Free Newsletter Subscription
        BNC All Access

ACA: Small Cable Operators Can't Match NCTA’s Dual-Must-Carry Pledge

American Cable Association Cites Capacity Constraints, Costs

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/6/2008 12:48:00 PM

Small cable operators say they can't match the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's pledge to carry must-carry TV stations in analog and digital after the Feb. 17, 2009, digital-TV transition date if some cable programmers succeed in getting a Federal Communications Commission rule to that effect overturned.

A group of programmers led by C-SPAN sued to have the rule thrown out, arguing that it violates their rights and exceeds commission authority. The NCTA had essentially negotiated the three-year carriage rule, and it said Tuesday that it would abide by the rule whether or not the court threw it out.

"Our operators can't make that commitment," said Ross Lieberman, vice president of government affairs for the American Cable Association. He said the reason was capacity constraints and the cost of complying with the law.

"Our members couldn't do that even if they wanted to." And they do want to, he added. "In terms of 'viewability,’ we are all in favor of ensuring that the programming is available. It's the cost and capacity burden of having to comply with the dual-carriage obligation."

Talkback
Related Content

No related content found.

Also by John Eggerton

Most Popular Pages
    No Top Articles
Newbay Business Information Resource Center

Featured Company


Most Recent Resources

Advertisement
More Content
  • Blogs
  • Photos
  • Podcasts

BC Review

BC Review

BC Review
September 30, 2009
TV Review: ABC's 'The Middle'
ABC’s The Middle debuts Sept. 30 at 8:30 p.m. The following are reviews...
More

BC Review

BC Review

BC Review
September 30, 2009
TV Review: ABC's 'Hank'
ABC’s Hank debuts Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. The following are reviews from TV...
More

Free Streaming panel_Grossman_Graboff_Rosenblum_Tellem_Wells_vertical

Free Streaming: Killing or Saving the Television Business

Photos from the B&C/Multichannel News panel discussion and networking breakfast held Nov. 17, 2009, at the Academy Television Arts & Sciences. (Photos by credit: Craig T. Mathew/Mathew Imaging)



Advertisement
About Us   |   Advertising Info   |   Submissions   |   Site Map   |   Contact Us   |   Affiliate Links   |   RSS
© 2011 NewBay Media, LLC. 28 East 28th Street, 12th floor, New York, NY 10016 T (212) 378-0400 F (212) 378-0470
Use of this website is subject to its Terms of Use | Privacy Policy