Steve Mehs
01-28-03, 02:25 AM
The National Association of Broadcasters alleged Monday that cable operators are blocking customer access to broadcast HDTV signals, and it used the Super Bowl to illustrate its complaint.
The association said viewers in 64 of 80 markets where local stations have converted to digital HDTV were unable to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday through their local cable system.
"It's disappointing that cable TV operators are continuing to block viewer access to digital and HDTV programming delivered by local broadcasters," said NAB President and CEO Edward Fritts. "One would think that cable operators would want to provide their customers with access to broadcast HDTV programming like the Super Bowl, which year in and year out is the country's most watched program."
The NAB complaints came after ABC partnered with top MSOs to deliver the big game to cable subscribers.
The NAB said ABC affiliates broadcasting HDTV cover 69 percent of U.S. households, but cable operators in markets that have access to an ABC HDTV signal deliver that feed to only 27 percent of TV households. Also, the association pointed to earlier findings that suggested cable operators are carrying fewer than 10 percent of the 700 local television stations that have made the transition to digital.
CableFAX Daily reported that the National Cable and Telecommunications Association found it regrettable that "many stations have rejected the guidance of FCC chairman Michael Powell so that cable could regularly offer ABC HD broadcasts without charging an additional fee."
The NCTA added, "Even more regrettable is the failure of other ABC stations, serving more than 30 percent of TV households, to offer any HDTV, months after an FCC deadline, so fans could view the game via an antenna. Instead, the free spectrum given to these broadcasters for digital spectaculars like the Super Bowl remains idle."
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/jan2003/012803.shtm#two) (Used with Permission)
The association said viewers in 64 of 80 markets where local stations have converted to digital HDTV were unable to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday through their local cable system.
"It's disappointing that cable TV operators are continuing to block viewer access to digital and HDTV programming delivered by local broadcasters," said NAB President and CEO Edward Fritts. "One would think that cable operators would want to provide their customers with access to broadcast HDTV programming like the Super Bowl, which year in and year out is the country's most watched program."
The NAB complaints came after ABC partnered with top MSOs to deliver the big game to cable subscribers.
The NAB said ABC affiliates broadcasting HDTV cover 69 percent of U.S. households, but cable operators in markets that have access to an ABC HDTV signal deliver that feed to only 27 percent of TV households. Also, the association pointed to earlier findings that suggested cable operators are carrying fewer than 10 percent of the 700 local television stations that have made the transition to digital.
CableFAX Daily reported that the National Cable and Telecommunications Association found it regrettable that "many stations have rejected the guidance of FCC chairman Michael Powell so that cable could regularly offer ABC HD broadcasts without charging an additional fee."
The NCTA added, "Even more regrettable is the failure of other ABC stations, serving more than 30 percent of TV households, to offer any HDTV, months after an FCC deadline, so fans could view the game via an antenna. Instead, the free spectrum given to these broadcasters for digital spectaculars like the Super Bowl remains idle."
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/jan2003/012803.shtm#two) (Used with Permission)