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Satellite TV Criticizes Dual-Carriage Pushes
Satellite TV interests took aim at proposals being floated at the Federal Communications Commission that would require their platforms to carry dual local TV signals.
One suggestion for a dual-carriage regime would require DBS companies to carry both a high-def signal and a standard definition signal for every station in a market served by satellite-delivered locals. A separate proposal from an entity called Rancho Palos Verdes Broadcasters would require carriage of local TV stations on two separate satellites, one in Ku-Band and the other in Ka-Band, for an indefinite period of time.
The ideas were criticized by DIRECTV, which said in FCC comments on the matter that the separate suggestions "would harm consumers with little corresponding benefit. And both are unlawful."
DIRECTV said a dual-carriage regime would hinder the introduction of new services, including local TV offerings. And given that DBS operators face capacity constraints, "both proposals would require satellite operators to carry duplicative programming instead of programming that is of greater interest to subscribers."
In its separate comments on the issue, DISH Network said "mandating duplicative carriage of broadcast stations - based on either viewability considerations or claimed discriminatory conduct - would be even more burdensome on satellite providers, and could result in fewer independent voices and standard definition and HD local markets available to satellite subscribers."
The FCC has asked for comments about a possible dual-carriage provision for satellite TV. The inquiry came after the agency adopted rules that require satellite TV services to carry all local high-def signals in the markets they serve with local HD broadcasts. The regulations offer some flexibility, allowing DBS services to implement a HD carry-one, carry-all effort within four years after the nation's transition to digital TV.
Satellite TV interests took aim at proposals being floated at the Federal Communications Commission that would require their platforms to carry dual local TV signals.
One suggestion for a dual-carriage regime would require DBS companies to carry both a high-def signal and a standard definition signal for every station in a market served by satellite-delivered locals. A separate proposal from an entity called Rancho Palos Verdes Broadcasters would require carriage of local TV stations on two separate satellites, one in Ku-Band and the other in Ka-Band, for an indefinite period of time.
The ideas were criticized by DIRECTV, which said in FCC comments on the matter that the separate suggestions "would harm consumers with little corresponding benefit. And both are unlawful."
DIRECTV said a dual-carriage regime would hinder the introduction of new services, including local TV offerings. And given that DBS operators face capacity constraints, "both proposals would require satellite operators to carry duplicative programming instead of programming that is of greater interest to subscribers."
In its separate comments on the issue, DISH Network said "mandating duplicative carriage of broadcast stations - based on either viewability considerations or claimed discriminatory conduct - would be even more burdensome on satellite providers, and could result in fewer independent voices and standard definition and HD local markets available to satellite subscribers."
The FCC has asked for comments about a possible dual-carriage provision for satellite TV. The inquiry came after the agency adopted rules that require satellite TV services to carry all local high-def signals in the markets they serve with local HD broadcasts. The regulations offer some flexibility, allowing DBS services to implement a HD carry-one, carry-all effort within four years after the nation's transition to digital TV.