Martin Asked To Re-Examine Retrans

[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
In a letter sent to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin Monday, Reps Nathan Deal (R-GA), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and six other Members of the House Commerce Commission wrote of their concerns that retransmission deals -- in which broadcasters negotiate compensation for carriage of their TV stations on cable -- have helped drive the bundling of family-friendly and unfriendly channels. Big broadcast groups also frequently have co-owned cable nets that become part of package station/cable channel deals. The Reps would like Chairman Martin and the FCC to take a new look at retransmission consent as the FCC reconsiders the economics of family-friendly tiers and a la carte cable.
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