Steve Mehs
12-12-02, 04:08 AM
The American Cable Association, the Pittsburgh-based organization representing small and rural cable operators, called the demise of the merger between satellite TV giants EchoStar and DirecTV a big victory for the association and its members.
Said ACA President Matt Polka, "Despite the resources, odds and finances arrayed by DBS against us, we took the fight to them, and in the end, the government did the right thing."
In October, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department's antitrust division announced their opposition to the merger of DirecTV and EchoStar. This week, the companies scrapped the billion-dollar deal.
"The ACA played an active, important role in convincing the FCC and Justice Department to reject this merger," Polka said. "From the beginning, ACA worked as the only national cable trade organization in Washington to stop this merger in its tracks."
Looking beyond the failed DBS merger attempt, Polka acknowledged other potential combinations with DirecTV loom, most notably News Corp. or Liberty Media, or both. "ACA and its members will always work to ensure meaningful competition in smaller markets and rural areas, including a strong and viable independent cable community," he said.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/dec2002/121202.shtm#two) (Used with Permission)
Said ACA President Matt Polka, "Despite the resources, odds and finances arrayed by DBS against us, we took the fight to them, and in the end, the government did the right thing."
In October, the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department's antitrust division announced their opposition to the merger of DirecTV and EchoStar. This week, the companies scrapped the billion-dollar deal.
"The ACA played an active, important role in convincing the FCC and Justice Department to reject this merger," Polka said. "From the beginning, ACA worked as the only national cable trade organization in Washington to stop this merger in its tracks."
Looking beyond the failed DBS merger attempt, Polka acknowledged other potential combinations with DirecTV loom, most notably News Corp. or Liberty Media, or both. "ACA and its members will always work to ensure meaningful competition in smaller markets and rural areas, including a strong and viable independent cable community," he said.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/dec2002/121202.shtm#two) (Used with Permission)