Lack of Advance Notice to Starz Subscribers Not in Altice's Control, MVPD Says
Since Starz content couldn't get it carriage on Altice USA, the programmer now is trying to manipulate the regulatory process to that end, the MVPD said in an FCC docket 18-9 opposition posted Tuesday. It responded to Starz's petition last…
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week for emergency injunctive relief (see 1801190042). Altice said Starz isn't being carried not because of a rules violation, but because Starz "sought a price that makes no economic sense," and the petition came nearly three weeks after the Jan. 1 blackout's start shows it's not an emergency. It said rules require cable operators give 30-day notice to subscribers of a programming change if that change is within control of the MVPD, but Starz didn't know a blackout was coming unit Dec. 31. The cable operator said Starz hasn't shown the alleged violation of the service change notice rule caused irreparable harm, since any harm to the content provider by subscribers not having 30 days notice to plan ahead to keep receiving Starz was offset by Altice's steps to inform subscribers on how they could get Starz via other means. The programmer didn't comment.