MVPDs See Continuing Blackouts, Retransmission Woes
Expect continuing rate increases and broadcaster-led blackouts with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's decision earlier this month to end its consideration of changes to the totality of circumstances test in good faith negotiating, panelists said Tuesday at the Independent Show, co-hosted…
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by the American Cable Association (ACA) and the National Cable Television Cooperative in Orlando. An ACA news release said Shentel Vice President-Industry Relations and Regulatory Chris Kyle said small multichannel video programming distributors (MVPD) must begin educating consumers and regulators about broadcast stations' increase fee demands before next fall's round of retransmission consent negotiations. "There will be more blackouts," ACA President Matthew Polka said. "There will be more price gouging by broadcasters. Government will have no choice but to enter this discussion whether they like it or not and we're going to make sure that happens." MVPDs and allies expressed dismay when Wheeler said the agency wasn't making any retrans rule changes (see 1607140047).