Prospects slim for DTV multicast must-carry

[Skaggs]

Prospects slim for DTV multicast must-carry

Sep 13, 2004 8:00 AM
Beyond The Headlines

Many television broadcasters have made multicast must-carry over cable a do-or-die industry issue. However, comments last week by FCC Chairman Michael Powell do not bode well for an FCC mandate forcing cable companies to carry all of a broadcaster’s program channels.

Powell told the Senate Commerce Committee there is no consensus among FCC members to expand must-carry beyond a station’s primary digital signal. He said he is not inclined to expand the current mandate and has serious constitutional questions as to whether it would even be legal.

In 2001, Powell, then a member of the commission, noted that the FCC came to the conclusion that Congress did not intend for stations to have the right to multichannel must-carry.

Conceding that the current FCC could change its collective mind, Powell suggested that multicasting may not be an advantage to speeding along the DTV transition and may even hinder it.

[OldMatador]

Am I correct to assume this is the sticking point with TWC and WRGB?

[Skaggs]

OldMatador said:

Am I correct to assume this is the sticking point with TWC and WRGB?

I believe MasterFX1 has indicated that it is. He has also stated that WRGB was asking to be paid a small amount for each TWC HD subscriber.

[MasterFX1]

OldMatador said:

Am I correct to assume this is the sticking point with TWC and WRGB?

No. The sticking point is compensation. And I have to admit, that given the way things are going it seems that if WRGB gets compensation, then they would be in the upcoming HD Tier, not the included digital stations. I don't know that this would ever happen.

Interesting that Discovery HD is still included, it's the only non-local HD in the included package.

[Skaggs]

MasterFX1 said:

Interesting that Discovery HD is still included, it's the only non-local HD in the included package.

TBS HD is non-local HD.

It has still not been officially announced by TWC that ESPN HD will be included in a pay tier. Actually, they have not even announced that ESPN HD is available.

[MasterFX1]

TNT-HD, but you're right, I forgot about that one.

[OldMatador]

MasterFX1 said:

TNT-HD, but you're right, I forgot about that one.

Know Skaggs made a mistake, but you'd think channels like TBS or even FX would be on the HD bandwagon now. I mean, shows like Nip/Tuck, Rescue Me, and The Shield all SCREAM Hi Def.