The Media Bureau said it tentatively agreed with Comcast that...
The Media Bureau said it tentatively agreed with Comcast that a condition in last year’s FCC order letting the company buy control of NBCUniversal “contemplates” that online video distributors seeking access to the combined company’s shows under a benchmark condition…
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would disclose carriage deals with other traditional distributors. “Because the Benchmark Condition does not expressly specify the manner in which the disclosure will be made, however, we tentatively agree that clarification is needed with respect to the Benchmark Condition” in the Comcast/NBCUniversal order, the bureau said in a public notice Tuesday (http://xrl.us/bmxz6q). It sought comment -- as expected (CD March 3 p3) -- on the merged company’s request that the agency expand the type of people who can view such OVD programming deals, given an existing FCC protection order “expressly limits disclosure to outside counsel and outside experts.” Comments on Comcast and NBCUniversal’s request for a new protective order are due in docket 10-56 March 27, replies April 3, and the notice said the bureau will consider oppositions already filed to the request by an OVD and by six distributors as responses.