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Cable Lobbies for Retrans Quiet Period
During Tuesday's hearing on the digital TV transition held by the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, more calls were made for a retrans quiet period around the February 2009 switch.
That quiet period would suspend any retransmission consent negotiations between pay-TV companies and broadcasters before and after the digital TV switch. Numerous proposals are on the table, with the National Association of Broadcasters offering a four-week quiet period, two weeks before and two weeks after the Feb. 17 transition date. Small cable interests want six months. And DISH Network has suggested that a quiet period start in December before the expiration of most retransmission consent deals.
In testimony before the subcommittee, Kyle McSlarrow of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association said some of the retrans issues could "probably be worked out at the bargaining table." However, he added, "If you go by public statements from some broadcasters, there's a desire to ratchet up dramatically, in some cases 500 percent, the costs of those signals that would be carried by consumers."
The issue has surfaced as a big deal given the large amount of retrans deals set to expire by the end of the year. "The problem is if you are putting consumers to the choice of either paying a higher bill, or the cable operator insists on protecting the interest of the consumer, then the threat is going to be the broadcaster is going to pull the signal," said the NCTA executive.
"And when are they going to do that? Well they are going to do that in January, the precise period of time the NAB's voluntary quiet period does not cover," said McSlarrow. "So you have this odd lapse of time where the food fights are undoubtedly going to break out where consumers have two choices: Pay a higher bill or lose a signal."
In a statement released after the hearing, Matt Polka of the American Cable Association reiterated the group's support for a retrans quiet period.
"With so many consumers still confused about the digital transition, the prudent course of action for the government would be to impose a quiet period that begins prior to the expiration of thousands of retransmission consent agreements on Dec. 31," Polka said. "This would ensure that broadcast signals remain on cable and satellite TV systems in the critical period before the digital transition, thereby eliminating any chance whatsoever of consumer
During Tuesday's hearing on the digital TV transition held by the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, more calls were made for a retrans quiet period around the February 2009 switch.
That quiet period would suspend any retransmission consent negotiations between pay-TV companies and broadcasters before and after the digital TV switch. Numerous proposals are on the table, with the National Association of Broadcasters offering a four-week quiet period, two weeks before and two weeks after the Feb. 17 transition date. Small cable interests want six months. And DISH Network has suggested that a quiet period start in December before the expiration of most retransmission consent deals.
In testimony before the subcommittee, Kyle McSlarrow of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association said some of the retrans issues could "probably be worked out at the bargaining table." However, he added, "If you go by public statements from some broadcasters, there's a desire to ratchet up dramatically, in some cases 500 percent, the costs of those signals that would be carried by consumers."
The issue has surfaced as a big deal given the large amount of retrans deals set to expire by the end of the year. "The problem is if you are putting consumers to the choice of either paying a higher bill, or the cable operator insists on protecting the interest of the consumer, then the threat is going to be the broadcaster is going to pull the signal," said the NCTA executive.
"And when are they going to do that? Well they are going to do that in January, the precise period of time the NAB's voluntary quiet period does not cover," said McSlarrow. "So you have this odd lapse of time where the food fights are undoubtedly going to break out where consumers have two choices: Pay a higher bill or lose a signal."
In a statement released after the hearing, Matt Polka of the American Cable Association reiterated the group's support for a retrans quiet period.
"With so many consumers still confused about the digital transition, the prudent course of action for the government would be to impose a quiet period that begins prior to the expiration of thousands of retransmission consent agreements on Dec. 31," Polka said. "This would ensure that broadcast signals remain on cable and satellite TV systems in the critical period before the digital transition, thereby eliminating any chance whatsoever of consumer