Digital TV Facts: The Latest

More hours of children’s educational programming on local digital TV channels are promised, thanks to a compromise between advocacy groups and broadcasters.

“The agreement achieves one of the coalition’s central goals—that is to ensure that digital broadcasters meet their public interest obligations to children by providing them with additional educational programming,” the networks and the Children’s Media Policy Coalition said.

“The agreement leaves in place the FCC’s [digital TV] multicasting guideline as originally written; to meet the guideline, broadcasters must air three hours a week of children’s educational programming per channel that they air.”

Concessions granted to TV networks include dropping limits on pre-emption of kids’ shows (e.g., for sports programming) and allowing limited “host selling” on web sites promoted during the shows. Still sounds like a good deal.

With the agreement in place, the FCC is expected to modify its rules.

Networks have done the right thing. Let’s especially salute the Children’s Media Policy Coalition for this big win.

• Link: Hollywood Reporter