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Multichannel News
Minority Group Backs Martin's Class A Plan
Submitted by Benton Foundation on October 7, 2008 - 7:33amLast updated: October 7, 2008 - 7:33am
A group in support of increasing minority ownership of mass media properties is backing Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin's proposal to give mandatory cable carriage rights to more than 500 TV stations for the first time.
NBC Universal Fighting A La Carte Proposals At FCC
Submitted by Benton Foundation on October 7, 2008 - 7:32amLast updated: October 7, 2008 - 7:33am
NBC Universal, a major cable TV programming supplier, is urging federal regulators to refrain from intervening in the "highly competitive" marketplace between program owners and pay-TV distributors. "There's no legal or factual basis for government intervention in private carriage negotiations.
House Passes Amended Pryor Bill
Submitted by Benton Foundation on October 6, 2008 - 7:33pmLast updated: October 6, 2008 - 7:34pm
On Friday, the House passed a bill requiring the Federal Communications Commission to study parents' access to advanced technologies that are capable of blocking content on television and the Internet.
9 Things Cable Needs To Know About the Market Meltdown
Submitted by Benton Foundation on October 4, 2008 - 2:40pmLast updated: October 4, 2008 - 2:41pm
Multichannel News interviewed cable-TV operators, programmers, advertisers and investors to see what the impact of the Wall Street financial meltdown will be on cable. Will cable stocks continue to hold their own through this mess?
Ruling: Michigan Cities Can Still Prevent Migration Of PEG Channels
Submitted by Benton Foundation on October 4, 2008 - 2:32pmLast updated: October 4, 2008 - 2:32pm
Judge Victoria Roberts of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division has ruled that Michigan cities will be able to continue to prevent the migration of their public, educational and government channels into the 900-channel area at least until the Federal Communications Commission sets policy on the treatment of such channels.
News Corp. Urging Removal of DirecTV Conditions
Submitted by Benton Foundation on October 4, 2008 - 2:31pmLast updated: October 4, 2008 - 2:31pm
News Corp is urging the Federal Communications Commission to act quickly on its request to be released early from merger conditions imposed on its 2004 takeover of satellite TV provider DirecTV.
Time Warner Cable Seeks Manhattan Deregulation
Submitted by Benton Foundation on October 4, 2008 - 2:30pmLast updated: October 4, 2008 - 2:31pm
Citing 160-channel competition from Verizon Communications FiOS TV, Time Warner Cable is seeking total price deregulation in Manhattan from the Federal Communications Commission.
House Committee Asks FCC To Investigate Reassignment of PEG Channels
Submitted by Benton Foundation on October 2, 2008 - 7:42pmLast updated: October 2, 2008 - 7:42pm
The House Appropriations Financial Services and General Services Subcommittee this week asked the Federal Communications Commission to investigate the treatment of public, educational and government channels by both incumbent and new providers -- especially AT&T.
FCC's Quiet Period Review Awaits Martin Vote
Submitted by Benton Foundation on October 2, 2008 - 7:36amLast updated: October 2, 2008 - 7:36am
Apparently, every member of the Federal Communications Commission except Chairman Kevin Martin has voted to seek public comment on the cable industry's retransmission consent quiet period. A Notice for Proposed Rulemaking will be released once Chairman Martin casts his vote.
Verizon: Hike Satellite TV Regulatory Fees
Submitted by Benton Foundation on October 1, 2008 - 7:19amLast updated: October 1, 2008 - 7:19am
Congress requires the Federal Communications Commission to fund nearly 100% of its operations by assessing annual fees on cable TV providers, satellite TV providers, phone companies, broadcasters and other entities under its jurisdiction.
