NHMC Joins NAB in Seeking Viewability Stay

Says the decision will hurt elderly, low-income and minority viewers by threatening the over-the-air stations they rely on

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/31/2012 4:06:57 PM

The National Hispanic Media Coalition has filed at the FCC in support of the National Association of Broadcasters motion to stay the FCC's viewability/dual carriage order.

NHMC says the decision will hurt elderly, low-income and minority viewers, saying it will threaten the over-the-air stations they rely on.

The FCC last week denied a stay of its unanimous vote in June to lift the requirement, starting in December, that cable operators with hybrid analog/digital systems deliver must-carry TV stations in both formats. That rule was adopted to ensure that viewers did not lose access to cable channels in the switch to digital broadcast TV.

Broadcasters had been pushing the FCC to extend that requirement another three years -- it dated from June 2009 when the digital switch was made -- while cable operators said it was time to lift it and give them more capacity to offer other services consumers might want. Both sides were doing hefty lobbying in the run-up to the vote, but cable's arguments held sway in the final order.

NAB has asked for a similar stay from the D.C. Appeals court.