Public Knowledge and Free Press both raised concerns about a...
Public Knowledge and Free Press both raised concerns about a New York Post report that Hulu is planning to require visitors to authenticate a pay-TV subscription before viewing some broadcast network programming. “This move to tie Hulu to cable TV…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
service merits close scrutiny from the government agencies that” approved the Comcast buying control of NBCUniversal, said Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood. “This sudden move to big cable’s preferred business model raises serious questions about whether Comcast is violating the conditions of its merger.” Public Knowledge also has concerns with the plan, if it turns out to be true, it said. “We are concerned about restricting access to TV programming available free over-the-air,” said CEO Gigi Sohn. “It should be available online, regardless of whether anyone subscribes to cable or satellite TV.” Consistent with the conditions of the FCC and Justice Department approval of the deal, Comcast and NBCUniversal have no governance rights or board seat at Hulu, said a spokeswoman for the cable operator. “We have not been involved with the management of Hulu or in any buyout discussions with Hulu. Any hypothetical claims of violations of the FCC Order and consent decree with regard to Hulu are a fiction.” Hulu didn’t immediately respond to our queries.