Calls for CBS-Time Warner Cable settlement grow

With the CBS blackout entering its third week, calls for federal regulators' intervention and a quick settlement between the network and Time Warner Cable are growing louder as the NFL season gets underway.

Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) sent a letter to the companies, urging both parties to agree on a contract. "The status quo is unfair to the millions of your customers who are caught in the middle of your dispute, and we strongly encourage both sides to resolve it immediately," they wrote to TWC CEO Glenn Britt and CBS CEO Leslie Moonves. Several consumer groups called for more involvement from federal regulators. Sports, which is the most sought-after programming on cable, has become a rallying point for proponents of a quick resolution. Several NFL pre-season games on CBS were blacked out in the affected markets. "Sports should be exempt from the takedowns," said Scott Weiss, New York/Tri-State Chapter chair of the Sports Fan Coalition. "We'd like to see sports shows put back on air. The FCC should get involved to make sure fans don't get hurt in these disputes."