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Battle Brewing Over Low-Power Stations
Broadcasters and cable companies are gearing up for a fight involving low-power TV stations and the possibility that they could achieve must-carry status, a battle that is poised to become part of the Federal Communications Commission's open meeting next week.
At that meeting, the FCC will take on matters related to low-power TV stations going all-digital. The effort could have bigger implications, with the possibility of low-power stations becoming full-power broadcasters and receiving must carry status. The low-power/all-digital push was listed as a tentative item on the FCC's meeting agenda.
Cable interests are fighting any must-carry proposal.
In a filing sent to the FCC, Comcast told the agency that there is "no legal or policy basis for increasing must-carry burdens on cable operators" and that any consideration of additional must-carry proposals "is counter-productive, especially at a time when energies must be focused on effectuating a successful broadcast digital TV transition."
Comcast said it voluntarily carries some low-power stations that are requested by customers, including multicultural and religious stations. "Comcast believes that the LPTV stations it carries provide programming that customers value. This is not the case with all LPTV stations," the cable operator said.
Nonetheless, some broadcasters are lobbying for a must-carry regime.
Una Vez Mas, the largest affiliate group for broadcaster Azteca Americas, threw its support behind allowing qualified low-power TV stations to achieve "Class A" status, a move that would entitle the stations to obtain must-carry on local cable systems.
"These stations continue to provide important and sometimes crucial local content. During a period of media consolidation, they also continue to provide independent voices," said Randy Nonberg, president of Una Vez Mas. "The many benefits provided by Class A and LPTV stations are at risk of being lost."
Broadcasters and cable companies are gearing up for a fight involving low-power TV stations and the possibility that they could achieve must-carry status, a battle that is poised to become part of the Federal Communications Commission's open meeting next week.
At that meeting, the FCC will take on matters related to low-power TV stations going all-digital. The effort could have bigger implications, with the possibility of low-power stations becoming full-power broadcasters and receiving must carry status. The low-power/all-digital push was listed as a tentative item on the FCC's meeting agenda.
Cable interests are fighting any must-carry proposal.
In a filing sent to the FCC, Comcast told the agency that there is "no legal or policy basis for increasing must-carry burdens on cable operators" and that any consideration of additional must-carry proposals "is counter-productive, especially at a time when energies must be focused on effectuating a successful broadcast digital TV transition."
Comcast said it voluntarily carries some low-power stations that are requested by customers, including multicultural and religious stations. "Comcast believes that the LPTV stations it carries provide programming that customers value. This is not the case with all LPTV stations," the cable operator said.
Nonetheless, some broadcasters are lobbying for a must-carry regime.
Una Vez Mas, the largest affiliate group for broadcaster Azteca Americas, threw its support behind allowing qualified low-power TV stations to achieve "Class A" status, a move that would entitle the stations to obtain must-carry on local cable systems.
"These stations continue to provide important and sometimes crucial local content. During a period of media consolidation, they also continue to provide independent voices," said Randy Nonberg, president of Una Vez Mas. "The many benefits provided by Class A and LPTV stations are at risk of being lost."
