"Blackout": The Impact of the Digital Age on the Broadcast Media


Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Thursday, December 16, 2010
11am - 2pm

Broadcast models are rapidly changing in light of more robust television programming and advances in the digital age. With these advances, however, viewers are now experiencing more threatened and actual television blackouts on local stations as a result of retransmission consent policies, and because their television sets are not equipped with new HD technologies. In this highly competitive market, how can we ensure that viewers do not get further disadvantaged in their programming choices as the industry transitions business models and platforms? Join a panel of broadcasters, cable operators, association and advocacy experts as they discuss spectrum allocation, retransmission consent and the policy implications on competition, localism and diversity of ownership in the broadcast industry.

Keynote Remarks:
Rebecca Hanson
Senior Advisor, Broadcast Spectrum
Federal Communications Commission

Opening Remarks:

  • Ralph B. Everett, Esq., President and CEO, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

Panel One: Fostering Competition, Localism, and Diversity

  • Kimberly Marcus, Esq., Executive Director, Public Policy Initiative, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition (Moderator)
  • Catherine Bohigian, Esq., Senior Vice President, Cablevision
  • Michael Calabrese, Esq., Senior Research Fellow, Open Technology Initiative, New America Foundation
  • David Honig, Esq., President and Executive Director, Minority Media and Telecommunications Council
  • Brent Wilkes, National Executive Director, League of United Latin American Citizens
  • Jim Winston, Esq., President and Executive Director, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters

Panel Two: Case Study: Retransmission Consent Reform

  • Joseph S. Miller, Esq., Deputy Director and Senior Policy Director, Media and Technology Institute, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (Moderator)
  • Fernando Laguarda, Esq., Vice President, External Affairs and Policy Counselor, Time Warner Cable
  • Jane Mago, Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel, National Association of Broadcasters
  • Matthew M. Polka, President and CEO, American Cable Association
  • Gigi Sohn, Esq., President and Co-Founder, Public Knowledge

RSVP at futureofbroadcast@jointcenter.org by December 13, 2010.

For questions or press inquiries, please contact Betty Anne Williams at (202) 789-3505 or bawilliams@jointcenter.org