The cable industry is countering arguments operators be required to post channel lineups in their online public files. In docket 18-92 replies posted Monday, NCTA said such information is available in many ways, including electronic program guides and operators' websites. It said arguments that operators might not provide accurate listings of programs carried ignores there's no requirement they describe programming of any channels, so eliminating the requirement to include channel line-ups in public files won't change that. The American Cable Association said arguments for retaining or expanding online public inspection file obligations are at odds with that many cable providers comply already by posting a link to their websites. It said cable operators don't need a legal obligation to provide an accurate channel lineup because they have economic incentives for doing so. ITTA repeated support for eliminating sections 76.1705 and 76.1700(a)(4) of FCC rules -- requiring a hard copy of channel lineups be maintained at the operator's local office and that providers with at least 1,000 subscribers keep in their online public files a current channel listing. It said the agency shouldn't put new channel lineup information provision requirements on systems with fewer than 1,000 subscribers, saying a small minority of such operators don't maintain a website or post channel lineups on their sites. Boston's Office of Broadband and Cable urged the FCC to clarify that operators must maintain historical records of lineups in their online public files and present full channel lineups and programming information to consumers. It said modernization of regulation "should not be a synonym for elimination." It said local franchising authorities and consumers shouldn't be deprived of needed data and forced to rely on promotional materials and program guides from which operators often withhold channel and programming information. Broadcasters and public, educational and governmental programmers argued for keeping lineups in online public files (see 1805310060).

The market for TV aimed at kids and viewing habits of children and parents “have undergone significant change in the 27 years since the Commission’s children’s programming rules and policies were adopted,” said Viacom in a meeting Monday with FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 17-105. “The record demonstrates that these changes warrant thoughtful examination of, and potential changes to, those rules and policies.” O'Rielly eyes kidvid deregulation or changes (see 1805020063).

Cable operators and content companies continue to air concerns about expanded terrestrial wireless access to the 3.7-4.2 GHZ band given its vital importance to cable-TV distribution, with a docket 18-122 filing Wednesday on a meeting with aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Mike O'Rielly, Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel. The meetings included representatives from CBS, Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox, Discover, ESPN, NCTA, Disney, Univision and Viacom. NCTA and members have been repeatedly lobbying the FCC on the issue (see 1805220046).

Nearly 40 percent of U.S. broadband homes now have at least two over-the-top video service subscriptions, said Parks Associates Monday. Consumers “have reached a new stage in connected entertainment where OTT is a standard source of video and viewers are more willing to experiment with multiple OTT services,” it said. Parks estimates half of U.S. broadband homes watch “long-form” online video content on an internet-connected TV, and 60 percent have one OTT subscription. Homes that subscribe to three or more internet video services are “one of the fastest growing segments in the U.S. OTT space,” increasing from 10 percent of broadband households in 2016 to 15 percent in 2017, it said. In the past 30 days, nearly half of U.S. broadband households accessed video content from a subscription OTT service, and 31 percent accessed free content, it said.

An antitrust trial lawyer wants the federal judge overseeing DOJ's lawsuit seeking to block AT&T's buy of Time Warner to unseal the record so potential litigants can see the evidence "against this unlawful proposed acquisition." Joseph Alioto of San Francisco, in a docket 17-2511 amicus brief (in Pacer) filed Saturday in U.S. District Court in Washington, said sealing evidence and portions of the proceedings deprived the public and future private litigants of material Congress wanted them to have, given the presumption in favor of open, public access to trials. Pointing to Supreme Court precedent that developed the incipiency doctrine on how to look at future possible effects of a merger, Alioto said the deal should be enjoined. AT&T/TW outside counsel didn't comment Monday. A ruling by Judge Richard Leon on DOJ's complaint is expected Tuesday afternoon (see 1804300020).

Seventy-four percent of U.S. TV households have at least one internet-connected TV device, including smart TVs, streaming media devices (including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast or Apple TV), connected video game systems, and Blu-ray players, Leichtman Research Group reported Friday. That’s a 65 percent increase from 2016. Some 29 percent of adults in U.S. TV households watch video on a TV via a connected device daily -- vs. 19 percent in 2016 -- and 43 percent of consumers ages 18-34 do so daily, 33 percent ages 35-54 and 12 percent 55 and older. “In a short period of time, connected devices have allowed an increasing number of consumers to easily watch SVOD and other video options on the same TV screen as traditional pay-TV and broadcast offerings," said Principal Bruce Leichtman.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr met with Midcontinent Communications executives about fixed wireless services' need for spectrum in the 3550-3700 MHz band and the 3.7-4.2 GHz band, during his Great Plains trip last week (see 1806010046), said a docket 17-258 ex parte filing Wednesday. The cable operator said the talk focused on license area sizes for potential priority access licenses, interference protections for operations in those bands and Midcontinent's use of fixed wireless.

While the FCC cable leased access further NPRM to be voted on at Thursday's meeting (see 1805160051) would make cable operator compliance "at least somewhat less burdensome," the agency should go further by predicating enforcement of leased access rules on findings of market power, Free State Foundation Senior Fellow Seth Cooper blogged Tuesday. He said leased access rules fundamentally run roughshod over cable operators' First Amendment rights to control what content they deliver. He said the rules date to an era when operators were believed to have monopoly power over consumer access to video programming -- a questionable premise in an era of declining cable subscriber numbers and MVPD competition.

The Apple TV 4K will support the Spectrum TV app starting later this year, Charter Communications blogged Monday. It said mobile Apple products already support its app, which allows live viewing of linear channels and of on-demand content.

Discovery is spending $2 billion for global PGA Tour rights across all platforms outside the U.S. starting in 2019 and running through 2030, it said Monday. It said its PGA Tour deal will include live linear rights and creation of a dedicated, PGA Tour-branded streaming service. The programmer said it will televise PGA Tour events on its various pay-TV and free-to-air channels, and on digital and short-form platforms. The company said it anticipates sublicensing the rights, plus advertising, affiliate and digital subscription revenue. The deal "really solidifies [Discovery] as a global content player," Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker wrote investors.