Steve Mehs
06-17-03, 02:16 AM
Comments on News Corp.'s proposed takeover of DirecTV and Hughes Electronics began to filter into the Federal Communications Commission Monday, and some of the earlier filings on the proposed $6.6 billion transaction detailed mixed feelings about the pending transaction.
The National Association of Broadcasters told the FCC that the proposed transaction might pose a threat to local broadcasters. Specifically, the NAB said the media giant's FOX broadcasting business, combined with the satellite TV assets, creates the "potential and incentive for News Corp. to use the DirecTV platform to discriminate against local broadcasters."
The NAB asked the FCC to pose conditions on the transaction. The first would be to prohibit DirecTV from transmitting a FOX network feed in any market served by a non FOX-owned local affiliate, and the second would be to require News Corp. and DirecTV to adhere to the same types of non-discrimination provisions they proposed for non-FOX cable/satellite programming services.
The NAB also asked that DirecTV provide local TV in all 210 DMAs by Jan. 1, 2006, if News Corp. wins approval for its transaction.
In its comments, the Center for Digital Democracy asked the FCC to reject the deal "because of the serious risks it poses throughout the entire television marketplace, including broadcast, cable and satellite services."
The organization said News Corp.'s acquisition of DirecTV and Hughes would lead to sharply reduced diversity in programming. "As other consumer groups have explained, the notion that News Corp. would seriously compete with cable is absurd. Co-existence and mutual back scratching would be the rule," the Center for Digital Democracy said in its FCC filing.
The Association of Public Television Stations said if the commission approves the News Corp./Hughes transaction, it should require two conditions: The new entity cannot place some local stations on "wing satellites" that can only be accessed through a second dish; and in the public interest the FCC should require carriage of all free over-the-air digital signals of local public stations where local TV service is provided via satellite.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com) (Used with Permission)
The National Association of Broadcasters told the FCC that the proposed transaction might pose a threat to local broadcasters. Specifically, the NAB said the media giant's FOX broadcasting business, combined with the satellite TV assets, creates the "potential and incentive for News Corp. to use the DirecTV platform to discriminate against local broadcasters."
The NAB asked the FCC to pose conditions on the transaction. The first would be to prohibit DirecTV from transmitting a FOX network feed in any market served by a non FOX-owned local affiliate, and the second would be to require News Corp. and DirecTV to adhere to the same types of non-discrimination provisions they proposed for non-FOX cable/satellite programming services.
The NAB also asked that DirecTV provide local TV in all 210 DMAs by Jan. 1, 2006, if News Corp. wins approval for its transaction.
In its comments, the Center for Digital Democracy asked the FCC to reject the deal "because of the serious risks it poses throughout the entire television marketplace, including broadcast, cable and satellite services."
The organization said News Corp.'s acquisition of DirecTV and Hughes would lead to sharply reduced diversity in programming. "As other consumer groups have explained, the notion that News Corp. would seriously compete with cable is absurd. Co-existence and mutual back scratching would be the rule," the Center for Digital Democracy said in its FCC filing.
The Association of Public Television Stations said if the commission approves the News Corp./Hughes transaction, it should require two conditions: The new entity cannot place some local stations on "wing satellites" that can only be accessed through a second dish; and in the public interest the FCC should require carriage of all free over-the-air digital signals of local public stations where local TV service is provided via satellite.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com) (Used with Permission)