Belo Rejects Cash-For-Spectrum Plan

Belo CEO Dunia Shive is lining up against the Federal Communications Commission proposal under which TV stations would swap their channels for some of the proceeds derived from selling it to spectrum-hungry wireless broadband operators. "We are not interested in cash for spectrum," Shive told securities analysts earlier today after release of the publicly traded TV station group's third-quarter financial results. "We are interested in developing opportunities that ... are afforded by the digital transition and the investment we made in it." Shive said that she is particularly interested in mobile DTV, noting that Belo is working with other station groups in developing a business model for the technology that enables stations to broadcast full-motion video to mobile devices. Belo is also using excess digital spectrum for multicasting — that is, broadcasting ancillary programming in an SD format, Shive said. Five Belo stations are airing Estrella, a Spanish-language network, on digital subchannels, she said. Shive made a quick case against giving back spectrum. "The spectrum we use has value beyond the financial value in that we reach nearly every household, we serve the public interest and we provide timely emergency information to viewers."