GeoBroadcast Trades Blows With Broadcasters for Limited Program Origination
Entities seeking FCC approval for rule changes on FM translators and boosters disagree whether their proposals are related, in dueling emailed statements from GeoBroadcast Solutions and Broadcasters for Limited Program Origination. The broadcast group’s petition (see 2006240061) to originate programming…
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on FM translators is “fundamentally different” from GBS’ petition (see 2006040024) that would allow stations to localize programming with synchronized boosters and isn’t “driven by technology innovation,” the company said. The broadcaster group disagrees the requests are so different, and said GBS is overselling the complexity of its tech. GBS’ comparison of its tech to ATSC 3.0 “displays a troublesome chutzpa,” said the broadcaster group. The broadcasters said the FCC should act on their proposal at the same time as the GBS one, while GBS sought to distance itself from the translator origination proposal. “Each offering must stand on its own for its merit and market potential, and not create the misrepresentation that they should be connected in some way,” said GeoBroadcast. “If FM booster stations are allowed a regulatory easing on content choice for limited portions of the broadcast day, then so also should FM translator stations be equally allowed to choose whatever programming their licensees best think would serve their listening audience,” said the broadcasters. “Proposals to use non-fill-in translators to transmit a week's worth of key programming would skew this proceeding in an entirely different direction,” said GBS.