Latest twist in digital TV battle has broadcasters angry
October 7th, 2005Senate action on digital TV may shake out into two bills, Drew Clark reports. Broadcasters won’t be happy about this one.
Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, said that his committee would debate digital television legislation Oct. 19 as part of the budget reconciliation process—but consider other broadcasting and telecommunications issues as part of a separate bill.
Because Senate rules restrict consideration of non-budget provisions on reconciliation bills, many issues that broadcasters see as essential to the DTV transition—such as the requirement that cable operators carry multiple digital broadcast signals—could fall victim to a procedural roadblock.
My take: Most broadcasters aren’t at all eager to turn off their analog signals, fearing a loss of viewers. What’s making them go along with a hard date is “multicast must-carry.” If legislation forces cable companies to carry as many as six separate broadcaster-controlled channels—in effect, six channels for each local analog station they carry today—broadcasters will see a huge bonanza. Now, Congress is unlikely to require carriage of all six potential multicast channels, but even the compromise position of two or three would be a huge benefit to broadcasters, who today depend on cable much more than the airwaves to reach viewers.
If Congress imposes a cutoff date for analog broadcasts but leaves broadcaster-favored provisions to fight it out in a separate bill, you can bet owners of local stations will be angry.
Take note of the most recent communications from the Coalition for a Smart Digital TV Transition. Multicast must-carry is among their most prominent demands (along with consumer subsidies for set-top boxes and funding for consumer education). The coalition includes the National Consumers League, the Hispanic Technology & Telecommunications Partnership, farm groups and unions—and TV network affiliate groups. When the coalition came together last fall, trade publications highlighted broadcasters’ involvement in the coalition and described it as a means of slowing the transition to digital TV.
• Links: National Journal’s Insider Update; press release; Benton Foundation