A La Carte

Still Apart On A La Carte

Submitted by Benton Foundation on April 28, 2008 - 7:31am
Last updated: April 28, 2008 - 7:33am

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is unlikely to win the support of Commissioner Robert McDowell on policies designed to force the sale of TV programming on a per-channel basis.

Martin's 75-Cent Solution

Submitted by Benton Foundation on April 26, 2008 - 3:55pm
Last updated: April 28, 2008 - 7:32am

As the Bush Administration nears its end, so too is the FCC chairmanship of Kevin Martin. He seems determined to influence how cable operators and their program suppliers go about providing some 64.7 million homes with video channels dedicated to an assortment of news, sports and entertainment.

Cable-Programming Executives to Martin: A La Carte Proposal Is Anti-Consumer

Submitted by Benton Foundation on April 15, 2008 - 8:33pm

Top cable-programming executives told Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin he should focus on the DTV transition rather than an a la carte proposal in which cable channels above a certain price -- say $0.75-$1 per subscriber, per month -- would have to be offered separately, or a la carte.

Martin: No Retreat On A La Carte

Submitted by Benton Foundation on April 10, 2008 - 7:24am

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin said Wednesday he has no plans to retreat from his quest to pressure the cable industry into adopting an a la carte business model.

Sen Stevens To Martin: Drop A La Carte Effort

Submitted by Benton Foundation on April 9, 2008 - 7:22am

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) told Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin that his ongoing battles with the cable industry were far less important than the vital mission of ensuring a successful transition to all-digital broadcasting next year.

FCC chief hasn't lost focus on cable

Submitted by Benton Foundation on March 11, 2008 - 8:51am
Last updated: March 11, 2008 - 8:52am

If Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is smarting from bruising battles last year with fellow commissioners, Congress and the cable industry, he's showing no signs of it.

Judge Sides With Programmers -- For Now -- In A La Carte Case

Submitted by Benton Foundation on March 11, 2008 - 8:44am

A consumer lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles challenging the lack of availability of a la carte pay TV programming, is still alive but only if the plaintiffs' attorneys can convince a federal court judge that the actions of major media companies offering programming only in packages violates anti-trust laws.

Hollywood: No Oscar For Martin's Wholesale A La Carte

Submitted by Benton Foundation on February 19, 2008 - 10:26am
Last updated: February 21, 2008 - 11:12am

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s support for a plan to regulate providers of cable programming isn't causing Hollywood studios to shout hooray. In fact, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), is calling Martin’s plan “radical intrusion into the program market.”

Tennessee Lawmakers Hit Martin On A La Carte

Submitted by Benton Foundation on February 15, 2008 - 8:30am
Last updated: February 21, 2008 - 11:10am

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin’s plan to impose wholesale a la carte mandates on the cable industry continues to bleed Republican support as key U.S. lawmakers from Tennessee recently voiced strong objections.

ACA: A La Carte Would Be Status Quo

Submitted by Benton Foundation on February 13, 2008 - 9:30am
Last updated: February 21, 2008 - 11:06am

Big cable programmers shouldn't have a worry if the Federal Communications Commission adopts so-called wholesale a la carte rules because many content owners claim they make their channels available in that manner today, the American Cable Association said.