fox and CBS stations while the two sides continue to negotiate a new agreement, the AP reported.
In addition to the FCC, the disputes between cable operators and broadcasters over fees for carrying broadcast TV programming are drawing the attention of some lawmakers and public interest groups. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., a senior member of the Commerce Committee, issued a statement praising Fox and Time Warner for reaching a deal. "Both the broadcasting business and the cable business are expensive enterprises and good faith negotiations should result in mutually acceptable terms to both the seller and the buyer without final consumers being put in the crosshairs," Kerry said in a statement. "I am glad that despite some bumps in the road, that was achieved in this instance."
Watchdog Public Knowledge also issued a statement urging the FCC and Congress to address the issues that have led to such disputes and ensure consumers are not harmed. "Congress and/or the FCC should examine the current retransmission consent process and consider whether the system needs adjustments to ensure that viewers are not disenfranchised," Public Knowledge President Gigi Sohn said. "Most importantly, policymakers should consider requiring interim carriage of over-the-air stations should a retransmission consent agreement expire while the parties are still negotiating."
After Fox broadcasting and Time Warner Cable reached a New Years Day deal in their dispute over programming fees, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is now urging Sinclair Broadcasting Group and cable provider Mediacom Communications Corp. to resolve their differences before a Friday deadline. With their agreement set to expire at the end of 2009, Fox had threatened to force Time Warner to drop Fox television programming in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and other markets unless the cable provider agreed to pay higher fees, according to the Associated Press.
"Fox and Time Warner have granted a New Year's resolution of millions of viewers, and I congratulate them," Genachowski said in a statement released Jan. 1. "Now it is the turn of Sinclair and Mediacom to respect the wishes of their audience, and resolve their differences before the expiration of their extended agreement on January 8th." Sinclair extended its agreement, which was set to expire on Dec. 31, allowing Mediacom to carry Sinclair's Fox and CBS stations while the two sides continue to negotiate a new agreement, the AP reported.
In addition to the FCC, the disputes between cable operators and broadcasters over fees for carrying broadcast TV programming are drawing the attention of some lawmakers and public interest groups. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., a senior member of the Commerce Committee, issued a statement praising Fox and Time Warner for reaching a deal. "Both the broadcasting business and the cable business are expensive enterprises and good faith negotiations should result in mutually acceptable terms to both the seller and the buyer without final consumers being put in the crosshairs," Kerry said in a statement. "I am glad that despite some bumps in the road, that was achieved in this instance."
Watchdog Public Knowledge also issued a statement urging the FCC and Congress to address the issues that have led to such disputes and ensure consumers are not harmed. "Congress and/or the FCC should examine the current retransmission consent process and consider whether the system needs adjustments to ensure that viewers are not disenfranchised," Public Knowledge President Gigi Sohn said. "Most importantly, policymakers should consider requiring interim carriage of over-the-air stations should a retransmission consent agreement expire while the parties are still negotiating."
Join the Discussion
The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.
Comments powered by Disqus