Civil-Rights Groups Slam Martin Over a la Carte
CIVIL-RIGHTS GROUPS SLAM MARTIN OVER A LA CARTE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Black Leadership Forum, the Hispanic Federation, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the National Black Chamber of Commerce, the National Congress of Black Women and the Hispanic Telecommunications and Technology Partnership have asked Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin for a public apology, saying comments attributed to him about their opposition to his a la carte cable proposal were "patronizing and insulting." According to the groups, Chairman Martin said the organizations were opposed to his proposal due to "financial relationships that some may have with television programmers and distributors." The groups countered that they oppose mandating per-channel cable offerings because that would be "deeply harmful to the cause of greater diversity in cable-television programming -- a goal that we hope you would share." They argued that their opposition is indeed about financial relationships, but instead about the relationships that won't be made because an a la carte regime would make it tougher for African Americans, Hispanics and women to raise enough capital to get new programming on the air. "The idea that you somehow know better about what is in [their] best interests is puzzling to say the least," the groups added.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6470890.html
* FCC’s Martin Apologizes to Minority Groups for a la Carte Statements
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin is apologizing to some minority groups, who contend his latest statements in a push to let cable customers choose their channels a la carte were “patronizing and insulting.”
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/08/fccs_martin_apologizes_to_mino.php
* Martin: A la Carte Benefits Diversity
Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin Martin Wednesday defended his stand for a la carte, saying he believed it could benefit, not reduce, diversity.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6471117.html