Local News Ratings Drops Show Need for Retrans Reform, ATVA Says
Skyrocketing retransmission consent fees paid to broadcasters as local news viewership plummets show the need for the FCC to revisit its rules on retrans consent, must-carry and exclusivity since those regulatory advantages are responsible for the retrans fee growth, the…
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American TV Alliance said in news release Tuesday. Pointing to Pew Research data about declining audiences for local TV news since 2007, ATVA said during that time, retrans fees grew 2,426 percent, topping $7.9 billion last year. It said broadcasters use the threats of blackouts to coerce higher fees. NAB said ATVA "is rehashing tired arguments favoring heavy-handed government intervention in a free market. On two previous occasions, the FCC has determined it has no authority to intervene in private negotiations between giant cable companies and local TV stations over the value of broadcast TV programming. ATVA should focus attention on fixing pay TV’s notoriously bad customer service issues rather than continue to fixate on a phony retransmission consent crisis.”