Martin's appeal wins praise
By Bil McConnell -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/27/2003 3:00:00 AM
The American Cable Association and the Parents Television Council Friday endorsed Federal Communications Commission member Kevin Martin's call for TV programmers to schedule family-viewing blocks.
The ACA -- which represents small cable MSOs and independent system operators -- praised his suggestion for à la carte selection that would allow parents to pick which channels they want to receive or for a special family-viewing tier.
Martin said the idea would let parents pass on channels now routinely included in basic-cable tiers that they don't want their kids to see.
Tyhe ACA has endorsed à la carte pricing as a way to keep down costs of obtaining programming.
Big MSOs, many of which own interests in cable networks, oppose à la carte service.
"Commissioner Martin's challenge should also be extended to the mega-merged broadcasters and programmers that continue to raise programming rates with impunity and continue to abuse cable operators and subscribers through retransmission consent, tying, bundling and forced tiered placement," ACA president Matt Polka said.
PTC president L. Brent Bozell praised Martin and fellow commissioner Michael Copps for requesting revival of the broadcast family-viewing hour.
"I am happy to see that two FCC commissioners are truly concerned about the violent and sexual content that is being televised in homes every night by broadcast networks," he said.
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